Core Insights - ZTO Express reported mixed fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, with earnings per share of 44 cents missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 46 cents, while total revenues of $1.77 billion surpassed the estimate of $1.65 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - The company's adjusted net income for the quarter was 2.7 billion, and parcel volume reached 9.7 billion, with an average daily retail parcel volume exceeding 7 million, marking a nearly 50% increase year over year [3] - Revenues from the core express delivery business improved by 22.4% year over year, driven by an 11% growth in parcel volume and a 10.3% increase in unit price [4] - Gross profit improved by 20.2% year over year, although the gross margin rate fell to 29.1% from 29.5% in the previous year [5] Operational Statistics - Revenues from freight forwarding services declined by 11.7% year over year due to falling cross-border e-commerce pricing, while revenues from accessory sales increased by 11.7% [5] - Total operating expenses were RMB306.5 million ($42.0 million), down from RMB373.2 million in the previous year [6] Cash and Dividends - ZTO Express ended the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.84 billion, an increase from $1.66 billion at the end of the prior quarter [6] - The board approved a semi-annual cash dividend of 35 cents per American depositary share, representing a 40% dividend payout ratio [7] Share Repurchase Program - The board approved an increase in the share repurchase program to $2 billion, with the effective period extended through June 30, 2025; as of December 31, 2024, ZTO had repurchased 50,546,707 ADSs for $1,222.0 million [8] Future Guidance - ZTO Express expects its parcel volume for 2025 to be in the range of 40.8 billion to 42.2 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20-24% [9] Stock Performance - ZTO shares have gained 9% year to date, outperforming the transportation-services industry [11]

Core Insights - Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) reported disappointing fourth-quarter 2024 results, with earnings of 30 cents per share missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents and declining year over year [1] - Revenues of $65.5 million also fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $69 million, representing a 17.8% year-over-year decline [2] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA for GLNG was $59.2 million, down 48% year over year [4] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4 2024 were $566.38 million, a decrease from $732.06 million at the end of the previous quarter [4] - Contractual debt increased by 24% to $1.51 billion at the end of the reported quarter [4] Strategic Transactions - In December 2024, GLNG completed the acquisition of remaining third-party minority ownership interests in FLNG Hilli for $60 million, achieving 100% economic interest in the asset [3] - In January 2025, GLNG sold its non-core 23.4% interest in Avenir for net proceeds of $39 million, completed in February 2025 [4] Dividend Information - The board of directors approved a fourth-quarter 2024 dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on or around March 18, 2025 [5] Market Performance - GLNG holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and has seen its shares gain 89.2% over the past year, contrasting with a 22.9% loss in the industry [6]