Industry Overview - The U.S. marine construction and dredging market is benefiting from ongoing infrastructure spending, coastal protection needs, and port expansion activities [1] - Recent monetary easing may support infrastructure activity by lowering financing costs, which can enhance project execution and revenue visibility through 2026 [2] Company Analysis: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) - GLDD reported a 12.8% year-over-year increase in contract revenues for the first nine months of 2025, totaling $631.8 million, driven by stronger activity levels and improved project performance [3][8] - The company has a strong backlog of $935 million, with a significant portion related to capital and coastal protection work, and an additional $194 million in low bids pending [4] - GLDD's profitability has improved due to higher-margin projects, efficient execution, and disciplined cost control, alongside a modernized fleet [3][6] - Despite challenges such as a normalized bid market and regulatory issues, GLDD is well-positioned for 2026 with strong liquidity and a diversified project mix [5][6] Company Analysis: Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN) - ORN operates in marine and concrete services, benefiting from balanced exposure to public and private investments, which provides demand stability [7] - The company reported a revenue increase of approximately 7% year-over-year to $619 million, supported by steady activity across its key segments [9] - ORN increased its bonding capacity by $400 million in October 2025, enhancing its ability to pursue larger and more complex projects [11] - Challenges for ORN include earnings pressure from project timing variability and softer profitability in select concrete projects [10] Comparative Analysis - GLDD shows stronger near-term operating momentum with a higher-quality backlog and improving profitability, while ORN has a solid pipeline but faces more variability in margins and project timing [19] - GLDD is trading at a discount compared to ORN on a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio basis [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GLDD's 2026 EPS indicates a slight decline of 0.2%, while ORN's estimate implies a significant year-over-year improvement of 44.7% [16][18]

Core Viewpoint - Orion Group Holdings, Inc. has secured a new five-year $120 million Senior Credit Facility with UMB Bank, enhancing its financial flexibility and supporting its growth strategy [1][2]. Financial Details - The new Credit Facility consists of a $60 million revolving line of credit, a $20 million equipment term loan facility, and a $40 million acquisition term loan facility, with an additional $25 million uncommitted accordion for future growth [4]. - The facility refinances the previous $88 million credit agreement, which was set to mature in May 2028, and offers a reduced interest rate of SOFR plus 2.5% to 3.0%, a decrease of approximately 225 basis points compared to the prior agreement [4]. Strategic Implications - The refinancing is viewed as a key milestone in the company's growth strategy, providing expanded liquidity and greater borrowing capacity at a lower overall cost of capital [2]. - The proceeds from the new facility will be used to repay $23 million in outstanding borrowings under the previous facility and for general corporate purposes [4]. Company Overview - Orion Group Holdings is a leading specialty construction company serving various sectors, including infrastructure, industrial, and building, with operations in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and the Caribbean Basin [5]. - The company provides marine construction and dredging services, as well as turnkey concrete construction services for large commercial and structural projects [5].

