Market Overview - The S&P 500 Index rose 17.9% in 2025, while the Bloomberg US Aggregate Index increased by 7.3% [3] - The average investor experienced a positive sentiment driven by expectations of AI advancements and Federal Reserve easing [3] - Despite overall market gains, nearly half of U.S. stocks were down, with the bottom fifth of stocks in the Russell 3000 experiencing a median loss of 40% [18] Economic Indicators - U.S. GDP grew by 4.3% in Q3 2025, with healthcare spending and construction of new AI data centers contributing significantly to this growth [17] - The Federal Reserve's policies have led to a financial system reliant on permanent liquidity, raising concerns about long-term inflation and economic inequality [10][13] Fund Performance - The Palm Valley Capital Fund achieved a total return of 4.46% in 2025, underperforming the S&P SmallCap 600 and Morningstar SmallCap benchmarks, which gained 6.02% and 12.20% respectively [32] - The Fund's equity positions increased by 1.12% over the last quarter, benefiting from exposure to precious metals [31] Investment Opportunities - New positions were added in Domino's Pizza Group, Utz Brands, and Ingredion, with each company showing potential for growth despite current challenges [33][36][39] - Domino's holds a significant market share in the UK pizza delivery market but faces growth challenges due to a pressured consumer environment [34] - Utz Brands is well-positioned with strong free cash flow potential and improving margins, trading at approximately 12x estimated free cash flow [37] - Ingredion is focusing on modified ingredients to address wellness trends and has improved its balance sheet, trading at 10x earnings [39] Market Trends - The "Visine effect" suggests that underperforming stocks are often discarded without sensitivity to price, impacting smaller companies more significantly [21] - The rise of passive investing has altered market dynamics, leading to concentrated buying and selling pressures during rebalancing periods [21] - Despite a strong year for equities, many small caps remain fully valued, with the average profitable non-financial member of the Russell 2000 trading at an enterprise value to operating profit of 18x [26]

Core Insights - Kforce Inc. has experienced declining earnings for three consecutive years due to a slowing job market, but there are signs that the worst may be over for the company, which specializes in technology, finance, and accounting staffing services [1] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Kforce reported earnings of $0.63, beating the Zacks Consensus by $0.06, marking the first earnings surprise after two consecutive misses [2] - Revenue for the quarter decreased by 5.9% year-over-year to $332.6 million and also saw a slight decline of 0.5% quarter-over-quarter [2] - The Technology and Finance and Accounting segments showed better-than-expected results, with the Finance and Accounting business growing 6.9% sequentially [3] Analyst Outlook - Analysts are optimistic about Kforce's prospects heading into 2026, with two earnings estimates revised higher for both 2025 and 2026 in the last 60 days [4] - The 2025 Zacks Consensus estimate is now $2.13, reflecting a decline of 20.5% from the previous year, while the 2026 estimate is projected at $2.28, indicating a potential earnings growth of 7% [4][5] Valuation Metrics - Kforce is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 14.7, which is considered attractive for value investors [6][9] - The company has a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.4, suggesting that investors are getting $1 of sales for just $0.40 [11] - Kforce is also shareholder-friendly, with a dividend yield of 5% and a stock repurchase plan expanded to $100 million [11] Market Position - The staffing industry has faced challenges in recent years, placing Kforce in the bottom 5% of all Zacks Rank industries [11] - Despite the downturn, Kforce is viewed as a potential turnaround story within the staffing sector [12]

