CHICAGO, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) reported results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal year 2025, which ended on May 25, 2025. All comparisons are against the prior-year fiscal period, unless otherwise noted. Highlights CEO Perspective Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands, commented, "I'm proud of the Conagra team for their hard work throughout fiscal 2025 as we navigated an environment that proved to be more challenging t ...

The Zacks Building Products – Wood industry continues to face a difficult environment marked by rising construction costs, potential housing project delays, and mounting affordability concerns for consumers. The threat of tariffs also raises the risk of retaliatory trade actions, adding pressure to global trade dynamics. Meanwhile, spending on home repair and remodeling (R&R) has pulled back from pandemic-era highs as elevated mortgage rates weigh on consumer budgets. With homeownership becoming increasingl ...

Core Insights - Average salary increase budgets for US companies in 2026 are expected to remain stable at 3.5%, matching the actual increases of 2025 [1] - Organizations are becoming more strategic in their pay allocation and investment focus, aiming to align with broader business goals despite economic uncertainty [3] Salary Budget Changes - Three out of five organizations experienced changes in their salary budgets during the last pay cycle, with 53% reporting no difference between anticipated and actual budgets for 2025 [2] - Among organizations projecting lower salary increases, 51% cited anticipated recession or weaker financial results, while 45% mentioned cost management concerns [2] - Tight labor markets (59%) and inflationary pressures (30%) were the main reasons for those projecting higher salary budgets [2] Employee Retention and Stability - Employee stability has improved, with less than one-third (30%) of organizations reporting challenges in attracting or retaining employees, a decrease of 11 percentage points since 2023 [4] - Organizations are taking actions to enhance employee experience, health and wellness benefits, and training opportunities in response to low turnover and concerns about burnout [5] Compensation Adjustments - Employers are adjusting compensation programs to address competitive labor markets and inflation, with 50% conducting a compensation review of all employees and 48% reviewing specific employee groups [6] - Over 40% of organizations have enhanced their use of retention bonuses or spot awards, and 37% have targeted base salary increases for specific employee groups [6] Payroll Expenses - The average annual payroll expense has increased by nearly 4% (3.6%), with 70% of organizations reporting higher total annual payroll expenses compared to the previous year [7] Strategic Investments - Employers are making investments beyond pay raises, focusing on career development, wellbeing, flexibility, and equity to enhance performance, retention, and resilience in a changing market [8] Survey Details - The Salary Budget Planning Report was compiled by WTW's Rewards Data Intelligence practice, with approximately 29,128 responses from companies across 157 countries, including 1,569 from the U.S. [9]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Manufacturing-Tools & Related Products industry includes companies that develop and distribute various tools and technology solutions, serving multiple sectors such as industrial, commercial, oil & gas, and automotive [3] - The industry is currently facing challenges due to a slowdown in the manufacturing sector, with the Manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index at 49% in June, indicating contraction [4] - The New Orders Index has also been in contraction for five consecutive months, registering 46.4% in June [4] Current Challenges - The industry is experiencing input cost inflation and supply-chain issues, which are negatively impacting profitability and margins [5] - The Supplier Deliveries Index indicates slower deliveries for the seventh consecutive month, further complicating the operational landscape [5] - A shortage of skilled labor in the United States is also a significant challenge for the industry [1] Strategic Responses - Companies in the industry are focusing on cost-control measures and investments in product development to remain competitive [2] - Initiatives include streamlining operational structures, optimizing supply networks, and implementing effective pricing policies to manage costs [5] - Continuous innovation and product upgrades are seen as essential for long-term growth, although they may lead to highly leveraged balance sheets [6] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Manufacturing-Tools & Related Products industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 163, placing it in the bottom 34% of 246 Zacks industries, indicating weak prospects [7][8] - The industry's earnings estimates for 2025 have decreased by 7.3% over the past year, reflecting analysts' diminishing confidence in earnings growth potential [9] - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed compared to the sector and the S&P 500, growing only 7.7% versus 14.8% and 12.4% respectively [11] Valuation Insights - The industry is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 17.92X, which is below the S&P 500's 22.75X and the sector's 20.09X [14] - Historical trading ranges for the industry have been between 11.65X and 22.13X over the past five years, with a median of 18.55X [14] Notable Companies - **Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK)**: Focused on tools and engineered fastening systems, the company has shown solid momentum in its Tools & Outdoor segment, particularly in its DEWALT business. It has reported better-than-expected results in the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 18.4% [19][20] - **Core & Main, Inc. (CNM)**: Provides water and fire protection products, benefiting from increased demand and recent acquisitions. Its fiscal 2026 earnings estimates have been revised upward by 1.2% in the past 60 days [23][24] - **Kennametal Inc. (KMT)**: Specializes in high-speed metal cutting tools and has seen improved supply chain conditions and increased OEM build rates in aerospace markets. The company has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 27% [26][27]

