Core Viewpoint - Selective Insurance reported mixed results for Q3 2025, missing earnings estimates but showing strong year-over-year growth in operating income and total revenues [2][3]. Financial Performance - Operating income for Q3 2025 was $1.75 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.9%, but increased by 25% year over year [2]. - Total revenues reached $1.4 billion, an 8.9% increase from the previous year, driven by higher net premiums written and net investment income [3]. - Net premiums written increased by 4% year over year to $1.2 billion, with average renewal pure price decreasing by 90 basis points to 9.6% [3]. - Net investment income rose by 18% year over year to $110 million [4]. - Net catastrophe losses were $24.9 million, significantly lower than the previous year's loss of $148.8 million [4]. - Total expenses increased by 7.7% year over year to $1.2 billion, primarily due to higher loss and loss expenses [5]. Segmental Results - Standard Commercial Lines' net premiums written increased by 4% year over year to $940.8 million, with a combined ratio of 101.1 [6]. - Standard Personal Lines' net premiums written decreased by 6% year over year to $104.2 million, with a combined ratio improving to 110.1 [7]. - Excess & Surplus Lines' net premiums written increased by 14% year over year to $162.9 million, with a combined ratio improving to 76.2 [8]. Financial Update - Total assets at the end of Q3 2025 were $15 billion, an 11% increase from December 2024 [10]. - Long-term debt surged by 78% to $902.3 million, with a debt-to-total capitalization ratio of 20.5% [10]. - Adjusted book value per share increased by 12% year over year to $54.46 [10]. - Operating return on common equity was 13.2%, up 110 basis points year over year [10]. Shareholder Returns - The company repurchased $36 million worth of shares in Q3 2025 [11]. - A quarterly cash dividend of 43 cents per share was authorized, marking a 13% increase and the 12th consecutive annual increase [11]. - A new share repurchase program was authorized for up to $200 million, effective from October 27, 2025 [12]. Guidance - The company estimates a GAAP combined ratio of 97% to 98% for 2025 [13]. - After-tax net investment income is estimated at $420 million, up from previous guidance of $415 million [13]. Market Position - Selective Insurance has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating an expectation of an in-line return in the coming months [16]. - The stock has a Growth Score of B, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of A, placing it in the top 20% for value investors [15].

Telecommunications stock T-Mobile US Inc (NASDAQ:TMUS) was last seen down 1.5% to trade at $207.38, following a downgrade from Oppenheimer to "perform" from "outperform." The firm cited slowing industry subscriber growth, believing the company will have a hard time beating subscriber and free cash flow estimates.TMUS has had a volatile year on the charts, recently hitting a Nov. 6 one-year low of $199.41 after trading as high as $276.49 in March. The stock's rebound from those lows was met with resistance a ...

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for GE Aerospace (GE) . Shares have added about 1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is GE due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for GE Aerospace before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late ...

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Oneok Inc. (OKE) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.Oneok currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) ...

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Toll Brothers (TOL) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.Toll Brothers currently has an average brokerage recommenda ...

With a market cap of around $25 billion, STERIS plc (STE) is a global provider of infection prevention products and services supporting hospitals, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Through its Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, and Life Sciences segments, the company delivers sterilization equipment, contract sterilization services, and specialized consumables that ensure safe, sterile environments. Shares of the Mentor, Ohio-based company have outpaced the broader marke ...

Analysts on Wall Street project that Agilent Technologies (A) will announce quarterly earnings of $1.59 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 8.9% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $1.83 billion, increasing 7.8% from the same quarter last year.The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.Prior to a c ...

Amer Sports Inc (NYSE:AS) stock is surging today, up 7.6% at $33.09 at last glance, after the Wilson and Arcteryx parent posted better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue and lifted its full-year forecast. AS has only been publicly traded since February 2024. Though the stock has pulled back from its Aug. 25 record high of $42.33, it's still up 18.5% since the start of the year. Today, the shares are grappling with the 200-day moving average, which kept a lid on rallies through October. Over in ...

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street analysts' recommendations significantly influence investor decisions, but their reliability is questionable due to potential biases stemming from brokerage firms' vested interests [1][6][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Badger Meter (BMI) has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, indicating a "Buy" based on 11 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Among the 11 recommendations, five are classified as "Strong Buy" and one as "Buy," accounting for 45.5% and 9.1% of total recommendations, respectively [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors toward stocks with the highest price increase potential [5]. - Analysts often exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to the interests of the brokerage firms, leading to a disproportionate number of "Strong Buy" recommendations compared to "Strong Sell" [6][10]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, making it a more reliable indicator of near-term stock performance [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than the ABR, reflecting timely changes in earnings estimates and business trends [12]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for Badger Meter - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Badger Meter has increased by 2.2% over the past month to $4.8, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The recent change in consensus estimates, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) for Badger Meter, suggesting a favorable investment outlook [14].

For the quarter ended September 2025, LATAM (LTM) reported revenue of $3.86 billion, up 17.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.30, compared to $1.00 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.61 billion, representing a surprise of +6.68%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.17%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.26.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they c ...