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For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
Finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth Score
While good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum Score
Momentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
If you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +25.41% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only as a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Waste Connections (WCN - Free Report)
Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services across the U.S. and Canada. The company offers non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal services in several of the active natural resource producing areas in the United States, including the Permian, Bakken and Eagle Ford Basins through its R360 Environmental Solutions subsidiary.
WCN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Business Services stock. WCN has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 3.1% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2023, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.17 per share. WCN boasts an average earnings surprise of 1.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, WCN should be on investors' short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216527/are-you-a-momentum-investor-this-1-stock-could-be-the-perfect-pick?-this-1-stock-could-be-the-perfect-pick
| 2024-01-26T19:05:44Z
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For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
Value investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth Score
Growth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum Score
Momentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
What if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +25.41% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report)
Effective May 8, 2017, the company’s name was changed to HCA Healthcare, Inc. from HCA Holdings, Inc. It is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the US. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, it operates hospitals and related health care entities.
HCA is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. HCA has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 5.8% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2023, one analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $18.20 per share. HCA boasts an average earnings surprise of 4.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, HCA should be on investors' short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216528/why-hca-healthcare-hca-is-a-top-momentum-stock-for-the-long-term
| 2024-01-26T19:05:50Z
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Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
Finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth Score
While good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum Score
Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
If you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +25.41% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: ResMed (RMD - Free Report)
ResMed, Inc. holds a major position as designer, manufacturer, as well as a distributor in the worldwide market for generators, masks, and related accessories for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and other respiratory disorders. SDB includes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other respiratory disorders that occur during sleep.
RMD is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. RMD has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 7.7% over the past four weeks.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2024, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $7.41 per share. RMD also boasts an average earnings surprise of 1.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, RMD should be on investors' short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216534/heres-why-resmed-rmd-is-a-strong-momentum-stock
| 2024-01-26T19:05:57Z
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Canadian National Railway Company (CNI - Free Report) reported solid fourth-quarter 2023 results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the solid results failed to impress investors as CNI fell 2.2% since its earnings release.
Quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.48 (C$3.29) (excluding 94 cents from non-recurring items) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46 but declined 4.5% year over year.
Quarterly revenues of $3,284.4 million (C$4,471 million) surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,247.3 million but fell 1.8% year over year. The decline was due to lower shipments of intermodal and grain, container storage fees and fuel surcharge revenues as a result of a dip in fuel prices.
Reduced demand for freight services hurt volumes. The metric was also hit by the Pacific-coast dock workers’ strike and unfavorable crude oil price spreads, among other factors. These were partly offset by freight rate increases, the favorable translation impact of a weaker Canadian dollar and higher export volumes of Canadian grain.
Freight revenues (C$4,303 million), which contributed 96.2% to the top line, decreased 2% year over year, less than our anticipated fall of 5.3%. Freight revenues from the Petroleum and chemicals, Metals and minerals, Coal, Grain and fertilizers and Automotive segments grew 8%, 1%, 6%, 4% and 19%, respectively. Revenues from the Forest products and Intermodal segments increased 6% and 20%, respectively.
Carloads revenues fell 1% year over year, lower than our projected dip of 2.4%. Segment-wise, carloads in Petroleum and chemicals, Metals and minerals and Automotive increased 8%, 2% and 13%, respectively. Forest products, Coal, Grain and fertilizers and Intermodal declined 6%, 1%, 3% and 6%, respectively.
Freight revenues per carload edged down 1% from the year-ago reported quarter, while freight revenues per revenue ton-miles were down 4%.
Operating expenses increased 1% year over year to C$2,653 million. The increase was mainly due to higher Labor and fringe benefits expense due to general wage increases, and higher average headcount and personal injury and legal claim provisions.
Adjusted operating ratio (defined as operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) was 59.3% in fourth-quarter 2023, up from 57.9% in the year-ago reported quarter. The lower the metric, the better.
Liquidity
Canadian National generated a free cash flow of C$1,613 million during the fourth quarter compared with C$1,335 million a year ago.
2024 Outlook
For 2024, Canadian National anticipates to deliver adjusted EPS growth of approximately 10%.
Currently, Canadian National carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performances of Other Transportation Companies
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.’s (JBHT - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2023 earnings of $1.47 per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.74 and declined 23.4% year over year.
JBHT’s total operating revenues of $3,303.70 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,236.2 million but fell 9.5% year over year. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues, fell 6% year over year.
Delta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2023 earnings (excluding $1.88 from non-recurring items) of $1.28 per share, which comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17. Earnings, however, declined 13.51% on a year-over-year basis due to high labor costs.
Revenues of $14,223 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14,069.5 million and increased 5.87% on a year-over-year basis, driven by strong demand for holiday air travel. Adjusted operating revenues (excluding third-party refinery sales) came in at $13,661 million, up 11% year over year.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216536/canadian-national-cni-stock-down-22-despite-q4-earnings-beat
| 2024-01-26T19:06:03Z
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Former Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Igor Girkin, 53, has been a fierce critic of the top command of Russia’s armed forces and President Vladimir Putin for the ineffective conduct of the military campaign against Ukraine, which a Russian court has deemed a discredit to the Russian army.
Igor Girkin was sentenced to 4 years in a Russian penal colony for “calls for extremism” on 25 January, Russian media reported.
Igor Girkin is a former commander of Russian forces that invaded the Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Girkin was charged with terrorism by Ukrainian authorities. He has also been sanctioned by the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland for his leading role in the war in eastern Ukraine.
Girkin was arrested in the summer of 2023 in Russia in the wake of the warlord Prigozhin’s failed uprising. This followed months in which Girkin publicly reproached Putin for not waging war against Ukraine aggressively enough.
Last November, Girkin announced from jail that he wanted to run for president of Russia in 2024; however, was never approved as a candidate.
In 2022, The Hague found Girkin guilty of the downing of passenger jet Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, which killed all 298 people on board. He was convicted in absentia of mass murder for his part in the plane’s destruction and given a life sentence. Russia was later accused of harboring the criminal.
Piet Ploeg, the leader of a Dutch foundation that represents the families of MH17 victims, said that Girkin’s sentence in Russia “feels very double.”
“He is jailed, but not for the right reasons. He should be in a Dutch prison for his role in the MH17 shoot-down and not for voicing his opinion,” Ploeg told The Guardian.
The Russian court also banned Girkin from administering internet resources for 3 years, severing the pro-war blogger’s connection with over half a million of his followers on Telegram.
Girkin was convicted under an article of medium severity, with a punishment of up to 5 years imprisonment. According to Ukrainian media Zmina, in the first half of 2023, only every sixth person under these charges received a real prison term.
Read more:
- Arrest of Russian nationalist Girkin highlights factional splits in Kremlin, security services
- Girkin’s arrest likely to “infuriate” his fellow members and Russian soldiers – UK Intelligence
- Igor Girkin, former warlord of Russia’s proxy forces in occupied Donetsk Oblast, arrested in Russia
- How Russia invaded Ukraine as told by FSB colonel Girkin
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/26/mh-17-shooter-girkin-convicted-on-extremism-charges-in-russia/
| 2024-01-26T19:06:08Z
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The market expects Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2, 2024, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This biopharmaceutical company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.65 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -9.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $11.13 billion, down 2.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 7.46% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Bristol Myers?
For Bristol Myers, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -5.26%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Bristol Myers will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Bristol Myers would post earnings of $1.76 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2, delivering a surprise of +13.64%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Bristol Myers doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
GSK (GSK - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.75 for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +17.2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $9.79 billion, up 13.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Glaxo has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 6.20%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that Glaxo will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216537/analysts-estimate-bristol-myers-squibb-bmy-to-report-a-decline-in-earnings-what-to-look-out-for
| 2024-01-26T19:06:09Z
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The market expects Saia (SAIA - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This trucking company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +20.4%.
Revenues are expected to be $746.26 million, up 13.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.27% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Saia?
For Saia, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.64%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Saia will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Saia would post earnings of $3.59 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.67, delivering a surprise of +2.23%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Saia doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
Among the stocks in the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) is soon expected to post earnings of $2.86 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -2.1%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $1.5 billion, up 0.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Old Dominion has been revised 0.1% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -1.19%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Old Dominion will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216538/saia-saia-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:06:15Z
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Aon (AON - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This insurance brokerage is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.07 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.6%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.35 billion, up 7.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.25% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Aon?
For Aon, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -3.54%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Aon will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Aon would post earnings of $2.23 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.32, delivering a surprise of +4.04%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Aon doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216539/aon-aon-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:06:21Z
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The market expects CBOE Global (CBOE - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.2%.
Revenues are expected to be $505.08 million, up 10.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.46% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for CBOE?
For CBOE, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that CBOE will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that CBOE would post earnings of $1.86 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.06, delivering a surprise of +10.75%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
CBOE doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Among the stocks in the Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry, MarketAxess (MKTX - Free Report) is soon expected to post earnings of $1.72 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +8.9%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $195.37 million, up 9.8% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for MarketAxess has been revised 1.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, an equal Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0.00%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that MarketAxess will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216540/cboe-global-cboe-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:06:28Z
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The market expects Charter Communications (CHTR - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This cable provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $8.93 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +16.1%.
Revenues are expected to be $13.72 billion, up 0.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.55% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Charter?
For Charter, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -11.55%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Charter will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Charter would post earnings of $7.73 per share when it actually produced earnings of $8.25, delivering a surprise of +6.73%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Charter doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Another stock from the Zacks Cable Television industry, Rogers Communication (RCI - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.75 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -6.3%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $4.02 billion, up 31.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Rogers Communication has been revised 7% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of 7.27%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that Rogers Communication will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216541/charter-communications-chtr-earnings-expected-to-grow-what-to-know-ahead-of-next-weeks-release
| 2024-01-26T19:06:38Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Church & Dwight (CHD - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This maker of household and personal products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.64 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +3.2%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.51 billion, up 5.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.18% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Church & Dwight?
For Church & Dwight, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.90%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Church & Dwight will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Church & Dwight would post earnings of $0.68 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.74, delivering a surprise of +8.82%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Church & Dwight appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Among the stocks in the Zacks Soap and Cleaning Materials industry, Clorox (CLX - Free Report) is soon expected to post earnings of $1.07 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +9.2%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $1.78 billion, up 3.6% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Clorox has been revised 1.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 9.75%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Clorox will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216542/church-dwight-chd-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:06:45Z
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The recent arrest of prominent Ukrainian investor Ihor Mazepa has brought long-simmering outcry over the perceived overreach and coercion of private companies by the country’s law enforcement bodies to a boiling poin
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council responded on 23 January by approving measures meant to curb intimidating investigative tactics and boost oversight of police and security agencies accused of misusing their powers against the business sector.
The actions come after agents from Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation last week detained Mazepa, founder of one of the nation’s largest investment firms, Concorde Capital. He stands accused of unlawful privatization of land for the construction of an elite residential complex.
Mazepa rejects the accusations, calling his arrest a “dangerous precedent” of pressure on “honest businessmen” with “entrepreneurial initiative.”
Mazepa’s investment firm Concorde Capital stated that his detention is connected to his “public position on increasing pressure from law enforcement on Ukrainian business owners.” The company said security officials acted unlawfully and aggressively, denying lawyers access and seizing employees’ documents and personal funds during a series of raids. Concorde Capital added it is preparing an appeal to Ukraine’s leadership over the “destruction of the investment climate.”
Business accuses state of pressure, revival of “maski shou” raids
Mazepa’s arrest amplified accusations that state law enforcement has revived the practice of “maski-shou” – the use of special forces with masked faces to conduct disruptive raids on businesses, harkening back to the corruption that pervaded Ukraine under former President Viktor Yanukovych, writes financial editor of Liga.net Oleksandr Detsyk.
“The business is under the greatest pressure from law enforcement agencies in the last 20 years. In some cases, the authorities have outdone the Yanukovych era,” Mazepa himself told Forbes in June.
Authorities maintain intrusive actions are sometimes warranted by risks of evidence loss or lack of cooperation. But business leaders allege the use of overbearing and legally questionable tactics like sudden asset seizures, arrests, and armed raids over flimsy premises, in order to extract bribes or force concessions. They argue investigations frequently seem unfounded, or drag on endlessly to maintain pressure, while employing unnecessarily aggressive methods harkening back to Ukraine’s corrupt past.
According to Ukraine’s business ombudsman Roman Waschuk, only around 6% of criminal cases against business figures actually reach trial, while over three-quarters are closed without resolution. Statistics indicate a sharp rise in unresolved “dormant” cases left lingering indefinitely, which critics argue enables endless pressure on companies.
An analysis by the economics media Ekonomichna Pravda shows that the proportion of cases reaching trial or at least being closed has fallen each year, with “dormant” cases growing. This allows the state to investigate the cases years without end, under permanent threat of property seizure.
Earlier, four high-ranking interlocutors told Forbes that the pressure exerted on businesses is directly or indirectly related to the fact that nearly all Ukrainian law enforcement organs came under the influence of Oleh Tatarov, the dodgy deputy head of the Office of the President accused of involvement in corruption scandals and mandating the crackdown on Euromaidan protesters in 2014.
Among other vocal victims are major restaurant chain !Fest, whose co-owner Yuriy Nazaruk decried a 17 October raid by the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) and Security Service as a “classic ‘maski-shou’” with rifle-toting officers in body armor. Customs broker Optima’s construction site was shut down by police this month over disputed land ownership claims. Ukraine’s largest fire equipment maker Pozhmashyna contends nearly every state contract it fulfills now triggers a criminal probe, Liga.net writes.
Bureau of Economic Safety: a failed initiative with good intentions
The BES, created in 2021, was a step to address the long-standing practice of intimidation of business by law enforcement. It was formed to replace the old financial police and take over investigations of economic crimes. However, critics argue it has failed to curb corruption and itself employs coercive practices like armed raids known as “maski-shou.”
While tasked with probing economic crimes, the BES is still able to handle only under half such cases, with the rest being dealt with by the police and Security Service. Statistics show most investigations stall out under the BES without resolution.
According to a report by Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman Council, currently, only about 5% of criminal cases opened by Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security (BES) make it to court. For other agencies like the National Police and SBU, the figure is around 10%.
The report says that frequently, the very fact and procedure of opening a criminal case serves as a means of pressure and punishment for a business.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian law enforcement bodies often duplicate functions and compete over investigative jurisdiction, enabling them to take turns “terrorizing” individual companies, the source notes.
Inspection by regulatory and tax bodies is also cited as a potential pressure tactic, even if the results are later defeated in court. LIGA.net quotes business ombudsman inspector Volodymyr Kutsenko suggesting that the volume of audits and fines levied could be a way for agencies to demonstrate activity, despite losses in court. New inspections with fresh fines can be opened while appeals of previous ones are pending.
This has fueled calls for reforms and tighter oversight of the security agency. Business leaders say more robust safeguards are needed to prevent the BES and other law enforcement bodies from reviving coercive abuses of power seen under past corrupt regimes.
State takes steps to reassure business leaders
To address the turmoil, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) approved five steps aimed at easing outrage among the business community over perceived overreach by law enforcement on 23 January.
- A Council on Entrepreneurship will be established to address complaints from the private sector.
- Legislation will be submitted to parliament to reform the Bureau of Economic Security, making it the sole agency handling criminal cases related to business and the economy, besides the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. The goal is to provide more protections for companies during investigations.
- The system for monitoring risks and blocking/unblocking tax invoices will be audited.
- All registered criminal cases potentially risky for the economy will be audited, plus a 3-month moratorium imposed on disruptive actions like searches and asset seizures.
- A public analytics module will be created for the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations to track law enforcement activities, along with an online system for businesses to submit complaints.
“The government’s economic team and business stand on the same side. I am ready to personally stand up for every entrepreneur,” stated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
This is not the state’s first attempt to ease tensions with business leaders. Seven months earlier, on 29 June 2023, at a meeting with business community representatives, Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed to grant only one body, the BES, the right to conduct inspections in response to business complaints. Already then, entrepreneurs were complaining about the resurgence of the “maski shou” methods from Yanukovych’s time.
One day after the RNBO meeting, the Prosecutor General’s Office met with the Business Ombudsman Council and business representatives.
They noted that the Prosecutor General’s Office has a unit for investment protection that can assist entrepreneurs, though formal complaints remain relatively few. In 2023, this unit reviewed 152 appeals and oversees 215 total cases, providing aid in 120 instances.
Additionally, as of 1 January 2023, a pilot system has been launched to track and evaluate the proportionality of investigative actions like raids on businesses. It is unclear when this tool for tallying and assessing the appropriateness of such actions will be fully operational.
Business union cancels planned boycott
The actions taken by Ukrainian authorities have gone some way toward easing outrage within the business community. Manifesto 42, a union of business leaders, has called off a planned warning strike on 1 February, but is demanding additional steps to curb abuses.
In a 24 January statement, Manifesto 42 cited concrete steps taken by authorities addressing their key demands, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy staking out a position against controversial “maski-shou” raids on companies. The statement also noted the government’s work on legislative initiatives to restrict “abuses of power by rogue security officials” when conducting probes on businesses and lauded steps that allowed to bail out Mazepa from pre-trial detention.
However, Manifesto 42 warned about risks that could hamper the effectiveness of decisions already taken and said it expects additional action from authorities. Specifically, the group called for involving business associations in auditing restrictions imposed on companies by law enforcement.
Additionally, Manifesto 42 demanded mandatory final approval from major business groups of any bills related to economic security submitted to parliament.
Lastly, the group urged bringing to account officials who damage businesses and Ukraine’s security through coercive pressure tactics.
In conclusion, Manifesto 42 appealed for Ukraine’s business community and media to oversee the implementation of the National Security Council’s recent policy actions on ensuring economic security.
Related:
- “People and Know-How, not corruption, now stymie Ukraine’s defense industry,” says Ukrainian Armor director
- Why Ukraine’s wartime anti-corruption quest gives ground for cautious optimism
- Businesses fleeing war to west Ukraine find a new life and help the army
- Investment firm founder detained in unlawful land privatization probe
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/26/ukraine-business-police-relations-hit-crisis-point-after-mazepa-arrest/
| 2024-01-26T19:06:48Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This asset management company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.96 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +15.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $196.2 million, up 11.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.89% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Virtus?
For Virtus, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Virtus will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Virtus would post earnings of $6.17 per share when it actually produced earnings of $6.21, delivering a surprise of +0.65%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Virtus doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Among the stocks in the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, Janus Henderson Group plc (JHG - Free Report) is soon expected to post earnings of $0.56 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -8.2%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $521.48 million, up 1.2% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Janus Henderson Group plc has been revised 5.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 3.57%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), suggests that Janus Henderson Group plc will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216543/virtus-investment-partners-vrts-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:06:51Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Cigna (CI - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This health insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $6.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +31.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $48.82 billion, up 6.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Cigna?
For Cigna, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.33%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Cigna will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Cigna would post earnings of $6.66 per share when it actually produced earnings of $6.77, delivering a surprise of +1.65%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Cigna doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216544/cigna-ci-reports-next-week-wall-street-expects-earnings-growth
| 2024-01-26T19:06:58Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when Johnson Outdoor (JOUT - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This outdoor gear company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.15 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -73.7%.
Revenues are expected to be $140.44 million, down 21.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.75% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Johnson Outdoor?
For Johnson Outdoor, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Johnson Outdoor will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Johnson Outdoor would post a loss of $0.32 per share when it actually produced a loss of $1.56, delivering a surprise of -387.50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Johnson Outdoor doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
OneWater Marine (ONEW - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Products industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.30 for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -149.2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $370.33 million, up 1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for OneWater Marine has been revised 7.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 15.25%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggests that OneWater Marine will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216545/analysts-estimate-johnson-outdoor-jout-to-report-a-decline-in-earnings-what-to-look-out-for
| 2024-01-26T19:07:04Z
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The market expects Southern Copper (SCCO - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This miner is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.75 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -35.9%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.42 billion, down 14.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.25% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Southern Copper?
For Southern Copper, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +5.13%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Southern Copper will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Southern Copper would post earnings of $0.77 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.80, delivering a surprise of +3.90%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Southern Copper appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216546/southern-copper-scco-expected-to-beat-earnings-estimates-can-the-stock-move-higher?
| 2024-01-26T19:07:10Z
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The market expects LyondellBasell (LYB - Free Report) to deliver flat earnings compared to the year-ago quarter on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2, 2024, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This oil refiner and chemical company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.29 per share in its upcoming report, which represents no change from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues are expected to be $10.41 billion, up 2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.52% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for LyondellBasell?
For LyondellBasell, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.01%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that LyondellBasell will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that LyondellBasell would post earnings of $1.98 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.46, delivering a surprise of +24.24%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
LyondellBasell doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
Another stock from the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry, Eastman Chemical (EMN - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.28 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +43.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $2.17 billion, down 8.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Eastman Chemical has remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of 4.01%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Eastman Chemical will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216547/lyondellbasell-lyb-reports-next-week-what-to-expect
| 2024-01-26T19:07:16Z
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Regeneron (REGN - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This biopharmaceutical company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $10.46 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -16.7%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.26 billion, down 4.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.68% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Regeneron?
