Market Overview - Wall Street ended the first day of July 2025 on a mixed note, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained slightly [1] - The contrasting movements in the major stock indices were influenced by opposing forces, including a feud between President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the U.S. Senate's passage of Trump's tax bill aimed at stimulating economic growth [2] Investment Opportunities - Amid market uncertainty, there is a potential opportunity to invest in low-leverage stocks that are not expensive and can provide a protective shield during turbulent times [3] - Suggested low-leverage stocks include Novartis (NVS), Alamo Group (ALG), ArcelorMittal (MT), Bilibili (BILI), and Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) [3][10] Low-Leverage Stocks - Low-leverage stocks are characterized by a lower debt-to-equity ratio, indicating reduced financial risk and improved solvency [7][8] - Investing in low-leverage stocks is recommended to avoid significant losses during economic downturns [6][7] Company Highlights - **Novartis (NVS)**: Recently completed the acquisition of Regulus Therapeutics, enhancing its drug portfolio. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVS's 2025 sales suggests a 7.3% improvement from 2024, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.9% [15][16] - **Alamo Group (ALG)**: Completed the acquisition of Ring-O-Matic, expanding its product offerings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALG's 2025 earnings indicates a 7.2% year-over-year improvement [17][18] - **ArcelorMittal (MT)**: Signed an agreement to sell operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing a focus on higher-growth areas. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 49.8% [19] - **Bilibili (BILI)**: Reported a 24% year-over-year revenue increase and a 58% improvement in gross profit for Q1 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 sales indicates a 12.1% improvement from 2024 [20][21] - **Sterling Infrastructure (STRL)**: Announced the acquisition of CEC Facilities Group, enhancing its service portfolio in high-growth markets. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% [22][23]

Core Insights - Dividend yield is a key metric for identifying dividend stocks, reflecting the amount of a company's dividend as a percentage of its stock price, which can fluctuate daily [1] - A strong balance sheet, indicated by a low debt-to-equity ratio, is essential for long-term dividend sustainability [2][3] Company Summaries Costco - Costco has a dividend yield of 0.53% with an annual dividend of $5.20 and a 22-year track record of dividend increases [5] - The company has delivered a total return of over 266% over the past five years, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21%, indicating strong financial health [6] - Investors should focus on the 12.7% average dividend growth over the last three years rather than the current yield [7] Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) - ADM boasts a dividend yield of 3.86% with an annual dividend of $2.04 and a 53-year history of dividend increases [8] - The company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.34%, suggesting a stable dividend outlook [8] - However, ADM's growth is closely tied to commodity prices, which are cyclical, making it less defensive compared to consumer staples [9] Medtronic - Medtronic has a dividend yield of 3.26% with an annual dividend of $2.84 and a 49-year history of dividend increases [11] - The company is well-positioned in the aging population market and in AI and machine learning, with a debt-to-equity ratio of around 0.53% [12][13] - Despite its potential, Medtronic is not currently highlighted as a top buy by analysts, indicating some caution among investors [14]

Key Takeaways NVS, ENSG, MTZ, BILI and STRL are highlighted as low-leverage picks amid geopolitical market stress. Each stock reflects a favorable Zacks Rank and VGM Scores. Low debt-to-equity ratios make these stocks potentially safer during economic downturns or uncertainty. All three major U.S. stock market indices suffered a fall of more than 1% on June 13 following the exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran, which sent almost all global stock markets into the red.  The dismal performance ...

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) ratios, is a strategic approach to identify potential investment opportunities [1][3] - The P/S ratio is especially useful for evaluating unprofitable companies or those in early growth stages, as it reflects the value of revenue generated [3][9] Price-to-Sales Ratio - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates that investors are paying less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue, making it a favorable investment [4] - The P/S ratio is preferred over the P/E ratio because sales figures are less susceptible to manipulation compared to earnings [5] - It is important to analyze the P/S ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics such as P/E, price-to-book, and debt-to-equity ratios before making investment decisions [6] Screening Parameters - Companies with a P/S ratio less than the median for their industry are considered better investments [7] - Additional screening parameters include a P/E ratio below the industry median, a price-to-book ratio below the industry median, and a debt-to-equity ratio below the industry median [8] Company Highlights - **JAKKS Pacific (JAKK)**: A multi-brand company benefiting from acquisitions and a strong international presence, focusing on online retailing and digital experiences. It has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [10][11] - **Green Dot (GDOT)**: A leader in prepaid cards and Banking-as-a-Service, with a strong balance sheet and low debt. It has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [12][13] - **Signet Jewelers (SIG)**: A leading retailer of diamond jewelry, demonstrating strength in bridal and fashion segments, with effective inventory management and cost-saving initiatives. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [14][15] - **Gibraltar Industries (ROCK)**: Focused on operational improvements and benefiting from high demand in agricultural facilities. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [16][17] - **Pfizer (PFE)**: A major pharmaceutical company expecting growth in non-COVID operational revenue driven by new product launches and acquisitions. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [18][19]

The major U.S. stock indices ended May 13 on a higher note, buoyed by easing trade tensions between the United States and China. Softer-than-expected inflation data released yesterday also helped boost investors’ optimism after the two nations agreed to a 90-day tariff pause earlier this week.  Such positive market sentiment might pave the way for investors to rush into trading on Wall Street. However, considering that the tariff pause is only for 90 days and the global market dynamics change daily, the U.S ...

All three major stock indices of Wall Street ended in the green on April 24, primarily boosted by better-than-expected earnings anticipation from a handful of tech biggies, including Alphabet and Intel. This came as a momentary relief for investors, considering that U.S. President Trump’s tariff announcements had created quite a stir in the global stock market in recent weeks. The general market consensus is that investors still expect volatility to prevail on Wall Street, which makes them extra cautious wh ...