Core Viewpoint - Mid-cap stocks are currently trading at a significant discount of 30% compared to large-cap stocks, presenting a unique investment opportunity for those willing to explore beyond the popular large-cap market [2]. Valuation and Market Trends - Historically, mid-cap stocks have traded at par or even at a premium to large caps due to their faster growth potential [2]. - The valuation discount has widened recently as large-cap technology stocks, particularly early "AI Enablers," have driven larger gains in the market [2]. Performance Metrics - Over the past 30 years, mid-cap stocks have generated annualized returns of 11.2%, compared to 10.9% for large caps, while maintaining a similar risk-adjusted profile with a Sortino ratio of 0.80 versus 0.90 for large caps [3][4]. Macroeconomic Factors - The Federal Reserve's shift from raising interest rates to cutting them may serve as a catalyst for mid-cap outperformance, as these stocks are considered "long duration" assets that typically benefit during rate-cutting cycles [3]. - Lower interest rates are expected to spur merger and acquisition activity, which tends to favor mid-sized companies [3]. Analyst Coverage and Investment Opportunities - Mid-cap stocks receive less analyst coverage than large caps, with an average of 13.5 analysts per mid-cap stock compared to 24.5 for large caps, creating inefficiencies that active managers can exploit [4]. - There are opportunities in mid-sized companies that are adopting artificial intelligence to enhance margins or boost revenue, which remain largely undiscovered by Wall Street [5]. Investment Strategy - The Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (FRTY) employs a concentrated approach with approximately 40 holdings and an active share of 78%, focusing on companies undergoing "Positive Dynamic Change" through factors like new management or product innovation [6].

Core Insights - Heartland Mid Cap Value Fund's portfolio underperformed in Q4 2025, losing 1.92% compared to the Russell Midcap® Value Index's return of 1.42% [1] - The widening valuation gaps in the market are attributed to high-quality value stocks underperforming against speculative and low-quality stocks [1] Company Analysis - Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB) is highlighted as a significant holding in the fund, known for its consumer staples products like Huggies, Cottonelle, and Kleenex [3] - As of January 12, 2026, Kimberly-Clark's stock closed at $98.27, with a one-month return of -4.16% and a 52-week loss of 22.12% [2] - The company has approximately 69.96 million shares outstanding, resulting in a market capitalization of $32.615 billion [2]

Company Overview - Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) has a market cap of $8.8 billion and is a leading owner, operator, and redeveloper of high-quality retail-based and mixed-use properties primarily located in major coastal markets with strong economic and demographic fundamentals [1] - The company focuses on creating community-driven destinations where retail demand exceeds supply [1] - FRT is categorized as a "mid-cap" stock, with a diversified portfolio that includes 103 properties, millions of square feet of commercial space, and thousands of residential units [2] Stock Performance - FRT shares have declined 12% from their 52-week high of $115.59, but have risen 2.4% over the past three months, outperforming the broader Nasdaq Composite's 1.9% gain during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, FRT stock is down 9.2%, lagging behind the Nasdaq Composite's 17.5% increase, and has decreased 11.1% over the past 52 weeks compared to the Nasdaq's 12.9% return [4] - The stock has been trading below its 50-day moving average since late October [4] Financial Performance - On October 31, FRT reported better-than-expected Q3 2025 FFO of $1.77 per share and revenue of $322.3 million [5] - The company achieved record leasing volume of 727,029 square feet with rent growth of 28% on a cash basis and comparable property operating income growth of 4.4% [5] - Federal Realty raised its full-year 2025 FFO guidance to a range of $7.05 to $7.11 per share [5] Competitive Landscape - In comparison, rival Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) has outperformed FRT, with SPG stock returning nearly 7% year-to-date and 7.4% over the past 52 weeks [6] - Despite FRT's weak performance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among 19 analysts and a mean price target of $109.47, representing a 7.6% premium to current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - Generac Holdings Inc. is experiencing significant stock declines and has revised its financial outlook downward due to weaker-than-expected performance in Q3 2025, particularly in residential product sales and overall profitability [5][6]. Company Overview - Generac Holdings Inc. has a market capitalization of $8.5 billion and operates as a global energy technology company, offering a variety of power generation, energy storage, and smart energy management solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial markets [1]. - The company distributes its products through a wide network of dealers, retailers, distributors, and direct-to-customer channels globally [2]. Stock Performance - Shares of Generac Holdings have decreased by 28.8% from their 52-week high of $203.25 and have dropped 20.1% over the past three months, underperforming the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI), which rose by 1.6% in the same period [3]. - Year-to-date, GNRC stock is down 6.6%, while XLI has increased by 16.5%. Over the past 52 weeks, Generac shares have fallen by 12.3%, compared to XLI's 12.7% return [4]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Generac reported an adjusted EPS of $1.83, which was weaker than expected, and revenue declined by 5% year-over-year to $1.11 billion. This decline was attributed to a significantly weaker power outage environment, resulting in a 13% drop in residential product sales to $627 million [5]. - The adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 17.3%, and the company has lowered its full-year 2025 outlook, projecting net sales growth to be approximately flat and reducing the expected adjusted EBITDA margin to about 17% [6].

