Core Insights - Petronas has reported a profit decline for the third consecutive year, primarily due to lower oil prices impacting margins [1] - The company’s profit after tax for 2025 was 45.4 billion ringgit ($11.68 billion), down from 55.1 billion ringgit in 2024, while revenue decreased to 266.1 billion ringgit ($68.44 billion) from 320 billion ringgit [1] Financial Performance - Profit after tax for 2025: 45.4 billion ringgit ($11.68 billion) compared to 55.1 billion ringgit in 2024 [1] - Revenue for 2025: 266.1 billion ringgit ($68.44 billion), down from 320 billion ringgit [1] - Capital investments fell to 41.6 billion ringgit in 2025 from 54.2 billion ringgit in 2024 [1] Business Strategy - Petronas aims to focus on building resilience by strengthening its core hydrocarbons portfolio and expanding new businesses while managing emissions [1] - The company plans to allocate 2 billion ringgit annually for exploration over the next five years [1] Dividend and Government Contribution - Petronas paid 32 billion ringgit in dividends to the Malaysian government last year and expects to pay 20 billion ringgit this year, the lowest since 2017 [1] - The dividend payment is contingent on the company's cash flow situation [1] Emissions and Environmental Impact - Petronas reported a 2.2% increase in carbon emissions in 2025 to 56.95 million tons of CO2 equivalent, mainly due to operational changes [1] - The company achieved a 72% reduction in methane emissions, surpassing its target of 50% [1] Market Outlook - Crude oil prices are expected to remain stable between $65-$70 per barrel over the next five years [1] - The CEO indicated that margin erosion is expected to continue due to cost inflation and softening prices [1]

Core Viewpoint - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is set to release its fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 17, with expectations of revenue growth driven by aggregates pricing and volume increases, despite facing margin pressures from cost inflation and tariff uncertainties [1][9]. Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) has decreased to $2.13 from $2.16, indicating a 1.8% decline year-over-year [2]. - The consensus estimate for total revenues is projected at $1.94 billion, reflecting a 4.9% year-over-year growth [2]. - In the last reported quarter, Vulcan's adjusted earnings and total revenues exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6% and 1.7%, respectively, with year-over-year increases of 27.9% and 14.4% [1]. Group 2: Revenue Drivers - Revenue growth in the fourth quarter is expected to be supported by increased aggregates pricing and volume growth, driven by robust public construction and private nonresidential activities [3]. - Favorable weather conditions, particularly in the South, and completed acquisitions on both coasts are anticipated to contribute positively to revenue [3]. - The backlog in public and private projects is expected to provide a strong pipeline of demand, enhancing revenue visibility [3]. Group 3: Segment Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from the Aggregates segment is $1.55 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 5.2%, while the Concrete segment is estimated at $198 million, indicating a 20.7% increase [5]. - Conversely, the Asphalt mix segment is projected to generate $317 million, representing a 3.1% decline year-over-year [5]. - Unit shipment volumes for Aggregates and Concrete are expected to rise to 55,521 tons and 1,125 tons, respectively, while Asphalt mix shipments are anticipated to decrease to 3,332 tons [6]. Group 4: Margin Trends and Challenges - Vulcan's bottom line is likely to be impacted by cost inflation and ongoing tariff uncertainties, which may restrict growth despite price increases [7]. - The company is facing macroeconomic headwinds and pressures in end markets such as single-family housing, which could further limit bottom-line growth [7]. Group 5: Earnings Prediction - The Zacks model indicates that Vulcan is not expected to achieve an earnings beat this quarter, with an Earnings ESP of -1.58% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [8][10].

