Core Insights - TIC Solutions is a service company focused on testing, inspection, certification services, and engineering, formed from the merger of Acuren and NV5 Global [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes companies that offer healthy dividends and have potential for capital appreciation, particularly those that are temporarily undervalued compared to fundamentals, peers, or historical levels [1] - The analysis highlights the importance of both technical and fundamental factors that indicate high odds for capital appreciation, ideally driven by foreseeable catalysts [1] Company Overview - TIC Solutions combines the strengths of Acuren and NV5 Global to provide comprehensive service offerings in the testing and inspection sector [1] - The company is positioned to reward shareholders through dividends and capital appreciation, aligning with the investment focus on shareholder value [1] Investment Focus - The investment approach seeks to identify undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and a history of rewarding shareholders [1] - The analysis often includes HVAC-related stocks, reflecting the analyst's previous professional involvement in that industry [1]

Group 1 - The T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF (TCAF) is an active ETF that does not have specific style preferences, allowing it to adapt between value and growth strategies to achieve its core objective of capital appreciation [1] - The ETF is managed by a team with over 20 years of experience in quantitative research, financial modeling, and risk management, focusing on equity valuation, market trends, and portfolio optimization [1] - The management team emphasizes a combination of rigorous risk management and a long-term perspective on value creation, with a particular interest in macroeconomic trends, corporate earnings, and financial statement analysis [1]

Basics of Stocks - Stocks, also known as shares, represent ownership in a company, providing partial claims to its assets and earnings [1][2] - Companies issue shares to raise capital, often through an IPO (Initial Public Offering), which lists the company's shares on the stock market [2] - Stock prices are determined by supply and demand, with investor demand largely based on the expected future performance of the company [3] Investment Principles - An investment is anything expected to gain value or generate income over time, with stocks achieving this through capital appreciation and dividends [5][6] - Capital appreciation occurs as a company grows in value, increasing the value of its shares; dividends involve companies distributing excess profits to shareholders [7][8] - Reinvesting returns generates further returns, creating a compounding effect that significantly increases wealth accumulation over time [12] Investing vs Saving - Investing allows for returns that can outpace inflation, building wealth over time, unlike saving which may lose value due to inflation [11][12] - Compounding is a powerful effect where investment returns generate their own returns, leading to substantial growth over time [12][13] - Starting to invest early is crucial, as it allows more time for money to compound and grow [15]

Company Overview - Sealed Air (SEE) is a manufacturer specializing in food and protective packaging, as well as a supplier of packaging equipment. The company aims to automate and enhance the efficiency of its customers [1] Investment Focus - The investment strategy emphasizes companies that provide healthy dividends while also having potential for capital appreciation. The focus is on identifying undervalued businesses relative to their fundamentals, peers, and historical performance [2] Analyst Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in Sealed Air shares, indicating a personal investment interest in the company [3]

Financial Performance Highlights - Total Investment Income (TII) increased by 143% from $125 million in Q1 2025 to a record $143 million in Q2 2025[6, 11] - Net Investment Income (NII) increased from $46 million ($040 per share) in Q1 2025 to $59 million ($051 per share) in Q2 2025[6, 13] - Net assets increased from $1323 million ($1146 per share) in Q1 2025 to $1400 million ($1210 per share) in Q2 2025[6, 16] - The company issued approximately 24000 shares through the at-the-market equity program, generating net proceeds of about $03 million[6] Portfolio Composition - The fair value of the total portfolio is $3351 million[10] - Debt investments constitute 649% of the portfolio, with a fair value of $2174 million and a weighted average current yield of 125%[21, 10] - CLO investments account for 165% of the portfolio, with a fair value of $554 million[21] - Floating rate debt represents 73% of the debt holdings, while fixed rate debt accounts for 27%[27] CLO Platform - The company deployed $532 million into the CLO JV and $62 million directly into one CLO Equity position[42] - The CLO JV holds majority equity positions in three CLOs with exposure to $11 billion of underlying assets[42] - The company received approximately $118 million of distributions from the CLO JV since its inception in April 2024, resulting in an IRR of 182%[42] Distribution - The Board approved a distribution of $037 per share for the quarter ending September 30, 2025[6, 7] - This distribution equates to an annualized yield of 135% on the closing market price of $1098 on August 1, 2025, and 122% on the June 30, 2025 NAV of $1210 per share[6, 7]

