Star Group, L.P. (SGP) reported first-quarter revenue growth of 12% year-over-year to $148 million, driven by strong performance in its core real estate and healthcare segments. The increase followed a 9% rise in adjusted net income to $28.5 million, reflecting higher occupancy and pricing. CEO Michael O’Malley stated the momentum is supported by disciplined cost management and strategic acquisitions completed in the prior quarter. The company reaffirmed its guidance for 2026 revenue of $560 million and EPS of $1.25-$1.35, citing continued demand in key markets and pending regulatory approvals.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen testified Wednesday, Jan 4, 2026, that President Trump, and indeed any president, has the constitutional right to orally and politically influence Federal Reserve decisions, reigniting debates over the central bank’s independence.

Yellen addressed the House Financial Services Committee, noting disagreement over whether the Unitary Executive Theory applies to the Fed. She stressed confidence in the Fed’s policy independence but argued it must rest on public trust and appropriate accountability. The Fed issued no immediate comment.

Over the past year, Trump has pressured the Fed to lower interest rates and sought to remove Chair Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations, which she denied. A Department of Justice probe is examining Chairman Jerome Powell following his testimony on the Fed’s headquarters renovation, with Powell citing political pressure as a factor that can削弱independence.

Economists warned that削弱the Fed’s independence could erode confidence in U.S. markets and the broader financial system. Yellen said the outcome of the pending Supreme Court decision on the Cook removal case would resolve key legal disputes.

Yellen also criticized inflation-driven loss of public trust in the Fed and the renovation’s cost overruns. Powell had defended the $250 million renovation, noting the need for structural repairs in a century-old building and independent oversight.

Meanwhile, Yellen reaffirmed support for a strong dollar, contrasting with Trump’s preference for a weaker dollar to boost exports. On Wednesday, the dollar held steady after a strong rebound from a four-year low. Major U.S. indices closed lower: the S&P 500 fell about 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined over 1.5%.

Markel Group Inc. (MKL) reported fourth-quarter profit of $576.8 million, or $48.75 per share, adjusted for investment gains to $34.45 per share. Revenue for the quarter was $4.01 billion, with adjusted revenue at $3.8 billion. For the year, the company posted profit of $2.11 billion, or $169.22 per share, and revenue of $14.44 billion.

Google’s AI chatbot Gemini surpassed 750 million monthly active users in Q4 2025, per the company’s earnings report released February 4, 2026. The figure reflects rapid consumer adoption, with MAUs rising from 650 million in the prior quarter. Gemini trails ChatGPT’s 810 million MAUs but leads Meta AI’s 500 million. The growth follows the launch of Gemini 3, Alphabet’s most advanced model, and comes as the company introduced the $7.99/month Google AI Plus plan.

Alphabet’s annual revenue surpassed $400 billion in Q4, driven by expanded AI demand and the release of the Ironwood TPU chip. Pichai noted AI continues to drive expansion, with Gemini’s API processing over 10 billion tokens per minute and search seeing record usage.

DHT Holdings Inc. (DHT) reported net income of $66.1 million for the fourth quarter, equivalent to 41 cents per share. Revenue totaled $144.2 million, with adjusted revenue at $118.1 million. For the year, the company posted net income of $211.1 million, or $1.31 per share, and revenue of $370.3 million.

This week’s market reaction to Anthropic’s January 30 release of 11 open-source plugins, with a focus on a legal automation tool, triggered a broad selloff in information technology and professional services stocks. Thomson Reuters (XE:NYSE) fell 18%, Pearson (PXS:NYSE) by 7%, and LegalZoom (LZAK:NYSE) nearly 20%, erasing about $285B in market value. The sell-off reflects investors pricing in structural risk as foundation model providers compete with the enterprise software layer, challenging per-seat SaaS pricing and accelerating shifts to consumption- and outcome-based models. Analysts warn of displacement at the junior end of legal and consulting roles as AI accelerates, with firms experimenting with usage-based, outcome-based, and hybrid pricing to bridge the visibility and cost uncertainty gap. The broader implications include regulatory attention, multi-agent ecosystem development, and a reallocation of value toward proprietary data and oversight roles.

