Core Insights - The article highlights Steven Cress's role as VP of Quantitative Strategy and Market Data at Seeking Alpha, emphasizing his contributions to the platform's quantitative stock rating system and analytical tools designed to assist investors in making informed decisions [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Seeking Alpha has developed a quantitative stock rating system that interprets data for investors, aiming to save time and provide insights on investment directions [1]. - The platform offers a systematic stock recommendation tool called Alpha Picks, which is designed for long-term investors to build a high-quality portfolio [1]. Group 2: Leadership and Experience - Steven Cress has over 30 years of experience in equity research, quantitative strategies, and portfolio management, positioning him as an expert in various investment topics [4]. - Prior to joining Seeking Alpha, Cress founded CressCap Investment Research, which was acquired by Seeking Alpha in 2018, and he also established the quant hedge fund Cress Capital Management [3]. Group 3: Investment Philosophy - Cress is dedicated to eliminating emotional biases from investment decisions by employing a data-driven approach that utilizes sophisticated algorithms and technologies [2]. - The investment research process is simplified through a daily updated grading system for stock trading recommendations, making it more accessible for investors [2].

Steven Cress Background and Expertise - Steven Cress is the VP of Quantitative Strategy and Market Data at Seeking Alpha, responsible for creating the platform's quantitative stock rating system and analytical tools [1] - He is the Founder and Co-Manager of Alpha Picks, a systematic stock recommendation tool aimed at helping long-term investors build high-quality portfolios [1] - Steven Cress has over 30 years of experience in equity research, quantitative strategies, and portfolio management, making him a seasoned expert in investment topics [4] Data-Driven Investment Approach - Steven Cress emphasizes removing emotional biases from investment decisions by utilizing a data-driven approach [2] - He leverages sophisticated algorithms and technologies to simplify complex investment research, offering a daily updated grading system for stock trading recommendations [2] Career History and Achievements - Steven Cress was the Founder and CEO of CressCap Investment Research, which was acquired by Seeking Alpha in 2018 for its exceptional quantitative analysis and market data capabilities [3] - Prior to CressCap, he founded the quant hedge fund Cress Capital Management and held significant roles at Morgan Stanley and Northern Trust, including running a proprietary trading desk and leading international business development [3]

