Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores serve as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank, helping investors select stocks with high potential for market outperformance [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated A, B, C, D, or F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating better chances of outperforming the market [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - Concentrates on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - Targets stocks with upward or downward trends in price or earnings outlook, utilizing factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - Combines all three Style Scores to identify stocks with attractive value, strong growth forecasts, and promising momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model based on earnings estimate revisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.86% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making it essential to use Style Scores to narrow down choices [8] Stock Selection Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with lower ranks, even with good Style Scores, may still face downward price trends [10] Company Spotlight: Nordson Corporation - Nordson Corporation, based in Westlake, OH, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of products for dispensing and controlling various fluids [11] - It holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of B, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [11] - Forecasts indicate a year-over-year earnings growth of 10.6% for the current fiscal year, with upward revisions in earnings estimates [12]

We came across a bullish thesis on Masco Corporation on CompoundingLab’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on MAS. Masco Corporation's share was trading at $71.61 as of February 9th. MAS’s trailing and forward P/E were 18.31 and 17.06 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Strong Revenue Report Lifts Comfort Systems (FIX) Shares Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com Masco Corporation provides home improvement and building products in North America, Europe, and internationally. MAS ...

With a market cap of $29.5 billion, PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) is a global manufacturer and distributor of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through three segments: Global Architectural Coatings; Performance Coatings; and Industrial Coatings, supplying products and services to consumers, contractors, and industrial customers worldwide. Shares of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. PPG stock has increased 14.6% over t ...

Core Viewpoint - PPG Industries Inc. is currently considered one of the most undervalued quality stocks, with analysts raising price targets despite a Q4 2025 earnings miss, indicating optimism about the company's future performance [1][2][3]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Bernstein increased its price target for PPG Industries to $130 from $123 while maintaining an Outperform rating, noting that the Q4 2025 results were well received despite missing EPS expectations [1]. - UBS analyst Joshua Spector raised the price target to $122 from $110, keeping a Neutral rating on the shares [2]. - RBC Capital analyst Arun Viswanathan raised the price target to $115 from $109 but maintained a Sector Perform rating, citing a Q4 2025 earnings miss and a disappointing 2026 outlook [3]. Segment Performance and Market Dynamics - Positive drivers for PPG Industries include strong performance in the Aerospace and Protective & Marine segments, along with $100 million in Industrial market share gains and effective cost-reduction efforts [3]. - Concerns were raised regarding the Refinish segment destocking, rising costs, and broader Industrial challenges, which may offset the benefits of low-single-digit price and volume growth [3]. Company Overview - PPG Industries manufactures and distributes paints, coatings, and specialty materials, operating through three segments: Global Architectural Coatings, Performance Coatings, and Industrial Coatings [4].

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]

Core Insights - Axalta's 2025 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report indicates that neutral colors continue to dominate the automotive color market, with white, gray, and black being the most popular choices [3][5][10] Summary by Region North America - White leads at 31%, a slight decrease from 2024, while blue has risen to 10% and red to 7%, indicating a shift towards bolder colors [5][10] South America - White remains the most popular at 35%, with silver increasing to 14% and blue to 7%, reflecting a trend towards lighter and fresher color expressions [6][10] Europe - Gray is the dominant color at 26%, with white at 25% and black at 22%, showcasing a preference for refined and understated designs [7][10] Asia - The region shows a shift towards more expressive colors, with yellow/gold at 4%, green at 3%, and standout shades like orange and purple at 2%, while black remains significant at 26% [8][10] Industry Context - The report highlights Axalta's ability to meet diverse color demands through proprietary resin chemistry, ensuring durability and sustainability in coatings [9][10] - Axalta's annual report is the longest-running and most comprehensive account of automotive color trends, first published in 1953 [2][10]