On Feb. 17, 2026, 13D Management LLC disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it sold its entire stake in Asbury Automotive Group (ABG 0.93%) in the fourth quarter of 2025.
What happenedAccording to its SEC filing dated Feb. 17, 2026, 13D Management LLC reported zero shares held in Asbury Automotive Group during the fourth quarter. The fund previously disclosed a position worth $5.2 million at the end of the third quarter, based on market closing prices and 21,337 shares held.
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What else to know13D Management LLC sold out of Asbury Automotive Group, eliminating its 5.0% allocation of its assets under management (AUM) in the previous quarter.Top holdings after the filing:NYSE:TWLO: $8.6 million (approximately 10.3% of AUM)NASDAQ:MRCY: $7.5 million (approximately 9.0% of AUM)NASDAQ:VSAT: $6.9 million (approximately 8.3% of AUM)NYSE:ALV: $6.6 million (approximately 7.9% of AUM)NYSE:PSO: $6.4 million (approximately 7.6% of AUM)As of Feb. 16, 2026, ABG shares were priced at $229.44, down 24.4% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 36.2 percentage points.Fund reported 16 U.S. equity positions totaling $84 million in reportable assets after the quarter.Fund’s overall AUM declined by 19% quarter over quarter, indicating broader portfolio downsizing and market price changes.Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$18.00 billionNet income (TTM)$492.00 millionMarket capitalization$4.46 billionPrice (as of market close 2/13/26)$229.44Company snapshotOffers new and used vehicles, vehicle repair and maintenance, replacement parts, collision repair, and a range of finance and insurance products.Generates revenue primarily through automotive sales and after-sales services, complemented by financing and aftermarket product commissions.Serves retail consumers across the United States through a network of dealership locations and collision centers.Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, operating over 150 dealership locations and multiple collision centers. The company leverages a diversified portfolio of automotive brands and comprehensive service offerings to drive consistent revenue streams.
What this transaction means for investorsAsbury Automotive has had a solid stretch of growth over the past two years. The stock rose, reflecting positive revenue and earnings growth last year. But 13D Management may see better opportunities elsewhere, given the stock’s higher valuation.
13D oversees a highly concentrated portfolio of stocks. The stock looks cheap at a price-to-earnings multiple of 7, but auto retail stocks have historically traded at discounts to the average stock.
Moreover, the higher average cost of new vehicles could pressure demand and margins in the near term. Factors like severe weather in certain markets and a pullback in consumer spending on parts and service may make it more difficult to drive sales.
It’s unclear why 13D Management sold its position. But the stock’s higher valuation amid uncertainties with the economy and consumer spending could limit near-term upside for investors.
John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Twilio. The Motley Fool recommends Pearson Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Hold" from the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The
SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG – Free Report) by 1,570.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 9,086 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,542 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Asbury Automotive Group were worth $2,113,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Eminence Capital LP increased its holdings in Asbury Automotive Group by 36.0% during the 2nd quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 1,002,160 shares of the company’s stock valued at $239,055,000 after purchasing an additional 265,539 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,684,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 545.7% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 143,388 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,051,000 after buying an additional 121,183 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 261.7% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 159,645 shares of the company’s stock valued at $39,025,000 after buying an additional 115,504 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 49.1% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 278,760 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,561,000 after buying an additional 91,767 shares during the period.
Asbury Automotive Group Price Performance ABG opened at $194.77 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.76 billion, a PE ratio of 7.76 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $213.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $229.68. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $184.61 and a 1 year high of $274.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.35.
Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE:ABG – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $6.67 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.70 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $4.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.93 billion. Asbury Automotive Group had a net margin of 2.73% and a return on equity of 14.51%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $7.26 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. will post 26.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity at Asbury Automotive Group In other news, Director B. Christopher Disantis purchased 500 shares of Asbury Automotive Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $202.30 per share, with a total value of $101,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 5,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,092,420. The trade was a 10.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.59% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Asbury Automotive Group from $250.00 to $230.00 and set a “reduce” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Asbury Automotive Group in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Asbury Automotive Group from $235.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Asbury Automotive Group from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $230.00 target price on Asbury Automotive Group in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Asbury Automotive Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $248.29.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ABG
About Asbury Automotive Group (Free Report)
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc (NYSE:ABG) is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, the company operates a network of franchised dealerships representing a diverse portfolio of automotive brands. Its core business activities include the sale of new and pre-owned vehicles, as well as the provision of vehicle finance, insurance and protection products to retail customers.
