Investors with an interest in Mining – Miscellaneous stocks have likely encountered both Billiton (BBL) and Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Right now, Billiton is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that BBL is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

BBL currently has a forward P/E ratio of 6.98, while WPM has a forward P/E of 30.25. We also note that BBL has a PEG ratio of 1.68. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. WPM currently has a PEG ratio of 6.05.

Another notable valuation metric for BBL is its P/B ratio of 1.32. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, WPM has a P/B of 3.56.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to BBL's Value grade of A and WPM's Value grade of D.

BBL stands above WPM thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that BBL is the superior value option right now.

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Here are four stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, July 30th:

BHP Group BHP: This resources company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10% over the last 60 days.

BHP Group Price and Consensus

BHP Group price-consensus-chart | BHP Group Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 5.03%, compared with the industry average of 0.00%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 4.36%.

BHP Group Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP Group dividend-yield-ttm | BHP Group Quote

Fanhua Inc. FANH: This provider of financial services has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1% over the last 60 days.

Fanhua Inc. Price and Consensus

Fanhua Inc. price-consensus-chart | Fanhua Inc. Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 4.21%, compared with the industry average of 0.78%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 3.40%.

Fanhua Inc. Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fanhua Inc. dividend-yield-ttm | Fanhua Inc. Quote

Cathay General Bancorp CATY: This holding company for Cathay Bank has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10.2% over the last 60 days.

Cathay General Bancorp Price and Consensus

Cathay General Bancorp price-consensus-chart | Cathay General Bancorp Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.25%, compared with the industry average of 1.80%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 3.13%.

Cathay General Bancorp Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cathay General Bancorp dividend-yield-ttm | Cathay General Bancorp Quote

City Holding Company CHCO: This holding company for City National Bank of West Virginia has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.4% over the last 60 days.

City Holding Company Price and Consensus

City Holding Company price-consensus-chart | City Holding Company Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.05%, compared with the industry average of 1.93%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 2.93%.

City Holding Company Dividend Yield (TTM)

City Holding Company dividend-yield-ttm | City Holding Company Quote

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens.

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July 30 (Reuters) – BHP Group Ltd said on Friday it would build two solar farms and a battery storage system in partnership with Canada's TransAlta Renewables Inc at its nickel project site in Western Australia.

The global miner said the project will help reduce carbon emissions by 12% compared with 2020 levels at its Mt Keith and Leinster operations, where power is currently being generated through diesel and gas turbines.

The proposed solar farms will also help produce sustainable low-carbon nickel used in electric-vehicle batteries, BHP said, for which the company signed a supply agreement with Tesla Inc last week.

The project will contribute to the miner's medium-term target to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions from its assets by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, it said. (https://bit.ly/3rFGxHk)

BHP said the construction of the farms is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2022 and would take 12 to 14 months for completion. (Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (“SouthGobi” or the “Company”) announces that, on July 30, 2021, the Company and Land Breeze II S.à.r.l. (“Land Breeze”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of a major shareholder of the Company (the “Major Shareholder”), signed a new deferral agreement (the “2021 July Deferral Agreement”) pursuant to which Land Breeze agreed to grant the Company a deferral (the “Deferral”) of the interest payments which are due and payable on November 19, 2021 under the US$250 million convertible debenture dated November 19, 2009 (the “Convertible Debenture”).

The effectiveness of the 2021 July Deferral Agreement and the respective obligations, covenants and agreements of each party under the 2021 July Deferral Agreement are subject to the Company obtaining the requisite acceptance thereof from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”).

The principal terms of the 2021 July Deferral Agreement are as follows:

• Land Breeze agreed to grant the Company: (i) a deferral of the semi-annual cash interest payment of US$8,065,753 payable to Land Breeze on November 19, 2021 under Convertible Debenture; and (ii) a deferral of the payment-in-kind interest payment of US$4,000,000 payable on November 19, 2021 under the Convertible Debenture (collectively, the “Deferred Amounts”), in each case until August 31, 2023 (the “Deferral Date”);

• As consideration for the Deferral of the Deferred Amounts, the Company agreed to pay Land Breeze a deferral fee equal to 6.4% per annum on the Deferred Amounts (the “Deferral Fee”) payable under the Convertible Debenture, commencing on November 19, 2021;

• If at any time before the Deferred Amounts and Deferral Fee are fully repaid, the Company proposes to appoint, replace or terminate one or more of its chief executive officer, its chief financial officer or any other senior executive(s) in charge of its principal business function or its principal subsidiary, the Company will first consult with, and obtain written consent (such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) from Land Breeze prior to effecting such appointment, replacement or termination;

• The Company agreed to comply with all of its obligations under the prior deferral agreements entered into with Land Breeze;

• The Company and Land Breeze agreed that nothing in the 2021 July Deferral Agreement prejudices Land Breeze’s rights to pursue any of its remedies at any time pursuant to the prior deferral agreements.

The Company will make further announcements regarding the potential of further future deferrals of its payment obligations under the Convertible Debenture as and when appropriate. There can be no assurance, however, that any agreement for future deferrals will be reached with the Major Shareholder either at all or on favourable terms.

About SouthGobi
SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this press release that is not current or historical factual information constitutes forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), including information about the potential of further future deferrals of its payment obligations under the Convertible Debenture. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, "could", "should", "seek", "likely", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including, among other things, the Company’s ability to successfully negotiate a future deferrals of its payment obligations under the Convertible Debenture and other similar factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from what the Company currently expects. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue importance on forward-looking statements, which speaks only as of the date of this disclosure, and not to rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it is under no obligation and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise at any particular time, except as required by law. Additional information concerning factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those in such forward-looking statements is contained in the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and can be found under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Oil prices climbed this week as U.S. inventories tightened and the risk of Iran reaching a new deal and bringing extra crude online decreased.