Company Overview - Flowers Foods, based in Georgia, has been producing baked goods since 1919, with brands including Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, and Tastykake. The company operates 44 bakeries across 19 states and reported sales of $5.1 billion in 2024. Its stock has reached 68 new 52-week lows in the past year, yielding 9.1% [1] Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - Alexandra Real Estate Equities specializes in office and lab space for life sciences, agtech, and technology industries in major U.S. cities. As of September 30, it had 39.2 million square feet of leasable space and has hit 35 new 52-week lows in the past year, yielding 10.7% [3] Market Trends - In 2025, 105 stocks had at least 30 new 52-week lows and a market cap over $1 billion, with 30 of those stocks offering dividend yields of 2.75% or higher. The "Dogs of the Dow" strategy, which selects the highest-yielding stocks, was up 17.8% through December 26 [4][5] Staffing Industry - Robert Half, a staffing business, has hit 52 new 52-week lows in the past year, yielding 8.6%. The company reported a net margin of 2.8% for the trailing 12 months, the lowest in a decade, as hiring has slowed due to a high unemployment rate of 4.6% [7][8] Employee Benefits Sector - Alight administers employee benefits and provides payroll services for over 35 million employees. The company has also hit 52 new 52-week lows, yielding 8.1%. It has pivoted to AI initiatives to improve efficiency amid economic uncertainty [9][10][11] Food Industry - Conagra Brands has reached 40 new 52-week lows, yielding 8.0%. The stock has declined from around $18.30 to below $17.45, with analysts suggesting it may be a value trap [12][13] Real Estate and Investment - Americold Realty Trust has hit 47 new 52-week lows, yielding 6.9%. Despite revenue and EBITDA growth of 69% and 114% respectively over eight years, its share price has declined due to increased net debt of $4.1 billion [14][15][16][17] Retail Sector - Buckle has hit 32 new 52-week lows, yielding 2.6%. The company announced a special cash dividend of $3.00 per share, in addition to its regular quarterly dividend, bringing total dividends to $4.40 per share in 2026, yielding 8.2% at a share price of $53.76 [18][20][21]

Group 1: Alexander's (ALX) - The company is a real estate investment trust engaged in leasing, managing, developing, and redeveloping properties [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 7% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a dividend yield of 8.2%, significantly higher than the industry average of 4.8% [1] Group 2: Kforce (KFRC) - Kforce provides professional staffing services and solutions to clients on both temporary and permanent bases [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 3.4% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a dividend yield of 4.9%, compared to the industry average of 2.3% [2] Group 3: BHP Group Limited (BHP) - BHP is one of the world's largest mining companies with operations in multiple countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, and the United States [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 13% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.9%, while the industry average is 0.0% [3]

Core Viewpoint - SYNERGIE Group has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in House of Flexwork AG, aiming to strengthen its operations in Switzerland, with the transaction expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 [1][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition agreement was signed on December 23, 2025, but control will not transfer immediately [1]. - House of Flexwork is projected to generate a turnover of approximately CHF 75 million (80 million Euros) in 2025 [2]. - The Swiss operations of SYNERGIE will be taken over by House of Flexwork, enhancing national coverage and client portfolios in key sectors such as agrifood, pharmaceuticals, and logistics [3]. Group 2: Strategic Objectives - This acquisition aligns with SYNERGIE's goal to accelerate development in Switzerland, a strategic market in Europe, offering a comprehensive range of HR services [4]. - The operation will enhance the Group's ability to support clients in their development and performance by leveraging its global human resources solutions across 17 countries [5]. Group 3: Management and Future Events - The new entity will be managed by Andreas Eichenberger, the current CEO of House of Flexwork and Chairman of the Swiss Staffing Association [3]. - The next significant event is the communication of the 2025 revenue, scheduled for January 28, 2026, after the stock market closes [6].

Core Viewpoint - HireQuest, Inc. has announced a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $20 million of its outstanding shares, reflecting confidence in its long-term strategy and commitment to capital management [1][2]. Company Overview - HireQuest is a global franchisor providing on-demand staffing and executive search services, employing thousands across various industries through its divisions, including HireQuest Direct and MRINetwork [3]. Share Repurchase Program Details - The Repurchase Program will commence as soon as reasonably possible and will last for twelve months [1]. - The company may repurchase shares through various methods, including open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions and legal requirements [2]. - The program can be modified, suspended, or terminated at any time without prior notice [2].

