Markets are in the midst of the busiest week for third quarter earnings, with results from several Big Tech companies highlighting the calendar. So far, the earnings season is off to a positive start. As of Oct. 24, 29% of S&P 500 companies have reported results, according to FactSet data, and analysts are expecting a 9.2% jump in earnings per share during the third quarter. If that figure holds, it would mark the ninth straight quarter of positive earnings growth but a deceleration from the 12% earnings ...

You can’t have a stock market bubble if earnings are growing faster than expectations, multiples are compressing, and companies are becoming more productive and profitable.Humans are really bad at wrapping their head around acceleration periods. ...

Market Performance - In October, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex increased by 4.90% and 4.95% respectively, indicating a strong market performance [1] - A total of 578 equity mutual funds were analyzed, with 568 funds providing positive returns and only 10 funds showing negative returns [1][12] Top Performing Funds - The top-performing fund, Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF, achieved a return of 9.02% in October, followed by WOC Digital Bharat Fund and HDFC Technology Fund with returns of 7.58% and 7.05% respectively [1][19] - Other notable technology sector funds included Kotak Technology Fund, ICICI Pru Technology Fund, and Edelweiss Technology Fund, which delivered returns of 6.54%, 6.52%, and 6.42% respectively [5][19] Sector Analysis - The technology sector was a significant contributor to the positive performance of equity mutual funds, with multiple funds in this category ranking among the top performers [1][19] - Funds from Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, such as Mirae Asset Global Electric & Autonomous Vehicles Equity Passive FOF and Mirae Asset Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF FOF, also performed well with returns of 6.71% and 6.68% respectively [19] Negative Performers - The worst-performing fund was ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF, which lost approximately 5.07% in October [10][19] - Other negative performers included PGIM India Global Select Real Estate Securities FoF with a loss of 1.73% and two funds from ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, which lost 0.53% and 0.34% respectively [10][19] Earnings Growth Expectations - For FY26, Nifty 50 is expected to post an earnings growth of 8%, with mid and small caps projected to grow by 16% and 10% respectively [16] - The ongoing earnings season indicates steady growth, with large-cap companies expected to achieve 6-7% earnings growth, while mid- and small-cap segments are projected to deliver 14-16% year-on-year earnings growth [15][16] Investment Strategy Recommendations - Experts recommend maintaining a diversified portfolio across various categories, including a market cap mix of 55:23:22 for large, mid, and small caps to ensure stability and liquidity [17] - The supportive macroeconomic factors, such as GDP growth of 7.8% in Q1 FY26 and revised inflation of 2.6% for FY26, are expected to enhance corporate profitability and market sentiment [16]

