Key Takeaways Early Q4 results show 76.4% EPS beats and 63.2% revenue beats among S&P 500 companies. Brokers favor CAH, AN, TGT, AVT and ABM based on upgrades and rising earnings estimates. Screen also uses low price/sales ratios and liquidity filters to identify high-potential picks. The fourth-quarter earnings season is in its early stage, with 106 S&P 500 participants having reported results according to our latest Earnings Outlook, with 76.4% beating EPS estimates and 63.2% surpassing revenue estimates. ...

Market Overview - The U.S. markets ended the final trading week of 2025 on a mixed note, with optimism over AI growth offset by caution regarding Federal Reserve policy signals [1] - Despite thin year-end liquidity, late pullbacks in all three major benchmark indexes kept the broader bull trend intact as market participants positioned for 2026 [1] Macroeconomic Indicators - Initial jobless claims fell unexpectedly by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 199,000 for the week ended Dec. 27, the lowest since the end of November, signaling continued labor market strength [2] - Pending home sales unexpectedly rose 3.3% in November, marking the largest seasonal rise since 2023 [2] Federal Reserve Policy - The Fed has successfully kept inflation stable and near its 2% target, with a current overnight borrowing rate in the range of 3.50-3.75% [3] - The pace of further easing may slow, even though markets are expecting two additional quarter-point cuts in 2026 [3] Dividend-Paying Stocks - Investors looking to diversify their portfolios can consider dividend-paying stocks, which indicate a healthy business model and can counter market upheavals [4] - Stocks that have raised dividends recently tend to outperform non-dividend-paying entities in a highly volatile market [4] Company Highlights The Ensign Group - The Ensign Group provides health care services in the post-acute care continuum and has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5] - On Dec. 19, ENSG declared a dividend of 7 cents a share, with a dividend yield of 0.1% [5] - Over the past five years, ENSG has increased its dividend five times, with a payout ratio of 4% of earnings [6] Invesco Mortgage Capital - Invesco Mortgage Capital is a real estate investment trust with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [7] - On Dec. 18, IVR declared a dividend of 36 cents a share, reflecting a dividend yield of 17.3% [7] - IVR has increased its dividend four times in the past five years, with a payout ratio of 58% of earnings [8] ABM Industries - ABM Industries is a provider of integrated facility solutions with a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [9] - On Dec. 17, ABM announced a dividend of 29 cents a share, yielding 2.5% [9] - Over the past five years, ABM has increased its dividend six times, with a payout ratio of 31% of earnings [11] Franklin Resources - Franklin Resources is a global investment management company with a Zacks Rank 3 [12] - On Dec. 17, BEN declared a dividend of 33 cents a share, yielding 5.5% [12] - Over the past five years, BEN has increased its dividend five times, with a payout ratio of 58% of earnings [13] Norwood Financial - Norwood Financial is a bank holding company with a Zacks Rank 3 [14] - On Dec. 16, NWFL announced a dividend of 32 cents a share, yielding 4.4% [14] - Over the past five years, NWFL has increased its dividend six times, with a payout ratio of 47% of earnings [14]

Group 1: Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Skydance Bid - Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) advised shareholders to reject the Paramount Skydance (PSKY) offer and favor the bid from Netflix (NFLX) [2] - Netflix's bid includes a spin-off of the Discovery Channel, which has an unnamed interested party, while PSKY's bid includes the cable channel in its acquisition [3] - PSKY's CEO David Ellison did not provide guaranteed funding for the deal, raising concerns about the financial backing of the bid [3][4] Group 2: Federal Reserve Chair Interviews - The White House is actively interviewing candidates to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, with former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh gaining traction as a candidate [5][6] - Warsh was known for dissenting on Fed policy during his tenure and has expressed a desire for the Fed to take a less active role in managing the economy [7] Group 3: Earnings Reports - General Mills (GIS) reported fiscal Q2 earnings of $1.10 per share, exceeding the Zacks consensus estimate of $1.02, with revenues of $4.86 billion, surpassing projections by 1.89% [9] - ABM Industries (ABM) reported fiscal Q4 earnings of $0.88 per share, missing the expected $1.10, but revenues of $2.18 billion exceeded expectations by 1.19% [10] - Micron (MU) is set to report fiscal Q1 earnings, with expectations of a 118% year-over-year growth in earnings and a 46% increase in revenues [11]

