Berkut_34 Thesis Kinder Morgan’s (NYSE:KMI) dividend (currently yielding 6.01%) is generated by its critical pipeline and terminal infrastructure which serves the attractive natural gas industry amongst other commodities and makes it a stock of interest for dividend income, dividend growth and total return investors alike. The company has now grown its dividend for seven consecutive…
Chiyacat Earnings of Tompkins Financial Corporation (NYSE:TMP) will likely benefit from the falling interest-rate environment and strong regional labor markets. I’m expecting the company to report earnings of $4.41 per share for this year. Compared to my last report on the company, I have reduced my earnings estimate for the year because earnings missed my…
Blackstation/DigitalVision via Getty Images Elevator Pitch I rate Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM) [2518:HK] stock as a Buy. My prior October 12, 2023 write-up was focused on ATHM’s mixed financial prospects. This update touches on ATHM’s recent quarterly financial performance, the latest policy development for China’s automotive market, and the company’s dividend guidance. Autohome is guiding for…
Marco VDM/E+ via Getty Images Jumia (NYSE:JMIA) is an e-commerce company focusing on the Pan-African market, founded in 2012. Since a few years ago, it has also made an expansion into logistics and payment businesses. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the operations in West and North Africa. As per its 20F,…
JHVEPhoto The Information Technology sector continues to trade with a premium valuation. According to FactSet, the IT space sports a 26.5x forward operating earnings multiple – better than six turns more expensive than the S&P 500. The P/E is also above the sector’s 5- and 10-year averages. Of course, the premium is at least partly…
Alistair Berg Standing at the Intersection of Hope and Fear In the first quarter of 2024, most major equity market indices rallied to all-time highs on the growing potential of an artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. In contrast, longer-term interest rates were pushed higher as investors scaled back expectations of interest-rate cuts this year. Bond markets…
DKosig I last wrote about Fastly (NYSE:FSLY) in November, suggesting that the company continued to face demand issues, customer concentration and an unfavorable cost structure. The stock is down close to 50% since then, with Fastly reporting poor results in Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Fastly’s share price is again approaching levels where it could…
P_Wei It’s been six months since I last covered California land holding and development company Tejon Ranch (NYSE:TRC). At the time, I had grown somewhat less pessimistic about the firm’s prospects, raising my rating from “sell” to “hold”. Given the persistently higher levels of inflation, some investors are starting to look for inflation hedge securities…
peeterv Earnings of Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:HAFC) will likely decline this year on the back of margin contraction. Pressure on asset yields was already visible during the first quarter. I’m expecting the company to report earnings of $2.18 per share for 2024, down 16.8% year-over-year. Compared to my last report on the company, I’ve…
VIKTOR FEDORENKO/iStock via Getty Images Synopsis James Hardie Industries (NYSE:JHX) specializes in the production and sale of fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. JHX’s last three years financial results have shown consistent net sales growth. In addition, it was able to maintain its margins throughout the same period by focusing on selling higher-margin products…
Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images In mid-2022, I published a bullish outlook on the oil and gas producer Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ:FANG) in “Diamondback Energy: Oil Producers To Benefit From Substantial Decline In Crude Reserve.” At that time, I believed that crude oil prices would inevitably rebound due to the significant decline in total US storage…
triloks/E+ via Getty Images Elevator Pitch I rate MakeMyTrip Limited (NASDAQ:MMYT) as a Buy. The long-term top-line growth prospects for MMYT are positive, and the company is well-positioned for margin expansion with multiple profitability improvement levers. Company Description MakeMyTrip calls itself a “travel service provider in India” that owns “well-recognized travel brands” in the company’s…
Bogdanhoda/iStock via Getty Images Synopsis Concrete Pumping (NASDAQ:BBCP) specializes in concrete pumping and concrete waste management services in both the US and the UK. BBCP’s historical financials have shown strong top-line growth and improvements to net income margin. In 1Q24, revenue continued to report growth. However, margins contracted due to adverse winter conditions. Looking ahead,…
Yuri_Arcurs/E+ via Getty Images On Monday, Broadband services platform provider Calix, Inc. or “Calix” (NYSE:CALX) reported Q1/2024 results in line with the guidance provided by management in the Q4/2023 stockholder letter: Regulatory Filings While revenues and profitability were down both sequentially and year-over-year, gross margins reached new all-time highs. In addition, the company continued to…
Urupong Last year’s stock market momentum carried over into the first quarter, with growth stocks leading the charge (once again) across market caps and geographies. Investors seem complacent, as the fundamentals do not appear to justify the current levels of exuberance. Germany, the UK, and Japan are all either in – or teetering on the…
PM Images Two years ago, I focused on how the rise in mortgage rates would harm the value of mortgage REITs. My bearish outlook on the giant Annaly (NYSE:NLY) was established at the beginning of the year. Mortgage rates had just begun to rise then, and I believe they’d increase significantly due to prolonged inflation….
