Validea Benjamin Graham Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 8/12/2025
Stock Ratings Update: Validea's Value Investor model, based on Benjamin Graham's strategy, has upgraded ratings for NU Skin Enterprises Inc., Manitowoc Company Inc., and Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA, reflecting improved fundamentals and valuations, with all three stocks scoring above 80%.
Company Descriptions: NU Skin focuses on beauty and wellness solutions, Manitowoc specializes in engineered lifting solutions, and Transportadora de Gas del Sur provides natural gas transportation services in Argentina, highlighting their diverse operations across different industries.
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Investigation Initiation: The European Commission has launched an anti-dumping investigation into mobile crane imports from China, prompted by a complaint from European manufacturers represented by the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association.
Concerns Over Competition: The investigation aims to address concerns regarding unfair competition due to low-priced Chinese cranes, which are believed to threaten over 7,000 jobs in Europe and impact the broader supply chain.
Evidence of Injury: VDMA members, including major companies like Liebherr and Manitowoc, have provided evidence of material injury caused by predatory pricing and advantages enjoyed by Chinese exporters, such as government subsidies and favorable financing.
Importance of European Cranes: European-made mobile cranes are vital for infrastructure, renewable energy, and defense projects, highlighting the industry's commitment to safety, performance, and compliance with EU standards.
- Anti-Dumping Investigation Launched: The European Commission has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into mobile cranes from China, following a complaint from leading European manufacturers, focusing on self-propelled cranes with a lifting capacity of at least 30 tons, crucial for ensuring Europe's strategic independence in infrastructure, defense, and energy sectors.
- Industry Support: Manitowoc's CEO Aaron H. Ravenscroft expressed strong support for the investigation to ensure fair competition and protect European innovation, manufacturing, and jobs, urging the European Commission to act swiftly to restore a level playing field.
- Industry Impact: The complaint involves major companies including Manitowoc, Liebherr, Sennebogen, and Tadano, which represent a significant majority of the EU mobile crane industry, highlighting the industry's keen interest in anti-dumping measures.
- Market Context: The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association represents over 250 European companies, underscoring the mechanical and plant engineering sector's economic significance in the EU, with an estimated turnover of €870 billion and impacting around 3 million jobs.
Market Performance: The S&P 500 closed down slightly by -0.05%, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a minor increase of +0.06%. Concerns over a hawkish Federal Reserve and weak economic data from China contributed to mixed trading results.
Federal Reserve Outlook: The likelihood of a Fed interest rate cut in December has decreased to 43% from 70% due to comments from Fed officials expressing skepticism about further cuts, citing economic resilience and inflation concerns.
Bitcoin and Economic Impact: Bitcoin prices fell over -4% to a 6.25-month low amid a prolonged sell-off, while the Congressional Budget Office projected that the recent government shutdown reduced GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points, with potential recovery expected next year.
Corporate Earnings and Stock Movements: Q3 earnings for S&P 500 companies rose +14.6%, exceeding expectations, while notable stock movements included significant gains for Cidara Therapeutics and DoorDash, contrasted by declines for Stubhub Holdings and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Market Performance: The S&P 500 is down -0.06%, while the Nasdaq 100 is up +0.11%, as mixed trading follows a recovery in major tech stocks and rising energy prices, despite concerns over a hawkish Fed and weak economic data from China.
Federal Reserve Outlook: The likelihood of a Fed rate cut in December has decreased to 48% from 70% due to hawkish comments from Fed officials, raising concerns about inflation and economic resilience.
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Stocks: Bitcoin has fallen over -2% to a 6.25-month low, continuing a five-week sell-off, which has negatively impacted cryptocurrency-related stocks, with significant outflows from Bitcoin ETFs.
Corporate Earnings and Economic Data: Q3 earnings for S&P 500 companies have exceeded forecasts, with a 14.6% increase, while the government shutdown has delayed the release of key economic reports, impacting market sentiment.
US Stock Market Performance: The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq indices experienced declines of 0.90%, 1.06%, and 1.17% respectively, driven by concerns over a potential hawkish stance from the Federal Reserve and weak economic data from China.
Federal Reserve Rate Cut Speculation: The likelihood of a Fed rate cut in December has decreased to 51% from 70% due to Fed officials expressing skepticism about the need for further cuts, amidst a resilient economy and inflation uncertainties.
Impact of Government Shutdown: The recent government shutdown is projected to have reduced real GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points, although recovery is expected as federal programs resume and back pay is issued to government employees.
Corporate Earnings and Stock Movements: Q3 earnings for S&P 500 companies rose 14.6%, surpassing expectations, while several tech and cryptocurrency-related stocks faced significant declines, with notable movements in companies like Applied Materials and Stubhub Holdings.

VDMA Complaint: The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association has filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding unfair competition from Chinese mobile cranes, urging an investigation into their imports.
Industry Representation: The complaint is supported by major companies, including Manitowoc, Liebherr, Sennebogen, and Tadano, which collectively represent about 92% of the EU mobile crane industry.
Strategic Importance: The focus is on mobile cranes with a lifting capacity of at least 30 tons, essential for Europe's strategic independence in critical infrastructure, defense, and energy sectors.
Call for Fair Competition: Manitowoc's CEO emphasized the need for fair competition and urged the European Commission to address the material injury caused by Chinese dumping tactics to restore a level playing field in the EU.








