United Parcel Service, Inc (UPS) Stock or FedEx Corporation (FDX) Stock?

Should you buy United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) or FedEx (NYSE:FDX)? It's one of the most common investment questions, but also one that doesn't need to be answered -- you can always buy neither or both. However, if you forced me to make a decision on one or the other, I would say UPS looks like a better value right now; here's why.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Where Does Caterpillar Inc (CAT) go in 2015?

What do you do with a highly cyclical stock like Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT)? It's one thing to try to use common valuation techniques to help make an investment decision, but the truth is that its revenue and earnings numbers are largely guided by movements in its end markets. Moreover, with cyclical stocks it's often the case that they look their most expensive precisely when you should be buying them. In other words, just before their earnings are about to turn up with the cycle. With that said, what's an investor to make of Caterpillar in 2015?


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Deere & Company (DE) Earnings Analysis

Following the news that Warren Buffett has added to his stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), it's highly likely that large numbers of Buffett followers will be excited to look at the company's first-quarter earnings. In short, there were more negatives than pluses, particularly on the headline numbers.



Let's take a closer look at the numbers and underlying trends from the first quarter.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Honeywell International (HON) Return on Assets Analysis

Have you ever looked at an industrial conglomerate like Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) and settled on looking at segmental margin as the key indicator of each of its segments' prospects going forward? Or even decided that the company's investment and acquisition activity should be centered on the segment with the highest margin? If so, then you could be looking at things the wrong way. Arguably, the most important number to look at is segmental return on assets, or ROA. Let's take a look at why, and what the ROA numbers mean for Honeywell International.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Morningstar Earnings Analysis

It's been a pretty good few years for the financial services industry, with rising equity markets and loosening credit markets creating favorable conditions for asset managers, brokerages, financial advisors, and the like. Therefore, it's no surprise to see financial information services provider Morningstar (NASDAQ:MORN) reporting increasing profits. When financial firms make money, they are more likely to purchase information services.



Still, Morningstar does need to execute within highly competitive markets. Here is a look at its recent fourth-quarter results, and an assessment of how it's performing.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

The Bullish Case for United Parcel Service (UPS)

After United Parcel Service  (NYSE: UPS  )  missed earnings estimates for two consecutive fourth quarters, investors would be entitled to feel a bit concerned about the company's direction. It's fair to say UPS' execution has not been what investors have hoped for, but that doesn't mean the stock isn't worth buying. On the contrary, there are many reasons to feel positive about the stock, and the recent dip could prove an excellent entry point. Let's look at the three key bullish arguments behind buying the stock.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Cognex Corporation (CGNX) Equity Research

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX  )  on Thursday gave earnings results after a trading session in which the stock spiked by nearly 6%. Clearly, investors anticipated a strong set of results, and Cognex delivered. Despite currency headwinds that reduced revenue growth by 4% year over year, the numbers came in easily ahead of internal guidance and analyst estimates. The machine vision technology manufacturer is firing on all cylinders, and management is gearing up for future growth. Let's take a closer look at the earnings report.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

United Parcel Service (UPS) Management Wants You to Know...

Most investors in United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS  )  already know about the company's difficulties in dealing with peak demand in the fourth quarter. UPS has now disappointed investors with holiday season operations for two consecutive years. In 2013, the company found itself with insufficient capacity to meet peak demand, then in 2014 it overcompensated and built out too much. This is clearly the issue analysts and investors are focusing on, so let's look at what management wants you to know about it.




READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Emerson Electric Equity Research

One of the advantages of a diversified company like Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  )  is that weak growth in some parts of its business can be offset with stronger growth elsewhere. One of the disadvantages is that it's very difficult to avoid a weak area in the global economy.

In truth, the company is never going to see all of its businesses firing on all cylinders at the same time. In other words, investors should take a balanced approach when looking at its recent first-quarter results, so let's try to do that now.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

BorgWarner (BWA) Equity Research

After BorgWarner Inc.  (NYSE: BWA  ) lowered its full-year earnings expectations when it reported third-quarter results last fall, investors in the automotive turbocharger and drivetrain manufacturer must have been apprehensive heading into its fourth-quarter earnings. However, the latest quarterly numbers were in line with expectations. Let's look at its earnings and outlook for 2015.


READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED