Core Viewpoint - International Paper has successfully sold its Global Cellulose Fibers (GCF) business to American Industrial Partners for $1.5 billion, which includes preferred stock valued at $190 million [1]. Group 1: Business Overview - The GCF business produces high-quality pulp for various applications, including personal care products and construction materials, contributing to health and wellness [2]. - In 2024, the GCF segment generated $2.8 billion in revenue, with the sold operations accounting for approximately $2.3 billion, excluding revenue from closed mills [2]. - The GCF business employs 3,300 people globally and operates nine manufacturing facilities and eight regional offices [2]. Group 2: Company Background - International Paper is a leader in sustainable packaging solutions, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with operations in over 30 countries and more than 65,000 employees [3]. - The company reported net sales of $18.6 billion for 2024 and acquired DS Smith in 2025, enhancing its position in the North American and EMEA markets [3].

Core Viewpoint - Axalta Coating Systems is set to release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 10, 2026, at 6 a.m. ET, with materials available on its Investor Relations site [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be discussed in a conference call at 8 a.m. ET on the same day, led by CEO Chris Villavarayan and CFO Carl Anderson [2] - A live webcast of the conference call will be available, with a replay accessible until February 10, 2027 [2] Group 2: Conference Call Details - The dial-in number for the conference call is 1-800-343-5172, with the conference ID being AXALTA [3] - For those unable to attend, a replay will be available until February 17, 2026, with a separate dial-in number and passcode for access [3] Group 3: Company Overview - Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, offering innovative and sustainable coating solutions across various applications, including vehicles and industrial uses [4] - The company has over 150 years of experience and serves more than 100,000 customers in over 140 countries [4]

Company Overview - Dow Inc. has a market cap of $16.6 billion and operates as a global materials science company, providing innovative solutions across packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer markets [1] - The company operates through three segments: Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings, offering a diverse portfolio of plastics, chemicals, coatings, and specialty materials [1] Financial Performance - Dow is set to announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results on January 29, with analysts expecting an adjusted loss of $0.45 per share [2] - For fiscal 2025, analysts project an adjusted loss of $1.03 per share, a significant decline from an adjusted EPS of $1.71 in fiscal 2024, but a rebound is anticipated in fiscal 2026 with an estimated 81.6% year-over-year improvement, narrowing the adjusted loss to $0.19 per share [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Dow's stock has dropped 41.7%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which increased by 16.9%, and the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF, which rose by 7.7% [4] - Despite reporting weaker-than-expected Q3 2025 revenue of $9.97 billion, Dow's shares surged nearly 13% on October 23 due to a smaller-than-expected adjusted loss of $0.19 per share, attributed to strong cost discipline and higher volumes from new assets [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view among analysts on Dow stock is cautious, with an overall "Hold" rating; of the 20 analysts covering the stock, two recommend a "Strong Buy," 17 give a "Hold," and one has a "Strong Sell" [6] - The average analyst price target for Dow is $26.83, indicating a potential upside of 14.9% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - PPG Industries, Inc. is expected to report a slight decline in earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, with analysts projecting a profit of $1.60 per share, down from $1.61 in the same quarter last year [2]. Financial Performance - For the full fiscal year, analysts anticipate PPG to report an EPS of $7.66, which represents a 2.7% decrease from $7.87 in fiscal 2024. However, EPS is expected to rebound with a 5.6% increase to $8.09 in fiscal 2026 [3]. - In Q3, PPG reported an adjusted EPS of $2.13, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $2.09, with revenue reaching $4.1 billion, surpassing forecasts of $4 billion. The company expects full-year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $7.60 to $7.70 [5]. Stock Performance - PPG's stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.8% over the past 52 weeks, while PPG shares declined by 14%. It also lagged behind the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 8% during the same period [4]. - Analysts maintain a moderately bullish outlook on PPG stock, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 24 analysts, 10 recommend a "Strong Buy," 13 suggest a "Hold," and one advises a "Strong Sell." The average price target for PPG is $120.60, indicating a potential upside of 15.6% from current levels [6].

Core Viewpoint - Valmont Industries, Inc. is positioned for growth due to its diverse portfolio and strategic market positioning, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1] Financial Performance - Valmont has experienced a 7.49% increase in stock price over the past 30 days, indicating strong upward momentum and investor confidence [2][6] - The company has a Piotroski Score of 8, reflecting robust financial health and strong fundamentals, which positions it well for future growth [3][6] Growth Potential - Analysts have set a projected price target of $453 for Valmont, indicating an upside potential of approximately 11.13% from current levels, driven by operational strengths and market opportunities [4][6]

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global coatings company, today released its 73rd annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report. The report offers an updated look at the landscape of automotive color in 2025, in which once again, white, gray, and black dominated. First published in 1953, Axalta’s annual color popularity report is the automotive industry’s longest running and most comprehensive color account. Axalta’s 2025 Global Automotive Color Popularity R ...

