One of our Preferred stock picks being called in 2024 has delivered a 27%-plus return, and there's more where that came from.With Hidden Dividend Stocks Plus he scours the world's markets to find solid income opportunities with dividend yields ranging from 5% to 10% or more, backed by strong earnings. Features include: a portfolio with up to 40 holdings at a time including links to associated articles, a dividend calendar, weekly research articles, exclusive ideas, and trade alerts. Learn More .Robert Hauve ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Operating profit increased by 16% to $3 billion with organic revenue growth of 11% and margin progression to 7.1% [3][4] - Earnings per share rose by 15%, and dividends grew by the same amount, reflecting a strong cash position [4][8] - Net new business growth was 4.2%, accelerating to 4.8% in the second half of the year [3][4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - All key metrics showed double-digit growth, with unit margins recovering to pre-pandemic levels across all regions [3][4] - The business in North America remains attractive, with significant growth opportunities across all sectors [12][16] - The B&I sector saw the highest rate of organic and net new business growth, driven by changing consumer trends [13][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The addressable foodservices market is valued at around $320 billion, with a large portion still self-operated or run by small players, indicating substantial growth potential [12] - North America and the next 10 markets account for approximately 90% of the growth opportunity [12] - Retention rates improved significantly in Europe, increasing from 92.5% pre-COVID to around 95.5% [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on core markets, exiting noncore markets to improve portfolio quality and drive growth [6][10] - Continued investment in CapEx and M&A is prioritized to sustain higher net new business growth [8][10] - The company aims for mid- to high single-digit organic revenue growth with ongoing margin progression [11][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining higher growth due to favorable market trends and strong outsourcing demand [10][11] - The company anticipates high single-digit operating profit growth in 2025, driven by organic growth above 7.5% [9][11] - Management noted that inflationary pressures could allow for pricing increases, supporting the business model [24][32] Other Important Information - The company invested $2.6 billion in CapEx and M&A in 2024, returning $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [8] - The net impact of announced acquisitions and disposals is expected to reduce profit by around $30 million in fiscal year 2025 [7][45] - The company is comfortable with its leverage range of 1 to 1.5x net debt to EBITDA, balancing investment and shareholder returns [8][68] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: On net new business growth and retention - Management noted a strong Q4 with net new business at 4.2% for the full year and 4.8% in the second half, with improving retention rates [20][21] Question: On volume growth and its drivers - Management indicated that volume growth was around 2% in Q4, with expectations for slight positive growth in 2025, driven by return-to-office trends and increased consumer participation [21][24] Question: On the share buyback strategy - Management explained that the buyback is part of a balanced capital allocation model, with more M&A expected in the first half of the year [25][26] Question: On the implications of the U.S. election - Management expressed confidence that the U.S. business would thrive under any administration, with potential benefits from onshoring initiatives [31][33] Question: On margin growth and key levers - Management expects consistent margin progression, particularly outside North America, with opportunities in purchasing and core processes [34][36] Question: On acquisitions in France and Norway - Management highlighted that the acquisitions would enhance the company's portfolio and provide opportunities for growth in new sectors [35][37] Question: On market share targets in Europe - Management stated there is no specific market share target, but the company aims to grow its 7% share consistently over time [66] Question: On leverage and cash returns to shareholders - Management reiterated comfort with the current leverage range, emphasizing strong cash flow generation to support investments and shareholder returns [68]

Momentum investing is essentially the opposite of the tried-and-tested Wall Street adage -- "buy low and sell high." Investors following this investing style typically avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. They believe instead that one could make far more money in lesser time by "buying high and selling higher."Who doesn't like betting on fast-moving trending stocks? But determining the right entry point isn't easy. Often, these stocks lose momentum once their valuation moves a ...

Amid a buoyant stock market this year, the real estate industry has still remained quite volatile, weighed down by both high interest rates as well as the unknown and lingering impacts of the NARWith combined experience of covering technology companies on Wall Street and working in Silicon Valley, and serving as an outside adviser to several seed-round startups, Gary Alexander has exposure to many of the themes shaping the industry today. He has been a regular contributor on Seeking Alpha since 2017. He has ...

LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that management will present at the Stifel 2024 Healthcare Conference at 10:55 am ET on November 19, 2024. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible from the “Events” page of the Investors section of the Compass website. A replay of the webcast will be accessible for 30 days following e ...

Core Insights - Compass Therapeutics is advancing its clinical-stage programs with three drugs currently in trials, including CTX-009, CTX-471, and CTX-8371, with significant milestones expected in the near future [2][3][4] Clinical Development Updates - CTX-009, a bispecific antibody targeting DLL4 and VEGF-A, has fully enrolled its Phase 2/3 trial in biliary tract cancers, with top-line data expected by the end of Q1 2025 [1][4] - A Phase 2 trial for CTX-009 in combination with chemotherapy for DLL4-positive colorectal cancer is being designed, with initiation anticipated in mid-2025 [1][3] - CTX-471 has shown promising results in a Phase 1 trial, identifying NCAM as a potential biomarker for response, with a Phase 2 trial planned for mid-2025 [1][5] - The second dosing cohort of the Phase 1 study for CTX-8371 is fully enrolled, with enrollment for the third cohort expected to begin soon [1][6] Financial Performance - For Q3 2024, Compass reported a net loss of $10.5 million, consistent with the previous year, while the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $34.3 million, compared to $29.1 million in the same period of 2023 [7] - Research and Development expenses for Q3 2024 were $8.6 million, slightly down from $8.8 million in Q3 2023, while R&D expenses for the nine months increased to $29.3 million from $25.7 million [7] - General and Administrative expenses rose to $3.6 million for Q3 2024, up from $3.1 million in Q3 2023, primarily due to increased stock compensation expenses [8] Cash Position - As of September 30, 2024, Compass had a cash balance of $135 million, down from $152 million at the end of 2023, providing a cash runway into Q1 2027 [9]

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even though momentum is a popular stock char ...

Momentum investing is essentially an exception to the idea of "buying low and selling high." Investors following this style of investing are usually not interested in betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potenti ...

This article is published by Terry Chrisomalis, who runs the Biotech Analysis Central pharmaceutical service on Seeking Alpha Marketplace. If you like what you read here and would like to subscribe to, I'm currently offering a two-week free trial period for subscribers to take advantage of. My service offers a deep-dive analysis of many pharmaceutical companies. The Biotech Analysis Central SA marketplace is $49 per month, but for those who sign up for the yearly plan will be able to take advantage of a 33. ...

Compass, Inc. (COMP) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Individual in ...