In addition to retail sales, Asbury offers a comprehensive suite of after-sales services, from scheduled maintenance and certified collision repair to parts distribution.
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ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG) (the “Company”), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the United States, today celebrated the grand opening of the Company's state-of-the-art Dealership Support Center. Renovation on the new Dealership Support Center, located at 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, in the heart of Sandy Springs, began in 2025 with corporate team members working from the building as early as November 2025. The renovated propert.
Asbury Automotive (ABG) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Gabriel Holding A/S has entered a market maker agreement with ABG Sundal Collier ASA effective 24 April 2026. The purpose of the Liquidity Provider scheme is to create liquidity on Nasdaq Copenhagen in the listed share and can be summarized as follows:
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG) (the “Company”), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., reported first quarter 2026 net income of $188 million ($9.87 per diluted share), an increase of 42% from $132 million ($6.71 per diluted share) in first quarter 2025. The Company reported first quarter 2026 adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, of $102 million ($5.37 per diluted share), a decrease of 24% from $134 million ($6.82 per dil.
Asbury Automotive Group (ABG - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $5.37 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.68 per share. This compares to earnings of $6.82 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -5.42%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this auto dealership chain would post earnings of $6.7 per share when it actually produced earnings of $6.67, delivering a surprise of -0.45%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
Asbury Automotive, which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, posted revenues of $4.11 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.41%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.15 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Asbury Automotive shares have lost about 14% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.8%.
What's Next for Asbury Automotive?While Asbury Automotive has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Asbury Automotive was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $6.31 on $4.73 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $26.52 on $18.72 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales is currently in the bottom 13% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Sonic Automotive (SAH - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on April 30.
This auto dealer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.46 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -1.4%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.6% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Sonic Automotive's revenues are expected to be $3.74 billion, up 2.5% from the year-ago quarter.
The headline numbers for Asbury Automotive (ABG) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended March 2026, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG) (the “Company”), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., announced the formal transition of David Hult from CEO to Executive Chairman effective May 4th, 2026. “During his tenure, David Hult led Asbury through the largest period of growth in the company's history,” said Tom Reddin, Asbury's Non-Executive Chairman. “Asbury's revenue more than doubled, share price tripled, and earnings per share nea.
GoodHaven Capital Management disclosed in a May 12, 2026, SEC filing that it bought 17,163 shares of Asbury Automotive Group (ABG 0.93%), an estimated $3.81 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.
What happenedAccording to a May 12, 2026, SEC filing, GoodHaven Capital Management increased its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 17,163 shares. The estimated value of the buy was $3.81 million, calculated using the average closing price for the first quarter of 2026. The fund's quarter-end position in Asbury Automotive Group was valued at $8.55 million, up $2.37 million from the previous quarter, reflecting both new purchases and price changes.
What else to knowThis was a buy, bringing the stake to 2.98% of 13F AUM after the quarter-end.Top holdings after the filing:NYSE: BRK-B: $58.64 million (21.0% of AUM)NASDAQ: GOOGL: $36.86 million (13.2% of AUM)NYSE: DVN: $22.87 million (8.2% of AUM)NYSE: BAC: $20.64 million (7.4% of AUM)NYSE: JEF: $18.36 million (6.6% of AUM)As of May 11, 2026, ABG shares were priced at $197.49, down about 17% and significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which is instead up about 26% in the same period.Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$18.00 billionNet Income (TTM)$492.00 millionPrice (as of market close 2026-05-11)$197.491-Year Price Change(17%)Company snapshotAsbury Automotive offers new and used vehicles, vehicle repair and maintenance, replacement parts, collision repair, and finance and insurance products.The firm generates revenue primarily through automotive sales and after-sales services, including arranging third-party vehicle financing and selling aftermarket products.It serves retail automotive customers across the United States through a network of dealership locations and collision centers.Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. is a leading automotive retailer in the United States, operating a broad network of dealerships and collision centers. The company leverages a diversified portfolio of automotive brands and comprehensive service offerings to drive revenue and customer retention. Asbury's integrated business model and focus on both vehicle sales and high-margin after-sales services help sustain its competitive positioning within the auto dealership industry.
