Market Signal Briefing

NEW YORK, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tradewinds Universal Inc. (OTC: TRWD), a fully reporting public holding company focused on the sin sector, today highlighted continued execution of its long-term growth strategy centered on strategic acquisitions, operational modernization, and consolidation opportunities within the fragmented adult nightlife and experiential entertainment industry.

Tradewinds Universal’s strategy is grounded in a fundamental industry dynamic: while hospitality and entertainment sectors have increasingly adopted institutional capital, brand consolidation, and technology-driven operations, large portions of the adult nightlife industry remain independently owned and operationally fragmented. Management believes this environment presents a significant opportunity to create scalable enterprise value through disciplined expansion and standardized operational practices.

Industry research estimates the U.S. grown up night club sector generates approximately $10 billion in annual revenue, while the broader bars and nightclubs industry exceeds $39 billion annually, reflecting continued consumer demand for in-person entertainment experiences. Tradewinds Universal believes operators capable of combining strong branding, operational consistency, and access to public capital markets are positioned to benefit from long-term consolidation trends within the sector.

Real Venues. Real Revenue. Real Strategy.

Tradewinds Universal’s approach is centered on building tangible operating assets supported by real-world cash flow rather than speculative growth models. The company’s guiding principle — “Real Venues. Real Revenue. Real Strategy.” — reflects management’s focus on acquiring and partnering with established entertainment businesses that demonstrate existing customer demand and operational performance.

Watch: TRWD: Redefining Entertainment | The Rise of Hippo Nation - https://youtu.be/6EEn06S0tpc

By integrating venue operations with centralized marketing, digital engagement systems, and standardized management processes, Tradewinds aims to improve revenue visibility while creating a repeatable framework for expansion across multiple markets.

Management believes this model differentiates Tradewinds from purely digital entertainment platforms by emphasizing physical destinations that benefit from recurring customer engagement and strong local market positioning.

“Tradewinds is focused on building a scalable platform within an industry that has historically lacked institutional structure,” said Andrew Read, CEO of Tradewinds Universal. “Our objective is to align strong operators, proven venues, and modern technology into a unified ecosystem designed to support long-term shareholder value.”

Increasing Visibility as Industry Attention Grows

As interest in the modernization and professionalization of the nightlife sector continues to grow, Tradewinds Universal and its strategic partners have begun attracting increased industry and media attention. Recently, Peppermint Hippo founder Alan Chang appeared on the podcast hosted by entrepreneur and celebrity podcaster Brad Lea, where he discussed his background, business philosophy, and long-term vision for building premium entertainment experiences.

During the conversation, Chang spoke candidly about operational discipline, branding strategy, and the evolution of the live entertainment experience, providing insight into the approach behind the company’s growth initiatives. Tradewinds Universal encourages investors and industry observers to view the episode as it provides additional perspective on management’s strategy and the broader opportunity within the sector.

Watch: Brad Lea TV – Dropping Bombs https://youtu.be/rfWtgFoPdBo?si=s0SWiXAEvwMBEqTd

Industry Tailwinds Supporting Expansion

Demand for experiential entertainment has continued to strengthen as consumers increasingly prioritize social and in-person experiences. Analysts note that venue-based entertainment maintains resilience due to its emphasis on live interaction, premium service environments, and repeat customer engagement.

Tradewinds Universal believes the combination of strong consumer demand, limited institutional competition, and fragmented ownership structures creates a favorable environment for strategic acquisitions and partnerships. As consolidation accelerates across hospitality sectors, management intends to position the company as a growth-oriented operator capable of capturing market share through disciplined execution.

Building a Public Platform for Long-Term Value Creation

Tradewinds Universal’s long-term roadmap includes expansion through accretive acquisitions, development of proprietary digital reservation and engagement systems, and continued brand growth supported by coordinated marketing and investor outreach initiatives.

As a fully reporting public company, Tradewinds believes its structure provides flexibility to pursue opportunities that are often inaccessible to independent operators while maintaining transparency for shareholders.

“Our focus remains on executing a repeatable growth strategy built around real operating businesses,” added Read. “We believe the industry is entering a period of transformation, and Tradewinds intends to be at the forefront of that evolution.”

About Peppermint Hippo
Founded in 2018 by Alan Chang, Peppermint Hippo has grown from a single club in Toledo, Ohio, into one of the fastest-rising names in nightlife entertainment. The opening of its flagship Las Vegas location in 2021 — the only club of its kind on the Strip — cemented its reputation as an industry leader.

Today, Peppermint Hippo and its affiliated entities such as Las Tóxicas operate over 10 clubs nationwide, eight proudly carrying the Peppermint Hippo name. Each location offers a “Mini-Vegas” experience through upscale design, professional entertainment, and elevated hospitality. 

About Tradewinds Universal
Tradewinds Universal, Inc. (OTCID: TRWD) is a fully reporting, publicly traded holding company focused on acquiring and scaling businesses with long-term value and growth potential. From its beginnings in lifestyle and health to its expansion into hospitality and entertainment, including strategic arrangements with operating partners, TRWD is building a diversified portfolio designed to withstand economic cycles while creating sustainable shareholder value.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding TRWD’s marketing initiatives, operational plans, growth prospects, and anticipated acquisitions. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

Investor Relations Contact
John Stock
Tradewinds Universal, Inc.
(619) 483-1008
[email protected]

Key Takeaways MCK posted Q3 EPS of $9.34, topping estimates, as revenues rose 11.4% to $106.16B.MCK's results were driven by higher prescription volumes and strong growth in oncology and multispecialty.MCK raised fiscal 2026 EPS guidance to $38.80$39.20 and lifted expected revenue growth to 12-16%. McKesson Corporation (MCK - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $9.34, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.31 by 0.3%. The bottom line improved 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. The EPS growth was driven by strong operational growth across the business, including contributions from acquisitions in the Oncology & Multispecialty segment.