The Coca-Cola Co. (KO) will discontinue Minute Maid frozen juice concentrates in the U.S. and Canada by April 2026, citing shifting consumer preferences and industry declines. The decision follows a century ofMinute Maid frozen canned juices, introduced by Vacuum Foods Corp. in 1946 and later rebranded.

Supporting context: U.S. sales of frozen beverages fell 8% in the 52 weeks ending Jan. 24, 2026, per NielsenIQ. December 2025 prices for a 12-ounce can averaged $4.82, up 13% from the prior year. The company has emphasized fresh and zero-sugar options, including introducing Zero Sugar fresh juices in 2020.

Alphabet (GOOGL) reports靓丽 Q4 results, with Google Cloud revenue up 48%, but raises its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to a range of $1,750–$1,850 billion—nearly double 2025’s $910 billion—on expanded AI infrastructure. The stock plunged as much as 7.5% in after-hours trading on Feb 4, 2026, reflecting investor balancing of AI investment and变现 pressure.

Key highlights: Q4 revenue $113.83B (vs $111.43B est), adjusted EPS $2.82 (vs $2.63 est); Cloud $176.6B (vs $161.8B est), Gemini MAUs surpassed 7.5B, unit costs down 78% year-over-year. Waymo dragged results with a $36.1B loss in Other Bets, reflecting $21B in stock-based compensation for a pending $160B financing round.

The company expects continued AI-driven spending to underpin growth, with cloud construction and data center expansion pacing the 2026 capital program.

Stewart Information Services Corp (SII) reported fourth-quarter net income of $32.8 million, a 13.2% increase from $29.0 million in the same period of 2025. The improvement followed 11% year-over-year revenue growth to $217.9 million for the quarter. The company attributed the results to cost optimization and higher demand for its data processing and managed services.

Key metrics: Q4 revenue $217.9M +11% YoY; net income $32.8M +13.2% YoY; EPS $1.12; shares closed at $32.12 on February 4, 2026.

Crown Castle (CNC) reported Q4 2025 earnings on February 4, 2026, showing a 12% year-over-year increase in net income to $118.6 million, or $0.33 per share, on stronger wireless network performance and higher rental revenue.

Key highlights include a 10% rise in rental revenue to $294.5 million and continued expansion of its tower and antenna network, adding 2,300 sites in 2025. The company attributed the improvement to strong demand in the mid-single-digit percentiles of its service areas and effective cost controls.

The results reflect ongoing momentum in its core telecommunications infrastructure, supporting its guidance for full-year 2025 earnings of $1.15 to $1.25 per share.

O'Reilly Automotive (OREI) reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.82 billion, up 11% year-over-year, and earnings per share of $0.36, surpassing Street expectations. The results reflect stronger auto-parts demand and improved supply chain performance, with Q4 gross profit rising 5.2% to $416.6 million. The company attributed the margin improvement to reduced logistics costs and higher-margin vehicle components. The stock closed at $42.15 on February 4, 2026, up 2.3% for the session.

Coherent Corp. (COH) reported a 4.2% year-over-year increase in Q2 net profit to $148.3 million, driven by strong demand in its photonic solutions segment and cost optimization initiatives. The company issued its results on February 4, 2026 (UTC), with revenue rising 8.5% to $492.1 million. CFO James Hwang stated, "We are seeing solid momentum in our photonics business, supported by strategic pricing and operational efficiencies."

[Para 1: The Lead] STERIS Plc (STXS) reported a 15% increase in Q3 profit to $120 million, surpassing analyst expectations, on strong performance in its healthcare and laboratory segments. The company's stock surged 7% in after-hours trading following the earnings release.

[Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] Revenue climbed 10% to $550 million, driven by robust demand in emerging markets and a 7% organic growth. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose to $2.20, up from $1.92 in the same period last year. STERIS attributed the growth to successful cost management and strategic acquisitions. The company expects Q4 earnings to be in the range of $2.30 to $2.40 per share, reflecting continued momentum.

