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Zacks.com featured highlights include GE Aerospace, Brinker International, Arista Networks, Inc. and National Fuel Gas
Zacks.com featured highlights include GE Aerospace, Brinker International, Arista Networks, Inc. and National Fuel Gas

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Zacks.com featured highlights include GE Aerospace, Brinker International, Arista Networks, Inc. and National Fuel Gas

Chicago, IL – May 23, 2025 – Stocks in this week's article are GE Aerospace GE, Brinker International EAT, Arista Networks, Inc. ANET and National Fuel Gas Co. NFG. If you are looking for a profitable portfolio of stocks offering the best of value and growth investing, try the growth at a reasonable price or GARP strategy. The strategy helps investors gain exposure to undervalued stocks with impressive prospects. Unlike a blend strategy, a portfolio that uses GARP investing is expected to include stocks that offer the best of value and growth investing. GE Aerospace, Brinker International, Arista Networks, Inc. and National Fuel Gas Co. are some GARP stocks that hold promise. The GARP strategy seeks to offer an ideal investment by utilizing the best features of value and growth investing. Investors adopting the GARP approach prefer buying stocks priced below the market or any reasonable target determined by fundamental analysis. These stocks also have solid prospects in terms of cash flow, revenues, earnings per share (EPS) and so on.A strong earnings growth history and impressive earnings prospects are the main concepts that GARP investors borrow from the growth investing strategy. However, instead of super-normal growth rates, pursuing stocks with a more stable and reasonable growth rate is a tactic of GARP investors. Hence, growth rates between 10% and 20% are considered ideal under the GARP strategy. Another metric that growth and GARP investors consider is return on equity (ROE). GARP investors look for a strong and higher ROE than the industry average to identify superior stocks. Stocks with positive cash flows find precedence under the GARP investing prioritizes the popular value metrics — the price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) ratios. Though this investing style picks stocks with higher P/E ratios than value investors, it avoids companies with extremely high P/E ratios. Using the GARP principle, we ran a screen to identify stocks that should offer solid returns in the near term. Here are four stocks from the eight that made it through the screening process: GE Aerospace is a leading designer, developer and producer of jet engines, components and integrated systems for military, commercial and business aircraft. The company is well-known for its aero-derivative gas turbines for marine applications. GE Aerospace has been witnessing strength in its businesses, driven by robust demand for commercial engines, propulsion and additive technologies. Rising U.S. & international defense budgets, geopolitical tensions, positive airline & airframer dynamics and robust demand for commercial air travel augur well for the company. Its portfolio-reshaping actions are likely to unlock value for its shareholders. The company raised its dividend by 28.6% to 36 cents per share in February 2025. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has surged 40% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.97%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GE's 2025 earnings has moved north by 1.7% to $5.50 per share over the past 30 days. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Brinker International owns, operates, develops and franchises various restaurants under Chili's Grill & Bar (Chili's) and Maggiano's Little Italy (Maggiano's) brands. The company is benefiting from an increase in traffic, thanks to sales-building initiatives such as streamlining the menu, innovation, strengthening its value proposition, and improving food presentation. Advertising campaigns, kitchen system optimization and the introduction of a better service platform are key catalysts in driving top-line growth in the near term. Brinker's digitalization initiatives, including improved order management systems, are expected to streamline operations and enhance customer experience in the near term. This and the emphasis on social media campaigns targeting younger demographics are anticipated to boost guest check and comps growth in the rest of 2025. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has gained 8.8% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.52%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EAT's fiscal 2025 earnings has moved north by 5.2% over the past 30 days to $8.76 per share. Arista Networks is engaged in providing cloud networking solutions for data centers and cloud computing environments. The company offers 10/25/40/50/100 Gigabit Ethernet switches and routers optimized for next-generation data center networks. Arista is benefiting from positive demand trends owing to its strong product portfolio, which is highly scalable and programmable and provides data-driven automation, analytics and support services. Its cloud networking solutions provide predictable performance and programmability, enabling seamless integration with third-party applications for network management, automation and orchestration. The growing demand for 200- and 400-gig high-performance switching products augurs well for long-term growth. Improved supply chain management is a positive. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has declined 16.4% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.82%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANET's 2025 earnings has moved north by 3.6% to $2.56 per share over the past 30 days. National Fuel Gas Company is an integrated energy company with natural gas assets located in the prolific Appalachian basin and oil-producing assets in California. The company operates through the following segments, namely Exploration and Production and Other, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering, and Utility and Energy Marketing. National Fuel Gas' systematic investments should strengthen its operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Strong liquidity should allow it to meet debt obligations. The company's steady process of replacing and modernizing the existing pipelines should further boost earnings. The company also acquired Shell's assets, which should further boost its top-line performance. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has surged 34% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.94%, on average. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for a 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard stock picking and backtesting software. You can also create your own strategies and test them first before making investments. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial of the Research Wizard today. For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit at: Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. About Screen of the Week created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>. Follow us on Twitter: Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Contact: Jim Giaquinto Company: Phone: 312-265-9268 Email: pr@ Visit: provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GE Aerospace (GE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research

