Harley-Davidson reported a wider loss in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, hurt by a pullback in consumer spending toward recreational vehicles. ...

ELKHART, Ind., Feb. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) today announced that Seth Woolf, Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, will be departing the Company to pursue a role outside of the organization. "Seth joined THOR with a deep background in the investment industry and a strong understanding of the financial markets," said Bob Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of THOR Industries. "Over the past several months, Seth has contributed meaningfully to our inv ...

Corporate News - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced multiple vehicle recalls, including BMW of North America LLC recalling 87,394 and an additional 202 vehicles, Ember Recreational Vehicles Inc recalling 317 vehicles, and Daimler Coaches North America recalling 51 vehicles, indicating ongoing quality control and safety challenges within the automotive and recreational vehicle sectors [5][9] Industrial Sector - UACJ is set to produce large parts for Japan's H3 rocket, signifying Japan's continued investment and advancement in its aerospace capabilities [6][9] - Phillips 66 reported an emission incident at its Wood River oil refinery, raising environmental concerns [6]

Core Viewpoint - The merger between Terex Corporation and REV Group creates a leading specialty equipment manufacturer with a diversified portfolio and strong growth prospects [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - The merger is described as a defining moment for Terex, creating a large-scale leader in specialty equipment with a highly synergistic portfolio [2]. - The combined company is expected to unlock significant synergies totaling $75 million in run-rate value by 2028, with approximately 50% of these synergies to be realized within the next twelve months [2]. - REV stock has ceased trading and is no longer listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with the combined entity now trading as Terex Corporation [3]. Group 2: Company Profile - Terex Corporation is a global leader in specialized equipment solutions, serving essential sectors such as emergency services, waste and recycling, utilities, and construction [5]. - The company designs and manufactures advanced specialty vehicles, including fire, ambulance, and recreational vehicles, as well as waste collection vehicles and equipment for the electric utility industry [6]. - Terex has a strong manufacturing presence in the United States and operations across Europe, India, and Asia Pacific, combining global reach with local expertise [7].

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's approach to acquiring Forest River, an RV manufacturer, exemplifies his preference for straightforward deals and trust in business relationships [2][3][6] Group 1: Acquisition Details - Buffett learned about Forest River through a letter from its founder, Pete Liegl, who owned 100% of the company and named his selling price upfront [3] - The acquisition process was characterized by simplicity, with no lengthy negotiations or complex appraisals involved [4][5] - Liegl requested a salary of $100,000 per year, along with a 10% bonus on profits above the current run rate, which Buffett accepted without hesitation [4] Group 2: Buffett's Investment Philosophy - Buffett values simple businesses and straightforward financial arrangements, often making quick decisions without extensive deliberation [6] - He emphasizes the importance of character and trust over complex financial presentations in his investment decisions [6]

Core Viewpoint - Winnebago Industries (WGO) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly 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]. Winnebago's Earnings Outlook - Winnebago's rising earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely resulting in increased stock prices [5][10]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Winnebago indicates expected earnings of $2.45 per share for the fiscal year ending August 2026, with a 3.9% increase in estimates over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rating 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]. - Only the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [9][10].

Economic Growth - The US economy grew at an unexpectedly strong pace of 4.3% in the third quarter, marking the highest rate in two years [1][6] - This growth rate represents an increase from 3.8% in the previous quarter and surpassed analyst expectations of 3.2% [2] Consumer Spending - Vigorous consumer spending on services such as health care and products like recreational vehicles contributed significantly to the GDP surge [1] Employment and Retail Sales - The jobs market has faced challenges, with unemployment rising to 4.6% in November, the highest level in over four years [4] - Retail sales have slowed, even as upper-income households continue to spend, leading to weaker-than-expected earnings and outlooks from major businesses like Home Depot [4] Inflation and Price Trends - Inflation remains a concern, hovering above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, although consumer prices rose only 2.7% year-over-year in November, a smaller-than-expected increase [4][5] - The inflation data may be distorted due to challenges in data collection during the recent government shutdown [5] Tariff Impact - Businesses are uncertain about how much of the tariff costs to pass on to consumers, complicating the assessment of the full impact of tariff policies on prices [7] - The average annual rate of economic growth since President Trump's return to office is 2.5%, comparable to the 2.4% average recorded last year under former President Biden [7]