GAAP EPS was $9.59 compared with $6.95 in the year-ago quarter. The significant improvement in EPS was due to a pre-tax credit within the North American Pharmaceutical segment related to the Rite Aid bankruptcy

Revenue DetailsRevenues of $106.16 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. The top line surged 11.4% year over year, primarily driven by increased prescription volumes from retail national account customers and growth in the distribution of oncology and specialty products, including contributions from Oncology & Multispecialty segment.

Higher contributions from the Prescription Technology Solutions segment also aided the top line.

Shares of MCK have gained 36.1% in the past six months compared to the industry’s 17.1% rise. The S&P 500 Index has increased 11.1% in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Q3 Segmental AnalysisThe company started reporting under new reportable segments and organizational structure, effective from the second quarter of fiscal 2026. The current reporting segments are North American Pharmaceutical, Oncology & Multispecialty, Prescription Technology Solutions and Medical-Surgical Solutions.

Revenues from the North American Pharmaceutical segment totaled $88.3 billion, up 9% year over year. Per management, the upside was primarily driven by increased prescription volumes, including higher volumes from retail national account customers and specialty products.

The U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment reported an adjusted operating profit of $872 million, up 6% from the prior-year quarter’s level. This was due to growth in the distribution of specialty products to health systems.

Revenues from the Oncology & Multispecialty segment amounted to $13 billion, up 37% year over year. This improvement can be attributed to growth in provider solutions and specialty distribution, and contributions from acquisitions.

Adjusted operating profit at the segment totaled $366 million, up 57% from the year-ago reported figure.

Revenues from the Prescription Technology Solutions segment totaled $1.5 billion, up 9% year over year. This uptick was due to increased prescription volumes in the third-party logistics and technology services businesses.

The segment reported an adjusted operating profit of $277 million, up 18% year over year, driven by higher demand for access solutions.

Revenues from the Medical-Surgical Solutions segment totaled $3 billion, up 1% year over year. Sales were driven by higher volumes of specialty pharmaceuticals.

The Medical-Surgical segment reported an adjusted operating profit of $265 million, down 10% year over year. This is due to reduced volumes across physician office settings and a milder incidence of illness for the season.

MarginsAdjusted gross profit in the reported quarter was $3.66 billion, up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. The figure represented 3.45% of net revenues, down nearly 5 basis points (bps) year over year.

The company reported an adjusted operating income of $1.81 billion, up 13.4% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. Operating margin was 1.9%, expanding nearly 22 bps year over year.

Financial UpdateCash and cash equivalents totaled $2.96 billion compared with $4 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.

Cumulative net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $2.73 billion against cumulative net cash used in operating activities of $1.66 billion in the year-earlier period.

Fiscal 2026 GuidanceMcKesson raised its EPS guidance to $38.80-$39.20 from $38.35-$38.85 for fiscal 2026. The company now expects total revenues to grow 12-16% compared with the previous guidance of 11-15%.

Summing UpMcKesson exited the third quarter of fiscal 2026 on a positive note, with earnings and sales beating estimates.The company’s quarterly performance remained broad-based, with contributions from all major segments. Specialty distribution was again a standout, supported by strong volumes and continued market share gains in community oncology.

MCK’s oncology and multispecialty platforms, together with its expanding suite of biopharma services programs, continue to drive demand among customers. The portfolio transformation also advanced, with progress toward separating the Medical-Surgical Solutions business and continued momentum from recent acquisitions in oncology and eye care. MCK expects to complete the spin-off of the Medical-Surgical Solutions business by the second half of calendar 2027. The company completed the divestiture of its retail and distribution businesses in Norway, marking the final phase of its full exit from European operations.

Management once again raised full-year guidance, underscoring confidence in sustained demand, strong specialty and technology platforms, and a streamlined portfolio.

MCK’s Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderMcKesson currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) , Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) and AtriCure (ATRC - Free Report) , each presently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Align Technology shares have gained 28.3% in the past six months. Estimates for the company’s first-quarter 2026 EPS have remained constant at $2.32 in the past 30 days. ALGN’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one quarter, delivering an average surprise of 6.16%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 10.03%.

Estimates for Phibro Animal Health’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 EPS have remained constant at 69 cents in the past 30 days. Shares of the company have risen 88.8% in the past six months. PAHC’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20.15%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 26.09%.

AtriCure shares have declined 0.8% in the past six months. Estimates for the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 loss per share have remained stable at 4 cents in the past 30 days. ATRC’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 67.06%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 90.91%.

Key Takeaways Bayer's phase III OCEANIC-STROKE trial showed asundexian cut recurrent ischemic stroke risk by 26%.BAYRY said the drug met safety goals, with no increase in major bleeding versus placebo.Bayer plans to submit the data for approval, strengthening its cardiovascular pipeline and growth outlook. Bayer (BAYRY - Free Report) presented positive results from the late-stage OCEANIC-STROKE study evaluating the use of its investigational, once-daily, oral, factor XIa inhibitor asundexian (50mg) compared to placebo, both in combination with antiplatelet therapy.

