This Blue-Collar Stock Out-Returned Nvidia Over the Past 5 Years. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# This Blue-Collar Stock Out-Returned Nvidia Over the Past 5 Years. It Still Has Room to Grow.By [Ian Salisbury]ShareResize---Re ...

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets are experiencing volatility due to disappointing corporate guidance, geopolitical tensions, and mixed economic data affecting interest rate outlooks [1][3] - Major indexes have softened after a strong performance led by technology gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 121 points (0.24%) to 49,542, S&P 500 down 13 points (0.19%) to 6,868, and Nasdaq Composite down 43 points (0.18%) to 22,712 [2] Economic Data - The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 16.3 in February, significantly above the consensus estimate of 7.7, indicating continued expansion in regional manufacturing [4] - Initial jobless claims fell more than expected, highlighting the strength of the U.S. labor market [4] - Federal Reserve officials remain cautious about cutting interest rates too soon, with some suggesting potential rate hikes if inflation persists [5] Corporate News - Walmart reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings but issued a cautious profit forecast for 2026, leading to a more than 3% drop in shares [6] - Nvidia is in focus due to a partnership with Meta Platforms for AI chips, although its stock has moderated ahead of its earnings report [7] - Robinhood Markets shares fell 11% after revenue missed forecasts and high expense outlooks were provided [8] - Moderna's stock rose 6% following FDA review news for its flu vaccine candidate [8] - Exxon Mobil shares increased by 2.9% as crude oil prices rose amid geopolitical tensions [8] - Carvana's stock plummeted over 20% after reporting significant profitability loss in Q4 [8] - Smurfit Westrock shares surged 12% after an encouraging five-year financial forecast despite an earnings miss [8] Upcoming Events - Investors are monitoring "Fedspeak" from officials for monetary policy clues, with a primary focus on the upcoming PCE inflation data [9] - Geopolitical developments in the Middle East are influencing oil prices and the global inflation outlook [9]

Core Insights - Reliance, Inc. reported profits of $116.5 million or $2.22 per share for Q4 2025, an increase from $105.3 million or $1.93 per share in the same quarter last year, but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.80 per share [1] - The company achieved net sales of $3,498.6 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 11.9%, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,382.4 million [1] Segment Performance - Shipments increased by 5.8% year-over-year to 1,528.7 thousand tons, exceeding the estimate of 1,522.5 thousand tons, with the average selling price per ton rising 5.6% to $2,292, above the estimate of $2,271 [2] - Demand for non-residential construction, Reliance's largest end market, strengthened compared to Q4 2024, with expectations for continued healthy demand through Q1 2026 due to investments in data centers and public infrastructure [3] - The broader manufacturing market saw improved demand year-over-year, driven by growth in military, industrial machinery, and construction machinery sectors, with expectations for continued strength in Q1 [4] - Aerospace demand increased compared to the prior-year quarter, with expectations for consistent commercial aerospace demand in Q1 due to build-rate increases [5] - Demand for automotive toll processing services remained flat year-over-year, with steady performance expected in Q1, influenced by North American trade policy [6] - The semiconductor market experienced soft demand relative to Q4 2024, with elevated inventory levels impacting activity, and these headwinds are expected to persist into Q1 [7] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, Reliance held $216.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, with total outstanding debt of $1.43 billion, including $277 million borrowed under a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility [8] - The company generated $276.1 million in operating cash flow during Q4, demonstrating strong cash flow generation across various market conditions [8] - Reliance repurchased approximately 716,000 shares of common stock in Q4 at an average price of $279.30 per share, totaling $200.1 million [9] Outlook - Reliance anticipates healthy demand across diverse end markets in Q1, projecting a 5% to 7% increase in tons sold from the prior quarter [12] - The average selling price per ton is expected to rise by 3% to 5% sequentially, with a modest improvement in FIFO gross profit margin anticipated [13] - The company forecasts adjusted earnings per share in the range of $4.50 to $4.70 for Q1, accounting for an estimated LIFO expense of $25 million [13] Stock Performance - Reliance's shares have gained 11.2% over the past year, compared to the industry growth of 44.8% [14]

We recently published 10 Losing Stocks in an Otherwise Optimistic Market. Axcelis Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) was one of the worst performers on Wednesday. Axcelis ended two straight days of gains on Wednesday, slashing 16.74 percent to finish at $82.01 apiece as investor sentiment was dampened by a dismal earnings performance in both the full-year and fourth quarter of 2025. In an updated report, Axcelis Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) said that net profit last year fell by 40.2 percent to $120.2 mi ...

