Company Overview - DXP Enterprises is a leading North American distributor of industrial MRO products and services, focusing on technical expertise and integrated solutions across critical sectors [6] - The company operates a multi-segment business model that includes product distribution, integrated supply chain services, and custom-engineered pump packages, serving diverse industries such as energy, oil and gas, food and beverage, and more [9] Financial Performance - As of February 12, 2026, DXP Enterprises' stock price was $142.41, reflecting a 40% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 27 percentage points [8] - The company reported $513.7 million in third-quarter sales, an 8.6% year-over-year increase, with diluted EPS of $1.31 and adjusted EBITDA of $56.5 million, representing an 11.0% margin [10] - Free cash flow increased by 15.4% to $28.1 million, with cash reserves at $123.8 million and total debt of $644.0 million, resulting in a net leverage ratio of 2.31 to 1 [10] Recent Developments - On February 13, 2026, ACK Asset Management LLC disclosed a new position in DXP Enterprises, acquiring 240,000 shares valued at $26.35 million, which represents 3.31% of the fund's 13F reportable assets [2][8] - This acquisition positions DXP Enterprises favorably among other top holdings in infrastructure and industrial sectors, indicating investor confidence in the company's growth potential [11]

Core Insights - Walmart is transforming by adding convenience to its traditional low prices and large selections, positioning itself as a strong retail stock for the next decade [1] Group 1: Company Transformation - The company is enhancing customer experience through technology that improves order accuracy, speeds up delivery, and reduces out-of-stock items [2] - Walmart introduced Sparky, an AI assistant, in June 2025, which will expand its capabilities to include service booking and reordering [3] - Advanced mapping technology will allow 12 million more customers to access same-day delivery services [3] Group 2: Technology and Efficiency - The use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has reduced out-of-stock items by 16% in RFID-enabled stores [3] - These technological upgrades are expected to lead to more frequent customer visits, translating into stronger sales growth and better long-term returns for shareholders [2] Group 3: Financial Performance - From 2016 to 2025, Walmart's stock grew at a compound annual rate of 18.5%, with an average annualized return of 20.7% when reinvesting dividends [5] - The company has raised its dividends for 52 consecutive years, contributing to its strong financial performance [5] Group 4: Future Outlook - Walmart's focus on convenience is expected to positively impact shareholder returns over the next decade [6]

Core Insights - The Global X - Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) provide targeted access to mining companies, differing in metal focus and portfolio construction [2][9] - SIL is silver-centric with a higher recent return and drawdown, while GDX is gold-focused, lower cost, and more diversified [1][4] Cost & Size Comparison - SIL has an expense ratio of 0.65% and AUM of $6.2 billion, while GDX has a lower expense ratio of 0.51% and AUM of $30.5 billion [3][4] - The one-year return for SIL is 167.2% compared to GDX's 136.8%, with SIL offering a higher dividend yield of 1.0% versus GDX's 0.6% [3][4] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over five years, SIL has a max drawdown of 55.63% while GDX has a max drawdown of 46.52% [5] - Growth of $1,000 over five years is $2,169 for SIL and $2,765 for GDX, indicating GDX's superior performance [5] Portfolio Composition - GDX tracks 55 companies in the gold mining industry, with top holdings including Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd (9.25%), Newmont Corp (8.88%), and Barrick Mining Corp (6.79%) [6] - SIL focuses on the silver mining sector with 39 holdings, heavily weighted towards Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (21.80%), indicating a more concentrated portfolio [7][12] Investment Implications - Both ETFs provide diversification and have a high correlation to the prices of their respective metals, with GDX having more holdings and a lower expense ratio [9][13] - SIL offers a higher dividend yield, and recent performance indicates that silver has outperformed gold [13][11]

Core Viewpoint - Most investors are not in favor of Amazon's $200 billion capital expenditure plan, primarily aimed at enhancing its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division, but the alternative of not investing could be more detrimental [2][3]. Investment Plans - Amazon plans to allocate $200 billion for capital expenditures, with a significant portion directed towards AWS, which is crucial for its AI business [2]. - In 2025, Amazon generated $717 billion in revenue, resulting in a net income of $77.7 billion, highlighting the scale of its operations [2]. Market Position - AWS is losing market share to competitors like Microsoft and Google, with its share dropping to a multiyear low of 28% [5]. - Despite a year-over-year revenue increase of nearly 24% for AWS, the growth rate is slower than that of its top competitors, and profit margins are decreasing [7]. Investment Justification - Amazon has demonstrated the ability to achieve respectable returns on its AI investments, such as its Trainium and Inferentia AI processing chips, which are competitive with Nvidia's offerings at lower costs [8]. - The introduction of Amazon Bedrock has facilitated the development of generative AI applications for cloud customers, with a reported 60% quarter-over-quarter growth in customer spending [9]. Future Outlook - The capital expenditures are expected to position Amazon favorably in the rapidly growing AI data center market, projected to expand at an average annualized rate of 35.5% through 2034 [9].