What this transaction means for investorsAuto dealership stocks have cooled significantly after several boom years (Lithia Motors is down 14% this past year; AutoNation is up just 4%), but GoodHaven appears to be leaning into the pullback with Asbury rather than avoiding it.
Importantly, Asbury’s latest results, reported late last month, were far from disastrous. First-quarter revenue fell 1% but still topped $4.1 billion, while gross profit reached $727 million. Used vehicle retail gross profit per unit jumped 16% to $1,847, showing the company is still finding ways to protect margins even as sales volumes soften.
Management also continued aggressively returning capital to shareholders, repurchasing roughly 678,000 shares for $147 million during the quarter while expanding its buyback authorization to $500 million. Meanwhile, the company generated $188 million in net income and maintained roughly $1.2 billion in liquidity.
Ultimately and perhaps unsurprisingly, the story here will likely come down to execution. Asbury is actively reshaping its dealership portfolio, rolling out Tekion technology across more than half its stores, and focusing more heavily on higher-margin service and financing revenue streams. If management can stabilize margins while demand normalizes, the recent stock weakness could eventually look more like a cyclical reset than a broken business.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
On May 29, 2026, Asbury Automotive Group Inc (ABG) shares fell 3.6% to a current price of $187.71. This decline continues a downward trend, with the stock down
Investors might want to bet on ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for ArcBest basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For ArcBest, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for ArcBestFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this freight transportation and logistics company is expected to earn $5.17 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for ArcBest. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 5.6%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of ArcBest to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. ArcBest currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if ARCB is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this freight transportation and logistics company holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For ARCB, shares are up 3.25% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry is up 2.57% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 26.92% compares favorably with the industry's 19% performance as well.
Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of ArcBest have risen 16.34%, and are up 120.67% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.15% and 30.86%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of ARCB's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now ARCB is averaging 305,501 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with ARCB.
Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost ARCB's consensus estimate, increasing from $4.72 to $5.17 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that ARCB is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep ArcBest on your short list.
Investors might want to bet on ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) , as earnings estimates for this company have been showing solid improvement lately. The stock has already gained solid short-term price momentum, and this trend might continue with its still improving earnings outlook.
Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this freight transportation and logistics company is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is principally built on this insight.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for ArcBest, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates.
The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsFor the current quarter, the company is expected to earn $1.66 per share, which is a change of +22.1% from the year-ago reported number.
Over the last 30 days, three estimates have moved higher for ArcBest while one has gone lower. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 20.14%.
Current-Year Estimate RevisionsFor the full year, the earnings estimate of $5.17 per share represents a change of +39.7% from the year-ago number.
The revisions trend for the current year also appears quite promising for ArcBest, with four estimates moving higher over the past month compared to one negative revision. The consensus estimate has also received a boost over this time frame, increasing 8.36%.
Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, ArcBest currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom LineInvestors have been betting on ArcBest because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 26.9% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.
Investors interested in Transportation - Truck stocks are likely familiar with ArcBest (ARCB) and XPO (XPO). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
Investors looking for stocks in the Transportation - Truck sector might want to consider either ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) or Saia (SAIA - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
ArcBest has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Saia has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. Investors should feel comfortable knowing that ARCB likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than SAIA has recently. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
ARCB currently has a forward P/E ratio of 21.88, while SAIA has a forward P/E of 36.22. We also note that ARCB has a PEG ratio of 0.63. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. SAIA currently has a PEG ratio of 1.97.
