Increasing oil stockpiles are likely to drag down prices. This will hurt demand for drilling and production equipment as explorers and producers will be reluctant to produce more of the commodity, creating a challenging outlook for the Zacks Oil and Gas- Mechanical and Equipment industry.Companies striving to navigate these industry challenges include Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS) , USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) and Oil States International, Inc. (OIS) .About the Industry The Zacks Oil and Ga ...

Core Insights - Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) stock is nearing its 52-week high of $206.77, closing at $196.91 on February 12, with a 50.3% increase compared to a 30.2% gain in the broader sub-industry [1][7] - Valero operates 15 refineries across the U.S., Canada, and Peru, with a combined throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels per day, setting it apart from other independent refiners [2] - The current softness in crude oil prices is expected to benefit Valero by lowering input costs, as the West Texas Intermediate spot crude price is projected to drop from $65.40 per barrel in 2025 to $53.42 in 2026 [5] - Valero's refineries possess operational flexibility to process various feedstocks, allowing for adjustments in production based on market conditions, which enhances profitability [6] Financial Metrics - Valero's stock trades at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 7.73X, which is above the industry average of 5.06X [7][10] - Competitors Phillips 66 and HF Sinclair have trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratios of 13.03X and 6.82X, respectively [10] Market Position - The company is expected to benefit from strong refining margins due to lower crude prices, enabling it to convert cheaper feedstock into high-value products [9] - Despite the potential for profitability, Valero's current valuation suggests it may be overvalued, prompting a recommendation for investors to wait for a more favorable entry point [12]

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer LP (ET) is anticipated to show a year-over-year increase in both revenues and earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025, with revenues expected to reach $26.02 billion, reflecting a 33.16% growth compared to the previous year [1][5]. Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ET's fourth-quarter revenues is $26.02 billion, which is a 33.16% increase from the $19.54 billion reported a year ago [2]. - For the next quarter, revenues are estimated at $27.15 billion, indicating a 29.18% growth year-over-year [2]. Earnings Estimates - The consensus estimate for earnings is set at 34 cents per unit, which represents a 5.56% decline in estimates over the past 60 days [3]. - The earnings estimates have shown a downward trend, with a 5.56% decrease in the current quarter's estimate compared to previous months [4]. Performance Factors - Fee-based contracts are projected to account for nearly 90% of Energy Transfer's earnings, providing a stable revenue base that is expected to support fourth-quarter performance [9]. - New long-term natural gas supply agreements and the addition of new processing plants are likely to positively impact earnings [10]. - Robust NGL export volumes and the company's extensive pipeline network are expected to contribute significantly to the fourth-quarter results [11][12]. Valuation Metrics - Energy Transfer is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA of 9.13x, which is lower than the industry average of 10.35x, indicating a relative discount [5][14]. - The stock has gained 5.1% over the past six months, compared to a 9% increase in the Zacks Oil and Gas Production Pipeline industry [16]. Strategic Positioning - Energy Transfer operates a vast network of nearly 140,000 miles of pipelines across 44 states, positioning it well to benefit from rising U.S. production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids [17]. - Continued investments in expanding pipeline and processing capacity are expected to reinforce the company's leadership in the midstream sector [18]. Long-term Outlook - The long-term outlook for Energy Transfer remains favorable, supported by its geographic reach and focus on both organic growth and strategic acquisitions [21]. - However, near-term challenges in the Bakken region may impact storage margins [21].

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is currently viewed as expensive relative to its peers and the broader industry, trading at a 9.78x trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA compared to the industry average of 5.87x and BP at 3.33x and Chevron at 9.52x [1][8]. Group 1: Valuation and Market Confidence - The premium valuation of XOM indicates strong market confidence in its future prospects, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its fundamentals and growth potential to determine if the valuation is justified [3]. Group 2: Upstream Assets and Production Outlook - XOM has significant upstream assets in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana, utilizing lightweight proppant technology to enhance well recoveries by up to 20% [4]. - The company has made several discoveries in Guyana, contributing to a solid production outlook, with low breakeven costs allowing continued operations even in low crude price environments [5]. - ExxonMobil projects total production from upstream operations to reach 5.5 million oil equivalent barrels per day by the end of the decade, with 65% of this volume coming from its key assets [6]. Group 3: Refining Operations and Capital Strategy - XOM's refining operations provide resilience during periods of low oil prices, with significant improvements in margins and throughput expected in 2025 [7]. - The company maintains a conservative capital spending strategy while enhancing productivity, anticipating improved earnings and cash flows without increasing capital expenditures [9]. Group 4: Financial Returns and Shareholder Value - By the end of the decade, XOM expects its return on capital employed (ROCE) to exceed 17%, and it is the second-largest dividend payer in the S&P 500, having increased dividends for over four decades [10]. - The company has an aggressive share buyback program, reflecting its commitment to returning capital to shareholders [10]. Group 5: Stock Performance and Market Risks - Over the past year, XOM's stock has increased by 41.2%, outperforming the industry's composite growth of 26.5% and the growth of BP and Chevron [12]. - However, XOM's earnings are heavily reliant on upstream operations, making it vulnerable to commodity price volatility, with expectations of declining oil prices this year potentially impacting its business [16].