Friday, July 30th, 2021

Crude prices drew hefty support this week from U.S. inventory dynamics, with commercial stocks falling to their lowest since January 2020 and indications that the tightening is set to continue. Concurrently, the markets have seemingly got accustomed to the idea that there will not be any Iranian cliff-hanger as President-elect Raisi is to be sworn into office next week, mitigating erstwhile concerns that Tehran might flood the market with incremental barrels. COVID headwinds persist, however, as several European countries see rising Delta variant cases.

EU Fails to Replenish Gas Storage. European countries are struggling to replenish their gas reserves amid exorbitantly high LNG prices and limited availability of pipeline supplies, with total EU gas reserves standing at a mere 616 TWh, equivalent to some 63 billion cubic meters, the lowest level since 2015. 

TotalEnergies Buys into Singapore EV Charging. Teaming up with another French firm Bolloré, TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) agreed to buy Singapore’s leading electric vehicle charging network (accounting for 85% of the city-state’s charge points), acquiring Blue Charge for an undisclosed sum. TotalEnergies seeks to increase its charge point tally tenfold to 150,000 by 2025. 

Gasoline market backwardation. Whilst gasoline cracks remain the best-performing segment of most European refiners’ slate, the derivatives market indicates that the global gasoline balance is tightening as the Eurobob oxy M1-M2 swap surged past the $20 per metric ton earlier this week, the widest in almost two weeks. 

Related: Oil Tops $75 On Shrinking U.S. Crude Inventories

London court to reopen $7 billion BHP dam lawsuit. The London Court of Appeal reopened a lawsuit against the Anglo-Australian mining firm BHP (NYSE:BHP) over the 2015 Mariana dam disaster, Brazil’s worst-ever environmental disaster, allowing a 200 000-strong claimant group to appeal against a lower court decision. 

ADNOC to Ease October 2021 production cuts. The UAE state oil company ADNOC informed its term buyers that it would ease its export nomination cuts for October 2021, bringing back 10 percentage points worth of output compared to September, a clear indication that the Emirates remains earnest in its production ramp-up drive.

European Majors Leave Venezuela. France’s TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) and Norway’s Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) have quit their Petrocedeño joint venture, transferring their stakes to a subsidiary of PDVSA. The JV manages the Juni oil field in the Orinoco Belt and a 180kbpd heavy crude upgrader – this was used by both companies, arguing that developing the heavy barrels is incompatible with their low-carbon strategies. 

UK Seeks to Remove China from Nuclear Projects. UK media report that China’s national nuclear firm CGN might be blocked from building new infrastructure on the British Islands, triggered by concerns that increased Chinese participation in Britain’s energy infrastructure could be detrimental to the nation’s overall energy security.  

Rio Tinto Starts $2.4 Billion Serbia Lithium Project. Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) brought forward a much-anticipated investment decision on the project, stating that it would already launch construction next year with a commissioning aim of 2026-2027. Jadar in Serbia is bound to become Europe’s largest lithium supply source. 

Biden Administration to Revise Toxic Coal Wastewater Rule. The White House will revise a Trump-era rule that allowed US coal-fired plants to delay installing equipment that could prevent lead, selenium, or other pollutants seeping into rivers and streams, Reuters reports. The US government intends to finalize the new set of rules by 2024.

Shell Buys Inspire Energy as it Seeks to Gain Green Credentials. Shell (NYSE:RDS) purchased the US-based renewable energy retailer Inspire Energy, Reuters reports, amidst increasing domestic pressure to speed up its decarbonization efforts.

Spanish High Court Clears Repsol CEO. Antonio Brufau, the CEO of Spanish oil firm Repsol (BME:REP) was cleared of allegations that he had spied on market competitors to block a takeover bid by PEMEX and its partner. The court found no evidence of the chairman’s direct involvement in the spying case, triggering a more than 2% hike in Repsol stocks. 

Wheat Rises on Inclement Weather. Wheat futures at the Chicago BOT rose to a 2-month high as droughts in the US Midwest and freezing temperatures in Brazil have sapped global spring wheat yields. The Wv1 CBOT contract surpassed the $7 per bushel threshold, whilst the Paris December contract rose beyond €220 per ton (equivalent to $7.1 per bushel).

Indonesia Sets 2060 Net Zero Objective. Indonesia announced it would seek to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2060 or sooner, seeing its aggregate greenhouse gas emissions peak in 2030. Interestingly, it is oil that will be phased out the swiftest in the upcoming future, with abundant coal retaining its importance in power generation well into mid-century. 

NOVATEK Revisits Obsky LNG. The Russian LNG-focused producer abandoned its 5mtpa Obsky LNG project and revamped it instead into a gas petrochemicals complex that would produce ammonia and hydrogen from natural gas. NOVATEK initially intended to use its proprietary Arctic Cascade liquefaction technology for the project. 

Offshore Suriname Production Gets Real. Two appraisal drilling programs carried out by operator TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) in Suriname’s Block 58 confirmed net black oil pays in both the Sapakara and Kwaskwasi prospects, marking another important step towards oil commercialization. This year will still see another appraisal well at the Bonboni field and a flow test of Sapakara.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

• Shell Reports $5.5 Billion Net Profit And Hikes Dividends
  

• Analysts See Oil Trading Closer To $70 Through Year-End

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Read this article on OilPrice.com

Shares of Albertsons Companies (ACI) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 8.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $22.26 in the previous session. Albertsons Companies has gained 22.9% since the start of the year compared to the 6.6% move for the Zacks Consumer Staples sector and the 4.3% return for the Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 29, 2021, Albertsons Companies, Inc. reported EPS of $0.89 versus consensus estimate of $0.68 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 2.78%.