Core Viewpoint - Winnebago Industries is experiencing strong financial performance and has raised its revenue guidance for FY2026, indicating positive growth prospects in the recreational vehicle market. Financial Performance - In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Winnebago reported a 12.3% increase in revenue, exceeding expectations and contributing to an 8.4% rise in share price [2][5] - The current stock price is $43.73, reflecting positive momentum from the recent financial results [2] Revenue Guidance - The company has raised its revenue guidance for FY2026 to a range of $2.8 to $3 billion [3][5] - Adjusted earnings per share are anticipated to be between $2.10 and $2.80 [3][5] Growth Strategy - Winnebago's long-term growth strategy includes ongoing cost reduction efforts, market share gains, and the introduction of new products [4][5] - These factors contribute to the company's attractive valuation on a forward basis [4] Market Activity - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $42.78 and a high of $47.75 during the day, with a trading volume of 1,567,916 shares [4]

Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights - REV Group returned $120.5 million cash to shareholders in Fiscal Year 2025[7, 30] - The company achieved record consolidated free cash flow[7, 30] - Fire & ambulance throughput & efficiency gains were realized[7, 25] - REV Group continues to invest in its facilities[7, 30] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin expansion was achieved[7] - A strategic merger with Terex Corporation was announced[7] Fiscal Year 2025 Consolidated Results - Net sales were $2,464 million, compared to $2,380 million in FY'24[9], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, net sales were $2,217 million[9] - Adjusted EBITDA was $229.5 million, compared to $162.8 million in FY'24[10], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, adjusted EBITDA was $145.2 million with a margin of 6.5%[10] Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Consolidated Results - Net sales were $664.4 million, compared to $597.9 million in Q4'24[16], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, net sales were $588.1 million[16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $69.7 million, compared to $49.6 million in Q4'24[17], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, adjusted EBITDA was $49.9 million with a margin of 8.5%[17] Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Specialty Vehicles Results - Net sales were $507.4 million, compared to $439.9 million in Q4'24[23], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, net sales were $430.1 million[23] - Adjusted EBITDA was $70.5 million, compared to $50.2 million in Q4'24[23], excluding Bus Manufacturing Businesses, adjusted EBITDA was $50.5 million with a margin of 11.7%[23] - The backlog is $4.4 billion, reflecting solid order revenue for fire apparatus and ambulances[24] Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Recreational Vehicles Results - Net sales were $157.2 million, compared to $158.1 million in Q4'24[27] - Adjusted EBITDA was $9.0 million, compared to $8.1 million in Q4'24[27]

Core Insights - Winnebago Industries (WGO) is positioned to potentially continue its earnings-beat streak in the upcoming report, having a history of exceeding earnings estimates, particularly in the last two quarters with an average surprise of 12.47% [1][5] Earnings Performance - In the last reported quarter, Winnebago achieved earnings of $0.71 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.58 per share, resulting in a surprise of 22.41% [2] - In the previous quarter, the company was expected to report earnings of $0.79 per share but delivered $0.81 per share, yielding a surprise of 2.53% [2] Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent estimates for Winnebago have been trending upward, with a positive Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicating a strong likelihood of an earnings beat [5][8] - The current Earnings ESP for Winnebago stands at +17.57%, reflecting increased analyst optimism regarding its near-term earnings potential [8] Zacks Rank and Predictive Power - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) suggests a high probability of another earnings beat, as stocks with this combination have historically produced positive surprises nearly 70% of the time [6][8] - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate being more reflective of recent analyst revisions [7]