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FCX Slips Below 200-Day SMA: What Should Investors Do Now?
ZACKS· 2025-11-19 15:36
Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) has experienced a decline in stock price, falling below the 200-day simple moving average, despite reporting increased revenues and profits due to higher copper and gold prices. The company's guidance indicates rising unit costs and lower expected sales volumes for copper and gold [1][7][28]. Stock Performance - FCX's stock has dropped 5.3% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry, which declined by 8.6%, but underperforming the S&P 500's 1.2% drop. Competitors Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) and BHP Group Limited (BHP) have seen losses of 8.3% and 5.5%, respectively [5]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, FCX reported operating cash flows of approximately $1.7 billion, with a strong liquidity position of $4.3 billion in cash and equivalents, and $3 billion available under its revolving credit facility [13]. The company ended the quarter with a net debt of $1.7 billion, below its target range of $3-$4 billion [14]. Production and Expansion Plans - FCX is focused on expanding its copper output, with significant projects underway, including a large-scale concentrator expansion at Cerro Verde in Peru, which is expected to add around 600 million pounds of copper annually [10]. The company is also evaluating expansion opportunities at El Abra in Chile and conducting pre-feasibility studies in Arizona [11]. Copper and Gold Prices - The average realized copper price for FCX increased nearly 9% year-over-year to $4.68 per pound in Q3 2025, contributing positively to its financial results [19]. However, copper prices have shown volatility, with fluctuations influenced by global economic conditions [17][18]. Cost and Sales Volume Challenges - FCX's average unit net cash cost per pound of copper rose to $1.40 in Q3 2025, a 24% increase from the previous quarter, driven by lower sales volumes [20]. The company anticipates further increases in unit costs and a significant decline in copper sales volumes for Q4 2025 due to operational suspensions at the Grasberg mine [21][23]. Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for FCX have been revised downward over the past 60 days, indicating a cautious outlook for the company [24]. Valuation - FCX is currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 21.34X, which is a premium to the industry average of 20.3X, but at a discount to Southern Copper and a premium to BHP Group [25]. Investment Outlook - Despite the challenges posed by weaker sales volume outlook and higher expected unit costs, FCX's strong financial health and ongoing expansion projects suggest a potential for future growth. Holding the stock is recommended for current investors [28].
Bitcoin Battles Key Technical Levels as Uptober Momentum Fades
Yahoo Finance· 2025-10-21 10:38
Core Insights - Bitcoin is currently experiencing a decline of over 5%, trading below $108,000 during a historically strong month known as "Uptober" [1] - The 200-day Simple Moving Average (200SMA) is acting as immediate resistance at $107,846, which is a critical indicator for market trends [1] - The 365-day Simple Moving Average (365SMA) is at $100,367, serving as secondary support when the 200SMA fails, indicating a range-bound market setup [2] Price Levels - Key support levels include $103,509, which is the average cost basis for 2025 investors, and the psychological support level at $100,000 [3] - On the upside, $112,100 represents the short-term cost basis, indicating the average acquisition price for coins moved in the last six months, with sustained trading above this level signaling a potential bull market [4]
X @Investopedia
Investopedia· 2025-10-14 15:00
Learn how to calculate a Simple Moving Average (SMA), its significance in stock analysis, and compare it with Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) for better trading insights. https://t.co/xYENFYlcUU ...
