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Wondering how to pick strong, market-beating stocks for your investment portfolio? Look no further than the Zacks Style Scores.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

It also includes the Focus List, a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the elements to beat the market.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListBuilding an investment portfolio from scratch can be difficult, so if you could, wouldn't you take a peek at a curated list of top stocks?

That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.

What makes the Focus List even more helpful is that each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, which explains the reasoning behind every stock's selection and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Earnings estimates, or expectations of growth and profitability, come from brokerage analysts who track publicly traded companies; these analysts work together with company management to analyze every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

Earnings estimate revisions are very important, since investors also need to take into consideration what a company will earn in the future.

The stocks that receive positive changes to earnings estimates are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. Take this example: if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they'll probably do so again this month, and other analysts will follow.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model that utilizes changes to a company's quarterly earnings expectations to help investors build a winning portfolio.

Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Because stock prices react to revisions, buying stocks with rising earnings estimates can be very profitable. Focus List stocks offer investors a great opportunity to get into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Block (XYZ - Free Report) Block was incorporated in Delaware in 2009. The company does not designate a headquarters location, as it adopted a distributed work model in 2020. It has been an S&P 500 constituent since July 2025.

Since being added to the Focus List on March 28, 2017 at $17.25 per share, shares of XYZ have increased 362.78% to $79.83. The stock is currently a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $4.06. XYZ boasts an average earnings surprise of 7.3%.

Additionally, XYZ's earnings are expected to grow 71.3% for the current fiscal year.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in XYZ over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

, /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group News Commentary - Mordor Intelligence values the online trading platform market at $11.65 billion in 2025 and projects $18.18 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 7.66% from 2026 to 2031. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Quote Daddy (quotedaddy.com), Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBKR), Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe BZX: CBOE), Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ), and Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL).

A second forecaster lands in the same neighbourhood. Fortune Business Insights puts the market at $10.82 billion in 2025 and $11.57 billion in 2026, rising to $18.50 billion by 2034, a 6.00% compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2034, and points to AI-driven analytics, digital assets and mobile adoption as drivers. Both figures are third-party projections of market value, not revenue any single company will capture, and the gap in growth rates reflects different forecast windows and methods.

The Mordor report is specific about where the activity is. It says smartphones have become the primary entry point for retail investors, that retail investors accounted for 69.59% of platform volume in 2025, and that cloud-based deployment held 63.42% of the market. It also highlights API-based brokerage-as-a-service, which lets fintech companies embed trading without building a full broker-dealer. In other words, execution is becoming easier to supply, and the competitive question is shifting to information: who gives an individual investor the cleanest view of live quotes, company filings, insider activity and what large institutions are holding.

Share prices across the retail brokerage and investing-app group have been uneven this year, which makes recent operating results more informative than the sector label. This week's developments, covered below, come from a broker, an exchange operator, a consumer finance app and the platform that distributes many of the apps retail investors use. First, a look at a free tracking dashboard built for that information layer.

Quote Daddy Puts Live Quotes, SEC Filings and Top-Investor 13F Data in One Free Dashboard Covering U.S. and Canadian Markets

Free to use, with no credit card and no paywalls, according to the Quote Daddy site. U.S. stocks and ETFs on NYSE and Nasdaq stream live during market hours, with intraday sparklines on every watchlist row. Canadian coverage across TSX, TSX-V and CSE, with Canadian listings delayed by 15 minutes or more, per the app's FAQ. SEC filings and Form 4 insider activity on stock pages, including 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K documents. 13F filings from top investors and disclosed congressional trades on the Top Investors page. Quote Daddy describes itself with a single line: "Every quote that matters, in one clean dashboard." It is a free stock-tracking application for the web and desktop at app.quotedaddy.com, with iOS and Android apps. It is owned and operated by Market Equities Limited, the parent of this publication, a relationship disclosed in more detail below. Quote Daddy states that it is not a broker-dealer and that nothing in the app is financial, investment, tax or legal advice, which places it on the information side of the sector rather than the trading side.

The tracking layer. The platform's stock pages combine interactive candlestick charts from one day to the maximum range, five, ten and twenty-day moving averages and volume, live bid and ask spreads with sizes for U.S. stocks, and key fundamentals including market cap, price-to-earnings, earnings per share and dividend yield. Watchlists can be sorted by gainers and losers, carry private notes, sync across devices and be shared by link, and a portfolio view tracks live profit and loss, cost basis and dividends. A markets section covers indices, futures, crypto and top movers. These are the same categories of data the larger brokerage apps compete on, offered here without a subscription.

Filings and institutional positioning. The platform reads SEC filings inside the app and surfaces Form 4 insider transactions on each stock page. Its Top Investors section publishes the latest 13F filings from major fund managers, among them Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett and ARK Invest's Cathie Wood, alongside disclosed trades by members of Congress, and lets users import a portfolio into a watchlist in one tap. The site is direct about the limits: 13F filings and congressional disclosures are reported on a delay of roughly 45 days, so figures may be out of date. It also warns that the roughly one-year return figures shown on each profile are rough, illustrative approximations that are not verified, and that nothing on the page is an endorsement by, or affiliation with, any individual named.

AI summaries and sentiment. Quote Daddy adds plain-English explanations of stock moves, daily movement summaries with sector performance context, and retail sentiment drawn from StockTwits. Its FAQ says the briefings "won't tell you what to buy or sell" and "can occasionally get something wrong," and that nothing they write is financial advice. Market data is supplied by third parties, including Finnhub, and is provided for informational purposes only.

There are several risks associated with Quote Daddy and with the information in this commentary. Quote Daddy is owned by the same company that owns this publication, which is a conflict of interest and a reason to read this article critically. It is not a broker-dealer, does not execute trades and does not provide advice. Market data is supplied by third parties, may be delayed, and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete; Canadian quotes are delayed by 15 minutes or more. AI-generated summaries can be wrong, 13F and congressional data are reported with a delay and may be stale, and the one-year return figures on investor profiles are unverified approximations. The retail investing sector is crowded with large, well-funded brokers that also offer free tools, and the market-size forecasts above are projections that may not be realized. Nothing in this article should be used as the basis for an investment decision.

