Key Takeaways Valero Energy shares closed at $196.91, nearing a $206.77 52-week high.VLO could benefit from softer crude prices, lowering feedstock costs and lifting margins.Valero trades at 7.73X EV/EBITDA, above the industry average of 5.06X.Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) stock is rapidly approaching its 52-week high of $206.77, closing at $196.91 on Feb. 12. The stock has risen 50.3% compared with the broader sub-industry gain of 30.2%. Its sub-industry peers, Phillips 66 (PSX) and HF Sinclair (DINO) , ...

Key Takeaways Energy Transfer is set to report Q4 results on Feb. 17, with revenues seen up 33% year over year.ET's fee-based contracts, new gas supply deals and added plants likely supported earnings.ET trades at 9.13x EV/EBITDA vs. industry 10.35x, but estimates have dipped in 60 days.Energy Transfer LP (ET) is expected to post a year-over-year improvement in both revenues and earnings when it reports fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 17, before the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ET’s fo ...

Key Takeaways Exxon Mobil trades at 9.78x EV/EBITDA, a premium to industry, BP and Chevron.XOM's Permian and Guyana assets drive record output and low breakevens.Exxon Mobil's upstream exposure faces oil price risks despite strong 2025 refining gains.Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is currently considered expensive on a relative basis, with the stock trading at a 9.78x trailing 12-month Enterprise Value to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EV/EBITDA), which is a premium compared ...

Core Insights - Enbridge Inc. (ENB) is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 13, 2026, with earnings estimated at 60 cents per share and revenues at $11.8 billion, indicating a 1.3% year-over-year improvement [1][8] Financial Performance - ENB has beaten consensus earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.76% [2] - The company has an Earnings ESP of -1.01% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a lower likelihood of an earnings beat this quarter [4] Revenue Generation - ENB is expected to have stable fee-based revenues due to its midstream business model, which is less affected by oil and natural gas price volatility [6] - The Gas Transmission business unit is anticipated to contribute significantly to earnings, alongside the Liquid Pipelines segment [6] Market Performance - ENB's stock has increased by 11.9% over the past year, underperforming the industry average of 13.8% and Kinder Morgan's 15.7% increase [9] - The company's current EV/EBITDA ratio stands at 15.61, which is above the industry average of 14.51, indicating a premium valuation [12] Investment Outlook - Enbridge is positioned to generate additional cash flows from over C$30 billion in secured capital projects, which include liquid pipelines, gas transmissions, and renewables [14] - The company has a strong history of rewarding shareholders with dividend increases for 31 consecutive years [15] - However, ENB's debt-to-capitalization ratio of 60.4% is higher than the industry average of 57.7%, raising concerns about its debt burden [16] Competitor Analysis - Kinder Morgan reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of 37 cents [17] - Enterprise Products Partners reported adjusted earnings of 75 cents per unit, beating the consensus estimate of 70 cents [17]

Core Viewpoint - CICC maintains its EBITDA forecast for MGM China (02282) for 2026 and 2027, with the current stock price corresponding to 6x 2026e EV/EBITDA. The firm maintains an "outperform" rating and a target price of HKD 16.10, which corresponds to 8x 2026e EV/EBITDA, indicating a 23% upside potential from the current stock price [1] Group 1 - In Q4 2025, adjusted EBITDA exceeded Visible Alpha consensus expectations, with net revenue reaching HKD 9.617 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 13%, recovering to 169% of Q4 2019 levels [2] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2025 was HKD 2.753 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 16%, recovering to 177% of Q4 2019 levels, surpassing Visible Alpha's consensus estimate of HKD 2.449 billion [2] - The strong performance of MGM China is attributed to the continued outperformance of its premium business, with MGM Cotai and MGM Macau's total gaming revenue recovering to 214% and 104% of Q4 2019 levels, respectively [2] Group 2 - In Q4 2025, MGM China signed a new long-term brand agreement with MGM Resorts, increasing the brand usage fee from 1.75% to 3.5% of monthly net revenue, effective from 2026 for a 20-year term, with an annual payment cap set to increase gradually [2] - The annual cap for brand usage fees in 2026 is set at USD 188 million, compared to USD 60 million in 2025, with the economic benefits of the new fee structure allocated 66.7% to MGM Resorts and 33.3% to Ms. Pansy Ho [2] - The new brand fee structure is expected to have a significant negative impact on the company's net profit, potentially dragging down CICC's net profit forecast by approximately 14% [2] Group 3 - Management indicated strong hotel booking performance for the 2026 Spring Festival holiday starting February 17, 2026, with stable business performance leading up to the holiday [3]

Core Viewpoint - Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) is anticipated to report a decline in both earnings and revenues for the fourth quarter of 2025, with earnings estimated at 42 cents per unit and revenues at $11.55 billion, reflecting a year-over-year revenue decline of 6.85% [1][2][6]. Earnings Estimates - Fourth-quarter earnings estimates have decreased by 17.65% over the past 60 days, with the bottom-line projection aligning with the previous year's quarter [2]. - The average earnings surprise for PAA over the last four quarters is 4.21%, with two earnings beats and two misses [3][4]. Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model does not predict an earnings beat for PAA this quarter, as the Earnings ESP is -6.11% and the Zacks Rank is 3 (Hold) [5][7]. Revenue and Cash Flow - PAA's expected Q4 revenues of $11.55 billion represent a 6.85% decline year-over-year, with the company relying heavily on fee-based, long-term contracts that provide stable cash flow [6][10]. - The acquisition of EPIC Crude Holdings is expected to positively impact fourth-quarter earnings due to long-term volume commitments from customers [11]. Financial Performance Metrics - PAA's trailing 12-month return on equity is 11.04%, which is below the industry average of 13.28%, indicating less effective utilization of shareholders' funds [12]. - PAA's current trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA is 10.78X, slightly undervalued compared to the industry average of 10.88X [14][15].

