Core Viewpoint - G-III Apparel Group Ltd reported better-than-expected third-quarter adjusted EPS results and raised its FY26 adjusted EPS guidance despite facing challenges in the consumer environment and tariff-related margin pressures [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.90, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $1.61 [1]. - Quarterly sales amounted to $988.649 million, which is a 9% decrease year over year and fell short of the expected $1.012 billion [1]. Guidance Update - G-III Apparel raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance from a range of $2.55-$2.75 to $2.80-$2.90, compared to the previous estimate of $2.68 [4]. - The company lowered its fiscal 2026 sales guidance from $3.020 billion to $2.980 billion, aligning with the previous estimate of $3.020 billion [4]. Market Reaction - Following the earnings announcement, G-III Apparel shares increased by 1.8%, trading at $31.36 [4]. - Analysts adjusted their price targets for G-III Apparel, with Telsey Advisory Group raising it from $30 to $34, Keybanc from $33 to $35, and UBS from $28 to $32 [5]. Tariff Impact - The company anticipates tariffs to have a gross impact of approximately $135 million, which will be partially offset by supplier support, sourcing changes, and selective price increases, resulting in a net unmitigated impact of about $65 million factored into the guidance [3].

Core Insights - Kohl's Corporation reported better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with adjusted earnings per share of 10 cents, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of a loss of 20 cents [1] - Quarterly revenue reached $3.41 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2.8% and exceeding the Street's estimate of $3.32 billion, although comparable sales declined by 1.7% [1] Financial Performance - The company raised its fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $1.25–$1.45, up from the previous guidance of 50–80 cents, compared to the consensus estimate of 71 cents [2] - Kohl's expects net sales to decline between 3.5% and 4% for the fiscal year [2] Leadership Changes - The Board of Kohl's unanimously named Michael J. Bender as CEO, effective November 23, 2025, after serving as interim CEO since May 1, 2025 [2] Stock Performance - Following the earnings announcement, Kohl's shares increased by 42.5%, closing at $22.42 [3] - Analysts adjusted their price targets for Kohl's, with Evercore ISI Group raising it from $13 to $21 and Telsey Advisory Group increasing it from $16 to $23 [5]

Core Insights - Medtronic (MDT.US) shares rose 4% in pre-market trading, reaching $100.14 [1] - For Q2 of fiscal year 2026, Medtronic reported a non-GAAP EPS of $1.36, up from $1.26 a year ago, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.31 [1] - The quarterly net sales for the period ending October 24 were $8.96 billion, compared to $8.4 billion in the same quarter last year, surpassing the expected $8.87 billion [1] - Medtronic raised its fiscal year 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance to a range of $5.62 to $5.66, up from the previous guidance of $5.60 to $5.66, aligning with analyst expectations of $5.62 [1] - The new earnings guidance includes an estimated impact of approximately $185 million from potential tariffs [1] - The revenue growth forecast for fiscal year 2026 was increased from 5% to 5.5% [1]

Core Insights - Spire Inc. reported a fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 loss of 47 cents per share, which was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 46 cents, and compared to a loss of 54 cents in the same quarter last year [1] - The company achieved fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.44 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.5% from $4.13 in fiscal 2024 [1] Revenue Performance - Total revenues for the reported quarter were $334.1 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $308 million by 8.5%, and rose 13.7% from $293.8 million in the year-ago quarter [2] - For fiscal 2025, total revenues amounted to $2.48 billion, down 4.5% from $2.59 billion in fiscal 2024 [2] Expense and Operating Performance - Operating expenses totaled $334.6 million, an increase of 22.1% from $274 million in the prior-year period [3] - The operating loss was $0.5 million, contrasting with an operating income of $19.8 million in the prior-year quarter [3] - Net interest expenses rose 18.8% year over year to $58.8 million [3] Segment Performance - Gas Utility segment reported an adjusted earnings loss of $31.6 million, an improvement from a loss of $32 million in the year-ago period, attributed to higher Spire Missouri ISRS revenues [4] - Gas Marketing segment's adjusted earnings were $3.6 million, recovering from a loss of $0.3 million in the year-ago quarter due to better positioning to create value [4] - Midstream segment's adjusted earnings totaled $12.3 million, down 8.2% from the previous year due to lower pipeline earnings and increased operation and maintenance expenses [5] - Other segment reported an adjusted loss of $8.4 million, slightly improved from a loss of $8.7 million in the prior-year quarter [5] Financial Highlights - Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2025, were $5.7 million, up from $4.5 million as of September 30, 2024 [6] - Long-term debt (less current portion) as of September 30, 2025, totaled $3.37 billion, down from $3.70 billion as of September 30, 2024 [6] - Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2025 was $578 million, compared to $912.4 million in the year-ago period [6] Guidance and Future Outlook - Spire expects fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $5.25-$5.45 per share, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.09 [8] - For fiscal 2027, adjusted earnings are expected to be in the range of $5.65-$5.85 per share [8] - The company raised its 10-year capital investment plan to $11.2 billion through fiscal 2035, aiming for long-term adjusted earnings per share growth of 5-7% [8] Zacks Rank - Spire currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [9]

Core Viewpoint - eBay experienced a significant decline of nearly 14%, marking its largest drop in over twenty years, closing at $86.76 despite reporting better-than-expected third-quarter results [1] Financial Performance - The company reported a 9% year-over-year increase in sales, reaching $2.82 billion, surpassing market expectations of $2.73 billion [1] - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.36, slightly above the market forecast of $1.33 [1] - Total merchandise volume for the period was $201 billion, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth [1] Future Guidance - For the fourth quarter, eBay's sales guidance median is set at $2.86 billion, which is slightly above the market expectation of $2.8 billion [1] - The projected earnings per share range is between $1.31 and $1.36, which is below the anticipated $1.38 [1]

