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Focused fleet growth, strategic opportunities, and built-in adaptability across domestic and international operations drove a resilient first quarter

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Algoma Central Corporation (TSX: ALC) ("Algoma", the "Company") today reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2026. Algoma reported first quarter revenues of $127,781, compared to revenues of $107,201 in 2025. Net earnings for the first quarter were $2,224 compared to a loss of $23,280 in 2025. Earnings in 2026 include one-time net gains totaling $18,881 in the period. Due to the closing of the canal system and the winter weather conditions on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway, the majority of the Domestic Dry-Bulk fleet does not operate for most of the first quarter and earnings in the quarter are not indicative of results for the other three quarters of the year. All amounts reported below are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for per share data and where the context dictates otherwise.

"Across North America and around the world, industry continues to experience heightened geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade dynamics, and global economic pressures. At Algoma we continue to remain focused on what we can control: delivering strong customer service, continuing to invest in fleet renewal and strategic growth, and improving operational efficiencies," said Gregg Ruhl, President & CEO of Algoma Central Corporation. "During the quarter, we delivered on our priorities and welcomed the Algoma Celebration to our ocean self-unloader fleet. Demand is strengthening across the Great Lakes and East Coast, with capacity in place to meet it. Internationally, rates are strong and many long-term contracts are in place. With the 2026 navigation season well underway, I want to wish all our crews safe passage. Thank you for continuing to deliver the raw materials essential to industries and businesses across both Canada, United States, and around the world," concluded Mr. Ruhl.

Financial Highlights: First Quarter 2026 Compared to First Quarter 2025

Net earnings increased to $2,224 compared to a loss of $23,280 in 2025. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.05 in 2026 compared to a loss of $0.57 in 2025. Earnings in 2026 include one-time net gains totaling $18,881 recorded in the period. Excluding these items, net loss decreased 28.3% to $16,689 compared to $23,280 in 2025. Domestic Dry-Bulk segment revenue increased 21% to $37,134 compared to $30,551 in 2025, reflecting 23% higher volumes driving a 13% rise in revenue days. Operating losses for the segment decreased 4.1% to $35,622 compared to $37,160 in 2025. Revenue for the Product Tankers segment increased 40% to $46,739 compared to $33,291 in 2025, driven primarily by the larger fleet size. Operating earnings increased to $4,796 compared to a loss of $378 in 2025. Revenue in the Ocean Self-Unloaders segment increased to $43,286 compared to $42,725 in 2025. Operating earnings increased 34% to $8,667 compared to $6,445 in 2025, mainly as a result of reduced off-hire days. Joint venture equity earnings increased in the quarter to $7,209 compared to $4,689 for the prior year period. International product tankers drove earnings growth, supported by higher daily rates due to current favourable market conditions and fleet expansion from five vessels at the start of the prior year to eight in the current period. “Algoma experienced a strong first quarter with higher volumes and additional capacity,” said Christopher Lazarz, Chief Financial Officer. “In Domestic Dry-Bulk, de-icing salt volumes increased as a result of harsher winter conditions and consequently demand for replenishment drove increased revenue days. We are expecting agriculture volumes to rise in 2026 and construction activity to remain flat as market uncertainty in this sector continues. In the Product Tanker segment, performance continues to be strong, driven by fleet growth and customer demand. Internationally, we continue to see steady rates and demand. Although our ownership structure changed in our cement fleet, the global short sea segment continues to perform well. The quarter was capped off with taking delivery of our second, more efficient newbuild Ocean self-unloader, the Algoma Celebration, and we look forward to her joining the Pool in the second quarter," concluded Mr. Lazarz.

Consolidated Statement of Earnings

  For the three months ended March 31

2026

2025

(unaudited, in thousands of dollars, except per share data)

Revenue

$

127,781

$

107,201

Operating expenses

(122,938

)

(113,258

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(13,735

)

(10,989

)

Depreciation and amortization

(21,115

)

(18,630

)

Operating loss

(30,007

)

(35,676

)

Interest expense

(6,830

)

(4,628

)

Interest income

153

135

Gain on business acquisition

3,665

—

Gain on sale of assets

20,702

—

Foreign exchange loss

(1,145

)

(177

)

(13,462

)

(40,346

)

Income tax recovery

8,477

12,377

Net earnings from investments in joint ventures

7,209

4,689

Net earnings (loss)

$

2,224

$

(23,280

)

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.05

$

(0.57

)

EBITDA

  The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of the cash generating capacity of its businesses. The following table provides a reconciliation of net earning (loss) in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP EBITDA measure for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 and presented herein:

  For the three months ended March 31

2026

2025

Net earnings (loss)

$

2,224

$

(23,280

)

Depreciation and amortization

25,657

25,622

Net interest and tax recoveries

931

(4,947

)

Foreign exchange loss

387

234

Gain on business acquisition

(3,665

)

—

Net loss (gain) on sale of assets

(20,702

)

1

EBITDA(1)

$

4,832

$

(2,370

)

  Select Financial Performance by Business Segment

  For the three months ended March 31

2026

2025

Domestic Dry-Bulk

Revenue

$

37,134

$

30,551

Operating loss

(35,622

)

(37,160

)

Product Tankers

Revenue

46,739

33,291

Operating earnings (loss)

4,796

(378

)

Ocean Self-Unloaders

Revenue

43,286

42,725

Operating earnings

8,667

6,445

Corporate

Revenue

622

634

Operating loss

(7,848

)

(4,583

)

The MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 includes further details. Full results for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 can be found on the Company’s website at www.algonet.com/investor-relations and on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

Business Outlook(2)

In the Domestic Dry-Bulk segment, grain and salt volumes are expected to increase, partially offset by reductions in the iron and steel sectors. Higher grain volumes are anticipated to add revenue days and support continued strength in the agriculture segment. Salt volumes are also expected to increase, with a rise in shipment volumes anticipated as depleted inventories are replenished following the harsher winter weather around the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence region. Construction activity is expected to remain relatively flat as it continues to be influenced by broader economic conditions.

In the Product Tanker segment, customer demand is anticipated to remain steady and fuel distribution patterns should support strong utilization for the vessels trading under Canadian flag. We expect all ten Canadian vessels to remain in full employment for the balance of the year.

In the Ocean Self-Unloader segment, vessel supply is expected to increase with fewer assets scheduled for dry-docking. Volumes are expected to improve modestly for the remainder of the year. Algoma took delivery of the second of three newbuild self-unloader that will join the Pool in the second quarter of 2026.

In our global joint ventures, we anticipate steady rates across the fleets, with most assets committed to long-term time charter contracts. The remaining two FureBear newbuild tankers are expected to be delivered in 2026; the Company is anticipating a continued steady rate environment for these tankers.

