Group 1 - NCS Multistage (NCSM) shares increased by 5.2% to close at $44.82, with trading volume significantly higher than usual, contrasting with a 2.2% loss over the past four weeks [1][2] - The recent share price rally is attributed to NCS Multistage's acquisition of ResMetrics, enhancing its capabilities in well performance optimization and expanding its global presence, indicating confidence in sustained growth and potential for further upside [2][3] - The company is projected to report quarterly earnings of $1.17 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 22%, while revenues are expected to reach $46.1 million, a 4.8% increase from the previous year [3][4] Group 2 - The consensus EPS estimate for NCS Multistage has remained stable over the last 30 days, suggesting that stock price movements may not continue without changes in earnings estimate revisions [4] - NCS Multistage holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a neutral outlook compared to other stocks in the Oil and Gas - Field Services industry [5] - Liberty Oilfield Services, a peer in the same industry, saw a 1.4% increase in its stock price, closing at $13.09, with a notable return of 23.2% over the past month [5]

Industry Overview - Oil and energy stocks are experiencing a notable surge, with crude prices rising above $60 a barrel due to supply constraints, geopolitical tensions, and market dynamics [1] - OPEC+ is gradually unwinding previous production cuts, limiting supply growth as demand recovers from the pandemic, while U.S. sanctions on Russian and Venezuelan oil further impact supply [2] Market Dynamics - The International Energy Agency (IEA) noted stronger-than-expected oil consumption in advanced economies for 2025, coinciding with record refinery crude throughputs in August, indicating strong demand for refined products [3] Company Analysis: California Resources (CRC) - California Resources reported robust Q2 results, exceeding EPS and sales expectations by 20%, leading to a more than 15% increase in full-year EPS estimates for fiscal 2025 and FY26 [4] - Analysts remain bullish on CRC stock, with price targets raised to between $66-$70, supported by strong revenue growth and operational discipline [5] - CRC has a 2.82% annual dividend yield, with an average price target of $65.58 suggesting a 19% upside [6] Company Analysis: NCS Multistage (NCSM) - NCS Multistage has outperformed its peers with shares skyrocketing 90% YTD, aided by a capital-light business model and geographic expansion [9] - NCS's top line is expected to increase by 8% in FY25 and FY26, with projections nearing $200 million, and EPS projected to increase 6% this year and spike another 20% in FY26 [10][11] Company Analysis: Tidewater (TDW) - Tidewater, the largest Offshore Support Vessel operator, has seen fiscal 2025 earnings estimates increase 15% recently, following a Q2 earnings surprise of 339% [13][14] - The company maintained a record average day rate per vessel of $23,000 with a gross margin of 50.1%, and TDW shares have risen over 20% in the last three months [15] - EPS is projected to climb to $5.04 next year, with revisions up 5% in the last 60 days [15] Conclusion - California Resources, NCS Multistage, and Tidewater are leading the rally in oil and energy stocks, benefiting from strong quarterly reports and rising earnings estimate revisions [17]

Core Insights - The recent rate cut by the Fed has led to increased optimism on Wall Street, with investors favoring profitable companies, although even profitable firms can face bankruptcy if cash flow is inconsistent [1][3] Cash Flow Importance - A company's resilience can be effectively assessed by its cash flow generation efficiency, which protects against market volatility and indicates proper profit allocation [2][3] - Healthy cash flow is crucial for a company's survival, growth, and success, providing flexibility for business decisions and investments [3][5] Cash Flow Analysis - Net cash flow is a key metric to determine how much actual money a company generates, as cash flows in and out of the business [4] - Positive cash flow signifies an increase in liquid assets, enabling a company to meet obligations, reinvest, and return wealth to shareholders, while negative cash flow indicates declining liquidity [5] Growth and Management Efficiency - Positive cash flow alone does not guarantee future growth; increasing cash flow is essential as it reflects management's efficiency and reduces reliance on external financing [6] Screening Parameters for Stocks - Stocks were screened for those with cash flow in the latest quarter at least equal to the 5-year average, indicating a positive trend [7] - Additional criteria included Zacks Rank 1, average broker rating of 1, current price of at least $5, and a VGM Score of B or better [8] Stock Recommendations - Century Aluminum Company (CENX) has seen an 11.7% increase in earnings estimates with a VGM Score of A [9][10] - Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT) has a 6.9% rise in fiscal 2026 earnings estimates and a VGM Score of B [9][11] - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) has a 6.3% upward revision in 2025 earnings estimates with a VGM Score of B [9][12] - NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (NCSM) has a significant 62% improvement in earnings outlook with a VGM Score of A [9][13]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of confirming the sustainability of stock trends for profitable short-term investing, highlighting the use of a specific screening strategy to identify stocks with strong fundamentals and positive price momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Screening Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is designed to identify stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain their recent uptrend, focusing on those trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, indicating bullishness [3]. - NCS Multistage (NCSM) is identified as a suitable candidate that passed through this screening process, showing a significant price increase of 60.2% over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investor confidence [4]. - A recent price increase of 42.1% over the last four weeks further confirms that the upward trend for NCSM is still intact, with the stock currently trading at 95% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting a potential breakout [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - NCSM holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong historical performance, with Rank 1 stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 1988, indicating the reliability of this ranking system [7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for NCSM is also 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding the stock's near-term performance [7]. Group 3: Additional Insights - The article suggests that NCSM's price trend is unlikely to reverse soon, and encourages investors to explore other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen [8]. - The Zacks Research Wizard tool is mentioned as a resource for backtesting stock-picking strategies, which can help investors identify successful investment opportunities [9].

