On CNBC's “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Brian Belski, CEO at Humilis Investment Strategies, named Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF) as his final trade.On the earnings front, Raymond James, on Jan. 28, reported quarterly earnings of $2.86 per share. It missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.88 per share. The firm reported quarterly sales of $3.735 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $3.92 billion.Anastasia Amoroso, Partners Group managing director and chief investment strategist, ...

Core Viewpoint - Rapala VMC Corporation has announced a new distribution agreement with Okuma Fishing Tackle Co Ltd in Australia, effective February 1, 2026, which will enhance its product portfolio and service capabilities for anglers across various fishing environments [1][2][3]. Group 1: Strategic Expansion - The addition of Okuma's products strengthens Rapala Australia's overall offering, allowing it to serve anglers in both freshwater and saltwater environments, as well as inshore and offshore applications [2][3]. - This agreement represents a strategic expansion of Rapala Australia's product portfolio, enhancing service for retail partners and anglers nationwide [3]. Group 2: Global Cooperation - The partnership reinforces the global cooperation between Okuma and Rapala VMC, supporting continued collaboration in delivering innovative and high-performing tackle solutions [4]. - The agreement is seen as a long-term strategic move for Okuma, as expressed by its Chairman, Charles Chang [5]. Group 3: Leadership and Growth Opportunities - Rapala VMC's leadership, under Tim Morgan, is optimistic about the growth opportunities presented by the addition of Okuma to their brand portfolio [7]. - The partnership is expected to create further synergies between the countries representing Okuma, as noted by Cyrille Viellard, President & CEO of Rapala VMC [6]. Group 4: Company Overview - Rapala VMC Group is a leading fishing tackle company with a significant distribution network and a diverse brand portfolio, including brands like Rapala, VMC, Sufix, and 13 Fishing [8]. - The company reported net sales of EUR 221 million in 2024 and employs approximately 1,400 people across 40 countries [8].

Company Overview - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) has a market capitalization of $39.9 billion and is a leading producer and supplier of construction aggregates in the United States, operating through Aggregates, Asphalt, and Concrete segments [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts anticipate VMC to report Q4 earnings of $2.11 per share on a diluted basis, reflecting a decrease of 2.8% from $2.17 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For FY2025, VMC is expected to report an EPS of $8.40, which is an increase of 11.6% from $7.53 in fiscal 2024, and a further rise of 15.6% year over year to $9.71 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - VMC stock has increased by 12.5% over the past year, which is lower than the S&P 500 Index's gain of 16.3% but matches the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's surge of 12.5% during the same period [4] Recent Financial Results - In the third quarter, VMC reported revenues of $2.29 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 14.4%, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 26.5% to approximately $735 million [5] - Aggregates shipments increased by around 12% to 64.7 million tons, driven by strong demand from public infrastructure projects, alongside improved pricing and reduced unit cash costs [5] - Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, projecting adjusted EBITDA between $2.35 billion and $2.45 billion [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on VMC stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall; out of 22 analysts, 14 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," and seven give a "Hold" rating [6] - The average analyst price target for VMC is $328.01, indicating a potential upside of 8.7% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Cemex (CX) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) indicates that CX presents a better value opportunity for investors at this time [1]. Valuation Metrics - CX has a forward P/E ratio of 12.04, significantly lower than VMC's forward P/E of 34.81 [5]. - The PEG ratio for CX is 1.27, while VMC's PEG ratio stands at 2.40, suggesting that CX is more reasonably priced relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - CX's P/B ratio is 1.23, compared to VMC's P/B of 4.43, indicating that CX is undervalued in terms of market value versus book value [6]. Earnings Outlook - CX holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger improvement in earnings outlook compared to VMC, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][7]. - The estimate revision activity for CX has been stronger than that of VMC, reinforcing the conclusion that CX is the superior option for value investors [7].

Core Insights - The construction materials sector is experiencing growth due to increased public infrastructure spending, but not all companies are benefiting equally [1][20] - Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials are outperforming Amrize in capturing infrastructure-related opportunities [15][20] Infrastructure Spending Context - Federal infrastructure legislation is driving demand for construction materials, with an addressable market exceeding $200 billion annually [2] - Public construction activity is expected to remain strong through 2025, sustaining demand for raw materials [2] Company Profiles - Amrize operates over 1,000 sites and generated nearly $12 billion in annual revenue, focusing on both infrastructure and residential markets [5] - Vulcan Materials specializes in aggregates with a revenue of $7.88 billion, utilizing an asset-light model [7] - Martin Marietta operates across 26 states and generated $6.90 billion in revenue, emphasizing an aggregates-led platform [8] Performance Comparison - Vulcan Materials reported a 12% volume growth in aggregates shipments and a 5% increase in selling prices, resulting in a gross profit of $612 million [10] - Martin Marietta achieved record revenues and margins, with aggregates revenues up 17% to $1.46 billion and an operating margin of 27.9% [11] - Amrize's revenue grew 6.6% to $3.68 billion, but it missed earnings estimates and faced margin pressures due to equipment outages [12] Valuation Metrics - Martin Marietta trades at the highest multiples in the sector, with 32x earnings and 5.41x sales, reflecting strong operational performance [13] - Vulcan Materials has a valuation of 34x earnings, while Amrize trades at 28x earnings, indicating market skepticism about its growth potential [13] Management Insights - Martin Marietta's CEO emphasized the company's strong growth foundation and operational execution [14] - Vulcan Materials' CEO highlighted the benefits of their strategic disciplines leading to strong earnings growth [14] - Amrize's CEO focused on long-term positioning despite current challenges [14] Conclusion - Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials are effectively capitalizing on infrastructure spending through strong volume growth and margin expansion, while Amrize faces execution challenges [15][20]

