Group 1 - Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund reported a return of 9.37% in Q2 2025, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index which returned 11.97% due to security selection issues in the information technology and financial sectors [1] - The fund highlighted Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) as a key stock, which had a one-month return of 22.46% and a 52-week gain of 135.21%, closing at $341.10 per share with a market capitalization of $10.407 billion on September 29, 2025 [2] - Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. specializes in e-infrastructure, transportation, and building solutions, experiencing a recovery after a selloff in Q1 2025, with strong performance in its data center business and positive management outlook for the coming years [3] Group 2 - Despite the positive outlook for Sterling Infrastructure, it was noted that the company is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 25 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q2 2025, down from 30 in the previous quarter [4] - The potential of Sterling Infrastructure as an investment is acknowledged, but it is suggested that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk [4] - Additional insights on Sterling Infrastructure were provided by Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund, indicating a broader interest in the company's performance [5]

Core Insights - Jacobs has been selected by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to continue providing program management services for its $15.1 billion BuildLACCD Bond Program, which aims to modernize academic infrastructure across nine colleges [1][2] - The five-year contract will support critical facility, housing, and athletic infrastructure projects benefiting approximately 250,000 students and faculty members [2][3] - Jacobs has a strong track record, having completed nearly 200 projects and initiated 475 new construction and modernization projects over the past seven years [3] Company Overview - Jacobs is ranked No. 2 in Program Management by Engineering News-Record and has extensive experience in managing complex infrastructure projects across various educational institutions [4] - The company operates in over 15,000 learning environments, supporting about one in eight schools in the U.S. to enhance campus facilities for innovation and student success [4] - Jacobs generates approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and employs nearly 45,000 people, providing end-to-end services in multiple sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, and environmental services [5]

Company Overview - Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) is a leading provider of integrated infrastructure services in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for building, maintaining, and operating transit systems, utilities services, and public infrastructure [2][3] - The company segments its business into three main areas: Transport (over 50% of revenue), Utilities (around 20%), and Facilities (around 30%) [3] Share Price Performance - DOW share price has increased by 37.7% since the start of 2025, attracting investor interest [1][2] Revenue Stability - A significant portion of DOW's revenue comes from large, multi-year government contracts, providing predictable future revenue despite economic downturns [5] - The company has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.6% in revenue over the last three years [6] Dividend Information - DOW currently offers a dividend yield of 2.33%, with an average yield of 3.7% over the past five years, indicating a potential income source for investors [7][10] - The current dividend yield is below its historical average, suggesting that dividends may have fallen or that the share price has increased [10][11] Economic Outlook - Investment in industrial companies like DOW is often viewed as a bet on economic growth, as revenue growth is closely tied to government infrastructure investment and population growth [8]

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, September 22nd:PHINIA Inc. (PHIN) : This company that provides fuel systems, electrical systems, and aftermarket solutions for both internal combustion engine vehicles and industrial applications carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 9.4% over the last 60 days.PHINIA has a PEG ratio of 0.52 compared with 1.15 for the industry. The ...

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AECOM (NYSE:ACM), the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced that it will host its 2025 Investor Day in New York City at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. AECOM's executive leadership team, led by Troy Rudd, AECOM's chairman and chief executive officer, will present the Company's long-term strategic plan and financial targets, including detail on accelerating initiatives that will transform the w. ...

Group 1 - Kyndryl, spun off from IBM four years ago, has developed a strong infrastructure services business that is largely overlooked by Wall Street [4][7] - The company reported a 43% increase in its order book in the latest earnings report, indicating significant growth potential [7] - Kyndryl is currently trading at 0.5 times sales and 9.6 times forward earnings, suggesting it may be undervalued compared to its growth prospects [7] Group 2 - The name "Kyndryl" is a unique creation that may deter some investors, but it reflects the company's focus on building relationships and providing tailored services [5][6] - Kyndryl offers solutions for both large enterprises and smaller businesses, including AI system scaling and cloud-based data security [6]

European buyout firm PAI Partners sold a part of its stake in Infra Group to a group of investors led by current shareholder ICG Plc, in a transaction valuing the infrastructure services provider at about €3 billion ($3.5 billion), sources say https://t.co/SKdjQ7zOrC ...