Core Insights - Visionstate Corp. is advancing its artificial intelligence initiatives in partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII), leading to the development of TidyLogic, an advanced optimization platform for facility management [1][2][4] - The collaboration has been publicly recognized by AMII, highlighting the successful commercialization of TidyLogic and the strength of Visionstate's team [2][3] Company Developments - Visionstate received $3 million in support from PrairiesCan to enhance AI commercialization capacity in Alberta, which facilitated AMII's contribution of specialized expertise and resources for TidyLogic's development [2] - TidyLogic utilizes predictive intelligence and automated planning to optimize facility operations, moving away from static schedules to real-time data analysis for efficient resource allocation [4][5] Industry Context - The facility management sector is facing challenges such as rising labor costs and stricter compliance requirements, creating a demand for AI solutions that offer precision and predictive capabilities [8] - Visionstate is well-positioned to lead this transformation due to its extensive operational data from the WANDA platform and its collaboration with AMII [8] Product Potential - While TidyLogic is initially focused on facility management, its AI engine is adaptable for use in logistics, healthcare, property management, manufacturing, and hospitality sectors [9] - The revenue model for TidyLogic includes SaaS subscriptions, enterprise licenses, and professional AI services, which positions Visionstate for long-term margin expansion as adoption increases [10]

Financial Update - The company reported organic growth of 4.9% in Q3 2025 and 4.3% for the first nine months, driven by price increases, volume growth, and projects, despite net negative contract wins [5] - The operating margin and free cash flow met expectations due to operational improvements and effective management of wage and cost inflation [5] - The retention rate improved from 93% in H1 2025 to 94% in Q3 2025, with nine new contracts secured with key account customers, and 21 contracts extended [5] Business Update - The company announced three new partnerships in Q3, each valued over DKK 100 million, contributing to growth in 2026 [4] - Strategic initiatives are being successfully embedded in significant local markets, with acquisitions of Franye Group in Austria and Garbialdi in Spain expected to add approximately 0.2% and 0.6% to annual revenue, respectively [5] - The final oral hearing in the arbitration with Deutsche Telekom occurred in mid-July, with a ruling pending [5] Capital Distribution and Outlook - The corporate credit rating from Moody's was upgraded from Baa3 with a positive outlook to Baa2 with a stable outlook on 28 October 2025 [5] - The 2025 share buyback program's total value was increased by DKK 500 million to DKK 3.0 billion, with DKK 753 million worth of shares acquired by 31 October [5] - The outlook for organic growth for 2025 has been narrowed to 4-5%, with the operating margin expected to be above 5% and free cash flow above DKK 2.4 billion [5]

Core Insights - YY Group Holding Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UnoMove to develop and commercialize an innovative facade cleaning drone, enhancing safety and efficiency in high-rise maintenance [1][2][4] - The collaboration aims to reduce risks associated with traditional facade cleaning, which is labor-intensive and hazardous, by leveraging autonomous drone technology [4][5] - YY Group will have exclusive distribution rights for the drone across Southeast Asia for an initial period of three years, covering countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines [2][5] Company Overview - YY Group is a technology-enabled platform providing flexible workforce solutions and integrated facility management services across Asia and beyond, operating in sectors like hospitality, logistics, retail, and healthcare [8][9] - The company focuses on operational innovation and long-term value creation for clients and shareholders, utilizing proprietary digital platforms and IoT-driven systems [9] Strategic Implications - The partnership with UnoMove reflects YY Group's vision of integrating robotics into facility management, aiming to improve safety by removing workers from dangerous tasks and allowing them to focus on higher-value roles [5][6] - The MOU indicates a shared intent to explore broader cooperation in autonomous robotic solutions beyond facade cleaning, potentially leading to advancements in other areas of facility management [5][6]

