Core Insights - The focus on healthy cash flow is becoming increasingly important for investors as they prepare for 2026, emphasizing that consistent cash generation is crucial for sustaining operations, funding growth, and maintaining financial flexibility [1][3] Group 1: Importance of Cash Flow - Profits alone do not guarantee long-term stability; companies with inconsistent cash flows may face challenges even if they are profitable [3] - Positive cash flow indicates an increase in liquid assets, allowing companies to meet obligations, reinvest, and weather downturns, while negative cash flow reduces liquidity and flexibility [5] - Increasing cash flow is essential for future growth, reflecting management's efficiency and reducing reliance on external financing [6] Group 2: Stock Picks Based on Cash Flow - Stocks such as Astronics Corporation (ATRO), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and Strattec Security Corporation (STRT) are highlighted as strong picks due to improving cash flow trends [2][8] - ATRO is expanding into aircraft lighting integration, with earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 rising by 10.3% and 8.4%, respectively [9][10] - GLDD's earnings expectations for 2025 and 2026 have increased by 6.9%, supported by strong demand for U.S. dredging operations [10] - NGS has seen earnings estimates improve by 9.5% and 14.1% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, due to its natural gas compression equipment and services [11] - STRT's fiscal 2026 earnings estimate has increased by 23.3%, currently standing at $5.24 per share [12] Group 3: Screening Parameters for Stock Selection - Stocks were screened for those with cash flow in the latest quarter at least equal to the 5-year average cash flow per common share, indicating a positive trend [7] - Additional criteria included a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), an average broker rating of 1, a current price of at least $5, and a VGM Score of B or better [8]

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry is expected to benefit from strategic mergers and acquisitions, which enhance operational scale and market presence, despite ongoing supply-chain challenges that may impact production and profitability [1] Industry Overview - The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry includes companies that manufacture essential components for aerospace and defense, such as aerostructures, propulsion systems, aircraft engines, and defense electronics, while also providing aftermarket support and services [2] Trends Shaping the Industry - Mergers and Acquisitions: Large companies are leveraging M&As to expand product offerings and capabilities, exemplified by AAR's acquisition of HAECO Americas for $78 million and TransDigm's acquisition of Simmonds Precision Products for nearly $765 million, which enhance their market presence and operational scale [3] - Air Traffic Growth: Global air passenger traffic increased by 5.3% year over year as of October 2025, indicating strong demand for air travel, which boosts the need for replacement parts and maintenance services [4] - Supply-Chain Disruptions: Ongoing supply-chain issues are causing delays in aircraft and parts deliveries, leading to an unprecedented backlog of over 17,000 aircraft, which constrains fleet expansion and keeps aircraft utilization high [5] Industry Performance - The Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite with a 30.6% increase over the past year, while the Aerospace sector rose by 32.9% [9] - The industry is currently trading at an EV/Sales ratio of 12.51X, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 5.74X and the sector's 3.53X, indicating a premium valuation compared to broader markets [12] Notable Companies - **Astronics**: Reported a 3.8% increase in total sales to $211.4 million, driven by an 8.5% growth in its Aerospace segment, with a backlog of $646.7 million [15] - **Innovative Solutions and Support**: Achieved a 78.6% increase in fiscal 2025 sales to $84.3 million, with a backlog of $77.4 million expected to convert into revenue over the next 12 to 24 months [18] - **CurtissWright**: Announced an additional $416 million for share repurchases, reflecting financial strength, with a consensus estimate indicating a 6.9% sales growth for 2026 [21]

Core Insights - The article highlights the growing interest and investment in the space industry, particularly in defense companies benefiting from military reindustrialization and space exploration initiatives [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Opportunities - Defense companies have seen significant market gains due to renewed interest in space exploration, with President Trump's military expansion plan including a $175 billion project [2]. - High-profile private companies like SpaceX and Anduril are capitalizing on the space and defense boom, with SpaceX planning to go public next year [3]. - Satellite companies, including legacy providers like EchoStar and newer entrants like Planet Labs, have experienced stock surges, with some stocks tripling in value this year [4]. Group 2: Company Performance - Planet Labs' stock has surged nearly 400% this year, driven by demand for satellite imagery and analytics, leading to a valuation of $6.2 billion [5][6]. - EchoStar's shares have increased by 377% this year, with a market capitalization surpassing $31 billion, following significant spectrum deals [12][14]. - ViaSat shares have jumped 315% in 2025, bolstered by new contracts and the successful launch of its ViaSAT-3 satellites [16][17]. Group 3: Strategic Partnerships and Contracts - Planet Labs has secured new government contracts, including a $13.5 million task order with NASA and partnerships with NATO and the European Space Agency [7]. - EchoStar's spectrum deals with AT&T and SpaceX are aimed at enhancing connectivity and expanding its business portfolio [12][13]. - ViaSat has expanded partnerships with commercial airlines and secured a satellite contract with the U.S. Space Force, with a launch planned for 2028 [18].

