US Market's 3 Undiscovered Gems With Promising Potential
Name
Debt To Equity
Revenue Growth
Earnings Growth
Health Rating
West Bancorporation
169.96%
-1.41%
-8.52%
★★★★★★
Morris State Bancshares
9.62%
4.26%
5.10%
★★★★★★
Metalpha Technology Holding
NA
81.88%
-4.97%
★★★★★★
FineMark Holdings
122.25%
2.34%
-26.34%
★★★★★★
FRMO
0.09%
44.64%
49.91%
★★★★★☆
Gulf Island Fabrication
19.65%
-2.17%
42.26%
★★★★★☆
Pure Cycle
5.11%
1.07%
-4.05%
★★★★★☆
First IC
38.58%
9.04%
14.76%
★★★★☆☆
Reitar Logtech Holdings
31.39%
231.46%
41.38%
★★★★☆☆
Vantage
6.72%
-16.62%
-15.47%
★★★★☆☆
Click here to see the full list of 284 stocks from our US Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.
We'll examine a selection from our screener results.
Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: China Yuchai International Limited, with a market cap of $643.81 million, operates through its subsidiaries to manufacture, assemble, and sell diesel and natural gas engines for various applications including trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine use in China and internationally.
Operations: The primary revenue stream for China Yuchai International Limited comes from its subsidiary, Yuchai, contributing CN¥19.10 billion. A smaller segment, HL Global Enterprises Limited (HLGE), adds CN¥30.78 million to the revenue.
China Yuchai International, known for its robust performance in engine sales across various sectors, has shown earnings growth of 13.1% over the past year, outpacing the Machinery industry's 3%. The company enjoys a favorable price-to-earnings ratio of 15.6x compared to the US market's 17.8x, indicating good value relative to peers. With a debt-to-equity ratio increase from 17.8% to 20.4% over five years, it still maintains more cash than total debt, ensuring financial flexibility. Strategic partnerships and investments in R&D are likely to support future growth despite challenges like regulatory uncertainties and competition in key markets.
China Yuchai International's joint ventures, like MTU Yuchai Power, significantly boost earnings. Click here to explore the full narrative on China Yuchai International.
Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: Oil-Dri Corporation of America, along with its subsidiaries, specializes in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of sorbent products both domestically and internationally, with a market capitalization of $724.25 million.
Operations: ODC generates revenue primarily from two segments: Business to Business Products, contributing $166.91 million, and Retail and Wholesale Products, contributing $298.43 million.
Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a compact player in the household products sector, has shown robust earnings growth of 6.5% over the past year, outpacing its industry peers. With a net debt to equity ratio at 7.7%, its financial structure appears satisfactory, and interest payments are well-covered by EBIT at 34.8 times coverage. Recent earnings reports highlight an impressive jump in quarterly sales to US$115 million from US$107 million last year, alongside a net income rise to US$11.64 million from US$7.78 million previously. Despite significant insider selling recently, it trades at nearly 77% below estimated fair value, suggesting potential undervaluation for investors willing to take on some risk with this niche company focused on innovative cat litter products and sustainability initiatives under CEO Daniel S. Jaffee's leadership.
Click here and access our complete health analysis report to understand the dynamics of Oil-Dri Corporation of America.
Evaluate Oil-Dri Corporation of America's historical performance by accessing our past performance report.
Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆
Overview: Stewart Information Services Corporation operates through its subsidiaries to offer title insurance and real estate transaction services both in the United States and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.68 billion.
Operations: Stewart Information Services generates revenue primarily from its Title segment, including mortgage services, which accounts for $2.18 billion, and Real Estate Solutions contributing $372.74 million. The company experienced a net profit margin trend worth noting over recent periods.
Stewart Information Services, a player in the title insurance sector, has seen its earnings grow by 75% over the past year, significantly outpacing the industry average of 5.3%. The company's debt to equity ratio increased from 13.9% to 31.7% over five years but remains satisfactory with net debt at 18.6%. Recent strategic moves include targeting acquisitions in key Metropolitan Statistical Areas and expanding agency services, which are expected to boost net margins from 2.9% to 6.3%. With a current price of US$65.2 per share and a target of US$78.5, there's potential for growth amidst market challenges.
Stewart Information Services' growth in the Title segment, particularly commercial services, is expected to drive revenue and pretax income. Click here to explore the full narrative on Stewart Information Services.
Click here to access our complete index of 284 US Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals.
Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.
Unlock the power of informed investing with Simply Wall St, your free guide to navigating stock markets worldwide.
Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention.
Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management.
Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include CYD ODC and STC.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 25, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM, Chevron Corp. CVX and Shell plc SHEL. Industry: Integrated Energy Link: The crude oil pricing environment is expected to experience significant volatility this year, which will negatively impact the exploration and production activities of integrated energy companies. A deceleration in oil production growth can create challenges, thereby constraining earnings from upstream operations. At the same time, the accelerating shift toward renewable energy is introducing greater uncertainty to the Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry's prospects. This combination of factors suggests a challenging and softened industry environment that is expected to persist through at least the remainder of 2025. Among the companies in the industry that will probably survive the business challenges are Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and Shell plc. About the Industry The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry covers companies primarily involved in upstream, midstream and downstream operations. These companies have upstream businesses in the United States (including prolific shale plays and the deepwater Gulf of Mexico), Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe. Midstream operations of energy companies entail transporting oil, natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products. In downstream businesses, the firms buy raw crude to produce refined petroleum products. The companies' downstream activities involve chemical businesses that manufacture raw materials for making plastics. The integrated players are now gradually focusing on renewables, leading to the energy transition. The firms aim to lower emissions from operations and cut the carbon intensity of the products sold. 3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Industry The integrated energy sector is currently navigating a highly uncertain and challenging macroeconomic environment. Refining, renewable energy and chemical segments are particularly under pressure due to limited visibility into future market dynamics. Escalating trade tensions are compounding this uncertainty, raising concerns over potential economic slowdowns. Meanwhile, oil prices remain volatile, swayed by geopolitical risks and fluctuating OPEC+ production strategies. As a result, major integrated energy players are grappling with profitability challenges. There has been a slowdown in oil production growth in the upstream businesses of integrated energy companies in the United States due to shareholder demands for a greater focus on returning capital rather than investing in production expansion. As production growth slows, output decreases, which can lead to reduced revenues. Since upstream operations depend heavily on volume to generate income, any stagnation in production growth has a direct and negative impact on their bottom line. Governments, investors and stakeholders are placing growing emphasis on addressing climate change, leading to an increased demand for renewable energy. Consequently, the demand for products reliant on oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids is expected to decline, with solar and wind energy gaining prominence in the energy landscape. The integrated energy firms are adversely impacted by these trends as they are primarily engaged in the production and transportation of fossil fuels, such as oil, and the sale of refined petroleum products. Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bearish Outlook The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry is part of the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #189, which places it in the bottom 23% of the 245 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bleak near-term prospects. 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. Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider, let us take a look at the industry's recent stock market performance and valuation picture. Industry Lags S&P 500 & Sector The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. The industry has plunged 5.4% over this period compared with the S&P 500's growth of 17.3% and the broader sector's decline of 2.6%. Industry's Current Valuation Since oil and gas companies are debt-laden, it makes sense to value them based on the Enterprise Value/Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization (EV/EBITDA) ratio. This is because the valuation metric takes not just equity into account but also the level of debt. On the basis of the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA, the industry is currently trading at 4.27X, lower than the S&P 500's 17.85X. It is also below the sector's trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 4.77X. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 6.54X and as low as 2.75X, with a median of 4.11X. 3 Integrated International Stocks to Watch Chevron: The company completed its $53-billion acquisition of Hess Corporation, thereby strengthening its upstream portfolio and obtaining a 30% interest in the highly valued Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Chevron gains strategic access to one of the most prolific deepwater discoveries of the past decade, estimated to hold more than 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The acquisition also strengthens its position in the U.S. Bakken shale, the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The move comes as a turning point for Chevron as it is facing mounting pressure to replenish its reserves and strengthen free cash flow amid ongoing volatility in the oil markets. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. ExxonMobil: The company's acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources expanded its production capabilities in the Permian Basin, one of the most profitable regions in the United States due to its inexpensive production costs. XOM boasts a strong portfolio of upstream assets, focused on oil-rich resources in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana. Production costs in those assets are low. Therefore, the leading integrated energy major can overcome a collapse in oil and gas prices. Similar to its operations in the Permian, ExxonMobil boasts a robust project pipeline in offshore Guyana resources. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #3. Shell: The company's acquisition of Pavilion Energy strengthens its LNG trading capabilities and positions itself for long-term growth in cleaner fuels. Shell's position as a major supplier of LNG should help the company meet the fuel's growing demand and improve its cash flow. Shell, with a Zacks Rank of 3, is targeting a 4-5% annual increase in LNG sales over the next five years and 1% annual production growth. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 for 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 Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (SHEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Sage Geosystems, Next-Gen Geothermal Source Driven By Earth's Pressure
Sage drilling activity Sage Cindy Taff is CEO and co-founder of Sage Geosystems. The company was founded in 2020 and is developing energy storage and geothermal baseload technologies deep in the earth and above temperatures of 170℃ degrees. The Sage Geosystems team has over 200 combined years in the oil and gas industry, with experience delivering major projects including Deepwater, Arctic, and Unconventional shales. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit News reports are available, as well as videos. The following is an interview with Cindy Taff. 1. Sage calls their next-generation geothermal technology 'pressure geothermal.' Can you explain what this means and how it differs from other next-generation geothermal technologies? Pressure geothermal leverages both the Earth's heat and pressure to generate more power. By using the natural elasticity of the rock, we can bring hot water to the surface without pumps. Unlike traditional approaches, we maintain pressure in the system rather than venting it at the surface, and we hold open fractures with pressure instead of adding bridging materials like sand or proppant. These innovations reduce friction and energy losses, boosting net power output by 25-50% compared to other next-generation geothermal technologies. 2. The Sage pressure geothermal concept is a huff-and-puff in two synchronized wells. How does this work? Sage's proprietary cycle-based heat recovery approach, adapted from the 'huff-and-puff' method in oil and gas, is designed for efficient energy extraction. Each well has its own set of fractures (i.e., wells are not connected in the subsurface like EGS) and operates in a repeating cycle. In one well, water is injected for 12 hours, expanding the fracture network to ensure full contact with the hot rock and maximum heat absorption. After a brief soaking period, the process reverses: the natural pressure and elasticity of the rock push the heated water back to the surface, without the need for pumps. The hot water flows through a heat exchanger to heat a refrigerant, or low-boiling-point working fluid, which drives a turbine to generate electricity. By alternating between wells, Sage enables near-continuous power generation. 3. The operation depends on creating a fracture network in the hot dry rock, which is then inflated with a 'pad' of water, and 10-20% of this pad is cycled to harvest the Earth's heat. How are the fractures created and how is the water cycled? Sage uses their proprietary downward gravity fracturing to create the subsurface fracture network. This technique uses a high-density fluid, weighted with heavy minerals like barite or hematite, to initiate and propagate fractures using gravity rather than high-pressure pumping. Because the fluid is heavier, it creates fractures at lower surface pressure, making the process more efficient and controlled. This approach is similar to methods used for disposing of nuclear waste. Once the fracture network is established, the high-density fluid is circulated out and replaced with water, which is then cycled to extract heat, as described above. 4. What reservoir characteristics does the Sage method need to be viable, such as depth, temperature, overpressure, natural fracture permeability? How extensive are these potential locations in the USA? For comparison, hot, dry rock permeabilities in Los Alamos and Project Forge have extremely low permeabilities. Conventional geothermal requires a rare combination of three things: hot subsurface temperatures, naturally occurring water (an aquifer), and enough natural permeability to allow the water to flow. These conditions typically only exist near volcanic zones, such as those along the Ring of Fire. Sage's pressure geothermal approach removes two of those constraints. We don't rely on natural permeability or existing water – we create our own artificial reservoir and cycle water through it to extract heat. We specifically target low-permeability rock (< 50 millidarcies), temperatures of 170°C, and avoid natural faults and fractures. As a result, our method opens up vast new areas for geothermal development. In the U.S. Lower 48 alone, conservative estimates are 13 terawatts of geothermal potential down to 6 km (20,000 feet). Depths to reach 180C Anderson, Parker, et al. 5. A two-well pair provides almost continuous electricity for 24 hours. Can the supply of a few MW be made fully dispatchable for days or weeks at a time? Yes. Geothermal power generation is available regardless of weather conditions. Like all geothermal systems, Sage's technology experiences gradual thermal decline, about 10% over 5 years, as heat is extracted from the rock. What makes Sage different is our ability to refracture the same well into untouched hot rock every five years, restoring heat flow without having to drill a new well(s). 