Core Insights - The Allstate Holiday Driver Report identifies hazardous winter driving periods and provides data-driven tips and tools for safer driving during the holiday season [1][2] Driving Risks and City Rankings - Allstate's analysis reveals that winter conditions significantly increase driving risks, with cities experiencing dramatic shifts in safety rankings from November to March [3][4] - Madison, Wisconsin, experiences the largest drop in safety ranking, falling 128 spots from 9th to 137th, while several Florida cities also see significant declines [4] Impact of Holiday Traffic - Warm-weather states, particularly Arizona and Florida, see a surge in out-of-state drivers during the holidays, with Phoenix traffic nearly doubling and Orlando increasing by 75% [5][6] - The increase in out-of-state drivers leads to unfamiliar routes and higher crash risks, emphasizing the need for careful planning [7] Peak Risk Behaviors - Risky driving behaviors peak during the holiday season, with phone use increasing by 10% on New Year's Eve, speeding rising by 10% the weekend before Christmas, and hard braking spiking on Christmas Eve [12][8] - December 26 is noted as the busiest day for roadside service events, highlighting the increased likelihood of breakdowns during this period [9] Allstate Mobile App Features - The Allstate mobile app offers tools such as crash detection and safe-driving insights to help drivers navigate winter conditions safely [10][11] - Recommendations for winter preparation include checking batteries, inspecting tires, and packing emergency kits to prevent breakdowns [10]

Financial Performance - Allstate's property-liability insurance premiums reached $56.839 billion, an increase of 8.2% year-over-year [4] - Net investment income increased by 18.4% to $3.390 billion [4] - Total revenues grew by 7.1% to $66.846 billion [4] - Net income applicable to common shareholders increased significantly by 100.9% to $8.261 billion [4] - Adjusted net income increased by 72.8% to $7.578 billion [4] - Adjusted net income return on equity was 34.7%, an increase of 8.6 percentage points [4] Market Share and Growth Strategy - Allstate is implementing a transformative growth plan initiated in 2019 to increase property-liability market share [9, 10] - The company increased marketing investments to $2.2 billion over the last 12 months, compared to $0.9 billion in 2019 [15] - Allstate has expanded distribution and product offerings, with new issued applications increasing significantly in exclusive agent (2x higher) and independent agent (2.4x higher) channels compared to 2019 [16] Operational Improvements - Allstate has reduced its adjusted expense ratio by 6.7 percentage points since 2018 [19] - The company has implemented a direct channel discount of 7-8% [19] Technology and Innovation - Allstate is leveraging its Large Language Intelligent Ecosystem (ALLIE) to enhance business performance, including a 45% reduction in policy billing inquiries [24, 25] - 15% of new coding is handled by AI [25] - 100% of claims adjuster emails are reviewed or generated by AI [25]

Group 1 - The Macquarie Value Fund executed four full-position sales and purchases during Q3 2025 [2] - The Fund sold its position in Conagra Brands Inc. (CAG) [2]

Core Viewpoint - Allstate's third-quarter earnings exceeded expectations, driven by growth in premiums and investment income, despite some challenges in its protection services unit [2][3]. Financial Performance - Adjusted net income for Q3 2025 was $11.17 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 36.2%, and significantly up from $3.91 a year ago [2]. - Operating revenues increased by 3.8% year over year to $17 billion, although this fell short of the consensus estimate by 2% [2]. - Total costs and expenses decreased by 13.5% year over year to $13.2 billion, attributed to lower insurance claims and catastrophe losses, which dropped to $558 million from $1.7 billion a year ago [5]. Segment Performance - Property and casualty insurance premiums rose by 6.4% year over year to $15.3 billion, while the Property-Liability segment's premiums earned increased by 6.1% to $14.5 billion [4][7]. - The Protection Services segment reported revenues of $902 million, a 9.7% increase year over year, but adjusted net income decreased to $46 million from $58 million [8]. Investment Income - Net investment income reached $949 million, a 21.2% increase year over year, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $832 million [4]. - Market-based investment income grew by 10.2% year over year to $780 million [4]. Financial Position - As of September 30, 2025, Allstate had a cash balance of $931 million, total assets of $120.4 billion, and total equity of $27.5 billion, reflecting a significant increase from the previous year [9]. - Book value per common share was $95.95, up 36.4% year over year [9]. Market Outlook - Estimates for Allstate have been trending upward, with a consensus estimate shift of 12.31% in the past month, leading to a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [10][12]. - The stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A, indicating strong performance across growth, momentum, and value metrics [11].

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the he ...

Core Insights - Three stocks with strong growth characteristics and buy ranks are highlighted for investors to consider on December 4 Group 1: Allstate Corporation (ALL) - Allstate Corporation is an insurance company with a Zacks Rank 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 29.3% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.39, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.71 [1] - Allstate possesses a Growth Score of B [1] Group 2: Sanmina Corporation (SANM) - Sanmina Corporation is a global provider of electronics contract manufacturing services with a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 38.9% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.64 compared to the industry average of 1.81 [2] - Sanmina possesses a Growth Score of A [2] Group 3: Commercial Metals Company (CMC) - Commercial Metals Company is involved in steel manufacturing and recycling, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 24.4% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.42, lower than the industry average of 0.71 [3] - Commercial Metals possesses a Growth Score of B [3]

