NYSE:FFWM
NYSE:FFWMBanks

First Foundation (FFWM) Price-to-Book Discount Reinforces Ongoing Losses and Profitability Concerns

First Foundation (FFWM) is currently unprofitable, and its losses have worsened at an annual rate of 53.3% over the past five years. With revenue and earnings growth trends both unestablished, and no improvement in net profit margin, the company remains under significant financial pressure. The lack of profit growth means the main takeaway for investors is that risks remain high, with little in the way of established rewards right now. See our full analysis for First Foundation. Next, we will...
NYSE:DFIN
NYSE:DFINCapital Markets

Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN): Margin Drops to 4.3% on $80.7M One-Off Loss, Pressures Bull Case

Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) reported a net profit margin of 4.3%, significantly lower than last year's 12.1%. Recent results were affected by an $80.7 million one-off loss through September 2025. Despite near-term margin pressure, earnings have grown at a 9.7% annual rate over the past five years and are projected to accelerate sharply, with analyst forecasts calling for 62.2% yearly growth going forward, well ahead of the broader US market. Investors are keeping a close eye on the...
NYSE:TDAY
NYSE:TDAYMedia

Gannett (GCI): One-Off Gain Drives Profitability, Challenging Bullish Narratives on Earnings Quality

Gannett (GCI) recorded a notable swing to profitability this past year, with its earnings growing at an impressive 68.7% annually over the last five years and a meaningful improvement in net profit margin. The company’s latest twelve-month performance, however, included a significant one-off gain of $25.8 million, which means recent earnings quality may be less robust than the headline figure suggests. Looking ahead, analysts expect annual revenue to contract by 3.1% for the next three years,...
NasdaqGS:OPRA
NasdaqGS:OPRASoftware

Opera (OPRA) Margin Decline Tests Bullish Narratives Despite Strong Growth and Value Signals

Opera (OPRA) posted robust forecasts in its recent results, with earnings expected to grow 23.8% annually, well above the US market’s 15.7% rate. Revenue is projected to climb 11.6% per year, while the current net profit margin sits at 14%, down from last year’s 35.6%. Over the past five years, earnings have averaged 29.8% annual growth, but the most recent period marked a decline. Against this backdrop, shares trade at $14.53, significantly below the estimated fair value of $48.31, and the...
NYSE:THG
NYSE:THGInsurance

Hanover Insurance Group (THG): Profitability Jump Reinforces Value Narrative Despite Cautious Growth Outlook

Hanover Insurance Group (THG) delivered a sharp turnaround in profitability, with earnings growth reaching 72.7% over the past year. This represents a significant difference from its five-year annual average change of -0.09%. Net profit margins climbed to 9.7%, up from last year’s 5.9%. Revenue is forecasted to grow at 4.5% per year, which is below the broader US market’s 10.3% average. Despite expectations for earnings to contract at an annualized rate of -0.2% over the next three years, the...
NYSE:CDE
NYSE:CDEMetals and Mining

Coeur Mining (CDE): Return to Profitability Sparks Debate Over Growth Versus Shareholder Dilution

Coeur Mining (CDE) has turned profitable in the last year, making direct comparisons to its five-year history a bit tricky. Over the past five years, the company posted an impressive annual earnings growth rate of 44.5%. Forecasts now call for its revenue to rise 18.5% per year and earnings to grow 36.9% per year, both outpacing the broader US market. With high quality past earnings and strong growth expected, investors are paying close attention to how these prospects weigh against recent...
NasdaqGS:LECO
NasdaqGS:LECOMachinery

Lincoln Electric (LECO) Net Profit Margin Falls to 12.3%, Challenging Quality Growth Narrative

Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) has averaged 17.6% annual earnings growth over the past five years, but saw negative earnings growth in the most recent year. The company's net profit margin sits at 12.3%, down slightly from 12.5% a year ago. Shares are trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.9x compared to the US Machinery industry average of 24.6x. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow at 5.3% per year and earnings at 8.6% per year, both trailing the market averages. Ongoing profit...
NasdaqGS:CMCO
NasdaqGS:CMCOMachinery

Columbus McKinnon (CMCO): Revenue Growth Lags Market as Valuation Shows Discount Heading Into Earnings

Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) is currently operating at a loss, with losses having grown at an annualized rate of 3% over the past five years. Forecasts call for an impressive turnaround, projecting earnings to grow by 118.25% per year. The company is expected to achieve profitability within three years, even though revenue is anticipated to rise just 3.7% per year, a slower pace than the US market’s 10.3% average. For investors, the flat net profit margins and lack of margin improvement point to...
NYSE:DINO
NYSE:DINOOil and Gas

HF Sinclair (DINO): Profitability Forecast to Outpace Market as Dividend Stability Faces Questions

