Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Cardinal Health (CAH) .Cardinal currently has an average brokerage recomme ...

Core Insights - Medtronic reported $9.02 billion in revenue for the quarter ended January 2026, marking an 8.7% year-over-year increase and a surprise of +1.35% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.9 billion [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $1.36, slightly down from $1.39 a year ago, with an EPS surprise of +2.07% compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 [1] Revenue Breakdown - U.S. Revenue: $4.49 billion, a 6% year-over-year increase, but below the average estimate of $4.59 billion [4] - International Revenue: $4.52 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $4.3 billion [4] - Cardiovascular Revenue: $3.46 billion, a 13.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing the average estimate of $3.39 billion [4] - Neuroscience Revenue: $2.56 billion, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, slightly below the average estimate of $2.58 billion [4] - Medical Surgical Revenue: $2.17 billion, a 4.9% year-over-year increase, exceeding the average estimate of $2.14 billion [4] - Diabetes Revenue: $796 million, a 14.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing the average estimate of $773.73 million [4] - Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure Revenue: $1.86 billion, a significant 20.1% year-over-year increase, exceeding the average estimate of $1.8 billion [4] Stock Performance - Medtronic shares have returned +2.8% over the past month, contrasting with a -1.4% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Group 1 - Labcorp Holdings reported revenue of $3.52 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting a 5.6% increase year-over-year [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $4.07, up from $3.45 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +2.98% compared to the consensus estimate of $3.95 [1] - The reported revenue was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.55 billion, resulting in a revenue surprise of -0.97% [1] Group 2 - Key metrics indicate that Labcorp's shares have returned +4.3% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which declined by -1.4% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3] Group 3 - The net book-to-bill ratio for Labcorp was reported at 1.1%, matching the average estimate based on two analysts [4] - Revenues from Biopharma Laboratory Services were $793 million, slightly above the average estimate of $791.05 million, representing a year-over-year change of +3.4% [4] - Revenues from Diagnostics Laboratories were $2.73 billion, below the average estimate of $2.77 billion, with a year-over-year change of +5.5% [4] - Adjusted Operating Income for Diagnostics Laboratories was $419.2 million, slightly below the average estimate of $423.58 million [4] - Adjusted Operating Income for Biopharma Laboratory Services was $136.1 million, exceeding the average estimate of $130.1 million [4] - Unallocated corporate expenses were reported at -$67.6 million, better than the average estimate of -$69.13 million [4]

Leidos (LDOS) reported $4.21 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 3.6%. EPS of $2.76 for the same period compares to $2.37 a year ago.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.25 billion, representing a surprise of -1.07%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +7.6%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.57.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how the ...

Core Viewpoint - Extra Space Storage (EXR) is expected to report a year-over-year revenue increase in its fourth-quarter 2025 results, with no change in funds from operations (FFO) per share [1][10]. Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, EXR achieved an FFO per share of $2.08, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.06, driven by increased revenues from higher occupancy [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly property rental revenues is $731.87 million, up from $707.23 million in the same period last year [4]. - The estimate for revenues from tenant insurance is projected at $88.44 million, an increase from $83.70 million year-over-year [4]. - Management fees and other income are expected to rise to $32.09 million from $30.97 million in the previous year [4]. - Overall, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for total quarterly revenues stands at $864.48 million, indicating a 5.18% year-over-year growth [5][10]. Market Position and Challenges - EXR operates in a fragmented market with significant competition, facing challenges from price-sensitive customers and lower new customer rates, which may impact earnings [5][10]. - The self-storage industry is characterized as need-based and resilient to economic downturns, benefiting from favorable demographic trends [3]. Analyst Sentiment - Over the past four quarters, EXR has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate three times, with an average surprise of 0.76% [3]. - However, the consensus estimate for core FFO per share has decreased to $2.03, indicating no change from the previous year [6]. - The current Earnings ESP for EXR is -1.61%, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting limited potential for a positive earnings surprise this quarter [8].

