Market Signal Briefing

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.

Even in a market sitting near all-time highs, not every large-cap is keeping pace. A growing number of quality names have quietly slipped into oversold territory, creating fresh opportunities for investors with an appetite for risk. Three that stand out right now are Cintas Corp NASDAQ: CTAS, Fastenal Co NASDAQ: FAST, and Gen Digital Inc NASDAQ: GEN.

Each stock has fallen sharply since August, yet their business fundamentals remain broadly intact. With deeply oversold technical readings and supportive analyst commentary, these three could be among the next rebound candidates as the broader market regains momentum. Let’s jump in and take a closer look. 

Cintas: Beaten Down Despite Solid Results
Cintas Today

$192.57 +4.47 (+2.38%)

As of 01:31 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Polygon.io. Learn more.

52-Week Range$180.78▼

$229.24Dividend Yield0.93%

P/E Ratio43.65

Price Target$222.09

Shares of Cintas, the company best known for its corporate uniform, cleaning, and safety supply services, have endured a steady selloff since August, falling nearly 20%. It’s worth noting, however, that the slide seems to have been driven more by valuation anxiety than by deteriorating fundamentals.

Over the summer, Cintas’ price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio reached one of the highest levels in its history, near 55, which left it vulnerable to profit-taking as market sentiment cooled. But that premium has now compressed to around 40, a more reasonable level for a business with Cintas’ consistency and margins.

Adding to the sense that the bears might have run their race is the fact that last month’s quarterly report was solid. Earnings came in line with expectations, revenue topped forecasts, and management even raised full-year guidance. Yet, the stock continued to slide, closing Thursday at a new low with an RSI reading of just 19, indicating extremely oversold conditions.

For long-term investors, that combination of resilient fundamentals and a technical setup that's this oversold can often make for the perfect entry point. If Cintas shares can show they’re capable of stabilizing and consolidating at current levels, the stock should be able to rebuild momentum into year-end.

Fastenal: Analyst Support Strengthens the Bullish Case
Fastenal Today

$42.78 +0.32 (+0.75%)

As of 01:31 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Polygon.io. Learn more.

52-Week Range$35.31▼

$50.63Dividend Yield2.06%

P/E Ratio39.97

Price Target$46.50

Fastenal, the industrial and construction supply distributor, has faced a similar fate. After hitting all-time highs in August, the stock has fallen more than 15%, weighed down by an earnings report earlier this week that failed to excite investors.

Revenue was in line, but earnings missed expectations, triggering a wave of selling in Monday’s session that hasn’t really stopped. However, the decline is already looking fairly overdone. The stock’s RSI has dropped into the low 20s, while several analysts are remaining optimistic about its outlook.

For instance, the team over at Robert Baird reiterated an Outperform rating on Tuesday, paired with a fresh $49 price target. Fastenal closed Thursday evening below the $42 mark, which implies close to 20% in targeted upside.

Like Cintas, Fastenal’s long-term fundamentals remain fairly robust:  it has a broad customer base, boasts disciplined cost control, and has a 26-year track record of dividend growth. Fastenal looks well-positioned to recover if the wider industrial sector strengthens on falling inflation and stable demand.

Gen Digital: Still a Market Leader
Gen Digital Today

$26.86 +0.35 (+1.30%)

As of 01:31 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Polygon.io. Learn more.

52-Week Range$22.74▼

$32.22Dividend Yield1.86%

P/E Ratio27.71

Price Target$35.71

Gen Digital, the cybersecurity and consumer software company behind brands like Norton and Avast, has been sliding since August as well, down nearly 20%. The stock has been stuck in a multi-year trading range, and it has been unable to break to new highs since 2017, but that stagnation may be creating opportunities.

Despite the drop, Gen’s fundamentals remain solid. The company’s August earnings report topped analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings, while its total addressable market and market leader position look increasingly attractive. At just $26 per share right now, Gen Digital is trading below even the cautious analyst price targets in the $30 range from Morgan Stanley and Jefferies, who rate the stock Equal Weight and Hold, respectively.

With an RSI of 27, the stock is firmly oversold, helping make its risk/reward profile quite attractive right now. If sentiment stabilizes and the company continues to execute on the basics, a move back toward the low $30s should be achievable in the coming months.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Cintas Right Now?Before you consider Cintas, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Cintas wasn't on the list.

While Cintas currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

Enter your email address and we'll send you MarketBeat's list of seven stocks and why their long-term outlooks are very promising.

