Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS) reported better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2025 results.The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 10 cents, beating the analyst consensus estimate of a loss of 20 cents. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.41 billion, up 2.8% year over year and ahead of the Street's $3.32 billion estimate, while comparable sales declined 1.7%.Michael J. Bender, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased with Kohl's third quarter results, marking a third consecutive quarter of ...

周二，美敦力(MDT.US)盘前涨4%，报100.14美元。美敦力公布，2026财年第二季度非GAAP每股收益 为1.36美元，高于一年前的1.26美元；FactSet调查的分析师预计为1.31美元。截至10月24日的季度净销 售额为89.6亿美元，而去年同期为84亿美元；FactSet调查的分析师预计为88.7亿美元。 对于2026财年，美敦力目前预计非GAAP每股收益在5.62至5.66美元之间，而此前的指引为5.60至5.66美 元。FactSet调查的分析师预计为5.62美元。公司表示，新的盈利指引中包括了大约1.85亿美元的潜在关 税影响。美敦力还将2026财年的收入增长预测从之前的5%上调至5.5%。 ...

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].

Insperity, Inc. (NSP) Q1 2025 Results Summary Core Viewpoint - Insperity, Inc. reported lower-than-expected first-quarter 2025 results, leading to a 17% decline in stock price since the earnings release on April 29 due to disappointing earnings and weak EPS guidance [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were 1.57 cents, missing the consensus estimate by 21.9% and decreasing 30.8% year over year [2] - Revenues totaled $1.9 billion, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate but increasing 3.4% from the previous year [2] - Gross profit declined 10% year over year to $310 million, with a gross margin of 16.6%, down 250 basis points from Q1 2024 [4] - Operating income fell 37% year over year to $68 million, with operating income per worksite employee (WSEE) per month at $74 compared to $118 in the prior year [5] Employee Metrics - The average number of worksite employees paid per month increased by 1% year over year to 306,023 [3] - Revenue per worksite employee (WSEE) per month rose 3% from the year-ago quarter to $2,029 [3] Guidance and Outlook - For 2025, the adjusted EPS guidance was lowered to $2.23-$3.28 from the previous range of $3.10-$3.95, with the mid-point of $2.76 exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.48 [1] - Q2 guidance for EPS is set at 29-67 cents per share, with the mid-point of 48 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 41 cents [7] - Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2025 was reduced to $190-$245 million from $240-$285 million [7] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of the end of Q1 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $551 million, down from $1 billion in the previous quarter [6] - Long-term debt remained flat at $369 million, and the company distributed $23 million in cash dividends during the quarter [6]