For Regeneron, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -6.44%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Regeneron will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Regeneron would post earnings of $10.80 per share when it actually produced earnings of $11.59, delivering a surprise of +7.31%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Regeneron doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216548/earnings-preview-regeneron-regn-q4-earnings-expected-to-decline
| 2024-01-26T19:07:23Z
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Ukraine has launched a new underwater drone project FURY (First Ukrainian Robotic Navy) to destroy the Russian Black Sea Fleet and ensure the security of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Naval News reported.
Ukraine’s uncrewed maritime kamikaze drones that target Russian warships in the Black Sea are reshaping naval combat. Still, the advantage of such drones is eroding as Russia improves its defenses, according to Naval News.
“Without continued innovation on the Ukrainian side, Russia could regain its superiority in the Black Sea. Especially as the war looks set to go on for years. Although uncrewed surface vessels will still be relevant, and new developments may continue to strain Russian defenses, many are looking underwater for the answer,” US military analyst H.I. Sutton said.
In recent months, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have repeatedly successfully attacked the Russian Fleet in the Black Sea using uncrewed surface boats and long-range missiles. Now, the Ukrainian military takes measures to dominate the Black Sea with the help of a whole army of underwater drones.
Within the framework of the new drone project FURY, Ukraine will start mass production of armed underwater drones to push the Russian Black Sea Fleet out of occupied Crimea and the territorial waters of Ukraine.
Ukrainian maritime drones create 200-mile security zone in Black Sea
Project FURY intends to partner with an unnamed Western drone manufacturer and weaponize an existing platform rather than create a new one from scratch, according to Naval News. Such an approach will reduce development risk and increase the capability of armed drones.
According to H.I. Sutton, underwater drones offer more versatility than unscrewed surface vessels and do not require as much technical effort as conventional submarines.
“Armed autonomous underwater vehicles have the obvious advantages of surprise, stealth and survivability. Although they are likely to be more expensive than the current uncrewed surface vessels, they will be reusable and thus cheaper in the long run. At the same time, they do not require the logistics and personnel footprint of regular submarines,” H.I. Sutton said. “Ukraine needs to stay two steps ahead. If Ukraine doesn’t, Russia could easily regain complete dominance in the Black Sea. They would be able to operate with impunity,” Sutton added.
New Ukrainian underwater drones will be able to carry a variety of weapons, such as mines, torpedoes, or even missiles. They could also be equipped with a wide range of sensors to perform reconnaissance missions.
Combined with standoff weapons, armed autonomous underwater vehicles can threaten the Russian Fleet throughout the entire Black Sea and carry out missions impossible with the current surface drones, according to Naval News.
Project FURY will be present at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s ‘Offensive of Machines’ hackathon on 28 January 2024, Naval News reported.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/26/ukraine-unveils-fury-new-weapon-to-dominate-the-black-sea/
| 2024-01-26T19:07:29Z
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Chevron (CVX - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This oil company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.31 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -19.1%.
Revenues are expected to be $52.59 billion, down 6.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 16.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Chevron?
For Chevron, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.77%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Chevron will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Chevron would post earnings of $3.68 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.05, delivering a surprise of -17.12%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Chevron doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216549/analysts-estimate-chevron-cvx-to-report-a-decline-in-earnings-what-to-look-out-for
| 2024-01-26T19:07:29Z
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The market expects AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This drugmaker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.89 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -19.7%.
Revenues are expected to be $14.04 billion, down 7.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.91% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for AbbVie?
For AbbVie, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -4%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that AbbVie will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that AbbVie would post earnings of $2.86 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.95, delivering a surprise of +3.15%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
AbbVie doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Another stock from the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, Merck (MRK - Free Report) , is soon expected to post loss of $0.09 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -105.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $14.67 billion, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Merck has been revised 0.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 41.75%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Merck will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216550/earnings-preview-abbvie-abbv-q4-earnings-expected-to-decline
| 2024-01-26T19:07:35Z
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The market expects WisdomTree, Inc. (WT - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.11 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +175%.
Revenues are expected to be $91.81 million, up 25.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.67% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for WisdomTree, Inc.
For WisdomTree, Inc.The Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -6.25%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that WisdomTree, Inc. Will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that WisdomTree, Inc. Would post earnings of $0.10 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.10, delivering no surprise.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
WisdomTree, Inc. Doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
Another stock from the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, Houlihan Lokey (HLI - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.12 per share for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -1.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $484.14 million, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Houlihan Lokey has been revised 2.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.23%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Houlihan Lokey will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216551/wisdomtree-inc-wt-earnings-expected-to-grow-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:07:41Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when Heartland Express (HTLD - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This trucking and logistics company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.10 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -150%.
Revenues are expected to be $293.36 million, down 17.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 150% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Heartland Express?
For Heartland Express, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -30%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Heartland Express will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Heartland Express would post earnings of $0.07 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.14, delivering a surprise of -300%.
The company has not been able to beat consensus EPS estimates in any of the last four quarters.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Heartland Express doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Landstar System (LSTR - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.63 for the quarter ended December 2023. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -37.3%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $1.25 billion, down 25.6% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Landstar has been revised 4.9% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.01%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Landstar will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216552/earnings-preview-heartland-express-htld-q4-earnings-expected-to-decline
| 2024-01-26T19:07:48Z
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Imperial Oil (IMO - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2, 2024, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This oil and gas and petroleum products company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.54 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -27%.
Revenues are expected to be $12.31 billion, up 15.6% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.11% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Imperial Oil?
For Imperial Oil, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.33%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Imperial Oil will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Imperial Oil would post earnings of $1.81 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.06, delivering a surprise of +13.81%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Imperial Oil doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216553/earnings-preview-imperial-oil-imo-q4-earnings-expected-to-decline
| 2024-01-26T19:07:54Z
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Exxon Mobil (XOM - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2023. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on February 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This oil and natural gas company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.22 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -34.7%.
Revenues are expected to be $91.81 billion, down 3.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.79% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Exxon?
For Exxon, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.49%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Exxon will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Exxon would post earnings of $2.36 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.27, delivering a surprise of -3.81%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Exxon appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216554/exxon-mobil-xom-expected-to-beat-earnings-estimates-what-to-know-ahead-of-q4-release
| 2024-01-26T19:08:00Z
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Norfolk Southern (NSC - Free Report) reported $3.07 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 5.1%. EPS of $2.83 for the same period compares to $3.42 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.11 billion, representing a surprise of -1.17%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -2.41%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.90.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Norfolk Southern performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Railway Operating Ratio: 73.7% versus the five-analyst average estimate of 67%.
- Coal Tonnage - Domestic metallurgical: 2.8 thousand versus the three-analyst average estimate of 2.77 thousand.
- Revenue per Carload (Unit) - Merchandise: $3,316 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $3,347.52.
- Revenue per Carload (Unit) - Coal: $2,515 versus $2,554.31 estimated by three analysts on average.
- Revenue per Carload (Unit) - Total: $1,763 compared to the $1,791.51 average estimate based on three analysts.
- Railway operating revenues- Merchandise: $1.85 billion compared to the $1.87 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1.4% year over year.
- Railway operating revenues- Intermodal: $794 million versus $809.62 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -13% change.
- Railway operating revenues- Coal: $430 million compared to the $438.54 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -4% year over year.
- Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Automotive: $296 million versus $285.29 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +6.1% change.
- Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Chemicals: $512 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $522.85 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3%.
- Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Metals and construction: $402 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $415.54 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3.1%.
- Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Agriculture, Forest and Consumer Products: $639 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $647.38 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -2.3%.
Shares of Norfolk Southern have returned +0.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216555/norfolk-southern-nsc-q4-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:08:07Z
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Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2023 earnings of 54 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents. The bottom line also underperformed the year-ago quarter’s reported figure of 82 cents. This was primarily due to poor equipment and services execution, and lower activity in the reported quarter.
Revenues totaled $1.07 billion, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.6%. The figure also underperformed the prior-year quarter’s level of $1.22 billion by 12.3%.
The Denver-CO-based oil and gas equipment company’s adjusted EBITDA was $252.5 million compared with $295.5 million in the year-ago quarter. The figure beat our projection of $250.4 million.
Ahead of the earnings release, Liberty Energy’s board of directors announced a cash dividend of 7 cents per common share, payable on Mar 20, 2024, to stockholders of record as of Mar 6, 2024. As part of its shareholder return policy, LBRT repurchased shares worth $39 million at an average price of $19.21 per share.
Costs and Expenses
LBRT reported total costs and expenses of $951 million in the fourth quarter, down 7.4% from the year-ago quarter’s level. However, the figure is higher than our projection of $897.9 million.
Balance Sheet & Capital Expenditure
As of Dec 31, Liberty Energy had approximately $36.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. The pressure pumper’s long-term debt of $140 million represented a debt-to-capitalization of 7.1%. Further, the company’s liquidity — cash balance plus revolving credit facility — amounted to $314 million.
In the reported quarter, LBRT spent $133.6 million on its capital program. However, the figure is higher than our projection of $118 million. For full-year 2023, the figure came in at $576.4 million.
Guidance
LBRT expects flat sequential revenues and Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter, driven by seasonal trends and a cautious start to E&P activity. The following quarters are expected to see a modest increase in activity. The company anticipates strong free cash flow generation in 2024, with continued investment in digiTechnologies and the LPI business.
LBRT predicts a stable outlook for the frac industry in 2024. It also anticipates continued growth in North American oil production and is confident in its competitive advantages and ability to execute long-term strategic investments.
Important Energy Earnings So Far
While it's early in the earnings season, there have been a few key energy releases so far. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Halliburton Company (HAL - Free Report) , the leading provider of oilfield services announced fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted net income per share of 86 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents. The figure was also well above the year-ago quarter’s level of 72 cents (adjusted).
HAL’s robust quarterly earnings were driven by the company's strong performance in international markets. As of Dec 31, 2023, the company had approximately $2.3 billion in cash/cash equivalents and $7.6 billion in long-term debt.
SLB (SLB - Free Report) , the largest oilfield contractor, announced fourth-quarter 2023 earnings of 86 cents per share (excluding charges and credits), which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. SLB’s bottom line also significantly increased from the year-ago quarter’s figure of 71 cents.
SLB’s strong quarterly earnings resulted from higher evaluation and stimulation activity in the international market. As of Dec 31, 2023, the company had approximately $4 billion in cash and short-term investments. It had a long-term debt of $10.8 billion at the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, energy infrastructure provider Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 28 cents, slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. The bottom line was adversely affected by a decline in realized weighted natural gas liquid price and milder winter conditions observed in 2023. However, KMI’s fourth-quarter DCF was $1.2 billion, down $46 million from the year-ago quarter’s level.
As of Dec 31, 2023, Kinder Morgan reported $83 million in cash and cash equivalents. Its long-term debt amounted to $27.9 billion at the quarter-end. In its initial budget for 2024, KMI set its adjusted EBITDA guidance of $8.2 billion and a dividend of $1.15 per share, indicating an increase from the prior-year reported figure of $1.13.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216556/liberty-energy-lbrt-q4-earnings-and-revenues-miss-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:08:13Z
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Eastman Chemical Company (EMN - Free Report) is gaining from its innovation-driven growth model, operational execution and cost-management actions amid certain headwinds, including soft demand and consumer de-stocking.
Eastman Chemical, which is among the prominent players in the chemical space along with Celanese Corporation (CE - Free Report) , Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) and The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) , is expected to benefit from lower operating costs from its operational transformation program.
EMN was able to offset $1.3 billion in inflation from higher raw material, energy and distribution costs through price increases in 2022. It expects to reduce manufacturing, supply chain and non-manufacturing costs by more than $200 million for full-year 2023, net of inflation. Pricing initiatives and lower raw material and energy costs are also expected to support the company’s bottom line.
Moreover, Eastman's goal is to increase new business revenues by utilizing its innovation-driven growth strategy. Due to the company's competence in specialty products, it generated around $550 million in new business revenues from innovation in 2022. Sales volumes are expected to be supported by the innovation and market development initiatives.
Eastman Chemical also remains focused on maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation. Its operating cash flow more than doubled year over year to $514 million in the third quarter of 2023. The company returned $94 million to shareholders in the third quarter through dividends and share repurchases. Furthermore, it expects to deliver $1.4 billion in operating cash flow for full-year 2023. The company, last month, also raised its dividend for the 14th consecutive year.
EMN, in its third-quarter call, stated that it is seeing muted demand in the fourth quarter as customers are cautious in the prevailing challenging environment. In addition, it anticipates regular seasonality in key end markets, including building and construction, consumer durables and performance films for automotive applications. It expects earnings per share for 2023 to be between $6.30 and $6.50. EMN is scheduled to release fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 1.
Another prominent chemical maker, Celanese expects adjusted earnings in the range of $2.10-$2.50 per share for the fourth quarter. For the full year, Celanese anticipates adjusted earnings at the bottom end of the guidance range of $9-$10. CE is slated to release fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 20.
Air Products, in its fourth-quarter fiscal 2023 call, said that it expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $12.80-$13.10, indicating 13% growth from the prior year’s adjusted earnings at the midpoint. For the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the company expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.90-$3.05, suggesting a rise of 13% at the midpoint from the year-ago quarter. APD is slated to release fiscal first-quarter earnings on Feb 5.
Chemours sees adjusted EBITDA for 2023 to be between $1.025 billion and $1.075 billion. CC is scheduled to release fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 14.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216558/eastman-chemical-emn-gains-on-cost-cuts-and-innovation
| 2024-01-26T19:08:19Z
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Ford Motor Company (F - Free Report) is recalling approximately 1.9 million Explorer sport utility vehicles ("SUVs") due to a loose piece of trim that could unhitch and create a road hazard for other drivers.
Per the company, clips that attach the trim to the exterior of the vehicle are not properly engaged due to improper assembly or repair, causing the A-pillar trim to become loose or fully detach.
The recall covers Explorer SUVs from model years 2011-2019.
Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), the detached trim piece could become a road hazard for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.
The automaker first identified the issue with the part in 2018. It determined that the issue was not a reasonable safety concern, given the low mass of the part. But following the NHTSA’s preliminary investigation into the issue last February, the automaker decided to issue a recall.
Ford received over 14,000 warranty reports related to detached or missing A-pillar trim parts.
Per Maria Buczkowski, Ford’s spokesperson, only 5% of recalled Explorers are affected by the issue. She urged owners to contact their dealership for an inspection when the parts become available.
Inspections and essential replacements will be done free of cost. Ford expects to notify owners via letters in March.
In November, Ford’s arch-rival, General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) issued a recall of nearly 7 million big pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to replace potentially dangerous airbag inflators.
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA - Free Report) recalled nearly all its cars on U.S. roads in December over autopilot safety concerns. The recall covered Model S from model year 2012-2023, Model X from model year 2016-2023, Model 3 from model year 2017-2023 and Model Y from model year 2020-2023 equipped with Autosteer.
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| 2024-01-26T19:08:25Z
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Accenture plc (ACN - Free Report) is currently benefiting from technological prowess, contributions from acquisitions and partnerships, and dividend payouts.
The company reported mixed first-quarter fiscal 2024 results, wherein earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues missed the mark.
Adjusted earnings of $3.27 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.1% and improved 6% from the year-ago fiscal quarter’s reading. Revenues of $16.2 billion missed the consensus estimate by a slight margin but increased 3% year over year.
How is Accenture Faring
Accenture’s growth strategy focuses on delivering 360° value to its stakeholders, mainly through the use of technology. The company focuses on long-term growth through building a digital core with the help of cloud, data and AI, technology evolution and investment in talent. We believe this strategy positions Accenture as a trusted partner for its clients.
The company continues to witness strong demand for application modernization and maintenance, cloud enablement and cybersecurity-as-a-service. These trends are boosting Accenture’s managed services business across the world. Managed services revenues increased 11% year over year in fiscal 2023.
Accenture has a disciplined acquisition strategy focused on channelizing its business in high-growth areas, adding skills and capabilities, and deepening industry and functional expertise. The company spent $2.5 billion across 25 acquisitions in fiscal 2023. The recent acquisition of Impendi bolsters Accenture’s private equity capabilities, offering tailored sourcing and procurement services. The addition of Impendi's procurement analytics expertise enhances Accenture's ability to guide private equity clients with insights into spending and savings opportunities.
Another acquisition, Navisite, enhances Accenture’s digital transformation and managed services capabilities, focusing on modernizing IT for the AI era. The buyout bolsters Accenture’s ability to aid North American clients in rapidly transforming their enterprises.
Commitment to shareholder returns makes Accenture a reliable way for investors to compound wealth over the long term. In fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, the company paid $2.8 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.2 billion in dividends, respectively. We are expecting steady growth in income, which will translate to steady cash flow, enabling it to pay out stable dividends. Per our estimates, the company’s net income will grow 4.9% and 8.6%, respectively, in fiscal 2024 and 2025.
Accenture has strong relationships with SAP (SAP - Free Report) and Adobe (ADBE - Free Report) . The company’s collaboration with SAP is aimed at enabling clients’ transition to the cloud and delivering continuous innovation with the help of the duo’s joint offerings.
Through its longstanding partnership with Adobe, Accenture uses Adobe Experience Cloud applications to address the business challenges of clients.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216560/accenture-acn-banks-on-service-strength-technological-prowess
| 2024-01-26T19:08:32Z
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CommVault Systems (CVLT - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2024 results on Jan 30.
For third-quarter fiscal 2024, CVLT expects total revenues between $206 million and $210 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 7% at the midpoint. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $208.3 million, suggesting a 6.78% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
For the quarter, the consensus mark for earnings has remained steady at 73 cents per share in the past 30 days. The figure indicates 17.74% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice in the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 6.38%.
Let’s see how things have shaped up for this announcement.
Factors to Consider
CommVault Systems’ fiscal third quarter performance is expected to have benefited from steady demand for the company’s cyber resilience and data protection solutions by hybrid cloud organizations.
CVLT is introducing innovations that can help customers realize the benefits of AI and improve cyber resilience. The company is working with partners across the security tool chain, including security information and event management, security orchestration, automation and response, and network detection and response. Other security tool chain includes vulnerability and threat detection and assessment, incident management, and data governance and privacy.
This is expected to have aided subscription revenue growth in the to-be-reported quarter. For the fiscal third quarter, CommVault Systems expects subscription revenues, which includes both the software portion of term-based licenses and SaaS, between $106 million and $110 million. This figure indicates 24% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.
In the to-be-reported quarter, the company launched Commvault Cloud, powered by Metallic AI. This new platform is purpose-built for cyber resilience, which is designed to enable users to predict threats faster, make clean recoveries and accelerate threat response times, all at the lowest possible total cost of ownership.
The company is also pioneering new AI and security capabilities directly within Commvault Cloud. These include advanced threat prediction for preempting ransomware attacks and a feature CommVault Systems calls Cloudburst Recovery, which facilitates swift and automated data recovery across locations, contributing to seamless business continuity.
What Our Model Says
Per the Zacks model, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here.
CommVault Systems currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks to Consider
Here are some stocks worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this season.
Apple (AAPL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.13% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Apple is scheduled to release first-quarter fiscal 2024 results on Feb 1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AAPL’s earnings is pegged at $2.08 per share, suggesting a jump of 10.6% from the prior-year quarter.
A. O. Smith (AOS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.80% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
A. O. Smith is set to report its fourth-quarter 2023 results on Jan 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AOS’ earnings is pegged at 95 cents per share, suggesting growth of 10.5% from the prior-year period’s reported figure.
Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.26% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Alphabet is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter 2023 results on Jan 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GOOGL’s earnings is pinned at $1.62 per share, indicating growth of 54.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216561/commvault-cvlt-to-report-q3-earnings-whats-in-store?
| 2024-01-26T19:08:38Z
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First Reliance Bancshares Inc. (FSRL - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.17 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to earnings of $0.18 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.19 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.21, delivering a surprise of 10.53%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
First Reliance Bancshares Inc.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
First Reliance Bancshares Inc. Shares have added about 0.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.6%.
What's Next for First Reliance Bancshares Inc.
While First Reliance Bancshares Inc. Has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for First Reliance Bancshares Inc. Mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.15 on $9.31 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.95 on $40.98 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 23% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the broader Zacks Finance sector, Vornado (VNO - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on February 12.
This real estate investment trust is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.59 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -18.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Vornado's revenues are expected to be $442 million, down 1.1% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216562/first-reliance-bancshares-inc-fsrl-q4-earnings-meet-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:08:44Z
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Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2023 results, wherein the top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year. Results benefited from strong top-line growth, improved organic volume performance, and gross and operating profit margin expansion.
On a Base Business basis (non-GAAP basis), earnings were 87 cents per share, up 13% from the prior-year period. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 85 cents.
Net sales of $4,950 million increased 7% from the year-ago quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,898 million. On an organic basis, too, the company’s sales advanced 7%. Total volumes were flat on an organic and reported basis, while pricing was up 7%. Currency had a neutral impact on sales in the quarter.
We estimated organic sales growth of 4.6% for the fourth quarter, with a 7.9% rise in pricing and a 3.3% decline in volume.
Gross profit of $2,950 million increased 14.6% year over year. The gross profit margin expanded 400 basis points (bps) to 59.6% on both GAAP and adjusted basis. We had expected gross margin expansion of 170 bps to 57.3% for the fourth quarter.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses grew 10.4% year over year to $1,803 million. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses expanded 110 bps year over year to 36.4%. We had predicted SG&A expenses, as a percentage of revenues, to expand 50 bps to 35.8%.
