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.Even ...

As of Oct. 23, 2025, two stocks in the utilities sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock’s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock’s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the RSI is above 70, according to Ben ...

As of Oct. 23, 2025, two stocks in the utilities sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock’s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock’s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the RSI is above 70, according to Ben ...

Core Insights - Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) is a significant player in the energy sector, focusing on natural gas distribution [1][5] - Morgan Stanley has set a price target of $91 for Spire Inc., indicating a potential price increase of approximately 4.59% from its current price of $87 [1][5] - The company is preparing to host a conference call on November 14, 2025, to discuss its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and year-end financial results, which may influence its stock price [3][5] Stock Performance - As of now, Spire Inc.'s stock is priced at $86.93, reflecting a slight increase of 0.06% or $0.055 today [2] - The stock has experienced a trading range between $86.52 and $87.21 for the day, with a yearly high of $87.64 and a low of $61.87, indicating volatility [2] Market Metrics - The company's market capitalization is approximately $5.13 billion, with a trading volume of 60,011 shares, suggesting moderate investor interest [4][5]

Core Viewpoint - Spire (SR) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in a company's earnings picture, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate reflecting EPS estimates from sell-side analysts [1][2]. - A strong correlation exists between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system valuable for investors [4][6]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that impact stock prices [4]. Spire's Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending September 2025, Spire is expected to earn $4.51 per share, which remains unchanged from the previous year, but analysts have raised their estimates by 0.3% over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Spire's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Utility - Gas Distribution sector should consider Spire (SR) and Atmos Energy (ATO) as potential investment opportunities, with a focus on their valuation metrics to determine which stock offers better value [1] Valuation Metrics - Both Spire and Atmos Energy currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and an improving earnings outlook for both companies [3] - Key valuation metrics for Spire include a forward P/E ratio of 16.62 and a PEG ratio of 2.44, while Atmos Energy has a forward P/E of 22.54 and a PEG ratio of 3.08 [5] - Spire's P/B ratio stands at 1.53, compared to Atmos Energy's P/B ratio of 2.11, contributing to Spire's Value grade of B and Atmos Energy's Value grade of D [6]

Company Overview - Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) is a natural gas company providing energy services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers [1][6] - The company's market capitalization is approximately $4.66 billion, with a trading volume of 257,645 shares, positioning it as a significant player in the utilities sector [5] Stock Performance - As of September 25, 2025, SR was trading at $79.20, which is approximately -4.03% below the price target of $76 set by David Arcaro from Morgan Stanley [1][6] - Currently, SR is priced at $79.03, reflecting a slight increase of 0.30% for the day, with a trading range of $78.47 to $79.21 [2] - Over the past year, SR has experienced a high of $79.81 and a low of $61.56, indicating some volatility in its price movements [2] Economic Context - Despite a recent federal funds rate cut, there are concerns about potential recession indicators, particularly in the housing and labor markets [3] - However, SR continues to show resilience, with stable performance in the utilities sector amidst economic uncertainty [6] Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to consider shifting towards more defensive equity investments in sectors like utilities, consumer staples, and healthcare due to recession concerns [4][6]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are closely monitoring recession indicators following the first federal funds rate cut of the year, with a struggling housing market and labor market warnings suggesting a potential recession, despite rising stock prices [1] Group 1: Church & Dwight (CHD) - Church & Dwight Co. Inc. is recognized for its essential household and personal care brands, which may provide insulation from a potential recession due to their perceived necessity [2][3] - The company has a long history of dividend increases, with a yield of 1.36% and a conservative payout ratio of 55.66%, making it a potential source of stability during volatile periods [3] - CHD shares have declined over 10% year-to-date, attributed to tariff impacts, but analysts predict a recovery with an upside potential of over 14% [4] Group 2: Spire Inc. (SR) - Spire Inc. is a regional natural gas utility firm expanding through the acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas, which is expected to add over 200,000 customers and contribute to an estimated 8% bottom-line increase in the coming year [5] - The company maintains low operational costs, growing by less than 1% year-to-date, which provides protection against inflation, alongside a dividend yield of 4.08% and a payout ratio of 67.12% [6] Group 3: Chemed Corp. (CHE) - Chemed Corp. operates in home services and healthcare, with its brands Roto-Rooter and Vitas Healthcare providing recession-resistant services [8] - The company faces challenges such as hospice care caps and rising insurance costs, which have pressured CHE shares to their lowest P/E level in over four years, presenting a potential buying opportunity for long-term strength [9]

Market Conditions - The investing landscape has become challenging for income-oriented investors due to high uncertainty and volatility in the stock market [1] - Factors contributing to this volatility include an uncertain outlook related to tariffs and the ongoing war in Ukraine, alongside a rebound in inflation [1] Analyst Background - The author is a chemical engineer with a Master's in Food Technology and Economics, and a MENSA member [1] - The author has written multiple books on investing and mathematics, emphasizing the importance of mental calculations for making immediate investment decisions [1] - The author applies both fundamental and technical analysis in investing, primarily using options as a tool for investing and trading [1] Financial Independence - The author achieved financial independence at the age of 45, indicating a successful investment strategy [1] - The author follows Warren Buffett's principle of focusing on financial statements for investment insights [1]

Company Overview - Spire Inc. is a natural gas company serving over 1.7 million customers in the United States, founded in 2000 and headquartered in St. Louis, MO [11] - The company generates more than 90% of its profits from regulated operations, providing a clear outlook on future earnings [11] - Spire operates over 60,000 miles of pipelines and has businesses in Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream segments [11] Investment Insights - Spire has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a moderate investment potential [12] - The Momentum Style Score for Spire is B, with shares increasing by 1.3% over the past four weeks [12] - Two analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.01 to $4.51 per share [12] - Spire has an average earnings surprise of +24.7%, suggesting a positive trend in earnings performance [12] Recommendation - With a solid Zacks Rank and strong Momentum and VGM Style Scores, Spire is recommended for investors' consideration [13]