For the current fiscal year, Albertsons Companies, Inc. is expected to post earnings of $2.03 per share on $66.78 billion in revenues. This represents a -37.35% change in EPS on a -4.17% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $2.04 per share on $67.75 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 0.41% and 1.45%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

Albertsons Companies, Inc. may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 10.6X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 2.9X versus its peer group's average of 13.1X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.89. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Albertsons Companies, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Albertsons Companies, Inc. fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though Albertsons Companies, Inc. shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.

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Zacks Investment Research

ACI earnings call for the period ending June 30, 2021.

PITTSBURGH, July 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) ("CNX" or "the company") today released financial and operational results for the second quarter 2021 by posting those results on its website as detailed below.

Second quarter earnings results and supplemental information regarding quarterly E&P data such as production volumes and hedging information, financial statements, and non-GAAP reconciliations can be accessed by clicking here.

A company presentation to accompany the CNX earnings conference call can be accessed by clicking here.

The company's earnings results and supplemental information, and presentation materials are also available on the Investor Relations page of the company's website at www.cnx.com.

As previously disclosed, the CNX earnings conference call details are as follows:

• 10:00 a.m. ET: Thursday, July 29

• Dial-In: 855-656-0928 (domestic) 412-902-4112 (international)

• Reference "CNX Resources Call"

• Webcast: investors.cnx.com

A brief Q&A session for securities analysts will immediately follow the discussion. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be maintained on the Investor Relations page on CNX's website.

About CNX Resources Corporation

CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) is the premier independent natural gas development, production, and midstream company, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin. Our vertically integrated model includes transmission, storage, gathering systems, and water infrastructure that support energy development from wellhead to end user. With the benefit of a more than 150-year legacy and a substantial asset base amassed over many generations, the company deploys a strategy focused on responsibly developing its resources to create long term per share value for its shareholders, employees, and the communities where it operates. As of December 31, 2020, CNX had 9.55 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index. Additional information may be found at www.cnx.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cnx-reports-second-quarter-results-301344147.html

SOURCE CNX Resources Corporation

CNX Resources Corporation CNX reported second-quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of 18 cents per share, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 25 cents by 28%.

Revenues

Second-quarter revenues were $359 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $390 million by 7.9%. Nonetheless, the top line increased 140.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Highlights of the Release

Average selling price for the quarter was $2.60 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe), up 3.2% from the year-ago figure of $2.52. For the reported quarter, total production costs were down 1.8% year over year to $1.60 per Mcfe due to proper cost-management measures implemented by the company. Its efficient management of expenses continues to reduce outflow and boost margins.

Total second-quarter production volumes were 137.9 billion cubic feet equivalent, up 20.4% year over year. Interest expenses for the reported quarter were $39.46 million, down 14.5% from the year-ago period.

During the quarter, CNX Resources repurchased shares worth $23 million. The remaining amount available under the existing stock repurchase program is $215 million and is not subject to an expiration date.

CNX Resources Corporation. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

CNX Resources Corporation. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CNX Resources Corporation. Quote

Financial Update

As of Jun 30, 2021, CNX Resources had cash and cash equivalents of $39.4 million, up from $15.6 million on Dec 31, 2020.

Total long-term debt as of Jun 30, 2021 was $2,265.9 million, lower than $2,401.4 million on Dec 31, 2020.

Second-quarter 2021 cash from operating activities was $239.2 million, up 66.3% from $143.8 million in the year-ago period. Free cash flow for the year was $117 million.

Capital expenditure for second-quarter 2021 was $129 million.

Guidance

CNX Resources reiterated capital expenditure view for 2021 in the range of $430-$470 million. The company still expects 2021 production volumes in the range of 540-570 billions of cubic feet equivalent. Nearly 94% expected gas production for 2021 is hedged by the company.

CNX Resources raised free cash flow expectation for 2021 to $475 million from $450 million projected earlier.

Zacks Rank

CNX Resources currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Upcoming Releases

Devon Energy Corporation DVN is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line for the quarter to be reported is pegged at 53 cents per share.

ConocoPhillips COP is scheduled to report second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line for the quarter to be reported is pegged at $1.15 per share.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation OXY is scheduled to report second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at break-even earnings per share.

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Zacks Investment Research

CNX Resources Corporation. (CNX) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.18 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.25 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.13 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -28%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.28 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.36, delivering a surprise of 28.57%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

CNX Resources Corporation.Which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas – Exploration and Production – United States industry, posted revenues of $359 million for the quarter ended June 2021, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.04%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $148.84 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

CNX Resources Corporation. Shares have added about 19% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 17.2%.

What's Next for CNX Resources Corporation.

While CNX Resources Corporation. Has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for CNX Resources Corporation. Was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.26 on $411.63 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.17 on $1.66 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Oil and Gas – Exploration and Production – United States is currently in the top 7% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

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In this article, we discuss the 15 stocks that will double in 2021. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to the 5 Stocks that Will Double In 2021.

The economy of 2020 was closely linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the vaccine rollout at the turn of the year buoyed hopes of a return to normalcy and an accelerated recovery from the virus. Resort companies, construction firms, and even mining stocks registered a dramatic increase in price over the first few months of the year as it appeared that vaccines were effective and the virus spread slowed. In the past few days, the spread of the Delta variant of the virus, resistant to vaccines, has once again raised fears of prolonged lockdowns.

