More and more it feels like companies across industries have bought into the idea that it is often best to specialize in whatever it is they do best and outsource as much of what remains as is practical. In the caseAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other tha ...

Trevor Williams/DigitalVision via Getty Images Summary Foreign equity markets delivered their best returns in over a decade while our International Growth Composite Portfolio (the “Portfolio) finished the year essentially flat. This underperformance was not a result of deteriorating business fundamentals among our holdings, but rather a pronounced market preference for cyclically sensitive businesses. We seek to invest in businesses with durable competitive advantages, strong returns on capital, and re ...

PresentationWelcome to the Lonza presentation here at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. From Lonza, it's my great pleasure to welcome the CEO, Wolfgang Wienand, who will lead the presentation. And that will be followed by Q&A where the CFO, Philippe will join us as well.Wolfgang WienandChief Executive Officer Yes. Thank you very much, Zain, and a warm welcome from my side as well. I'm happy to talk about One Lonza today and how we actually drive long-term value. But before we go into the presentation, let ...

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Royal Philips (PHG) and Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) indicates that PHG currently offers better value for investors based on various financial metrics and rankings [1][3][7]. Valuation Metrics - PHG has a forward P/E ratio of 17.92, while LZAGY has a significantly higher forward P/E of 33.33 [5]. - The PEG ratio for PHG is 0.74, indicating a more favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth, compared to LZAGY's PEG ratio of 2.06 [5]. - PHG's P/B ratio stands at 2.28, whereas LZAGY's P/B ratio is 4.71, further highlighting PHG's relative undervaluation [6]. Earnings Estimates and Rankings - PHG holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a positive earnings outlook, while LZAGY has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The stronger estimate revision activity for PHG indicates a more favorable earnings outlook compared to LZAGY [7].

Core Viewpoint - The stock price of Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) has been on a bearish trend, losing 5.4% in the past two weeks, but the formation of a hammer chart pattern suggests a potential trend reversal as buying interest may be increasing [1][2]. Technical Analysis - The hammer chart pattern indicates a potential bottom in a downtrend, where the stock opens lower, makes a new low, but then finds support and closes near its opening price, suggesting that bears may be losing control [4][5]. - Hammer candles can appear on various timeframes and are used by both short-term and long-term investors [5]. Fundamental Analysis - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for LZAGY, with a 2.6% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, indicating that analysts expect better earnings than previously predicted [7][8]. - LZAGY holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks, which typically outperform the market [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of changing earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with near-term stock price movements [3][5]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine a company's fair value, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Recent Performance and Outlook - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Lonza Group is projected to earn $1.93 per share, reflecting a 12.9% increase from the previous year [7]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lonza Group has risen by 3.2%, indicating a positive trend in earnings expectations [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - The upgrade of Lonza Group to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for higher stock movement in the near term [9].

Company Overview - Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) currently has a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for strong performance based on recent trends [3][12] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned well for future growth [4][12] Price Performance - LZAGY shares have increased by 4.88% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Medical - Products industry, which rose by 0.94% during the same period [6] - Over the past month, LZAGY's price change is 27.37%, significantly higher than the industry's 4.7% [6] - In the last quarter, shares of LZAGY have risen by 9.64%, and over the past year, they have gained 27.13%, while the S&P 500 has moved -6.46% and 11.69%, respectively [7] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for LZAGY is 243,543 shares, which serves as a baseline for price-to-volume analysis [8] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, one earnings estimate for LZAGY has increased, while none have decreased, raising the consensus estimate from $1.87 to $1.89 [10] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has also moved upwards with no downward revisions noted [10]

Core Viewpoint - Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Lonza Group is expected to earn $1.87 per share, reflecting a 9.4% increase from the previous year's reported figure [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lonza Group has increased by 1.5%, indicating a trend of rising earnings estimates [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), and has a strong track record of performance [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a 'Strong Buy' rating, while the next 15% receive a 'Buy' rating, positioning Lonza Group in the top 20% of stocks based on earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Market Implications - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 suggests that Lonza Group's improving earnings outlook could lead to increased buying pressure and a potential rise in stock price [3][5]. - The correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock price movements highlights the importance of tracking these revisions for investment decisions [6][4].

Group 1 - The article discusses the recent developments regarding Lonza Group AG in the context of challenging market conditions [1] - It mentions a significant increase in tariffs communicated by US President Trump on April 2, which may impact the industry [1] - The article indicates that buy-side hedge professionals are conducting fundamental, income-oriented, long-term analysis across various sectors globally [1]

Core Viewpoint - Lonza Group has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive earnings outlook that may lead to increased stock price [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2024, Lonza Group is expected to earn $1.57 per share, reflecting a 13.8% increase from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lonza Group has risen by 15.6%, indicating a consistent upward revision trend by analysts [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places Lonza Group in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10]. Impact of Institutional Investors - Changes in earnings estimates significantly influence stock prices, as institutional investors adjust their valuations based on these estimates, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock movements [4][5].