Core Viewpoint - The energy sector has unexpectedly surged in 2026, defying earlier predictions of a downturn due to a global oil glut and declining prices [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - As of February 2026, the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF has increased by 23% year-to-date, outperforming all other S&P sectors and the S&P 500, which is up less than 2% [4]. - Major U.S. oil companies have shown significant returns, with ExxonMobil at 29.3%, Chevron at 21.9%, and ConocoPhillips at 18.8% year-to-date as of February 11, 2026 [4]. Group 2: Drivers of Performance - The rise in energy stocks is theorized to be driven by aggressive U.S. foreign policy, particularly following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, which may allow companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves [5][6]. - The U.S. administration's potential special access to Venezuelan oilfields for major oil companies is a significant factor, as these companies have the infrastructure to process Venezuelan oil [7]. - Increased tensions with Iran, including military positioning by the U.S., could lead to higher global oil prices, further benefiting energy stocks [8]. Group 3: Investor Sentiment - Some investors are shifting from AI-related stocks back to energy stocks, viewing them as a more reliable long-term investment [9].

Investors have found another tangential AI play.A shift in investor thinking has been hitting the "Magnificent Seven" big tech stocks recently, as investors wonder whether they are overspending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildouts. Some of that money is flowing into names that will benefit from all the heavy tech company spending. That includes power providers, data center owners, and HVAC service providers, including installation and maintenance. Argan (AGX 0.89%) is one of those names ...

Company Overview - Boot Barn Holdings operates over 500 stores across 49 states, specializing in western and workwear apparel, and utilizes multiple e-commerce platforms to reach a diverse customer base [6][9] - The company reported a market capitalization of $5.72 billion, with a revenue of $2.17 billion and a net income of $218.98 million for the trailing twelve months [4] Recent Financial Performance - Boot Barn achieved a quarterly revenue growth of 16%, reaching $705.6 million, with same-store sales increasing by 5.7% and e-commerce comparable sales surging by 19.6% [10] - The net income for the quarter rose to $85.8 million, translating to $2.79 per diluted share, with guidance projecting full-year sales of up to $2.25 billion and diluted EPS as high as $7.35 [10] Investment Activity - Ranger Investment Management disclosed a sale of 99,800 shares of Boot Barn Holdings, valued at approximately $18.62 million, reducing its position in the company [2][8] - Post-transaction, Boot Barn Holdings represented 1.02% of Ranger's 13F assets under management, with the fund's quarter-end position value decreasing by $15.63 million [2][8] Market Performance - As of February 12, 2026, Boot Barn shares were priced at $186.00, reflecting a 41.1% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 28.16 percentage points [8][12] - The company maintains a strong cash position of approximately $200 million, with plans to open 70 new stores in the fiscal year while continuing share repurchases [11] Strategic Positioning - Boot Barn's differentiated product assortment and omni-channel strategy provide a competitive edge in the fragmented apparel retail market, targeting consumers seeking durable lifestyle-focused merchandise [6][9] - The company is positioned for growth, with a focus on unit economics and exclusive brand penetration, suggesting that its current store count may be a midpoint rather than a ceiling [12]

This U.S. supplier serves construction and packaging markets with a diverse mix of cement, aggregates, wallboard, and paperboard.On February 13, 2026, Black Creek Investment Management Inc. disclosed a new position in Eagle Materials (EXP +0.95%), acquiring 502,120 shares in the fourth quarter with an estimated trade value of $103.78 million.What happenedAccording to a SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, Black Creek Investment Management Inc. established a new position in Eagle Materials (EXP +0.95%), acqui ...

Core Insights - Black Creek Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in FTI Consulting by acquiring 402,008 shares, valued at approximately $66.27 million based on average pricing [2][7] - FTI Consulting reported record third-quarter revenue of $956.2 million, reflecting a 3% year-over-year increase, and a record diluted EPS of $2.60, up 41% [7][9] - As of February 12, 2026, FTI Consulting shares were priced at $160.91, with a market capitalization of $5.31 billion and a revenue of $3.69 billion [4][8] Company Overview - FTI Consulting is a global provider of business advisory services, specializing in transformation, risk mitigation, and dispute resolution across various industries [6][8] - The company operates in five segments: corporate finance and restructuring, forensic and litigation consulting, economic consulting, technology, and strategic communications [8] - FTI Consulting serves a diversified client base, including sectors such as aerospace, financial services, healthcare, energy, real estate, and the public sector [8] Investment Implications - Black Creek's increased stake now represents 9.09% of its reportable assets under management (AUM), positioning FTI Consulting among its top holdings [7][10] - Despite a 16.1% decline in stock price over the past year, FTI Consulting's strong earnings performance may present investment opportunities [7][11] - The firm's diversified exposure to restructuring and regulatory complexities suggests a stable demand for consulting services, which may support long-term growth [11]

This enterprise software provider delivers cloud-based AI solutions for customer engagement, compliance, and financial crime prevention.On February 13, 2026, Black Creek Investment Management Inc. disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold 271,072 shares of NICE (NICE 2.02%) in the fourth quarter, an estimated $32.75 million transaction based on quarterly average pricing.What happenedAccording to a SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, Black Creek Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in NICE (NICE 2.02%) ...