Core Insights - ClearBridge Investments reported that mid-cap stocks experienced growth in Q3 2025, driven by a favorable monetary policy environment and stabilizing earnings [1] - The Federal Reserve's rate cuts positively impacted small and mid-cap stocks, with value stocks outperforming growth stocks [1] - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy outperformed the Russell Midcap Index, primarily due to stock selection in the consumer staples and healthcare sectors [1] Company-Specific Insights - Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ:TECH) has a market capitalization of $9.57 billion and focuses on life science reagents, instruments, and services [2] - The stock of Bio-Techne Corporation saw a one-month return of -0.32% and a 52-week decline of 15.36%, closing at $61.40 on November 12, 2025 [2] - ClearBridge initiated a new position in Bio-Techne, citing its high-margin consumables and instrumentation portfolio as key factors for its appeal as a growth-oriented investment [3] Financial Performance - In Q1 2026, Bio-Techne Corporation reported revenues of $286.6 million, reflecting a 1% year-over-year decline on both an organic and reported basis [4] - Despite the potential of Bio-Techne as an investment, the company is not among the most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 37 hedge fund portfolios holding its stock at the end of Q2 2025 [4]

Industry Overview - Quantum computing is projected to create $450 billion to $850 billion in economic value globally by 2040, indicating strong growth potential for the industry [1] - The industry is expected to provide sustained tailwinds for early movers to capitalize on emerging opportunities [1] Company Profile: D-Wave (QBTS) - D-Wave identifies itself as the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers and is well positioned to benefit from industry growth [1] - The company has submitted 200 million problems to its quantum systems and has over 100 revenue-generating customers [3] - D-Wave's established products include the world's largest quantum computers, and it operates in a significant addressable market, allowing for healthy growth [3] Stock Performance - QBTS stock has rallied by 222% year-to-date but has corrected by 42% from recent highs of $46.75, presenting a potential accumulation opportunity [2] - The stock has surged by 152% in the last six months, supported by a robust growth trajectory and an expanding client base [4] Innovation and Intellectual Property - D-Wave has a strong focus on innovation, holding over 280 granted patents in the United States and more than 550 granted or pending patents globally [5] - The company employs a team of 50 PhD scholars, positioning it well for meaningful advancements in quantum computing [5] Financial Performance - For the first nine months of 2025, D-Wave reported $21.8 million in revenue while spending $37 million on R&D, indicating cash burn typical for early-stage companies [6] - As of Q3 2025, D-Wave reported a cash balance of $836.2 million, providing a robust cash buffer that mitigates the risk of equity dilution in the near future [6] Analyst Ratings - Benchmark has reaffirmed its "Buy" rating for QBTS stock with a price target of $35, supported by positive business developments that are expected to drive continued growth momentum [2]

Core Viewpoint - Nike Inc. is viewed positively by analysts, with BTIG initiating coverage and assigning a Buy rating along with a $100 price target, highlighting it as a "Top Pick for 2026" [1][2] Group 1: Analyst Insights - BTIG's analyst Robert Drbul is optimistic about Nike's turnaround efforts but notes that there is still significant progress needed [2] - EPS projections for Nike are set at $1.70 for FY26 and $2.75 for FY27, with a potential EPS of $3.50 in FY28 as the company aims for long-term operating margins of 12% or more [2] Group 2: Innovation and Product Development - Nike is testing 'Project Amplify', the world's first powered footwear system for running and walking, in collaboration with Dephy, which features a battery-charged motor [3] - This innovation is seen as crucial for Nike's turnaround strategy and regaining market share lost in recent years [3] Group 3: Company Overview - Nike Inc. is the largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel globally, designing, developing, and selling a wide range of athletic products [4]

Company Overview - Bio-Techne Corporation (TECH) is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling life science reagents, instruments, and services for research, diagnostics, and bioprocessing markets, with a market cap of $9.3 billion [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect TECH to report a profit of $0.37 per share on a diluted basis for the fiscal first quarter of 2026, which is unchanged from the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, analysts project an EPS of $1.76, reflecting a 2.9% increase from $1.71 in fiscal 2025, and an expected rise to $2 in fiscal 2027, representing a 13.6% year-over-year growth [3] Stock Performance - TECH stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.4% over the past 52 weeks, with TECH shares down 18.7% during the same period [4] - The stock also underperformed the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund, which saw a 7.8% loss in the same timeframe [4] Recent Financial Results - On August 6, TECH reported its Q4 results, with an adjusted EPS of $0.53, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $0.50, and revenue of $317 million, exceeding forecasts of $315.4 million [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on TECH stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating overall; out of 16 analysts, 11 recommend "Strong Buy," one suggests "Moderate Buy," and four give a "Hold" rating [6] - The average analyst price target for TECH is $66.77, indicating a potential upside of 11.9% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - Certara, Inc. will release its financial results for Q3 2025 on November 6, 2025, after market close, followed by a conference call to discuss the results [1]. Company Overview - Certara is a global leader in biosimulation, utilizing software, technology, and services to enhance drug discovery and development [3]. - The company serves over 2,400 clients, including biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 70 countries [3]. Event Details - A conference call will be held at 5:00 PM ET on the same day as the financial results release, and investors must register online to participate [1]. - It is recommended that investors register at least one day in advance [1]. - A live and archived webcast of the event will be available on Certara's website [2].

