Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Equity Research team highlights recent performance and outlook for several companies, including UnitedHealth Group, Honeywell, Shopify, and Optex Systems, emphasizing their respective strengths and challenges in the current market environment [2][4][5][6][12]. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) - UnitedHealth's shares have declined by 3.9% over the past six months, slightly better than the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry's decline of 4.6% [4]. - The company faces rising medical costs, with a medical care ratio (MCR) projected at 89.1% for 2025, alongside elevated debt and interest expenses impacting financial flexibility [4]. - Despite the share price decline, UnitedHealth's fourth-quarter earnings exceeded estimates, supported by steady revenue growth from Optum and UnitedHealthcare, and strong cash flow with significant shareholder returns [5]. Honeywell International Inc. (HON) - Honeywell's shares have outperformed the Zacks Diversified Operations industry over the past six months, increasing by 18.6% compared to 1.4% for the industry [6]. - The company benefits from strong performance in commercial aviation and building automation, particularly in the Aerospace segment driven by defense business strength and growth in air transport flight hours [6]. - However, Honeywell faces challenges in its Industrial Automation segment due to lower demand, increasing operating costs, and significant balance sheet debt from acquisitions [8]. Shopify Inc. (SHOP) - Shopify's shares have underperformed the Zacks Internet - Services industry, declining by 12.7% compared to a 43.1% increase for the industry [9]. - The company is experiencing gross margin pressure due to higher hosting costs and a new paid trial program, which affects profitability [9]. - Despite these challenges, Shopify's expanding merchant base and investment in AI-driven tools are expected to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency [10][11]. Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. (OPXS) - Optex Systems' shares have outperformed the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry, increasing by 20.1% compared to 18.6% for the industry [12]. - The company reported a 31.7% year-over-year increase in Q1 FY26 orders, driven by strong demand for periscopes and optical assemblies, with quarterly revenues rising by 11.6% to $9.1 million [12][13]. - Recent multi-year contract awards exceeding $6 million provide revenue visibility into 2027, although gross margins have declined due to mix pressure and higher general and administrative costs [13].

分组1 - Select Medical reported quarterly earnings of $0.16 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.23 per share, and down from $0.18 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -31.57% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.4 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.60%, and up from $1.31 billion year-over-year [2] - Select Medical has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times over the last four quarters and topped consensus revenue estimates three times during the same period [2] 分组2 - The stock has gained about 9.9% since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's gain of 0.5% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.42 on revenues of $1.42 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.34 on revenues of $5.64 billion [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Medical - HMOs is currently in the bottom 9% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential underperformance compared to higher-ranked industries [8]

Core Insights - Centene Corporation reported a quarterly loss of $1.19 per share, which was better than the estimated loss of $1.22 per share [1][3] - The company's revenue for the quarter ending December 2025 was $49.73 billion, exceeding the estimated $48.41 billion and representing a 21.9% increase from the previous year's $40.81 billion [2][6] - For the full year 2025, Centene reported a GAAP diluted loss per share of $13.53, while the adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.08, with projections for adjusted diluted earnings per share to exceed $3.00 in 2026 [4][6] Financial Performance - Centene's EPS of -$1.19 was a positive surprise compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a $1.25 loss, marking a 4.76% positive deviation [3] - The company has consistently exceeded consensus revenue estimates over the past four quarters, demonstrating strong performance [2] - The Health Benefits Ratio (HBR) for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 94.3%, indicating improvements in Medicaid HBR [4][6] Financial Metrics - Centene's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is -3.55, and the price-to-sales ratio is 0.10, reflecting its current negative earnings situation [5] - The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.84, suggesting a moderate level of debt compared to equity [5] - A current ratio of 1.08 indicates that Centene maintains a reasonable level of short-term financial health [5]

Core Insights - Centene reported a quarterly loss of $1.19 per share, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.25, marking an earnings surprise of +4.76% [1] - The company generated revenues of $49.73 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.08% and showing a year-over-year increase from $40.81 billion [2] Financial Performance - Over the last four quarters, Centene has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped revenue estimates four times [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.93 on revenues of $48 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.89 on revenues of $191.31 billion [7] Market Position - Centene shares have declined about 3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has only declined by 0.7% [3] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Medical - HMOs, which includes Centene, is currently in the bottom 7% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential underperformance compared to higher-ranked industries [8] Future Outlook - The company's earnings outlook will be crucial for determining the stock's immediate price movement, with management's commentary on the earnings call being particularly important [3][4] - The estimate revisions trend for Centene was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, suggesting expected underperformance in the near future [6]

分组1 - Cigna reported quarterly earnings of $8.08 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.87 per share, and up from $6.64 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +2.70% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $72.5 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.66%, compared to $65.68 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Cigna has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, indicating strong performance [2] 分组2 - The stock has underperformed the market with a loss of about 1.3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 0.5% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $7.24 on revenues of $67.7 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $30.37 on revenues of $285.06 billion [7] - The Medical - HMOs industry, to which Cigna belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 6% of over 250 Zacks industries, which may impact stock performance [8]

