ATLANTA, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that Tennessee-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider Vesta Freight is using Descartes transportation management suite to transform its nationwide freight operations and drive 18x growth in monthly shipment volume. By automating and synchronizing transportation management processes to streamline the movement of freight, Vesta eleva ...

Core Insights - Radiant Logistics, Inc. reported financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025, showing a revenue decline but significant growth in adjusted metrics when excluding the prior year's Milton Project revenues [1][4][5]. Financial Performance - Revenues for the second fiscal quarter were $232.1 million, down $32.4 million or 12.2% from $264.5 million in the prior year, primarily due to the absence of $64.8 million from the Milton Project [4][8]. - Gross profit increased to $61.0 million, up $1.4 million or 2.3% compared to the prior year, with a 16.0% increase when excluding the Milton Project [4][5]. - Adjusted net income was $8.1 million, down 24.3% from $10.7 million in the prior year, but up 30.6% when excluding the Milton Project [9][12]. - Adjusted EBITDA was $11.8 million, a slight decrease of 1.7% from $12.0 million in the prior year, but up 93.4% when excluding the Milton Project [10][13]. Operational Highlights - The company launched its first AI-powered agent, "Ray," aimed at streamlining international quote requests, enhancing operational efficiency [7]. - The Navegate platform is advancing the company's digital transformation, providing a competitive edge in global trade management [6]. Capital Management - The company repurchased 445,058 shares at an average cost of $5.97 per share, totaling $2.7 million during the quarter [3]. - Radiant Logistics remains virtually debt-free with no net debt as of December 31, 2025, relative to a $200 million credit facility [5][7]. Market Position - The company emphasizes its diversified service offerings and disciplined capital allocation strategy, which are expected to support profitable growth through both organic and acquisition initiatives [5][7].

Omnichannel fulfillment provider Stord said Tuesday it has assumed the lease of Quiet Logistics’s order-preparation center in Dallas and responsibility for supporting interested Quiet customers following American Eagle Outfitters’ decision last month to shutter its third-party logistics subsidiary. Terms of the agreement with American Eagle Outfitters were not disclosed. It is Stord’s second major deal this year following last month’s purchase of e-commerce logistics specialist Shipwire, underscoring th ...

Core Insights - The acquisition of ITS Logistics by Echo Global Logistics will create one of the largest third-party logistics platforms in North America, with projected pro forma revenue of approximately $5.4 billion for 2025 [2]. Company Overview - ITS Logistics is recognized as one of North America's fastest-growing modern third-party logistics (3PL) providers, focusing on complex supply chain challenges and maintaining a people-first culture [5]. - Echo Global Logistics is a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services, offering a wide range of freight brokerage and managed transportation solutions across various shipping modes [6]. Transaction Details - The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals [3]. - J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Jefferies LLC served as financial advisors to ITS, while Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and UBS Group AG acted as financial advisors to Echo [4].

Core Viewpoint - BofA has increased its price target for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. to $182 from $167, maintaining a Buy rating due to an improving outlook and effective cost controls [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - C.H. Robinson's Q4 EPS estimate has been raised to $1.14, slightly above the market forecast of $1.13 [1] - The stock saw a significant increase of nearly 57% in 2025, attributed to a strong quarterly profit beat amidst challenges in the logistics sector [2] - The North American Surface Transportation segment reported a 1.1% increase in revenue, supported by growth in shipment volumes across truckload and less-than-truckload businesses [3] Group 2: Technological Advancements - The company's performance has been closely linked to its implementation of artificial intelligence, which has automated various tasks such as generating shipping quotes and tracking shipments [2]

Core Insights - Dividends significantly contribute to equity returns, accounting for approximately 31% of the S&P 500's total return since 1926, while capital appreciation makes up the remaining 69% [1][2] Dividend Aristocrats Overview - The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats includes companies that have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, delivering higher returns with lower volatility compared to the broader market [3] - The power of compounding dividends is highlighted, showing that an investment in the S&P 500 without dividends would grow to $278 by February 2025, while reinvesting dividends would increase it to $9,584 [4] Methodology for Stock Selection - A review of 68 Dividend Aristocrat stocks was conducted, analyzing their average annual dividend growth over the past five years, resulting in the selection of 14 stocks with the highest growth rates [6] Company Highlights C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) - 5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 4.07% with a Dividend Yield of 1.54% as of January 4 [8][9] - Price target raised by BofA to $182 from $167, citing an improving outlook and effective cost controls, with Q4 EPS estimate lifted to $1.14 [10] - Stock performance in 2025 saw a nearly 57% increase, attributed to strong quarterly profits and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency [11] - Revenue in the North American Surface Transportation segment increased by 1.1%, supported by growth in shipment volumes [12] Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) - 5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 5.25% with a Dividend Yield of 2.51% as of January 4 [13][14] - Price target raised by Barclays to $217 from $197, with expectations for Q4 upside driven by strong sales of key products [14] - Strong free cash flow generation, with R&D investment of $10.4 billion, supports ongoing revenue and earnings growth, reinforcing dividend sustainability [15] - Oncology remains a core strength, with significant products targeting advanced cancers [16][17] Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) - 5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 5.48% with a Dividend Yield of 0.83% as of January 4 [18][19] - Price target raised by Wells Fargo to $130 from $120, with a mixed outlook for 2026 but positive sentiment on broadlines and food service [19] - Over half of Walmart's revenue comes from groceries, generating over $276 billion in grocery sales in fiscal 2025, making it the largest grocery seller in the US [20] - Walmart operates over 3,000 stores in Mexico and over 400 in Canada, with a majority stake in India's Flipkart, providing diversification and growth opportunities [21][22]

