Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of timing and sustainability in short-term investing, highlighting that successful entries into trends require careful consideration of various factors [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Trends - Willdan Group (WLDN) has shown a solid price increase of 13.8% over the past 12 weeks, indicating strong investor interest [4]. - The stock has also maintained a price increase of 10.7% over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - WLDN is currently trading at 87.9% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout opportunity [6]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - WLDN 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 [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks like WLDN that have the fundamental strength to maintain their upward momentum [3]. - The article suggests that there are several other stocks passing through the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8].

Group 1 - The article discusses Kennedy's investment philosophy, which focuses on GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) and emphasizes investing in companies with aggressive growth prospects that are expected to become highly profitable within 1-2 years [1] - Kennedy's approach includes long-term discipline, consistent alpha generation, and a consideration of risk [1] - The article highlights Kennedy's commitment to empowering the underprivileged and improving financial literacy through his writings [1] Group 2 - The article mentions that Kennedy holds a beneficial long position in the shares of WLDN, indicating a personal investment interest [1]

Group 1 - Kennedy is a GARP-themed investor focusing on companies with aggressive growth prospects that are expected to become highly profitable within 1-2 years [1] - The investment philosophy emphasizes long-term discipline, consistent alpha generation, and an awareness of risk [1] - The Curious Analyst is associated with Kennedy Njagi, indicating a collaborative approach in investment analysis [1] Group 2 - The article expresses a beneficial long position in the shares of WLDN, highlighting a specific investment interest [1] - The author emphasizes the goal of empowering the underprivileged and improving financial literacy through investment insights [1]

Core Insights - The Wasatch Micro-Cap Fund reported a return of 9.52% in Q3 2025, underperforming the benchmark Russell Microcap® Growth Index, which returned 19.93% [1] - Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN) was highlighted as a leading contributor to the fund's performance, with a one-month return of 8.76% and a remarkable 167.72% increase over the past 52 weeks [2][3] Company Performance - Willdan Group, Inc. closed at $103.77 per share on December 16, 2025, with a market capitalization of $1.53 billion [2] - The company has experienced strong earnings and raised guidance, benefiting from increased utility spending driven by rising energy demand and challenges in energy production due to California wildfires [3] Investment Sentiment - Willdan Group, Inc. was held by 30 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 25 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite its potential, the company is not considered among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with some analysts suggesting that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential [4]

Group 1 - The global demand for electricity driven by data centers is projected to increase by 50% through 2027 [1] - The rise in electricity demand is attributed to the uptake of hyperscalers data centers worldwide [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding market trends and investment opportunities in the context of rising power demand [1] - It highlights the potential implications for financial portfolios as data centers continue to expand and require more energy [1]

Group 1 - The article highlights the availability of high-quality analysis on Wall Street buying and selling ideas through a subscription service called Beyond the Wall Investing, which offers a free trial and a 10% discount [1] - Daniel Sereda is identified as the chief investment analyst at a family office, emphasizing his role in navigating extensive information to extract critical investment ideas [1] - The investing group Beyond the Wall Investing provides access to information prioritized by institutional market participants, indicating a focus on professional-grade analysis [1] Group 2 - There is a disclosure stating that the analyst has no current stock or derivative positions in the companies mentioned but may initiate a long position in WLDN within the next 72 hours [2] - The article expresses the author's personal opinions and clarifies that no compensation is received for the article, aside from Seeking Alpha [2] - Seeking Alpha's disclosure notes that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not reflect the overall opinions of Seeking Alpha [3]

Group 1 - Willdan Group (WLDN) has significantly outperformed its peers in the Business Services sector, returning approximately 156.2% year-to-date, while the average return for Business Services companies is -10.2% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Willdan Group's full-year earnings has increased by 12.5% over the past three months, indicating a positive trend in analyst sentiment [4] - Willdan Group currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a strong earnings outlook compared to its peers [3] Group 2 - Willdan Group is part of the Business - Services industry, which consists of 26 individual stocks and currently ranks 43 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average loss of 9.6% this year [6] - Xylem (XYL), another stock in the Business Services sector, has returned 20.2% year-to-date and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - The Waste Removal Services industry, to which Xylem belongs, is ranked 97 and has seen a slight increase of 0.7% this year [6] Group 3 - Investors should continue to monitor both Willdan Group and Xylem for their potential to maintain strong performance in the Business Services sector [7]