Group 1 - Heartland Advisors released its "Heartland Value Fund" fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter, noting that the Russell 2000® Value Index generated a return of 3.26%, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.66% gains [1] - Small stocks nearly caught up to large caps in 2025, marking their best performance since the pandemic, driven by an increase in small-cap stock earnings and compelling valuations [1] - The Heartland Value Fund gained 2.61% in the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2000® Value Index due to stock selection issues, particularly in the healthcare sector [1] Group 2 - Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCO) was highlighted in the investor letter, with its stock closing at $19.68 per share on January 12, 2026, reflecting an 11.88% one-month return but a 44.50% loss over the last 52 weeks [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $565.372 million [2] - Heartland Value Fund increased its position in Columbus McKinnon Corporation, which designs and manufactures materials handling products for various industrial applications [3] - Columbus McKinnon reported slower-than-expected Q3 results due to U.S. policy uncertainty, which typically would have led to a mid to high single-digit selloff [3] - The stock plummeted over 40% following the announcement of a $2.7 billion acquisition of competitor Kito Crosby, raising concerns about execution and increased leverage [3]

Core Viewpoint - B. Riley has lowered its price target on WhiteFiber Inc. to $40 from $44 while maintaining a Buy rating, following the company's first long-term co-location agreement [1] Group 1: Company Developments - WhiteFiber announced its inaugural long-term co-location agreement at the NC-1 data center campus with Nscale Global Holdings, which took longer to finalize than expected [2] - The company reaffirmed its original deployment timeline, highlighting its execution capabilities and validating its retrofit-based development model [2] Group 2: Financial Outlook - WhiteFiber is in advanced discussions with multiple lenders regarding a construction financing facility, expected to be completed in early first-quarter 2026 [3] - Management indicated that potential credit enhancements could lower overall funding costs, with more clarity on ultimate off-takers [3] Group 3: EBITDA Forecasts - B. Riley has modestly reduced its EBITDA forecasts, lowering the second-quarter 2026 estimate to $17.9 million from $19.5 million and the full-year 2026 estimate to $92.7 million from $99.5 million [4] - The upcoming capacity is expected to come online in under two quarters, supporting WhiteFiber's speed-to-market thesis and positioning the company for expansion across multiple sites [4] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - WhiteFiber is currently trading at approximately 11x EV/EBITDA on 2026 estimates and about 8x EV/EBITDA on a fourth-quarter 2026 run-rate basis, indicating a notable discount to peer valuations in the mid- to high-teens [5]

Core Insights - Amentum Holdings, Inc. is a prominent provider of specialized technical and operational services, focusing on defense, intelligence, and commercial markets, leveraging advanced technology and domain expertise [1] - The company reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $14.4 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion, and free cash flow of $516 million, indicating strong financial performance for a newly public firm [5] - Amentum's stock price increased by 51% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose by approximately 15% [2] Financial Performance - Amentum finished fiscal 2025 with $14.4 billion in revenue, $1.1 billion in adjusted EBITDA, and $516 million in free cash flow, showcasing robust financial health [5] - The company's backlog reached $47 billion with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2x, providing clear visibility for future revenue [5] - Net leverage decreased to 3.2x, with management projecting further growth in free cash flow for fiscal 2026 [5] Investment Activity - Hyperion Capital Advisors LP acquired an additional 368,521 shares of Amentum Holdings during the third quarter, valued at $10.06 million, representing 5.38% of the fund's U.S. equity holdings [3][4] - The increase in Hyperion's position reflects a strategy to invest in stable, cash-generating businesses rather than high-risk trades [6] Competitive Position - Amentum's diversified contract base and focus on high-value, complex projects enhance its competitive position in the government services sector [1] - The company is positioned alongside other durable businesses in Hyperion's portfolio, indicating a preference for predictability and scale in investments [6]

Core Viewpoint - Baird has reduced its price target for Meta Platforms Inc. to $815 from $820 while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing ongoing near-term risks to investor sentiment and a more balanced risk-reward scenario compared to earlier in the year [1] Group 1: Risks and Expectations - Meta continues to face headline risks related to privacy, usage trends, and its strategic shift toward short-form video, but expectations have become more realistic compared to three months ago [2] - Baird encourages investors to take advantage of potential pullbacks and position themselves opportunistically [2] Group 2: Potential Catalysts - Potential catalysts for Meta include clarity from first-quarter guidance and margin commentary, the launch of the next Llama model from Meta's TBD Lab, and enhancements to Meta AI [3] - Additional upside drivers consist of improvements in content ranking, relevance, engagement metrics, monetization acceleration at WhatsApp and Threads, deeper penetration of Advantage+ automation tools, and long-term optionality related to wearables and custom silicon development [3] Group 3: Valuation Analysis - The $815 price target is based on a multi-year discounted cash flow analysis, a 30x multiple on 2026 estimated GAAP earnings, and a 15x multiple on 2026 estimated EV/EBITDA, which are within peer ranges of 10x–30x for 2026 earnings and 5x–30x for EV/EBITDA [4] - Despite elevated risks, Meta's market leadership, margin structure, diversified revenue streams, platform scale, and technology orientation may enable the company to regain a valuation premium over peers in the long run [4]