New Strong Buy Stocks for August 4th
Strong Buy Stocks: Five stocks have been added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List, including Celestica, SB Financial Group, HomeTrust Bancshares, Houlihan Lokey, and Udemy, all showing significant increases in their earnings estimates over the past 60 days.
Semiconductor Market Growth: An under-the-radar semiconductor company is positioned for growth in the expanding market projected to reach $971 billion by 2028, driven by demand in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things.
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Intel Corp Reports Q4 Earnings, Shares Drop 13.1% on Weak Outlook
- Earnings Beat: Intel reported fourth-quarter revenue expectations between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, but shares fell 13.1% to $47.19 in pre-market trading due to a weak outlook, indicating market concerns about future performance.
- Adjusted Earnings Outlook: The company anticipates breakeven adjusted earnings for the first quarter, missing the market estimate of five cents per share, reflecting challenges in the competitive semiconductor market that could undermine investor confidence.
- Other Stocks Movement: In pre-market trading, Ambitions Enterprise Management shares dropped 19.1%, and Korea Electric Power Corp fell 7.1%, highlighting a broader market sentiment decline and reduced investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Capital One Earnings Impact: Capital One Financial Corp's stock declined 3.3% after reporting worse-than-expected fourth-quarter adjusted EPS, further exacerbating market concerns about financial stocks and potentially affecting overall market performance.
HomeTrust Bancshares Reports Q4 EPS of $0.93, 8.3% Increase in Cash Dividends
- Financial Performance: HomeTrust Bancshares reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.93 with revenues of $53.61 million, showing stable profitability despite a slight decline in annualized return on assets (ROA) to 1.44%.
- Shareholder Returns: The company increased its quarterly cash dividend from $0.12 to $0.13 per share, an 8.3% rise totaling $2.2 million, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns and financial health.
- Stock Buyback: During the quarter, 241,201 shares of common stock were repurchased at an average price of $42.19, indicating the company's confidence in its stock value and enhancing earnings per share.
- Credit Loss Provision: The provision for credit losses was $2.1 million, up from $2.0 million in the previous quarter, demonstrating a cautious approach to risk management while maintaining overall financial stability.
HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) Declares $0.13 Quarterly Dividend with 1.15% Yield
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: HomeTrust Bancshares has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, consistent with previous payouts, reflecting the company's stable cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Yield Performance: The forward yield of 1.15% provides relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially appealing to income-seeking investors looking for reliable returns.
- Payment Timeline: The dividend is payable on February 26, with a record date of February 18 and an ex-dividend date also on February 18, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly, which boosts shareholder satisfaction.
- Investor Focus: The dividend announcement aligns with HomeTrust Bancshares' historical earnings data, indicating that the company is committed to returning value to shareholders while maintaining robust financial performance, which may positively influence future stock prices.
HomeTrust Bancshares Named 2026 Great Employer in North Carolina and Best Place to Work in Multiple States
- Multiple Awards: HomeTrust Bank has been recognized as a 2026 Great Employer in North Carolina and a Best Place to Work in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, highlighting its success in employee satisfaction and cultural investment.
- Cultural Impact: Since 2023, HomeTrust has been acknowledged by various organizations for successfully creating an engaging workplace culture, further solidifying its position as a high-performing regional community bank.
- Employee Experience Survey: The Great Employers and Best Places to Work awards are based on a two-part survey evaluating workplace policies, practices, and employee experiences, ensuring continuous improvement in employee satisfaction.
- Clear Strategic Goals: HomeTrust aims to maintain its recognition as a high-performing regional community bank while attracting and retaining exceptional talent by being a best place to work, thereby enhancing its financial performance.
HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) Receives Upgrade to Buy: Key Information You Need to Know
Zacks Rank Upgrade: HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which could lead to an increase in stock price.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HTB has risen by 0.3% over the past three months, reflecting analysts' growing confidence in the company's earnings potential.
Correlation with Stock Movement: There is a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock price movements, suggesting that tracking these revisions can be beneficial for investors.
Market Positioning: The upgrade places HTB in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, highlighting its potential for market-beating returns in the near term.
HomeTrust Bank Earns National Recognition with Three Workplace Awards and Ranks Among Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®
Recognition of Workplace Culture: HomeTrust Bank has received multiple national awards for its workplace culture, including being named one of 2025 America's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces and a Best Bank to Work For for the second consecutive year.
Commitment to Employee Experience: The Bank emphasizes a supportive environment where employees feel empowered and valued, contributing to a strong sense of community and collaboration among teammates.