Asundexian is being evaluated as a potential treatment for secondary stroke prevention. The results were presented at the International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2026.

Per Bayer, OCEANIC-STROKE is the first successfully completed phase III study of a factor XIa inhibitor, which demonstrated superiority in reducing recurrent ischemic stroke compared to placebo.

More on BAYRY’s AsundexianThe phase III OCEANIC-STROKE (n=12,327 patients) investigated the efficacy and safety of the oral factor XIa inhibitor asundexian 50 mg once-daily compared to placebo, for prevention of ischemic stroke in patients after a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) in combination with antiplatelet therapy.

The primary endpoint was time to ischemic stroke and the primary safety endpoint was major bleeding.

Asundexian significantly reduced ischemic stroke by 26% in patients after a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack, with no increase in the risk of ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis) major bleeding.

The benefit was consistent across all major patient subgroups, regardless of age, sex, stroke subtype, stroke severity, or background antiplatelet regimen.

Regulatory momentum also appears favorable. Asundexian has already received Fast Track designation from the FDA for stroke prevention following non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke, and Bayer plans to submit the OCEANIC-STROKE data to regulatory authorities for marketing approval.

Asundexian is viewed as a potential blockbuster opportunity in a market where recurrent stroke risk remains high.

Bayer Advances Cardiovascular PortfolioA potential approval of asundexian will strengthen BAYRY’s cardiovascular portfolio, which comprises Kerendia.

In 2025, the FDA approved a label expansion of Kerendia for the treatment of adult patients with heart failure (HF) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥40%.

With the latest FDA approval, Kerendia has become the only non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist approved in the United States for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes and for HF with LVEF of ≥40%.

Additional regulatory reviews are underway globally, while ongoing phase III programs further broaden Kerendia’s addressable population across cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic conditions.

The European Commission granted marketing authorization to Beyonttra (acoramidis), marketed by Bridge Bio in the United States, to treat wild-type or variant transthyretin amyloidosis in adult patients with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).

Bayer is also shaping the future of cardiology through next-generation assets, including AB-1002, a single-dose gene therapy for congestive heart failure developed with AskBio, which is progressing in phase II, and several early- and mid-stage programs targeting thrombosis, atrial fibrillation and genetically defined cardiomyopathies.

The company also secured exclusive rights in Japan to aficamten from Cytokinetics (CYTK - Free Report) . The candidate is a cardiac myosin inhibitor in development for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cytokinetics recently won FDA approval for aficamten for the treatment of patients with obstructive HCM (in the United States), under the brand name Myqorzo.

Strategic partnerships and licensing deals further enhance Bayer’s precision cardiology portfolio.

Shares have skyrocketed 151.9% over the past year compared with the industry’s gain of 14%. The stupendous performance can be attributed to new drug approvals, encouraging pipeline progress, improved performance of the Crop Science business and positive updates on the ongoing litigations.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bayer’s new drugs, such as prostate cancer drug Nubeqa and Kerendia, continue to maintain their impressive momentum in the Pharmaceutical division and offset the negative impact of a decline in Xarelto sales.

The strong performance of these drugs makes up for the decline in sales of oral anticoagulant Xarelto, which is co-developed with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) .

Xarelto is marketed by Johnson & Johnson in the United States. Bayer earns license revenues from JNJ for Xarelto sales in the United States.

Eylea sales continue to face pressure from generics. The introduction of Eylea 8 mg, with its extended dosing intervals, has partially offset the decline and supported its overall performance.

Label expansion of key drugs and approval of additional drugs should further boost sales from this business.

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What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

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To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: McKesson (MCK - Free Report) McKesson Corporation, headquartered in Irving, TX, is one of the largest global healthcare companies and the leading pharmaceutical distributor in North America. The company operates across four business segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, which distributes branded, generic, and specialty drugs; RxTS, which provides patient access, affordability, and third-party logistics services for biopharma manufacturers and payors; Medical-Surgical Solutions, supplying alternate-site providers such as physician offices and home health; and International, primarily focused in Canada. Specialty pharmaceuticals, oncology services, and GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity are key growth engines. In FY25, GLP-1 revenues alone reached nearly $41 billion.

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

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. MCK has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 17.3% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.12 to $38.75 per share. MCK boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.6%.

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

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.

DGX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. DGX has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 9.7% for the current fiscal year.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $9.80 per share. DGX boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.5%.

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

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.

HII is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. HII has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 12.4% for the current fiscal year.

Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.18 to $17.30 per share. HII also boasts an average earnings surprise of +17.7%.

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

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Haemonetics (HAE - Free Report) Haemonetics Corporation provides blood management solutions to customers encompassing blood and plasma collectors, hospitals and health care providers globally. The company’s portfolio of integrated devices, information management, and consulting services offers blood management solutions for each facet of the blood supply chain, helping better clinical outcomes. Blood and its components (plasma, platelets, and red cells) have several vital and frequently life-saving clinical applications.

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

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. HAE has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.1% for the current fiscal year.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.94 per share. HAE also boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.8%.

