Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Applied Digital's top executives started buying shares after a steep selloff, and now the stock is surging back alongside Riot and Core Scientific. Whether that insider conviction holds up against a heavy debt load and a critical construction deadline is…

AI data center stocks are rallying, and the strongest gains belong to the operators building high-performance computing capacity for hyperscale tenants. Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD) stock is at $19.56, up 10%, marking the biggest rebound in the group. Even with the jump, Applied Digital shares are down 20% year to date (YTD), a measure of how far the stock fell before its top executives stepped in as buyers.

Meanwhile, Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT | RIOT Price Prediction) stock is at $13.44, up 7%, clearing the broader data center group by a wide margin. Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ) stock is at $14.10, up 4%, the smallest of the three operator gains but firmly in step with the rebound.

At the sector level, the Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (NASDAQ:DTCR) is up 2%, a far smaller gain than any of the three operators. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is up 0.6%, so the broad market is lending only modest support to the data center trade.

Data Center Operators Lead the AI Infrastructure Rebound
That gap between those operators and the Global X fund shows where the buying is landing. Data center real estate owners and tower companies fill the fund’s four largest positions, and Applied Digital stock carried a 4.5% weight as of May 31, a small slice next to those landlords.

Applied Digital hosts high-performance computing workloads for hyperscale customers and provides energized space to crypto miners, while Core Scientific serves both Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing, and Riot produces the cryptocurrency and is developing its power for data center use.

Riot stock is up 6% YTD, while Core Scientific shares are down 3% over the same span. Mining gives both companies a second revenue stream, though it also ties part of their results to Bitcoin’s swings, and each shift toward data center leasing carries the upside case for Riot and Core Scientific, along with the same construction and financing risks facing Applied Digital.

APLD Stock: The Bull and Bear Cases
Hyperscale hosting anchors the bull case for Applied Digital, and the question is how quickly that business fills new capacity. As of August 31, the company had 1.41 GW (gigawatts) of leased critical IT load across five campuses, representing about $36 billion of contracted revenue over initial base terms. Earlier this month, chief executive and chairman Wes Cummins and president Jason Zhang each bought Applied Digital shares in the open market after the stock had fallen sharply.

The bear case is that Applied Digital’s build-out depends on financing and tenants arriving on schedule, and insider buying leaves that dependence unchanged. Debt at Applied Digital already finances part of the plan. The company closed $1.59 billion of 7% senior secured notes to fund a third high-performance computing building at Polaris Forge 1, planned at 150 MW (megawatts). Delays at any campus could push rental revenue further out while interest costs keep accruing.

Applied Digital’s Insider Buying Meets Its Build-Out Timeline
Applied Digital expects initial operations at Polaris Forge 2 in Harwood to lift delivered critical IT load across its North Dakota campuses to 300 MW by the end of this year. That target gives the insider purchases a near-term checkpoint, since powered megawatts are what convert signed leases into rental revenue.

The next test for Applied Digital is whether it signs another hyperscale lease to fill the capacity it’s bringing online. The company has also secured up to 1 GW of potential power capacity in Finland, a longer-dated option. Investors weighing their APLD share exposure should be aware of the stock’s volatility and financing risks when sizing their positions.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Apple (AAPL - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Computer - Micro Computers industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This maker of iPhones, iPads and other products has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.14%.

For the most recent quarter, Apple was expected to post earnings of $1.88 per share, but it reported $1.91 per share instead, representing a surprise of 1.60%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.92 per share, while it actually produced $2.01 per share, a surprise of 4.69%.

Price and EPS Surprise

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Apple lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Apple has an Earnings ESP of +0.69% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on November 2, 2026.

Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) remains a major AI investment story as the company expands its infrastructure partnerships, scales Muse internationally and works to turn rising AI usage into profitable revenue.

The stock traded nearly 1% lower Tuesday even as the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.97%. Communication Services rose 0.1%.

Nvidia Expands AI Partnership With MetaNVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Meta expanded their AI partnership around Meta’s Muse family of models, while NVIDIA plans a $3 billion equity investment tied to Meta’s equity offering.

The companies aim to improve training and inference performance while lowering operating costs.

Their expanded collaboration also includes NVIDIA’s OpenShell Reference Architecture, OpenShell for secure AI-agent deployment and NVIDIA Sentry for monitoring agent behavior.

BNP Paribas Sees $8 Billion Muse OpportunityBNP Paribas analyst Nick Jones maintained an Outperform rating and a $940 price forecast, implying 49% upside from the Oct. 26 reference price of $630.60.

Jones estimates Meta spends about $180 annually, or roughly $15 per month, to serve the average free-tier Muse user.

He estimates monthly costs of about $90 for Power users and $570 for Maximum-tier users, leaving the product unprofitable at current cost levels.

Cost Reductions Could Drive 2027 Break-EvenJones said Meta aims to reduce Muse serving costs by 10 times over the next year, which could allow the product to reach gross-profit break-even as early as 2027.

However, he cautioned that users may consume more tokens as they find additional uses for Muse, potentially offsetting some efficiency gains.

Jones believes Meta would need users to complete dozens of transactions annually to break even without substantial cost reductions.

Muse Revenue Could Top $8 Billion By 2028Jones estimates Muse could generate more than $8 billion in incremental revenue by 2028 with positive gross margins if Meta combines subscriptions with payment transaction fees and advertising.

He said monetization could take longer as Meta experiments with business models and continues prioritizing adoption and engagement.

Jones highlighted Muse’s recent launch in Japan and expects additional international rollouts.

He sees Meta’s large existing distribution base as an advantage in attracting users and testing new monetization approaches.

Technical AnalysisMeta trades 11.4% below its 20-day SMA and 5.8% below its 50-day SMA, reflecting weaker near-term momentum.

The stock also sits 0.6% below its 100-day SMA and 0.8% below its 200-day SMA, leaving it just under its longer-term trend measures.

Top ETF ExposureThe Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (NYSE:IGPT) holds an 8.32% weight in Meta, while the Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF (NYSE:LSGR) carries a 9.04% weighting.

The VanEck Communication Services TruSector ETF (NASDAQ:TRUC) holds a 9.46% weight in the stock.

Significant inflows or outflows from these funds can translate into corresponding trading activity in META shares.

META Price Action: Meta Platforms shares were down 1.00% at $624.26 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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

Google DeepMind released its newest world model, Genie 4, in research preview on Tuesday. The latest model generates the most photorealistic and interactive worlds yet, allowing users to type prompts mid-simulation to change the scene. The model also generates real-time audio that matches the simulated world, including music, ambient noises, and interactive dialogue.

