Itron’s fourth quarter results drew a strong positive reaction from the market, as management emphasized robust execution amid a shifting utility landscape. CEO Thomas Deitrich attributed performance to accelerating adoption of grid edge intelligence and expanding customer demand for outcomes-based solutions, citing a 27% increase in pipeline growth and a 58% rise in Outcomes backlog year over year. Deitrich noted, “The environment continues to be really constructive for us through fourth quarter and into 2026 and beyond,” highlighting the role of recurring revenue streams and a record financial performance in profitability and free cash flow. Management pointed to favorable customer and product mix and the impact of planned portfolio changes as key factors behind margin expansion, despite a year-on-year revenue decline.
LGI Homes’ fourth quarter saw a negative market reaction following revenue that came in below Wall Street’s expectations and a significant year-over-year sales decline. Management attributed the softness to persistent affordability pressures and the need to use incentives and price discounts to move older inventory. CEO Eric Lipar cited “affordability remained the primary pressure point” and explained that while LGI’s sales teams executed well, outsized incentives were necessary to manage inventory and maintain closing momentum. Margin pressures were further exacerbated by a higher share of wholesale transactions and rising borrowing costs.
Builders FirstSource’s fourth quarter was marked by a sharp decline in sales volumes across its core markets, as the company faced persistent housing affordability challenges and weak consumer confidence. Management pointed to a steeper-than-anticipated drop in homebuilder activity late in the quarter, especially as builders pulled back on new starts to work down inventory. CEO Peter Jackson cited “ongoing housing affordability challenges, weak consumer confidence and depressed commodity prices” as the primary headwinds, with operations also pressured by higher insurance costs. Despite these setbacks, management emphasized efforts to maintain operational flexibility and cost discipline.
La-Z-Boy’s fourth quarter results were met with a significant negative market reaction, reflecting investor concerns despite the company’s revenue and non-GAAP profit exceeding Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to robust growth in its Retail segment, aided by new store openings and a major acquisition in the Southeast. CEO Melinda Whittington acknowledged ongoing challenges in consumer demand, highlighting shifting traffic patterns and volatile trends due to both macroeconomic headwinds and adverse weather late in the quarter. She emphasized that, while some areas like the Joybird brand underperformed, strong in-store execution and higher average tickets partially offset broader industry weakness.
Medifast’s fourth quarter results outperformed Wall Street’s revenue expectations, which the market responded to positively. Management attributed this to early signs of success from its transition to a metabolic health-focused business model and improvements in coach productivity. CEO Dan Chard highlighted that this was the first quarter since mid-2022 where coach productivity turned positive year-over-year, up 6%. Chard noted, “These early performance metrics are yet to have appreciable impact on our revenue, but they are nonetheless early signs of the improving performance of our coaches.”
USANA’s fourth quarter results met Wall Street’s expectations on revenue and surpassed estimates for non-GAAP profit, yet the market responded negatively. Management attributed this to ongoing margin pressures and a continued shift in business mix, particularly the growing role of lower-margin brands like Rise Wellness and Hiya. CEO Kevin Guest, who resumed his leadership role, highlighted operational changes and a strategic pivot toward omnichannel distribution and scientific product innovation. He acknowledged headwinds, saying, “Our core business has faced year-over-year sales declines, but we are seeing encouraging signs of stabilization.”
Somnigroup’s fourth quarter results drew a negative market response, as revenue fell short of Wall Street’s consensus despite a substantial year-over-year increase. Management pointed to persistent softness in the bedding industry, which they said experienced mid-single-digit declines in the U.S. and similar pressures internationally. CEO Scott Thompson described the period as "another challenging year for the bedding industry," noting that even with Somnigroup’s share gains, overall market demand lagged expectations. The integration of Mattress Firm was highlighted as a key achievement, accelerating scale and cost benefits, but management acknowledged that broader market weakness impacted both direct and wholesale channels.
Palo Alto Networks’ fourth quarter was notable for strong top-line growth and a solid beat on non-GAAP profit, but the market responded negatively to the company’s results. Management attributed performance to robust demand for its platform-based cybersecurity offerings, emphasizing particularly strong customer uptake in SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), software firewalls, and new AI security products. CEO Nikesh Arora highlighted that the company’s success in “platformization” is driving both new customer wins and deeper client engagement, but acknowledged that the integration of recent acquisitions and evolving customer needs are putting pressure on the business.
NeoGenomics’ fourth quarter results were met with a negative market reaction, despite revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to continued growth in next-generation sequencing (NGS) test volumes, robust adoption of new products, and a deliberate shift away from lower-value, high-volume testing. CEO Anthony Zook noted, “Our clinical business continued its robust growth with revenue increasing 16% year over year,” highlighting the company’s ability to drive higher average revenue per test through targeted commercial execution.
