Core Insights - EPAM Systems, Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter results for 2025, with earnings of $3.26 per share, exceeding estimates by 3.16% and reflecting a 14.8% increase from the previous year [1][9] - The company's fourth-quarter revenues reached $1.41 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.39 billion, and showing a year-over-year growth of 12.8% driven by advancements in artificial intelligence [2][9] Financial Performance - Revenue growth was observed across all industry verticals except for Business Information & Media, with Financial Services generating $336.4 million (up 19.8% year-over-year) and Consumer Goods, Retail & Travel at $277.9 million (up 10.9% year-over-year) [3][4] - Software & Hi-Tech revenues were $214.9 million (up 18.1% year-over-year), while Life Sciences & Healthcare revenues increased to $155 million (up 2% year-over-year) [4] - Non-GAAP gross profit rose 11% year-over-year to $446.8 million, with a gross margin of 31.7%, down 50 basis points [5] - Non-GAAP operating income increased by 10.5% year-over-year to $230 million, with an operating margin of 15.2%, down 150 basis points [5] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of December 31, 2025, EPAM had cash and cash equivalents of $1.3 billion, an increase from $1.24 billion as of September 30, 2025, with long-term debt at $25 million [6] - The company generated operating cash flow of $282.9 million and free cash flow of $268.1 million in the fourth quarter, totaling $654.9 million and $612.7 million for the full year, respectively [6] Guidance - For Q1 2026, EPAM expects revenues between $1.385 billion and $1.400 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 7% at the midpoint, with organic constant currency growth anticipated at 2.9% [7][10] - GAAP diluted EPS is projected to be between $1.32 and $1.40, while non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected in the range of $2.70 to $2.78 [8][10] - For the full year 2026, revenue growth is anticipated to be between 4.5% and 7.5%, with organic constant-currency growth expected to be in the range of 3% to 6% [10][11]

Core Insights - Reliance, Inc. reported profits of $116.5 million or $2.22 per share for Q4 2025, an increase from $105.3 million or $1.93 per share in the same quarter last year, but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.80 per share [1] - The company achieved net sales of $3,498.6 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 11.9%, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,382.4 million [1] Segment Performance - Shipments increased by 5.8% year-over-year to 1,528.7 thousand tons, exceeding the estimate of 1,522.5 thousand tons, with the average selling price per ton rising 5.6% to $2,292, above the estimate of $2,271 [2] - Demand for non-residential construction, Reliance's largest end market, strengthened compared to Q4 2024, with expectations for continued healthy demand through Q1 2026 due to investments in data centers and public infrastructure [3] - The broader manufacturing market saw improved demand year-over-year, driven by growth in military, industrial machinery, and construction machinery sectors, with expectations for continued strength in Q1 [4] - Aerospace demand increased compared to the prior-year quarter, with expectations for consistent commercial aerospace demand in Q1 due to build-rate increases [5] - Demand for automotive toll processing services remained flat year-over-year, with steady performance expected in Q1, influenced by North American trade policy [6] - The semiconductor market experienced soft demand relative to Q4 2024, with elevated inventory levels impacting activity, and these headwinds are expected to persist into Q1 [7] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, Reliance held $216.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, with total outstanding debt of $1.43 billion, including $277 million borrowed under a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility [8] - The company generated $276.1 million in operating cash flow during Q4, demonstrating strong cash flow generation across various market conditions [8] - Reliance repurchased approximately 716,000 shares of common stock in Q4 at an average price of $279.30 per share, totaling $200.1 million [9] Outlook - Reliance anticipates healthy demand across diverse end markets in Q1, projecting a 5% to 7% increase in tons sold from the prior quarter [12] - The average selling price per ton is expected to rise by 3% to 5% sequentially, with a modest improvement in FIFO gross profit margin anticipated [13] - The company forecasts adjusted earnings per share in the range of $4.50 to $4.70 for Q1, accounting for an estimated LIFO expense of $25 million [13] Stock Performance - Reliance's shares have gained 11.2% over the past year, compared to the industry growth of 44.8% [14]

Zacks Investment Research has recently initiated coverage of Q.E.P. Co., Inc. (QEPC) , assigning a "Neutral" recommendation to the company's shares. This assessment comes amid a mixed outlook for the company, which has been making notable strides in the flooring installation solutions space despite industry challenges.QEP, based in Boca Raton, FL, is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of flooring installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects. QEPC offers a broad portfolio of spec ...