Group 1 - C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) has been recognized as one of the 20 Best Performing Dividend Stocks in 2025 [1] - Stifel analyst J. Bruce Chan raised the price target for C.H. Robinson to $184 from $155, maintaining a Buy rating, indicating confidence in the company's performance amid a challenging logistics sector [2] - The company reported a profit beat in Q3 2025, attributed to its use of AI for operational efficiency, which has helped streamline processes such as generating shipping quotes and tracking shipments [2][3] Group 2 - C.H. Robinson experienced a 1.1% revenue increase in its North American Surface Transportation segment, despite a challenging backdrop of soft US freight volumes and excess capacity [3] - The shift towards agentic AI, combined with earlier generative AI gains, is expected to lead to visible cost reductions and margin improvements for the company [4] - C.H. Robinson operates in third-party logistics, providing freight transportation services across multiple modes, positioning itself well for future growth [4]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 has increased nearly 18% in 2025, marking the potential for a third consecutive year of double-digit gains for the broader US market [1] - Wall Street anticipates continued profit growth, with S&P 500 earnings expected to rise by approximately 15.5% in 2026, up from 13.2% in 2025 and 12.1% in 2024 [2] - Goldman Sachs forecasts a 2.6% growth in US GDP for 2026, slightly above consensus, indicating a supportive environment for stock prices [3] Dividend Stocks Performance - The Dividend Aristocrat index, tracking companies with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, has risen over 6% this year, maintaining investor interest in dividend stocks for income and consistency [4] - A review of companies with the strongest returns in 2025 led to the selection of 20 dividend-paying stocks based on year-to-date performance, not on dividend size [6] Company Highlights C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) - YTD return as of December 30 is 58.08% with a dividend yield of 1.56% [9] - The company reported a profit beat in Q3 2025, attributed to its use of AI for operational efficiency, which has helped streamline logistics processes [10][12] - Revenue for the North American Surface Transportation segment increased by 1.1%, despite a challenging backdrop in US freight volumes [11] RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) - YTD return as of December 30 is 58.84% with a dividend yield of 1.48% [13] - The company secured a $1.6 billion sustainment contract for F135 engines and raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook to $6.10 to $6.20, up from $5.80 to $5.95 [15][16] - RTX's ability to manage tariff impacts positively reflects on its business outlook, with a forecasted revenue increase to $86.5 billion to $87 billion [17] HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) - YTD return as of December 30 is 58.85% with a dividend yield of 0.61% [18] - The company reported a 2.1% year-over-year increase in same-facility admissions and a 6.6% increase in revenue per equivalent admission [20] - HCA aims to increase its market share from 27% in 2022 to 29% by 2030, supported by an aging population and ongoing investments in technology [21][22]

Core Insights - Return on equity (ROE) is a key profitability metric favored by investors, measuring earnings generated from equity, and can be compared to historical or industry benchmarks to identify potential winning stocks [1] - Advanced analysis of ROE through DuPont analysis provides deeper insights by breaking down ROE into profit margin, asset turnover ratio, and equity multiplier, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of a company's financial health [2][3] DuPont Analysis - DuPont analysis examines three major elements: operating management, asset management, and capital structure, providing a clearer picture of ROE changes [2] - The formula for ROE through DuPont analysis is: ROE = Profit Margin * Asset Turnover Ratio * Equity Multiplier, which helps in identifying the underlying factors affecting ROE [2] Importance of DuPont Analysis - DuPont analysis helps investors differentiate between companies with high margins and those with high turnover, offering insights into the operational efficiency of different business models [3] - It also reveals a company's leverage status, indicating that a high ROE could be misleading if it results from excessive debt [4] Screening Parameters - Key screening parameters for identifying strong stocks include: - Profit Margin greater than or equal to 3, indicating profitable business operations [6] - Asset Turnover Ratio greater than or equal to 2, reflecting management efficiency in asset utilization [6] - Equity Multiplier between 1 and 3, showing the extent of debt used to finance assets [6] - Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2, suggesting better performance compared to peers [7] - Current Price more than $5, filtering out low-priced stocks [7] Highlighted Stocks - EverQuote (EVER): A Zacks Rank 1 company operating an online insurance marketplace, with an average earnings surprise of 37.16% over the past four quarters [8] - Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD): A leading third-party logistics provider, with an average earnings surprise of 13.94% over the past four quarters [9] - AllianceBernstein (AB): Provides diversified investment management services, with an average earnings surprise of 6.49% over the past four quarters [10] - Everus Construction Group (ECG): Offers a full spectrum of construction services, with an average earnings surprise of 51.78% over the past four quarters [11]

Core Insights - Triumph has expanded its relationship with NFI to include Payment and Audit solutions, aiming to modernize freight transactions and enhance operational efficiency [1][5] - NFI's integration of Triumph's services is intended to accelerate payments, automate invoice auditing, and strengthen carrier relationships through advanced technology [2][3] Company Overview - Triumph (NYSE: TFIN) is a financial and technology company focused on modernizing freight transactions, with a portfolio that includes Triumph, TBK Bank, and LoadPay [6] - NFI is a leading North American supply chain solutions provider, generating over $3.6 billion in annual revenue and employing over 18,000 associates [7] Service Benefits - Triumph's Audit and Payments solutions streamline workflows, reduce errors, and enable secure, real-time transactions, benefiting carriers with faster payments and greater transparency [4][5] - NFI has also adopted Triumph's Intelligence solution to enhance data-driven decision-making and operational insights across its network [3]