Kosal Hor/iStock via Getty Images Summary Following my coverage of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) (published on 5th Feb 2024), that I recommended a buy rating as I was positive about the growth recovery trend, which I thought was evident in the intermodal [IM] segment volume performance, this post is to provide an update on…
imagedepotpro Dear readers, Last time I wrote an article on the S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY), the index stood at 5,150 points. My view on the index had been short-term positive since November, mainly due to momentum, but because of a relatively expensive valuation at a forward P/E of nearly 21x, I remained medium to long-term bearish….
Lyndon Stratford Shift4: Market share gains, strong revenue growth, rising margins and free cash flow: who needs a buyout to like these shares? Shift4 shares have hit a speed bump; Shift4’s (NYSE:FOUR) business hasn’t seen even a pot hole. As most readers will recollect, the CEO of Shift4, Jared Isaacson had indicated back late last…
Justin Paget Since my last coverage on Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (NYSEARCA:XLU), the fund has remained marginally flat in terms of performance. However, the near-term outlook doesn’t look promising, and with this piece, I’m downgrading the XLU to a Hold rating, in line with a lower upside potential. Last time, I suggested that…
gsheldon Chocolatier The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) hasn’t seen its stock go anywhere in 2024, which compares to the 7.4% increase in the S&P 500 (SP500) year-to-date [YTD]. To be fair, consumer staple stocks tend to be relatively slow-moving, and this also shows up in the fact that even over the past decade it has risen…
courtneyk Due to its reliance on mortgage banking income, Meridian Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MRBK) earnings are closely related to the interest-rate cycle. Now that we’re on the verge of a down-rate cycle, chances are very high that the company’s earnings will improve. I’m expecting the company to report earnings of $1.32 per share for 2024, up 14%…
rypson JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) has been performing well this year as its stock is up 24% YTD and 5% since terminating its merger with Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE). That said, the company is now facing a major headwind, in my opinion, as negotiations with pilots for a new collective bargaining agreement officially started under…
islander11 Summary Following my coverage on FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS), which I recommended a hold rating given the downwards revision of guidance and a weakened selling environment, this post is to provide an update on my thoughts on the business and stock. I believe it is apparent at this point that FDS is not going…
D-Keine/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) is down about 0.29% underperforming the S&P 500 by a margin of about 27.43% over the last year. Seeking Alpha Despite this dismal performance, I am bullish on this stock in the long term. My optimism stems from the company’s robust regulatory structure and diverse utility…
anyaberkut Summary Readers may find my previous coverage via this link. My previous rating was a sell, as I did not see any catalyst that could drive the share price of Telos Corporation (NASDAQ:TLS) upwards. My thoughts were that TLS needed to show a couple more quarters of growth before the market would be convinced…
Maksim Safaniuk Ring Energy (NYSE:REI) is currently projected to generate $67 million in free cash flow in 2024 at low-$80s WTI oil strip prices. Ring has hedged approximately 45% of its 2024 oil production (at guidance midpoint) and those oil hedges reduce its free cash flow by around $19 million (while its natural gas hedges…
Sundry Photography One of the biggest pharmaceutical stocks by market capitalization, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has had a good first quarter at the stock markets in 2024. Its price is up by over 20% after a forgettable 2023 that saw it end the year essentially flat, supported by approvals for its treatments as well…
Artur Summary Readers may find my previous coverage via this link. My previous rating was a buy, as I believed Duolingo’s (NASDAQ:DUOL) growth momentum would continue for the foreseeable future with an inflection towards positive GAAP EBIT in FY24. I am reiterating my buy rating as DUOL continues to sustain its 40+% growth rate just…
nespix/iStock via Getty Images Outlook Therapeutics (NASDAQ:OTLK) has made significant progress in advancing the use of its drug ONS-5010, which is being developed for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration [Wet-AMD]. The use of this anti-VEGF drug is being explored in several studies, but the company is on the right track with…
ZargonDesign/E+ via Getty Images What Rocket is – a mortgage banker, not a fintech Rocket describes itself as follows in its 2023 10-K: “We are a Detroit-based fintech company including mortgage, real estate, and personal finance business. We are committed to delivering industry-best client experiences through our AI-fueled homeownership strategy. Our full suite of products…
metamorworks Investment Thesis As global geopolitical tensions remain elevated, military spending has started a meaningful uptick. A slew of conflicts witnessed since late 2020, starting from the east-Caucasus regions to eastern Europe and lately seen in the Middle East, have put sovereign entities across the world on guard. These tensions have also spilled out onto…
Scharfsinn86 Note: I have covered Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:WPRT) previously, so investors should view this as an update to my earlier articles on the company. After the close of Monday’s regular session, Westport Fuel Systems Inc. or “Westport” reported mixed fourth quarter and full year 2023 results. While revenues of $87.2 million came in…