Core Insights - Small-cap investing requires patience and selectivity, especially during market volatility, with companies that have visible revenue streams and disciplined cost structures remaining anchored to fundamentals [1] Economic Environment - The U.S. economy is experiencing uneven growth across sectors, influenced by shifting consumer behavior and the current tariff landscape, with small-cap companies being more sensitive to changes in demand and capital spending [2] Small-Cap Growth Candidates for 2026 - A structured approach identifies small-cap companies with Zacks Ranks 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), emphasizing Growth and Value Scores of A or B, along with expectations for year-over-year sales and earnings growth in 2026 [3] Company Analysis EverQuote, Inc. (EVER) - EverQuote operates an online marketplace for insurance, primarily in the auto insurance sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $980 million [5] - The company has seen a revenue increase of approximately 41% year over year, benefiting from higher carrier engagement and improved revenue per quote request [6] - EverQuote is focused on product innovation and aims to surpass $1 billion in annual revenues by 2026, supported by increased carrier spending [7] - Year-to-date, EverQuote stock has gained 34.3%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS increasing to $1.74, indicating expected earnings growth of 19.1% [11] Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN) - Orion Group, with a market capitalization of approximately $410 million, focuses on marine and concrete services for infrastructure projects [12] - The company reported a revenue increase of approximately 7% year over year, supported by steady execution and a healthy opportunity pipeline [13] - Orion Group's stock has gained 40.2% year to date, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings increasing to 27 cents, indicating expected earnings growth of 44.7% [17] Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) - Standard Motor, with a market capitalization of approximately $855 million, operates in the automotive replacement parts market, focusing on nondiscretionary repair categories [18] - The company experienced a 25.5% year-over-year increase in consolidated sales, driven by solid aftermarket demand and contributions from the Nissens acquisition [19] - Standard Motor's stock has gained 25.4% year to date, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings increasing to $4.31, reflecting expected earnings growth of 10% [23]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than the traditional "buying low and selling high" approach, aiming for quicker profits [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Characteristics - Momentum investing can be risky as stocks may lose momentum if their valuations exceed future growth potential, leading to potential losses for investors [2] - A safer strategy involves investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify such opportunities [3] Group 2: Orion Marine Group (ORN) Analysis - Orion Marine Group (ORN) has shown significant recent price momentum with a four-week price change of 18.1%, indicating growing investor interest [4] - ORN has gained 22.2% over the past 12 weeks, with a beta of 1.2, suggesting it moves 20% more than the market in either direction [5] - ORN holds a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest based on momentum [6] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which attract more investors and drive prices higher [7] - ORN is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.51, suggesting it is undervalued at 51 cents for each dollar of sales, providing room for growth [7] Group 3: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides ORN, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, presenting further investment opportunities [8] - Investors can explore over 45 Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to identify potential winning stocks [9]

Core Viewpoint - Euro Manganese Inc. has announced amendments to its convertible loan and royalty agreements with Orion Resource Partners, enhancing flexibility and cooperation between the two parties [1][2]. Company Overview - Euro Manganese Inc. is focused on developing the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic, which is positioned as Europe's only near-term source of high-purity manganese, essential for electric vehicles and energy storage [3][5]. - The project aims to reprocess historic mine tailings to produce high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM) and high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM), establishing a low-carbon supply chain within the EU [4][5]. Financial and Operational Updates - The amendments allow Orion to convert the outstanding loan amount and accrued interest into a royalty at any time, with the milestone extension date pushed to June 30, 2026, indicating a strategic move to enhance operational flexibility [2]. - The company has successfully produced on-spec products at its Demonstration Plant and is working on optimizing commercial plant efficiency, positioning itself to meet the growing demand for sustainable battery materials [5]. Industry Context - Orion Resource Partners, a global investment firm, specializes in metals and materials critical for sustainable economic growth, managing over $8.6 billion in assets and focusing on long-term trends in decarbonization and resource supply constraints [6].

Company Performance - Orion Marine Group (ORN) shares have increased by 13.7% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $11.61, and have gained 56.2% since the start of the year, outperforming the Zacks Construction sector's 4.5% and the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry's 49% [1] - The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, reporting an EPS of $0.09 against a consensus estimate of $0.06 in its last earnings report on October 28, 2025 [2] Earnings Projections - For the current fiscal year, Orion Marine is expected to post earnings of $0.19 per share on revenues of $847.31 million, reflecting a 26.67% increase in EPS and a 6.39% increase in revenues [3] - For the next fiscal year, the expected earnings are $0.27 per share on revenues of $888.01 million, indicating a year-over-year change of 44.74% in EPS and 4.8% in revenues [3] Valuation Metrics - Orion Marine has a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of D, resulting in a VGM Score of A [6] - The stock trades at 61.9X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium compared to the peer industry average of 24.2X, and has a trailing cash flow multiple of 11.2X versus the peer group's average of 18.5X [7] Zacks Rank - Orion Marine currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), supported by favorable earnings estimate revisions from analysts [8] - The company meets the recommendation criteria for investors, suggesting potential for future growth [9] Industry Comparison - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), a peer in the industry, has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and shows strong earnings performance, beating consensus estimates by 52.94% [10][11] - The Building Products - Heavy Construction industry is positioned in the top 12% of all industries, indicating favorable conditions for both ORN and GLDD [12]