CONTINUED... Read this and more news about Quote Daddy at: quotedaddy.com

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBKR)

Interactive Brokers reported September 2026 metrics on October 1, with 4.111 million daily average revenue trades, 6% higher than a year earlier and 4% lower than August, and 5.576 million client accounts, 35% higher than a year earlier. Ending client equity was $964.7 billion, 27% higher than a year earlier and about even with the prior month, and client margin loan balances were $105.2 billion, up 36%. The average commission per cleared commissionable order was $2.57. The figures are listed on the Company's investor relations press release page.

On September 15, Interactive Brokers announced an integration with X Cashtags that it said "gives US investors a direct path from following stock and crypto conversations on X to trading on Interactive Brokers." New U.S. clients who open and fund a qualifying account through the Cashtags experience receive $100, and the feature is currently available to U.S.-based investors only. The release notes that the Company serves over 5 million client accounts worldwide.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe BZX: CBOE)

Cboe reported August 2026 trading volume on September 3, with average daily volume of 14,801 thousand contracts in multi-listed options, 5,743 thousand contracts in index options and 1,481 million matched shares in U.S. equities on-exchange. It said its mini-SPX (XSP) options set a monthly ADV record of 241 thousand contracts, eclipsing the previous record set in July.

In its second quarter results on July 31, Cboe reported total revenues of $1,442.8 million and net revenue of $731.6 million, up 25%, with diluted EPS of $3.35, up 50%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.56, up 45%. Options net revenue was a record $473.9 million, and the Company raised its 2026 organic net revenue growth target to "mid to high teens." Its materials also describe the divestiture of its Canadian business, and Cboe Canada is one of the venues whose delayed quotes Quote Daddy lists, so the ownership of that feed may change.

Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ)

Block's second quarter 2026 shareholder letter reported gross profit of $3.17 billion, up 25% year over year, with Cash App gross profit of $1.97 billion, up 31%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.02, up 65%. Cash App primary banking actives grew 17% year over year to 9.4 million. The Company raised its 2026 outlook to gross profit of $12.51 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $4.02.

Block also said Cash App expanded stablecoin support through an integration with USDC, while its bitcoin ecosystem gross profit declined 31% year over year after a deliberate decision to lower the fee charged on certain bitcoin transactions. Block did not report investing-specific figures in the letter, and Cash App is a consumer money app rather than a stock-tracking product.

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)

Apple reported fiscal third quarter 2026 revenue of $109.4 billion, up 16% year over year, and diluted EPS of $2.02, up 29%, which included a $0.11 favorable impact from tariff refunds. Services net sales were $30.739 billion, compared with $27.423 billion a year earlier. The Company called it its strongest June quarter ever in its results release.

On June 4, Apple said the App Store ecosystem facilitated over $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025 and saw over 850 million average weekly users across 175 countries and regions. Apple did not break out finance or investing apps. Its App Store announcement is relevant to this sector only because the App Store is a main way retail investing apps reach iPhone users.

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DISCLAIMER

Nothing in this publication should be considered personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation, and no communication from us should be deemed personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is neither an offer nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances.

This article is being distributed by USA News Group, which is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland ("Market Equities"). Quote Daddy is a stock-tracking application owned and operated by Market Equities. Market Equities therefore has a direct financial interest in the promotion of Quote Daddy, which constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding Quote Daddy. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged not to use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. No further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, has been reviewed and approved by Market Equities, the owner of Quote Daddy.

Neither Market Equities nor USA News Group has been paid by any company named in this article, including Interactive Brokers, Cboe, Block or Apple, for its publication.

While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in this publication is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful: investing in securities carries a high degree of risk, and you may lose some or all of your investment.

References to Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Cboe Global Markets, Inc., Block, Inc. and Apple Inc. are provided solely as market and sector context. Those companies are not peers, competitors, or financial comparables of Quote Daddy, none of them is involved in the preparation of this article, and their results are not indicative of Quote Daddy's prospects. Apple is referenced as an app distribution platform only. Cboe's planned divestiture of its Canadian business is described only as it relates to quote sources listed by Quote Daddy. Market-size figures are third-party projections of market value, not addressable revenue for any company. No partnership, affiliation, or endorsement is implied.

Cautionary Note on Market Data and AI Content. Quote Daddy is not a broker-dealer, does not execute trades and provides no investment, tax or legal advice. Market data on Quote Daddy is supplied by third parties, including Finnhub, is provided for informational purposes only, may be delayed and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs stream live during market hours, while Canadian listings are delayed, typically by 15 minutes or more. AI-generated briefings are educational only and can contain errors. Form 13F filings and congressional trade disclosures are reported on a delay of roughly 45 days and may be out of date. Return figures shown on investor profiles are rough, illustrative approximations that are not verified. Nothing in this article is an endorsement by, or indicates an affiliation with, any individual named.

Quote Daddy Disclosure. Quote Daddy is a stock-tracking application affiliated with the publisher of this article, and this reference constitutes promotion of an affiliated product. Quote Daddy is not a broker-dealer, and nothing in the application or in this article is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Market data provided in the application is for informational purposes only and may be delayed. Any in-app commentary or briefing content is educational only. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.

This publication may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about online trading platform market forecasts, the plans and results of the companies named, and the features and availability of Quote Daddy. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "may," and similar expressions identify such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. No obligation is undertaken to update any forward-looking statement. This document is governed by the laws of Ireland.

SOURCE USA News Group

Key Takeaways Square adds Etra and Cafe Telegrama, using one platform for QSR and full-service operations.Shared kitchen printers and Square hardware provide consistency across daytime and evening service.Etra uses Square's Resy integration to sync course status and improve front-of-house table visibility. Block’s (XYZ - Free Report) Square is expanding its restaurant presence with Etra and Cafe Telegrama, two sister restaurants in Los Angeles’ Melrose Hill neighborhood. The businesses have adopted Square’s unified commerce platform while operating from one shared kitchen. Cafe Telegrama operates as a daytime quick-service restaurant (QSR), while Etra serves as a full-service Italian restaurant in the evening.

The setup creates an operating challenge because the same kitchen supports two different service models. The restaurants use Square Register, Square Stand and Square Handheld for any order entry and payments, with orders sent directly from the point of sale to shared kitchen printers. This provides the kitchen with a consistent system for both Cafe Telegrama’s daytime menu and Etra’s dinner service.