Company Overview - Bunzl is a London listed international group of distribution companies focused on cleaning and hygiene, healthcare, safety, and grocery and foodservice markets [1] Investment Focus - The investment strategy emphasizes companies that pay healthy dividends while waiting for capital appreciation, targeting businesses that are temporarily undervalued compared to their fundamentals, peers, or historical levels [2]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - NB Private Equity Partners ("NBPE") has announced the buyback of Class A Shares, reflecting its commitment to enhancing shareholder value through share repurchase programs [2][3]. Group 1: Share Buyback Details - The buyback occurred on June 6, 2025, with a total of 3,000 Class A Shares purchased at prices ranging from £14.50 to £14.34 [3]. - Following the buyback, the total number of outstanding Class A Shares will be 45,533,911, with an additional 3,150,408 Class A shares held in treasury [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - NBPE is a closed-end investment company based in Guernsey, focusing on direct private equity investments alongside leading private equity firms globally [4][7]. - The investment manager, NB Alternatives Advisers LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, which emphasizes fee efficiency by not charging management fees or carried interest to third-party general partners [4]. Group 3: Neuberger Berman Background - Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is an independent investment manager with over 2,800 employees managing $515 billion across various asset classes [5]. - The firm has been recognized as one of the best places to work in money management for eleven consecutive years, highlighting its strong employee engagement and management philosophy [5].

Company Overview - NB Private Equity Partners ("NBPE") is a closed-end investment company based in Guernsey, focusing on direct private equity investments alongside leading private equity firms globally [3][6] - The company is managed by NB Alternatives Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, which is responsible for sourcing, execution, and management of investments [3] Share Buyback Announcement - On June 3, 2025, NBPE announced the buyback of Class A Shares under the authority granted by shareholders on June 12, 2024, and an agreement with Jefferies International Limited [1][2] - A total of 3,800 Class A Shares were purchased on June 2, 2025, at prices ranging from £14.50 to £14.20 [2] - Following the buyback, the total number of outstanding Class A Shares will be 45,546,161, with an additional 3,150,408 Class A shares held in treasury [2] Investment Strategy - NBPE aims for capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while providing a bi-annual dividend [3] - The company emphasizes fee efficiency by making direct investments without management fees or carried interest payable to third-party general partners [3] Neuberger Berman Overview - Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is an employee-owned independent investment manager with over 2,800 employees across 26 countries, managing $515 billion in various asset classes [4] - The firm's investment philosophy is based on active management, fundamental research, and engaged ownership, and it has been recognized as a top workplace in money management for eleven consecutive years [4]

Core Viewpoint - American Express Company (AXP) has announced a 17% increase in its quarterly dividend, reflecting confidence in its cash flow and growth prospects, although its current dividend yield remains lower than the industry average [1][2]. Dividend Growth - The quarterly dividend has been raised by 12 cents to 82 cents per share, amounting to $3.28 annually, with payment scheduled for May 9, 2025 [1]. - Over the past five years, AXP has increased its dividend three times, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [3]. - In 2022, 2023, and 2024, AXP returned $4.9 billion, $5.3 billion, and $7.9 billion, respectively, through dividends and share buybacks, with 76% of total capital generated returned to shareholders [4]. Financial Performance - As of the fourth quarter, AXP held $40.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with a manageable short-term debt of $1.4 billion and a net debt-to-capital ratio of 11.6%, below the industry average of 18.9% [6]. - Operating cash flow declined from $18.6 billion in 2023 to $14.1 billion in 2024, but growth initiatives are expected to drive a rebound [6]. Market Position and Strategy - AXP benefits from a dual role as both a bank and a credit card network, maximizing profitability through strong credit performance and operational efficiency [7]. - The company is focusing on premium clientele and expanding its reach to younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, to build brand loyalty and future growth [8]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 adjusted earnings is $15.32 per share, indicating a 14.8% year-over-year growth, with further growth expected in 2026 [9]. Price Performance - AXP's stock price increased by 36.1% over the past year, outperforming both the industry and the S&P 500 Index [10]. Valuation - AXP is trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 18.81X, higher than the industry average of 14.41X, reflecting strong investor confidence [13]. Investment Outlook - Analysts anticipate increased consumer spending, which is expected to drive higher loan demand and transaction volumes, positioning AXP favorably for short-term gains [15]. - The company's evolving customer mix and strategic focus on younger consumers present a promising long-term growth strategy [16]. - Technical indicators show AXP trading above its 200-day simple moving average, suggesting strong upward momentum and a potential 7.22% upside from current levels [17].