Company Overview - Nucor Corporation is a leading producer of structural steel, steel bars, steel joists, steel deck, and cold finished bars in the United States, with 123 operating facilities primarily located in the U.S. and Canada [12] - The company also produces direct reduced iron (DRI) used in its steel mills, and most of its facilities and customers are based in North America [12] Investment Ratings - Nucor is currently rated as 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A, indicating a solid overall performance [13] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 5.1% over the past four weeks [13] Earnings Estimates - Four analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for fiscal 2026, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.50 to $11.74 per share [13] - Nucor boasts an average earnings surprise of +7.5%, suggesting a positive trend in earnings performance [13] Investment Consideration - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, Nucor is recommended to be on investors' short list for potential investment opportunities [14]

Core Insights - Hologic's $18.3 billion acquisition by Blackstone and TPG is nearing completion, marking the largest medical devices deal in two decades, with 99.8% of shareholders approving the proposal [1][2] - The acquisition price of $76 per share, plus a contingent value right (CVR) of up to $3, represents a 46% premium over the stock price before the deal was announced [2] - Hologic's recent quarterly results showed a 2.5% year-over-year revenue increase but missed analyst expectations, particularly in Breast Health sales [5][6] Acquisition Details - Blackstone and TPG will acquire all outstanding Hologic shares for $76 per share in cash, with a potential additional $3 per share based on future revenue goals [2] - The total purchase price could reach $79 per share, indicating a 46% premium compared to the last trading day before acquisition rumors [2] - The stock is currently trading close to the buyout price, suggesting limited upside potential for existing shareholders [3][7] Financial Performance - Hologic reported first-quarter revenues of $1,047.8 million, a 2.5% increase year-over-year, but fell short of analyst forecasts [5][6] - Breast Health product revenues decreased by 2.2%, attributed to lower sales of digital mammography systems and related products [7] - GYN Surgical revenues increased by 8.7%, driven by higher sales from the acquired Gynesonics business [9] Market Position and Valuation - Hologic's shares have gained 1.2% over the past three months, outperforming the industry, which declined by 7.7% [14] - The company is trading at a forward Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of 3.86, higher than its historical median of 3.49 and the sector average of 2.24 [16] - Compared to competitors, Hologic's valuation appears elevated, with GE HealthCare and Medtronic trading at lower P/S ratios [16] Regulatory Developments - Hologic's Aptima HPV Assay received FDA approval for primary screening, expanding its cervical cancer screening offerings [12] - The approval follows extensive real-world studies involving over 650,000 women, enhancing the company's market position in cervical cancer diagnostics [12][13]

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 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. What are the Zacks Style Scores? Develope ...

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of 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 also includes the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style ...

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. is enhancing its competitive position by focusing on value, convenience, and disciplined execution amid uncertain retail conditions [1] - Upper and middle-income households are driving customer spending, while lower-income shoppers are experiencing increased financial pressure [1] Pricing Strategy - Price leadership is crucial, with approximately 7,400 active rollbacks in Walmart U.S., over half of which are in grocery [2] - More than 2,000 temporary rollbacks have become permanent price reductions since the fiscal year began [2] - Like-for-like inflation in Walmart U.S. was 1.3% in Q3 of fiscal 2026, reflecting efforts to manage costs while maintaining affordability [2] Sales Performance - Comparable sales in Walmart U.S., excluding fuel, increased by 4.5%, driven by a 1.8% rise in transactions and a 2.7% increase in the average ticket [3] - The company gained market share in grocery, health and wellness, and general merchandise, indicating strong customer engagement [3] E-commerce Growth - Global e-commerce sales grew by 27% in Q3, with Walmart U.S. up 28%, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of over 20% growth in this segment [4] - Approximately 35% of store-fulfilled U.S. orders were delivered in under three hours, with expedited channel sales rising nearly 70% [4] Inventory Management - Overall inventory increased by 3.2% to $65.4 billion, while Walmart U.S. inventory rose by 2.6%, about half the rate of sales growth [5] - These inventory management practices highlight Walmart's ability to balance value, growth, and operational discipline [5] Market Position - Walmart's shares have increased by 28.7% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 27.9%, while competitors Costco and Target saw declines of 5% and 9.5%, respectively [6] - Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 45.33, higher than the industry's 41.2, and it trades at a premium to Target but at a discount to Costco [9] Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 4.5% and 5.2%, respectively [10] - Projections for the next fiscal year suggest increases of 4.6% in sales and 11.5% in EPS [10]

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-a ...

Company Performance - First Majestic Silver (AG) has returned approximately 37.8% year-to-date, outperforming the average gain of 21.3% in the Basic Materials sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AG's full-year earnings has increased by 4% over the past quarter, indicating an improving earnings outlook [4] - First Majestic Silver holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable investment opportunity [3] Industry Context - First Majestic Silver is part of the Mining - Silver industry, which consists of 9 individual stocks and currently ranks 13 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The Mining - Silver industry has gained an average of 21.3% this year, with First Majestic Silver performing better than this average [6] - Another stock in the Basic Materials sector, McEwen (MUX), has also outperformed the sector with a year-to-date increase of 38.9% [5]

The Industrial Products group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Kubota Corp. (KUBTY) 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.Kubota Corp. is one of 179 individual stocks in the Industrial Products sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #7 in the Za ...

Company Overview - Blackbaud Inc. is a leading cloud software company focused on social causes, providing a range of cloud-based and on-premise software solutions for organizations of all sizes, including fundraising, marketing, and financial management [11] - The company’s SKY platform powers innovation and offers tools for clients and partners to extend the Blackbaud ecosystem [11] Investment Highlights - Blackbaud has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a VGM Score of A, indicating strong potential for investment [12] - The company has a Value Style Score of A, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 9.45, making it appealing to value investors [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by two analysts for fiscal 2026 have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.13 to $5.19 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +7.1% [12] Conclusion - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, Blackbaud is recommended for investors looking for strong investment opportunities [13]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of value investing and highlights OFG Bancorp as a strong candidate for value investors due to its favorable metrics and rankings [2][3][6] Group 1: Value Investing Strategy - Value investing focuses on identifying companies that are undervalued by the market using various valuation metrics [2] - Zacks has developed a Style Scores system to identify stocks with specific traits, particularly in the Value category [3] Group 2: OFG Bancorp Metrics - OFG Bancorp currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A, indicating strong potential for value investors [3] - OFG has a Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of 2.04, which is slightly below the industry average of 2.06, suggesting it may be undervalued [4] - The Price-to-Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio for OFG is 9.01, significantly lower than the industry average of 13.11, indicating a solid cash outlook [5] - Over the past 12 months, OFG's P/CF has fluctuated between a high of 10.12 and a low of 7.20, with a median of 8.82 [5] Group 3: Investment Outlook - The combination of OFG's favorable valuation metrics and strong earnings outlook positions it as a compelling value stock at the moment [6]