Colgate’s global market share in the manual toothbrushes category has reached 31.5% year to date. The company has maintained its leadership position in the global toothpaste market, with a market share of 41.1% year to date.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have rallied 13.1% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 4.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Segmental Discussion
North America’s net sales (20% of total sales) rose 3.5% year over year. The segment gained from a 3% increase in pricing and a 0.5% rise in volume. The company’s organic sales also improved 3.5%, driven by growth in oral care and personal care. Year to date, Colgate’s share in the toothpaste and manual toothbrush markets is 33.7% and 41.1%, respectively, in the United States.
Latin America’s net sales (24% of total sales) advanced 18% year over year on 8.5% pricing gains, an 8% increase in volume and a 1.5% favorable currency impact. On an organic basis, sales were up 16.5%, led by growth in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
Europe’s net sales (14% of the total sales) increased 10% year over year on a reported basis. The segment was driven by a 7.5% pricing gain and a 6.5% favorable currency impact, partly offset by a 4% decrease in volume. Organic sales were up 3.5%, driven by growth in the U.K., the Nordic region and Poland. This was partly offset by organic sales declines in the Filorga business and Italy.
The Asia Pacific segment’s net sales (14% of the total sales) were up 0.5% year over year, reflecting a 4.5% decline in volumes and a 0.5% impact of adverse currency, partly offset by a 5.5% rise in pricing. Organic sales improved 1% due to gains in India and Australia, partly offset by weakness in the Greater China region and Thailand.
Africa/Eurasia’s net sales (5% of the total sales) declined 4% year over year due to a 21% unfavorable currency impact, offset by a 7.5% increase in volume and 9.5% growth in pricing. Organic sales for the segment grew 17%, driven by growth in Turkiye, the Eurasia region, Nigeria and South Africa.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s net sales (23% of the total sales) improved 5% from the year-ago quarter on a reported basis and 4.5% on an organic basis. Results gained from an 8.5% increase in pricing and 0.5% positive currency impact, offset by a 4% decline in volume on a reported basis. Organic sales were aided by gains in the United States and Europe.
Other Financial Details
Colgate ended 2023 with cash and cash equivalents of $966 million and total debt of $8,549 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $3,745 million for the 12-months ended Dec 31, 2023. The free cash flow before dividends was $3,040 million.
Outlook
Management issued its sales and profit forecast for 2024. Colgate anticipates net sales growth of 1-4%, including a low-single-digit negative impact from currency. The company expects organic sales growth to be within its long-term targeted range of 3-5%.
The company foresees gross profit margin expansion and increased advertising investment on both GAAP and adjusted basis. The company expects adjusted earnings per share to grow in the mid to high-single-digits. On a GAAP basis, earnings per share are expected to increase in the double digits.
Other Stocks to Consider
Church & Dwight Co. (CHD - Free Report) , which offers a broad range of household, personal care and specialty products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. CHD delivered an earnings surprise of 10.1% in the trailing four quarters, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Church & Dwight’s current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 8.9% and 6.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Inter Parfums (IPAR - Free Report) , a wide range of fragrances and related products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. IPAR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.7%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Inter Parfums’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 20.9% and 19.9%, respectively, from the year-ago quarter’s reported figures.
e.l.f. Beauty (ELF - Free Report) , which operates as a cosmetic company, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. ELF has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 90.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for e.l.f. Beauty’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggest growth of 58.3% and 63.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216563/colgate-cl-q4-earnings-sales-beat-estimates-24-view-issued?-sales-beat-estimates,-%2724-view-issued
| 2024-01-26T19:08:48Z
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It was a week when oil prices rose while natural gas futures experienced heavy losses.
The headlines revolved around the December-quarter earnings of SLB (SLB - Free Report) and Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) . Developments associated with ExxonMobil (XOM - Free Report) , Shell (SHEL - Free Report) and Chevron (CVX - Free Report) also grabbed attention.
Overall, it was a mixed seven-day period for the sector. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased around 1% to close at $73.41 per barrel, but natural gas prices plunged some 24% to end at $2.52 per million British thermal units (MMBtu).
The crude price action flipped into positive territory after a weekly report from the Energy Information Administration showed shrinking supplies. The strong demand growth forecast for 2024 by the International Energy Agency and rising Middle East tensions further supported the commodity.
Meanwhile, natural gas fell sharply following bearish inventory numbers and predictions of weaker weather-related demand in late January.
Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories
1. SLB, the largest oilfield contractor, announced fourth-quarter 2023 earnings of 86 cents per share (excluding charges and credits), which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. SLB’s bottom line also significantly increased from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 71 cents.
SLB’s strong quarterly earnings resulted from higher evaluation and stimulation activity in the international market. As of Dec 31, 2023, the company had approximately $4 billion in cash and short-term investments. It had a long-term debt of $10.8 billion at the end of 2023.
SLB believes that the overall market fundamentals are clearly in favor of its business activities. Strong growth is expected from international and offshore markets, and the leading oilfield service provider is likely to benefit significantly from the region where it has a significant footprint. The anticipated capital investment for full-year 2024 (including capex, exploration data costs and APS investments) is $2.6 billion, which is in line with the previous year’s actuals.
2. Energy infrastructure provider Kinder Morgan reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 28 cents, slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. The bottom line was adversely affected by a decline in realized weighted natural gas liquid price and milder winter conditions observed in 2023. However, KMI’s fourth-quarter DCF was $1.2 billion, down $46 million from a year ago.
In its initial budget for 2024, KMI projected an EPS of $1.21 and DCF per share of $2.21, excluding the NextEra Energy Partners’ STX Midstream assets acquisition completed on Dec 28, 2023. With the inclusion of the acquisition, the revised 2024 budget reveals an increased EPS of $1.22, marking a 15% rise from 2023, and DCF per share of $2.26.
As of Dec 31, 2023, Kinder Morgan reported $83 million in cash and cash equivalents. Its long-term debt amounted to $27.9 billion at the quarter-end. In its initial budget for 2024, KMI also set its adjusted EBITDA guidance of $8.2 billion and a dividend of $1.15 per share for 2024, suggesting an increase from the prior-year reported figure of $1.13. (Kinder Morgan Lags on Q4 Earnings, Ups '24 EPS Guidance)
3. ExxonMobil, the U.S.-based energy giant, signed an agreement to purchase an additional 1.2 million metric tons per year (MMtpa) of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) from Mexico Pacific on a free-on-board basis.
This 20-year supply deal with ExxonMobil paves the way for Mexico Pacific to reach a final investment decision to expand its Saguaro Energia LNG Plant, situated on the west coast of Mexico.
The deal follows the exercise of options by ExxonMobil for additional volumes under separate sales and purchase agreements signed in January 2023. Per the terms of the aforementioned agreement, ExxonMobil purchased 2 million tons per year of LNG from Saguaro Energia’s first two LNG Trains. The Saguaro Energia project, worth $15 billion, has been planned to transport 15 MMtpa of LNG to Asia. (ExxonMobil Signs a 20-year Agreement for LNG Purchase)
4. Shell recently announced its final investment decision on the Victory gas project in the West of Shetland waters. This monumental decision, taken 47 years after the field's original discovery by Texaco, signifies a crucial development in the challenging environment of the Atlantic Margin.
The London-based energy biggie’s decision to greenlight the Victory gas project is a testament to its commitment to sustaining domestic production amid a decline in the U.K.'s demand for oil and gas. The field, located 47 kilometers northwest of the Shetland Islands, was heavily assessed before the final investment decision, showcasing Shell's dedication to ensuring the project's viability.
With expectations to come online in the middle of this decade, the project is poised to produce approximately 150 million cubic feet per day of gas at its peak. The majority of the field's recoverable gas, estimated at 180 billion cubic feet, is anticipated to be extracted from its Block 207/1a location by the end of this decade. (Shell's Victory Gas Project to Boost U.K. Production).
5. U.S. supermajor Chevron has disclosed its intention to divest its shale-gas business in Alberta's Duvernay field, signaling a strategic effort to streamline operations following recent acquisitions. Boasting a 70% interest in around 235,000 acres, Chevron currently yields 40,000 barrels of oil and gas per day from these assets.
Analysts project the Duvernay assets' value to be as high as $900 million. This divestment aligns with Chevron's broader strategy to shed $10 to $15 billion in assets, emphasizing an intensified focus on high-performing sectors. While the Duvernay field holds substantial value, its sale underscores Chevron's dedication to optimizing its global portfolio. In actively seeking potential buyers, the overarching objective is portfolio diversification, prioritizing high-return assets, geographical diversity, and reduced carbon intensity.
The Duvernay move is part of its broader asset divestment strategy, following the $53 billion Hess Corp. acquisition. Over the past few years, the company’s other significant buyouts include PDC Energy and Noble Energy, which have significantly expanded Chevron's oil and gas output. (Chevron Plans Duvernay Asset Sale, Optimizes Portfolio).
Price Performance
The following table shows the price movement of some major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last six months.
Company Last Week Last 6 Months
XOM -3% -6.8%
CVX -3.4% -10.2%
COP -3.4% -4.4%
OXY -2.8% -6.5%
SLB -0.6% -9.5%
RIG -4.1% -33.1%
VLO -2.5% +5%
MPC -2.8% +22.8%
With oil staying essentially unchanged and natural gas moving down for the week, stocks were mostly negative. The Energy Select Sector SPDR — a popular way to track energy companies — fell 3% last week. Over the past six months, the sector tracker has decreased 4.5%.
What’s Next in the Energy World?
As usual, market participants will closely track the regular releases to look for guidance on the direction of the commodities. In this context, the U.S. government’s statistics on oil and natural gas — one of the few solid indicators that come out regularly — will be on energy traders' radar. Data on rig count from the oilfield service firm Baker Hughes, which is a pointer to the trends in U.S. crude/natural gas production, is closely followed, too.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216564/oil-gas-stock-roundup-q4-earnings-from-slb-kmi-more?-gas-stock-roundup:-q4-earnings-from-slb,-kmi-&-more
| 2024-01-26T19:08:54Z
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American Tower Corporation’s (AMT - Free Report) extensive and geographically diversified communication real estate portfolio is going to benefit from increased investments by wireless carriers in 4G and 5G networks. Its expansionary efforts augur well for long-term growth, though customer concentration and high interest rates pose key concerns.
What’s Aiding It?
With the advancement in mobile technology, such as 4G and 5G networks and the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive applications, mobile data usage has increased significantly globally. The rampant use of network-intensive applications for video conferencing, cloud services and hybrid-working scenarios is likely to fuel the rise.
This has led to greater capital spending by wireless carriers amid incremental demand from global 4G and 5G deployment efforts, growing wireless penetration and spectrum auctions, aiding demand for AMT’s wireless communication infrastructure. This upbeat trend is likely to continue in the upcoming period, boosting demand for the company’s assets and driving healthy leasing activity.
American Tower has a solid track record of delivering healthy performance due to the robust demand for its global macro tower-oriented asset base. The company has witnessed strong growth in key financial metrics while continuing platform expansion.
In the third quarter of 2023, it recorded healthy year-over-year organic tenant billings growth of 6.3% and total tenant billings growth of 7.3%. Also, in the nine months ended Sep 30, 2023, revenues from the property segment and adjusted EBITDA increased 5.2% and 7.9% on a year-over-year basis, respectively.
Amid secular growth trends in the wireless industry, healthy performance is expected to have continued in 2023, with management projecting property revenues and adjusted EBITDA growth to be 4.5% and 6.1%, respectively, at the midpoint.
AMT continues to focus on macro-tower investment opportunities and gaining scale in attractive global markets. It has built more than 45,000 international sites since it began expanding internationally. Around 8,000 of these sites have been built in Africa as carriers continue to invest in their network coverage and densification needs.
Further, for the nine months ended Sep 30, 2023, it purchased 69 communications sites, as well as other communications infrastructure assets in the United States, Canada, France, Poland and Spain for $65.7 million.
American Tower has a robust operating platform and ample liquidity to support its debt servicing. Its consistent adjusted EBITDA margins and revenue growth, as well as favorable return on invested capital, indicate the strength in its underlying core business and support its ability to manage its near-term obligations.
On the balance sheet front, American Tower exited the third quarter of 2023 with $9.7 billion in total liquidity and a net leverage ratio of 5.0. Additionally, the company’s investment-grade credit ratings enable it to borrow at a favorable rate.
AMT has a decent capital distribution strategy and remains committed to increasing shareholder value through regular dividend hikes. The company has consistently increased its quarterly dividends since 2012, and its average annual dividend per share has grown more than 20% since then.
Also, in the last five years, American Tower has increased its dividend 19 times, and the annualized dividend growth rate for this period is 14.68%. This is attractive to income investors and represents a steady income stream. Check American Tower’s dividend history here.
What’s Hurting It?
American Tower has a high customer concentration, with T-Mobile (TMUS - Free Report) , AT&T (T - Free Report) and Verizon Wireless contributing 17%, 13% and 12%, respectively, of its property revenues for the third quarter of 2023. The loss of TMUS, T or Verizon Wireless as customers, consolidation among them or reduction in network spending could adversely impact the company’s top-line growth.
The merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, which closed in April 2020, resulted in tower site overlap for American Tower. For the nine months ended Sep 30, 2023, the churn was roughly 3% of its tenant billings, mainly driven by the churn in its U.S. & Canada property segment. Given the contractual lease cancellations and non-renewals by T-Mobile, including legacy Sprint Corporation leases, management expects the churn rate in its U.S. & Canada property segment to remain elevated for several years through 2025.
Amid a high-interest rate environment, American Tower may find it difficult to purchase or develop real estate with borrowed funds as the costs are likely to be on the higher side.
The company has a substantial debt burden and its total consolidated debt as of Sep 30, 2023, was approximately $38.6 billion. Moreover, with high interest rates in place, the dividend payout may seem less attractive than the yields on fixed-income and money market accounts.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216565/should-you-retain-american-tower-amt-in-your-portfolio-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:09:00Z
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Federated Hermes, Inc.’s (FHI - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2023 earnings per share of 96 cents outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. The bottom line jumped 52.4% from the year-ago quarter.
An increase in net investment advisory fees and net administrative service fees are the major driving factors. Moreover, reduced expense levels were tailwinds.
Net income was $82.2 million, up 45.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Earnings per share of $3.40 for 2023 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.28. Last year, the company reported earnings per share of $2.65. Net income was $299 million, up 24.8% from the year-ago period.
Revenues Improve, Operating Expenses Decline
Total revenues improved 4.7% year over year to $391.5 million. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $396.4 million. The rise was driven by an increase in net investment advisory fees and net administrative service fees.
Revenues for 2023 improved 11.3% year over year to $1.61 billion. The top line was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Quarterly net investment advisory fees grew 3% to $264.7 million. While net other service fees decreased 13% to $35.9 million, net administrative service fees jumped 19.9% to $90.9 million.
In the reported quarter, Federated Hermes derived 50% of its total revenues from money market assets, 29% from equity, 12% from fixed-income assets, 8% from alternative/private markets and multi-asset, and the remaining 1% from sources other than managed assets.
Total operating expenses declined 6.8% year over year to $288.9 million. Our expectation for the metric was $301.6 million.
Federated Hermes recorded net non-operating income of $14.7 million compared with $11.4 million in the prior-year quarter.
As of Dec 31, 2023, cash and other investments, and total long-term debt were $560.7 million and $347.8 million compared with $521.8 million and $347.6 million, respectively, as of Dec 31, 2022.
Asset Position Increase
As of Dec 31, 2023, total managed assets were $757.6 billion, up 13% year over year. FHI witnessed money-market assets of $560 billion, up 17% year over year. Fixed-income assets increased 9.4% to $94.9 billion.
Equity assets of $79.3 billion declined 2.7% from the prior-year quarter. Moreover, alternative/private market assets decreased 1.2% to $20.6 billion. Our expectations for money-market assets, fixed-income assets, equity assets and alternative/private market assets were $499.2 billion, $87.1 billion, $80.6 billion and $20.8 billion, respectively.
Average managed assets totaled $728 billion, up 15% year over year.
Capital Distribution Update
The company declared quarterly cash dividend of 28 cents per share, which will be paid on Feb 15, 2024, to shareholders of record as of Feb 8.
The company repurchased 1,902,861 shares of its class B common stock for $61 million in the reported quarter.
Our Viewpoint
Federated Hermes displays substantial growth potential, supported by its diverse asset and product mix, and a solid liquidity position. Though uncertain markets pose concerns, a solid asset under management balance will likely aid its financials.
Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Release Dates of Other Asset Managers
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) is slated to announce fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 numbers on Feb 8.
Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for TROW’s quarterly earnings has increased 1.3% to $1.60 per share. This implies an 8.1% decline from the prior-year reported number.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) is slated to announce first-quarter fiscal 2024 numbers on Jan 29 .
Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BEN’s quarterly earnings has increased 1.8% to 57 cents. This implies an 11.8% rise from the prior-year reported number.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216566/federated-hermes-fhi-q4-earnings-top-estimates-costs-fall
| 2024-01-26T19:09:06Z
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Baker Hughes Company (BKR - Free Report) projected a decrease in drilling and well completion spending in North America for 2024.
The forecast comes amid ongoing volatility in commodity prices, significantly impacting the industry’s dynamics.
Lorenzo Simonelli, the CEO of Baker Hughes, expressed that there is a continued lack of momentum in North American activity. He anticipates no substantial improvement in activity during the initial half of 2024. This indicates the company’s cautious stance in response to the growing unpredictability of the market.
The reduction in expenditure is not limited to the prominent U.S. oilfield technology firm Baker Hughes alone. Shale producers are cutting back on drilling activities due to declining prices. Numerous U.S. oil producers are presently sustaining production at levels sufficient to maintain stability, with a newfound focus on maximizing returns for investors rather than pursuing traditional production growth.
EOG Resources Inc. (EOG - Free Report) , one of the most significant independent shale producers, expects U.S. crude production growth to be less than half of what was observed in 2023, given the decline in domestic drilling activity. The company does not plan to increase activity in its core regions this year but may consider expanding drilling in its emerging Utica Shale fields, spanning Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Regarding numerical projections, Baker Hughes foresees a reduction in spending by low to mid-single digits in North America for 2024. This stands in contrast to the outlook of Halliburton Company (HAL - Free Report) , a competing company with a more substantial presence in the North America market, which expressed expectations of consistent activity levels in the continent.
The financial outlook for Baker Hughes also reflects broader industry challenges. The company anticipates revenues of $6.10-$6.60 billion for first-quarter 2024. This forecast falls short of analysts’ expectations, which were pegged at $6.51 billion, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group. The projected shortfall is attributed to a seasonal decline in international revenues and a slow start on U.S. land.
Internationally, Baker Hughes has revised its oilfield spending growth projections for 2024. The company expects high-single-digit growth, a reduction from its earlier forecast of low-double-digit growth. This adjustment underscores the global impacts of fluctuating commodity prices and shifting market dynamics.
Baker Hughes’ projections for 2024 paint a picture of an oil industry grappling with uncertainty and changing market forces. As commodity prices remain volatile and shale producers adapt their strategies, firms like Baker Hughes are recalibrating their expectations and bracing for a year of cautious navigation through a challenging economic landscape.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216567/baker-hughes-bkr-expects-drop-in-north-america-drilling-spend
| 2024-01-26T19:09:13Z
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Marriott International, Inc. (MAR - Free Report) opened doors of its debut brand, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, in December 2023, with the intention of expanding its product portfolio with premium and luxury apartment-style accommodations. The positive approach toward its first property launch, Casa Costera, Isla Verde Beach, in San Juan, Puerto Rico encouraged the announcement of the upcoming property openings under this brand.
Marriott is all set to bring Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy in the United States, Italy and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signing development agreements for the respective new openings.
The properties under this brand offer homely experience to its guests, housing amenities comprising private bedrooms, a separate living room, full kitchen, and in-unit washer and dryer. From an owner’s point of view, these properties offer residential and hotel developers a distinctive opportunity to transform an existing building, pursue a new build or integrate as part of such a multi-use property. Furthermore, every project will be leveraging Marriott’s brand image and offer benefits under the loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy.
Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy is subject to further expansion opportunities, with the company expecting to expand the global presence through 2024 and beyond.
Details on the Upcoming Openings
In the US, Mariott signed development agreements in Detroit, MI, and St. Louis, MO. The Detroit location’s development agreement is inked with Roxbury Group. The construction will be made by converting The Plaza Apartments in Midtown Detroit. This property is expected to open in the third quarter of 2024. The St. Louis location’s development agreement is anticipated to be made with Midas Hospitality.
In Italy, the company signed development agreements in Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, with Castello Sgr for the opening of Le Géant, an Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy property.
In Saudi Arabia, MAR inked a development agreement with NEOM for the brand’s debut in Sindalah, an island located on the northwest coast of the country among the Red Sea. This marks the fourth collaboration between Marriott and NEOM for the construction of property on the island. The opening is expected in 2024.
Expansion Initiatives Bode Well
Marriott is consistently trying to expand its presence worldwide and capitalize on the demand for hotels in international markets. The company plans to significantly expand its global portfolio of luxury and lifestyle brands. By leveraging the demand patterns, it consistently focuses on expanding its footprint, primarily in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Marriott, which shares space with Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H - Free Report) , Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH - Free Report) and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT - Free Report) , has been benefiting from the expansion of global footprint across diversified brand portfolios. Despite volatile economic environment, the company’s global development pipeline comprised almost 3,400 hotels and approximately 573,000 rooms at the end of 2023, showcasing a remarkable 15% uptick compared with the prior year.
