BALTIMORE, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PEO) announces the Fund’s investment returns for the first half of 2025. The total return on the Fund’s net asset value for the first half of 2025 was 2.3%, with dividends and capital gains reinvested. The comparable figures for the S&P Energy Sector and the S&P 500 Materials Sector were 0.8% and 6.0%, respectively. Our benchmark, which is comprised of the S&P 500 Energy Sector (80%) and the S&P 500 Materials Sector (20%) ...

Company Overview - TechnipFMC plc is a leading manufacturer and supplier of products, services, and fully integrated technology solutions for the energy industry, formed from the merger of Technip and FMC Technologies in January 2017 [12] - The company focuses on designing, producing, and servicing technologically sophisticated systems and products for subsea, onshore/offshore, and surface projects, aiming to enhance the performance of its oil and gas clients [12] Investment Analysis - TechnipFMC has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a solid position in the market [13] - The company has a Value Style Score of B, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 17.07, which may appeal to value investors [13] - For fiscal 2025, three analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards in the last 60 days, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing to $2.07 per share [13] - TechnipFMC has demonstrated an average earnings surprise of +37.2%, suggesting potential for positive performance [13] - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, TechnipFMC is recommended for investors' consideration [14]

Group 1: Market Overview - The U.S. equity markets are experiencing a downtrend due to President Trump's proposed tariffs on imported goods from 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, set to take effect in August [1] - The sudden shift in tariff policy has increased market uncertainty and financial turmoil, prompting policymakers to take action to protect their economies [1] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Investors are turning to momentum stocks as a strategy to achieve sustained profits amid market volatility [2] - Momentum investing is based on the principle of "buying high and selling higher," capitalizing on established trends in stock prices [3] Group 3: Momentum Strategy Implementation - A screening strategy has been developed to identify momentum anomaly stocks, focusing on the top 50 stocks with the best percentage price change over the last 52 weeks [5] - The strategy also includes selecting stocks that are among the 10 worst performers over the past week to identify those experiencing a short-term pullback [6] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Style Score of B or better are prioritized for selection, indicating a higher probability of success [7] Group 4: Selected Stocks - Urban Outfitters, Inc. has seen a 63.6% increase in stock price over the past year but a 4.2% decline in the past week, with a Momentum Score of B [8] - Royal Gold, Inc. has experienced a 22% increase in stock price over the past year but a 9.8% decline in the past week, holding a Momentum Score of A [9] - Kodiak Gas Services has seen a 25.3% increase in stock price over the past year but a 3.8% decline in the past week, also with a Momentum Score of A [10]

Key Takeaways NGS, ASC, ATGE, and RGCO show strong net margins and upward EPS revisions for fiscal 2025. All four stocks have Zacks Ranks of 1 or 2 and VGM Scores of A or B, indicating solid upside potential. Each company has an impressive track record of beating earnings estimates.The primary purpose of a business is to generate profits that can be reinvested in expansion or utilized for rewarding shareholders. The net profit margin is an effective tool to measure the profits reaped by a business.A highe ...

Group 1: Company Performance - MRC Global Inc. is experiencing solid momentum in the gas utility sector, with revenues increasing 3% year over year to $273 million in Q1 2025, driven by new home construction and lower energy price volatility [1][6] - The company anticipates revenue growth in low to high single digits year over year for 2025, supported by increased customer activity in maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) [1][6] - MRC Global generated free cash flow of $9 million in Q1 2025 and aims to continue rewarding shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [3][6] Group 2: Shareholder Returns - In Q1 2025, MRC Global repurchased shares worth $6 million and had total dividend payments of $23 million in 2024, along with share repurchases of $365 million [2][6] - The company has authorized a new share repurchase program allowing for the buyback of up to $125 million worth of shares until January 2, 2028 [2] Group 3: Financial Health - MRC Global repaid $184 million in borrowings under revolving credit facilities in Q1 2025, following a repayment of $449 million in 2024, indicating a focus on reducing debt [3] - The company's leverage ratio was 1.7x at the end of Q1 2025, reflecting its commitment to lowering debt levels [3] Group 4: Industry Challenges - MRC Global faces headwinds in the Production & Transmission Infrastructure (PTI) and Downstream, Industrial and Energy Transition (DIET) sectors due to project completion delays and reduced international activity [7] - Potential conflicts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East may impact the global supply chain, affecting the availability of critical components [8] - Labor constraints from increased competition for talent are also a concern for the company moving forward [8]

Core Insights - Companies with favorable efficiency levels are more likely to attract investors due to their expected impressive returns and positive correlation with price performance [1] - The efficiency ratio serves as an indicator of a company's financial health, assessing how effectively it utilizes its assets and liabilities [1] Efficiency Ratios to Consider - Receivables Turnover measures a company's ability to extend credit and collect debts, with a high ratio indicating effective collection practices [2] - Asset Utilization reflects a company's capability to convert assets into output, with higher values suggesting greater efficiency [3] - Inventory Turnover assesses a company's ability to manage inventory relative to its cost of goods sold, where a high ratio indicates efficient inventory management [4] - Operating Margin evaluates a company's control over operating expenses, with higher values indicating better expense management compared to peers [5] Screening Criteria - The screening process identified stocks with Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization, and Operating Margin greater than industry averages, narrowing down over 7,906 stocks to seven candidates [7] - A favorable Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) was also included in the screening criteria to enhance profitability [6] Selected Stocks - Carvana (CVNA) is a leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, with an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 137.6% [7] - Natural Gas Services Group (NGS) manufactures and services natural gas compressors, achieving an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 34.8% [9] - Equity Bancshares (EQBK) operates as a bank holding company providing financial services, with an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 17.3% [10]

Product line includes Druck, Panametrics and Reuter-Stokes brandsTransaction aligns with Baker Hughes’ ongoing portfolio optimization HOUSTON and LONDON, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR), an energy technology company, announced Monday an agreement to sell its Precision Sensors & Instrumentation (PSI) product line to Crane Company (NYSE: CR, “Crane”), a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products, for a total cash consideration of approximately $1.15 billion. PSI, p ...

