Core Viewpoint - The focus on dividend stocks is increasing as the U.S. Federal Reserve announced another rate cut, prompting investors to consider stocks that offer dividends and potential capital appreciation for enhanced total returns [1] Valero Energy (VLO) - Valero Energy returned $1.3 billion to stockholders in Q3 2025, comprising $351 million in dividends and $931 million in share repurchases [3] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend of $4.52 and a yield of 2.7% [3] - Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta reiterated a buy rating on VLO and raised the price target to $197 from $180, citing strong refining margins and a constructive refining outlook [4] - Management's focus on capital returns and excess free cash flow allocation is expected to support approximately $4.6 billion in capital returns in 2026, implying a 9% capital return yield [6] Albertsons Companies (ACI) - Albertsons reported strong second-quarter results for fiscal 2025, driven by robust pharmacy sales and digital business [7] - The company announced a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, with an annualized dividend of 60 cents per share, yielding 3.3% [7] - Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth reiterated a buy rating on ACI and increased the price target to $29 from $28, highlighting growth through AI-powered digital sales and a high-margin retail media platform [8] - ACI's loyalty program, For U, saw membership increase by over 13% year-over-year, enhancing digital engagement and spending growth [10] - Albertsons is enhancing shareholder returns through ongoing dividend increases and a $750 million accelerated share repurchase authorization [11] Williams Companies (WMB) - Williams announced a quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share, reflecting a 5.3% year-over-year increase, with an annualized dividend of $2 per share and a yield of 3.5% [12] - RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a buy rating on WMB with a price forecast of $75, citing the need for more energy infrastructure driven by rising power demand [13] - Scotto expects WMB to achieve a CAGR of about 10% in EBITDA from 2025 through 2030, with significant growth anticipated in Q3 2025 across all business segments [14] - The upcoming February analyst day is viewed as a potential catalyst for WMB, with expectations of an increase in EBITDA growth targets [15]

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is one of the 10 Stocks Under $20 to Buy According to Analysts. On October 20, Tigress Financial Partners increased its price target on Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) from $28 to $29 and kept a Buy rating. This decision came after Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) shared strong results for Q2 fiscal year 2025. The company reported steady sales growth, better profitability, and progress in its digital transformation investments. Is Albertsons Companies (ACI ...

Core Insights - Longleaf Partners Fund reported a return of -0.33% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's 8.12% and the Russell 1000 Value's 5.33% [1] - The fund focuses on investments in real assets and brands that generate growing free cash flow (FCF) per share, with an expectation that the FCF multiple could rise from ~10x to the mid-teens [1] Company Overview: Albertsons Companies, Inc. - Albertsons Companies, Inc. is a US-based supermarket operator with a market capitalization of $10.385 billion and a stock price of $19.06 per share as of October 23, 2025 [2] - The stock experienced a one-month return of 7.72% and a 52-week gain of 2.74% [2] Investment Strategy and Performance - Longleaf Partners Fund increased its position in Albertsons during Q3 2025 after a quarterly earnings report that met expectations but did not excite the market [3] - The company has been actively repurchasing shares at a high single-digit annualized pace, which is viewed positively by the fund [3] - Despite competitive pressures from Amazon's grocery initiatives, Albertsons maintains a strong market position due to its real estate, brand recognition, and alignment with owners [3] - Following the quarter, Albertsons reported solid results and announced a significant accelerated share repurchase, enhancing value per share [3]

Albertsons Companies Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is one of the best large cap stocks to buy under $20. On October 15, Bank of America analyst Robert Ohmes lowered the firm’s price target on Albertsons to $22 from $24 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares. This announcement was made as BofA raised its FY2026 adjusted EPS view by $0.03 to $2.13, which is in line with updated guidance after Q2 2025 earnings came in ahead of forecasts. Bank of America Lowers Albertsons (ACI) PT to $22 Despite Q2 Earnings Beat However, ...

ESTERO, Fla., Oct. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visory Health, a patient-first health tech prescription platform that is transforming the way veterans, families and caregivers access affordable healthcare through its prescription discount card, today announced a new collaboration with Albertsons® Companies, Inc., a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. This collaboration expands Visory Health’s growing network of retail and pharmacy partners, which already includes Kroger, Food Lion and other ...

