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Strength in Defense Aerospace Drives Howmet: Can the Momentum Sustain?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:21
Key Takeaways Defense aerospace sales rose 21% in Q2 2025, making up 17% of HWM's total revenues.Engineered Structures revenues grew 5%, fueled by stronger defense aerospace demand.FY26 U.S. defense budget boost positions HWM to secure more military contracts.Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) is benefiting from the persistent strength in its defense aerospace market. In the second quarter of 2025, the company’s revenues from the defense aerospace market jumped 21% year over year, which accounted for 17% of its to ...
UNH or ELV: Which Healthcare Titan Will Regain Investor Trust First?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:21
Key Takeaways UnitedHealth stock has declined 40.7% in 2025 while Elevance is down 16% amid sector-wide pressure.UNH's Optum, scale, and Amedisys buy strengthen its cost control and integrated care capabilities.ELV grows premiums faster, but UNH still leads in profitability, capital efficiency and shareholder return.UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV) are two of the largest health insurers in the United States, each operating vast networks and diversified healthcare busines ...
Can ET's Gas Storage Assets Unlock Growth Opportunity for the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:21
Key Takeaways Energy Transfer is expanding storage, including doubling Bethel's capacity to 12 Bcf.ET's intrastate assets link to Permian and Eagle Ford, enabling fee income and price optimization.Interstate storage integrates with pipelines serving Midwest and Gulf Coast demand centers.Energy Transfer LP (ET) is well-positioned to capture rising U.S. natural gas demand through its extensive network of intrastate and interstate storage facilities. With strategically located capacity across major demand corr ...
Elevance Shoots for the Stars But Lands at 3.5: $375M Bonus Gone?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:21
Key Takeaways Elevance's challenge to CMS over Medicare Advantage ratings was dismissed by a federal judge.A 3.749565 rating, rounded to 3.5 stars, cost Elevance eligibility for $375M in 2025 bonuses.CMS ratings drive both bonus payments and consumer enrollment decisions in Medicare Advantage.Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV) recently encountered a significant legal blow after a federal judge dismissed its challenge against the U.S. government’s Medicare Advantage star ratings. The insurer sued the Centers for Me ...
Surging Earnings Estimates Signal Upside for Inter & Co. Inc. (INTR) Stock
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:21
Inter & Co. Inc. (INTR) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving.The upward trend in estimate revisions for this company reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions ...
Archer vs. Joby: Which eVTOL Stock Has an Edge Currently?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:06
Core Insights - Demand for advanced air transport options like eVTOL aircraft is increasing due to urban congestion and technological advancements, enhancing investor confidence in companies like Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation [1] Company Strategies - Archer Aviation is developing a ride-sharing model for short-haul flights connecting city centers with nearby airports, supported by key partnerships [2] - Joby Aviation employs a vertically integrated approach, focusing on both design and operation of air taxi services, backed by strategic investors [2] Market Potential - The global eVTOL market shows significant potential, prompting analysis of which eVTOL stock currently holds an advantage and represents a smarter investment [3] Joby Aviation Developments - Joby plans to start passenger services in Dubai next year and has announced a deal to acquire Blade Air Mobility's urban air mobility passenger business for up to $125 million, providing access to existing urban air routes [4][5] - Joby completed its first flight between two U.S. airports, marking progress in commercial readiness and safety [6] - Joby is expanding its production site in Marina, CA, which will double its aircraft production capacity to 24 aircraft per year [7] Archer Aviation Developments - Archer's Midnight aircraft completed a 55-mile flight, a milestone towards certification and commercial launch in the UAE [8] - Archer has strengthened its position through government and commercial collaborations, including strategic acquisitions to enhance its defense program [9] - Archer has partnered with Jetex to integrate its air taxi service with a global network of terminals, ensuring necessary infrastructure [10] Financial Performance - Both Archer and Joby have negative Return on Equity, indicating inefficiencies in profit generation from equity [11] - Joby has outperformed Archer in stock price performance over the past year, with both stocks experiencing triple-digit growth [13] - Archer has a better earnings surprise history compared to Joby, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings once in the last four quarters [16][18] Competitive Edge - Archer's strategic partnerships and faster production ramp-up provide it with an edge in commercialization, while Joby's integrated model and certification milestones offer long-term potential [20]
Unity Stock on Fire, Surges 64% in 3 Months: Still Time to Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:06
