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BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) is tipped to sack at least three disgraced members of its Central Committee during a conclave that could be held in February.
The third plenum of the CPC’s elite committee will likely strip People’s Liberation Army (PLA) general and former defence minister Li Shangfu, former foreign minister Qin Gang and former Rocket Force commander Li Yuchao of their full memberships in the committee. The two Lis are not related.
This move will draw a line under the cases of these leaders who had been removed from their government positions in 2023, by relieving them of their party positions as well.
The read-out of a Politburo meeting held on Jan 31 did not name a date for the third plenum.
It is understood that members of the Central Committee can be removed only during a plenum.
In 2008, former vice-minister of culture Yu Youjun was removed as a Central Committee member in the third plenum of the 17th Central Committee for unspecified disciplinary offences.
The Central Committee, which directs all party work, currently has 205 full members and 171 second-tier alternate members who have no voting rights.
Central Committee members are elected every five years during a national party congress. In turn, they vote for the Politburo, the Standing Committee of the Politburo and the party’s general secretary.
The trio will be succeeded by alternate members who were the top three vote-getters at the 20th party congress in 2022.
Alternate members are up-and-coming party, government and military officials.
It is the norm for an alternate member to step up if and when a full member is ousted or dies in office.
The Central Committee meets at least once a year at a plenary session, and there are seven such meetings in a committee’s five-year term.
Apart from the second plenum that usually takes place in February or March, plenums are usually held in the autumn from September to November. No reason has been given for the delay this time for the third meeting of the current committee.
It is unclear if the date of future plenums will be standardised and held in February ahead of the annual full session of Parliament and its advisory body in March.
General Li Shangfu, who turns 66 in February, has disappeared from public view since August 2023. He stepped down as defence minister and state councillor in October and is reportedly under investigation for corruption, but there has been no official word on his fate.
Mr Qin, who turns 58 in March, was removed as foreign minister last July after a month-long disappearance. He was stripped of his state councillor title – a Cabinet position that ranks below vice-premiers and above ministers – last October.
Foreign media reports said Mr Qin was ousted after an alleged affair with a Chinese reporter while serving as China’s ambassador to the United States from 2021 to 2022.
General Li Yuchao, 61, and several of his immediate subordinates are under investigation for corruption. He was commander of the Rocket Force, which controls the country’s nuclear and conventional missiles, from January 2022 to July 2023.
The top brass of the Rocket Force was purged after unspecified “shortcomings” were uncovered during a field assessment of an exercise, according to the PLA Daily.
During the plenum, Admiral Dong Jun, 62, who succeeded Gen Li as defence minister, is likely to replace his predecessor as one of four members of the top decision-making Central Military Commission (CMC).
If confirmed, the navy will have two seats on the CMC – a sign that President Xi Jinping is serious about his 2017 pledge to turn the world’s largest armed forces from a traditional land power into a maritime one.
The other navy person on the CMC is Admiral Miao Hua, who is concurrently director of the military’s Political Work Department, which is the CMC’s chief political organ and leads all political and cultural activities in the PLA.
Adm Dong is likely to become one of the Cabinet’s five state councillors – as is the norm for defence ministers – during the annual full session of Parliament.
Another likely development at the third plenum, speculated by some political pundits, is that Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, 66, could be named director of the Central Committee’s General Office, a position currently held by Mr Cai Qi, 68.
If that happens, he would simultaneously be promoted to the CPC’s Politburo, which currently has 24 members and is ranked one notch below the all-powerful Standing Committee, as heads of the General Office are also usually members of the Politburo.
Currently, the director of the General Office also serves as the chief of staff for the party’s general secretary.
The General Office is responsible for drafting and circulating party directives and internal memos as well as arranging logistics for major meetings of the Central Committee and its Politburo. It is also in charge of preparing meeting agendas, recording and filing meeting minutes, as well as distributing communications to meeting participants and stakeholders.
But it is unclear whether Mr Wang, if he becomes head of the General Office, would also gain a position on the all-powerful Standing Committee as Mr Cai unusually did at the 2022 party congress.
Mr Cai raised eyebrows at the congress when it was announced that he would join the Standing Committee and concurrently serve as director of the General Office. It remains unclear why he was promoted to the Standing Committee.
Apart from personnel changes, the third plenum will likely be focusing on the economy as it usually does. It is expected to look at buoying the slowing economy, curbing unemployment and boosting domestic and foreign investors’ confidence.
China’s economy grew 5.2 per cent in 2023, slightly higher than the official target of around 5 per cent, but is plagued by a deepening property crisis, deflationary risks and lukewarm demand.
- Additional reporting by Lim Min Zhang
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/cpc-conclave-removal-of-disgraced-central-committee-members-on-the-cards
| 2024-01-31T15:26:49Z
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NEW DELHI - India has deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels as Western powers focus on attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, Indian officials said.
India has not joined the U.S.-led task force for the Red Sea and does not have any warships there. But it currently has two frontline warships in the Gulf of Aden and at least 10 warships in the northern and western Arabian Sea, along with surveillance aircraft, the officials said.
This is India's largest deployment in the region, they said.
Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India's growing capability, interests and reputation warranted its help in difficult situations.
"We will not be considered a responsible country when bad things are happening in the surrounding country and we say 'I have got nothing to do with this',” he said at a public event on Tuesday.
Other countries have a naval presence in the region, including the United States, France and China, but Indian officials say India's presence is the largest.
Indian military and defence officials said that navy personnel, including special commandos, have investigated more than 250 vessels and small boats in the last two months, boarding more than 40, as piracy returns after a six-year absence.
At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking and suspicious approaches had been recorded by the Indian Navy since Dec. 1, they said.
Yemen's Houthis have since November attacked ships in the Red Sea, part of a route that accounts for about 12% of the world's shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel.
A U.S.-led task force is protecting vessels within the Red Sea and launched attacks across Yemen targeting Houthi forces this month.
But Indian experts said that the conflict is spilling beyond the Red Sea.
"Houthis and piracy are disconnected. But pirates are trying to use this opportunity as the West's efforts are focused on the Red Sea," a navy official said on condition of anonymity.
An Indian Navy spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Indian Navy is doing classic police work, Harsh Pant, a foreign policy expert at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation think tank, said.
It rescued two Iranian and helped rescue a Sri Lankan fishing vessels in the first two days of this week. In December, it helped two merchant vessels targeted by aerial strikes close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Two Indian officials said that Iran-made Shahed 136 drones were used in the December attacks without blaming Tehran, which had immediately dismissed U.S. accusations linking it to those attacks. Jaishankar visited Iran this month and raised the issue of maritime security.
"As a regional security provider, (the Indian Navy) is increasingly showcasing the ability to be able to protect not only its interests but also give confidence to regional players that it is willing and able to shoulder regional responsibility," Pant said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/india-deploys-unprecedented-naval-might-near-red-sea-to-rein-in-piracy
| 2024-01-31T15:27:00Z
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JOHANNESBURG - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed they are joining the BRICS bloc after being invited last year, South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday.
The five countries were extended invitations along with Argentina at a summit in August in Johannesburg to join the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. Members say the move would help reshuffle a world order they view as outdated.
Argentina has since declined the invitation to join.
"With respect to the BRICS confirmations, five out of the six have confirmed. That is Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Iran ... and Egypt," Pandor told a news conference on Wednesday.
"Argentina has written to indicate that they will not act on this successful application by the previous administration to become full members of BRICS, and we accept their decision." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-africa-says-five-countries-confirm-they-are-joining-brics
| 2024-01-31T15:27:10Z
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JOHANNESBURG - All states have an obligation to stop funding and facilitating Israel's military actions in Gaza after the World Court indicated that those actions could plausibly be genocidal, South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa.
South Africa has for decades been a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause, comparing the plight of Palestinians to that of Black South Africans under apartheid. Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide and rejects the comparison to the apartheid era. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-african-foreign-minister-states-must-stop-funding-israels-military
| 2024-01-31T15:27:21Z
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KARACHI, Pakistan - Former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricket star Imran Khan was jailed for 14 years on Wednesday on charges of illegally selling state gifts, a day after he received a 10-year sentence for leaking state secrets.
The convictions come days before a national election scheduled for Feb. 8.
Here are some facts on how these sentences influence his political future, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, and the upcoming election:
- Khan, 71, was already barred from holding public office for five years following an earlier graft conviction, which ruled him out of next week's polls.
- Wednesday's sentence extends that ban on Khan from holding public office to 10 years, which means he could not be prime minister again until 2034.
- The convictions also mean Khan, in jail since August, will not be able to come out of jail to campaign for his party's candidates in the election.
- Khan's absence has already left his party in disarray, with many key aides jailed, on the run, or having abandoned him in the face of a spate of legal challenges.
- There are a number of candidates backed by Khan and his party that are contesting next week's election, but there are no big political names to carry his party in his absence.
- PTI is temporarily being led by a little known lawyer, Gohar Ali Khan, who is also Khan's legal counsel.
- On Jan. 14, Khan's party was stripped of its traditional electoral symbol of a cricket bat in a court ruling, which means his candidates are contesting as independents.
- Even if PTI-backed candidates win, as independents they are not bound to stay with the party and are open to joining other parties - and Khan remaining in jail for the foreseeable future increases the chances of this.
- The support of victorious independent candidates in the aftermath of the polls will be crucial for any party vying to secure the numbers necessary in parliament to form a government. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/what-does-imran-khans-conviction-mean-for-pakistans-election
| 2024-01-31T15:27:32Z
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THE HAGUE - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday found Russia had violated some parts of a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating financial support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine in 2014, but did not order compensation as requested by Ukraine.
The United Nations' top court declined to rule specifically on alleged Russian responsibility for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as Kyiv had asked it to do. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/world-court-says-russia-violated-parts-of-un-anti-terrorism-treaty-in-eastern-ukraine
| 2024-01-31T15:27:42Z
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BENGALURU - Payments processor Mastercard on Jan 31 reported an 11 per cent jump in fourth-quarter profit, driven by resilient consumer spending during the holiday season as labour markets remained strong and fears of a recession eased.
The company reported a profit of US$2.8 billion (S$3.75 billion), or US$2.97 per share, for the three months ended Dec 31, compared with US$2.5 billion, or US$2.62 per share, a year earlier.
Growing expectations of a “soft landing” – where inflation cools without tipping the economy into a recession – has boosted consumer confidence.
A survey by the University of Michigan showed that US consumer sentiment hit its highest level in 2½ years in January.
Gross dollar volume, the dollar value of all transactions processed on Mastercard’s platform, climbed 10 per cent. Cross-border volume, a gauge of travel demand that tracks spending on cards outside the country of their issue, jumped 18 per cent.
Net revenue rose 13 per cent to US$6.5 billion, Mastercard said.
Last week, Visa also reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, thanks to a strong holiday season. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/mastercard-s-fourth-quarter-profit-jumps-11-on-resilient-spending
| 2024-01-31T15:27:53Z
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Nomura Holdings is cutting about 60 staffers as the firm continues to seek ways to cut costs across its investment bank in response to the ongoing slump in dealmaking and capital markets activity.
The cuts include about 30 people in the US, according to people familiar with the matter. The majority of those staffers impacted were in investment banking, the people said, who asked not be named discussing personnel.
Several trading and sales staffers in London as well as employees in Asian countries other than Japan have also left the firm, the people said. The cuts are not targeted at particular teams or levels of seniority, one of the people said.
“Nomura regularly reviews its headcount needs taking into consideration market demand and business requirements globally,” a spokesperson for the bank said in an e-mailed statement. “Considering the current market environment and outlook, we are delivering efficiencies by reducing certain roles across our international wholesale business.”
Nomura employs 2,400 people in the Americas, while its business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa has about 2,900 staff, according to its website. Separately on Jan 31, Nomura posted third-quarter profit that met analysts’ expectations.
The move comes after Nomura began cutting roughly 20 staffers following a review of the firm’s markets and investment banking businesses in October.
Central banks around the world have ratcheted up interest rates in recent quarters, stymieing merger and acquisition activity and hurting banks’ fees. Wall Street giants including Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley have been cutting jobs in response to the drop in revenue.
Nomura has said it is aiming to cut an additional US$100 million (S$134 million) in costs across in its wholesale banking division, which includes investment banking and trading. Chief executive officer Kentaro Okuda is trying to revitalize the Japanese banking giant after profit fell in his first three years in office. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/nomura-dismisses-60-staffers-as-market-outlook-spurs-caution
| 2024-01-31T15:28:03Z
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BENGALURU - Vaccine maker Novavax said on Jan 31 it will reduce its total global workforce by about 12 per cent as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce costs.
The company said the job cuts would impact both full-time employees and contractors.
Once completed, Novavax’s workforce would be about 30 per cent lower compared with its workforce at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
The vaccine maker had 1,992 full-time employees as of Feb 21, 2023, according to the latest annual regulatory filing.
Novavax said the decision is part of its intention to bring down its expenses below US$750 million (S$1 billion) in 2024, which the vaccine maker had disclosed during its third-quarter earnings call in November.
The Maryland-based biotech has been banking on cost cuts and commercial sales of its updated Covid-19 shot to help it stay afloat.
Novavax had reiterated its “going concern warning” in November.
Shares of the biotech rose 1.5 per cent in premarket trading. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/novavax-to-cut-12-of-its-global-workforce
| 2024-01-31T15:28:14Z
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SINGAPORE – South-east Asia is an important market for Chinese businesses, given global uncertainties and the reconfiguration of supply chains, noted the secretary-general of the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC).
Mr Sun Xiao, who was in Singapore as part of a 100-strong business delegation, added that Chinese companies can sidestep obstacles resulting from trade tensions between China and the United States by investing in the region and capitalising on its resources and labour.
He said these tensions mean that many goods from China, the world’s largest manufacturer, now have to “make a few more detours” before reaching the US and Europe.
Mr Sun also noted that Chinese companies pay special attention to South-east Asia, not just because of the region’s geographical and cultural proximity to China, but also because of free trade pacts and policies that benefit businesses.
The recently announced mutual visa exemption agreements between China and the Asean countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are examples, he said.
Mr Sun told the media here that an increasing number of Chinese enterprises in high-tech and innovative sectors such as the digital economy had set their sights on expanding into South-east Asia.
Industries related to the Belt and Road Initiative, such as infrastructure, energy and logistics, were also looking to invest more in the region.
Meanwhile, UOB renewed a memorandum of understanding on Jan 31 with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – with which Mr Sun’s CCOIC is affiliated – to further boost foreign investment and trade between China and South-east Asia.
UOB reported that it has so far helped more than 1,300 Chinese companies expand into South-east Asia and has facilitated the flow of about $22 billion in foreign direct investment from China into the region since 2020.
The memorandum of understanding allows the 350,000 or so Chinese companies that are members of CCOIC to access UOB’s local and cross-border solutions and to tap the bank’s partners in the region.
It also aims to enhance supply chain resilience along China-Asean investment and trade corridors, focusing on five industries – green agriculture, smart mobility, new energy, digital technology and healthcare, said Mr Sam Cheong, who is the head of UOB’s foreign direct investment advisory unit.
Mr Sun also noted that moves by foreign firms to relocate supply chains from China to South-east Asia were corporate decisions that were “only natural” amid an ongoing reconfiguration of industrial and supply chains.
However, he pointed out that while there had been some diversion of industrial chains, many of these companies had not withdrawn completely from China.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/south-east-asia-a-key-destination-for-companies-amid-global-uncertainties-chinese-business-chamber
| 2024-01-31T15:28:24Z
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NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom - Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus plans to adopt a new ‘mindset’ in his quest for more goals after starring in the Gunners’ 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
The Brazil forward, who overcame a knee injury to make the visitors’ starting XI at the City Ground on Jan 30, opened the scoring in the 65th minute and set up Arsenal’s second goal for Bukayo Saka seven minutes later.
Jesus has managed a mere 19 goals in 56 games in all competitions since his £45 million (S$76 million) move from Manchester City in 2022.
And the 26-year-old, who has helped lay goals on for team-mates, is determined to be more single-minded in terms of boosting his own tally after helping Arsenal climb to second in the Premier League table ahead of their clash at home to leaders Liverpool on Feb 4.
“Sometimes it is all about stats and sometimes it is all about watching the game,” said Jesus.
“If you watch the game, you see me playing... I am close to 100 goals in the Premier League – that’s not easy.
“Then in the Champions League I am scoring a lot, in the national team I score. Sometimes, like I say, I am not focused on that (scoring goals) and that’s my mistake.
“So now, I think I change my mindset and I will be in the box more - and I try everything to score.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lauded Jesus for his determination to feature at Forest despite knee trouble.
“Gabi started to win the game two days ago,” Arteta said. “He had an issue with his knee and everyone was trying to protect him and saying don’t go outside.”
The Spaniard added: “But he was saying (matchday) minus 2, (matchday) minus 1, I want to be there I want to help the team to win the game. When you have that mentality, good things are going to happen. I’m really pleased with him.
“He got hit big time in the last game. His knee reacted and it’s the knee he had (surgery on) before.
“He was super positive, he’s feeling good and he was so sharp in training. I’m not surprised with the way he played.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/arsenals-jesus-promises-new-mindset-in-search-of-more-goals
| 2024-01-31T15:28:34Z
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MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United Erik ten Hag wants to draw a line under the Marcus Rashford story, saying the forward has taken ownership of the behaviour that had him dropped from Sunday's FA Cup match.
The 26-year-old missed training last Friday and was absent from Sunday's 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win against Newport County after he had reportedly been spotted at nightspots in Belfast earlier in the week.
"He has taken responsibility and for the rest it is an internal matter," Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday. "Case closed."
United will have goalkeeper Andre Onana on Thursday when they play at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Onana featured in just one of Cameroon's four games at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they went out in the last 16.
Rashford has had a difficult season scoring four goals after his career-high 30 last year. Ten Hag was asked if the player's behaviour shows a lack of respect for the club.
"It is nothing to do with that," the manager said. "Let's focus on the game ... we have to focus on winning football games.
"In football you need discipline on the pitch but also off the pitch -- there is a line between. Every professional knows what is required. We have to focus on winning football games, that's all that matters. Every top professional knows what is required."
On the plus side, Ten Hag highlighted the fact that Rashford has scored in each of their last two league games -- a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest and 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur -- in addition to getting an assist.
"He is developing a strong bond with (fellow forward) Rasmus Hojlund and we want to continue that process," Ten Hag added.
United slipped to ninth in the Premier League standings after Newcastle United's win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, and they are languishing 11 points back of fourth-place Aston Villa. Wolves are 11th.
Despite their struggles, Ten Hag said his side does not lack confidence.
"On our best days we can beat anyone, but on our worst days we go down to certain limits that aren't acceptable," he said. "We have to push our limits to higher levels so that also on our worst days we can get results in.
"Everyone in the squad is very convinced about this and they know that players are returning from long-term injuries so the team will be stronger. That helps motivation, mood and spirit in the team." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/case-closed-on-rashford-incident-says-ten-hag
| 2024-01-31T15:28:45Z
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MANCHESTER, England - England will play Austria and Italy in a pair of February friendlies in Spain in preparation for Women's Euro 2025 qualifying.
The Lionesses will travel to southern Spain for a warm-weather training camp before the international games at Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras against Austria on Feb. 23 and Italy on Feb 27.
Qualifying for the Euros kicks off in April.
"So there's no time to waste in February," England manager Sarina Wiegman said. "Heading to Spain with hopefully warmer weather and great facilities will allow us to maximise every minute together.
"Playing two games against good opposition in Austria and Italy, should be excellent preparation for another big year ahead."
England are the defending European champions and finished runners-up to Spain at last year's Women's World Cup. They narrowly missed out on qualifying for this year's Paris Olympics. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/england-women-to-play-austria-and-italy-in-february
| 2024-01-31T15:28:55Z
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DOHA - Four-times champions Japan eased into the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bahrain on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium with goals from Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda.
Bahrain coach Juan Anotnio Pizzi had been looking to heal old wounds after his Saudi Arabia team lost to Japan at the same stage in 2019 but Hajime Moriyasu's side put in a commanding performance and rarely looked troubled against the Gulf nation.
Japan took the lead in the 31st minute when Seiya Maikuma unleashed a venomous strike that crashed off the post but midfielder Doan was alert to pounce on the rebound to score from close range.
Japan went 2-0 up just after halftime through a stroke of good fortune when an unmarked Kubo received the ball inside the box, turned and fired home, with the goal being awarded after a VAR check for an offside call.
Bahrain halved the deficit from a corner when Japan keeper Zion Suzuki saved Sayed Baqer's header but as he attempted to catch the ball when it looped up in the air, Ueda tried to head it clear and they collided as the ball went over the line.
However, Ueda made amends for the own goal when he made it 3-1 after quickly evading three Bahrain defenders and as they tried to stop him racing away by pulling his shirt, the striker pulled the trigger from a tight angle to beat the keeper.
Japan will face the winner of the final last-16 tie between Iran and Syria later on Wednesday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/japan-cruise-into-asian-cup-quarter-finals-with-3-1-win-over-bahrain
| 2024-01-31T15:29:05Z
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DOHA – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was pleased with his team’s performance, but noted that there is much room for improvement as they survived a second-half wobble to set up an Asian Cup quarter-final clash with either Iran or Syria after a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Jan 31.
The victory was all that mattered for now, while there was also another positive as star winger Kaoru Mitoma finally played his first minutes in this tournament after his recovery from injury.
The four-time champions looked to be cruising in their last-16 game in Doha after goals either side of half-time from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo.
But an own goal from error-prone goalkeeper Zion Suzuki let Bahrain back in the game until Ayase Ueda restored Japan’s cushion just under 10 minutes later.
It was Ueda’s fourth goal of the tournament and one that proved crucial.
Moriyasu did not feel that the game was as easy as it seemed, however.
“I didn’t think they (Bahrain) would be an easy opponent to break down from the start, but my players broke them down with their aggressiveness and patience,” he said.
“So I want to give credit to the players who scored the three goals.
“Overall, our defence was good as well. We’ve improved.”
On looking ahead to the quarter-finals, he added: “I have a big goal, I will do my best for the match and prepare to the best of my ability.”
Japan were boosted by the return of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Mitoma, who came off the bench in the second half to play his first game since injuring his ankle on Dec 21.
But questions remain for Hajime Moriyasu’s side, who were the pre-tournament favourites but have yet to keep a clean sheet in four games in Qatar.
Japan came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Ueda thumped a header towards goal from a corner, only for Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah to claw it away.
Bahrain also had chances to take the lead but it was Japan who struck first in the 31st minute.
Right-back Seiya Maikuma unleashed a shot from distance that cannoned against the post and Doan reacted fastest to stick home the rebound.
“I’m glad I got the goal,” said Doan, who plays his club football for German Bundesliga side SC Freiburg.
“The whole team fought together, which led to the victory. What’s more important than a goal is a victory for the team.
“It’s going to be a tough game (in the next round), but we want to win the championship no matter what.”
The Samurai Blue were then forced into a change when Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate went off injured five minutes later, with Hidemasa Morita coming on.
Kubo doubled Japan’s lead in the 49th minute after a VAR (video assistant referee) goal check.
The Real Sociedad forward looked to be in an offside position when the ball broke loose to him in the box, but the final ball had come off a Bahrain defender, so the goal was legitimate.
What looked like being a stroll for Japan turned into a bad dream when Suzuki – who has a Ghanaian-American father and a Japanese mother – turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute.
The 21-year-old, who has made a string of mistakes at the Asian Cup and subsequently abused with racist comments online, misjudged a punch and got tangled up with Ueda to fumble the ball over the line.
“I think it was due to (a lack of) communication, and both players didn’t actively clear the ball,” Moriyasu added.
“We want to be able to perfect our defence with better communication.”
That own goal was just a scare in the end as Ueda finally calmed Japan’s nerves in the 72nd minute when he drilled the ball home after a sweeping attacking move forward.