Core Insights - Enbridge Inc. (ENB) is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 13, 2026, with earnings estimated at 60 cents per share and revenues at $11.8 billion, indicating a 1.3% year-over-year improvement [1][8] Financial Performance - ENB has beaten consensus earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.76% [2] - The company has an Earnings ESP of -1.01% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a lower likelihood of an earnings beat this quarter [4] Revenue Generation - ENB is expected to have stable fee-based revenues due to its midstream business model, which is less affected by oil and natural gas price volatility [6] - The Gas Transmission business unit is anticipated to contribute significantly to earnings, alongside the Liquid Pipelines segment [6] Market Performance - ENB's stock has increased by 11.9% over the past year, underperforming the industry average of 13.8% and Kinder Morgan's 15.7% increase [9] - The company's current EV/EBITDA ratio stands at 15.61, which is above the industry average of 14.51, indicating a premium valuation [12] Investment Outlook - Enbridge is positioned to generate additional cash flows from over C$30 billion in secured capital projects, which include liquid pipelines, gas transmissions, and renewables [14] - The company has a strong history of rewarding shareholders with dividend increases for 31 consecutive years [15] - However, ENB's debt-to-capitalization ratio of 60.4% is higher than the industry average of 57.7%, raising concerns about its debt burden [16] Competitor Analysis - Kinder Morgan reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of 37 cents [17] - Enterprise Products Partners reported adjusted earnings of 75 cents per unit, beating the consensus estimate of 70 cents [17]

Core Viewpoint - CICC maintains its EBITDA forecast for MGM China (02282) for 2026 and 2027, with the current stock price corresponding to 6x 2026e EV/EBITDA. The firm maintains an "outperform" rating and a target price of HKD 16.10, which corresponds to 8x 2026e EV/EBITDA, indicating a 23% upside potential from the current stock price [1] Group 1 - In Q4 2025, adjusted EBITDA exceeded Visible Alpha consensus expectations, with net revenue reaching HKD 9.617 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 13%, recovering to 169% of Q4 2019 levels [2] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2025 was HKD 2.753 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 16%, recovering to 177% of Q4 2019 levels, surpassing Visible Alpha's consensus estimate of HKD 2.449 billion [2] - The strong performance of MGM China is attributed to the continued outperformance of its premium business, with MGM Cotai and MGM Macau's total gaming revenue recovering to 214% and 104% of Q4 2019 levels, respectively [2] Group 2 - In Q4 2025, MGM China signed a new long-term brand agreement with MGM Resorts, increasing the brand usage fee from 1.75% to 3.5% of monthly net revenue, effective from 2026 for a 20-year term, with an annual payment cap set to increase gradually [2] - The annual cap for brand usage fees in 2026 is set at USD 188 million, compared to USD 60 million in 2025, with the economic benefits of the new fee structure allocated 66.7% to MGM Resorts and 33.3% to Ms. Pansy Ho [2] - The new brand fee structure is expected to have a significant negative impact on the company's net profit, potentially dragging down CICC's net profit forecast by approximately 14% [2] Group 3 - Management indicated strong hotel booking performance for the 2026 Spring Festival holiday starting February 17, 2026, with stable business performance leading up to the holiday [3]

