The Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Partsindustry is set to benefit from the rising average age of the vehicles that require frequent servicing and replacement of auto parts.Players like AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) , Genuine Parts Company (GPC) and Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) are entering into new markets through strategic acquisitions and expansion of mega hubs to grow their market share and are investing in digital platforms to reach a broader audience, driving higher profitability.Industry Overview ...

Core Viewpoint - Veris Residential, Inc. reported strong operational results in Q1 2025, despite market volatility, with a focus on asset sales and portfolio simplification to unlock value [3][4]. Financial Performance - Net income (loss) per diluted share was $(0.12) in Q1 2025, compared to $(0.04) in Q1 2024 [2]. - Core FFO per diluted share increased to $0.16 from $0.14 year-over-year [2]. - Core AFFO per diluted share decreased slightly to $0.17 from $0.18 [2]. - The dividend per diluted share was $0.08, up from $0.0525 [2]. Operational Highlights - The company achieved a Same Store occupancy rate of 94.0%, up from 93.9% [4]. - Same Store blended rental growth rate for the quarter was 2.4%, compared to 0.5% in the previous quarter, reflecting a 1.9% increase [4]. - Average rent per home decreased slightly to $4,019 from $4,033 [4]. Asset Management - The company has closed or is under contract for $79 million in non-strategic asset sales in 2025 [3]. - Year-to-date, $45 million of non-strategic asset sales have been completed, with an additional $34 million under contract [7][8]. - The acquisition of the remaining interest in the Jersey City property, now named "Sable," was completed for $38.5 million, expected to generate over $1 million in annualized synergies [9][10]. Financial Position - The company maintains a weighted average effective interest rate of 4.96% on its debt, with a maturity of 2.8 years [5][6]. - As of April 21, 2025, liquidity stood at approximately $146 million [6]. - Net debt was reported at $1,643,411, with a TTM Net Debt to EBITDA ratio of 11.4x [6]. Guidance - The company maintains its 2025 guidance for Same Store revenue growth between 2.1% and 2.7%, and Same Store NOI growth between 1.7% and 2.7% [13].

CITI'S TAKE Materials demand in 1Q25 was mostly in line with our expectation, with stronger prints on steel and cement, and weaker on coal. As the trade war between the US and China escalates, we assess the impact from trade disruptions and potential RMB depreciation on materials. We believe the impact of tariffs has already kicked in for the battery supply chain (see note) and expect more to be felt through commodities in the coming months. This should call for more decisive policies from Chinese side to b ...