Group 1 - Deluxe is part of the Business Services group, which includes 238 companies and is currently ranked 13 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank for Deluxe is 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook based on earnings estimate revisions [3] - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deluxe's full-year earnings has increased by 10.5%, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Deluxe has returned approximately 19.3% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the Business Services sector, which has returned an average of -11.1% [4] - Deluxe belongs to the Business - Office Products industry, which is ranked 5 in the Zacks Industry Rank and has gained an average of 4.1% this year [6] - Exponent, another stock in the Business Services sector, has returned 0.3% year-to-date and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]

Core Insights - The article highlights three dividend-generating stocks that are currently rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), which are seen as attractive investment opportunities due to their market positions and financial metrics. Group 1: Adecoagro (AGRO) - Adecoagro operates in South America, focusing on agricultural products and cattle operations, benefiting from a significant cattle shortage in the U.S. which may lead to higher beef prices [3][4] - The stock is trading under $10 with a forward earnings multiple of 7X, and is projected to have an EPS rebound to $1.21 this year, with annual revenue expected to exceed $1 billion [5] - Adecoagro offers a 4.01% annual dividend yield, which has increased six times in the last five years, with an annualized growth rate of 17.81% [6][7] Group 2: AngloGold Ashanti (AU) - AngloGold Ashanti has benefited from high gold prices, with its stock price increasing nearly 500% over the last three years, currently trading near a 52-week high of $115 [8] - The company maintains a reasonable forward earnings multiple of 12X and offers a 3.36% annual dividend yield, contributing to a total return of 525% over the last five years [9] Group 3: Deluxe Corporation (DLX) - Deluxe Corporation is a fintech solutions provider with a focus on payments and data solutions, offering a substantial annual dividend yield of 4.39% [11] - The stock has increased by 60% in the last year, trading near a 52-week high of $28, while maintaining a low forward earnings multiple of 6X, with EPS expected to rise by 12% in FY26 [12]

Core Points - Catholic Charities of Atlanta announced Jean Ann and Barry C. McCarthy as recipients of the 2026 Bishop's Award, recognizing their two-decade commitment to helping the less fortunate [1] - The award ceremony will take place during the Annual Gala Soiree on February 21, 2026, at the Oceans Ballroom inside the Georgia Aquarium [1] Company and Industry Summary - Catholic Charities of Atlanta is part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and a member of Catholic Charities USA, indicating its affiliation with a larger network of charitable organizations [1] - The Bishop's Award is the highest honor given by Catholic Charities Atlanta, highlighting the organization's commitment to recognizing significant contributions to community service [1]

Group 1 - TTM Technologies, Inc. (TTMI) has seen a 12.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (AEIS) has experienced a 9.5% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Deluxe Corporation (DLX) has reported an 11.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Ford Motor Company (F) has seen a 7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) has experienced a 5.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3]

Core Insights - Three stocks with strong value characteristics and a buy rank are highlighted for investors: Deluxe Corporation, Slide Insurance Holdings, and Ford Motor Company [1][2][3] Company Summaries Deluxe Corporation - Provides integrated payments, data, and marketing solutions for businesses nationwide - Holds a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 11.1% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 6.38, compared to the industry average of 10.80 - Possesses a Value Score of A [1][2] Slide Insurance Holdings, Inc. - An insurance company with a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 4.9% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 6.24, compared to the industry average of 10.30 - Possesses a Value Score of B [2] Ford Motor Company - An automobile giant with a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 7% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 9.28, compared to the industry average of 33.40 - Possesses a Value Score of A [3]

Core Viewpoint - Deluxe (DLX) shares have increased by 6.3% recently, closing at $25.88, with a potential upside of 26.2% based on Wall Street analysts' mean price target of $32.67 [1] Price Targets and Analyst Estimates - The mean estimate includes three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $2.08, indicating variability among analysts; the lowest estimate is $31.00 (19.8% increase), while the highest is $35.00 (35.2% increase) [2] - A low standard deviation suggests a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price movement, which can serve as a starting point for further research [9] Earnings Estimates and Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have shown increasing optimism about DLX's earnings prospects, with a strong consensus on higher EPS estimates, which historically correlates with stock price movements [11] - Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has risen by 10.5%, with two estimates moving higher and no negative revisions [12] - DLX holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, indicating strong potential for upside [13] Conclusion on Price Targets - While the consensus price target may not be a reliable measure of potential gains, the implied direction of price movement appears to be a useful guide for investors [14]

Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $19.4 million to $431.5 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.2%, up from 19.4% in 2024 [211] - Net income increased by $29.3 million to $82.2 million, benefiting from pricing strategies and lower amortization expenses [213] - Net income increased by 55.4% to $82.2 million in 2025 from $52.9 million in 2024, with diluted EPS rising by 52.5% to $1.80 [233] - Free cash flow increased to $175.3 million in 2025 from $100.0 million in 2024, driven by higher net cash provided by operating activities [235] - Merchant Services segment total revenue increased by 3.8% to $398.6 million in 2025, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 9.4% to $85.9 million [249] - B2B Payments segment total revenue grew by 0.9% to $290.5 million, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 12.8% to $64.4 million [252] - Data Solutions segment total revenue surged by 31.3% to $307.3 million, driven by strong demand for customer acquisition marketing, with adjusted EBITDA up 42.8% to $86.4 million [255] - Print segment total revenue decreased by 5.7% to $1,136.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA declining by 2.6% to $366.9 million, primarily due to reduced demand for promotional products [258] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Net cash provided by operating activities rose by $76.3 million to $270.6 million, driven by pricing strategies and cost management initiatives [211] - Free cash flow increased by $75.3 million to $175.3 million, reflecting the same factors that contributed to the rise in net cash provided by operating activities [211] - Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025, were $36.9 million, with restricted cash totaling $276.1 million [261] - As of December 31, 2025, the company held cash and cash equivalents of $36.9 million, with an additional $379.6 million available for borrowing [217] Expenses and Cost Management - Total cost of revenue rose by 0.7% to $1,002.5 million, with total cost of revenue as a percentage of total revenue at 47.0% [221] - SG&A expense decreased by 3.9% to $873.3 million, with SG&A as a percentage of total revenue dropping to 40.9% [224] - SG&A expense as a percentage of total revenue decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, due to cost management actions and lower amortization and bad debt expense, despite an increase in medical costs [225] - Restructuring and integration expense decreased by 60.3% to $19.3 million in 2025 from $48.6 million in 2024, reflecting initiatives to align the business with growth strategy and enhance operational efficiency [226] - Asset impairment charges decreased by 26.0% to $5.7 million in 2025 from $7.7 million in 2024, related to exiting a joint venture for a business payment distribution technology platform [227] - Interest expense decreased by 1.1% to $122.0 million in 2025 from $123.3 million in 2024, primarily due to a reduction in average debt outstanding [229] Debt and Capital Expenditures - Total debt decreased by $73.7 million to $1,429.4 million as of December 31, 2025, from $1,503.1 million in 2024 [236] - Total debt principal decreased to $1.44 billion in 2025 from $1.52 billion in 2024, with a fixed interest rate of 8.1% and a floating interest rate of 5.8% [268] - The company anticipates capital expenditures between $90.0 million and $100.0 million in 2026, compared to $95.3 million in 2025 [266] - As of December 31, 2025, total debt outstanding was $1,429.4 million, with an effective interest rate of 7.3% [292] Goodwill and Impairment - Goodwill totaled $1.42 billion, representing 49.7% of total assets as of December 31, 2025 [280] - The company recorded goodwill impairment charges of $7.7 million in 2024 due to the exit from the payroll and human resources services business [286] Revenue Recognition and Assets - Revenue recognition for certain contracts involves estimating variable consideration, with conditional contract assets amounting to $19.0 million as of December 31, 2025 [278] - The company had $29.8 million in prepaid product discounts recorded as other non-current assets as of December 31, 2025 [275] - Sales commissions and contract acquisition costs totaled $17.1 million as of December 31, 2025, amortized over two to five years [277] - The company had outstanding $475.0 million of 8.0% senior unsecured notes and $450.0 million of 8.125% senior secured notes as of December 31, 2025 [290] Future Outlook - The company anticipates that the North Star initiatives will continue to deliver incremental benefits to operating results in 2026 [244] - The North Star program incurred approximately $114.0 million in restructuring and integration expenses, with expected additional cost savings of $2.0 million in cost of sales and $13.0 million in SG&A expense during 2026 [246] - A one percentage point change in the weighted-average interest rate would result in a $5.0 million impact on interest expense in 2026 [292]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] Company Overview: Deluxe (DLX) - Deluxe currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for outperformance [2][3] - The stock has shown significant price increases, with an 8.96% rise over the past week, compared to a 0.22% increase in the Zacks Business - Office Products industry [5] - Over the past month, Deluxe shares have increased by 27.05%, outperforming the industry's 8.56% [5] - In the last quarter, shares of Deluxe have risen by 35.94%, and by 24.8% over the past year, while the S&P 500 has only increased by 1.9% and 15.32% respectively [6] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for Deluxe is 578,329 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, one earnings estimate for Deluxe has increased, raising the consensus estimate from $3.71 to $3.88 [9] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has also moved upwards, with no downward revisions during the same period [9] Conclusion - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, Deluxe is positioned as a promising investment opportunity with a Momentum Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [11]

