U.S. Professional Services Stock News

Lockheed Martin reported past second-quarter 2026 results showing sales of US$20.06 billion and net income of US$1.84 billion, with basic EPS from continuing operations of US$7.98, up sharply from a year earlier. The company’s first-half 2026 sales of US$38.08 billion and net income of US$3.32 billion highlight how higher earnings are coinciding with an expanding backlog and large new defense awards. With stronger earnings and a record contract backlog now on the table, we’ll assess how this...

Geopolitical shocks, higher bond yields and rising financing costs are reshaping where risk and resilience sit in global markets. When war spending, disrupted energy routes and volatile government bonds collide, steady dividend payers with stronger balance sheets can start to look very different from more fragile stocks tied closely to cheap debt or smooth trade flows. This article focuses on large, established companies in the Global Dividend and Defensive Stocks screener that are directly...

Starwood Property Trust stock sits in an unusual spot, with the intrinsic value estimate from the Excess Returns model pointing to a material discount to fair value, while traditional market multiples lean the other way and its year to date share price performance has been weak. The stock is down 11.3% year to date, which raises the question of whether recent weakness has opened up value or simply reflects growing concern about the business outlook. Management’s commitment to maintaining a...

American States Water has delivered a 21.5% gain over the past year, yet there is a clear split in how its valuation stacks up, with the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate pointing to upside while market multiples suggest the stock is priced on the rich side. Over the last 12 months, American States Water shares are up 21.5%, which puts fresh attention on whether the current price still leaves room for a margin of safety. Future cash flow generation from its regulated...

Himax Technologies stock has more than doubled over the past three years, yet the broader valuation checks suggest it no longer stands out as a clear bargain, even as recent news around its new AI vision and robotics products keeps growth hopes in focus. Himax Technologies has delivered a 107.4% return over the last three years, which puts extra attention on whether the current price already reflects much of that progress. The launch of its HE Series iToF depth decoder ICs for AI vision and...

Huntington Ingalls Industries recently reached a key milestone in its distributed shipbuilding initiative at Ingalls Shipbuilding for the Thad Cochran (DDG 135) destroyer, while also christening the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), underscoring ongoing progress across its Arleigh Burke-class Flight III programs. Together with the appointment of an experienced chief counsel for the Mission Technologies division, these steps highlight HII’s push to scale throughput, tighten governance, and...

Mavis Tire Express agreed to acquire Pep Boys service operations from Icahn Enterprises (NasdaqGS:IEP) for about US$700 million in cash. The deal includes Pep Boys automotive service centers, while Icahn Enterprises keeps related real estate and certain other automotive assets. The transaction is structured as a definitive agreement and is subject to customary closing conditions. Icahn Enterprises is a diversified holding company with exposure to energy, automotive, real estate and other...

Popular, Inc. recently reported second-quarter 2026 results showing higher net interest income of US$693.42 million and net income of US$278.21 million versus a year earlier, while also authorizing a new share repurchase program of up to US$1.00 billion. Alongside these earnings and capital return moves, Popular announced a leadership reshuffle that promotes CFO Jorge J. García to CEO and elevates long-time Chief Risk Officer Lidio V. Soriano to CFO, signaling continuity in financial and...

United Therapeutics Corporation recently expanded its Board of Directors to 13 members and appointed Victor Dzau, M.D., a globally recognized physician-scientist and former President of the National Academy of Medicine, as a director without initial committee assignments. Alongside this high-profile governance addition, the company has been active with employee stock ownership plan-related shelf registrations, highlighting ongoing efforts to align long-term employee incentives with its...

Norfolk Southern stock has delivered a 58.1% total return over the past three years, yet the current checks suggest investors are paying a premium, with the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate pointing to the shares trading well above that model and the broader valuation score leaning expensive rather than clearly cheap. Norfolk Southern’s 58.1% three year return highlights how strongly the stock has rewarded patient shareholders, which raises the bar for any new buyers...

Bond yields at 4.7%, oil nearing $100 and firm jobless data have put interest rates and inflation back in focus, and that ripple effect is hitting regional banks and financial stocks in different ways. Some could see pressure from higher funding costs and potential credit stress, while others may find opportunities in wider spreads or steadier fee income. This article explains how the latest macro moves connect to balance sheets and earnings drivers, and highlights 3 stocks from our Regional...

After a near doubled 96.2% return over the past five years, Hancock Whitney now sits at US$75.68 per share. Both the intrinsic value estimate from the Excess Returns model and earnings multiples currently point to the stock trading at a discount rather than a premium. Hancock Whitney has returned 96.2% over five years, which puts more focus on whether today’s price still leaves a margin between market value and the company’s underlying worth. Regulatory approval to acquire One Florida Bank...

