Market Performance - The S&P 500 increased by approximately 16% and the Nasdaq 100 gained nearly 21% in 2025, driven largely by artificial intelligence as a key return driver [2] - Gold was the standout asset in 2025, rising about 68%, while Bitcoin declined roughly 5% despite its growing institutional presence [3] Economic Outlook - There are few signs of an imminent economic slowdown, although a K-shaped economic recovery persists, with high living costs contrasting booming asset markets [4] - The investment landscape remains favorable, with technological innovation, geopolitical uncertainty, and abundant liquidity expected to drive returns into 2026 [5] Sector Insights - Big Tech continues to dominate, with strong revenue growth and profitability, expanding into areas like cloud computing and autonomous driving [6] - The AI infrastructure cycle is ongoing, with significant capital expenditures projected to exceed $500 billion, indicating a multi-year buildout [11] - Solar energy has emerged as a strong performer, with costs for photovoltaic modules dropping by about 90% over the past decade, making it one of the cheapest power generation sources [29][30] - Oil and gas remain essential, with natural gas demand accelerating and oil prices stabilizing after recent volatility [32][36] Investment Strategies - Aligning portfolios with durable economic megatrends has proven successful, with a focus on sectors like healthcare and biotech, which are showing signs of recovery [10][44] - The Magnificent Seven stocks are expected to see earnings growth of 16.5% in 2026, driven by strong revenue growth and the integration of AI technologies [16][18] - Healthcare stocks have outperformed in the final quarter of the year, supported by stable demand and improving earnings visibility [44][46] Alternative Assets - Gold has seen a significant rise, increasing nearly 70% this year, and is viewed as a portfolio diversifier amid rising geopolitical tensions [38][40] - Bitcoin is increasingly recognized as a legitimate alternative for hedging risk, with its narrative as "digital gold" gaining traction [42]

Core Insights - The precious metals market is experiencing a significant rally driven by geopolitical uncertainty, expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts, a weaker U.S. dollar, and strong industrial demand, particularly for silver and platinum [2][3][6] Group 1: Market Performance - Gold futures have increased approximately 1.6%, trading above the $4,500 level, while silver has surged over 3% due to tight physical markets and robust industrial demand [1] - Platinum prices are also supported by ongoing supply constraints, trading near the upper end of its recent range [1] Group 2: Demand and Supply Dynamics - Silver is facing its fifth consecutive year of supply deficits, with demand consistently outpacing supply, driven by industrial applications such as solar panels, electronics, and AI data centers [5] - Platinum production has dropped to multi-year lows, contributing to tight market conditions, with automotive use remaining a primary demand driver alongside industrial and jewelry demand [5] Group 3: Economic Influences - Ongoing global instability, including conflicts and trade frictions, is prompting investors to seek traditional safe-haven assets like gold and silver [3] - The decline in the U.S. dollar's value is making dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, thus increasing international demand [4] - Central banks are diversifying their reserves away from the U.S. dollar and have been purchasing gold at record rates, contributing to substantial investment inflows into gold and silver ETFs [4]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 has experienced a strong year to date, continuing a rally that has benefited investors despite challenges such as inflation, interest rate hikes, and geopolitical uncertainty [1] Group 1 - The S&P 500's performance reflects resilience in the face of economic challenges [1] - Investors have been rewarded for maintaining their positions during a tumultuous market environment [1] - The ongoing rally indicates a positive sentiment in the market, suggesting potential for further growth [1]