Core Insights - The Allstate Corporation, based in Northbrook, Illinois, is a major player in the property and casualty insurance market, with a market capitalization of $55 billion and significant operations in the United States and Canada [1][2]. Company Performance - Allstate is the fourth-largest property and casualty insurer and the second-largest home insurance provider in the U.S., justifying its large-cap status [2]. - The stock reached an all-time high of $215.89 on November 21 and is currently trading 3.2% below that peak, with a 2.7% increase over the past three months, lagging behind the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 4.8% gains [3]. - Year-to-date, Allstate's stock has gained 8.4% and 2.2% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming compared to the Dow's 11.6% and 6% returns, respectively [4]. - Following the release of Q3 results on November 5, Allstate's stock rose 1.7%, driven by a 3.8% year-over-year increase in topline revenue to $17.3 billion and a remarkable 185.7% year-over-year increase in adjusted EPS to $11.17, surpassing consensus estimates by 36.2% [5]. Competitive Position - Allstate has slightly outperformed its peer, Chubb Limited, with YTD gains of 8.4% compared to Chubb's 6.6% and 1.6% returns over the past year [6]. - Among 23 analysts covering Allstate, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $240.45, indicating a potential upside of 15.1% [6].

Group 1: Allstate Corporation - Allstate Corporation is an insurance company with a Zacks Rank 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 30.3% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.40, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.70 [1] - Allstate possesses a Growth Score of B [1] Group 2: Sanmina Corporation - Sanmina Corporation is a global provider of electronics contract manufacturing services with a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 38.9% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.64, compared to the industry average of 1.96 [2] - Sanmina possesses a Growth Score of A [2] Group 3: Commercial Metals Company - Commercial Metals Company is involved in steel manufacturing and recycling, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 24.4% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.42, lower than the industry average of 0.69 [3] - Commercial Metals possesses a Growth Score of B [3]

Core Insights - In times of market volatility, investors are increasingly turning to value investing as a strategy to capitalize on discounted stock prices when others are selling [1][3] Value Investment Strategy - Value investing allows investors to purchase stocks at lower prices during market uncertainty, presenting opportunities for long-term gains [1] - The strategy can lead to "value traps" if not properly understood, where stocks underperform due to persistent issues rather than temporary setbacks [3] Importance of PEG Ratio - The PEG ratio, defined as (Price/Earnings)/Earnings Growth Rate, is a crucial metric for value investors, with a lower PEG ratio indicating better value [5] - The PEG ratio helps identify intrinsic stock value, although it has limitations, such as not accounting for changing growth rates over time [5] Screening Criteria for Value Stocks - Effective screening for value stocks includes criteria such as a PEG ratio less than the industry median, a P/E ratio below the industry median, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 [6] - Additional criteria include a market capitalization greater than $1 billion, an average 20-day trading volume exceeding 50,000, and upward revisions in earnings estimates by more than 5% [6] Selected Value Stocks - The Allstate Corporation (ALL), Telefonica, S.A. (TEF), Enersys (ENS), and Commercial Metals Co. (CMC) are highlighted as low-PEG value stocks that meet strict screening criteria [7] - Each of these companies demonstrates a combination of discounted valuation, solid growth metrics, and strong Style Scores, along with rising earnings estimates [7] Company Profiles - **Allstate Corporation (ALL)**: The third-largest property-casualty insurer in the U.S. with a five-year expected growth rate of 18.9% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [9][10] - **Telefonica, S.A. (TEF)**: A major telecommunications provider in Europe and Latin America, with a five-year expected growth rate of 28.1% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [10][11] - **Enersys (ENS)**: Engaged in manufacturing industrial batteries, with a long-term historical growth rate of 16.5% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [11][12] - **Commercial Metals Co. (CMC)**: A manufacturer and recycler of steel products, boasting a five-year expected growth rate of 25.6% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [13][14]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets have continued to rise in 2025, with the Dow and S&P 500 gaining 0.3% and 0.1% in November, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 1.5% [1][2] - Year-to-date performance shows the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite up by 12.6%, 16.7%, and 21.2%, respectively, with expectations of continued growth in December due to a potential interest rate cut by the Fed [3] Investment Opportunities - Recommended stocks for December include Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE), The Allstate Corp. (ALL), Dillard's Inc. (DDS), Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC), and Globus Medical Inc. (GMED), all carrying a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Zacks Momentum Score of A [4][9] Company Highlights Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE) - Benefits from a strong platform model that enhances customer insights and revenue growth, with an expected revenue growth rate of 6.3% and earnings growth rate of 20.8% for next year [7][8] - Strong liquidity, share buybacks, and dividends highlight financial resilience [8] The Allstate Corp. (ALL) - Consistent growth in premiums with a 7.6% year-over-year increase in net premiums earned in the first nine months of 2025 [10][11] - Expected revenue growth rate of 5.7% and a decline in earnings by 14.5% for next year, with share repurchases totaling $805 million in the first nine months of 2025 [12][11] Dillard's Inc. (DDS) - Capturing growth in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce, with a 1% year-over-year increase in retail sales [13][14] - Expected revenue growth rate of 0.8% and a decline in earnings by 8.2% for next year [16] Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC) - Strong production profile with a focus on organic growth through projects like the Tasiast mine, which has boosted production capacity [17][18] - Expected revenue growth rate of 6.3% and earnings growth rate of 32% for next year [19] Globus Medical Inc. (GMED) - Strengthened position in the musculoskeletal space through acquisitions, with a focus on expanding product offerings [20][21] - Expected revenue growth rate of 7.2% and earnings growth rate of 11.3% for next year [22]