Core Insights - Average salary increase budgets for US companies in 2026 are expected to remain stable at 3.5%, matching the actual increases of 2025 [1] - Organizations are becoming more strategic in their pay allocation and investment focus, aiming to align with broader business goals despite economic uncertainty [3] Salary Budget Changes - Three out of five organizations experienced changes in their salary budgets during the last pay cycle, with 53% reporting no difference between anticipated and actual budgets for 2025 [2] - Among organizations projecting lower salary increases, 51% cited anticipated recession or weaker financial results, while 45% mentioned cost management concerns [2] - Tight labor markets (59%) and inflationary pressures (30%) were the main reasons for those projecting higher salary budgets [2] Employee Retention and Stability - Employee stability has improved, with less than one-third (30%) of organizations reporting challenges in attracting or retaining employees, a decrease of 11 percentage points since 2023 [4] - Organizations are taking actions to enhance employee experience, health and wellness benefits, and training opportunities in response to low turnover and concerns about burnout [5] Compensation Adjustments - Employers are adjusting compensation programs to address competitive labor markets and inflation, with 50% conducting a compensation review of all employees and 48% reviewing specific employee groups [6] - Over 40% of organizations have enhanced their use of retention bonuses or spot awards, and 37% have targeted base salary increases for specific employee groups [6] Payroll Expenses - The average annual payroll expense has increased by nearly 4% (3.6%), with 70% of organizations reporting higher total annual payroll expenses compared to the previous year [7] Strategic Investments - Employers are making investments beyond pay raises, focusing on career development, wellbeing, flexibility, and equity to enhance performance, retention, and resilience in a changing market [8] Survey Details - The Salary Budget Planning Report was compiled by WTW's Rewards Data Intelligence practice, with approximately 29,128 responses from companies across 157 countries, including 1,569 from the U.S. [9]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Manufacturing-Tools & Related Products industry includes companies that develop and distribute various tools and technology solutions, serving multiple sectors such as industrial, commercial, oil & gas, and automotive [3] - The industry is currently facing challenges due to a slowdown in the manufacturing sector, with the Manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index at 49% in June, indicating contraction [4] - The New Orders Index has also been in contraction for five consecutive months, registering 46.4% in June [4] Current Challenges - The industry is experiencing input cost inflation and supply-chain issues, which are negatively impacting profitability and margins [5] - The Supplier Deliveries Index indicates slower deliveries for the seventh consecutive month, further complicating the operational landscape [5] - A shortage of skilled labor in the United States is also a significant challenge for the industry [1] Strategic Responses - Companies in the industry are focusing on cost-control measures and investments in product development to remain competitive [2] - Initiatives include streamlining operational structures, optimizing supply networks, and implementing effective pricing policies to manage costs [5] - Continuous innovation and product upgrades are seen as essential for long-term growth, although they may lead to highly leveraged balance sheets [6] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Manufacturing-Tools & Related Products industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 163, placing it in the bottom 34% of 246 Zacks industries, indicating weak prospects [7][8] - The industry's earnings estimates for 2025 have decreased by 7.3% over the past year, reflecting analysts' diminishing confidence in earnings growth potential [9] - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed compared to the sector and the S&P 500, growing only 7.7% versus 14.8% and 12.4% respectively [11] Valuation Insights - The industry is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 17.92X, which is below the S&P 500's 22.75X and the sector's 20.09X [14] - Historical trading ranges for the industry have been between 11.65X and 22.13X over the past five years, with a median of 18.55X [14] Notable Companies - **Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK)**: Focused on tools and engineered fastening systems, the company has shown solid momentum in its Tools & Outdoor segment, particularly in its DEWALT business. It has reported better-than-expected results in the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 18.4% [19][20] - **Core & Main, Inc. (CNM)**: Provides water and fire protection products, benefiting from increased demand and recent acquisitions. Its fiscal 2026 earnings estimates have been revised upward by 1.2% in the past 60 days [23][24] - **Kennametal Inc. (KMT)**: Specializes in high-speed metal cutting tools and has seen improved supply chain conditions and increased OEM build rates in aerospace markets. The company has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 27% [26][27]