Global tariffs could increase operating costs and reduce trade volumes, potentially leading to shifts in global supply chain routes. Earnings could be impacted by on-going conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, however nearly all of our operations are outside these high risk areas. While Algoma is closely monitoring these situations, we do not anticipate major changes in cargo volumes at this time; however, we are expecting continued higher costs across our supply chains, and are exploring ways to mitigate potential impacts.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

Effective March 23, 2026, the Company renewed its normal course issuer bid (the "2026 NCIB") to purchase up to 2,028,391 of its common shares ("Shares"), representing approximately 5% of the 40,567,816 Shares issued and outstanding as of the close of business on March 9, 2026. Under the 2026 NCIB and previous expiring NCIB, no Shares were purchased and cancelled for the period ended March 31, 2026.

Cash Dividends

The Company's Board of Directors authorized payment of a quarterly dividend to shareholders of $0.21 per common share. The dividend will be paid on June 1, 2026 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2026.

Notes

(1) Use of Non-GAAP Measures

The Company uses several financial measures to assess its performance including earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), free cash flow, return on equity, and adjusted performance measures. Some of these measures are not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), are not defined by GAAP, and do not have standardized meanings that would ensure consistency and comparability among companies using these measures. From Management’s perspective, these non-GAAP measures are useful measures of performance as they provide readers with a better understanding of how management assesses performance. Further information on Non-GAAP measures please refer to page 2 in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.

(2) Forward Looking Statements

Algoma Central Corporation’s public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document and may be included in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of any applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements may involve, but are not limited to, comments with respect to our objectives and priorities for 2026 and beyond, our strategies or future actions, our targets, expectations for our financial condition or share price and the results of or outlook for our operations or for the Canadian, U.S. and global economies. The words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections. We caution readers of this document not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements.

Algoma Central Corporation is a global provider of marine transportation, owning and operating dry and liquid bulk carriers that serve critical industries throughout the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region and internationally. Focused on delivering exceptional customer service, utilizing fuel efficient vessels, and advancing innovative technologies, Algoma drives productivity while contributing to economic growth, strengthening communities, and supporting its people. Algoma truly is Your Marine Carrier of Choice™. Learn more at algonet.com.

Key Takeaways ALC posted Q1 2026 sales gains: Surgical $1.46B and Vision Care $1.23B, both up 6% cc. Alcon's Unity launch helped equipment sales jump, with an expanding installed base and post-ASCRS orders. ALC flagged $33M Q1 tariffs and 120 bps gross-margin drag; 2026 net tariff hit seen at $100-$150M. Alcon’s (ALC - Free Report) Vision Care business continues to gain from its diverse portfolio of contact lenses and ocular health products. Growth momentum within the Surgical business is poised to boost the top line in the upcoming quarters. Meanwhile, adverse macroeconomic conditions and intense competition may harm the company’s operations.

In the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has dipped 22.3% compared with the industry’s 7.3% decline. The S&P 500 composite has risen 31.8% in the same time frame.

The renowned pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer has a market capitalization of $32.77 billion. ALC’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, delivering an average surprise of 3.7%.

Let’s delve deeper.

Upsides for ALCSurgical Business Momentum: Alcon continues to refresh its cataract workflow and intraocular lens lineup, which supports share gains even as procedure growth remains uneven. In the first quarter of 2026, Surgical sales were $1.46 billion, up 6% at constant currency, with equipment up 23% and supported by the recent Unity launch. 

Management highlighted expansion of the Unity installed base and pointed to a strong post-ASCRS order pipeline, which should support equipment growth as more sites convert. Consumables sales were up 4% at constant currency, aided by price increases despite softer cataract market conditions.

Within implantables, first-quarter sales were $438 million, up 1% at constant currency, reflecting the U.S. performance of PanOptix Pro and competitive pressures internationally. The company also launched TruPlus with a toric option, which broadens its monofocal plus offering.

Vision Care Returns to Growth: Vision Care continues to benefit from a shift toward newer contact lens offerings and expansion in dry eye, which supports a steadier growth profile over time. 

In the first quarter of 2026, Vision Care sales were $1.23 billion, up 6% at constant currency, with contact lenses up 4% and ocular health up 10% at constant currency. After expanding the TOTAL 30 family last year to cover all major modalities — sphere, toric and multifocal — in February 2026, the company introduced a multifocal toric lens for presbyopes patients with astigmatism.

Alcon’s PRECISION7 remains a key weekly platform for patients who are not candidates for daily disposables. In ocular health, Systane delivered high single-digit growth in the quarter, and multi-dose preservative-free formats grew more than 20% year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Downsides for ALCMacroeconomic Pressure Stays: Alcon remains exposed to geopolitical and trade volatility that can disrupt supply chains and raise input costs, particularly as tariffs continue to evolve. In the first quarter of 2026, incremental tariffs in the U.S. and China totaled $33 million, and management cited a 120 basis points drag on core gross margin. For 2026, management’s outlook assumes a net tariff impact of about $100 million to $150 million and excludes any potential refunds.

The company disclosed that it has paid approximately $64 million under invalidated IEEPA tariffs, though no refunds have been recorded due to uncertainty surrounding timing and recoverability.

Tough Competitive Landscape: Competition remains intense across both segments and is showing up most clearly where Alcon is defending share outside the United States and managing mix transitions. In the first quarter of 2026, implantables grew 1% at constant currency as PanOptix Pro's strength was offset by competitive pressure in international markets and lower sales in surgical glaucoma. In Vision Care, contact lenses grew 4% at constant currency, but management cited declines in legacy products as it reduced promotional activity.

ALC Stock Estimate Trend The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share has moved north 2 cents to $3.48 in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $11.05 billion, suggesting a 7.1% rise from the year-ago reported number.

Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) and Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) . 

Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.5%, well ahead of the industry’s -3% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%. The company’s shares have rallied 43.8% against the industry’s 4.8% decline over the past year.

GMED sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, has an earnings yield of 16% against the industry’s -3% yield. Shares of the company have gained 22.8% compared with the industry’s 4.8% growth. IART’s earnings topped estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.

Phibro Animal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 9.2% compared with the industry’s 2.8% yield. Shares of the company have climbed 43.1% against the industry’s 27.9% decline. PAHC’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.3%.

On June 04, 2026, Alcon Inc ALC shares rose 3.7% today, closing at $66.58. The stock has seen considerable volatility over the past year, with a 52-week high of $92.55 and a low of $61.84.

GF Value™ verdict: ALC is currently trading at $66.58, which is 28.2% below its estimated fair value of $92.75.GF Score™ of 78/100 indicates that the stock is above average regarding its overall quality and performance metrics.No insider transactions have been reported in the last three months, suggesting a lack of significant insider confidence or activity. Is ALC Overvalued or Undervalued? Currently, Alcon Inc ALC is trading at $66.58, which represents a substantial 28.2% discount to its GF Value™ of $92.75. This undervaluation indicates a potential opportunity for long-term investors, as the margin of safety offers a buffer against market volatility. The GF Valuation label categorizes this stock as "Modestly Undervalued," suggesting that it may have room for price appreciation based on its fundamentals.

GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. The current price being significantly lower than the GF Value™ implies that the stock is undervalued; however, investors should consider potential risks such as market conditions and company performance fluctuations when making investment decisions.

How Does ALC's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 40.1x 53.3x (5-Year Median) Forward P/E 19.4x - ALC's current P/E ratio of 40.1x is significantly below its 5-year median P/E of 53.3x, indicating that the stock is trading at a more attractive valuation compared to its historical performance. This aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of being undervalued, suggesting that current pricing may not fully reflect the company's potential growth and profitability.

What Does ALC's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 78 Financial Strength 6/10 Profitability 5/10 Growth 8/10 Valuation 8/10 Momentum 4/10 The GF Score™ of 78/100 indicates that Alcon Inc ALC is positioned well in terms of its overall quality and performance. The strongest area is its Growth Rank of 8/10, reflecting favorable prospects for future earnings and expansion. However, the weakest area is the Momentum Rank of 4/10, suggesting that the stock has experienced some turbulence in price performance, which could be a concern for short-term investors.

What Are Insiders Doing with ALC Stock? Over the past three months, there have been no reported insider transactions for Alcon Inc ALC . This absence of insider buying or selling may indicate a lack of confidence or a wait-and-see approach among company executives regarding future performance. It could also suggest that insiders are aligning with broader market sentiments rather than taking decisive actions based on their expectations for the company's future.

What This Means for Investors Based on the current analysis, Alcon Inc ALC is classified as undervalued according to the GF Value™ metric. The significant gap between its market price and intrinsic value suggests potential for appreciation, although investors should be cautious of market fluctuations and performance risks that could impact future valuations.

For the complete analysis, visit the Alcon Inc ALC stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is ALC's GF Score™?

ALC has a GF Score™ of 78, indicating an above-average stock quality that is likely to produce better long-term returns.

Is ALC overvalued or undervalued?

ALC is currently undervalued with a GF Value™ estimate of $92.75, suggesting that there is significant upside potential based on its fundamentals.

What is ALC's P/E ratio?

The current P/E ratio for ALC is 40.1x, which is notably lower than its 5-year median P/E of 53.3x, indicating that the stock is trading at a more attractive valuation in comparison to its historical range.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun speaks at the Chinese smartphone maker's launch event in Beijing, China May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesBEIJING, March 19 (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle giant Xiaomi (1810.HK), opens new tab will invest at least 60 billion yuan ($8.70 billion) ​in artificial intelligence over the next three years, CEO Lei Jun said ‌on Thursday.

The announcement came a day after the company officially unveiled its new flagship AI model MiMo-V2-Pro, a large language model originally uploaded anonymously onto OpenRouter last week.

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The model has shot up the AI gateway ​platform's leaderboard rankings, so far processing more than 1.5 trillion tokens or units ​of data, a sign that it has been well received by developers ⁠worldwide.

Lei, speaking at a company event in Beijing, highlighted MiMo-V2-Pro's global reception, saying it ​would rapidly improve, and revealed Xiaomi's budget for AI research this year had exceeded the ​previously announced 16 billion yuan figure.

"So you will see that we will advance faster and faster in many core technologies," he said.

Xiaomi's increased investment in AI comes as competition in China's cutthroat chatbot space ​is being redirected to agents, which require far less prompting and can execute more ​complex tasks.

While AI chatbots in China have faced intense downward price pressures, particularly since DeepSeek's ascent in the ‌past ⁠two years, tech firms are eyeing the much higher token consumption required by agents as a potentially new lucrative revenue stream.

MiMo-V2-Pro was created to handle agent workloads, according to Lei, as agent frameworks like OpenClaw take China by storm, prompting Chinese tech giants from Alibaba ​to Tencent to jump ​on the trend ⁠in the hopes of generating new streams of revenue.

"Developers around the world have commented that V2-Pro has a high IQ, also a ​high EQ, and crucially its task execution ability is both fast ​and accurate... ⁠underscoring its huge global impact," Lei said.

Lei also noted the youthfulness of the team behind MiMo-V2-Pro, boasting an average age of 25, and with over half of its members holding doctorate ⁠degrees or ​hailing from China's top two universities, PKU and ​Tsinghua. MiMo is led by ex-DeepSeek researcher and PKU graduate Luo Fuli, who was born in 1995.

($1 = 6.8998 Chinese ​yuan renminbi)

Reporting by Ju-min Park and Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Jan Harvey

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Ju-min Park is a senior correspondent for Reuters based in Beijing, covering the automobile industry. She began her career at Reuters since 2010 and previously reported on the Korean peninsula and Japan.

Eduardo Baptista is a Senior Correspondent for Reuters based in Beijing, covering China’s technology, space, and automotive industries. He has led enterprise and investigative reporting on China’s military-linked companies, artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, as well as macroeconomic and industrial policy. Baptista has reported from China for nearly a decade and holds a BA in History from the University of Cambridge.

Xiaomi reported a slump in quarterly net profit, caught between soaring memory-chip prices and subdued consumption in one of the world's largest consumer markets.

Xiaomi transitioning from smartphones to EV, physical robotics, and other AI initiatives can impact near-term revenue and earnings outlook. The smartphone's share of total gross profit has declined from 40.9% to 15.1% over the past two years, while the EV and AI segment has increased from 0% to 34.7%. Due to a spike in memory prices, the smartphone segment's gross profit has declined significantly, and management expects cost pressures to persist.

Hurtling around a race track outside Beijing, Xiaomi's SU7 Ultra is as disconcerting as it's quick. The company is preparing its expansion abroad, where it could pose a threat in the EV market.

Across social media, influencers are hawking Chinese car brands like BYD, Xiaomi and Zeekr with luxury features, state-of-the-art tech and affordable prices. But they're forbidden fruit for inflation-weary Americans who can't have them just yet.

Xiaomi had a rough start to the year, posting another profit drop as the memory crunch, stiff competition and soft demand hurt its businesses, from smartphones to electric cars.

Xiaomi (XIACF, XIACY) is rated a buy, with a ~20x P/E offering improved margin of safety after a 30% stock decline. Despite an 11% top-line drop and margin pressure in Q1, XIACF's ecosystem and premium positioning strategies remain intact, supporting long-term growth. Smart EV and AI initiatives saw revenue growth, with the EV division poised for significant scale as Xiaomi targets 550k vehicle deliveries by 2026.

Xiaomi's MiMo AI team has open-sourced MiMo Code V0.1.0, a terminal-native AI coding assistant that the Chinese electronics giant says outperforms Anthropic's Claude Code on key agentic coding benchmarks, especially on long-horizon, multi-step tasks (200+ steps) — at least, according to its own internal beta release and survey of 576 developers. It's also bundling limited-time free access to MiMo-V2.5, its multimodal flagship model with a million-token context window, requiring no registration to get started.

