Core Insights - Darling Ingredients reported $1.71 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, a year-over-year increase of 20.6%, and an EPS of $0.64, slightly up from $0.63 a year ago, with revenue exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.44% [1] Financial Performance - Revenue from Feed Ingredients was $1.13 billion, surpassing the estimated $983.58 million, reflecting a 22.1% increase year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Fuel Ingredients was $152.57 million, slightly below the estimated $154.77 million, but still showing a 15.7% increase year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Food Ingredients reached $429.07 million, exceeding the average estimate of $384.12 million, marking an 18.6% year-over-year increase [4] EBITDA Analysis - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Food Ingredients was $82.41 million, above the average estimate of $72.22 million [4] - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Feed Ingredients was $193.37 million, exceeding the average estimate of $164.92 million [4] - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Fuel Ingredients was $27.17 million, surpassing the average estimate of $23.47 million [4] - Corporate Segment Adjusted EBITDA was reported at -$24.73 million, worse than the estimated -$19.11 million [4] - Combined Adjusted EBITDA for Fuel Ingredients was $85.08 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $62.1 million [4] Stock Performance - Darling's shares have returned +21.6% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.3% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - International Flavors (IFF) reported a revenue of $2.59 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 6.6% and an EPS of $0.80 compared to $0.97 a year ago, with a revenue surprise of +3.09% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.51 billion and an EPS surprise of -5.37% [1] Financial Performance - Net Sales in Health & Biosciences reached $589 million, exceeding the average estimate of $554.97 million by four analysts, representing a year-over-year increase of +6.5% [4] - Net Sales in Scent amounted to $610 million, surpassing the average estimate of $589.73 million, with a year-over-year change of +5.4% [4] - Net Sales in Taste were reported at $588 million, slightly above the average estimate of $578 million [4] - Net Sales in Food Ingredients totaled $802 million, compared to the average estimate of $797.21 million [4] Adjusted Operating EBITDA - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Health & Biosciences was $155 million, exceeding the average estimate of $132.53 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Food Ingredients was $82 million, below the average estimate of $96.53 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Taste was $94 million, compared to the average estimate of $99.67 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Scent was $106 million, below the average estimate of $111.73 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of International Flavors have returned +10.3% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.3% change, and the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market [3]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 Index rose 17.9% in 2025, while the Bloomberg US Aggregate Index increased by 7.3% [3] - The average investor experienced a positive sentiment driven by expectations of AI advancements and Federal Reserve easing [3] - Despite overall market gains, nearly half of U.S. stocks were down, with the bottom fifth of stocks in the Russell 3000 experiencing a median loss of 40% [18] Economic Indicators - U.S. GDP grew by 4.3% in Q3 2025, with healthcare spending and construction of new AI data centers contributing significantly to this growth [17] - The Federal Reserve's policies have led to a financial system reliant on permanent liquidity, raising concerns about long-term inflation and economic inequality [10][13] Fund Performance - The Palm Valley Capital Fund achieved a total return of 4.46% in 2025, underperforming the S&P SmallCap 600 and Morningstar SmallCap benchmarks, which gained 6.02% and 12.20% respectively [32] - The Fund's equity positions increased by 1.12% over the last quarter, benefiting from exposure to precious metals [31] Investment Opportunities - New positions were added in Domino's Pizza Group, Utz Brands, and Ingredion, with each company showing potential for growth despite current challenges [33][36][39] - Domino's holds a significant market share in the UK pizza delivery market but faces growth challenges due to a pressured consumer environment [34] - Utz Brands is well-positioned with strong free cash flow potential and improving margins, trading at approximately 12x estimated free cash flow [37] - Ingredion is focusing on modified ingredients to address wellness trends and has improved its balance sheet, trading at 10x earnings [39] Market Trends - The "Visine effect" suggests that underperforming stocks are often discarded without sensitivity to price, impacting smaller companies more significantly [21] - The rise of passive investing has altered market dynamics, leading to concentrated buying and selling pressures during rebalancing periods [21] - Despite a strong year for equities, many small caps remain fully valued, with the average profitable non-financial member of the Russell 2000 trading at an enterprise value to operating profit of 18x [26]