Etra is also using Square’s integration with Resy. Course status entered in the POS, including appetizers, entrees and desserts, automatically syncs with the reservation system. That gives the front-of-house team visibility into each table’s status without having to check in person.

For Square, the deal shows how its restaurant tools can work across quick-service and full-service formats. The restaurants also cited the need for reliable reporting across both businesses, while savings on processing and software costs helped support the move to Square.

Recent Merchant Wins Highlight Square’s Restaurant MomentumOther recent deals point to broader traction. Ideal Nutrition, which operates 17 Florida stores and produces about 150,000 meals weekly, renewed and expanded its Square partnership as it targets 20 locations by year-end 2026. Whit’s Frozen Custard also moved 100 locations across 11 states to Square, with estimated savings of about $2,000 annually per location.

Parsons Bakery adopted Square across 48 shops in England and Wales, using Square for Restaurants Plus, Loyalty, Marketing and Online. This comes as Square’s second-quarter 2026 Gross Payment Volume (GPV) rose 13% to $72.8 billion, while food-and-beverage GPV increased 20%. Square gross profit also climbed 13% to $1.16 billion.

ConclusionThe Etra and Cafe Telegrama deal adds another proof point for Square’s restaurant push. Its ability to support different service models, centralize workflows and connect restaurant tools could help Square deepen adoption as food-and-beverage businesses scale.

Over the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have declined 6.3% against the industry's growth of 22.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the internet-software sector are BILL Holdings, Inc. (BILL - Free Report) and Arista Networks (ANET - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BILL’s fiscal 2027 earnings per share (EPS) has moved northward by 52 cents to $3.73 over the past two months.

The consensus estimate for ANET’s 2026 EPS has moved up 44 cents to $4.08 over the past two months.

Block (XYZ +0.14%), the company behind the Square payment terminals at retailers and the developer of the popular Cash App, is entering the banking business.

Well, sort of. Earlier this month, the financial company announced it had submitted the regulatory paperwork to establish an uninsured national trust bank. This will be called Builders Bank & Trust, or more simply, Builders Bank. This is an attempt to improve the company's under-the-hood operations, particularly with regards to its Bitcoin business.

Image source: Getty Images.

Banking on approval If the application is approved by the federal government's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Block would operate Builders Bank as a provider of custody and related fiduciary services. It specifically mentioned that it would offer such services for Bitcoin and stablecoins, although it didn't name any specific stablecoins.

While there are exceptions, the typical national trust bank differs from a retail or commercial bank in that it doesn't hold client deposits and offers no loans or other credit products. Instead, it primarily acts as a fiduciary (i.e., entity responsible for acting solely in the best financial interests of clients) in managing assets.

The emphasis on digital financial instruments is revealing. One advantage of operating a national trust bank for companies like Block is that it puts custodial and fiduciary activities under a single, nationwide charter overseen by a single regulator (the OCC). It also drastically reduces the need to pay custody fees for the managed assets.

That makes it much easier and notably less expensive to operate a Bitcoin and stablecoin business. Cryptocurrency is still somewhat of a tangle in terms of oversight and regulation in the U.S these days.

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Always bullish on Bitcoin Block embraced crypto years ago, specifically Bitcoin, both as a source of revenue (mainly through Cash App transactions) and a foundational digital currency for its treasury.

The app's users clearly like using it to buy and sell Bitcoin, as Bitcoin-derived revenue for the company in its most recently reported quarter was almost $1.9 billion -- nearly 29% of total net revenue for the period.

There's a major caveat here: under current accounting rules, the company books each total Bitcoin transaction as revenue. It keeps only a small slice of each transaction, which is why the Bitcoin business is low-margin (under 4%) with a gross profit of just over $72 million.

Block currently offers Cash App users the ability to transact in one stablecoin, USDC. However, this generates negligible revenue for the company, and its stablecoin operations are primarily aimed at facilitating quick transactions in other assets. That situation isn't likely to change with a national trust bank charter.

Regardless, I think this is a smart, considered move that could save Block plenty of time, effort, and capital in pursuing its crypto ambitions. Yet if I were an investor, I'd want a clearer picture of how the company plans to boost the profitability of its crypto activities. They aren't very lucrative at the moment.

Block (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by BTIG Research in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $100.00 price objective on the technology company’s stock. BTIG Research’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 30.68% from the company’s previous close.

XYZ has been the topic of a number of other reports. Monness Crespi & Hardt boosted their price target on Block from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Block from a “buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Craig Hallum started coverage on Block in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Susquehanna upped their price target on Block from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on shares of Block from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-nine have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $95.42.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Block

Block Trading Up 0.1% Shares of NYSE XYZ opened at $76.52 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $80.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $73.32. Block has a fifty-two week low of $48.21 and a fifty-two week high of $86.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 136.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 2.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 2.21 and a quick ratio of 2.21. Block (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The technology company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.54. Block had a return on equity of 8.10% and a net margin of 1.43%.The business had revenue of $6.62 billion during the quarter. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.62 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Block has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.020 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.020-1.020 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Block will post 2.74 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity In other news, Director Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.67, for a total value of $460,020.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 1,362,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $104,476,062.24. This represents a 0.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders sold 363,913 shares of company stock worth $29,462,126. Corporate insiders own 11.37% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Block Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in Block by 301.0% in the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 389 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Block in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Osbon Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Block during the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. Ancora Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Block in the 2nd quarter valued at about $53,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Block by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 707 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. 70.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Block Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Block, Inc is a global technology company that develops financial services and commerce tools for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2009 as Square, the company changed its corporate name to Block in 2021 to reflect the expansion of its operations beyond seller-focused payment solutions.

Through its Square ecosystem, Block provides payment processing, point-of-sale hardware and software, business banking, invoicing, payroll, inventory management and other tools for merchants. Its consumer-focused Cash App offers services that may include peer-to-peer payments, money transfers, investing, debit-card access and bitcoin-related functionality, subject to availability and applicable regulations.

Block also owns Afterpay, a buy now, pay later platform, and has operated additional businesses involving music streaming and bitcoin infrastructure.