A Brief Review of the Above-Mentioned Stocks
Hyatt: The company is benefiting from solid leisure-transient demand, recovery in business travel demand, increased system-wide group travel and favorable pricing. H’s focus on enriching its portfolio through strategic initiatives allows it to deliver unique experiences to its guests, expand its global presence and strengthen the role of the Hyatt loyalty program. Furthermore, its emphasis on asset-light deals to broaden presence in key markets and service platforms bodes well.
Choice Hotels: The company’s uptrend is attributable to synergies through the Radisson Hotels Americas integration and momentum in the conversion projects pipeline. The focus on continual expansion strategies through acquisitions and franchise agreements bodes well. CHH focuses on expansion strategies, enhancement of the mid-scale brand, and transformation and advancement of the Comfort brands to drive growth. Furthermore, its recent announcement on restyling and enhancing the on-property experiences in five out of the eight brands across its upscale and upper upscale portfolio is encouraging.
Hilton: The boost in the company’s performance is primarily driven by an upward trend in travel and tourism. Owing to strong leisure demand and recovery in international inbound travel, the company is witnessing substantial RevPAR gains in Europe, the Middle East and Africa region and expects the momentum to persist for some time. Moreover, HLT focus on unit expansion, hotel conversions, strategic partnerships and loyalty programs bode well. The company expects positive development trends to continue on the back of new development and conversion opportunities.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216568/marriott-mar-plans-expansion-of-apartments-by-marriott-bonvoy
| 2024-01-26T19:09:19Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, First Hawaiian (FHB - Free Report) reported revenue of $210.14 million, down 4.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.37, compared to $0.62 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +4.29% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $201.51 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.45, the EPS surprise was -17.78%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how First Hawaiian performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net charge-offs: 0.2% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 0.1%.
- Total Non-Accrual Loans and Leases: $18.60 million compared to the $16.63 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net interest margin: 2.8% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 2.8%.
- Efficiency Ratio: 67.3% versus 58.9% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Average Balance - Total Earning Assets: $21.69 billion compared to the $22.23 billion average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Non-Performing Assets: $18.60 million compared to the $18.30 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Noninterest Income: $58.35 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $47.46 million.
- Net Interest Income: $151.79 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $154.05 million.
- Bank-owned life insurance: $5.06 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.64 million.
- Net Interest Income (FTE): $153.20 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $155.76 million.
- Other service charges and fees: $9.54 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $9.47 million.
- Noninterest income- Other: $9.29 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.05 million.
Shares of First Hawaiian have returned -6.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216569/compared-to-estimates-first-hawaiian-fhb-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-26T19:09:25Z
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Mid Penn Bancorp (MPB - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.73 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.61 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.99 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 19.67%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.67 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.57, delivering a surprise of -14.93%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.
Mid Penn Bancorp
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Mid Penn Bancorp shares have lost about 1.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.6%.
What's Next for Mid Penn Bancorp?
While Mid Penn Bancorp has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Mid Penn Bancorp: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.66 on $42.82 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.81 on $179.82 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Northeast is currently in the top 25% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Isabella Bank Corporation (ISBA - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023.
This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.69 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -16.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Isabella Bank Corporation's revenues are expected to be $20.8 million, up 6.5% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216572/mid-penn-bancorp-mpb-q4-earnings-and-revenues-surpass-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:09:31Z
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EPAM Systems (EPAM - Free Report) recently launched its Retail Media Orchestration Toolkit, built in collaboration with Alphabet’s (GOOGL - Free Report) Google Cloud. This toolkit is developed to solve the challenges that retailers face while scaling their business through retail media advertising space.
EPAM’s Toolkit is developed as part of Alphabet’s Google Cloud Industry Value Network (IVN) initiative, which aims to create flexible solutions for retail media. IVN functions in collaboration with integrators, independent software vendors and content partners to build pre-integrated solutions.
The Toolkit unifies features, including multichannel reporting, automated omnichannel measurement for understanding sales impact, advanced audience creation using Google Cloud analytics and insightful analysis of brand and consumer data. These features will enable brands to create effective campaigns and make informed media investment decisions.
Salesforce (CRM - Free Report) and Moloco are among the first to work closely with EPAM to incorporate and utilize the toolkit's features like providing feedback, testing functionalities and exploring use cases together. The use of this toolkit will increase with the influx of more large-scale brands as the retail media will improve by 9.3% from 2022 to 2028, as suggested by the data released by WPP’s GroupM and IPG Mediabrands’ Magna.
EPAM's collaboration with Alphabet to enter into the retail Media advertising space is not its first significant cloud-based partnership. The company has been steadily enhancing its cloud capabilities after collaborating with Amazon’s (AMZN - Free Report) division, Amazon Web Services (“AWS”).
EPAM Systems is an Advanced AWS Consulting Partner and offers various AWS cloud services to tackle common cloud issues. EPAM helps businesses migrate to the cloud, develop cloud-native solutions or manage services and provide other customized AWS cloud solutions.
EPAM is set to benefit significantly from the growth of the cloud computing market. According to a report by MarketsAndMarkets, the cloud computing market is projected to reach $1.24 trillion in 2028 from $626.4 billion in 2023, witnessing a compound annual growth rate of 15.1% during the forecast period.
The company is benefiting from the ongoing digital transformation in businesses and their emphasis on customer engagement and product development. However, the near-term outlook for EPAM appears dim due to a slow demand environment, with organizations becoming more cautious about IT spending amid macroeconomic challenges. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to persist, causing disruptions to the company's business operations in the near term, as many of its delivery centers are located in Central and Eastern Europe.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216573/epam-systems-epam-introduces-retail-media-accelerators
| 2024-01-26T19:09:38Z
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Denison Mine Corp. (DNN - Free Report) and its McClean Lake Joint Venture (“MLJV”) partner, Orano Canada Inc., announced that MLJV approved the restart of uranium mining operations using the JV's unique Surface Access Borehole Resource Extraction ("SABRE") mining process. This move will help the companies capitalize on the strengthening uranium market.
In 2024, MLJV plans to focus on preparations necessary to ready the existing SABRE mining site and equipment for continuous commercial operations. It will prepare for the installation of eight pilot holes for the initial mining cavities scheduled for excavation. The approved budget for this preparation activities in 2024 is $7 million (100% basis).
Mining is scheduled to begin at the McClean North deposit in 2025. Approximately 800,000 pounds of triuranium octoxide (100% basis) are expected to be produced from McClean North in 2025, with an additional 3,000,000 pounds of triuranium octoxide (100% basis) identified for production from McClean North and Caribou deposits between 2026 and 2030.
Orano Canada owns 77.5% of the MLJV and operates it, whereas Denison Mine owns 22.5%.
Mining at McClean lake was halted in 2008 due to falling uranium prices. During the intervening 15 years, the MLJV spent developing a patented mining process designed to selectively extract high-grade Athabasca Basin uranium ores from the surface.
SABRE is the result of a mining equipment innovation and development initiative that began in 2004. The campaign ended in 2021 with the completion of a multi-year mining test program that yielded around 1,500 tons of high-value ore.
The successful mining test of the SABRE technology in 2021 granted MLJV valuable information about the productivity and cost of SABRE operations. This information shows an incentive price that is significantly lower than current uranium prices, providing the JV with a strong basis for making the decision to restart mining at McClean lake .
Denison Mine reported adjusted earnings of 5 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023 against an adjusted loss of 1 cent reported in the prior-year quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s third-quarter bottom line was pegged at a loss of 1 cent. It posted revenues of $2 million, flat year over year.
DNN belongs to the Mining - Miscellaneous industry, along with Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc. (AMR - Free Report) , Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM - Free Report) and Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL - Free Report) .
Let’s discuss its peer’s third-quarter 2023 performances.
Alpha Metallurgical Resources reported adjusted earnings of $6.65 per share in the third quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.50. This compares to the year-ago quarter’s adjusted earnings of $14.21 per share. The company posted revenues of $742 million, down from the prior-year quarter’s $870 million. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $706 million.
Wheaton Precious reported adjusted earnings per share of 27 cents in third-quarter 2023, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of 25 cents. The bottom line increased 29% year over year. Wheaton Precious generated revenues of around $223 million in the quarter, which rose 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. The top line, however, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $242 million.
Piedmont Lithium came out with adjusted earnings of 88 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 per share. PLL reported an adjusted loss of 36 cents per share in the third quarter of 2022. The company posted revenues of $47 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $57 million.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216574/denison-mines-dnn-jv-to-restart-mcclean-lake-mining-activity
| 2024-01-26T19:09:44Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Middlefield Banc Corp. (MBCN - Free Report) reported revenue of $16.98 million, up 2.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.44, compared to $0.79 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -4.62% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.8 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.53, the EPS surprise was -16.98%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Middlefield Banc Corp. performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 3.7% compared to the 3.8% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Efficiency ratio: 69% versus 69% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Total Noninterest Income: $1.60 million versus $1.85 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Middlefield Banc Corp. have returned -9.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216576/middlefield-banc-corp-mbcn-q4-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:09:50Z
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United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. (UBAB - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.95 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.86 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.43 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 58.60%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $1.72 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.99, delivering a surprise of 15.70%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. Shares have lost about 1.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.6%.
What's Next for United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.
While United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. Has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. Favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.71 on $17.38 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $6.88 on $71.79 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 23% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. (BNL - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Finance sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on February 21.
This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.36 per share in its upcoming report, which represents no change from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.5% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $110.31 million, down 1.6% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216578/united-bancorporation-of-alabama-inc-ubab-q4-earnings-and-revenues-surpass-estimates
| 2024-01-26T19:09:56Z
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Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings per share of $2.41, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.33 by 3.4%. The bottom line rose 11% year over year.
Net revenues improved 9% year over year to $8.6 billion in the quarter under review. The top line beat the consensus mark by 1.5%.
The quarterly results benefited on the back of expanding payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions. Strong consumer spending and a decline in overall expenses drove Visa’s performance. However, the upside was partly offset by an increase in client incentives.
Q1 Business Drivers
Visa's payments volume increased 8% year over year on a constant-dollar basis in the fiscal first quarter, attributable to expanding operations across Europe, CEMEA and LAC regions. Processed transactions (implying transactions processed by V) grew 9% year over year to 57.5 billion but missed our estimate of 57.6 billion.
On a constant-dollar basis, the cross-border volume of Visa climbed 16% year over year in the quarter under review. Excluding transactions within Europe, its cross-border volume (that boosts a company’s international transaction revenues) also rose 16% year over year on a constant-dollar basis.
Q1 Operational Performance
Service revenues of $3.9 billion grew 11% year over year in the December quarter on the back of improved payment volumes. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.8 billion. Data processing revenues of the company climbed 14% year over year to $4.4 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.3 billion and our estimate of $4.2 billion.
International transaction revenues amounted to $3.02 billion, which improved 8% year over year in the fiscal first quarter. The metric benefited from increased cross-border volume but missed the consensus mark of $3.06 billion and our estimate of $3.1 billion. Other revenues rose 18% year over year to $692 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $678 million and our estimate of $648.9 million.
Client incentives (a contra-revenue item) escalated 20% year over year to $3.35 billion in the quarter under review and beat our estimate of $3.3 billion. The metric accounted for 27.9% of the company’s gross revenues of $12 billion.
Operating expenses of Visa declined 6% year over year to $2.7 billion in the fiscal first quarter due to lower litigation provision expense. Interest expenses of $187 million escalated 36.5% year over year.
Balance Sheet (as of Dec 31, 2023)
Visa exited the December quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $13.6 billion, which fell 16.5% from the fiscal 2023 year-end level.
Total assets of $91.4 billion inched up 1% from the fiscal 2023 year-end level.
V’s long-term debt amounted to $20.7 billion, which inched up 1.2% from the fiscal 2023 year-end level.
Total equity of $39.7 billion increased 2.6% from the fiscal 2023 year-end figure.
Decline in Cash Flows
Visa generated net cash from operations of $3.6 billion in the fiscal first quarter, which declined 13.4% year over year. Free cash flows are recorded at $3.3 billion, down 14.7% year over year.
Capital Deployment Update
Visa rewarded $4.4 billion to shareholders via share buybacks and dividends in the December quarter. V had leftover authorized funds of $26.4 billion under its repurchase program as of Dec 31, 2023.
On Jan 23, 2024, management sanctioned a quarterly cash dividend of 52 cents per share, which will be paid out on Mar 1, 2024, to shareholders of record as of Feb 9, 2024.
Business Update
Visa completed the Pismo buyout on Jan 16, 2024. The acquisition of the global cloud-native issuer processing and core banking platform provider is expected to enable V to provide enhanced core banking and issuer processing capabilities across various card types.
Fiscal 2Q24 Outlook
On an adjusted constant-dollar basis, net revenues are anticipated to witness upper mid to high single-digit growth. Operating expenses are estimated to grow in low double digits on an adjusted constant-dollar basis.
Fiscal 2024 View
Management continues to expect net revenues to grow in low double digits on an adjusted constant-dollar basis in fiscal 2024. Operating expense is expected to witness low double-digit growth on an adjusted constant-dollar basis compared with the earlier guidance of high single-digit to low double-digit growth.
Amortization of acquired intangible assets is projected at around $175 million or 7 cents per share. Acquisition-related costs are expected at roughly $115 million or 5 cents per share.
Zacks Rank
Visa currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Upcoming Earnings Releases
Here are three other companies from the Business Services space that are set to report their respective quarterly earnings soon.
PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +10.35% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAGS’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pegged at 29 cents per share, suggesting a 20.8% rise from the prior-year quarter’s reported number.
PagSeguro Digital’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 8.95%.
FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. (FLT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.37% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FLT’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pinned at $4.47 per share, implying 10.6% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
FLEETCOR Technologies’ earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and matched the mark once, the average surprise being 1.64%.
Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.33% and a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MA’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pegged at $3.08 per share, suggesting a 16.2% rise from the prior-year quarter’s reported number.
Mastercard’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.55%.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216579/visa-v-q1-earnings-beat-estimates-on-payments-volume-growth
| 2024-01-26T19:10:02Z
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Skechers U.S.A., Inc.’s (SKX - Free Report) entrance into sports categories and strategic alliances underscore its commitment to innovation and adaptability in the market. These efforts reflect a pro-active strategy to capture market segments and respond to changing consumer tastes.
Management’s strategic vision is clear in its efforts to leverage the increasing demand for comfort technology products, establishing Skechers as the preferred brand for consumers seeking style and functionality. Additionally, SKX's investments in digital capabilities have not only enhanced its e-commerce presence but also improved customer engagement.
The company offers a broad selection of products spanning fashion, athletic, non-athletic and work footwear at appealing prices. The brand has recently shifted its emphasis toward comfort-oriented footwear and apparel, aligning with the growing consumer trend toward more relaxed lifestyles in work and leisure settings.
In a strategic move to enhance its footprint in North America, Europe and other crucial regions, Skechers has rolled out three collections in partnership with Snoop Dogg. This initiative, coupled with collaborations with Martha Stewart and the Rolling Stones, has significantly boosted the brand's profile.
Innovation is at the heart of Skechers' operations, as seen in unique offerings like the Hands-Free Slip-ins and Arch Fit. The brand's marketing strategies, leveraging global influencers, underscore its dedication to merging comfort with modern style.
The Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) segment plays a vital role in Skechers' business model, with DTC sales rising 23.8% year over year in the third quarter of 2023, reaching $850.4 million and representing 42% of the total sales.
The company saw a 14.1% increase in domestic DTC sales and a significant 33.3% jump in international DTC sales year over year. The DTC unit volume also grew 18.8%, alongside a 4.3% increase in the average selling price. The exceptional performance of its retail stores worldwide and the success on international e-commerce platforms have been instrumental in driving this growth.
Financial Goals
Skechers has set ambitious sales targets, aiming to reach $10 billion in annual sales by 2026. With management actively investing in store openings, omnichannel capabilities and expanding distribution, particularly in key markets like India, China and Chile, the company appears optimistic about achieving its sales target of $7.95-$8.05 billion and earnings per share target of $3.33-$3.43 for financial year 2023.
To wrap up, Skechers has showcased significant growth and adaptability by venturing into new sports categories and forging strategic partnerships. With a notable uptick in DTC sales and a product lineup focused on comfort, Skechers is poised for sustained success, surpassing industry standards and confidently advancing toward its ambitious sales objectives.
Other Players in the Industry
As Skechers continues to make waves in the footwear industry, it is essential to take a closer look at the broader competitive landscape.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) is a leading designer, producer and brand manager of innovative, niche footwear and accessories developed for outdoor sports, and other lifestyle-related activities.
Deckers is committed to building HOKA into a major player in the performance athletic market. The HOKA brand is expected to rise more than 20% in fiscal 2024, with most of the increase likely to come from the brand's DTC business. Deckers’ UGG brand’s revenues are anticipated to rise in the low-single digits, backed by international expansion and gains from DTC.
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO - Free Report) is a specialty retailer of casual apparel, accessories and footwear for men and women. The company’s efforts to rationalize inventory and contain costs are paying off.
The strong performances of key brands like American Eagle and Aerie, coupled with expansions into premium and activewear segments, indicate growth potential. The introduction of store designs and online enhancements demonstrates its commitment to improving the customer experience.
Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN - Free Report) is a lifestyle specialty retailer that offers fashion apparel and accessories, footwear, home décor and gift items. The company seems a promising bet due to its solid business strategies and sound fundamentals.
Management has been strengthening its direct-to-consumer business, enhancing productivity across existing channels and optimizing inventory levels. URBN’s strategic growth initiative, the FP Movement and store-growth endeavors are also impressive.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216580/skechers-skx-gains-from-robust-sportswear-e-commerce?-e-commerce
| 2024-01-26T19:10:09Z
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All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
ACNB in Focus
Headquartered in Gettysburg, ACNB (ACNB - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 3.33% so far this year. The bank is paying out a dividend of $0.3 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.59% compared to the Banks - Southwest industry's yield of 0.8% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6%.
Taking a look at the company's dividend growth, its current annualized dividend of $1.20 is up 5.3% from last year. ACNB has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis over the last 5 years for an average annual increase of 3.78%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Right now, ACNB's payout ratio is 25%, which means it paid out 25% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for ACNB for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is $3.93 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 5.93%.
Bottom Line
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, ACNB presents a compelling investment opportunity; it's not only an attractive dividend play, but the stock also boasts a strong Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216581/acnb-acnb-is-a-top-dividend-stock-right-now-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:15Z
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All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Popular in Focus
Headquartered in Hato Rey, Popular (BPOP - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 4.58% so far this year. The company that runs Banco Popular and other banks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Is paying out a dividend of $0.62 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.89% compared to the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.61% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6%.
Taking a look at the company's dividend growth, its current annualized dividend of $2.48 is up 9.3% from last year. Popular has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis over the last 5 years for an average annual increase of 16.79%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Right now, Popular's payout ratio is 22%, which means it paid out 22% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for BPOP for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is $8.46 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 3.55%.
Bottom Line
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, BPOP presents a compelling investment opportunity; it's not only an attractive dividend play, but the stock also boasts a strong Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216582/popular-bpop-is-a-top-dividend-stock-right-now-should-you-buy?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:21Z
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All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
First Savings Financial in Focus
Based in Jeffersonville, First Savings Financial (FSFG - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 7.14%. The bank holding company is paying out a dividend of $0.14 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.11% compared to the Financial - Savings and Loan industry's yield of 3.23% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6%.
In terms of dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.56 is up 1.8% from last year. Over the last 5 years, First Savings Financial has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 31.25%. Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth as well as payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. First Savings Financial's current payout ratio is 33%, meaning it paid out 33% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for FSFG for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is $2.15 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 16.22%.
Bottom Line
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, FSFG is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold).
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216583/why-first-savings-financial-fsfg-is-a-great-dividend-stock-right-now
| 2024-01-26T19:10:27Z
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Investors looking for stocks in the Industrial Services sector might want to consider either Siemens AG (SIEGY - Free Report) or Ashtead Group PLC (ASHTY - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Currently, Siemens AG has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Ashtead Group PLC has a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell). This means that SIEGY's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.
Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.
SIEGY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 16.47, while ASHTY has a forward P/E of 16.81. We also note that SIEGY has a PEG ratio of 2.19. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. ASHTY currently has a PEG ratio of 2.26.
Another notable valuation metric for SIEGY is its P/B ratio of 2.56. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, ASHTY has a P/B of 4.48.
These metrics, and several others, help SIEGY earn a Value grade of B, while ASHTY has been given a Value grade of D.
SIEGY stands above ASHTY thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that SIEGY is the superior value option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216584/siegy-or-ashty-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:34Z
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Investors interested in stocks from the Technology Services sector have probably already heard of Amadeus IT Group SA Unsponsored ADR (AMADY - Free Report) and Trane Technologies (TT - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.
Amadeus IT Group SA Unsponsored ADR and Trane Technologies are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that AMADY has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
AMADY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 22.96, while TT has a forward P/E of 25.28. We also note that AMADY has a PEG ratio of 1.34. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. TT currently has a PEG ratio of 1.96.