Gold Market Overview - Gold prices have shown strong performance in 2025, with a notable rally indicating its renewed appeal as a store of value, driven by reassessment of monetary policy, economic growth, and geopolitical risks [1] - Gold has experienced its largest surge since the 1979 oil crisis, doubling in value over the past two years, with forecasts suggesting it could reach $5,000 in 2026 [2] - Spot prices reached a record $4,381 in October, supported by robust demand from central banks and investors [2] Drivers of Gold Prices - Shifting expectations around U.S. interest rates have been a key factor, with anticipated rate cuts due to easing inflation and softening growth indicators, which reduce the opportunity cost of holding gold [3][7] - Movements in the U.S. dollar have also impacted gold prices, with dollar weakness making gold more attractive to international buyers [4] - Geopolitical uncertainties, including ongoing conflicts and trade tensions, have reinforced gold's status as a safe-haven asset [5] - Steady central bank buying, particularly from emerging markets, has provided consistent demand, stabilizing prices during corrections [6] Investment Opportunities - Gold Fields Limited (GFI), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM), and Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) are highlighted as strong investment options due to their expected earnings growth rates of 138.6%, 83.9%, and 147.1% respectively, along with improving earnings estimates [3][9][10][12] - GFI, AEM, and KGC all hold a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and have favorable VGM Scores, indicating their potential as winning stocks [8][9][10][12] Conclusion - The current environment favors gold as a valuable asset, particularly in a low-rate world where the appeal of cash or bonds diminishes, leading investors to seek stability through gold [13]

Oil and gas activity in the key producing states of Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico edged lower in the fourth quarter, as executives there expressed concern about weak oil prices that are making some wells noneconomic and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, according to a survey released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on Wednesday. ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company generated TCE revenues of $236 million, resulting in an EBITDA of $152 million and a net profit of $78 million, reflecting a $25 million increase in EBITDA compared to the previous quarter [15][16] - The fleet-wide TCE rates averaged $31,012 per day, with LR2s earning above $38,000, LR1s around $29,500, and MRs exceeding $28,000 per day, indicating strengthened freight rates supported by solid market fundamentals [15][16] - Earnings per share for Q3 came in at $0.79, with a declared dividend of $0.62 per share, representing a payout ratio of 78% [16][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company advanced its fleet optimization strategy by acquiring five vessels, including four MR and one LR2, while divesting a 2007 built MR [2][3] - A three-year time charter was agreed for a 2009-built MR vessel at a daily rate of $22,234, which is above the prevailing market rate for such vintage [2][3] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product tanker rates remained stable and attractive, with benchmark earnings for MR and LR2 vessels showing resilience [6][10] - Trade volumes increased significantly in Q3, driven by higher middle distillate flows from east to west, which lifted ton-miles above levels seen before the Red Sea disruption [6][7] - Two refineries in Northwest Europe closed, representing 6% of the region's refining capacity, increasing reliance on imported middle distillates [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maintaining a modern, high-quality fleet and is in negotiations for longer-term charters due to favorable market conditions [3][4] - The company aims to navigate the current market environment of elevated uncertainty with a strong capital structure and operational leverage [14][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while the macro environment remains dynamic due to geopolitical uncertainty, market sentiment is broadly positive, with solid momentum supported by firm rates across all vessel segments [3][19] - The company increased the midpoint of its TCE guidance by $25 million to $900 million, reflecting secured coverage and current market expectations [19][20] Other Important Information - The company's net interest-bearing debt stands at $690 million, corresponding to around 24% of its capital structure, with only $122 million in borrowings maturing over the next 12 months [17][18] - The company has repurchased 13 out of 22 leaseback vessels, with additional purchase options exercised [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company manage to secure a long-term charter for an older vessel? - Management highlighted the integrated platform that allows for consistent service quality across all vessels, regardless of age, and noted ongoing negotiations for longer-term deals due to favorable market conditions [31][32] Question: What factors influenced the decision to acquire older vessels? - The company considers multiple metrics, including internal return hurdles and cash breakeven levels, ensuring that acquisitions meet their return requirements [34][35] Question: What is the company's approach to dividends going forward? - The dividend policy is designed to distribute free liquidity generated throughout the quarter, correlated to cash flow break-even levels, with a focus on maintaining a satisfactory payout ratio [53][56] Question: Why was the reported interest expense higher this quarter? - The increase was attributed to the accounting treatment of refinancing and upfront fees, which is expected to normalize in the following quarter [62][64]