Mitoma was involved in several late chances after coming on in the 68th minute, but could not get on the scoresheet. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/kaoru-mitoma-returns-as-japan-beat-bahrain-to-reach-asian-cup-quarter-finals
| 2024-01-31T15:29:16Z
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MotoGP's Argentina Grand Prix has been cancelled due to circumstances in the country, series organisers said on Wednesday.
The April 7 grand prix would have been the third round of the 22-race season.
"Due to the current circumstances in Argentina, the promoter of the event has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the services required for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 at MotoGP standards," a statement said.
"This event will not be replaced on the 2024 calendar. MotoGP hopes to return to race at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2025."
Argentina is mired in a prolonged economic crisis with triple-digit inflation, negative reserves, a rapidly depreciating peso currency, and over 40% of the population living in poverty.
President Javier Milei, a libertarian economist who took office in December, has pledged "shock" therapy for the economy including deep spending cuts.
The grand prix has received government subsidies but reports have also indicated the risk of strikes and transport disruption were a factor in the decision.
The U.S. Grand Prix at Austin's Circuit of the Americas follows directly after on April 14 and MotoGP would have had tight deadlines for transferring teams and freight from Argentina to Texas. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:29:26Z
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DUBLIN - Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland's Six Nations opener against France on Friday while Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash will make their first starts in the tournament as part an otherwise experienced side.
Ringrose was struggling with a shoulder issue ahead of selection, the Irish Times reported on Wednesday. Leinster team mate Robbie Henshaw will partner Bundee Aki in the centre for what promises to be huge test of Ireland's title defence.
Crowley, the only one of the novice trio with any Six Nations experience with just three minutes against Italy last year, steps into the sizable boots of Johnny Sexton, who retired last year after a near unbroken 14-year run in the number 10 shirt.
While Nash's second cap comes as a result of a tournament-ending injury to Mack Hansen, McCarthy's fine club form and breakthrough at last year's World Cup put the big 22-year-old ahead of Leinster team mate James Ryan in the pecking order.
Elsewhere, Farrell retained 11 of the side that narrowly lost to New Zealand in October, having said he favoured retaining continuity over ripping up and starting again at the start of a new four-year World Cup cycle.
Farrell opted for a six-two split on the replacements bench, where Ryan Baird, Jack Conan and a fit again Cian Heal are among the forward contingent.
Munster flanker Peter O'Mahony leads the side having been appointed as Sexton's successor as captain earlier this month.
France earlier named Maxime Lucu at scrumhalf in place of Antoine Dupont, who is skipping the championship to prepare for the Olympics with the Rugby Sevens.
Ireland team: 15-Hugo Keenan, 14-Calvin Nash, 13-Robbie Henshaw, 12-Bundee Aki, 11-James Lowe, 10-Jack Crowley, 9- Jamison Gibson-Park, 8-Caelan Doris, 7-Josh van der Flier, 6-Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5-Tadhg Beirne, 4-Joe McCarthy, 3-Tadhg Furlong, 2-Dan Sheehan, 1-Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16-Ronan Kelleher, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Finlay Bealham, 19-James Ryan, 20-Ryan Baird, 21-Jack Conan, 22-Conor Murray, 23-Ciaran Frawley. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:29:37Z
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BERLIN - This month German Chancellor Olaf Scholz marshalled his ministers to discuss for two hours straight strategies on how best to tackle the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is polling in second place nationwide.
The AfD's success has become an urgent concern for all mainstream parties in Germany amid fears that it could sweep communal and European elections in June and three state elections in eastern Germany in September.
Once dismissed as a fringe movement, the 11-year-old anti-establishment party has about 20% support nationwide, behind only the main opposition conservatives, polls suggest. It places first in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in eastern Germany.
Underscoring how Berlin's thinking has changed, the ministers at Scholz's meeting acknowledged that public infighting within their unwieldy three-way coalition had contributed to the rise of the AfD, a government source said.
"We recognised we have to convey better the fact that the coalition actually does work," the source said.
But it's not just the cabinet. Strategies to fight the AfD have dominated discussions at meetings of all mainstream parties. Options have ranged from a ban on the AfD to the suspension of state financing and legal measures to prevent the most extremist politicians from standing for office.
"We once again have a right-wing extremist party ... that wants to destroy our free, democratic basic order, and that we have not managed to politically constrain in the last 10 years," conservative lawmaker Marco Wanderwitz, who is leading the push for a ban, told Reuters.
"Instead it is getting bigger."
Another strategy gaining traction is for all mainstream parties to club together against the AfD, for example all backing a single candidate in elections - something they have already done successfully at communal level.
NO CONSENSUS
But there is no consensus so far either within the parties or across the political spectrum on the best strategy.
Scholz, whose Social Democrats are in coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), appears to have changed his tone. Having earlier sounded dismissive of the AfD, the chancellor has in a rare act of public contrition acknowledged missteps by the coalition.
His government has also taken a tougher line on some migration issues and passed legislation this month to facilitate the deportation of migrants without a legal right to asylum.
On Wednesday Scholz evoked the Nazi past to urge Germans to fight extremism together and see the AfD for what it is.
"Those who remain silent are complicit," he said.
The AfD says it is the victim of a state-backed campaign.
"What's happening here is a huge scandal: a government with nothing to offer politically is now resorting out of despair and fear of the AfD's looming electoral successes to the most disgraceful measures," Hans-Christoph Berndt, the party's leader in the parliament of Brandenburg, told reporters.
A landmark court ruling this month allowing public funding to the radical right-wing party Die Heimat to be cut on grounds of being anti-constitutional has fuelled a debate on whether a similar step could be taken against the AfD.
The AfD is under state surveillance on suspicion of being anti-constitutional.
In Thuringia, a court determined local party chief Bjoern Hoecke could be described as a fascist. More than one million people have signed a petition calling for him to lose his right to stand for election, in what would be an unprecedented legal procedure.
But many politicians are cautious about such legal options, saying they face high hurdles, could take years and ultimately backfire.
"We have to avoid conferring (on the AfD) martyr status and rather fight it politically with arguments," Sven Schulze, head of the conservatives in Saxony-Anhalt, told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Hoecke is already making hay with the petition against him.
"This is not democracy anymore. This is semi-totalitarianism we live in," he said in a video on Facebook.
POLICIES IN FOCUS
The idea of all parties uniting against the AfD also risks bolstering the party by allowing it to argue that there is no real difference between the mainstream parties and cast itself as the only genuine alternative, critics say.
The one strategy all mainstream parties seem to agree on is highlighting the actual policies of the AfD, which is anti-EU, anti-immigrant and disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change.
"We have to force the AfD into campaign mode by showing people they are a danger for Germany and Europe," Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the FDP's lead candidate for the European Parliament elections, told Reuters.
Many politicians highlighted a report this month about discussions between AfD politicians and right-wing radicals about mass deportations of citizens of foreign origins.
The AfD has said such plans are not party policy. But the proposals evoked dark memories of the Nazis' initial plan to deport European Jews to Madagascar, prompting hundreds of thousands to take to the streets in protest.
Such protests may have had some effect: a poll on Tuesday showed the AfD dropping below 20% for the first time since July. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/ban-the-afd-or-fight-it-germany-grapples-over-how-to-counter-the-far-right
| 2024-01-31T15:29:48Z
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COPENHAGEN - Icelanders are working round-the-clock to build dykes the size of three-storey buildings to protect a vital power plant and homes from lava flows, since volcanoes near the capital Reykjavik that were dormant for nearly 800 years became active.
The six volcanic systems, which experts forecast will be active for up to three centuries, stretch under Iceland's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, home to 30,000 people, nearly 8% of the country's total population.
They form an underground meshwork on the peninsula, stretching to the edges of the capital, which has witnessed five eruptions since 2021.
Amid concerns about an imminent eruption, authorities in November began building defence walls around the peninsula's Svartsengi geothermal power plant.
Since then, nearly 100 bulldozers, excavators and haul trucks have been working nonstop around the plant, according to Kristinn Hardarson, who heads operations at energy company HS Orka, the owner of Svartsengi.
In total, some 560,000 cubic meters of gravel and solidified lava rock - enough to fill 20,000 trucks - will be used to protect the plant.
"They have to divert the lava so it flows beside the barriers. If you try to stop it, the lava will just build up and eventually go over the barriers," Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told Reuters.
Construction of defences has also started around the nearby town of Grindavik, home to one of Iceland's key fishing ports and nearly 4,000 residents who were evacuated in December before the most recent eruption north of the town.
The first barrier proved effective in diverting lava away from Grindavik but when fissures opened on the other side of the barrier, lava reached the town and set some houses alight.
The biggest barriers are about 40 metres wide, between eight and ten metres high, and four meters wide at the top.
Finishing the seven-kilometre half circle around Grindavik is expected to take six weeks, Reynisson said.
It will take roughly twice as much material as was needed at Svartsengi, according to Ari Gudmundsson, a civil engineer at Verkis, an engineering company working on the barriers.
Similar dykes or embankments have been attempted in Italy, Hawaii and Iceland to protect from lava but on a smaller scale, according to Gudmundsson.
When Mount Etna, an active volcano in Italy, erupted in late 1991, a 234-metres long and 21-metres high barrier was constructed. The lava was held back for approximately one month before it eventually flowed over the structure.
Icelanders first attempted building defence walls on the island of Heimaey when a 1973 eruption ravaged the town of Vestmannaeyjar, forcing its entire population to evacuate.
Numerous eruptions have struck Iceland since, but usually away from towns and critical infrastructure. When volcanic activity began on the Reykjanes peninsula in 2021, fresh attempts at building a defence were made.
"We made a few barriers, short ones, to get experience and to try to steer the lava flow away from one area that would eventually lead to Grindavik," Gudmundsson said.
Engineers are trying to fine-tune how tall and steep the barriers should be.
"The main thing we saw is that the barriers are working, so now we know more about how to build them and how to use them," Reynisson said.
The Department for Civil Protection is also digging hot water pipelines deeper underground and lifting power and telecom lines higher to protect them.
Attempts are also being made to insulate overland pipelines and power cables from hot lava.
Icelanders have an ambiguous relation to volcanoes, according to Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, Iceland's Minister of Infrastructure.
We must remember that our green geothermal energy, amazing tourist attractions and well-being in Iceland come from the power of the volcanoes, he told Reuters.
"Sometimes it is good and a benefit to the people, but sometimes it is threatening us." REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:29:58Z
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MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Jan 31 that a US-made Patriot missile was used to shoot down a plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers.
A Russian Il-76 cargo plane crashed on Jan 24, with the Russian authorities saying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board.
“The plane was shot down, it has already been established for certain, by an American Patriot system. This has already been established by forensics,” Mr Putin said in a televised appearance on Jan 31.
There was no immediate response from Kyiv or Washington to Mr Putin’s remarks.
In previous statements and comments, Ukrainian officials have not outright denied Russia’s version of events, but questioned whether the plane really was carrying Ukrainian POWs.
Mr Putin also said Russia was “insisting” on an international investigation into the downing of the plane, but said “there are no international organisations willing” to take part.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also called for an international investigation, but said it would likely be hampered as Russia has full control over access to the crash site.
Patriots are guided surface-to-air missiles that can be used to target aircraft or defensively to take out incoming missiles.
The United States agreed to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine at the end of 2022 after months of requests from Kyiv. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:30:09Z
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KYIV - Russia and Ukraine traded hundreds of prisoners of war on Jan 31, just a week after Moscow said Kyiv had shot down a plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers to an exchange.
The crash of a Russian military cargo plane near the border with Ukraine – which Russia said killed 65 Ukrainian POWs – had thrown doubt on future prisoner swops between the two sides.
But in a series of coordinated announcements on Jan 31, both sides hailed the latest agreement to free more than 400 people captured during the course of the two-year war.
Russia’s defence ministry said 195 of its soldiers were freed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 people – both soldiers and civilians – had returned to Ukraine.
“Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what,” Mr Zelensky said, in a social media post.
Russia’s defence ministry said, “195 Russian servicemen... were returned home”.
The exchange was brokered by the United Arab Emirates, which has played a role in several previous swops, Moscow said.
Ukraine said the youngest soldier returning home was 20, while the oldest was 61.
The freed Ukrainians include those who fought in Mariupol and on Snake Island – a scrubby rock in the Black Sea that secured worldwide fame when the Ukrainians stationed there issued an expletive-laden radio message to Russian attackers.
50th swop
The announcement of the swop – in a flurry of statements and photos released simultaneously by Moscow and Kyiv – contrasted sharply with the rhetoric surrounding last week’s crash.
Zelensky has accused Moscow of “playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners”, while Moscow said Ukraine committed a “terrorist act”.
Uncertainty remains after the Russian plane was crashed in a fireball in the western Belgorod region on Jan 24.
Moscow says it was ferrying 65 Ukrainian POWs on the way to a scheduled exchange.
President Vladimir Putin said it was “obvious” Ukraine shot it down and claimed Kyiv knew dozens of its soldiers could have been on board.
On Jan 31, he said a US Patriot system was used to down the plane.
“This has already been established by forensics,” President Putin said, in a televised appearance.
Ukraine has not outright denied Moscow’s version of events, but questioned whether captured Ukrainian soldiers were actually on board and said Moscow never told it in advance that POWs would be flown near the border.
Officials in Kyiv have called for Moscow to publish photos of the dead POWs’ bodies or provide other evidence to back up its claims.
The Jan 31 exchange – which took place exactly a week after the plane was shot down – was the 50th swop between the two sides since Russia invaded in February 2022, Kyiv said.
Ukraine said more than 3,000 POWs have now been returned. A similar number of Russians have also been freed, with most exchanges based on a one-for-one format.
Thousands who have been captured or surrendered throughout the near two-year war are thought to still be in captivity.
‘Not stopping’
On the battlefield, both sides reported ongoing fights for territory across the sprawling frontline.
Mr Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for Ukraine’s army, said Ukraine’s forces were “firmly on the defensive” in the eastern Donetsk region.
“The enemy does not stop trying to surround Avdiivka,” he said, in an interview with state TV.
Russian forces have been trying to capture the strategic town – which Ukrainians see as a symbol of resistance – for months.
Ukraine also said Russia fired drones and missiles overnight in the latest aerial bombardment.
On the diplomatic front, Kyiv is hoping for a breakthrough this week over unlocking €50 billion (S$70 billion) of aid from the EU.
EU leaders will meet on Feb 1 to discuss future support for Kyiv, hoping to reach a final agreement over a massive four-year financial aid package that was blocked by Hungary last year. AFP
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| 2024-01-31T15:30:19Z
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BERLIN - Chancellor Olaf Scholz reminded Germans of their Nazi past on Wednesday as he called on citizens to reject the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) which is second in most national polls.
Hundreds of thousands of people have joined demonstrations across Germany against the AfD after a report that two senior party members had discussed plans for the mass deportation of citizens with foreign backgrounds - a term called remigration.
Addressing the Bundestag lower house of parliament after a special session marking the Holocaust and dressed in a black suit and tie, Scholz said democrats must stand together and stop the shift to the right.
"The word 'remigration' is reminiscent of the darkest times in German history," Scholz said.
"Those who remain silent are complicit," he said, adding he wanted voters to see the AfD for what it was.
Support for the AfD dipped slightly in a poll published this week following the protests but the party, which has a strong focus on migration, is still second in most polls before this year's European elections.
Scholz also said that "Dexit", the idea of Germany leaving the European Union, which AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has talked about, would lead to "the greatest destruction of prosperity that could happen to Germany and Europe".
In an unusually combative speech during which he waved his clenched fists in the air, Scholz argued for a stronger EU.
"If the world becomes even more difficult, for example if you look at what is possible in the U.S. election, then the European Union must become all the stronger," he said, adding the bloc must complete a banking and capital market union.
Support for Social Democrat Scholz and his awkward three-way coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) is hovering around record lows. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/scholz-evokes-nazi-era-as-he-urges-germans-to-reject-far-right
| 2024-01-31T15:30:30Z
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BERLIN – Strikes will ground more than 1,100 flights on Feb 1 at some of Germany’s biggest airports, including global hub Frankfurt, in the latest wave of industrial action by transport workers.
The labour union Verdi has called for strikes by security staff at airports across Germany as it tries to raise pressure on the government in wage talks.
Almost 200,000 passengers will be affected by the flight cancellations or delays, the German airports association ADV said on Jan 31.
In Frankfurt, security checkpoints at the transit area will remain closed, airport operator Fraport said in a statement, adding that “it is, therefore, not possible to board flights”.
All passengers who had planned to start their journey in Frankfurt should not come to the airport, Fraport said.
A spokesman for Berlin Brandenburg’s airport said all departures would be cancelled on Feb 1, but that flights would go back to normal on Feb 2 at the start of the winter holidays in Germany’s capital.
The airports of Hamburg, Stuttgart and Hanover said they would take similar measures. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:30:40Z
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KYIV - Ukraine's ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi was offered the job of replacing his boss Valeriy Zaluzhnyi as commander of the armed forces, but declined, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
Ukrainian media reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked General Zaluzhnyi, head of the Ukrainian army, to step aside this week, but that he refused.
His exit as army chief would represent a huge shake-up in the Ukrainian military, which is fending off multiple Russian attacks in the east as uncertainty grows over the future of vital U.S. and European Union support.
The source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, was unable to say exactly how or when the job offer was communicated to Syrskyi.
The Ukrainian General Staff and president's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Zaluzhnyi is seen as a hero to many in Ukraine after his troops successfully defended Kyiv against Moscow's forces at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago.
Ukrainian media have tipped Syrskyi and military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as two possible successors to Zaluzhnyi.
Under Zaluzhnyi's command, Ukraine defied overwhelming odds to beat back Moscow's initial offensive and then regained swathes of occupied territory later in 2022.
The defence of Kyiv and a lightning advance in the northeastern Kharkiv region were overseen by Syrskyi.
But Ukraine's much-vaunted 2023 counteroffensive failed to make serious inroads into heavily-defended Russian positions in the occupied south and east.
It was not immediately clear how Kyiv's allies in the West would view moves to replace Zaluzhnyi, who retains overwhelming popularity in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said speculation about Zaluzhnyi's future reflects the problems Kyiv faces nearly two years into the war. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/ukraines-ground-commander-declined-offer-to-replace-his-boss-as-army-chief-source
| 2024-01-31T15:30:50Z
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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip - The ambulance left its usual home base at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis six days ago with as many bandages, syringes and other basics as its crew could find, and has been operating as a mobile clinic ever since as there is no way back.
The hospital, the largest still functioning in southern Gaza, is in an area of the city where intense fighting is taking place between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, making it too dangerous for patients or even ambulances to pass.
"We now function as an ambulance field point in central Khan Younis," said paramedic Nassim Hassan, who heads the emergency unit at Nasser Hospital.
That means treating patients who arrive by their own means, or rushing to collect wounded people, including in locations very close to the frontlines, and taking them to tents with basic medical facilities.
"Since we left six days ago, we have been working. There's a lot of injuries among the displaced who were in the industrial quarter and some schools. Many of the injured left loaded on carts, tuk-tuks, cars or even on foot."
Khan Younis saw a huge influx of displaced people during the first weeks of the war between Israel and Hamas, after the Israeli army told civilians to evacuate northern Gaza for their own safety.
Since then, the fighting has moved south and into the heart of the city, causing new waves of displacement towards Rafah, on Gaza's southern boundary with Egypt, and making conditions ever harsher and more dangerous for those left behind in Khan Younis.
With no immediate prospect of getting new supplies from any hospital storeroom, Hassan was concerned about running out of essentials.
"This is one of the items we are missing," he said, holding up a tourniquet during a sort-out of the supplies stored inside the ambulance. "Maybe we have one or two left."
In one of the medical tents where Hassan's ambulance has been depositing patients, paramedic Ibrahim Abu al-Kass was doing his best to deal with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses with only basic equipment.
"This medical point was created after the siege of hospitals, including Nasser Hospital and Al-Amal Hospital, and the hard access to them under the current events," said Abu al-Kass.
"We deal with cases under very critical conditions," he said, adding that some would be hard to handle even in a proper hospital.
Hassan and his colleagues from ambulance crews acting as mobile clinics have carried patients into the tent, and dead bodies out.
The war started when Hamas militants from Gaza invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting 240, according to Israel, which responded with an all-out military assault on the densely populated strip.
Israel's bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 26,900 Palestinians and injured more than 65,900, according to Gaza's health ministry. Most of the strip's population has been displaced and hunger and disease are rife.
Most hospitals have ceased functioning altogether or are doing so under harrowing conditions, with insufficient medicines and equipment, incessant arrivals of badly wounded patients and large numbers of displaced people sheltering on their premises. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/gaza-ambulances-become-mobile-clinics-as-fighting-blocks-way-to-hospitals
| 2024-01-31T15:31:01Z
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Some 70 U.S. cities have passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war with most calling for a ceasefire, a Reuters analysis of city data shows, placing more pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of November's general election to help end the fighting.
At least 47 cities have passed symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel's Gaza bombardment, with six others passing resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. At least 20 have passed resolutions condemning Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the current bloodshed.
Most of the ceasefire resolutions have passed in Democratic states like California, though at least 14 have passed in swing states like Michigan that could be decisive in Biden's re-election bid against Republican former President Donald Trump.
Biden's administration has rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, something supported by a majority of Americans, arguing that an Israeli halt would embolden Hamas. Critics of the city resolutions say they have no tangible effect on national policy and distract from domestic issues.
Gabriela Santiago-Romero, a Detroit council member who voted to pass a ceasefire resolution in Michigan's biggest city in November, said it reflected frustration, particularly by younger officials and people of color, with Biden and other national Democratic party leaders.
"We want leadership that is willing to listen to us," Santiago-Romero said.
Democrats should "listen to young people, invest in diversity, invest in people that are values aligned who actually listen to their constituents," she added.
Asked for comment, the White House, which has said it is pressing Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, referred to previous statements that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas.
Reuters compiled data from 70 cities that have passed Israel-Gaza resolutions or proclamations since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. They range from major cities like San Francisco to smaller cities such as Carrboro, North Carolina, and Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
Many of the ceasefire calls are modeled after Missouri congresswoman Cori Bush's "Ceasefire Now" resolution, which also urges the release of hostages and an increase of aid into Gaza, where health officials say Israeli bombardment has killed more than 26,600 Palestinians.
At least nine of the ceasefire calls were in Michigan, where Arab Americans account for 5% of the vote and Biden's 2020 margin of victory over Trump was less than 3%. An October poll showed Biden's support among Arab Americans had plunged to 17% from 59% in 2020.
"This (war) is something that's going to be on voters' minds," said Douglas Wilson, a Democratic strategist in the swing state of North Carolina.
"It's gonna be an issue here and in all the swing states because of the Muslim populations in these states, the Jewish populations in these states and the Black and brown population these states," Wilson said.
'TAKE A STANCE'
Hamas said on Tuesday it had received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, presented by mediators after talks with Israel, in what appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months.
U.S. support for Israel throughout the war has sharply divided Americans, sparking protests in U.S. cities in support of both Israel and Gaza. However, a Reuters poll last year found bipartisan support for a ceasefire.
Some critics of the city ceasefire calls say they're premature, citing the brutality of Hamas' attacks.
"We can't have a ceasefire (with) a terrorist organization that's committed to doing this again," said Tyler Gregory, head of San Francisco's Jewish Community Relations Council, which has condemned the calls as one-sided.
"(These) resolutions are not only fanning the flames of hate, they're creating stronger tensions," Gregory said, pointing to a rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since Oct. 7.
At least some city officials said the ceasefire calls had support from Jewish constituents.
San Francisco Board Supervisor Hillary Ronen said hundreds of Jewish and Muslim residents urged her to vote in favor of a resolution that passed in the city, one of the largest to approve it.