Get This Free Report

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in LUMN over 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.

Kitco News

The Leading News Source in Precious Metals

Kitco NEWS has a diverse team of journalists reporting on the economy, stock markets, commodities, cryptocurrencies, mining and metals with accuracy and objectivity. Our goal is to help people make informed market decisions through in-depth reporting, daily market roundups, interviews with prominent industry figures, comprehensive coverage (often exclusive) of important industry events and analyses of market-affecting developments.

What's the first thing that springs to mind when someone mentions the Nasdaq Composite?

Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX), a prominent provider of chip fabrication equipment, is set to announce its earnings on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.

In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

Our proprietary system currently recommends Commercial Metals (CMC - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this manufacturer and recycler of steel and metal products is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Commercial Metals is 0.4%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 59.1% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 40%.

Impressive Asset Utilization RatioGrowth investors often overlook asset utilization ratio, also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, but it is an important feature of a real growth stock. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.

Right now, Commercial Metals has an S/TA ratio of 1.13, which means that the company gets $1.13 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.9, it can be said that the company is more efficient.

In addition to efficiency in generating sales, sales growth plays an important role. And Commercial Metals looks attractive from a sales growth perspective as well. The company's sales are expected to grow 4.8% this year versus the industry average of 0%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Commercial Metals have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 3.8% over the past month.

Bottom LineCommercial Metals has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #1 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination positions Commercial Metals well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

By Reuters

October 20, 20254:36 PM UTCUpdated ago

An illustration photo shows Tylenol in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S. September 24, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah Beier Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Kenvue

(KVUE.N), opens new tab has urged U.S. regulators to reject a request for a warning of autism on its popular over-the-counter pain medication Tylenol for use during pregnancy, according to a petition.

Sign up here.

Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

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

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Molina Healthcare, Inc. (“Molina” or the “Company”) (NYSE: MOH). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Molina and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until December 2, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Molina securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On July 7, 2025, Molina issued a press release announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2025 and slashing full year 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance. The press release reported second quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of approximately $5.50 per share, which was “below . . . prior expectations” due to “medical cost pressures in all three lines of business.” The Company also announced that it “expects these medical cost pressures to continue into the second half of the year” and cut guidance for expected adjusted earnings per share 10.2% at the midpoint, from “at least $24.50 per share” to a “range of $21.50 to $22.50 per share.” The press release revealed Molina was experiencing a “short-term earnings pressure” from a “dislocation between premium rates and a medical cost trend which has recently accelerated.”

On this news, Molina’s stock price fell $6.97 per share, or 2.9%, to close at $232.61 per share on July 7, 2025.

Then, on July 23, 2025, Molina issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 and further slashing the Company’s full-year 2025 earnings guidance. The press release revealed, in part, that the Company’s “GAAP net income was $4.75 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of 8% year over year;” and it “now expects its full year 2025 adjusted earnings to be no less than $19.00 per diluted share.” This represented another 13.6% cut to guidance of earnings per share at the midpoint, from the cut to guidance announced less than two weeks earlier. Molina also cut its guidance for its full year 2025 GAAP net income 27% to $912 million. Molina attributed its results a full year outlook to a “challenging medical cost trend environment,” including mere “utilization of behavioral health, pharmacy, and inpatient and outpatient services.” The Company claimed that its guidance cut also reflected “new information gained in the quarterly closing process.”

On this news, Molina’s stock price fell $32.03 per share, or 16.84%, to close at $158.22 per share on July 24, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT: 
Danielle Peyton 
Pomerantz LLP 
[email protected] 
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

Investors interested in stocks from the Medical Services sector have probably already heard of Labcorp Holdings (LH - Free Report) and Danaher (DHR - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Currently, Labcorp Holdings has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Danaher has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that LH is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.

LH currently has a forward P/E ratio of 17.54, while DHR has a forward P/E of 26.90. We also note that LH has a PEG ratio of 1.83. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. DHR currently has a PEG ratio of 2.98.

Another notable valuation metric for LH is its P/B ratio of 2.82. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, DHR has a P/B of 2.86.

Based on these metrics and many more, LH holds a Value grade of B, while DHR has a Value grade of D.

LH has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than DHR, so it seems like value investors will conclude that LH is the superior option right now.

Investors with an interest in Transportation - Equipment and Leasing stocks have likely encountered both Herc Holdings (HRI) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?

