PROG Holdings' fourth quarter was marked by a decline in revenue as the company navigated both a challenging retail environment and the fallout from a major partner bankruptcy. Management attributed the dip to reduced activity in Progressive Leasing, which was intentionally tightened to protect portfolio quality. CEO Steve Michaels pointed to “meaningful disruption following the bankruptcy of a large retail partner” and described the quarter as a period that required “balance, discipline, and focus.” Notably, the company’s buy now, pay later platform, For, delivered triple-digit growth, helping to offset leasing headwinds and demonstrating the value of a diversified product approach.
eBay’s fourth quarter results were marked by broad-based growth across its strategic focus categories, consumer-to-consumer (C2C) segment, and recommerce initiatives. The management highlighted that investments in reducing transactional friction and advancing the platform’s AI-powered tools, such as the updated magical listing experience, contributed to higher engagement and increased supply of preowned goods. CEO Jamie Iannone emphasized, “Recommerce made up over 40% of GMV on the eBay platform in 2025,” crediting the company’s strategy for accelerating growth in established and emerging categories, such as collectibles and fashion.
Analog Devices delivered a strong Q4, with results surpassing Wall Street expectations and a positive market reaction. Management attributed broad-based revenue growth to exceptional performance in the industrial and communications segments, highlighting gains from both cyclical recovery and company-specific execution. CEO Vincent Roche emphasized the impact of investments in automated test equipment and data center solutions, noting these areas benefited from rising semiconductor complexity and demand for AI infrastructure. Roche stated, "Our application-specific solutions are complemented by a suite of analog RF and power products, enabling complete high-density test subsystems."
Grand Canyon Education’s fourth quarter results met Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations, but the market responded negatively, with shares trading down after the announcement. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to robust online enrollment growth, continued strength in hybrid campus offerings, and targeted investments in marketing and recruitment. CEO Brian Mueller noted, “New starts were up in the mid-single digits in the fourth quarter,” and highlighted the company’s ability to adapt to evolving workforce needs and education models as key to sustained growth.
The Cheesecake Factory’s fourth quarter performance was shaped by steady execution in a challenging operating environment, with management pointing to operational discipline and culinary innovation as key factors. CEO David Overton highlighted stable revenue and profitability, crediting improvements in labor productivity and guest satisfaction, as well as strong results from new menu items. Management acknowledged continued pressure on same-store sales, but emphasized that gains in restaurant-level margins and successful new restaurant openings supported overall performance. The company also noted that its approach to menu innovation, including value-oriented offerings, resonated with guests and helped offset broader industry softness.
Verisk’s fourth quarter drew a positive market response, reflecting management’s focus on data-driven analytics and technology enhancement for the insurance sector. CEO Lee Shavel pointed to robust growth in subscription-based products, especially in underwriting and catastrophe solutions, despite subdued transactional revenue linked to muted weather activity. The sale of Verisk Marketing Solutions and the termination of the AccuLinks acquisition marked significant portfolio moves, with Shavel stating these actions reinforce Verisk’s commitment to core data and analytics offerings. Notably, new AI-powered claims tools like ExactGen and Exact AI were highlighted as drivers of operational efficiency and customer engagement.
Remitly’s fourth quarter results were met with strong approval from the market, reflecting both operational gains and robust customer growth. Management credited high-volume sender momentum and wider adoption of new products such as Flex and Remitly Business for driving send volume and revenue higher. CEO Matthew Oppenheimer emphasized the impact of AI-powered fraud prevention and efficiency measures on profitability, noting, “A recently upgraded fraud model, leveraging AI and integrated data across our platform, helped drive record low transaction losses.” The company also highlighted disciplined marketing spending and improved customer retention as additional contributors to outperformance.
Fiverr’s fourth quarter was met with a negative market reaction as the company’s revenue missed Wall Street expectations, while non-GAAP profitability surpassed estimates. Management attributed the performance to a deliberate shift away from lower-value, transactional projects, which continue to decline as AI automates simpler tasks. CEO Micha Kaufman described this transition as essential to repositioning Fiverr for more complex, high-value engagements, noting, “There will be displacement in lower value transactional work…At the same time, demand for higher value specialized work is accelerating at a healthy double-digit rate.”
