Core Viewpoint - QuantumScape Corp reported a fourth-quarter loss of 17 cents per share, which was one cent below estimates, leading to an 8.9% decline in share price to $8.03 [1] Financial Performance - The company forecasts a full-year EBITDA loss between $250 million to $275 million and projects capital expenditures of $40 million to $60 million [1] Analyst Sentiment - All 10 analysts covering QuantumScape have a "hold" or worse rating, indicating a bearish outlook [2] - Deutsche Bank has reduced its price target for the stock from $10 to $9 [1] Market Activity - Short interest in QuantumScape accounts for 13.7% of the stock's available float, equating to nearly three days of buying power [2] - The stock is currently testing support at the $8 level, marking its third consecutive loss, with a year-to-date decline of 22.9% [2] Options Trading - Call traders are actively engaging with QuantumScape stock, with 31,000 calls traded, which is double the average intraday amount, compared to 9,722 puts [3] - The most popular options contract is the weekly 2/13 8.50-strike call, with new positions being opened [3]

Core Insights - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has a market capitalization of $19.7 billion and operates in the food, beverage, health and biosciences, scent, and complementary adjacent products sectors [1] Performance Overview - Over the past 52 weeks, IFF shares have declined by 9.7%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 14.4%. However, year-to-date, IFF stock is up 14.2%, outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% return [1] - IFF has also underperformed compared to the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which rose 20.1% over the past 52 weeks and 18.2% year-to-date [2] Financial Results - In Q4, IFF reported a revenue decline of 6.6% year-over-year to $2.6 billion, although this figure exceeded analyst estimates by 3.2%. The adjusted EPS fell 14% from the previous year to $0.80, missing consensus estimates of $0.85 [2] Future Projections - For fiscal 2026, analysts project IFF's EPS to grow by 7.4% year-over-year to $4.51. The company's earnings surprise history shows mixed results, exceeding consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [3] - Among 20 analysts covering IFF, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 12 "Strong Buy," two "Moderate Buy," and six "Hold" ratings [3] Analyst Ratings - Argus Research analyst Alexandra Yates has maintained a "Buy" rating on IFF with a price target of $80. The current trading price is above the mean price target of $82.14, while the highest price target of $105 indicates a potential upside of 26.4% from current levels [5]

Core Viewpoint - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) has experienced significant stock performance fluctuations, underperforming the broader market over the past year but showing strong year-to-date growth. Group 1: Company Overview - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a chemical company based in Houston, Texas, with a market capitalization of $18.6 billion, producing essential materials for various industries including packaging, automotive, construction, medical supplies, and consumer goods [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, LYB shares have declined by 22.2%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 14.4%. However, year-to-date, LYB's stock is up 37.3%, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 1.4% [2]. - LYB has also lagged behind the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which rose by 20.1% over the past year, but has outperformed XLB's year-to-date increase of 18.2% [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In Q4, LYB reported a 9.2% year-over-year decline in sales and other operating revenues, totaling $7.1 billion. The adjusted EPS shifted from $0.77 in the same quarter last year to an adjusted loss of $0.26. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 39.3% year-over-year to $417 million due to higher costs and weaker demand [6]. - Analysts project LYB's EPS to grow by 78.2% year-over-year to $3.03 for fiscal 2026 [7]. Group 4: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 21 analysts covering LYB, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with one "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," 15 "Hold," and four "Strong Sell" ratings [7]. - RBC Capital maintained a "Sector Perform" rating on LYB and raised its price target to $51, while the mean price target is $50.47. The highest price target of $75 suggests a potential upside of 26.1% from current levels [8].

Core Viewpoint - Edison International (EIX) has shown strong performance in the electric power generation and distribution sector, with significant stock growth and better-than-expected earnings, despite a recent decline in share price [1][4]. Financial Performance - EIX reported Q3 2025 revenue of $5.8 billion, exceeding market expectations, with adjusted EPS of $2.16, also above Wall Street estimates [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts anticipate a 24.5% year-over-year increase in adjusted EPS to $6.14 [5]. Stock Performance - EIX shares have increased by 32% over the past 52 weeks and 11.7% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which returned 14.4% over the past year [2]. - The stock has also outperformed the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), which rose by 12.3% over the past year [3]. Analyst Ratings - EIX holds a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, with 16 analysts providing coverage: eight "Strong Buys," six "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6]. - J.P. Morgan analyst Aidan Kelly maintained a "Hold" rating and raised the price target from $65 to $66, with a mean price target of $65.75, indicating a potential upside of 28.2% from current levels [8].