Columbia Financial (CLBK - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.15 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.16 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.09 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -3.23%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.15 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.15, delivering no surprise.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Columbia Financial, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, posted revenues of $67.14 million for the quarter ended March 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.23%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $58.8 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times 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.

Columbia Financial shares have added about 19.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.1%.

What's Next for Columbia Financial?While Columbia Financial has outperformed 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 Columbia Financial was favorable. 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 #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform 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 $0.17 on $71.9 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.76 on $411.1 million 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, Financial - Miscellaneous Services is currently in the top 35% 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.

Brookfield Asset Management (BAM - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 8.

This investment manager is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.8% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Brookfield Asset Management's revenues are expected to be $1.48 billion, up 14% from the year-ago quarter.

On April 28, 2026, Columbia Financial Inc CLBK shares rose 3.1% to a current price of $19.09. This increase comes amid a strong price performance, with CLBK showing a 52-week range of $13.32 to $19.33.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $19.09 is 0.3% above GF Value™ of $19.04.GF Score™: 62/100, indicating an above-average assessment.Most notable signal: No insider transactions in the last 3 months. Is CLBK Overvalued or Undervalued? According to the GF Value™ analysis, Columbia Financial Inc is currently trading at a price of $19.09, which is marginally overvalued by 0.3% compared to its GF Value™ estimate of $19.04. This suggests that while the stock is close to its intrinsic value, there is little margin of safety for investors. The GF Valuation label indicates that the stock is fairly valued, but with a slight risk of overvaluation at the current price level. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates.

Being slightly overvalued may pose a risk to potential investors, as any market corrections could result in a sharper decline in share price. However, the company has demonstrated strong price momentum over the past year, which could support the current valuation despite the overvaluation warning.

How Does CLBK's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 34.7x 28.3x Forward P/E 25.3x N/A Columbia Financial Inc's current P/E (TTM) of 34.7x is significantly higher than its 5-year median P/E of 28.3x, indicating that the stock is trading above its historical valuation levels. Additionally, the forward P/E of 25.3x provides an outlook that is more favorable than the current P/E but still suggests a premium valuation relative to historical averages. This P/E analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict, confirming that CLBK is overvalued at its current price.

What Does CLBK's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ ranks stocks based on five key aspects: Financial Strength, Profitability, Growth, Valuation, and Momentum. The overall GF Score™ for Columbia Financial Inc is 62/100, indicating an above-average stock. Below is a detailed breakdown of the individual metrics:

Metric Rating GF Score™ 62/100 Financial Strength 2/10 Profitability 4/10 Growth 1/10 Valuation 9/10 Momentum 9/10 The scores indicate that while CLBK has a strong valuation and momentum rank, it struggles in financial strength and growth. This mix of strengths and weaknesses suggests that while there may be opportunities for short-term gains driven by momentum, long-term investors should be cautious due to the company's financial health and growth potential.

What Are Insiders Doing with CLBK Stock? In the last three months, there have been no insider transactions reported for Columbia Financial Inc. This lack of activity may suggest that insiders do not see a compelling reason to buy or sell shares at this time, which could imply a degree of uncertainty about the company's future performance or valuation.

What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis, Columbia Financial Inc is currently overvalued, with a modest margin above its GF Value™. While the stock has exhibited strong momentum recently, investors should exercise caution given the slight overvaluation and the company's financial strength and growth metrics. It would be prudent to consider these factors when making investment decisions.

For the complete analysis, visit the Columbia Financial Inc CLBK stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CLBK's GF Score™?

The GF Score™ for Columbia Financial Inc is 62/100, indicating an above-average stock with potential for generating returns based on its current metrics.

Is CLBK overvalued or undervalued?

Columbia Financial Inc is currently overvalued, with a price of $19.09 compared to a GF Value™ estimate of $19.04.

What is CLBK's P/E ratio?

The current P/E (TTM) ratio for Columbia Financial Inc is 34.7x, which is significantly higher than its 5-year median P/E of 28.3x, indicating a premium valuation compared to its historical levels.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

FAIR LAWN, N.J., May 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Financial, Inc. (“Columbia Financial”) (NASDAQ: CLBK), the mid-tier holding company for Columbia Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that on or about May 21, 2026 Columbia Financial, Inc., a newly formed Maryland corporation and the proposed successor holding company of the Bank (“Columbia Financial, Inc.”), expects to commence its offering of common stock in connection with the proposed conversion of Columbia Bank MHC (the “MHC”) from the mutual holding company to the stock holding company form of organization.

Columbia Financial, Inc., Columbia Financial and the MHC have received all requisite regulatory approvals and authorizations to commence the offering. In addition, Columbia Financial, Inc. and Columbia Bank have received conditional approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to acquire Northfield Bancorp, Inc., Woodbridge, New Jersey (“Northfield”) and Northfield Bank immediately upon completion of the second-step conversion.

Columbia Financial, Inc. is offering for sale, on a best efforts basis, up to 192,625,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. The shares will be offered for sale in a subscription offering to eligible depositors and certain borrowers of the Bank and to the Bank’s employee stock ownership plan. Any shares of common stock not purchased in the subscription offering may be offered for sale to the general public in a community offering, with a preference first given to natural persons residing in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties in New Jersey and then to existing stockholders of Columbia Financial (other than Columbia Bank MHC) and to the general public. Columbia Financial, Inc. will also offer shares of common stock not purchased in the subscription offering and community offering, if any, in a firm commitment underwritten offering.

All questions concerning the conversion and stock offering or requests for stock offering materials should be directed to the Stock Information Center at (844) 265-9680 (toll-free). The Stock Information Center will be open Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, beginning on May 22, 2026. The Stock Information Center will be closed on bank holidays.

        Columbia Financial, Inc. must sell at least 142,375,000 shares of its common stock in the offering in order to complete the conversion and offering. If Columbia Financial, Inc. does not receive orders for at least 142,375,000 shares of common stock in the offering, shares that Columbia Financial, Inc. issues to stockholders of Northfield in connection with the acquisition of Northfield can be counted to reach the minimum number of shares sold in the offering. Completion of the conversion and offering is also subject to the approvals of the stockholders of Columbia Financial and the members of the MHC, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

        Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company, is acting as marketing agent for the subscription and community offerings and the lead left book-running manager for any firm commitment underwritten offering conducted by Columbia Financial, Inc. in connection with the second-step conversion.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is serving as legal counsel to Columbia Financial, Inc., Columbia Financial, the MHC and the Bank. Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP is serving as legal counsel to Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

About Columbia Financial, Inc.

Columbia Financial, Inc. is a Delaware corporation organized as Columbia Bank’s mid-tier stock holding company. Columbia Financial, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of Columbia Bank MHC. Columbia Bank is a federally chartered savings bank headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that operates 70 full-service banking offices and offers traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. For more information about Columbia Bank, please visit www.columbiabankonline.com.

