Market Overview - U.S. stock markets opened positively on November 21, 2025, attempting to recover from a volatile week influenced by concerns over AI valuations and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy [1] - Major indexes, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), saw modest gains at the opening bell, but are expected to end the week sharply lower [2] Market Indexes - The DJIA advanced 0.4% at the opening, recovering from a nearly 400-point decline [2] - The S&P 500 rose 0.4% after a 1.6% drop in the previous session, while the Nasdaq opened higher by 0.3% following a 2.2% decline [2] - Despite today's gains, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are on track for their largest weekly losses since April, attributed to doubts surrounding AI spending and high valuations of tech firms [2] Economic Indicators - Investors are monitoring signals from the Federal Reserve regarding potential interest rate adjustments, with New York Fed President John Williams indicating support for a rate cut "in the near term" [4] - A mixed U.S. jobs report showed healthy growth but a slight rise in unemployment to 4.4% in September, complicating the Fed's decision-making for its December meeting [4] - Upcoming economic data releases include the U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI), Retail Sales, and Consumer Confidence, among others [5] Corporate News - Walmart (WMT) shares rose 6.5% after reporting stronger-than-expected third-quarter results and raising its fiscal 2026 outlook, with a modest 0.4% increase at the open [6] - Nvidia (NVDA) reported strong third-quarter results but saw its shares fall 3.2% due to concerns over AI stock valuations, with a further 0.3% decline at Friday's open [7] - BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) shares rose 4.5% in premarket trading after exceeding third-quarter net income expectations, though it slipped 2% at the opening [8] - Other companies like Gap (GAP), Intuit (INTU), and Ross Stores (ROST) opened higher following positive earnings reports, while Atkore Inc. (ATKR) plummeted 12.9% after missing earnings estimates [12] Digital Asset Market - Bitcoin continued its downturn, trading around $83,500, down from nearly $125,000 last month, contributing to the overall risk-off sentiment in the market [9]

Corporate Strategy - Atkore Inc is considering strategic options, including a potential sale, following activist investor pressure [1]

Core Insights - Belden reported quarterly earnings of $1.97 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.90 per share, and showing an increase from $1.70 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +3.68% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $698.22 million for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.98% and up from $654.93 million year-over-year [2] - Belden has consistently outperformed consensus EPS and revenue estimates over the last four quarters [2] Earnings Performance - The earnings surprise for the previous quarter was +9.88%, with actual earnings of $1.89 per share compared to an expected $1.72 per share [1] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.02, with projected revenues of $709 million, and for the current fiscal year, the consensus EPS is $7.41 on revenues of $2.68 billion [7] Stock Performance and Outlook - Belden shares have increased approximately 6% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 17.2% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Wire and Cable Products industry, to which Belden belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 23% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Belden's stock performance [5]

Group 1 - Belden reported quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72 per share, and up from $1.51 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +9.88% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $671.99 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.91%, and an increase from $604.34 million year-over-year [2] - Belden has consistently outperformed consensus EPS and revenue estimates over the last four quarters [2] Group 2 - The stock has gained approximately 13.7% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 8.2% [3] - The company's earnings outlook, including consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters, will be crucial for future stock performance [4] - Current consensus EPS estimate for the next quarter is $1.87 on revenues of $678 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $7.25 on revenues of $2.67 billion [7] Group 3 - The Wire and Cable Products industry, to which Belden belongs, is currently ranked in the top 16% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5] - The current Zacks Rank for Belden is 3 (Hold), suggesting the stock is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6]

Company Overview - Belden's shares increased by 3.6% to close at $130.81, with notable trading volume compared to typical sessions, and a total gain of 15.4% over the past four weeks [1] - In Q1 2025, Belden's revenues rose by 16.6% year-over-year to $625 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $613 million, while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $1.60, exceeding the estimate of $1.48, marking a 29% year-over-year increase [2] - The upcoming quarterly earnings report is expected to show EPS of $1.72, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 13.9%, with revenues projected at $653 million, an 8.1% increase from the previous year [3] Earnings Estimates and Market Position - The consensus EPS estimate for Belden has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not continue without trends in earnings estimate revisions [4] - Belden holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a neutral outlook, while another company in the same industry, Atkore Inc., also holds a Zacks Rank of 3 and has seen a 3.4% increase in its stock price [4][5]

