July - 2018

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Wabash National: A Margin Story

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Synchrony Financial: The Overhang That Is

Summary: - Synchrony is not renewing its long-standing partnership with Walmart so investors are concerned about what this may mean for the company's long-term business prospects. - The loss of Walmart will have an impact and will likely be an overhang through mid-2019 but I do not believe that this means that Synchrony is a sell. - I plan to stay long the stock, do you? Synchrony Financial ($SYF) has been in the news a lot lately. First, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (

Under Armour: Stay Long, The Story Is Still Intact

Summary: - Under Armour reported Q2 2018 results that beat the top- and bottom-line estimates. Management also raised their full-year 2018 guidance. - It is important to remember that the company's revenue growth profile should be the focus through at least the end of 2018. - Under Armour's long-term story is still intact so I plan to stay long the stock. Under Armour ($UA)($UAA) is (and has been) a "show me" stock so investors should be encouraged about the fact that the com

General Electric: Management Failed To Fill In The GA[A]P

Summary: - General Electric released better-than-expected adjusted Q2 2018 earnings results but the market was not impressed. - Management was asked to provide full-year GAAP earnings guidance and they failed to disclose this 'necessary' metric to the investment community. - I plan to stay long General Electric but my patience is wearing thin. General Electric ($GE) released Q2 2018 financial results that were not well-received by the market, as shown by the fact that the com

Bank Of America: Lever[Age] Up, This Bank Is A Buy

Summary: - Bank Of America reported strong Q2 2018 financial results that beat the top and bottom line estimates. - The bank also reported positive operating lever[age] for the 14th consecutive quarter. - I plan to stay long Bank Of America, how about you? Bank of America ($BAC) reported strong Q2 2018 financial results (top and bottom line beats) that were well-received by the market (shares are up approximately 5% since the results were released). Including the recent jump

Charles River Laboratories' Long-Term Story Is Still Intact

Summary: - Charles River recently reported impressive Q1 2018 financial results that beat the top- and bottom-line estimates. - The Discovery and Safety Assessment, or DSA, unit greatly contributed to the company's strong Q1 2018 financial results. - I plan to stay long Charles River. Charles River Laboratories ($CRL) is scheduled to release Q2 2018 financial results on August 8, 2018, and analysts expect for the company to report adjusted EPS of $1.47 on revenue of $569.4M.

The Way To View Citigroup Right Now

Summary: - Citigroup's stock price dipped by ~2% after the bank reported mixed Q2 2018 financial results. - Citigroup's potential to return capital to shareholders is enough to warrant a hold while the bank's story plays out. - I am staying long Citigroup, are you? On July 13, 2018, Citigroup ($C) reported Q2 2018 financial results that beat on the bottom-line but that missed the top-line estimates. The market was not impressed, as shown by the fact that C shares finished the

General Electric: The Healthcare Unit, By The Numbers

Summary: - On July 20, General Electric will release what are expected to be lackluster Q2 2018 financial results. - Investors should be excited about the prospect of holding a position in GE Healthcare because this business unit has a promising setup heading into the spin. - I plan to stay long General Electric. How about you? General Electric ($GE) is scheduled to release its Q2 2018 financial results on July 20, 2018, and analysts are calling for this industrial conglomera

KeyCorp Has A Promising Backdrop

Summary: - KeyCorp's stock has underperformed its benchmark so far in 2018. - However, this regional bank has a promising backdrop and should benefit from several major tailwinds over the next few years. - I am long KeyCorp, and I plan to stay long the stock for the foreseeable future. KeyCorp ($KEY) is a regional bank that I previously described as being "well-positioned for 2018 and beyond". The stock has, however, underperformed the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) by a

Xinyuan Real Estate: The Impact Of The Accounting Change

Summary: - Xinyuan reported noisy Q1 2018 financial results that were impacted by a new accounting change. - The noise for the quarter is simply based on a timing issue, at least for the time being. - I plan to stay long Xinyuan. How about you? Xinyuan Real Estate's ($XIN) stock has not performed well so far in 2018, as XIN shares are down over 30% while the S&P 500 is up slightly over 3%. What has caused this significant underperformance over the last six plus months? Severa

Accenture's Q3 2018 Results: A Company That Is Firing On All Cylinders

Summary: - Accenture reported Q3 2018 results that beat the top- and bottom-line estimates. - The company is firing on all cylinders, and investors should expect for more of the same in the quarters ahead. - ACN shares are still a long-term buy even at today's price. Accenture ($ACN) is one of the few companies in the R.I.P. portfolio that continues to perform well in today's environment and, as a result, the market has rewarded shareholders with a rising stock price. Since I

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