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Strength Seen in Akamai Technologies (AKAM): Can Its 10.4% Jump Turn into More Strength?
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:40
Core Viewpoint - Akamai Technologies is experiencing significant stock price movement and growth opportunities driven by increasing demand for its security solutions and advancements in API security technology [1][2][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Akamai's shares rose 10.3% in the last trading session, closing at $104.61, with trading volume significantly higher than normal [1]. - The stock has gained 4.6% over the past four weeks, indicating a positive trend [1]. Group 2: Growth Opportunities - The demand for Akamai's security solutions is expected to grow significantly due to the rapid adoption of cloud computing and increasing security concerns among enterprises [2]. - Large enterprises are anticipated to increase their security budgets to address these concerns effectively [2]. - The deployment of 5G and IoT devices is expected to drive higher demand for Akamai's security offerings related to data computing at the edge [2]. Group 3: API Security Market - The market for API security is projected to grow substantially, and Akamai is actively pursuing this opportunity [3]. - Akamai's acquisitions of Neosec and Noname Security have accelerated the development of its AI-powered API security solution, which analyzes APIs, detects vulnerabilities, and minimizes risks [3]. - The increasing use of APIs among enterprises is expected to boost demand for Akamai's API security solutions [3]. Group 4: Earnings Expectations - Akamai is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.4%, with revenues projected at $1.08 billion, up 5.6% from the previous year [4]. - The consensus EPS estimate for Akamai has been revised marginally higher over the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that may lead to price appreciation [5]. Group 5: Industry Context - Akamai Technologies is part of the Zacks Internet - Services industry, where another company, Sprout Social, has seen a decline of 5.6% in its stock price recently [5].
Public Storage Beats Q4 FFO & Revenue Estimates, Unveils Initiatives
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:40
Core Insights - Public Storage (PSA) reported Q4 2025 core funds from operations (FFO) per share of $4.26, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.21, marking a 1.2% year-over-year increase [1] - The company announced its 2026 outlook, projecting core FFO per share in the range of $16.35-$17.00, with expectations of modest same-store softness offset by contributions from acquisitions and development [11][12] Financial Performance - Q4 revenues reached $1.22 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21 billion, and increased by 3.3% year over year [2] - For the full year 2025, PSA reported core FFO per share of $16.97, up 1.8% from $16.67 in 2024, with total revenues of $4.82 billion, reflecting a 2.7% year-over-year increase [2] Operational Highlights - Same-store revenues slightly declined by 0.2% year over year to $936.2 million in Q4, with a 0.2% increase in realized annual rental income per occupied square foot to $22.53, while occupancy decreased [4] - PSA's same-store net operating income (NOI) fell by 1.5% year over year to $703.7 million, with a same-store NOI margin of 78.4%, down 0.8% from the previous year [5] Strategic Initiatives - PSA launched PS4.0, a strategic initiative aimed at leadership transition and long-term value creation, with Tom Boyle set to succeed Joe Russell as CEO on April 1, 2026 [3] - The PS4.0 strategy focuses on enhancing customer experience, improving margins, and driving sustainable shareholder value [3] Portfolio Activity - In Q4, PSA acquired 13 self-storage facilities for $131 million, adding 0.9 million net rentable square feet, and completed development projects adding approximately 1.0 million net rentable square feet at a cost of around $140 million [6] - As of December 31, 2025, PSA had 606 acquisition, development, and expansion properties totaling 54.1 million rentable square feet, accounting for about 24% of its total portfolio space [5] Balance Sheet and Liquidity - PSA ended Q4 2025 with a strong liquidity position of $2.4 billion, with total indebtedness of $10.3 billion and a weighted average interest rate on total debt of approximately 3.2% [10] 2026 Guidance - The company anticipates a 2.2% decline to flat same-store revenue growth and a same-store expense increase of 1.5%-2.8% for 2026, with same-store NOI expected to fall by 3.9% to 0.5% [11][12]
Twilo's Q4 Earnings Surpass Expectations, Revenues Rise Y/Y
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:40
Key Takeaways Twilio reported Q4 EPS of $1.33 on $1.37B revenues, topping estimates with 14% Y/Y growth.TWLO's operating income rose 29.7% Y/Y, with operating margin expanding to 18.7%.Twilio guided 2026 revenue growth of 11.5-12.5% and projects over $1B in free cash flow.Twilio Inc. (TWLO) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2025 results, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company’s fourth-quarter non-GAAP earnings of $1.33 per share surpassed the Zacks C ...