GARP introduces remote proctoring for SCR and RAI exams globally
GARP introduces remote proctoring for SCR and RAI exams globally

Hans India

time06-05-2025

  • Business
  • Hans India

GARP introduces remote proctoring for SCR and RAI exams globally

Hyderabad: The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) has announced the global launch of remote online proctoring for its Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) and Risk and AI (RAI) certificate exams, set to begin in October 2025. This move aims to enhance accessibility for candidates, particularly those in India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, allowing them to take the exams from their own homes in India Standard Time (IST). The remote proctoring system ensures a secure and equitable testing environment, with detailed instructions to be provided via email to all registered candidates. The initiative removes logistical and financial barriers, enabling broader participation in GARP's globally recognised risk certification programs. India is a major global economy, and it is growing. As the nation progresses toward its $5 trillion economic goal, the capacity to manage sustainability and AI-driven risks becomes paramount,' said Richard Apostolik, President and CEO of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). 'By introducing remote proctoring, we are eliminating geographical and logistical barriers to certification, making these critical programs more accessible to professionals in India, allowing them to objectively demonstrate to their global peers that their professional knowledge is on par with anyone in the world.' India has seen a surge in demand for these certifications, with SCR enrolments growing at nearly 60% annually and the RAI program gaining rapid traction since its 2024 launch. The new exam format supports GARP's ongoing collaborations with Indian educational institutions and its expansion to cities beyond major metros, advancing the nation's professional upskilling in sustainability and AI risk management.

Zacks.com featured highlights include National Fuel Gas, BGC, Jabil and NVIDIA
Zacks.com featured highlights include National Fuel Gas, BGC, Jabil and NVIDIA

Yahoo

time22-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Zacks.com featured highlights include National Fuel Gas, BGC, Jabil and NVIDIA

National Fuel Gas Company is an integrated energy company with natural gas assets located in the prolific Appalachian basin and oil-producing assets in California. The company operates through the following segments, namely Exploration and Production and Other, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering, and Utility and Energy Marketing. Here are four stocks from the eight that made it through the screening process: Using the GARP principle, we ran a screen to identify stocks that should offer solid returns in the near term. GARP investing prioritizes the popular value metrics — the price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) ratios. Though this investing style picks stocks with higher P/E ratios than value investors, it avoids companies with extremely high P/E ratios. Another metric that growth and GARP investors consider is the return on equity (ROE). GARP investors look for a strong and higher ROE than the industry average to identify superior stocks. Stocks with positive cash flows find precedence under the GARP plan. A strong earnings growth history and impressive earnings prospects are the main concepts that GARP investors borrow from the growth investing strategy. However, instead of super-normal growth rates, pursuing stocks with a more stable and reasonable growth rate is a tactic of GARP investors. Hence, growth rates between 10% and 20% are considered ideal under the GARP strategy. The GARP strategy seeks to offer an ideal investment by utilizing the best features of value and growth investing. Investors adopting the GARP approach prefer buying stocks priced below the market or any reasonable target determined by fundamental analysis. These stocks also have solid prospects in terms of cash flow, revenues, earnings per share (EPS) and so on. The strategy helps investors gain exposure to undervalued stocks with impressive prospects. Unlike a blend strategy, a portfolio that uses GARP investing is expected to include stocks that offer the best value and growth investing. National Fuel Gas Co. , BGC Group, Inc. , Jabil and NVIDIA are some GARP stocks that hold promise. If you are looking for a profitable portfolio of stocks offering the best of value and growth investing, try the growth at a reasonable price or GARP strategy. Story continues National Fuel Gas' systematic investments should strengthen its operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Strong liquidity should allow it to meet debt obligations. The company's steady process of replacing and modernizing the existing pipelines should further boost earnings. The company also acquired Shell's assets, which should further boost its top-line performance. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has surged 30.1% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.27%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NFG's fiscal 2025 earnings has moved north by 0.9% to $6.9 per share over the past 30 days. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. BGC Group is a brokerage and financial technology company. Through its various affiliates, it specializes in the brokerage of a broad range of products, including Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange, Equities, Energy and Commodities, Shipping and Futures. The company recently completed the acquisition of OTC Global Holdings, LP, one of the fastest-growing energy and commodities brokerage firms. The OTC Global deal will likely provide highly complementary synergies by combining related energy and ship-broking teams. This collaboration will enhance market knowledge, generate unique trade ideas and drive deeper insights for more strategic decision-making. BGC Group is well-positioned to capitalize on growing environmental and energy transition trends and will keep benefiting from consistent global demand for oil, the single largest source of energy. As such, the company's top-line growth is anticipated to be impressive. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has declined 6.6% in the year-to-date period. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.26%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BGC Group's 2025 earnings has moved north by 5.2% to $1.22 per share over the past 30 days. Jabil is one of the largest global suppliers of electronic manufacturing services. The company offers electronics design, production, product management and after-market services to customers in the aerospace, automotive, computing, consumer, defense, industrial, instrumentation, medical, networking, peripherals, storage and telecommunications industries. Jabil has an established global presence and a worldwide connected factory network, enabling it to scale production per evolving market dynamics. Strong performance in healthcare, automotive and transportation, coupled with growth in 5G, is expected to boost the top line. A higher free cash flow indicates optimum utilization of assets and improved operational efficiency. Management's focus on integrating advanced AI and ML capabilities is a tailwind. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has declined 6.2% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.86%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBL's fiscal 2025 earnings has moved north by 2.3% to $8.96 per share over the past 30 days. NVIDIA is the worldwide leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor of the graphic processing unit or GPU. Over the years, the company's focus has evolved from PC graphics to artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions that now support high performance computing (HPC), gaming and virtual reality (VR) platforms. The growing demand for generative AI and large language models using GPUs based on NVIDIA's Hopper and Blackwell architectures is aiding data center revenues. The continued ramp-up of Ada RTX GPU workstations in the ProViz end market following the normalization of channel inventory is acting as a tailwind. Collaborations with more than 320 automakers and tier-one suppliers are likely to advance its presence in the autonomous vehicles space. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has moved south by 24.4% in the year-to-date period. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.92%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVDA's fiscal 2026 earnings has moved south by 1.8% to $4.32 per share over the past 30 days. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for a 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard stock picking and backtesting software. You can also create your own strategies and test them first before making investments. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial of the Research Wizard today For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit at: Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. About Screen of the Week created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>. Follow us on Twitter: Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Contact: Jim Giaquinto Company: Phone: 312-265-9268 Email: pr@ Visit: provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BGC Group, Inc. (BGC) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Jabil, Inc. (JBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research

