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 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.It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alo ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence in investing [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2] - Each stock receives a rating from A to F based on its characteristics, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow, appealing to value investors [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score focuses on a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score helps investors capitalize on price trends by analyzing factors like one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator that evaluates stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to assist in building a successful portfolio, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.83% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to select the best options [8] Stock to Watch: Corning (GLW) - Corning Incorporated, a company with a history in glass technology, is currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B [11] - Corning is a potential growth investment, with a Growth Style Score of B and a forecasted year-over-year earnings growth of 21.8% for the current fiscal year [12] - Recent analyst revisions have increased the earnings estimate for fiscal 2026 by $0.07 to $3.07 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +4.4%, making it a strong candidate for investors [12]

Core Insights - Corning Inc. reported adjusted earnings of 72 cents per share for Q4 fiscal 2025, surpassing analyst estimates of 70 cents [1] - Core sales increased by 14% year over year to $4.41 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $4.35 billion [1] - Core EPS grew by 26% year over year, and core operating margin expanded by 390 basis points year over year to 20.2% [1] Future Guidance - For Q1, Corning anticipates core sales between $4.200 billion and $4.300 billion, above the Street estimate of $4.234 billion [2] - Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of 66 to 70 cents, ahead of the 66-cent consensus [2] - Management has upgraded its Springboard growth plan, raising long-term revenue targets from the Q4 2023 baseline [2] Analyst Ratings - Mizuho analyst John Roberts maintained an Outperform rating on Corning and raised the price target from $97 to $120 [3] - Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini maintained a Positive rating and increased the price target from $100 to $125 [3]

Core Insights - Corning Incorporated reported record results for Q4 and full-year 2025, with core sales increasing by 14% to $4.41 billion and core EPS rising by 26% to $0.72 year-over-year [1] - For the full year 2025, core sales grew by 13% to $16.41 billion, while core EPS increased by 29% to $2.52 [1] - Management anticipates continued year-over-year growth in Q1 2026 [1]

Core Insights - Analysts project Corning (GLW) will report quarterly earnings of $0.70 per share, reflecting a 22.8% year-over-year increase, with revenues expected to reach $4.32 billion, an 11.6% increase from the same quarter last year [1] Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating stability in analysts' assessments [1][2] - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical research shows a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock performance [2] Key Metrics Forecast - Analysts estimate 'Net Sales- Display Technologies' at $880.85 million, a decrease of 9.3% year over year [4] - 'Net Sales- Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses' is projected at $464.86 million, an increase of 24.6% year over year [4] - 'Net Sales- Specialty Materials' is expected to reach $587.56 million, indicating a 14.1% increase from the prior-year quarter [4] Segment Sales and Income - The consensus for 'Net Sales- Life Sciences' is $249.13 million, showing a slight decline of 0.4% year over year [5] - 'Net Sales- Optical Communications' is forecasted at $1.71 billion, reflecting a 24.8% increase from the year-ago quarter [5] - 'Segment Net Income- Display Technologies' is expected to be $216.95 million, down from $262.00 million in the same quarter last year [5][6] - 'Segment Net Income- Life Sciences' is projected at $17.35 million, compared to $18.00 million a year ago [6] - 'Segment Net Income- Optical Communications' is anticipated to reach $261.29 million, up from $194.00 million last year [6] - 'Segment Net Income- Specialty Materials' is estimated at $98.80 million, compared to $81.00 million in the previous year [7] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Corning's shares have returned +5.2%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change [7] - Corning currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential outperformance in the near future [7]