Reinsurance Group Trades Below 50-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-09-16 18:05
Core Viewpoint - Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) is currently experiencing a short-term bearish trend as its shares are trading below the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) [1] Group 1: Price Performance - RGA shares have declined by 11.4% year-to-date, contrasting with the industry's gain of 1.3% [2] - The Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite have increased by 13.9% and 12.8%, respectively, during the same period [2] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - RGA shares are trading at a price-to-book value of 1.03X, which is lower than the industry average of 1.93X, indicating they are affordable [4] - The company has a market capitalization of $12.5 billion and an average trading volume of 0.4 million shares over the last three months [4] Group 3: Revenue and Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RGA's 2025 revenues is $23.5 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 3% [6] - The current-year earnings estimate is $22.40 per share, while the 2026 earnings per share and revenues are projected to increase by 14.6% and 10.5%, respectively, from 2025 estimates [9][10] Group 4: Business Strategy and Growth Drivers - RGA's in-force portfolio and product expansion are expected to support long-term earnings diversification [8] - The company benefits from a balanced mix of organic initiatives and transactional opportunities, with a strong foundation in its individual mortality business [13] - Advancements in product design, underwriting, analytics, and innovation are anticipated to drive growth [14] Group 5: Investment Income and Financial Performance - RGA's net investment income has shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2% from 2016 to 2024, supported by a larger asset base and higher risk-free rates [15] - In the second quarter, income after expenses rose by 30.1% year-over-year to $1.4 billion, with an average yield increase of 66 basis points [15] Group 6: Debt and Financial Flexibility - RGA's long-term borrowings reached $5.73 billion as of June 30, 2025, marking a 13.7% increase from the end of 2024 [17] - The debt-to-capital ratio for the trailing 12 months stood at 47.22, significantly above the industry average of 16.79, indicating elevated leverage [17] Group 7: Shareholder Value and Dividends - RGA has increased its dividend five times over the past five years, resulting in a five-year annualized growth rate of 6.3% and a current payout ratio of 17% [18] Group 8: Analyst Sentiment - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has decreased by 1.5% in the past 30 days, while the estimate for 2026 earnings has increased by 0.4% [10] - The average price target from 10 analysts suggests a potential upside of 22.3% from the last closing price, with a target of $235 per share [12]
Willis Towers Trades Above 50-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-09-01 18:21
Core Viewpoint - Willis Towers Watson (WTW) is experiencing a short-term bullish trend as its shares are trading above the 50-day simple moving average, indicating potential upward momentum in the stock price [1] Price Performance - WTW shares have increased by 4.4% year-to-date, contrasting with a 14.1% decline in the industry [2] - The Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite have risen by 12.9% and 9.9%, respectively, during the same period [2] - WTW has a market capitalization of $31.8 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [2] Valuation - WTW shares are currently trading at a price-to-forward 12-month earnings ratio of 17.84X, which is lower than the industry average of 20.63X, indicating a potential value opportunity [4] Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WTW's 2025 earnings per share is $16.81, with projected revenues of $9.6 billion [7] - Expected long-term earnings growth is pegged at 7.5%, with 2026 earnings per share estimated to rise by 5.4% from 2025 estimates [8] Analyst Sentiment - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has increased by 1.5% in the past 30 days, while the estimate for 2026 has risen by 0.6% [9] Target Price - The average price target for WTW, based on short-term projections from 19 analysts, is $364.79 per share, suggesting an 11.6% upside from the last closing price [10] Strategic Focus - WTW emphasizes operational streamlining, investments in emerging opportunities, and strong client-centric services to support long-term growth [12] - The company aims for mid-single-digit organic revenue growth, supplemented by selective acquisitions and consistent margin improvement [13][14] Margin Expansion Efforts - WTW is focused on enhancing operating margins through efficiency improvements, offshoring, automation, and AI adoption, targeting approximately 100 basis points of annual margin expansion in its Retirement & Benefits segment over the next three years [15] Challenges - Rising expenses have pressured margins, necessitating prudent cost management [16] - WTW's profitability metrics are weaker compared to peers, with a return on equity of 21.6% and return on invested capital of 6.3%, both below industry averages [17] Shareholder Value - WTW has increased its dividend six times over the past five years, resulting in a 5.7% growth in payouts [18] - The company plans to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion worth of shares in 2025, subject to market conditions [18]
NextEra is Trading Above 50 & 200 Day SMA: Is it Time to Add the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 15:51
Core Insights - NextEra Energy (NEE) is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a bullish trend and steady share price growth over the past twelve months following earnings beats in the last four quarters [1][7]. Financial Performance - NEE expects annual EPS growth of 6-8% through 2027, supported by clean energy investments [7]. - The company anticipates its 2025 earnings per share to be in the range of $3.45-$3.70, reflecting a year-over-year increase from $3.43 [17]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NEE's 2025 and 2026 earnings per share indicates growth of 7.29% and 7.88%, respectively [17]. Investment Strategy - NextEra Energy has a robust investment plan, including nearly $21.7 billion allocated for Transmission & Distribution projects from 2025 to 2029 to support customer growth [10]. - The company plans to invest $25 billion in clean energy assets from 2025 to 2029, aiming to add 36.5-46.5 gigawatts of new renewables to its generation portfolio [11]. Competitive Position - NEE has outperformed the Zacks Utility Electric Power industry, the Zacks Utilities sector, and the S&P 500 over the past three months [5]. - The company enjoys one of the lowest cost structures in the utility industry, which supports robust profit margins and enhances its competitive position [13]. - NextEra Energy's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 12.31%, surpassing the industry average of 10.14% [14]. Dividend Policy - NEE plans to increase its dividend rate by 10% annually through at least 2026, with a current annual dividend of $2.27 per share and a yield of 3.0%, which is higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.49% [20]. Valuation - NextEra Energy is currently valued at a premium compared to its industry, trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 19.72X, compared to the industry average of 14.99X [23].