6. The fracture network is always operated between frac opening and frac extension pressure, and in each well, the fracture network is inflated for 12 hours before flow is reversed into the other well. You quote water loss is less than 2%. Is this loss per cycle? Yes, the < 2% water loss is per cycle as measured in the field and is primarily due to evaporation and leak-off into the formation. For geothermal power generation, we expect water losses to be even lower because the system operates as a closed-loop cycle with minimal evaporation. This is a major advantage over traditional EGS systems, where water losses are reported between 10-30%. Cindy Taff, CEO and co-founder of Sage. Sage 7. How does your cost per MWh compare with other next-generation geothermal methods, and with solar PV plus grid battery storage (BESS)? How does your mechanical energy storage cost per MWh compare with grid battery storage (BESS)? Pressure geothermal is expected to deliver significantly lower costs per MWh than other next-generation geothermal approaches. Closed-loop systems face higher drilling costs due to complex directional drilling and longer wellbores. EGS technologies lose efficiency from high parasitic pumping loads, venting pressure at surface, and 10-30% water losses. When paired with solar, Sage's energy storage delivers a blended LCOE of $60-70/MWh for 24/7 generation, comparable with solar plus batteries without tax credits. Sage's mechanical storage is not intended to compete with lithium-ion for < 5-hour durations, but will outperform batteries for durations > 5 hours. 8. What advantages does the Sage method have over other methods such as twin-well EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems) or closed-loop systems? Compared to EGS, Sage's approach avoids the need for sophisticated high-temperature directional drilling technologies as the wellbore alignment and spacing are not critical, and it doesn't require connecting two wells with a fracture network. It also minimizes water loss (< 2% per cycle) and delivers 25-50% more net power output, resulting in a lower cost per MWh. Compared to closed-loop systems, Sage can access a large heat transfer area in less than a day through fracturing, versus months of precision drilling required to construct long well loops. This reduces both drilling risk and cost. 9. What is the commercial stage/position of Sage's various technologies? Sage's energy storage technology has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL-8), with a 3MW commercial facility built, tested, and ready to start operations in Q4 2025 after the grid interconnection is complete. Sage's geothermal power generation is at a TRL-7, with its first commercial plant planned for 2026/2027 as part of Phase I for a Meta data center east of the Rockies. 10. Do you foresee Sage applications of individual well-pairs (a few MW) providing a bridge to other massive energy supplies? And what is the potential, and cost, of many well-pairs scaled to the needs of data centers or electrical grids (hundreds of MW)? Sage's geothermal technology is scalable by drilling multiple wells from a single pad, much like unconventional oil and gas. For projects > 100 MW, such as Meta, we anticipate costs between $60-100/MWh, depending on the location and therefore the geothermal resource depth. Sage's unique subsurface approach, which relies on fractures connected to a single wellbore, will increase our access to superhot geothermal resources as compared to EGS and Closed Loop, as wellbore alignment and spacing are not critical, eliminating the need for sophisticated high-temperature directional drilling equipment. Deeper and hotter geothermal can deliver a 10-fold increase in net power generation, which enables further cost reductions 11. I've heard that Sage can buy electricity when production is plentiful, convert it to pressure similar to conventional pumped storage hydropower and later sell it back to the grid when needed. Is this system operational, and will it be cheaper than grid-scale batteries whose cost is falling? Sage has completed its first commercial 3MW energy storage system at the San Miguel Electric Cooperative in Christine, Texas, with operations starting in Q4 2025 once grid interconnection is complete. While it's not intended to compete with lithium-ion batteries for short durations (< 5 hours), it outperforms them for longer durations, where battery costs and performance decline. 12. I understand Sage has built a proprietary sCO2 turbine, intended to be an alternative to ORC turbines used widely today in geothermal applications. Can you explain the advantage, when the technology will be available, and the cost? Sage has successfully designed, built, and load-tested a 3MW prototype supercritical CO2 (sCO2) turbine. Compared to conventional Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems, sCO2 turbines are smaller, more cost-effective to build, and deliver up to 50% more net power due to higher efficiency: 15-20% versus 8-12% for ORC. We plan to deploy this technology in the field in 2027-2028 as part of Meta Phase II.
E&E News
a day ago
- E&E News
New Mexico oil and gas leases land $58M
Federal officials notched just over $58 million in revenue from leasing 16 parcels of public land in New Mexico to oil and gas producers, the Interior Department announced Thursday. Seven companies won bids for the 7,500 acres of public land, which can now be explored and developed following environmental reviews. The leases are for 10-year terms. In pursuit of energy 'dominance,' the Trump administration has focused intensely on the oil and gas sector, seeking to boost domestic output and strip away regulations. Advertisement Thursday's lease sale was the first to occur after Congress earlier this month passed a budget package that cut oil and gas royalty rates down to a minimum of 12.5 percent, lower than the 16.67 percent that had been passed into law during the Biden administration. Oil and gas royalties — which are a percentage of the value of publicly owned oil and gas that producers must pay the government — are split between federal authorities and the state where the drilling occurs.