Core Insights - The Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. aims for long-term capital growth by investing primarily in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations of $1 billion or less [9] Performance Summary - As of November 30, 2025, the Net Asset Value (NAV) is $11.86, while the market price (MKT) is $10.46 [1] - Year-to-date performance shows a NAV return of 14.63% and a market return of 13.85% [1] - Over the past year, the NAV return is 9.03% compared to a market return of 9.95% [1] - The three-year annualized return for NAV is 13.78% and for MKT is 12.97% [1] - The five-year annualized return for NAV is 10.21% and for MKT is 11.03% [1] - The ten-year annualized return for NAV is 11.67% and for MKT is 12.28% [1] Portfolio Diagnostics - The average market capitalization of the portfolio is $871.4 million [4] - The weighted average Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio is 2.0x [4] - The net assets of the fund total $628.6 million [4] - The net leverage stands at 1.2% [4] Portfolio Composition - The top three positions in the portfolio are Argan (1.7%), Establishment Labs Holdings (1.4%), and 5N Plus (1.3%) [6] - The top five sectors by net assets are Industrials (26.3%), Information Technology (20.0%), Financials (15.7%), Health Care (13.9%), and Consumer Discretionary (9.4%) [8] Trading Information - The average weekly trading volume of the fund is approximately 556,750 shares [7] - The fund's adviser has over 50 years of experience in small- and micro-cap investments [7]

Core Insights - U.S. stock markets are poised to end 2025 positively, with major indexes showing significant gains: Dow up 13.6%, S&P 500 up 16.5%, and Nasdaq Composite up 20.9%, all within 3% of record highs [1] Stock Performance - Several stocks have demonstrated strong price performance, particularly those on a recent bull run, including Strattec Security Corp. (STRT), Astronics Corp. (ATRO), Willdan Group Inc. (WLDN), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. (GLDD), and Northrim BanCorp Inc. (NRIM) [2][6] Screening Criteria - Stocks must show a percentage change in price greater than zero over the last four weeks, and over 10% in the last twelve weeks to indicate sustained momentum [4] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker rating of 1 are preferred, indicating strong future performance expectations [5] - Stocks must be trading at a minimum price of $5 and within 85% of their 52-week high to ensure they are near their peak performance [6] Individual Stock Highlights - Strattec Security Corp. (STRT) has seen a 17.1% increase in stock price over the past four weeks, with a current earnings growth rate expectation of -2.6% for the year ending June 2026 [7][8] - Astronics Corp. (ATRO) has surged 15.4% in the same period, with an expected earnings growth rate of 35% for the next year [9][10] - Willdan Group Inc. (WLDN) has appreciated 14.5% recently, with an expected earnings growth rate of 9.6% for the next year [10][11] - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. (GLDD) has advanced 13.9% in the past four weeks, with an expected earnings growth of -0.2% for next year [12][14] - Northrim BanCorp Inc. (NRIM) has rallied 11.7%, with an expected earnings growth of 4% for the next year [14][16]

Core Insights - Rising global air passenger traffic and an ageing aircraft base are driving growth in aircraft fleet sizes and increasing demand for aftermarket services, benefiting aerospace service stocks like Astronics Corporation (ATRO) and HEICO Corporation (HEI) [1][19] - Higher global defense spending due to geopolitical tensions is boosting demand for advanced avionics, electronics, and power systems used in military aircraft supplied by these companies [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Astronics reported a revenue growth of 3.8% and a 44% increase in net adjusted earnings for Q3 2025 compared to the previous year [4][10] - The Aerospace segment of Astronics generated sales of $192.7 million, up nearly 8.5% year over year, driven by increased demand for cabin power products and military orders [5][10] - HEICO reported a revenue growth of 19.3% and a 34.3% increase in earnings per share for Q4 fiscal 2025 compared to the previous year [8][10] Group 2: Acquisitions and Strategic Moves - Astronics expanded its aviation portfolio by acquiring Buhler Motor Aviation, enhancing its seat actuation offerings and technical expertise [6][7] - HEICO's Flight Support Group subsidiary, Wencor Group, announced an agreement to acquire EthosEnergy Accessories and Components, which is expected to strengthen HEICO's aftermarket repair capabilities [9][11] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATRO's 2025 sales and EPS implies improvements of 7.7% and 67% respectively from the previous year [12] - ATRO's forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E F12M) ratio is 22.42X, lower than HEI's 59.68X, indicating a more attractive valuation for Astronics [17] - ATRO has a Return on Equity (ROE) of 29.65%, outperforming HEI's 17.18%, showcasing better efficiency in generating profits from equity [18] Group 4: Market Position and Outlook - Both companies are well-positioned for revenue and earnings growth, but Astronics stands out in terms of valuation and profitability metrics, making it a more attractive choice for investors [22]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of timing and sustainability in short-term investing, highlighting that successful entry into trends is crucial for profitability [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) has shown a solid price increase of 30.7% over the past 12 weeks, indicating strong investor interest [4] - The stock has also increased by 11.4% in the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5] - ATRO is currently trading at 98.8% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [5] Group 2: Fundamental Strength - ATRO holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6] - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term performance [7] Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks with strong fundamentals that can maintain their upward momentum [3] - The article suggests that there are multiple stocks passing through this screen, indicating potential investment opportunities beyond ATRO [8]

Core Insights - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) shares have increased by 44.5% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry's decline of 1.5% and the broader Zacks Aerospace sector's decline of 2.3% [1] - The company's strong performance is attributed to robust quarterly results and strategic acquisitions, which have bolstered investor confidence [4][8] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Astronics reported a revenue growth of 3.8% and a 44% increase in net adjusted earnings compared to the same period last year [4] - The Aerospace unit recorded sales of $192.7 million, an increase of nearly 8.5% year-over-year, driven by demand for cabin power products and military aircraft sales [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year growth of 7.7%, while the estimate for 2026 sales suggests an improvement of 14.5% [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year growth of 63.3%, with a 36.5% increase expected for 2026 [10] Strategic Acquisitions - In October 2025, Astronics expanded its aviation business by acquiring Buhler Motor Aviation (BMA), enhancing its seat actuation capabilities and technical strength [6][9] - The acquisition is expected to support improved seat actuation solutions and future innovations, strengthening Astronics' position in the commercial aerospace sector [9] Valuation and Market Position - ATRO's forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 1.95X, significantly lower than the industry average of 9.29X, indicating a discounted valuation [14] - Competitors like Kratos and Curtiss-Wright are trading at higher P/S ratios of 7.85X and 5.51X, respectively [15] Liquidity and Efficiency - Astronics has a current ratio of 2.87, indicating sufficient capital to meet short-term debt obligations [16] - The company's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) stands at 15.77%, well above the industry average of 1.56%, reflecting strong returns on investments [17][18]

Core Viewpoint - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) has shown strong stock performance, with a 9.7% increase over the past month and a 242.3% rise since the beginning of the year, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace sector and the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry [1][2]. Financial Performance - Astronics has consistently exceeded earnings expectations, reporting an EPS of $0.49 against a consensus estimate of $0.42 in its last earnings report [2]. - For the current fiscal year, Astronics is projected to achieve earnings of $1.78 per share on revenues of $856.89 million, reflecting a 63.3% increase in EPS and a 7.73% increase in revenues [3]. - The next fiscal year forecasts earnings of $2.43 per share on revenues of $980.67 million, indicating a year-over-year change of 36.52% in EPS and 14.45% in revenues [3]. Valuation Metrics - Astronics currently trades at 30.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, below the peer industry average of 36.1X, and at 29.3X on a trailing cash flow basis, slightly above the peer group's average of 29.2X [7]. - The stock has a Value Score of D, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of D, resulting in a combined VGM Score of B [6]. Zacks Rank - Astronics holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), supported by a positive earnings estimate revision trend, suggesting potential for further stock price appreciation [8].

Core Insights - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) is showing strong operating margin momentum, indicating a potential turnaround after years of stagnation and struggles [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Astronics Corporation was previously a favored company in the 2010s but faced challenges leading to relative stagnation [1] - The company is now demonstrating improved operating margins, suggesting a positive shift in its financial performance [1] Group 2: Investment Opportunities - The service "Value in Corporate Events" provides insights into major corporate events such as earnings reports, M&A, and IPOs, aiming to identify actionable investment opportunities [1] - The coverage includes 10 major events monthly, focusing on finding the best opportunities for investors [1]