Project Backlog and Revenues - Consolidated project backlog as of October 31, 2024, was $0.8 billion, primarily from the power industry services segment[113] - Approximately 60.0% of the project backlog at October 31, 2024, related to renewable energy projects[115] - Revenues from renewable energy projects accounted for 42.7% and 38.7% of power industry services segment revenues for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2024, respectively[115] - TRC's project backlog decreased to $66.4 million as of October 31, 2024, from $127.5 million on January 31, 2024, but revenues increased to $134.7 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $101.5 million in the prior year[130] Project Completion and Development - The 405 MW Midwest Solar Project is scheduled for completion in the first half of fiscal year 2027[119] - The Trumbull Energy Center, a 950 MW natural gas-fired power plant, is expected to be completed in the last quarter of fiscal 2026[120] - The Midwest Solar and Battery Projects, totaling 160 MW of electrical power and 22 MW of energy storage, are expected to be completed between the last quarter of fiscal 2025 and the first half of fiscal 2026[121] - The Louisiana LNG Facility project, involving the installation of five 90 MW gas turbines, is scheduled for completion in fiscal 2026[122] - The Shannonbridge Power Project, with a capacity of 264 MW, achieved substantial completion in March 2024[123] - The ESB FlexGen Peaker Plants, totaling 195 MW, achieved substantial completion during the quarter ended October 31, 2024[124] Renewable Energy and Electricity Generation - Utility-scale solar and wind facilities provided 12%, 13%, and 15% of U.S. electricity generation in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively[137] - 71% of the 62.8 gigawatts of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity planned for 2024 is expected to come from solar and wind facilities[138] - The Irish government aims to generate 80% of the country's electricity from renewables by 2030, requiring new support technologies and conventional generation[156] - The U.K. government, under Prime Minister Keri Starmer, is accelerating the transition to renewable energy while acknowledging the role of gas as a transitional fuel[157] Financial Performance - Consolidated revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2024, increased by 56.9% to $257.0 million compared to $163.8 million in the same period in 2023[164] - Power industry services revenues increased by 74.9% to $212.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024, driven by increased construction activities[165] - Industrial Construction Services segment revenue increased by $2.9 million (7.6%) to $41.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $38.4 million in the same period last year[168] - Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segment revenue decreased by $0.4 million (11.1%) to $3.6 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024[169] - Consolidated cost of revenues increased by 47.2% to $212.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $144.5 million in the same period last year[170] - Consolidated gross profit increased to $44.3 million (17.2% of revenues) for the three months ended October 31, 2024, up from $19.2 million (11.7% of revenues) in the same period last year[171][172] - Net income for the three months ended October 31, 2024, was $28.0 million ($2.00 per diluted share), compared to $5.5 million ($0.40 per diluted share) in the same period last year[179] - Consolidated revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, increased by $232.9 million (57.0%) to $641.7 million, compared to $408.8 million in the same period last year[180] - Power Industry Services segment revenue increased by $199.3 million (67.1%) to $496.1 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $296.8 million in the same period last year[181] - Consolidated gross profit for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $93.4 million (14.6% of revenues), up from $57.2 million (14.0% of revenues) in the same period last year[188] - Net income for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $54.1 million ($3.91 per diluted share), compared to $20.3 million ($1.50 per diluted share) in the same period last year[196] - EBITDA for the three months ended October 31, 2024, was $37.5 million, compared to $12.2 million for the same period in 2023[215] - EBITDA for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $74.2 million, compared to $33.8 million for the same period in 2023[217] Liquidity and Investments - Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $21.7 million to $175.3 million as of October 31, 2024, compared to $197.0 million as of January 31, 2024[197] - Net liquidity increased by $36.1 million to $281.0 million as of October 31, 2024, compared to $244.9 million as of January 31, 2024[202] - Total investments in CDs, U.S. Treasury notes, and corporate debt securities amounted to approximately $330.9 million as of October 31, 2024[201] - The New Credit Agreement reduces the base lending commitment from $50.0 million to $35.0 million and includes an accordion feature allowing for an additional $30.0 million[203] Obligations and Guarantees - The company's unsatisfied bonded performance obligations were approximately $0.3 billion as of October 31, 2024[210] - Outstanding bonds covering warranty obligations and contract payment retentions were $22.9 million as of October 31, 2024[210] - The company made a final $3.3 million cash payment to a solar tax credit entity during the nine months ended October 31, 2024[212] - The company provided a financial guarantee of up to $3.6 million in support of business development efforts[211] Regulatory and Market Conditions - The Vogtle Units 3 and 4 nuclear reactors entered commercial operations in July 2023 and April 2024, respectively, with costs more than twice initial estimates[139] - The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes tax subsidies conditioned on "buy American" and prevailing wage requirements, potentially limiting economic incentives[140] - The EPA issued final rules requiring coal-fired power plants operating beyond 2039 to reduce carbon emissions by 90% by 2032[143] - PJM's capacity auction for the 2025/2026 delivery year resulted in a price of $269.92/MW-day, a significant increase from the previous auction's $28.92/MW-day[152]

Financial Performance - Consolidated revenues for Q3 FY2025 were $257.0 million, a 57% increase from $163.8 million in Q3 FY2024[7] - Net income for Q3 FY2025 was $28.0 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year[11] - EBITDA for Q3 FY2025 increased to $37.5 million from $12.2 million in Q3 FY2024[11] - Revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2024, were $257,008 thousand, a 57.0% increase from $163,755 thousand for the same period in 2023[25] - Net income for the three months ended October 31, 2024, was $28,010 thousand, compared to $5,464 thousand for the same period in 2023, representing a 412.5% increase[25] - EBITDA for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $74,241 thousand, a 120.0% increase from $33,774 thousand in the same period of 2023[31] Profitability Metrics - The gross profit for Q3 FY2025 was approximately $44.3 million, representing a gross margin of 17.2%, up from 11.7% in Q3 FY2024[8] - The gross profit for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $93.4 million, with a gross margin of 14.6%, compared to 14.0% in the same period last year[14] - Gross profit for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $93,376 thousand, up 63.3% from $57,201 thousand in the prior year[25] Expenses and Income - Selling, general and administrative expenses for Q3 FY2025 were $14.0 million, representing 5.4% of revenues, down from 6.9% in Q3 FY2024[9] - The company reported other income of $6.6 million for Q3 FY2025, reflecting income earned on invested funds[10] Cash and Assets - Cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $506.3 million as of October 31, 2024, up from $412.4 million at the end of January 2024[12] - Total current assets increased to $717,141 thousand as of October 31, 2024, from $547,179 thousand as of January 31, 2024, reflecting a 30.9% growth[28] Liabilities and Equity - Total liabilities rose to $440,160 thousand as of October 31, 2024, compared to $307,290 thousand as of January 31, 2024, indicating a 43.1% increase[27] - The total stockholders' equity increased to $328,704 thousand as of October 31, 2024, from $290,939 thousand as of January 31, 2024, reflecting a 12.9% growth[29] Dividends and Shares - Cash dividends per share increased to $0.375 for the three months ended October 31, 2024, up from $0.300 in the same period of 2023[25] - The weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended October 31, 2024, were 13,530 thousand, compared to 13,328 thousand for the same period in 2023[25] Project Backlog - The project backlog at the end of Q3 FY2025 was $800 million, a 6% increase compared to the beginning of FY2025[5] Comprehensive Income - The company reported a comprehensive income of $26,394 thousand for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $4,155 thousand for the same period in 2023[25]