Company Overview - Dollar Tree, Inc. is based in Chesapeake, Virginia and was founded in 1986, operating retail discount stores under the Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada brands in the U.S. and Canada. The company has a market capitalization of $24.9 billion and offers a variety of everyday consumables including food, candy, health, and personal care products [1]. Stock Performance - Dollar Tree's shares have outperformed the broader market over the past year, surging 73% over the last 52 weeks and growing 1.6% year-to-date. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index has returned 14.4% over the past year and risen 1.4% in 2026 [2]. - The stock has also outperformed the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF, which rose 9.7% over the past 52 weeks, but lagged behind its 13.8% increase this year [3]. Earnings Report - On December 3, Dollar Tree shares rose 3.6% following the release of its Q3 2025 earnings. The company's revenue declined 37.2% year-over-year to $4.8 billion, but still exceeded Wall Street estimates. Additionally, its adjusted EPS was $1.21, surpassing expectations [5]. - For the fiscal year ending January 2026, analysts expect Dollar Tree to report a 12.4% year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS to $5.73. The company has a mixed earnings surprise history, surpassing bottom-line estimates in three of the past four quarters [6]. Analyst Ratings - Dollar Tree has a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating overall, with 27 analysts covering the stock. This includes nine "Strong Buys," 14 "Holds," two "Moderate Sells," and two "Strong Sells" [6]. - Recently, Wall Street's sentiment has turned slightly bearish, with two "Strong Sell" ratings compared to one a month ago. An analyst from Evercore ISI Group maintained an "In-Line" rating and lowered the target price from $165 to $160. The mean price target of $120.48 is below current market prices, while the Street-high target of $160 suggests a potential upside of 28% from current levels [7].

Core Viewpoint - Arch Capital Group Ltd. is a global insurer with a market capitalization of $35.48 billion, specializing in insurance, reinsurance, and mortgage insurance, focusing on strong capital and client service [1]. Financial Performance - Arch Capital's stock has gained 10.1% over the past 52 weeks and is up 2.8% year-to-date (YTD), but it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.4% over the same period [2][3]. - The stock reached a 52-week high of $103.39 on February 6 but has since declined by 4.6% from that level [2]. - In the fourth quarter, the company reported a 32.3% year-over-year increase in underwriting income to $827 million, and after-tax operating income available to common shareholders grew 31.9% to $2.98 per diluted share [4]. Future Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect Arch Capital's EPS to grow 62.3% year-over-year to $2.50 for the current quarter, but a decrease of 4% annually to $9.45 is anticipated for fiscal 2026, followed by an 8.2% improvement to $10.22 in fiscal 2027 [5]. Analyst Ratings - Among 23 Wall Street analysts covering Arch Capital, the consensus rating is "Moderate Buy," with 10 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," 10 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6]. - Post Q4 results, Wells Fargo analyst Elyse Greenspan reaffirmed an "Overweight" rating and increased the price target from $106 to $109, while RBC Capital raised its price target from $108 to $115, maintaining an "Outperform" rating [8].

Company Overview - Deere & Company, headquartered in Moline, Illinois, manufactures and distributes agricultural, construction, forestry, and commercial and consumer equipment, with a market cap of $160.9 billion [1]. Stock Performance - Shares of Deere have outperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining 29.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 14.4% increase [2]. - Year-to-date, DE stock is up 31.6%, significantly surpassing the S&P 500's 1.4% rise [2]. - Compared to the First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF, which gained 26.6% over the past year, DE's returns also outshine the ETF's 17.3% gains year-to-date [3]. Financial Results - On November 26, 2025, DE shares closed down by 5.7% after reporting Q4 results, with an EPS of $3.93, which fell short of Wall Street expectations of $3.96 [5]. - The company's net sales were reported at $10.6 billion, exceeding Wall Street forecasts of $10 billion [5]. Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in October, analysts expect DE's EPS to decline by 9.1% to $16.82 on a diluted basis [6]. - The earnings surprise history for the company is mixed, having beaten consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing on one occasion [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among the 24 analysts covering DE stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 11 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and 11 "Holds" [6]. - The analyst configuration has become more bullish compared to three months ago, with 12 analysts now recommending a "Strong Buy" [7]. - Adam Seiden from Barclays PLC maintained a "Buy" rating on DE with a price target of $530, while the Street-high price target of $724 suggests an upside potential of 18.2% [7].

