Core Insights - The Retail sector is showing strong earnings growth in Q3, with S&P 500 retailers reporting an 18.5% increase in earnings and an 8.4% rise in revenues compared to the previous year [4][6] - The overall S&P 500 index is also performing well, with total earnings up 14.0% and revenues up 7.9% [6] - The Retail sector's performance is characterized by a solid top-line growth and a significant percentage of companies beating earnings and revenue estimates [8] Retail Sector Performance - For the S&P 500 index, 76.7% of retailers have reported Q3 results, with 69.6% beating EPS estimates and 82.6% beating revenue estimates [4][6] - In the S&P 600 index, 69.7% of retailers reported earnings up 17.9% and revenues up 6.1%, with 60.9% beating EPS estimates and 69.6% beating revenue estimates [9] Historical Context - The growth rates for the Retail sector's Q3 earnings and revenues are being compared to historical data, showing a positive trend [5][10] - Amazon's contribution to the Retail sector's growth is notable, with its Q3 earnings up 29.3% and revenues up 11.9%, largely driven by its cloud computing business [7] Future Outlook - Total S&P 500 earnings for Q3 are expected to increase by 14.8% with an 8.1% rise in revenues when combining reported results with estimates for upcoming reports [14] - Recent trends indicate a slight decline in Q4 estimates, contrasting with earlier positive revisions during the Q3 reporting cycle [19]

Core Insights - Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) has a market capitalization of $26.1 billion and provides broadband connectivity and cable services to both residential and commercial customers [1] Performance Overview - CHTR shares have significantly underperformed the broader market, declining 47.9% over the past year, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by nearly 12.3% [2] - In 2025, CHTR's stock fell 41.5%, contrasting with the S&P 500's 12.5% rise year-to-date [2] Comparative Analysis - Compared to the iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ), which gained about 19.3% over the past year, CHTR's underperformance is more pronounced [3] - The ETF's 19.6% returns year-to-date further highlight CHTR's losses during the same period [3] Customer Metrics - CHTR experienced a loss of 109,000 internet customers, primarily due to fierce competition from fixed wireless and fiber providers [4] - Despite adding 500,000 mobile lines and improving video customer retention, the company struggled with new customer acquisitions and faced a challenging advertising environment [4] Financial Results - On October 31, CHTR reported Q3 results, with shares closing down 5% in the subsequent trading session [5] - The company's EPS was $8.34, falling short of Wall Street expectations of $9.32, and revenue was $13.67 billion, missing forecasts of $13.74 billion [5] Future Projections - Analysts expect CHTR's EPS to grow 5% to $36.73 for the current fiscal year ending in December [6] - The company's earnings surprise history has been disappointing, missing consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [6] Analyst Ratings - Among 25 analysts covering CHTR, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of nine "Strong Buy" ratings, 12 "Holds," and four "Strong Sells" [6] - The overall rating has shifted to "Moderate Buy," with 12 analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy" [7]

Core Insights - Medtronic plc (MDT) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.36, a 7.9% increase year-over-year, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.82% [1] - The company's worldwide revenues for the quarter reached $8.96 billion, reflecting a 6.6% year-over-year increase and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.11% [2] Revenue Breakdown - MDT's revenues are categorized into four segments: Cardiovascular, Medical Surgical, Neuroscience, and Diabetes [3] - Cardiovascular revenues grew 9.3% organically to $3.44 billion, with Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure sales increasing 14.3% year-over-year to $1.83 billion [4][5] - Medical Surgical sales totaled $2.17 billion, up 1.3% year-over-year, with Surgical & Endoscopy revenues at $1.68 billion, a 1.1% increase [5] - Neuroscience revenues reached $2.56 billion, a 3.9% year-over-year increase, with Neuromodulation revenues growing 7.3% to $520 million [6] - Diabetes segment revenues rose 7.1% organically to $757 million [6] Margin Performance - The gross margin expanded by 90 basis points to 65.8%, despite a 3.9% increase in the cost of products sold [7] - Research and development expenses increased by 8.2% year-over-year to $754 million, while selling, general, and administrative expenses rose 7.5% to $2.97 billion [7] - The adjusted operating margin improved by 50 basis points year-over-year to 24.3% [7] Fiscal 2026 Outlook - Medtronic raised its fiscal 2026 organic revenue growth projection to 5.5% from approximately 5% [10] - The company expects full-year adjusted EPS in the range of $5.62-$5.66, up from the previous range of $5.60-$5.66 [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 worldwide revenues is $35.83 billion [10] Strategic Developments - The quarter marked the strongest Cardiovascular revenue growth in over a decade, excluding the pandemic [11] - Medtronic received FDA approval for the Altaviva device and the MiniMed 780G system, enhancing its product offerings [11] - The company anticipates further revenue growth acceleration driven by several enterprise growth drivers, including new therapies and technologies [12]

Core Insights - Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) is valued at a market cap of $27.6 billion and is one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the U.S., offering a variety of insurance products and services across four main segments [1] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Brown & Brown reported $1.6 billion in revenue, a 35.4% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by acquisitions [4] - Commissions and fees rose 34.2% to approximately $1.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDAC increased 41.8% to $587 million, resulting in a margin of 36.6% [4] - However, income before taxes decreased by 1.9% to $311 million, net income fell 3% to $227 million, and diluted EPS dropped to $0.68, a decline of roughly 16% [5] - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts project a 10.7% year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS to $4.25 [5] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, BRO shares have decreased by 26.7%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which has increased by 13.7% [2] - Year-to-date, BRO shares are down 20.9%, compared to a 13.4% gain in the S&P 500 [2] - The stock has also underperformed the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLF) return of 3.2% over the past 52 weeks [3] Analyst Ratings - Among 18 analysts covering BRO, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of three "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," 13 "Holds," and one "Moderate Sell" [6]