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Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report) Director Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.54, for a total value of $465,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 1,374,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $106,592,066.88. This represents a 0.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Anthony Mathew Eisen also recently made the following trade(s):

On Wednesday, September 23rd, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.67, for a total transaction of $460,020.00. On Friday, September 18th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total transaction of $459,300.00. On Wednesday, September 16th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.36, for a total transaction of $470,160.00. On Monday, September 14th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.96, for a total transaction of $473,760.00. On Thursday, September 10th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.39, for a total transaction of $470,340.00. On Tuesday, September 8th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.18, for a total transaction of $493,080.00. On Friday, September 4th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.51, for a total transaction of $495,060.00. On Wednesday, September 2nd, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.30, for a total transaction of $463,800.00. On Monday, August 31st, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.58, for a total value of $495,480.00. On Friday, August 28th, Anthony Eisen sold 6,000 shares of Block stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.12, for a total value of $510,720.00. Block Trading Up 2.8% Shares of XYZ opened at $76.76 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $80.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $73.24. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 137.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 2.52. Block, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.21 and a 12-month high of $86.92.

Block (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The technology company reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.54. The company had revenue of $6.62 billion for the quarter. Block had a return on equity of 8.10% and a net margin of 1.43%.Block’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.62 EPS. Block has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.020 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.020-1.020 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Block, Inc. will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on XYZ shares. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Block in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $82.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Block from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Block from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. BTIG Research lifted their target price on shares of Block from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Block from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-nine have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.42.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Block

Institutional Trading of Block A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Block by 13.9% during the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 122,158 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $9,284,000 after acquiring an additional 14,887 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Block by 10.9% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 6,901 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $524,000 after purchasing an additional 676 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Block by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 15,836 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,204,000 after purchasing an additional 857 shares in the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP grew its holdings in shares of Block by 2,575.4% in the 2nd quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 571,414 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $43,427,000 after purchasing an additional 550,056 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cidel Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Block in the 2nd quarter worth about $229,000. 70.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Block Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Block, Inc is a global technology company that develops financial services and commerce tools for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2009 as Square, the company changed its corporate name to Block in 2021 to reflect the expansion of its operations beyond seller-focused payment solutions.

Through its Square ecosystem, Block provides payment processing, point-of-sale hardware and software, business banking, invoicing, payroll, inventory management and other tools for merchants. Its consumer-focused Cash App offers services that may include peer-to-peer payments, money transfers, investing, debit-card access and bitcoin-related functionality, subject to availability and applicable regulations.

Block also owns Afterpay, a buy now, pay later platform, and has operated additional businesses involving music streaming and bitcoin infrastructure.

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Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in shares of Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 617,929 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,531,000. Bank of America Corp DE owned about 0.10% of Block as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of XYZ. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Block by 301.0% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 389 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Block during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Block by 57.6% in the fourth quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 610 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the period. Osbon Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Block in the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Block by 33.9% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 707 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.44% of the company’s stock.

Block Stock Down 3.7% Shares of Block stock opened at $74.70 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 2.21 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The company has a 50-day moving average of $80.38 and a 200 day moving average of $73.17. The firm has a market cap of $44.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 133.39, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 2.52. Block, Inc. has a 1 year low of $48.21 and a 1 year high of $86.92.

Block (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The technology company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.54. Block had a net margin of 1.43% and a return on equity of 8.10%. The company had revenue of $6.62 billion during the quarter. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.62 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Block has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.020 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.020-1.020 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Block, Inc. will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Block In other news, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 43,348 shares of Block stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $3,467,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 557,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,612,320. This trade represents a 7.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Amrita Ahuja sold 9,511 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.43, for a total value of $783,991.73. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 423,262 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,889,486.66. This represents a 2.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 375,913 shares of company stock valued at $30,384,506. Corporate insiders own 11.37% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on XYZ shares. Benchmark upgraded Block to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Wolfe Research upped their price target on shares of Block from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $97.00 price target on shares of Block in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Block from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Block from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-nine have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Block presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $95.42.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on XYZ

Block Profile (Free Report)

Block, Inc is a global technology company that develops financial services and commerce tools for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2009 as Square, the company changed its corporate name to Block in 2021 to reflect the expansion of its operations beyond seller-focused payment solutions.

Through its Square ecosystem, Block provides payment processing, point-of-sale hardware and software, business banking, invoicing, payroll, inventory management and other tools for merchants. Its consumer-focused Cash App offers services that may include peer-to-peer payments, money transfers, investing, debit-card access and bitcoin-related functionality, subject to availability and applicable regulations.

Block also owns Afterpay, a buy now, pay later platform, and has operated additional businesses involving music streaming and bitcoin infrastructure.

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Key Takeaways Square will support Ideal Nutrition's franchise expansion across retail, loyalty, marketing and payroll.Ideal Nutrition uses Square across 17 stores, with three more under construction and 20 targeted by 2026.Square's AI could help forecast meal orders, while food-and-beverage GPV rose 20% in Q2 2026. Block Inc.’s (XYZ - Free Report) Square has renewed and expanded its partnership with Ideal Nutrition as the Florida-based prepared-meal company prepares for national franchise expansion. Ideal Nutrition operates 17 retail stores, has three more under construction and expects to reach 20 locations by the end of 2026 while evaluating markets outside Florida. Square will continue to serve as the unified commerce platform for its retail stores, franchise operations, loyalty program, marketing and payroll.

Ideal Nutrition has used Square in every retail store since opening its first location. Its current setup includes Square Register, Square Handheld and Square for Franchises, which gives corporate management a centralized view while allowing franchisees to manage their own Square accounts. Square’s ‘Menu’ feature also helps the company manage a rotating lineup of more than 40 meals across stores and ordering channels.

The partnership extends beyond payments. Ideal Nutrition connects Square with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, uses Square Online for same-day pickup and relies on Square Payroll, Shifts, Loyalty and Marketing. Its email campaigns have generated open rates of about 47%. Since the start of 2025, customers have earned more than 17 million loyalty points and redeemed over 64%, resulting in more than 110,000 gifted meals.