Core Insights - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) reported adjusted earnings of $1.05 per share for Q3 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02 per share, marking a 1% increase from the previous year [1][10] - The company's net sales decreased by 7.9% year over year to $2.69 billion, but still surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.63 billion [2] - IFF's gross profit fell by 6.6% year over year to $983 million, with a gross margin of 36.5%, slightly up from 36% in the prior year [3] Financial Performance - The adjusted operating EBITDA for Q3 was $519 million, down 8.6% from $568 million in the prior year, with an adjusted operating EBITDA margin of 19.3% compared to 19.4% a year ago [4] - Research and development expenses rose by 7% year over year to $174 million, while selling and administrative expenses decreased by 15% to $421 million [3] Segment Performance - The Taste segment saw a 2.6% increase in net sales year over year to $635 million, exceeding estimates, with adjusted operating EBITDA rising by 3.2% to $128 million [5] - The Food Ingredients segment's net sales fell by 1.5% year over year to $830 million, but adjusted operating EBITDA increased by 20.5% to $106 million [6] - The Health & Bioscience segment reported sales of $577 million, a slight increase from the previous year, with adjusted operating EBITDA up by 0.7% to $150 million [7] - The Scent segment's sales grew by 6.4% year over year to $652 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA increasing by 7.1% to $135 million [8] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - At the end of Q3 2025, IFF had cash and cash equivalents of $621 million, up from $469 million at the end of 2024, while long-term debt decreased to $4.74 billion from $7.56 billion [9] - The company generated $532 million in operating activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, down from $681 million in the prior-year period [9] Guidance - IFF reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, expecting sales between $10.6 billion and $10.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $2 billion and $2.15 billion [11]

Core Insights - International Flavors (IFF) reported a revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 7.9% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $1.05, slightly up from $1.04 a year ago, with an EPS surprise of +2.94% compared to the consensus estimate of $1.02 [1] Revenue Performance - Net Sales in Health & Biosciences reached $577 million, exceeding the average estimate of $568.61 million, marking a +1.2% change year-over-year [4] - Net Sales in Scent amounted to $652 million, surpassing the average estimate of $618.57 million, representing a +6.4% change year-over-year [4] - Net Sales in Taste were $635 million, slightly above the average estimate of $628.17 million [4] - Net Sales in Food Ingredients totaled $830 million, also exceeding the average estimate of $825.94 million [4] Adjusted Operating EBITDA - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Health & Biosciences was $150 million, compared to the average estimate of $143.03 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Food Ingredients was $106 million, slightly below the average estimate of $109.32 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Taste was $128 million, marginally above the average estimate of $126.56 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Scent was $135 million, exceeding the average estimate of $129.4 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of International Flavors have returned +0.9% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +2.1% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) reported adjusted earnings of $1.15 per share for Q2 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11, although this represents a 1% decline from the previous year [1][10] - The company's net sales for the quarter were $2.76 billion, down 4.3% year over year, but still surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.73 billion [2][10] - Currency-neutral sales increased by 3% year over year, driven by mid-single digit growth in the Taste and Health & Biosciences segments [2] Financial Performance - IFF's cost of goods sold decreased by 4.8% year over year to $1.73 billion, resulting in a gross profit of $1.03 billion, which is a 3.6% decline from the previous year [3] - The gross margin improved slightly to 37.3% from 37% in the year-ago quarter [3] - Adjusted operating EBITDA was $552 million, down 6.1% from $588 million in the prior-year quarter, with an adjusted operating EBITDA margin of 20% compared to 20.4% a year earlier [4] Segment Performance - The Taste segment's net sales rose 4.6% year over year to $631 million, although it fell short of the estimate of $663 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA of $125 million, up 1.6% year over year [5] - The Food Ingredients segment saw a slight increase of 0.4% in net sales to $850 million, exceeding the estimate of $827 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA rising 15.9% to $124 million [6] - Health & Bioscience segment sales were $577 million, up from $556 million a year earlier, with adjusted operating EBITDA of $151 million, reflecting a 1.3% increase [7] - The Scent segment's sales remained flat at $603 million, below the projected $649 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA declining 7.8% to $130 million [8] - Sales in Pharma Solutions increased by 18.4% year over year to $103 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA remaining flat at $22 million [8] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - At the end of Q2, IFF had cash and cash equivalents totaling $816 million, an increase from $469 million at the end of 2024, while long-term debt decreased to $5.68 billion from $7.56 billion [11] - The company generated $368 million in cash from operating activities in the first half of 2025, compared to $336 million in the same period last year [11] Guidance and Market Performance - IFF reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, expecting sales between $10.6 billion and $10.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $2 billion and $2.15 billion [12] - Over the past year, IFF shares have declined by 25.4%, contrasting with a 0.1% growth in the industry [13]