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

Key Takeaways DGX is set to report Q4 results on Feb. 10, with sales and EPS expected to grow 4.8% and 5.4%, respectively.DGX's DIS business is expected to post strong Q4 growth, aided by physician demand and Fresenius assets. Quest Diagnostics sees Advanced Diagnostics and consumer testing lift Q4, with non-GAAP income up 11.6%. Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) is set to release fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 10, before the market opens.

The renowned diagnostics provider posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.60 in the last reported quarter, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.59%. The company topped earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 2.54%.

DGX’s Q4 EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $2.75 billion, indicating an increase of 4.8% from the year-ago reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS suggests a 5.4% rise to $2.35.

Estimate Revision Trend Ahead of DGX’s Q4 EarningsEstimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q4 earnings have remained stable in the past 30 days.

Here’s a brief review of the company’s performance leading up to the announcement.

Factors Likely to Influence DGX’s Q4 ResultsQuest Diagnostics’ core Diagnostics Information Services (“DIS”) business is expected to have delivered strong revenues in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by its organic growth in its physician, hospital and consumer channels. The company’s solid commercial execution is likely to have led physicians to order more tests per requisition, sustaining the demand momentum for its clinical solutions. 

Last quarter, DGX completed the acquisition of select clinical testing assets from Fresenius Medical Care. Under a separate enterprise agreement, Quest also began to roll out clinical lab testing to Fresenius Medical Care's dialysis centers, which serve about 200,000 dialysis patients annually in the United States. Together, these developments might have favored physician channel revenues in the fourth quarter. Our model assumes a 2.8% acquired contribution to DIS revenues in the to-be-reported quarter. 

In Advanced Diagnostics, DGX is expected to have generated robust revenues across several clinical areas, including advanced cardiometabolic, endocrine and autoimmune disease testing with its ANAlyzeR autoimmune solution. Growth in Brain Health might have been led by AD-detect blood tests for assessing Alzheimer's disease risk. In oncology, Quest Diagnostics is likely to have continued ramping up its commercial outreach to drive market adoption of the Haystack MRD test.

Collaborative Lab Solutions might have contributed to growth in the hospital channel. Alongside reference testing and outreach laboratory acquisitions, Quest Diagnostics continued to provide hospitals with strategic access to leading diagnostic innovations without the need to operate in-house laboratories. Last quarter, Quest Diagnostics and Corewell Health, a leading health system, announced plans to establish a laboratory services joint venture in Michigan, featuring a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve the entire state.

An enhanced questhealth.com platform is likely to have contributed to strong fourth-quarter revenues. Through partnerships with leading consumer health and wellness brands, Quest Diagnostics is delivering its broad test menu and advanced technology directly within established consumer platforms, which might have supported growth in the consumer-initiated testing channel in the fourth quarter. 

Going by our model, the company’s DIS revenues are likely to increase 4.7% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025.

In terms of operational excellence, Quest Diagnostics must have continued to expand the use of automation, robotics, and AI to improve quality, customer and employee experiences and productivity. Last quarter, Quest announced Epic as the technology partner for Project Nova, a multiyear order-to-cash transformation. This development should have contributed to the company’s top-line growth. Our model expects the company’s operating income (non-GAAP basis) to increase 11.6% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

What Our Model Unveils for DGXPer our proven model, a stock with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), along with a positive Earnings ESP, has a higher chance of beating estimates, which is not the case here, as you can see.

Earnings ESP: Quest Diagnostics has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Top MedTech PicksHere are some medical stocks worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:

Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.98% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is expected to release fourth-quarter 2025 results soon. 

VCYT’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 45.12%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fourth-quarter EPS suggests a decline of 13.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.30% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 5. 

CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 9.36%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter EPS implies a year-over-year increase of 20.7%.

Merit Medical Systems (MMSI - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.09% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to release fourth-quarter 2025 results soon.

MMSI’s earnings topped estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 14.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter EPS implies an increase of 3.2% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

ATLANTA, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A shareholder class action lawsuit has been filed against POMDOCTOR LIMITED (“Pomdoctor” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: POM). The lawsuit alleges that Defendants issued false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts, including allegations that: (i) Pomdoctor was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (ii) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; and (iii) Pomdoctor’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price.

If you purchased Pomdoctor shares between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025, and experienced a significant loss on that investment, you are encouraged to discuss your legal rights by contacting Corey D. Holzer, Esq. at [email protected], by toll-free telephone at (888) 508-6832, or by visiting the firm’s website at www.holzerlaw.com/case/pomdoctor/ for more information.

The deadline to ask the court to be appointed lead plaintiff in the case is April 6, 2026.

Holzer & Holzer, LLC, an ISS top rated securities litigation law firm for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, dedicates its practice to vigorous representation of shareholders and investors in litigation nationwide, including shareholder class action and derivative litigation. Since its founding in 2000, Holzer & Holzer attorneys have played critical roles in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders victimized by fraud and other corporate misconduct. More information about the firm is available through its website, www.holzerlaw.com, and upon request from the firm. Holzer & Holzer, LLC has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Corey Holzer is the attorney responsible for its content.  

CONTACT:
Corey Holzer, Esq.
(888) 508-6832 (toll-free)
[email protected]

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Kennametal (KMT - Free Report) Based in Latrobe, PA, Kennametal Inc. is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of high-speed metal cutting tools, tooling systems and wear-resistant parts. Its products are marketed through a number of channels to the end users, comprising manufacturers of machine tools, transportation vehicles and various components, airframe, aerospace components, machinery (light and heavy), components (energy-related), and others. Also, the company’s products are used by manufacturers and suppliers in the oil and gas exploration, road construction, and other industries.

