As of Feb. 23, 2026, three stocks in the materials sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.Stepan Co (NYSE:SCL)Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KOP)On Feb. 11, Koppers raised its quarterly dividend from 8 cents to 9 cents per share. The company's stock gained around 21% over the past month and has a 52-week high of $35.70.RSI Value: 81.2KOP Price Action: Shares of Koppers ...

Aristotle Capital Boston, LLC, an investment advisor, released its fourth-quarter investor letter for “Small Cap Equity Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. small-cap equities reported modest gains in the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarter started as a continuation of the post-Liberation Day risk-on market environment, while it ended on a strong note, driven by a positive macroeconomic backdrop. Attractive valuations, earnings recovery, broadening of the market, and a shift from mega-ca ...

Core Sales Performance - Pharma core sales increased by 4% in the quarter, with prescription core sales growing by 1%, driven by systemic nasal drug delivery and higher royalty payments, despite a 36% decline in emergency medicine sales [1][5][19] - For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Aptar reported sales of $963 million, a 14% increase from $848 million a year earlier, with core sales reflecting healthy underlying demand across all segments [4][5] Profitability and Financial Metrics - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.25, down from $1.62 in the prior year, attributed to higher depreciation, amortization, and interest expenses [2] - Adjusted EBITDA was $191 million, a 2% decrease year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.8%, down from 23% in the prior-year quarter, impacted by unfavorable product mix and higher production costs [3][7] Segment Performance - Injectables core sales increased by 24%, driven by demand for elastomeric components, while consumer healthcare core sales rose by 3% [10] - Beauty segment achieved 10% core sales growth, with personal care growing by 17%, although the adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 10.2% due to lower-margin projects and operational disruptions [9][12] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - In 2025, the company returned $486 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, with a new $600 million buyback authorization announced [15][16] - Free cash flow was reported at $303 million, down $64 million year-over-year, primarily due to timing of tax payments and higher working capital [14] Outlook and Challenges - For Q1 2026, adjusted EPS is guided to be between $1.13 and $1.21, reflecting higher interest expenses and an expected effective tax rate of 21% to 23% [18] - Management anticipates a $65 million revenue headwind in 2026 due to declining emergency medicine demand, with the impact expected to be more pronounced in the first half of the year [19][20]

分组1 - Graphic Packaging reported quarterly earnings of $0.29 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.34 per share, and down from $0.59 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -15.33% [1] - The company posted revenues of $2.1 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.98%, with year-ago revenues also at $2.1 billion [2] - Over the last four quarters, Graphic Packaging has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] 分组2 - The stock has lost about 1.9% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.9% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.43 on $2.1 billion in revenues, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.79 on $8.54 billion in revenues [7] - The Containers - Paper and Packaging industry is currently in the bottom 21% of the Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8]

Core Insights - Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.32 for Q4 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.41 and reflecting a 6% year-over-year decline due to lower volume and unfavorable production results from the acquired Greif Inc. business [1][10] Financial Performance - Q4 sales increased by 10.1% year-over-year to $2.36 billion, but this figure fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.42 billion [3][10] - The cost of products sold rose by 14.3% year-over-year to $1.92 billion, leading to a gross profit decline of 4.7% to $448 million [3] - Adjusted operating income for Q4 was $310.2 million, a 2.1% increase from $303.9 million in Q4 2024 [4] Segment Performance - In the Packaging segment, sales rose by 10.8% year-over-year to $2.19 billion, driven by higher prices, although lower production and sales volume offset this growth [5] - Total corrugated product shipments fell by 1.7% year-over-year, but including the Greif business, shipments per day increased by 17% [6] - The Paper segment reported revenues of $154 million, up 1.8% year-over-year, but lower than estimates, with adjusted operating profit decreasing to $33 million from $35 million in the prior year [7] Annual Performance - For FY 2025, PKG's adjusted EPS was $9.84, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.93, while total sales reached $8.99 billion, reflecting a 7.2% year-over-year increase but missing the consensus estimate of $9.06 billion [8] Cash Flow and Outlook - The company ended 2025 with a cash balance of $668 million, down from $852 million at the end of 2024 [9] - For Q1 2026, PKG expects higher year-over-year volume in its legacy corrugated products plants, projecting an EPS of $2.20 [11] Stock Performance - PKG's shares have declined by 3.8% over the past year, compared to an 8.6% decline in the industry [12]

Group 1 - Ave Maria Growth Fund reported a return of -0.48% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 Index which returned 8.12% and the S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Index which returned 2.97% [1] - The fund highlighted AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) as a key investment, noting its strong position in drug delivery solutions and dispensing technologies [2][3] - AptarGroup, Inc. has a market capitalization of $7.943 billion, with its stock closing at $120.56 per share on January 6, 2026 [2] Group 2 - AptarGroup, Inc. experienced a one-month return of 2.89%, but its shares have declined by 21.79% over the last 52 weeks [2] - The management of AptarGroup indicated several near-term challenges, but the fund believes these issues are transitory and that the stock is undervalued for long-term investors [3] - Despite its potential, AptarGroup is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 29 hedge fund portfolios holding its stock at the end of Q3 2025 [4]

Core Insights - Aptar will present at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 14, 2026 [1] Company Information - The presentation at the conference indicates Aptar's ongoing engagement with the healthcare sector and its commitment to showcasing its innovations and strategies [1]