Core Insights - Unity Software Inc. has seen a stock increase of 64% over the past three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and industry peers [1][7] - The company's new AI-driven performance engine, Vector, is a key growth driver, contributing to a 15% sequential revenue growth in the second quarter of 2025 [5][6] - Unity maintains a dominant position in the gaming ecosystem, with approximately 70% of top mobile games built on its platform, providing a unique data advantage [8] Financial Performance - Unity's second-quarter 2025 results exceeded expectations, with adjusted EBITDA margins at 21% and record free cash flow of $127 million [12] - The company has a strong cash position of $1.7 billion, allowing for continued investment in growth initiatives without straining its balance sheet [12] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised upward, projecting a year-over-year growth of 146.4% and 8.8%, respectively [14] Product and Market Development - Unity 6, the latest version of the company's development platform, has recorded over 6.6 million downloads, with subscription revenues growing at double-digit rates [9] - The company is expanding its strategic partnerships, including a multiyear deal with Tencent and collaborations with Scopely and Nintendo, enhancing its presence in the gaming industry [10] - Unity's technology is also being utilized in non-gaming sectors, such as automotive and healthcare, demonstrating its potential for diversification and growth [11] Technical Indicators - The stock is trading above its 50-day moving average, indicating strong upward momentum and positive market sentiment [4] - Unity's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 7.9, indicating a premium valuation compared to industry peers [16] Long-Term Growth Potential - Management emphasizes that Unity is in the early stages of an AI-driven transformation, with plans to integrate AI into both the Create and Grow segments [13] - The company's dominant role in mobile game development and strategic partnerships position it well for sustained growth, particularly from 2026 onward [8][10]
Post Obesity Pill Results Reveal: Buy, Sell or Hold VKTX Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:06
Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics' shares dropped 36% following mixed results from a mid-stage study of its obesity drug VK2735, raising concerns about the drug's safety and tolerability [1][11]. Company Analysis - VK2735 showed a 12.2% weight loss in patients on the highest dose after 13 weeks, compared to 1.3% in the placebo group, but high dropout rates were noted [1]. - Management suggested that side effects could be mitigated by gradually increasing doses, yet investor sentiment remains negative [2]. - The company currently has no marketed products and faces significant cash burn due to ongoing clinical studies, prompting a focus on the obesity pipeline [8]. Market Competition - The obesity market is projected to reach $100 billion in the U.S. by 2030, with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk leading the injectable segment [4]. - Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are also developing oral weight-loss pills, with recent disappointing results from Lilly's oral GLP-1 pill study [5]. - Novo Nordisk is seeking FDA approval for an oral version of Wegovy, which could enhance its competitive position in the obesity market [6]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Viking Therapeutics' stock has underperformed, dropping 38% this year compared to a 4% growth in the industry [12]. - The stock trades at a premium with a price/book ratio of 3.63, higher than the industry average of 2.98 [14]. - Estimates for losses per share for 2025 and 2026 have widened significantly in the past month [14].
Grocery Helps Walmart US eCommerce Sales Surge 26%
PYMNTS.com· 2025-08-21 17:04
Core Insights - Walmart's eCommerce sales increased by 26% year-over-year, with grocery digital sales showing double-digit growth and store-fulfilled grocery delivery rising by 50% [2][3] Financial Performance - Despite a slight earnings miss due to rising costs from tariffs, Walmart raised its full-year net sales growth guidance to 3.75% to 4.75%, up from the previous 3% to 4% [3] - Comparable sales in the U.S. grew by 4.6%, with Sam's Club outperforming at 5.9% [3] eCommerce and Marketplace Growth - All segments of Walmart reported eCommerce sales growth exceeding 20%, with overall sales stronger than expected [4] - The global marketplace grew by 17%, and membership income increased by 15%, while global advertising surged by 46% [5] Consumer Behavior and Pricing Strategy - CEO Doug McMillon noted that U.S. consumer spending has remained consistent, with gradual impacts from tariffs leading to muted behavioral adjustments [6] - The company has managed to keep prices low despite rising costs, with creative strategies to avoid additional pressure on customers [6] Artificial Intelligence Initiatives - AI remains a key focus for Walmart, with plans to enhance the digital assistant Sparky for improved personalization and functionality [7][8] Membership and Loyalty Programs - Membership fee income across the enterprise rose by 15%, with Sam's Club seeing 7.6% growth in membership income and Walmart Plus membership income growing in double digits [9][10] Overall Business Strategy - The CFO highlighted the nuanced nature of the earnings report, emphasizing the strong momentum in eCommerce and diversified profit streams that are higher growth and higher margin [10]
PFFV's Portfolio Breakdown
Seeking Alpha· 2025-08-21 17:01
Group 1 - The article discusses the availability of a free trial for active investors to join a chat room with sophisticated traders and investors [1] Group 2 - There are no stock, option, or similar derivative positions held by the analyst in any of the mentioned companies, nor plans to initiate such positions within the next 72 hours [2] - The article expresses the author's own opinions and is not receiving compensation from any company mentioned [2] - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not reflect those of the platform as a whole [3]