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining & Marketing industry faces significant challenges due to margin volatility and rising operational costs, yet it has outperformed the broader energy sector and S&P 500 over the past year, presenting selective investment opportunities in companies like Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum, and Valero Energy [1][10]. Industry Overview - The industry includes companies that refine petroleum products and non-energy materials, with profitability heavily influenced by refining margins, inventory levels, and demand patterns [2]. - Refining margins are volatile and affected by various factors including crude prices, product demand, and regional capacity utilization [2]. Trends Defining the Industry's Future - Margin volatility and demand uncertainty are persistent risks, with crack spreads subject to rapid changes due to external factors like weather and refinery operations [3]. - Operational flexibility and strong export linkages are crucial for managing volatility, allowing refiners to optimize yields and respond to market demands effectively [4]. - Rising costs and regulatory pressures pose challenges, with maintenance and compliance expenses increasing, which can compress margins and create operational risks [5]. Industry Rank and Outlook - The industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 197, placing it in the bottom 19% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating a bearish outlook [7]. - Analysts have revised earnings estimates downward, with a 17.5% decrease in the industry's earnings estimate for 2026 over the past year [8]. Performance Metrics - The industry has increased by 24.7% over the past year, outperforming the broader energy sector's 17% increase and the S&P 500's 16.8% gain [10]. - The current EV/EBITDA ratio for the industry is 5.05X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 17.20X and the sector's 6.07X [13]. Company Highlights - **Phillips 66**: A major independent refiner with a refining capacity of nearly 2 million barrels per day, expected EPS growth rate of 25%, and shares have gained 21.6% in a year [16][17]. - **Marathon Petroleum**: A significant independent refiner with access to lower-cost crude, expected EPS growth of 18.8%, and shares have increased by 31.5% in a year [19][20]. - **Valero Energy**: Operates 15 refineries with a throughput of about 3.2 million barrels per day, expected EPS growth of 15.7%, and shares have risen by 47.1% in a year [21][22].

Company Overview - Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) has a market cap of $8.9 billion and is a leading U.S. consumer packaged foods company, producing a variety of grocery, frozen, refrigerated, and snack products [1] - The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Chicago, operating across retail, international, and foodservice channels with a strong portfolio of brands such as Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice, and Slim Jim [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, CAG stock has declined by 29%, while the S&P 500 Index has gained 15.5% [2] - Year-to-date, CAG shares are up 6.2%, outperforming the S&P 500's increase of 1.9% [2] - CAG shares have also lagged behind the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLP) 7% rise over the past 52 weeks [3] Financial Challenges - The company's underperformance is attributed to weak fundamentals and soft consumer demand, leading to declining sales volumes and limited pricing power in a competitive packaged-foods sector [5] - Organic net sales and earnings have been pressured by cost inflation, tariffs, supply chain challenges, and consumers shifting to private-label alternatives, negatively impacting margins and investor confidence [5] - Revenue growth expectations are muted, with analysts predicting a 25.2% year-over-year decrease in adjusted EPS to $1.72 for the fiscal year ending in May 2026 [6] Analyst Sentiment - Among 16 analysts covering CAG, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of two "Strong Buy" ratings, 11 "Holds," one "Moderate Sell," and two "Strong Sells" [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander Clapp has cut her price target on CAG to $18 from $19 while maintaining an "Equal-Weight" rating, citing a challenging outlook for U.S. food stocks [8]

Core Insights - Village Farms International's Fresh segment faced ongoing cost-related pressures in Q3 2025, primarily due to higher operating expenses impacting results [1][3] - Sales from continuing operations in the Fresh segment remained flat year-over-year at $12.8 million, reflecting the current business setup following a commission arrangement with Vanguard Food, L.P. [2][8] - Despite cost pressures, the Fresh segment reported improved profitability, with net income from continuing operations increasing to $1.3 million compared to $0.3 million in the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA rising to $2.5 million from $1.7 million [4][8] Financial Performance - The Fresh segment's sales were stable at $12.8 million, but cost pressures limited margin improvement [2][8] - Inflation in labor and operating costs continued to be a significant challenge, with pricing actions not fully offsetting these higher costs [3][4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a projected year-over-year growth of 165.6% for the current financial year and 14.3% for the next [9] Market Position - Village Farms' shares have increased by 345.8% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry's decline of 11.5%, the Zacks Consumer Staples sector's growth of 3.4%, and the S&P 500's appreciation of 17.3% [5] - The company's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 1.57, which is lower than the industry average of 2.13, indicating a competitive valuation [6]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan analyst Patrick Jones downgraded Hochschild Mining (HCHDF) to Neutral from Overweight, with a revised price target of 670 GBp, increased from 600 GBp, indicating a cautious outlook on the stock [1] Group 1: Analyst Actions - The downgrade reflects JPMorgan's more selective approach towards the gold mining sector, influenced by "creeping cost inflation" [1] - Hochschild Mining shares have been placed on "Negative Catalyst Watch" as part of the Q4 earnings preview for gold miners [1]