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets are experiencing a continued upward trend in 2025, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite near all-time highs [1] - Expectations for the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut in 2025 have surged, with a 100% probability of a 25-basis-point cut anticipated in the upcoming September FOMC meeting [2] Stock Performance - Several stocks have shown significant price strength, particularly those on a bull run, indicating a high chance of maintaining momentum [2] - Five highlighted stocks include DRDGOLD Ltd. (DRD), Daktronics Inc. (DAKT), NCS Multistage Holdings Inc. (NCSM), Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. (BBW), and Vishay Precision Group Inc. (VPG) [3] Stock Screening Criteria - Stocks must show a percentage change in price greater than zero over the last four weeks, indicating recent upward movement [5] - A percentage change in price greater than 10% over the last 12 weeks is required to ensure sustained momentum [5] - Stocks must have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker rating of 1, indicating strong future performance expectations [6] - Current stock prices must be above $5 and trading near their 52-week highs, with a price/52-week high-low range greater than 85% [7] Individual Stock Highlights - **DRDGOLD Ltd. (DRD)**: Stock price increased by 49.9% in four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 13.3% for the current year and an 80% improvement in earnings estimates [8][9] - **Daktronics Inc. (DAKT)**: Stock price rose by 39.1% in four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 28.2% and a 6.9% increase in earnings forecasts [8][11] - **NCS Multistage Holdings Inc. (NCSM)**: Stock price climbed 38.4% in four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 6.7% and a 62% improvement in earnings estimates [8][13] - **Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. (BBW)**: Stock price surged 33.1% in four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 6.9% and a 3.9% increase in earnings estimates [8][15] - **Vishay Precision Group Inc. (VPG)**: Stock price rallied 14.4% in four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of -27.4% and a 5.8% improvement in earnings estimates [8][18]

Core Viewpoint - NCS Multistage (NCSM) shares experienced a significant rally, closing at $51.4, driven by notable trading volume and a 42.4% gain over the past four weeks [1][2]. Company Developments - The recent increase in NCSM's stock price is attributed to the acquisition of ResMetrics, a profitable tracer diagnostics firm with over 30% EBITDA margins, expected to contribute $4-5 million in revenues this year [2]. - This acquisition enhances NCS's presence in the United States and the Middle East, expanding its advanced reservoir diagnostics portfolio and positioning the company for sustained growth [2]. Financial Expectations - NCS Multistage is projected to report quarterly earnings of $1.17 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 22%, while revenues are expected to reach $46.1 million, marking a 4.8% increase from the previous year [3]. - The consensus EPS estimate for NCSM has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not continue without trends in earnings estimate revisions [4]. Industry Context - NCS Multistage is classified within the Zacks Oil and Gas - Field Services industry, where Ranger Energy (RNGR) also operates, closing 2.4% higher at $13.78, with a 4.1% return over the past month [5]. - Ranger Energy's consensus EPS estimate has increased by 46.2% over the past month to $0.38, although it represents a year-over-year decline of 2.6% [6].

Core Insights - Investors are focusing on cash-rich stocks with strong returns as attractive opportunities amid economic uncertainties, rather than solely on Federal Reserve policy shifts [1][9] Group 1: Importance of Cash Flow - Cash is essential for business vitality, providing the flexibility to make investment decisions and shielding companies from market turmoil [2] - Positive cash flow indicates an increase in liquid assets, enabling companies to meet obligations, reinvest, and return wealth to shareholders, while negative cash flow suggests declining liquidity [5] - Companies must not only have positive cash flow but also increasing cash flow to ensure future growth and reduce dependency on external financing [6] Group 2: Screening for Investment Opportunities - A screening process was established to identify stocks with increasing cash flow, focusing on those whose latest cash flow is at least equal to the 5-year average [7] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) have a history of outperformance, and brokers' positive ratings further support investment decisions [8] Group 3: Qualified Stocks - Materion Corporation (MTRN) specializes in high-performance engineered materials, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improving by 8.2% [10][11] - Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) provides consulting services to enhance cost and energy efficiencies, with a current-year earnings estimate up by 27.7% [11][12] - Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (BBW) is a leading retailer of stuffed animals, with a fiscal 2026 earnings estimate revised upward by 3.9% [12][13] - NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (NCSM) focuses on engineered products for oil and gas operators, with a current-year earnings estimate improving by 62% [14]