The release of Genie 4 comes a couple of months after AI video startup Runway released its second world model, GWM Worlds 2, a playable model that responds dynamically to user inputs and includes audio generation. At the same time, the world model industry is beginning to consolidate. Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs is being acquired by AMD, Amazon is in talks to buy Decart, and Rivian just acquired Third Dimension to bring simulation capabilities in-house for self-driving testing. 

Genie 4 is Google’s latest move to stay ahead in the crowded field. 

Google released its predecessor, Genie 3, as a research preview a little over a year ago. Aside from being far more photorealistic and featuring audio, Genie 4 allows for freeform edits, like changing the weather or camera angle in real time or adding new people or objects. It can maintain a consistent scene for up to two minutes, double its predecessor’s limit, and offers better physics and more human-like characters. 

Gemini, Google’s AI model, is also more closely integrated with Genie 4, acting as the director that plans steps and checks frames while Genie creates the visuals. In a research experiment tied to Gemini Robotics, a Gemini 4 Argon model broke down tasks into steps that Genie 4 simulated in real time. The experiment shows a possible way to test robot scenarios in simulation before they happen in the real world.

“What we’ll increasingly see in the future are these hybrid world models, where you have a combination of Gemini writing code and text, and Genie ingesting that in real time and simulating reality at different levels of abstraction,” Tejas Kulkarni, research director at Google, said during a briefing. 

As with other world models, the pitched commercial use cases include gaming, interactive learning, and robotics. One speculative example of interactive learning would be entering a painting of a historical scene and chatting to the painting’s subjects about the event portrayed.

But “trusted testers” — the people who get first access to Google cutting-edge products — are pointing to a possible new use: prototyping films.

“The real time aspect becomes most valuable in the areas where keeping a state of flow in the creativity space becomes incredibly useful,” Diego Rivas, a Google DeepMind engineer, said during a press briefing. “For example, in the ideation phase, in the storyboarding phase — anytime you’re kind of in need of rapid ideation.”

Google also offers Veo, its AI video generation model that makes high-definition clips with built-in synchronized audio from text, image, or video prompts — a tool that has been growing in popularity among filmmakers. 

Rivas added that users could, eventually, rely on Gemini Omni, a multimodal large language model that can generate video from images, audio, and text, to turn those prototypes into creative assets. Though those capabilities, he says, are still a ways off.  

Throughout the briefing, Rivas stressed that it’s still early days for Genie 4, and that it’s not yet clear what the end-to-end product experience will be. The team also acknowledged that Genie 4 still has gaps: details and objects can drift the longer a simulation runs, and they still haven’t quite figured out how to ensure the audio will be accurate and any in-world text will be legible. 

Genie 4 is available now as a research preview for trusted testers. In the coming weeks, the model will roll out to Google AI Ultra subscribers in Project Genie, Google’s AI tool for generating interactive worlds from text or image prompts, and early access partners of the Gemini API and Google AI Studio.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch where she covers the business, policy, and emerging trends shaping artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, and other publications.

You can contact or verify outreach from Rebecca by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at rebeccabellan.491 on Signal.

Anthropic, one of the world's fastest-growing AI companies, could eclipse SpaceX (SPCX +1.80%) as the biggest IPO in history when it goes public this year. It's reportedly targeting a $2 trillion valuation, which would top SpaceX's $1.77 trillion debut.

A major beneficiary of that massive IPO will be Alphabet (GOOG +1.19%) (GOOGL +1.53%), which already owns an estimated 14% stake in Anthropic. Let's see why that stake could grow even larger after its public debut.

Image source: Getty Images.

When did Alphabet start investing in Anthropic?
Alphabet began investing in Anthropic in late 2022 and early 2023, acquiring a 10% equity stake in the company for about $300 million. That deal established Alphabet's Google Cloud as one of Anthropic's primary cloud infrastructure providers for training and deploying AI models.

In late 2023, Alphabet invested another $500 million in Anthropic and agreed to invest an additional $1.5 billion over time. This year, it expanded that partnership with multi-billion-dollar direct equity injections and additional infrastructure deals for using its custom Tensor TPUs.

GOOGL Alphabet$321.65+$4.85 (+1.53%)

NASDAQ · As of 2:30 PM ET 10/27/26

How much bigger will Alphabet's stake get?
At $2 trillion, Alphabet's stake in Anthropic would be worth $280 billion. According to Anthropic's S-1 filing, Alphabet retains an exclusive option to purchase up to $10 billion in additional shares directly at its offering price alongside its IPO.

Alphabet has also set aside $20 billion in unused investment capacity and deferred milestone funding obligations for Anthropic. If Anthropic thrives after its market debut, Alphabet will likely inject more of that capital into the company and gradually increase its equity stake.

What does this mean for Alphabet's future?
Alphabet's post-IPO investments should increase its stake in Anthropic, but it will likely remain the company's second-largest shareholder after Amazon (AMZN +1.93%). Amazon holds a 15%-20% stake in Anthropic, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another one of Anthropic's primary cloud infrastructure providers for training and deploying AI models.

By investing in Anthropic, Alphabet can keep pace with Amazon in the cloud infrastructure race. It also ensures that Anthropic's Claude -- a major competitor to Google's Gemini -- remains partly dependent on Google's cloud infrastructure and TPUs for the foreseeable future.

Anthropic's pre-IPO valuation is already baked into Alphabet's net income (at its last post-money valuation of $965 billion), but that value would more than double with a $2 trillion IPO. Therefore, Anthropic's IPO could generate strong near-term tailwinds for Alphabet, Amazon, and other companies that hold early stakes in the growing AI company.

Microsoft's dividend yield barely registers, yet the company writes one of the largest dividend checks in corporate history every single year. The number most income investors never look at tells a completely different story about this stock.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction) has a dividend yield of just 0.67%. On a $10,000 position, that comes to about $67 a year in income, so plenty of retirement-focused investors skip right past it. The total check tells a different story. Microsoft paid $26.445 billion in dividends in fiscal 2026, which ended June 30, and the board has since raised the quarterly payout again.

Total Annual Dividend Dollars: The Number Income Investors Miss Yield is the per-share payout divided by the stock price. With shares at $532.61 and a market cap near $3.96 trillion, even a huge payout shows up as a small percentage. The stock has also returned 10.83% year to date, which drives the yield lower even while the payout grows. Total dividend dollars take the stock price out of the picture and show how much cash actually goes out the door. Microsoft has 7,425,545,000 shares outstanding, so every extra cent per share costs the company tens of millions of dollars.