Group 1 - JPMorgan has raised the price target on Fresnillo (FNLPF) to 4,700 GBp from 4,300 GBp [1] - The firm maintains an Overweight rating on Fresnillo shares [1] - JPMorgan has become more selective regarding gold miners, citing "creeping cost inflation" as a concern [1]

Core Insights - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.94x, which is below the industry average of 17.18x and the broader consumer discretionary sector's 18.39x [1] - CCL's shares have increased by 35.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 8.8% [4] - The company has recorded strong bookings for 2026 and 2027, with two-thirds of 2026 already booked at high prices, indicating robust demand despite weak consumer sentiment [8] Valuation and Performance - CCL's forward P/E ratio is lower than its peers, even as its stock price surged [6] - The company achieved record revenues, EBITDA, and operating income in 2025 while maintaining unit cost growth below expectations [9] - CCL's operating and EBITDA margins expanded significantly year over year, with a return on invested capital exceeding 13%, the highest in nearly two decades [9] Demand and Pricing - Demand and pricing momentum are key tailwinds, with record bookings and strong customer deposits reinforcing confidence in future demand [8] - Higher close-in demand and robust onboard spending have positively impacted yields, with expectations for further same-ship yield growth in 2026 [8] Financial Health - CCL has reduced debt by over $10 billion from peak levels and achieved an investment-grade leverage ratio, allowing for dividend resumption and potential share repurchases [10] - The company is focusing on disciplined reinvestment in destinations to enhance guest experience and create long-term revenue upside [10] Cost Pressures - Cost inflation is a concern, with management guiding for cruise costs (excluding fuel) to rise about 3.25% year over year due to persistent inflation and increased expenses [11] - Regulatory costs are also increasing, particularly in Europe, which could impact earnings despite strong operational momentum [12] Industry Dynamics - There is industry capacity pressure, especially in the Caribbean, with double-digit capacity growth creating a tougher pricing environment [14] - CCL's guidance suggests more modest yield growth compared to recent years, indicating diminishing pricing leverage [14] Earnings Estimates - Projections indicate a 9.8% rise in fiscal 2026 earnings, with Zacks Consensus Estimates showing earnings per share of 2.47 for the current year and 2.76 for the next year [15][16] - Other industry players are expected to see higher earnings growth, with Norwegian Cruise, OneSpaWorld, and Royal Caribbean projected to increase by 26.9%, 14.7%, and 14.5% respectively in 2026 [18]

Core Insights - Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) has underperformed in operational performance, primarily due to ongoing weaknesses in residential and commercial construction markets, high debt levels, and rising operating costs [1][9] Segmental Performance - The Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies (CWT) segment is negatively impacted by lower volumes from a slowdown in residential and commercial construction markets and project delays [4] - The Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) segment is also experiencing a decline due to reduced new construction activities and disruptions in the distribution channel [4] Cost Pressures - The company is facing increased raw material and labor costs, which are driving up direct expenses as well as selling, administrative, and R&D expenses [5] - In the first nine months of 2025, the cost of sales rose by 3.4% year over year, while selling and administrative expenses increased by 3.8% [5] Debt Concerns - CSL's long-term debt reached $2.88 billion at the end of Q3 2025, marking a 52.4% increase sequentially [6] - The company completed a $1 billion offering of senior unsecured notes, which is expected to elevate its debt levels and financial obligations, potentially impacting profitability [6] Currency Risks - The company's international operations expose it to risks from adverse currency fluctuations, particularly with a strengthening U.S. dollar, which may necessitate price increases or reduce profit margins in foreign markets [7]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods reported higher sales in its fiscal fourth quarter, indicating a positive trend in revenue generation despite challenges [1] - The company experienced a loss during the quarter, highlighting ongoing profitability pressures primarily due to cost inflation [1] Financial Performance - The fiscal fourth quarter saw an increase in sales for Hormel Foods, but the company still faced a loss [1] - Profitability remains under pressure, which is attributed to persistent cost inflation affecting the company's financial health [1]