Another notable valuation metric for ARCB is its P/B ratio of 2. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, SAIA has a P/B of 4.11.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to ARCB's Value grade of B and SAIA's Value grade of D.
ARCB sticks out from SAIA in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that ARCB is the better option right now.
The Transportation group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
ArcBest is a member of our Transportation group, which includes 99 different companies and currently sits at #7 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.
The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. ArcBest is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ARCB's full-year earnings has moved 12.1% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.
Based on the most recent data, ARCB has returned 65.4% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Transportation group have gained about 8.4% on average. This means that ArcBest is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
One other Transportation stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (ECO - Free Report) . The stock is up 62.9% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 281.2%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Looking more specifically, ArcBest belongs to the Transportation - Truck industry, which includes 12 individual stocks and currently sits at #95 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 34.6% this year, meaning that ARCB is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
On the other hand, Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. belongs to the Transportation - Shipping industry. This 22-stock industry is currently ranked #48. The industry has moved +46.3% year to date.
ArcBest and Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Transportation stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
Investors interested in stocks from the Transportation - Truck sector have probably already heard of ArcBest (ARCB) and XPO (XPO). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
FORT SMITH, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ArcBest View is a digital logistics platform that enables shipment visibility across ArcBest solutions through a single, intuitive interface.
ArcBest (Nasdaq: ARCB), an integrated logistics company, today announced the launch of ArcBest Viewâ¢, a new digital logistics platform designed around how
If you are looking for stocks that have gained strong momentum recently but are still trading at reasonable prices, ArcBest (ARCB) could be a great choice. It is one of the several stocks that passed through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen.
ArcBest (ARCB) witnessed a jump in share price last session on above-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions for the stock suggests that there could be more strength down the road.
FORT SMITH, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a successful 2025 pilot, ArcBest is adding two Tesla Semis to the ABF Freight fleet to expand testing of electric Class 8 trucks.
ArcBest (Nasdaq: ARCB), an integrated logistics company, today announced the purchase of two Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks by its less-than-truckload carrier ABF
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #fixedincome--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, and Moment, the AI platform for investment management, today announced the launch of a new interface that gives large wealth managers and registered investment advisors (RIAs) streamlined access to MarketAxess's institutional liquidity and pricing directly on the Moment platform. Moment's clients will now have access to liquidity from MarketAxes.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced trading volume and preliminary variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) for April 2026.1 Select April 2026 Highlights* (See tables 1-1C and table 2) Elevated market volatility in April of last year, combined with a return to low volatility and tighter credit spreads in April 2026, were key drivers of the year-over-year decli.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. 1Q26 select financial and operational highlights* Record total revenues of $233.4 million increased 12%, and included an increase of approximately $3.4 million from the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. — 12% growth in total commission revenue to record $203 mil.
MarketAxess (MKTX) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.25 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.87 per share a year ago.
For the quarter ended March 2026, MarketAxess (MKTX - Free Report) reported revenue of $233.38 million, up 11.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.25, compared to $1.87 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $231.24 million, representing a surprise of +0.93%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +4.7%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.15.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how MarketAxess performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Average Variable Transaction Fee Per Million - Credit: $132.00 versus $132.86 estimated by five analysts on average.Average Daily Volume - Total: $49.8 billion versus $49.37 billion estimated by five analysts on average.Average Daily Volume - Total credit trading: $18.63 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $18.04 billion.Average Daily Volume - Total rates trading: $31.17 billion versus $31.32 billion estimated by five analysts on average.Revenues- Information services: $14.45 million versus $13.85 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +11.9% change.Revenues- Post-trade services: $11.61 million compared to the $11.56 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.7% year over year.Revenues- Technology services: $3.86 million versus $3.57 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +19% change.Revenues- Commissions: $203.47 million compared to the $202.07 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.2% year over year.Revenues- Commissions- Total variable transaction fees- Other: $10.7 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $9.42 million.Revenues- Commissions- Total variable transaction fees: $169.97 million compared to the $168.23 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.9% year over year.Revenues- Commissions- Total variable transaction fees- Credit: $150.35 million compared to the $149.66 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +10.7% year over year.Revenues- Commissions- Total fixed distribution fees: $33.51 million compared to the $33.41 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.5% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for MarketAxess here>>>
Shares of MarketAxess have returned -15.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +11.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
MarketAxess NASDAQ: MKTX reported record first-quarter 2026 results, driven by higher trading activity, continued growth in international products, and expanding adoption of newer trading protocols and automation tools.