KMT is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Industrial Products stock. KMT has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 27.5% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.25 to $1.60 per share. KMT boasts an average earnings surprise of +35.4%.

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

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: ArcelorMittal (MT - Free Report) Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel and mining company. With a presence in more than 60 countries, it operates a balanced portfolio of cost competitive steel plants across both the developed and developing world. It is the leader in all the main sectors – automotive, household appliances, packaging and construction.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. MT has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 21% over the past four weeks.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.10 to $4.93 per share. MT also boasts an average earnings surprise of +26.6%.

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

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Baker Hughes (BKR - Free Report) Based in Houston, TX, Baker Hughes Company is one of the world’s largest oilfield service providers. The integrated oilfield products and digital solutions of Baker Hughes help customers efficiently and cost-effectively refine and transport hydrocarbons with low environmental concerns. Moreover, with growing demand for clean energy and the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions, countries around the world are investing in LNG terminals. This has given Baker Hughes the opportunity to expand its reach beyond oilfields in order to capitalize on contracts for manufacturing equipment that is being used in LNG facilities.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Oils-Energy stock. BKR has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 14.3% over the past four weeks.

Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $2.64 per share. BKR also boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.7%.

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

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Hasbro (HAS - Free Report) Based in Pawtucket, RI, Hasbro Inc. is engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys. The company, founded in 1923, offers traditional, high-tech and digital toys, games and licensed products under various well-known brands.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Discretionary stock. HAS has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 7.1% over the past four weeks.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $5.02 per share. HAS also boasts an average earnings surprise of +36%.

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

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.83% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Akamai Technologies (AKAM - Free Report) Akamai Technologies, Inc. is a global provider of content delivery network (CDN) and cloud infrastructure services.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. AKAM has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 6.7% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2025, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $7.03 per share. AKAM boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.5%.

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

Maplebear Inc., aka Instacart, faces mounting long-term headwinds from in-house competition, regulatory pressures, and consumer belt-tightening despite recent CART share price declines. Local laws in Seattle and New York City are driving up costs, forcing CART to raise fees and cut driver incentives, resulting in declining order volumes. While CART's fundamentals—20x GAAP P/E, 2.8x P/S, 14.15% net margin, and 17.56% FCF margin—appear solid, slow revenue growth and competitive threats raise concerns.

Deutsche Bank has reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Anglo American PLC with a 3,500p price target, arguing that asset disposals and copper volume recovery are on track despite near-term production adjustments.

The investment bank's view follows Anglo's fourth-quarter production report, which came in broadly as expected. Copper output of 170,000 tonnes fell slightly short of the 180,000-tonne consensus, while iron ore beat expectations at 15.1 million tonnes versus 14.3 million tonnes forecast.

Anglo also extended its production guidance through 2028 for the first time.

Analyst Liam Fitzpatrick, in a note, details that 2026 copper production was cut from a range of 760,000-820,000 tonnes to 700,000-760,000 tonnes, a move flagged in the company's third-quarter update. The 2027 outlook was trimmed marginally by 10,000 tonnes to 750,000-810,000 tonnes.

The upside story centres on 2028, when Anglo expects copper production to expand to 790,000-850,000 tonnes "due to higher grades at Collahuasi and Los Bronces," Fitzpatrick wrote.

On the disposal front, Anglo confirmed "the formal sale process for coking coal is underway and 'progressing well'" while "the De Beers disposal process is 'continuing'." Both transactions are key to Anglo's portfolio restructuring strategy following its rejection of BHP's takeover approach last year.

HomeEarnings AnalysisConsumer 

SummaryAmazon.com, Inc. is rated a Buy, with shares seen as undervalued despite recent volatility and technical headwinds.AMZN's aggressive AI-driven capex, projected at $200 billion by FY 2026, pressures free cash flow and margins but is expected to be earnings-accretive given AWS demand.Q4 results showed AWS growth of 24% YoY and a revenue beat, but profitability faces near-term risks from high investment and macroeconomic uncertainty.AMZN stock valuation is compelling, with a $250 price target based on FY 2027 EPS and a 26x multiple, offering significant upside from current levels. hapabapa/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) shares plunged 12% at the post-market low following the release of Q4 earnings on Thursday, February 5. The stock recovered some of those losses by the next day, but the big question

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

CBOE Global (CBOE - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.06 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.93 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.1 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.52%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange would post earnings of $2.53 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.67, delivering a surprise of +5.53%.

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

CBOE, which belongs to the Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry, posted revenues of $671.1 million for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.75%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $524.5 million. 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.

CBOE shares have added about 9.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of 0.7%.

What's Next for CBOE?While CBOE 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 CBOE 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 $2.73 on $624.11 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $11.19 on $2.52 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, Securities and Exchanges is currently in the top 20% 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, S&P Global (SPGI - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2025. The results are expected to be released on February 10.

This independent ratings and analytics provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.32 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +14.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

S&P Global's revenues are expected to be $3.89 billion, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Key Takeaways Five growth stocks are recommended for February as U.S. markets trade higher on solid earnings.MU benefits from AI server adoption boosting DRAM demand and a roadmap toward HBM4 in 2026. CIEN lifted its 2026 revenue outlook on AI-led cloud demand and strong networking platform growth. U.S. stock markets have started 2026 on a positive note. All three major stock indexes are trading in positive territory. This trend is likely to continue in January buoyed by the strong fundamentals of the domestic economy, solid fourth-quarter 2025 earnings results, the Fed’s accommodative monetary policies and the evaporation of trade and tariff-related issues. 