Company Overview: HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. operates over 30 locations across several states and aims to be recognized as a high-performing regional community bank, with total assets of $4.6 billion as of September 30, 2025.
Forward-Looking Statements: The press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could lead to actual results differing from anticipated outcomes.
Intel Corp Reports Q4 Earnings, Shares Drop 13.1% on Weak Outlook
- Earnings Beat: Intel reported fourth-quarter revenue expectations between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, but shares fell 13.1% to $47.19 in pre-market trading due to a weak outlook, indicating market concerns about future performance.
- Adjusted Earnings Outlook: The company anticipates breakeven adjusted earnings for the first quarter, missing the market estimate of five cents per share, reflecting challenges in the competitive semiconductor market that could undermine investor confidence.
- Other Stocks Movement: In pre-market trading, Ambitions Enterprise Management shares dropped 19.1%, and Korea Electric Power Corp fell 7.1%, highlighting a broader market sentiment decline and reduced investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Capital One Earnings Impact: Capital One Financial Corp's stock declined 3.3% after reporting worse-than-expected fourth-quarter adjusted EPS, further exacerbating market concerns about financial stocks and potentially affecting overall market performance.
HomeTrust Bancshares Reports Q4 EPS of $0.93, 8.3% Increase in Cash Dividends
- Financial Performance: HomeTrust Bancshares reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.93 with revenues of $53.61 million, showing stable profitability despite a slight decline in annualized return on assets (ROA) to 1.44%.
- Shareholder Returns: The company increased its quarterly cash dividend from $0.12 to $0.13 per share, an 8.3% rise totaling $2.2 million, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns and financial health.
- Stock Buyback: During the quarter, 241,201 shares of common stock were repurchased at an average price of $42.19, indicating the company's confidence in its stock value and enhancing earnings per share.
- Credit Loss Provision: The provision for credit losses was $2.1 million, up from $2.0 million in the previous quarter, demonstrating a cautious approach to risk management while maintaining overall financial stability.
HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) Declares $0.13 Quarterly Dividend with 1.15% Yield
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: HomeTrust Bancshares has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, consistent with previous payouts, reflecting the company's stable cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Yield Performance: The forward yield of 1.15% provides relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially appealing to income-seeking investors looking for reliable returns.
- Payment Timeline: The dividend is payable on February 26, with a record date of February 18 and an ex-dividend date also on February 18, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly, which boosts shareholder satisfaction.
- Investor Focus: The dividend announcement aligns with HomeTrust Bancshares' historical earnings data, indicating that the company is committed to returning value to shareholders while maintaining robust financial performance, which may positively influence future stock prices.
HomeTrust Bancshares Named 2026 Great Employer in North Carolina and Best Place to Work in Multiple States
- Multiple Awards: HomeTrust Bank has been recognized as a 2026 Great Employer in North Carolina and a Best Place to Work in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, highlighting its success in employee satisfaction and cultural investment.
- Cultural Impact: Since 2023, HomeTrust has been acknowledged by various organizations for successfully creating an engaging workplace culture, further solidifying its position as a high-performing regional community bank.
- Employee Experience Survey: The Great Employers and Best Places to Work awards are based on a two-part survey evaluating workplace policies, practices, and employee experiences, ensuring continuous improvement in employee satisfaction.
- Clear Strategic Goals: HomeTrust aims to maintain its recognition as a high-performing regional community bank while attracting and retaining exceptional talent by being a best place to work, thereby enhancing its financial performance.
HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) Receives Upgrade to Buy: Key Information You Need to Know
Zacks Rank Upgrade: HomeTrust Bancshares (HTB) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which could lead to an increase in stock price.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HTB has risen by 0.3% over the past three months, reflecting analysts' growing confidence in the company's earnings potential.
Correlation with Stock Movement: There is a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock price movements, suggesting that tracking these revisions can be beneficial for investors.
Market Positioning: The upgrade places HTB in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, highlighting its potential for market-beating returns in the near term.
HomeTrust Bank Earns National Recognition with Three Workplace Awards and Ranks Among Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®
Recognition of Workplace Culture: HomeTrust Bank has received multiple national awards for its workplace culture, including being named one of 2025 America's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces and a Best Bank to Work For for the second consecutive year.
Commitment to Employee Experience: The Bank emphasizes a supportive environment where employees feel empowered and valued, contributing to a strong sense of community and collaboration among teammates.
Company Overview: HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. operates over 30 locations across several states and aims to be recognized as a high-performing regional community bank, with total assets of $4.6 billion as of September 30, 2025.
Forward-Looking Statements: The press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could lead to actual results differing from anticipated outcomes.