Core Viewpoint - NCS Multistage (NCSM) is currently outperforming its peers in the Oils-Energy sector, with a year-to-date performance of approximately 42.5% compared to the sector average of 4% [4]. Company Performance - NCS Multistage is part of the Oils-Energy sector, which consists of 240 individual stocks and holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 13 [2]. - The Zacks Rank for NCS Multistage is 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for NCSM's full-year earnings has increased by 62%, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4]. Industry Comparison - NCS Multistage belongs to the Oil and Gas - Field Services industry, which includes 23 companies and currently ranks 211 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This industry has seen a decline of about 5.4% year-to-date, highlighting NCSM's superior performance [6]. - In contrast, another Oils-Energy stock, Sasol (SSL), has returned 37.9% year-to-date and belongs to the Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry, which ranks 39 and has increased by 6.1% this year [5][6]. Future Outlook - Investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should monitor NCS Multistage and Sasol, as both companies are expected to maintain their strong performance [7].

Core Viewpoint - Value investing remains a preferred strategy for identifying strong stocks across various market conditions, utilizing established valuation metrics to assess potential investments [2][3]. Company Summary - NCS Multistage (NCSM) is currently rated with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and holds an A grade for Value, indicating strong potential for value investors [4]. - The stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 8.07, significantly lower than the industry average of 14.28, suggesting it may be undervalued [4]. - NCSM has a P/B ratio of 0.72, compared to the industry average of 1.89, further indicating its potential undervaluation [5]. - The P/S ratio for NCSM stands at 0.54, which is lower than the industry average of 0.74, reinforcing the notion of the stock being undervalued [6]. - The P/CF ratio for NCSM is 5.21, which is attractive compared to the industry average of 6.61, highlighting the strength of its cash flow outlook [7]. - Overall, the metrics suggest that NCS Multistage is likely undervalued, making it an appealing option for value investors at this time [8].

Summary of NCS Multistage (NCSM) Conference Call - August 21, 2025 Company Overview - NCS Multistage is an oilfield-focused technology company serving the oilfield services and equipment market, selling directly to major oil and natural gas producers such as Chevron, Conoco, and BP [2][4] - The company competes with larger established firms like Schlumberger and Halliburton, focusing on areas where it can achieve leadership and attractive margins [2] Business Model and Financials - NCS operates with a capital-light business model, outsourcing manufacturing to minimize capital investment and convert EBITDA into free cash flow [3][4] - The company reported a market capitalization and enterprise value just below $85 million, with trailing twelve-month EBITDA of $26 million and free cash flow of $10 million, indicating a low trading multiple and robust free cash flow yield [4] - Revenue grew by 14% or $20 million in 2024, with expectations for continued growth in 2025 despite a challenging market environment [8] Strategic Focus - NCS has three core business strategies: 1. Build on leading market positions, particularly in fracturing systems and Canadian completions [6] 2. Capitalize on offshore and international opportunities, as these markets are growing faster than North America [6] 3. Commercialize innovative solutions to complex customer challenges, enhancing customer value [7] Acquisition of ResMetrix - The strategic acquisition of ResMetrix, a provider of tracer diagnostics technologies, was announced in July 2025 [9][10] - ResMetrix has trailing twelve-month unaudited revenue of over $10 million and an EBITDA margin exceeding 30% [13] - The acquisition aims to create a leading global tracer diagnostics business, enhancing NCS's service offerings and expanding its geographic footprint, particularly in the Middle East [12][10] - NCS plans to integrate ResMetrix carefully, focusing on optimizing chemical usage and realizing economies of scale [12] Market Position and Future Outlook - NCS believes that as the North American exploration and production business matures, oilfield service providers will need to engage in strategic combinations to remain competitive [14] - The company is positioned well for organic growth and complementary acquisitions, with a strong balance sheet and approximately $25 million in cash available for strategic transactions [16] - NCS aims to continue delivering revenue, gross profit, and EBITDA growth with strong incremental margins, focusing on innovative technology for technically demanding applications [15][14] Conclusion - NCS Multistage presents a compelling investment opportunity with a solid growth track record and a focus on expanding its presence in growth markets for unconventional resource development [14]