Animal rights group asks for ban on recreational horse back riding in Atlanta
Animal rights group asks for ban on recreational horse back riding in Atlanta

Yahoo

time16-04-2025

  • Yahoo

Animal rights group asks for ban on recreational horse back riding in Atlanta

Members of the Georgia Animal Rights and Protection non-profit are contacting city leaders to ask for a ban on recreational horse back riding in downtown Atlanta. The push for the ban comes just days after a horse was found dead downtown. City leaders are aware of the concerns being raised by the animal rights group, and one councilmember says he's willing to listen. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Councilman Michael Julian Bond told Channel 2's Brittany Kleinpeter that he understands the concerns surrounding recreational horse back riding in a busy metropolitan city. 'I can understand why they would be concerned to have that large animal in the midst of all of the cars and at the same time, considering the safety of the safety of pedestrians,' said Bond. TRENDING STORIES: Suspect didn't realize 'random' parking lot he was hiding in was Sandy Springs police HQ South Fulton police lieutenant killed in head-on crash while on duty Group calls for GSP to change chase policy after innocent 19-year-old killed by driver Julie Robertson, the vice president of GARP, says this growing trend of riding horses a long busy roadways is dangerous for not only the horse, but pedestrians and drivers. 'People riding horses' downtown are weaving in and out of traffic…it's like a joy ride," Robertson explained to Channel 2 Action News. Robertson says they want this type of activity to be banned to better protect everyone. 'Horses are highly sensitive and skittish animals. Their hearing is estimated to be at least ten times more sensitive than that of humans, yet they struggle to pinpoint the exact source of a sound. This can cause them to startle and bolt unpredictably in any direction to escape a perceived threat—putting both the animals and drivers at serious risk,' Robertson wrote in an email to GARP members. Members began reaching out to the council on Tuesday via email and phone calls. Councilman Bond says that he's open to conversations and finding a resolution. 'Given the way things are in the city of Atlanta todya. I'm sure that's not the best use of your animal within such congested streets...I wouldn't think it be beyond the pale to take another look at the policies.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Among the Best GARP Stocks that Pay Dividends
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Among the Best GARP Stocks that Pay Dividends

Yahoo

time15-02-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Among the Best GARP Stocks that Pay Dividends