Core Viewpoint - Greenbrier has demonstrated strong cost management, exceeding earnings expectations and raising profitability guidance for the year, resulting in a 20% increase in share price [1][4]. Group 1: Company Performance - Greenbrier reported earnings of $1.86 per share on revenue of $842.7 million, significantly surpassing Wall Street's consensus estimate of $0.98 per share on revenue of $795 million [4]. - Revenue increased by 2.7% year over year, attributed to operational efficiencies and gains from its leasing portfolio [4]. - The company has raised its full-year guidance for gross margin and operating margin, anticipating approximately $10 million in annual savings from optimizing its European network [6]. Group 2: Industry Context - The rail industry is currently facing a challenging operating environment, with volumes declining due to economic uncertainty and tariffs, leading to reduced capital expenditures [3]. - Despite the tough conditions, Greenbrier's performance suggests that investor sentiment may have overreacted prior to the earnings report [7]. - The cyclical nature of the business indicates that significant acceleration in performance may depend on a recovery in demand for rail services [7].

Core Insights - Sezzle (SEZL) has shown consistent margin expansion, with operating margin increasing from 29.4% in Q1 2024 to 47.6% in the latest quarter, indicating a focus on sustainable profitability [1][8] - The decline in operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues from 68.6% in Q4 2024 to 52.4% in Q1 2025 highlights improved operational efficiency, aided by the partnership with WebBank [2][8] - Non-transaction-related operating expenses also decreased significantly, from 34.5% in Q1 2024 to 25.6% in Q1 2025, showcasing effective cost management [3] Financial Performance - Gross merchandise volume growth and increased user engagement, with purchase frequency rising from 4.5 to 6.1 times, have contributed to a higher net income margin, which stood at 34.5% in the latest quarter, up 870 basis points from the previous quarter [4] - Management has raised the revenue growth outlook for 2025 to 60-65% and net income expectations to $120 million, reflecting a positive trajectory [5][8] Market Position - SEZL's stock has surged 260.8% over the past six months, outperforming competitors like Global Blue Group (declined 2.2%) and Mastercard (gained 8.6%), while the industry overall gained 5.3% [6][8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for SEZL is 44.61, which is higher than Global Blue Group's 17.5 and Mastercard's 32.6, indicating a premium valuation compared to peers [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SEZL's earnings for 2025 is $3.26 per share, representing a 77.2% increase from the previous year [13]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is focused on enhancing business efficiency and resilience, having reduced structural costs by $12.7 billion since 2019, resulting in annual savings of approximately $2.5 billion [1][8]. Cost Management and Profitability - XOM aims to reduce its breakeven costs to $35 per barrel by 2027 and $30 per barrel by 2030, ensuring profitability in its upstream operations even during potential oil price declines [2][3]. - The company is committed to maintaining its investment program while lowering breakeven costs, which will support long-term shareholder value [3]. Industry Comparisons - Other upstream firms like Chevron (CVX) and EOG Resources (EOG) also benefit from low breakeven costs, particularly in the Permian basin, where breakeven prices are below $40 per barrel [4]. - Chevron plans to increase its development activities in the Delaware basin to 85% in 2024, focusing on low breakeven-cost operations [5]. - EOG has indicated it can manage its planned spending even if oil prices remain in the low $50 range, highlighting its financial resilience [6]. Valuation Metrics - XOM shares have seen a 1% decline over the past year, compared to a 2.8% decline in the industry composite [7]. - The company trades at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 6.77X, which is above the industry average of 4.14X [8][10].