"For people like me, Jewish people with family members in Israel, it's extra important for us to take a stance against this war," Ronen said.
Mohammed Khader, a Black Palestinian-American and policy manager with the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Human Rights, said advocates "hope that those empowered with local state or federal voting power will acknowledge their Palestinian constituents."
Analysts cautioned that while much could change before the Nov. 5 election, local frustration with Biden could hurt him at the polls by suppressing turnout.
Nadia Brown, a professor of government at Georgetown University, said that many Democratic activists "don't see voting or doing things at a national level as a way to get things they like."
Brown added: "And if they don't see that now, will they see that in November? I don't think so." REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:31:11Z
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WASHINGTON - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday played down fears that a re-election of former U.S. President Donald Trump would weaken the defense alliance as it works to ensure robust support for Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said he did not think a second Trump presidency would jeopardize U.S. membership in NATO.
"I believe that the United States will continue to be a staunch NATO ally, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. election, because it is in the U.S. interest," he said in an interview with CNN.
Republican Trump, a fierce critic of NATO when he was president, repeatedly threatened to pull out of the alliance. He cut defense funding to NATO and frequently complained that the United States was paying more than its fair share.
"I worked with him for four years and I listened carefully, because the main criticism has been about the NATO allies spending too little on NATO," Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg, who has been pushing member states to boost defense spending, said more of the allies are increasing their military contributions.
"So the message from the United States that European allies had to step up has been understood and they are really moving in the right direction," he said.
Trump has continued to criticize the alliance, saying over the weekend while campaigning that he did not believe NATO countries would support the United States if it were attacked. NATO's treaty contains a provision that guarantees mutual defense of member states if one is attacked.
On the war in Ukraine, Trump has called for de-escalation and has complained about the billions spent so far, although he has put forward few tangible policy proposals.
U.S. Senate talks on a border security deal that some have set as a condition for additional Ukraine aid have encountered growing opposition among Republicans aligned with Trump. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-31T15:31:22Z
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WASHINGTON – More than half of swing-state voters would not vote for Donald Trump if he were convicted of a crime, according to a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, a warning sign for the Republican front runner who continues to lead United States President Joe Biden in key states.
The poll found that 53 per cent of voters in the seven closely watched battleground states would be unwilling to vote for Trump in the general election if he were found guilty of a crime, a figure that grows to 55 per cent if he is sentenced to prison.
Trump’s 91 criminal charges in four separate indictments and related court appearances have so far fuelled his standing in the Republican primary field and campaign fund-raising efforts, but the data released on Jan 31 indicates there is a limit to how much his legal battles will help him politically.
Voters’ reluctance to support a convicted Trump is one of the few dark spots for the former president in the poll that otherwise shows him growing his margin over Mr Biden in a head-to-head contest.
Trump leads Mr Biden by an average of 6 percentage points in the seven critical swing states that will likely decide the 2024 presidential election, according to the poll.
The former president romped to victory in the first two Republican primary contests and is poised to sew up his party’s nomination in the coming weeks.
Trump has used the criminal charges to paint himself as a victim of prosecutors, whom he accuses of political bias. That has galvanised the party’s base around his candidacy and drawn support away from his challengers.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already dropped out of the race, and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has pledged to continue running through early March after losing to Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Despite Republicans rallying around Trump after four indictments, the poll suggests that a conviction and prison sentence could change the equation for some voters. Nearly one in four – 23 per cent – of swing-state Republicans say they are unwilling to support him if convicted.
‘Base is evolving’
Morning Consult vice-president Caroline Bye said a conviction shrinks Trump’s pool of support. He loses one out of every five of his 2020 voters if he is found guilty, she said.
“The base is evolving, and the base is changing,” she said. “But there are certainly loyal Trump voters who will continue to vote for Trump.”
Voters were split over whether states should be able to remove Trump’s name from the ballot for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Forty-five per cent said states should not have the right to remove him, while 21 per cent said states should be able to rule him ineligible only if he is criminally convicted of insurrection-related charges. The remaining respondents said states should be able to delete his name, regardless of any conviction.
A conviction could also tip the balance among the so-called double haters – voters who have an unfavourable opinion of both Mr Biden and Trump – with 79 per cent of those voters saying they would be unwilling to vote for Trump if he were found guilty.
The poll was conducted on Jan 16 to 22, after the Iowa caucuses and before the New Hampshire primary. It also came before an US$83.3 million (S$111 million) civil damages award for defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll, who earlier won a separate lawsuit against him for sexually assaulting her in 1996.
It polled voters in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada. Bloomberg News and Morning Consult are conducting polls monthly in the run-up to the November presidential election.
Cases he faces
Trump faces four different criminal trials in 2024, though his lawyers are trying to get the cases delayed until after the election or dismissed.
Two cases – one over Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another dealing with alleged hush money payments to a porn star – are scheduled to go to trial in March and could reach verdicts before the November presidential election, though delays could mean voters will go to the polls before any of the cases have been decided.
The timing of the other two – over Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged interference in the 2020 Georgia election results – are uncertain.
He is awaiting an appeals court ruling on whether he is immune from criminal liability for actions during his tenure as president. That could result in the dismissal of two cases stemming from his attempts to subvert the 2020 election.
The immunity ruling would not apply to the other two criminal cases from actions before and after he was president. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/trump-risks-losing-more-than-half-of-swing-state-voters-if-found-guilty
| 2024-01-31T15:31:32Z
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Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA - Free Report) : This biopharmaceutical company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 33.3% over the last 60 days.
Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (IKT - Free Report) : This clinical-stage pharmaceutical company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing nearly 16% over the last 60 days.
YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF - Free Report) : This international energy company engaging in the integrated business of hydrocarbons has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 24.2% over the last 60 days.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (AVXL - Free Report) : This clinical stage biopharmaceutical company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7% over the last 60 days.
Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. (EKSO - Free Report) : This exoskeleton products company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 25.6% over the last 60 days.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2217604/new-strong-buy-stocks-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:52:32Z
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Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, January 31st:
First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN - Free Report) : This banking company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.7% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 2.2%, compared with the industry average of 0.8%.
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (ISNPY - Free Report) : This financial products and services company for First Community Bank has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.5% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 7.4%, compared with the industry average of 4.1%.
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (BRKL - Free Report) : This bank holding company for the Brookline Bank has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 2.2% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 4.7%, compared with the industry average of 3.2%.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218398/best-income-stocks-to-buy-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:52:51Z
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Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, January 31st:
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA - Free Report) : This biopharmaceutical company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 33.3% over the last 60 days.
ADMA’s shares gained 52% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 16.1%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A.
Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. (EKSO - Free Report) : This exoskeleton products company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 25.6% over the last 60 days.
Ekso Bionics’ shares gained 56.9% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 16.1%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A.
InhibikaseTherapeutics, Inc. (IKT - Free Report) : This clinical-stage pharmaceutical company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing nearly 16% over the last 60 days.
Inhibikase’s shares gained 270.6% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 16.1%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of B.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218404/best-momentum-stocks-to-buy-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:52:57Z
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Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, January 31st:
YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF - Free Report) : This international energy company engaging in the integrated business of hydrocarbons carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 24.2% over the last 60 days.
YPF has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 4.72, compared with 6.90 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
American Woodmark Corporation (AMWD - Free Report) : This kitchen, bath, office, home organization, and hardware products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.7% over the last 60 days.
American Woodmark has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 11.11, compared with 12.20 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
Steelcase Inc. (SCS - Free Report) : This furniture and architectural products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.4% over the last 60 days.
Steelcase has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 17.19, compared with 20.87 for the S&P 500. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
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Learn more about the Value score and how it is calculated here.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218406/best-value-stocks-to-buy-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:53:03Z
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Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, January 31st:
Ternium S.A. (TX - Free Report) : This steel products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 6.9% over the last 60 days.
Ternium has a PEG ratio of 0.92 compared with 1.27 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.
Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL - Free Report) : This custom-engineered equipment and systems company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 5.4% over the last 60 days.
Powell has a PEG ratio of 1.09 compared with 1.62 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO - Free Report) : This pharmaceutical company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.9% over the last 60 days.
Novo Nordisk has a PEG ratio of 1.19 compared with 2.10 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218409/best-growth-stocks-to-buy-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:53:09Z
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The Zacks Business-Software Services industry is benefiting from the heightened demand for digital transformation and the ongoing shift to the cloud. The growing automation of business processes across multiple industries and rapidly increasing enterprise data volumes are also driving the demand for business software and services. The growing demand for solutions that support hybrid operating environments is noteworthy. Increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks are driving cybersecurity application demand. Robust IT spending on software is an upside for industry participants. Industry participants like MSCI (MSCI - Free Report) , Wipro Limited (WIT - Free Report) , Tyler Technologies (TYL - Free Report) and Guidewire Software (GWRE - Free Report) are gaining from these trends.
However, heightened geopolitical risks, raging inflation and high interest rates are major headwinds. Additionally, elevated operating expenses related to hiring new employees and sales and marketing strategies to capture more market share are likely to strain margins in the near term.
Industry Description
The Zacks Business-Software Services industry primarily comprises companies that deliver application-specific software products and services. The applications are typically either license-based or cloud-based. The offerings generally include applications related to finance, sales & marketing, human resources and supply chain, among others. The industry consists of a broad range of companies offering a wide range of products and services, including business processing and consulting, application development, testing and maintenance, office productivity suits, systems integration, infrastructure services and network security applications. Some companies provide investment-decision support tools. Manufacturing, retail, banking, insurance, telecommunication, healthcare and public sectors are the primary end markets for industry participants.
5 Trends Shaping the Future of the Business-Software Services Industry
Transition to Cloud-Creating Opportunities: Companies in this industry have been gaining from the robust demand for multi-cloud-enabled software solutions, given the ongoing transition from legacy platforms to modern cloud-based infrastructure. These industry players are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their applications to make the same more dynamic and result-oriented. Most industry players are now offering cloud-based versions of their solutions in addition to on-premise ones, thereby expanding content accessibility. Enhanced interoperability features provide customers with differentiation and efficiency.
Subscription Model Gains Traction: The industry participants are modifying their business models to cope with clients’ shifting requirements. Subscription and term license-based revenue pricing models have become highly popular and are now replacing the legacy upfront payment prototype. Subscription-based business models provide increased revenue visibility and higher recurring revenues, which bode well for companies over the long haul. However, due to this transition, the top-line growth of these companies might be affected in the days to come as term-license revenues include advance payments, whereas subscription-based revenues are a bit delayed.
Continuous M&A to Expand Product Offerings: The players in this industry are resorting to frequent mergers and acquisitions to supply complementary and end-to-end software products. However, increasing investments in digital offerings and acquisitions might erode the industry’s profitability in the upcoming period.
Optimistic IT Spending Forecast: The latest forecast for worldwide IT spending by Gartner is an upside for industry participants. The worldwide IT spending is anticipated to increase 6.8% to $5 trillion in 2024. The research firm expects worldwide spending on software to grow 12.7% year over year in 2024.
Elevated Operating Expenses to Hurt Profitability: To survive in the highly competitive business software market, each player is continuously investing in broadening its capabilities. The players in the space are aggressively investing in research and development to enhance their product portfolios. Moreover, companies are investing heavily to boost their sales and marketing capabilities, particularly by increasing their sales force. Therefore, elevated operating expenses to capture more market share are likely to dent margins in the near term.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects
The Zacks Business-Software Services industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #59, which places it in the top 24% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all member stocks, indicates solid near-term prospects. 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.
The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are optimistic about this group’s earnings growth potential.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms the S&P 500 and the Sector
The Zacks Business-Software Services industry has underperformed the S&P 500 Index as well as the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s performance over the past year.
The industry has soared 20.2% during this period, while the broader sector and the S&P 500 have increased 47.8% and 21.5%, respectively.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry's Current Valuation
Comparing the industry with the S&P 500 composite and the broader sector on the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-earnings, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing business-software services stocks, we see that the industry’s ratio of 27.34 is higher than the S&P 500’s 20.62 and the sector’s 26.50.
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 36.71X and as low as 20.37X and recorded a median of 24.91X, as the charts below show.
F12M Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Industry vs. S&P 500)
F12M Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Industry vs. Sector)
4 Stocks to Watch
MSCI: The company offers investment decision support tools, including indexes, portfolio construction and risk management products and services, Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) research and ratings, and real estate research, reporting and benchmarking offerings.
MSCI is benefiting from the solid demand for custom and factor index modules, a recurring revenue business model and the growing adoption of its ESG solution in the investment process. MSCI’s expanding portfolio of climate tools is expected to drive the top line. Acquisitions have enhanced its ability to provide climate-risk assessment and assist investors in climate-risk disclosure requirements. Moreover, the strong traction of client segments like wealth management, banks, brokers and dealers is an upside.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have increased 13.3% over the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings has moved 14 cents north to $14.73 per share over the past 30 days.
Price and Consensus: MSCI
Wipro: The company provides comprehensive IT solutions and services, including systems integration, Information Systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application development and maintenance, and research and development services to corporations globally.
Wipro's emphasis on digital transformation services, including cloud computing and cybersecurity solutions, aligns with the evolving needs of businesses worldwide. Wipro's strategic acquisitions, such as Rizing and CAS, enhance its capabilities in crucial sectors. The acceleration of remote work and the increasing demand for artificial intelligence and data analytics further contribute to Wipro's growth trajectory. As organizations prioritize technology-driven solutions, the company's focus on innovation and its commitment to providing cutting-edge services position it favorably in the dynamic global market.
This Bengaluru, India-based company carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2024 earnings has moved up by a penny to 26 cents per share over the past 30 days. Shares of WIT have risen 15.6% in the trailing 12 months.
Price and Consensus: WIT
Tyler is benefiting from higher recurring revenues, the post-acquisition contributions of NIC and the constant rebound of the market and sales activities to pre-pandemic levels. The public sector’s ongoing transition from on-premise and outdated systems to scalable cloud-based systems is an upside. The growing hybrid working trend is also driving the demand for its connectivity and cloud services. The company’s strong liquidity position is helping it pursue acquisitions, which are expected to continue to drive growth.
Shares of this Plano, TX-based company have soared 34% over the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings has been revised upward by a penny to $8.73 per share over the past 30 days.
Price and Consensus: TYL
Guidewire Software: This San Mateo, CA-based company is a provider of software solutions for property and casualty insurers. The company's solutions aid in reducing risks via increased productivity, bringing speed to market, digital engagement and simplifying the IT infrastructure.
Guidewire’s performance is gaining from higher revenue growth across the subscription and support business segment. Guidewire Cloud continues to gain momentum, with eight cloud deals in its last reported quarterly results. The company’s focus on enhancing the Guidewire Cloud platform with new capabilities is expected to boost sales of subscription-based solutions. The company is likely to benefit as insurers modernize their legacy mainframe systems and replace previously modernized on-premise systems. Also, GWRE’s share repurchase program is noteworthy. Strategic acquisitions and collaborations, along with a less competitive market and a strong liquidity position, bode well.
This Zacks Rank #3 stock has rallied 56.5% in the trailing 12 months. The consensus mark for fiscal 2024 earnings is pegged at 92 cents per share, revised 37.3% upward over the past 60 days.
Price and Consensus: GWRE
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218457/4-business-software-services-stocks-to-watch-on-bright-industry-trends
| 2024-01-31T15:53:15Z
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As we progress through the Q4 earnings season investors may still be digesting the quarterly results from several airliners last week including the likes of United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) and American Airlines (AAL - Free Report) .
Their size and reach to international destinations tend to garnish investors' attention over regional carriers such as Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) and Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) which both reported Q4 results last week as well.
Like their regional counterparts, American and United were able to surpass their quarterly top and bottom line expectations despite facing very tough to-compete-against quarters attributed to the sharp rebound in travel during Q4 2022. With that being said, let's see if now is a good time to buy stock in either of these popular airliners.
American Q4 Review
Fourth quarter reports from American and United were much anticipated as the largest and third largest air carriers in the nation in terms of annual passengers. Neither disappointed but American certainly stood out with Q4 earnings of $0.29 a share blasting the Zacks Consensus of $0.06 a share by 383%. Quarterly sales of $13.06 billion slightly beat estimates of $13.02 billion.
Furthermore, American has now surpassed earnings expectations in six consecutive quarters and has posted a very impressive average earnings surprise of 119% in its last four quarterly reports.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Overall, annual earnings continued to rebound with American rounding out fiscal 2023 with EPS soaring 430% to $2.65 per share versus $0.50 a share in 2022. Even better, American had a record year for revenue with total sales climbing 8% year over year to $52.78 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
United Q4 Review
As for United, Q4 earnings of $2.00 a share beat expectations of $1.61 a share by 24% with sales of $13.62 billion just above estimates of $13.54 billion. United has topped earnings expectations for six straight quarters as well and posted an average earnings surprise of 18% in its last four quarterly reports.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
United ended FY23 with annual earnings soaring 299% to $10.05 per share compared to $2.52 a share in 2022. The company also continued its strong rebound in revenue as well with total sales climbing 19% to $53.71 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Attractive Valuations
Although American’s stock is down -9% over the last year while United shares have dropped -13%, both our making the case for being vastly undervalued at the moment. To that point, both trade at significant discounts to the Zacks Transportation-Airline Industry average of 10.3X forward earnings with American at 6.9X and United at just 4.3X.
This is well below many regional carriers with Southwest trading at 18.9X forward earnings and Alaska Air at 8X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Takeaway
Strong Q4 results certainly added to the notion that American Airlines and United Airlines stocks are undervalued. Despite the first quarter traditionally being the weakest period for air travel both stocks land a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) as they could very well reward longer-term investors from their current levels.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218378/time-to-buy-american-or-united-airlines-stock-after-earnings?
| 2024-01-31T15:55:40Z
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Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today:
Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB - Free Report) is a bank holding company for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 4.5% downward over the last 60 days.
Materion Corporation (MTRN - Free Report) produces advanced engineered materials used in the semiconductor market. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 1.2% downward over the last 60 days.
Middlefield Banc Corp. (MBCN - Free Report) is the bank holding company for The Middlefield Banking Company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 3.7% downward over the last 60 days.
View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218412/new-strong-sell-stocks-for-january-31st
| 2024-01-31T15:56:23Z
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One of the best ways to safeguard investments is by parking money in the healthcare sector. This is because demand for healthcare services does not change with market conditions. Many pharmaceutical companies also pay out regular dividends.
Companies that consistently offer dividends are financially stable and generate a steady cash flow, irrespective of market conditions. Mutual funds are the preferred choice for investors looking to enter this sector since they possess the advantages of wide diversification and analytical insight.
Below, we share with you three top-ranked Healthcare mutual funds, namely Fidelity Select Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (FPHAX - Free Report) , Vanguard Health Care Investor Shares (VGHCX - Free Report) and Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX - Free Report) . Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of funds.
Fidelity Select Pharmaceuticals Portfolio invests the majority of its net assets in common stocks of companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture, sale, or distribution of pharmaceuticals and drugs of all types. To arrive at their investment decision, FPHAX advisors employ fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions.
Fidelity Select Pharmaceuticals Portfolio has three-year annualized returns of 7.3%. As of August 2023, FPHAX held 57 issues, with 21.3% of its assets invested in Eli Lilly.
Vanguard Health Care Investor Shares invests the majority of its net assets in the common stocks of foreign and domestic companies. These companies are engaged in the development, production, or distribution of products and services related to pharmaceutical and medical supply companies, as well as businesses that operate hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Vanguard Health Care Investor Shares has three-year annualized returns of 6%. VGHCX has an expense ratio of 0.36% compared with the category average of 1.03%.
Fidelity Select Health Care seeks to invest the majority of its net assets in common stocks of domestic and foreign issuers primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, or sale of products or services used for or in connection with health care or medicine. FSPHX’s investments are mostly based on a fundamental analysis of companies and their market position with respect to broader economic conditions.
Fidelity Select Health Care has five-year annualized returns of 10.6%. Edward Yoon has been a fund manager of FSPHX since 2008.
To view the Zacks Rank and the past performance of all Healthcare mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of healthcare mutual funds.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218456/buy-these-3-healthcare-mutual-funds-for-solid-returns
| 2024-01-31T15:58:02Z
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Price-to-earnings (P/E), given its inherent simplicity, is the most commonly used metric in the value-investing world. It is preferred by many investors while handpicking stocks trading at a bargain. However, even this straightforward, broadly used valuation metric has a few downsides.
While P/E enjoys great popularity among value investors, a less-used and more complicated metric called EV-to-EBITDA is sometimes viewed as a better alternative. EV-to-EBITDA gives the true picture of a company’s valuation and earnings potential. It has a more comprehensive approach to valuation.
First Bank (FRBA - Free Report) , CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX - Free Report) , Costamare Inc. (CMRE - Free Report) , ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (ASX - Free Report) and Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (INN - Free Report) are some stocks with impressive EV-to-EBITDA ratios.
EV-to-EBITDA is a Better Option, Here’s Why
Also referred to as enterprise multiple, EV-to-EBITDA is the enterprise value (EV) of a stock divided by its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). EV is the sum of a company’s market capitalization, its debt and preferred stock minus cash and cash equivalents. In essence, it is the entire value of a company.
EBITDA, the other element of the ratio, gives a clearer picture of a company’s profitability as it strips out non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortization that reduce net earnings. It is also often used as a proxy for cash flows.
Generally, the lower the EV-to-EBITDA ratio, the more enticing it is. A low EV-to-EBITDA ratio could indicate that a stock is potentially undervalued.
Unlike the P/E ratio, EV-to-EBITDA takes debt on a company’s balance sheet into account. For this reason, it is typically used to value potential acquisition targets. The ratio shows the amount of debt that the acquirer has to bear. Stocks flaunting a low EV-to-EBITDA multiple could be seen as attractive takeover candidates.
Moreover, P/E can’t be used to value a loss-making firm. A firm’s earnings are also subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. In contrast, EV-to-EBITDA is harder to manipulate and can be used to value companies that have negative net earnings but are positive on the EBITDA front.
EV-to-EBITDA is also a useful tool in measuring the value of firms that are highly leveraged and have a high degree of depreciation. Moreover, it can be used to compare companies with different levels of debt.
However, EV-to-EBITDA is also not without its shortcomings and alone cannot conclusively determine a stock’s inherent potential and future performance. The ratio varies across industries and is generally not appropriate while comparing stocks in different industries, given their diverse capital spending requirements.
As such, instead of just relying on EV-to-EBITDA, you can club it with the other major ratios, such as price-to-book (P/B), P/E and price-to-sales (P/S), to achieve the desired results.
Screening Criteria
Here are the parameters to screen for bargain stocks:
EV-to-EBITDA 12 Months-Most Recent less than X-Industry Median: A lower EV-to-EBITDA ratio represents a cheaper valuation.
P/E using (F1) less than X-Industry Median: This metric screens stocks that are trading at a discount to their peers.
P/B less than X-Industry Median: A lower P/B compared with the industry average implies that the stock is undervalued.
P/S less than X-Industry Median: The lower the P/S ratio, the more attractive the stock is, as investors will have to pay a smaller price for the same amount of sales generated by the company.
Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F(1)/F(0) greater than or equal to X-Industry Median: This parameter will help in screening stocks that have growth rates higher than the industry median. This is a meaningful indicator, as decent earnings growth always adds to investor optimism.
Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000: The addition of this metric ensures that shares can be traded easily.
Current Price greater than or equal to $5: This parameter will help in screening stocks that are trading at a minimum price of $5 or higher.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: No screening is complete without the Zacks Rank, which has proven its worth since inception. It is a fundamental truth that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have always managed to beat adversities and outperform the market.
Value Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a Value Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best upside potential.
Here are our five picks out of the nine stocks that passed the screen:
First Bank is a state-chartered bank that offers a traditional range of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has a Value Score of A.
First Bank has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.9% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FRBA’s 2024 earnings has been revised 6% upward over the last 60 days.