Disclaimer and Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project” and “intend,” as well as words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of Columbia Financial, Inc. and Columbia Financial and their respective management about future events. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, adverse conditions in the capital and debt markets and the impact of such conditions on Columbia Financial’s business activities; changes in interest rates, higher inflation and their impact on national and local economic conditions; changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and other governmental entities; the impact of tariffs, sanctions and other trade policies of the United States and its global trading counterparts; the impact of changing political conditions or federal government shutdowns; the impact of legal, judicial and regulatory proceedings or investigations, competitive pressures from other financial institutions; the effects of general economic conditions on a national basis or in the local markets in which Columbia Financial operates, including changes that adversely affect a borrowers’ ability to service and repay loans; the effect of acts of terrorism, war or pandemics, including on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions; changes in the value of securities in Columbia Financial’s portfolio; changes in loan default and charge-off rates; fluctuations in real estate values; the adequacy of credit loss reserves; decreases in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and securities; legislative changes and changes in government regulation; changes in accounting standards and practices; the risk that goodwill and intangibles recorded in Columbia Financial’s consolidated financial statements will become impaired; cyber-attacks, computer viruses and other technological risks that may breach the security of our systems and allow unauthorized access to confidential information; the inability of third party service providers to perform; demand for loans in Columbia Financial’s market area; Columbia Financial’s ability to attract and maintain deposits and effectively manage liquidity; risks related to the implementation of acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings; and the risk that Columbia Financial may not be successful in the implementation of its business strategy, or its integration of acquired financial institutions and businesses.

In addition, with respect to the previously announced second-step conversion and proposed merger with Northfield, such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, include, among others, the following: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; (ii) the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because the approval by Columbia Financial’s and/or Northfield’s stockholders, or other approvals and the other conditions to closing, are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties; (iv) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including anticipated cost savings and strategic gains, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Columbia Financial and Northfield operate; (v) the possibility that the integration of the two companies may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (vi) our ability to successfully complete the second-step conversion; (vi) the possibility that the final independent appraisal of Columbia Financial, Inc. will differ from the preliminary independent appraisal of Columbia Financial, Inc.; (viii) the impact of purchase accounting with respect to the proposed transaction, or any change in the assumptions used regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed to determine their fair value and credit marks; (ix) the possibility that the proposed transaction may be more expensive or take longer to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (x) the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; (xi) potential adverse reactions of the customers of the Bank or Northfield Bank or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (xii) a material adverse change in the financial condition of Columbia Financial or Northfield; (xiii) changes in Columbia Financial’s or Northfield’s share price before closing; (xiv) risks relating to the potential dilutive effect of shares of Columbia Financial, Inc.’s common stock to be issued in the proposed transaction.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as of the time they are made and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence, which could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Columbia Financial, Inc. and Columbia Financial disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes, except as required by law.

Important Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It

Columbia Financial, Inc. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a prospectus of Columbia Financial, Inc., and other relevant documents concerning the proposed second-step conversion. In addition, Columbia Financial, Inc. has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus concerning the proposed second-step conversion and the merger.

BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF COLUMBIA FINANCIAL ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE FORM S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY L CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed second-step conversion or the proposed merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy shall be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

A copy of the Form S-1 Registration Statement and the Form S-4 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Columbia Financial and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Columbia Financial by accessing Columbia Financial’s website at https://ir.columbiabankonline.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx. Copies of the Form S-1 Registrations Statement and the Form S-4 Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Columbia Investor Relations, 19-01 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410, or by calling (833) 550-0717. The information on Columbia Financial’s website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this communication or incorporated into other filings either company makes with the SEC.

Participants in the Solicitation

Columbia Financial, Inc. and Columbia Financial and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Columbia Financial in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the interests of the directors and executive officers of Columbia Financial, Inc. and Columbia Financial and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of stockholders of Columbia Financial in connection with the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus related to the proposed transaction.

FAIR LAWN, N.J. and WOODBRIDGE, N.J., June 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Financial, Inc. (“Columbia”) (NASDAQ: CLBK), a Delaware corporation and the mid-tier holding company for Columbia Bank (the “Bank”), and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (“Northfield”) (NASDAQ: NFBK), the holding company for Northfield Bank, jointly announced today that Columbia has provided an election form and letter of transmittal (together with the related instructions, the “Election Materials”) to the holders of Northfield common stock so that Northfield stockholders may elect to receive, upon the completion of the previously announced merger of the Holding Company and Northfield, either (i) shares of common stock of Columbia Financial, Inc., a newly formed Maryland corporation (the “Holding Company”) that will become the holding company for the Bank following the completion of Columbia’s pending second-step conversion transaction, (ii) cash, or (iii) a combination of both. The deadline for holders of Northfield common stock to elect their preferred form of merger consideration and to return their completed Election Materials is 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on July 10, 2026.

On January 31, 2026, Columbia, the Holding Company, Columbia Bank MHC and Northfield entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which the Holding Company will acquire Northfield, subject to the satisfaction of various closing conditions, including the completion of the second-step conversion and the approval of the merger by the stockholders of both Columbia and Northfield. The completion of the second-step conversion is also subject to the satisfaction of various closing conditions, including the approval of the conversion by the depositors and certain borrowers of the Bank and the approval of the conversion by the stockholders of Columbia.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the merger, each share of Northfield common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time will be converted, at the election of the holder, into the right to receive either shares of Holding Company common stock or cash, as follows: (i) if the appraised full conversion value of the Holding Company immediately prior to the completion of the pending second-step conversion (the “Appraised Full Conversion Value”) is less than $2.3 billion, 1.425 shares of Holding Company common stock (the “Merger Exchange Ratio”) or $14.25 in cash (the “Per Share Cash Consideration”); (ii) if the Appraised Full Conversion Value is equal to or greater than $2.3 billion and less than $2.6 billion, the Merger Exchange Ratio will be increased to 1.450 shares of Holding Company common stock and the Per Share Cash Consideration will be increased to $14.50; or (iii) if the Appraised Full Conversion Value is equal to or greater than $2.6 billion, the Merger Exchange Ratio will be increased to 1.465 shares of Holding Company common stock and the Per Share Cash Consideration will be increased to $14.65. As of the date hereof, the current Appraised Full Conversion Value of the Holding Company is $2.291 billion at the midpoint of the offering range for the second-step conversion offering.

Under the Merger Agreement, no more than 30% of the shares of Northfield common stock issued and outstanding as of the effective time of the merger will be converted into the aggregate cash consideration. The Election Materials set forth the proration and allocation procedures that will be undertaken by the Holding Company if the holders of more than 30% of the shares of Northfield common stock elect to receive cash consideration in the merger.