Core Insights - International Flavors (IFF) reported a revenue of $2.76 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 4.3% and an EPS of $1.15, slightly down from $1.16 a year ago [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.73 billion by 1.19%, while the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.11 by 3.6% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Net Sales in Health & Biosciences reached $577 million, exceeding the average estimate of $571.71 million, with a year-over-year increase of 3.4% [4] - Net Sales in Food Ingredients were reported at $850 million, above the average estimate of $834.65 million [4] - Net Sales in Scent totaled $603 million, slightly below the estimated $608.69 million, showing no change compared to the previous year [4] - Net Sales in Taste were $631 million, marginally below the average estimate of $633.74 million [4] - Net Sales in Pharma Solutions were $103 million, significantly below the estimated $120.11 million, marking a year-over-year decline of 58.8% [4] Adjusted Operating EBITDA - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Health & Biosciences was $151 million, closely matching the average estimate of $151.69 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Scent was $130 million, slightly below the average estimate of $135.15 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Food Ingredients was $124 million, exceeding the average estimate of $111.08 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Taste was $125 million, below the average estimate of $129.96 million [4] - Adjusted Operating EBITDA for Pharma Solutions was $22 million, compared to the average estimate of $24.58 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of International Flavors have returned -6.5% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential outperformance against the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is progressing with its proposed merger with Palm Global Technologies Limited, with nearly 90% of Palm Global shareholders expressing support for the transaction [1][4][5] Group 1: Merger Details - The merger with Palm Global is expected to unlock long-term shareholder value, with integration efforts already yielding results in trade discussions projected to generate multi-billion-dollar revenues [6] - Palm Global has received unanimous support from nearly 90% of its shareholders for the merger, as confirmed by Chairman Peter Knez [4][5] - The audit by CBIZ CPA is anticipated to be completed within four to six weeks, ahead of the 180-day timeline set by Nasdaq [2][3] Group 2: Financial Implications - Palm Global's 30% stake in Palm Promax Investments is expected to add over $100 billion in net assets to its balance sheet, indicating substantial high-margin revenue potential [9] - The partnership with Promax United positions Palm Global as a leader in stablecoin issuance and central bank digital currency frameworks, with 15 African nations committed to adopting its stablecoin [8] Group 3: Strategic Vision - The merger is seen as a catalyst for value creation, with a focus on the tokenization of real-world assets, which is expected to redefine global finance [10][11] - The company is enhancing its governance by adding influential figures to its board, which is expected to advance its objectives in key markets [12]

Core Insights - Darling Ingredients reported a significant decline in GAAP EPS to $0.08, missing the consensus estimate of $0.24, primarily due to weak profitability in its Diamond Green Diesel joint venture [1][5] - Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $1.5 billion, slightly above expectations, but profitability metrics indicated ongoing challenges [1][5] - The company lowered its full-year Combined Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.05–$1.10 billion, down from previous estimates of $1.25 to $1.3 billion, reflecting persistent headwinds in the renewable fuels market [1][11] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 EPS was $0.08, down 83.7% year-over-year from $0.49 in Q2 2024 [2] - Revenue increased by 2.7% year-over-year, from $1.46 billion in Q2 2024 to $1.5 billion in Q2 2025 [2] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $249.5 million, an 8.8% decrease from $273.6 million in Q2 2024 [2][5] Business Overview and Strategy - Darling Ingredients specializes in converting animal by-products, used cooking oils, and food waste into value-added ingredients for various markets, operating over 260 facilities globally [3][4] - The company's strategy focuses on product diversification to reduce dependence on any single market, addressing sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy [3][4] Segment Performance - The Feed Ingredients segment generated net sales of $936.5 million, contributing significantly to overall revenue, supported by strong fat prices [6][8] - The Food Ingredients segment reported net sales of $386.1 million, with a 1.9% increase year-over-year, and includes the launch of the Nextida joint venture targeting health and wellness markets [6][9] - The Fuel Ingredients segment, heavily impacted by the Diamond Green Diesel joint venture, recorded revenue of $158.8 million, with a significant decline in profitability due to regulatory uncertainties and market dislocations [6][10] Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued improvement in its core ingredients business, particularly in the Feed Ingredients segment, driven by strengthening fat prices [6][11] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining balance sheet health and focusing on high-margin product categories, especially in food ingredients and collagen innovation [11][12] - Investors are expected to monitor operational metrics across segments, particularly for signs of margin improvement and the performance of the Nextida joint venture [12]

Core Insights - Darling Ingredients reported $1.48 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 1.8% and aligning with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in a surprise of +0.32% [1] - The company's EPS for the same period was $0.09, a significant decrease from $0.49 a year ago, leading to an EPS surprise of -25% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.12 [1] Revenue Breakdown - Net Sales from Feed Ingredients were $936.53 million, below the four-analyst average estimate of $997.05 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of +0.3% [4] - Net Sales from Fuel Ingredients reached $158.84 million, exceeding the average estimate of $138.21 million, with a year-over-year increase of +11.6% [4] - Net Sales from Food Ingredients amounted to $386.14 million, surpassing the average estimate of $366.46 million, showing a year-over-year change of +1.9% [4] EBITDA Analysis - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Food Ingredients was $69.95 million, slightly above the average estimate of $68.51 million [4] - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Feed Ingredients was $135.9 million, falling short of the average estimate of $161.84 million [4] - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Fuel Ingredients was $18.64 million, compared to the average estimate of $19.79 million [4] - Segment Adjusted EBITDA for Corporate was reported at -$17.59 million, worse than the average estimate of -$10.3 million [4] - Combined Adjusted EBITDA for Fuel Ingredients was $61.29 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $31.85 million [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Darling have returned -1.2%, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]