Economic Data - U.S. durable goods orders fell -1.4% m/m in December, better than the expected -1.8% m/m, while core durable goods orders rose +0.9% m/m, exceeding expectations of +0.3% m/m [1] - U.S. December housing starts increased +6.2% m/m to 1.404 million, surpassing expectations of 1.310 million, and building permits rose +4.3% m/m to 1.448 million, above the expected 1.400 million [1] - U.S. industrial production rose +0.7% m/m in January, stronger than the anticipated +0.4% m/m [1] Stock Market Movements - Wall Street's three main equity benchmarks closed higher, with Global Payments (GPN) surging over +16% after issuing above-consensus FY26 adjusted EPS guidance [2] - Micron Technology (MU) rose more than +5% and Applied Materials (AMAT) gained over +2% [2] - Palantir Technologies (PLTR) increased more than +1% following an upgrade from Mizuho [2] - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) fell over -6% after cutting its full-year adjusted EPS guidance [2] Investor Sentiment - Investors are awaiting new U.S. economic data, remarks from Federal Reserve officials, and Walmart's earnings report [3] - Renewed caution about the outlook for AI has negatively impacted sentiment, with most members of the Magnificent Seven stocks edging lower in pre-market trading [3] Geopolitical Concerns - Investors are concerned about the potential for U.S. military intervention in Iran, despite progress in nuclear talks [4] - The U.S. has reportedly assembled its largest air power presence in the Middle East since 2003, raising tensions [4] - WTI crude prices rose above $66 a barrel amid these geopolitical tensions [4] Federal Reserve Insights - U.S. rate futures indicate a 94.1% chance of no rate change and a 5.9% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the March FOMC meeting [6] - The FOMC minutes revealed that several policymakers suggested potential rate increases if inflation remains above target [5] - A majority of participants noted that downside risks to employment have moderated, while persistent inflation risks remain [5] Upcoming Economic Reports - U.S. Initial Jobless Claims data is expected to show a figure of 223K, down from 227K last week [6] - The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index is anticipated to drop to 7.5 in February from 12.6 last month [7] - Trade Balance data is expected to show a narrowing deficit to -$55.5 billion in December from -$56.8 billion in November [7] - Pending home sales data is expected to rise +1.4% m/m in January after a -9.3% m/m drop in December [8] Corporate Earnings - Notable companies reporting quarterly figures include Walmart, Deere & Company, and Newmont [10] - Figma surged more than +11% in pre-market trading after posting strong Q4 results and guidance [16] - DoorDash climbed over +10% after reporting better-than-expected Q4 marketplace gross order value [16]

Core Insights - Tower Semiconductor and Xanadu are expanding their collaboration to develop advanced silicon photonics for fault-tolerant quantum computers, leveraging Tower's high-volume silicon photonics platform [1][3] - The partnership aims to create a manufacturing-aligned platform for next-generation photonic quantum hardware, focusing on scalability and performance for large-scale quantum information processing [2][4] Company Developments - Xanadu's CEO highlighted the importance of the collaboration with Tower in transitioning their hardware from concept to prototype, emphasizing the combination of architectural breakthroughs and manufacturing expertise [3] - Tower Semiconductor's Vice President noted the broad applicability of their platform across various advanced domains, including quantum computing, data centers, telecom, and automotive applications [3] Technical Focus - Current efforts are directed at optimizing critical components using standard product flows for ultra-low loss silicon nitride (SiN) and integrated photodiodes, validating Xanadu's photonic circuit designs on a high-volume manufacturing platform [4]

Core Viewpoint - Tower Semiconductor and Xanadu are expanding their collaboration to develop advanced silicon photonics for fault-tolerant quantum computers, leveraging Tower's high-volume silicon photonics platform [1][3]. Group 1: Collaboration and Development - The partnership aims to create a manufacturing-aligned platform for next-generation photonic quantum hardware, focusing on scalability and performance as systems become more complex [2]. - Xanadu's CEO highlighted the importance of this collaboration in transitioning hardware from concept to prototype within a scalable manufacturing environment [3]. - Tower's Vice President emphasized the broad applicability of their platform across various advanced domains, including quantum computing, data centers, telecom, and automotive applications [3]. Group 2: Technical Achievements and Focus Areas - Current efforts are directed at optimizing critical components using standard product flows for ultra-low loss silicon nitride (SiN) and integrated photodiodes, validating Xanadu's photonic circuit designs on a high-volume manufacturing platform [4]. - The collaboration is positioned to meet the manufacturability requirements of large-scale photonic quantum computing as the industry progresses toward commercial-scale systems [4]. Group 3: Company Background - Tower Semiconductor is a leading foundry specializing in high-value analog semiconductor solutions, serving various markets such as consumer, industrial, automotive, and medical [6]. - Xanadu, founded in 2016, is a prominent Canadian quantum computing company focused on building accessible quantum computers and developing the open-source software library PennyLane for quantum application development [9].

The S&P 500 delivered strong returns for investors over the past three years as they piled into growth stocks in a number of fields, from technology to biotech and consumer goods. And they took a particular interest in players involved in artificial intelligence (AI), seeing this area as the next big thing. This bet has been a successful one for many, as certain AI companies have already generated fantastic revenue growth and stock performance. But, in recent weeks, the stock market has faced a variety o ...

Group 1 - The Power Inflow alert is a proprietary signal from TradePulse that indicates a significant shift in order flow towards buying activity, suggesting a high probability of bullish price movement for the rest of the trading day [1] - Order flow analytics provide insights into real-time buying and selling trends by examining volume, timing, and order size, which helps traders make informed decisions based on market sentiment [2] Group 2 - At the time of the Power Inflow signal, SNDK was priced at $597.00, and the intraday high reached $616.98, reflecting a 3.35% increase by 2:45 PM EST [3]

Core Viewpoint - Kioxia forecasts significantly higher demand for NAND memory chips, positively impacting sentiment across the memory sector, including Sandisk [1][2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Analysts expect demand for memory chips to outpace supply into 2026 and beyond, contributing to a 1200% rise in Sandisk shares over the past six months [2] - Kioxia and Sandisk extended their joint venture at flash memory plants through 2034, focusing on AI-enabled smart manufacturing of advanced 3D NAND [3] Group 2: Company Performance - Sandisk's stock has increased approximately 1180% over the past 12 months and 154% year-to-date [5] - Sandisk's current valuation is at a forward P/E multiple of about 27.3, above the sector median of roughly 23, indicating investor confidence in long-term AI-driven earnings growth [8] Group 3: Financial Results - Sandisk reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of about $3.02 billion, a 31% sequential increase, exceeding guidance [9] - GAAP net income for Sandisk reached approximately $803 million, resulting in a diluted EPS of $5.15 [9]