HF Sinclair (DINO) remains unprofitable, but the company has made steady progress by reducing its losses an average 12.9% each year over the past five years. Looking ahead, analysts expect revenue to grow at 2% and earnings to expand at 13.01% annually. A return to profitability is forecast within three years, which stands out as an above-average pace in today’s market. With earnings growth on the horizon and a premium price-to-sales ratio compared to peers, investors will be watching for...
NasdaqGM:ESCA
NasdaqGM:ESCALeisure

Escalade (ESCA): One-Off Gain Drives Earnings Growth, Challenging Views on Core Profitability

Escalade (ESCA) posted earnings growth of 9% over the past year, reversing a five-year trend of average annual declines of 22.2%. The company reported a net profit margin of 5.3%, up from last year's 4.5%, with results boosted by a significant one-off gain of $3.9 million that impacts reported profitability. While valuation metrics put Escalade well below both peer and industry price-to-earnings ratios, the results highlight both an improved margin picture and the caution flags investors will...
NYSE:LNC
NYSE:LNCInsurance

Lincoln National (LNC): Margin Compression Reinforces Value Narrative for Earnings-Focused Investors

Lincoln National (LNC) is forecast to grow revenue at 3.5% per year, notably slower than the US market’s 10.3% rate. However, earnings are expected to rise 16.6% annually versus the broader US market’s 15.7% pace, even as net profit margin compressed to 5.8% from 12% a year ago. Against a backdrop of declining earnings averaging -5.4% per year over the past five years and a downtrend in profit margins, this new guidance points to profit growth ahead, but not at a rapid pace. See our full...
NYSE:PACK
NYSE:PACKPackaging

Ranpak Holdings (PACK): Losses Deepen, Undermining Value Narrative Despite Low Price-to-Sales Ratio

Ranpak Holdings (PACK) remains in the red, posting losses that have grown at an annual rate of 10.8% over the past five years. Looking ahead, the company is expected to stay unprofitable for at least three more years, while revenue is forecast to rise at a modest 8.3% annually. This is slower than the US market’s 10.3% pace. Despite trading at a strong value versus peers by Price-To-Sales Ratio (1x compared to 5.2x), profitability continues to lag and net margins have shown no improvement...
NYSE:MO
NYSE:MOTobacco

Altria (MO) Margins Decline to 43.3%, Challenging Income-Focused Narratives

Altria Group (MO) saw net profit margins dip to 43.3%, down from 49.9% a year ago. Revenue is forecast to grow at just 0.7% per year, lagging far behind the US market’s 10.3% pace. Annual earnings growth is expected at 2.7%, trailing the market’s average of 15.7%. The company actually posted negative earnings growth most recently after averaging 31.4% per year over the last five years. With growth slowing, investors’ focus may shift toward Altria’s value credentials and the reliability of its...
NYSE:HWM
NYSE:HWMAerospace & Defense

Howmet Aerospace (HWM): Margin Acceleration Strengthens Bullish Narrative Despite Slower Forecasted Revenue Growth

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) posted eye-catching results, with earnings growing 39.9% per year over the past five years and accelerating to a steep 49.8% in the most recent year. Net profit margins recently climbed to 18.1%, up from last year’s 13.1%. While both revenue and earnings are forecast to continue rising, with revenue set to grow at 8.7% per year and earnings at 14.5%, these rates trail the broader US market’s projections. Investors continue to weigh high-quality, rapid profit growth...
NYSE:SO
NYSE:SOElectric Utilities

Southern Company (SO) Margin Compression Puts Bullish Growth Narratives to the Test

Southern (SO) is forecasting earnings growth of 8.12% per year, alongside revenue growth expected at 5.4% annually. The company is operating with a net profit margin of 15.1%, which is narrower than its prior level of 17.6%. While its five-year earnings growth has averaged 10.8% per year, the latest annual reporting period saw a negative trend. With a Price-To-Earnings ratio of 24.4x, Southern is trading higher than the industry average but below its peer group. Its current share price of...
NYSE:GBX
NYSE:GBXMachinery

Greenbrier Companies (GBX) Margin Jump Challenges Bearish Narratives on Profit Sustainability

Greenbrier Companies (GBX) posted a net profit margin of 6.3%, up from 4.5% a year ago, underscoring a more profitable year for the railcar manufacturer. While earnings have grown at an impressive 44.9% annually over the last five years, the most recent year saw slower earnings growth of 27.5%, and Wall Street is eyeing a 6.2% annual revenue decline for the next three years. With shares trading at $41.29 and a P/E ratio of 6.3x, which is well below industry peers, investors are weighing...
NasdaqGM:NBN
NasdaqGM:NBNBanks