The calculation of the merger consideration and the procedures for electing stock or cash consideration are further described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus of Northfield and Columbia previously mailed to Northfield stockholders in connection with the special meeting of Northfield’s stockholders to approve the merger. The Holding Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with the merger. Any fractional share into which shares of Northfield common stock would otherwise be converted will entitle the holder to receive a cash payment determined by multiplying the Per Share Cash Consideration by the fraction of the share of Northfield common stock that such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive under the Merger Agreement.

The Election Materials are separate from, and do not replace, the proxy materials mailed to Northfield stockholders on or about May 21, 2026 in connection with the special meeting of Northfield stockholders to be held on June 26, 2026.

About Columbia Financial, Inc.

Columbia Financial, Inc. is a Delaware corporation organized as Columbia Bank’s mid-tier stock holding company. Columbia Financial, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of Columbia Bank MHC. Columbia Bank is a federally chartered savings bank headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that operates 70 full-service banking offices and offers traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. For more information about Columbia Bank, please visit www.columbiabankonline.com.

About Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is the parent holding company for Northfield Bank. Northfield Bank, founded in 1887, operates 37 full-service banking offices in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York, and Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union counties, New Jersey. For more information about Northfield Bank, please visit www.eNorthfield.com.

Disclaimer and Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook and expectations of Columbia and Northfield, respectively, with respect to the proposed transaction, the strategic benefits and financial benefits of the proposed transaction, including the expected impact of the proposed transaction on the combined company’s future financial performance (including anticipated accretion to earnings per share, the tangible book value earn-back period and other operating and return metrics), the timing of the closing of the proposed transaction, and the ability to successfully integrate the combined businesses. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project” and “intend,” as well as words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of Columbia or Northfield or their respective management about future events.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as of the time they are made and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence, which could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, include, among others, the following: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; (ii) the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because the required approval by Columbia’s and/or Northfield’s stockholders, or other approvals and the other conditions to closing, are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Columbia or Northfield; (iv) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including anticipated cost savings and strategic gains, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Columbia and Northfield operate; (v) the possibility that the integration of the two companies may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (vi) Columbia’s ability to successfully complete its second-step conversion; (vi) the possibility that the final independent appraisal of Columbia will differ from the preliminary independent appraisal of Columbia; (viii) the impact of purchase accounting with respect to the proposed transaction, or any change in the assumptions used regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed to determine their fair value and credit marks; (ix) the possibility that the proposed transaction may be more expensive or take longer to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (x) the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; (xi) potential adverse reactions of Columbia’s or Northfield’s customers or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (xii) a material adverse change in the financial condition of Columbia or Northfield; (xiii) changes in Columbia’s or Northfield’s share price before closing; (xiv) risks relating to the potential dilutive effect of shares of Columbia’s common stock to be issued in the proposed transaction; (xv) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions, including the impact of any potential government shutdown; (xvi) major catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods or other natural or human disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks; and (xvii) other factors that may affect future results of Columbia or Northfield, including, among others, changes in asset quality and credit risk; the imposition of tariffs and any retaliatory responses; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates; deposit flows; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; capital management activities; and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

These factors are not necessarily all of the factors that could cause Columbia’s, Northfield’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or unpredictable factors, also could harm Columbia’s, Northfield’s or the combined company’s results.

Although each of Columbia and Northfield believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions based on its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results of Columbia or Northfield will not differ materially from any projected future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in Columbia’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents subsequently filed by Columbia with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and in Northfield’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and its other filings with the SEC and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents subsequently filed by Northfield with the SEC. The actual results anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on Columbia, Northfield or each of their respective businesses or operations. Investors are cautioned not to rely too heavily on any such forward-looking statements. Columbia and Northfield urge you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by Columbia and Northfield. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Columbia and/or Northfield undertake no obligation to update or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Important Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It

The Holding Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a prospectus of the Holding Company, and other relevant documents concerning the proposed second-step conversion. In addition, the Holding Company has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus concerning the proposed second-step conversion and the merger.

BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF COLUMBIA AND NORTHFIELD ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE FORM S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed second-step conversion or the proposed merger between the Holding Company and Northfield. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy shall be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

A copy of the Form S-1 Registration Statement and the Form S-4 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Columbia and Northfield may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Columbia by accessing Columbia’s website at https://ir.columbiabankonline.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx or from Northfield by accessing Northfield’s website at https://ir.enorthfield.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx. Copies of the Form S-4 Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Columbia Investor Relations, 19-01 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410, or by calling (833) 550-0717, or to Northfield by directing a request to Northfield Investor Relations, 581 Main Street, Suite 810, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095 or by calling (732) 499-7200 x2519. The information on Columbia’s or Northfield’s respective websites is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this communication or incorporated into other filings either company makes with the SEC.

Participants in the Solicitation

Columbia, Northfield and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Columbia and Northfield in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the interests of the directors and executive officers of Columbia and Northfield and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of stockholders of Columbia and Northfield in connection with the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus related to the proposed transaction.

Advance Auto Parts (AAP - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.77 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.39 per share. This compares to a loss of $0.22 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +95.23%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this auto parts retailer would post earnings of $0.41 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.86, delivering a surprise of +109.76%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Advance Auto Parts, which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts industry, posted revenues of $2.61 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.08%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.58 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times 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.

Advance Auto Parts shares have added about 30.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.6%.

What's Next for Advance Auto Parts?While Advance Auto Parts has outperformed 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 Advance Auto Parts 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 $0.85 on $2.04 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.77 on $8.55 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 Wholesale - Parts is currently in the bottom 34% 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.

Another stock from the same industry, CarMax (KMX - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended May 2026.

This used car dealership chain is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.94 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -31.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 9.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

CarMax's revenues are expected to be $7.58 billion, up 0.5% from the year-ago quarter.

3 Under-the-Radar Earnings Surprises Could Signal a New TrendAdvance Auto Parts NYSE: AAP reported what executives described as a solid start to fiscal 2026, with first-quarter comparable sales rising 3.5%, the company’s strongest quarterly growth in five years.

President and Chief Executive Officer Shane O’Kelly said the results were driven primarily by the company’s Pro channel, particularly its focus on Main Street professional customers, along with improved parts availability and customer service. The DIY channel also returned to positive growth after softness in the prior quarter.

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From Rust to Riches: 2 Auto Parts Names Built for 2026“Our Q1 performance reflects continued improvement in parts availability and customer service, which is helping us respond to favorable industry dynamics,” O’Kelly said on the company’s earnings call.

Sales Improve as Pro Business Leads Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ryan Grimsland said net sales for the quarter were $2.6 billion, up 1% from the prior year. Comparable sales increased 3.5%, offset in part by a two-point headwind from cycling $51 million in liquidation sales tied to store optimization activity completed in the first quarter of last year.

Advance Auto Parts is A Great Risk/Reward Play If EPS DeliversGrimsland said the quarter included early benefits from winter storms, which drove sales of failure-related items, though temporary store closures and delayed maintenance spending also caused some disruption. Sales trends improved beginning in mid-February as consumers used tax refunds and resumed maintenance spending amid better weather in March. Overall, he said weather was not a material driver of first-quarter results.