Core Insights - Bath & Body Works (BBWI) reported a strong start to fiscal 2025, with gross profit reaching $646 million, a 6.6% year-over-year increase, and a gross margin of 45.4%, improving by 160 basis points compared to the previous year [1][11]. Financial Performance - The improvement in gross margin was primarily driven by a 100-basis-point rise in merchandise margin, attributed to low single-digit increases in mix-adjusted average unit retail (AUR), reflecting a stronger product mix and value engineering enhancements [2][11]. - Operating income for the first quarter reached $209 million, an 11.8% increase from the prior year, with the operating margin expanding by 120 basis points to 14.7% [5][11]. Operational Changes - The company strategically exited a third-party fulfillment center to streamline operations and reduce costs, expecting continued financial and customer service benefits [4]. - A re-evaluation of store assets' useful life led to reduced depreciation expenses, contributing to margin improvement [4]. Cost Management - Bath & Body Works faced external cost pressures from tariffs, with approximately 10% of its global spend exposed to China. However, the company effectively mitigated these impacts through an agile, predominantly U.S.-based supply chain and proactive cost management strategies [8]. - For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the company anticipates a gross margin of approximately 41%, flat compared to the prior year, factoring in ongoing tariff impacts and licensing expenses from collaborations [9]. Valuation - BBWI is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.76, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.64 and the sector average of 1.58, indicating a favorable valuation position [12].

Core Insights - 3M Company (MMM) is undergoing significant structural reorganization to reduce corporate size, streamline operations, and optimize manufacturing roles, which includes job cuts and spinning off its healthcare business in 2024 [1][7] - The company has seen a reduction in operating expenses and an improvement in margins and cash flow, with total operating expenses decreasing by 3.3% in Q1 2025 after a 44% decline in 2024 [1][7] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, 3M's adjusted operating margin increased by 220 basis points year over year to 23.5%, driven by strong organic volume and productivity [2] - The company expects adjusted earnings for 2025 to be between $7.60 and $7.90 per share, reflecting an increase from $7.30 per share in 2024, with organic revenue growth projected at 2-3% [2][7] Peer Comparison - Griffon Corporation (GFF) reported an increase in adjusted gross margin from 40.4% to 41.2% in Q1, benefiting from cost-management and operational efficiency [3] - Honeywell International Inc. (HON) experienced a contraction in operating margin by 30 basis points to 20.1% in Q1, with increased costs adversely affecting margins [4] Stock Performance - 3M's shares have gained 14.8% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 0.6% [5] - The company is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.72X, above the industry average of 16.87X and its five-year median of 15.98X [8] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 3M's earnings for Q2 2025 and the full year 2025 has declined by 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively, over the past 60 days [9]

Core Insights - THOR Industries reported strong financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with net sales of $2.89 billion, a 3.3% increase from the previous year, driven by effective execution of strategic initiatives and improved margins [4][6][5] Financial Performance - Consolidated net sales for the third quarter were $2,894,816, compared to $2,801,113 in the same quarter of fiscal 2024, reflecting a 3.3% increase [6] - Gross profit for the third quarter was $443,119, up 5.0% from $421,852 in the prior year, with a gross profit margin of 15.3%, an increase of 20 basis points [8][6] - Net income attributable to THOR was $135,185, an 18.1% increase from $114,511 in the previous year, with diluted earnings per share rising to $2.53 from $2.13 [8][6] - Cash flows from operations reached $257,667, a 2.4% increase from $251,732 in the prior year, contributing to a year-to-date total of $319,249, a 53.8% increase [6][19] Segment Performance - North American Towable RVs segment net sales increased by 9.1% to $1,168,878, driven by a 5.5% increase in unit shipments and a 3.6% rise in net price per unit [10][12] - North American Motorized RVs segment net sales rose by 3.1% to $666,686, with unit shipments increasing by 10.9% [11][15] - European RVs segment net sales decreased by 5.1% to $883,542, impacted by a 12.2% decline in unit shipments [14][16] Strategic Initiatives - The company is undergoing strategic organizational restructuring to align with current market conditions, aiming to achieve additional operating efficiencies [7][18] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with independent