Earnings Call Insights: Watts Water Technologies (WTS) Q4 2025 Management View Chairman, President & CEO Robert Pagano highlighted, "We achieved record sales, operating margin and earnings per share for both the fourth quarter and the full year. Organic sales rose 8% and reported sales were up 16% this quarter. Adjusted operating margin climbed 220 basis points to 19%." He emphasized the completio...
Earnings Call Insights: Watts Water Technologies (WTS) Q4 2025 Management View Chairman, President & CEO Robert Pagano highlighted, "We achieved record sales, operating margin and earnings per share for both the fourth quarter and the full year. Organic sales rose 8% and reported sales were up 16% this quarter. Adjusted operating margin climbed 220 basis points to 19%." He emphasized the completion of two acquisitions: Superior Boiler, with about $60 million in annual sales, and Saudi Cast, with annual sales around $20 million. Pagano stated, "Both acquisitions are expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS in 2026 after accounting for added interest expense and normal purchase accounting adjustments." The CEO detailed a strategic portfolio review, noting the intent to phase out $10 million to $15 million of European sales and $25 million to $30 million in the Americas, mainly in lower-margin retail and OEM channels, during 2026. He explained that these changes are anticipated to be neutral or potentially margin accretive. Pagano outlined the company's data center initiative, reporting, "In 2025, sales from this sector represented just over 3% of total company sales and are growing at a double-digit rate." CFO Diane McClintock reported, "Sales reached $625 million, reflecting a 16% increase on a reported basis and an 8% increase organically... Adjusted EBITDA totaled $134 million, an increase of 28% with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.4%, up 210 basis points year-over-year." Outlook The company projects reported sales growth of 8% to 12% and organic sales growth of 2% to 6% for 2026. Organic sales in the Americas are expected to increase by 3% to 7%, while Europe organic sales are projected to range from a 4% decline to flat. APMEA is anticipated to achieve organic growth between 4% and 8%. Pagano stated, "We expect to benefit over $130 million in incremental revenues from the acquisitions of EasyWater, Haws, Superior and Saudi Cast. Collectively, these additions are...
Data centers have become one of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution's hottest must-have trades, thrusting Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) , data center construction company, into the spotlight. This sudden swell of bullish attention doesn't come without its risks, though. Chiefly, the stock's big gains since early last year have made it very expensive. And never mind its lack of profits rig...
Data centers have become one of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution's hottest must-have trades, thrusting Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) , data center construction company, into the spotlight. This sudden swell of bullish attention doesn't come without its risks, though. Chiefly, the stock's big gains since early last year have made it very expensive. And never mind its lack of profits right now and for the foreseeable future. APLD shares are priced at roughly 30 times this year's projected revenue, versus the S&P 500 's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) price/sales ratio of only around 3.4. Even if and when Applied Digital starts turning a plausible profit, it's still going to be an incredibly expensive stock. Meanwhile, although Applied Digital may be the biggest and best-known builder in this space, as the AI data center construction industry matures, specialty construction outfits like Jacob and Emcor are penetrating this market. It's not clear if Applied Digital will remain the business's top go-to name. Continue reading
Win McNamee/Getty Images News Elon Musk held an “all hands meeting” with xAI ( X.AI ) employees, as the generative artificial intelligence unit of SpaceX ( SPACE ) has seen considerable amounts of founder turnover. Among the topics discussed were artificial intelligence agents that will be able to create videos taken from your imagination, CNBC reported. The company also posted a video of an all-h...
Win McNamee/Getty Images News Elon Musk held an “all hands meeting” with xAI ( X.AI ) employees, as the generative artificial intelligence unit of SpaceX ( SPACE ) has seen considerable amounts of founder turnover. Among the topics discussed were artificial intelligence agents that will be able to create videos taken from your imagination, CNBC reported. The company also posted a video of an all-hands meeting on X on Wednesday, where topics ranged from its product roadmap, its link to X (formerly known as Twitter), and even discussing SpaceX's ambition to make life interplanetary, were discussed. News of the all-hands meeting, which also discussed building an AI satellite on the moon, was first reported by The New York Times . The meeting comes as xAI has seen several of its founders leave recently, including two this week - Tony Wu and prominent AI researcher Jimmy Ba . As of this month, six of the 12 original co-founders have left the AI lab for various reasons. Musk addressed the brain drain in a post on X, stating that change is inevitable as a company grows. “xAI was reorganized a few days ago to improve speed of execution,” Musk wrote . “As a company grows, especially as quickly as xAI, the structure must evolve just like any living organism. This unfortunately required parting ways with some people. We wish them well in future endeavors. We are hiring aggressively. Join xAI if the idea of mass drivers on the Moon appeals to you.” Musk, who also heads up SpaceX and Tesla ( TSLA ), has been busy reorganizing his empire in recent memory. Earlier this year, he brought xAI, which competes with OpenAI ( OPENAI ) (Musk is currently in the midst of a lawsuit with OpenAI) and Anthropic ( ANTHRO ), under the SpaceX umbrella . The combined company is worth approximately $1.25T and is reportedly getting ready to go public. Earlier this month, William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer said he sees a logical path to merge the newly combined SpaceX-xAI with Tesla, citing the str...