Labcorp’s Q4 results came in below Wall Street’s revenue expectations, leading to a negative market reaction, while management attributed performance to strength in specialty testing and expanded partnerships with hospitals and regional labs. CEO Adam Schechter highlighted the company’s double-digit growth in esoteric testing and the successful integration of recent acquisitions, including Invitae and assets from various health systems. Schechter also acknowledged that lower organic volume growth was partly due to reduced referrals from a major consumer genetic client and mild weather disruptions, but indicated these were largely isolated events. The quarter was further supported by ongoing cost discipline and advancements in automation and artificial intelligence across core laboratory and consumer services.
Valmont’s fourth quarter was met with a negative market reaction, as flat year-on-year sales missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations and adjusted EBITDA fell short of consensus. Management attributed the results to continued strength in the Utility business, supported by grid expansion and rising electricity demand, while agriculture equipment sales faced headwinds from challenging market conditions in Brazil and the Middle East. CEO Avner Applbaum noted, “We simplified the business, sharpened our priorities and aligned capital and resources where execution drives the greatest positive impact.”
Pitney Bowes' fourth quarter was marked by continued efforts to transform its business amid challenging market conditions. The market responded positively to the company's results, which management attributed to operational restructuring, leadership changes, and a renewed focus on cost control. CEO Kurt Wolf highlighted the significance of upgrading leadership and simplifying the organization, while also noting that recent customer wins in the Presort business and streamlined processes were key contributors to the quarter’s performance. Management acknowledged headwinds in certain business segments, particularly from government shutdowns and economic sensitivity in marketing mail.
Rogers delivered results in the fourth quarter that exceeded Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations, driven by improved industrial sales and effective cost reduction initiatives. Management credited a leaner operating model and organizational changes for strengthening the company’s position, particularly highlighting enhanced customer relationships and new product development. Interim President and CEO Ali El-Haj emphasized, “Q4 sales of $202 million approached the high end of the guidance. Adjusted EPS of $0.89 per share and adjusted EBITDA margins of 17.1%, both exceeded the top end of guidance.” The quarter’s performance also benefited from a focus on profitability improvement and disciplined capital allocation.
Jeff Bezos praised Ryan Gosling's performance in Project Hail Mary as Amazon rolls out Prime-exclusive early screenings ahead of the film's March 20, 2026 release, while the company's shares slipped despite after-hours gains.
From novel pharmaceuticals to telemedicine, most healthcare companies are on a mission to drive better patient outcomes. Those leading the charge have not only realized strong financial performance but also propelled the broader industry’s returns
as healthcare stocks have gained 10.6% over the past six months while the S&P 500 was up 7.3%.
Even if they go mostly unnoticed, industrial businesses are the backbone of our country. But their prominence also brings high exposure to the ups and downs of economic cycles.
Luckily, the tide is turning in their favor as the industry’s 17.5% return over the past six months has topped the S&P 500 by 10.2 percentage points.
While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success.
Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".
The stocks featured in this article are seeing some big returns.
Over the past month, they’ve outpaced the market due to some combination of positive news, upbeat results, or supportive macro developments. As such, investors are taking notice and bidding up shares.
A cash-heavy balance sheet is often a sign of strength, but not always.
Some companies avoid debt because they have weak business models, limited expansion opportunities, or inconsistent cash flow.
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment.
Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is full of established businesses, but only some continue to outperform the market.
A few standout companies are thriving thanks to strong fundamentals and sustained competitive advantages.
Maye Musk praises son Elon's early intelligence, jokes about his habit of replying to users on Twitter. Proud mom shares old test scores and promotes Elon's AI company.
Wall Street’s bearish price targets for the stocks in this article signal serious concerns.
Such forecasts are uncommon in an industry where maintaining cordial corporate relationships often trumps delivering the hard truth.
Mid-cap stocks have the best odds of scaling into $100 billion corporations thanks to their tested business models and large addressable markets.
But the many opportunities in front of them attract significant competition, spanning from industry behemoths with seemingly infinite resources to small, nimble players with chips on their shoulders.
The drop comes after IBM’s stock plummeted over 13% on Monday, its worst single-day performance since October 2000, and added to the AI-driven selloff weighing on stock and crypto markets.
Over the last six months, OFG Bancorp’s shares have sunk to $41.38, producing a disappointing 7.1% loss - a stark contrast to the S&P 500’s 7.3% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential.
However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.
Value stocks typically trade at discounts to the broader market, offering patient investors the opportunity to buy businesses when they’re out of favor.
The key risk, however, is that these stocks are usually cheap for a reason – five cents for a piece of fruit may seem like a great deal until you find out it’s rotten.
Over the last six months, Banner Bank’s shares have sunk to $60.43, producing a disappointing 9.9% loss - a stark contrast to the S&P 500’s 7.3% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
Value investing has produced some of the world’s most famous investing billionaires, including Warren Buffett, David Einhorn, and Seth Klarman, who built their fortunes by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices.
But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.
Sprinklr has gotten torched over the last six months - since August 2025, its stock price has dropped 38.1% to $5.33 per share. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Software is eating the world, and virtually no business is left untouched by it. Companies bringing it to life have been rewarded with high valuation multiples that make fundraising easier,
but they have weighed on the returns lately as the industry has pulled back by 26.4% over the past six months. This drop is a far cry from the S&P 500’s 7.3% ascent.