On July 15, 2026, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group announced it had increased its equity buyback authorization by US$50 million, bringing the total program to US$100 million. This larger repurchase capacity can influence capital allocation priorities and per-share financial metrics, offering a clearer view of management’s capital management approach. Next, we’ll assess how the expanded US$100 million buyback authorization could shape Skyward’s investment narrative and perceived earnings...

Moody's stock is coming off a mixed stretch, with the share price down over the past year but still up 37.7% over three years, and the current Excess Returns intrinsic value estimate and market multiples both pointing to the shares trading at a premium rather than looking cheap. Moody's has returned 37.7% over the last three years, which suggests longer term holders have still come out ahead despite recent weakness. Expectations for the resilience of Moody's fee based credit and analytics...

Boot Barn Holdings (BOOT) has drawn investor attention after recent share price pressure, with the stock down about 15% over the past month and about 12% over the past 3 months. See our latest analysis for Boot Barn Holdings. Zooming out, Boot Barn Holdings has seen its share price fall 20.83% year to date and 14.87% over the past month, while its 5 year total shareholder return of 73.26% shows a much stronger longer term picture. This suggests that recent pressure may reflect a shift in how...

Cigna Healthcare, part of Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), is expanding its AI enabled personalized care management programs for customers with complex or chronic health needs. The company is increasing its use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to offer earlier and more tailored clinical support. This expansion targets both improved health outcomes and potential reductions in medical costs for covered members. Cigna Group operates as a global health services company, and this move...

Tripadvisor (TRIP) is back in focus after recent trading left the stock at $13.49, prompting investors to reassess how its travel guidance, experiences, and restaurant booking segments align with current market expectations. See our latest analysis for Tripadvisor. Recent trading has been choppy for Tripadvisor, with the share price down 2.53% over the last day and 9.40% over the past week. However, the 90 day share price return of 20.55% suggests some momentum has been rebuilding against a...

New York Times stock has delivered an 81.8% return over the past three years, yet the valuation signals are split, with the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value pointing to meaningful upside while earnings based multiples screen the shares as expensive and the broader checks give a low value score. Over three years, New York Times has returned 81.8%, which puts extra focus on whether recent gains are already pricing in much of the long term story. For long term valuation, the key...

PENN Entertainment stock has climbed year to date but is still carrying a steep 5 year decline, while its valuation checks now lean cheap rather than expensive. That mix of a long term drawdown and a stronger value score sets up a clear question about whether the current price around US$20.27 still reflects too much caution or has already reset expectations. Over the past 5 years, PENN Entertainment shares have declined 70.9%, which means today’s valuation is being judged against a much...

Paylocity Holding stock has seen its share price fall sharply over the past few years, yet the current valuation checks still suggest the shares lean expensive rather than obviously cheap after that pullback. Over the past 3 years, Paylocity Holding has declined about 46%, which raises the question of whether the recent weakness has been enough to reset expectations. New AI products like Paylocity Ignite AI and deeper integrations such as the HireQuotient partnership can support longer term...

Recent analyst commentary on Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) has focused on a shift in earnings expectations, with upward estimate revisions and a Zacks Rank #2 drawing attention to the stock’s valuation and its potential appeal for value-focused investors. See our latest analysis for Patterson-UTI Energy. Patterson-UTI Energy’s recent share price moves have been mixed, with a 7-day share price return of 7.26% and a year-to-date share price return of 59.81%, while the 3-year total shareholder...

Wave Life Sciences recently hosted a webcast and conference call to review its second-quarter 2026 results and business updates, while also receiving an analyst rating upgrade tied to higher earnings estimates. This combination of improved earnings expectations and detailed operational commentary highlights how external analyst views and internal milestones are increasingly intertwined for the RNA-focused company. We’ll now explore how the recent analyst upgrade based on stronger earnings...

Bread Financial Holdings has delivered a 177.1% return over the past three years, and the current valuation checks suggest the stock may still be pricing in less than the intrinsic value indicated by the Excess Returns model. Over three years, shareholders in Bread Financial Holdings have seen a 177.1% return, which puts the recent share price action firmly in focus when weighing upside against risk. Upcoming earnings and credit quality trends can be a key driver for the stock, while rising...

The PNC Financial Services Group recently completed and announced US$1.00 billion fixed-to-floating senior note offerings maturing in 2030 and 2037, alongside redeeming US$1.00 billion of 5.102% senior notes and continuing share repurchases under its long-running buyback program. These financing moves came on the heels of stronger second-quarter results, with higher net interest income and earnings supporting increased capital returns to shareholders. We’ll now examine how PNC’s stronger net...