Core Insights - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is valued at a market cap of $9.8 billion and operates three major brands, making it one of the largest cruise operators globally [1] - The company is classified as a mid-cap stock and is experiencing a gradual return to profitability with expanding fleet capacity and resilient consumer demand [2] Stock Performance - NCLH is currently trading 26.5% below its 52-week high of $29.29, with a 15.1% decline in shares over the past three months, underperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 4.1% rise [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, NCLH shares have dropped 18.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has increased by 10.2% [4] - Year-to-date, NCLH shares are down 16.3%, compared to a 12.6% rise in the financial sector (XLF) [4] Recent Developments - On December 11, NCLH shares rose 4.9% following the announcement of Marc Kazlauskas as the new President, effective January 19, 2026, indicating positive market sentiment regarding his leadership [5] - NCLH has significantly underperformed compared to its rival, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL), which has seen a 9% increase over the past 52 weeks and a 12.5% rise year-to-date [6]

Core Insights - AES Corporation is a significant player in the global energy sector, with a market capitalization of $9.9 billion and a diversified portfolio in power generation and utilities [1][2] - The company operates over 32,000 megawatts of global installed capacity and is involved in regulated utilities, energy infrastructure, renewable energy development, and emerging technologies [2] - AES has experienced a stock pullback, trading 12.2% below its 52-week high, but has shown improved momentum recently, climbing 7.2% over the past three months [3] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, AES reported revenue of $3.4 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.75, both exceeding market expectations [5] - The company achieved an 18.9% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to approximately $830 million, driven by strong performance in its renewable portfolio and improved margins in U.S. utility operations [5] - AES reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, which bolstered investor confidence in its earnings trajectory and clean-energy transition strategy [5] Market Position - AES is categorized as a mid-cap stock, indicating its meaningful scale and influence within the diversified utilities sector [2] - Year-to-date, AES is up 5.8%, lagging behind the Nasdaq Composite's 19.7% gain, and has delivered a modest 3.6% return over the past 52 weeks compared to the index's 14.6% rise [4] - Technically, the stock has maintained above its 200-day moving average since early July but fell below its 50-day moving average last month [4]

Company Overview - Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) is based in Irvine, California, and specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing high-performance analog and mixed signal semiconductors that facilitate wireless connectivity. The company has a market capitalization of $9.8 billion and operates across the US, Indo-Pacific, and EMEA regions [1]. Market Position - SWKS is categorized as a mid-cap stock, with its market cap exceeding the $2 billion to $10 billion range, indicating its significant size and influence within the semiconductor industry [2]. Stock Performance - Skyworks reached a 52-week high of $95.46 on January 21 but is currently trading 30.8% below that peak. The stock has declined 11.1% over the past three months, underperforming the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX), which surged by 14.6% during the same period [3]. - Year-to-date, SWKS stock has dropped 25.6%, and over the past 52 weeks, it has decreased by 27.3%, significantly lagging behind SOXX's 37.5% increase in 2025 and 30.2% returns over the past year. The stock has mostly traded below its 200-day moving average and consistently below its 50-day moving average since early November, indicating a bearish trend [4]. Recent Financial Performance - Following the release of its Q4 results on November 4, Skyworks' stock prices increased by more than 2%. In Q4, the company achieved 5G content across premium Android smartphones, including models like Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25, and expanded in-vehicle infotainment programs with companies such as BYD and Stellantis [5]. - Skyworks reported a 7.3% year-over-year revenue growth to $1.1 billion, exceeding market expectations. The adjusted EPS increased by 13.5% to $1.76, surpassing consensus estimates by over 15%. However, the company has underperformed compared to its peer, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), which saw a 31% surge in 2025 and 28.7% returns over the past 52 weeks [6]. Analyst Consensus - Among 25 analysts covering SWKS stock, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with a mean price target of $84.56, suggesting a potential upside of 28.1% from current price levels [7].

