A. O. Smith

Business

A.O. Smith Navigates Flat Sales with Sharper Margins, Charts Course Through Inflation and China Headwinds

A.O. Smith's Q4 2025 earnings reveal a tale of two stories: revenue that missed expectations but profits that beat them. The water technology leader is leaning into commercial strength and operational discipline to expand margins, even as it braces for a challenging 2026 marked by input cost inflation and persistent softness in its China business.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

A. O. Smith Stock Surge Puts Valuation in Focus: Is There Still Room to Run?

Shares of water heater and boiler manufacturer A. O. Smith have gained significant momentum, closing recently at $73.17. This rally has analysts and investors re-examining the company's fundamentals to determine if the stock remains undervalued or if the market has already priced in its growth prospects.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Sweet Century Ends in Chapter 11: Primrose Candy Co., a 96-Year-Old Icon, Seeks Bankruptcy Protection

Primrose Candy Co., an Illinois-based confectioner with roots stretching back to the Great Depression, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing mounting debts, rising costs, and shifting consumer tastes that have eroded its once-stable business.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Private Equity Backers Bear the Brunt as Auna S.A. Shares Tumble

Auna S.A. (NYSE:AUNA) saw its market value shed $55 million last week, with its largest shareholder group—private equity firms—absorbing the heaviest losses. We analyze the ownership structure and what it means for the Latin American healthcare provider's future.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

A Return to Roots: Regal Holdings Revives Historic West Bend Co. Name for Wisconsin Cookware Manufacturing

In a strategic move emphasizing its heritage, Regal Holdings has rebranded its core manufacturing division as the historic West Bend Co., underscoring a commitment to U.S. production and Wisconsin's industrial legacy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

PF Chang's Taps Marketing Veteran Holly Smith as New CMO to Lead Brand Evolution

Casual dining giant PF Chang's appoints Holly Smith, a seasoned restaurant marketing executive, as its new Chief Marketing Officer to steer brand strategy and deepen customer engagement amid industry-wide transformation.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Smith Douglas Homes Stock Slump Masks Solid Fundamentals: A Buying Opportunity?

Despite an 11% weekly share price drop, Smith Douglas Homes (SDHC) boasts a robust 19% Return on Equity, significantly outpacing the industry average. This divergence between market sentiment and financial health raises questions about short-term pressures versus long-term value.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Defying the Bull Run: S.A. Mason Makes a $3 Million Bet on a Lagging, High-Conviction ETF

In a contrarian move, asset manager S.A. Mason has initiated a significant position in the underperforming Akre Focus ETF, signaling a long-term conviction in its concentrated, quality-focused strategy despite recent headwinds.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

From $2.9 Billion to $7,386: How Tesla's Cybertruck Stumble Evaporated a Korean Family's Fortune

A South Korean family's paper wealth soared past $800 million after their company, L&F Co., inked a landmark battery materials deal with Tesla. Less than two years later, a quiet regulatory filing slashed the contract's value by 99.9997%, a collapse tied directly to Tesla's production struggles with its Cybertruck and 4680 battery cells.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Nissan's Global Sales Slip in 2025, Marking a Challenging Year for the Japanese Automaker

Nissan Motor Co. faced a 4.4% decline in global sales for 2025, with a sharper 6.7% drop in December, as weakness in key markets like China and Europe offset gains in North America.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Atlanta Emerges Among Top U.S. Buyer's Markets as Housing Inventory Swells

Atlanta ranks ninth nationally as a favorable market for homebuyers, driven by increased inventory and moderating prices, according to new Realtor.com data. The trend highlights a broader shift toward buyer leverage across Sun Belt metros.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Tragedy Strikes L.A. Mayoral Race: Candidate Austin Beutner's Daughter, 22, Dies After Being Found Near Highway

Emily Beutner, a 22-year-old Loyola Marymount University student and daughter of mayoral hopeful Austin Beutner, has died following a medical emergency near a Palmdale highway. The death is under investigation by homicide detectives.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Venezuela's Oil Exports Surge in January as U.S. Eases Sanctions, Data Reveals

Venezuelan oil exports jumped to nearly 800,000 barrels per day in January, rebounding from a low of 498,000 bpd in December, following a U.S. policy shift that allowed key traders to resume shipments, according to tanker tracking data.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

TSMC Founder Morris Chang Breaks Year-Long Public Silence at Taipei Dinner with Nvidia's Jensen Huang

Morris Chang, the 94-year-old founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., made his first public appearance in over a year at a private dinner in Taipei with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The meeting, which ended months of speculation about Chang's health and public role, also served as a platform to reaffirm TSMC's central position in the global chip supply chain.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Headlines: Three Undervalued Small-Caps Shine in a Shifting Middle Eastern Market

As regional markets adjust to easing geopolitical pressures, a closer look reveals resilient performers. We analyze three small-cap stocks—R.A.K. Ceramics, TALCO Industrial, and Emilia Development—that are navigating the current volatility with strong fundamentals and potential for growth.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Search Suspended for Missing Fishing Vessel 'Lily Jean' Off Gloucester; One Body Found, Six Remain Missing

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for the crew of the fishing vessel Lily Jean after an extensive 24-hour operation. One unresponsive body and an empty life raft have been recovered, while six individuals are still missing at sea.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cape Cod Chips Production Shifts Away from Namesake Region, Consolidates in Hanover and Beyond

Campbell's Company announces the closure of its Hyannis, Mass. plant, moving Cape Cod and Kettle Brand chip production to Hanover, Pa., Wisconsin, and North Carolina, impacting local jobs and severing a geographic brand tie.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Subsea 7 Lands Major Shell Contract in Gulf of Mexico, Bolstering Deepwater Backlog Through 2027

Subsea 7 secures a significant contract from Shell for the Kaikias Waterflood project, reinforcing its position in complex deepwater engineering and extending its project visibility in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Simpson Manufacturing Expands with New Tennessee Plant Amid Investor Scrutiny on Growth Trajectory

Simpson Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: SSD) has inaugurated a new production facility in Gallatin, Tennessee, marking a strategic step in its operational expansion. The move comes as investors assess the company's valuation following a period of strong stock performance.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Merck Pivots Oncology Strategy: Partnerships Over Mega-Deals as Market Questions Valuation

Merck & Co. shifts its cancer drug development playbook, opting for targeted collaborations with Guardant Health and Eikon Therapeutics after walking away from a major acquisition. Analysts debate whether the stock's current price fully reflects its long-term pipeline potential.

Jan 30, 2026