At this stage, we recommend investing in growth stocks to strengthen your portfolio in February. Growth investors are primarily focused on stocks with aggressive earnings or revenue growth, which should propel their stock prices higher in the future.

Five such stocks are: Micron Technology Inc. (MU - Free Report) , MongoDB Inc. (MDB - Free Report) , Amphenol Corp. (APH - Free Report) , Ciena Corp. (CIEN - Free Report) and Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) . Each of our picks sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has a Growth Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks in the past month.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Micron Technology Inc.Micron Technology has become a leader in the AI infrastructure boom due to strong demand for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) solutions. Record sales in the data center end market and accelerating HBM adoption have been driving MU’s Dynamic Access Random Memory (DRAM) revenues higher.

The growing adoption of AI servers is reshaping the DRAM market as these systems require significantly more memory than traditional servers. This is boosting demand for both high-capacity DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Module) and low-power server DRAM. MU is capitalizing on this trend with its leadership in DRAM technology and a strong product roadmap that includes HBM4, slated for volume production in 2026.

Micron’s diversification strategy is also bearing fruit. MU has created a more stable revenue base by shifting its focus away from the more volatile consumer electronics market toward resilient verticals such as automotive and enterprise IT.

As AI adoption accelerates, the demand for advanced memory solutions, such as DRAM and NAND will soar. MU’s investments in next-generation DRAM and 3D NAND ensure that it remains competitive in delivering the performance needed for modern computing.

Micron has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 96.1% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year (ending August 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.0.1% over the last 30 days.

MongoDB Inc.MongoDB has scaled its Atlas platform beyond database management into analytics, emphasizing developer-friendly interfaces and distributed architectures. MDB targets agile development and modern workloads to derive benefits from the new generative AI world. 

MDB has benefited from continued platform adoption across enterprises and startups. Its upmarket focus with larger enterprises likely supported deal sizes and sales efficiency, while the self-serve channel continued to expand, driving efficient mid-market customer acquisition.

Product initiatives during the period were still in the early stages of rollout. MDB introduced new Voyage AI embedding models and launched the Model Context Protocol Server in public preview, extending integrations with tools such as GitHub Copilot and Anthropic Claude. These moves strengthened MDB’s positioning in AI-driven applications. 

MongoDB has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 17.8% and 17.2%, respectively, for the current year (ending January 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.2% over the last seven days.

Amphenol Corp.Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model. Its strong portfolio of solutions, including high-technology interconnect products, is a key catalyst. The company is a dominant force in AI-powered data center interconnects, commanding an estimated 33% market share. APH’s advanced fiber-optic and high-density interconnect solutions are now essential for hyperscale data centers and 5G deployments. 

Increased spending on both current and next-generation defense technologies bodes well for APH’s top-line growth. Apart from Defense, Amphenol’s prospects ride on strong demand for its solutions across Commercial Air, Industrial, and IT Datacom. Solid demand for high-speed and power interconnect products, which are critical components in next-generation IT systems, creates a long-term growth opportunity. 

Rising AI workloads and cloud infrastructure upgrades are fueling demand for high-speed interconnects. This momentum is expected to support the Communications Solutions segment. Electrification in transportation and increasing electronic content in medical devices are driving the adoption of APH’s cable assemblies and sensor-based systems. These drivers are expected to support steady growth in the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment. 

Amphenol has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 34.9% and 29.3%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 6.4% in the last 30 days.

Ciena Corp.Ciena’s fiscal fourth-quarter reflected year-over-year 20% top-line gains, 69.5% EPS growth and a record $5 million order backlog, driven by accelerating AI-led demand from cloud and service provider customers. Driven by strong cloud and service provider momentum, CIEN has gained 2 points of optical market share year to date and expects further gains in 2026. 

Networking Platforms revenues rose 22% to $1.05 billion, driven by 19% Optical growth on a 72% RLS surge and 49% growth in Routing and Switching from DCOM demand. CIEN lifted its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to $5.7-$6.1 billion, nearly 24% growth at the midpoint, up from the prior 17%, on strong demand from cloud, DCI, and AI infrastructure.

Increased network traffic, higher demand for bandwidth, and adoption of cloud architectures remain the key growth drivers as the company expects to improve its profitability with a balanced mix of new and existing customers. CIEN’s portfolio, including WaveLogic, RLS, Navigator, and Interconnect Solutions, remains a recognized industry standard, with WaveLogic 6 and RLS giving it an 18 - 24 month technology lead and strong positioning to serve global AI network opportunities.  

Ciena has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 24.1% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year (ending October 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 20.2% in the last 60 days.

Seagate Technology Holdings plcSeagate Technology has been witnessing strong execution amid intensified cloud and AI demand. Management highlighted that modern data centers increasingly need solutions that balance performance with cost efficiency, a trend that strongly favors Seagate’s roadmap. STX’s areal-density-driven strategy aligns well with the long-term growth of AI-generated data, suggesting sustained demand beyond short-term cycles.