The next step could further deepen Square’s role. Ideal Nutrition is exploring Square’s AI capabilities for store-level meal-order forecasting based on sales trends and seasonal history. The initiative aligns with Square’s broader efforts to use AI to help sellers automate operations, improve efficiency and make smarter decisions using data available across its platform. It could also deepen Ideal Nutrition’s use of Square’s integrated ecosystem as the company expands its franchise footprint.

Ideal Nutrition’s expansion comes as Square gains momentum among food-and-beverage and larger sellers. In the second quarter of 2026, Square Gross Payment Volume (GPV) rose 13% year over year to $72.8 billion, while food-and-beverage GPV increased 20%. Square gross profit also grew 13% to $1.16 billion, driven by stronger payments volume and increased software adoption.

Other Recent PartnershipsIdeal Nutrition follows several recent Square wins. Whit’s Frozen Custard moved its 100 locations across 11 states onto Square Register, Square KDS, Square for Restaurants and Square for Franchises, with estimated annual savings of about $2,000 per franchisee location. In the U.K., Parsons Bakery adopted Square across 48 shops in 10 counties, bringing payments, loyalty, marketing and online ordering onto a single platform.

Cascadia Pizza Co. also returned to Square in August 2026, using Square for Restaurants and Square Franchise Suite across a business that includes 17 corporate restaurants, franchises, food trucks and catering operations across five states. Together, these deals highlight Square’s gaining traction with multi-location and franchise food businesses that need more than payment processing.

For Block, the Ideal Nutrition expansion is particularly meaningful because it demonstrates how an existing seller can deepen its use of Square’s ecosystem as it grows, potentially supporting higher software adoption, seller retention and payment volume over time.

Over the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 5.8% compared with the industry's growth of 21%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the internet-software sector are BILL Holdings, Inc. (BILL - Free Report) and MongoDB (MDB - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BILL’s fiscal 2027 earnings per share (EPS) has moved 37 cents northward to $3.69 over the past month.

The consensus estimate for MDB’s fiscal 2027 EPS has moved up 44 cents to $6.50 over the past month.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

Anthony Mathew Eisen, Director at Block (XYZ -0.21%), reported a direct sale of 18,000 shares of common stock, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$1.5 millionShares sold18,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)1,452,672Post-transaction value$113.1 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($82.58); post-transaction value based on Sept. 1, 2026, market close ($77.88).

Key questionsWhat regulatory framework governed this transaction?
The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on March 2, 2026, which allows company insiders to schedule stock trades in advance to mitigate concerns regarding non-public information.How did the execution price align with the recent market context?
The shares were sold at $82.58 per share, while the stock was priced at $82.02 as of the Aug. 31, 2026, market close, following a 2% one-year loss as of the transaction date.What is the director's remaining equity footprint in the company?
Following this transaction, the director retains direct ownership of 1,452,672 shares, with a market value of approximately $113.1 million as of the close on Sept. 1, 2026.How does the transaction relate to the company's business operations?
As a director of a company that develops hardware solutions and payment tools for merchants, the insider benefits from this scheduled liquidity event, while maintaining a significant equity stake in the firm.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-31)$82.02Market Capitalization$46 billionRevenue (TTM)$25 billionNet Income (TTM)$357.1 millionCompany SnapshotBlock develops comprehensive payment processing solutions and hardware platforms that enable merchants to accept card payments, including traditional Magstripe readers and advanced Contactless and chip readers supporting EMV and Near Field Communication technologies.The company generates revenue through a diversified model encompassing payment processing fees, hardware sales, and value-added services, including robust reporting, analytics, and next-day fund settlement for merchant customers.Block primarily serves small- to medium-sized merchants and enterprises seeking integrated payment infrastructure, with a focus on businesses that require flexible, scalable solutions for card transaction processing and financial visibility.Block operates as a leading infrastructure software provider in the payments ecosystem, serving a substantial merchant base through its integrated hardware and software platform. With $25 billion in TTM revenue and a market capitalization of $46 billion, the company has established significant scale within the financial technology sector. The company's competitive differentiation centers on its comprehensive suite of payment-processing tools, real-time analytics capabilities, and settlement-acceleration features that address critical operational needs for merchants across diverse industries.

Today's Change

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Current Price

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76.47

What this transaction means for investorsThrough several transactions conducted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, Eisen sold 18,000 shares, with the total transaction valued at approximately $1.5 million. On the surface, that may sound concerning for shareholders, given the amount of shares sold. However, the transaction is largely routine. It was established under a trading plan set up in March 2026, so the sale of 18,000 shares isn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. Additionally, Eisen still holds over 1.4 million shares, indicating continued alignment with the company's future success. With all of those details, this isn't a sale that should worry shareholders.

With shares up just 1% over the last year, Block stock has found more footing in 2026, climbing 17.4% thus far. In comparison, over the same period, the S&P 500 is up 11.5%. For what could be next for Block stock, analysts are generally bullish. Of the 50 who cover the stock, 80% rate it a buy, while 20% rate it a hold, according to CNN. From that group, the median one-year price target is $100, representing a potential gain of 30.7% from today's price of $76.47.

Fintech stock Block Inc (NYSE:XYZ) is up 1.6% at $80.45 at last glance, enjoying a 23.1% gain since the start of the year.

Block, Inc. (XYZ) Presents at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026 Transcript

The biggest debate around artificial intelligence has centered on whether it will create widespread unemployment. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood argue the opposite: AI will increase demand for workers and create labor shortages.

Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, Bezos once again dismissed concerns that AI will make humans redundant, arguing instead that the technology will expand what businesses can achieve.

“I totally disagree with this point of view. And I think, in fact, AI is going to create a labor shortage,” Bezos said at a tech conference in Paris in June.

As AI helps businesses automate routine work and lower the cost of creating new products and services, companies are likely to pursue opportunities that were previously uneconomical, he argues. That will increase—not reduce—the need for human workers.

Yet, Amazon — as well as Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Block (NYSE:XYZ) — are restructuring and redirecting resources toward AI while also cutting thousands of jobs.

Read Next

Bezos maintains that AI will ultimately help people feel less constrained and remove barriers to success.

Wood, citing findings from payroll software provider Ramp, made a similar claim: Companies adopting AI are adding employees faster than their peers. Demographic trends—including retiring baby boomers and tighter immigration—are shrinking the available labor force, she added.