Freeport-McMoRan Up 11% in 6 Months: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 12:40
Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) has shown strong performance with an 11.3% increase in shares over the past six months, outperforming both the Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry and the S&P 500, despite facing challenges such as higher expected unit costs and weaker sales volumes for copper and gold [1][6][26] Performance Summary - FCX's shares have gained 11.3% in the last six months, compared to a 1.3% rise in the industry and a 7.3% gain in the S&P 500 [1] - The company’s peers, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) and BHP Group Limited (BHP), have seen smaller gains of 0.8% and 4.9%, respectively [1] Financial Health - FCX generated operating cash flows of approximately $2.2 billion in Q2 2025 and has distributed $5.2 billion to shareholders since June 30, 2021 [12] - The company ended Q2 with $4.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents, $3 billion available under its revolving credit facility, and $1.5 billion under the PT-FI credit facility [12] - FCX's net debt stands at $1.5 billion, below its targeted range of $3-$4 billion, with a long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio of around 22.9% [13] Production and Expansion Plans - FCX is focused on expanding its copper output, with significant projects underway, including a concentrator expansion at Cerro Verde in Peru, expected to add 600 million pounds of copper annually [9] - The company is also evaluating a large-scale expansion at El Abra in Chile and conducting pre-feasibility studies in Arizona for further growth opportunities [10] Sales Volume and Pricing Trends - FCX's copper sales volumes increased by approximately 9% year-over-year in Q2 to 1,016 million pounds, with gold sales reflecting a 45% year-over-year growth [20] - However, the outlook for Q3 suggests a decline in copper sales volumes to 990 million pounds, indicating a 4% year-over-year decrease [21] Cost and Margin Outlook - FCX's average unit net cash cost per pound of copper decreased to $1.13 in Q2 from $1.73 a year earlier, but is expected to rise to $1.59 in Q3 due to higher costs and lower sales volumes [18][19] - The company anticipates that tariffs could increase the cost of goods purchased in the U.S. by approximately 5%, further impacting margins [19] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FCX's earnings in 2025 is $1.74, indicating a year-over-year growth of 17.6%, with expected growth of 33.8% in 2026 [22] Valuation - FCX is currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 19.52X, which is a slight premium to the industry average of 19.13X [23] Investment Recommendation - Despite the positives of expansion activities and strong financial health, the recent decline in copper prices and weaker sales volume outlook suggest a cautious approach, recommending to hold the stock for current investors [26]
GL Outperforms Industry, Trades Above 50-Day SMA: What's Next?