Core Viewpoint - The value of cosmetic packaging has evolved from merely being a product container to a key carrier of brand identity, safety, emotion, and innovation, significantly impacting product quality, user experience, and brand value [3][5]. Summary by Sections Industry Evaluation and Research - The China Fragrance and Cosmetic Industry Association released the "2025 China Cosmetic Packaging Enterprise TOP 30 Research Results," establishing a scientific evaluation system to identify industry leaders and guide high-quality development [5][7]. - The research covers key aspects of the entire supply chain, including plastic bottles, tubes, pumps, glass containers, labels, and molds, showcasing the innovation landscape in China's cosmetic packaging sector [5][7]. Evaluation Methodology - The evaluation system decomposes enterprise performance into four core dimensions with differentiated weightings: 1. Market Performance (50% weight) focuses on annual revenue, net profit, and industry standing, emphasizing economic strength and market leadership [7]. 2. Research and Innovation (15% weight) encourages companies to move beyond low-end processing through technological innovation [7][8]. 3. Service Support (15% weight) assesses the ability to provide customized services and sustainable solutions, promoting a shift from product suppliers to partners in the brand value chain [8]. 4. Green Development (20% weight) emphasizes the importance of safety, quality, and sustainability, establishing strict entry requirements for the industry [9]. Industry Characteristics - The research highlights three fundamental characteristics of the Chinese cosmetic packaging industry: 1. High regional concentration, with the TOP 30 companies primarily located in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, reflecting a "production-to-sales" logic [13][14]. 2. Low market concentration, with the TOP 30 companies accounting for only about 12% of the total market revenue, indicating significant room for industry consolidation [15]. 3. A competitive landscape where international and local companies coexist, fostering technological exchange and industry advancement [17][18]. Future Trends - The industry is experiencing four irreversible trends in transformation and upgrading: 1. Moving from "large and comprehensive" to "specialized and precise," indicating a shift towards deep specialization and collaboration within the supply chain [21][22]. 2. Innovation-driven strategies to escape homogenized competition, with leading companies increasing R&D investment to enhance market differentiation [24]. 3. A fundamental role transformation from suppliers to "brand solution partners," emphasizing the provision of comprehensive services beyond manufacturing [25]. 4. Green development becoming a commercial necessity, with sustainability now a critical factor in market competition and supplier selection [27]. Conclusion - The release of the TOP 30 research results marks a starting point for the industry, indicating a shift from scale competition to value competition and from passive execution to proactive definition [29].

Core Insights - W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is set to report its third-quarter 2025 results on October 31, with sales estimated at $4.64 billion, reflecting a 5.8% year-over-year growth, and earnings per share (EPS) projected at $9.93, indicating a 0.6% increase from the previous year [1][5] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GWW's sales is $4.64 billion, which represents a 5.8% growth compared to the same quarter last year [1] - The earnings estimate for GWW is $9.93 per share, although this has decreased by 2.2% over the past 60 days [1][6] - Historical earnings surprise shows GWW has beaten estimates in one of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 0.6% [2][3] Segment Performance - GWW's High-Touch Solutions North America segment is expected to show strong growth, benefiting from commercial, transportation, and heavy manufacturing sectors, with projected sales of $3.63 billion, indicating a 3.2% increase from the previous year [8][9] - The Endless Assortment segment is anticipated to grow significantly, with a projected sales increase of 15.4% year-over-year, reaching $913 million, driven by customer acquisition and repeat business [10] Cost Considerations - GWW has been facing elevated material and freight costs, along with increased operating expenses and higher selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs due to technology investments, which may negatively impact profit margins [11] Stock Performance - Over the past year, GWW's stock has declined by 11.6%, contrasting with a 3.1% decline in the industry [12]

Core Insights - Otis Worldwide Corporation (OTIS) is set to report its third-quarter 2025 results on October 29, with adjusted earnings expected to show a 4.2% increase year-over-year, while net sales are projected to grow by 2.8% [1][3]. Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, adjusted earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.9%, while net sales fell short by 2.4%. Year-over-year, both top and bottom lines decreased by 0.2% and 1%, respectively [1][2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted EPS has risen to $1.00 from 99 cents over the past month, indicating a year-over-year increase from 96 cents [3]. Sales and Segment Analysis - The Service segment, contributing 64.5% of net sales in Q2 2025, is expected to drive year-over-year growth in net sales, supported by strong demand in maintenance, repair, and modernization projects [4][9]. - Conversely, the New Equipment segment, which accounted for 35.5% of Q2 2025 net sales, is anticipated to see a decline of 5.1% in net sales due to challenges in China and Europe [6][7]. Margin Insights - The New Equipment segment's margins are under pressure from reciprocal tariff rates and unfavorable pricing, while the Service segment is expected to benefit from higher volume and favorable pricing, leading to overall margin stability [8][10]. - Adjusted operating margin for the New Equipment segment is predicted to decrease by 320 basis points to 3.2%, while the Service segment's margin is expected to increase by 60 basis points to 25.4% [10]. Earnings Prediction - The model predicts an adjusted EBITDA increase of 2.9% year-over-year to $665.9 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin remaining relatively flat [11]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP of +0.02% and a Zacks Rank of 3 suggests a favorable outlook for an earnings beat in the upcoming report [12][13].