Key Takeaways SR's fiscal 2026 EPS estimate implies y/y growth of 14.64%, with revenues expected to grow 1.85% y/y.The company plans $11.2B in 10-year capital investments to support 5-7% long-term EPS growth.SR has a stronger debt profile than its sector, supported by a 2.6 times interest earned ratio coverage.Spire, Inc. (SR) is focused on strategic investments to enhance operational reliability and better serve its customers. The company is leveraging new technologies to advance its operations, improve se ...

Core Viewpoint - Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) is facing challenges in stock performance despite strong earnings, with significant underperformance compared to broader market indices [2][4]. Company Overview - Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a market capitalization of $63.3 billion and provides public safety and enterprise security technologies, including advanced communications systems, video security, and command-center software [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, MSI shares have decreased by 23%, while the S&P 500 Index has gained 13.2% [2]. - Year-to-date, MSI shares have declined by 17.8%, compared to a 14.5% rise in the S&P 500 [2]. - MSI has also underperformed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 22.9% over the same period [3]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, MSI reported adjusted EPS of $4.06 and revenue of $3.01 billion, which were stronger than expected; however, shares fell by 5.9% the following day [4]. - Analysts project an 8.6% year-over-year growth in EPS for the fiscal year ending December 2025, reaching $13.82 [5]. - MSI has a positive earnings surprise history, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - The consensus rating among 13 analysts covering MSI is a "Moderate Buy," with six "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," and six "Holds" [5]. - Barclays analyst Tim Long has cut the price target on MSI to $495 while maintaining an "Overweight" rating, with a mean price target of $502 indicating a 32.1% premium to current levels [6]. - The highest price target of $525 suggests a potential upside of 38.2% [6].

Core Viewpoint - Earnings growth and a supportive Federal Reserve are expected to bolster market multiples, indicating a positive outlook for equity markets in the near term [1] Group 1: Earnings Growth - The anticipated earnings growth is projected to be driven by strong consumer spending and corporate profitability [1] - Analysts expect a significant increase in earnings per share (EPS) across various sectors, contributing to overall market performance [1] Group 2: Federal Reserve Policy - The Federal Reserve's accommodative monetary policy is likely to maintain low interest rates, which supports higher valuations in the equity markets [1] - Continued liquidity in the market is expected to encourage investment and drive up stock prices [1] Group 3: Market Multiples - Market multiples are anticipated to expand as a result of the combination of earnings growth and favorable monetary conditions [1] - The current market environment suggests that investors may be willing to pay higher multiples for stocks, reflecting optimism about future growth [1]

Goldman Sachs has quietly dropped a rare stock market forecast, which stretches all the way to 2035, while delivering a twist most U.S. investors won’t love. Following a decade that has been defined by tech-fueled gains along with expanding valuations, Goldman feels the next decade will look remarkably different. The bank forecasts just a 6.5% annual return for the S&P 500, a stark contrast from the typical double-digit run to which most investors have become accustomed. Earnings, and not multiple expan ...

Core Insights - Entergy Corporation (ETR) is an integrated energy company with a market cap of $43.3 billion, serving approximately 3 million customers across multiple states [1] - The company has shown strong stock performance, with ETR shares increasing 29.4% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 14.5% gain [2] - Entergy's third-quarter earnings report indicated adjusted earnings of $1.53 per share, a slight increase from $1.50 a year earlier, with net income rising to $694 million from $645 million [4] Financial Performance - The utility segment has been the primary earnings driver, benefiting from higher retail sales and favorable regulatory outcomes [4] - Analysts project ETR's EPS to grow 6.9% year-over-year to $3.90 for the fiscal year ending in December 2025 [5] - Entergy has a strong earnings surprise history, beating consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 21 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 14 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and six "Holds" [5] - J.P. Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet reiterated a "Buy" rating on Entergy with a price target of $113, indicating a potential upside of 20.2% from the Street-high price target of $116 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is a leading medical technology firm with a market cap of $54.2 billion, facing stock underperformance compared to broader market indices despite reporting strong revenue growth and positive earnings guidance for fiscal 2026 [1][2][4]. Company Overview - BDX develops, manufactures, and sells a wide range of medical devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products, operating through three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, BDX stock has decreased by 16.9%, while the S&P 500 Index has gained 14.5%. Year-to-date, BDX shares have declined by 15.3%, compared to a 16.5% rise in the S&P 500 [2][3]. Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, BDX reported revenue of $5.9 billion, an 8.3% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand in its medical and interventional segments. Adjusted EPS was $3.96, up from $3.81 a year earlier, slightly exceeding expectations [4]. Future Guidance - BDX has guided for fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS between $14.75 and $15.05, with analysts expecting a 3% year-over-year growth to $14.83 [4][5]. Analyst Ratings - Among 16 analysts covering BDX, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with six "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and nine "Holds." The company has a promising earnings surprise history, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5]. Price Target - Piper Sandler analyst Jason Bednar reiterated a "Hold" rating on BDX and maintained a price target of $200 on the stock [6].