CEMEX is a global construction materials company. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has a Value Score of B. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CEMEX has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 39.2% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CX’s 2024 earnings has been revised 4.4% upward over the last 60 days.
Costamare is a leading owner and provider of containerships and dry bulk vessels for charter. CMRE, a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a Value Score of A.
Costamare has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 26.1% for 2024. The consensus estimate for CMRE’s 2024 earnings has been revised 1.2% upward over the past 60 days.
ASE Technology is a provider of semiconductor manufacturing services in assembly and testing. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a Value Score of A.
ASE Technology has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 58.7% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASX’s 2024 earnings has been revised 5.8% upward over the last 60 days.
Summit Hotel Properties is a real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded lodging properties with efficient operating models mainly in the upscale segment of the lodging industry. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a Value Score of A.
Summit Hotel Properties has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 1.4% for 2024. The consensus estimate for INN’s 2024 earnings has been revised 16.5% upward over the past 60 days.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218505/pick-these-5-bargain-stocks-with-enticing-ev-to-ebitda-ratios
| 2024-01-31T15:59:43Z
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Per the latest Earnings Preview, the Finance sector’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings are expected to decrease 0.8%. Revenues are estimated to rise 2.6%. Results of Insurance, one of the Finance sector industries, are likely to reflect better pricing and exposure growth, accelerated digitalization and an improved interest rate. However, cat losses are likely to have weighed on profitability.
With the help of the Zacks Stock Screener, we have identified five insurers, namely, Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL - Free Report) , Everest Group Ltd. (EG - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc (HIG - Free Report) , Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC - Free Report) and Willis Towers Watson plc (WTW - Free Report) , which are poised to outshine the Zacks Consensus Estimate in fourth-quarter earnings. These stocks have the ideal combination of two ingredients — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy), #3 (Hold) — to surpass expectations. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Factors Likely to Impact Q4 Results
Improved pricing, portfolio repositioning, reinsurance covers, favorable reserve development and prudent underwriting are likely to aid underwriting results. The profitability of non-life insurers is susceptible to catastrophe losses. Per reports in Reinsurance News, JP Morgan estimates insured losses in the fourth quarter to be in the range of $8-$10 billion, largely attributable to Hurricane Otis. Catastrophes continued to provide impetus to policy renewal rates and aided in better pricing in the fourth quarter. Per a report in Business Insurance, U.S. commercial insurance rates rose 5.6% on average in the fourth quarter.
Auto premiums are likely to have improved, given increased travel across the world. A stronger mortgage market is likely to have favored mortgage insurance premiums. A low unemployment rate is likely to have aided commercial insurance and group insurance.
Life insurers have been redesigning products, focusing on protection products. Increasing awareness and demand for protection products are likely to have fueled sales. Life insurers continue to roll out investment products that provide bundled covers of guaranteed retirement income, life and healthcare to cater to customers preferring policies with “living” benefits more than those with death benefits.
Investment results are likely to benefit from an improved rate environment. A larger investment asset base, higher reinvestment rate and alternative investments are likely to have aided net investment income, an important component of insurers’ top line.
Continued investment in technological advancements is likely to have saved costs and, in turn, led to margin expansion. Share buybacks are expected to have provided an additional upside to the bottom line.
Potential Q4 Outperformers
Arch Capital Group offers insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance across the world. Premiums in the fourth quarter are expected to have benefited from growth in most lines of business, primarily related to rate increases, new business opportunities and gains in existing accounts in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments. Better pricing and increased exposure are likely to have aided underwriting profitability.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACGL’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.94, suggesting a decrease of 9.4% from the year-ago reported figure. ACGL has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Everest Group is a property and casualty insurer and reinsurer. The insurer’s performance is likely to have benefited from global presence, product diversification, rate increase and a high retention rate. The Insurance segment is likely to have benefited from an increase in property and short tail business and a rise in specialty casualty business. Opportunities stemming from the continued disruption and evolution of the market are likely to have aided the Reinsurance segment.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EG’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $14.63, suggesting an increase of 19.8% from the year-ago reported figure. EG has an Earnings ESP of +1.18% and a Zacks Rank #3.
The Hartford Financial is one of the major multi-line insurance and investment companies in the country, providing investment products, group life and group disability insurance, property and casualty (P&C) insurance and mutual funds in the United States. Revenues are expected to have benefited from improved premiums across its Commercial Lines, Personal Lines and Group Benefits businesses in the fourth quarter. Increased returns from the fixed-income portfolio of Hartford Financial, attributable to higher interest rates, are likely to aid its fourth-quarter investment results. However, its bottom line is expected to have suffered a blow due to escalating benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses, as well as higher insurance operating costs.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HIG’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $2.39, suggesting an increase of 3.5% from the year-ago reported figure. HIG has an Earnings ESP of +0.54% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Manulife Financial is one of the three dominant life insurers within its domestic Canadian market and possesses rapidly growing operations in the United States and several Asian countries. The strength of its Asia business, as well as an expanding Wealth and Asset Management business, is likely to drive fourth-quarter results.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 62 cents, indicating a decrease of 4.6% from the year-ago reported figure. MFC has an Earnings ESP of +2.81% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Willis Towers is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. Higher organic commissions and fees, solid customer retention levels and growth of new business are likely to have aided revenues. Risk & Broking is likely to have delivered a favorable performance owing to solid new business, client retention and solid contributions from organic growth. New clients, increased compliance and other project activity, and growth from higher volumes and placements are likely to have favored the Health, Wealth & Career segment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WTW’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $7.04, implying an increase of 11.2% year over year. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.23% and a Zacks Rank #3.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218518/5-insurers-set-to-outshine-estimates-this-earnings-season
| 2024-01-31T16:00:29Z
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Investing in mutual funds for retirement is never too late. And the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can be an excellent tool for investors looking to invest in the best funds.
The easiest way to judge a mutual fund's quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. Using the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of over 19,000 mutual funds, we've identified three outstanding mutual funds that are ideally suited to help long-term investors pursue and achieve their retirement investing goals.
Let's take a look at some of our top-ranked mutual funds with the lowest fees.
Shelton Equity Income Direct (EQTIX - Free Report) : 0.69% expense ratio and 0.5% management fee. EQTIX is a Large Cap Value mutual fund, which invests in stocks with a market cap of $10 billion of more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. With annual returns of 12.04% over the last five years, this fund is a winner.
BlackRock Value Opportunities R (MRSPX - Free Report) is a stand out amongst its peers. MRSPX is classified as a Large Cap Blend fund. More often than not, Large Cap Blend mutual funds invest in companies with a market cap of over $10 billion. Buying stakes in bigger companies offer these funds more stability, and are well-suited for investors with a "buy and hold" mindset. With five-year annualized performance of 11.16%, expense ratio of 0.98% and management fee of 0.5%, this diversified fund is an attractive buy with a strong history of performance.
JHancock Strategic Growth A (JSGAX - Free Report) : 0.99% expense ratio and 0.56% management fee. JSGAX is a part of the Large Cap Growth mutual fund category, which invest in many large U.S. companies that are expected to grow much faster compared to other large-cap stocks. With a five-year annual return of 16.96%, this fund is a well-diversified fund with a long track record of success.
There you have it. If your financial advisor had you put your money into any of our top-ranked funds, then they've got you covered. If not, you may need to talk.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218525/3-magnificent-mutual-funds-to-maximize-your-retirement-portfolio
| 2024-01-31T16:01:14Z
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There is never a wrong time to invest in mutual funds for retirement. So, if you're still looking for the best mutual funds, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can be a great guide.
The easiest, most reliable way to judge a mutual fund's quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. The Zacks Mutual Fund Rank, which covers over 19,000 mutual funds, has helped us identify three outstanding options that are perfect for any long-term investors' portfolios that is retirement-focused.
Let's break down some of the mutual funds with the top Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and the lowest fees.
Elfun Trusts (ELFNX - Free Report) : 0.18% expense ratio and 0.14% management fee. ELFNX is part of the Large Cap Blend section, and these mutual funds most often invest in firms with a market capitalization of $10 billion or more. By investing in bigger companies, these funds offer more stability, and are often well-suited for investors with a "buy and hold" mindset. With annual returns of 17.83% over the last five years, this fund is a winner.
John Hancock Disciplined Value A (JVLAX - Free Report) is a stand out amongst its peers. JVLAX is a Large Cap Value mutual fund, which invests in stocks with a market cap of $10 billion of more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. With five-year annualized performance of 11.75%, expense ratio of 1.02% and management fee of 0.61%, this diversified fund is an attractive buy with a strong history of performance.
Nicholas II Fund N (NNTWX - Free Report) : 0.91% expense ratio and 0.52% management fee. NNTWX is a Mid Cap Growth mutual fund. These funds aim to target companies with a market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion that are also expected to exhibit more extensive growth opportunities for investors than their peers. With a five-year annual return of 12.94%, this fund is a well-diversified fund with a long track record of success.
These examples highlight the fact that there are some astonishingly good mutual funds out there. If your advisor has you in the good ones, bravo! If not, you may need to have a talk.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218526/should-you-add-these-3-top-performing-mutual-funds-to-your-portfolio?
| 2024-01-31T16:01:20Z
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Investing in mutual funds for retirement is never too late. And the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can be an excellent tool for investors looking to invest in the best funds.
The easiest, most reliable way to judge a mutual fund's quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. The Zacks Mutual Fund Rank, which covers over 19,000 mutual funds, has helped us identify three outstanding options that are perfect for any long-term investors' portfolios that is retirement-focused.
Let's break down some of the mutual funds with the top Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and the lowest fees.
Fidelity Select Health Care Services (FSHCX - Free Report) : 0.73% expense ratio and 0.53% management fee. FSHCX is part of the Sector - Health category, offering investors a focus on the healthcare industry, one of the largest sectors in the American economy. With annual returns of 11.81% over the last five years, this fund is a winner.
TIAA-CREF Small Cap Equity Premier (TSRPX - Free Report) . Expense ratio: 0.57%. Management fee: 0.4%. TSRPX is a Small Cap Blend mutual fund, and usually targets stocks with market caps of less than $2 billion, letting investors diversify their funds among other kinds of small-cap equities. This fund has managed to produce a robust 11.73% over the last five years.
T. Rowe Price US Large-Cap Core Adviser (PAULX - Free Report) is an attractive large-cap allocation. PAULX is a Large Cap Growth mutual fund, and these funds invest in many large U.S. firms that are projected to grow at a faster rate than their large-cap peers. PAULX has an expense ratio of 0.93%, management fee of 0.54%, and annual returns of 14.02% over the past five years.
We hope that your investment advisor (if you use one) has you invested in one or all of the top-ranked mutual funds we've reviewed. But if that isn't the case, it might be time to have a conversation or reconsider this vitally important relationship.
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Fidelity Select Health Care Svcs (FSHCX) - free report >>
TIAA-CREF Quant SC Equity Prem (TSRPX) - free report >>
T. Rowe Price US Large-Cap Core Adv (PAULX) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218527/3-top-ranked-mutual-funds-for-your-retirement
| 2024-01-31T16:01:27Z
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A company with a favorable efficiency level is expected to provide stellar returns as it is believed to be positively correlated with price performance. In fact, efficiency level, which measures a company’s capability to transform available input into output, is often considered an important parameter for gauging its potential to make profits.
However, at times it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider popular efficiency ratios while selecting stocks.
These efficiency ratios are:
Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivables or that it has quality customers.
Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.
Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low level of inventory compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.
Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.
Screening Criteria
In addition to the above-mentioned ratios, we have added a favorable Zacks Rank — Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) — to the screen to make this strategy more profitable. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization, and Operating Margin greater than the industry average
(Values of these ratios higher than industry averages may indicate that the efficiency level of the company is higher than its peers.)
The use of these few criteria narrowed down the universe of over 7,906 stocks to 12.
Here are the top four stocks that made it through the screen:
Axonics (AXNX - Free Report) is focused on the development and commercialization of a novel implantable SNM system for patients with urinary and bowel dysfunction. AXNX has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 95.9%.
Enerpac Tool Group (EPAC - Free Report) is involved in the designing, manufacturing and distribution of various industrial tools, including high-pressure hydraulic tools and controlled force products. EPAC has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of nearly 21.9%.
Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) is a nationwide drug distributor and provider of services to pharmacies, healthcare providers and manufacturers. CAH has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 15.7%.
Acuity Brands (AYI - Free Report) is a manufacturer and distributor of lighting fixtures and related components that comprise devices such as luminaries, lighting controls and controllers. AYI has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 13.9%.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance
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Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) - free report >>
Acuity Brands Inc (AYI) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218529/4-stocks-backed-by-high-efficiency-to-enrich-your-portfolio
| 2024-01-31T16:01:39Z
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BP plc (BP - Free Report) has been asked to shift its focus back to oil and gas production and reduce spending on the energy transition process. BP’s plans to allow oil and gas production to decline 25% by the end of this decade (compared with 2019 levels) was not well received by the London-based hedge fund Bluebell Capital Partners.
According to Bluebell, the company’s shift from oil and gas production to renewable energy is a misguided move and is also the reason behind BP’s share price decline. BP’s shares are undervalued by at least 50%, according to Bluebell’s assessment and this is mainly due to the company shrinking its fossil fuel output and diversifying into sectors whose targeted returns may be potentially low.
BP is being urged by the hedge fund to increase its upstream output to 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d) by 2030 compared with 2.3 Mboe/d at present and up by a quarter from its decade-end goal of 2Mboe/d. Bluebell has also asked the British supermajor to curb cumulative investments by $28 billion in bioenergy, hydrogen and renewables & power through 2030. Additionally, the London-based investment activist has suggested a reorganization of BP’s board of directors.
According to BP, the company will retain its energy transition strategy while also continuing to invest in oil and gas. It will invest around $14-$18 billion every year till 2030 and more than half of this would be invested in oil and gas. According to a representative of BP, the company values its shareholders’ opinions and would contemplate its overall strategy with them over time.
In conclusion, Bluebell encouraged BP to rethink its strategy to transition toward cleaner energy as it is unrealistic and flawed.
Zacks Rank and Key Picks
Currently, BP carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Investors might want to look at some better-ranked stocks in the energy sector, such as Oceaneering International (OII - Free Report) , Repsol (REPYY - Free Report) and Harbour Energy (HBRIY - Free Report) . While both Oceaneering International and Repsol currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Harbour Energy holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Oceaneering International is a market-leading supplier of offshore equipment and technology solutions to the energy industry. The company has projected an increase in free cash flows for 2024. The bright outlook is supported by the growing market demand for its mobile robotic forklifts and underride vehicles.
Repsol is a global multi-energy company, involved in exploration and production activities as well as refining and marketing petroleum products. The company is also actively involved in transitioning toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. Recently, it announced the expansion of its network of renewable fuel refilling stations in Europe, demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable energy model.
Harbour Energy is a leading independent oil and gas company, primarily involved in upstream operations. Upon completion of the recently announced acquisition of Wintershall Dea asset portfolio, its estimated production will increase to 500,000 boepd. The company has also done well in reducing its debt in the past year.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218546/bp-faces-pressure-against-investment-in-energy-transition
| 2024-01-31T16:02:59Z
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Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.
We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.
Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, Explained
The Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction. The Zacks Rank is also factored into the ESP metric to better help find companies that appear poised to top their next bottom-line consensus estimate, which will hopefully help lift the stock price.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Oneok Inc.
The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Oneok Inc. (OKE - Free Report) holds a #3 (Hold) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.23 a share 26 days away from its upcoming earnings release on February 26, 2024.
By taking the percentage difference between the $1.23 Most Accurate Estimate and the $1.18 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Oneok Inc. has an Earnings ESP of +3.64%. Investors should also know that OKE is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
OKE is one of just a large database of Oils and Energy stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) .
Marathon Petroleum is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on May 7, 2024. MPC's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.58 a share 97 days from its next earnings release.
Marathon Petroleum's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +2.71% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.51.
OKE and MPC's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're Reported
Use the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218588/why-investors-need-to-take-advantage-of-these-2-oils-and-energy-stocks-now
| 2024-01-31T16:06:06Z
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Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.
We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.
The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, Explained
The Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.
With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Meta Platforms?
Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) earns a #2 (Buy) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $4.86 a share, just one day from its upcoming earnings release on February 1, 2024.
META has an Earnings ESP figure of +0.79%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $4.86 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.83. Meta Platforms is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
META is part of a big group of Computer and Technology stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Verizon Communications (VZ - Free Report) as well.
Verizon Communications is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on April 23, 2024. VZ's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1.14 a share 83 days from its next earnings release.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Verizon Communications is $1.13, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +0.5%.
META and VZ's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're Reported
Use the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218589/how-to-find-strong-computer-and-technology-stocks-slated-for-positive-earnings-surprises
| 2024-01-31T16:06:12Z
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Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.
We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.
The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, Explained
The Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.
With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Clorox?
Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Clorox (CLX - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1.16 a share, just one day from its upcoming earnings release on February 1, 2024.
CLX has an Earnings ESP figure of +7.37%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.16 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08. Clorox is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
CLX is part of a big group of Consumer Staples stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Tyson Foods (TSN - Free Report) as well.
Tyson Foods is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on February 5, 2024. TSN's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.44 a share five days from its next earnings release.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tyson Foods is $0.42, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +5.6%.
CLX and TSN's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're Reported
Use the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218590/how-to-boost-your-portfolio-with-top-consumer-staples-stocks-set-to-beat-earnings
| 2024-01-31T16:06:18Z
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Here's a revealing data point: older Americans are scared more of outliving wealth than of death itself.
Also, retirees who have constructed a nest egg have valid justifications to be concerned, since the traditional ways to plan for retirement may mean income can no longer cover expenses. Some retirees are now tapping their principal to make a decent living, pressed for time between decreasing investment balances and longer life expectancies.
Your parents' retirement investing plan won't cut it today.
For many years, bonds or other fixed-income assets could produce the yield needed to provide solid income for retirement needs. However, these yields have dwindled over time: 10-year Treasury bond rates in the late 1990s were around 6.50%, but today, that rate is a thing of the past, with a slim likelihood of rates making a comeback in the foreseeable future.
That means if you had $1 million in 10-year Treasuries, the difference in yield between 1999 and today is more than $1 million.
Today's retirees are getting hit hard by reduced bond yields - and the Social Security picture isn't too rosy either. Right now and for the near future, Social Security benefits are still being paid, but it has been estimated that the Social Security funds will be depleted as soon as 2035.
So what can retirees do? You could dramatically reduce your expenses, and go out on a limb hoping your Social Security benefits don't diminish. On the other hand, you could opt for an alternative investment that gives a steady, higher-rate income stream to supplant lessening bond yields.
Invest in Dividend Stocks
We feel that these dividend-paying equities - as long as they are from high-quality, low-risk issuers - can give retirement investors a smart option to replace low-yielding Treasury bonds (or other bonds).
Look for stocks that have paid steady, increasing dividends for years (or decades), and have not cut their dividends even during recessions.
Going beyond those familiar names, you can find excellent dividend-paying stocks by following a few guidelines. Look for companies that pay a dividend yield of around 3%, with positive annual dividend growth. The growth rate is key to help combat the effects of inflation.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks retirees should consider for their nest egg portfolio.
Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT - Free Report) is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.14 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.78%. This compares to the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.61%. The company's annualized dividend growth in the past year was 1.82%. Check Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT - Free Report) dividend history here>>>
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC - Free Report) is paying out a dividend of $0.55 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.51% compared to the Building Products - Home Builders industry's yield of 0.7% and the S&P 500's yield. The annualized dividend growth of the company was 10% over the past year. Check M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC - Free Report) dividend history here>>>
Currently paying a dividend of $0.56 per share, Prosperity Bancshares (PB - Free Report) has a dividend yield of 3.36%. This is compared to the Banks - Southwest industry's yield of 0.19% and the S&P 500's current yield. Annualized dividend growth for the company in the past year was 1.82%. Check Prosperity Bancshares (PB - Free Report) dividend history here>>>
But aren't stocks generally more risky than bonds?
Yes, that's true. As a broad category, bonds carry less risk than stocks. However, the stocks we are talking about - dividend -paying stocks from high-quality companies - can generate income over time and also mitigate the overall volatility of your portfolio compared to the stock market as a whole.
Combating the impact of inflation is one advantage of owning these dividend-paying stocks. Here's why: many of these stable, high-quality companies increase their dividends over time, which translates to rising dividend income that offsets the effects of inflation.
Thinking about dividend-focused mutual funds or ETFs? Watch out for fees.
If you're thinking, "I want to invest in a dividend-focused ETF or mutual fund," make sure to do your homework. It's important to know that some mutual funds and specialized ETFs charge high fees, which may diminish your dividend gains or income and thwart the overall objective of this investment strategy. If you do want to invest in fund, research well to identify the best-quality dividend funds with the least charges.
Bottom Line
Seeking steady, consistent income through dividends can be a smart option for financial security in retirement, whether you invest in mutual funds, ETFs, or in dividend-paying stocks.
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Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (PB) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218625/3-top-dividend-stocks-to-maximize-your-retirement-income
| 2024-01-31T16:09:21Z
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Fuel expenses represent a key input cost for any transportation company. Oil price has increased roughly 8.3% in a month and is currently trading at around $78 a barrel. This surge in a key input cost naturally hurts the bottom-line growth of transportation companies. Oil prices have been on the rise since Russia and Saudi Arabia extended voluntary supply cuts through the end of the current year.
Apart from oil expenses, expenses are high on the labor front as well, courtesy of the multiple pay-related deals being inked in the space lately. This is because the bargaining power of various labor groups has increased, given the high travel demand and labor crunch in the post-COVID-19 world.
Apart from high costs, supply-chain disruptions continue to dent transportation stocks. The inflationary environment, together with supply-chain tightness, is pushing costs higher. Even though the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its meeting this month, it signaled another hike this year to tackle stubborn inflation.
Lackluster freight demand also represents a major headwind for transportation stocks. Highlighting the weak freight demand, the Cass Freight shipments Index declined 7.2% year over year in December 2023. This measure deteriorated year over year in the past 10 months, confirming the overall declining trend.
Despite these aforementioned challenges, we would like to remind investors that investing in the transportation sector will be a lucrative option because of its shareholder-friendly nature.
We believe shareholder-friendly (dividend-paying as well as making share buybacks) transportation stocks should be on an investor’s watchlist to withstand headwinds and volatility. We have identified the following stocks from the Zacks Transportationsector — GATX Corporation (GATX - Free Report) , Canadian National Railway Company’s (CNI - Free Report) ), FedEx Corporation (FDX - Free Report) ), Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN - Free Report) ), J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) ), Landstar System, Inc.’s (LSTR - Free Report) and Air Lease Corporation’s (AL - Free Report) — which have made use of their financial strength and approved dividend hikes or share repurchases, in turn, highlighting their pro-shareholder stance.
GATX currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). CNI, FDX and TRN carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). While AL carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), LSTR and JBHT carry a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Let’s take an in-depth look at these companies’ shareholder-friendly initiatives.
GATXannounced a hike in its dividend payout. GATX’s board of directors announced a dividend hike of almost 5.5%, thereby raising its quarterly cash dividend from 55 cents per share to 58 cents. The raised dividend will be paid out on Mar 31, 2024, to all its shareholders of record as of Mar 1, 2024. The move reflects GATX’s intention to utilize free cash to enhance its shareholders’ returns.
GATX, which has been paying regular dividends since 1919, holds an impressive record with respect to dividends. Notably, 2024 marks the 106th consecutive year of GATX paying out dividends.
On Jan 23, 2024, Canadian National Railway’s board of directors approved a 7% hike in the 2024 dividendon the company's common shares outstanding and the repurchase of its shares per a new normal course issuer bid (Bid).
FDXinked an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) deal with Mizuho Markets Americas LLC to repurchase $1.0 billion of FedEx’s common stock. The transaction is part of the company’s previously announced share repurchase program.