Core Insights - GameStop Corp. (GME) reported significant improvements in its fiscal first-quarter 2025 results, primarily due to effective cost management and operational efficiency [1][4] - The company achieved a 3.4% increase in gross profit, with gross margin expanding by 680 basis points to 34.5% [2] - GameStop's net income shifted from a loss of $32.3 million to a profit of $44.8 million, reflecting the benefits of its cost restructuring [4] Financial Performance - Adjusted SG&A expenses decreased by 24.8% year over year to $225.3 million, improving as a percentage of net sales by 320 basis points to 30.8% [1] - Adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $38.6 million, reversing a loss of $37.6 million from the previous year [3] - Adjusted operating income rose to $27.5 million from a loss of $55 million in the prior year [3] Revenue and Sales - Despite a 17% decline in net sales, attributed to weaknesses in hardware and software, the collectibles segment provided some offset [5][9] - The company’s gross profit increased to $252.8 million from $244.5 million [2] Valuation and Estimates - GameStop's shares have decreased by 23.6% year to date, contrasting with the industry's growth of 13.7% [8] - The forward price-to-sales ratio for GME is 3.23X, slightly below the industry average of 3.58X [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GME's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year growth of 127.3%, while fiscal 2026 estimates suggest a decline of 52% [11]

Railcar manufacturer Greenbrier (GBX 21.17%) used strong cost management to easily top expectations and raise profitability guidance for the year.Investors are relieved, sending shares of Greenbrier up 20% as of 12:30 p.m. ET. Making the most of a tough environmentIt is a tough operating environment for railroads, with volumes down due to economic uncertainty and the impact of tariffs. In times like this, you don't normally see railroad companies making big capital expenditures, and shares of supplier Green ...

Core Insights - Sezzle (SEZL) has shown consistent margin expansion, with operating margin increasing from 29.4% in Q1 2024 to 47.6% in the latest quarter, indicating a focus on sustainable profitability [1][8] - The decline in operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues from 68.6% in Q4 2024 to 52.4% in Q1 2025 highlights improved operational efficiency, aided by the partnership with WebBank [2][8] - Non-transaction-related operating expenses also decreased significantly, from 34.5% in Q1 2024 to 25.6% in Q1 2025, showcasing effective cost management [3] Financial Performance - Gross merchandise volume growth and increased user engagement, with purchase frequency rising from 4.5 to 6.1 times, have contributed to a higher net income margin, which stood at 34.5% in the latest quarter, up 870 basis points from the previous quarter [4] - Management has raised the revenue growth outlook for 2025 to 60-65% and net income expectations to $120 million, reflecting a positive trajectory [5][8] Market Position - SEZL's stock has surged 260.8% over the past six months, outperforming competitors like Global Blue Group (declined 2.2%) and Mastercard (gained 8.6%), while the industry overall gained 5.3% [6][8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for SEZL is 44.61, which is higher than Global Blue Group's 17.5 and Mastercard's 32.6, indicating a premium valuation compared to peers [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SEZL's earnings for 2025 is $3.26 per share, representing a 77.2% increase from the previous year [13]

Key Takeaways Exxon Mobil has cut $12.7B in structural costs since 2019, boosting efficiency and earnings stability. XOM aims to slash breakeven to $35/barrel by 2027 and $30/barrel by 2030 while maintaining investments. Despite a 1% stock dip, XOM trades at a 6.77X EV/EBITDA, above the industry average of 4.09X.Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) emphasizes making its business more efficient and resilient. This is clear from its last earnings call, where it stated that since 2019, it has reduced $12.7 billion ...

Core Insights - Bath & Body Works (BBWI) reported a strong start to fiscal 2025, with gross profit reaching $646 million, a 6.6% year-over-year increase, and a gross margin of 45.4%, improving by 160 basis points compared to the previous year [1][11]. Financial Performance - The improvement in gross margin was primarily driven by a 100-basis-point rise in merchandise margin, attributed to low single-digit increases in mix-adjusted average unit retail (AUR), reflecting a stronger product mix and value engineering enhancements [2][11]. - Operating income for the first quarter reached $209 million, an 11.8% increase from the prior year, with the operating margin expanding by 120 basis points to 14.7% [5][11]. Operational Changes - The company strategically exited a third-party fulfillment center to streamline operations and reduce costs, expecting continued financial and customer service benefits [4]. - A re-evaluation of store assets' useful life led to reduced depreciation expenses, contributing to margin improvement [4]. Cost Management - Bath & Body Works faced external cost pressures from tariffs, with approximately 10% of its global spend exposed to China. However, the company effectively mitigated these impacts through an agile, predominantly U.S.-based supply chain and proactive cost management strategies [8]. - For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the company anticipates a gross margin of approximately 41%, flat compared to the prior year, factoring in ongoing tariff impacts and licensing expenses from collaborations [9]. Valuation - BBWI is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.76, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.64 and the sector average of 1.58, indicating a favorable valuation position [12].

Key Takeaways SFIX posted a Q3 adjusted loss of $0.06 per share, improving from last year's $0.15 loss. Revenues rose 0.7% y/y to $325M, driven by higher average order value and client experience improvements. The FY25 revenue outlook was raised to $1.25-$1.26B; the adjusted EBITDA view increased to $43-$47M.Stitch Fix, Inc. (SFIX) reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, wherein the top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top line improved from the year-earlier quarter. Meanwhile, ...