Why Dollars Reveal More Than Yield A yield can rise just because a stock falls. The dollar payout only rises when management decides to send out more cash, and that cash has to come from somewhere. In fiscal 2026, dividends used about 39.5% of Microsoft’s $66.987 billion in free cash flow and roughly 14.5% of its $182.935 billion in operating cash flow. That coverage held up even though capital spending rose 79.62% to $115.948 billion as the company built out AI and cloud capacity.

A Payout That More Than Doubled in a Decade Annual dividend payments grew from $11.006 billion in fiscal 2016 to $26.445 billion in fiscal 2026, an increase of about 140%. Fiscal 2026 by itself came in about 9.8% above the prior year’s $24.082 billion. On a per-share basis, the quarterly dividend went from $0.36 in 2016 to $0.98 today, roughly 172% higher.

The company declared the new $0.98 rate on September 14, and it will be paid on December 10. Over a full year, it works out to $3.92 per share, or about $29.1 billion in dividend cash at the current share count. Including buybacks too, CFO Amy Hood said on the July 29 earnings call that Microsoft returned “over $43 billion” to shareholders in fiscal 2026.

What to Watch as AI Spending Climbs This year’s raise was about 7.7%. The two prior raises were 9.6% and 10.7%. Management expects capex to grow again in fiscal 2027, with first-quarter spending above $50 billion, and expects free cash flow to remain positive. The business is still growing fast. Azure and other cloud services revenue rose 43% last quarter. Someone has to power, cool, and network all that capex, which is the thread we pulled on in a free report on seven AI infrastructure suppliers that aren’t the chipmakers.

Bullish: Dividend dollars keep growing close to double digits, and free cash flow coverage stays comfortable as capex tops. Bearish: Raises keep getting smaller, or buybacks slow, because capex grows faster than operating cash flow. Microsoft’s next earnings report will show how first-quarter capex and free cash flow compare with that roughly $29.1 billion annual dividend run rate.

Verdict for Income Investors For retirees, a $26.445 billion annual dividend paid with under 40% of free cash flow says more about how reliable the income is than the 0.67% headline yield does.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

For years, investors wondered what would happen to Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA -0.52%) (BRKB -0.62%) when longtime CEO Warren Buffett stepped down. It was assumed that a Buffett premium was being applied to the stock, given the CEO's impressive track record as an investor. At first, that was true, with the stock falling on the news of his pending departure at the end of 2025. But as 2026 draws to a close, the market's view appears to be changing. And even with the stock now near an all-time high, it could still be worth buying. Here's why.

Buffett is gone, and successor Abel hasn't changed much The big worry was that Buffett was the key to Berkshire Hathaway's success. Obviously, Buffett's investment approach helped to build the company, but it is a very different business now than it was when Buffett first took over as CEO. Today, Berkshire Hathaway is a massively diversified conglomerate, with businesses in insurance, utilities, energy, transportation, housing, retail, and manufacturing, among others.

Image source: Getty Images.

At a time when investors are worried about the market, Berkshire Hathaway's diversification and focus on fairly simple-to-understand cash-generating businesses provide something of a safe haven. In fact, investors are increasingly worried about the high-tech companies that have driven the market higher, as many are increasingly leaning on their balance sheets to fund growth. To be fair, Berkshire Hathaway has some exposure to technology companies in its stock portfolio, but its operating businesses tend to be much more down-to-earth. And, just as important, new CEO Greg Abel hasn't done anything to compromise the basic nature of Berkshire Hathaway.

$545.15-$3.41 (-0.62%)

NYSE · As of 2:23 PM ET 10/27/26

That said, the balance sheet is another big safety point. At the end of the second quarter, Berkshire Hathaway had more than $350 billion in cash and short-term investments on its balance sheet. That will provide the company with a material cushion in a bear market. And it will also give Abel the firepower to step in and buy while others are fearful during that bear market. That's something Warren Buffett was famous for, and he likely taught his successor the value of both patience and contrarian thinking.

Long-term investors should still consider Berkshire Hathaway There has been a huge change at Berkshire Hathaway with Buffett stepping aside. But roughly 10 months into Greg Abel's tenure, investors are clearly getting more comfortable with the change. And with Wall Street increasingly worried about the tech sector, Berkshire Hathaway's more mundane business profile and huge cash hoard make it look like an attractive alternative for those seeking out a safe-haven investment. Indeed, even with the stock near its all-time highs, it may be worth buying for those who think long term, like Abel and, before him, Buffett.

Walmart is being sued for allegedly scrimping on shrimp, with one pescophile saying the retail giant has been inflating the weight of sacks of the product with ice.

The new class-action suit from Elijah Baptist of Illinois says some of Walmart’s shrimp packages have up to 11% less shrimp than advertised once the ice in them is removed, according to Top Class Actions.

He’s regularly bought the product for some three years, and was especially disappointed when he recently picked up some Walmart shrimp for a party he threw, the suit states.

The new suit from Elijah Baptist of Illinois says some of Walmart’s shrimp packages have up to 11% less shrimp than advertised. billtster – stock.adobe.com
A jumbo bag of Walmart’s frozen, raw, tail-on shrimp is about $16 for 2 pounds, with an advertised 21 to 25 shrimp per pound, per the suit. If Baptist were to buy 6 pounds for a 10-person party, he would have lost about 15 shrimp or about $5, the suit notes. The fish lover said he would not have bought the bags or paid as much had he known the actual amount they contained.

“We have policies in place to help ensure suppliers provide correctly labeled products,” said a spokesperson from Walmart which recently agreed to pay $45 million to customers over another food-weight lawsuit . “We are reviewing the complaint and will respond in court.”

Baptist’s suit may come down to “glazing,” a common, perfectly legal seafood industry practice in which producers coat their product with water to create a protective barrier around raw shellfish. But doing too much glazing can artificially jack up the weight of the product and lead to overpriced seafood, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Shrimp is the obvious battlefield” for glazing, trade publication FrozeNet notes.

Baptist’s suit may come down to “glazing,” a common, perfectly legal seafood industry practice in which producers coat their product with water to create a protective barrier around raw shellfish. rh2010 – stock.adobe.com
The weight of the ice is not supposed to be included in the net product amount, and manufacturers can be criminally liable for failing to do so, according to Food and Drug Administration guidance.

A package can look plentiful but consumers only know what they are getting once they’re at the kitchen sink.

“If the glaze was declared clearly and priced honestly, the discussion stays technical. If not, it becomes personal,” FrozeNet states.

The suit aims to represent all consumers in Illinois who have bought Walmart’s “Great Value” shrimp sacks. Baptist is seeking a jury trial and requesting damages, restitution and injunctive relief in state court, according to Top Class Actions. 