Investors with an interest in Banks - Southwest stocks have likely encountered both First Horizon National (FHN) and Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?

Investors looking for stocks in the Building Products - Home Builders sector might want to consider either Persimmon Plc (PSMMY) or NVR (NVR). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

Zions (ZION - Free Report) is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of -8.44% since the start of the year. The financial holding company is paying out a dividend of $0.45 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.62% compared to the Banks - West industry's yield of 3.13% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.80 is up 8.4% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Zions has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.20%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Zions's current payout ratio is 31%, meaning it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

ZION is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $5.68 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 14.75%.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, ZION is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

Ventas (VTR - Free Report) is headquartered in Chicago, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of 19.92% since the start of the year. Currently paying a dividend of $0.48 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 2.72%. In comparison, the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry's yield is 4.72%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.92 is up 6.7% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Ventas has increased its dividend 1 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 0.70%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Ventas's current payout ratio is 58%, meaning it paid out 58% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Looking at this fiscal year, VTR expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $3.47 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 8.78%.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, VTR is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Voya Financial (VOYA - Free Report) is headquartered in New York, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of 6.38% since the start of the year. The retirement, investment and insurance company is paying out a dividend of $0.45 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.46% compared to the Insurance - Life Insurance industry's yield of 1.56% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.80 is up 5.9% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Voya Financial has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 34.72%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Voya's current payout ratio is 22%, meaning it paid out 22% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Earnings growth looks solid for VOYA for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $8.86 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 43.60%.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, VOYA is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 2.4% so far this year. The holding company for ConnectOne Bank is paying out a dividend of $0.18 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.07% compared to the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.67% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.72 is up 1.4% from last year. Over the last 5 years, ConnectOne Bancorp has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 17.00%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. ConnectOne's current payout ratio is 36%, meaning it paid out 36% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Looking at this fiscal year, CNOB expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $2.55 per share, with earnings expected to increase 40.11% from the year ago period.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, CNOB is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

WaFd (WAFD - Free Report) is headquartered in Seattle, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of -12.93% since the start of the year. Currently paying a dividend of $0.27 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.85%. In comparison, the Banks - West industry's yield is 3.13%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.08 is up 0.9% from last year. Over the last 5 years, WaFd has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 4.27%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. WaFd's current payout ratio is 40%, meaning it paid out 40% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Earnings growth looks solid for WAFD for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $3.02 per share, with earnings expected to increase 11.03% from the year ago period.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, WAFD is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Headquartered in Muscatine, HNI (HNI - Free Report) is a Business Services stock that has seen a price change of -12.57% so far this year. The maker of office furniture and fireplaces is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.34 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.09%. This compares to the Business - Office Products industry's yield of 2.46% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.36 is up 3.8% from last year. Over the last 5 years, HNI has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 2.00%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. HNI's current payout ratio is 39%, meaning it paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

HNI is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $3.55 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 16.01%.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers its shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, HNI is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

SummaryI initiate coverage of GE Vernova Inc. with a Strong Buy rating ahead of Q3 2025 earnings, due to robust power and electrification demand led by U.S. data centers and grid buildouts.Power margin hit 16.4% and electrification 14.6% in Q2, with electrification revenue projected to increase by 20% YOY in Q3. I believe this trend could persist well into 2026.From a visibility perspective, the power backlog reached 55 GW in Q2 and management guided upwards of 60 GW by year-end. Furthermore, electrification booked $3.3B of equipment orders (1.5× revenue).GEV is not a cheap stock, trading at 74x next year's earnings. That said, I expect a further multiple expansion driven by accelerating electricity demand in the U.S.Despite softer Europe growth and a valuation premium compared to Siemens AG, believe the strong U.S. demand runway tied to data centers and grid upgrades warrants a strong buy. ake1150sb/iStock via Getty Images

I initiate my coverage on GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) with a Strong Buy rating as the company is about to release Q3 2025 earnings this Wednesday, October 22 (pre-market).

My thesis leans on the two

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GEV either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

Recommended For You

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of XYF either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

If a pure equity exchange-traded fund (ETF) might be too volatile as broader economic concerns grow and fixed income is still struggling to maintain pace with inflation, a multi-asset fund might offer a suitable middle ground for investors. These funds aim to provide a combination of reliable income as well as growth potential. However, there are a variety of strategies a multi-asset ETF may employ, and the four funds below adopt approaches that may have a unique appeal for investors looking to balance gains and stability.