Allegiant Travel (ALGT) reported a significant earnings turnaround in the fourth quarter, posting a net profit of $24.7 million, a stark contrast to the $29.1 million loss recorded in the same period of 2025. The improvement followed a 20% increase in average revenue per passenger and a 15% rise in on-time departures, reflecting stronger operational efficiency and demand recovery. Revenue for the quarter reached $294.3 million, up 26% year-over-year, as the company expanded its domestic routes and optimized pricing strategies. The results underscore a rebound in the airline's core business as it navigates post-pandemic recovery.

The maker of men's grooming products posted a net loss of $12.5 million for the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2026, down from a net loss of $8.2 million in the same period of 2025. Revenue fell 14% to $48.7 million, reflecting softer demand and supply chain disruptions. The company attributed the results to higher promotional spending and reduced pricing in key markets. EPS for the quarter was -$0.15 per share, versus -$0.10 in the prior-year period. ASGN shares closed at $12.42 on February 4, 2026, down 3.2% for the session.

EVRST reported fourth-quarter revenue of $2.1B, up 12% year-over-year, on February 4, 2026. Non-GAAP net income reached $265M, or $0.29 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations of $0.25. The company attributed the results to strong demand in its technology and professional services segments, with operating income rising 15% to $340M. Management expects full-year 2026 revenue to grow 8-10% amid continued macroeconomic stability.

U.S. officials signaled approval of an export license for ByteDance's potential purchase of NVIDIA's H200 AI chips, but the transaction remains contingent on strict KYC requirements ensuring military use restrictions are met, with NVIDIA not yet agreeing to the draft terms.

NVIDIA has been negotiating broader licensing terms for H200 exports to Chinese companies, while its statement clarified it acts as an intermediary and all sales must comply with U.S. conditions. The firm emphasized that while KYC is critical, terms must also be commercially viable; otherwise, the market will look elsewhere.

With国安concerns addressed, President Trump's support is expected to clear the final hurdle, potentially allowing NVIDIA to ship H200 chips and enabling AMD to sell similar offerings. NVIDIA shares closed 3.41% lower at $174.19, but surged over 2% in after-hours trading following Alphabet's higher-than-expected capital expenditure guidance of $1.75T–$1.85T.

[Para 1: The Lead] Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) has surpassed market revenue forecasts for Q4 CY2025, reporting a 4.6% year-over-year increase in sales to $318.2 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $1.48 billion at the midpoint was 0.8% above analysts' estimates. Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.29 surpassed consensus by 10.1%.

[Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] Mueller Water Products, a leading manufacturer of water infrastructure products, has demonstrated resilience in the face of market challenges. The company's non-GAAP profit margin expanded, indicating operational efficiency. Analysts project 2.3% revenue growth over the next 12 months, but Mueller Water Products has shown stronger performance in recent quarters, with annualized revenue growth of 8.9% over the last two years. The company's strong earnings quality, driven by higher operating margins and consistent EPS growth, suggests a solid financial health. Mueller Water Products remains a strong performer in the industrials sector, offering investors a stable and growing investment opportunity.

FMC Corp. (FMC) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.72 billion, or $13.74 per share, with adjusted earnings of $1.20 per share. Revenue fell to $1.08 billion, below the $1.15 billion average estimate from six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research.

For the year, FMC posted a loss of $2.24 billion, or $17.88 per share, and revenue of $3.47 billion. For the fiscal first quarter ending March 31, the company expects a loss of 32–44 cents per share and revenue of $725M–$775M. It forecast full-year earnings of $1.63–$1.89 per share and revenue of $3.6B–$3.8B.

[Para 1: The Lead] Core Laboratories Inc. (CLB) announced its fourth quarter earnings on Wednesday, revealing a net income of $7.1 million. The company's earnings per share were 15 cents, with an adjusted profit of 21 cents per share, excluding non-recurring costs. This marks a positive financial performance, contributing to the company's overall success in the energy services sector.

[Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] In the quarter, Core Laboratories reported revenue of $138.3 million. For the fiscal year, the company achieved a profit of $31.8 million, or 68 cents per share, on revenues of $526.5 million. The financial figures indicate a steady growth trajectory and strong operational performance, reflecting the company's strategic focus on market expansion and cost efficiency. The company's performance is expected to influence its stock price positively in the upcoming trading session.