The upcoming report from Viatris (VTRS) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share, indicating a decline of 3.7% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $3.52 billion, representing a decline of 0.3% year over year.Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.6% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.Prior to a company's ear ...

Have you assessed how the international operations of Omnicom (OMC) performed in the quarter ended December 2025? For this advertising company, possessing an expansive global footprint, parsing the trends of international revenues could be critical to gauge its financial resilience and growth prospects.In the current global economy, which is more interconnected than ever, a company's success in penetrating international markets is crucial for its financial health and growth journey. Investors must understan ...

Core Insights - Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results, with net income exceeding estimates while revenues fell short [1][9] Financial Performance - The company reported a net loss of $30.8 million or a loss of 64 cents per share, an improvement from a net loss of $43.3 million or a loss of 91 cents per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full year 2025, Cogent's net loss was $182.2 million or a loss of $3.80 per share, compared to a net loss of $204.1 million or a loss of $4.28 per share in 2024 [2] Revenue Breakdown - Service revenues decreased to $240.5 million from $252.3 million year-over-year, primarily due to a decline in Off-Net revenues, missing the Zacks consensus estimate of $243.01 million [3] - For 2025, total revenues fell to $975.8 million from $1.04 billion in 2024 [3] - On-Net revenues increased to $134.3 million from $128.8 million year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $130.9 million, with customer connections rising to 87,944 from 87,500 [3] - Off-Net revenues were $92.9 million, down from $113.2 million in the previous year, with customer connections decreasing to 24,656 from 28,963 [4] - Wavelength revenues rose to $12.1 million from $7 million year-over-year, with customer connections increasing to 2,064 from 1,118 [4] - Non-core revenues decreased to $1.2 million from $3.4 million in the prior year, with customer connections dropping to 2,979 from 5,802 [5] Profitability Metrics - GAAP gross profit was $53.7 million, up from $29.8 million a year ago, with margins improving to 22.3% from 11.8% [6] - Non-GAAP gross profit increased to $112.5 million from $97.6 million year-over-year, with margins rising to 46.8% from 38.7% [6] - EBITDA for the quarter was $51.7 million compared to $41.9 million a year ago, with margins improving to 21.5% from 16.6% [7] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $76.7 million from $66.9 million year-over-year, with margins rising to 31.9% from 26.5% [7] Cash Flow & Liquidity - In Q4 2025, the company utilized $6 million in cash for operations, compared to a cash generation of $14.5 million in the same quarter last year [10] - For the full year 2025, cash utilized for operating activities was $10.6 million, up from $8.6 million in 2024 [10] - As of December 31, 2025, Cogent had $205.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $227.9 million a year ago, with finance lease obligations increasing to $597.2 million from $517.2 million [11]

Core Insights - Transocean Ltd. (RIG) reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of 2 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of breakeven earnings and improving from a loss of 19 cents in the previous year [1][10] - The company generated total adjusted revenues of $1 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $5 million and reflecting a 1.5% increase from the prior year [2][10] Revenue Performance - Ultra-deepwater floaters contributed 69.4% to net contract drilling revenues, while harsh environment floaters accounted for 30.6% [3] - Revenues from ultra-deepwater operations totaled $724 million, up from $675 million year-over-year, while harsh environment revenues reached $319 million, compared to $277 million in the previous year [3] Revenue Efficiency and Day Rates - Revenue efficiency was reported at 96.2%, a decrease from 97.5% in the previous quarter but an increase from 93.5% year-over-year [4] - Average day rates increased to $461,300 from $434,700 in the year-ago quarter, although it slightly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $461,700 [5] Fleet Utilization and Backlog - Fleet utilization rate improved to 85.8% from 66.8% in the prior year [6] - As of February 19, 2026, Transocean's total backlog stood at $6.1 billion [6][10] Cost and Capital Expenditures - Total costs and expenses were reported at $802 million, down 1.6% from $815 million in the previous year [7] - The company spent $28 million on capital investments in the fourth quarter [8] Guidance for Future Performance - For Q1 2026, Transocean expects contract drilling revenues between $1.02 billion and $1.05 billion, with a projected fleet-wide revenue efficiency of 96.5% [11] - For the full year 2026, the company anticipates contract drilling revenues of $3.8 billion to $3.95 billion [13]