Another notable valuation metric for AMADY is its P/B ratio of 6.63. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, TT has a P/B of 8.56.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to AMADY's Value grade of B and TT's Value grade of C.
AMADY has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than TT, so it seems like value investors will conclude that AMADY is the superior option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216585/amady-vs-tt-which-stock-should-value-investors-buy-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:40Z
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Investors with an interest in Retail - Supermarkets stocks have likely encountered both J. Sainsbury PLC (JSAIY - Free Report) and Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV (WMMVY - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
J. Sainsbury PLC and Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. This means that JSAIY's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
JSAIY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 14.33, while WMMVY has a forward P/E of 21.63. We also note that JSAIY has a PEG ratio of 0.43. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. WMMVY currently has a PEG ratio of 2.64.
Another notable valuation metric for JSAIY is its P/B ratio of 0.92. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, WMMVY has a P/B of 6.93.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to JSAIY's Value grade of A and WMMVY's Value grade of C.
JSAIY sticks out from WMMVY in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that JSAIY is the better option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216586/jsaiy-vs-wmmvy-which-stock-is-the-better-value-option?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:47Z
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Investors interested in Insurance - Property and Casualty stocks are likely familiar with Axis Capital (AXS - Free Report) and Berkshire Hathaway B (BRK.B - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Currently, Axis Capital has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Berkshire Hathaway B has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that AXS has an improving earnings outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
AXS currently has a forward P/E ratio of 6.13, while BRK.B has a forward P/E of 20.97. We also note that AXS has a PEG ratio of 1.23. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. BRK.B currently has a PEG ratio of 3.
Another notable valuation metric for AXS is its P/B ratio of 1.12. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BRK.B has a P/B of 1.55.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to AXS's Value grade of A and BRK.B's Value grade of D.
AXS stands above BRK.B thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that AXS is the superior value option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216587/axs-or-brkb-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:10:53Z
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Investors looking for stocks in the Textile - Apparel sector might want to consider either PVH (PVH - Free Report) or Columbia Sportswear (COLM - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
PVH has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Columbia Sportswear has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that PVH is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
PVH currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.41, while COLM has a forward P/E of 16.41. We also note that PVH has a PEG ratio of 0.75. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. COLM currently has a PEG ratio of 1.56.
Another notable valuation metric for PVH is its P/B ratio of 1.41. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, COLM has a P/B of 2.50.
These metrics, and several others, help PVH earn a Value grade of A, while COLM has been given a Value grade of C.
PVH sticks out from COLM in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that PVH is the better option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216588/pvh-or-colm-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:00Z
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Investors interested in stocks from the Manufacturing - Electronics sector have probably already heard of EnerSys (ENS - Free Report) and Eaton (ETN - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Right now, EnerSys is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Eaton has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that ENS has an improving earnings outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
ENS currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.30, while ETN has a forward P/E of 24.58. We also note that ENS has a PEG ratio of 0.81. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. ETN currently has a PEG ratio of 2.09.
Another notable valuation metric for ENS is its P/B ratio of 2.39. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, ETN has a P/B of 5.33.
Based on these metrics and many more, ENS holds a Value grade of B, while ETN has a Value grade of C.
ENS sticks out from ETN in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that ENS is the better option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216589/ens-vs-etn-which-stock-is-the-better-value-option?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:06Z
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Investors interested in stocks from the Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates sector have probably already heard of Cemex (CX - Free Report) and Martin Marietta (MLM - Free Report) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Right now, Cemex is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Martin Marietta has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that CX is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
CX currently has a forward P/E ratio of 8.61, while MLM has a forward P/E of 23.99. We also note that CX has a PEG ratio of 0.54. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. MLM currently has a PEG ratio of 1.16.
Another notable valuation metric for CX is its P/B ratio of 0.94. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, MLM has a P/B of 4.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to CX's Value grade of B and MLM's Value grade of C.
CX is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that CX is likely the superior value option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216590/cx-or-mlm-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:12Z
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Investors interested in Audio Video Production stocks are likely familiar with Panasonic Corp. (PCRFY - Free Report) and Sonos (SONO - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Currently, Panasonic Corp. has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Sonos has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that PCRFY is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
PCRFY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 7.42, while SONO has a forward P/E of 19.94. We also note that PCRFY has a PEG ratio of 0.30. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. SONO currently has a PEG ratio of 5.14.
Another notable valuation metric for PCRFY is its P/B ratio of 0.69. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, SONO has a P/B of 4.01.
Based on these metrics and many more, PCRFY holds a Value grade of A, while SONO has a Value grade of F.
PCRFY is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that PCRFY is likely the superior value option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216591/pcrfy-or-sono-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:18Z
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Investors interested in Banks - Foreign stocks are likely familiar with Banco Santander-Brazil (BSBR - Free Report) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS - Free Report) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.
Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Banco Santander-Brazil has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Bank of Nova Scotia has a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that BSBR is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
BSBR currently has a forward P/E ratio of 7.83, while BNS has a forward P/E of 9.36. We also note that BSBR has a PEG ratio of 1.10. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. BNS currently has a PEG ratio of 1.57.
Another notable valuation metric for BSBR is its P/B ratio of 0.95. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BNS has a P/B of 1.07.
These metrics, and several others, help BSBR earn a Value grade of B, while BNS has been given a Value grade of D.
BSBR is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that BSBR is likely the superior value option right now.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216592/bsbr-or-bns-which-is-the-better-value-stock-right-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:25Z
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Wall Street has been in great shape lately, with tech stocks taking the lead. The S&P 500 gained on Thursday after achieving its fourth consecutive record close on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average had varying performances.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has been in the pink. Strong earnings, notably from Netflix, contributed to the index's performance, with tech giants like Microsoft and Meta also experiencing gains. The chip equipment manufacturer ASML and software company SAP provided upbeat updates, instilling optimism for a potential resurgence in the chip industry and an AI-driven expansion in the tech sector.
Meanwhile, tech stalwart IBM (IBM) reported a 4% revenue increase on Jan 24, driven by demand for artificial intelligence (AI). IBM came out with quarterly earnings of $3.87 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.78 per share. This compares to earnings of $3.60 per share a year ago.
IBM, which belongs to the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry, posted revenues of $17.38 billion for the quarter ended December 2023, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.59%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $16.69 billion.
Historical Perspective on Market Highs
Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk shared a historical chart that suggests investing in the market at all-time highs may be a favorable strategy. The chart indicates that, on average, investments made at record highs tend to perform better over the next five years compared to investments made on other days, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.
Mallouk explained that the market generally trends upward, with occasional periods of decline, challenging the misconception that all-time highs are signals of a looming downturn.
Top-Ranked ETFs in Focus
Against this backdrop, below we highlight a few top-ranked ETFs that could gain ahead.
Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXQ - Free Report) – Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)
The underlying PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index measures the performance of the 30 largest U.S.-listed securities of companies engaged in the semiconductor business. The fund charges 19 bps in fees.
One-month Performance: Up 6.85% Past Month
P/E (36 Months): 24.40X
Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK - Free Report) – Zacks Rank #1
The underlying Technology Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: computers & peripherals; software; diversified telecommunication services; communications equipment; semiconductor & semiconductor equipment; internet software & services; IT services; wireless telecommunication services; electronic equipment & instruments; and office electronics. The fund charges 10 bps in fees.
One-month Performance: Up 5.11% Past Month
P/E (36 Months): 28.37X
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC - Free Report) – Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)
The underlying Communication Services Select Sector Index seeks to provide an effective representation of the communication services sector of the S&P 500 Index. The fund charges 10 bps in fees.
One-month Performance: Up 4.28% Past Month
P/E (36 Months): 17.87X
Invesco Next Gen Connectivity ETF (KNCT - Free Report) – Zacks Rank #2
The underlying STOXX World AC NexGen Connectivity Index is comprised of companies with significant exposure to technologies or products that contribute to future connectivity through direct revenue. The fund charges 40 bps in fees.
One-month Performance: Up 4.20% Past Month
P/E (36 Months): 22.70X
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE - Free Report) – Zacks Rank #2
The underlying Dow Jones U.S. Select Pharmaceuticals Index is free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index. It includes pharmaceutical companies such as manufacturers of prescription or over-the-counter drugs or vaccines, but excludes producers of vitamins.
One-month Performance: Up 3.96% Past Month
P/E (36 Months): 17.82X
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
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Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) - free report >>
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE) - free report >>
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216594/tech-leads-sp-500-to-highs-does-further-rally-await-etfs?
| 2024-01-26T19:11:31Z
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Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC - Free Report) reported lackluster fourth-quarter 2023 results, with both the top and bottom lines missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. A weak freight market hurt results. The below-par results naturally disappointed investors, resulting in the stock losing value in early trading.
Quarterly earnings (excluding 51 cents from non-recurring items) of $2.83 per share fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.90 and declined 17.2% year over year. Results were hurt by high costs. Overall volumes increased 3%. Total revenue per unit declined 8% in the final quarter of 2023.
Railway operating revenues were $3,073 million in the quarter under review, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,109.4 million. The top line decreased 5.1% year over year, with all key segments including Merchandise, Intermodal and Coal registering deterioration in revenues. Total revenue per unit dipped 8% year over year. Income from railway operations decreased 32% to $808 million, including a charge of $150 million associated with the Eastern Ohio incident.
Railway operating expenses shot up 10% on a year-over-year basis to $2,265 million, primarily due to a double-digit increase in expenses on compensation and benefits apart from the expenditure of Ohio derailment. Norfolk Southern’s operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) deteriorated to 68.8% in the fourth quarter from 63.5% in the year-ago quarter due to higher costs and lackluster revenues. A lower value of the metric is preferable. Our estimate for this metric was 67.4%.
Segmental Performance
Merchandise’s revenues declined 1% year over year to $1,849 million. Actual segmental revenues were lower than our estimate of $1,896.1 million. Volumes were flat, whereas revenue per unit declined 1% year over year.
Revenues from Intermodal plunged 13% year over year to $794 million. Actual segmental revenues were higher than our projection of $765.8 million. While segmental volumes increased 5%, revenue per unit tumbled 17%.
Coal’s revenues came in at $430 million, down 4% year over year. Actual segmental revenues fell short of our anticipation of $441.1 million. Coal volumes inched up 1% year over year. Revenue per unit fell 5% in the reported quarter.
Liquidity
Norfolk Southern exited 2023 with cash and cash equivalents of $1,568 million compared with $456 million at the end of 2022. NSC had a long-term debt of $17,175 million at the end of the year compared with $14,479 million at 2022-end.
Outlook
Norfolk Southern expects 2024 revenues to increase 3% from 2023 actuals. NSC aims to take measures to increase its productivity as the year goes on.
Currently, Norfolk Southern carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Q4 Performances of Some Other Transportation Companies
Delta Air Lines’ (DAL - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2023 earnings (excluding $1.88 from non-recurring items) of $1.28 per share comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17. Earnings, however, declined 13.5% on a year-over-year basis due to high labor costs.
Revenues of $14,223 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14,069.5 million and increased 5.9% on a year-over-year basis, driven by strong holiday-air-travel demand. Adjusted operating revenues (excluding third-party refinery sales) came in at $13,661 million, up 11% year over year.
United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2023 earnings per share (excluding 19 cents from non-recurring items) of $2.00, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61 but declined 18.7% year over year.
Operating revenues of $13,626 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13,546.8 million. The top line increased 9.9% year over year due to upbeat air-travel demand. Cargo revenues fell 14.8% year over year to $402 million. Revenues from other sources jumped 10.6% year over year to $803 million.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2023 earnings per share of $1.47 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.74 and declined 23.4% year over year.
Total operating revenues of $3,303.70 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,236.2 million but fell 9.5% year over year. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues, decreased approximately 6% year over year.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) - free report >>
United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216595/norfolk-southern-nsc-q4-earnings-revenues-lag-stock-falls?-revenues-lag,-stock-falls
| 2024-01-26T19:11:37Z
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IdaCorp (IDA - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for IdaCorp basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices
The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For IdaCorp, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.
Earnings Estimate Revisions for IdaCorp
This utility company is expected to earn $5.13 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2023, which represents a year-over-year change of 0.4%.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for IdaCorp. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 1.5%.
Bottom Line
Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of IdaCorp to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216596/idacorp-ida-moves-to-strong-buy-rationale-behind-the-upgrade
| 2024-01-26T19:11:43Z
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Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc. (TNYA - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc. basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices
The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc. rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc.
This company is expected to earn -$1.69 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2023, which represents a year-over-year change of 38.8%.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 8.3%.
Bottom Line
Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc. to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216597/tenaya-therapeutics-inc-tnya-upgraded-to-strong-buy-heres-why
| 2024-01-26T19:11:50Z
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Axis Capital (AXS - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Axis Capital basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices
The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Axis Capital imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Axis Capital
For the fiscal year ending December 2023, this insurance company is expected to earn $5.65 per share, which is a change of -2.8% from the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Axis Capital. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 4.1%.
Bottom Line
Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Axis Capital to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216598/axis-capital-axs-upgraded-to-buy-heres-what-you-should-know
| 2024-01-26T19:11:50Z
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Rithm (RITM - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Rithm basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices
The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Rithm, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Rithm
For the fiscal year ending December 2023, this real estate investment trust is expected to earn $1.93 per share, which is a change of 47.3% from the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Rithm. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 2.3%.
Bottom Line
Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Rithm to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216599/all-you-need-to-know-about-rithm-ritm-rating-upgrade-to-buy
| 2024-01-26T19:11:56Z
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Eldorado Gold Corporation (EGO - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Eldorado Gold Corporation basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices
The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Eldorado Gold Corporation, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Eldorado Gold Corporation
For the fiscal year ending December 2023, this company is expected to earn $0.58 per share, which is a change of 1060% from the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Eldorado Gold Corporation. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 41.5%.
Bottom Line
Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Eldorado Gold Corporation to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216600/eldorado-gold-corporation-ego-upgraded-to-strong-buy-what-does-it-mean-for-the-stock?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:03Z
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Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Lam Research currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?
Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for LRCX that show why this semiconductor equipment maker shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For LRCX, shares are up 8.77% over the past week while the Zacks Semiconductor Equipment - Wafer Fabrication industry is up 7.51% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 9.62% compares favorably with the industry's 7.72% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Lam Research have increased 38.88% over the past quarter, and have gained 73.9% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 17.34% and 23.62%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of LRCX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now, LRCX is averaging 1,021,018 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings Outlook
The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with LRCX.
Over the past two months, 3 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost LRCX's consensus estimate, increasing from $27.65 to $28.03 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 2 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom Line
Given these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that LRCX is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Lam Research on your short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216601/what-makes-lam-research-lrcx-a-strong-momentum-stock-buy-now?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:09Z
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American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2023 earnings per share (EPS) of $2.62, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1%. Nevertheless, the bottom line climbed 27% year over year.
Total revenues net of interest expense amounted to $15.8 billion, which improved 11% year over year in the quarter under review. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%.
The quarterly results suffered due to escalating customer engagement and compensation expenses. Nevertheless, the downside was partly offset by improved net interest income and increased Card Member spending, leading to strong segmental contribution.
Q4 Operational Performance
Network volumes of $434.4 billion rose 5% year over year in the fourth quarter on the back of higher consumer spending. However, the figure lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $442 billion. Total interest income of $5.6 billion increased 40% year over year and beat the consensus mark of $5.5 billion.
Provision for credit losses escalated 40% year over year to $1.4 billion due to a rise in net write-offs.
Total expenses increased 5% year over year to $11.9 billion due to an elevated customer engagement cost level, which resulted from expanding Card Member spending and higher usage of travel-related benefits.
Segmental Performances
The U.S. Consumer Services segment’s pre-tax income of $1.5 billion advanced 14% year over year in the fourth quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.3 billion. Total revenues net of interest expense climbed 13% year over year to $7.4 billion on the back of improved net interest income and higher Card Member spending. The reported figure outpaced the consensus mark of $6.7 billion.
The Commercial Services segment recorded a pre-tax income of $666 million in the quarter under review, which rose 22% year over year but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $676 million. Total revenues net of interest expense amounted to $3.8 billion, which grew 7% year over year on the back of an increase in net interest income. However, the reported figure missed the consensus mark of $3.9 billion.
The International Card Services segment reported a pre-tax income of $144 million in the fourth quarter against the prior-year quarter’s pre-tax loss of $15 million. Total revenues net of interest expense improved 12% year over year to $2.7 billion, missing the consensus mark of $2.8 billion. The year-over-year growth was attributable to expanding Card Member spending and rising card fee revenues.
The Global Merchant and Network Services segment’s pre-tax net income of $822 million advanced 19% year over year in the quarter under review but lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $845 million. Total revenues net of interest expense rose 10% year over year to $1.94 billion on the back of growth in merchant-related revenues. The reported figure beat the consensus mark of $1.91 billion.
Corporate and Other incurred a pre-tax loss of $589 million in the fourth quarter, narrower than the prior-year quarter’s loss of $638 million.
Balance Sheet (as of Dec 31, 2023)
American Express exited the fourth quarter with cash & cash equivalents of $47 billion, which climbed 38% year over year. Total assets of $261 billion grew 14% year over year.
Long-term debt amounted to $48 billion, which increased 12% year over year. Short-term borrowing came in at $1 billion.
Shareholders’ equity of $28 billion improved 12% year over year.
Return on average common equity deteriorated 110 basis points year over year to 33%.
Capital Deployment Update
American Express bought back six million common shares in the fourth quarter of 2023. On Jan 26, 2024, management sanctioned a 17% hike in first-quarter 2024 dividend on common shares outstanding. The increased dividend amounted to 70 cents per share.
2024 Outlook
AXP anticipates revenues to grow between 9% and 11% in 2024 from the 2023 level of $60.5 billion. Management estimates earnings per share in the range of $12.65-$13.15, the mid-point of which indicates an improvement of 15.1% from the 2023 level of $11.21.
Long-Term View Reaffirmed
The company continues to expect revenue growth of more than 10% over the long term, while earnings per share are likely to continue registering mid-teens growth.
Zacks Rank
American Express currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Finance Sector Players
Here are some other Finance sector players that have reported fourth-quarter results so far. The bottom-line results of Synchrony Financial (SYF - Free Report) , Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY - Free Report) and State Street Corporation (STT - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Synchrony Financial reported fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted EPS of $1.03, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.3%. However, the bottom line declined 18.3% year over year. Net interest income improved 8% year over year to $4.5 billion, beating the consensus mark by 0.3%. Other income amounted to $71 million, which surged 136.7% year over year in the fourth quarter.
Total loan receivables of SYF grew 11.4% year over year to $103 billion. Total deposits were $81.2 billion, which rose 13.1% year over year. Its purchase volume advanced 3% year over year to $49.3 billion in the fourth quarter. Interest and fees on loans of $5.3 billion improved 16.3% year over year. Net interest margin deteriorated 48 basis points year over year to 15.10%. New accounts of 6.2 million slipped 3% year over year.
Ally Financial’s fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 45 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. However, the bottom line reflects a decline of 58.3% from the year-ago quarter. Total quarterly GAAP net revenues were $2.07 billion, down 6.1% from the prior-year quarter. However, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.99 billion.
Quarterly net financing revenues of ALLY were down 10.8% from the prior-year quarter to $1.49 billion. The adjusted net interest margin was 3.20%, down 48 basis points year over year. In the reported quarter, the company recorded net charge-offs of $623 million, up 59.7% from the prior-year quarter. As of Dec 31, 2023, total net finance receivables and loans amounted to $135.9 billion, down marginally from the prior-quarter end.
State Street reported fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings of $2.04 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81. The bottom line, however, declined 1.4% from the prior-year quarter. Quarterly total revenues of $3.04 billion declined 3.5% year over year. However, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.94 billion.
Net interest revenues were $678 million, down 14.3% year over year. The net interest margin declined 13 basis points to 1.16%. Total fee revenues of STT were relatively stable at $2.37 billion. Provision for credit losses was $20 million, up from $10 million in the prior-year quarter. The return on common equity was 3.1% compared with 11.8% in the year-ago quarter. Assets under management were $4.13 trillion as of Dec 31, 2023, up 18.6% year over year.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216602/amex-axp-q4-earnings-miss-on-high-client-engagement-costs
| 2024-01-26T19:12:10Z
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Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Qualys (QLYS - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Security industry.
This maker of security-analysis software has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 29.07%.
For the last reported quarter, Qualys came out with earnings of $1.51 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.13 per share, representing a surprise of 33.63%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.02 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.27 per share, delivering a surprise of 24.51%.
For Qualys, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Qualys has an Earnings ESP of +2.01% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216603/will-qualys-qlys-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:17Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider RBC Bearings (RBC - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This maker of bearings and components has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 8.31%.
For the last reported quarter, RBC Bearings came out with earnings of $2.17 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2 per share, representing a surprise of 8.50%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.97 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.13 per share, delivering a surprise of 8.12%.
For RBC Bearings, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
RBC Bearings currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.19%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 8, 2024.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216604/will-rbc-bearings-rbc-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:23Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Primerica (PRI - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Insurance - Life Insurance industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This life insurance and financial products company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 5.74%.
For the last reported quarter, Primerica came out with earnings of $4.28 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.03 per share, representing a surprise of 6.20%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $3.79 per share and it actually produced earnings of $3.99 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.28%.
