About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...

The Retail - Apparel And Shoes industry, once a cornerstone of consumer spending and fashion trends, is currently navigating a challenging landscape. Fluctuating consumer confidence, driven by underlying inflationary pressures, has significantly altered spending patterns. With disposable incomes shrinking, consumers are prioritizing essential items, causing demand for apparel and footwear to weaken. Simultaneously, retailers are grappling with rising operational costs, including increased wages and higher p ...

Voltalia wins two new construction contracts in Ireland Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, has been chosen by ESB, a semi-state-owned utility company, to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for two new solar power plants ESB has reaffirmed its trust in Voltalia by awarding two new turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for solar power plants, totaling 92.9 megawatts. The contracts cover t ...

Primary Mortgage Market Survey® U.S. weekly average mortgage rates as of 07/24/2025 MCLEAN, Va., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.74%. “This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage essentially remained flat at 6.74%,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Overall, the backdrop for the housing market is positive as the economy continues to ...

Core Insights - Walmart has surpassed Amazon in same-day delivery, particularly in groceries, with 48% of grocery-only customers opting for same-day delivery compared to 36% for Amazon [1][5][4] - The competitive landscape is shifting, challenging the assumption that Amazon is always the fastest due to its logistics network [3][4] - Walmart's investments in local fulfillment centers and last-mile partnerships are yielding significant results in time-sensitive categories [8][10] Delivery Performance - Walmart leads in same-day delivery for grocery items, with 48% of its grocery customers choosing this option, while only 36% of Amazon's grocery customers do the same [5][4] - Among customers purchasing both grocery and non-grocery items, 41% preferred Walmart for same-day delivery, compared to 29% for Amazon [5] Consumer Behavior - A notable 21% of Walmart's grocery customers did not use delivery at all, contrasting sharply with Amazon, where less than 2% of grocery-only customers skipped delivery [9][10] - Many Walmart customers utilize curbside pickup or shop in-store, leveraging Walmart's strengths in physical retail, while Amazon's customer base is more reliant on delivery [10] Strategic Shifts - Walmart's success in same-day delivery represents a strategic evolution in its eCommerce operations, driven by significant investments in logistics and technology [8][11] - The competition between eCommerce and brick-and-mortar is intensifying, with the final mile becoming a critical battleground [10][11] Market Dynamics - The retail environment is being reshaped by various factors, including tariffs, inflation, and changing consumer behavior, which are influencing operational strategies across companies [11][12] - As companies like Amazon and Walmart recalibrate their strategies, the focus is on leveraging innovations to address operational challenges [13]

Core Insights - Jim Wyckoff has over 25 years of experience in stock, financial, and commodity markets, including roles as a financial journalist and market analyst [1][2] - He has covered all futures markets traded in the U.S. and has worked with various financial news and advisory services [1][2] Company and Industry Summary - Jim Wyckoff operates the "Jim Wyckoff on the Markets" analytical and trading advisory service, providing insights and education on market trends [2] - He has held positions as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as a senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com, showcasing his expertise in market analysis [2] - Wyckoff is also a consultant for the "Pro Farmer" agricultural advisory service, indicating his involvement in agricultural market analysis [2] - He provides daily market roundups and technical specials on Kitco.com, highlighting his ongoing engagement with market developments [3]

Core Viewpoint - Sysco Corporation is expected to report an increase in both revenue and earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with revenues estimated at $21 billion, reflecting a 2.1% growth year-over-year, and earnings per share projected at $1.40, indicating a 0.7% rise from the previous year [1][3]. Group 1: Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sysco's quarterly revenues is pegged at $21 billion, indicating a 2.1% growth from the year-ago quarter [1]. - The consensus mark for earnings has remained stable at $1.40 per share, reflecting a 0.7% increase from the prior year's reported figure [1]. Group 2: Contributing Factors to Performance - Sysco's U.S. Foodservice operations are showing robust strength, contributing positively to the upcoming results, alongside solid customer retention [3][11]. - The company has expanded its distribution capacity and implemented strategic sales initiatives, including the rollout of the Greco Italian platform, which are likely to enhance performance [3]. - The international segment is expected to contribute positively, supported by increased sales headcount, local assortment expansion, and strategic sourcing synergies [4]. Group 3: Cost and Margin Considerations - Rising product costs, particularly in dairy and meat categories, are impacting gross margins negatively [6]. - Increased headcount investments and supply-chain expenses are also potential concerns for the company [6]. - Macroeconomic factors such as soft restaurant traffic, weak consumer confidence, and elevated inflation are dampening demand [6]. Group 4: Earnings Prediction Model - The earnings prediction model indicates a likelihood of an earnings beat for Sysco, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +2.25% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [7].

Core Insights - Valeo demonstrated improved profitability in the first half of 2025, achieving an operating margin of 4.5% and free cash flow of 252 million euros, aligning with its profitability and cash generation objectives for the year [1][34][61] - The company reported a 30% increase in order intake, reaching 11.8 billion euros, reflecting strong demand and effective price management [5][54] - Cost-cutting measures contributed significantly to financial performance, with reductions in administrative costs by 5%, investments by 23%, and gross R&D expenditure by 11% [3][36] Financial Performance - Sales totaled 10,660 million euros, a decrease of 4.1% compared to the first half of 2024, with a gross margin of 19.6%, up 1.1 percentage points year-on-year [6][35] - EBITDA reached 1,472 million euros, representing 13.8% of sales, an increase of 1.4 percentage points from the previous year [39][35] - Net attributable income was 104 million euros, down 26% from 141 million euros in the prior year, reflecting challenges in certain segments [45][35] Operational Highlights - The company experienced a significant shift in its customer mix, with Chinese automakers accounting for a growing share of order intake, which accelerated to nearly three times Valeo's sales [4][23] - Valeo was recognized as a Supplier of the Year by General Motors and Volkswagen, highlighting its operational performance and innovation in the automotive sector [5][59][60] - The POWER Division faced challenges but showed solid performance in thermal systems and transmission systems, particularly in China [28][30] R&D and Cost Management - Gross R&D expenditure decreased by 11% to 1.25 billion euros, with R&D recognized in the income statement at 10.5% of sales, up 0.8 percentage points year-on-year [36][38] - The company implemented a restructuring plan that optimized its industrial and R&D footprint, contributing to improved margins across divisions [31][32] Market Position and Future Outlook - Valeo adjusted its sales objective for 2025 to around 20.5 billion euros, primarily due to adverse currency effects, while maintaining its margin and free cash flow targets [61][62] - The automotive production environment remains challenging, with Valeo's original equipment sales underperforming compared to overall automotive production growth [20][22]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the investment philosophy focused on small cap companies, highlighting the importance of identifying mispriced securities through understanding financial drivers and utilizing DCF model valuation [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach is not confined to traditional categories such as value, dividend, or growth investing, but rather considers all prospects of a stock to assess risk-to-reward [1] Group 2: Market Focus - The investment strategy encompasses markets in the US, Canada, and Europe, indicating a broad geographical focus for potential investment opportunities [1]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of companies with specific characteristics in investment portfolios [1] - iREIT® offers in-depth research on various financial instruments including REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, Builders, and Asset Managers [2] - The iREIT® Tracker provides data on over 250 tickers, including quality scores, buy targets, and trim targets [2] Group 2 - A new Ratings Tracker called iREIT Buy Zone has been introduced to assist members in screening for value [2] - The offer includes a 2-week free trial along with a free book [4]