Financial Performance - Revenue reached $2.2 billion, with organic growth of 5%[7] - Net income was $41.8 million, while adjusted net income was $51.7 million[7] - Adjusted EBITDA stood at $125.8 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.9%[7] - Free cash flow was $150.2 million, a sequential increase of $135.0 million[7] - The company repurchased 555,000 shares in Q3 for $27.1 million at an average cost of $48.77[32] Segment Performance - Business & Industry (B&I) revenue was $1,038.7 million, a 2.8% increase[19] - Aviation revenue was $235.1 million, up 8.7%[25] - Manufacturing & Distribution (M&D) revenue reached $249.5 million, an 8.4% increase[27] - Education revenue was $408.9 million, a 3.0% increase[23] - Technical Solutions revenue was $291.8 million, a 19.0% increase[20] Strategic Initiatives - New bookings for the first nine months of 2025 totaled $1.5 billion, a 15% increase[7] - A restructuring program was initiated after the quarter, expected to yield a minimum of $35 million in annual run-rate savings[7] - The board approved a $150 million increase in share repurchase authorization[7] - Total indebtedness was $1.6 billion, with a leverage ratio of 2.8x[32]

Core Viewpoint - ISS A/S has increased its share buyback programme by DKK 500 million, now totaling up to DKK 3,000 million, to redistribute excess cash to shareholders and meet obligations from share-based incentive programmes [1][2][4]. Group 1: Share Buyback Programme Details - The second tranche of the share buyback programme will be up to DKK 1,750 million, commencing today and concluding by 13 February 2026 [1][4]. - The first tranche of approximately DKK 1,250 million was completed on 8 August 2025 [4]. - The programme is authorized to acquire treasury shares up to 15% of ISS' share capital [2]. Group 2: Regulatory Compliance - The share buyback programme is conducted in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation and the Safe Harbour Regulation [3]. Group 3: Operational Framework - The maximum total consideration for shares to be bought back is up to DKK 3,000 million, with a maximum nominal value of shares to be acquired being DKK 22 million [6]. - Shares may be purchased on Nasdaq Copenhagen and other trading venues, with daily purchase limits set at 25% of the average daily trading volume over the preceding 20 days [6]. - The purchase price for treasury shares must not deviate by more than 10% from the quoted price at the time of acquisition [6]. Group 4: Company Overview - ISS is a global provider of workplace and facility service solutions, employing 325,000 individuals and generating DKK 83.7 billion in revenue in 2024 [5][7].

Investment Overview - Dexterra Group Inc. has acquired a 40% stake in Pleasant Valley Corporation for US$58.3 million, effective July 31, 2025, with an option to acquire the remaining 60% by Q3 2027 [1][2] - The investment will be financed through the company's credit facility [1] Company Profile - Pleasant Valley Corporation, founded in 1976, provides facility management services primarily to commercial and industrial clients in the U.S. [2] - PVC generates approximately US$175 million in annual revenues and has a strong history of profitability and growth potential [2] Strategic Alignment - The investment in PVC is expected to enhance Dexterra's U.S. presence and support long-term profitable growth [3] - Both companies share similar values and commitment to customer service, growth, and technology [3] Workforce and Services - Dexterra employs over 9,000 people and offers a range of support services for infrastructure management and operation across Canada and the U.S. [4] - The company provides integrated facilities management services and workforce accommodation solutions for diverse clients [5]

Partnership Renewal - HSF has renewed its partnership with ABM Industries, with ABM committing an annual support of $50,000 [1][2] - This investment highlights ABM's dedication to education and workforce development, aligning with HSF's mission to provide resources for higher education [2][3] Impact on HSF Programs - ABM's contributions will enhance HSF's support services, including leadership development, career guidance, and community engagement, which are crucial for student success [2][3] - The partnership allows HSF to expand its reach and impact, ensuring students nationwide receive necessary guidance and tools for academic and professional success [3] About HSF - HSF, founded in 1975, focuses on empowering students and parents with resources for higher education, having awarded over $756 million in scholarships [4] - The organization aims to prioritize college education for families and provides a range of support services for students and alumni [4] About ABM - ABM is a leading provider of integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions, with over $8 billion in annual revenue and a workforce of over 100,000 [5] - The company serves various sectors, including commercial real estate and aviation, and is committed to creating smarter, more connected spaces [5]