Saudi Arabia has appointed Fahad Al-Saif as its new investment minister, putting an official from the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund at the helm of the entity tasked with drawing more capital to the country. Al-Saif, head of investment strategy and global capital finance at the Public Investment Fund , was appointed by royal decree, according to a statement from the state-run Saudi Press Agency o...
Saudi Arabia has appointed Fahad Al-Saif as its new investment minister, putting an official from the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund at the helm of the entity tasked with drawing more capital to the country. Al-Saif, head of investment strategy and global capital finance at the Public Investment Fund , was appointed by royal decree, according to a statement from the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Thursday. He replaces Khalid Al-Falih , who served in the role since 2020. It’s unclear what Al-Saif’s appointment means for his roles at the wealth fund or how the PIF may be affected by the announcement. Neither the ministry nor the PIF responded to requests for comment. The changes — announced as part of a broader reshuffle that affected dozens of positions — come at a critical time for the kingdom as it reviews its policies and spending priorities amid broader fiscal pressures. Both the government and the PIF are expected to soon unveil updated strategies for the next five years in a bid to accelerate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’s agenda to diversify the economy beyond oil. The de-facto ruler has also introduced reforms in recent months aimed at hauling in more foreign capital that would help Saudi Arabia compete more effectively with Abu Dhabi and Dubai as an investment hub. Read More: Saudi’s MBS Unleashes Months of Reforms to Draw More FDI Al-Saif’s appointment puts him at the center of that initiative, which is seen as increasingly critical as the Gulf nation faces fresh oil-price volatility and investment pressure. Al-Saif has also held roles at the Ministry of Finance and National Debt Management Center. Al-Falih, who traveled the world drumming up interest in Saudi investment opportunities during his time as investment minister, will remain in the cabinet as Minister of State. The former chief executive of oil giant Saudi Aramco had also previously served as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy. Saudi Arabia Plans Updated Strategy for Vision 2030 Overhaul Sa...
M. Suhail McDonald's Corporation ( MCD ) traded higher on Thursday after reporting a sharp upturn in comparable sales in Q4. On Wall Street, analysts were divided on whether the company has fully turned the corner or faces a tricky road ahead. Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour said the next big cycle for the company is already unfolding, revolving around faster unit growth and probably another ...
M. Suhail McDonald's Corporation ( MCD ) traded higher on Thursday after reporting a sharp upturn in comparable sales in Q4. On Wall Street, analysts were divided on whether the company has fully turned the corner or faces a tricky road ahead. Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour said the next big cycle for the company is already unfolding, revolving around faster unit growth and probably another remodel wave. The renewed focus on food quality, taste, and range is considered strategic since the chain's most credible competitors to fend off are no longer traditional burger QSRs, but Dutch Bros ( BROS ), Raising Cane's, In-N-Out, and other specialist concepts growing stores and taking QSR market share. Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner highlighted that McDonald's ( MCD ) underlying sales indicators are strengthening, and market share with low-end consumers is reversing to a tailwind. Looking ahead, Bittner and his team see multiple levers for intriguing sales upside throughout 2026. "We raise our assumptions for core fundamentals," wrote Bittner. Oppenheimer kept its Outperform rating on MCD in place. Bank of America analyst Sara Senator noted the firm was encouraged by the restaurant giant's strong topline performance, but the need for continuous reinvestment as well as the more stable franchise model is considered capping EPS upside. The firm kept its Neutral rating on McDonald's ( MCD ). Mizuho Securities analyst Nick Setyan thinks it is too early for investors to celebrate a U.S. comparable sales inflection. "We are skeptical that Q4's comp strength is sustainable beyond Q1 and continue to believe U.S. SSS growth visibility for the remainder of '26 remains limited. We also believe risk to 2026 margin expectations remains elevated," warned Setyan. Mizuho lowered its 2026 EPS estimate on MCD to $13.14 from $13.31 to reflect forward margin commentary. On Seeking Alpha, analyst Luca Socci sees MCD as protection in a bear market but trading with a lofty PEG ratio. Shar...
jetcityimage BorgWarner ( BWA ) shares continued to gain altitude on Thursday as fourth quarter results, and more importantly a deal to provide power generation for the data center market, earned an upgrade at Deutsche Bank and a new all-time high. “BorgWarner’s strategic entrance into the AI data center market is a pivotal shift from being a traditional Tier-1 powertrain supplier to a more divers...