The suit aims to represent all consumers in Illinois who have bought Walmart’s “Great Value” shrimp sacks. khosrork – stock.adobe.com
This lawsuit comes two years after Walmart settled a food weight class action, agreeing to shell out millions for improperly weighed seafood, meat and poultry.

The retailer allegedly used a price sticker that was “false, misleading and deceptive,” advertising a weight that is more than the actual weight of the product. Walmart did not admit wrongdoing in settling the suit.

General Motors (GM.N) plans to introduce hybrid versions of its popular three-row SUVs, a strategic shift after heavily investing in electric vehicles, according to people familiar with ​the matter.

The automaker plans to build hybrid models of the Chevrolet Traverse, ​Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia at a factory in Lansing, Michigan, the ⁠people said. Combined, those mechanically similar models are among GM’s strongest sellers in the ​US.

The timing of the planned hybrid models couldn’t be learned.

GM'S CEO: HYBRIDS ARE COMING
GM ​CEO Mary Barra told analysts during the company’s earnings call last week that the automaker would have hybrids in multiple segments.

“We will have hybrids. They've already been added. It's not going to be additional (capital ​expenditures) and engineering,” she said. “We'll talk more about them as we get closer to ​the launch.”

US hybrid sales have taken off this year as car shoppers seek relief from higher gas ‌prices. GM, ⁠which only sells a hybrid version of the Chevy Corvette in the US, has lost market share this year, while strong hybrid players like Toyota have gained.

GM dealers have complained about the automaker’s lack of hybrids, which combine a gas engine with a lithium-ion ​battery and electric motor ​to conserve fuel ⁠and boost power.

GM DEALERS SAY THEY WANT HYBRIDS
Dealers have been pressing the company to add hybrids to its lineup, including during recent ​regional meetings between retailers and GM sales executives, according to dealers ​who have ⁠attended.

“We’ve been telling them every chance we get that we need hybrids,” one dealer said.

GM executives in the past have said that hybrids add too much cost and complexity, and ⁠that ​they preferred to invest in EVs.

GM’s U.S. market share ​dropped to 16.6% in the first nine months of the year, from 17.4% a year prior, while hybrid ​leaders Toyota and Honda gained.

Key Takeaways FedEx is set to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 28, with the EPS consensus estimate cut 30.6% to $3.24.Higher wages, transportation costs & a $200M pilot contract headwind may weigh on FDX's profitability.FDX targets nearly $1B in Network 2.0 savings by 2026 end, helping offset inflation & stranded costs. FedEx Corporation (FDX - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, after market close.

The transportation giant exits the September-end quarter amid higher wage and purchased transportation costs, expenses related to the new pilot contract and lingering stranded costs following the FedEx Freight spin-off. Although revenue momentum and transformation-related savings are likely to have provided some support, these cost pressures may have constrained profitability.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised downward by 30.6% over the past 60 days to $3.24 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $92.14 billion, indicating a 2.27% increase from 2025 actuals.

Factors Likely to Have Influenced FDX’s Q3 PerformanceHigher Operating Costs: Wage inflation and purchased transportation expenses are likely to have weighed on FedEx’s profitability. Management’s calendar 2026 outlook incorporates approximately $2.6 billion of higher base expenses stemming from increased wage and purchased transportation rates and other inflationary factors.

Pilot Contract Expenses: The new pilot agreement is another likely cost headwind. FedEx expects the ratification of the contract to create an approximately $200 million expense headwind in calendar 2026, with the agreement becoming effective June 29.

Stranded Costs Following Freight Spin-Off: Costs remaining after the separation of FedEx Freight may also have limited margin expansion. FedEx estimated roughly $350 million of stranded costs after transferring certain expenses to FedEx Freight and expects to eliminate about $100 million of those costs during calendar 2026.

Seasonality and Slower Domestic Growth: The September quarter is traditionally FedEx’s weakest from an absolute profitability standpoint. Management had also expected the U.S. domestic growth rate to decelerate as the company lapped strong prior-year new-business onboarding, while Ground Economy volumes were projected to decline at a low-single-digit rate.

Partly offsetting these pressures, continued Network 2.0 savings, healthy base pricing and demand for premium B2B services are likely to have provided some support. FedEx remains on track to achieve nearly $1 billion of Network 2.0-related savings by the end of calendar 2026.

What Our Model Says About FDXOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for FedEx this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat.

FedEx has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

United Parcel Service (UPS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

UPS is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has remained flat at $1.63 per share over the past 60 days. UPS’ earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with the average beat being 12.4%.

Kirby Corporation (KEX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.87% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. KEX is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.51% to $1.96 per share over the past 60 days. KEX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and missed the mark on the other occasion. The average beat is 2.86%.  

OCI will be the first hyperscaler outside Google to offer Google TPUs

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle AI World -- Oracle and Google today announced that Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) will be available through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), marking the first time Google TPUs will be offered on a hyperscale cloud platform outside Google. By bringing Google's purpose-built TPUs to OCI's AI compute portfolio, customers gain the flexibility to match their most demanding workloads with infrastructure designed for near-linear scalability and highly optimized economics.

"Different AI workloads have different compute needs," said Mahesh Thiagarajan, president, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle. "Bringing Google TPUs to OCI gives customers access to multiple leading AI compute architectures in one cloud. That choice gives them the flexibility to choose the right infrastructure for the performance, throughput, and economics of each AI workload."

Google TPUs are custom accelerators co-designed with open software to power the entire AI lifecycle—from frontier training and large-scale inference to the multi-step reasoning data demands of agentic AI. OCI will provide the power, cooling, and datacenter networking to deploy Google TPUs at scale within its infrastructure.

"The next generation of AI will require a diverse range of compute," said Amin Vahdat, senior vice president and chief technologist, AI & Infrastructure, Google. "TPUs give customers a powerful, purpose-built option for demanding training and inference workloads. Bringing Google TPUs to OCI will give more organizations access to this technology and greater flexibility in how they build and run their most complex AI applications."

More AI Compute Options for Every Workload
As models grow and production inference demands increase, the performance and economics of every training run and inference request become increasingly important. Google's TPU architecture is designed to maximize AI processing from each watt of electricity, with fast access to model data and rapid communication between chips.

Google TPUs can support large-model training and post-training, including dense and mixture-of-experts models (MoE), as well as production inference for reasoning, agentic, and long-context applications. Customers will be able to choose Google TPUs within OCI, optimized for their workloads, performance requirements, and cost objectives.

Drawing on more than a decade of custom AI silicon development, Google's TPU portfolio delivers purpose-built compute optimized for massive machine learning workloads. Google's eighth-generation TPU introduces two purpose-built architectures: TPU 8t for training and TPU 8i for inference. TPU 8t cuts frontier model development cycles from months to weeks, delivering nearly 3x the compute performance per pod over the previous generation, while TPU 8i is designed to handle the iterative work of many specialized agents.