In the midst of this delicately poised situation, investors who learned their lessons from the March 2020 lockdown, have already started looking for new and exciting opportunities in the market that will offer them handsome returns even in the bear market, dumping cyclical stocks in the process. Some of the firms that these investors should take note of as they navigate the changing market dynamics include ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), among others.

Companies working in the technology, biopharma, and ecommerce industries are all expected to weather the impact of the coronavirus lockdown and perform better than expected if the economy does fully reopen. Some of these companies, most of which beat market expectations on revenue and earnings per share in the first quarter, are discussed below. It has become very hard for even the market experts to keep up with the ever-evolving world of stocks. Tech-led disruption has been a key factor in this regard.

The entire hedge fund industry is feeling the reverberations of the changing financial landscape. Its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldn’t keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and May 29th 2021 our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 206.8%, vs. 91.0% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 115 percentage points (see the details here). That’s why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox.

Image by MayoFi from Pixabay

With this context in mind, here is our list of the 15 stocks that will double in 2021. These rankings are based on the list of firms that finance websites such as Investor Place, The Motley Fool, and Nasdaq think will double this fiscal year. After the initial selection, these companies were then further classified according to analyst ratings and basic business fundamentals. Only firms that have positive ratings or have had their price targets raised by investment advisories in the past few weeks were considered. Special importance was assigned to the recent earnings results of each firm, with those that beat market estimates on earnings per share and revenue featuring heavily. In addition, hedge fund sentiment was also included as a classifier in a bid to improve the reliability of the list. Even after all this exhaustive research, it is pertinent to mention that it is very difficult to predict which stocks will double in a fiscal year. Even market experts with years of academic and field experience find it hard to predict market direction at any given time. However, by filtering out the best of the best based on the metrics available, investors can better focus their energies.

Stocks that Will Double In 2021

15. Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLK) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical firm. It is placed fifteenth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The stock has returned 1.4% to investors over the past year. The firm is based in California. On May 23, investment advisory Jefferies identified the stock as one on its radar as biotech prices picked up and mergers and acquisitions increased following a slow start to the year. The advisory said biotech firms would start to finalize deals in the next three to five months.

On May 15, investment advisory Cowen initiated coverage of Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLK) stock with an Outperform rating. Joseph Thome, an analyst at the advisory, issued the ratings update.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, San Francisco-based investment firm Redmile Group is a leading shareholder in Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLK) with 2.4 million shares worth more than $277 million.

Just like ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLK) is one of the stocks that could double in 2021.

14. Funko, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNKO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Funko, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNKO) is ranked fourteenth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The company’s shares have returned 230% to investors over the past year. The firm markets pop culture consumer products. It is headquartered in Washington. In earnings results for the first quarter, posted on May 6, the firm reported earnings per share of $0.24, beating estimates by $0.13. The revenue over the period was more than $189 million, up 38% year-on-year.

On May 13, investment advisory Bank of America upgraded Funko, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNKO) stock to Buy from Underperform, raising the price target to $30 from $12, noting the firm represented a significant long-term opportunity for investors.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Woodson Capital Management is a leading shareholder in Funko, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNKO) with 3 million shares worth more than $59 million.

13. Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE: PGRE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE: PGRE) stock has returned 34% to investors over the past year. It is placed thirteenth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The firm operates a real estate investment trust that deals exclusively in high-class properties in premier business districts. On July 27, the firm posted earnings for the second quarter, reporting FFO of $0.22, beating market estimates by $0.02. The revenue over the period was over $182 million, up more than 6% year-on-year.

On June 25, investment advisory Deutsche Bank kept a Hold rating on Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE: PGRE) stock but raised the price target to $12 from $11, noting the firm offered potential in the post-pandemic economy.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 17 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $135 million in Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE: PGRE), down from 18 in the preceding quarter worth $68 million.

Alongside ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE: PGRE) is one of the stocks that could double in 2021.

12. BHP Group (NYSE: BHP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) is ranked twelfth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The stock has offered investors returns exceeding 43% over the course of the past year. The firm is based in Australia and has interests in the natural resources business. On July 21, the firm announced that it had signed a deal with electric carmaker Tesla to provide the latter with the metal nickel that is used in numerous EV products, including batteries. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

On July 8, investment advisory Berenberg upgraded BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) stock to Buy from Hold, raising the price target to 2,700 GBp from 2,200 GBp, noting that the firm had potential upside with regards to final dividend this year.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Washington-based investment firm Fisher Asset Management is a leading shareholder in BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) with 7.9 million shares worth more than $553 million.

11. Genpact Limited (NYSE: G)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Genpact Limited (NYSE: G) is a Bermuda-based business process outsourcing firm. It is placed eleventh on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The company’s shares have offered investors returns exceeding 22% over the course of the past twelve months. On May 10, the firm posted earnings for the first quarter, reporting earnings per share of $0.59, beating market predictions by $0.11. The revenue over the period was $946 million, up more than 2.5% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

In earnings results for the first quarter, posted on May 10, Genpact Limited (NYSE: G) reported earnings per share of $0.59, beating market predictions by $0.11. The revenue over the period was more than $946 million, up 2.5% year-on-year.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 23 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $271 million in Genpact Limited (NYSE: G), down from 31 in the preceding quarter worth $340 million.

In addition to ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), Genpact Limited (NYSE: G) is one of the stocks that could double in 2021.