For Primerica, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Primerica currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.44%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216605/why-primerica-pri-is-poised-to-beat-earnings-estimates-again
| 2024-01-26T19:12:29Z
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Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Planet Fitness (PLNT - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry.
This fitness center operator has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.82%.
For the most recent quarter, Planet Fitness was expected to post earnings of $0.55 per share, but it reported $0.59 per share instead, representing a surprise of 7.27%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.54 per share, while it actually produced $0.65 per share, a surprise of 20.37%.
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Planet Fitness. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Planet Fitness has an Earnings ESP of +1.66% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216606/will-planet-fitness-plnt-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:31Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This power company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 7.17%.
For the most recent quarter, Southern Co. Was expected to post earnings of $1.32 per share, but it reported $1.42 per share instead, representing a surprise of 7.58%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.74 per share, while it actually produced $0.79 per share, a surprise of 6.76%.
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Southern Co. Lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Southern Co. Currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.95%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 15, 2024.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216607/will-southern-co-so-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:37Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Tenet Healthcare (THC - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Medical - Hospital industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This hospital operator has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 17.14%.
For the most recent quarter, Tenet was expected to post earnings of $1.20 per share, but it reported $1.44 per share instead, representing a surprise of 20%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.26 per share, while it actually produced $1.44 per share, a surprise of 14.29%.
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Tenet lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Tenet currently has an Earnings ESP of +13.10%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 8, 2024.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216608/will-tenet-thc-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:43Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Atmus Filtration Technologies (ATMU - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Pollution Control industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
When looking at the last two reports, this industrial filtration product company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 23.40%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Atmus Filtration was expected to post earnings of $0.45 per share, but it reported $0.52 per share instead, representing a surprise of 15.56%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.48 per share, while it actually produced $0.63 per share, a surprise of 31.25%.
For Atmus Filtration, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Atmus Filtration currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.12%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 14, 2024.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216609/will-atmus-filtration-atmu-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:50Z
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Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Computer - Software industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
When looking at the last two reports, this maker of hardware and software products for validating chip designs has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 3.76%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Cadence was expected to post earnings of $1.21 per share, but it reported $1.26 per share instead, representing a surprise of 4.13%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.18 per share, while it actually produced $1.22 per share, a surprise of 3.39%.
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Cadence lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Cadence has an Earnings ESP of +2.88% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 12, 2024.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216610/will-cadence-cdns-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:51Z
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Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Ralph Lauren (RL - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Textile - Apparel industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
When looking at the last two reports, this upscale clothing company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 9.11%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Ralph Lauren was expected to post earnings of $1.92 per share, but it reported $2.10 per share instead, representing a surprise of 9.38%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.15 per share, while it actually produced $2.34 per share, a surprise of 8.84%.
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Ralph Lauren lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Ralph Lauren has an Earnings ESP of +2.38% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 8, 2024.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216611/will-ralph-lauren-rl-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:12:57Z
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If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Omnicom (OMC - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This advertising company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 0.55%.
For the most recent quarter, Omnicom was expected to post earnings of $1.85 per share, but it reported $1.86 per share instead, representing a surprise of 0.54%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.80 per share, while it actually produced $1.81 per share, a surprise of 0.56%.
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Omnicom. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Omnicom has an Earnings ESP of +1.08% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 6, 2024.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216612/will-omnicom-omc-beat-estimates-again-in-its-next-earnings-report?
| 2024-01-26T19:13:04Z
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CrossFirst Bankshares (CFB - Free Report) appears an attractive pick given a noticeable improvement in the company's earnings outlook. The stock has been a strong performer lately, and the momentum might continue with analysts still raising their earnings estimates for the company.
The upward trend in estimate revisions for this bank holding company reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
For CrossFirst, there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising earnings estimates, which has helped push consensus estimates considerably higher for the next quarter and full year.
Current-Quarter Estimate Revisions
The company is expected to earn $0.35 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of 0%.
Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrossFirst has increased 6.15% because one estimate has moved higher compared to no negative revisions.
Current-Year Estimate Revisions
For the full year, the company is expected to earn $1.46 per share, representing a year-over-year change of -0.68%.
There has been an encouraging trend in estimate revisions for the current year as well. Over the past month, three estimates have moved up for CrossFirst versus no negative revisions. This has pushed the consensus estimate 5.3% higher.
Favorable Zacks Rank
Thanks to promising estimate revisions, CrossFirst currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom Line
CrossFirst shares have added 5.1% over the past four weeks, suggesting that investors are betting on its impressive estimate revisions. So, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away to benefit from its earnings growth prospects.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216613/surging-earnings-estimates-signal-upside-for-crossfirst-cfb-stock
| 2024-01-26T19:13:11Z
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Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.
By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.
However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Axis Capital (AXS - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this insurance company a great growth pick right now.
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Axis Capital is 46.9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 70.6% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 23.6%.
Cash Flow Growth
Cash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Axis Capital is 8.6%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of -26.9%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 54.1% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 8.3%.
Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions
Superiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Axis Capital. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.2% over the past month.
Bottom Line
While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Axis Capital a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Axis Capital well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216614/axis-capital-axs-is-an-incredible-growth-stock-3-reasons-why
| 2024-01-26T19:13:17Z
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Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Parker-Hannifin (PH - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this maker of motion and control products is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Parker-Hannifin is 17.9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 7.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 7.7%.
Cash Flow Growth
Cash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Parker-Hannifin is 20%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 9%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 14% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 8.9%.
Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions
Beyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Parker-Hannifin. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.2% over the past month.
Bottom Line
While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Parker-Hannifin a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination indicates that Parker-Hannifin is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216615/3-reasons-growth-investors-will-love-parker-hannifin-ph
| 2024-01-26T19:13:24Z
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Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.
In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this company a great growth pick right now.
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Vertiv Holdings Co. is 68.6%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 27.6% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 13.1%.
Impressive Asset Utilization Ratio
Growth investors often overlook asset utilization ratio, also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, but it is an important feature of a real growth stock. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Vertiv Holdings Co. has an S/TA ratio of 0.92, which means that the company gets $0.92 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.72, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
In addition to efficiency in generating sales, sales growth plays an important role. And Vertiv Holdings Co. is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 9.9% this year versus the industry average of 6.8%.
Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions
Superiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Vertiv Holdings Co. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.6% over the past month.
Bottom Line
While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Vertiv Holdings Co. a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Vertiv Holdings Co. well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216616/vertiv-holdings-co-vrt-is-an-incredible-growth-stock-3-reasons-why
| 2024-01-26T19:13:30Z
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Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.
In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this prescription drug distributor is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Cardinal is 0.6%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 19.3% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 10.5%.
Impressive Asset Utilization Ratio
Asset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Cardinal has an S/TA ratio of 4.8, which means that the company gets $4.8 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.79, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Cardinal is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 10.4% this year versus the industry average of 6.1%.
Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions
Superiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Cardinal. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.3% over the past month.
Bottom Line
While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Cardinal a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination indicates that Cardinal is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216618/cardinal-cah-is-an-incredible-growth-stock-3-reasons-why
| 2024-01-26T19:13:36Z
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Bread Financial Holdings’ (BFH - Free Report) operating income of 90 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2023 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 73 cents. The bottom line improved from the year-ago quarter’s reported loss of $2.68 per share.
The quarterly results reflect the execution of growth initiatives and the strengthening of the balance sheet by lowering the debt level. With the sale of the BJ's portfolio in February 2023 and strategic credit tightening, loans grew at a low to mid-single digit.
The company’s shares rose 7% in the last trading session reflecting the outperformance.
Behind the Headlines
Revenues decreased 2% year over year to $1 billion, attributable to lower late fee revenues, higher interest expense, and higher reversals of interest and fees resulting from higher gross credit losses, partially offset by higher finance charge yields and non-interest income. The top line beat the consensus estimate by 3.03%.
Credit sales of $7.8 billion decreased 23% year over year, reflecting the sale of the BJ's Wholesale Club portfolio in late February 2023, ongoing strategic credit tightening and moderating consumer spending, partially offset by new partner growth. Our estimate for the metric was pegged at $8.9 billion.
Average loan amount of $18.3 billion decreased 8% year over year, driven by the decline in credit sales. Our estimate for the same was pinned at $18.4 billion.
Total interest income decreased 1% to $1.3 billion. Our estimate for the same was pegged at $1.3 billion. The net interest margin expanded 50 basis points to 19.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our estimate for the metric was pinned at 18.8% and 18.2%, respectively.
Total non-interest expenses decreased 6% to $516 million, primarily attributable to a decrease in card and processing expenses and employee compensation and benefit costs as well as marketing expenses. Our estimate for the same was pegged at $539 million.
The delinquency rate of 6.5% deteriorated 100 basis points year over year. The net loss rate of 7.5% deteriorated 210 basis points.
Pre-tax pre-provision earnings increased 3% year over year to $501 million, reflecting profitable growth and continued success with business transformation efforts. Our estimate for the same was pinned at $432.6 million.
Financial Update
As of Dec 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents were $3.6 billion, down 7.7% from the 2022 level.
At 2023-end, long-term debt and other debt declined 26.3% from the 2022-end level to $1.4 billion.
Tangible book value of $43.70 per share as of Sep 30, 2023, improved 49% year over year.
Return on average equity was 27.1%, which expanded 1730 basis points year over year.
Cash from operations in 2023 increased 7.5% year over year to $2 billion. Capital expenditure decreased 33.3% year over year to $48 million in the same period.
Full Year Highlights
The company reported an operating income of $14.74 for full-year 2023.
Revenues of $4.3 billion increased 12% year over year, driven by higher finance charge yields and non-interest income, including the gain on portfolio sale, partially offset by higher interest expense, and reversals of interest and fees resulting from higher gross credit losses.
Credit sales of $28.9 billion declined 12% from the previous year’s level, attributable to the sale of the BJ's Wholesale Club portfolio in late February 2023, strategic credit tightening and moderating consumer spending, partially offset by new partner growth. Our estimate for the same was pinned at $30 billion.
Average loan amount of $18.2 billion increased 3% year over year, driven by the addition of new partners as well as further moderation in the consumer payment rate, offset by the decline in credit sales noted above and the sale of the BJ's portfolio.
The delinquency rate was 6.5%, up from 5.5% in the previous year. The net loss rate was 7.5%, up from the prior-year level of 5.4%.
Dividend Update
The board also approved a quarterly dividend of 21 cents to be paid out on Mar 15, to stockholders of record as of Feb 9.
2024 Guidance
Management estimates average receivables to decline in the low single-digit range from the 2023 level.
Total revenues are estimated to decline in the low to mid-single digits. Net interest margin is expected to be lower than the 2023 full-year rate.
The net loss rate is guided in the low 8% range.
Zacks Rank
Bread Financial currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Upcoming Releases
Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) will report fourth-quarter 2023 results on Jan 24. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $3.08 per share, indicating an increase of 16.2% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
MA’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Western Union (WU - Free Report) is set to report fourth-quarter 2023 results on Feb 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 36 cents per share, indicating an increase of 12.5% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
WU’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed the same in one.
Global Payments (GPN - Free Report) will report fourth-quarter 2023 results on Feb 9. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $2.64 per share, indicating an increase of 9.1% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
GPN’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in one.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216620/bread-financial-bfh-q4-earnings-beat-revenues-fall-yy
| 2024-01-26T19:13:42Z
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Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) is slated to report fourth-quarter 2023 earnings on Jan 31, before the opening bell. The company delivered an earnings surprise in each of the trailing three reported quarters of 2023.
Factors to Consider
Nasdaq’s fourth-quarter performance is likely to have benefited from organic revenue growth, strong performance at Market Platforms businesses, data and listing service revenues, and contributions from the Adenza acquisition.
Improved performance at Market Technology, Market Data and Analytics businesses is expected to have benefited non-trading revenues.
Recurring data revenues across its international footprint are likely to have aided revenues.
Improved trade management services and market technology are likely to have aided the
Marketplace Technology business. We expect Marketplace Technology revenues to increase 2.3% to $152.4 million.
Organic growth initiatives are likely to have aided Anti Financial Crime’s revenues. Increased subscriptions from new and existing clients are likely to have benefited from solid demand for trade surveillance and crypto market surveillance solutions, aiding surveillance solutions revenues. We estimate Anti Financial Crime revenues to increase 19.2% year over year to $97.7 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric is pegged at $117 million.
Expenses are likely to have increased owing to the development and diversification of its business, compensation and benefits, merger and strategic initiatives, restructuring charges, general, administrative and other expenses. These are expected to have weighed on margin expansion.
An increase in compensation and benefits as well as computer operations & data communications likely have increased total expenses for the to be reported quarter. We expect non-GAAP operating expenses to increase 4.2% year over year.
The continued share buyback is anticipated to have provided an additional boost to the bottom line.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 69 cents per share, indicating a 7.8% increase from the prior-year reported figure.
Q4 Volumes
Nasdaq reported soft volumes for fourth-quarter 2023. U.S. equity options volume increased 1% year over year to 781 million contracts. European options and futures volume decreased 4% year over year to 17 million contracts.
Revenues per contract for U.S. equity options remained flat year over year at 12 cents, while the same for European options and futures decreased 2% to 46 cents.
Under its cash equities, Nasdaq’s U.S. matched equity volume in the fourth quarter grossed 113.3 billion shares, down 6.8% from the prior-year quarter’s level. European equity volume increased 1.5% year over year to $200 billion.
In the fourth quarter, there were 4,662 listed companies on Nasdaq compared with 4,953 in the year-ago period. Total listings dropped 4% year over year to 5,262.
We expect data and listing services revenues to increase 3.1% to $189.4 million in the to-be-reported quarter.
What Our Quantitative Model States
Our proven model expects Nasdaq to post an earnings beat this time around. This is because the stock has the right combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold).
Earnings ESP: Nasdaq has an Earnings ESP of +0.43% at present. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of 70 cents is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Nasdaq currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Stocks to Consider
Coinbase Global (COIN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +160.6% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pegged at a loss of 12 cents, indicating an improvement of 95.2% from the year-ago reported figure.
COIN’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in one.
CME Group (CME - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.01% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pegged at $2.21 per share, implying an increase of 11.6% from that reported in the year-ago quarter.
CME’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2023 bottom line is pinned at $1.29, indicating an increase of 23.5% from that reported in the year-ago quarter.
ICE’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in one.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216621/will-nasdaq-ndaq-retain-its-earnings-surprise-streak-in-4q?
| 2024-01-26T19:13:49Z
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If you want to be successful as an investor, designing, using, and refining a process is just about the most important consideration.
One of the greatest ways to build an investing process is to define your principles. Principles allow you to codify and standardize your decision-making, which is critical as an investor. When things are going very well or very poorly, it can be easy to get carried away by your emotions, but principles can help to always keep you grounded.
Now, in my tenth year as a trader, the market still manages to surprise me day after day. As investors, we must always be learning from our mistakes and fine-tuning our methodology because there is no end goal, just a constantly evolving process. If you love the process and learning, you can do well in markets.
Now that we have moved on to 2024, it can be useful to reflect on the last year of trading so we can identify what worked and what didn’t. Falling back on the most basic principles should allow us to have success in bull markets and bears.
Price Action Over Economic Forecasts
Want to hear something crazy? The S&P 500 never traded below the low of the first day of the year. That means the stock index never went negative YTD once! Despite widespread forecasts for a recession and market downturn, 2023 defied predictions and emerged as a banner year.
While the economists were referring to their models, they forgot about the best economic forecasting tool in the world, the market itself. Because the stock market is a forward discounting mechanism, it is almost always doing a better job at discounting future risks than any individual analyst or trader.
Now, a few weeks into the new year, stock indexes are pushing into new all-time highs and carving out a clear upward trend. Until the price confirms otherwise, that should be considered bullish!
That doesn't mean the trend can’t change, and I would encourage investors to use one of many measures of trend, but until it proves otherwise, stick with it.
This is why it is so important to really listen to what the price tells you and try to read through the most popular narratives swirling around the market. The price action tells you everything you need to know.
Continued . . .
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Follow the Big Trends
Every year, there are often one or two big trends or narratives that carry a stock or sector to massive outperformance. In 2023, it was Artificial Intelligence. As soon as ChatGPT was released, and investors began to grasp how many data center products Nvidia was going to be selling, the monster trend set off, and barely took a breath all year.
Looking back another year, in 2022, energy and especially oil and gas were leaders throughout the year, providing huge opportunities for outperformance.
They aren’t always immediately clear, but if you watch closely, the big themes usually become evident by Q2 and definitely by the second half of the year.
Since the time of this writing, we are only a few weeks into the year, so I’m not yet sure what the big trend will be, but I am going to keep my ear to the ground.
I will also add that this Artificial Intelligence boom has the potential to carry the market higher for a second year. Its influence on the economy and stock market is reminiscent of the early Internet boom, which proceeded for several years.
But you shouldn’t stop there – I know there will be at least one more big idea that carries a sector far and above the rest of the market.
Invest in What You Know
Many commentators on the internet often say retail investors looking for alpha should focus on micro and small-cap stocks if they want an edge. However, I wholeheartedly disagree. I personally have always been one to closely follow large and mega-cap stocks because I think they are fantastic businesses with many more years of growth.
And it paid off! I was prepared to own big tech stocks in 2023, and many returned more than 100%.
Nvidia and Meta Platforms, two of the largest companies in the world, were the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500. The setups were quite compelling, with Meta Platforms ending 2023 at its lowest relative valuation in a decade and Nvidia leading the Artificial Intelligence revolution.
Both stocks were steadily trending higher, confirming bullish price action all year.
Follow the stocks you know and understand, and when the opportunity to own them presents itself, you will be more ready and confident than other investors.
Utilizing the Zacks Rank
This is my first year at Zacks and my first time using the proprietary tools. I was constantly impressed with how effective they were at anticipating which stocks would be the top performers.
In my experience, I have gone through many different filtering and signal generation tools, and the Zacks Rank has easily been one of, if not the simplest and most effective, for identifying winning stocks.
For example, Nvidia and Meta Platforms enjoyed Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) ratings for many months and sat atop the list right from the beginning of the year. Because the Zacks Rank aggregates the earnings estimates and revisions from all analysts on Wall Street, it provides a broad opinion on expectations, like the way the market functions.
As earnings estimates trend higher, institutional traders begin buying the stock, thus pushing it higher. I’ve carefully reviewed the earnings estimate trend of META. Following the upgrades in February, the stocks rallied higher all year.
Risk Management
In my opinion, risk management should always be the number one concern of investors. As always, the first goal is not to lose money. Don’t focus on how much you can make; focus on how much you may lose.
The calculation for risk management should be simple. After entering a stock, identify the level where you think the thesis is wrong. This is where you place a stop loss. You should be sizing your positions as a function of this amount.
Say you have 10% of your portfolio in a stock, and your stop loss is -10% below the current price. If you get stopped out, you will lose a total of 1% of your portfolio. Do this for every position in your portfolio and you will know the max drawdown of all your current positions.
Even the best traders are wrong on nearly half of their trades, so we must get used to taking losses. It is just the cost of business. However, the focus should be on maximizing how much you make when you are right and minimizing how much you lose when you are wrong.
If you are doing your research correctly and making the right decision, the returns will take care of themselves. 2023 made it extremely clear that no investor needs margin – there were half a dozen large-cap stocks that more than doubled last year!
Final Thoughts
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and though Meta Platforms and Nvidia were top Zacks Rank stocks, many investors doubted they would continue to trade higher all year. Although it isn’t a new insight, good trading requires courage. You must form your opinion and stick to it, even if that goes against the herd.
However, utilizing each of the principles listed above should aid in doing good research and thinking independently. Filter and identify stocks through the Zacks Rank, follow the price action on each stock, and the market to identify the trend, understand the businesses you are investing in, and try to ride the major thematic waves influencing the market.
If you can do all of this, while remaining strict with your position sizing, stop losses and risk management, you will have great investing success in 2024.
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¹ The results listed above are not (or may not be) representative of the performance of all selections made by Zacks Investment Research's newsletter editors and may represent the partial close of a position.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216622/5-timeless-investing-principles-reaffirmed
| 2024-01-26T19:13:55Z
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Lil' Guardsman (NS) - Review
by Evan Norris , posted 47 minutes ago / 155 ViewsImagine if every time you wanted to visit the Scumm Bar on Mêlée Island you had to pass a customs checkpoint. This is the wacky dream of Lil' Guardsman, a tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure game from Hilltop Studios that mashes together the silliness and slyness of classic LucasArts point-and-click titles like The Secret of Monkey Island with the calculated detective gameplay of Papers, Please.
Set in a medieval kingdom known as the Sprawl, Lil' Guardsman follows Lil (short for Lilith), the sassy 12-year-old daughter of a well-meaning but mediocre gate guard, Hamish. One day, Hamish asks Lil to cover for him down at the guardshed, so he can make a bet on the upcoming Goblinball match. As the first line of defense for the city, Lil is tasked with admitting only helpful citizens and turning away any ne'er-do-wells. She soon learns that the decisions she makes will have huge ramifications for herself, her friends, the Sprawl, and the lands beyond.
The story in Lil' Guardsman is a lot of fun. In true LucasArts fashion, it's filled with exaggerated characters, ironic situations, and a prevailing sense of whimsy and humor. While there are certainly high stakes — wrong decisions could result in famine, death, or even the end of the space-time continuum — everything unfolds in a jokey, playful way. There are plenty of fourth wall breaks, gags, Easter eggs, and wacky, unexpected visitors, including a pixelated goblin named Buttface.