Google TPUs on OCI will be available in calendar year 2027, ramping over a multi-year period to meet customer needs.

Additional Resources
Learn more about Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
Learn more about Oracle AI infrastructure
Learn more about Google Cloud TPUs 

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit oracle.com.

About Google Cloud
Google Cloud offers a powerful, optimized AI stack—including AI infrastructure, leading models like Gemini, data management capabilities, multicloud security solutions, developer tools and platform, as well as agents and applications—that enables organizations to transform their business for the Agentic Era. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

About Oracle AI World
Oracle AI World is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organizations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Statements in this article relating to Oracle's future plans, expectations, beliefs, and intentions are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Many factors could affect Oracle's current expectations and actual results, and could cause actual results to differ materially. A discussion of such factors and other risks that affect Oracle's business is contained in Oracle's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including Oracle's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors." These filings are available on the SEC's website or on Oracle's website at oracle.com/investor. All information in this article is current as of October 27, 2026 and Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

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Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

SOURCE Oracle

Food companies have been struggling this year. Between inflation and the growing popularity of GLP-1 drugs, which are curbing appetites, companies such as Conagra and Campbell's haven't been doing particularly well. Both of those companies cut their dividend payments this year.

Top cereal maker General Mills(GIS -1.77%), however, has kept its dividend intact, at least for now. At 7.2%, it's one of the highest-yielding stocks in the S&P 500. But is it really safe?

Image source: Getty Images.

The company's sales were down last quarter, as were earningsGeneral Mills last reported earnings on Sept. 23, and that's a good place to start when looking at the safety of its payout, to get an idea of how it's been doing of late. For the quarter, which ended on Aug. 30, the company's net sales were down 3%, but that was due to its U.S. yogurt divestiture, and its organic sales were flat. While that's not awful, it's not terribly exciting, either.

A year ago, the food company got a boost from a gain on divestitures, but even after adjusting for that, its per-share profit this past quarter was $0.75, down from $0.86 in the prior-year period. At its current quarterly dividend rate of $0.61, its payout ratio is around 81%, which is a bit high but perhaps not unsustainable.

Cash flow can sometimes be a better indicator of a company's ability to pay dividends, as non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization can weigh down the bottom line. In the trailing 12 months, General Mills' free cash flow totaled $1.6 billion, which is higher than the $1.3 billion the business has paid in dividends over that period. It suggests there is a buffer there, but, as with earnings, it isn't a huge one.

$33.11-$0.60 (-1.77%)

NYSE · As of 2:20 PM ET 10/27/26

The dividend looks safe for now, but investors should watch it closelyFor now, I don't see a glaring reason why General Mills may cut its dividend in the near future. It's facing some challenges, but with the stock already down 45% over the past five years, news of a dividend cut may only cause its valuation to sink even further.

At the same time, however, investors shouldn't feel too comfortable with the business, as anytime a company is experiencing a decline in earnings and it's struggling to generate growth, there are valid reasons to be concerned about its dividend, as it may only be a matter of time before things get to a point where it needs to be reduced.

Although General Mills' dividend may look attractive for its high yield, a safer option may be to choose other dividend stocks with stronger financials.

Micron turned a $1,000 investment into tens of thousands of dollars over a decade, but a brutal month-long selloff raises the question every long-term holder now faces: AI-fueled momentum or the beginning of a familiar memory cycle crash?

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) has given back 15.44% in a month. It fell from $1,082.10 on September 25 to $915.07 this morning. Long-term returns remain far ahead of the index despite the drop.

A Boom-and-Bust Memory Maker Became an AI Bottleneck
For most of the decade, Micron traded as a cyclical. It gained from the memory boom of 2017 and 2018, fell in the 2019 bust, and rallied on the pandemic expansion. Then it posted losses and inventory write-downs in the 2022 and 2023 downturn (per company history).

High-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI accelerators from Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) changed the business. Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $133.19 billion, up 256.3%. Fiscal Q4 non-GAAP gross margin hit 87.0%, compared with 45.7% a year earlier. Micron now holds 26 strategic customer agreements that run through 2030, and management says it has “no line of sight to when supply and demand balance.”

Your $1,000 Grew Into $54,576 in a Decade
1-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000
Current Value: $4,182.90
Total Return: 318.29%
S&P 500 (same period): $1,132.90 (13.29%)

5-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000
Current Value: $13,736.70
Total Return: 1,273.67%
Annualized Return: 68.88%
S&P 500 (same period): $1,690.30 (69.03%)

10-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000
Current Value: $54,576.30
Total Return: 5,357.63%
Annualized Return: 49.18%
S&P 500 (same period): $3,610.10 (261.01%)

Micron led the index at every horizon, and most of that gap opened recently. The stock began 2026 at $285.19 and is up 220.87% year to date. Ten-year holders also had to stay put through the losses of the 2022 and 2023 downturns, when the AI return was still invisible.

Timing still matters. A $1,000 purchase at the September 25 high is worth $845.60 today.

Two Signals That Will Decide Micron’s Next Move
That optimistic view holds if memory supply stays tight through 2028, as management expects. It falls if AI infrastructure spending slows, because the memory layer would feel that slowdown first.

Bull case: Fiscal Q1 2027 guidance calls for $61.5 billion in revenue, plus or minus $1.5 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of $38.15. More than 75% of shipments are committed for the year. On fiscal 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $75.52, the stock trades at about 12 times trailing earnings.

Bear case: Memory stocks can look cheapest near the peak of a cycle. Capex reached $30.7 billion in fiscal 2026, and Samsung and SK Hynix are competing for HBM4 share. Recent coverage also shows Micron pushing back on a Chinese memory threat.

The data leans bullish. Customer agreements and a guide to an even stronger fiscal 2027 make this month’s decline look like a sentiment reset, while the earnings trend still points up. Watch HBM4E pricing and any changes to hyperscaler capex plans next.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management revenues rose 10.1% to a record $9.07B in third-quarter 2026.AI tools, adopted by over 98% of advisor teams, are helping MS streamline workflows and boost capacity.Morgan Stanley attracted $232.4B in net new assets, while AI's direct earnings impact remains unquantified.
Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve advisor productivity, accelerate asset gathering and strengthen operating efficiency. With Wealth Management revenues reaching a record high in the third quarter of 2026, AI-enabled efficiencies could help the division sustain its growth momentum by expanding client servicing capacity and supporting recurring fee revenues.