Group 1 - Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) shares have increased by 30.9% year-to-date, outperforming the industry and S&P 500, which declined by 8% and 0.4% respectively [1][2] - The stock closed at $35.37, near its 52-week high of $37.61, and is above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating strong upward momentum and market confidence [4] - The demand for welded wire reinforcement (WWR) products is a key driver for Insteel Industries, supported by a stable construction market and contributions from acquired assets [6][8] Group 2 - In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, net sales from WWR products rose by 43.3% year-over-year to $100 million, while sales from Prestressed Concrete (PC) strand products increased by 5.2% to $60.6 million [8] - The company anticipates growth in the non-residential construction market, bolstered by federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is expected to enhance project activity [9] - Insteel Industries has made strategic acquisitions to expand its WWR product portfolio, including the acquisition of EWP and O'Brien Wire Products, strengthening its competitive position [10] Group 3 - The company has implemented shareholder-friendly policies, paying out $20.6 million in dividends and repurchasing $1.7 million in shares in the first half of fiscal 2025 [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects fiscal 2025 revenues at $640.4 million and fiscal 2026 revenues at $698.7 million, reflecting year-over-year growth of 21% and 9.1% respectively [11] - The earnings estimate for fiscal 2025 is $1.86 per share, indicating a 34.8% increase over the past 60 days and year-over-year growth of 87.9% [13] Group 4 - Despite positive growth indicators, IIIN's valuation is a concern, trading at a forward P/E ratio of 13.59X, higher than the industry average of 10.99X [14] - Positive analyst sentiment and robust growth prospects suggest favorable conditions for potential investors, despite the elevated valuation [18]

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first quarter of negative growth since Q1 2022 and missing analysts' expectations of 0.4% growth [3] - Consumer confidence fell by 7.9 points to 86 in April, reaching a five-year low, indicating a lack of investor confidence in the economy [6] Trade and Tariffs - Concerns are rising that President Trump's tariffs could negatively impact economic health, despite a temporary 90-day pause on tariffs that led to a 41.3% increase in imports for the quarter, while exports only grew by 1.8% [4][6] Consumer Behavior - Consumer spending has slowed as individuals are saving more in anticipation of tougher economic conditions, alongside a significant decline in federal expenditures contributing to sluggish GDP figures [5] Dividend-Paying Stocks - In light of economic uncertainty, investing in dividend-paying stocks is recommended as they tend to provide steady income and stability [2][7] - Atkore Inc. (ATKR) announced a dividend of $0.33 per share with a dividend yield of 2%, having increased its dividend once in the past five years with a payout ratio of 12% [9][8] - Enact Holdings, Inc. (ACT) declared a dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.07%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years with a payout ratio of 16% [11][10] - Pool Corporation (POOL) announced a dividend of $1.25 per share with a dividend yield of 1.64%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 46% [13][12] - American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) declared a dividend of $0.83 per share with a dividend yield of 2.08%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 57% [15][14]

Core Viewpoint - Hubbell (HUBB) reported quarterly earnings of $3.50 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.73 per share, and showing a decline from $3.60 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of -6.17% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $1.37 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.42%, and down from $1.4 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Hubbell has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times but has not beaten consensus revenue estimates [2] Stock Performance - Hubbell shares have declined approximately 13.3% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of -5.3% for the S&P 500 [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Hubbell is 3 (Hold), indicating that shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $4.66 on revenues of $1.5 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $17.52 on revenues of $5.85 billion [7] - The trend of estimate revisions for Hubbell is mixed, which could change following the recent earnings report [6] Industry Context - The Manufacturing - Electrical Utilities industry, to which Hubbell belongs, is currently in the top 38% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8]

Core Viewpoint - A lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. and its senior executives for potential violations of federal securities laws, specifically related to misrepresentations about PVC Pipe pricing and an alleged price-fixing scheme [1][2][5]. Company Overview - Atkore Inc. manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products, including PVC Pipe [3]. Legal Proceedings - The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, with claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [2]. - Investors have until April 23, 2025, to seek appointment to lead the case [2]. Allegations - Atkore is accused of misrepresenting the reasons for post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines, attributing them to "pricing normalization" and "competitive dynamics" [4]. - An activist investor report alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated PVC Pipe prices [5]. Financial Impact - On February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings, revealing a mid-single-digit decline in the plastic pipe and conduit product category, largely attributed to its PVC Pipe business, which accounted for approximately $75 million of the guidance reduction [6]. - Following this announcement, Atkore's stock price fell nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share to $64.13 per share [6]. Regulatory Scrutiny - On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed receiving a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division regarding the pricing of its PVC pipe and conduit products [7].

Core Viewpoint - Atkore Inc. is facing a class action securities lawsuit due to alleged securities fraud related to an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme involving PVC Pipes, which has negatively impacted the company's financial performance and operations [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for investors affected by alleged securities fraud between August 2, 2022, and February 3, 2025 [1]. - The complaint alleges that Atkore engaged in a price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated PVC Pipe prices, leading to unsustainable financial benefits for the company [2]. - As the price-fixing scheme was exposed, the price of PVC Pipes significantly decreased, adversely affecting Atkore's business and operations [2]. Group 2: Investor Participation - Investors who suffered losses during the relevant timeframe have until April 23, 2025, to request appointment as lead plaintiff, although participation in any recovery does not require serving as a lead plaintiff [3]. - Class members may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket costs or fees [3]. Group 3: Legal Firm Background - Levi & Korsinsky has a strong track record in securities litigation, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders over the past 20 years [4]. - The firm has been recognized as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States for seven consecutive years [4].