S&P Stability With Steady Income
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF Today

JEPI

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

$57.09 +0.23 (+0.40%)

As of 11:28 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Polygon.io. Learn more.

52-Week Range$49.94▼

$60.88Dividend Yield8.30%

Assets Under Management$40.90 billion

An actively managed fund, the JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF NYSEARCA: JEPI focuses on options on large-cap stocks from U.S. markets. JEPI targets low-volatility names from the S&P 500 that demonstrate potential as value plays, then sells options on those shares to provide added income, which is distributed monthly.

If active management might send some ETF investors running—knowing that these funds tend to be expensive and potentially higher-risk than some index-linked alternatives—it may be helpful to keep in mind that JEPI's $41 billion asset base makes it, according to fund managers, the largest actively managed fund in the world. Given its annual expenses of just 0.35%, a figure lower than many traditional ETFs lacking active management, cost is unlikely to be a major concern.

In terms of performance, JEPI tends to come in below the S&P 500 during rallies—it has returned only 5.3% year-to-date (YTD) compared to nearly 13% for the S&P—but also may provide some insulation during downturns. With an annual dividend yield of 8.38%, though, many investors may find this discrepancy in performance easy to overlook.

Options Approach Focused on Nasdaq-100
NEOS Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Income ETF Today

QQQH

NEOS Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Income ETF

$54.87 +0.24 (+0.44%)

As of 11:11 AM Eastern

52-Week Range$43.02▼

$55.01Dividend Yield7.75%

Assets Under Management$346.83 million

The NEOS Nasdaq 100 Hedged Equity Income ETF NASDAQ: QQQH focuses on the high-performing names of the Nasdaq-100, with sizable positions in companies including NVIDIA Corp. NASDAQ: NVDA and Microsoft Corp. NASDAQ: MSFT. Like JEPI above, QQQH utilizes sales of options to generate monthly income for investors, while also holding shares in these firms in an attempt to capture gains.

Also like JEPI, QQQH aims for some downside protection thanks to its hedged approach. Investors can expect to spend a bit more in this case, however, as the fund maintains an expense ratio of 0.68%, and with just over $350 million in managed assets, QQQH is substantially smaller than its S&P-focused peer. Performance-wise, though, it wins so far this year, with returns YTD of nearly 12%. The dividend yield for QQQH is impressive at 7.85%.

QQQH Alternative That Trades Some Returns for Dividend
Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF Today

QYLD

Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF

$17.24 -0.04 (-0.20%)

As of 11:28 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Polygon.io. Learn more.

52-Week Range$14.48▼

$18.89Dividend Yield12.82%

Assets Under Management$8.15 billion

An alternative to QQQH with a similar approach, the Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF NASDAQ: QYLD also targets Nasdaq-100 stocks for its covered call strategy. This makes QYLD a good option for investors seeking income alongside growth potential but who do not want to go through the trouble of selling call options on their own.

QYLD has a longer history than QQQH, a lower expense ratio at 0.61%, and a larger asset base of more than $8 billion. On the other hand, its performance is substantially lower—it has only returned 2.6% YTD—though its dividend yield is a substantial 12.8%. Notably, QYLD is not actively managed, but instead tracks an index dedicated to this fund's unique strategy.

A True Multi-Asset Approach for Income
Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund TodayMDIV

Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund

$15.79 +0.04 (+0.25%)

As of 10:48 AM Eastern

52-Week Range$14.74▼

$16.97Dividend Yield6.46%

Assets Under Management$425.00 million

Tracking an index of equities, REITs, preferred securities, MLPs, and corporate debt funds, the Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund NYSEARCA: MDIV provides a highly diversified strategy with a single investment. Given its broad scope, investors will not be surprised that MDIV's fees are the highest on our list at 0.75%. The fund also has a fairly low trading volume, with a one-month average of just over 81,000.

While price performance of MDIV is just 2.1% YTD, the fund's true appeal is in its regular payments, which generate an annual dividend yield of 6.5%. The diversification outside of the realm of traditional stocks also helps to reduce correlation risk, making MDIV a solid defensive option in many environments. This ETF will also entice investors interested in exploring some of these less common corners of the market but lacking the expertise to make targeted investments in REITs, preferreds, and so on.

Should You Invest $1,000 in JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF Right Now?Before you consider JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF wasn't on the list.

While JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

We are about to experience the greatest A.I. boom in stock market history...