As a result, businesses will be competing for workers even as AI adoption accelerates, she said.

The AI Job Apocalypse Hasn’t Arrived—YetEntry-level roles face the greatest disruption, Woods said. Still, she advised younger workers to use AI as a tool to build businesses, solve problems and create new opportunities rather than compete with the technology.

So far, job losses due to AI adoption have fallen short of expectations, according to a McKinsey survey. Last week, the firm reported that 32% of survey respondents in 2025 anticipated headcount reductions due to AI, yet only 14 percent reported workforce reductions a year later.

Two-thirds of respondents in 2026 reported little or no AI-related change in their organizations’ total employment during the previous year. However, 39% said they expect AI to reduce headcount at their organizations over the next year.

Read Next

Image via Shutterstock/ Shutterstock AI

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Block aims to establish a national trust bank that would provide custody and related fiduciary services, including those for bitcoin and stablecoins, the company said in a Tuesday (Sept. 8) press release.

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Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

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Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Because stock prices react to revisions, buying stocks with rising earnings estimates can be very profitable. Focus List stocks offer investors a great opportunity to get into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Block (XYZ - Free Report) Block was incorporated in San Francisco in 2009. The company does not designate a headquarters location, as it adopted a distributed work model in 2020. It has been an S&P 500 constituent since July 2025.

On March 28, 2017, XYZ was added to the Focus List at $17.25 per share. Shares have increased 383.3% to $83.37 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.

12 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.14 to $4.04. XYZ boasts an average earnings surprise of 7.3%.

Moreover, analysts are expecting XYZ's earnings to grow 70.5% for the current fiscal year.

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Block says it is opening its Cash App score to external lenders for the first time. Using Nova Credit as a distribution partner, Block will make Cash App's proprietary, cash flow-based credit score available to lenders via Nova Credit's Cash Flow Intelligence Platform, the company announced Tuesday (Sept.

ARK shifted more than $50 million into Block and Rocket Lab while trimming several high-profile growth names. Summary

ARK bought $38.1 million of BlockARK added $12.8 million of Rocket Lab

Cathie Wood's ARK Invest announced another major portfolio rotation, pumping more than $50 million into Block and Rocket Lab while cutting Palantir and many other growth stocks.

The firm bought 456,059 shares of Block (XYZ, Financials) through certain exchange-traded funds, worth around $38.1 million. ARK also purchased 200,303 shares of Rocket Lab worth about $12.8 million.

The purchases are a sign that Wood is continuing to double down on fintech, online assets, and commercial space. The other side of the trade was equally amazing.

ARK liquidated roughly $26 million worth of Palantir shares, dumping 139,456 shares in a recent pullback in its position to the AI software business.

The company also sold around $4 million of Advanced Micro Devices, $12.3 million of Shopify and roughly $10.9 million of Tempus AI.

Rocket Lab reported record revenue of $234.1 million for the second quarter, up 62% year over year, but a loss of $0.08 per share that was more than projected.

The bigger message to investors is clear: Wood is shifting funds away from some of ARK's best performers and into fintech and space stocks where she seems to see more opportunity.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

The majority of this disposition was non-discretionary tax withholding from RSU vesting.

Block's Neighborhoods Adds 30,000 More Sellers as Square and Cash App Help Build Local Commerce Network Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) today announced that Neighborhoods, the experience that connects Square sellers with Cash App customers to drive discovery, repeat visits, and local growth, has added 30,000 more sellers to the network, up nearly 10x from June. The expansion marks a new phase for Neighborhoods as Square and Cash App scale a local commerce network for both sellers and customers.

Built into their existing Square Point of Sale, Neighborhoods gives local businesses a new way to earn repeat visits. Customers can earn Local Cash2 equal to 10% of their order subtotal, up to $10 per order, on qualifying purchases with participating Neighborhoods sellers, then redeem it on a future visit. Cash App funds Local Cash during an initial period,3 giving sellers a no-cost way to reward customers and encourage repeat visits. Participating sellers appear on the map in the Neighborhoods tab in Cash App, where customers can discover and follow the businesses they love.

"Neighborhoods helps local businesses get discovered by new customers and then turn that first visit into a lasting relationship,” said Owen Jennings, Executive Officer and Head of Business, Block. “We're seeing a business's most loyal customers come back more often and spend more, which creates the repeat behavior that helps local businesses grow and thrive.”

Once a customer follows a business on Neighborhoods, the seller can reach them directly with marketing campaigns in Cash App, designed to bring followers back. New customers who follow a participating business and make a qualifying purchase may also receive a Cash App-funded first-time $5 Local Cash bonus.4

A model built to scale

Square has made Neighborhoods available to more eligible sellers through their existing Square Point of Sale. As of June 2026, Neighborhoods had scaled to sellers that represent a total of $1 billion in annualized gross payment volume (GPV), up more than 220% from March 2026.5

In June 2026, Neighborhoods became available on additional Square hardware, including Square Terminal, more than doubling the number of eligible sellers. Spend from followers reached 10% of seller GPV on average after three quarters on Neighborhoods, making them among the highest-value customers a seller can build.⁵

"We want to sell more coffee, build more regulars, and give people more reasons to come back – and Neighborhoods helps us do just that. Because it’s integrated with Square and Cash App, the experience feels seamless for our team and our customers, from updating menu availability in real time to letting customers order ahead and redeem Local Cash in store. We’ve seen it become part of people’s daily routines, including a longtime customer and dad on the go who uses it almost every day to order ahead before work,” said Hayden Swiderski, Applications Order Manager at Night Swim Coffee in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"Our vision at Keva Juice has always been to create an uplifting experience that gives customers a reason to return. Neighborhoods builds on that by connecting local businesses through one experience, instead of asking customers to keep up with another standalone app or isolated loyalty program. With Square and Cash App built in together, the technology does more of the work for us, so our team can stay focused on serving customers and creating the experience that keeps them coming back," said Gary Thomas, owner and CEO of Keva Juice with locations across Nevada and Colorado.

What's next

Block is ramping auto-enablement across the country and testing new ways to build density in local markets, including pairing seller activation with dedicated account management. The company is also focused on increasing awareness of Neighborhoods among Square sellers' employees.