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 16:01
Core Insights - Globe Life Inc. (GL) shares have increased by 39.8% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry and broader market indices [1][7] - The company has a market capitalization of $11.01 billion and an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [1] - Globe Life's earnings have surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 2.77% [2] Performance Metrics - The stock is currently trading above its 50-day simple moving average of $127.32, indicating strong upward momentum [3] - Globe Life's forward price-to-earnings ratio is 9.19X, lower than the industry average of 12.16X, suggesting the stock is trading at a discount [8] - The trailing 12-month return on equity for Globe Life is 21.2%, exceeding the industry average of 15% [13] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 15.7% year-over-year increase in earnings per share for 2025, with revenues expected to reach $6.04 billion, reflecting a 4.5% improvement [9] - Analysts have raised earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026, with a 5.3% and 1% increase in consensus estimates, respectively, over the past 30 days [10] Revenue Drivers - Globe Life's revenue growth is supported by premium increases in its Life and Health Insurance segments, as well as net investment income [15] - The American Income and Liberty National divisions are expected to drive future top-line growth, with net life and health sales projected to grow in the mid-teens [16][17] Financial Strength - The company maintains a strong liquidity position and has targeted a consolidated RBC ratio of 300% to 320% for 2025, indicating financial stability [18] - Globe Life has consistently increased its dividend over the past eight years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% [19] Investment Appeal - Globe Life's combination of higher sales, improved capital efficiency, and attractive valuations positions it as an appealing investment opportunity [20][22] - The stock has a favorable VGM Score of B, indicating strong value, growth, and momentum compared to peers [20]
Arch Capital Trades Above 50-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-18 18:26
Core Viewpoint - Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) is experiencing a short-term bullish trend despite a significant decline from its 52-week high, with its share price currently at $90.72, down 22.1% from $116.47 [1] Group 1: Price Performance - Year-to-date, Arch Capital shares have decreased by 1.7%, underperforming the industry, sector, and Zacks S&P 500 Composite, which grew by 5.1%, 10.8%, and 9.6% respectively [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $33.9 billion, with an average trading volume of 2.2 million shares over the last three months [2] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - Arch Capital shares are trading at a premium compared to the Zacks Property and Casualty Insurance industry, with a forward price-to-book value of 1.53X, higher than the industry average of 1.45X [4] - The company has a Value Score of B, indicating a relatively strong valuation position [4] Group 3: Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Arch Capital's net premiums written increased by 15% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, supported by acquisitions and new ventures [6][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues is projected at $18.8 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 13.6% [7] Group 4: Market Position and Strategy - Arch Capital is well-positioned in the Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance market, benefiting from a hard market environment characterized by rising premiums and increased demand for insurance coverage [10] - The company is enhancing its competitive position through strategic acquisitions and investments, including the addition of MidCorp and the launch of Arch Insurance Company (Europe) Limited [11] Group 5: Operational Challenges - The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is impacting Arch Capital's operations, particularly in its marine and energy business lines due to sanctions [12] - Despite rising capital investments, the company's return on invested capital (ROIC) has declined to 5.2%, below the industry average of 5.9%, indicating inefficiencies in capital management [13] Group 6: Outlook - Arch Capital shows solid fundamentals with consistent premium growth and strategic market expansion, but elevated geopolitical risks and declining returns temper the near-term outlook [14]
CNA Financial Trades Above 50-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-13 18:10
Core Viewpoint - CNA Financial Corporation is experiencing a short-term bullish trend as its shares trade above key moving averages, despite a recent decline from its 52-week high [1][5]. Group 1: Price Performance - CNA Financial shares have decreased by 1% over the past year, underperforming compared to its industry and the broader market, which saw growth rates of 7.9%, 19%, and 18.1% respectively [2]. - The current market capitalization of CNA Financial is $12.9 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.5 million shares over the last three months [2]. Group 2: Valuation Metrics - CNA Financial shares are trading at a forward price-to-book value of 1.21X, which is lower than the industry average of 1.42X, indicating a discount compared to peers [4]. - The company has a Value Score of B, suggesting it is relatively affordable within the property and casualty insurance sector [4]. Group 3: Revenue and Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNA's 2025 revenues is $13.4 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 5.4% [5]. - The current-year earnings estimate is $4.39 per share, with projections for 2026 indicating an increase of 8.4% in earnings per share and 3.5% in revenues compared to 2025 [6][7]. Group 4: Investment Income and Challenges - Net investment income for CNA rose by 7.1% to $662 million, driven by gains in fixed-income and equity investments [5][13]. - The company faces challenges from rising expenses and catastrophe risks, which could impact profitability [5][15]. Group 5: Growth and Underwriting Performance - CNA Financial has consistently reported growth in gross premiums written across all segments, supported by a strong product portfolio and improved retention [11]. - The combined ratio of its property and casualty business has shown substantial improvement, indicating stronger underwriting profitability [11]. Group 6: Market Outlook - The average price target for CNA shares is $49, suggesting a potential upside of 3.5% from the last closing price [8]. - The company has shown resilience in premium growth and investment results, but ongoing exposure to catastrophe losses and rising claims expenses remain concerns [16].