In its Q3 2020 investor letter, Third Avenue Management, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Genpact Limited (NYSE: G) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

10. Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH) is ranked tenth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The firm makes and sells biopharma products and is headquartered in Waltham. On June 30, the firm announced that it had administered the first dose of a new cancer drug to a patient in the early-stage trial of DCC-3116. Earlier in May, the company had posted earnings for the first quarter, comfortably beating market predictions on revenue and earnings per share for the first quarter.

On March 30, investment advisory Credit Suisse initiated coverage of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH) stock with an Outperform rating and a price target of $78, appreciating the pipeline assets of the firm that offered great potential.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 23 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $511 million in Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH), down from 36 in the previous quarter worth $673 million.

9. Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ: AFMD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ: AFMD) is placed ninth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The company’s shares have returned 92% to investors in the past twelve months. The firm is a German biopharma company focusing on cancer immunotherapies. On July 1, the firm posted earnings for the first quarter, reporting earnings per share of -€0.01, beating market estimates by €0.09. The revenue over the period was €11.6 million, up more than 120% compared to the revenue over the same period last year and beating estimates by €2.4 million.

On April 12, investment advisory BMO Capital maintained an Outperform rating on Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ: AFMD) stock and raised the price target to $15 from $12, highlighting recent positive results from studies of drugs being developed by the company.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Consonance Capital Management is a leading shareholder in Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ: AFMD) with 6 million shares worth more than $47 million.

Just like ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ: AFMD) is one of the stocks that could double in 2021.

8. Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD) stock has returned 16% to investors in the past year. It is ranked eighth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The company makes and sells frozen foods and is based in the United Kingdom. On May 6, the firm posted earnings for the first quarter, reporting earnings per share of €0.47, beating market estimates by €0.08. The revenue over the period was €707 million, up 2% compared to the revenue over the same period last year and beating estimates by over €5 million.

On March 30, investment advisory Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating on Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD) stock and raised the price target to $35 from $32, appreciating a decision of the firm to purchase a frozen foods business.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Renaissance Technologies is a leading shareholder in Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD) with 4.6 million shares worth more than $128 million.

In its Q4 2020 investor letter, FAM Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

7. TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI) is a United Kingdom-based oil and gas firm. It is placed seventh on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The company’s shares have offered investors returns exceeding 32% over the course of the past year. On July 21, the firm posted earnings for the second quarter, reporting earnings per share of -$0.06, just missing estimates by $0.05. The revenue over the period was more than $1.6 billion, up over 3% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

On June 17, investment advisory Cowen reiterated an Outperform rating on TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI) stock and raised the price target to $12 from $11, seeing an upside to orders and estimates for the company in the coming months.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Pzena Investment Management is a leading shareholder in TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI) with 22.9 million shares worth more than $177 million.

Alongside ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA), and MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB), TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI) is one of the stocks that could double in 2021.

In its Q1 2020 investor letter, Antipodes Partners, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: FTI) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

6. Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE: RVLV)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE: RVLV) is ranked sixth on our list of 15 stocks that will double in 2021. The stock has offered investors returns exceeding 324% over the course of the past twelve months. The firm markets fashion apparel online and is based in California. The company posted earnings for the first quarter on May 6, reporting earnings per share of $0.30, beating estimates by $0.17. The revenue over the period was more than $178 million, up 22% year-on-year and beating estimates by $21 million.

On June 29, investment advisory B Riley maintained a Buy rating on Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE: RVLV) stock and raised the price target to $80 from $58, appreciating the growth of online footwear retailers that was expected to continue in the near future.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 29 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $256 million in Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE: RVLV), up from 24 in the preceding quarter worth $182 million.

In its Q1 2021 investor letter, Polen Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE: RVLV) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Stocks that Will Double In 2021.

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Albertsons Cos. Inc. shares rose 2.8% in Thursday premarket trading after the grocer reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat expectations and raised its guidance. Net income totaled $444.8 million, or 78 cents per share, down from $586.2 million, or $1.00 per share, last year. Adjusted EPS of 89 cents beat the FactSet consensus for 71 cents. Revenue of $21.27 billion was down from $22.75 billion but ahead of the FactSet consensus for $20.52 billion. Identical sales fell 10.5%, beating t

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Peabody Energy (BTU), a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Peabody Energy currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

In order to see if BTU is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this coal mining company holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For BTU, shares are up 25.49% over the past week while the Zacks Coal industry is up 1.78% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 35.81% compares favorably with the industry's 4.44% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics — such as performance over the past three months or year — can be useful as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Peabody Energy have risen 127.21%, and are up 226.36% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 5.48% and 38.4%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of BTU's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now, BTU is averaging 10,196,906 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings Outlook

The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with BTU.

Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost BTU's consensus estimate, increasing from -$1.91 to -$0.28 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 2 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Taking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that BTU is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Peabody Energy on your short list.

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Peabody Energy (BTU) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.35 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.76. This compares to loss of $1.27 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 53.95%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this coal mining company would post a loss of $1.48 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.82, delivering a surprise of 44.59%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Peabody Energy, which belongs to the Zacks Coal industry, posted revenues of $723.4 million for the quarter ended June 2021, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.69%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $626.7 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Peabody Energy shares have added about 346.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 17.2%.

What's Next for Peabody Energy?

While Peabody Energy has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Peabody Energy was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.04 on $812 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.28 on $3.11 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Coal is currently in the top 7% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

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Albertsons posted earnings that beat expectations, but expect demand to normalize. Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss.

View more earnings on ACI

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Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.