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $2.25, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.7%. The bottom line increased 20.3% year over year.
Total revenues were $233 million, which grew 12% year over year. The top line beat the consensus mark by 0.9%
The quarterly results benefited from solid growth in total revenues, driven by higher high-grade, high-yield, emerging markets and Eurobonds trading volumes. Increased commission revenues, along with growth in information services, technology services and post-trade services revenues, also contributed to the upside. The gains were partly offset by higher expenses stemming from increased employee compensation and benefits, technology and communication, and marketing and advertising costs.
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Quote
MarketAxess’ Quarterly Operational UpdateCommission revenues improved 12.2% year over year to $203.5 million. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $202.1 million and our estimate of $198.7 million. Information services revenues of $14.4 million grew 11.9% year over year. The metric beat the consensus mark of $13.9 million and our estimate of $13.6 million. Post-trade services revenues increased 4.7% year over year to $11.6 million, while technology services revenues rose 19% to $3.9 million.
Total expenses were $132.5 million, which escalated 10.2% year over year in the quarter due to higher employee compensation and benefits, technology and communication, and marketing and advertising. The metric was lower than our estimate of $135.9 million.
MarketAxess’ net income skyrocketed 418.5% year over year to $78.1 million, higher than our estimate of $72.5 million. The net income margin of 33.5% improved 2,630 basis points year over year.
MarketAxess’ Trading VolumesThe high-grade trading volume of MarketAxess was $511.5 billion in the first quarter, which advanced 10.9% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $505.1 billion. The ADV of the same product category totaled $8.39 million, which rose 10% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.31 million.
High-yield trading volume of $100.4 billion climbed 11.6% year over year, while ADV rose 12% year over year to $1.6 billion. Other credit trading volume rose 16% year over year to $49.8 billion, whereas ADV for the same product category increased 10% year over year to $659 million.
Trading volume and ADV of emerging markets rose 30% each on a year-over-year basis to $311.9 billion and $5 billion, respectively. The Eurobonds’ trading volume and ADV improved 20% each on a year-over-year basis.
The total credit trading volume of $1,142.2 billion advanced 17% year over year. Total credit ADV rose 17% to $18.6 billion. Total rates’ trading volume and ADV of this product category each improved 16% on a year-over-year basis.
MarketAxess’ Balance Sheet (As of March 31, 2026)MarketAxess exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $377.3 million, which fell 27.4% from the 2025-end level. Total assets of $2.3 billion inched up 18.9% from the figure at 2025-end.
The company had $228.3 million in outstanding borrowings under its credit facility at the end of the first quarter. Total stockholders’ equity of $1.2 billion rose 3.9% from the 2025-end level.
MarketAxess’ Cash FlowsNet cash used in operating activities was $75.3 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $29.6 million in the prior-year period. The free cash flow declined 66.3% year over year to $15.9 million.
MarketAxess’ Capital Deployment UpdateMarketAxess completed the final settlement of its previously announced $300 million accelerated share repurchase program on Feb. 4, 2026, with the delivery of an additional 359,782 shares. As of April 30, 2026, $205 million remained available under the board-authorized share repurchase program.
The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 78 cents per share, which will be paid out on June 3, 2026, to shareholders of record as of May 26.
MarketAxess Reaffirms Its 2026 OutlookService revenues, which comprise Information Services, Post-Trade Services and Technology Services, are estimated to witness mid-single-digit percentage growth. Total expenses are anticipated to be between $530 million and $545 million for 2026. Capital expenditure is projected in the range of $65 million to $75 million, while the adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be between 24% and 26%.