To learn more about Neighborhoods, visit squareup.com/us/en/neighborhoods.

About Block

Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. Tidal is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we’re helping build a financial system that is open to everyone. Block.xyz.

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). See cash.app for more details.

1 Based on 26,260 enrolled customer–seller pairs and 162,404 comparison pairs at the 44 highest-adoption Neighborhoods sellers based on the top 10%, measured since 1/28/26 with at least 90 days of history per customer. Sellers were selected by share of transactions involving Local Cash. Enrollment is customer-initiated; differences reflect observed behavior, not a measured effect of the program.
2 Local Cash is for promotional purposes only and has no cash value. Terms and restrictions apply.
3 Cash App currently funds the cost of Local Cash rewards for the first 12 months. Not transferable or redeemable for cash. Offers and program terms subject to change. Additional terms apply.
4 Local Cash welcome bonus limited to one per customer, available for a limited time, when a customer makes a qualifying purchase and follows their first Neighborhoods seller. Valid Cash App account required. Local Cash offers may vary and are subject to change.
5 Block, Inc. Q2 2026 results

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260825494603/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 34,107 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,299,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of XYZ. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Block during the second quarter valued at $621,703,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. bought a new position in Block during the 2nd quarter valued at about $535,305,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in Block during the 4th quarter valued at about $484,387,000. Viking Global Investors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Block during the 2nd quarter valued at about $368,213,000. Finally, Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Block by 41.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 16,023,441 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,042,966,000 after acquiring an additional 4,727,217 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.44% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Block from $82.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Block from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Block in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. BTIG Research lifted their target price on shares of Block from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $97.00 target price on shares of Block in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Block presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $95.84.

View Our Latest Analysis on XYZ Block Trading Down 1.5% Block stock opened at $83.58 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $79.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.09. The company has a market cap of $50.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 149.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 2.53. Block, Inc. has a 52-week low of $48.21 and a 52-week high of $86.92. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Block (NYSE:XYZ – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The technology company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.54. Block had a net margin of 1.43% and a return on equity of 8.10%. The firm had revenue of $6.62 billion during the quarter. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.62 EPS. Block’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Block has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.020 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.020-1.020 EPS. Analysts predict that Block, Inc. will post 2.72 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Block In other Block news, CFO Amrita Ahuja sold 9,511 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.43, for a total value of $783,991.73. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 423,262 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,889,486.66. This trade represents a 2.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 8,173 shares of Block stock in a transaction on Monday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.42, for a total transaction of $673,618.66. Following the transaction, the insider owned 513,981 shares in the company, valued at $42,362,314.02. This represents a 1.57% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 501,756 shares of company stock valued at $39,582,259. 11.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Block (Free Report)

Block (NYSE:XYZ) is a financial technology company that builds products and services to facilitate electronic payments, commerce, and consumer finance. Its principal business lines include a seller-focused ecosystem that provides point-of-sale hardware and software, payment processing, invoicing, payroll and lending services, and a consumer-facing platform that offers peer-to-peer payments, banking-like features, and investing. Block’s portfolio also encompasses music streaming and buy-now-pay-later capabilities through businesses acquired to broaden its reach beyond core payments.

The company was founded as Square in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey and later rebranded to Block to reflect a diversified set of businesses across payments, consumer finance, and emerging technologies.

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Esperanza Chrysty, the chief legal officer of Block, Inc. (XYZ -0.95%), disposed of 8,376 shares on August 20 to satisfy tax obligations associated with the settlement of equity awards, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold8,376Transaction value~$670,750Post-transaction shares (directly held)252,964Post-transaction value~$20.26 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($80.08); post-transaction value based on the August 20 market close ($80.08).

Key questionsWas this a discretionary market trade?
The disposition was a non-discretionary transaction executed to cover income tax and withholding obligations connected to the net settlement of restricted stock units and does not represent a shift in the executive's investment outlook.What is the executive's remaining exposure to the company?
Chrysty retains a direct stake of 252,964 shares, representing approximately 0.04% of the company's outstanding equity, and the executive also holds derivative securities.What were the mechanics of the share disposition?
The shares were withheld by the issuer rather than sold on the open market, specifically to satisfy remittance obligations arising from the vesting of restricted stock units.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-21)$82.16Market Capitalization$48.9 billionRevenue (TTM)$25.0 billionNet Income (TTM)$357.1 millionCompany SnapshotBlock, Inc. develops and operates a comprehensive payment processing platform that enables merchants to accept card payments through hardware solutions, including Magstripe readers and EMV-compatible contactless and chip readers, and provides advanced reporting, analytics, and next-day fund settlement capabilities.The company generates revenue through transaction processing fees, hardware sales, software subscriptions, and value-added services that support merchant operations across payment acceptance and financial management.Block serves a diverse merchant base ranging from small independent retailers to enterprise-level organizations seeking integrated payment processing solutions and business intelligence tools.Block, Inc. operates as a leading infrastructure software provider in the financial technology sector with a market capitalization of $48.9 billion and TTM revenue of $25.0 billion. The company has established a competitive advantage through its integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and financial services that streamline merchant payment operations. With 10,205 employees and its headquarters in Oakland, Block continues to expand its market presence through innovation in payment-processing technology and merchant enablement solutions.

What this transaction means for investorsChrysty had 8,376 shares withheld when equity awards settled, a small piece of a stake that includes 250,000 shares. More importantly for long-term investors, however, the move comes amid a shaky time for Block and its stock. The company paid $45 million on July 8 to settle claims from 46 state attorneys general that it oversold Cash App's fraud protections, plus $20 million the same day to Washington over pandemic unemployment transfers.

Those obligations can run straight into the growth plan. Cash App consumer lending originated $18.9 billion in the second quarter, up 59% from a year earlier, and Square Financial Services, Block's industrial bank, began taking seller deposits at 3.5% APY and processed its first acquiring transactions in June. Owning the bank means owning the compliance, and CFO Amrita Ahuja pitched that on the August 5 call as something that gives Block "a direct connection to our regulators." That connection has been expensive lately. The state settlement also requires live customer support and faster handling of unauthorized-transaction claims, which shows up as an ongoing operating cost rather than a one-time charge, right as Block guides third-quarter gross profit growth down to 18% from the 25% it just delivered.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Block. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Brian Grassadonia, ecosystem lead at Block, Inc. (XYZ -0.95%), reported a disposal of 17,765 shares this past week in an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$1.4 millionShares sold17,765Post-transaction shares (directly held)513,981Post-transaction value$41.83 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($81.16); post-transaction value based on the August 24 market close ($81.38).