Core Concept - The article discusses the concept of "wide moats," which refers to companies with sustainable competitive advantages that protect them from rivals, leading to long-term profitability [1][3]. Group 1: Characteristics of Wide-Moat Companies - Wide-moat companies benefit from strong brand recognition, network effects, high customer switching costs, regulatory hurdles, and economies of scale, creating significant challenges for competitors [3]. - These companies typically enjoy solid pricing power, stable profit margins, and the ability to reinvest in their businesses, reinforcing their competitive edge [3][4]. Group 2: Investment Appeal - Investing in wide-moat companies is attractive due to their ability to deliver steady, long-term returns, especially during economic downturns [4][5]. - These firms produce consistent cash flows and provide shareholder value through dividends and stock price growth, making them appealing for long-term wealth building [5]. Group 3: Company Examples - **Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)**: Holds a leadership position in wafer fabrication equipment, benefiting from long-term customer relationships and significant capital requirements in the semiconductor industry [7]. The company is poised for growth due to increasing demand for memory chips driven by AI and other advanced technologies [8][9]. - **NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)**: A leader in GPUs and AI, NVIDIA maintains a technological moat through substantial R&D investments and a strong software ecosystem, which enhances customer retention [10]. The company is expanding its market presence in enterprise AI and data centers, driven by increasing demand for cloud services [11][12]. - **ASML Holding N.V. (ASML)**: A critical supplier in the semiconductor industry, ASML has a near-monopoly on extreme ultraviolet lithography, essential for producing advanced chips [14]. The company's High-NA EUV technology is expected to drive sustained demand as chipmakers produce smaller, more powerful chips [15][16]. - **Moody's Corporation (MCO)**: A leader in credit ratings and analytics, Moody's benefits from regulatory reliance on its ratings and a strong reputation, creating high barriers for new entrants [17]. The company is pursuing growth through strategic acquisitions and diversifying into professional services and enterprise risk solutions [18][19].

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector, bolstered by the rapid growth of cloud computing and data centers, is experiencing a robust demand scenario, particularly for AI-powered data center capacity to manage and store vast amounts of data [1] - The "magnificent 7" stocks are set to invest $650 billion in 2026 for AI infrastructure development, representing a significant 71.1% year-over-year increase in capital spending on the AI ecosystem [2] Company Insights Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol holds a Zacks Rank 2 and benefits from a diversified business model, commanding an estimated 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects [7] - The company is experiencing triple-digit organic growth in its IT datacom segment, driven by high-speed and power interconnect products [8] - Amphenol's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 34.9% and 29.3%, respectively, with a 1.9% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [12] Western Digital Corp. (WDC) - Western Digital, with a Zacks Rank 1, is witnessing strong demand for high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) amid intensified cloud and AI demand [13] - The company is collaborating closely with hyperscale customers to deliver reliable, high-capacity storage solutions, with an expected revenue growth rate of -6.3% and earnings growth rate of 81.7% for the current year [16] Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT) - Vertiv, holding a Zacks Rank 2, benefits from a diverse product portfolio and is strategically expanding capacity to support AI-enabled pipelines [17] - The company has a partnership with NVIDIA to co-develop an 800-volt DC power architecture, ensuring its infrastructure solutions remain relevant as power requirements scale [19] - Vertiv's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 34% and 46.9%, respectively, with a 15.3% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [20] Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) - Lumentum, with a Zacks Rank 1, designs and manufactures optical technologies essential for AI and cloud computing, experiencing significant revenue growth driven by demand for AI infrastructure connectivity solutions [21][22] - The company has a strong collaboration with NVIDIA for developing silicon photonics, positioning it as a key supplier to hyperscale customers [23] - Lumentum's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 76.7% and over 100%, respectively, with a 34.6% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [24] EMCOR Group Inc. (EME) - EMCOR, holding a Zacks Rank 2, is a leading provider of critical infrastructure to AI-powered data centers, focusing on electrical infrastructure and cooling systems [25] - The company is gaining traction in the data center construction market, which is contributing to its expanding remaining performance obligations (RPOs) [26] - EMCOR's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 5.4% and 8.6%, respectively, with a slight improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [28]

Core Insights - Shake Shack Inc. (SHAK) is set to report its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results on February 26, with earnings expected to be 36 cents per share, reflecting a 38.5% year-over-year increase [2][4] - Revenue estimates for the quarter are projected at $402.4 million, indicating a 22.4% growth compared to the previous year [2][7] - The company has experienced downward revisions in earnings estimates by 4 cents over the past 60 days [2] Financial Performance Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 earnings is 36 cents per share, with revenues expected to reach $402.4 million [2][7] - Preliminary results suggest revenues of $400.5 million, impacted by weather-related disruptions, particularly in the Northeast [4] - Same-Shack sales are anticipated to increase by 2.1% during the quarter [4][7] Growth Drivers - Shake Shack's performance is likely to benefit from positive traffic trends, menu innovation, and value-oriented digital promotions [3] - The company has been investing in digital transformation, with significant contributions from kiosks and digital ordering channels to comparable sales growth [3] - Increased media investments and brand visibility initiatives are expected to enhance customer engagement [3] Profitability Outlook - The company is projected to maintain resilient margins, with restaurant-level profit expected in the mid-22% range [5] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2025 is estimated to be between $208 million and $212 million, indicating improved cost leverage and balanced growth [5] - Unit expansion remains a key growth catalyst, with a meaningful number of company-operated and licensed Shacks added during the year [5] Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model indicates that Shake Shack is unlikely to beat earnings estimates this quarter, with an Earnings ESP of -2.98% and a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [6]