Summary of China Jushi (600176.SS) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: China Jushi - **Industry**: Glass fiber production and sales - **Headquarters**: Zhejiang, China - **Production Bases**: Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Sichuan, with additional facilities in Egypt, the US, and India - **Global Position**: Leading player in the glass fiber industry with a production capacity of 1.7 million tons as of 2018 [14][15] Key Financial Insights - **Target Price**: Raised to Rmb26.1 per share, reflecting a 39% expected return from the current price of Rmb18.78 [3][16] - **Market Capitalization**: Rmb75.179 billion (approximately US$10.788 billion) [3] - **Earnings Forecasts**: - 2025E: Net profit of Rmb3.472 billion, EPS of Rmb0.868 - 2026E: Net profit of Rmb5.287 billion, EPS of Rmb1.321 - 2027E: Net profit of Rmb5.992 billion, EPS of Rmb1.498 [5][8] - **Earnings Revisions**: - 2025/26/27 earnings forecasts revised up by 9.7%/35.8%/31.1% due to higher volume and gross margin expectations [2][8] Price and Profitability Trends - **E-fabric Price Increase**: E-fabric prices increased by approximately Rmb0.2 per square meter, with E-glass yarn prices rising by Rmb100-200 per ton month-over-month [1][2] - **Profit Margins**: - E-fabric unit net profit expected to rise to Rmb1.3-1.4 at current average selling prices (ASPs) of Rmb4.5 including tax [1] - Gross margin projected to improve significantly, reaching 36.9% in 2026E and 38.7% in 2027E [7] Market Dynamics and Catalysts - **Supply Constraints**: The supply of E-fabric remains tight, suggesting potential for further price increases in Q1 [1][11] - **Management Guidance**: Anticipated updates on low-DK fabric business progress expected around the annual results presentation [1][11] - **Upside Catalyst**: A 90-day upside catalyst watch has been initiated, anticipating further price hikes and management announcements [10][11] Risks and Considerations - **Downside Risks**: - Weaker-than-expected demand for glass fiber products - Rising energy and power costs - Greater-than-expected capacity additions [17] - **Upside Risks**: - Better-than-expected demand - Supply-side discipline that could protect margins [17] Conclusion - **Investment Recommendation**: The company is rated as a "Buy" due to improved earnings visibility, expected price increases, and a favorable market position within the glass fiber industry [1][15]

Core Insights - Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.02 for Q3 fiscal 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.03 per share, and reflecting a 14.3% decrease from the prior-year quarter [1] - The company generated revenues of $349 million in the quarter, up 2.1% year over year, but still below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $350 million [2] - Apogee's gross profit fell 6.9% year over year to $82.9 million, with gross margin decreasing to 23.8% from 26.1% in the prior year [3] Financial Performance - Cost of sales increased by 5.3% year over year to $266 million, leading to a decline in operating income to $24.8 million, down 13.1% from $28.6 million in the prior year [3] - The Architectural Metals segment saw revenues decline by 9.9% year over year to $124 million, while the Architectural Glass segment grew by 0.9% to $70.8 million [4][5] - The Performance Surfaces segment experienced significant growth, with revenues rising 59.6% year over year to $52.9 million, attributed to the acquisition of UW Solutions [6] Backlog and Cash Position - The backlog for the Architectural Services segment decreased to $775 million at the end of Q3, down from $792 million in the previous quarter [7] - Apogee had cash and cash equivalents of $41 million at the end of Q3, with cash provided by operating activities totaling $67 million for the first nine months of the fiscal year [8] Guidance and Stock Performance - The company revised its FY26 revenue guidance to $1.39 billion from a previous range of $1.39-$1.42 billion, and adjusted EPS guidance to $3.40-$3.50 from $3.60-$3.90, citing 30 cents of tariff-related headwinds [11] - Apogee's stock has declined by 37.1% over the past year, contrasting with the industry's growth of 18.9% [12]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Basic Materials Sector**: The report covers the basic materials sector in China, focusing on metals, steel, cement, paper, glass, and solar materials [1][2][3]. Metals - **Copper**: LME copper price increased by 2.0% WoW to US$11,764/t, while China's price decreased by 1.4% to RMB 92,640/t [1][32]. - **Aluminum**: LME aluminum rose by 1.3% WoW to US$2,872/t; however, China's price fell by 1.0% to RMB 21,820/t, leading to a margin squeeze of RMB 170/t WoW to RMB 5,915/t [1][15]. - **Gold**: COMEX gold price increased by 0.7% WoW to US$4,330/oz [1][11]. - **Lithium**: Domestic battery-grade lithium carbonate (99.5%) averaged RMB 97,650/t, up 3.3% WoW [1][55]. - **Uranium**: U₃O₈ spot price rose by 1.8% WoW to US$77.2/lb [1][65]. - **Cobalt**: Shanghai Changjiang cobalt price increased by 1.2% WoW to RMB 417,000/t [1][63]. - **Tungsten**: Prices accelerated due to supply shortages and import uncertainties [1]. Steel - **Price Recovery**: Rebar prices rose by 1.5% WoW to RMB 3,322/t, and HRC gained 1.2% to RMB 3,312/t [2][66]. - **Consumption**: Apparent consumption decreased by 0.5% WoW to 8.4 million tons, while inventories edged down by 0.15% to 13.3 million tons [2][66]. - **Iron Ore**: Price climbed by 3.2% WoW to USD 108.4/t [2][71]. - **Margins**: Negative margins persisted, with rebar falling to -RMB 292/t and HRC to -RMB 360/t [2][76]. Cement - **Price Trends**: National average cement price pulled back by 0.3% WoW to RMB 348/t, with regional variations [3][89]. - **Shipment Ratio**: Nationwide shipment ratio dropped by 1.4 percentage points WoW to 32.8% [3][22]. - **Inventory Ratio**: Inventory ratio decreased by 2.4 percentage points to 62.3% [3][22]. Paper and Glass - **Paper Prices**: Paper prices edged down by 0.89% WoW to RMB 3,751/t, influenced by cautious market sentiment [3][99]. - **Glass Prices**: National average float glass price declined by 1.2% WoW to RMB 1,151/t due to limited demand [3][98]. Solar Materials - **Polysilicon Prices**: Prices for N-type polysilicon and granular silicon remained stable at RMB 53/kg and RMB 51/kg, respectively [3][112]. - **Solar Glass Prices**: Prices for coated solar glass declined to RMB 18.5/sqm and RMB 11.5/sqm [3][121]. - **Inventory Days**: Solar glass inventory days expanded by 8.7% WoW to 35.92 [3][123]. Additional Insights - **Market Sentiment**: The report indicates a shift in market sentiment from traditional off-season to anti-involution expectations, impacting pricing and consumption dynamics [2][66]. - **Utilization Rates**: Blast furnace utilization rates decreased by 0.99 percentage points WoW to 85% [2][78]. This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call, highlighting trends and data across various sectors within the basic materials industry in China.

