Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. is a prominent financial technology company in Brazil, recognized for its innovative payment solutions and strong market position in the Latin American fintech sector, with a positive outlook from analysts and investors [1][3]. Market Performance - StoneCo's stock closed at $16.59, reflecting a 1.9% increase from the previous session, outperforming major indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq [2]. - Over the past month, the stock has surged by 9.7%, significantly exceeding the gains of the Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 [2]. - The current trading price is $16.99, with a recent price change of 2.41%, and the stock has fluctuated between $16.38 and $17.04 today [4]. Earnings Projections - Analysts project earnings of $0.5 per share for the upcoming earnings report on March 2, 2026, indicating a year-over-year growth of 28.21% [3]. - Revenue is expected to reach $749 million, representing a 21.29% increase compared to the same quarter last year, highlighting the company's growth trajectory [3]. Market Capitalization and Trading Volume - StoneCo has a market capitalization of approximately $4.55 billion and a trading volume of 5,509,215 shares, reinforcing its status as a key player in the fintech sector [4]. Analyst Price Target - Banco Santander has set a new price target for StoneCo at $21, suggesting a potential increase of 23.6% from its current trading price, indicating strong investor confidence [1].

Acquisition - Phreesia acquired AccessOne for $160 million in cash, funded by a mix of cash and debt [11, 12] - The acquisition extends Phreesia's reach into provider financing, addressing a $74 billion market [13, 15] - AccessOne's results are not included in the Q3 FY2026 presentation [6] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q3 FY2026 was $120 million, a 13% year-over-year increase [19] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 FY2026 was $29 million, a 198% year-over-year increase [19] - Total revenue per AHSC for Q3 FY2026 was $26600, a 6% year-over-year increase [19] Outlook - FY2026 total revenue is projected to be between $479 million and $481 million, with Adjusted EBITDA between $99 million and $101 million [51] - The company anticipates approximately 4515 AHSCs for FY2026 [51] - FY2027 total revenue is projected to be between $545 million and $559 million, with Adjusted EBITDA between $125 million and $135 million [53, 54]

Group 1 - Apple Inc. is considered a key stock in investment portfolios, referred to as the "quarterback" of the portfolio by Jim Cramer [1] - Despite being one of the worst performers in the past year with a mid-single-digit gain, Apple has rebounded significantly, up over 41% from its lows [1] - The company appears to have regained favor with the Trump administration, which is beneficial for its business operations, particularly regarding its search engine partnership with Google [1] Group 2 - Apple designs and sells a variety of products including smartphones, computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories, along with offering cloud services and digital content platforms [2] - The company also provides subscription-based services, payment solutions, advertising, and customer support [2]

Core Viewpoint - In times of market volatility, value investing becomes a preferred strategy as investors seek to buy undervalued stocks when others are selling at lower prices [1][2]. Value Investing Strategy - Value investors capitalize on market uncertainty by purchasing stocks at discounted prices when other investors sell [1]. - The strategy can lead to "value traps" if not understood properly, where stocks underperform due to persistent issues rather than temporary problems [3]. Importance of PEG Ratio - The PEG ratio, defined as (Price/Earnings)/Earnings Growth Rate, is a crucial metric for value investors, as a low PEG ratio indicates better value [5]. - Unlike P/E alone, the PEG ratio helps identify a stock's intrinsic value, although it has limitations regarding changing growth rates [5]. Screening Criteria for Value Stocks - Effective screening for value stocks includes criteria such as: - PEG Ratio less than industry median - P/E Ratio less than industry median - Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) - Market Capitalization greater than $1 billion - Average 20-Day Volume greater than 50,000 - Percentage Change in F1 Earnings Estimate Revisions greater than 5% - Value Score of A or B combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 [6]. Selected Stocks - **Barrick Gold (GOLD)**: A leading gold mining company with 3.9 million ounces of gold and 195,000 tons of copper produced in 2024, holding 89 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves. It has a Zacks Rank 2 and a Value Score of A, with a five-year expected growth rate of 33.5% [8][9]. - **StoneCo (STNE)**: A financial technology company in Brazil providing various financial services. It has a Zacks Rank 1 and a Value Score of B, with a long-term expected growth rate of 26.3% [9][10]. - **Synovus Financial (SNV)**: A diverse financial services company with a Zacks Rank 2 and a Value Score of A, boasting a five-year expected growth rate of 10.2% [11][12]. - **BGC Group, Inc. (BGC)**: A financial brokerage and technology company with a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 24.7%, holding a Value Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 1 [12][13].