Core Viewpoint - Zacks Investment Research has initiated coverage of Iveda Solutions, Inc. (IVDA) with a "Neutral" recommendation, indicating a balanced risk-reward profile as the company aims to convert backlog into sustainable profitability while managing geographic and customer concentration risks [1] Company Overview - Iveda Solutions, headquartered in Mesa, AZ, provides AI-driven video surveillance and IoT technologies supporting smart city and digital transformation initiatives, with offerings including intelligent video analytics, the Cerebro IoT platform, smart poles, power solutions, drones, sensors, body cameras, and health monitoring systems [2] - The company primarily operates in the United States and Taiwan, with Taiwan accounting for 85% of total revenues projected for 2024 [2] Financial Performance - For 2024, consolidated revenues are projected at $6 million, reflecting a 7% decrease year over year, with equipment sales and installation comprising 93% of revenues and services making up 7% [3] - In the first nine months of 2025, the company raised $2.7 million through an equity program and an additional $2.2 million in October, increasing cash and equivalents to $3.3 million as of September 30, 2025, which extends operational runway [4] - Total operating expenses decreased by approximately $810,000 year over year in the first nine months of 2025, narrowing the operating loss to $1.6 million from $2.5 million in the prior year, while gross profit improved to $1.25 million with a gross margin expansion to 31% from 17% [5] Growth Drivers - The company is developing a modest but growing services stream, which may help stabilize revenue volatility over time, enhancing visibility and supporting margin stability [6] Challenges - Iveda remains unprofitable and is dependent on the timing of equipment shipments, installations, and milestone approvals, leading to potential revenue volatility [7] - Customer concentration is significant, with two customers representing a large portion of 2025 revenues, and the company's geographic exposure to Taiwan is high [7] - Working capital fluctuations and potential future financing needs introduce uncertainty regarding the path to sustained profitability [7] Valuation - Shares have declined significantly over the past year, trading at 0.53X trailing 12-month P/B and 0.22X EV/EBITDA, both below industry and broader market averages, indicating a compressed valuation [8]

Medical Properties (MPT) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.18 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.15 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.18 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an FFO surprise of +20.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this health care real estate investment trust would post FFO of $0.16 per share when it actually produced FFO of $0.13, delivering a surprise of -18.75%.Over ...

Key Takeaways Oil's sharp rise lifted leveraged ETFs like UCO, ERX and GUSH on bullish energy momentum.Supply disruption fears from geopolitical tensions drove short-term gains in crude-linked funds.Leveraged ETFs amplify daily moves, making them attractive but higher-risk tactical trades.Oil prices jumped more than 4% on Feb. 18, 2026 after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Iran failed to meet key American demands during recent nuclear negotiations and warned that military action remains an option if diplo ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the contrasting investment opportunities in the AI-robotics sector, focusing on Serve Robotics Inc. (SERV) as a niche player in autonomous delivery and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) as a dominant AI infrastructure provider [1][2]. Group 1: Serve Robotics (SERV) - Serve Robotics is experiencing significant growth, having deployed over 1,000 robots, marking a transition from experimentation to operational execution [2]. - The company is expanding its partner ecosystem, supporting deliveries for thousands of restaurants and increasing its addressable market through partnerships with major delivery platforms [3]. - Serve Robotics is leveraging technology to build a proprietary urban data set that enhances its AI capabilities, with the acquisition of Vayu Robotics expected to accelerate data conversion into improved AI models [4]. - Despite operational progress, Serve Robotics is still in an investment phase, incurring substantial operating losses and facing execution risks that could delay financial improvements [5]. Group 2: NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) - NVIDIA dominates the AI infrastructure market, reporting record revenue growth driven by high demand for data center computing and networking, with GPU utilization at full capacity [6]. - The company is expected to see strong growth in fiscal 2027, with a projected year-over-year sales increase of 46.8% and earnings per share growth of 57% [12]. - NVIDIA's product development is advancing rapidly, with the Blackwell platform and upcoming Rubin architecture expected to significantly enhance performance [8]. - The company's full-stack ecosystem positions it uniquely in the AI market, benefiting from widespread adoption across cloud platforms and robotics applications [9]. Group 3: Investment Comparison - NVIDIA is viewed as a more stable investment option due to its scale, profitability, and lower execution risk compared to Serve Robotics, which is still in a heavy investment phase [20]. - SERV stock has declined by 28.3% over the past year, while NVDA shares have increased by 34.1% during the same period [13]. - The forward price-to-sales ratio for SERV is 23.54X, below its historical median, while NVDA's ratio is 14.47X, above its median, indicating differing valuations [16].

Key Takeaways Macerich posted Q4 FFO of $0.48 per share, topping estimates and up from $0.47 a year ago.MAC signed 1.4M sq. ft. of leases; re-leasing spreads rose 6.7% for a 17th straight positive quarter.Macerich revenues fell 4.4%, while occupancy dipped to 94% despite higher tenant sales per sq. ft.The Macerich Company (MAC) reported fourth-quarter 2025 funds from operations (FFO), excluding financing expense in connection with Chandler Freehold, accrued default interest expense and gain on non-real esta ...

Key Takeaways Netflix guides for 12-14% 2026 revenue growth and a 31.5% operating margin target.NFLX expects ad revenues to double to $3B, with free cash flow near $6B in 2026.Comcast saw EBITDA fall 10% as Peacock losses widened to $552M in Q4.Netflix (NFLX) and Comcast (CMCSA) are two prominent American media companies competing for audience share in an evolving entertainment landscape. Netflix is a pure-play streaming giant with more than 300 million paid members globally, while Comcast spans broadband, ...

Key Takeaways Delta Air Lines beat Q4 2025 Earnings and revenue estimates, and outperformed AAL's shares. DAL benefits from strong international demand and plans 30 Boeing 787-10 jets for growth.American Airlines faces high debt, rising labor costs and guides Q1 2026 loss. Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines (AAL)  are two well-known names in the Zacks Transportation- Airline industry. Delta, based in Atlanta, GA, is a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. DAL is known for its exte ...