Economic Indicators - The Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.69%, 1.95%, and 0.58% respectively in the last trading week [1] - The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.2% in April, with a year-on-year increase of 2.3%, the lowest since February 2021 [2] - The producer price index (PPI) declined by 0.5% in April, with a 12-month increase of 2.4% [2] - Retail sales increased by 0.1% in April, aligning with market expectations [2] - Consumer sentiment index fell to 50.8% in May, the lowest in its history [2] Company Performance - IHS Holding Limited's shares increased by 33.6% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 1 on March 21 [3] - British Land Company PLC returned 16% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 on March 21 [4] - Stantec Inc. and Bankinter, S.A. saw share increases of 21.4% and 10.8% respectively after their upgrades to Outperform [8] - Axon Enterprise, Inc. and Quanta Services, Inc. gained 23.6% and 18.1% respectively over the past 12 weeks [11] Portfolio Performance - The Zacks Model Portfolio of Rank 1 stocks outperformed the S&P 500 index by over 12 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.5% [5][7] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024, compared to +25.04% for the S&P 500 index [12] - The Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -4.30% decline [16] - The Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned +5.74% in Q1 2025, compared to the S&P 500 index's -2.41% pullback [19] Long-term Performance - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +1832.3% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +434.2% [22] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio has an annualized return of +11.33% since 2004, compared to +9.95% for the S&P 500 index [14]

Core Viewpoint - IHS Holding Limited is expected to report strong first-quarter 2025 results, with earnings projected to increase significantly year-over-year, driven by growth in emerging markets and demand for communication infrastructure [1][4][16]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is 17 cents per share on revenues of $421.3 million, reflecting a 342.9% increase in earnings from the previous year and a 0.8% growth in revenues [1]. - First-quarter earnings estimates have been revised upward by 21.4% over the past 60 days [1]. - IHS has a history of earnings surprises, with an average surprise of negative 46.6% over the last four quarters, but achieved an 812.5% surprise in the last reported quarter [2][3]. Market Position and Growth Drivers - IHS is benefiting from its expanding presence in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, with solid demand for mobile communication infrastructure amid increasing 5G deployment [4][6]. - The company reported a total of 16,495 towers in Nigeria, a 0.6% year-over-year increase, contributing to its performance [5]. - The addition of approximately 100 towers and over 800 tenants in the SSA market in 2024 is expected to drive results [6]. Strategic Initiatives - IHS has successfully renewed and extended all MTN MLAs, including a significant deal with Airtel Nigeria to add 3,950 new tenancies [7]. - The company's strategic priorities and growth investments are anticipated to support sustained growth and shareholder value [16][17]. Valuation and Price Performance - IHS shares have increased by 55.6% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry's growth of 13.2% and the S&P 500's decline of 4.1% [9]. - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for IHS is 8.04X, below the industry average of 9.89X, indicating an attractive valuation for investors [13].

Core Viewpoint - IHS Holding Limited is expected to report first-quarter 2025 results on May 20, with a strong year-over-year revenue growth driven by high demand for communication infrastructure solutions [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IHS Holding's revenues in the March quarter is $421.26 million, reflecting an increase from $417.74 million in the same quarter last year [5]. - The consensus estimate for adjusted earnings per share is set at 17 cents [5]. Group 2: Market Demand and Growth Drivers - IHS Holding is experiencing robust demand for its communication infrastructure services, particularly in emerging markets like Africa and Latin America, due to increased mobile adoption and high-bandwidth application usage [3]. - The company's initiatives in exploring new revenue opportunities in fiber, Distributed Antenna Systems, small cells, and data centers are contributing positively to its growth [2]. Group 3: Infrastructure Developments - IHS Brazil's neutral infrastructure model is facilitating 5G implementation in urban areas, with distributed antenna systems gaining traction in key locations such as shopping centers and airports [4]. - The company is investing in base transceiver stations, fiber connectivity, and telecom towers to enhance colocation opportunities, which is expected to positively impact first-quarter earnings [5].

Company Overview - IHS Holding (IHS) shares increased by 9.7% to close at $5.44, supported by strong trading volume, and have gained 12.7% over the past four weeks [1][2] - The company is a key player in the communication infrastructure sector, benefiting from robust demand trends in Africa [2] Growth Drivers - IHS is investing in base transceiver stations, fiber connectivity, and telecom towers to enhance colocation opportunities [2] - The proliferation of 5G technology in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America is expected to boost demand for IHS Towers in the coming quarters [2] Financial Performance Expectations - The upcoming quarterly earnings report is projected to show earnings of $0.17 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 342.9% [3] - Expected revenues for the quarter are $421.26 million, which is a 0.8% increase from the same quarter last year [3] Market Sentiment - The consensus EPS estimate for IHS has remained stable over the last 30 days, indicating that the stock's price movement may not sustain without earnings estimate revisions [4] - IHS Holding holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating positive market sentiment [4] Industry Comparison - IHS Holding is part of the Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry, which includes other companies like Anterix (ATEX), which has seen a decline of 10% over the past month [4]