By channel, Pro comparable sales grew in the mid-single-digit range, with monthly growth consistently in that range. Grimsland said the company’s Main Street Pro business outperformed the overall Pro comp by more than 200 basis points, even as Advance continues to optimize its large national account Pro business.

The DIY channel posted low double-digit comparable sales growth, though Grimsland said performance remains tempered by inflation and stretched household budgets. Ticket was positive, with same-SKU inflation of about 3%, in line with expectations. Transaction volumes improved in both channels, and units per transaction continued to rise.

Margins Expand on Merchandising Initiatives Adjusted gross profit was approximately $1.2 billion, or 45.1% of net sales, representing more than 210 basis points of gross margin expansion from the prior year. Grimsland attributed the improvement mainly to product margin expansion and merchandising initiatives.

Adjusted SG&A was approximately $1.1 billion, or 41.3% of net sales, providing roughly 200 basis points of leverage. SG&A declined 3% year over year as the company cycled about $37 million in expenses tied to last year’s store optimization project. Adjusted operating income was $99 million, or 3.8% of net sales, up 410 basis points year over year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.77, compared with a loss of $0.22 in the prior-year period.

Free cash outflow improved to $75 million from an outflow of $198 million a year earlier, which Grimsland attributed to stronger operating performance, improved working capital management and lower cash restructuring costs. Inventory rose about 5% from year-end 2025 as the company invested in product depth and breadth across its network.

Company Reaffirms 2026 Outlook Advance Auto Parts reaffirmed its full-year guidance. The company expects net sales of approximately $8.5 billion and comparable sales growth of 1% to 2%, with each quarter expected to deliver positive same-store sales growth. Management said the first half should be stronger due to easier comparisons and first-quarter performance.

Same-SKU inflation is expected to be in the 2% to 3% range for the year, and Grimsland said recent tariff regulations have not changed the company’s inflation expectations. The company expects Pro to outperform DIY, with both channels contributing positively to comparable sales growth.

For 2026, Advance expects adjusted operating income margin of 3.8% to 4.5%, representing 130 to 200 basis points of year-over-year expansion. Gross margin is expected to expand 110 to 150 basis points to approximately 45%, driven mainly by merchandising initiatives, including strategic vendor sourcing and pricing and promotions optimization.

The company also projected adjusted diluted EPS of $2.40 to $3.10, capital expenditures of approximately $300 million, and free cash flow of about $100 million. Advance plans to open 40 to 45 new stores and 10 to 15 market hubs during the year.

Strategic Priorities Focus on Merchandising, Supply Chain and Stores O’Kelly said Advance’s strategy remains built on three pillars: merchandising, supply chain and store operations. He said the company continues to work toward a medium-term target of 7% adjusted operating margin.

In merchandising, O’Kelly cited improved vendor relationships, better internal processes and a new assortment framework intended to improve product placement. He said expanded assortment in brakes and undercar categories is helping the company capture more Main Street Pro business.

The company also launched its owned oil brand, ARGOS, which O’Kelly said has met expectations and is now one of Advance’s top brands in the category. The brand has expanded beyond motor oil into hydraulic oils, antifreeze, performance chemicals and washer fluid.

Advance also replaced its Speed Perks loyalty program with Advance Rewards during the quarter. O’Kelly said new member sign-ups, program penetration and total transactions from loyalty members have increased since launch.

On supply chain, O’Kelly said the consolidation of distribution centers is nearing completion, allowing the company to focus on standardizing operations and improving productivity. He said the company expects supply chain process improvements to support gross margin expansion in 2027 and beyond.

Advance has opened two additional market hubs so far this year, bringing its total to 35. The company is targeting 60 market hubs in 2027. Grimsland said markets with a hub ecosystem are performing about 100 basis points better than those without one.

Executives Caution on Consumer Spending During the question-and-answer portion of the call, executives said second-quarter comparable sales are expected to moderate from the first quarter and remain in line with the company’s guidance range. Grimsland said Advance does not expect major tax refund tailwinds to continue and is monitoring potential volatility in consumer spending, particularly as households face pressure from elevated gas prices.

Grimsland said the period between tax refunds and peak driving season can be difficult to gauge, and the company will watch consumer behavior after Memorial Day. Still, he noted that less than 10% of the company’s business is discretionary.

“This is a needs-based business,” Grimsland said. “The cars need to start, they have to stop.”

O’Kelly said the company’s first-quarter growth was “roughly in line with the market” and reflected progress in parts availability, service and execution. He said Advance remains focused on continuing its strategic plan and improving operational productivity.

About Advance Auto Parts NYSE: AAPAdvance Auto Parts, Inc NYSE: AAP is a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, and maintenance items. The company operates a network of stores and distribution centers across North America, serving both do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and professional service providers. Advance Auto Parts focuses on offering a comprehensive selection of replacement parts, batteries, engine components, and performance products for cars and light trucks.

The company's product portfolio includes engine oils and lubricants, cooling system components, brake and suspension parts, filters, belts, hoses, and diagnostic tools.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Advance Auto Parts (AAP - Free Report) reported $2.61 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.2%. EPS of $0.77 for the same period compares to -$0.22 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.56 billion, representing a surprise of +2.08%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +95.23%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.39.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Advance Auto Parts performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Comparable store sales - YoY change: 3.5% versus the six-analyst average estimate of 1.6%.Number of stores (Retail) - Total: 4,308 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 4,317.Number of stores - AAP: 4,070 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 4,077.Number of stores opened: 4 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 13.Number of stores (BOP): 4,305 versus 4,305 estimated by two analysts on average.Number of stores - CARQUEST: 238 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 241.View all Key Company Metrics for Advance Auto Parts here>>>

Shares of Advance Auto Parts have returned -14% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% 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.

Advance Auto Parts delivered strong Q1 results, with EPS of $0.77 and 3.5% same-store sales growth, signaling tangible turnaround progress. Gross margin improved 130bps to 45.1%, and operating margin expanded 410bps to 3.8%, reflecting successful merchandising and cost control initiatives. AAP maintained conservative full-year guidance despite Q1 outperformance, with EPS expected at $2.40-$3.10 and same-store sales growth of 1%-2%.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways AAP earned 77 cents per share in Q1, topping estimates as comparable sales rose 3.5%.Advance Auto Parts expanded gross margin to 45.1% on merchandising gains and lower restructuring costs.AAP reaffirmed 2026 sales and earnings guidance while planning up to 45 new stores in 2026. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings of 77 cents per share in the first quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents by 95.2%. The company had incurred an adjusted loss of 22 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Net sales were $2.61 billion, which increased 1.2% year over year and came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.56 billion by 2.1%. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% in the quarter, marking the strongest quarterly comp in five years.