CONCLUDED The outlook is well ahead of Wall Street's current expectations for 6%. Reading between the lines on the company's other projections, suggests an outlook for income growth of 6% to 11% for the current quarter. Wall Street has been expecting 2%. The stock is up 3.5% in late trading. Topics Apple Earnings: Stock Rises After Solid Report—and Despite Some Misses Last Updated: 2 hours ago Apple Gives Strong Guidance for the Current Holiday Quarter By Adam Levine During its earnings call, Apple offered ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported third quarter 2025 earnings of $0.83 per share, which is one cent higher than the adjusted earnings for the same period in 2024 [3][12] - The earnings guidance for 2025 remains reaffirmed at a range of $5.17 to $5.27 per share, assuming normal weather conditions for the remainder of the year [3][15] - The utility operations contributed $0.12 more to earnings compared to third quarter 2024 adjusted earnings, with weather positively impacting earnings by about $0.01 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Weather-normal retail electric deliveries increased by 1.8% compared to the third quarter of 2024, driven by a 2.9% growth in the large commercial and industrial segment [13] - Earnings from the American Transmission Company segment contributed an incremental $0.02 to Q3 earnings versus 2024 [14] - Earnings from corporate and other segments decreased by $0.11, primarily due to tax timing and higher interest expenses [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wisconsin's unemployment rate stands at 3.1%, which is below the national average, supporting economic growth in the region [6] - The company expects electric demand to grow by 3.4 GW between 2026 and 2030, an increase of 1.6 GW compared to the prior plan [4][6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to invest $36.5 billion in capital projects between 2026 and 2030, which is an increase of $8.5 billion from the previous five-year plan, representing over a 30% increase [6][8] - The updated capital plan anticipates an average asset base growth rate of just over 11% per year, supporting long-term projected earnings per share growth of 7% to 8% annually from 2026 to 2030 [6][17] - The company is focusing on an all-of-the-above approach for generation, investing in natural gas, batteries, and renewables to support economic growth and reliability [7][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the company's future and investment opportunities, citing strong economic development and load growth in Wisconsin as the foundation for the new five-year plan [17][18] - The management team highlighted that the growth from large customers is fostering small commercial and residential development throughout the service territory [5][6] Other Important Information - The company plans to file a rate case in Wisconsin for its biannual process, looking at inflation-type increases, but ensuring that costs from hyperscalers do not affect other customers [70] - The Very Large Customer tariff is designed to ensure that large customers pay their fair share without subsidizing other customers [10][52] Q&A Session Summary Question: On the updated growth outlook and back-end loading - Management explained that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will ramp up post-2027, with expectations of 7% to 8% growth in the outer years [20][21] Question: Timing around Point Beach conversations with NextEra - Conversations are ongoing, but may be shifting further out, with no capital included in the current plan for potential capacity replacement [23] Question: Microsoft expansion and its impact on the plan - Management confirmed that the growth in Southeastern Wisconsin is largely driven by data center projects, including Microsoft and Vantage Data Centers [27][28] Question: Clarification on capital plan increase - The increase in capital plan is primarily due to investments in regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution [7][9] Question: Impact of Illinois legislation on growth - Management indicated that the Illinois legislation is being monitored, but does not expect it to have a significant effect on the company [32] Question: Future growth opportunities beyond the current plan - Management sees potential for additional growth both within the current five-year plan and beyond, depending on customer development [73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported third quarter 2025 earnings of $0.83 per share, which is $0.10 higher than the adjusted earnings for the same period in 2024 [4][17] - The earnings guidance for 2025 remains reaffirmed at a range of $5.17 to $5.27 per share [5][21] - Weather positively impacted earnings by approximately $0.01 compared to last year, with a favorable impact of $0.03 in 2025 versus $0.02 in 2024 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility operations earnings increased by $0.12 compared to third quarter 2024 adjusted earnings [18] - Retail electric deliveries, excluding the iron ore mine, saw a 1.8% increase compared to 2024, driven by a 2.9% growth in the large commercial and industrial segment [19] - Earnings from the Corporate and Other segment decreased by $0.11, primarily due to tax timing and higher interest expenses [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wisconsin's unemployment rate stands at 3.1%, which is below the national average, supporting economic development [9] - The company expects electric demand to grow by 3.4 gigawatts between 2026 and 2030, an increase of 1.6 gigawatts compared to the prior plan [6][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to invest $36.5 billion in capital projects between 2026 and 2030, which is an increase of $8.5 billion from the previous five-year plan [9][10] - The updated capital plan anticipates asset-based growth at an average rate of just over 11% per year [10] - The company will utilize an all-of-the-above approach for generation, investing in natural gas, batteries, and renewables [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the economic development and load growth in Wisconsin, which is the foundation of the new five-year plan [24] - The long-term projected earnings per share growth is expected to be 7% to 8% annually on a compound basis between 2026 and 2030 [10][22] - Management noted that the growth from large customers is fostering small commercial and residential development throughout the service territory [8] Other Important Information - The company expects to maintain a dividend payout ratio of 65% to 70% of earnings, with a growth rate of 6.5% to 7% consistent with past practices [25] - The proposed very large customer tariff is under review, designed to meet the needs of large customers while protecting other customers [14][15] Q&A Session Summary Question: On the updated growth outlook and its back-end loading - Management explained that the growth is expected to ramp up in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 7% to 8% in the outer years [29][31] Question: Timing around Point Beach conversations with NextEra - Conversations are ongoing, but may shift further out; no capital is assumed in the current plan for potential replacements [34][35] Question: Microsoft expansion and its impact on the plan - Management expressed confidence in growth in Southeastern Wisconsin, with Microsoft’s data center potentially scaling up to 2 gigawatts [40][41] Question: Clarification on capital plan increase - The increase in capital plan is primarily due to additional investments in regulated electric generation and transmission [12][22] Question: Engagement with other potential customers - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with other customers but emphasized that Microsoft and Vantage are the main focus currently [95][96] Question: Impact of the very large customer tariff on customer rates - The tariff is designed to ensure large customers pay their fair share without subsidizing other customers [89][90]

Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) reported strong third-quarter 2025 results, with year-over-year increases in both revenue and earnings, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1][2][3] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings outlook and raised its cash flow guidance, indicating improved operational performance and financial discipline [1][15][16] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $0.87, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.83, and reflecting a 10.1% increase from $0.79 in the same quarter last year [2][8] - Total revenues amounted to $1,058.1 million, a 4.4% increase from $1,014 million in the prior year, also beating the consensus estimate of $1,041 million [3][8] - Gross profit rose 5.1% to $265.5 million, with a gross margin expansion of 30 basis points to 25.1% [3][4] Cost Management - Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased by 12.4% year over year to $38.3 million, representing 3.6% of total revenues, down 70 basis points [4][8] - Operating income increased by 6.6% to $226.4 million, with an operating margin improvement of 40 basis points to 21.4% [4][8] Segment Performance - Funeral Operations generated total revenues of $574.1 million, slightly above the consensus estimate, but gross profit declined 7.7% to $99.6 million [5][8] - Cemetery Operations reported total revenues of $484 million, surpassing the consensus estimate, with gross profit increasing 14.6% to $165.9 million [9][10] Guidance and Cash Flow - The company confirmed the mid-point of its 2025 EPS guidance at $3.85, narrowing the range to $3.80-$3.90, with expected adjusted earnings growth of 8-12% [15][16] - Cash flow guidance was raised, projecting net cash provided by operating activities (excluding special items) between $1.05 billion and $1.09 billion [16][18] Financial Health - As of the end of the quarter, SCI had cash and cash equivalents of $241.3 million, long-term debt of $4.96 billion, and total equity of $1.57 billion [13][18] - Total capital expenditure for 2025 is projected at $315 million, with allocations for capital improvements, cemetery development, and digital investments [14][18]

Key Points C.H. Robinson beat on earnings but missed on revenue last night. The freight shipper offset weak pricing and low revenue with cuts to operating cost. Profits surged as a result, and C.H. Robinson is raising guidance. 10 stocks we like better than C.H. Robinson Worldwide › C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ: CHRW) stock motored ahead 20.4% through 12:50 p.m. ET Thursday despite the freight transport and logistics company reporting mixed results last night. Heading into its Q3 report, analy ...

Download the Complete Report Here By Brandon Hornback Even in the face of softer coal prices, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (Nasdaq: ARLP) has delivered another rock solid quarter. ARLP’s EPS is expected to come in at $2.42 for fiscal 2025, slightly below 2024 levels, impacted by the current coal pricing challenges and expiration of higher-priced legacy contracts. Such temporary headwinds were partially offset by higher coal volumes and rigid operational discipline. Coal volumes and contracting moment ...

Valued at a market capitalization of $165.8 billion, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is a leading U.S. telecommunications company known for its strong wireless network and expanding 5G and fiber-optic infrastructure. The New York-headquartered company provides mobile services, high-speed home internet through its Fios offering, and advanced enterprise solutions, including cloud, IoT, and cybersecurity services. Despite its scale and strong market presence, Verizon’s stock has struggled to keep pace with ...