Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX) is included among the 13 Best February Dividend Stocks to Buy. Stephens Raises Price Target on Matson (MATX) After Strong Preliminary Q4 Results Photo by Shaah Shahidh on Unsplash Stephens raised its price target on Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX) to $213 from $190 on January 21. The firm maintained an Overweight rating after the company released preliminary Q4 earnings last week. Following the update, the firm lifted its fourth-quarter EPS estimate to $4.47 from $2.77, citing higher v ...

Core Viewpoint - Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX) is recognized as a promising investment opportunity, with recent upgrades and a positive outlook despite some challenges in revenue and operating income [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Matson reported revenue of $880 million, which is an 8.5% decrease year-over-year but $42.7 million above analysts' expectations [3]. - Consolidated operating income for the quarter declined by $81.3 million year-over-year to $161 million, with contributions from Ocean Transportation and Logistics down by $79.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively [4]. - The company anticipates that consolidated operating income for Q4 2025 will be approximately 30% lower compared to the same period last year [4]. Market Position and Analyst Sentiment - Wolfe Research upgraded Matson from Peerperform to Outperform, setting a price target of $142, indicating a positive sentiment towards the stock [2]. - Matson is included among the 15 Best Stocks to Buy for the Medium Term, highlighting its potential as a solid investment choice [1]. Segment Performance - In the Ocean Transportation segment, container volume for Hawaii service increased by 0.3% year-over-year, while container volume in China decreased by 12.8% due to ongoing uncertainties related to tariffs and global trade conditions [3].

Core Viewpoint - Matson (MATX) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade indicates a positive outlook for Matson's earnings, suggesting potential buying pressure and an increase in stock price [3][5]. - Matson is projected to earn $11.82 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 15.2%. However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 20.7% over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - Matson's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].