Latest news with #KMT
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why It is Worth Investing in Kennametal Stock Now
Kennametal Inc. KMT is poised to gain from the solid momentum in its end markets, strong product portfolio, product innovations and a sound capital-deployment strategy. The company remains focused on investing in growth opportunities and strengthening its long-term market Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has a market capitalization of $1.8 billion. In the past month, the stock has risen 8.1% compared with the industry's 4.9% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Let's delve into the factors that make this company investment-worthy at the Strength: The company is witnessing several positive trends that hold promise for its long-term growth. This includes an increase in U.S. and international defense spending volumes and digitalization. Also, improved supply chain and increasing original equipment manufacturer build rates in the aerospace market in EMEA bode well. For fiscal 2025, the company expects revenues from aerospace & defense markets to increase on a year-over-year Product Portfolio: Kennametal is poised to benefit from its well-diversified portfolio and investments in product development. Some notable products introduced by the company are TopSwiss Inserts, HARVI TE Duo-Lock, KSEM ST Line, Through Coolant ER Collets, FV Geometry Inserts and Chip Fan it remains focused on strategic partnerships and investing in manufacturing facilities to boost growth. For instance, in May 2025, Kennametal invested in Toolpath Labs, an emerging leader in AI-powered computer-aided manufacturing software. The collaboration will enable KMT to expand its suite of digital capabilities and offerings for its manufacturing customers Policies: KMT is committed to rewarding shareholders through dividend payouts and share repurchases. In the first nine months of fiscal 2025, the company distributed dividends totaling $46.6 million to its shareholders and bought back shares for $55.1 2024, the company completed the initial share repurchase program, which was announced in July 2021. Also, in February 2024, its board of directors authorized another repurchase program worth $200 million, which is valid for three Revisions: In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMT's fiscal 2025 (ending June 2025) earnings has increased 24%. Also, the same for fiscal 2026 (ending June 2026) has been revised upward 7.8%. Other top-ranked companies from the same space are discussed below:Howmet Aerospace HWM currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 8.8%. In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for Howmet's 2025 earnings has increased 6.5%.AptarGroup, Inc. ATR presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. ATR delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.3%. In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for AptarGroup's 2025 earnings has increased 5.7%.Federal Signal Corporation FSS currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. FSS delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 6.4%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Federal Signal's 2025 earnings has increased 1.6%. 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 AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kennametal Inc. (KMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Federal Signal Corporation (FSS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Is Taiwan's William Lai purging political foes? Critics condemn ‘impurities' speech
Recent comments by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te about 'removing impurities' through democratic processes have triggered a fierce backlash on the island, with critics accusing him of authoritarian tendencies and attempting to divide Taiwan under the guise of unity. Delivering the second of his '10 Talks on Uniting the Country' series on Tuesday, Lai described Taiwan's democratic progress as akin to forging steel. 'Hammer after hammer, tempered into steel, all impurities removed – until all that is left is an iron will to defend our sovereignty and safeguard our democracy,' he said. He added that democracy was secured 'through continuous elections and recall votes , through every single ballot cast'. Opposition lawmakers were quick to condemn his remarks, calling them a veiled attempt to justify purging dissent and pushing forward the efforts of Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to recall dozens of main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators on July 26. KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan described Lai's speech as 'a blatant attempt at political purification', akin to those seen in authoritarian regimes. 'The idea of removing political impurities echoes the kind of extreme ideological purity seen in North Korea today,' he said, calling on the people of Taiwan to reject Lai's 'dictatorship' by voting against the recalls.