Market Overview - A recent ruling by the U.S. trade court declared President Trump's global tariffs illegal, contributing to a new wave of market uncertainty [1] - The Federal Reserve's current wait-and-see approach adds to the uncertainty regarding future interest rate directions [1] Investment Strategy - Creating a curated portfolio of low-beta stocks is recommended as a strategy to navigate market volatility [1] - Low-beta stocks are less volatile than the market, providing a safeguard against uncertainty [1] Stock Recommendations - Suggested stocks include Natural Gas Services Group Inc (NGS), Stride Inc. (LRN), AptarGroup Inc. (ATR), and Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) [2] Stock Characteristics - Beta measures the volatility of a stock relative to the market, with a beta of 1 indicating movement in line with the market [3][4] - Stocks with a beta between 0 and 0.6 are screened for lower volatility [5] Screening Criteria - Stocks must have a positive price change over the last four weeks [5] - Average 20-day trading volume should exceed 50,000 to ensure liquidity [6] - Stocks must be priced at $5 or higher [6] - Zacks Rank of 1 indicates strong buy potential, suggesting significant outperformance over the next one to three months [6] Company Insights - **Natural Gas Services (NGS)**: Increased demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports is driving the need for compression equipment, benefiting NGS as more pipelines are built [7] - **AptarGroup (ATR)**: Positioned for growth due to trends in healthcare moving towards home settings and rising demand for drug delivery systems [8] - **Stride Inc. (LRN)**: Focuses on innovative educational solutions, benefiting from the growing demand for school choice and tutoring services [10] - **Philip Morris International (PM)**: Transitioning from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products, with a focus on shareholder rewards and cost-cutting initiatives [11]

Group 1: Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) - Wheaton Precious Metals has a Zacks Rank 1 and its current year earnings estimate increased by 11.9% over the last 60 days [1] - The company's shares gained 18% over the last three months, outperforming the S&P 500, which declined by 1% [2] - Wheaton possesses a Momentum Score of A [2] Group 2: Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) - Royal Gold also holds a Zacks Rank 1, with a 9.8% increase in the current year earnings estimate over the last 60 days [2] - The shares of Royal Gold increased by 16.6% in the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500's decline of 1% [3] - The company has a Momentum Score of A [3] Group 3: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS) - Natural Gas Services Group has a Zacks Rank 1, with a 6.1% increase in the current year earnings estimate over the last 60 days [3] - The company's shares surged by 38% over the past month, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's advance of 15.5% [4] - Natural Gas Services possesses a Momentum Score of A [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses potential investment opportunities in cheap dividend-paying stocks that yield between 5.3% and 7.6%, despite the broader market recovery. It highlights five specific companies that remain undervalued and offers insights into their financial metrics and challenges [1][2]. Group 1: Company Summaries - **Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)**: A $90 billion pharmaceutical company with a low PEG of 0.12 and a cash-flow multiple of 7. It has a dividend yield of over 5% but faces profitability concerns due to competition affecting core drugs, leading to a 44% revenue drop for Revlimid in Q1 [3][5][6]. - **HF Sinclair (DINO)**: Formed from a merger, it operates seven U.S. refineries and has a crude oil processing capacity of 678,000 barrels per day. The stock has a PEG of 0.2 and a P/CF of 7.3, reflecting a more than 30% drop over the past year, primarily due to industry-wide challenges [7][10]. - **AES Corp. (AES)**: A utility company serving 2.7 million customers with a diverse energy portfolio. It has a PEG of 0.8 and a forward P/CF of 5, but has seen its stock lose over half its value in 2023 due to aggressive transitions to renewables and project delays [13][14][15]. - **Polaris (PII)**: A manufacturer of recreational vehicles, its stock has dropped over 70% since July 2023, resulting in a high dividend yield. The company has faced declining demand and significant revenue and profit drops, with a PEG of negative 1.6 [17][18][20]. - **Atlas Energy Solutions (AESI)**: An energy equipment and services company that has been increasing its dividends since its IPO in March 2023. It has a PEG of 0.2 and a forward P/CF of 5.5, but faces challenges due to fluctuating oil prices affecting demand [21][22][23]. Group 2: Financial Metrics - **Valuation Metrics**: All highlighted companies have a PEG below 1, indicating they are undervalued. The article emphasizes the importance of PEG and P/CF ratios in assessing investment opportunities [8][10]. - **Dividend Coverage**: Companies like DINO and AES have strong dividend coverage ratios, with DINO expected to have a coverage of 180% due to anticipated earnings growth in 2026 [12][16]. - **Market Challenges**: Each company faces unique challenges, such as competition, industry weakness, and fluctuating demand, which have impacted their stock performance and profitability [4][5][10][18].