When Love Drives Spending: 5 Stock Picks for Valentine's Day
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:40
Consumer Spending Insights - U.S. consumer spending for Valentine's Day is projected to reach a record $29.1 billion, an increase from last year's $27.5 billion, with an average spend of $199.78 per shopper, the highest ever recorded [1][9] Company-Specific Opportunities Hershey - Hershey is a primary beneficiary of Valentine's Day spending, with its chocolate products being the most popular gifts during the holiday [3] - The company is enhancing its investment case through strategic initiatives such as cost optimization and product innovation, with adjusted EPS projected to grow 30-35% by fiscal 2026, reaching between $8.20 and $8.52 [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey's 2026 EPS has increased by 96 cents recently, and the stock holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [5] Brinker International - Brinker, the parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's, is well-positioned to benefit from increased dining out during Valentine's Day, with Chili's being a key growth driver [6] - The company focuses on operational excellence and guest experience, implementing initiatives to enhance engagement and customer satisfaction, which positions it for sustainable traffic growth [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brinker's fiscal 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year growth of 20%, with the stock also holding a Zacks Rank 1 [8] Movado Group - Movado capitalizes on the demand for meaningful gifts during Valentine's Day, appealing to younger consumers with fresh designs [9] - The growth of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales has improved margins, positioning Movado for both seasonal and long-term growth opportunities [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Movado's fiscal 2027 EPS suggests a year-over-year growth of 32%, with the stock rated Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [12] Inter Parfums - Inter Parfums benefits from the demand for luxury fragrances during Valentine's Day, with core brands like Jimmy Choo and Coach driving sales [13] - The introduction of new high-margin products and strengthening e-commerce channels are expected to enhance growth [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Inter Parfums' fourth-quarter 2025 EPS has seen a slight increase, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank 2 [15] Airbnb - Airbnb is positioned to capture seasonal demand for travel experiences during Valentine's Day, reporting a strong increase in bookings [16] - The company is enhancing its platform with new features to improve user experience and is expected to achieve low double-digit revenue growth in 2026 [17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Airbnb's 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year growth of 14%, with the stock rated Zacks Rank 2 [18]
ATN International (ATNI) Moves 12.5% Higher: Will This Strength Last?
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:36
Company Overview - ATN International (ATNI) shares increased by 12.5% to close at $29.11, with trading volume significantly higher than usual, reflecting a strong market interest [1] - The stock has gained 18.7% over the past four weeks, indicating a positive trend [1] Recent Developments - The recent uptrend is primarily driven by the divestment of 214 towers and related operations in the Southwestern U.S. for up to $297 million in cash, which will help ATNI unlock value from its tower portfolio and reduce its debt [2] - This divestment is expected to enhance ATNI's liquidity and financial flexibility, allowing for investments in core operations aimed at sustainable long-term value creation [2] Financial Performance Expectations - ATN International is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.03 per share, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 89.3%, while revenues are expected to reach $183.6 million, a 1.7% increase from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, suggesting that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions [4] Industry Context - ATN International operates within the Zacks Wireless National industry, where Gogo (GOGO) is another player, having closed 1.8% higher at $3.99, but has seen a -19% return over the past month [4] - Gogo's consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 16% over the past month to $0.02, representing a 71.4% decline from the previous year, and it currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [5]
Agios Pharmaceuticals Incurs Narrower-Than-Expected Q4 Loss
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:36