Core Viewpoint - The company has officially launched its new production line in Dalian, focusing on the research and manufacturing of TCO conductive glass for thin-film solar cells, which is essential for next-generation high-efficiency photovoltaic technology [1] Group 1: Product Development - The company has introduced the Yaopi Kunpeng series of high value-added products, which include energy-saving, energy-generating, and health-functional glass [1] - The Yaopi Kunpeng green core TCO conductive glass features high light transmittance, precise surface resistance control, and excellent chemical stability [1] Group 2: Partnerships and Market Position - The company has established technical and business collaborations with several industry players, including Kaisheng Holdings, Longyan Energy Technology, BOE Technology, Renshuo Energy, GCL-Poly Energy, Jidian Energy, Xinna Photovoltaic, Guangjing Energy, and Maike Energy [1] - The sales of the new products are reported to be stable, indicating a solid market position [1]

Core Insights - SCHMID Group N.V. has secured a two-tranche term loan facility of up to €10 million to strengthen its financial structure and working capital [1][2] - The first tranche of €2.5 million is expected to be drawn on December 18, 2025, with the second tranche anticipated in early 2026 [2] - The company appointed Arthur Schuetz as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026, bringing over 20 years of investment banking experience [3][4] Financial Structure - The term loan includes an optional equity conversion right at a fixed share price of USD 2.15 per share [1] - A related party loan raised an additional €200,000, involving the company's Chairman, Board members, and external investors [1] - The financing aims to convert strong order intake into revenues and optimize the company's capital structure for future opportunities [2] Leadership Changes - Arthur Schuetz will replace Julia Natterer as CFO, who will focus on daily operations at Gebr. Schmid GmbH [3] - Schuetz's background includes leading equity and debt capital fundraisings and managing complex cross-border M&A transactions [3][4] - The board expresses confidence in Schuetz's ability to enhance the company's financial strategy and stakeholder value [4] Company Overview - SCHMID Group is a global leader in high-tech electronics, photovoltaics, glass, and energy systems, headquartered in Freudenstadt, Germany [7] - The company employs over 800 staff and operates technology centers and manufacturing sites in Germany and China [7] - It focuses on customized equipment and process solutions, ensuring high technology levels and sustainability in production processes [7]