Investment Philosophy - The investment philosophy focuses on identifying mispriced securities by understanding the drivers behind a company's financials, often revealed through a DCF model valuation [1] - This approach does not limit the investor to traditional value, dividend, or growth investing but considers all prospects of a stock to determine the risk-to-reward ratio [1] Market Focus - The investor has experience in US, Canadian, and European markets with a major focus on small-cap companies [1] Methodology - The methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of a company's financials and prospects to identify mispriced securities [1] - The DCF model valuation is a key tool in this investment strategy [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets have experienced a significant rally in 2023, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite increasing by 13.8%, 26%, and 33.9% respectively [1] Stock Screening Criteria - Stocks with a percentage change in price over the last 12 weeks greater than 10% indicate momentum and reduce the risk of selecting stocks that may have gained attention due to overall market performance [4] - An average broker rating of 1 suggests strong optimism regarding the stock's future performance [5] - Stocks trading at more than 85% of their 52-week high indicate strong price resilience [6] - A percentage change in price over the last 4 weeks greater than zero shows recent upward movement [16] - Stocks must have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) to demonstrate a history of outperformance [17] - Stocks must be trading at a minimum price of $5 [18] Selected Stocks - **Private Bancorp of America Inc. (PBAM)**: Offers a range of banking products and services in California, including checking and savings accounts, loans, and online banking services. The stock price surged by 15% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 5.6% for next year [7][25] - **DXP Enterprises Inc. (DXPE)**: Provides innovative pumping solutions and supply-chain services. The stock price appreciated by 12% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 5.9% for next year [8][26] - **Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN)**: Operates as a credit-tech platform in China, providing credit-driven services. The stock price advanced by 10.6% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 12% for next year [9][20] - **Carriage Services Inc. (CSV)**: A leading provider of death care services in the U.S., offering a range of funeral and burial services. The stock price gained 2.3% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 12.9% for next year [21][27] - **Universal Technical Institute Inc. (UTI)**: Provides education programs in transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare. The stock price was up 0.2% in the past four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 29.3% for the current year [10][22]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying and sustaining trends in short-term investing, highlighting that successful trades require confirmation of strong fundamentals and positive earnings estimates to maintain momentum [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - Investors can utilize the "Recent Price Strength" screen to identify stocks that are trending upwards, supported by strong fundamentals and trading near their 52-week high-low range, indicating bullish sentiment [2]. - Carriage Services (CSV) is identified as a strong candidate for trend investors, having experienced a price increase of 23.3% over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investor confidence in its potential upside [3]. - A recent price increase of 3.2% over the last four weeks suggests that the upward trend for CSV is still intact, which is crucial for potential winners [4]. Group 2: Company Fundamentals - CSV is currently trading at 91.5% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating it may be on the verge of a breakout [5]. - The stock holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are key indicators of near-term price movements [5][6]. - An Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy) further confirms the stock's fundamental strength, reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term performance [6]. Group 3: Market Performance - Historically, Zacks Rank 1 stocks have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988, showcasing the effectiveness of the ranking system in identifying profitable investment opportunities [6]. - The article suggests that the price trend for CSV is unlikely to reverse soon, indicating a favorable outlook for investors [7].

Core Insights - Carriage Services, Inc. has been recognized as 33 on Forbes' list of Most Successful Small Companies for 2025, highlighting its growth and commitment to innovation in the funeral and cemetery services industry [1][3] Company Overview - Carriage Services operates 162 funeral homes across 26 states and 31 cemeteries in 11 states, focusing on delivering premier experiences through innovation and elevated service [4] Team and Culture - The ranking reflects the contributions of Carriage's team members, who embody the company's purpose of creating exceptional experiences through innovation and partnership [2] - CEO Carlos Quezada emphasized that the recognition is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the team, which is committed to serving families and supporting one another [3] Recognition Criteria - Forbes selects its Most Successful Small Companies based on performance metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, and innovation, along with qualitative factors like leadership, impact, and culture [3]

Core Insights - Carriage Services, Inc. has been recognized as 33 on Forbes' list of Most Successful Small Companies for 2025, highlighting its growth, innovation, and commitment to serving families with compassion and care [1][3]. Company Performance - The ranking reflects the collective contributions of Carriage's team members, who embody the company's purpose of creating premier experiences through innovation and elevated service [2]. - Forbes evaluates companies based on performance metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, and innovation, along with qualitative factors like leadership, impact, and culture [3]. Company Overview - Carriage Services is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services in the United States, operating 162 funeral homes across 26 states and 31 cemeteries in 11 states [4]. - The company is dedicated to delivering premier experiences through innovation and partnership [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights Carriage Services (CSV) as a strong value stock, supported by various valuation metrics and a favorable earnings outlook [4][8]. Valuation Metrics - Carriage Services has a Forward P/E ratio of 14.43, significantly lower than the industry average of 20.84, indicating potential undervaluation [4]. - The PEG ratio for CSV is 0.96, compared to the industry average of 2.03, suggesting that the stock is undervalued relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - The P/B ratio for CSV stands at 3.11, which is lower than the industry average of 6.42, further supporting the notion of undervaluation [6]. - CSV's P/CF ratio is 10.52, compared to the industry average of 13.32, indicating a favorable cash flow outlook relative to its peers [7]. Investment Outlook - The combination of strong valuation metrics and a positive earnings outlook positions Carriage Services as an attractive investment opportunity in the current market [8].

HOUSTON, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) (“Carriage” or the “Company”) is excited to announce the appointment of John Enwright as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, effective January 2, 2025. With more than 25 years of extensive financial leadership experience in omnichannel retail, Mr. Enwright brings a proven track record of driving results and fostering innovation at prominent publicly traded companies. Most recently, he served as Chief Fin ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Whil ...

Have you been paying attention to shares of Carriage Services (CSV) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 24.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $40.83 in the previous session. Carriage Services has gained 62.5% since the start of the year compared to the 5% move for the Zacks Consumer Staples sector and the 25.9% return for the Zacks Funeral Services industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't ...

While "the trend is your friend" when it comes to short-term investing or trading, timing entries into the trend is a key determinant of success. And increasing the odds of success by making sure the sustainability of a trend isn't easy.Often, the direction of a stock's price movement reverses quickly after taking a position in it, making investors incur a short-term capital loss. So, it's important to ensure that there are enough factors -- such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, ...