Financial Performance - The company's TCE for Q3 2025 was USD 236 million, an increase from USD 208 million in Q2 2025[7] - EBITDA for Q3 2025 reached USD 152 million, up from USD 127 million in Q2 2025[7] - Net profit for Q3 2025 was USD 78 million, compared to USD 59 million in Q2 2025[7] - The company's basic earnings per share increased to USD 0.79 in Q3 2025, from USD 0.60 in Q2 2025[30] - The dividend per share increased to USD 0.62 in Q3 2025, from USD 0.40 in Q2 2025, with a dividend payout ratio of 78%[30] Market Dynamics - Trade volumes in Q3 increased by 4% compared to Q2 and 2% year-over-year[16] - The product tanker capacity trading CPP is down by 1% versus nominal fleet growth of 5%[26] Fleet and Strategy - The company's fleet size remained constant at 88 vessels between Q2 and Q3 2025[7] - The company acquired one 2010-built LR2 and four 2014-built MR vessels and sold one 2007-built MR vessel[9] Outlook - The company expects TCE earnings to be USD 875 - 925 million and EBITDA to be USD 540 - 590 million for 2025[54] - 55% of Q4 2025 is covered at USD 30,156 per day[53]

Q3 2025 Performance - Organic sales increased by 9% due to favorable pricing, pull-forward demand, and volume[5, 10, 32] - Adjusted operating margin expanded by 140 bps to 18.5%[5, 11, 12, 35] - Adjusted EPS increased by 23% from $2.03 to $2.50[13, 14] - Free cash flow increased by 6% from $204 million to $216 million[15, 16] Segment Performance - Americas sales increased organically by 13%, with acquisitions adding $11 million, reaching $464 million[19] - Europe sales decreased organically by 2%, but benefited from a $7 million FX impact, totaling $112 million[19] - APMEA sales remained flat organically at $36 million[19] - Americas adjusted operating margin increased by 180 bps to 23.7%[19] - Europe adjusted operating margin increased by 160 bps to 12.2%[19] - APMEA adjusted operating margin increased by 90 bps to 19.4%[19] Full Year 2025 Outlook - The company raised its full-year reported sales growth outlook to +7% to +8%, with organic growth of +4% to +5%[6, 20, 43] - The company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA margin outlook to 21.5% to 21.6%, an increase of +140 bps to +150 bps[6, 20]

Core Insights - Small caps are generally US-based companies with a majority of sales from the US, contrasting with large caps that have a higher percentage of foreign sales [1] - In times of geopolitical uncertainty, investors may prefer small caps as a hedge due to the perceived stability of the US economy [1] Company Summaries MIND Technology, Inc. (MIND) - MIND Technology is based in The Woodlands, TX, providing technology solutions for oceanographic, hydrographic, seismic, and maritime security industries [3] - For the six months ended July 2025, over 56% of MIND's revenue came from Norway, highlighting its reliance on international sales [3] - In Q2 fiscal 2026, MIND reported a net income of $0.24 per share, a turnaround from a net loss of $0.11 per share in the prior year, with revenues of $13.6 million, a 35% increase from $10 million year-over-year [4] Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (PPIH) - PPIH, headquartered in Rolling Meadows, IL, specializes in manufacturing specialty piping systems and leak detection systems [6] - The company has received approval from Aramco, expanding its total addressable market and aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives [7] - In Q2, PPIH reported net sales of $47.9 million, a 27.7% increase from $37.5 million in the same period last year, driven by stronger sales in the Middle East and North America [8] - As of FY ending January 31, 2025, 67% of PPIH's sales were to foreign customers, indicating a significant international market presence [8]

Group 1 - Alphyn Capital Management's Master Account returned 3.0% net in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 Index which returned 8.1% [1] - As of Q3 2025, the top ten holdings represented approximately 68% of the portfolio, with around 17% held in cash [1] - The market narrative in Q3 2025 was influenced by advancements in AI, credit cycles, and geopolitical uncertainty [1] Group 2 - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) had a one-month return of 10.83% and a 52-week gain of 57.72%, closing at $269.93 per share on October 27, 2025, with a market capitalization of $3.26 trillion [2] - The rise in Alphabet Inc.'s shares was partly due to the resolution of a major regulatory overhang, specifically the DOJ antitrust case concerning Search [3] - The court's remedies decision on September 2nd was less severe than anticipated, allowing Google to continue compensating partners for non-exclusive default status while imposing some restrictions [3]