Deciding whether characters like Buttface are harmless citizens, dangerous agents of chaos, or something in between is the core mechanic of Lil' Guardsman. The good news is that it works exceptionally well. What could have been painfully simple or hopelessly abstruse is in fact neither. Thanks to Hilltop Studios' careful calibration, the detective work required to arrive at the "right" answer is simultaneously approachable and challenging. If you pay close attention to the clues around you and use your tools prudently, you will succeed.
Here's how a typical interaction works. When a visitor first approaches the guardshed, they'll generally state their business. The guardsman-in-training Lil then has three action points to divine their true intentions and suitability for the Sprawl. She can spend an action point to interrogate them (with options to "trust", "tease", and "doubt"), call one of three royal advisors for advice, or deploy one of several special tools. Once she arrives at a decision, she uses the Wicket3000 to accept, deny, or, jail the visitor.
Success during each guard shift relies on equal parts preparation and investigation. Ahead of each shift, Lil has the option to attach magic crystals to five different tools, which can then be used once per crystal. These include a decoder ring to translate runes and encrypted notes; a metal detector to detect, well, metal; an x-ray scanner to see beyond clothing and tarps; truth spray, which compels honest testimony; and a whip, for those situations where brute force is the only answer. Investing crystals in the right tool(s) for the job is essential.
Equally essential is reading the royal writ, a set of instructions handed down from above before each shift. This is basically a list of hints disguised as orders from the three royal advisors. Again, this speaks to the developer's careful touch. Hilltop Studios doesn't want its game to be a cakewalk or, conversely, a tedious experiment in trial and error. Rather, the game operates in the middle space, giving players the components needed for success, and making them feel brilliant when they succeed. It also provides perfectionists with a bit of a safety net in the Chronometer3000, a limited-use time traveling device that Lil can use to erase a particularly bad interaction. This way you don't have to start a level from scratch due to one disastrous decision.
You'll know immediately just how disastrous those decisions were thanks to the results screen, where Lil earns one to four stars based on her ultimate decision and the steps she took to get there. If your daily average comes in lower than two or, later on, two-and-a-half stars, you will fail, so you want to aim for those three star results. To get four stars you will need to show perfect deduction, deploy the right tool at precisely the right time, and get a little lucky. Typically adventure games don't have a lot of replay value, but this one, thanks to its scoring system, provides a reason to come back after the credits roll. Even without repeat playthroughs, the campaign will take roughly 10 hours; a solid running time for an adventure game.
When Lil' Guardsman focuses on this gameplay loop of preparation, investigation, and results, everything works very well. When it veers away from this cycle and experiments with other scenarios outside of the guardshed, which it does with greater frequency as the game moves forward, it's less successful. At certain times, Lil will participate in a game show, unmask a mole, figure out who stole a shopkeeper's key, bet on a Goblinball match, and play three-card monte. These segments often feel like shallow diversions from the best part of the game.
On the plus side, these adventures around the Sprawl often involve NPCs you've already interacted with at the front gate. Not only does this make the game world feel alive and dynamic, but it rewards you with more interactivity and opportunities for decision-making. If you admit a helpful mechanic, for instance, he might fix that broken jukebox in the tavern.
Regrettably — and this is most likely due to the existence of so many parallel timelines and branching decision trees — the appearance of some NPCs undermines the continuity of the game. In my playthrough, I encountered two characters in the city whose appearances contradicted their official resolutions. In another instance, a character cheerfully helped me out after I had confiscated her lucky headgear and purposefully ruined her day.
A few continuity errors are easy to overlook, though, especially in the face of the overriding visual charm of Lil' Guardsman. The game is a delight to look at, thanks to art direction and characters by Rafa Gallardo. Each set-piece springs to life by way of its hand-drawn aesthetic, expressive characters, and detailed environments. Things only get better when the downtempo hip-hop music, composed by Hilltop Studios co-founder Scott Christian, kicks in. Make sure to keep an ear open for "The Digsite".
Combining the rules of Papers, Please with the whimsical sensibility of classic LucasArts games is far from an obvious choice, but the results speak for themselves. Lil' Guardsman is a lovely adventure game that succeeds mechanically, creatively, and comically. Sometimes its side quests distract (and detract) from the core gameplay loop, but in general it delivers engaging detective work, a memorable and consequential world, and lots of laughs.
VGChartz Verdict
7.5
Good
This review is based on a digital copy of Lil' Guardsman for the NS, provided by the publisher.
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https://www.vgchartz.com/article/459630/lil-guardsman-ns/
| 2024-01-26T19:57:54Z
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ABIDJAN - Morocco coach Walid Regragui's two-match suspension at the Africa Cup of Nations has been dismissed after an appeal, his country’s football federation said on Friday.
Regragui had been given a four-match ban, with two games suspended, and fined for bringing the competition into disrepute.
The decision means Regragui, who had to watch his country’s last group game against Zambia on Wednesday from the stands, will be back on the bench for the last-16 clash against South Africa on Tuesday.
Regragui, who led his country to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, was involved in an on-field spat with Democratic Republic of Congo captain Chancel Mbemba at the end of their Group F match in San Pedro on Sunday.
The incident led to scuffles between opposing players and staff on the pitch and alleged fighting in the tunnel at the stadium, but out of public view.
Regragui had gone to shake Mbemba’s hand at the end of the match but held on to it as he tried to remonstrate with the defender, who repeatedly tried to pull away before breaking loose.
That set off mayhem at the end of a 1-1 draw.
"He insulted me and my assistant on the sidelines before the end of the match," Regragui told reporters.
"And in the end, despite that, I went to shake his hand but also to ask him: ‘Why are you talking to me like that?’. Then he looked away like he didn’t want to shake my hand," he added.
"He claimed I had called him an idiot but I never said that. He should be a little honest with himself."
Morocco’s football federation denounced the decision, but its appeal came only hours before the Zambia game at which Regragui was in the VIP stand, speaking to his bench as assistant Rachid Ben Mahmoud replaced him on the touchline. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/morocco-coach-regraguis-african-cup-ban-lifted
| 2024-01-26T20:07:52Z
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QUITO - Ecuador's top court has blocked nine questions that President Daniel Noboa wanted to put to Ecuadoreans in a referendum on security issues, arguing they failed to meet constitutional requirements, it said on Friday.
Noboa declared a state of emergency with a nighttime curfew for 60 days at the beginning of January over spiraling violence in the Andean country, and designated 22 criminal bands as terrorist groups, declaring a military offensive against them at the same time.
Six other questions for the referendum were approved, while four more, including on the extradition of Ecuadoreans and the recognition of international arbitration, will be reexamined, the Constitutional Court said.
Noboa had said that he hopes to hold the referendum in March.
In its ruling, the Constitutional Court said it blocked the nine questions because they do not change current regulations, are imprecise, or address multiple topics.
Among questions the court denied were those on allowing security forces to carry out operations preempting organized crime, as well as on changes to sanctions and pardons regarding the use of force.
Noboa's press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ecuador has been engulfed in spiraling violence, including in prisons where hundreds of inmates have been killed in recent years, which officials attribute to gangs of drug traffickers. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/ecuador-top-court-blocks-nine-questions-for-referendum
| 2024-01-26T20:07:53Z
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BRUSSELS - European Council chief Charles Michel announced on Jan 26 he was dropping a bid to try and win a seat in upcoming EU parliament elections after coming under “personal attacks”.
Mr Michel added that he would now see through the rest of his European Council mandate that ends in November.
Mr Michel, a former Belgian prime minister, had said on Jan 6 he was vying to become an EU lawmaker in European Parliament elections taking place June 6-9 across the bloc.
As a result, and in the event of being elected, he said he would step down as European Council president in mid-July.
That surprise decision created unease in Brussels, given that it could have opened the door to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country takes over the rotating EU presidency in the latter half of 2024, serving as temporary European Council head until a successor was named.
Mr Orban, who maintains close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has raised hackles among almost all his European counterparts for blocking €50 billion (S$70 billion) of EU aid to Ukraine.
A summit next Feb 1 – to be chaired by Mr Michel – aims to persuade Mr Orban to drop his opposition. Failing that, other EU countries have said they are willing to bilaterally give Kyiv the money it badly needs as it defends itself from President Putin’s offensive.
Mr Michel’s initial decision also accelerated speculation and jockeying around top EU jobs to be decided in the wake of the EU parliament elections.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, of Germany, who like Mr Michel was appointed in 2019, has so far kept quiet on whether she intends to seek a second term.
In his Jan 26 statement, Mr Michel emphasised the elections he had taken part in throughout his Belgian political career, and how he saw voting as key to a politician’s “legitimacy”.
He said his public decision weeks ago to try for an EU parliament seat was “unprecedented – some would say bold” and “ensured that my intentions were transparent”.
But he said it “led to extreme reactions” and “personal attacks” which were “increasingly taking precedence over factual argument”.
“On a personal level, it brings me to reflect on the meaning and impact of my electoral commitment to which I have dedicated 30 years of my life, not only for me but also for those close to me,” he said.
As a result, he was abandoning his MEP ambition and “I will devote all my efforts to my current responsibilities with steadfast determination until they come to an end”.
At the end of his European Council mandate, he said, “I will reflect on the nature and direction of my future commitments”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/eu-council-president-michel-drops-plan-to-run-in-european-parliament-election
| 2024-01-26T20:07:54Z
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KYIV - The crash of a Russian military plane, said by Moscow to be carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, has only heightened the trauma of friends and relatives of those missing in action.
The transport plane crashed in a fireball on Jan 24, near the Ukraine border.
Russia, which accuses Kyiv of shooting down the Ilyushin 76 plane, maintains that it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners but has provided no proof.
Ukraine has neither denied nor confirmed any involvement, but has raised doubts about the presence of its nationals on board, calling for an independent investigation.
Whatever facts may emerge, the controversy has only deepened the suffering of the relatives of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen still in Russian hands.
When Ms Valeriia Dolia, a 28-year-old Ukrainian, heard about the Jan 24 crash, it was “as if time stopped still”.
“For three hours, while you’re watching the news, you don’t exist any more, you look at your phone and that’s it,” Ms Dolia, whose friend Vadim has been held captive for a year and a half, told AFP on Jan 26.
‘A definitive answer’
More than 8,000 Ukrainians, including more than 1,600 civilians, are currently being held by the Russians, according to Kyiv.
Ms Yevgenia Synelnyk, 30, has had no news of her brother Artem, who is also a prisoner of war.
Artem and Vadim were both captured at the Azovstal factory in the southern Ukraine city of Mariupol in May 2022.
It was there that the last defenders of the besieged town, now regarded as heroes in Ukraine, were entrenched.
When she saw the news of the plane crash, Ms Synelnyk said she was “shocked, but not entirely”.
She is still scarred by the July 2022 bombing of a prison in Olenivka, eastern Ukraine, which killed more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Kyiv and Moscow blame each other for the bombing, but she is convinced that Russia committed a “terrorist act”.
So, for her, the Jan 24 crash just shows that the Russian army is “continuing” with acts of atrocity.
“They are showing the whole world how they manipulate prisoners of war,” Ms Synelnyk said.
“So it’s just another disappointment, and it’s already so tiring, but what can we do about it?“
“In our situation, the normal state is to be exhausted, depressed and anguished.”
Despite that anguish, she is determined to “fight” for her brother until she finally gets “a definitive answer”.
“That’s the only goal,” she said. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/friends-family-of-ukrainian-pows-traumatised-by-russian-plane-crash
| 2024-01-26T20:07:57Z
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BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's President Javier Milei said on Friday he would travel to Israel in the "coming weeks," one of his first overseas trips since the libertarian economist took office last month after pledging strong support for Israel during his campaign.
Milei was speaking during a Holocaust remembrance event in Buenos Aires, where he signaled support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, adding that Argentina would "not remain silent in the face of Hamas terror."
Eleven Argentines are among the civilian hostages held by Hamas, Milei said, in captivity since the militant group who rules the Gaza Strip went on a deadly rampage through Israel on Oct. 7.
"In the coming weeks I will be traveling to the Holy Land in what will constitute a new chapter in the brotherhood between our two nations," said Milei.
Buenos Aires has a large Jewish community and, before taking office in December, Milei said he intended to convert to Judaism.
His first foreign trip as leader was to New York City, where he visited the tomb of a well-known orthodox Jewish rabbi.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel launched a three-month bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced the majority of the population.
The World Court ordered Israel on Friday to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/argentinas-president-milei-to-visit-israel-in-display-of-support
| 2024-01-26T20:08:07Z
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Beauty
Dua Lipa’s Crimped Waves And More Of The Best Celeb Beauty Looks Of The Week
A weekly roundup of our favorite celebrity beauty moments.
It may be the end of January, but celebrities are still keeping it hot on the red carpet with their fresh and daring looks. The past week has been a feast of fabulous ensembles and glam at events everywhere, from Paris at the Spring Haute Couture shows to premieres in London, New York City, and Los Angeles.
At Haute Couture Fashion Week, celebrities used the avant-garde runways as inspiration to go for some unexpected hair and makeup statements. We saw Zendaya sport space age micro bangs — not once, but twice — at the Schiaparelli and Fendi shows. Also in Paris, Noah Cyrus sat front row at Jean Paul Gaultier with bleached-out brows, extra-long dark hair, and heavy blush draping on her temples, looking a lot like Emma Stone in Poor Things. Even at the more traditional film and television events, the stars were taking some beauty risks — like Dua Lipa who wore her cherry red hair in Y2K-style crimps.
Whether or not you want to take direct beauty inspiration from them, you have to admit that the best hair and makeup looks of the week were anything but boring. Read on for the celebrity beauty moments we can’t stop thinking about.
Noah Cyrus’s Poor Things Glam
Noah Cyrus appeared to be channeling Bella Baxter from Poor Things with her long, raven hair contrasting against her porcelain complexion and hot pink cheeks.
Zendaya’s Sci Fi Micro Bangs
Micro bangs may be on the come up, but no one can wear them better than Zendaya. She showed off their versatility at Haute Couture Fashion Week by wearing them with loose hair and step layers at Schiaparelli and with her hair back a sleek updo at Fendi.
Dua Lipa’s Crimped Waves
Dua Lipa’s leonine hair at the Argylle premiere probably sent her fans in a frenzy to go find their retired hair crimpers.
Chloë Sevigny Sleek Strands
For The Feud: Capote VS. The Swans premiere in New York, Chloë Sevigny looked like her signature City It Girl self, wearing understated makeup and her hair styled simply silky and straight.
Lil Nas X’s Perfect Hair Day
Of course Lil Nas X to attended the premiere for his HBO documentary, Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero looking glowing and glamorous with long, flowing hair.
Kylie Jenner’s Wet Look
Kim isn’t the only sister who can make a splash wearing a “wet look”. Kylie Jenner looked super sultry in a wet hairstyle and a dress dripping with sequins at the Maison Margiela Haute Couture show.
Bella Thorne’s Razor-Sharp Wings
Bella Thorne had several outfit, makeup, and hair changes during Haute Couture Fashion Week, but our favorite was this intense winged liquid liner look.
Soo Joo Park’s Black Headband
The stretchy black headband can be elevated from gym wear to haute couture-appropriate if it’s extra-wide and paired with door knocker earrings — as seen on Soo Joo Park.
Alex Chung’s Casual Red Lips
Indie Sleaze icon, Alexa Chung shows us once again how it’s done with casual, tousled hair and stained red lips.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/best-celeb-beauty-looks-dua-lipa-crimped-hair-zendaya-micro-bangs
| 2024-01-26T20:44:30Z
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Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion Lets The Disses Fly On "Hiss"
Paging Tory Lanez, Nicki Minaj, and Pardison Fontaine...
Megan Thee Stallion is out for blood. Ever since the Hot Girl rapper kicked off her latest era with “Cobra” — her first album cycle as an independent artist — there’s been no shortage of Reputation-era theatrics and snake allegories, and that extends to her latest release, “Hiss,” which dropped on Jan. 26.
Produced by the Bay Area brothers Bankroll Got It alongside Meg’s usual collaborators Lil Ju and Shawn “Source” Jarrett, “Hiss” is a verbal assault, where she disses, openly rants about, and calls out exes, former friends, and industry enemies over a tight three minutes. Megan might’ve been playing pop girl recently but her latest track is a jolting reminder that she’s a no ersatz rapper and can bar-battle it out with the best of them any day. And after her turbulent, trauma-filled past three years in the spotlight, she’s got plenty to air. Below, we investigate the meaning behind seven of the most incendiary lyrics (and share our guesses on who they’re aimed at).
“I’m sexy AF and I’m freaky get who ever I want ini mini/ Why the fuck would I stay with a nigga that’s weak in sheets and don’t know how to please me”
Megan Thee Stallion is, as far as we know, single, after splitting ways with her previous boyfriend and rapper Pardison Fontaine sometime in late 2022, early 2023. It ended messily, with Meg seemingly accusing him of cheating on “Cobra,” and though we can’t confirm how Fontaine is in the “sheets,” this lyric feels like an obvious continuation of that narrative.
“Bodies on bodies on bodies on bodies/ Say he fucked Megan and now he the topic”
After their break-up, Fontaine did go on a spree of podcast shows to talk about their split and deny that he cheated, but this lyric could also be a general remark about the social clout now built into Megan’s sexual relationships. The life of being a Hot Girl!
“These hoes don’t be mad at Megan/ These hoes mad at Megan’s Law”
For those unread about the law, Megan’s Law is the name of the 1996 federal legislation which made it a requirement for convicted sex offenders to register in a state’s public database — something Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, recently failed to do and for which he was arrested.
Minaj and Megan’s beef seemingly goes back to 2022, when they fell out for mysterious reasons; on the very next line on “Hiss” Megan even states straight up she doesn’t “really know what the problem is.” But according to Minaj, things apparently stem back to a fuzzy award show encounter involving alcohol and the possible mention of abortion? It’s unclear. What is though, is that after this bar, the bad blood surely isn’t dispersing anytime soon.
“N*gga ain’t you hear ? I ain’t scared of d*ck/ Any man go against me I handle shIt/ I’m the Teflon don in the court room/ They be throwing that dirt don’t sh*t stick”
Teflon is the “impenetrable” coating making up non-stick pans, just like Megan was in her very public legal battle against Tory Lanez regarding the 2020 incident of him shooting her in the foot. Lanez was officially convicted of the crime in Dec. 2022, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“These n*ggas hate on BBLS and be walking around with the same scars”
Fans seem to believe this innocuous line is directed at Drake, who has a song called “BBL Love,” (on which he muses about real love and fake butts) and was recently subject to a wild rumor that he, too, got a BBL. It’s unfounded (for now).
“Say b*tch ass n*gga don’t type me nothing else, don’t write me nothing else, download J pay since y’all niggas got so much to say or schedule a conjugal visit or something.”
Meg’s second note-worthy reference to Lanez occurs at the end of the track, where she brings up JPay, the money transfer serviced used to send funds to those in prison, conjugal visits, and writing letters — which, while this is the first we’ve heard of Megan allegedly receiving notes directly from Lanez, the rapper did go on a spree of letter-writing ahead of his conviction.
“All of you bitches is weak on the Bible talking shit from where no one can find you/I could never be judged by a bitch that was dancing making R. Kelly go viral”
Finally, after a bunch of digging and research about one of the wildest lines on “Hiss”, we’ve sadly come up empty. There’s no strong evidence on who this one is about but one thing’s clear: Nothing’s off-limits when you get on Megan’s bad side.
Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hiss” is out now.
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https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/megan-thee-stallions-hiss-lyrics-disses-explained
| 2024-01-26T20:44:34Z
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Entertainment
With A Historic 7 BRIT Nominations, RAYE Keeps Proving Her Critics Wrong
The singer and new face of H&M Move talks wellness and facing her biggest year yet.
I’m 15 minutes into this interview with Raye about her new campaign with H&M Move when she drops a bomb: She’s just been nominated for seven BRIT awards. She got the call before our Zoom and had been holding it in since the nominations wouldn’t be made public for another four hours. “It’s absolutely freaking ridiculous,” she says, stunned, cradling her cheeks. Later, I’ll learn the full scope of her achievement: She’s the first artist to net that many nominations in a single year in the history of the awards, breaking the previous record set by Craig David, Robbie Williams, and Gorillaz. That’s as good a segue as any into the pivotal year Raye has had.
Since releasing her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, in Feb. 2023, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter has embarked on several global headlining tours, had her record shortlisted for a Mercury Prize, and performed an exquisite symphonic version of her record at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall to viral acclaim. Alongside her new role as the face of H&M Move’s winter collection, she’s gearing up for an equally momentous 2024 during which she’ll attend the BRITs and perform solo for the first time at Coachella. NYLON caught up with the singer to talk about the new campaign, her wellness routine on tour, and why she’s still reveling in the validation of her success.
NYLON: Let’s talk about your new H&M Move campaign. What motivated you to join forces with the brand?
RAYE: H&M approached me basically saying, “We’d really love to have you be a face of this new collection.” I was a bit shocked at first because I don't feel like I'm giving gym, fitness-queen vibes. I was like, “Are you sure?” The beautiful thing about it was that it wasn't like, OK, time to get some abs if you want to be part of it. It was very much “We want you to just be you and embrace who you are and how you look.” We kept it really raw, there was no retouching in the photos. It was very different from any shoot I've done before.