Group 1 - Orion Group Holdings, Inc. is a leading specialty construction company focused on infrastructure, industrial, and building sectors [2] - The company provides services both on and off the water across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and the Caribbean Basin [2] - Orion's marine segment offers construction and dredging services related to marine transportation facilities, marine pipeline construction, and environmental structures [2] - The concrete segment delivers turnkey concrete construction services, including site preparation, layout, forming, and rebar placement for large commercial projects [2] - The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with regional offices throughout its operating areas [2] Group 2 - Orion management will participate in the Roth Capital Partners 14th Annual Deer Valley Event, engaging in one-on-one meetings on December 11, 2025 [1]

Core Insights - General Motors Company (GM) is adjusting its strategy in response to evolving regulatory frameworks and a decline in near-term electric vehicle (EV) adoption expectations, leading to underutilized EV capacity and increased variable costs [2][5] Group 1: Strategic Adjustments - GM is transitioning the Orion Assembly plant from EV production back to internal combustion engine vehicles, which is a significant shift in its manufacturing strategy [3][7] - The company has agreed to sell its joint venture-owned battery cell plant in Michigan to LG Energy Solution, contributing to a $1.6 billion special charge in the third quarter, with $1.2 billion related to noncash impairments [3][7] - GM is halting BrightDrop production at CAMI Assembly while evaluating future opportunities, reflecting the challenging business environment for this electric delivery and logistics subsidiary [4][7] Group 2: Financial Performance - GM's shares have outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Domestic industry and its peers, with a year-to-date gain of 42.8%, compared to the industry's growth of 16.2% [6] - The company is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 0.39, which is significantly lower than the industry's 3.42, indicating that GM appears undervalued compared to its peers [9] Group 3: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GM's earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 and 2026 has increased by 12 cents and 31 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days, suggesting positive sentiment regarding future performance [10]

Core Points - Orion Energy Systems, Inc. will participate in Singular Research's 19th Annual Best of the Uncovereds Conference on December 11, 2025 [1] - CEO Sally Washlow will present virtually and be available for one-on-one investor meetings during the event [2] Company Overview - Orion specializes in energy efficiency and clean tech solutions, including LED lighting, EV charging solutions, and maintenance services [3] - The company focuses on turnkey design-through-installation solutions for large national customers and projects through ESCO and distribution partners [3] - Orion is committed to helping customers achieve business and environmental goals while reducing carbon footprints and enhancing business performance [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Orion Properties Inc. announced that the nomination notice submitted by The Kawa Fund Limited for five candidates to stand for election to the Board of Directors at the 2026 annual meeting is invalid due to non-compliance with the company's bylaws [1][2]. Summary by Sections Board of Directors' Review - The Board of Directors unanimously determined that Kawa's notice did not meet several requirements outlined in Orion's bylaws, including the necessity for Kawa to be a record holder of the company's common stock [2]. - The Board emphasized that Kawa failed to provide proof of being an eligible stockholder and did not comply with other procedural requirements, such as a lack of detailed plans for the company beyond previous acquisition proposals [2]. Company Commitment - Orion's Board and management are dedicated to creating long-term value for all stockholders and will continue to engage with the investment community regarding the company's strategy and performance [2]. - The company will maintain ongoing communications with Kawa despite the invalid nomination notice [2]. Future Actions - Orion will announce the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting and file proxy materials with the SEC in due course, indicating that no action is required from stockholders at this time [3]. Company Overview - Orion Properties Inc. is an internally-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on owning, acquiring, and managing a diversified portfolio of office properties across the United States, primarily leased to creditworthy tenants [4]. - The company was founded on July 1, 2021, and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 15, 2021 [4].