Group 1 - Two stocks in the utilities sector, Black Hills Corp and Spire Inc, are identified as potentially overbought based on momentum indicators [1][2] - Black Hills Corp has an RSI value of 72.9, indicating it is overbought, and its stock price has increased by approximately 10% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $65.59 [6] - Spire Inc has an RSI value of 75.2, also indicating it is overbought, with a stock price increase of around 11% over the past month and a 52-week high of $87.64 [6] Group 2 - Black Hills Corp recently announced a $450 million debt offering, and its stock closed at $65.25 after a 1.1% increase [6] - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained an Outperform rating for Spire Inc and raised its price target from $83 to $93, with the stock closing at $87.13 after a 0.3% gain [6] - Spire Inc will host a conference call on November 14 to discuss its fiscal fourth quarter and year-end financial results [6]

Group 1 - Two stocks in the utilities sector, Black Hills Corp and Spire Inc, are identified as potentially overbought based on momentum indicators [1][2] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for Black Hills Corp is 72.9, indicating it is overbought, while Spire Inc has an RSI of 75.2, also suggesting overbought conditions [2][6] - Black Hills Corp's stock has increased approximately 10% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $65.59, while Spire Inc's stock has gained around 11% in the same period, with a 52-week high of $87.64 [6] Group 2 - Black Hills Corp recently announced a $450 million debt offering, and its shares closed at $65.25 after a 1.1% increase [6] - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained an Outperform rating for Spire Inc and raised its price target from $83 to $93, with shares closing at $87.13 after a 0.3% gain [6]

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]

Group 1 - The company focuses on timely dividend-paying stocks to assist investors in wealth accumulation [1] - The author has extensive experience as a Registered Investment Advisor and has published multiple investment-related books [1] - The company aims to provide a steady pace of financial growth for its clients through various investment strategies [1] Group 2 - The author has a background in corporate management, having spent 15 years at Georgia-Pacific Corp before starting their own ventures [1] - The company has a history of involvement in small business advisory roles, including an appointment by President Ronald Reagan [1] - The investment newsletter emphasizes the importance of personal investment planning and stock market analysis [1]