One stock to keep an eye on is Billiton (BBL). BBL is currently holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 6.51, while its industry has an average P/E of 7.34. Over the past year, BBL's Forward P/E has been as high as 14.06 and as low as 5.72, with a median of 10.05.

We should also highlight that BBL has a P/B ratio of 1.29. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 3.52. Within the past 52 weeks, BBL's P/B has been as high as 1.32 and as low as 0.78, with a median of 1.13.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Billiton's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that BBL is an impressive value stock right now.

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(Bloomberg) — Union leaders at Escondida are calling on workers to reject owner BHP Group’s final wage offer, raising the possibility of a strike at the world’s largest copper mine at a time of tight global supplies and high prices.

An offer delivered at the end of regular wage talks in Chile falls short of worker demands, with the company pushing for longer hours in a bid to boost productivity and profit, the union said in a statement Wednesday. The 2,330 members will vote on the offer through July 31.

A strike is “the only tool left to workers in this scenario to press for an urgent rectification in the way things are done by management,” the union said. “The responsibility to avoid a serious conflict is entirely in the hands of the transnational BHP.”

While Chilean labor rules give either side the option to seek mediation before a strike could begin, the union has a track record of following through: In 2017, it roiled the copper market with a 44-day stoppage. A disruption at a mine that last year churned out 1.2 million metric tons would tighten supplies of the metal used in wiring just as a global economic recovery pushes up demand.

High metal prices are prompting host nations to seek a bigger share of the mining windfall, with Chilean lawmakers discussing a royalty bill as part of a push to address lingering inequalities in the country. Mining companies are striving to keep their labor costs in check in a cyclical business and as ore quality deteriorates and prices of inputs start to rise.

While terms of the Escondida offer weren’t released, the union is demanding an additional bonus equivalent to 1% of dividends paid to the mine’s owners as recognition of sacrifices made by workers, especially during the pandemic.

“The offer proposed by the company improves current conditions and incorporates new benefits in matters highly valued by workers,” BHP said in a statement. “This was built based on conversations held with Union No. 1 and reflects the intention of the company to build an agreement that is mutually beneficial, based on dialog and mutual cooperation.”

(Adds company comment in final paragraph)

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind., July 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (Nasdaq: HNRG) – Hallador Energy Company today announced that the Company plans to release its second quarter 2021 financial results on Form 10-Q after the markets close on Monday, August 9, 2021.

Earnings Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host an investor conference call and webcast on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2021 financial results.

The call will be webcast live on our website at www.halladorenergy.com under News and Events and available for a limited time.

To participate in the conference call, please dial:

Domestic Callers Toll-free (888) 347-5317

Canadian Callers Toll-free (855) 669-9657

Conference ID #: Hallador Energy Company HNRG call

Conference replay through August 17, 2021

Domestic Callers Toll-free (877) 344-7529

Canadian Callers Toll-free (855) 669-9658

Replay Access Code: 10158706

Hallador is headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sunrise Coal, LLC, produces coal in the Illinois Basin for the electric power generation industry. To learn more about Hallador, visit our website at www.halladorenergy.com.

CONTACT: Contact: Investor Relations, (303) 839-5504

Investors looking for stocks in the Mining – Miscellaneous sector might want to consider either Rio Tinto (RIO) or BHP (BHP). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Right now, Rio Tinto is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while BHP has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that RIO has an improving earnings outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

RIO currently has a forward P/E ratio of 5.33, while BHP has a forward P/E of 7.61. We also note that RIO has a PEG ratio of 1.25. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. BHP currently has a PEG ratio of 1.84.

Another notable valuation metric for RIO is its P/B ratio of 2.07. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, BHP has a P/B of 2.43.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to RIO's Value grade of B and BHP's Value grade of C.

RIO has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than BHP, so it seems like value investors will conclude that RIO is the superior option right now.

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For those looking to find strong Basic Materials stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. BHP Group Limited Sponsored (BHP) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Basic Materials sector should help us answer this question.

BHP Group Limited Sponsored is one of 251 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #6 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. BHP is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHP's full-year earnings has moved 44.44% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, BHP has gained about 20.95% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 19.15%. This shows that BHP Group Limited Sponsored is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Looking more specifically, BHP belongs to the Mining – Miscellaneous industry, a group that includes 47 individual stocks and currently sits at #189 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 34.92% so far this year, so BHP is slightly underperforming its industry in this area.

Investors in the Basic Materials sector will want to keep a close eye on BHP as it attempts to continue its solid performance.

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Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates — one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate — the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock — for the current and following years.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Albertsons Companies, Inc. basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices

The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.

Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Albertsons Companies, Inc. imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>.

Earnings Estimate Revisions for Albertsons Companies, Inc.

This company is expected to earn $2.03 per share for the fiscal year ending February 2022, which represents a year-over-year change of -37.4%.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Albertsons Companies, Inc. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 2.7%.

Bottom Line

Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Albertsons Companies, Inc. to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

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(Bloomberg) — Rio Tinto Group plans to spend $2.4 billion building a lithium mine in Serbia, in the latest sign that the biggest miners are pushing into metals poised to benefit from the green-energy transition.

The biggest producers are churning out record profits after commodities rallied this year, raising the question of what the industry will do with all the extra cash. Most have been focused on returning money to shareholders through dividends and buybacks — analysts are expecting more big payouts in the coming weeks, including from Rio itself when the world’s second-biggest miner reports financial results on Wednesday.

But there are also signs that the industry is increasingly keen to invest more in growing production of key “future facing” commodities like battery metals or fertilizer. Rio’s announcement marks the first big move by a mining major into lithium, which is used in rechargeable batteries.

