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FINWIRES

Research Alert: Masco: Tops Q1 Eps Expectations; 2026 Outlook Reaffirmed

-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

MAS delivered solid Q1 results with net sales of $1.9B (+6% Y/Y) and operating EPS of $1.04, beating consensus of $0.88, supported by operating margin expansion of 90 bps to 16.9%. Plumbing Products drove performance with $1.4B in sales (+7% organically) and 18.3% adjusted operating margin, while Decorative Architectural Products achieved a 320-bp margin improvement to 19.0% despite flat revenue. We view the strong execution on pricing actions and cost savings as impressive, demonstrating operational excellence in a dynamic environment. Management maintained full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $4.10-$4.30 despite solid Q1 performance, which we consider prudent given ongoing volatility. The company returned $267M to shareholders through $202M in repurchases and $65M in dividends, reducing share count by 4% Y/Y. We believe MAS's strong liquidity of about $1.3B and operating cash flow of $289M (+10% Y/Y) provide flexibility for continued shareholder returns.

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Cognizant Technology Solutions' AI Lab Secures Three New US Patents

Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) said its AI Lab received three new US patents, bringing its total to 65 US patents and 88 globally worldwide as the company advances research in human-AI collaboration and machine-learning systems.The patents cover improvements to decision-recommendation models, automated creation and tuning of neural-network activation functions, and distributed learning techniques that allow AI systems to share and reuse knowledge more effectively across teams, the company said Thursday in a statement.Price: $55.26, Change: $-3.55, Percent Change: -6.04%

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Golden Pass LNG Ships First Cargo Amid Global Supply Strains, EIA Says

The Golden Pass LNG terminal shipped its first LNG cargo from Train 1, marking a key milestone for what is the 10th LNG export facility in the US, the US Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.The inaugural shipment departed on April 22, just 23 days after the facility achieved initial LNG production in March.The startup comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions affecting flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have impacted over 10 billion cubic feet per day, roughly one-fifth of global gas supply.Golden Pass LNG is currently the only new US export terminal expected to begin shipments in 2026.The project, a 70:30 joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil (XOM), reached a final investment decision in February 2019.Construction timelines were later extended after the lead contractor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, forcing the developers to appoint a replacement to complete the project.The facility includes three liquefaction trains, each designed with a nominal capacity of 0.7 Bcf/d and a peak capacity of 0.8 Bcf/d. Once fully operational, the terminal will have a total nominal capacity of 2 Bcf/d and peak capacity of 2.4 Bcf/d.LNG plants often exceed nominal capacity in practice while remaining below peak thresholds.Upon completion, Golden Pass LNG is expected to rank as the third-largest US LNG export facility by nominal capacity, trailing Sabine Pass and Plaquemines LNG.The developers plan to bring Train 2 online in the second half of 2026, followed by Train 3 in the first half of 2027.Price: $149.74, Change: $+0.24, Percent Change: +0.16%

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Research Alert: Mbly: Shares Surge Following Q1 Beat & Raised Guidance

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Mobileye Global (MBLY) posted Q1 adjusted EPS of $0.12 vs. $0.08 (+51%), ahead of the $0.09 consensus. The quarter was characterized by stronger-than-expected sales offset by weaker-than-expected margins, as revenue rose 27% to $558M ($38M above consensus) and adjusted gross margin contracted 240 bps to 66% (20 bps below consensus). EyeQ volumes were up 27% Y/Y, which drove the beat. MBLY raised prior 2026 guidance for revenue and adjusted operating profit to $1.935B-$2.015B and $185M-$235M, respectively, from $1.90B-$1.98B and $170M-$220M. MBLY also announced a $250M share repurchase program. MBLY ended Q1 with total cash and equivalents of $1.34B versus only $51M of debt. Expectations were low heading into the release and the stock has seen a surge in short interest in recent months to ~17% of the float. In our view, sentiment toward the name had become overly bearish (especially considering MBLY's backlog, gross margins, and large net cash position), now setting up the stock for a significant short squeeze.

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