Core Viewpoint - Deluxe (DLX) has shown strong stock performance, with shares increasing by 28% over the past month and reaching a new 52-week high of $28.24 [1] Performance Summary - Deluxe has outperformed the Zacks Business Services sector, gaining 24.7% year-to-date compared to the sector's -3.3% and the Zacks Business - Office Products industry's 18.8% return [1] Earnings Performance - The company has a strong record of positive earnings surprises, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with the latest EPS reported at $0.96 against an estimate of $0.83 [2] Earnings Forecast - For the current fiscal year, Deluxe is expected to post earnings of $3.88 per share on revenues of $2.13 billion, reflecting a 5.72% change in EPS and a -0.2% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, earnings are projected at $4.42 per share on revenues of $2.16 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of 13.92% and 1.49%, respectively [3] Valuation Metrics - Deluxe trades at 7.2X current fiscal year EPS estimates, below the peer industry average of 9.5X. On a trailing cash flow basis, it trades at 4.5X compared to the peer group's average of 6.8X. The stock has a PEG ratio of 0.6, positioning it favorably for value investors [7] Style Scores - Deluxe has a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of B, and a Momentum Score of D, resulting in a combined VGM Score of A, indicating strong value potential [6] Zacks Rank - The stock holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) due to a solid earnings estimate revision trend, making it a suitable choice for investors looking for high-ranking stocks [8]

Core Insights - Deluxe reported strong financial performance for fiscal 2025, with comparable adjusted EBITDA of $431.5 million, a 6.2% increase from the previous year, and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.2% [1][7] - Total revenue for the year reached $2.133 billion, reflecting a 0.5% increase on a reported basis and a 1.1% increase on a comparable adjusted basis [2] - The company achieved a GAAP net income of $85.3 million, up from $52.9 million in 2024, driven by revenue growth and improved operating margins [2] Financial Performance - Comparable adjusted EPS increased by 12.6% to $3.67, attributed to higher operating profits and lower interest expenses [1] - Free cash flow climbed to $175.3 million, up from $100 million in 2024, with net debt reduced by $76.2 million to $1.39 billion [8] - The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 3.2x, down from 3.6x a year earlier [8] Strategic Focus - The company is shifting its business mix towards Payments and Data, which now account for 47% of revenue, with Data revenue growing by 31.3% to $307.3 million [6][9] - Management expects Payments and Data to reach revenue parity with Print by 2026, aligning with the long-term goal of transforming into a payments and data company [6][9] - Deluxe is implementing AI across various business areas, enhancing marketing, customer service, and operational efficiency [17] Segment Performance - In the Print segment, revenue declined by 5.7% to $1.14 billion, consistent with a low-to-mid-single-digit secular decline [12] - Merchant Services revenue increased by 3.8% to $398.6 million, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 9.4% [10] - B2B Payments revenue grew by 0.9% to $290.5 million, with adjusted EBITDA reflecting a 12.8% growth [11] 2026 Guidance - Management provided guidance for 2026, projecting revenue between $2.11 billion and $2.175 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $445 million to $470 million, and adjusted EPS of $3.90 to $4.30 [19] - Segment expectations include mid-single-digit growth for Merchant, low single-digit growth for B2B, and mid- to high-single-digit growth for Data, while Print is expected to see low- to mid-single-digit declines [15]