MKTX Reaffirms Its 2026-2028 Financial TargetsIn the medium term, MarketAxess is targeting average annual total revenue growth within 8-9%, along with an average annual improvement in operating margin of 75-125 basis points.
The projections are made on anticipated minimum average annual growth of approximately 6% in composite credit market ADV and around 5% in U.S. government bond TRACE market ADV.
MKTX’s Zacks RankMarketAxess currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Other Finance Sector ReleasesSeveral companies in the Finance space, including RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR - Free Report) , AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF - Free Report) and The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) , have already reported their financial results for the March quarter of 2026. Here’s how they have performed:
RenaissanceRe reported first-quarter 2026 operating income of $13.75 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.2%. The bottom line improved from the year-ago quarter’s operating loss of $1.49. Total operating revenues declined 16.6% year over year to $2.6 billion. The top line missed the consensus mark by 10.6%. RNR’s quarterly earnings were aided by a decline in expenses and strong underwriting performance in both segments. Improved combined ratio and fee income contributed to the upside. However, the upside was partly offset by lower net premiums earned across both segments.
AMERISAFE reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of 50 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. The bottom line declined 16.7% year over year. Operating revenues increased 7.9% year over year to $81.75 million but missed the consensus estimate by 0.9%. AMSF’s quarterly result was affected by higher expenses and weaker underwriting margins, with additional pressure from lower fee income and weaker investment income. Stronger premium growth partially offsets the downside.
Hartford posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 core earnings per share of $3.09, which increased 40.5% from $2.20 in the prior-year quarter. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.29 by 6.1%. Operating revenues totaled $5.09 billion, up 7% year over year, but missed the consensus mark by 2.1%. HIG’s weaker-than-expected results were led by less favorable prior-year reserve development, higher expenses and pressure in Employee Benefits. The negatives were partially offset by high demand for expensive risk events, stronger investment income and a massive turnaround in Personal Insurance.
Investors interested in stocks from the Financial - Investment Bank sector have probably already heard of The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW - Free Report) and MarketAxess (MKTX - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Currently, The Charles Schwab Corporation has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while MarketAxess has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that SCHW's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
SCHW currently has a forward P/E ratio of 15.06, while MKTX has a forward P/E of 17.56. We also note that SCHW has a PEG ratio of 0.64. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. MKTX currently has a PEG ratio of 2.72.
Another notable valuation metric for SCHW is its P/B ratio of 3.76. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, MKTX has a P/B of 4.19.
Based on these metrics and many more, SCHW holds a Value grade of B, while MKTX has a Value grade of D.
SCHW sticks out from MKTX in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that SCHW is the better option right now.
MarketAxess sits at the center of the shift toward electronic bond trading and investors are watching whether record activity is turning into deeper client reliance on its trading, data, and automation tools.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced that it will be participating in the following upcoming investor conferences: Chris Concannon, Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Piper Sandler Global Exchange & FinTech Conference at 11:00 a.m. ET on June 4, 2026. Chris Concannon and Ilene Fiszel Bieler, Chief Financial Officer, will particip.
Key Takeaways MKTX posted 11.9% revenue growth in Q1 2026 amid strong fixed-income trading activity.Record block, portfolio and dealer-initiated trading supported MarketAxess expansion efforts.MKTX ended Q1 2026 with $377.3M cash and a 22.3% trailing 12-month ROE. MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX - Free Report) is a leading multi-dealer trading platform that offers institutional investors access to global liquidity in products like U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds and other fixed-income securities.
MarketAxess’ growth is supported by improving trading volumes, acquisitions and partnerships and a robust financial position supporting expansion and shareholder returns. However, in the year-to-date period, shares of MKTX have declined 32%, underperforming the industry’s 1.1% fall.