Core Viewpoint - Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) is anticipated to report a decline in both earnings and revenues for the fourth quarter of 2025, with earnings estimated at 42 cents per unit and revenues at $11.55 billion, reflecting a year-over-year revenue decline of 6.85% [1][2][6]. Earnings Estimates - Fourth-quarter earnings estimates have decreased by 17.65% over the past 60 days, with the bottom-line projection aligning with the previous year's quarter [2]. - The average earnings surprise for PAA over the last four quarters is 4.21%, with two earnings beats and two misses [3][4]. Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model does not predict an earnings beat for PAA this quarter, as the Earnings ESP is -6.11% and the Zacks Rank is 3 (Hold) [5][7]. Revenue and Cash Flow - PAA's expected Q4 revenues of $11.55 billion represent a 6.85% decline year-over-year, with the company relying heavily on fee-based, long-term contracts that provide stable cash flow [6][10]. - The acquisition of EPIC Crude Holdings is expected to positively impact fourth-quarter earnings due to long-term volume commitments from customers [11]. Financial Performance Metrics - PAA's trailing 12-month return on equity is 11.04%, which is below the industry average of 13.28%, indicating less effective utilization of shareholders' funds [12]. - PAA's current trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA is 10.78X, slightly undervalued compared to the industry average of 10.88X [14][15].

Group 1 - Heartland Advisors released its "Heartland Value Fund" fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter, noting that the Russell 2000® Value Index generated a return of 3.26%, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.66% gains [1] - Small stocks nearly caught up to large caps in 2025, marking their best performance since the pandemic, driven by an increase in small-cap stock earnings and compelling valuations [1] - The Heartland Value Fund gained 2.61% in the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2000® Value Index due to stock selection issues, particularly in the healthcare sector [1] Group 2 - Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCO) was highlighted in the investor letter, with its stock closing at $19.68 per share on January 12, 2026, reflecting an 11.88% one-month return but a 44.50% loss over the last 52 weeks [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $565.372 million [2] - Heartland Value Fund increased its position in Columbus McKinnon Corporation, which designs and manufactures materials handling products for various industrial applications [3] - Columbus McKinnon reported slower-than-expected Q3 results due to U.S. policy uncertainty, which typically would have led to a mid to high single-digit selloff [3] - The stock plummeted over 40% following the announcement of a $2.7 billion acquisition of competitor Kito Crosby, raising concerns about execution and increased leverage [3]

Core Viewpoint - B. Riley has lowered its price target on WhiteFiber Inc. to $40 from $44 while maintaining a Buy rating, following the company's first long-term co-location agreement [1] Group 1: Company Developments - WhiteFiber announced its inaugural long-term co-location agreement at the NC-1 data center campus with Nscale Global Holdings, which took longer to finalize than expected [2] - The company reaffirmed its original deployment timeline, highlighting its execution capabilities and validating its retrofit-based development model [2] Group 2: Financial Outlook - WhiteFiber is in advanced discussions with multiple lenders regarding a construction financing facility, expected to be completed in early first-quarter 2026 [3] - Management indicated that potential credit enhancements could lower overall funding costs, with more clarity on ultimate off-takers [3] Group 3: EBITDA Forecasts - B. Riley has modestly reduced its EBITDA forecasts, lowering the second-quarter 2026 estimate to $17.9 million from $19.5 million and the full-year 2026 estimate to $92.7 million from $99.5 million [4] - The upcoming capacity is expected to come online in under two quarters, supporting WhiteFiber's speed-to-market thesis and positioning the company for expansion across multiple sites [4] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - WhiteFiber is currently trading at approximately 11x EV/EBITDA on 2026 estimates and about 8x EV/EBITDA on a fourth-quarter 2026 run-rate basis, indicating a notable discount to peer valuations in the mid- to high-teens [5]

Core Insights - Amentum Holdings, Inc. is a prominent provider of specialized technical and operational services, focusing on defense, intelligence, and commercial markets, leveraging advanced technology and domain expertise [1] - The company reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $14.4 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion, and free cash flow of $516 million, indicating strong financial performance for a newly public firm [5] - Amentum's stock price increased by 51% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose by approximately 15% [2] Financial Performance - Amentum finished fiscal 2025 with $14.4 billion in revenue, $1.1 billion in adjusted EBITDA, and $516 million in free cash flow, showcasing robust financial health [5] - The company's backlog reached $47 billion with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2x, providing clear visibility for future revenue [5] - Net leverage decreased to 3.2x, with management projecting further growth in free cash flow for fiscal 2026 [5] Investment Activity - Hyperion Capital Advisors LP acquired an additional 368,521 shares of Amentum Holdings during the third quarter, valued at $10.06 million, representing 5.38% of the fund's U.S. equity holdings [3][4] - The increase in Hyperion's position reflects a strategy to invest in stable, cash-generating businesses rather than high-risk trades [6] Competitive Position - Amentum's diversified contract base and focus on high-value, complex projects enhance its competitive position in the government services sector [1] - The company is positioned alongside other durable businesses in Hyperion's portfolio, indicating a preference for predictability and scale in investments [6]