Stock Analysis

Commercial mortgage REITs earn income from loans and securities backed by properties, funded in part by borrowing. Their results depend on net interest spreads,Creditlosses on underlying loans, and the value of their holdings as interest rates and property markets change. Earnings available for distribution …

Revenue from continuing operations was $325 million for the quarter. The release describes growth at Harsco Environmental as a driver of the period, and it says both Harsco Environmental and Rail exceeded expectations in the quarter. TheBusinessmix now reflects the company's decisions to separate …

Gas and water utilities earn returns on theCapitalthey invest, so the company's earnings tend to grow with its rate base. That is why the company's guidance raise, combined with itsInvestmentfigures, points to aBusinesswhose earnings are tied to infrastructure spending rather than to short-term operating …

Mortgage servicers collect payments, manageEscrowaccounts and handle borrower communications on loans they own or service for others. They earn fees on the unpaid principal balance, so growth in the servicing portfolio drives recurring income. Origination businesses, by contrast, depend onLoanvolumes, which move with interest …

For an insurer, the medical loss ratio is the single most watched operating measure, because it determines how much of each premium dollar remains to cover administrative costs and profit. A drop of 4.5 percentage points in one year is a large move, and …

Consumer healthcare companies sell brands such as pain relievers, cold remedies, eye care and household cleaners through mass retailers, drug chains and e-commerce.Demandis consistent in many categories because products are used regularly, but results can depend on retailer shelf space, promotional activity and the …

Comparable sales improved sequentially through the third quarter, and the release says they turned positive during the final four weeks of the period. A shift from declines to growth within a single quarter suggests that the company's sales base strengthened as the period progressed, …