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 research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores. ...

Core Insights - Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is set to release its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on September 24, with expected revenues of $2.69 billion, reflecting a 7.7% growth year-over-year, and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.19, indicating an 8.2% increase from the previous year [1][10] Revenue Performance - The Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment is projected to generate revenues of $2.07 billion, representing a 7.3% increase from the prior year [3] - The First Aid and Safety Services segment is expected to see revenues of $336.6 million, which is a 15.1% increase compared to the same quarter last year [4] Acquisitions Impact - Recent acquisitions, including Paris Uniform Services and SITEX, are anticipated to enhance Cintas' market presence and contribute positively to revenue growth [5] Margin Expectations - The operating margin is expected to improve by 100 basis points from the previous year, supported by operational execution and pricing strategies [6] Cost Considerations - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses are projected to rise to approximately $746 million, an 8% increase from the prior year, which may impact overall profitability [7] Earnings Prediction - The current Earnings ESP for CTAS is 0.00%, indicating no clear prediction for an earnings beat this quarter, with both the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate at $1.19 per share [9]

Core Viewpoint - California Resources Corporation (CRC) has entered into a merger agreement with Berry Corporation (BRY) in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $717 million, including Berry's net debt, aimed at unlocking operational synergies and improving cash flow generation for the combined entity [1] Asset Synergies - Following the merger, California Resources shareholders will own approximately 94% of the combined firm, enhancing CRC's asset portfolio with high-quality, conventional oil-weighted production assets that complement its existing low-decline assets in California [2] - The acquisition includes C&J Well Services, a subsidiary of BRY, which will aid CRC in maintaining active wells and improving long-term operational efficiency, as well as enhancing well abandonment capabilities and managing cost inflation [2] Financial Impact - The merger is expected to be immediately accretive to significant financial metrics, including free cash flows and net operating cash flow, making it attractive to CRC shareholders [4] - CRC anticipates achieving $80-$90 million in annual synergies within a year of the deal's conclusion, with 50% of run-rate synergies expected within six months post-closing, driven by operational efficiencies and debt refinancing [4] Transaction Details - BRY shareholders will receive 0.0718 shares of CRC common stock for each Berry common stock, and CRC plans to refinance Berry's debt through a mix of cash and borrowings, potentially issuing more debt to strengthen its balance sheet [5] - The deal is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2026, pending customary closing conditions [5]

Key Takeaways POSCO INTERNATIONAL signed an MOU with Ulaanbaatar for a sewage heat supply system.A feasibility study runs until 2026, with a 15-year BOT model planned if viable.The project targets heating 4,000 households while reducing emissions and fine dust.POSCO’s (PKX) unit, POSCO INTERNATIONAL, has signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to promote a heat supply project using sewage heat. According to the agreement, POSCO INTERNATIONAL will work to supply w ...

Key Takeaways IDACORP raised its quarterly dividend by 2.3% to 88 cents, resulting in an annual payout of $3.52.The utility targets a 50-60% payout ratio while maintaining stable earnings from its regulated operations.IDACORP shares gained 9.8% in six months, outpacing industry growth of 7%.IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) announced that its board of directors has approved a 2.3% increase in its quarterly dividend rate. The new dividend rate will be 88 cents per share (compared with the previous dividend of 86 cents). T ...

Core Insights - Jefferies and SMBC Group have signed a memorandum to enhance their strategic capital and business alliance, focusing on a joint venture in Japan to consolidate their wholesale Japanese equities business [1][9] Group 1: Joint Venture Details - The joint venture, named SMBC Nikko Jefferies Securities, will encompass equity capital markets (ECM), equity sales and trading, and equity research globally, with SMBC Nikko holding the economic and voting majority [2] - SMBC Group plans to increase its economic ownership stake in Jefferies to up to 20% on a fully-diluted basis while keeping voting interests under 5% [3] Group 2: Growth Drivers for Jefferies - The integration of SMBC Nikko's domestic operations with Jefferies' overseas activities will enhance issuer coverage, order flow from global investors, and research capabilities, allowing Jefferies to underwrite Japanese ECM deals starting January 2027 [4] - The $2.5 billion credit facility will enable Jefferies to strengthen its exposure in pre-IPO financing, leveraged lending in EMEA, and structured finance, which are areas with high margin potential [5] Group 3: Financial Expectations - SMBC Group anticipates that by the fifth year of the alliance, profit contributions from the joint venture will reach approximately JPY 50 billion, with JPY 10 billion from the Japanese equities business alone, indicating significant incremental revenues for Jefferies [7] Group 4: Strategic Implications - The partnership offers Jefferies the potential for accelerated growth in Asia through expanded market share, new revenue streams, and more stable capital backing, which could lead to outperforming peers in Japanese ECM and related markets [11]

Core Insights - The Zacks Premium service provides tools and resources to help investors make informed stock market decisions and invest with confidence [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that assist investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2][7] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings [4] - The Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to optimize entry points for investments [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive assessment of stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.64% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][9] - Investors are encouraged to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for the highest probability of success [9][10] Company Spotlight: Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) - Fair Isaac Corporation, known as FICO, is rated 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank with a VGM Score of B, making it a potential candidate for growth investors [11] - FICO's Growth Style Score is A, indicating a forecasted year-over-year earnings growth of 24.7% for the current fiscal year [11] - Recent analyst revisions have increased FICO's earnings estimate for fiscal 2025 by $0.19 to $29.61 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +2.2% [12]

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.The 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.It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style ...

Company Overview - Citizens (CIA) shares increased by 5.4% to close at $5.89, with a notable trading volume, and have gained 11.4% over the past four weeks [1] - The company is positioned for growth due to a solid customer base, strong presence in underserved markets, streamlined sales processes, and new product introductions [1] Financial Strength - Citizens has a low-risk business model and a strong balance sheet supported by a prudent investment portfolio, reserves, and liquidity, enhancing its financial flexibility [2] - The company has no debt and has access to a $20 million line of credit [2] Earnings Expectations - Citizens is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 20%, with revenues projected at $63.46 million, up 4.2% from the previous year [2] - The consensus EPS estimate for Citizens has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating stability in earnings expectations [4] Industry Context - Citizens operates within the Zacks Insurance - Life Insurance industry, where Jackson Financial (JXN) also operates, showing a 1.2% increase in its last trading session [4] - Jackson Financial's consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged at $5.23, representing a 13.7% increase year-over-year, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]

Investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Mazda Motor Corporation (MZDAY) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.Mazda Motor Corporation is one of 96 companies in the Auto-Tires-Trucks group. The Auto-Tires-Trucks group currently sits at #11 within the ...