AAP Builds Momentum in Pro and DIY DemandAAP’s top line reflected improving trends as the quarter progressed, supported by better parts availability and customer service. The Pro channel was the primary sales driver, with mid-single-digit comparable growth tied to its focus on “Main Street Pro,” while DIY posted low-single-digit growth. The company’s category strength was in brakes, undercar and engine management.

Advance Auto Parts Widens Gross Margin on MerchandisingProfitability improved sharply in the quarter. Gross profit was $1.18 billion, translating to a gross margin of 45.1% compared with 42.9% in the prior-year period. AAP attributed the margin expansion primarily to product margin gains supported by merchandising initiatives, alongside the benefit of cycling margin headwinds tied to its store optimization program that concluded in the first quarter of 2025.

The company reported LIFO-related cost pressure during the quarter. Even with that headwind, the gross margin improvement was meaningful, setting up a stronger earnings flow-through versus last year.

AAP Shows Expense Discipline as Restructuring Costs FadeOperating performance swung notably year over year. Operating income was $69 million versus an operating loss of $131 million a year ago. Restructuring and related expenses fell to $32 million from $118 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting the reduced burden from prior optimization actions.

On an adjusted basis, operating income was $99 million, producing an adjusted operating margin of 3.8% versus an adjusted loss margin of 0.3% a year earlier. Adjusted SG&A expenses were 41.3% of sales, down from 43.2% in the prior-year quarter, aided by lapping expenses from closed stores and stronger sales performance.

Advance Auto Parts Liquidity Remains AmpleAs of April 25, 2026, AAP had $2.96 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down from $3.12 billion as of Jan. 3, 2026. Inventories rose to $3.82 billion from $3.65 billion as of Jan, 3, 2026, reflecting higher investment in availability. Long-term debt stood at $3.41 billion.

Cash flow trends improved from last year. Net cash used in operating activities was $19 million versus $156 million in the prior-year quarter, while capital spending totaled $56 million. AAP also paid $30 million in dividends during the period.

AAP Reaffirms 2026 Guideposts and Growth PlansAAP reaffirmed its full-year 2026 outlook. The company continues to expect net sales of $8.49-$8.58 billion, with comparable store sales growth of 1-2% (52 weeks). It projects an adjusted operating income margin of 3.8-4.5% and adjusted earnings of $2.40-$3.10 per share.

Capital deployment remains geared toward network and infrastructure initiatives. AAP expects capital expenditures of approximately $300 million and free cash flow of about $100 million, alongside plans to open 40-45 stores and 10-15 market hubs in 2026. As of April 25, 2026, Advance Auto has 4,308 stores mainly across the United States, along with locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also supported 797 independently owned Carquest stores in these markets, as well as in Mexico and several Caribbean islands.

The company also declared a regular quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, payable July 24, 2026, to shareholders of record as of July 10, 2026.

AAP currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Peer ReleasesO'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 results on April 29. It reported adjusted EPS of 72 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents by 4.18%. The bottom line increased from 62 cents in the prior-year quarter. The automotive parts retailer registered quarterly revenues of $4.56 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.47 billion by 2.1%. The top line also rose 10.2% year over year.

The quarter was driven by strong demand, with comparable store sales rising 8.1%. Growth in both the professional and DIY segments, along with careful cost control, supported the overall performance. The company opened 59 stores in the United States, Mexico and Canada in the first quarter. The total store count was 6,644 as of March 31, 2026.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 results on April 21. It posted adjusted earnings of $1.77 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81 by 1.94%. The bottom line improved 1.1% from the year-ago quarter’s adjusted earnings of $1.75 per share.

The company posted revenues of $6.27 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.17 billion by 1.5% and increased 6.8% year over year. The performance was driven by solid sales growth across business segments and a 20-basis-point improvement in gross margin to 37.3%.

Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE:AAP) on Thursday posted stronger-than-expected quarterly results.

The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 77 cents, beating the analyst consensus estimate of 45 cents. Quarterly sales of $2.614 billion outpaced the Street view of $2.579 billion.

Advance Auto Parts affirmed fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.40 to $3.10, compared with the analyst estimate of $2.76. The company also maintained its fiscal 2026 sales outlook of $8.485 billion to $8.575 billion versus the Street estimate of $8.556 billion.

Advance Auto Parts shares fell 1% to trade at $58.04 on Friday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Advance Auto Parts following earnings announcement.

Considering buying AAP stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Multi-channel campaign uses nostalgia, features real motorists to emotionally connect with Americans

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers, today introduced “Good Parts,” a new brand campaign that heroes and humanizes the qualities of American motorists and Advance’s commitment to get them where they want to be – the good parts of their lives.

The new campaign aligns with the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Advance’s “Good Parts” campaign is anchored by a 60-second video that emotionally connects the company’s 94-year history to motorists through a nostalgic lens, drawing from familiar life moments and timeless cues highlighting the trips, memories and milestones experienced in America’s modern history.

“Good Parts is a return to our roots and focuses on what matters most in our business: helping people get back on the road quickly and back to their lives,” said Bruce Starnes, Chief Merchandising Officer at Advance Auto Parts. “America is a country built on movement and Advance has been around almost as long as Americans have been driving. We’re proud of our legacy of helping millions of people advance to what matters most to them.”

The campaign launches as Americans prepare for summer travel – a natural inflection point for automobile maintenance needs. Authenticity is the engine of the “Good Parts” campaign, which was shot at eight locations in four cities and includes real motorists.

Advance will air general market and Spanish-language versions of the “Good Parts” video across multiple social media platforms, including Meta, TikTok and Reddit, as well as on YouTube and connected TV, display and search advertising, and audio platforms, including Spotify and Pandora.

“Good Parts” will also greet customers who visit Advance’s more than 4,000 stores across America with nostalgia-inspired exterior signage, in-store signage and point-of-sale materials.

And on May 31, Advance will display “Good Parts” creative in a full paint scheme on the Team Penske No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse piloted by NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney in the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

As part of the new brand campaign, Advance is introducing a new jingle that translates the company’s commitment to getting customers to the good parts into an auditory signature reflecting three core brand pillars: ease, confidence and forward momentum. The jingle is part of the 60-second video and will air across all media channels and digital touchpoints.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of April 25, 2026, Advance operated 4,308 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also served 797 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

More News From Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

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Stock to Watch: Advance Auto Parts (AAP - Free Report) Advance Auto Parts, Inc. operates in the U.S. automotive aftermarket industry and is primarily engaged in selling replacement parts (excluding tires), accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, light and heavy-duty trucks. It is a leading automotive parts provider in North America, serving both the do-it-yourself or DIY and professional installers (professional) as well as independently owned operators.

AAP is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 18.94; value investors should take notice.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.21 to $2.95 per share. AAP boasts an average earnings surprise of +62.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AAP should be on investors' short list.