Financial Performance - American Water's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations increased from $2.64 in 2015 to $2.84 in 2016[29] - The company affirms its 2017 guidance range for EPS to be $2.98 - $3.08[79] - The company anticipates a 7-10% EPS Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) through 2021, anchored off 2015 EPS[34] - The company's common dividends declared showed a CAGR of 10% from 2014 to 2017[35] - American Water's capital investment reached a record level of $1.3 billion in 2016 for regulated infrastructure[24] - Cash flow from operations increased by 8.2% from 2015 to 2016[77] Regulated Business - The company's regulated business remains the foundation of its long-term growth strategy[23] - The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $35.2 million rate increase for American Water, authorizing a 9.79% Return on Equity (ROE)[41] - The company closed acquisitions serving approximately 42,000 customers and had pending acquisitions for approximately 40,000 customers in 2016[24] - The company's O&M efficiency ratio improved to 34.9% in 2016 and is targeting 32.5% by 2021[24, 50]

Core Insights - Limbach Holdings, Inc. (LMB) is a strong buy stock with a significant earnings beat of 273.3% in Q1 2025, with expectations for double-digit earnings growth this year [1][3][8] - The company operates in six vertical markets and has a workforce of 1,400 across 20 offices in the eastern United States [2] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Limbach reported earnings of $1.12, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.30, marking the tenth consecutive earnings surprise [3] - Revenue increased by 11.9% to $133.1 million from $119 million year-over-year [3] - The gross profit percentage rose to 27.6% from 26.1%, driven by higher-margin Owner Direct Relationships (ODR) work [5] Business Strategy - Limbach's strategy focuses on growing its ODR business, which saw a revenue increase of 21.7% to $90.4 million, accounting for 67.9% of total revenue [4] - The company anticipates an ODR mix shift to be between 70% and 80% for the year, with ODR revenue growth projected between 23% and 46% [7] Market Position - Limbach's shares have increased by 66% year-to-date, reaching new all-time highs, reflecting strong market confidence [8][10] - The company is positioned in the mission-critical building systems solutions industry, particularly benefiting from the demand in data centers [10] Analyst Outlook - Analysts have raised earnings estimates for Limbach, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing to $4.39 from $3.45, indicating a 21.9% growth compared to last year's earnings of $3.60 [7] - Earnings growth is forecasted at 12% over the next 3 to 5 years, making Limbach a notable growth and momentum stock in its industry [14]

Core Viewpoint - Fastenal, O'Reilly Automotive, and Interactive Brokers have all announced stock splits this year, prompting a comparison of their financial metrics, growth prospects, and valuations to determine the best investment choice among them [2][14]. Financials - O'Reilly Automotive generated revenue of $16.87 billion over the last 12 months, significantly higher than Fastenal's $7.61 billion and Interactive Brokers' $5.4 billion [4]. - In terms of net profit margin, Fastenal leads slightly with 15.1%, followed by Interactive Brokers at 14.7% and O'Reilly at 14.1% [5]. - Interactive Brokers has the strongest balance sheet, with a cash position of nearly $89.7 billion compared to its debt of $17.15 billion, while both Fastenal and O'Reilly have larger debt loads than their cash reserves [6]. Growth - Interactive Brokers experienced a revenue increase of 18.6% year over year in Q1 2025, with earnings rising by 21.7% [7]. - Fastenal's net sales grew by 3.4% year over year, with earnings up only 0.3%, while O'Reilly reported a revenue growth of 4% but a decline in earnings by 1.6% [8]. - Analysts project O'Reilly to deliver the highest earnings growth next year at 12.5%, compared to Fastenal's 9.8% and Interactive Brokers' 7.3% [9]. Valuation - Interactive Brokers has the lowest trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio and forward P/E multiple [10]. - O'Reilly has a lower price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio than Fastenal, indicating a more attractive valuation based on future earnings growth projections [11]. Dividends - Fastenal is the dividend winner with a forward dividend yield of 2.13% and has increased its dividend for 27 consecutive years [12]. - Interactive Brokers has a forward dividend yield of 0.63% and has only increased its dividend for two years, while O'Reilly does not currently offer a dividend [12]. Best Stock-Split Stock - The best choice among these stocks depends on the investor's style; Fastenal is recommended for income investors, while O'Reilly is viewed as the most attractively valued for growth investors [13][14].

Market Recovery & Geopolitical Impact - The markets have recovered all losses since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Iran [1] - Geopolitical conflict means less to the market than it does to individual investors [8] - The market operates on how are things today relative to what was expected a couple of days ago [2] - Likelihood that everything's going to turn out okay is a fantastic way to invest in this market [9] Market Valuation & Earnings - S&P is trading at 23 times 2025 earnings [5] - Very moderate expectations for Q2, with about 4.9% expected earning growth [6] - The market is in a bull market and is expected to hit new highs [6][7] Investment Strategy & Market Sentiment - Large institutions are still a little bit underinvested [4] - The technology theme is working again [4] - Investors need to sit on their hands and not knee-jerk if they get some bad news [9]

you. We're joined now by Schwab's chief investment strategist, Liz Anne Saunders. It's good to see you.Um, we're not that far away from new highs and you can thank the growth factor for getting us there, can't you. Yeah. So, that's been interesting.Momentum has certainly picked up as a factor doing well and that's not surprising when you get these kind of rip higher rallies. But aside from that, which isn't really a fundamental factor, it's more like a concept. It just means that stocks that have been worki ...