When corporate insiders – executives, directors, or major shareholders – sell large chunks of their holdings, investors often read it as a red flag. ...

Core Insights - Three major companies in technology, consumer staples, and financial sectors have announced significant updates to their buyback plans, indicating strong confidence in their business outlook and presenting potential investment opportunities Group 1: Salesforce (CRM) - Salesforce plans to accelerate its buyback program, intending to spend $7 billion on repurchases over the next two quarters, which represents a 50% increase from its average buyback spending of around $2 billion over the past three years [5] - The company expects to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 10% in revenue from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2030, following a projected growth of 8.5% to 9% in fiscal 2026, which is at its lowest growth rate in a decade [3][4] - Salesforce's stock has faced challenges in 2025, but the recent announcements have improved its outlook significantly [3] Group 2: Albertsons Companies (ACI) - Albertsons reported a 2% sales growth in fiscal Q2 2026, which met expectations, while adjusted EPS fell by 14% to 44 cents, surpassing the consensus forecast of 40 cents [7][8] - The company announced a $750 million accelerated share repurchase program, aiming to reduce its outstanding share count by 12% compared to the beginning of fiscal 2026, with an additional $1.3 billion in repurchase capacity [9] - Despite a challenging second half of 2025, Albertsons' stock surged nearly 14% post-earnings release, reflecting improved investor sentiment and management's confidence in future growth [8][9] Group 3: Synchrony Financial (SYF) - Synchrony Financial reported flat revenues in Q3 2025 but saw a 47% increase in EPS to $2.84, exceeding consensus estimates by 64 cents [11] - The company announced a $1 billion addition to its share buyback program, bringing its total buyback capacity to $2.1 billion, which is approximately 8.1% of its market capitalization [11][12] - Improved credit quality of Synchrony's loans, with declining delinquency rates and net charge-offs, enhances its outlook amid concerns in the regional banking sector [13]

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stablecoins will likely play a pivotal role in advancing global financial infrastructure and economic growth, said David Malpass, former president of the World Bank, in a keynote address at the Payments Unleashed summit in New York City. Malpass described stablecoins as a "foundational element in bridging conventional banking and payment systems with emerging digital financial technologies." He emphasized the necessity of robust regulatory frameworks to ensure the int. ...

Core Thesis - Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) is viewed as a compelling defensive investment opportunity in a high-priced market, currently trading at $17.35, with attractive valuation metrics compared to peers like Kroger and Weis [2][5] Valuation Metrics - ACI's trailing and forward P/E ratios are 10.58 and 8.26 respectively, indicating a lower valuation compared to competitors [1] - The company is trading below 11x 2024 earnings and has an EV/Sales ratio of 0.2, making it attractively valued [2] Catalysts for Upside - The failed acquisition by Kroger resulted in a potential $600 million breakup fee, equating to roughly 6% of ACI's stock price, providing immediate value to shareholders [3] - An authorized share repurchase program of up to $2 billion, representing around 20% of outstanding shares, has already seen 14.2 million shares repurchased at $22 for $314.8 million, with potential for accelerated repurchases at current lower prices [3] - The decline in 2024 earnings to $1.64 from $2.23 in 2023 is attributed to one-time costs from the failed merger, suggesting normalized earnings could support a fair value of $28–$30 per share, indicating over 60% upside [4] Additional Upside Factors - Potential for further upside from the breakup fee, additional share repurchases, operational leverage post-merger costs, and strategic interest as identified by Goldman Sachs, which lists Albertsons as a top M&A candidate with a 15–30% probability [5] - The combination of these factors positions Albertsons as an undervalued, cash-generative, and defensive investment with multiple levers for significant shareholder returns [5]

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is included among the 11 High-Yield Dividend Stocks for Steady Cash Flow. Tigress Financial Lifts Albertsons’ (ACI) Price Target Following Strong Q2 Results Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is o⁠ne of the largest gro‍cer‌y reta‌ilers in the US, operating across 34 states and Washington, D.C. T‌he brand has b‌ecome a familiar name for many shoppers and rem⁠ai‍ns one of the top choic⁠es‍ for groceries in most major cities. O ...