Core Insights - Avnet, Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter results for fiscal 2026, with earnings of 84 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.7%, although this represented an 8.7% decline year-over-year [1][9] - Net sales increased by 5.3% year-over-year to $5.9 billion, surpassing the consensus mark by 3.5%, driven by strong performance across operating segments [1][9] Financial Performance - The Electronic Components segment's revenues rose 4.6% year-over-year and 5.1% sequentially to $5.5 billion, exceeding estimates of $5.34 billion [3] - Farnell sales surged 14.9% year-over-year and 3.2% sequentially to $398.9 million, outperforming the estimate of $360.4 million [3] - Adjusted operating income was $150.7 million, down 10.8% year-over-year, with the Electronic Components segment's income declining 19.5% to $159 million, while Farnell's income increased ninefold to $17.1 million [4] Regional Sales Performance - Year-over-year sales increased 9.9% in Asia to $2.86 billion and 3% in the Americas to $1.37 billion, while EMEA sales slightly declined by 0.1% to $1.67 billion [4] Operating Margins - Avnet's adjusted operating margin decreased by 46 basis points to 2.6% from the previous year, with the Electronic Components segment's margin contracting by 86 basis points to 2.9%, while Farnell's margin improved by 375 basis points to 4.3% [5] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of September 27, 2025, Avnet had cash and cash equivalents of $175.5 million, down from $192.4 million as of June 28, 2025, with long-term debt at $2.79 billion [6] - The company utilized $144.6 million in cash for operational activities during the quarter and repurchased approximately $138.3 million in shares while paying $28.5 million in dividends [6] Q2 Guidance - For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Avnet expects revenues between $5.85 billion and $6.15 billion, with a midpoint of $6 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 1.8% [7] - Non-GAAP earnings are anticipated to be between 90 cents and $1 per share, while the consensus estimate is $1.01, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 16.1% [7]

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) shares fell over 9% to $91.9 following the release of its second-quarter earnings report, which revealed challenges in navigating market volatility and led the company to withhold profit guidance [2]. Financial Performance - UPS reported second-quarter revenue of $21.2 billion, a year-over-year decline of 2.8%, although it exceeded market expectations [2]. - The non-GAAP earnings per share were $1.55, which was below the market expectation of $1.57 [2].

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) shares declined over 9% following the release of its second-quarter earnings report, which revealed challenges in navigating market volatility and led the company to withhold profit guidance [1] Financial Performance - UPS reported second-quarter revenue of $21.2 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 2.8%, but exceeded market expectations [1] - The non-GAAP earnings per share were $1.55, which fell short of the market expectation of $1.57 [1]

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) shares have declined by 20% in the first half of 2025 due to concerns over the company's ability to meet its earnings guidance amid ongoing trade tariff disputes affecting delivery volumes [1] Financial Guidance - Management initially forecasted $89 billion in revenue and an operating margin of 10.8%, implying an operating profit of $9.61 billion [3] - Expected free cash flow (FCF) was projected at $5.7 billion, intended to support $5.5 billion in dividend payments and $1 billion in share buybacks [3] - The first-quarter earnings report did not update the full-year guidance due to weaker-than-expected delivery volumes, creating uncertainty [4] Dividend and Buyback Implications - The pressure on earnings guidance affects FCF guidance, which in turn impacts dividend payouts and buyback plans [4] - The initially planned FCF of $5.7 billion would not cover the dividend and buybacks on its own [4] Dividend Strategy Discussion - Cutting the dividend could be beneficial as it allows the company to reinvest in growth opportunities rather than returning cash to investors [6] - Many investors hold UPS stock for its dividend yield of 6.5%, but management's focus should be on generating higher returns through strategic investments [6] Growth Opportunities - Management has identified growth investment opportunities in healthcare and small and medium-sized businesses, where UPS has already seen success [7][8] Future Outlook - Investors are awaiting the second-quarter earnings results in late July for updates on guidance as management navigates near-term challenges while positioning for long-term growth [10]

Core Viewpoint - The book "Finding Champion Stocks: How to Discover Hidden Gems" by Martin Friedson challenges traditional investment metrics and emphasizes the need for a new perspective to identify high-performing stocks, particularly through the analysis of the S&P 500 index [5][6]. Group 1: Traditional Metrics and Their Limitations - Traditional metrics such as price-to-earnings ratio, earnings per share, and stock ratings are often manipulated and may not effectively identify champion stocks [6][7]. - Earnings per share (EPS) is heavily influenced by Wall Street analysts, who may benefit from predicting EPS rather than identifying true champion stocks [6][8]. - Companies can artificially inflate EPS by manipulating revenue recognition and managing impairment timing, which does not contribute to shareholder value [7][8]. Group 2: Characteristics of Champion Stocks - Champion stocks often exhibit strong free cash flow, which is considered the true source of stock value, as it reflects profitability after capital expenditures [9]. - Analyzing past champion stocks in the S&P 500 from 2017 to 2021 reveals that successful companies respond to market needs and take proactive measures to reduce uncertainty [9][11]. - Examples of champion stocks include NRG Energy, AMD, and Tesla, which adapted to market conditions and leveraged their strengths to achieve significant stock price increases [10][11]. Group 3: Investment Strategy for Identifying Champion Stocks - Investors should avoid relying on widely accepted market "common sense," as it can mislead judgment and often does not hold true [13][14]. - Champion stocks typically have price volatility that is at least 1.5 times greater than the total return of the bottom 250 stocks in the previous year [14]. - It is advisable to focus on stocks with lower market capitalization and those that are not the most discussed, as these may present overlooked investment opportunities [14].