Group 1 - D-Wave Quantum's shares increased by 11.5% without any obvious news on the day, following a rise over the previous two days amid investor uncertainty regarding a potential U.S. government shutdown [1] - The company announced a joint proof-of-technology project in the UK aimed at optimizing police vehicle placement for emergency response, which is part of its strategy to maintain leadership in quantum computing [3] - Utilizing quantum computing, D-Wave helped North Wales Police reduce average incident response time by nearly 50%, demonstrating the technology's potential in real-world applications [4] Group 2 - Despite the positive developments, D-Wave has a market cap of $9.5 billion and trailing-12-month sales of $22.3 million, resulting in a high price-to-sales ratio of 426 times, with no profits reported [5] - The recent stock movement appears to be driven by momentum rather than fundamental financial performance, raising caution for potential investors [5] - Analysts from The Motley Fool Stock Advisor have identified ten stocks they believe are better investment opportunities than D-Wave Quantum [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - Ciena Corporation is recognized as a leading smart city stock, with a significant share price increase of approximately 120% over the past year, and a current price target of $152 set by Stifel, maintaining a Buy rating [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Ciena has demonstrated robust revenue growth, with an almost 13% increase in the last year, and is expected to continue improving profitability metrics [1][3]. - The company's innovative capabilities and ongoing demand for optical technologies are projected to support higher stock multiples [3]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The growth in bandwidth driven by AI workloads is highlighted, with cloud companies leading advancements in data transmission and interconnect technologies [2]. - Ciena's traditional focus on telecom service providers is shifting as cloud service providers increasingly influence technology development [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - Ciena Corporation provides a range of networking hardware, software, and services globally, including optical transport, IP routing, network management, multi-domain orchestration, analytics, and consulting [3].

Core Points - LKQ Corporation has completed the sale of its Self Service segment, "Pick Your Part," to an affiliate of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners for an enterprise value of $410 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments [1][2] - The CEO of LKQ stated that the sale aligns with the company's strategic priorities to simplify its business portfolio and reduce costs while aiming to expand margins as market conditions improve [2] - Proceeds from the transaction will be utilized to strengthen LKQ's balance sheet through debt repayment, supporting the company's disciplined capital allocation strategy [2] - Following the sale, LKQ will report the Self Service segment as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements starting with the third quarter 2025 earnings release scheduled for October 30, 2025 [2] Company Overview - LKQ Corporation is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts for the repair and accessorization of automobiles and other vehicles, with operations in North America, Europe, and Taiwan [4] - The company offers a wide range of OEM recycled and aftermarket parts, replacement systems, components, equipment, and services for various types of vehicles [4] Advisory Information - Jefferies LLC acted as the financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as the legal advisor to LKQ in connection with the transaction [3]

Core Insights - Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is recognized as one of the 10 Best Defense Contractor Stocks to Buy Now, highlighting its significant upside potential [1] Financial Performance - On September 15, 2025, Curtiss-Wright Corporation reached a record high stock price of $518.00, reflecting a year-to-date return of 46.03% and a 55.98% return over the past year [2] Dividend and Share Repurchase - The company has maintained dividend payments for 52 consecutive years, recently increasing its payout by 14.3%. A quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share has been declared, payable on October 10, 2025 [3] - On September 10, 2025, the company expanded its share repurchase program by $200 million, bringing the total for the year to over $450 million, reinforcing its commitment to long-term value creation [3][4] Strategic Initiatives - The expanded buyback program supports Curtiss-Wright's "Pivot to Growth" strategy and positions the company for record annual repurchases in 2025 [4] - Curtiss-Wright Corporation provides engineered products, solutions, and services across aerospace and defense, commercial power, process, and industrial markets globally [4]

Group 1 - Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is recognized as one of the 10 Best Defense Contractor Stocks to Buy Now, highlighting its significant upside potential [1] - On September 15, 2025, CW reached a record high stock price of $518.00, reflecting a year-to-date return of 46.03% and a 55.98% return over the past year [2] - The company has maintained dividend payments for 52 consecutive years, recently increasing its payout by 14.3%, and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on October 10, 2025 [3] Group 2 - CW expanded its 2025 share repurchase program by $200 million, bringing the total to over $450 million for the year, reinforcing its commitment to long-term value creation [3][4] - The expanded buyback supports CW's "Pivot to Growth" strategy and positions the company for record annual repurchases in 2025 [4] - CW provides engineered products, solutions, and services to various markets, including aerospace and defense, commercial power, process, and industrial sectors globally [4]