Thanks to a pivotal economic catalyst, specific tech stocks will skyrocket just like they did during the "dot com" boom in the 1990s.

That’s why, we’ve hand-selected 7 tiny tech disruptor stocks positioned to surge.

The first pick is a tiny under-the-radar A.I. stock that's trading for just $3.00. This company already has 98 registered patents for cutting-edge voice and sound recognition technology... And has lined up major partnerships with some of the biggest names in the auto, tech, and music industry... plus many more.
The second pick presents an affordable avenue to bolster EVs and AI development…. Analysts are calling this stock a “buy” right now and predict a high price target of $19.20, substantially more than its current $6 trading price.
Our final and favorite pick is generating a brand-new kind of AI. It's believed this tech will be bigger than the current well-known leader in this industry… Analysts predict this innovative tech is gearing up to create a tidal wave of new wealth, fueling a $15.7 TRILLION market boom.

Right now, we’re staring down the barrel of a true once-in-a-lifetime moment. As an investment opportunity, this kind of breakthrough doesn't come along every day.

And the window to get in on the ground-floor — maximizing profit potential from this expected market surge — is closing quickly...

Simply enter your email below to get the names and tickers of the 7 small stocks with potential to make investors very, very happy.

Get This Free Report

China’s economy expanded at the slowest annual pace in a year in July-September, growing 4.8%, weighed down by trade tensions with the United States and slack domestic demand.

The July-September data was the weakest pace of growth since the third quarter of 2024, and compares with a 5.2% pace of growth in the previous quarter, the government said in a report Monday.

In January-September, the world’s second largest economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs on imports from China, its exports have remained relatively strong as companies expanded sales to other world markets.

China’s exports to the United States fell 27% in September from the year before, even though growth in its global exports hit a six-month high, climbing 8.3%.
Exports of electric vehicles doubled in September from a year earlier, while domestic passenger car sales climbed 11.2% year-on-year in last month, down from a 15% rise in August, according to data released last week.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington remain elevated, and it’s unclear if Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will go ahead with a proposed meeting during a regional summit at the end of this month.

Xi and other ruling Communist Party members are convening one of China’s most important political meetings for the year on Monday, where they will map out economic and social policy goals for the country for the next five years.
The economy slowed in the last quarter as the authorities moved to curb fierce price wars in sectors such as the auto industry due to excess capacity.

China is also facing challenges including a prolonged property sector downturn which has been affecting consumption and demand.

Data released Monday showed China’s residential property sales fell 7.6% by value in the January-September period from a year earlier. Industrial output rose 6.5% year-on-year last month, the fastest pace since June, but retail sales growth slowed to 3% from the year before.

Ratings agency S&P estimates nationwide new home sales will fall by 8% in 2025 from the year before and by 6% to 7% in 2026.

The World Bank expects China’s economy to grow at a 4.8% annual rate this year. The government’s official growth target is around 5%.

Chinese shares rose Monday, with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong climbing 2.3% and the Shanghai Composite index up 0.5%.

A National Bureau of Statistics spokesman said China has a “solid foundation” to achieve its full-year growth target, but cited external complications — including trade friction with the U.S. and other trading partners and protectionist policies in many countries — as reasons for the slowdown.

China’s stronger economic growth in the first half of this year gives it “some buffer” to achieve the growth target, said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank.

However, spending during China’s eight-day Golden Week national holiday in October was “mildly disappointing,” reflecting sluggish consumer confidence and demand, Morningstar analysts said in a note this month.

Investments in factories, equipment and other “fixed assets” fell 0.5% in the last quarter, underscoring weakness in domestic demand. It also was reflected in prices, which have continued to fall both at the consumer and the wholesale level.

There’s room for the government to do more, Song said.

“(We) are looking to see if there will be further measures to support consumption and the property market, as the impact from previous policies begins to weaken,” Song said.

Economists are also expecting a rate cut by China’s central bank by the end of the year, which could encourage more spending and investment.

China’s economy is also likely to further slow in 2026, said Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas, as property investment in the country “looks (to) continue falling” and the AI boom, which helped lift China’s economy and fueled a stock market rally, is expected to moderate.

The extended deadline for Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Awards is tonight, October 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.

MONTREAL, Oct. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today the appointments of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer as well as Janet Drysdale as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. Patrick's appointment follows the departure of Derek Taylor from the Company.

Palantir's Foundry and Gotham platforms are driving explosive enterprise AI adoption, fueling a 93% surge in U.S. commercial revenues.