The broader U.S. equity markets have witnessed a steady downtrend over the past couple of days as President Trump reignited the tariff war with a slew of proposed tariffs on imported goods from 14 countries, including major trading partners and allies, Japan and South Korea. The charges are scheduled to be levied from August, with more countries likely to be added to the list in the coming days. Although the doors are kept wide open for negotiations, the sudden shift in the tariff policy has led to heighten ...

Key Takeaways MRC saw a 3% revenue rise in gas utilities, fueled by housing growth and lower energy price exposure. Increased MRO activity and data center demand are expected to support MRC's revenue growth in 2025. MRC returned $388M to shareholders in 2024 and aims to buy back $125M more under a new program through 2028.MRC Global Inc. (MRC) is benefiting from solid momentum across the gas utility sector, driven by new home construction in some U.S. states and lower exposure to energy price volatility. ...

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]

A fresh wave of market uncertainty has been triggered by the U.S. trade court's ruling that President Donald Trump's global tariffs are illegal. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s wait-and-see stance means the future direction of interest rates is uncertain.In this context, creating a curated portfolio of low-beta stocks is a prudent strategy. This provides a safeguard against the uncertain market, equipping investors to navigate volatility with greater resilience and foresight.Hence, stocks like Natural G ...

US Equity Strategy Equity Strategy & Equities Ten stock picks for an uncertain, volatile environment Initial sell-off broad-based but recovery uneven The initial post-Liberation Day sell-off was broad-based (99% of S&P 500 stocks fell), but the recovery over the past weeks has been uneven. Tech and Mag7 have largely driven the S&P 500 recovery. The equal-weighted S&P 500 has underperformed the index by c170bp and value underperformed growth by 620bp. Just 35% of S&P 500 stocks have recovered to pre-Liberati ...

Core Viewpoint - Suncor Energy Inc. reported strong first-quarter 2025 adjusted operating earnings of 91 cents per share, exceeding expectations due to robust upstream production growth, although overall earnings declined from the previous year due to weaker downstream performance [1][6]. Financial Performance - Operating revenues reached $8.7 billion, surpassing estimates by 3.9%, but decreased approximately 6.7% year over year due to lower upstream sales volumes [2][14]. - The company declared a quarterly dividend of 57 Canadian cents per share, consistent with the previous quarter, to be paid on June 25, 2025 [2]. - Total expenses decreased by 1.4% to C$10.2 billion, with operating, selling, and general expenses down to C$3.3 billion from C$3.4 billion in the prior year [14]. Production and Segment Performance - The upstream segment achieved record production of 853,000 barrels per day (bbls/d), a 2.14% increase year over year, and exceeded the consensus estimate [5][4]. - Oil sands bitumen production reached a record 937,300 bbls/d, driven by strong output at Firebag [5]. - The company's exploration and production (E&P) volume increased by 23.9% to 62,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), surpassing estimates [6]. Downstream Operations - Adjusted operating earnings for the downstream segment fell to C$667 million from C$1.118 billion in the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower benchmark crack spreads [11]. - Refining throughput was the highest for a first quarter at 482,700 bpd, exceeding the consensus estimate [12][13]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - Cash flow from operating activities was C$2.2 billion, down from C$2.8 billion in the prior year [15]. - Capital expenditures for the first quarter amounted to C$1.1 billion, with total capital expenditures for 2025 expected to be between C$6.1 billion and C$6.3 billion [15][19]. Guidance for 2025 - Suncor Energy anticipates upstream production to range from 810,000 boe/d to 840,000 boe/d for 2025, with cash operating costs for Oil Sands operations expected between C$26 and C$29 per barrel [16][18]. - Refinery throughput is projected to be between 435,000 bpd and 450,000 bpd, with refined product sales expected in the range of 555,000 to 585,000 bpd [18].

MRC Global (MRC) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 07, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Monica Broughton - Investor RelationsRob Saltiel - President and CEOKelly Youngblood - EVP & CFOChristopher Dankert - SVP - Equity ResearchBlake McLean - Managing Director Conference Call Participants Adam Farley - Associate AnalystCharles Minervino - Equity Research Analyst Operator and welcome to MRC Global's First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. At this time, participants are in a listen only mode. A ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of efficiency ratios in evaluating a company's potential for profitability and stock performance [1] Efficiency Ratios - **Receivables Turnover**: This ratio measures a company's ability to extend credit and collect debts, with a high ratio indicating effective collection practices and quality customers [2] - **Asset Utilization**: This ratio assesses how well a company converts its assets into sales, with higher values suggesting greater efficiency [3] - **Inventory Turnover**: This ratio indicates a company's ability to manage inventory relative to its cost of goods sold, where a high value reflects efficient inventory management [4] - **Operating Margin**: This ratio measures the efficiency of a company in controlling operating expenses, with higher values indicating better expense management compared to peers [5] Screening Criteria - The screening process identified stocks with efficiency ratios above industry averages, narrowing down from over 7,906 stocks to eight candidates [7] - A favorable Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) was also included in the screening criteria to enhance profitability [6] Selected Stocks - **Quad Graphics (QUAD)**: Specializes in print and multichannel solutions, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 71.8% [7] - **ONESPAN (OSPN)**: Develops security software and e-signature solutions, achieving an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.6% [8] - **ChampionX (CHX)**: Provides chemistry solutions and technologies for oil and gas production, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 9% [9] - **BancFirst (BANF)**: A bank holding company offering commercial banking services, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 7% [10]

Cactus, Inc. (WHD) reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 73 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 70 cents. However, the bottom line declined from the year-ago quarter’s figure of 75 cents. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.)Total quarterly revenues of $280.3 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $268 million. The top line improved from the year-ago figure of $274 million.The better-than-expected quarterly earnings can be attribut ...