Per the ASR agreement, FDX will pay $1.0 billion to Mizuho and receive an initial share delivery of almost 3.2 million shares on Dec 28, 2023. The remaining shares, if any, will be delivered by Feb 29, 2024. The number of shares purchased by FedEx will depend on an average of the volume-weighted average prices of FedEx’s common stock during the tenure of the ASR agreement, less a discount.
On Dec 6, 2023, Trinity’s board of directors increased its quarterly cash dividendby almost 8%, from 26 cents per share to 28 cents. The raised dividend, reflecting TRN’s 239th consecutively paid dividend, will be paid out on Jan 31, 2024, to all its shareholders of record as of Jan 12, 2024.
Concurrent with the fourth-quarter 2023 earnings release on Jan 19, 2024, J.B. Hunt’s board of directors has approved a dividend hike of 2%, thereby raising its quarterly cash dividend from 42 cents per share to 43 cents. The raised dividend will be paid out on Feb 23, 2024, to all its shareholders of record as of Feb 9, 2024.
On Dec 5, 2023, Landstar’s board of directors raised the number of shares of its common stock, which the company is authorized to purchase, to 3,000,000. The latest uptick allows the company to purchase 319,332 new shares, apart from the existing authorization to purchase 2,680,668 shares.
Additionally, LSTR’s board has declared a special one-time cash dividend of $2.00 per share. This special dividend will be paid on Jan 19, 2024, to all its shareholders of record as of business on Jan 3, 2024.
On Nov 3, 2023, Air Lease’s board of directors increased its quarterly cash dividend by 5% from 20 cents per share to 21 cents. The raised quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share will be paid on Jan 10, 2024, to shareholders of record as of Dec 15, 2023.
We believe such shareholder-friendly initiatives boost investor confidence and positively impact the company’s bottom line.
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Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) - free report >>
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) - free report >>
FedEx Corporation (FDX) - free report >>
Air Lease Corporation (AL) - free report >>
Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218706/are-transportation-stocks-becoming-more-shareholder-friendly?-
| 2024-01-31T16:15:46Z
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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several 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.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
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
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
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 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: BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN - Free Report)
San Rafael, CA-based BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. focuses on the development and commercialization of treatments for serious life-threatening medical conditions, mainly for children.
BMRN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BMRN has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 5.2% for the current fiscal year.
One analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2023. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $2.03 per share. BMRN boasts an average earnings surprise of 11.7%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BMRN should be on investors' short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218714/why-this-1-growth-stock-could-be-a-great-addition-to-your-portfolio
| 2024-01-31T16:16:17Z
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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several 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?
Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that 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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Baker Hughes (BKR - Free Report)
Based in Houston, TX, Baker Hughes Company is one of the world’s largest oilfield service providers. The integrated oilfield products and digital solutions of Baker Hughes help customers efficiently and cost-effectively refine and transport hydrocarbons with low environmental concerns. Moreover, with growing demand for clean energy and the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions, countries around the world are investing in LNG terminals. This has given Baker Hughes the opportunity to expand its reach beyond oilfields in order to capitalize on contracts for manufacturing equipment that is being used in LNG facilities.
BKR is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BKR has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 32.5% for the current fiscal year.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2024, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.07 to $2.12 per share. BKR also boasts an average earnings surprise of 11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BKR should be on investors' short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218716/why-this-1-growth-stock-could-be-a-great-addition-to-your-portfolio
| 2024-01-31T16:16:29Z
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After a rough start to 2024 on overstretched valuations and easing of rate cut bets, Wall Street showed strong momentum, with both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting a series of new highs lately. The S&P 500 topped the 4,900 level for the first time, driven by strong corporate earnings, governmental policy moves and investor confidence in the tech sector and AI developments.
As such, the three major indices are on track for a positive month. The gains were broad-based and well spread out across various segments. Some of the top performers in the ETF space from different corners of the market are Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF (MJUS - Free Report) , Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ - Free Report) , Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP - Free Report) and Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (TRFK - Free Report) .
Inflation is easing and the economy is improving. The personal consumption expenditure index — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge — rose 2.6% in December. This marks the third time that inflation is below 3%. Meanwhile, the economy grew at a much more rapid pace than expected, with GDP rising at a 3.3% annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2023, up from the Wall Street consensus estimate growth rate of 2% (read: U.S. GDP Growth Beats Expectations in Q4: ETFs to Benefit).
Additionally, the U.S. government announced the launch of a pilot program for AI research in collaboration with major tech companies and federal agencies under the umbrella of the National Science Foundation. This move likely contributed to the positive sentiment in the tech sector.
ETFs in Focus
Let’s dig into the details of the abovementioned ETFs:
Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF (MJUS - Free Report) – Up 35.9%
Cannabis stocks and ETFs have been on a surge since the US Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) started reviewing the potential reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. This development, initiated by a recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), could potentially expand the market for marijuana, which is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States and a cash crop in many newly legalized states (read: Cannabis ETFs: What's Behind the Latest Surge).
Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF is an actively managed ETF that seeks long-term growth of capital by primarily investing in securities of companies engaged in the Cannabis Business in the United States as generally represented in the Prime U.S. Alternative Harvest Index. It holds 19 stocks in its basket with a heavy concentration on the top five firms. Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF has amassed $151.1 million in its asset base and charges 75 bps in annual fees. It trades in a volume of 31,000 shares a day.
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ - Free Report) – Up 18.9%
The uranium market is getting hotter this year, with price spiking to a new 16-year high on a buying frenzy triggered after Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer of the radioactive material, warned on supply shortfalls. Renewed interest in nuclear power also added to the strength. Notably, 22 countries, including the United States, UK, Canada and France, have committed to tripling their nuclear capacity by 2050.
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF is the only pure-play ETF focused on small uranium miners selected for their potential for significant revenue and asset growth. It follows the Nasdaq Sprott Junior Uranium Miners Index, which is designed to track the performance of mid-, small- and micro-cap companies in uranium-mining-related businesses. It holds 32 stocks in its basket and charges 80 bps in annual fees. Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF has accumulated $279.6 million in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 261,000 shares (read: 4 ETF Zones Beating the Market to Start 2024).
Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP - Free Report) – Up 8.9%
The insurance sector is benefiting from a combination of factors, including technological innovation, strategic transformations and adapting to evolving market conditions and consumer needs. Additionally, the resilient economy is leading to higher demand for all types of insurance services, thereby driving the sector higher.
Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF provides exposure to 26 companies, primarily engaged in U.S. property and casualty insurance activities. It follows the KBW Nasdaq Property & Casualty Index. Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF is concentrated on the top five firms that make up for at least 8% share each. Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF has managed $206.2 million in its asset base and has an expense ratio of 0.35%. KBWP trades in an average daily volume of 23,000 shares but has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 (Sell) with a Medium risk outlook.
Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (TRFK - Free Report) – Up 8.9%
The technology sector has been on a tear this year, driven by an AI boom and a rebound in the personal computer market. Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF aims to offer investors exposure to the globally listed stocks and depositary receipts of data and digital revolution companies. It follows the Pacer Data Transmission and Communication Revolution Index, holding 79 stocks in its basket (read: Nvidia Off to a Great Start in 2024: Is More Rally in Store for ETFs?).
Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF has accumulated $16.6 million in its asset base. It has an expense ratio of 0.60%. TRFK trades in a meager volume of about 9,000 shares per day on average. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP) - free report >>
Amplify US Alternative Harvest ETF (MJUS) - free report >>
Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (TRFK) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218771/4-sector-etfs-that-beat-the-market-in-january
| 2024-01-31T16:22:28Z
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Growth at a reasonable price, or GARP, is an excellent strategy to earn quick investment profits. The GARP approach helps identify stocks priced below the market or any suitable target determined by a fundamental analysis.
The strategy helps investors gain exposure to stocks with impressive prospects and trading at a discount. GARP stocks have solid chances regarding cash flow, revenues, earnings per share (EPS) and others.
A portfolio based on the GARP strategy comprises stocks that offer the best value and growth investment. NRG Energy (NRG - Free Report) , Darden Restaurants (DRI - Free Report) , Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN - Free Report) and IQVIA Holdings (IQV - Free Report) are some GARP stocks that hold promise.
GARP Metrics — Mix of Growth & Value Metrics
The GARP strategy offers ideal investment options utilizing the best value and growth investing features. Investors adopting the GARP approach prefer stocks priced below the market or any reasonable target determined by fundamental analysis. The stocks have solid prospects based on cash flow, revenues, EPS, etc.
Growth Metrics
A strong earnings growth history and impressive earnings prospects are the primary concepts that GARP investors borrow from the growth investing strategy. However, instead of super-normal rates, pursuing stocks with a more stable and reasonable growth rate is a tactic of GARP investors. The GARP strategy considers growth rates between 5% and 20% ideal.
Another metric considered by growth and GARP investors is the return on equity (ROE). GARP investors look for strong and higher ROE than the industry average to identify superior stocks. Moreover, stocks with a positive cash flow find precedence under the GARP plan.
Value Metrics
GARP investing prioritizes one of the popular value metrics — the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. The investing style picks stocks with higher P/E ratios than value investors but it avoids companies with extremely high P/E ratios. The price-to-book value (P/B) ratio is also taken into consideration.
Using the GARP principle, we have run a screen to identify stocks that should offer solid returns in the near term.
Screening Parameters
Along with the criteria discussed in the above section, we have considered a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Last five-year EPS & projected 3-5-year EPS growth rates between 5% and 20% (Strong EPS growth history and prospects ensure improving business.)
ROE (in the past 12 months) greater than the industry average (Higher ROE compared with the industry average indicates superior stocks.)
P/E and P/B ratios are less than the M-industry average (P/E and P/B ratios less than the industry indicate that the stocks are undervalued.)
Here are four of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen:
NRG Energy is engaged in the production, sale, and delivery of energy and energy products and services to residential, industrial and commercial consumers. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NRG Energy has gained 60.9% over a year. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.7% on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NRG’s 2023 earnings has moved 8.7% north to $5.50 per share over the past 30 days.
Darden Restaurants is one of the largest casual dining restaurant operators worldwide. The company operates via its subsidiaries, oversees restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. DRI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Darden Restaurants has gained 14.3% over a year. It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.2% on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DRI’s fiscal 2024 earnings has moved 0.1% north to $8.87 per share over the past 30 days.
Allison Transmission is a manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium and heavy-duty commercial and heavy-tactical U.S. defense vehicles. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Allison Transmission has gained 37.3% over a year. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.2% on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALSN’s 2023 earnings has been revised upward by 0.6% to $6.94 per share over the past 30 days.
IQVIA offers advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. It operates in more than 100 countries. IQV currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
IQVIA has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.6%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IQV's 2023 earnings has been unchanged at $10.19 per share over the past 30 days.
Get the remaining stocks on the list and start testing this and other ideas. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back-testing software.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks' portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218861/4-garp-stocks-to-scoop-up-for-maximum-returns
| 2024-01-31T16:30:06Z
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January Jobs Week continues this morning, even as we’re only just closing out the month today. Private-sector payrolls reported by Automatic Data Processing ((ADP - Free Report) came in below estimates: 107K versus 150K expected, and beneath the previous month’s downwardly revised 158K. We’ve now spent a full six months sub-200K private-sector job gains per month. Typically, the breakdown was 30K new private-sector jobs in goods producing and 77K in services.
Based on company size, small firms (fewer than 50 employees) gained +25K new jobs in the private sector this month, while large companies (500 or more employees) grew +31K. Medium-sized employers led the month with 61K new private-sector hires. Unsurprisingly, Leisure & Hospitality led all industries with +28K new jobs filled (many times lower than we were seeing from this sector a couple years ago), followed by Trade/Transportation/Utilities at +23K and Construction +22K. Interestingly, Info Tech dropped -9K for the month — though this aligns with reported layoffs at Microsoft ((MSFT - Free Report) , Alphabet ((GOOGL - Free Report) and Salesforce ((CRM - Free Report) , among others.
Another aspect of this ADP data is in its recent tracking of wage growth among employees who stay at their current jobs versus those who find employment elsewhere: these figures are +5.2% and +7.2%, the lowest they’ve been since the waning months of the Covid pandemic. These are the kinds of data points the Fed is looking for, by the way, when it decides on whether to cut interest rates based on disinflationary economic data.
Speaking of the Fed, its latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting concludes this afternoon, with a new statement released on interest rate policy. Virtually no one expects to see a move from the 5.25-5.50% Fed funds rate that has been in effect since late July 2023. This will be followed by a press conference and Q&A with Fed Chair Jerome Powell in the 1pm hour ET. It will be interesting to hear the Fed’s forecast based on this modestly shrinking labor market results from ADP this morning.
Meanwhile, Boeing ((BA - Free Report) outperformed expectations in its Q4 earnings report this morning, to -$0.47 per share from -$0.72 expected (and the -$1.75 per share reported in the year-ago quarter). However, the aerospace major has suspended forward guidance for 2024, based on the fate of its 737 MAX fleet, which saw a fuselage panel blowout on a recent flight. We’re also four years into the tenure of CEO Dave Calhoun (who took over following two 737 MAX crashes in late 2018 and early 2019), where Boeing has reported 10 earnings misses in the past 14 quarters. Shares are up nearly +2% on the Q4 news.
Diabetes and weight-loss drug specialist Novo Nordisk ((NVO - Free Report) , the Denmark-based maker of Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy and many others, also outperformed expectations on both top and bottom lines: earnings of 71 cents per share outpaced the Zacks consensus by 5 cents (and well above the 42 cents per share reported in the year-ago quarter), while revenues of $9.51 billion swept past the $9.14 billion analysts were looking for. Ozempic rose +85% in the quarter, while weight-loss treatments Saxenda and Wegovy together grew +114% in the quarter. Shares are up +2.3% on the news in today’s pre-market.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218869/private-sector-payrolls-declined-more-than-expected
| 2024-01-31T16:30:50Z
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Just because someone's famous, it doesn't mean that they don't struggle with dating like the rest of the world. In some ways, they might even have more difficulties finding love, as Teri Hatcher exemplified on the podcast 'Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone'.
The Desperate Housewives actress got real about how difficult dating could be for her, as she got kicked off an app in her latest pursuit.
"I've tried them all," she told Curtis, in reference to the sheer number of dating apps out there. "I tried my latest one. I tried Hinge."
She continued: "You know, I thought, I'm gonna say to the universe that I am open and vulnerable, and I'm putting myself out there. That's what I thought my gesture of joining that Hinge app would be."
Except instead of getting to go on a number of dates and meet new people, Teri found herself unable to use the app.
"They kicked me off", she said. Curtis was confused by this.
"What do you mean they kicked you off?" he asked, bemused.
Teri explained: "Well, they thought I was pretending to be Teri Hatcher."
Hinge immediately sought to rectify the situation once they realised it was the real Teri Hatcher. "They apologized, and then I was like, 'I'm sort of over it.' So now I'm over it." she added.
So will Teri be using dating apps again? Probably not, she revealed.
"I'm definitely done with the dating apps, and I feel like if there's any way I'll go somewhere and meet someone, that's what it's gonna have to be, but honestly, I'm happy", she said. "I have a really full life, a really busy life. I have beautiful friends. I, you know, it's fine. I don't need a man. I have a cat."
Teri isn't the only actress who has struggled with dating apps, as Drew Barrymore recently revealed that she got catfished on a dating app.
She said on her talk show: "This guy on my dating app said he was the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams."
"So I wrote to him and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I went to the first practice game. I was so frustrated being a girl from Los Angeles who loves football and we didn't have any teams, and then I moved away to New York and then we got two teams and—it's nice to meet you, my name is Drew.'"
Except Drew swiftly discovered that rather than speaking to the Quarterback from the Los Angeles Rams, she was speaking to "a musician that thought he was being cute."
She revealed how disappointed she was with the encounter: "I was like, ‘I hate you. You pithy, deceiving, playful—you've made me feel stupid. I don't know who you are. I feel so dumb. Why did we have to get off on this foot? I hate you!'"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512458/desperate-housewives-teri-hatcher-makes-surprising-revelation-personal-life-rare-interview/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:13Z
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NCIS: Sydney drew to a conclusion this month and while fans may still be reeling from the dramatic season one finale, they'll no doubt be keen to know if Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Sergeant Jim "JD" Dempsey will be back on our screens anytime soon.
The spinoff, which was originally billed as an exclusive Paramount+ series before being broadcast on CBS, takes the popular franchise Down Under, where NCIS agents and Australian Federal Police join forces to keep naval crimes at bay in Sydney. Now that the show is over, is a second season on the cards?
At the moment, there's been no word on whether NCIS: Sydney will return, with CBS yet to make an announcement about the show's future.
Having said this, viewership data presents a strong case for the drama's renewal. The series racked up almost ten million viewers in the six days after its premiere in November last year, and is also Paramount +'s most-watched Australian series.
Plus, there's certainly demand from fans, who have expressed their love for the show on social media.
Todd Lasance, who plays JD Dempsey, is also hopeful for a second season. During an interview with TVLine, Todd was asked if he had anything on his wish list for series two.
"Obviously, I want [the finale's big reveal] to come to fruition and we work all that stuff out, but I also want to get into action sequences again," he said. "I want to get into some shootouts, car chases, some big-scale action things, because that’s what NCIS is known for.
"I also want to explore the family dynamic side of things. This is a dream series for me because I get to play with the comedy, with that cheeky 'ribbing each other' element, and also be the straight cop/leader, and then I get to go with the emotional element of the relationship with the son and my ex-wife and the breakdown of that relationship.
"The sky's the limit for us," he added.
If the drama were to get the green light, fans might be waiting a while before the season two premiere. The series would likely return in the fall of 2024, which is the same time season one was released.
During his interview with TVLine, Todd explained that mid-year is the best time to film in Australia when the temperature has cooled down.
"I think mid-year is usually fairly controlled because it's sort of winter, but our winter isn't like Georgia's or anything," he said. "It's not, like, snowing in Sydney, so we can still get the beautiful days!"
As for which cast members might return, we expect to see Todd and his co-star Olivia Swann reprise their starring roles as JD and Agent Michelle Mackey.
It's likely that Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel and William McInnes will also return.
NCIS: Sydney is available to stream on the CBS website/app and on Paramount +. Seasons 1-20 are streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512450/ncis-sydney-will-there-be-a-season-2/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:19Z
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Over the years, Queen Camilla has spoken openly about her health, sharing details of her family history of osteoporosis, and her niece, Ayesha Shand, 29, is following in her aunt's footsteps, speaking bravely about her own debilitating condition.
Ayesha, who is the daughter of Queen Camilla's late brother, Mark Shand, opened up about her struggles with endometriosis, which sees her in agonising pain due to tissue similar to the lining of the womb growing in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
"It's isolating, agonising and completely unbearable," Amelia wrote alongside a candid video on Instagram, which sees her sniffing through tears.
"Every month I ingest hundreds of painkillers, faint, vomit, spend nights and days crouched on the floor crying. This is all followed by intense waves of helplessness and depression."
Watch the clip below to see Ayesha's honest insight into endometriosis.
Ayesha, who is set to undergo surgery in the coming weeks, added: "Endometriosis is very difficult to diagnose, treat and, ultimately, cure. Most women live this cycle of pain in silence. I am lucky enough to be operated in a few weeks."
The 29-year-old's followers were quick to send her their support, offering words of sympathy for her plight.
READ: Endometriosis: how to manage the condition
"What a nightmare. I know quite a few women who suffer chronically and it is just the most horrific feelings. Thank you for bringing awareness to this. I am sending you all of my love and lots of light and good energy to your beautiful, delicate uterus during your surgery," one wrote, while another commented: "Hugging you so tight — you are a warrior."
Though Ayesha didn't share the surgery she is having, endometriosis can be treated with a laparoscopy, which sees small cuts made in the stomach to destroy or cut out the endometriosis tissue.
During laparoscopy, fine instruments are used to cut away or apply heat, a laser, or a beam of special gas to the patches of endometriosis tissue to destroy or remove them. The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic.
There is no cure for endometriosis, but surgery can relieve symptoms. Some people opt for a hysterectomy to help with endometriosis.
MORE ROYAL HEALTH: Princess Kate's three-month-long recovery is 'crucial' following abdominal surgery
Queen Camilla had a hysterectomy in 2007, at the age of 59. Post-surgery the royal spent several days in hospital, before resting for six weeks, with planned engagements postponed.
At the time, Clarence House described the operation as routine and said it was not cancer-related but refused to discuss Camilla's condition further, so it's not known whether she too suffered endometriosis.
Royally obsessed? Listen to the latest episode of HELLO!'s Right Royal Podcast...
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/512422/queen-camilla-niece-ayesha-shand-endometriosis/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:25Z
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Joe Wicks and his wife Rosie recently announced they are expecting their fourth child and we are over the moon for their wonderful family.
The couple are already parents to Indie, five, Marley, three, and Leni, one, so the house is no doubt hectic but fun all the same, not to mention Joe's busy schedule thanks to his Body Coach business and fitness regime.
However, the fitness expert has enlisted surprising methods into his daily routine to keep himself "calm" and "present" when with his family.
Speaking to HELLO! to launch his Apple Fitness+ takeover recently, the soon to be father-of-four explained how he takes regular lengthy stints away from his phone, perhaps surprising due to his huge presence online and on social media for his work.
"There's something I've recently integrated into my life and that's just having a little phone fast because I'm so addicted to the phone. It's very distracting and I get sucked into social media," he explained.
"Having like windows where I'm not on the phone has been so powerful for me. I'm doing this where between six pm and eight pm, I turn my phone off and put it away. [Instead] I'm playing with the kids, we're kicking the football around the house. And honestly, I'm having [the best] week and, it's like the [most] fun two hours of my life."
Joe added that the shift away from tech has changed his mindset as well as had an impact on how he interacts with his children. "I'm not rushing to get back to my phone, I don't rush bedtime stories.
"And it's one thing that's really helped me calm. I've got to stay calm and be more present. I think it's really important."
But the Body Coach, of course, ensures he gets his own workouts involved as part of his daily routines. "My morning routine is, I work out as soon as I wake up. I just want to get it done before the kids are awake.
"It's very transformative to do a morning workout because it sets you up for a positive day and anything stressful that comes with my work and kind of take it in my stride."
Meanwhile, Joe and Rosie will have their hands full in the coming months after they welcome their fourth child.
The couple looked elated as they posed for a photo shared on Instagram on Tuesday, with Joe holding little Leni in the photo while Rosie cradled her baby bump.
"Baby number 4 incoming," Joe said in the caption of his post, revealing that Rosie was already 20 weeks pregnant.
The couple were met with love from their fans in the comments, as Jools Oliver shared: "Yay so excited for you, all the happiest news," alongside a string of heart emojis.
A second follower added: " Ah lovely news, congratulations, nothing like an even number."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512449/joe-wicks-surprising-daily-routine-that-helps-him-stay-present-amid-fourth-baby-announcement/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:31Z
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British national treasure and sophisticated fashion muse Adele is currently the talk of the town since she just announced a new music residency in Munich, and did so in the most quintessentially Adele way possible (more on her iconic message later).
But before she heads across the Atlantic back to Europe, the 35-year-old is finishing off her Las Vegas residency Weekends With Adele, and she wore the most incredible OTT £14,000 cocktail ring during her latest show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
When it comes to on-stage style, nobody does it as glamorously as Adele. Form-fitting black dresses are her go-to from the likes of Nina Ricci, Stella McCartney and Rabanne to name a few. And they are often either adorned with sequins, possess an elegant off-the-shoulder silhouette or feature feminine ruffle detailing, to amp up the Old Hollywood aesthetic.
MORE: Victoria Beckham is 'The original Mob Wife' - Here’s 10 photos that prove it...