Company Overview - Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP) is based in Golden, Colorado, and is valued at $9.4 billion, producing iconic beer brands such as Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Keystone [1] - TAP is classified as a mid-cap stock, with a market cap exceeding $2 billion, highlighting its size and influence in the beverages - brewers industry [2] Financial Performance - TAP's stock has declined 26.3% from its 52-week high of $64.66, reached on March 10, and has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which gained 3% over the same period [3] - Over the past six months, TAP shares fell 5.8%, and over the past 52 weeks, they dipped 21.9%, while the S&P 500 saw gains of 14.1% and 12.7% respectively [4] - In Q3, TAP reported an adjusted EPS of $1.67, missing Wall Street expectations of $1.72, and revenue of $2.97 billion, which fell short of forecasts of $3.02 billion [5] Market Position and Competition - TAP has been trading below its 200-day moving average since early May but above its 50-day moving average since early November, indicating slight fluctuations [4] - Competitor Compañía Cervecerías Unidas S.A. (CCU) has shown resilience, with a marginal uptick over six months and 11% gains over the past 52 weeks, outperforming TAP [5] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts have a consensus "Hold" rating on TAP, with a mean price target of $50.30, suggesting a potential upside of 5.5% from current price levels [6]

Core Insights - Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) is a leading American contract research organization (CRO) with a market cap of $9.5 billion, serving various sectors including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology [1] - CRL is categorized as a mid-cap stock, benefiting from strong competitive advantages such as end-to-end preclinical drug development capabilities and long-standing client relationships [2] - The stock has shown significant short-term performance, gaining 30.2% over the past three months, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average [3] Performance Metrics - CRL reached a 52-week high of $200.58, but on a year-to-date basis, it is up only 7.3%, lagging behind the Dow's 13.8% rise in 2025 [3][4] - The stock has maintained a position above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since late September, indicating a strengthening technical uptrend [4] - Following an upgrade from JPMorgan Chase & Co., CRL shares gained over 2%, with the price target raised to $190, reflecting optimism about the company's fundamentals [5] Competitive Position - Compared to its peer Labcorp Holdings Inc., CRL has underperformed, with Labcorp showing a 14.8% increase year-to-date and 13.5% over the past 52 weeks [6]

Company Overview - LKQ Corporation, based in Antioch, Tennessee, is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts for vehicle repair and accessorization, with a market cap of $7.9 billion [1] - The company operates through various segments including Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self-Service [1][2] Market Position - LKQ is categorized as a mid-cap stock, with its market cap exceeding the $2 billion to $10 billion range, indicating its substantial size and influence in the auto parts industry [2] Stock Performance - LKQ stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping 31.9% from its 52-week high of $44.82 on March 10, and has underperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which increased by 5.5% over the same three-month period [3][4] - Year-to-date, LKQ stock prices have decreased by 17%, and over the past 52 weeks, they have fallen by 19.6%, while the Dow has gained 13.8% in 2025 and 10.5% over the past year [4] Recent Financial Results - Following the release of mixed Q3 results on October 30, LKQ's stock prices gained 3.7%. The company reported a 1.2% decrease in organic revenues for parts and services, with a net negative impact of 30 basis points from acquisitions and divestitures [5] - Despite these challenges, the overall topline increased by 1.3% year-over-year to $3.5 billion, although this was 84 basis points below market expectations [5] - The adjusted EPS decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to $0.84, but this figure surpassed consensus estimates by 13.5% [6] Competitive Comparison - Compared to its peer Mobileye Global Inc., which saw a 47.1% decline year-to-date and a 39.8% drop over the past 52 weeks, LKQ has significantly outperformed [6]