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Entertainment Investment action I recommended a hold rating for Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) when I wrote about it the last time, as I awaited further clarity on the Fed’s decision on cutting rates before I took a look at its upcoming performance. Based on my current outlook and analysis, I am upgrading my…
winhorse/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images AIA Group (OTCPK:AAIGF) has come down significantly since my first coverage of it in June 2023 when it shouldn’t have. Despite the Group’s strong financial performance, the market has been wary of its Chinese exposure. These “exogenous factors”, however, never had much of an impact on the fundamentals of the…
gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Summary Readers may find my previous coverage via this link. My previous rating was a buy, as I believed Endava Plc (NYSE:DAVA) would see its valuation rerate upwards to the historical average as the business continues to grow. My underlying belief was that IT spending should recover as the macro environment…
Anchiy/E+ via Getty Images Summary Following my coverage of Life Time Group Holdings (NYSE:LTH), for which I recommended a buy rating as I believed the fundamentals were actually improving, this post is to provide an update on my thoughts on the business and stock. I reiterate my buy rating for LTH despite the lower growth…
KanawatTH Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. (OTCPK:OTCPK:BRPHF) has benefited from the resurgence of the crypto sector, with shares up more than 170% over the past year. The company has made a name for itself as a global financial services leader specializing in digital assets with a diversified business model. The story here is a major increase…
eternalcreative Alarum Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:ALAR) reported its latest quarterly results capping off a transformative year for the Israel-based software company. A decision to exit the cybersecurity business and other non-core segments in 2023 to focus on its “NetNut” web data collection platform has paid off evidenced by sharply higher sales and profitability. The introduction of…
JulPo Overview My recommendation for PAR Technology (NYSE:PAR) is a buy rating, as I expect growth to continue into the near term. Especially with the addition of Stuzo and potentially TASK, I believe the growth outlook has gotten a lot more positive than when I last looked at the company. Note that I previously rated…
Pixelimage/iStock via Getty Images S&P Global Market Intelligence’s global growth forecast for 2024 has again been revised upward in March. Annual real GDP growth is now projected at 2.6%, up from 2.3% at the start of the year. The upward revision reflects somewhat higher forecasts for growth in several countries, including the US, the UK,…
Justin Sullivan Overview My recommendation for Hasbro (NASDAQ:HAS) is still a hold rating as the demand environment remains weak, and I am not confident that this situation will be resolved anytime in the near term. Even if I had the confidence, I would only take action when HAS reported strong positive results. That said, I…
primeimages/iStock via Getty Images By Mike Larson, Editor-in-Chief, MoneyShow Transcript [Intro] Jeff Hirsch is editor in chief of The Stock Trader’s Almanac, as well as the author of the 2011 book Super Boom. In this podcast segment, we talk about where Jeff sees the market going next. Suffice it to say, he remains a bull….
erdikocak CEFA: Welcome to CEF Insights, your source for closed-end fund information and education, brought to you by the Closed-End Fund Association. Today we are joined by Tony Huang, Portfolio Manager with Advent Capital Management. Advent manages the Advent Convertible and Income Fund (NYSE:AVK). We’re happy to have you with us today, Tony. Tony Huang:…
eyewave Investment action I recommended a buy rating for Nestle (OTCPK:NSRGY) when I wrote about it the last time, as I believed in the value of its famous brands that have strong equity value. I also believed that an improvement in volume and gross margin would drive the share price up in the near term….
Spencer Platt Investment Thesis CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA) continues to see its stock soaring higher and higher every day. But beyond its share price, I don’t believe its fundamentals are growing quite as strongly as its share price leads one to believe. According to my estimates, CAVA Group’s 2024 revenue will decelerate from 60% y/y CAGR…
YinYang/iStock via Getty Images Shares of First Hawaiian (NASDAQ:FHB) have performed well since my last update back in November, returning around 19% in that time, as optimism over moderating headwinds has helped lift the entire regional bank sector. Data by YCharts Like most peers, First Hawaiian is definitely seeing pressure ease in terms of net…
We-Ge Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) is expected to report earnings on Thursday 14th of March. For more background information about the company please refer to my previous article “Ulta Beauty: Time to Re-Accelerate”, in which I explained my bull thesis. This article will give a short preview about the upcoming earnings. I last covered ULTA in…
DNY59 As the S&P 500 has risen to new highs, analysts and investors have played down valuation concerns as they still compare favourably to the 2000 bubble peak. Justifying expensive valuations by comparing them with the biggest bubble in US history tells us something about the bullish sentiment in the market, but it also ignores…
lcva2 Investment Thesis Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the largest and most successful tech companies globally. It is diversified with software, cloud computing hardware, and gaming products. Over the years, the company has been a consistent performer financially which has been reflected in its share prices. For example, its trailing EPS growth rate is…