Northeast Bank (NBN) Margin Beat Reinforces Bullish Narrative with 41.4% Profit and 47.7% EPS Growth

Northeast Bank (NBN) turned in strong numbers this period, posting net profit margins of 41.4%, which is well above last year's 38.2%. EPS jumped 47.7% over the last twelve months, easily beating the bank’s five-year average annual growth rate of 10%. With earnings projected to climb 9.61% per year and revenue growth expected to keep pace with the broader US market at 10.3% annually, investors see a solid fundamental story. Shares also trade well below estimated fair value and at a notable...
NYSE:CFR
NYSE:CFRBanks

Cullen/Frost (CFR) Net Profit Margin Hits 28.7%, Reinforcing Bullish Profitability Narrative

Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) posted a net profit margin of 28.7%, up from last year's 27.1%, with annual earnings growth of 13.3% outpacing its five-year average of 11.5% per year. While revenue and earnings are forecast to grow at 4.8% and 1% per year respectively, both are expected to lag behind the US market averages. Despite trading below internal fair value, the bank's price-to-earnings ratio of 13.3x sits ahead of industry peers, highlighting a relatively higher valuation on this metric...
NYSE:FDP
NYSE:FDPFood

Fresh Del Monte (FDP) Profit Growth Surge Challenges Bearish Narratives on Earnings Quality

Fresh Del Monte Produce (FDP) posted a striking turnaround in its latest earnings, with profit growth surging 430.5% versus a five-year average of just 6.3% per year. Net profit margins also improved from 0.3% last year to 1.8% this year. While EPS is forecast to climb an impressive 59.6% annually over the next three years, revenue is expected to decline by 2.9% per year, and the quarter included a one-off $40.5 million loss. Investors now face a balancing act between consistent profit...
NYSE:DAN
NYSE:DANAuto Components

Dana (DAN) Turns Profitable, Earnings Growth Outlook Challenges Caution on One-Off Loss

Dana (DAN) has just turned profitable after several years of losses, though a one-off $72 million loss in the latest twelve months clouds the comparison to its five-year average. Over the past five years, the company’s earnings have declined by 27.4% per year. Looking ahead, analysts expect earnings to surge at a robust 44.4% annually even as revenue is projected to fall by 5.8% per year for the next three years. The stock is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.2x, which is well above...
NYSE:HSY
NYSE:HSYFood

Hershey (HSY): Margin Decline Challenges Bullish Narratives Despite Strong Long-Term Profit Forecasts

Hershey (HSY) reported forecast earnings growth of 17.5% per year, set to outpace the broader US market’s expected 15.7% annual growth. Despite delivering 7.8% annual earnings growth over the last five years and being recognized for high-quality earnings, the latest data shows negative earnings growth over the past year and a slip in net profit margins to 13.5% from 16.8% previously. Investors are focused on the company’s robust profit outlook and dividend, but premium valuation and recent...
NYSE:LNG
NYSE:LNGOil and Gas

Cheniere Energy (LNG) Margin Decline and Earnings Contraction Challenge Bullish Value Narrative

Cheniere Energy (LNG) is forecasting revenue growth of 6% per year, which trails the broader US market’s 10.3% annual rate. EPS is expected to contract at 3.3% each year over the next three years. Net profit margins have slipped to 21.1%, down from 28% the year prior, signaling some pressure on profitability even as the stock trades at a notably lower Price-to-Earnings multiple compared to peers and industry averages. Despite the margin and growth headwinds, Cheniere’s valuation, well below...
NasdaqGS:DGIC.A
NasdaqGS:DGIC.AInsurance

Donegal Group (DGIC.A) Net Margin Surges to 8.3%, Challenging Pessimistic Growth Narratives

Donegal Group (DGIC.A) posted a standout net profit margin of 8.3%, up sharply from 0.8% last year, even as its earnings have declined by 2.5% per year over the past five years. The company’s EPS growth rate increased by 1029.5% in the past year, vastly outpacing its five-year average trend. For investors, the major focus this quarter is how an attractive valuation and a history of profit growth compare to a forecasted decline in both revenue and earnings. This creates a nuanced debate about...
NasdaqGS:CRTO
NasdaqGS:CRTOMedia

Criteo (CRTO) Margin Surge Reinforces Bullish Value Narrative Despite Forecast Earnings Decline

Criteo (CRTO) delivered improved profitability this quarter, with net profit margins climbing to 8.6% from 5.2% a year earlier. The company's EPS surged 65.6% year-over-year, far outpacing its five-year average annual earnings growth rate of 10%. Despite this strong historic growth, forecasts call for earnings to decline by 3.3% per year and revenue to drop by 16.1% per year over the next three years. This suggests investors face both an attractive valuation and real operational challenges...