Core Insights - Nordson Corporation is a global leader in precision technology solutions, specializing in equipment for dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants, and biomaterials [1] - D.A. Davidson has set a price target of $290 for Nordson's stock, indicating a potential upside of 23.29% from its current trading price of $235.21 [1][5] Financial Performance - For the fiscal fourth quarter ending October 31, 2025, Nordson reported sales of $752 million, reflecting a 1% increase from $744 million in the previous year [2][5] - The sales growth was supported by a favorable currency translation of 2% and a 1% contribution from acquisitions, although it was partially offset by a divestiture in the medical contract manufacturing segment and a 1% decrease in organic sales [2] Stock Performance - The current stock price of Nordson is $234.35, showing a slight decrease of approximately 0.03% from the previous trading session [3] - Over the past year, the stock has experienced significant volatility, reaching a high of $251.47 and a low of $165.03, with a market capitalization of approximately $13.17 billion [4]

Core Insights - Pzena Investment Management's third-quarter 2025 commentary indicates a strong performance in US broad-based indexes driven by optimism about AI and a September rate cut, with the technology sector outperforming value stocks [1] - The Pzena Focused Value strategy returned 1.1% gross and 0.9% net, underperforming the Russell 1000 Value Index which returned 5.3% [1] Company Overview: PPG Industries, Inc. - PPG Industries, Inc. is involved in the manufacturing and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, with a market capitalization of $22.441 billion as of December 09, 2025 [2] - The stock of PPG Industries, Inc. experienced a one-month return of 1.99% but has lost 18.89% over the last 52 weeks, closing at $99.43 per share [2] Investment Positioning - Pzena Focused Value Strategy initiated a new position in PPG Industries, citing its strong market presence and historical returns on capital, despite current concerns about organic growth [3] - The company is viewed as undervalued due to market apprehensions, with expectations for growth to improve as key end markets recover [3] Hedge Fund Interest - PPG Industries, Inc. was held by 34 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, a decrease from 39 in the previous quarter, indicating a decline in popularity among hedge funds [4] - While PPG is recognized for its potential, some analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer better upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Viewpoint - Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) has significantly underperformed the market, with a 44.7% decline over the past year compared to a 12.3% increase in the S&P 500 Index [2] Financial Performance - EMN reported Q3 results with an adjusted EPS of $1.14, missing Wall Street expectations of $1.18, and revenue of $2.20 billion, which also fell short of forecasts of $2.24 billion [4] - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts expect EMN's EPS to decline by 30% to $5.52 on a diluted basis [5] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 15 analysts covering EMN, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with eight "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," four "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [5] - Evercore ISI maintained an "In Line" rating on EMN and lowered the price target to $70, indicating a potential upside of 21.7% from current levels [6] - The mean price target of $71.47 suggests a 24.3% premium to EMN's current price, while the highest price target of $80 indicates a potential upside of 39.1% [6] Market Comparison - EMN's stock has underperformed compared to the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB), which has declined about 7% year-to-date, while EMN has experienced double-digit losses [3]

Core Insights - H.B. Fuller Company CFO John Corkrean exercised stock options and sold shares, indicating a significant transaction valued at approximately $857,800 [1][2][11] Transaction Summary - John Corkrean sold 14,222 shares for about $857,800, representing 20.65% of his direct stake prior to the transaction [2][3] - After the transaction, Corkrean holds 54,646 shares valued at approximately $3.3 million [2] Company Overview - H.B. Fuller Company is a global specialty chemicals manufacturer with a revenue of $3.50 billion and a net income of $114.88 million [7][8] - The company has experienced a one-year price change of -20.34% as of October 27, 2025 [7] Financial Performance - In the fiscal third quarter ending August 30, revenue decreased by 3% year over year to $892 million [12] - The company anticipates a sales decline of 2% to 3% for the fiscal year 2025 [12] - H.B. Fuller has a net debt of nearly $2 billion, with a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.3x [12] Market Context - The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $60.31, slightly above the market close of $60.09 on the transaction date [5] - The stock's performance has been weak, with a one-year total return of -20.34% [5][11]