Financial Performance - Agios Pharmaceuticals reported a loss of $1.85 per share in Q4 2025, which is narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.97 and compared to a loss of $1.74 per share in the same quarter last year [1][10] - Total revenues for Q4 2025 were $20 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10 million [1] - For the full year 2025, total revenues reached $54 million, reflecting a 48% year-over-year increase [10] Product Performance - The lead drug, mitapivat, is marketed as Pyrukynd and Aqvesme, with Pyrukynd approved for treating hemolytic anemia in adults with pyruvate kinase deficiency and Aqvesme for anemia in adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia [2] - Pyrukynd generated $16 million in product revenues in the U.S., marking a 49% year-over-year increase and a 24% sequential increase [5] - Aqvesme was launched in the U.S. in December 2025 and is reported to have a strong start [3] Market Developments - Outside the U.S., mitapivat continues to be marketed as Pyrukynd for both PK deficiency and thalassemia indications, with a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency for label expansion in thalassemia [4] - Agios recorded $4 million in revenues from Pyrukynd in the ex-U.S. market, primarily due to inventory stocking as the market transitioned to commercial supply [8] Research and Development - Research and development expenses increased by approximately 6.4% year-over-year to $88.1 million in Q4 2025, driven by higher costs related to pipeline development [9] - The company is developing mitapivat for sickle cell disease (SCD) and plans to engage with the FDA in Q1 2026 before filing for approval [11][13] - Agios is also developing another candidate, tebapivat, for SCD, with patient enrollment completed and top-line results expected in the second half of 2026 [13] Stock Performance - Over the past year, Agios' stock has decreased by 15.7%, while the industry has seen an increase of 17.9% [4]
What Fueled KEY's NII Expansion in 2025 Despite Easing Rates
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:36
Core Insights - KeyCorp's net interest income (NII) increased by 23% year-over-year to $4.67 billion in 2025, driven by strong commercial loan growth, improved deposit trends, lower funding costs, and balance sheet optimization, despite Federal Reserve rate cuts [1][8] KeyCorp's NII Growth Drivers - KeyCorp's NII (TE) experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% from 2020 to 2025, rebounding strongly in 2025 after declines in 2023 and 2024 due to high deposit costs [3] - The commercial and industrial (C&I) loan portfolio grew by 9% in 2025, while the bank reduced lower-yielding consumer loans, enhancing asset yields and supporting NII growth [4][5] - Effective balance sheet repositioning, lower funding costs, and disciplined deposit pricing contributed to the NII growth in 2025 [5] Regional Peers Performance - PNC Financial Services Group reported a 6.6% year-over-year increase in NII (TE) to $14.5 billion, supported by lower funding costs and steady loan growth [2] - Huntington Bancshares' NII (TE) rose by 12% to $6 billion, driven by strong organic loan growth and net interest margin (NIM) expansion [2] NII Outlook for 2026 - KeyCorp anticipates an NII (TE) increase of 8-10% in 2026, with fourth-quarter NII projected to reach approximately $1.3 billion and NIM expected to expand to 3.00-3.05% [6][8] - Average loan growth of 1-2% and maintained deposit betas in the low-to-mid-50% range are expected to further support NII growth [6] Stock Performance - KeyCorp's shares have surged by 23.5% in the past three months, outperforming the industry's growth of 19.5% [7]
Palo Alto Networks to Report Q2 Earnings: How to Play the Stock
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:36
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is set to report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 17, projecting revenues between $2.57 billion and $2.59 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 14-15% [1][8] - The consensus estimate for PANW's fiscal second-quarter non-GAAP earnings remains at 93 cents per share, reflecting a 14.8% increase from the previous year [2] Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.58 billion, suggesting a growth of 14.3% from the year-ago figure [1] - Earnings estimates for the current quarter have remained stable at 93 cents per share over the past 30 days [2][3] Performance Trends - Palo Alto Networks has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.1% [3] - The company’s Next-Generation Security (NGS) Annual Recurring Revenues (ARR) grew by 29% year-over-year to $5.85 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by its platformization strategy [7] Market Dynamics - The company is experiencing a slowdown in sales growth, with revenue growth expected to remain in the mid-teen percentage range for fiscal 2026, down from mid-20s in fiscal 2023 [18][19] - NGS ARR growth has decelerated for six consecutive quarters, with expectations for fiscal 2026 indicating growth of 26-27%, a decline from 32% in fiscal 2025 [20] Strategic Factors - Palo Alto Networks' platformization strategy is enabling larger customers to adopt its full security platform, contributing to faster growth and larger deals [6][7] - Significant deals, such as an $85 million XSIAM deal with a U.S. telecom company and a $33 million SASE deal with a U.S. federal agency, highlight the trend of enterprises consolidating security budgets [9] Valuation and Stock Performance - PANW shares have declined by 19.6% over the past year, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which grew by 21.5% [12] - The company's forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 10.22X, significantly higher than the sector's average of 6.51X [16][23]