STX’s high-capacity nearline production is largely booked through 2026, with long-term contracts providing strong demand visibility through 2027. Advancing aerial density remains a major strength for STX and a key driver of progress across the entire hard drive industry. 

STX’s aerial density roadmap ensures a lasting TCO advantage for hard drives over alternative technologies. Customers recognize the value of higher-capacity HAMR drives as the most efficient solution to meet growing AI-driven data storage demands.

In September 2025, STX announced an alliance with Acronis to provide MSPs and enterprises with secure, scalable storage for AI-driven data growth. Seagate and Acronis will offer Acronis Archival Storage, a secure, compliant, cost-efficient S3 solution using Seagate’s Lyve Cloud. Designed for MSPs and regulated sectors, it provides long-term data storage with enterprise-grade security, predictable costs and full compliance support.

Seagate Technology has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 24.6% and 55.9%, respectively, for the current year (ending June 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 11.8% over the last 30 days. 

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against BellRing Brands, Inc. (“BellRing” or “the Company”) (NYSE: BRBR) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before March 23, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. BellRing’s sales during the Class Period were driven by temporary inventory stockpiling by certain customers, not its supposed strength in the competitive marketplace. Despite its claims, the Company was not enjoying strong customer demand and positive momentum. Customers reduced their new orders for the Company’s products when they felt comfortable that inventory constraints were no longer a concern. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about BellRing, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.        

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

The Schall Law Firm

When Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) announced 2026 capital expenditure guidance of $175-$185 billion during its Q4 2025 earnings call on February 4, th, it represented a 97% year-over-year increase in spending.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Ardent Health, Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) securities between July 18, 2024 and November 12, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for investors under the federal securities laws.

What if I purchased Ardent Health securities?

If you purchased Ardent Health securities and suffered losses, you have until March 9, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff. Investors who suffered significant losses and would like to discuss their rights, or to determine whether they qualify to participate in any potential recovery, should visit:
https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/ardent-health-inc/

You may also contact James Baker at (619) 814-4471 or [email protected], or Frank J. Johnson, Esq. at [email protected] to discuss your rights privately.

What is this case about?

According to a recently filed class action complaint, Ardent Health and certain of its senior executives made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse information regarding the Company’s business, operations, and financial reporting practices.

Ardent Health operates acute care hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and a critical aspect of its business involves the collection and valuation of accounts receivable. During the Class Period, defendants represented that the Company employed an active monitoring process to determine collectability, including detailed reviews of historical collections as a primary source of information.

The complaint alleges that, in reality, Ardent Health did not primarily rely on detailed historical collection reviews, but instead utilized a 180-day threshold at which accounts became fully reserved. This accounting practice allegedly allowed the Company to report inflated accounts receivable balances and delay recognition of losses on uncollectible accounts. As a result, defendants’ statements regarding Ardent Health’s financial condition and internal controls were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did Ardent Health’s stock price decline?

On November 12, 2025, after market close, Ardent Health disclosed that it had completed hindsight evaluations of historical collection trends, resulting in a $43 million reduction in quarterly revenue. The Company also revealed a $54 million increase in professional liability reserves due to adverse prior-period claim developments and broader industry trends.

Following these disclosures, the price of Ardent Health stock declined approximately 33%, falling $4.75 per share, from a closing price of $14.05 on November 12, 2025, to $9.30 on November 13, 2025, causing significant losses to investors.

About Johnson Fistel, PLLP

Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, Idaho, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation, including international investors trading on U.S. exchanges. In 2024, the firm was ranked among the Top 10 Plaintiff Law Firms by ISS Securities Class Action Services, recovering approximately $90.7 million for investors in cases where it served as lead or co-lead counsel.

Attorney Advertising.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.
Johnson Fistel, PLLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content.

Contact:
Johnson Fistel, PLLP
501 W. Broadway, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
James Baker, Investor Relations, or Frank J. Johnson, Esq.
(619) 814-4471
[email protected] | [email protected]

Woori Financial Group Inc. (WF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call February 6, 2026 2:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Hong Sung Han
Seong-Min Kwak

Conference Call Participants

Do Ha Kim - Hanwha Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., Research Division
Doosan Baek - Korea Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., Research Division
Hye-jin Park - Daishin Securities Co. Ltd., Research Division
Jun-Sup Jung - NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., Research Division
Jaewoong Won - HSBC Global Investment Research

Presentation

Hong Sung Han

Good afternoon. I am Han Hong Sung, the Head of IR at Woori Financial Group. Let me first begin by thanking everyone for taking time to participate on this earnings call for the Woori Financial Group. On today's call, we have the Group CFO, Kwak Seong-Min; the Group CTO, Oak Il-Jin; and the Group CRO, Park Jang-Geun.

We will first start with the Group CFO, Kwak Seong-Min's presentation on the earnings performance and then also present the corporate value enhancement plan, after which we will have a Q&A session. Please note that the call is being conducted with simultaneous interpretation for our overseas investors.

Now let us start our presentation on the earnings for the full year of 2025.