dealers to ensure rational inventory levels [17][22] Guidance and Outlook - THOR reaffirmed its revised full-year fiscal 2025 financial guidance, projecting consolidated net sales between $9.0 billion and $9.5 billion, with a gross profit margin of 13.8% to 14.5% and diluted earnings per share in the range of $3.30 to $4.00 [7][28][23] - The company anticipates challenging market conditions in the upcoming quarters but remains confident in its strategies to navigate through economic uncertainties [21][22]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment industry involves the design, manufacture, and distribution of automotive equipment components essential for vehicle production, including drive axles, engine parts, and brakes [2] - Demand for original equipment is closely tied to vehicle sales, which depend on economic growth and consumer confidence [2] - Globalization is creating new opportunities for auto-equipment manufacturers, necessitating adaptation through research and development [2] Key Themes Defining the Industry's Fate - U.S. auto sales are projected to decline, with May 2025 sales estimated at 1.47 million units, leading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.7 million, down from 17.6 million in March and April [3] - The shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles is reshaping the industry, requiring component suppliers to innovate in areas like batteries and sensors [4] - Rising costs associated with R&D and production are critical challenges, necessitating effective cost management to protect margins [5] Current Industry Performance - The Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment industry ranks 146, placing it in the bottom 40% of approximately 250 Zacks industries, indicating weak near-term prospects [6][7] - The industry's earnings estimates have declined by 9% year-to-date, reflecting a negative outlook for earnings growth [8] - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed the broader Auto sector and the S&P 500, losing 10% compared to the sector's 15% and the S&P 500's 12% growth [9] Current Valuation - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA ratio of 18.43X, higher than the S&P 500's 16.65X but lower than the sector's 21.93X [12] - Historically, the industry has traded between 5.89X and 23.79X over the past five years, with a median of 13.50X [13] Stocks to Watch - **Strattec Security**: A key supplier of automotive access and security solutions, with strong demand and cost-cutting measures expected to save $5 million annually [17][18] - **Luminar Technologies**: Focused on LiDAR sensors for self-driving cars, with a new platform expected to launch in late 2026 or early 2027, and strong financial positioning with $400 million in liquidity [22][23] - **Allison Transmission**: Specializes in automatic transmissions for commercial trucks, benefiting from rising defense spending and strong demand in North America, with a recent 8% dividend increase [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Trio Petroleum Corp has successfully acquired additional petroleum and natural gas properties from Novacor Exploration Ltd, positioning the company for growth in the heavy oil sector of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, which is recognized for its potential in long-term production and reserve growth [1][2]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition includes the remaining Novacor TWP47 assets located in the South-West quarter of Section 19, Township 47, Range 26W3M, and the Northeast Section 3, Township 48, Range 24W3M, both in the Lloydminster area [2]. - The total purchase price for the acquisition was US$650,000 in cash and 526,536 shares of common stock, with an initial good faith deposit of $65,000 [6]. Production and Operational Insights - There are currently seven producing wells on the acquired properties, with production from Section 19 subject to Freehold Royalties of 13.5% and a GORR of 2%, while Section 3 has Freehold Royalties of 15% [2]. - Novacor, as the operator, has the capability to rapidly double production, and the area is home to major industry players, indicating a competitive environment for heavy oil production [2]. Cost Management and Efficiency - Novacor's current lift cost is CDN $10.00 per barrel, which is considered competitive and is expected to help maintain profitability even in lower oil price environments [4]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to cost management and efficient production techniques, which are believed to provide a significant advantage in navigating market fluctuations [4]. Strategic Growth Plans - Trio plans to aggressively expand its footprint in the area, leveraging Novacor's operational efficiencies, and aims to deliver consistent value to shareholders through disciplined operations and cost management [5]. - The immediate plan includes initiating a workover program to increase production on the newly acquired assets, with expectations of reflecting benefits in the upcoming quarters [5].