Key Takeaways HSIC is set to report Q4 2025 results on Feb. 24, with revenues projected to rise 4.5% year over year.Henry Schein's Global Specialty Products revenues are expected to grow 5.9% on implant strength.HSIC's Global Technology sales are projected to jump 9.7% on SaaS and cloud momentum.Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 24, before the opening bell.In the last reported quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.38, which su ...

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) enters fiscal 2026 with improved earnings visibility after a challenging fiscal 2025, expecting transitional headwinds early in the year but anticipating better performance as cost actions and pricing benefits take effect [1][5] Earnings Outlook - Near-term visibility is limited, with management forecasting a year-over-year decline in first-quarter earnings due to delayed pricing actions, ongoing supply constraints from avian influenza, and timing issues with administrative cost savings [2] - Beyond the first quarter, earnings visibility is expected to improve significantly, with guidance for adjusted earnings per share of $1.43 to $1.51 for fiscal 2026, indicating a growth of 4% to 10% [3][8] - The earnings framework is supported by the full-year benefits of pricing actions from fiscal 2025, productivity gains from the Transform and Modernize initiative, and savings from a corporate restructuring program aimed at reducing administrative expenses [4] Market Conditions - The company anticipates a pressured consumer environment and elevated input costs, particularly for beef, but expects the impact of pricing realization, cost control measures, and operational efficiency initiatives to support fiscal 2026 earnings [5] - Hormel Foods' shares have decreased by 1.8% over the past month, underperforming the broader Consumer Staples sector, which grew by 9.8%, while still outperforming the S&P 500 index's decline of 1.9% [6] Valuation - Hormel Foods currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.94, which is higher than the industry average of 13.18, indicating market expectations regarding its business stability and ability to manage current cost and demand dynamics [10]

Core Insights - BASF SE (BASFY) is increasing production in Ludwigshafen, Germany, to ensure a stable supply of 1.4-butanediol (BDO) for European customers amid anti-dumping proceedings [1][8] - The company's higher BDO output supports the availability of key derivatives such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF), and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), enhancing supply to critical sectors [2][8] - BASFY is committed to the European BDO market and is expanding its portfolio of biomass-balanced products to reduce carbon footprints and conserve fossil resources [3][8] Production and Supply Chain - Increased production at Ludwigshafen will minimize transportation needs and enhance the efficiency of the Verbund system [4] - The integration of the acetylene value chain allows for better production planning and strengthens supply to sectors including polymers, solvents, elastomers, and high-performance materials [2] Market Performance - BASFY stock has gained 15.2% over the past year, outperforming the industry's 14.6% decline [6] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), while other stocks in the Basic Materials space have better rankings [7][9]

Key Takeaways OMC is set to report Q4 2025 results on Feb. 18, with revenues expected to increase 4.2% year over year.OMC's recent acquisitions and the Omni platform are likely to have boosted sales volume in the quarter.OMC has an Earnings ESP of 8.09%, signaling potential for another earnings beat this quarter.Omnicom (OMC) is set to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 18, after the bell.The company’s earnings surprise history has been impressive. It surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in ea ...

Core Insights - BP plc announced an oil discovery at the Algaita-01 exploration well offshore Angola through its joint venture Azule Energy, which is a 50-50 partnership with Eni S.p.A [1][8] - This marks the fourth discovery of oil and gas by Azule Energy since the beginning of 2025, with previous finds including gas at Gajajeira-01 in Angola and two discoveries in Namibia's Orange Basin [2][8] - The discovery at Algaita-01 is expected to enhance BP's future oil production and cash flow, thereby strengthening its upstream business model and increasing investor appeal [3] Company and Industry Summary - The Algaita-01 well was drilled in 667 meters of water in the Lower Congo Basin, encountering oil across multiple high-quality reservoir zones, which can be developed quickly and cost-effectively due to nearby production infrastructure [4][8] - Current West Texas Intermediate crude prices are below $65 per barrel, indicating a challenging business environment for BP and Eni's upstream segments, with predictions of further price decreases from the U.S. Energy Information Administration [5] - BP and Eni are integrated energy companies, both currently holding a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential challenges ahead [5] - Other key players in the integrated oil and gas sector, such as Chevron and Exxon Mobil, are also facing crude price volatility, with both holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [6]