Core Insights - Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on February 26, 2026, after market close [1] Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, Willdan achieved record performance with contract revenue increasing by 15% year over year to $182 million and net revenue rising by 26% year over year to $95 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.5% [2] - Gross profit grew by 30% year over year to $67.1 million, while adjusted EBITDA surged by 53% year over year to $23.1 million, achieving a margin of 24% of net revenue [2] - Adjusted EPS increased by 65.8% year over year to $1.21, surpassing the consensus estimate by 49.4% [2][3] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth-quarter EPS remains unchanged at 79 cents, indicating a 5.3% growth from the year-ago reported EPS of 75 cents [4] - The consensus revenue estimate for the fourth quarter is $87.5 million, suggesting a 39.3% year-over-year decline [4] - For 2026, revenues are expected to increase by 4.8% year over year, with EPS projected to grow by 9.6% [5] Market Position and Performance - WLDN has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 58.1% [3] - The stock has rallied 19.4% over the past three months, outperforming key peers and the broader Zacks Business - Services industry [19][20] Key Growth Drivers - The strength of Willdan's Energy segment, which constitutes approximately 85% of total revenue, is expected to support Q4 results despite anticipated revenue decline [9] - Recent contract wins in energy and infrastructure, along with the APG acquisition, are anticipated to contribute positively to revenues [10] - Utility programs and government work continue to provide recurring revenue visibility, supporting steady demand [11] Profitability Outlook - Management has guided for full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $77-$78 million and net revenues of $360-$365 million, indicating continued margin discipline [13] - Operating leverage from revenue growth and effective cost control are expected to drive margin expansion [14] - However, integration costs from acquisitions and ongoing investments may temper margin expansion [15] Valuation and Investment Stance - WLDN stock is currently trading at a premium valuation compared to its industry [23] - The near-term outlook appears balanced, with recent share price increases suggesting that much of the optimism is already priced in, leading to a Hold stance for now [24]

Core Insights - Roblox Corporation (RBLX) reported a remarkable fourth quarter with bookings increasing by 63% year over year to $2.2 billion, indicating a potential new phase of sustainable growth for the platform [1][4] Group 1: Performance Metrics - Daily active users rose by 69% year over year, while total engagement hours surged by 88%, reflecting significantly increased user activity on the platform [2][11] - Bookings from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region nearly doubled, with notable growth in countries like Japan, India, and Indonesia, showcasing broad geographic diversification [2][11] Group 2: User Demographics and Engagement - The 18-plus user segment grew over 50% year over year and monetizes approximately 40% better than younger users, indicating a shift towards older demographics [3][11] - Advancements in discovery, AI-driven personalization, and expanded genre offerings are expected to enhance user engagement and monetization over time [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Meta Platforms (META) is a significant competitor, focusing on metaverse-related products and leveraging its vast user base across Facebook, Instagram, and Oculus to enhance engagement [6] - Electronic Arts (EA) competes for user engagement through its popular franchises like EA Sports and The Sims, targeting similar demographics as Roblox [7][8] Group 4: Financial Metrics and Valuation - Roblox's stock has decreased by 50.4% over the past six months, compared to a 26.1% decline in the industry [9] - The stock is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 4.72X, significantly above the industry average of 2.16X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Roblox's 2026 loss per share has improved to $1.61 from $1.76 over the past month [15]

Core Insights - Rigetti Computing (RGTI) is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on March 4, 2026, which is anticipated to be a crucial update for investors assessing the company's recent commercial achievements and technical progress [1][9] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, RGTI's revenue fell by 18% year-over-year to $1.9 million, with a significant reduction in gross margin to 21% due to contract mix and pricing variability [1][2] - The company has secured $5.7 million in Novera system purchase orders and a $5.8 million AFRL contract, which are expected to positively impact fourth-quarter revenue [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigetti's 2026 earnings suggests a substantial 74.3% improvement compared to the previous year [12] Strategic Developments - Rigetti has revised the timeline for the general availability of its 108-qubit quantum computing system, Cepheus-1-108Q, now aiming for availability by the end of Q1 2026 [3] - Investors should monitor updates regarding DARPA Phase B engagement and developments related to NVIDIA's NVQLink hybrid computing ecosystem [4] Market Position and Valuation - Rigetti's shares have increased by 7.4% over the last six months, contrasting with an 18.2% decline in the industry [8] - The company currently has a price-to-book ratio of 14.13, which is above the industry average, and carries a Value Score of F [11]