Key questionsWhat governed the timing and execution of these dispositions?
The transactions were executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on June 2, 2025, and included shares withheld to satisfy income tax obligations arising from the settlement of restricted stock units.How does this sale impact the insider's total equity stake?
Grassadonia reduced his direct ownership by 3% in this filing while retaining a direct position of 513,981 shares and additional equity through derivative securities.What is the current market context for the stock?
Shares were priced at $82.16 as of the August 21 market close, and the company has delivered a one-year total return of 3% as of the transaction date.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-21)$82.16Market Capitalization$48.9 billionRevenue (TTM)$25.0 billionNet Income (TTM)$357.1 millionCompany SnapshotBlock, Inc. develops comprehensive payment processing solutions that enable merchants to accept card transactions via proprietary hardware readers, including Magstripe and EMV-compliant contactless and chip readers, and generates revenue from transaction processing fees and hardware sales.The company operates a transaction-based business model whereby it derives revenue from payment processing fees, merchant services, and the sale of point-of-sale hardware and software solutions that facilitate card acceptance and fund settlement.Block serves a diverse merchant base ranging from small independent retailers to mid-market enterprises seeking integrated payment processing, analytics, and working capital solutions in the financial technology infrastructure sector.Block, Inc. is a leading financial technology infrastructure provider with a market capitalization of $48.9 billion and TTM revenues of $25.0 billion, positioning the company as a significant player in the global payments ecosystem. The company's competitive advantage derives from its integrated suite of hardware and software solutions that streamlines payment acceptance, provides actionable merchant analytics, and accelerates fund settlement with next-day availability. With a strategic focus on merchant empowerment through technology, Block maintains a robust platform designed to address the evolving needs of payment processing in an increasingly digital commerce environment.

What this transaction means for investorsGrassadonia sold 17,765 shares under a trading plan adopted on June 2, 2025, with part of the total withheld for taxes on settled stock, leaving 513,981 shares in his direct name. Fourteen months between adoption and execution takes the timing question off the table here. The company's growth story is much more important for investors, especially now: Cash App monthly transacting actives reached 59 million in June, up just 3%, and that slowing growth rattled investors and sent the stock down about 6% the day after the company's latest earnings report, despite a record 27% operating margin and a guidance raise. Cash App gross profit still grew 31% to $1.97 billion with inflows per active user up 9%, so Block is earning more from a base that has stopped widening.

For now, Block's answer is Neighborhoods, the program that steers Cash App users to Square sellers. Annualized seller GPV on it crossed $1 billion in June and grew 220% year over year, and on the company earnings call this month, Business Lead Owen Jennings said that spend from followers reaches about 10% of a seller's GPV within three quarters, and management plans to spend harder on it in the back half, which makes the next report an important signal as to whether linking the two ecosystems adds users or just deepens the ones already there.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Block. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Cash App gross profit rose 31%, led by 43% growth in Financial Solutions.Block's Cash App Borrow origination volume surged 59% to $18.9 billion.Cash App's monetization rate improved to 1.65% as inflows per active rose 9%. Block (XYZ - Free Report) delivered a strong performance in the second quarter of 2026, with Cash App generating $1.97 billion in gross profit, up 31% year over year. The growth was driven mainly by Financial Solutions, up 43%, while Commerce Enablement increased 18%. Monthly transacting actives grew only 3%, indicating that Cash App's performance is driven by deeper customer engagement rather than rapid user growth. Primary Banking Actives rose 17%, while inflows per active increased 9%, highlighting engagement.

A major contributor was Cash App Borrow, with Consumer Lending origination volume increasing 59% year over year to $18.9 billion. Commerce Enablement volume also rose 17% to $56.5 billion, supported by Cash App Card and Afterpay BNPL. The monetization rate improved from 1.53% to 1.65%, demonstrating that Cash App is generating more value from its existing customer base.

However, sustaining growth will not be without challenges. Management expects Borrow growth to normalize as Block faces tougher comparisons, while loan-related losses have increased with higher lending volumes. Bitcoin Ecosystem gross profit declined, and Cash App sales and marketing expenses increased 28%. These factors highlight the need for Block to diversify its growth drivers while maintaining profitability.

The long-term outlook remains positive as Block continues to build a diversified Cash App ecosystem across Card, BNPL, primary banking, Cash App Pay, Neighborhoods, families and teens products, Tags and Cash App Mobile. With avenues to deepen engagement, increase product adoption and expand monetization, Block has the potential to sustain healthy growth. The key will be converting customer relationships into financial activity.

How Are Block’s Competitors Faring?PayPal’s (PYPL - Free Report) revenues increased 5% to $8.7 billion in the second quarter of 2026, while total payment volume (TPV) grew 10% to $486.4 billion. Venmo TPV was particularly strong, increasing 14% year over year, while transactions per active account rose 3%. PayPal also raised its full-year 2026 outlook, reflecting improving momentum across Venmo, Braintree and financial services.

SoFi (SOFI - Free Report) also delivered strong growth in second-quarter 2026, reporting record net revenues of approximately $1.2 billion and net income of $157 million. The company continued to benefit from strong member and product growth, supported by its integrated digital-financial-services platform.

XYZ’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Block have risen 17.6% over the past three months, which outperformed the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of forward 12-month P/E, XYZ stock is trading at 17.02X, which is at a discount to the Zacks Internet Software industry’s 27.33X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Block’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward over the past week. It indicates a significant increase year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Block currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Stock to Watch: Block (XYZ - Free Report) Block, Inc. was incorporated in San Francisco in 2009. The company does not designate a headquarters location as it adopted a distributed work model in 2021. It has been an S&P 500 constituent since July 2025.

XYZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 19.72; value investors should take notice.

12 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.15 to $4.03 per share. XYZ boasts an average earnings surprise of +7.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, XYZ should be on investors' short list.