Byline Bancorp trades at $31.86 per share and has stayed right on track with the overall market, gaining 10.9% over the last six months. At the same time, the S&P 500 has returned 6.2%.
Radian Group’s fourth quarter performance saw revenue fall short of Wall Street expectations, but non-GAAP earnings per share modestly exceeded consensus. Management attributed the quarter’s results to continued growth in its mortgage insurance portfolio, disciplined risk management, and operational cost control. CEO Richard Thornberry emphasized that the company’s “large, high-quality primary Mortgage Insurance portfolio grew 3% year-over-year to another all-time high,” while ongoing efforts to maintain strong persistency rates and positive credit trends supported profitability. The quarter also marked the completion of the Inigo acquisition, signaling a significant shift in the company’s strategic direction.
Travel + Leisure’s fourth quarter was marked by ongoing strength in its core vacation ownership segment, with management attributing growth to higher tour volume and repeat customer engagement. CEO Michael Brown emphasized that “performance is driven less by short-term travel trends and more by these long-term owner relationships and our intentional approach to operating the business.” The company’s success was further supported by effective sales and marketing execution, as well as progress in expanding its brand portfolio with new resort offerings.
Carvana’s fourth quarter was marked by rapid expansion and operational achievements, but the market responded negatively, reflecting concerns over execution challenges. Management attributed strong sales growth to expanded inventory, faster delivery times, and increased customer adoption of its fully digital car buying process. CEO Ernest Garcia noted, “We increased customer selection by 20,000 cars and are delivering cars a full day faster, leading to higher customer satisfaction.” However, elevated reconditioning costs and complexity in scaling operations were highlighted as headwinds, with Garcia acknowledging, “Our expenses were a little higher than we would have liked.”
Since August 2025, Himax has been in a holding pattern, posting a small loss of 0.6% while floating around $7.72. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 6.2% gain during that period.
Regions Financial trades at $28.44 per share and has stayed right on track with the overall market, gaining 6.7% over the last six months. At the same time, the S&P 500 has returned 6.2%.
The Supreme Court last week struck down tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Tariff Refund While the Supreme Court ruling did not say anything about tariff refunds, it has given companies an opening to look for refunds.
The stocks featured in this article have all approached their 52-week highs.
When these price levels hit, it typically signals strong business execution, positive market sentiment, or significant industry tailwinds.
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.
Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they’re frequently overlooked by Wall Street.
Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets.
Rock-bottom prices don't always mean rock-bottom businesses.
The stocks we're examining today have all touched their 52-week lows, creating a classic investor's dilemma: bargain opportunity or value trap?
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.
Whether it be online shopping or social media, secular forces are propelling consumer internet businesses forward. Despite the tailwinds, their demand largely hinges on consumer spending habits, which investors believe are weakening.
As a result, the industry has pulled back by 27.8% over the past six months. This drawdown is a far cry from the S&P 500’s 6.2% ascent.
The Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) is known for housing some of the most innovative and fastest-growing companies in the market.
But not every stock in the index is a winner - some are struggling with slowing growth, increasing competition, or unsustainable valuations.
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.
Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on.
But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.
While strong cash flow is a key indicator of stability, it doesn’t always translate to superior returns.
Some cash-heavy businesses struggle with inefficient spending, slowing demand, or weak competitive positioning.
Okta’s stock price has taken a beating over the past six months, shedding 22.1% of its value and falling to $71.14 per share. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Over the past six months, Cadence Design Systems’s shares (currently trading at $290.70) have posted a disappointing 15.8% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 6.2% gain. This may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%.
But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.
Banks use their capital and expertise to help businesses grow while offering consumers essential financial products like mortgages and credit cards. Still, investors are uneasy as banks face challenges from credit quality concerns and potential regulatory changes.
These doubts have certainly contributed to banking stocks’ recent underperformance - over the past six months, the industry’s 3.6% gain has fallen behind the S&P 500’s 6.2% rise.
Industrials businesses quietly power the physical things we depend on, from cars and homes to e-commerce infrastructure. 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 19.2% return over the past six months has topped the S&P 500 by 13 percentage points.
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.
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