19 June 2025 | 7:30PM HKT China Brokers & Asset Managers Stock selection differences amid overall positive trend. CICC-H (Buy) and FUTU (Neutral), Hundsun (Buy) and East Since May, broker and fintech stocks (including FUTU, East Money and Hundsun) have performed well, with average returns of +27%/+9% vs. +8%/+3% for the H/A share index. Looking back at the factors that we mentioned could constrain broker and fintech valuations (see our May report), we believe positive changes on ADTV and turnover - which ar ...

Group 1 - Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) has seen a 5.7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ) has experienced a significant 96.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Carlsberg A/S (CABGY) has recorded a 6.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) has seen nearly a 6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - DNB Bank ASA (DNBBY) has experienced an 8.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3]

Ryder System (R) 2025 Conference Summary Company Overview - Ryder System Inc. is a Fortune 500 company with revenues just under $13 billion and has been in operation for 92 years [2][3] - The company operates in the transportation logistics outsourcing business across North America, including the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, employing approximately 50,000 workers [3][4] Core Business Segments - Ryder's services include truck rentals, fleet leasing, dedicated transportation, and supply chain logistics, with a fleet of about 250,000 vehicles and 330 distribution centers covering 100 million square feet [4][5] - Recent expansions include e-commerce fulfillment and co-manufacturing services [5] Business Transformation - Over the past five years, Ryder has focused on derisking its leasing business, improving profitability, and shifting towards more asset-light operations [6][7] - The revenue contribution from supply chain and dedicated services increased from 45% in 2018 to approximately 60% in 2025 [8] - Earnings per share are projected to be between $12.85 and $13.6 in 2025, nearly double the earnings from 2018 [8] Financial Metrics - Return on equity (ROE) is expected to be between 16.5% and 17.5% in 2025, compared to 13% in 2018 [9] - Operating cash flow has significantly increased, with a target of generating $10 billion to $10.5 billion over three years [13] Strategic Initiatives - Ryder has identified $150 million in potential earnings improvements from strategic initiatives, with $100 million expected to be realized by the end of the year [10][11] - Additional $200 million in earnings improvement is anticipated as the economy and freight market recover [12] Capital Deployment - Ryder has approximately $13.5 billion available for capital deployment over three years, with plans to allocate $9 billion for vehicle replacements and $5 billion for dividends [14] - The remaining $4.3 billion will be used for growth, acquisitions, and share buybacks, with a focus on a balanced approach [14] Market Conditions and Outlook - The company is currently experiencing a soft rental market, with a decrease in rental fleet utilization and a wait-and-see approach from customers [29][30] - Ryder's rental fleet is down by about 8,000 to 9,000 units, indicating potential for earnings recovery as market conditions improve [28] - The used vehicle market is expected to stabilize as new truck orders decline, which could lead to increased prices for used trucks [36][37] Challenges and Risks - The ongoing freight recession has created uncertainty, affecting customer decision-making and delaying long-term contracts [25][30] - Interest rates and inflation have increased truck costs by 45% since 2018, impacting leasing and rental pricing strategies [22] Future Expectations - Ryder anticipates a gradual recovery in the rental market and expects to flush out aged inventory by the end of Q2 2025 [34] - The company aims to achieve a long-term target of 2,000 to 4,000 net unit additions annually, contingent on market recovery [56][57] Conclusion - Ryder System is positioned for growth through strategic initiatives and capital deployment, despite current market challenges. The focus remains on improving operational efficiency and adapting to changing market conditions while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

Market Sentiment and Support - Indian markets are positioned well amid global uncertainties, with Asia and GEM funds increasing their positions in India[1] - Domestic policy support is strong, with government capital expenditure reaching a record high in Q1 2025 and the central bank cutting benchmark rates by 50bps and cash reserve ratio by 100bps[2] Earnings Growth Outlook - Q1 2025 earnings for FTSE India (excluding commodities) showed a 10% year-on-year increase, a recovery from previous quarters[3] - Despite the positive Q1 results, a sustained recovery in earnings growth is expected to take several more quarters, with consensus estimates for 2025 earnings growth at 11%[4] Sector Performance - Strong growth was reported in industrials, healthcare, and telecom, while consumer discretionary saw a 14% EPS growth driven by retail and services[3] - FMCG companies faced challenges with weak demand and increased competition, leading to low single-digit growth in that sector[3] Investment Strategy - The report recommends five stocks: Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), GAIL, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, and HDFC Life, focusing on those with good growth potential[5] - GCPL is noted for its innovation and market share gains in home insecticides, while UPL is expected to recover due to improved margins and lower debt[6] Valuation and Risks - The Sensex index target for the end of 2025 is set at 82,240, indicating a neutral stance on Indian equities from an Asian perspective[7] - Elevated valuations and concerns about growth outlook remain, despite recent market rebounds[5]

Core Viewpoint - Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) is expected to achieve attractive earnings growth in the coming years, driven by the rapid adoption of TurboTax Live and successful expansion into the mid/up-market with QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) [1] Company Analysis - The investment approach focuses on understanding the core economics of a business, including its competitive moat, unit economics, reinvestment runway, and management quality, which are crucial for long-term free cash flow generation and shareholder value creation [1] - Intuit is positioned in sectors with strong secular tailwinds, indicating a favorable market environment for growth [1] Investment Philosophy - The analysis emphasizes the importance of identifying businesses with the potential to scale over time and unlock significant terminal value [1] - The goal is to provide analytical and accessible insights that help investors focus on what drives long-term equity value [1]