Core Insights - KellyOCG + Sevenstep has been recognized as the No. 1 provider in HRO Today's 2025 Baker's Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings for Total Workforce Solutions, based on customer feedback [1][3] - The recognition emphasizes the company's ability to integrate managed services provider (MSP) and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) capabilities, offering clients a comprehensive approach to workforce management [2][4] Company Performance - KellyOCG + Sevenstep achieved the highest rankings in both "Quality of Service" and "Breadth of Service" categories within the HRO Today ratings [3] - The company has maintained a strong presence in the Baker's Dozen lists for over a decade, showcasing its consistent delivery of value through its services [4] Technology and Innovation - The company utilizes AI-powered proprietary technologies, such as Helix and Sevayo® Insights, to provide clients with deep talent insights and tailored workforce solutions [2][4] - The integration of data-driven visibility and predictive analytics enhances the company's service offerings, allowing for better workforce management and efficiency [2][5] Industry Context - HRO Today collects feedback from nearly 500 companies to evaluate top performers in the MSP and RPO sectors, providing an objective view based on service breadth, quality, deal size, and customer satisfaction [2] - KellyOCG + Sevenstep's solutions encompass various worker categories, including contingent, professional services, and synthetic labor, positioning the company as a leader in total talent management [2][4]

Group 1 - Robert Half Inc. has been downgraded from Neutral to Underperform by BNP Paribas Exane, with a price target set at $22, citing challenges from AI and automation impacting staffing firms [2] - The company's services revenue for the recent quarter was $1.35 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 7.54%, while net income decreased to $43 million from $65 million in the previous year [3] - Management noted ongoing caution from clients and job seekers, which has contributed to slower hiring and new project initiation [3] Group 2 - Despite the challenges, Robert Half's contract talent revenues showed sequential growth in October and November, indicating some positive trends [3] - The company maintains a strong cash position, ending the quarter with over $365 million in cash and cash equivalents, alongside an operating cash flow of $77 million and $20 million in share repurchases [4]

分组1 - The Federal Reserve is experiencing significant internal division as it begins a two-day policy meeting, with some officials advocating for a rate hold while others warn of the need for caution, potentially leading to a hawkish rate cut [2][4][5] - Markets are anticipating a nearly 90% chance of a rate cut, but the outcome remains uncertain due to differing opinions among Fed officials [4][8] - President Trump has approved the export of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to China, with 25% of sales revenue directed to the US government, indicating a strategic move in the tech sector [2][30] 分组2 - Paramount's CEO has expressed strong opposition to a potential deal with Netflix, arguing it could harm the theatrical movie business in Hollywood, highlighting ongoing tensions in the media industry [3][30] - Paramount has made a $100 billion bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, intensifying competition in the media landscape [2][30] - The Bank of Japan is expected to raise rates, which could influence global monetary policy dynamics, particularly in relation to the Federal Reserve's decisions [10][17] 分组3 - Japanese equities have shown significant growth, with the NIK index rising approximately 16% this year, outperforming major US indices, driven by strong corporate profit growth and investment in technology [23][24] - The Bank of Japan's careful approach to monetary policy normalization is expected to continue, with a potential rate hike anticipated [17][20] - Domestic investors in Japan are beginning to shift funds from US treasuries back into Japanese government bonds as yields rise, indicating a change in investment behavior [27][29]

December 3, 2025 04:00 AM GMT Staffers Future of Work: Assessing the threat to staffers from AI The AI/staffing debate is growing among investors, a reasonable concern given the prolonged pressure on placement volumes. We conclude that AI could reduce staffers' organic growth potential and lead to further de-rating, a scenario we now reflect in our forecasts. Remain cautious on the sub-sector. Key Takeaways What's new? Analysing staffing data, we see continued de-coupling from macro indicators, divergence b ...