jetcityimage BorgWarner ( BWA ) shares continued to gain altitude on Thursday as fourth quarter results, and more importantly a deal to provide power generation for the data center market, earned an upgrade at Deutsche Bank and a new all-time high. “BorgWarner’s strategic entrance into the AI data center market is a pivotal shift from being a traditional Tier-1 powertrain supplier to a more diversified multi-industrial entity,” said Deutsche Bank analyst Edison Yu. On Wednesday, the company announced a flurry of new deals with European and North American OEMs, including its first 48V electro cross differential program and a supply agreement for a turbine generator system for TurboCell. By leveraging its automotive supply base and manufacturing capabilities, BorgWarner ( BWA ) expects to control at least two-thirds of the turbine generator system content. “With capabilities that we expect will address the power quality and energy needs of the data center market across hyperscalers and colocators, as well as other microgrid applications, we anticipate that the turbine generator system will open avenues for further profitable growth,” BorgWarner CEO Joseph Fadool said on Wednesday. Yu thinks the revenue opportunity from this deal will be “substantially larger” and will provide “a secular growth tailwind for multiple years.” “Moreover, the revenue should increment at mid-teens margin to start, suggesting large scale isn’t even necessary for profitability,” Yu adds. Driven by the explosion of artificial intelligence and cloud expansion, the global market for data center power infrastructure could be as high as $100B within the next 10 years, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of ~7.3%. This represents a significant source of new revenue for companies able to adapt, such as BorgWarner ( BWA ), Vertiv ( VRT ), and FTAI Aviation ( FTAI ) which recently launched a new division that will convert jet engines into turbines to generate energy. In addition to the upgrade ...
President Trump agreed to end sweeping federal immigration operations in Minnesota, White House border czar Tom Homan said Thursday, a landmark retreat from a mission that spurred national outrage over the killings of two US citizens. (Source: Bloomberg)
President Trump agreed to end sweeping federal immigration operations in Minnesota, White House border czar Tom Homan said Thursday, a landmark retreat from a mission that spurred national outrage over the killings of two US citizens. (Source: Bloomberg)
Shelves display imported and domestically produced dairy products at a European-branded supermarket in Shanghai on Dec. 26, 2025. Photo: IC Photo China will impose anti-subsidy duties on certain dairy imports from the European Union for five years after concluding that government support had harmed the domestic industry. The Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the final ruling covers products ...
Shelves display imported and domestically produced dairy products at a European-branded supermarket in Shanghai on Dec. 26, 2025. Photo: IC Photo China will impose anti-subsidy duties on certain dairy imports from the European Union for five years after concluding that government support had harmed the domestic industry. The Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the final ruling covers products including cheese and fresh cream and will take effect Friday. The decision formalizes Beijing’s trade measures on EU dairy products, though the lower tariff rates suggest an effort to limit the impact on consumers or ease tensions.
Seamer was set to spend February helping at his father’s restaurant until late World Cup call – now he’s focused on another England upset It is fair to say that England’s first two games at the T20 World Cup have not inspired much confidence – unless you’re one of their future opponents. For Scotland, last-minute call-ups after the decision to banish Bangladesh from the tournament last month, Engl...
Seamer was set to spend February helping at his father’s restaurant until late World Cup call – now he’s focused on another England upset It is fair to say that England’s first two games at the T20 World Cup have not inspired much confidence – unless you’re one of their future opponents. For Scotland, last-minute call-ups after the decision to banish Bangladesh from the tournament last month, English travails have put some extra pep in their step ahead of the now-crucial Group C clash in Kolkata on Saturday. “Definitely,” says the seamer Safyaan Sharif. “They’ll be feeling pressure because they know they have to win if they want to qualify. Obviously that’s the same with us, but I don’t think we have too much to lose. I think they have more to lose than us. Nepal gave them a good run and they were stressed in that game. They were panicking a lot – you could tell, the way they were playing in the final few overs. So it’s how they handle the pressure. Continue reading...
Acadian Timber ( ADN:CA ) declares CAD 0.29/share quarterly dividend , in line with previous. Payable April 15; for shareholders of record March 31; ex-div March 31. See ADN:CA Dividend Scorecard, Yield Chart, & Dividend Growth. More on Acadian Timber Acadian Timber: The Mirage Of Dividend Yield Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Acadian Timber Historical earnings data for Acadian Timber Dividend sco...
Acadian Timber ( ADN:CA ) declares CAD 0.29/share quarterly dividend , in line with previous. Payable April 15; for shareholders of record March 31; ex-div March 31. See ADN:CA Dividend Scorecard, Yield Chart, & Dividend Growth. More on Acadian Timber Acadian Timber: The Mirage Of Dividend Yield Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Acadian Timber Historical earnings data for Acadian Timber Dividend scorecard for Acadian Timber Financial information for Acadian Timber
The government's siege of the Twin Cities is reportedly coming to an end. "I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude," border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday . This isn't the first time Department of Homeland Security officials have claimed that Operation Metro Surge, its massive campaign in Minnesota, was slowing down or ending altogether. Homan teas...
The government's siege of the Twin Cities is reportedly coming to an end. "I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude," border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday . This isn't the first time Department of Homeland Security officials have claimed that Operation Metro Surge, its massive campaign in Minnesota, was slowing down or ending altogether. Homan teased a "drawdown" in late January , and a few days later President Donald Trump said he had ordered the withdrawal of 700 agents from the state. But an estimated 2,000 agents remained, and residents reported that raids continued. Even by Homan's own … Read the full story at The Verge.