We recently compiled a list of the . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) stands against the other GARP stocks that pay dividends. Over the past year, the market has highlighted the importance of diversifying portfolios to manage risk. Selecting stocks that perform well under various economic conditions has consistently been a challenge for investors, as strategies that work in one market may not work in another. For instance, growth and value stocks have shown different performance trends in various market conditions, making both approaches appealing to investors. Combining elements of both strategies can provide a refreshing alternative to traditional investment plans. This is where the GARP strategy comes into play. Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) is an investment strategy that focuses on finding companies with strong, sustainable earnings growth and appealing valuations in relation to their growth potential. These companies are often in sectors with positive growth trends or have competitive advantages that position them for future success. The GARP strategy, popularized by Peter Lynch, aims to strike a balance between growth and value investing by avoiding the extremes of either approach. It focuses on finding growth stocks that have relatively low price-to-earnings ratios under typical market conditions. When these stocks are identified successfully, they can offer strong returns for investors. Historically, the GARP Index has outperformed its benchmark by tracking companies that demonstrate consistent fundamental growth, reasonable valuations, and strong earnings potential. ALSO READ: The strategy has gained popularity not just in the US, but also globally. After Global X launched the first global broad-based index exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Australia using the GARP framework in September 2024, the strategy delivered strong early-stage performance. According to a Global X report, while global equity markets experienced a rally towards the end of 2024, the GARP stocks outperformed the broader market and other factors like quality, rising approximately 20% since the ETF's launch. The report also noted that GARP's success wasn't driven by technology, but rather by broader sectors such as consumer goods, financials, and communication. Analysts globally are also advocating for the GARP strategy. For instance, Brian Belski, chief strategist at BMO Capital, recommended that Canadian investors adopt the GARP approach this year. Here are some comments from the analyst: 'Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) remains one of our key style preferences for Canadian equities. Furthermore, earnings growth and revision trends are broadly consistent with the market, suggesting there are likely many opportunities developing in Canada to implement a growth at a reasonable price strategy.' In the US, a report from S&P Dow Jones Indices revealed that the GARP Index delivered an average annual return of 13.2% from June 1995 to June 2019, outperforming the broader market's 9.81% growth. Over the same period, the market's Growth Index and the Enhanced Value Index returned 10.41% and 11.83%, respectively. The report also highlighted that the GARP Index achieved better risk-adjusted returns compared to both the growth and value indices during this time frame. A CNBC report also highlighted insights from BMO's analysts regarding investment strategies to navigate market uncertainties in the U.S. According to the report, investors should consider the GARP approach alongside dividend growth strategies in the current financial landscape. Dividend stocks have historically performed well during inflationary periods, making them a favored choice among investors. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best GARP stocks that pay dividends. GARP stocks have reasonable valuations and strong growth potential, which means that their P/E ratios are not necessarily as low as value stocks. For this article, we used the GARP Index (SPXGARPP) and identified dividend stocks from the list. From that group, we picked 10 dividend companies with the highest number of hedge fund investors, according to Insider Monkey's database of Q3 2024. These stocks were ranked based on the number of hedge funds having stakes in them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). A construction crew operating a hydraulic shovel during a nighttime project. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50 An American manufacturing company, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) specializes in construction, mining, and other engineering equipment. Analysts have an optimistic outlook for the company, given that the global market for backup power solutions in AI data centers could reach nearly $23 billion by 2028. In a research note from December, Jefferies highlighted several key factors supporting Caterpillar's growth prospects. The firm pointed to a potential increase in demand for construction equipment, particularly for rebuilding efforts in war-affected regions like Ukraine. In addition, expectations of eased oil production regulations in the US could drive higher demand for construction machinery within the domestic oil and gas sector. At the same time, Jefferies anticipates a rise in demand for mining equipment due to the growing need for minerals essential to renewable energy production. In the past 12 months, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) has delivered over 11.5% return to shareholders. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the company posted revenue of $16.2 billion, reflecting a 5% decline from the same period a year earlier. The decrease was largely driven by an $859 million drop in sales volume, mainly due to shifts in dealer inventories and lower equipment sales to end users. Dealer inventory levels decreased by $1.3 billion during the quarter, a steeper decline compared to the $900 million reduction in the fourth quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, the company's profit per share rose to $5.78, up from $5.28 in the same period last year. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) maintained a solid financial position in 2024. The company generated $12.0 billion in operating cash flow throughout the year and ended the fourth quarter with $6.9 billion in cash. Over the year, it allocated $7.7 billion toward share repurchases and distributed $2.6 billion in dividends to shareholders. The company's quarterly dividend comes in at $1.41 per share for a dividend yield of 1.6%, as of February 14. It is one of the best GARP dividend stocks on our list as the company has raised its payouts for 30 years straight. Overall CAT ranks 8th on our list of the best GARP stocks that pay dividends. While we acknowledge the potential for CAT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CAT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stock To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio

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