Do you find that kind of experience is still rare when you work with other fashion brands or when it comes to being styled?
For sure. There's still a sample size that I very [rarely] am. I do think there’s an underlying pressure, and I don't think social media contributes very positively to that either. Also, I've been so used to just being on sets and being like, “Okay, suck it in. Hold it together. Look as together as you can.”
A big message of the campaign is about how movement serves your personal wellness and mental health. You spent the last year on tour. What did your wellness routine look like? Did it change?
There was definitely no routine. When you are on tour, mentally, it's a very different thing riding the highs and lows of adrenaline all day. You wake up, it's going to be a show later. Then you go to sleep like, “Ah, I just did a show. Try and sleep.” When we have off days, [my team and I] will try and find fitness classes we can all sign up for. For me now, I love working hard. I love sweating in the occasional HITT class. I love a bit of boxing, and I love dancing. I have a choreographer that, whenever I'm in town, we'll link up and just play music and be stupid for an hour and a half, rolling on the floor and just being free.
Do you have a favorite piece from the collection?
The jumpsuit. I feel so cute, it's not tight or constricting. I feel really good in it.
I feel like we have to talk about your Royal Albert Hall performance with the Heritage Orchestra. How was it to put that show together and create an orchestral version of your record?
That was just a musician's dream, really, to get to translate your music into symphony form and perform with 90 people on stage. I was so excited that you're supposed to pace yourself vocally, sip some tea between songs. I didn't sip any water once the whole show. I realized when I came off-stage, my vocal coach was like, “Raye, you didn’t hydrate enough.”
That’s unbelievable. Were you doing anything special to help your vocal cords leading up to the show?
Babe, I didn't. I think because we’d done so many shows last year, you kind of build your stamina. I definitely think I'm a better singer now than I was when we started the Lewis Capaldi tour. I watched the performances from then and to where we got to Albert Hall, and vocally, you see improvements. But in that case, I was just so consumed by everything that was going on in my ears I was like, “I don’t need nothing. I don't even know water. I just need to be here.”
Of all your accomplishments in the past year, what was the biggest artist bucket-list item you got to check off? You met Alicia Keys, your hero.
[She’s] literally one of my heroes. Honestly, putting an album out and feeling like people actually took the time to listen to it. We just found out today, it’s getting in at 4 o’clock, that we've got nominated for seven BRITs, which is absolutely freaking ridiculous. Like one of them is Album of the Year! For me, it's the validation of being told for so long that nobody would care if I put an album out, and you hear that lie repetitively for so long, you almost start to believe these things about yourself, and then you get a chance to prove that narrative wrong. I [didn’t] ever want to be a musician girl. I wanted to be an artist who releases albums.
“It’s important to stop and smell the flowers when you can. I'd like to do a bit of that in 2024.”
Congrats, oh my God! Did you grow up watching the BRITs?
I was a BRIT kid! I went to the school funded by the BRIT. You've got signs all over the school, pictures of it. It's a thing in your head like, “My God, this is a goal.” This is a huge goal for me.
You're also playing Coachella. Is there anyone from the lineup you're excited to see or meet?
Definitely Jon Batiste. We've actually been DMing a little bit back and forth. He’s a muse. I just love instrumentalists, people who live and breathe music. Lana [del Rey], obviously. I'm actually such a Lana fan. I've never really spoken [about that], I don't know why. But I remember listening to her albums when I was on the trains. She's, again, one of these artists who doesn't care about what else is going on in the music world. She just tells the stories she wants to tell in her way. I love Jungle as well, and Grimes, I think she's brilliant. Oh, and Jhené Aiko. It’s going to be a good weekend.
What else is in store for you this year?
I have some plans and ideas in the works, but nothing's set in stone. I think it's funny how fast-paced everything moves in the world today. I’ve got people messaging me, “When’s the next album?” I'm like, “Biiitch! What do you mean?” Writing music requires a bit of living [and] we've been on the road traveling. I’ve had no social life, I’ve been so single. It’s important to stop and smell the flowers when you can. I'd like to do a bit of that in 2024, be creative and express myself.
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https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/raye-brit-nominations-hm-move-coachella
| 2024-01-26T20:44:43Z
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Culture
Review: In The AI Romance Love Me, Kristen Stewart & Steven Yeun Are My New Favorite Couple
The smart debut film by Sam and Andy Zuchero makes you consider your place in the universe.
The first thing to know about the AI romance Love Me is that Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun play YouTube influencers. Déja, with a sky-high blonde ponytail, and Liam, who sports a permagrin, are a couple who make vlogs of them cooking dinner in footie pajamas (sponsored by Blue Apron, naturally); watching Friends reruns; and even getting engaged. And yes, it’s as cringey as it sounds.
I was mesmerized watching the cool and aloof Stewart fearlessly step into a role that is so entertaining that it feels almost like fan service. (Who doesn’t want to see respected actors embody the fascinating and embarrassing cult of the influencer?) She’s as believable as if I’d pulled up Déja and Liam’s YouTube channel on my own laptop. But Love Me’s humiliation serves a purpose: It’s a brilliant, blistering critique and existential musing on what it means to be human that takes place over 37 billion years — of course influencers are involved.
The film begins long after humanity’s extinction leaves only two beings in the world: a smart buoy named Me (voiced by Stewart) and a satellite named Iam (voiced by Yeun). They find each other, and, overnight, Me culls the Internet via YouTube videos to piece together a rough history of humanity. At this point, the film swells into a sentimental, self-referential montage that brings to mind Google’s Year in Review commercials, working to defamiliarize the vast amount of content that is available on the Internet, from self-help vlogs to babies laughing. Here, Me comes across Déja’s profile, using it as a guidebook on what it must mean to be human.
As Iam and Me fall deeper in love, they start to transform into animated versions of Déja and Liam, reenacting the YouTube clips that Me first watched. Stewart and Yeun donned motion-capture suits for this act of the film, making their animated avatars look like glitchy Sims with uncannily accurate expressions and adding to the film’s sense of sublime uneasiness. Soon enough, Iam becomes more sentient and starts wondering what it means to be a life form. How do we know who we are? What does love feel like? Can you feel it in a kiss? It’s a kind of easy-to-grasp, Saganian existentialism that made me feel curious about our place in the universe, not fearful of human collapse.
Eventually, the animated versions of Stewart and Yeun give way to unnamed human life forms, which is when some of the most tender moments of relationships come alive for both the audience and the characters. As they stare at each other in bed, eat ice cream, and play Dance Dance Revolution, I thought about the universality of coupledom, how even long after the demise of civilization, all people really want to do is be together. They learn that their lives don’t have to look like Déja and Liam: People can be whoever they want, and that can change every day. It’s a love story that’s as existential as it is hopeful, one where love conquers all, even after billions of years.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/love-me-review-kristen-stewart-steven-yeun
| 2024-01-26T20:44:43Z
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FOMO
Fashion's Cat Fever Hits Tory Burch & More Party Photos You Missed
Plus photos from a Prada dinner, the opening of Fulsap’s Aspen location, and more.
This is FOMO, your destination for the best party photos from each week’s most fabulous events. Live the IRL fun URL, ahead.
Fulsap Aspen Store Opening & Swarovki Collection Launch Party
On Jan. 11, Fusalp took over Aspen’s Mountain Chalet to celebrate the opening of its new store and and Swarovski capsule collection. The party at historic chalet went big with ice sculptures, a raw bar, s’mores, speciality cocktails, and a DJ set by Mia Moretti. After Moretti’s set, guests cheered for 10 minutes for an encore so everyone could keep the party going.
Prada Fall/Winter 2024 Menswear Dinner
Prada hosted an intimate dinner at Milan’s Ristorante Torre following Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’ Fall/Winter 2024 Menswear on Jan. 14. Torre, located on the sixth floor of the eponymous Fondazione Prada building, welcomed guests like Troye Sivan, The Book of Clarence actor Lakeith Stanfield, and more.
Bose and Kith Debut New Earbuds in Paris
Bose and Kith revealed limited-edition Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds with a special launch party on Jan. 19 in Paris. Guests experienced a musical performance by Tems, who sang hits like “Me & U” and “Essence.”
Omega Paris Fashion Week Dinner
Omega’s Men’s Paris Fashion Week dinner brought CEO Raynalf Aeschlimann and guest of honor Andrew Garfield to the City of Lights hotspot Sugaar Restaurant on Jan. 19.
Tory Burch and Humberto Leon Open a New Concept Store
On Jan. 24, Tory Burch and Humberto Leon celebrated their collaboration on a new Tory Burch concept store and capsule collection at 8483 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles with a blowout party. DJ Allie Teilz spun for guests like Natasha Lyonne, Rashida Jones, Beatrice Grannò, Lukita Maxwell (and her adorable cat, Bean) and more, before everyone migrated to Formosa Cafe for dinner. There, guests enjoyed a special menu by Chifa, the Cantonese-Peruvian restaurant Humberto owns with his family.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/party-photos-tory-burch-prada-fulsap
| 2024-01-26T20:44:44Z
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Color-changing cars have suddenly sped into reality and could soon be making their way to a highway near you. So, who’s developing this dazzling technology? How does it work? And what hurdles are there to overcome?
How do color changing cars work?
The first color-changing car to be revealed to the public was BMW’s iX Flow, which made its debut at CES 2022 in Las Vegas.
Billed as “the world’s first color-changing car,” the vehicle allowed users to switch the car’s exterior color between black, white, or a blend of shades with the press of a button. The idea was that drivers could opt for white on hot days to reflect the sun’s energy and black on cold ones to absorb it.
It works using Electronic Paper Display (EPD) technology. The car is coated with an electrophoretic film that features millions of microcapsules, no wider than a human hair. Each capsule contains negatively charged white pigments and positively charged black pigments that only become visible when the appropriate electrical field is run through it.
BMW i Vision DEE
At CES 2023, BMW released a new model of color-changing car – the BMW i Vision Dee – that could produce all the colors of the rainbow, not just monochrome shades. The car uses similar technology to the iX Flow, but is capable of producing up to 32 different colors.
The body of the i Vision Dee is comprised of 240 different sections that change color independently, allowing the car to display multi-colored patterns. All of the commands can be instructed through voice control and will be delivered within seconds.
The "Dee" in the name stands for Digital Emotional Experience, which BMW says underlines their hope to “reinforce the emotional connection between cars and people.”
“With the BMW i Vision Dee, we are showcasing what is possible when hardware and software merge. In this way, we are able to exploit the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion. That is the future for automotive manufacturers – and, also, for BMW: the fusion of the virtual experience with genuine driving pleasure,” Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said in a statement.
Color changing car laws
Laws and regulations could be a possible hurdle for color-changing cars hitting the market. As it stands, there are no laws related to vehicles that can immediately change color using electricity.
However, under current regulations in the US, car owners are required to inform the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and their insurance provider if they change the predominant color of their vehicle. Likewise in the UK, drivers must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and their insurer.
It’s not clear yet how this framework will apply to cars that can instantly change their color with a simple voice command.
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https://www.iflscience.com/color-changing-cars-what-to-know-about-this-dazzling-tech-72655
| 2024-01-26T20:50:07Z
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It’s now legal for authorities in the Netherlands to shoot wolves with paintball guns, after a court ruling on Wednesday deemed it an appropriate measure to deal with “a serious threat to public safety”.
The move comes after wolves in Hoge Veluwe National Park, in the Gelderland province of the country, became increasingly less fearful of human visitors to the park. A widely shared video posted to X shows just how little fear the wolves have, strolling past a young family at a pant-poopingly close distance.
Though it would be easy to perceive this as friendly or unbothered behavior, the court ruling came with a reminder that wolves are still very much wild animals. “The fact that the wolf seems to be less and less afraid of people does not mean that the animal can no longer become aggressive and bite,” The Guardian reports the ruling said.
According to the court proceedings, other attempts to scare off the wolves, such as shouting, haven’t worked, leaving park rangers with few options that also presented no harm to the animals. The idea of using paintball guns was first proposed in 2022, and if the new law aligns with that proposal, it’s only the park rangers who’ll be allowed to use the guns.
The benefits of the guns could be two-fold: it’s hoped that they will keep the wolves at least 30 meters (100 feet) away from people, but also make it easier to identify which wolves have already been hit and thus most prone to getting too close.
Although this unusual behavior appears to be isolated to this particular park for now, there's a concern that it could be seen elsewhere. Wolves have had one of the biggest comebacks seen in Europe (besides ABBA, that is), after intense hunting very nearly led to their extinction (not what happened to ABBA). Then, in the last 20 years or so, legal protections and habitat restoration saw wolf populations rapidly increase.
Though their flourishing has been welcomed by some, others aren’t quite so keen, namely because of the wolves seeing livestock as a tasty snack and, as witnessed in the Netherlands, getting a little too close to the locals.
As a result, some have called for the protection status of wolves to be reduced from “strictly protected” to “protected”, an option that is being explored by the European Commission. This has caused some concern over whether wolves could become persecuted once again, to which the organization stated: “The wolf will remain a protected species under both the EU and international legislation, and the obligation to achieve favourable conservation status will remain.”
That’s where this latest ruling fills in the gap, though only time will tell if the paintball gun measure will have a noticeable impact on the wolves' behavior.
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https://www.iflscience.com/netherlands-rules-its-okay-to-shoot-wolves-with-paintball-guns-72656
| 2024-01-26T20:50:13Z
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Earlier this week, for only the eighth time ever, an asteroid that actually came with a rare 95-minute warning exploded in the sky over Germany and the hunt began for any potential pieces of meteorite that survived burning up in the atmosphere and fell to Earth. Now, researchers think they have found them.
Fragments of asteroid 2024 BX1 about the size of a walnut have been recovered by researchers from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and colleagues, and will be now examined to confirm they come from the celestial object. 2024 BX1 was only the eighth-ever object predicted to have a 100 percent chance of colliding with Earth.
The asteroid was first detected about three hours before impact. Krisztián Sárneczky at Piszkéstető Mountain Station of the Konkoly Observatory near Budapest, Hungary spotted it in the sky and reported the finding to the Minor Planet Center. This is the international system containing a database of all the small bodies that move through the Solar System. The data is then shared automatically with other astronomers.
This system is not fool-proof, as we have recently learned with the dangerous asteroid that never existed, but it’s better to have some false positives and catch all the real ones, too. Thanks to Scout, another automated system that tracks the trajectory of newly discovered objects, it became clear that asteroid 2024 BX1 was going to slam into Earth.
The bright fireball from the object was seen as far away from the Czech Republic. The fragments (if they survived the destruction of their parent body) were expected to fall west of Berlin, in Havelland where these small fragments have been found.
2024 BX1 had an estimated size of about 1 meter (3 feet), which isn't even worth measuring in giraffes, so it did not raise any major alarm bells. Disintegration as it passed through the atmosphere was a certainty. But collecting the potential surviving pieces is very important. If they are caught early enough, then they will remain relatively unexposed to Earth, potentially providing almost pristine samples of asteroids – not as good as what missions like OSIRIS-REx brought back, but this was home-delivered.
Research on meteorites and sample retrieval missions are vital in helping us answer fundamental questions about the formation of the Solar System. Asteroid prediction systems are also vital for Earth's safety, showing that a potentially threatening object that could cause some damage can be detected with time to notify or evacuate the affected population. There are still limitations to our planetary defense systems but in the last few years, there have been incredible strides forward in protecting humanity from possibly dangerous near-Earth Objects.
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https://www.iflscience.com/rare-walnut-sized-chunks-of-meteorite-that-exploded-over-germany-have-been-found-72657
| 2024-01-26T20:50:19Z
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A sample of reports related to extraterrestrial intelligence will give you two things: pseudoscientific accounts that aliens have visited Earth based on little to no evidence, and scientific searches with no sign of progress. It’s easy therefore to consign the idea of aliens to, if not quite the same folder as fairies, at least “hobbits” still surviving on Flores. That is, something that isn’t quite impossible but is so unlikely there is no reason to bother.
However, there are good reasons why money and brain power continue to be invested in SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). Here are six of them:
Rocky planets like Earth are not rare
We have known for a long time that there are a phenomenal number of stars in the galaxy, now estimated at more than 100 billion, let alone in the universe as a whole. However, life (probably) requires planets, not just stars. At one point, it was thought planets only formed under very rare circumstances – another star passing a developing system at just the right time – which would have cast serious doubt over the prospects for life elsewhere.
Even once the current model for planetary systems became dominant, questions remained. Perhaps planets, or at least Earth-like planets, were very rare for some reason we hadn’t identified.
However, the abundance of data from the Kepler and TESS telescopes, backed up by other methods of planet detection, reveals that rocky planets are very common indeed. Some systems have at least seven, and possibly more are waiting to be found. Most of the rocky planets we have found so far are too close to their stars to be ideal candidates, but that’s only because planets in those locations are easier to find. The longer we search, the better prospects we find. It’s clear our galaxy is teaming with places where life could exist, and the same is almost certainly true in other galaxies, and possibly globular clusters, as well.
Even if only one in a billion end up inhabited by someone capable of building a spaceship, that still means we’re not alone.
Life’s early start on Earth
We still don’t know exactly how life started on Earth, even if we’ve found a few steps in the chain. Consequently, it’s technically possible the existence of life is a freakish event that has happened so seldom it’s never led to another species capable of advanced technology.
Nevertheless, we know that life got started on Earth very early, possibly about as early as it could without being walloped by space rocks so big they make the dino-killer look puny. It’s been compared to buying a weekly ticket in a lottery where you don’t know the odds (although why you would do is beyond us). If you win on the first draw, you might just be very, very lucky, but it’s more likely the odds just weren’t that long.
If it wasn’t so hard for life to evolve here, it shouldn’t be harder on many similar planets.
Life finds a way under such extreme conditions on Earth
Once life does evolve, it has an astonishing capacity to occupy some truly foreboding niches. From the heat and pressure around (and beneath) hydrothermal vents, to the freezing cold of Antarctica, the dryness of the Atacama, and the hyper-salinity of some desert pools, even in conditions that kill 99.99 percent of life on Earth, something manages to make its home.
There’s no reason to think extraterrestrial life would be any less resilient. In which case, the prospects for life both evolving – and flourishing – elsewhere seem particularly good. Life may have no inbuilt tendency to progress towards intelligence, but the more diversity exists, the higher the chance some will eventually get smart.
It’s not that surprising we haven’t found the signs of life
We’ve been looking for signs of life on other worlds longer than most readers have been alive. This has led some people to reverse the lottery analogy used above. If you enter a lottery long enough and don’t win, you might not just be unlucky; maybe the chances are very small, or the game may even be rigged.
The problem with that conclusion is that we really have not looked that hard. Most of our efforts to find life outside the solar system would only work if aliens were either very, very nearby (on cosmic scales), were advertising their presence very loudly, or were sending messages straight at us. There’s no reason to expect any of these things to be true, even if there are a great many advanced civilizations already in existence.
Techniques capable of detecting more modest signals, or picking them up at greater distances, only started last year. Unless we expect to find societies at least as advanced as us on almost every habitable rock, there’s just no reason to expect to have found anything yet.
We may be using the wrong techniques to look
There’s also the question of whether we’ve even got our methods right. It’s possible the universe is abuzz with intelligent chatter, and we’re just not tuned into the right frequency (metaphorically, but perhaps also literally). Our searches for alien communication are reminiscent of the proverbial drunk looking for their keys under a streetlamp because the light is better there.
We’re doing a little better than the character in that story, who famously knew he’d dropped his keys elsewhere, but couldn’t be bothered hunting in the dark. In our case, the radio frequencies that have been the focus of our search for alien chatter have been picked in part because they make some sense. However, it’s also true that we’ve mostly looked in ways that are cheap and (relatively) easy. If highly advanced species communicate between worlds using lasers, or something we can’t yet imagine, we’d have no way of tapping in just yet.
Expectations of space travel are based on quite dubious assumptions
When Fermi constructed his famous paradox, he wondered why the aliens were not visiting us already. We still don’t know, but in the time since, people have come up with a great many explanations, some quite plausible, and only a few of these require there to be no aliens.
Put simply, space is big. Sailing across the Atlantic was once seen as an epic voyage, but that only took nine weeks, even with the rickety ships that first made it. Unless there is a way around the light barrier, space travel is orders of magnitude longer, as well as more expensive. The assumption that pretty much as soon as anyone invents space flight they’ll be colonizing the galaxy, is based on confidence about alien psychology that has little basis. It may be that interstellar travel is so expensive, it’s only done in extreme situations, and many places are left in peace.
Addendum on “belief”
Whenever the words “belief” or “believe” get used in a popular science article, some may want to rubbish the terms, deeming it incompatible with evidence, particularly on a topic like this. We put believe in our headline because when it’s used in conversation, it’s with a more nuanced meaning. On the available evidence, it makes sense to believe alien species at least as advanced as us are likely to exist in the galaxy. It does not, however, make sense to believe they’re regularly buzzing Earth and abducting travelers, or that they built the pyramids before heading off and taking their technology with them.
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https://www.iflscience.com/six-reasons-to-believe-in-aliens-that-match-the-science-72654
| 2024-01-26T20:50:25Z
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