Core Insights - The article highlights Steven Cress's role as VP of Quantitative Strategy and Market Data at Seeking Alpha, emphasizing his contributions to the platform's quantitative stock rating system and analytical tools designed to assist investors [1][2] - Cress's focus is on removing emotional biases from investment decisions through a data-driven approach, utilizing sophisticated algorithms to streamline investment research [2] - His background includes founding CressCap Investment Research, which was acquired by Seeking Alpha in 2018, and previously running a proprietary trading desk at Morgan Stanley [3][4] Group 1 - Steven Cress is the creator of Seeking Alpha's quantitative stock rating system, which aims to provide insights and save time for investors [1] - The platform offers a systematic stock recommendation tool called Alpha Picks, aimed at helping long-term investors build a high-quality portfolio [1] - Cress's experience spans over 30 years in equity research, quantitative strategies, and portfolio management, positioning him as an expert in various investment topics [4] Group 2 - Cress's previous ventures include founding a quant hedge fund, Cress Capital Management, and leading international business development at Northern Trust [3] - The data-driven approach employed by Cress is designed to simplify complex investment research, providing daily updated stock trading recommendations [2] - The acquisition of CressCap by Seeking Alpha highlights the importance of quant analysis and market data capabilities in enhancing investment strategies [3]

Core Viewpoint - Imperial Brands PLC continues to outperform its peers in the stock market, maintaining a strong performance over the past year [1]. Company Analysis - The last assessment of Imperial Brands PLC indicated that its stock performance was superior to that of its competitors, a trend that has persisted [1]. - The company is associated with a macroeconomist who has over 20 years of experience in investment management and related fields, suggesting a strong analytical backing for its market position [1]. Industry Context - The article references a broader investment theme focused on the green economy, indicating potential future opportunities in this segment, although it does not directly relate to Imperial Brands [1].

Core Insights - The company has experienced significant stock performance improvement since July 2020, when the stock was priced at GBP 12 with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of approximately 4x [1] - The stock has appreciated considerably, yet the current valuation remains reasonable and not excessively high [1] - Future plans for the next five years were discussed during an Analyst Day in March, indicating a strategic vision for continued growth [1] Company Performance - The stock has performed exceptionally well since the current leadership took over, reflecting positive market sentiment and operational success [1] - The increase in stock price suggests that the company has successfully executed its strategies over the past five years [1] Future Outlook - There are still key initiatives and objectives that the company aims to address in the upcoming five years, indicating ongoing development and potential for further growth [1] - The leadership is open to discussing additional strategies and plans that could be implemented moving forward [1]

Imperial Brands (OTCQX: IMBBY ) (OTCQX: IMBBF ) is one of the oldest tobacco companies in the world, based in the United Kingdom and with a diverse portfolio of brands not only cigarettes but also new products. Among theseI am an individual investor with over 10 years of trading. I have been developing as a stock analyst for the last five years. I am inclined to search for Value companies, mainly linked to the production of commodities. I mainly focus on companies that show sustained free cash flows over ti ...

Core Viewpoint - Jefferies has initiated coverage on several leading companies in the tobacco industry, providing a mix of ratings including three "Buy" ratings, one "Hold" rating, and one "Underperform" rating, highlighting the sector's stable growth potential and defensive asset characteristics [1][2] Company Summaries - Philip Morris International (PM.US) received a "Buy" rating, with expectations of high single-digit (HSD) growth in EBITDA driven by its leadership in heated tobacco and oral nicotine pouch segments, despite its stock price being above the industry average [1] - Altria (MO.US) was assigned an "Underperform" rating with a target price of $50, facing risks of high single-digit (HSD) sales decline in combustible tobacco and challenges from consumer price pressures, although its traditional oral nicotine market position partially offsets growth potential in modern oral products [1] - Imperial Brands (IMBBY.US) also received a "Buy" rating, noting improvements in combustible tobacco market share and successful execution of its smoke-free product strategy, particularly in the U.S. modern oral product sector [2] - Japan Tobacco (JAPAY.US) was given a "Hold" rating, with attractive strategic positioning in emerging markets and healthy core combustible tobacco business, supported by global flagship brand growth in developed markets [2] - British American Tobacco (BTI.US) is highlighted as a preferred choice in the tobacco sector, with Philip Morris International also achieving the highest quantitative score on the Seeking Alpha platform, indicating strong market recognition [2]

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (IMBBY) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by th ...

Group 1 - The article provides a hold rating for Imperial Brands, indicating that while the 1H25 results show strong execution, there are concerning areas that need attention [1] - Pricing remains strong and market share has increased in key markets, suggesting positive performance in certain aspects [1] - The investment approach focuses on understanding core business economics, including competitive moat, unit economics, reinvestment runway, and management quality, which are essential for long-term free cash flow generation and shareholder value creation [1] Group 2 - The author emphasizes a fundamental, valuation-driven investment strategy, particularly in sectors with strong secular tailwinds [1] - The motivation for sharing insights on Seeking Alpha is to provide valuable analysis and receive feedback from fellow investors [1]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following 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 in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Whil ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following 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 in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Whil ...

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are ...