Core Insights - Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) announced the acquisition of Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC, set to complete on January 1, 2026, enhancing its advisory capabilities and market reach [1][3] Acquisition Details - Compass has over a decade of experience in assisting local governments with funding and modernizing infrastructure, aligning with Willdan's mission to support public entities in making informed financial decisions [2] - The acquisition will provide Willdan access to new markets, particularly in South Carolina and Kentucky, and strengthen its advisory services in high-demand areas such as water systems and transportation upgrades [2][3] Strategic Growth - Willdan's leadership emphasized the cultural alignment and shared purpose between the two firms, which will enhance resources, analytical depth, and service offerings for public agencies [3] - The acquisition is part of Willdan's broader inorganic growth strategy, which includes targeted acquisitions to expand service offerings and deepen sector expertise [5][8] Recent Acquisitions - In January 2025, Willdan acquired Alpha Inspections, Inc., enhancing its municipal services and regulatory compliance capabilities [6] - On March 3, 2025, Willdan purchased Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (APG), which provides electric power solutions for various infrastructure projects, contributing $4.8 million in revenues during the third quarter [7][8] Market Performance - Following the acquisition announcement, WLDN shares rose by 4.5% during trading hours [4] - Over the past six months, WLDN shares have surged by 91.7%, significantly outperforming the Zacks Business - Services industry, which saw a decline of 22.3% [9]

Core Viewpoint - Willdan Group is positioned as a stronger investment compared to Itex based on various financial metrics and analyst recommendations Profitability - Willdan Group has a net margin of 5.60%, return on equity of 18.60%, and return on assets of 9.65% while Itex does not have available data for these metrics [2][3] Insider & Institutional Ownership - 72.3% of Willdan Group shares are held by institutional investors and 8.6% by insiders, while 32.0% of Itex shares are held by insiders, indicating stronger institutional confidence in Willdan Group [3] Risk & Volatility - Willdan Group has a beta of 1.26, indicating its stock is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500, whereas Itex has a beta of 0.23, making it 77% less volatile than the S&P 500 [4] Analyst Recommendations - Willdan Group has no sell or hold ratings, three buy ratings, and one strong buy rating, resulting in a rating score of 3.25. In contrast, Itex has no ratings at all. Willdan Group's consensus price target is $111.50, suggesting a potential upside of 14.68% [6] Valuation & Earnings - Willdan Group's gross revenue is $651.93 million with a price/sales ratio of 2.20, net income of $22.57 million, earnings per share (EPS) of $2.78, and a price/earnings ratio of 34.97. Itex, on the other hand, has gross revenue of $5.44 million and a price/sales ratio of 0.87, with net income of $500,000 and no available EPS data [8] Summary - Willdan Group outperforms Itex in 12 out of 13 comparative factors, highlighting its overall stronger financial position and investment potential [9]

Core Viewpoint - Willdan Group, Inc. is expanding its financial services through the acquisition of Compass Municipal Advisors, which will enhance its service offerings and geographic reach in the municipal advisory sector [1][2]. Company Overview - Willdan Group, Inc. is a nationwide provider of professional technical and consulting services, focusing on utilities, government agencies, and private industry [4]. - The company offers a wide range of services, including electric grid solutions, energy efficiency, sustainability, energy policy planning, engineering, and municipal financial consulting [4]. Acquisition Details - Willdan Financial Services has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Compass Municipal Advisors, an independent municipal advisory firm based in the Southeastern US [1]. - Compass specializes in assisting public agencies with financial challenges related to infrastructure rehabilitation and capital project development [1][3]. - The acquisition is expected to close on January 1, 2026, pending customary closing conditions [1]. Strategic Benefits - The partnership with Compass will enhance Willdan's resources and capabilities, allowing for broader data-driven guidance to public agencies [2]. - The acquisition will complement Willdan's existing financial and technical expertise while expanding its geographic reach [2].