Seong-Min Kwak

Good afternoon. This is Kwak Seong-Min, the CFO of Woori Financial Group. Let me go over the 2025 full year performance. Please turn to Page 2 of the material, which is available on our website. The group's 2025 net income was KRW 3,141.3 billion, representing a Y-o-Y increase of 1.8%. The ROE was similar to last year at 9.1%. Amid uncertainties in the financial market regarding interest rates and FX rates and concern about a slowdown, balanced top line growth and the insurance acquisition enabled the group to achieve a high -- record a -- record high net operating revenue and stable profits. In particular, we set sizable reserves for future loss factors, including payoff projects with completion guarantee

Intel (INTC) has faced challenges in the past. Its stock has dropped over 30% in less than two months on three different occasions in recent years, resulting in the loss of billions in market capitalization and erasing substantial gains in a single correction. If past performance is any indication, INTC stock is not protected from sudden, sharp downturns.

SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 15: An Intel sign is displayed in front of the Intel company headquarters July 15, 2008 in Santa Clara, California. Intel has reported a 25 percent increase in its second quarter earnings with net income of $1.6 billion or 28 cents per share compared to $1.28 billion, or 22 cents per share one year ago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Getty Images

In particular, we identify the following risks:

Margin Compression During a Costly and Uncertain Foundry TransitionDeclining Server Market Share and Competitive MismanagementDeteriorating Core Business Financials and Weak Forward GuidanceRisk 1: Margin Compression During a Costly and Uncertain Foundry Transition

Details: Ongoing pressure on gross margins, anticipated to drop to 34.5% on an adjusted basis (Q1 2026 Guidance), Valuation de-rating due to multi-billion dollar losses from foundry operations with no clear strategy for achieving profitability (FY2025 10-K)Segment Affected: Intel FoundryPotential Timeline: Immediate to the next 4 quartersEvidence: Intel Foundry faced operating losses of around $7 billion in 2023, with significant losses expected to continue through 2025. Major potential partners such as Nvidia and Apple are reportedly only engaged in preliminary discussions for future nodes (2028 and beyond), suggesting a lack of immediate high-volume commitments (Digitimes Report, Feb 2026)Risk 2: Declining Server Market Share and Competitive Mismanagement

Details: Ongoing loss of high-margin data center CPU market share to rivals, Difficulty in fully seizing the AI server opportunity due to supply limitations and a less competitive product lineupSegment Affected: Data Center and AI (DCAI)Potential Timeline: Immediate and continuing through 2026Evidence: AMD’s server market share reached 27.2% in Q1 2025, the highest ever recorded, showcasing sustained momentum against Intel (Mercury Research, May 2025). Intel acknowledged supply constraints in their Q4 2025 earnings call, which hampered their ability to meet demand in the rapidly growing data center and AI divisions (Q4 2025 Earnings Call, Jan 2026)Risk 3: Deteriorating Core Business Financials and Weak Forward Guidance

Details: Projected Q1 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $0.00, a significant shortfall from analyst expectations and a stark drop from the previous year (Q1 2026 Guidance, Jan 2026), Negative full-year 2025 free cash flow of -$1.6 billion, indicating cash outflow from operations and elevated capital expenditures (Q4 2025 Earnings Report, Jan 2026)Segment Affected: Client Computing Group (CCG)Potential Timeline: Q1 2026Evidence: Client Computing Group (CCG) revenue fell by 7% year-over-year in Q4 2025, reflecting weakness in the core PC segment (Q4 2025 Earnings Report, Jan 2026). Q1 2026 revenue guidance of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion is significantly lower than the $13.7 billion recorded in Q4 2025, suggesting a sharp near-term decline (Q1 2026 Guidance, Jan 2026)What Is The Worst That Could Happen?

Analyzing Intel’s risks in challenging markets reveals evident vulnerability. It plummeted approximately 74% during the Dot-Com crash, 55% during the Global Financial Crisis, and 62% amid the inflation crisis. Even smaller disturbances, such as in 2018 and the Covid pandemic, resulted in decreases of around 25% to 35%. This represents a significant risk of downside.

Moreover, stocks can decline even in favorable markets—consider events such as earnings reports, business updates, and changes in outlook. Review INTC Dip Buyer Analyses to understand how the stock has bounced back from steep dips in the past.

MORE FOR YOU

Is Risk Showing Up In Financials Yet?

Revenue Growth: -0.5% LTM and -5.5% last 3-year average.Cash Generation: Nearly -9.4% free cash flow margin and -0.04% operating margin LTM.Valuation: Intel stock is currently trading at a P/E multiple of -875.9Summary

Trefis

For more information, read Buy or Sell INTC Stock.

Stock Picking Falls Short Against Multi-Asset Portfolios

Stocks can increase or decrease sharply, but various assets operate on different cycles. A multi-asset portfolio enables you to remain invested while softening the fluctuations in equities.

The asset allocation strategy of Trefis’ Boston-based wealth management partner achieved positive returns during the 2008-09 phase when the S&P dropped more than 40%. Our partner’s approach now incorporates the Trefis High Quality Portfolio, which has consistently outperformed its benchmark that includes all three—the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices.

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BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) expects to report earnings for the full year 2025 following market close on February 25, 2026.

The company’s conference call with financial analysts will take place on February 26, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The call and presentation will be webcast live, so interested parties may listen over the internet by logging on to Essential.co and following the link for Investors. The conference call will be archived in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website following the call. Additionally, the call will be recorded and made available for replay for seven days following the call. To access the audio replay in the U.S., dial (800) 770-2030 toll-free or (609) 800-9909 (pass code 3342867 followed by the # key).

Chris Franklin, Chief Executive Officer, and Dan Schuller, Chief Financial Officer, will host the conference call. There will be a question & answer session as part of the call.

About Essential
Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

WTRGF

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