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Global perspective: Democracy, welfare are among Taiwan's fortes
By Ryosei Kokubun, Chairman of the Asian Affairs Research Council Will there be a "Taiwan contingency?" What will happen to U.S.-China relations? And how about the relationship between China and Taiwan, which Beijing considers as a renegade province? These are questions to which no one has the right answer, but people are making a fuss over them anyway. I decided to leave the global hustle and bustle and went on a five-day solo trip to Taiwan in mid-May. I have visited Taiwan countless times over the past 30 years or so, but this time I paid respects to the grave of my mentor in Taiwan, Peng Run-tzu, who passed away two years ago. He invested his personal business fortune and his time and energy into the future of Taiwan and Japan-Taiwan relations. Since my schedule was not too tight, I warmed up old friendships with old friends and former international students. Thanks to the kindness of my friends, I was able to not only greet but also discuss issues with current and past government top leaders. Stability and women's empowerment My impression of the trip was that society seemed to be more stable than before. The disparity in societal and economic status between original Taiwan residents and newcomers from mainland China after World War II seemed to be fading due to generational successions. In the past, when people in Taiwan met for the first time, they would immediately began speculating about their origins judging from their accents and atmosphere. Now Taiwan is one of the world's leading players in terms of women's social participation, and is eager to provide educational and employment incentives to indigenous peoples and to preserve their cultures. Economic policy debates on prices and wages are endless, but Taiwan's GDP per capita has exceeded that of Japan. Second, the two-party system of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) has taken hold. There is a big difference in their stances on China, and in terms of policy, the DPP is progressive and the KMT is conservative. Politics is the same now as it was in the past, and there are constant struggles and scandals between and within parties. The DPP has long had fierce factional strife within the party, and the relationship between President Lai Ching-te and former President Tsai Ing-wen, who are in different factions, is complicated. President Lai's approval rating is declining. The KMT has overcome the crisis of dissolution and the younger generation has emerged, but regional bosses still have a stronger say, and former President Ma Ying-jeou is disrupting the party. Third, while trust in Japan is overwhelmingly high, trust in the United States is surprisingly low. According to the latest survey by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, 76 percent said they liked Japan the most, while only 3 percent like the U.S. and China. The low favorability of the U.S. is a phenomenon that predates the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, and many people doubt whether Washington will really help in cross-strait contingencies. The second-term Trump administration's tariff policy toward Taiwan has been strict, and consideration for Taipei's national security needs has remained lacking. When it comes to discussions about the future of Taiwan, I am concerned that many people are only looking at international perspectives such as U.S.-China and cross-strait relations. Here, I would like to share my opinion based on my observations inside Taiwan. I felt during my latest trip that Taiwan will become a welfare society of the highest level in Asia in the future if the well-established democracy remains as it is. Taiwan recently managed to shut down all nuclear power reactors. Everyone says that this was triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake in Japan. But that's only half the truth. When I spoke with a figure involved in the drafting of the founding party platform of the DPP, which was established in 1986 at the same time as Taiwan's democratization, he said that the party's anti-nuclear policy had its origins in the Chernobyl accident in April of the same year. According to this figure, the DPP was originally modeled on European politics, focusing primarily on social democracies such as the Nordic countries. As mentioned above, social participation of women in Taiwan is among the best in the world and it is by far the most advanced in Asia. With the introduction of the quota system, more than 40% of the members of the national legislature are women. Same-sex marriage has also become legal, and the acceptance of foreign workers has been institutionalized as a measure against the declining birthrate. As mentioned above, the protection of indigenous peoples is also generous. During her presidency, Tsai Ing-wen publicly apologized for the mistreatment of indigenous peoples in the past. Utilities such as electricity, water, and transportation are also relatively cheap. Taiwan's consumption tax is 5 percent. The pensions of civil servants are being reformed, but the amount remains at nearly 70 percent of salaries before retirement. Fiscal discipline is solid. The fiscal balance is stable due to economic growth, and the outstanding debt is around 25% of GDP, which is one of the lowest in the world. It is a never-ending dream in Japan, which suffers one of the world's highest debt-GDP ratio. Welfare system supporting national security Certain historic backgrounds have contributed to the development of Scandinavian countries as welfare societies, but it was also the threat of the neighboring Soviet Union that drove them into that direction after the war. They needed to stabilize their countries, and welfare systems helped them achieve that. Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui said, "Taiwan's greatest security is to establish democracy." This is because it is judged that it will be easy to gain the understanding of the United States and other countries that would support Taipei. For Taiwan, which has already established democracy, transforming itself into a welfare state may strengthen internal unity and provide strong security along with strengthening military capabilities for deterrence. At Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I asked officials there the following question: Isn't it an advantage for Taiwan to be a non-state in the current international system? In 2010, there were 23 countries that recognized Taiwan, but now the number stands at mere 12. Taiwan is not a member of the World Health Organization, and although there is a pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the facility is not allowed to use "Taiwan" in its name. The arrangement was made either because of China's opposition or out of concern for China. Increased global awareness toward Taiwan However, Taiwanese people can now travel to around 140 countries and regions around the world without a visa with a "Republic of China" passport. Even under pressure from China, the world's recognition of Taiwan is actually increasing. In addition, in a globalized economy, Taiwanese businesses are very active, as in the case of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The United States under the Trump administration is single-mindedly engaged in a tariff struggle stemming from unilateralism. China is strengthening its political control while calling for "free competition" in opposition to the United States. Russia is eager to fight a war. Everywhere in the world, there are desperate attempts to build national walls. In this inward-looking international order, non-state status seems to be working in Taiwan's favor. The staff of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs listened to my paradox with wide eyes. Taiwanese people show smiles on their face and feel fed up in their hearts when they hear naive thinking that tends to be common among the Japanese, such as the self-proclaimed "pro-Taiwan" posture for the promotion of "anti-China" arguments, or the belief that Taiwanese people are pro-Japan because of the success of Japan's colonial rule. Japan has much to learn from Taiwan.
NHK
7 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Taiwan to hold recall vote for 24 largest opposition lawmakers in July
Taiwan will hold a recall election next month for 24 lawmakers of the largest opposition party Kuomintang, or KMT. The KMT currently holds 52 seats. Together with another opposition party, it forms a majority of the 113-member parliament. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, led by President Lai Ching-te, holds 51 seats. A civic group critical of the KMT had been pushing a petition drive to hold a recall vote. The Central Election Commission announced on Friday that a recall election will be held on July 26 after the group had collected enough signatures from voters for holding one. It is rare for a large-scale recall vote to take place in Taiwan. A recall election will be held in the electoral districts that the 24 lawmakers represent. They will be dismissed if votes in favor of their recall outnumber votes against, and if those in favor account for at least a quarter of registered voters in their district. The DPP could gain a majority if many KMT lawmakers are dismissed and if it wins at least six seats in special elections to fill vacancies caused by the recall vote.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament
FILE PHOTO: Legislators are seen inside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan May 17, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/ File Photo Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament TAIPEI - Taiwan will hold a recall vote for around one quarter of parliament's lawmakers - all from the main opposition party - next month, the election commission said on Friday, a move which could see the ruling party take back control of the legislature. While Lai Ching-te won the presidency last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority, leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) and the much smaller Taiwan People's Party with the most seats. The KMT and the TPP have passed a series of measures, including swingeing budget cuts, angering the DPP, though the campaigns to gather enough signatures for the recalls were led by civic groups. The opposition has 62 of parliament's 113 seats and the DPP holds the remaining 51. The recall votes for 24 KMT lawmakers will take place on July 26, the election commission said. The DPP has given full support for the recalls, releasing a video this week calling on people to vote yes and "oppose the communists" - a direct reference to China and what the party says is the opposition's dangerous cosying up to Beijing. The KMT has vowed to fight what it calls a "malicious recall" that comes so soon after the last parliamentary election in January 2024. "The KMT calls on the people of Taiwan to oppose the green communists and fight against dictatorship, and vote 'no'," the party said in a statement after the recall vote was announced, referring to the DPP's party colours. The KMT says its engagement with China, which views separately-governed Taiwan as its own territory, is needed to keep channels of communication open and reduce tensions. China has rejected multiple offers of talks from Lai, branding him a "separatist", and has increased military pressure against the island. Recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers failed to gather enough valid signatures. For the recalls to be successful, the number of votes approving the measure must be more than those opposing it, and also exceed one-quarter of the number of registered voters in the constituency, so turnout will be important. If the recall votes are successful, there will be by-elections later this year to select new lawmakers. Taiwan's next parliamentary and presidential elections are not scheduled until early 2028. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