To accompany her enviably sophisticated wardrobe, she's never without dazzling diamond statement jewellery to enhance her elegance. For her most recent performance, she stunned in a round-neck Dolce & Gabbana gown, complete with vertical silver pearl tracks across the body.
She eschewed a statement necklace or large earrings in favour of a showstopping diamond cocktail ring from Yessayan. The 'Glittery Diamond Cocktail Ring' features almost 12 carats of diamonds and 20.2 grams of 18K white gold.
Her jewellery is bang on trend, oozing 'Mob Wife' glamour and being unequivocally expensive. "In a nutshell, mob wife style is all about bold, overstated and sensual glamour that evokes a sense of confidence and class," explains Hello! Fashion's Orion Scott.
Adele took to Instagram to announce to her 55m followers that she'd be holding a residency in Munich in the summer of 2024 - her first time playing in Europe since 2016.
"So a few months ago I got a call about a summer run of shows. I’ve been content as anything with my shows in London’s Hyde Park and my residency in Vegas, so I hadn’t had any other plans," she begins, "However, I was too curious to not follow up and indulge in this idea - a one off, bespoke pop-up stadium designed around whatever show I want to put on? Ohh!? Pretty much slap bang in the middle of Europe? In Munich? That’s a bit random, but still fabulous!"
"Right after the Euros? Come on England! With the Olympics next door? Go on Simone! And some of my favourite artists playing shows too? Why…YES!! I haven’t played in Europe since 2016! I couldn’t think of a more wonderful way to spend my summer and end this beautiful phase of my life and career with shows closer to home during such an exciting summer."
She ended the announcement by saying "Guten Tag babes x" - obsessed doesn't cut it.
We're praying to the fashion gods that she brings her magnificent wardrobe to Munich...
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/512444/adele-residency-diamond-cocktail-ring/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:37Z
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Sofia Vergara is taking a page from Gwyneth Paltrow's book when it comes to lawsuits, and standing her ground against the "false narratives" being claimed by her former contractor.
The Griselda actress, 51, was sued back in late November by Reside Custom Homes, the contractors who previously worked on the $26 million Los Angeles home she purchased in 2020 with ex-husband Joe Manganiello.
The contractors have accused her of several claims, including breach of contract, promissory fraud and intentional interference with contractual relations, all of which the Modern Family alum has fired back at in her own counterclaim.
In a filing obtained by People, Sofia's attorney Martin Singer maintains on her behalf that though both his client and the opponents had previously agreed to settle the dispute privately, they in turn filed the lawsuit in an effort to "publicize a false narrative," "embarrass" Sofia publicly, and "publicize mischaracterized facts and pressure Vergara publicly."
In their complaint, they accuse Sofia of not paying two bills pertaining to the work they did for her home, which total to $1,700,492.64. They state that though they had completed the work planned for the home in December 2022, Sofia allegedly requested additional work that resulted in the two unpaid bills, one for $896,196.15 and another for $657,245.23.
Moreover, they have accused her of hostile conditions on the job site, due to alleged "aggressive outbursts" against employees, who they claim they had to convince not to quit.
Sofia is in turn claiming that RCH performed not only negligent construction – including failing to make necessary repairs and ignoring complaints over faulty work – and overcharged her, but that as a result, she was left with $5 million in damages.
MORE: Sofia Vergara tells Kelly Clarkson to 'shut up' during disagreement on-air in moment you need to see
MORE: Sofia Vergara's high-profile dating history revealed
The suit states Sofia moved into the home in March of 2023, three years after it was purchased, and only four months before she and her ex Joe announced their divorce.
The former couple, who tied the knot in 2015, first shared news of their split in July, telling Page Six in a statement at the time: "We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives."
MORE: Sofia Vergara 'wanted change' after ditching Modern Family persona for 'complex role'
Sofia has since gotten candid about both how it felt to go through a divorce publicly, as well as what led to it: Joe, who is 47, wanted kids, while Sofia, who is a mom to 32-year-old son Manolo, did not.
Joe is now dating fellow actress Caitlin O'Connor, 33, and they made their red carpet debut in December while attending the Children of Armenia Fund Gala at Cipriani in New York City.
Though Sofia has claimed that she is single, she has sparked romance speculation with Justin Saliman, a Los Angeles-based orthopedic surgeon, after they were spotted on several outings together.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512457/sofia-vergara-26m-home-lawsuit-what-happened/
| 2024-01-31T16:33:43Z
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Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL - Free Report) is expected to see its earnings jump in 2024 as more people take to its app to learn a new language. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is forecast to grow sales by the double digits this year.
Duolingo is an education app which is popular with those trying to learn a new language. It offers over 100 courses across 42 distinct languages, from Spanish, French, German and Japanese to Navajo and Yiddish.
However, in 2023, it also launched Music and Math courses on its flagship app, adding to its offerings.
Another Earnings Beat in the Third Quarter
On Nov 8, 2023, Duolingo reported its third quarter results and easily beat the Zacks Consensus. It reported earnings of $0.06 versus the Zacks Consensus of a loss of $0.06. That's a $0.12 beat.
Paid subscribers rose 60% to 5.8 million from 3.7 million in the third quarter of 2022.
Total bookings rose 49% to $153.6 million year-over-year led by subscription bookings which also rose 54% to $121.3 million.
Monthly active users (MAUs) were 83.1 million, up 47% from the prior year quarter. Daily active users (DAUs) jumped 63% to 24.2 million.
Total revenue also surge 43% to $137.6 million.
Raised Full Year Guidance
For the second quarter in a row, Duolingo raised its full year revenue guidance. It expects to be in a range of $525 million to $528 million, up from its second quarter guidance of $510 million to $516 million.
The Zacks Consensus is at the high end of the range at $527.07 million. Analysts are also bullish on 2024 with sales expected to jump 29.3% to $681.5 million.
Analysts are also bullish on earnings for 2024. 1 estimate has been revised higher in the last 30 days. This has pushed the Zacks Consensus up to $0.81 from $0.79 in the last month.
That's earnings growth of 210.8% as the company is expected to make just $0.26 in 2023. It will report fourth quarter and full year results at the end of Feb 2024.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares Soar in the Last Year
Duolingo has been on a ride since its July 2021 IPO. The shares sold off in the 2022 growth stock sell-off but have rebounded in the last year, gaining 104% versus the 46.5% gain in the Invesco QQQ ETF during that same time.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
If you're looking for a growth stock, Duolingo is for you. Analysts expect big growth in sales and earnings in 2024. However, it's not cheap. It trades with a forward P/E of 238.
For investors looking for a top ranked growth stock, Duolingo should be on your short list.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218377/bull-of-the-day-duolingo-duol
| 2024-01-31T16:34:34Z
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MarineMax, Inc. (HZO - Free Report) is facing headwinds in fiscal 2024 as the market for recreational boats and yachts remains challenging. This Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) recently lowered its full year earnings guidance.
MarineMax is the largest lifestyle retailer of recreational boats and yachts, as well as yacht concierge and superyacht services. It has 130 locations worldwide, including 81 dealerships and 66 marina and storage facilities.
The business includes IGY Marinas, which operates luxury marinas in yachting and sport fishing destinations around the world; Fraser Yachts Group and Northrop & Johnson, leading superyacht brokerage and luxury yacht services companies; Cruisers Yachts, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of premium sport yachts and motor yachts; and Intrepid Powerboats, a premier manufacturer of powerboats.
An Earnings Miss in the Fiscal First Quarter of 2024
On Jan 25, 2024, MarineMax announced its fiscal first quarter 2024 results and missed on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 66%. Earnings were just $0.19 compared to the Zacks Consensus of $0.56.
However, it saw record revenue for the first quarter of $527.3 million, up 4% year-over-year, as same-store sales rose 4% driven by higher new and used boat sales.
MarineMax's gross profit margin declined 350 basis points to 33.3% from 36.8% last year due to a more aggressive promotional environment. It had to discount certain boat models and it also sold a greater mix of larger boats, which normally have lower gross profit margins.
However, it's still looking for growth in fiscal 2024.
"This month, we announced the planned acquisition of Williams Tenders USA, the exclusive distributor in the United States and the Caribbean for the premier brand of rigid inflatable jet tenders for the luxury yacht market," said Brett McGill, CEO.
"The growth of the yacht and luxury yacht markets represents a tailwind for our business as we advance our strategic priorities," he added.
Lowered Earnings Guidance for Fiscal 2024
MarineMax has grown bearish due to the market challenges. It lowered its full year fiscal 2024 earnings guidance to a range of $3.20 to $3.70 from its prior guidance range of $4.50 to $5.00 provided when it reported fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2023 results on Oct 26, 2023.
As a result, the analysts have cut their estimates too. 2 estimates have been cut for fiscal 2024 in the last 7 days, pushing down the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $3.96 from $4.56. That's still above the guidance range, however.
But it's a decline of 24% from last fiscal year, which saw earnings of $5.21.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares Plunge on the Guidance Cut
MarineMax shares have been on a roller coaster over the prior year, but got hit hard when the guidance was cut. Over the last month, shares fell 28.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
It's cheap, with a forward P/E of just 7.2.
But will the boat market slow further in 2024? Investors might want to stay on the sidelines until there is a turnaround in earnings estimates.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218388/bear-of-the-day-marinemax-hzo
| 2024-01-31T16:34:40Z
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Companies in the Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry have been operating in a challenging economic landscape, with core inflation pinching consumers’ budgets, thereby affecting demand. Also, higher input costs have been a hurdle, though the trend has been moderating.
Certain players in the industry are contending with elevated SG&A costs. However, dedication to portfolio refinement and innovation, along with prudent saving measures, has been working favorably for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) , Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI - Free Report) , Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI - Free Report) and Newell Brands Inc. (NWL - Free Report) .
About the Industry
The Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry consists of companies involved in marketing, producing and distributing a wide range of consumer products. These include personal care items, cleaning equipment, stationery, bed and bath products and household goods like kitchen appliances, cutlery and food storage. Some industry participants also provide batteries and lighting products, whereas some offer pet food and treats, pet supplies, pet medications and pet services. Companies in the Consumer Products – Staples universe offer products to supermarkets, drug/grocery stores, department stores, warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers and other retail outlets. Some companies sell products to manufacturers of perfumes and cosmetics, hair and other personal care products. Products are also sold through other distributors and the fast-growing e-commerce channel.
3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Consumer Products - Staples Industry
A Tough Operating Landscape: The Consumer Products – Staples industry is battling a challenging economic environment marked by slower economic growth and consumer spending. Elevated levels of core inflation have led to muted demand for several products, thereby impacting companies’ volumes. Additionally, the slowdown in economic activity has been hampering companies’ ability to drive revenue growth through price hikes. Consequently, many industry players have been grappling with soft revenues.
Cost Challenges: Although showing signs of moderation, escalating input expenses have been weighing on the margins of companies operating within the Consumer Products – Staples space. Companies have been witnessing increased costs of raw materials, labor, packaging and transportation due to difficult market circumstances. Additionally, elevated SG&A costs, investments in digital advancements and increased marketing expenditures are impacting profit margins. Nevertheless, efforts centered on restructuring and saving strategies have been helping players mitigate some of these pressures.
Revenue Enhancement Endeavors: Within the consumer product space, entities are strategically focusing on optimizing their operations to maximize returns. This involves a greater emphasis on bolstering e-commerce and digital initiatives. Furthermore, innovations targeted at segments with increasing consumer demand have fortified the overall strength of companies. Industry participants are strategically refining their portfolios through impactful acquisitions and divestments, allowing them to concentrate more intensely on areas with greater potential for growth.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects
The Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry is housed within the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector. It currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #153, which places it in the bottom 39% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull near-term prospects. 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.
The industry’s position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually becoming less confident about this group’s earnings growth potential. Since the beginning of October 2023, the industry’s earnings estimate for 2023 has declined 3.2%.
Let’s look at the industry’s performance and current valuation.
Industry vs. Broader Market
The Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry has lagged the S&P 500 Index and the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector over the past year.
The industry has declined 28% over this period against the S&P 500 Index’s growth of 20.2%. Meanwhile, the broader sector has declined 7.1%.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry's Current Valuation
On the basis of forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), commonly used for valuing consumer staple stocks, the industry is currently trading at 17.38X compared with the S&P 500’s 20.62X and the sector’s 17.31X.
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 26.15X, as low as 16X and at the median of 20.18X, as the chart below shows.
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Past 5 Years)
4 Consumer Product Stocks to Watch
Newell Brands: This designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer and commercial products has been benefiting from its actions to fuel productivity plans, driving automation and fully implementing Project Ovid. Newell Brands is also evaluating opportunities to optimize the category mix within each business unit. The increased focus on revenue growth management, aggressive efforts to reduce SKU and supply network optimization bode well for this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWL’s 2024 earnings per share (EPS) has risen by a penny to 77 cents over the past 30 days. This suggests growth of 3.5% from the figure reported in the year-ago period. Shares of Newell Brands have rallied 29.8% in the past three months.
Price and Consensus: NWL
Ollie’s Bargain: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company’s business operating model of buying cheap and selling cheap, cost-containment efforts, focus on store productivity and expansion of customer reward program, Ollie’s Army, reinforce its position in the industry. Growing trade-down trends and favorable responses to deals with product offerings appealing to a broader customer base have been contributing to Ollie’s Bargain’s performance.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ollie’s Bargain’s fiscal 2024 EPS has increased by 2 cents to $3.23 over the past 30 days. This calls for growth of 14.1% year over year. OLLI, which is a value-centric retailer specializing in brand-name merchandise, has seen its shares decline 6.2% in the past three months.
Price and Consensus: OLLI
Kimberly-Clark: This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has been gaining from its growth strategies focused on the enhancement of its core business in developed markets, accelerating growth in the Personal Care segment within developing and emerging markets and fortifying digital and e-commerce capabilities. The company, specializing in personal care and consumer tissue products, remains well-placed on innovation, pricing actions, solid revenue growth management capability and other commercial programs. Saving plans like Focus on Reducing Costs Everywhere or the FORCE Program have also been working well for Kimberly-Clark.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMB’s 2024 bottom line has declined from $7.03 to $6.83 in the past 30 days. However, this suggests growth of nearly 4% from the year-ago period. Shares of Kimberly-Clark have risen 1.9% in the past three months.
Price and Consensus: KMB
Albertsons Companies: This food and drug store company, with a Zacks Rank #3, is benefiting from its commitment to providing efficient in-store services, advancing digital and omnichannel capabilities and driving productivity improvements. Albertsons Companies' continuous efforts to enhance product offerings contribute significantly to the overall improvement in the customer experience.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACI’s fiscal 2024 EPS has declined 2.1% to $2.76 in the past 30 days. Shares of Albertsons Companies are up 0.4% in the past three months.
Price and Consensus: ACI
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218499/4-consumer-product-stocks-to-keep-an-eye-on-amid-industry-woes
| 2024-01-31T16:34:47Z
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Research Daily
Today's Must Read
NVIDIA (NVDA) Rides on Strong Adoption of GPUs, Partnerships
Strong Demand, Strategic Initiatives Aid Caterpillar (CAT)
Strength in Aerospace Segment Drives General Electric (GE)
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and General Electric Company (GE). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
NVIDIA shares have outperformed the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry over the past year (+58.5% vs. +22.7%) on the back of the company’s strong leverage artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing and accelerated computing.
The data center end-market business is likely to benefit from the growing demand for generative AI and large language models using graphic processing units (GPUs) based on NVIDIA Hopper and Ampere architectures. A surge in hyperscale demand and a solid uptake of AI-based smart cockpit infotainment solutions are acting as tailwinds.
Collaborations with Mercedes-Benz and Audi are likely to advance its presence in autonomous vehicles and other automotive electronics space. However, its near-term prospects are likely to be hurt by softening IT spending amid macroeconomic headwinds.
(You can read the full research report on NVIDIA here >>>)
Shares of Caterpillar have modestly outperformed the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry over the past year (+24.6% vs. +23.7%). The company’s revenues and earnings have grown year over year for eleven straight quarters thanks to its cost-saving actions, strong end-market demand and pricing actions, which offset the impact of the supply-chain snarls and cost pressures.
The Construction Industries segment is expected to benefit from the rising construction activities in the United States and other parts of the world. Backed by demand for commodities fueled by the energy-transition trend, a thriving mining sector will aid the Resource Industries segment.
The Energy & Transportation segment remains well-poised for growth, backed by strong demand across all applications. Its dividend yield and payout ratio are higher than its peers. A strong liquidity position, investments in expanding services and digital initiatives will help Caterpillar deliver outsized returns.
(You can read the full research report on Caterpillar here >>>)
General Electric shares have outperformed the Zacks Diversified Operations industry over the past year (+63.2% vs. +3.8%). The company is witnessing strength in its Aerospace segment, driven by robust demand and solid execution in commercial engines and services.
With strength in GE Gas Power services and growth in Grid business and Onshore Wind in North America, signs of improvement in GE Vernova (the combined operations of GE Power and Renewable) hold promise. Driven by solid momentum across its businesses, the company raised its 2023 guidance.
Acquisitions made over time are also likely to be beneficial. Its policy of rewarding shareholders handsomely works in its favor. The firm's improved liquidity position also adds to its strength. However, supply chain disruptions in the defense market continue to take a toll on the company’s operations.
(You can read the full research report on General Electric here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) and Schlumberger Limited (SLB)
Director of Research
Sheraz Mian
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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https://www.zacks.com/research-daily/2218661/top-analyst-reports-for-nvidia-caterpillar-general-electric?-general-electric
| 2024-01-31T16:34:53Z
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The AI Revolution
The technological revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here, promising to reshape our lives and propel AI-related stocks to unprecedented heights. According to a Bloomberg Intelligence report, the AI sector could achieve a staggering Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 42% over the next decade. However, despite what analysts say, it is most important to watch what the actual leaders in the industry are saying. Today, we will dive into what three of Wall Street’s top AI juggernauts are saying on their earnings calls.
Major AI Players Report EPS: Key Takeaways
Super Micro Computer ((SMCI - Free Report) ) – Hardware & Servers
Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock Super Micro Computeris a leading global server solutions provider specializing in high-performance and energy-efficient hardware. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of server and storage solutions that cater to various computing needs. SMCI is a leader AI because its innovative and scalable hardware offerings are well-suited for the demanding computational requirements of artificial intelligence and machine learnings applications.
On the company’s recent conference call, CEO Charles Liang said, “I’m delighted to share our second quarter results, which show record-breaking performance for Super Micro. We achieved revenue of $3.66 billion, a 133% increase from last year, and earnings per share of $5.59. This is our first quarter ever with over $3 billion in revenue. More importantly, this single quarter’s revenue surpassed our annual revenue for 2021.”
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Takeaway: The last line of Liang’s statement really puts AI’s “hockey stick” growth into perspective.
Advanced Micro Devices ((AMD - Free Report) ) – Semiconductors & High-Performance Computing and Graphics Solutions
Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock Advanced Micro Devices is a semiconductor firm that designs and produces high-performance computing and graphics solutions. AMD is an essential player in the AI industry due to its innovative graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) that excel in parallel processing tasks essential for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. AMD’s commitment to delivering competitive and energy-efficient solutions has contributed to its prominence in the AI market, where computational efficiency and performance are critical factors.
During last night’s conference call, AMD CEO Lisa Su explained, “We finished 2023 strong as data center sales accelerated significantly throughout the year, despite the mixed demand environment. As a result, we delivered record data center segment annual revenue and strong top-line growth in the fourth quarter, driven by the ramp of Instinct AI accelerators and robust demand for EPYC server CPUs across cloud, enterprise, and AI customers. Fourth quarter revenue increased 10% year-over-year to $6.2 billion, driven by a significant double-digit percentage growth in our data center and client segments. On a full-year basis, annual revenue declined 4% to $22.7 billion as record data center and embedded segment annual revenue was offset by lower client and gaming segment revenue.”
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Pictured: AMD revenue is expected to reaccelerate this year bolstered by AI.
Takeaway: AI and data center, the critical drivers for AMD, are growing like wildfire. Though the stock is selling off, the weakness can probably be chalked up to the fact that the stock is up more than 50% over the past three months.
Microsoft ((MSFT - Free Report) )
Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock Microsoft is a multinational company known for its software, hardware, and cloud computing services. In the AI realm, Microsoft is the leader in generative AI. In fact, AI would likely not be on most investors’ radars if it wasn’t for Microsoft and OpenAI’s wild success with their popular ChatGPT Chatbot.
Across all segments, Microsoft is firing on all cylinders and currently holds the title for the largest market capitalization globally at over $3 trillion. The critical takeaway came from Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood, who said, “The important part is to invest toward the thing that’s going to shape the next decade and continue to stay focused on being able to deliver your day-to-day commitments. Microsoft is shifting to an AI-first position.”
Takeaway: Hood’s statements show how bullish companies are on the future of AI. Although AI comprises only a sliver of Microsoft’s massive earnings, it is the nonetheless the focus of the company.
Bottom Line
Examining insights from top AI players, Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, and Microsoft tells us that the AI revolution is alive and well. For more evidence, watch how other AI leaders like Arista Networks ((ANET - Free Report) ) and Nvidia ((NVDA - Free Report) ) report.
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https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2218841/the-ai-renaissance-insights-from-3-ai-juggernauts
| 2024-01-31T16:34:59Z
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LendingClub (LC - Free Report) reported $185.61 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 29.4%. EPS of $0.09 for the same period compares to $0.19 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $180.68 million, representing a surprise of +2.73%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +350.00%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.02.
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 LendingClub performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 6.4% versus 6.6% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets: $8.21 billion versus $8.04 billion estimated by three analysts on average.
- Net Charge-off Ratio: 6.6% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 5.4%.
- Efficiency Ratio: 70% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 75.7%.
- Common equity tier 1 capital Ratio: 17.9% compared to the 16.8% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Income: $131.48 million versus $129.19 million estimated by five analysts on average.
- Non-Interest Income- Marketplace revenue: $52.18 million versus $48.28 million estimated by five analysts on average.
- Non-Interest Income- Other non-interest income: $1.95 million compared to the $3.17 million average estimate based on five analysts.
- Total Non-interest income: $54.13 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $51.44 million.
- Total Interest Income: $208.32 million versus $197.24 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Non-Interest Income- Gain on sales of loans: $11.92 million versus $5 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Non-Interest Income- Origination fees: $76.70 million versus $52.50 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of LendingClub have returned +3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218357/lendingclub-lc-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:35:06Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Axos Financial (AX - Free Report) reported revenue of $352.74 million, up 54.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.60, compared to $1.38 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +42.77% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $247.07 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.39, the EPS surprise was +15.11%.
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 Axos Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 4.6% versus 4.3% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Efficiency ratio: 34.5% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 48.7%.
- Net charge-offs to average loans: 0% versus 0.1% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Average Interest-Earning Assets: $20.12 billion compared to the $19.89 billion average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Non-performing loans: $122.51 million compared to the $115.70 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total Non-performing Assets: $129.83 million versus $124.84 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $228.61 million versus $215.27 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Mortgage Banking Income: $0.75 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.22 million.
- Banking and service fees: $10.06 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $8.93 million.
- Prepayment penalty fee income: $1.04 million versus $1.88 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Axos Financial have returned +4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218358/axos-financial-ax-q2-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:35:12Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Boston Properties (BXP - Free Report) reported revenue of $768.88 million, up 4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.82, compared to $0.78 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.87% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $762.28 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.81, the EPS surprise was +0.55%.
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 Boston Properties performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Development and management services: $12.73 million versus $9.26 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +51.4% change.
- Revenue- Hotel revenue: $11.80 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $11.72 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.5%.
- Revenue- Lease: $768.88 million versus $728.27 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4% change.
- Revenue- Parking and other (including insurance proceeds): $31.50 million compared to the $29.05 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +16.7% year over year.
- Net Earnings Per Share (Diluted): $0.76 compared to the $0.65 average estimate based on six analysts.