Core Insights - IHS Holding Limited's shares have increased by 37.9% over the past year, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500, which returned 35.3% and 10% respectively [1] - The stock closed at $4.95, below its 52-week high of $5.75 but above its 52-week low of $2.44, indicating solid upward momentum and price stability [4] - The company is experiencing strong demand for its infrastructure in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, driven by the increasing deployment of 5G [7][9] Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, IHS generated revenues of $437.8 million, reflecting a 39.3% year-over-year increase on an organic basis [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IHS' 2025 earnings has increased by 30.9% to 72 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 114.7% [12] - The stock has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 6.52X, which is below the industry average of 7.95X, suggesting an attractive valuation for investors [13] Market Position and Growth Drivers - IHS has a total of 16,495 towers in Nigeria, its largest market, reflecting a 0.6% year-over-year increase [8] - The company added approximately 100 towers and over 800 tenants across the SSA market in 2024, supported by the deployment of 5G [9] - IHS has successfully renewed and extended all MTN MLAs, including a deal with Airtel Nigeria to add 3,950 new tenancies [10] Strategic Outlook - The company is well-positioned to leverage its market-leading position and capitalize on the growing demand for communications infrastructure solutions [8] - Solid momentum in the communication infrastructure market, driven by the proliferation of IoT and accelerated 5G rollout, positions IHS favorably for strong growth [15] - Positive analyst sentiment and robust growth prospects indicate it is an opportune time for potential investors to consider IHS [16]

IHS Holding Limited (IHS) and Anterix Inc. (ATEX) are two prominent names operating in the communication - infrastructure industry. As rivals, both companies are engaged in providing wireless communication solutions to mobile network operators, internet service providers and private corporations. Both companies have been enjoying significant growth opportunities in the telecom services industry due to the growing demand for scalable infrastructure for seamless connectivity with the wide proliferation of IoT ...

Core Insights - The investment approach emphasizes fundamental, valuation-driven strategies focusing on businesses with potential for long-term growth and significant terminal value [1] - Key factors in evaluating businesses include competitive moat, unit economics, reinvestment opportunities, and management quality, which are crucial for long-term free cash flow generation and shareholder value [1] - The analyst aims to provide accessible and analytical insights to help readers identify high-quality, long-term investment opportunities [1] Investment Focus - The analyst specializes in sectors that exhibit strong secular tailwinds, indicating a preference for industries poised for sustained growth [1] - The investment strategy is rooted in fundamental research, highlighting the importance of understanding core business economics [1] Professional Background - The analyst has a decade of experience in investment banking and is currently managing personal funds sourced from friends and family [1] - The motivation for sharing insights on platforms like Seeking Alpha is to engage with fellow investors and enhance the understanding of long-term equity value drivers [1]

Group 1 - IHS Holding (IHS) shares have increased by 14.2% in the past four weeks, closing at $5.06, with a mean price target of $7.34 indicating a potential upside of 45.1% [1] - The average of eight short-term price targets ranges from a low of $4 to a high of $16, with a standard deviation of $3.80, suggesting variability in analyst estimates [2] - Analysts show a consensus that IHS will report better earnings than previously estimated, which is a positive indicator for potential stock upside [4][10] Group 2 - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IHS has increased by 30.9% over the past month, with no negative revisions, indicating strong earnings prospects [11] - IHS holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, suggesting significant potential upside [12]

Company Overview - IHS Holding Limited (IHS) is positioned as an intriguing investment choice within the Communication - Infrastructure sector, benefiting from solid earnings estimate revisions and a favorable industry ranking [1][5]. Industry Analysis - The Communication - Infrastructure industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 12 out of more than 250 industries, indicating strong overall performance and positioning compared to other sectors [2]. - The industry is experiencing broad trends that are positively impacting securities across the board, suggesting a rising tide effect [2]. Earnings Estimates - IHS Holding has seen significant upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past month, with current quarter estimates increasing from 14 cents per share to 17 cents per share, and current year estimates rising from 55 cents per share to 72 cents per share [4]. - These revisions reflect a more bullish outlook from analysts regarding IHS's short and long-term prospects [3][4]. Investment Recommendation - Given the strong industry performance and positive earnings estimate revisions, IHS Holding is recommended as a compelling option for investors seeking opportunities in a robust industry segment [5].

Core Viewpoint - The stock market is experiencing volatility due to U.S. tariffs and global trade tensions, with the S&P 500 down over 8% for the year [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - U.S. tariffs on imports from major partners like China have reached as high as 145%, while China has imposed 84% duties on U.S. products [1] - Ongoing inflation pressures and concerns about a potential recession or stagflation are contributing to market uncertainty [1] Group 2: Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to focus on relative price strength, identifying stocks that outperform their peers even in volatile conditions [2] - Stocks that have shown better performance than the S&P 500 over the last 1 to 3 months, combined with solid fundamentals, indicate potential for growth [6] Group 3: Recommended Stocks - IHS Holding Limited (IHS) is highlighted for its strong growth potential, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating 114.7% growth for 2025 earnings and a market cap of $1.6 billion [10][11] - Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is noted for a 29.4% growth estimate for 2025 earnings and a significant share price increase of 110.5% over the past year [12][13] - REX American Resources Corporation (REX) has a market cap of $676.4 million and a 15.7% upward revision in earnings estimates for fiscal 2026, despite a 31.3% decline in share price over the past year [14][15] - Fresenius Medical Care AG (FMS) is recognized for a 27.1% growth estimate for 2025 earnings and a share price increase of 31.8% in the last year [16][17] Group 4: Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on relative price changes over 12 weeks, 4 weeks, and 1 week, as well as positive current-quarter estimate revisions [8] - Only Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks are considered, which have historically outperformed the S&P 500 [9]