Courtesy of solid prospects, MKTX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Where Do Estimates for MKTX Stand?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MKTX’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $8.04 per share, indicating an 8.8% year-over-year rise, which has remained stable over the past seven days. Furthermore, the consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $904.8 million for 2026, implying a 6.9% year-over-year rise. MKTX beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.5%.
MKTX’s Growth DriversMarketAxess delivered a strong start to 2026, driven by robust trading activity across its fixed-income product suite, including U.S. credit, emerging markets, Eurobonds and U.S. Treasuries. The company benefited from increased client engagement, strong demand for diversified liquidity sources and growing adoption of electronic trading solutions. Its total revenues rose 11.9% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, along with 12.2% growth in commission revenues. The company's growing international footprint is also reducing its dependence on any single market and creating a broader base for long-term expansion.
It continues to focus on executing a long-term strategy centered on innovation and platform enhancement. The company is increasingly using its proprietary data and AI capabilities to provide better market insights and support trading decisions. MKTX is also investing in technology upgrades, rolling out its enhanced X-Pro platform and strengthening its technology team to support future growth. These efforts are intended to improve the user experience, support product development and help the company maintain its position in electronic fixed-income trading.
MarketAxess is actively expanding its product suite to capture new areas of market activity. The company is also witnessing strong traction in block trading, portfolio trading and dealer-initiated workflows — all of which reached record levels during the quarter. In addition, the acquisition of RFQ Hub has strengthened its technology services capabilities and broadened its reach, while the partnership with DirectBooks supports the rollout of a new issue trading solution. These efforts, combined with continued investments in automation and AI-driven tools, are expected to enhance execution efficiency and support long-term growth.
Also, MKTX maintains a strong financial position and concluded first-quarter 2026 with $377.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, coupled with minimal operating lease liabilities of $63.7 million. Profitability also remains healthy. Its trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 22.3%, well above the industry average of 13.3%. This reflects efficient use of shareholder capital.
MKTX’s Key RisksThere are some factors, however, that investors should keep a careful eye on.
MarketAxess is grappling with increasing expenses, which are putting pressure on its profit margins. Total expenses rose 10.2% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. Ongoing investments in various areas, including the trading platform, new protocols, talent and infrastructure, are expected to contribute to rising expenses in the days ahead.
The company’s valuation remains stretched at the current level. MarketAxess currently has a forward 12-month P/E of 14.75X, higher than the industry’s average of 12.90X.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader finance space are Octave Specialty Group, Inc. (OSG - Free Report) , Pelagos Insurance Capital Ltd. (PLGO - Free Report) and The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (THG - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Octave Specialty Group’s current-year earnings of 45 cents per share has witnessed one upward revision in the past 30 days against none in the opposite direction. OSG’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 464.4%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $358.9 million, suggesting a 42.9% year-over-year jump.
The consensus estimate for Pelagos Insurance Capital’s current-year earnings is pegged at $3.78 per share, which signals 96.9% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 53.6%. The consensus mark for PLGO’s current-year revenues of $2.8 billion implies 11.4% year-over-year growth.
The consensus estimate for Hanover Insurance’s current-year earnings is pegged at $18.36 per share, which has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 30 days against none in the opposite direction. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 28.5%. The consensus estimate for THG’s current-year revenues is pegged at $7 billion, which implies a 4.7% year-over-year rise.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced trading volume and preliminary variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) for May 2026.1 Select May 2026 Highlights* (See tables 1-1C and table 2) Trading volumes across most products, as well as U.S. high-grade estimated market share, rebounded in May from April levels. U.S. high-grade estimated market share increased approxi.
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Headquartered in New York, MarketAxess (MKTX - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of -33.45% so far this year. The operator of bond trading platforms is paying out a dividend of $0.78 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.59% compared to the Financial - Investment Bank industry's yield of 0.96% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.44%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $3.12 is up 2.6% from last year. Over the last 5 years, MarketAxess has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 4.44%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. MarketAxess's current payout ratio is 40%, meaning it paid out 40% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for MKTX for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $8.04 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 8.80%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, MKTX is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