Core Viewpoint - Vulcan Materials Inc. has shown positive stock performance, with a 1.11% increase in the current session, a 5.63% increase over the past month, and an 8.82% increase over the past year, leading to optimism among long-term shareholders [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The current trading price of Vulcan Materials is $300.07 [1] - The stock has increased by 5.63% over the past month and 8.82% over the past year [1] Group 2: Price-to-Earnings Ratio Analysis - The P/E ratio is a critical metric for long-term shareholders to evaluate market performance against historical earnings and industry standards [5] - Vulcan Materials has a lower P/E ratio compared to the aggregate P/E of 39.27 for the Construction Materials industry, suggesting potential undervaluation [6] - A low P/E ratio can indicate either undervaluation or weak growth prospects, necessitating cautious interpretation [9][10]

Core Insights - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is a leading producer of construction aggregates in the United States, with a market cap of approximately $38.6 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Vulcan Materials reported total revenue of $2.3 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of about 14.4% [5] - Shipments in the core aggregates business rose by 12% year-over-year, while cash gross profit per ton increased to $11.84, marking the eleventh consecutive quarter of double-digit gains in unit profitability [5] - Year-to-date, VMC shares have risen by 13.8%, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average's YTD gains of 12.5% [4] Stock Performance - VMC's stock has declined by 6.1% from its 52-week high of $311.74, reached on October 15 [3] - Over the past three months, VMC has underperformed compared to the Dow Jones Industrials Average, which gained 4.7% during the same period [3] - The stock has been trading above the 200-day moving average since late June but has mostly traded below the 50-day moving average since mid-October [4] Competitive Landscape - Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) has outperformed VMC with an 18.5% return year-to-date and 6.5% gains over the past year [6] - Despite this, VMC has a consensus "Strong Buy" rating from 22 analysts, with a mean price target of $324.19, indicating a potential upside of 9.6% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. mining stocks experienced a significant rally, driven by government plans to increase stakes in key mineral companies, which has historically boosted stock prices [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - U.S. mining stocks saw a broad increase, with notable gains including an 8% rise for Albemarle (ALB.US), over 4% for Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US), and over 2% for MP Materials (MP.US) [1] Group 2: Government Actions - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in acquiring stakes in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, which has contributed to rising stock prices [1] - Specific transactions include a $400 million investment for a 15% stake in MP Materials (MP.US), a $670 million stake in magnet producer VMC (VMC.US), and a $35.6 million stake in Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) for 10% [1] - In September, the government announced plans to acquire shares in Lithium Americas (LAC.US), which is developing the largest lithium deposit in the U.S., as part of a restructuring of a $2.23 billion existing loan agreement with the Department of Energy [1]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. mining stocks experienced a broad rally, driven by government plans to increase stakes in key mineral companies, which has historically boosted stock prices [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - U.S. mining stocks saw significant gains, with Albemarle (ALB.US) rising by 8%, Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) increasing by over 4%, and MP Materials (MP.US) up by over 2% [1] Group 2: Government Actions - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in acquiring stakes in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, which has led to increased stock prices for these companies [1] - Notable transactions include a $400 million investment for a 15% stake in MP Materials (MP.US), a $670 million investment in magnet producer VMC (VMC.US), and a $35.6 million investment for a 10% stake in Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) [1] - In September, the government announced plans to acquire shares in Lithium Americas (LAC.US), which is developing the largest lithium deposit in the U.S., as part of a restructuring of a $2.23 billion existing loan agreement with the Department of Energy [1]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is increasingly investing in key mineral companies to enhance supply chain security and support the development of the technology industry, marking a shift in strategy for ensuring stable and controllable supply sources [1][2] Group 1: Government Investment Strategy - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, focusing on rare metals, battery materials, and high-performance magnets [1] - Notable investments include a $400 million acquisition of a 15% stake in MP Materials, a $670 million investment in magnet manufacturer VMC, and a $35.6 million stake in Trilogy Metals [1] - The government aims to strengthen its industrial base in global resource competition through these investments, which are expected to become more common in the future [1][2] Group 2: Industry Collaboration and Demand - There is a growing collaboration between the U.S. government and mineral companies, driven by increasing demand for high-performance metals and materials in various industries, including missile guidance systems, radar, jet engines, electric vehicles, and energy storage [2] - The equity investment strategy is seen as a crucial tool for building a more complete mineral supply system and supporting the development of emerging industries [2] - U.S. officials emphasize the importance of exploring more collaborative approaches with the industry to create a robust foundation for critical material supply through both capital and policy support [2]