Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn/iStock via Getty Images In my view, the indirect results of the ESG screening process expose the Xtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETF ( SNPE ) to a few risks in the current environment. More specifically, the SNPE portfolio has larger exposure to the information technology sector, and, in part as a consequence of that, has a larger growth premium than the iShares Core S&P ...
Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn/iStock via Getty Images In my view, the indirect results of the ESG screening process expose the Xtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETF ( SNPE ) to a few risks in the current environment. More specifically, the SNPE portfolio has larger exposure to the information technology sector, and, in part as a consequence of that, has a larger growth premium than the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF ( IVV ). I believe longer-duration equities overall and especially the tech sector look quite vulnerable, as spiraling oil prices (which could add to inflation and pulverize expectations for interest rate cuts) amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict add volatility to the already unstable market concerned with the AI economy narrative and the inflation question. In this regard, depending on the trajectory of the conflict, SNPE could experience a deeper drawdown than IVV. I am not constructing a bearish thesis today, though, owing to elevated uncertainty. So, my rating on SNPE is Hold. SNPE Strategy and Portfolio As we know from the ETF's website , the S&P 500 Scored & Screened Index is the core of its strategy. As explained in the fact sheet: The S&P 500 Scored & Screened Index is a broad-based, market-cap-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of securities meeting sustainability criteria, while maintaining similar overall industry group weights as the S&P 500. The index excludes companies with disqualifying UN Global Compact scores and business involvement in tobacco, controversial weapons, and thermal coal, then targets 75% of the float market capitalization of each GICS Industry Group within the S&P 500, using an ESG score as the defining characteristic. An important remark is that in February of last year, the ETF's underlying index, as well as the vehicle itself, was renamed: On 2/10/25 the fund changed its name from Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF to Xtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETF. The underlying index of the fund, the S&P 500 ESG Index, als...
Earnings Call Insights: Superior Group of Companies (SGC) Q4 2025 Management View Michael Benstock, Chairman & CEO, reported solid growth in the Branded Products segment, driving a modest year-over-year revenue increase and higher EBITDA, with EPS nearly doubling to $0.23. Benstock announced, "Our outlook for SGC for 2026... reflects solid growth expectations for the year, again, with a back-end w...
Earnings Call Insights: Superior Group of Companies (SGC) Q4 2025 Management View Michael Benstock, Chairman & CEO, reported solid growth in the Branded Products segment, driving a modest year-over-year revenue increase and higher EBITDA, with EPS nearly doubling to $0.23. Benstock announced, "Our outlook for SGC for 2026... reflects solid growth expectations for the year, again, with a back-end weighted cadence due to expected order patterns and anticipated new customer growth in our Contact Centers segment." Benstock detailed continued economic uncertainty across all business lines, but highlighted sequential revenue and profit improvements, emphasizing cost containment and operational efficiencies: "The progress we've made in driving efficiencies and containing costs... should prove beneficial once macro conditions normalize and stronger demand returns." Strategic priorities include expanding the sales force and leveraging technology in Branded Products, continued marketing investment and expense management in Healthcare Apparel, and ongoing cost structure improvements, including the strategic use of AI in Contact Centers. Michael Koempel, CFO, stated, "During the fourth quarter, we generated consolidated revenue of $147 million, which was up 1% year-over-year and up 6% sequentially from the third quarter, demonstrating the back-end weighted cadence of our revenue as expected." Outlook Koempel provided initial full-year 2026 revenue guidance in the range of $572 million to $585 million, assuming no significant change in macro conditions, which implies 3% growth at the high end. He further stated, "We are also expecting full year earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.54 to $0.66, suggesting significant improvement over $0.46 in 2025." Management expects a back-end weighted cadence for both top and bottom lines, citing recent momentum, competitive advantages, and growing pipelines as supporting factors. Financial Results Consolidated revenue for Q4 wa...
Earnings Call Insights: Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Joseph Payne provided an update on the ARCT-032 and ARCT-810 programs, stating the ARCT-032 Phase II trial is progressing with higher dose testing at 15 milligrams in 4 Class I CF adults with no safety concerns. "We are well on track to initiate dosing for this Phase II 12-week study in the first half of...
Earnings Call Insights: Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Joseph Payne provided an update on the ARCT-032 and ARCT-810 programs, stating the ARCT-032 Phase II trial is progressing with higher dose testing at 15 milligrams in 4 Class I CF adults with no safety concerns. "We are well on track to initiate dosing for this Phase II 12-week study in the first half of this year and look forward to generating potentially meaningful clinical data for our CF program in 2026" (Founder, President, CEO & Director Joseph Payne). For ARCT-810, Payne reported plans to study both adults and young children, with regulatory meetings scheduled for the first half of 2026. "These meetings are intended to provide clarity regarding our next steps in clinical development for our flagship rare liver disease program" (Founder, President, CEO & Director Joseph Payne). The CEO announced U.K. approval for the partnered COVID-19 vaccine Costave in January 2026 for individuals aged 18 and older and noted continued progress and funding for the STAR vaccine candidate ARCT-2304 for A/H5N1 influenza, highlighting durable immune responses and tolerability. CFO remarks included: "Year-over-year, annual and quarterly revenue decreased $70.3 million and $15.6 million, respectively. These declines were driven by reductions in revenue from our CSL collaboration, reflecting lower supply agreement activity and a reduced number of development-based milestone achievements as Costave was commercialized. Annual and quarterly research and development expenses also decreased year-over-year by $83.0 million and $19.3 million, respectively, which was primarily driven by lower manufacturing and clinical costs related to the LUNAR-COV19 program" (Founder, President, CEO & Director Joseph Payne). Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $232.8 million as of December 31, 2025. Outlook The company expects to initiate the 12-week Phase II ARCT-032 study in the first half of 2026,...