The company's AI-powered tools, including AI @ Morgan Stanley Assistant and AI @ Morgan Stanley Debrief, streamline advisor workflows. The Assistant provides faster access to research and investment insights, with adoption exceeding 98% of advisor teams. Meanwhile, Debrief automates meeting summaries, follow-up communications and client documentation. By reducing administrative workloads, these tools are likely to enable advisors to devote more time to client acquisition, relationship management and cross-selling, supporting additional asset inflows and fee-generating opportunities.

This potential aligns with Morgan Stanley's robust third-quarter performance. Wealth Management revenues increased 10.1% year over year to a record $9.07 billion, supported by higher asset management fees and net interest income. The division attracted $232.4 billion in net new assets and $80.5 billion in fee-based asset flows. AI-driven advisor capacity improvements are expected to help sustain such asset-gathering momentum while limiting incremental servicing costs, potentially strengthening the division's 30.4% pre-tax margin over time.

AI adoption could help Morgan Stanley convert its growing client asset base into sustained fee revenues and stronger operating leverage. However, its direct earnings contribution remains unquantified, while technology costs and market volatility pose challenges. Sustained asset inflows and tangible margin expansion will be critical to assessing AI's long-term value and its impact on the Wealth Management division’s performance.

How are Morgan Stanley’s Peers Leveraging AI?Two close peers of Morgan Stanley are Goldman Sachs (GS - Free Report) and JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) .

Goldman is leveraging AI to streamline workflows, automate routine tasks and enhance employee productivity. Its AI-powered tools support research, data analysis, document summarization and software development, enabling employees to focus on higher-value activities. These initiatives are likely to improve operational efficiency, strengthen client servicing capabilities and support long-term cost optimization at Goldman.

JPMorgan is leveraging AI through its LLM Suite platform to automate workflows, streamline operations and enhance employee productivity. It is expanding AI applications across software development, customer servicing, risk management and investment research. These initiatives are expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen operating leverage at JPMorgan.

Morgan Stanley’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesMS shares have rallied 3.4% so far this year against the industry’s decline of 1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Morgan Stanley trades at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 3.39X, above the industry average. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Morgan Stanley's 2026 earnings suggests a 25.7% year-over-year rise, while 2027 earnings are expected to rise 3.9%. In the past 30 days, earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have moved upward to $12.83 and $13.33, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways ADM sees a $1 billion U.S. natural colors market with $80-$100 million in potential operating profit gains.Two new contracts and investments in Kentucky facilities support ADM's natural colors growth plans.ADM's Nutrition profit rose 51% in Q2, while stronger segment momentum supports its 2026 outlook. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM - Free Report) is positioning natural colors as a growth opportunity as food and beverage manufacturers move away from artificial ingredients. Consumer demand for cleaner labels and a supportive regulatory environment are encouraging reformulation. ADM’s ability to combine colors, flavors and functionality solutions could help deepen customer relationships and capture more business.

During its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, ADM estimated the addressable U.S. market at roughly $1 billion in revenues. Management targets an $80-$100 million uplift in operating profit over time, with realization dependent on customers’ product launches. It provided no specific annual earnings contribution or firm deadline for achieving that target.

Commercial progress offers early support. ADM has secured two contracts to replace artificial red, yellow and orange shades with natural alternatives and is investing in Kentucky facilities to expand production. Its established global colors business also brings experience from helping European customers navigate a similar transition more than a decade ago.

The opportunity complements improving Nutrition results. Second-quarter segment operating profit rose 51% year over year to $172 million, and management expects continued year-over-year improvement in 2026. ADM raised its companywide adjusted EPS guidance to $5.15-$5.60 from $4.15-$4.70, reflecting stronger crushing and ethanol expectations alongside Nutrition momentum. The natural colors target remains a longer-term ambition, rather than a specified component of that guidance.

Reaching the profit target will require additional customer wins, successful reformulations and production capacity aligned with demand. ADM’s broad ingredient portfolio could support sales beyond colors alone. However, customer adoption schedules will shape the earnings trajectory, making consistent commercial launches and repeat orders the clearest indicators of progress toward management’s ambition.

ADM’s PeersDole plc (DOLE - Free Report) is benefiting from resilient fresh produce demand supported by health and wellness trends. Dole is strengthening its Scandinavian operations through the acquisition of Greenfood’s Fresh Produce division and exploring automation and AI investments to improve distribution capabilities. Dole's second-quarter 2026 Diversified Americas revenues increased 14%, supported by higher volumes in categories including avocados, kiwi and North American cherries. Dynamic pricing and sourcing investments remain important as higher fuel and shipping costs pressure profitability.

Adecoagro S.A. (AGRO - Free Report) is pursuing growth through product innovation, processing investments and operational improvements across its diversified agricultural platform. Adecoagro expects new products under its consumer brands to support higher processed milk volumes and is investing in a cheese packaging line at its Morteros dairy facility. During its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, management reported improved dairy processing volumes, supported by stronger cow productivity. Cost-reduction initiatives are also expected to support Adecoagro's Food and Agriculture margins in the coming quarters.

ADM’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesArcher Daniels shares have gained 8.5% over the past six months against the industry’s 20.2% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, ADM trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21 compared with the industry’s average of 16.34. It has a Value Score of B. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 60.4% and 1.4%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has increased by 28 cents and 16 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Archer Daniels currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Key Takeaways HAL stock rose 25.4% YTD, supported by strong third-quarter results and expanding international operations.International revenues grew 9% to $3.5B, while HAL targets 200 basis points of margin expansion in 2027. Weak North American fracturing and a projected EPS decline in 2026 temper growth prospects.
Shares of Halliburton Company (HAL - Free Report) have gained 25.4% year to date (YTD), marginally outperforming the Oil and Gas - Field Services sub-industry’s 24.5% growth. However, HAL has lagged the broader Oil-Energy sector, which posted a stronger 39.2% gain over the same period.

HAL’s Performance Against Industry and Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Halliburton is a leading global oilfield services provider, helping major, national and independent oil and gas producers explore, develop and maximize hydrocarbon recovery. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company has two business segments: Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The former offers hydraulic fracturing, cementing, artificial lift, well intervention, pressure control and completion services. The latter provides drilling fluids, drill bits, reservoir evaluation, directional drilling, well testing and digital technologies. Halliburton also offers software, automation and artificial intelligence solutions to improve drilling efficiency and production performance while exploring opportunities in geothermal energy and carbon capture.

Halliburton has recently attracted increased investor interest following strong third-quarter results, expanded drilling activity and growth in international operations. The company’s latest earnings beat, improved operating margins guidance and continued share buybacks come alongside market momentum. That said, investors should now take a closer look at HAL before deciding whether to buy, hold or lock in profits.