Shares of Boston Properties have returned +2.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218359/boston-properties-bxp-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:35:18Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Juniper Networks (JNPR - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.36 billion, down 5.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.61, compared to $0.65 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.97% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.64, the EPS surprise was -4.69%.
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.
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 Juniper performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Revenues- Hardware Maintenance and Professional Services: $408.70 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $407.49 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.4%.
- Net Revenues- Service: $506.20 million compared to the $470.53 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.9% year over year.
- Net Revenues- Product: $858.60 million versus $933.53 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -13.1% change.
- Net Revenues- Automated WAN Solutions: $454.10 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $430.99 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -5.2%.
- Net Revenues- Cloud-Ready Data Center: $180.80 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $181.46 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -30.4%.
- Net Revenues- AI-Driven Enterprise: $321.20 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $388.81 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.9%.
- Net Revenues- Service Provider: $400.20 million compared to the $367.53 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -14.7% year over year.
- Net Revenues- Enterprise: $647.30 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $770.53 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +8%.
- Net Revenues- Cloud: $317.30 million versus $262.05 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -16.6% change.
- Non-GAAP Gross margin- Service: $365.50 million versus $337.31 million estimated by five analysts on average.
- Non-GAAP Gross margin- Product: $464.50 million compared to the $502.79 million average estimate based on five analysts.
Shares of Juniper have returned +26.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218360/juniper-jnpr-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:35:24Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Equity Residential (EQR - Free Report) reported revenue of $727.5 million, up 4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.00, compared to $0.42 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.01% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $727.55 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.00, the company has not delivered EPS surprise.
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 Equity Residential performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Physical Occupancy Rate: 95.8% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 95.9%.
- Apartment Units - Total: 80,191 compared to the 80,662 average estimate based on three analysts.
- Change in Same Store Revenue Growth: 3.9% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 3.8%.
- Revenues- Rental income- Same store: $711.76 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $675.51 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.6%.
- Net Earnings Per Share (Diluted): $0.82 versus $0.47 estimated by eight analysts on average.
Shares of Equity Residential have returned -2.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218361/equity-residential-eqr-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:35:31Z
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Littelfuse (LFUS - Free Report) reported $533.81 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 13%. EPS of $2.02 for the same period compares to $3.34 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.42% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $536.05 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.02, the company has not delivered EPS surprise.
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 Littelfuse performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Sales- Industrial: $73.48 million compared to the $80.83 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.9% year over year.
- Net sales- Electronics: $297.75 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $317.69 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -19.8%.
- Net sales- Transportation: $162.57 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $165.46 million.
- Operating income / (loss)- Electronic: $53.55 million compared to the $60 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Operating income / (loss)- Industrial: $9.35 million versus $12.99 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Operating income / (loss)- Transportation: $7.62 million compared to the $9.29 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of Littelfuse have returned -10.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218362/littelfuse-lfus-q4-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:35:37Z
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Match Group (MTCH - Free Report) reported $866.23 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 10.2%. EPS of $0.81 for the same period compares to $0.30 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.58% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $861.25 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.49, the EPS surprise was +65.31%.
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.
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 Match Group performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Payers - Total: 15,186 thousand compared to the 15,480.69 thousand average estimate based on seven analysts.
- Payers - Europe Payers: 4,459 thousand compared to the 4,540.71 thousand average estimate based on six analysts.
- Payers - APAC and Other: 3,610 thousand versus 3,591.24 thousand estimated by six analysts on average.
- Revenue Per Payer (RPP) - Total: $18.67 versus the six-analyst average estimate of $18.18.
- Payers - Americas: 7,117 thousand versus the six-analyst average estimate of 7,441.57 thousand.
- Revenue Per Payer (RPP) - Americas: $21.24 versus the five-analyst average estimate of $19.88.
- Geographic Revenue- Direct Revenue- Europe: $241.20 million compared to the $247.85 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.7% year over year.
- Geographic Revenue- Direct Revenue- Americas: $453.50 million versus $445.25 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +11.5% change.
- Geographic Revenue- Direct Revenue- APAC and Other: $156.06 million versus $157.13 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.2% change.
- Revenue- Total Direct Revenue: $850.76 million versus the eight-analyst average estimate of $847.12 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.3%.
- Revenue- Indirect Revenue: $15.47 million versus the eight-analyst average estimate of $13.90 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +2.7%.
- Revenue- Direct Revenue- Tinder: $493.22 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $491.68 million.
Shares of Match Group have returned +5.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218363/match-group-mtch-q4-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:35:43Z
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Robert Half (RHI - Free Report) reported $1.47 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 14.7%. EPS of $0.83 for the same period compares to $1.37 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.39% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.82, the EPS surprise was +1.22%.
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.
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 Robert Half performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Service Revenue- Permanent placement talent solutions: $121.56 million compared to the $117.99 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Service Revenue- Protiviti: $463.95 million compared to the $454.37 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -7.1% year over year.
- Service Revenue- Total contract talent solutions: $887.38 million versus $893.03 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Service Revenue- Technology: $163.72 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $170.39 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -21.7%.
- Service Revenue- Finance & Accounting: $635.28 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $669.76 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -17.2%.
- Service Revenue- Administrative and customer support: $189.47 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $184.98 million.
- Service Revenue- Elimination of intersegment: -$101.10 million compared to the -$139.16 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -26.6% year over year.
- Gross margin- Temporary and consultant staffing (Contract talent solutions): $351.89 million versus $355.71 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Gross margin- Protiviti: $110.94 million versus $119.36 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Gross Margin- Permanent placement talent solutions: $121.33 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $113.30 million.
Shares of Robert Half have returned -7.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218364/compared-to-estimates-robert-half-rhi-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-31T16:35:49Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Fortune Brands Innovations (FBIN - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.16 billion, up 2.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.95, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.18 billion, representing a surprise of -1.85%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.15%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.93.
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 Fortune Brands Innovations performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Sales- Outdoors: $309.20 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $327.25 million.
- Net Sales- Security: $189.10 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $192.57 million.
- Net Sales- Water: $663 million versus $668.50 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3.4% change.
- Operating Income(loss) before charges/gains (Non-GAAP)- Water: $144.30 million compared to the $153.12 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Operating Income(loss) before charges/gains (Non-GAAP)- Outdoors: $42.90 million compared to the $47.32 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Operating Income(loss) Before Charges/Gains (Non-GAAP)- Security: $32.60 million compared to the $22.81 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Operating Income(loss) before charges/gains (Non-GAAP)- Total Corporate Expenses: -$36.20 million versus -$36.51 million estimated by three analysts on average.
Shares of Fortune Brands Innovations have returned +5.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218365/compared-to-estimates-fortune-brands-innovations-fbin-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-31T16:35:56Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, UMB Financial (UMBF - Free Report) reported revenue of $377.45 million, up 1.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.29, compared to $2.06 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +4.37% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $361.63 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.76, the EPS surprise was +30.11%.
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 UMB performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency Ratio (GAAP): 77.7% versus 64.2% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Net interest margin (FTE): 2.5% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 2.4%.
- Average balance - Total earning assets: $38.30 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $37.72 billion.
- Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs as a % of total average loans: 0% compared to the 0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total noninterest income: $140.25 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $133.50 million.
- Brokerage fees: $13.44 million versus $13.25 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $230.52 million compared to the $222.10 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Bankcard fees: $18.67 million compared to the $19.25 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Noninterest income- Other: $13.23 million versus $8.82 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Service charges on deposit accounts: $21.33 million compared to the $21.10 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Trust and securities processing: $66.58 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $67.15 million.
- Trading and investment banking: $5.75 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $4.25 million.
Shares of UMB have returned -0.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218366/umb-umbf-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:36:02Z
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RenaissanceRe (RNR - Free Report) reported $2.63 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 42.5%. EPS of $11.77 for the same period compares to $7.33 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.2 billion, representing a surprise of +19.60%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +44.77%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $8.13.
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 RenaissanceRe performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Claims and Claim Expense Ratio: 43.5% compared to the 51.9% average estimate based on four analysts.
- Underwriting Expense Ratio: 32.5% versus 30.7% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Combined Ratio: 76% versus 83.3% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Net Claims and Claim Expense Ratio - calendar year - Casualty and Specialty Segment: 62.7% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 64.1%.
- Underwriting Expense Ratio - Casualty and Specialty Segment: 34.6% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 32%.
- Combined Ratio - Casualty and Specialty Segment: 97.3% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 96%.
- Revenues- Net premiums earned: $2.25 billion compared to the $1.83 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +38.5% year over year.
- Revenues- Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures: $15.40 million versus $6.91 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +80.8% change.
- Revenues- Net investment income: $376.96 million versus $367.56 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +78.5% change.
- Revenues- Other income (loss): $0.14 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2.22 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -98.1%.
- Net premiums earned- Casualty and Specialty: $1.37 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.01 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +45.9%.
- Net premiums earned- Property: $884.32 million versus $720.20 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +28.5% change.
Shares of RenaissanceRe have returned +9.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218367/compared-to-estimates-renaissancere-rnr-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-31T16:36:08Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Manhattan Associates (MANH - Free Report) reported revenue of $238.26 million, up 20.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.03, compared to $0.81 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $223.99 million, representing a surprise of +6.37%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +28.75%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.80.
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.
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 Manhattan Associates performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Cloud subscriptions: $71.42 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $67.75 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +38.2%.
- Revenue- Maintenance: $37.16 million compared to the $33.22 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.9% year over year.
- Revenue- Hardware: $5.31 million compared to the $5.39 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -18.8% year over year.
- Revenue- Services: $119.13 million versus $115.66 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +19.4% change.
- Revenue- Software license: $5.24 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2.02 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.2%.
Shares of Manhattan Associates have returned +4.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218368/compared-to-estimates-manhattan-associates-manh-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-31T16:36:14Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Stryker (SYK - Free Report) reported revenue of $5.82 billion, up 11.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $3.46, compared to $3.00 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.6 billion, representing a surprise of +3.81%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +5.81%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $3.27.
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 Stryker performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Sales by Geography- International: $1.46 billion compared to the $1.49 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.9% year over year.
- Net Sales by Geography- United States: $4.36 billion compared to the $4.11 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.8% year over year.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine: $2.39 billion versus the eight-analyst average estimate of $2.31 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +11%.
- Net Sales by Business- MedSurg and Neurotechnology: $3.43 billion versus the eight-analyst average estimate of $3.29 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.3%.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine- Knees: $630 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $604.67 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.1%.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine- Spine: $318 million versus $309.09 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.1% change.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine- Hips: $414 million versus $403.17 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.4% change.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine- Other: $166 million compared to the $158.97 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.5% year over year.
- Net Sales by Business- Orthopaedics and Spine- Trauma and Extremities: $860 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $854.74 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +11.1%.
- Net Sales by Business- MedSurg and Neurotechnology- Instruments: $736 million versus $723.84 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12.7% change.
- Net Sales by Business- MedSurg and Neurotechnology- Endoscopy: $892 million compared to the $816.30 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +28.4% year over year.
- Net Sales by Business- MedSurg and Neurotechnology- Medical: $1.04 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $981.18 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +11.3%.
Shares of Stryker have returned +5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218369/stryker-syk-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:36:21Z
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Adtalem Global Education (ATGE - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.23 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.17 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 21.78%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this for-profit education company would post earnings of $0.82 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.93, delivering a surprise of 13.41%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Adtalem
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.
Adtalem shares have lost about 0.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.3%.
What's Next for Adtalem?
While Adtalem 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 Adtalem: 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 $1.15 on $381.95 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.31 on $1.51 billion 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, Schools is currently in the top 17% 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 same industry, Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023.
This child care and early education services provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.73 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions' revenues are expected to be $588.63 million, up 11.2% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218370/adtalem-global-education-atge-surpasses-q2-earnings-and-revenue-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:36:27Z
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First Savings Financial (FSFG - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.59 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.55 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.41 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 7.27%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company would post earnings of $0.40 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.41, delivering a surprise of 2.50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
First Savings Financial
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 Savings Financial shares have added about 7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.3%.
What's Next for First Savings Financial?
While First Savings Financial has outperformed 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 Savings Financial: 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 $0.50 on $19.6 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.15 on $80.1 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, Financial - Savings and Loan is currently in the bottom 27% 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.
BankFinancial (BFIN - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023.
This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -22.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
BankFinancial's revenues are expected to be $14.4 million, down 6.4% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218371/first-savings-financial-fsfg-tops-q1-earnings-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:36:33Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Starbucks (SBUX - Free Report) reported revenue of $9.43 billion, up 8.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.90, compared to $0.75 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.55 billion, representing a surprise of -1.29%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -2.17%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.92.
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 Starbucks performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Comparable Store Sales - North America - Sales Growth: 5% versus the nine-analyst average estimate of 5.6%.
- Comparable Store Sales - International - Sales Growth: 7% compared to the 9.3% average estimate based on nine analysts.
- Total Stores: 38,587 versus 38,599 estimated by nine analysts on average.
- Comparable store sales - YoY change: 5% compared to the 5.9% average estimate based on eight analysts.
- Total Stores - North America: 17,931 compared to the 18,117 average estimate based on seven analysts.
- Net Revenues- International: $1.85 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $2.01 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.9%.
- Net Revenues- North America: $7.12 billion compared to the $7.10 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.7% year over year.
- Net Revenues- Company-operated stores: $7.76 billion versus $7.86 billion estimated by nine analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.5% change.
- Net Revenues- Licensed stores: $1.19 billion compared to the $1.22 billion average estimate based on nine analysts. The reported number represents a change of +6.5% year over year.
- Net Revenues- Other: $478 million versus the nine-analyst average estimate of $474.95 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.4%.
- Net Revenues- Channel Development: $448 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $443.93 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.3%.
- Net Revenues- Corporate & Other: $10.30 million versus $4.14 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +139.5% change.
Shares of Starbucks have returned -2.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218372/starbucks-sbux-q1-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:36:39Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.77 billion, up 53% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.87, compared to $0.81 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.71 billion, representing a surprise of +2.25%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +4.82%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.83.
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 Canadian Pacific Kansas City performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Carloads - Total: 1,167.1 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 1,176.4 thousand.
- Carloads - Automotive: 58 thousand compared to the 59.04 thousand average estimate based on four analysts.
- Revenue ton miles (RTMs) - Total: 54,731 million versus 53,028.53 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Revenue ton-miles (RTMs) - Intermodal: 8,855 million compared to the 8,775.22 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Revenue ton-miles (RTMs) - Metals, Minerals and Consumer Products: 4,905 million compared to the 4,703.63 million average estimate based on four analysts.
- Revenue ton-miles (RTMs) - Energy, Chemicals and Plastics: 9,813 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of 9,075.84 million.
- Carloads - Grain: 148.6 thousand compared to the 149.48 thousand average estimate based on four analysts.
- Carloads - Coal: 134 thousand versus 131.05 thousand estimated by four analysts on average.
- Carloads - Potash: 41.9 thousand compared to the 44.33 thousand average estimate based on four analysts.
- Carloads - Fertilizers and Sulphur: 18.3 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 17.12 thousand.
- Carloads - Forest Products: 36.5 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 36.72 thousand.
- Carloads - Energy, Chemicals and Plastics: 145.3 thousand versus 146.16 thousand estimated by four analysts on average.
Shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City have returned +0.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218373/canadian-pacific-kansas-city-cp-q4-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:36:45Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, First Interstate BancSystem (FIBK - Free Report) reported revenue of $252.3 million, down 15.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.67, compared to $0.86 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.86% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $254.5 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.63, the EPS surprise was +6.35%.
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 First Interstate BancSystem performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net FTE interest margin (non-GAAP): 3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 3%.
- Efficiency Ratio: 64.3% compared to the 62.3% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total noninterest Income: $44.50 million compared to the $41.05 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of First Interstate BancSystem have returned -4.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218374/first-interstate-bancsystem-fibk-q4-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:36:52Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Ashland (ASH - Free Report) reported revenue of $473 million, down 9.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.45, compared to $0.97 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $478.44 million, representing a surprise of -1.14%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +114.29%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.21.
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 Ashland performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Intermediates: $33 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $36.08 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -38.9%.
- Revenue- Life Sciences: $200 million compared to the $203.33 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.4% year over year.
- Revenue- Personal Care: $129 million compared to the $130.94 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -6.5% year over year.
- Revenue- Specialty Additives: $122 million versus $127.24 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -14.7% change.
- Revenue- Intersegment sales: -$11 million versus -$16 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -35.3% change.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Life Science: $48 million versus $47.97 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Personal Care: $22 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $25.67 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Specialty Additives: $6 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $6.93 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Intermediates: $10 million compared to the $3.95 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Unallocated and other: -$27 million versus -$28 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Ashland have returned -4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218375/ashland-ash-reports-q1-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:36:58Z
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Unum (UNM - Free Report) reported $3.15 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.1%. EPS of $1.79 for the same period compares to $1.43 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.76% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.86, the EPS surprise was -3.76%.
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 Unum performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Benefit Ratio - Unum US Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment: 69.5% versus the 10-analyst average estimate of 73.4%.
- Other Expense Ratio - Colonial Life Segment: 20% versus the 10-analyst average estimate of 19.1%.
- Benefit Ratio - Colonial Life Segment: 53.2% versus the 10-analyst average estimate of 48.3%.
- Other Expense Ratio - Unum US Supplemental and Voluntary: 22.5% versus 21.9% estimated by 10 analysts on average.
- Revenue- Other income: $68.60 million compared to the $69.29 million average estimate based on 10 analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.9% year over year.
- Revenue- Net investment income: $530.80 million versus $521.67 million estimated by 10 analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.2% change.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Disability- Premium Income- Total: $777.20 million versus the 10-analyst average estimate of $787.25 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6%.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Disability- Net Investment Income: $78.40 million versus $84.27 million estimated by 10 analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -9.4% change.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Disability- Other Income: $53.50 million versus the 10-analyst average estimate of $51.66 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.8%.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Disability- Total: $909.10 million versus $923.19 million estimated by 10 analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4.8% change.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment- Total Premium Income: $469 million compared to the $475.28 million average estimate based on 10 analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.3% year over year.
- Adjusted Operating Revenue- Unum US Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment- Net Investment Income: $21.90 million compared to the $23.51 million average estimate based on 10 analysts. The reported number represents a change of -13.1% year over year.
Shares of Unum have returned +3.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218380/unum-unm-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:37:04Z
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First Commonwealth Financial (FCF - Free Report) reported $120.03 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.9%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares to $0.39 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.54% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $123.17 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.39, the EPS surprise was +12.82%.
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 First Commonwealth Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Core Efficiency Ratio: 53% compared to the 53.9% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net interest margin (FTE): 3.7% compared to the 3.7% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Interest-Earning Assets (FTE): $10.44 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $10.47 billion.
- Gain on sale of mortgage loans: $0.78 million versus $1.06 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Total Non-Interest Income: $24.30 million versus $24.92 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Gain on sale of other loans and assets: $1.74 million compared to the $0.94 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Income: $95.74 million compared to the $98.37 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Insurance and retail brokerage commissions: $2.46 million versus $2.19 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Other Income: $2.27 million versus $2.94 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Service charges on deposit accounts: $5.60 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $5.86 million.
- Income from bank owned life insurance: $1.21 million versus $1.13 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Trust income: $2.55 million compared to the $3.01 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of First Commonwealth Financial have returned -2.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218381/compared-to-estimates-first-commonwealth-financial-fcf-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-31T16:37:10Z
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Mondelez (MDLZ - Free Report) reported $9.31 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.1%. EPS of $0.84 for the same period compares to $0.73 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.3 billion, representing a surprise of +0.15%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +7.69%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.78.
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.
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 Mondelez performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Geographic Revenue- Europe: $3.54 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $3.53 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.2%.
- Geographic Revenue- AMEA: $1.74 billion compared to the $1.66 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.5% year over year.
- Geographic Revenue- Latin America: $1.26 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $1.27 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +24.5%.
- Geographic Revenue- North America: $2.78 billion compared to the $2.85 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1.1% year over year.
Shares of Mondelez have returned +4.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218382/heres-what-key-metrics-tell-us-about-mondelez-mdlz-q4-earnings
| 2024-01-31T16:37:17Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Chubb (CB - Free Report) reported revenue of $13.38 billion, up 14.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $8.30, compared to $4.05 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +3.92% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.88 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $5.07, the EPS surprise was +63.71%.
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 Chubb performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Combined ratio: 85.5% versus the eight-analyst average estimate of 86.1%.
- Loss and loss expense ratio: 59.8% versus the eight-analyst average estimate of 59.4%.
- Global Reinsurance - Loss and loss expense ratio: 44.1% versus 56.5% estimated by six analysts on average.
- North America Agricultural Insurance - Combined ratio: 105.8% versus 93.7% estimated by six analysts on average.
- Net Premiums written- North America Personal Lines: $1.47 billion compared to the $1.44 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.1% year over year.
- Net investment income- Overseas General: $259 million versus $238.70 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +56% change.
- Global Reinsurance- Net investment income: $64 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $49.83 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +30.6%.
- Net Premiums written- P&C: $10.46 billion compared to the $9.87 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +16% year over year.
- Net premiums written- Global Reinsurance: $187 million compared to the $183.61 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.7% year over year.
- Net premiums written- Insurance- Overseas General: $3.22 billion versus $3.08 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +19.3% change.
- Property and Casualty- Net premiums earned: $10.46 billion compared to the $10.18 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.8% year over year.
- North America Commercial P&C Insurance- Net premiums written: $4.66 billion compared to the $4.87 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.5% year over year.
Shares of Chubb have returned +7.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218383/chubb-cb-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-31T16:37:23Z
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Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) reported $62.02 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 17.6%. EPS of $2.93 for the same period compares to $2.32 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.62% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $61.03 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.76, the EPS surprise was +6.16%.
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 Microsoft performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Productivity and Business Processes - Percentage Change in Revenue Y/Y: 13% compared to the 12.5% average estimate based on nine analysts.
- Intelligent Cloud - Percentage Change in Revenue Y/Y: 20% versus 17.6% estimated by nine analysts on average.
- More Personal Computing - Percentage Change in Revenue Y/Y: 19% versus 17.8% estimated by nine analysts on average.
- Percentage Change in Revenue Y/Y: 18% versus 15% estimated by nine analysts on average.
- Revenue- Productivity and Business Processes: $19.25 billion compared to the $18.98 billion average estimate based on 11 analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.2% year over year.
- Revenue- More Personal Computing: $16.89 billion compared to the $16.76 billion average estimate based on 11 analysts. The reported number represents a change of +18.6% year over year.
- Revenue- Intelligent Cloud: $25.88 billion versus $25.28 billion estimated by 11 analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +20.3% change.
- Revenue- Service and other: $43.08 billion compared to the $44.22 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +18.9% year over year.
- Unearned revenue- More Personal Computing: $5.75 billion versus $4.28 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
- Unearned revenue- Intelligent Cloud: $17.70 billion compared to the $18.96 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
- Revenue- Product: $18.94 billion compared to the $16.80 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.7% year over year.
- Unearned revenue- Productivity and Business Processes: $22.59 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $24.57 billion.
Shares of Microsoft have returned +9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% 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/2218384/microsoft-msft-q2-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-31T16:37:29Z
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Mike Tindall and his wife Zara have one of the most down-to-earth, relatable love stories, from their boozy first date to their chilled meetings with the in-laws.
The former rugby player previously admitted he met a lot of Zara's family through Sunday lunches and watching rugby matches at home, but he was introduced to one royal almost two decades before.
On The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Mike pointed out a photo of his school and recalled: "This school was founded by Queen Elizabeth I. The 400th anniversary in 1991, Queen Elizabeth II came when I was 13 years old. Think I met her in biology."