Core Insights - Service Corp. (SCI) reported revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1.7% [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $1.14, up from $1.06 in the same quarter last year [1] - The reported revenue was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion, resulting in a revenue surprise of -0.69% [1] - The company experienced an EPS surprise of -0.18%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.14 [1] Performance Metrics - Total comparable funeral average revenue per service was $5,880.00, slightly above the average estimate of $5,877.90 [4] - The number of funeral services performed was 89,117, which was lower than the estimated 89,910 [4] - Cemetery revenue was reported at $510.9 million, compared to the estimated $516.82 million, representing a year-over-year change of +1.1% [4] - Funeral revenue reached $600.6 million, slightly below the estimated $602.35 million, with a year-over-year increase of +2.2% [4] - Gross profit from funeral services was $126.2 million, below the average estimate of $132.55 million [4] - Gross profit from cemetery services was $185.5 million, exceeding the average estimate of $180.36 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Service Corp. have returned +4.4% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.3% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Commercial Metals Company (CMC) stock has increased by 68.8% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Steel-Producers industry's growth of 61.7% and the Basic Materials sector's rise of 47.6% [1][5] - CMC reported a significant 11% sales growth and a 142% increase in earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by strong demand in North America [5][7] Financial Performance - CMC's revenues for Q1 fiscal 2026 reached $2.12 billion, marking an 11% year-over-year growth, primarily due to robust demand in the North America Steel Group and Construction Solutions Group segments [7] - The North America Steel Group saw a $132 per ton increase in steel products metal margin, achieving the highest margin level in three years [8] - The Construction Solutions Group's adjusted EBITDA margin reached a record 20%, up from 13.4% in the prior-year quarter, supported by solid demand and improved cost efficiency [9] Market Conditions - Despite strong performance in North America, the Europe Steel Group faced challenges, with adjusted EBITDA margin dropping from 12.3% in Q1 fiscal 2025 to 4.4% in Q1 fiscal 2026 due to soft market conditions and import flows affecting pricing [10] - CMC's recent acquisitions of Concrete Pipe and Precast, LLC and Foley Products Company are expected to enhance results in Q2 fiscal 2026, countering seasonal slowdowns [11] Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMC's fiscal 2026 sales is projected at $8.89 billion, indicating a 13.9% year-over-year increase, while EPS is expected to rise by 134.5% to $7.34 [14] - CMC anticipates operational synergies of $25-$30 million from recent acquisitions by year three and expects an annualized EBITDA benefit of $150 million from its Transform, Advance, Grow Program [17] Valuation - CMC is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 1.01, which is lower than the industry's ratio of 1.81, indicating an attractive valuation [19] - Peer comparison shows Cleveland-Cliffs at a lower ratio of 0.29, while Nucor is at a higher ratio of 1.25 [21] Investment Position - CMC has shown strong stock performance and improved fiscal results, positioning itself well for long-term growth despite challenges in Europe [23] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting that existing shareholders should remain invested to benefit from growth prospects [23]

Core Insights - Phillips 66 (PSX) is an energy manufacturing and logistics company with a market cap of $63.5 billion, involved in oil refining, marketing, transportation, chemical manufacturing, and power generation [1] Performance Summary - PSX shares have outperformed the broader market, gaining 27.2% over the past year compared to the S&P 500 Index's 14.4% increase [2] - Year-to-date (YTD) performance shows PSX stock up 21.9%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% rise [2] - However, PSX has underperformed compared to the VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK), which has gained 52.7% over the past year, although PSX's YTD returns of 21.9% exceed CRAK's 17.5% [3] Financial Performance - On February 4, PSX reported Q4 results with an adjusted EPS of $2.47, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $2.11 [6] - Analysts project PSX's EPS to grow by 75% to $11.27 for the current fiscal year ending in December [6] - PSX has a mixed earnings surprise history, beating consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [6] Analyst Ratings - Among 21 analysts covering PSX, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of eight "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," 11 "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [7] - The analyst sentiment has become less bullish compared to the previous month, with nine analysts previously suggesting a "Strong Buy" [8] - Citigroup Inc. maintains a "Neutral" rating on PSX, raising the price target to $159, indicating a potential upside of 1.1% from current levels [8] - The mean price target for PSX is $154.38, while the highest target of $177 suggests a potential upside of 12.5% [8]