Factors Favoring HAL’s GrowthStrong International Growth Prospects: Halliburton's expanding international operations should remain a major growth driver, supported by increasing demand for drilling, production optimization and advanced well-completion technologies. International revenues reached $3.5 billion in third-quarter 2026, increasing 9% year over year and 3% sequentially. Management expects approximately 12% annual growth in 2026 across international markets outside the Middle East. Its growing presence in Latin America, Europe and Africa, along with improving Middle Eastern activity, could strengthen revenue visibility and support profitability as new projects begin contributing.

Encouraging Margin Expansion Outlook: Halliburton's profitability could improve substantially as restructuring initiatives, operational efficiencies and technology investments begin delivering measurable benefits. Management anticipates mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2027, accompanied by approximately 200 basis points of operating margin expansion to around 15%. Planned cost reductions of $100-$150 million and anticipated SAP S/4-related savings of $120-$150 million should contribute to this improvement. Importantly, these projections assume no recovery in North American hydraulic fracturing, providing additional upside if regional conditions strengthen.

Expanding Offshore Contract Portfolio: Halliburton's ability to secure technically demanding offshore assignments should reinforce its competitive position and support future revenue generation. The company recently secured an integrated contract from Eni for the multiyear Cronos ultra-deepwater development offshore Cyprus, covering drilling, well construction, automation and completion services. It also received a contract from BP for appraisal activities at Brazil's Bumerangue field. These awards demonstrate growing demand for its integrated capabilities, potentially creating additional service opportunities as offshore exploration progresses toward development and production.

Technology-Led Business Expansion: Halliburton's investments in advanced drilling systems, automation and artificial lift could help it capture opportunities beyond traditional oilfield services. Its North American drilling services, drill bits and drilling fluids businesses delivered 23% year-over-year growth in third-quarter 2026, significantly outperforming drilling activity trends. Management is also targeting $3 billion in additional annual revenues by 2028 from production services, drilling, unconventional resources and artificial lift. Expanding deployment of iCruise, LOGIX automation and electric fracturing technologies should improve service differentiation, strengthen customer relationships and support longer-term growth.

Challenges for HALWeakness in North American Fracturing: Halliburton remains exposed to challenging conditions in the North American hydraulic fracturing market, where customer spending discipline and softer completion activity continue to constrain performance. Regional revenues declined 9% year over year and 5% sequentially to approximately $2.2 billion in third-quarter 2026. Management acknowledged that fracturing activity recovered less than anticipated, while repositioning crews toward better-priced contracts created unexpected downtime. Although this strategy could improve future returns, persistently weak utilization or a slower activity recovery may restrict revenue growth and pressure profitability in this important market.

Continued Pressure on Completion and Production: Halliburton's Completion and Production division faces operational challenges that could restrain its earnings contribution. Third-quarter 2026 segment revenues declined 4% sequentially to $3.09 billion, while operating income decreased by a similar percentage to $457 million. Compared with the prior year, segment revenues and operating income fell approximately 4% and 11%, respectively. Weak stimulation activity in North America and Argentina, together with a slower Saudi Arabian contract startup, contributed to the softness. Continued execution delays, subdued equipment utilization or insufficient pricing improvements could limit recovery in this major business segment.

Geopolitical Disruptions and Cost Inflation: Halliburton's extensive international operations expose it to geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions and persistent inflationary pressures. Management reported increased logistics expenses and difficulties transporting equipment and materials amid the Middle Eastern conflict. Inflation affecting chemicals, cement and transportation is also expected to continue. Although Middle Eastern revenues improved during the third quarter, the pace of further recovery remains uncertain. Prolonged regional instability, delayed customer projects or an inability to recover higher operating expenses through pricing could weaken margins and undermine the company's projected earnings improvement.

HAL’s 2026 Earnings Estimates Are Going Down: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HAL’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.33 per share, indicating a 3.7% year-over-year decline.

HAL’s Earnings Estimate Overview
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Final Verdict on HAL StockThe Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s international expansion, improving drilling activity and growing offshore contract portfolio strengthen its long-term prospects. Technology-driven opportunities, restructuring savings and expectations of meaningful margin expansion in 2027 further support its growth outlook. Continued share repurchases and strong third-quarter results are additional positives.

However, persistent weakness in North American hydraulic fracturing, declining Completion and Production performance, and geopolitical disruptions remain concerns. Inflationary pressures, logistical challenges and execution delays could also restrict profitability. Moreover, the projected decline in 2026 earnings warrants caution despite the stock's recent gains. Considering these growth opportunities alongside near-term operational and earnings challenges, retaining EXE shares appears prudent for investors.

Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the energy sector may consider some top-ranked stocks like Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ - Free Report) , Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD - Free Report) and Baker Hughes Company (BKR - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Calgary-based Canadian Natural Resources is one of the largest independent energy companies in Canada engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNQ’s 2026 earnings indicates 61.4% year-over-year growth.

Chord Energy is an independent E&P operator focused on the Williston Basin, with operations across the Bakken and Three Forks formations. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHRD’s 2026 earnings indicates 142.5% year-over-year growth.

Based in Houston, TX, Baker Hughes Company is one of the world’s largest oilfield service providers. Its integrated oilfield products and digital solutions help customers efficiently and cost-effectively refine and transport hydrocarbons with lower environmental impact. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BKR’s 2026 revenues indicates 6.4% year-over-year growth.

Key Takeaways Expeditors is set to report Q3 earnings on Nov. 3, with EPS projected to rise 36.6% to $2.24 per share.Elevated airfreight costs, tariff uncertainty & volatile carrier pricing may pressure EXPD' Q3 margins.EXPD beat earnings estimates by an average of 17.15% over four quarters, supported by strong Q2 growth. Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 3, before the market opens.

The company exits the September-end quarter amid persistent geopolitical disruptions, volatile freight rates and uncertainty surrounding global trade policies. Elevated airfreight capacity costs and additional restructuring expenses may also have pressured profitability despite healthy demand across several logistics services.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPD’s third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 5.7% over the past 60 days to $2.24 per share. The consensus mark for earnings implies a 36.6% increase from third-quarter 2025 actuals. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.61 billion, indicating an increase of 24.7% from third-quarter 2025 actuals.

Expeditors has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings have outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.

Factors Likely to Have Influenced EXPD’s Q3 PerformanceElevated Airfreight Costs: Tight airfreight capacity and geopolitical disruptions are likely to have kept transportation costs elevated. Expeditors noted that reduced passenger flights, constrained belly capacity and rising fuel costs were putting significant pressure on air carriers, with buy and sell rates remaining elevated.