While it would be 19 years before he walked down the aisle with the late Queen's granddaughter, he joked: "Not entirely sure whether I said to her then that I would marry Zara, but it might have come out of my mouth."
Mike had previously got emotional when reflecting on his limited time knowing his grandmother-in-law. When his podcast co-stars asked if he realised how lucky he had been to spend one-on-one time with the Queen, he replied: "I do. But I also have loads of regrets.
"Loads of regrets about not asking her so many more things. Having nervousness when you sit down to talk… that lucky seat and being sat next to her."
The 45-year-old father-of-three first crossed paths with the Olympic equestrian during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Sydney. Following a "boozy" first date, their relationship developed and Mike was gradually introduced to the royal family, with whom he now has a close relationship.
"We'd go on a Friday night to watch the match and stop over at Zara's," he told the Sunday Times Magazine. "Sometimes we'd all go out for lunch with Zara's mum on Sunday before we went home. We spent quite a bit of time with her dad too. Prince Harry would often be round watching the rugby, so, slowly and quietly, we got to meet them all – and that's how it went on for quite a few years."
Speaking about the "incredibly relaxed" meeting between his parents and Zara's, he added: "Mum and Dad met Princess Anne early on. And it was incredibly relaxed. Zara was living in a little two-bed flat in Nailsworth, so it wasn't exactly grandiose."
The couple got engaged in December 2010 at their Cheltenham home. Mike organised a "shock value" proposal during a movie night at home and presented his bride-to-be with a split shank diamond engagement ring thought to be worth £140,000.
They exchanged vows on 30 July 2011 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, with Zara stepping out in a stunning ivory bridal gown by Stewart Parvin, one of Queen Elizabeth's favourite couturiers. They then joined friends and family for a wedding reception at the late Queen's official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
LOOK: Princess Anne's glam mother-of-the-bride boat party dress we missed
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512421/mike-tindall-jokes-about-marrying-into-royal-family-19-years-before-zara-tindall-wedding/
| 2024-01-31T16:37:36Z
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Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK - Free Report) is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2023 results on Feb 1, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stanley Black’s fourth-quarter earnings has increased a penny in the past 60 days. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history, having outperformed the consensus estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average beat being 52.4%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this New Britain, CT-based tool maker’s fourth-quarter 2023 revenues is pegged at $3,856 million. The consensus estimate for the company’s adjusted earnings is pinned at 73 cents. SWK reported a loss of 10 cents in the year ago quarter.
Let’s see how things are shaping up for Stanley Black in this earnings season.
Factors to Note
SWK’s Industrial segment’s fourth-quarter 2023 performance is expected to have gained from the solid performance of the Engineered Fastening business, driven by strength in the aerospace and auto end markets. However, weakness in the Attachment Tool business due to customer destocking may have affected the segment’s revenues in the to-be-reported quarter. We expect revenues from SWK’s segment to decrease by 2.5% year-over-year to $588.8 million in the fourth quarter.
SWK’s cost-reduction program is likely to have aided its bottom line in the fourth quarter. The company is expected to put up a healthy margin performance in the upcoming quarterly results supported by supply-chain transformation and inventory reduction efforts. We anticipate SWK’s adjusted gross margin to be 28.7% compared with the adjusted gross margin of 19.5% reported in the year-ago quarter.
However, decreasing consumer outdoor and do-it-yourself market demand is expected to have affected the Tools & Outdoor segment’s results in the fourth quarter. We anticipate the segment’s revenues to dip 3.5% on a year-over-year basis to $3,264.5 million in the fourth quarter.
The company’s international presence keeps it exposed to the risk of adverse currency fluctuations, which might have hurt its performance in the to-be-reported quarter.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Stanley Black this time around. 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, which is the case here, as elaborated below.
Earnings ESP: Stanley Black has an Earnings ESP of +10.35% as the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged at 80 cents, which is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents per share. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Stanley Black presently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.
Highlights of Q3 Earnings
Stanley Black reported third-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings (excluding $1.02 from non-recurring items) of $1.05 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. The bottom line jumped 38.2% year over year due to lower costs. Stanley Black’s net sales of $3,953.9 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,019.3 million. The top line also declined 4% year over year due to weakness in the Tools & Outdoor segment.
Other Stocks to Consider
Here are some other companies within the broader Industrial Products sector that, according to our model, also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. (ALRM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of + 8.79% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2023 results on Feb 22. Alarm.com’s earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average beat being 35%.
Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.98% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release fourth-quarter 2023 results on Feb 15.
Ingersoll Rand’s earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 16.1%.
RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +8.19% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release third-quarter fiscal 2024 (ended December 2023) results on Feb 8.
RBC Bearings’ earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 7.7%.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
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Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) - free report >>
RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218395/whats-in-the-offing-for-stanley-black-swk-in-q4-earnings?
| 2024-01-31T16:37:36Z
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In a world of bouncy, gravity-defying bangs and super-sleek blow dries, an underground hair movement is churning, planning its coup.
Only you may have noticed that the underground movement is not quite as covert as it once was, and instead, hoards of people are now lining up to join the cause.
The rebellious act in question? Rejecting coiffured perfection in favour of calculated messiness, and I'm totally here for it.
READ: How to recreate Cindy Crawford's iconic 90s blow dry
What does great, messy hair actually look like?
One thing to note before you join the dark side? It's a fine line between sexy, undone mess and hair that is just plain messy. (A gentle reminder actually wouldn't go amiss in my case.)
"The look differs in that it has an element of chic refinement," explains acclaimed hairstylist and salon founder Edward James. "It's not stiff, over-hairsprayed, or heavy with products, instead, it should have body and look deconstructed, more so than hair that has been obviously styled with a blow dryer or other tools."
MORE: The 10 best hairdressers in London, tried and tested
READ: 10 beauty hacks that will revolutionise your routine
Essentially, nailing messy hair is all about leaning into insouciance, whether that's through sporadic sectioning or tousled texture.
You want to look like you "have been out on a big night and just so happen to still look cool," as global session stylist and Percy & Reed founder Paul Percival so aptly puts it.
To cheat your way to the lived-in look, he recommends using products that give a "slightly oily finish, without actually feeling greasy".
But who do we have to thank for the 2024 emergence of the unkempt, cool-girl aesthetic? Hair royalty Sam McKnight's signature 'done, undone' look has been spotted on the runways over the last couple of seasons at Annie's Ibiza and 16Arlington to name a few.
However the return of 90s grunge, originally marking a shift away from purposeful 80s volume and towards less manufactured effortlessness, also has a lot to answer for.
In terms of poster girls, supermodel Kate Moss is one of the trend's greatest allies. Others include noughties It-girl Alexa Chung and actress Sienna Miller, both cementing the look's close alignment with "coolness and confidence" as Edward puts it, testament to messy hair's universal appeal.
Can everyone get in on the unkempt action? According to Paul, the answer is a resolute yes, with one key caveat. "There is definitely a messy look for everyone, but it really is about getting a great haircut," he explains. "You need a cut that will give your hair the best natural look. For instance, if you have fine hair, you will want a messy bob or crop, whereas if you have thick hair, you can do more of a long-layer look."
How to achieve the messy hair look
Refine your approach based on your length and hair type. For longer hair, Paul recommends applying a styling product, Percy & Reed's Define & Hold Finishing Cream, on both wet and dry hair to add a little weight. To then create an undone wave, he favours Babyliss' Titanium Brilliance Waving Wand. "It's as simple as randomly picking up sections of hair and wrapping them around the wand for a few seconds," he explains. "You can add as little or as much movement as you like." For shorter messy looks, he usually works a texture paste into dry hair to create a "worn-in" effect.
For fine or straight hair, Edward advocates texturising sprays and other products that can create the illusion of body such as Aveda's Volumising Tonic and Oribe's Dry Texturising Spray. If your hair is especially fine, focus on building up at the roots – he is a fan of Color Wow's Raise The Root Thicken & Lift Spray – and work gentle bends into the hair with a medium-sized round brush and straightening irons.
If you are already blessed with natural texture, the aim is often controlling volume without it looking overly styled. Smooth the roots using Oribe's Balm D'Or (it doubles up as a heat protectant) and then for highlighting existing texture, Edward rates Colour Wow's Pop & Lock Serum.
Easy messy hair hacks
1. T-shirt scrunching
Break away from traditional tools and experiment with a clean cotton T-shirt, better known among the TikTok generation as 'plopping'. (Don't ask.) "After washing your hair, apply a light mousse or sea salt spray," Edward says. "Then, use the T-shirt to scrunch your hair from the ends up towards the scalp. This method helps to create a more natural, tousled texture that's perfect for the messy hair look. The soft fabric of the T-shirt is gentle on your hair and helps to reduce frizz."
2. Head massage
Edward recommends focusing on the scalp with a gentle massage before you begin the styling process. "This not only feels great but also helps to boost volume at the roots, creating a natural lift that's essential for a messy hairstyle," he explains. "After massaging, tilt your head upside down and give your hair a quick blast with a hairdryer, focusing on the roots for added volume. Flip back up and you'll notice a more relaxed, voluminous base to start styling your messy look."
3. The 'balloon trick'
Conventional? No. Effective and edgy? You bet. "After styling your hair loosely, gently rub a balloon over the top layer of your hair to create a bit of static and flyaway strands," Edward says. "This technique adds an interesting texture and makes your hair look more effortlessly tousled."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/beauty-trends/512433/messy-hair-trend/
| 2024-01-31T16:37:42Z
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If you're interested in broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, look no further than the Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 01/13/2011.
The fund is sponsored by Charles Schwab. It has amassed assets over $10.76 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.
Why Mid Cap Blend
With market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion, mid cap companies usually contain higher growth prospects than large cap companies, and are considered less risky than their small cap counterparts. Thus, companies that fall under this category provide a stable and growth-heavy investment.
Blend ETFs are aptly named, since they tend to hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as show characteristics of both kinds of equities.
Costs
Cost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.50%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 20.60% of the portfolio. Financials and Consumer Discretionary round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Pinterest Inc Class A (PINS - Free Report) accounts for about 0.54% of total assets, followed by Netapp Inc (NTAP - Free Report) and Dell Technologies Inc Class C (DELL - Free Report) .
The top 10 holdings account for about 5.05% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
SCHM seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Mid-Cap Total Stock Market Index before fees and expenses. The Dow Jones U.S. Mid-Cap Total Stock Market Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index. The Index includes the mid-cap portion of the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index actually available to investors in the marketplace and includes the components ranked 501-1000 by full market capitalization.
The ETF return is roughly 0.24% so far this year and is up about 8.84% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $63.01 and $75.95.
The ETF has a beta of 1.14 and standard deviation of 20.29% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 503 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, SCHM is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO - Free Report) and the iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH - Free Report) track a similar index. While Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF has $59.32 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has $76.86 billion. VO has an expense ratio of 0.04% and IJH charges 0.05%.
Bottom-Line
An increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218440/should-schwab-us-mid-cap-etf-schm-be-on-your-investing-radar?
| 2024-01-31T16:37:42Z
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New York rom coms belong to the early 2000s era, with cult classics such as The Devil Wears Prada, Two Weeks Notice and Bride Wars all being filmed in the Big Apple. I imagine I don’t need to mention a list of TV shows without a couple of long-running favourites springing to mind. So, as a TV and movie fan, ‘New York City at Christmas’ has been on my bucket list for a very long time.
Flying into New York, we were greeted by the cold air of a winter’s night, which made arriving at The Penny in Williamsburg even sweeter. Friendly faces, stylish interiors and a bed that makes you consider taking up lying down as a hobby, it was certainly a ‘warm welcoming’.
When searching for a place to call home, Penny Williamsburg ticked all the boxes. The neighbourhood hotel is named in honour of a small dog with a large personality and is located only 20 minutes from SoHo. The unlimited free filtered water on our hotel floor was a feature greatly appreciated too. It's a charming area best enjoyed on a morning walk to grab a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel with an iced coffee. One morning, I walked in a straight line from the hotel and ended up at the river, admiring a skyline view that would make Carrie Bradshaw feel at home.
When it comes to gifts that keep on giving, the Penny Williamsburg doesn’t stop at a chic hotel packed with every modern appliance you could imagine, from a flat-screen TV to a microwave and fridge. Found on the 11th floor is El Nico, a rooftop bar and restaurant serving chef Fer Serrano’s imaginative menu of comfort recipes with a high-end twist. I devoured the birria tacos and tried the plantain tamal, and even surprised my own taste buds when I tried my friend’s order of scallop aguachile, as I’m not normally a fan of adventurous seafood.
Ticking off the New York City bucket list
Sightseeing, snowfall and ultimate Christmas displays
New York City’s festive season is often described as magical. And, after standing at Rockefeller Center, hearing KT Tunstall’s 'Suddenly I See' playing from the ice rink speakers and noticing light snow begin to fall, my inner movie-obsessed child wouldn’t disagree. You only have to turn 180 degrees to take in Dior’s 'Carousel of Dreams' at Saks to make every eye widen.
Pop Culture’s Flagship
MET Monday just rolls off the tongue and resting on the steps of the iconic building is everything pop culture is at its core. Could you go on a trip to New York City without visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art? The answer should be ‘no’.
Fighting for your life on the ice rink at Central Park
As it’s the most wonderful time of the year, a New York-based Christmas film that screams ‘seasonal nostalgia’ and should be mentioned is Home Alone 2. FYI, I don’t think they’re pro feeding the birds anymore. Take a walk past the iconic film location on the way to ice skate within the city’s iconic landscape.
Dyker Heights, the neighbourhood straight out of a fairytale
A neighbourhood that lacks no festive cheer and could be mistaken from the pages of a Dr. Seuss special is Dyker Heights. Mesmerising Christmas displays packed with Nutcrackers, nativity scenes and every version of Santa Claus pull in enchanted crowds and tick every box when you think of holiday cheer.
Supporting the City’s NFL Home Team
To Americans, the NFL is known as a religion, and seeing as it was a Sunday, it only seemed right to go to church. Sunday morning, just after brunch time, the New York City Jets kicked off against the Atlanta Falcons, in what would be a waterproof poncho-required game. With Taylor Swift, Simone Biles, Olivia Culpo cheering on their significant others from the sidelines, WAG season is also in full swing, but the only fashion being critiqued was the superfans’ take on merch makeovers.
RELATED: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's NYC hotspots: Where the royals dine, stay and party in the Big Apple
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/511399/penny-williamsburg-hotel-new-york-review/
| 2024-01-31T16:37:48Z
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Launched on 02/22/2008, the Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF (RWL - Free Report) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
The fund is sponsored by Invesco. It has amassed assets over $2.56 billion, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
Why Large Cap Value
Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Considered a more stable option, large cap companies boast more predictable cash flows and are less volatile than their mid and small cap counterparts.
Value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. They also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Considering long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets; however, they are more likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.
Costs
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.39%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Healthcare sector--about 18% of the portfolio. Financials and Consumer Staples round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Walmart Inc (WMT - Free Report) accounts for about 3.81% of total assets, followed by Amazon.com Inc (AMZN - Free Report) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK/B).
The top 10 holdings account for about 22.57% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
RWL seeks to match the performance of the OFI Revenue Weighted Large Cap Index before fees and expenses. The S&P 500 Revenue-Weighted Index is constructed by using a rules-based methodology that re-weights the constituent securities of the S&P 500 Index according to the revenue earned by the companies in the parent index- subject to a maximum 5% per company weighting.
The ETF has added about 1.99% so far this year and it's up approximately 14.41% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $72.67 and $87.04.
The ETF has a beta of 0.97 and standard deviation of 15.44% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 505 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, RWL is a sufficient option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD - Free Report) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV - Free Report) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $52.88 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $108.04 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.
Bottom-Line
While an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
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Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) - free report >>
Walmart Inc. (WMT) - free report >>
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218441/should-invesco-sp-500-revenue-etf-rwl-be-on-your-investing-radar?
| 2024-01-31T16:37:48Z
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If you're interested in broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market, look no further than the iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (IVE - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 05/22/2000.
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $27.60 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
Why Large Cap Value
Companies that find themselves in the large cap category typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. They tend to be stable companies with predictable cash flows and are usually less volatile than mid and small cap companies.
Value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. They also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. When you look at long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in nearly all markets. But in strong bull markets, growth stocks are more likely to be winners.
Costs
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.18%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.63%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Financials sector--about 19.60% of the portfolio. Information Technology and Industrials round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Microsoft Corp (MSFT - Free Report) accounts for about 6.52% of total assets, followed by Meta Platforms Inc Class A (META - Free Report) and Amazon Com Inc (AMZN - Free Report) .
The top 10 holdings account for about 26.95% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
IVE seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Value Index before fees and expenses. The S&P 500 Value Index measures the performance of the large capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market. It is a subset of the S&P 500 and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.
The ETF has added roughly 1.15% so far this year and is up about 16.85% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $144.21 and $175.89.
The ETF has a beta of 0.95 and standard deviation of 15.27% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 404 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
IShares S&P 500 Value ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, IVE is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD - Free Report) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV - Free Report) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $52.88 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $108.04 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.
Bottom-Line
An increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) - free report >>
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) - free report >>
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) - free report >>
iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (IVE) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218442/should-ishares-sp-500-value-etf-ive-be-on-your-investing-radar?
| 2024-01-31T16:37:55Z
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Launched on 12/16/1998, the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU - Free Report) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Sector ETFs are also funds of convenience, offering many ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Utilities - Broad is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 13, placing it in bottom 19%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by State Street Global Advisors. It has amassed assets over $13.49 billion, making it the largest ETF attempting to match the performance of the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market. XLU seeks to match the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index before fees and expenses.
The Utilities Select Sector Index seeks to provide an effective representation of the Utilities sector of the S&P 500 Index.
Costs
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.10%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.48%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Utilities sector--about 100% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Nextera Energy Inc (NEE - Free Report) accounts for about 13.28% of total assets, followed by Southern Co/the (SO - Free Report) and Duke Energy Corp (DUK - Free Report) .
The top 10 holdings account for about 58.50% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
So far this year, XLU has lost about -2.76%, and is down about -7.08% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $56.19 and $69.97.
The ETF has a beta of 0.56 and standard deviation of 17.98% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 32 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.
Alternatives
Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, XLU is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF (FUTY - Free Report) tracks MSCI USA IMI Utilities Index and the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU - Free Report) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index. Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF has $1.29 billion in assets, Vanguard Utilities ETF has $4.64 billion. FUTY has an expense ratio of 0.08% and VPU charges 0.10%.
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) - free report >>
Southern Company (The) (SO) - free report >>
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) - free report >>
Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218444/should-you-invest-in-the-utilities-select-sector-spdr-etf-xlu?
| 2024-01-31T16:38:01Z
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If you're interested in broad exposure to the Energy - Broad segment of the equity market, look no further than the iShares U.S. Energy ETF (IYE - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 06/12/2000.
While an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.
Additionally, sector ETFs offer convenient ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Energy - Broad is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 16, placing it in bottom 0%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $1.25 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Energy - Broad segment of the equity market. IYE seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index before fees and expenses.
The Russell 1000 Energy RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index measures the performance of the energy sector of the U.S. equity market.
Costs
Expense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.40%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.97%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Energy sector--about 97.90% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM - Free Report) accounts for about 21.87% of total assets, followed by Chevron Corp (CVX - Free Report) and Conocophillips (COP - Free Report) .
The top 10 holdings account for about 67.83% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
Year-to-date, the iShares U.S. Energy ETF has added roughly 0.82% so far, and is down about -2.84% over the last 12 months (as of 01/31/2024). IYE has traded between $40.39 and $48.97 in this past 52-week period.
The ETF has a beta of 1.28 and standard deviation of 28.94% for the trailing three-year period, making it a high risk choice in the space. With about 44 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.
Alternatives
IShares U.S. Energy ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, IYE is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Energy ETFs segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE - Free Report) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE - Free Report) tracks Energy Select Sector Index. Vanguard Energy ETF has $8.01 billion in assets, Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF has $36.28 billion. VDE has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLE charges 0.10%.
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Chevron Corporation (CVX) - free report >>
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) - free report >>
ConocoPhillips (COP) - free report >>
Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218445/should-you-invest-in-the-ishares-us-energy-etf-iye?
| 2024-01-31T16:38:07Z
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Designed to provide broad exposure to the Technology ETFs category of the market, the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF (RSPT - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund launched on 11/01/2006.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Because market cap weighted indexes provide a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, they work well for investors who believe in market efficiency.
But, there are some investors who would rather invest in smart beta funds; these funds track non-cap weighted strategies, and are a strong option for those who prefer choosing great stocks in order to beat the market.
By attempting to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, non-cap weighted indexes are based on certain fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such.
Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Invesco. RSPT has been able to amass assets over $3.66 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Technology ETFs. This particular fund, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 EQUAL WEIGHT INFO TECH INDEX .
The S&P 500 Equal Weight Information Technology Index equally weights stocks in the information technology sector of the S&P 500 Index.
Cost & Other Expenses
For ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.40%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.55%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
Representing 100% of the portfolio, the fund has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector.
When you look at individual holdings, Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH - Free Report) accounts for about 1.93% of the fund's total assets, followed by Broadcom Inc (AVGO - Free Report) and First Solar Inc (FSLR - Free Report) .
RSPT's top 10 holdings account for about 16.98% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
So far this year, RSPT has added roughly 2.14%, and is up about 27.30% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $25.45 and $33.63.
RSPT has a beta of 1.20 and standard deviation of 23.83% for the trailing three-year period. With about 66 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF is an excellent option for investors seeking to outperform the Technology ETFs segment of the market. There are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider as well.
Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT - Free Report) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index and the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK - Free Report) tracks Technology Select Sector Index. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has $61.75 billion in assets, Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF has $61.96 billion. VGT has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLK charges 0.10%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Technology ETFs.
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) - free report >>
Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) - free report >>
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF (RSPT) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218446/is-invesco-sp-500-equal-weight-technology-etf-rspt-a-strong-etf-right-now?
| 2024-01-31T16:38:14Z
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Designed to provide broad exposure to the Broad Emerging Market ETFs category of the market, the Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund launched on 06/07/2017.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Because market cap weighted indexes provide a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, they work well for investors who believe in market efficiency.
But, there are some investors who would rather invest in smart beta funds; these funds track non-cap weighted strategies, and are a strong option for those who prefer choosing great stocks in order to beat the market.
By attempting to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, non-cap weighted indexes are based on certain fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such.
Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Nuveen. NUEM has been able to amass assets over $223.60 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs in the Broad Emerging Market ETFs. This particular fund, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the TIAA ESG Emerging Markets Equity Index.
The TIAA ESG Emerging Markets Equity Index uses a rules-based methodology to arrive at a diversified portfolio of equity securities issued by companies located in countries with emerging markets that adhere to predetermined ESG, controversial business involvement and low-carbon criteria.
Cost & Other Expenses
For ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.36%, making it on par with most peer products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.46%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
When you look at individual holdings, Taiwan Semiconductor Man /twd/ accounts for about 8% of the fund's total assets, followed by Alibaba Group Holding Lt /hkd/ and Hdfc Bank Limited /inr/.
NUEM's top 10 holdings account for about 24.67% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
So far this year, NUEM has lost about -3.67%, and is down about -5.15% in the last one year (as of 01/31/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $24.95 and $29.01.
NUEM has a beta of 0.75 and standard deviation of 19.28% for the trailing three-year period. With about 266 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Broad Emerging Market ETFs segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ - Free Report) tracks ---------------------------------------- and the iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU - Free Report) tracks MSCI USA ESG Focus Index. JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF has $9.47 billion in assets, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF has $13.90 billion. JEPQ has an expense ratio of 0.35% and ESGU charges 0.15%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Broad Emerging Market ETFs.
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) - free report >>
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) - free report >>
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) - free report >>
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2218447/is-nuveen-esg-emerging-markets-equity-etf-nuem-a-strong-etf-right-now?
| 2024-01-31T16:38:20Z
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