Summary of NRW Holdings Conference Call on Acquisition of Freedom Company and Industry - **Company**: NRW Holdings (NWH) - **Acquisition Target**: Freedom, an Australian multi-service electrical, mechanical, HVAC infrastructure technology, and maintenance service provider Core Points and Arguments 1. **Acquisition Announcement**: NRW Holdings announced the acquisition of Freedom, which will serve as a strategic fourth pillar called EMIT, enhancing NRW's service offerings and capabilities [2][4] 2. **Freedom's Business Overview**: Freedom operates across four divisions: electrical, mechanical, infrastructure, and technology, employing 2,500 staff and generating $840 million in revenue with normalized EBIT of $38.6 million in FY 2025 [3][4] 3. **Transaction Structure**: NRW will acquire 100% of Freedom for a maximum consideration of up to $200 million, with $122 million payable on completion and an earn-out component based on Freedom's EBIT performance [5][7][9] 4. **Financial Projections**: Freedom is expected to deliver EBIT of approximately $40 million in FY 2026, with 75% of this revenue already secured [17][18] 5. **Strategic Rationale**: The acquisition is seen as transformational, providing NRW with expanded service offerings and access to new markets, particularly in energy transition and digital innovation [11][12] 6. **Workforce Integration**: The acquisition will increase NRW's workforce to approximately 11,500, enhancing its operational capacity [20] 7. **Market Position**: Freedom has a strong reputation, with 70% of its revenue generated from long-term client relationships, indicating reliability and client satisfaction [18] 8. **Pipeline and Growth Opportunities**: NRW has a robust pipeline of $3.5 billion in potential projects, with $1 billion of work already in hand, indicating strong future revenue potential [21][23] 9. **Funding and Financial Strategy**: The acquisition will be funded through available undrawn debt facilities and cash generated by the business, with an initial increase in gearing expected [9][10] 10. **Future Margin Expectations**: NRW targets a 6% EBIT margin for Freedom in the long term, aligning with industry peers [30] Additional Important Content 1. **Sector Diversification**: Freedom's operations span various sectors, including government, healthcare, and infrastructure, providing NRW with diversified revenue streams [14][76] 2. **Due Diligence Process**: A thorough due diligence process was conducted, ensuring confidence in Freedom's ability to meet financial projections [37] 3. **Synergies and Growth Strategy**: The acquisition is not focused on cost synergies but rather on leveraging existing relationships and capabilities to drive revenue growth [28][49] 4. **Client Base Composition**: The client base is predominantly government (66%) versus private (34%), indicating a stable revenue source [77] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call regarding NRW Holdings' acquisition of Freedom, highlighting the strategic importance and expected financial impact of the transaction.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group revenue decreased slightly to just over $3,000,000,000, down 1.5% primarily due to lower defense and social infrastructure revenue [6][14] - EBITDA increased by 2.8%, with margin expanding to 8.3%, up 0.3 percentage points due to improved mix and focus on margin enhancement [6][15] - NPATA was $119,400,000, an increase of 11.9% year on year, with cash conversion rising to 93.2%, up 2.5 percentage points [6][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Defense and Social Infrastructure revenue declined by 6% due to lower defense-based services project work and revised contract scopes, but EBITDA margin improved by 1.4 percentage points to 8.1% [18] - Infrastructure Services revenue increased by 9.6%, with EBITDA up by 21.4% and EBITDA margin improving to 8.8%, driven by new higher-margin contracts in Energy and Water [19] - Telecommunications sector experienced a slight dip in revenue and EBITDA due to mobilization costs from new contracts, with expectations for ramp-up in the second half [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total addressable market is forecasted to expand from $86,800,000,000 in FY 2025 to $100,000,000,000 by FY 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% [27] - The Australian government's plan to increase defense investment above 2.3% of GDP by 2033 is expected to benefit the company, with 77% of revenue linked to government entities [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to redefine service excellence with a focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and sustainability [32] - Recent contract wins and a strong pipeline support the company's growth ambitions, particularly in telecommunications and energy sectors [11][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in a positive second half, expecting underlying NPATA growth of 10% to 12% compared to FY 2024, driven by recent contract wins and operational improvements [35] - The company anticipates a rebound in revenue growth in the second half as timing issues unwind [14] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a consistent track record of progressive financial results, with dividends growing by 43.4% since 2022 and a share buyback of $82,500,000 [4][24] - The acquisition of PowerNet enhances the company's position in the energy transition market, supporting upgrades to Australia's power network [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance for NPATA growth - Management expects a combination of revenue uplift and EBITDA margin improvement, particularly in the telco sector, to contribute to the guidance [39][40] Question: NBN contract pipeline and market share - The company has secured significant contracts with major telco carriers and estimates about 50% market share in the NBN space [44][46] Question: Working hand profile and revenue expectations - The company has a record work in hand and anticipates growth in this area, with a high renewal rate [48][50] Question: Telco segment mobilization costs - Management did not provide specific figures but indicated that mobilization costs are expected to reverse in the second half [53][55] Question: Defense and social infrastructure revenue variability - Revenue variability is attributed to several factors, including contract exits and timing of new contracts, but margins are expected to be sustainable [75][78] Question: Drivers of lower depreciation and amortization - The lower depreciation is primarily due to low capital expenditure in previous years, with expectations for an increase in future years [79]

Financial Performance - Q2 2025 - Revenues for Q2 2025 were $614.5 million, compared to $582.8 million in Q2 2024[19] - Net income for Q2 2025 was $71.0 million, compared to $51.9 million in Q2 2024[19] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $125.6 million, compared to $92.9 million in Q2 2024[44] - Diluted EPS for Q2 2025 was $2.31, compared to $1.67 in Q2 2024[19] Financial Performance - YTD Q2 2025 - Revenues for YTD 2025 were $1.045 billion, compared to $1.023 billion in YTD 2024[21] - Net income for YTD 2025 was $110.5 million, compared to $82.9 million in YTD 2024[21] - Adjusted EBITDA for YTD 2025 was $206.0 million, compared to $154.2 million in YTD 2024[44] - Diluted EPS for YTD 2025 was $3.59, compared to $2.66 in YTD 2024[21] Backlog and Guidance - Total Backlog was $2.01 billion with a 17.8% margin[8, 18] - The company anticipates 2025 EBITDA to be between $406 million and $421 million[31]