Earlier Tuesday, larger rival BHP Group announced plans to buy the owner of a Canadian nickel project — another vital component of the types of batteries that power electric cars or back up renewable energy. Rio in May acquired a stake in a Canadian copper project, while BHP has been building a holding in a company planning to develop a giant copper mine in Ecuador, and is expected to sanction a giant potash project as soon as next month.

It also comes at a time when the biggest miners are looking to shift away from fossil fuels, increasingly shunned by investors. Rio sold its last coal mine in 2019 and is the only major miner to be fossil-fuel free. And its peers are slowly following. Anglo American Plc has agreed to sell its last thermal coal mines, while BHP is in the process of exiting thermal coal and is considering getting out of oil and gas.

Rio has been working on the Jadar project in Serbia for years, and had been expected to make an investment decision this year. The mine will help the company diversify away from iron ore, which dominates its earnings, and will allow it to produce lithium close to the key German carmaking industry.

Rio said on Tuesday that the project is expected to start operating in 2026 and hit full-production in 2029. The investment, which still depends on getting the necessary approvals in Serbia, would make the company a top-10 lithium producer.

Still, there may be obstacles. The Serbian government has promised voters it will hold a referendum on the project, while touting its benefit as a huge growth driver for the Serbian economy. Serbian authorities are opposed to exporting lithium carbonate as raw material for batteries and want to see local production of lithium-based batteries, possibly even electric-vehicles.

“The Jadar project would scale up Rio Tinto’s exposure to battery materials, and demonstrate the company’s commitment to investing capital in a disciplined manner to further strengthen its portfolio for the global energy transition,” Rio said in a statement Tuesday.

(Updates with details throughout)

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HOUSTON, July 27, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE: NRP) plans to report its second quarter 2021 financial results before the market opens on Friday, August 6, 2021. Management will host a conference call beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results.

To register for the conference call please use this link: http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/ event/2296424. After registering, a confirmation will be sent via email and include dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call, however, to ensure you are connected for the full conference call we suggest registering a day in advance or at minimum 10 minutes before the start of the call. Investors may also listen to the conference call live via the Investor Relations section of the NRP website at www.nrplp.com.

Audio replays of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of NRP’s website.

Company Profile

Natural Resource Partners L.P., a master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, TX, is a natural resource company that owns, manages and leases a diversified portfolio of mineral properties in the United States, including interests in coal, industrial minerals and other natural resources, and owns an equity investment in Ciner Wyoming, a trona/soda ash operation.

For additional information please contact Tiffany Sammis at 713-751-7515 or tsammis@nrplp.com. Further information about NRP is available on the partnership’s website at http://www.nrplp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210727006129/en/

Contacts

Tiffany Sammis
713-751-7515
tsammis@nrplp.com

Arch Resources Inc. ARCH reported second-quarter 2021 earnings of $1.66 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57 by 5.7%. In the year-ago quarter, the company incurred a loss of $3.26 per share.

Total Revenues

Total revenues amounted to $450.4 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $342 million by 31.7%.

Highlights of the Release

In the Metallurgical segment, Arch Resources sold 2 million tons of coal, down 33.3% from the prior-year figure of 1.5 million tons. It recorded cash margins of $30.34 per ton compared with $14.22 in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher sales price.

In the Thermal segment, cash margin was $2.62 per ton versus (99 cents) in the prior-year period.

Arch Resources Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Arch Resources Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Arch Resources Inc. Quote

During the second quarter, Arch Resources invested $50 million in the Leer South mine development, and expects to pump capital between $360 million and $390 million into the project for its completion. As of Jun 30, 2021, the company invested $392 million in the project, a little exceeding the projected forecast. It is on track to commence longwall operations at the mine in third-quarter 2021. When fully operational, the mine is expected to produce up to 3 million tons of High-Vol A coking coal annually for sale in global metallurgical markets.

During the quarter, Arch Resources committed an additional 300,000 tons of metallurgical coal for delivery in 2021, bringing total commitments for the current year to 7.1 million ton.

Financial Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents as of Jun 30, 2021 were $153.5 million compared with $187.5 million on Dec 31, 2020.

Long-term debt as of Jun 30, 2021 was $402.1 million compared with $477.2 million at 2020-end.

Cash provided by operating activities in first-half 2021 was $26.1 million compared with $25.9 million in the year-ago period.

Arch Resources raised its 2021 capex guidance by $10 million to the range of $210- $230 million to accommodate the modest amount of additional capital required to complete Leer South and fund certain opportunistic optimization efforts at its metallurgical mines.

Guidance

Arch Resources committed 7.1 million tons of coking coal volume for 2021. Total thermal coal committed for 2021 is 57.8 million tons. The company expects total sales volume in the range of 62.4-67.2 million tons for 2021.

Zacks Rank

Arch Resources currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Upcoming Releases

Peabody Energy BTU is scheduled to release second-quarter 2021 results on Jul 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line for the quarter is pegged at a loss of 76 cents per share.

CONSOL Energy Inc. CEIX is scheduled to release second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is pegged at 22 cents per share.

Warrior Met Coal, Inc. HCC is scheduled to release second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at a loss of 16 cents per share.

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Momentum investors typically don't time the market or "buy low and sell high." In other words, they avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.

Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times.

It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing price momentum recently. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, is pretty useful in identifying great momentum stocks, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.

Peabody Energy (BTU) is one of the several great candidates that made it through the screen. While there are numerous reasons why this stock is a great choice, here are the most vital ones:

Investors' growing interest in a stock is reflected in its recent price increase. A price change of 72.1% over the past four weeks positions the stock of this coal mining company well in this regard.