分组1 - UnitedHealth Group reported quarterly earnings of $2.11 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.09 per share, but down from $6.81 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +0.83% [1] - The company posted revenues of $113.22 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.04%, and up from $100.81 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, UnitedHealth has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped revenue estimates only once [2] 分组2 - The stock has gained approximately 6.5% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.5% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $6.36 on revenues of $113.89 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $17.61 on revenues of $457.6 billion [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Medical - HMOs is in the bottom 7% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8]

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group's stock has shown resilience with a recent increase, but upcoming earnings are expected to reflect a significant decline in earnings per share year-over-year [1][2]. Financial Performance - UnitedHealth Group closed at $347.75, up 2.75% from the previous trading session, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.16% [1]. - The company is projected to report earnings of $2.09 per share on January 27, 2026, indicating a year-over-year decline of 69.31% [2]. - For the full year, earnings are estimated at $16.3 per share, reflecting a decrease of 41.07%, while revenue is expected to remain flat at $447.7 billion [3]. Analyst Estimates - Recent changes in analyst estimates are crucial for investors, as they often indicate the latest business trends and outlook [3]. - The consensus EPS projection has increased by 0.01% in the past 30 days, and UnitedHealth Group currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5]. Valuation Metrics - UnitedHealth Group has a Forward P/E ratio of 19.23, which is higher than the industry average of 15.58, suggesting it is trading at a premium [6]. - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.04, compared to the industry average of 1.04, indicating a higher valuation relative to projected earnings growth [7]. Industry Context - The Medical - HMOs industry, to which UnitedHealth Group belongs, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 215, placing it in the bottom 13% of over 250 industries [7][8].

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group is facing a significant year-over-year decline in earnings, while revenue is expected to grow, indicating mixed performance in the upcoming earnings report [2][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) closed at $323.62, down 2.2% from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500, which lost 0.35% [1]. - Over the past month, shares of UnitedHealth Group have appreciated by 2.07%, underperforming the Medical sector's gain of 5.67% but outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.2% [1]. Group 2: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - UnitedHealth Group is projected to report earnings of $2.07 per share, representing a year-over-year decline of 69.6% [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $113.53 billion, up 12.62% from the year-ago period [2]. - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $16.29 per share, a decline of 41.11%, while revenue is expected to be $447.97 billion, an increase of 11.91% from the prior year [3]. Group 3: Analyst Estimates and Rankings - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for UnitedHealth Group indicate changing business trends, with positive changes suggesting a favorable outlook on business health and profitability [4]. - The Zacks Rank system, which includes estimate changes, currently ranks UnitedHealth Group at 3 (Hold) [6]. Group 4: Valuation Metrics - UnitedHealth Group has a Forward P/E ratio of 20.32, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 13.6 [7]. - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.16, compared to the Medical - HMOs industry average PEG ratio of 1.28 [8]. Group 5: Industry Context - The Medical - HMOs industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 202, placing it in the bottom 19% of all 250+ industries [8]. - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [9].

Group 1: Stock Performance - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) closed at $319.97, reflecting a +2.71% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.98% [1] - Over the last month, UNH shares decreased by 13.57%, underperforming the Medical sector's gain of 4.76% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.79% [1] Group 2: Earnings Projections - Upcoming EPS for UnitedHealth Group is projected at $2.07, indicating a significant 69.60% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to reach $113.53 billion, representing a 12.62% increase from the year-ago quarter [2] Group 3: Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are estimated at $16.29 per share, reflecting a -41.11% change from the previous year, while revenue is projected at $447.97 billion, indicating an +11.91% change [3] - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates suggest a favorable outlook on the business health and profitability [3] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - UnitedHealth Group has a Forward P/E ratio of 19.13, which is higher than the industry average of 11.81, indicating a premium valuation [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.03, compared to the Medical - HMOs industry's average PEG ratio of 1.16 [7] Group 5: Industry Ranking - The Medical - HMOs industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 203, placing it within the bottom 18% of over 250 industries [7] - The Zacks Rank system, which assesses the strength of industry groups, shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Core Insights - The Joint Corp. reported quarterly earnings of $0.02 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.01 per share, representing an earnings surprise of +300.00% [1] - The company posted revenues of $13.38 million for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.84%, but down from $30.2 million year-over-year [2] - The stock has underperformed the market, losing about 22% since the beginning of the year compared to the S&P 500's gain of 15.6% [3] Earnings Performance - Over the last four quarters, The Joint has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.16 on revenues of $15.04 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.03 on revenues of $54.63 million [7] Market Outlook - The company's earnings outlook will be crucial for future stock performance, with management's commentary on the earnings call expected to influence investor sentiment [3][4] - The Zacks Rank for The Joint is currently 3 (Hold), indicating that shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Medical - HMOs industry, to which The Joint belongs, is currently in the bottom 27% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8]