ABM Banks on Multi-Year Strategic Plan ELEVATE Amid Macroeconomic Risk
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:30
Core Insights - ABM Industries is experiencing revenue growth driven by its strategic plan ELEVATE, which enhances transparency and efficiency while increasing AI investments through acquisitions [1][6] - The company reported mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results, with earnings per share of 88 cents, missing estimates by 20%, while total revenues reached $2.3 billion, exceeding estimates by 1.2% and increasing by 5.4% year over year [3][12] Financial Performance - ABM's free cash flow has significantly declined, impacting its ability to invest in growth, pay debt, or return capital to shareholders, which may affect shareholder confidence [9] - The company has low profit margins and faces significant competition, which compresses pricing power and affects overall financial performance [2][8] - ABM's current ratio stands at 1.49, indicating strong liquidity compared to the industry average of 1.14, reflecting immediate financial stability [8] Strategic Initiatives - The ELEVATE plan, a continuation of the 2020 Vision plan, focuses on growth through enhanced service offerings, talent management, data usage, and modernization of the digital ecosystem [4] - The acquisition of Quality Uptime Services strengthens ABM's capabilities in the data center industry, positioning the company for revenue growth in a high-margin segment [6] Market Challenges - ABM is exposed to macroeconomic risks that could negatively impact various segments, particularly the aviation business and the leisure and business travel market [10][11] - The commercial office market faces uncertainties due to the adoption of hybrid work models, which may reduce demand for ABM's services [11]
Penske Q4 Earnings Miss Expectations, Dividend Raised
ZACKS· 2026-02-13 16:25
Core Insights - Penske Automotive Group (PAG) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.91 per share, a decrease of 17.8% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.19. However, net sales reached $7.77 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.64 billion, and increased by 0.6% compared to the previous year [1][10]. Financial Performance - Gross profit for the quarter fell by 5.3% year over year to $1.24 billion, while operating income decreased by 20.8% to $275 million. Foreign currency exchange positively impacted revenues by $113.3 million, net income by $700,000, and earnings per share by 1 cent [2]. - Same-store retail units declined by 6.2% year over year to 115,898. In the Retail Automotive segment, same-store new-vehicle revenues decreased by 9.6% to $3.18 billion, while same-store used vehicle revenues increased by 2.8% to $2.10 billion [3]. Segmental Performance - Revenues in the Retail Automotive segment totaled $6.74 billion, a decline of 4.8% from the previous year, but exceeded the estimate of $6.73 billion. Total new and used vehicle deliveries fell by 9.5% year over year to 105,478 units, with gross profit at $1.07 billion, down 5.7% year over year, missing the estimate of $1.11 billion [4]. - Retail Commercial Truck segment revenues decreased by 6.2% to $725.4 million, beating the estimate of $652.4 million. Gross profit in this segment was $121.4 million, down from $138.1 million in the previous year, but exceeded the estimate of $106.1 million [5]. - The Commercial Vehicle Distribution and Other segment saw revenues increase by 35.3% to $303.3 million, surpassing the estimate of $257.4 million. Gross profit rose to $57.4 million from $45.8 million in the previous year, beating the estimate of $44.7 million [6]. Financial Tidbits - SG&A costs remained flat year over year at $924 million. As of December 31, 2025, Penske had cash and cash equivalents of $64.7 million, down from $83.6 million a year earlier. Long-term debt increased to $1.81 billion from $1.13 billion [7]. - In 2025, PAG repurchased 1,178,411 shares of common stock, with $247.5 million of stock repurchase authorization remaining outstanding. The company ended 2025 with approximately $1.6 billion in liquidity and raised its quarterly dividend by 2 cents to $1.40 per share, marking its 21st consecutive quarterly increase [8].