While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. BTU meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 186.4% over the past 12 weeks.

Moreover, the momentum for BTU is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.48. This indicates that the stock moves 48% higher than the market in either direction.

Given this price performance, it is no surprise that BTU has a Momentum Score of B, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.

In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped BTU earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, BTU is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. BTU is currently trading at 0.44 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 44 cents for each dollar of sales.

So, BTU appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.

In addition to BTU, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.

This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market.

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CNX Resources Corporation CNX is scheduled to release second-quarter 2021 earnings on Jul 29, before the market opens. This exploration and production company delivered an average earnings surprise of 119.6% in the last four reported quarters.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to get reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors to Consider

CNX Resources’ earnings in the second quarter are likely to have benefited from lower shares outstanding, as the company has been opportunistically repurchasing shares from the open market. It has been managing costs in an efficient manner, and the same is expected to have lowered operating expenses as well as boosted margins in the second quarter.

It utilized free cash flow to lower the outstanding debt level by more than $70 million in the first quarter, which is likely to have lowered capital servicing cost and aided margins in the second quarter. Stable production volumes from high-quality assets are expected to have boosted second-quarter performance.

Expectations

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the June quarter earnings per share stands at 24 cents, suggesting an 84.6% rise from the year-ago reported figure.

What Our Quantitative Model Predicts

Our proven model predicts earnings beat for CNX Resources this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is the case here as you will see below.

CNX Resources Corporation. Price and EPS Surprise

CNX Resources Corporation. price-eps-surprise | CNX Resources Corporation. Quote

Earnings ESP: It has an Earnings ESP of +7.50%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: CNX Resources carries a Zacks Rank #3, currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks to Consider

Investors can also consider the following players from the same industry that too have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the to-be-reported quarter.

Matador Resources Company MTDR is slated to release second-quarter results on Jul 27. It has an Earnings ESP of +7.62% and sports a Zacks Rank of 1.

Devon Energy Corporation DVN is slated to release second-quarter results on Aug 3. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.93% and sports a Zacks Rank of 1.

APA Corporation (APA) is slated to release second-quarter results on Aug 4. It has an Earnings ESP of +7.01% and sports a Zacks Rank of 1.

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Albertsons Companies, Inc. ACI is likely to register top- and bottom-line decline when it reports first-quarter fiscal 2021 results on Jul 29, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $20.5 billion, which indicates a decline of 9.7% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings currently stands at 68 cents per share, suggesting a slump of 49.6% from the year-ago reported figure. The consensus mark has moved up by 2 cents in the past 30 days. This leading food and drug products retailer delivered an earnings surprise of 20% in the last reported quarter.

Key Aspects to Note

Albertsons top-line is like to reflect the impact of demand moderation, as consumers have begun outdoor dining amid easing of pandemic restrictions and vaccine rollouts. Reduction in pantry loading and at-home consumption trends might have affected year-on-year revenue comparison. In the last earnings call, management indicated that the company is witnessing lower demand across certain categories such as soup, pasta and pasta sauce, when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Lower fuel sales may have weighed on the to-be-reported quarter’s performance. In the last earnings call, management predicted fuel related headwinds worth $50 million for the first-quarter. Adverse impacts stemming from higher selling, general & administrative expenses cannot be ruled out. The company has been incurring higher selling and administrative expenses due to incremental COVID-19 expenses and other charges.

Nevertheless, gains from rising digital sales, loyalty program and efforts to boost assortments, especially in the fresh and Own Brands categories, are likely to have favored the first quarter performance.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Albertsons Companies, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Albertsons Companies, Inc. Quote

What the Zacks Model Unveils

Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Albertsons this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Albertsons has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +4.44%.

Other Stocks With Favorable Combination

Here are some other companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

Chewy Inc. CHWY currently has an Earnings ESP of +20% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.52% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. SFM has an Earnings ESP of +2.95% and a Zacks Rank #3, at present.

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Earlier this morning, Alliance Resource Partners released its second-quarter 2021 financial and operating results, and we will now discuss these results as well as our perspective on market conditions and outlook. Before we begin, a reminder that some of our remarks today may include forward-looking statements.

TORONTO (Reuters) -BHP Group has reached conditional agreement with a unit of Westshore Terminals Investment Corp for port services for the global miner's proposed Jansen potash mine in Canada, the terminal operator said late on Thursday, moving the project closer to fruition.

The port agreement is subject to approval by BHP's board and conditional on it moving ahead with Jansen's first phase, Westshore said in a release.

The world's biggest listed miner has estimated Jansen would cost up to $5.7 billion in its first phases.

The project in Canada's Saskatchewan province offers diversification into agricultural markets given that potash is a key element in plant nutrition that also makes crops more drought resistant.

"BHP confirms that Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership … has signed an agreement to provide port services for the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan," BHP said in a statement to Reuters.

Last month BHP said it would present its board with a decision on whether to move ahead with Jansen after choosing between two port options.

"If the Jansen project does proceed, the agreement requires Westshore to handle potash for BHP for a term to 2051, subject to extension," Westshore said.

Under the agreement, Vancouver-based Westshore would construct infrastructure to handle potash at Westshore’s Roberts Bank Terminal by 2026, with BHP funding the construction.

The pact would become binding on BHP if it announces a final decision to proceed with Jansen's first stage, Westshore said.

Westshore's Toronto-listed shares climbed as much as 38% Friday.

(Reporting by Jeff Lewis; editing by Jason Neely, Kirsten Donovan)