Group 1 - Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) has been experiencing significant interest from investors, particularly following a bullish article published in August 2023 [1] - The company is recognized for its strong performance in the energy infrastructure sector, particularly in oil and natural gas [1] Group 2 - Crude Value Insights provides an investing service focused on cash flow and growth prospects in the oil and natural gas industry [1] - Subscribers benefit from a comprehensive stock model account, detailed cash flow analyses of exploration and production firms, and live discussions about the sector [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the perspective of an income-oriented investor who focuses on high-yield income stocks and funds to support retirement lifestyle [1] Investment Strategy - The investor primarily seeks dividend-paying income stocks and funds, including Business Development Companies (BDCs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Closed-End Funds (CEFs), and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) [1] - The goal is to increase retirement income beyond pension and Social Security benefits [1] Market Interest - The investor expresses a keen interest in reading investment and financial information, as well as following trends in technology and markets [1] - There is a noted fascination with the human psychology of markets, indicating a holistic approach to understanding market dynamics [1]

Core Viewpoint - Argan's stock experienced a 4% decline following a downgrade from a buy to a hold recommendation by analyst Rob Brown, despite an increase in the price target from $85 to $150 per share [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Recommendation and Market Reaction - The downgrade by Lake Street Capital Markets led to a sell-off, resulting in a worse performance compared to the S&P 500 index, which had a marginal gain of less than 0.1% [1]. - The analyst believes that Argan's stock, which has increased by 220% year to date, is now fairly valued [3]. Group 2: Company Performance and Growth Potential - Argan is expected to secure numerous large contracts in the power solutions sector, particularly in electric vehicles and data centers, which will drive significant growth in revenue and EBITDA [4]. - Despite the growth opportunities, the stock is considered pricey with a price-to-sales ratio of almost 3 and a price-to-book value of 6.8 [5]. Group 3: Valuation Concerns - The current valuation metrics suggest that while there is potential for further increases, caution is advised for investors in a long bull run [5][6].

Group 1 - The company focuses on two main types of investment situations: deep value stocks poised for growth and investment trends triggered by global changes [1] - Understanding change is crucial as it often signifies the start of a new trend, which the company aims to capitalize on [1] - The research process involves detailed analysis of companies and themes, including insights from industry experts and management [1] Group 2 - The investment concepts developed can be either micro or macro in nature, with an emphasis on understanding the situation better than competitors [1] - The company has a strong academic background with a double bachelor's degree in finance and law, and has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 since the inception of its fund [1] - The motivation for publishing on platforms like Seeking Alpha includes generating constructive criticism of investment ideas and seeking the truth in a landscape filled with opinions [1]

Argan's (NYSE: AGX ) topline grew more than 50% in the first half of the year after strong double-digit growth in FY24, as it experienced strength across all the segments. This strong growth in the first half justifies theAs a finance enthusiast with years of experience in research, I am deeply engaged in studying diverse businesses, especially in the technology, industrial, and conglomerate sectors. I really like companies that have strong foundations and see them doing well in the long run. I enjoy writin ...

Argan may be that rarest of beasts: a dividend stock that's also a value and growth-at-a-reasonable-price (GARP) stock.Shares of power plant construction company Argan (AGX 7.09%) hit a 52-week high earlier this month after the company reported powerful sales and earnings growth in its fiscal second quarter. The stock is climbing again on Thursday afternoon, up 6.6% through 12:10 p.m. ET, for an entirely different reason.Argan is increasing its dividend.How much is Argan's dividend?Argan hasn't ever been a ...