Trade and Tariff Uncertainty: Changes in tariffs and global trade policies may also have created volatility. New U.S. tariffs imposed across multiple countries in July added uncertainty around trade flows, while Expeditors cautioned that changes in trade restrictions and carrier pricing could affect profitability unpredictably.

Pricing Volatility: Sudden changes in carrier pricing remain another risk. The company noted that during periods of disruption or seasonal peaks, carriers often raise prices abruptly, which can make it more difficult for Expeditors to maintain historical unitary profitability.

Restructuring Costs: Expenses related to the Global Technology restructuring may have weighed on the third quarter. Expeditors expects total restructuring charges of approximately $27 million, of which $25 million was recognized in the second quarter, with the remaining costs expected to be recorded during the second half of 2026.

What Our Model Says About EXPDOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Expeditors this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP  and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here.

EXPD has an Earnings ESP of -1.46% and a Zacks Rank #2  at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

EXPD Q2 HighlightsExpeditors reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $2.03 per share, up 51.5% year over year and 20.8% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.68. Revenues increased 32.1% to $3.50 billion, surpassing the consensus mark of $2.90 billion by 20.7%.

Results benefited from broad-based growth across most products, led by airfreight and customs-related services. Airfreight tonnage advanced 14% year over year, while ocean container volume was flat.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

United Parcel Service (UPS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

UPS is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has remained flat at $1.63 per share over the past 60 days. UPS’ earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with the average beat being 12.4%.

Kirby Corporation (KEX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.87% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. KEX is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 28.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.51% to $1.96 per share over the past 60 days. KEX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and missed the mark on the other occasion. The average beat is 2.86%.  

Back in June, Western Digital (WDC +7.32%) stock reached a high of just under $800. These days, however, it's struggling to stay above $400. Investor sentiment has soured of late on memory and storage stocks such as Western Digital and Micron Technology.

But the decline has been particularly bad for Western Digital. What's behind the pullback in price, and could now be an opportune time for growth investors to load up on this top storage stock?

Image source: Getty Images.

The company's latest earnings numbers were solid, but the stock continues to struggleOn Oct. 22, Western Digital reported its first-quarter earnings for fiscal 2027, covering the period ending Oct. 2. It was a stellar quarter for the tech company, with revenue totaling $4.4 billion, a 55% year-over-year increase. Its operating income was even more impressive, rising by 158% to more than $2 billion.

The company, known for its high-quality storage products, has been experiencing significant demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for more storage. As long as companies are investing heavily in AI, that's good news for Western Digital and other related tech companies.

Confident in its future growth, the company also raised its dividend by 17%, a great sign that it believes its strong financial performance will continue and that it can support a much higher payout. Although at just 0.2%, the yield is still fairly small.

Western Digital has been underperforming the broader tech sector of late; over the past three months, it has declined by 26% while the State Street Technology Select Sector SDPR ETF has risen by 7%. Even Micron Technology, which has faced pressure of late, is flat during that stretch. Investors may be concerned about increased competition in the storage market and a potential slowdown in AI-related spending and investments, which could weigh on Western Digital's strong growth numbers in the future.

$382.21+$26.08 (+7.32%)

NASDAQ · As of 2:03 PM ET 10/27/26

Western Digital's stock is down from its peak, but it's still up around 800% in five yearsIt's tempting to look at Western Digital's price-to-earnings multiple of 13 and conclude that it's undervalued. But the stock is still up significantly in recent years, and its valuation only looks low because of the strong earnings growth it has generated of late, driven by rapid spending in the tech sector.

Investors may doubt how long Western Digital's strong results could last if spending slows, which could make the market even more bearish on Western Digital's stock.

Given the volatility in its earnings in recent years and the uncertainty ahead, this isn't a stock that looks like a compelling buy right now, even though it's down big of late.

Should you invest in the logistics powerhouse of South Korea or a global sporting goods giant? We compare Coupang (CPNG +0.55%) and DICK'S Sporting Goods (DKS -2.28%) to find the better buy.

Coupang thrives by owning its entire delivery chain in high-density Asian markets. DICK'S Sporting Goods closed its acquisition of Foot Locker in September 2025 and is still working through the integration.

Both companies compete for consumer wallets in the competitive retail space, but they offer vastly different geographic exposures and growth profiles for investors.

The case for CoupangCoupang sells a wide range of goods, from groceries to electronics, through its Rocket Delivery service. It operates a two-sided marketplace connecting millions of customers with merchants and suppliers, primarily in Korea and Taiwan. The company also expanded its reach into global luxury markets by acquiring Farfetch in January 2024.

In fiscal 2025, which matches the calendar year, revenue reached nearly $34.5 billion, up about 14.1% from the prior year. The company reported a net income of roughly $208.0 million for the period. In January 2026, the company began issuing nearly $1.2 billion in vouchers to customers affected by a data incident disclosed in late 2025.

Those vouchers reduced reported revenue as customers redeemed them, and redemption activity was concentrated in the first quarter before concluding in mid-April.

The second quarter of 2026, reported Aug. 4, showed the cost of that episode. Revenue grew 4% in dollars and 10% in constant currency to about $8.9 billion, but the company posted a net loss of $570 million after booking roughly $410 million in Korean administrative fines. Product Commerce active customers still rose 3% year over year to 24.7 million.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is about 1.0x when operating lease liabilities are included alongside borrowings, meaning the company carries about as much debt and lease obligations as shareholder equity.

The current ratio, which compares short-term assets to liabilities, is roughly 1.0x, while free cash flow, by the company's own definition, reached close to $527.0 million. Note that stock-based compensation accounted for roughly 26.8% of operating cash flow, inflating reported cash generation because it is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

Through June 30, 2026, trailing 12-month free cash flow had fallen to $105 million, and total equity had dropped to about $3.0 billion after $850 million of share repurchases, the second-quarter loss, and currency translation.

In July, a fire damaged a leased fulfillment center in Incheon, and the company estimates the inventory, equipment, and seller obligations involved at about $246 million, with losses to be recognized from the third quarter onward and insurance claims pending.

DICK'S Sporting Goods operates a multi-banner retail model that serves athletes through its namesake stores and specialized concepts such as Golf Galaxy.

The company significantly expanded its footprint by acquiring Foot Locker, allowing it to reach sneaker enthusiasts across North America, Europe, and Asia. Its physical stores also serve as distribution points, and more than 80% of DICK'S online sales in fiscal 2025 were fulfilled directly from stores.

In fiscal 2025, which ended Jan. 31, 2026, revenue reached nearly $17.2 billion, up roughly 28.1% from the previous year. This revenue performance was accompanied by net income of about $849.2 million, down about 27% from fiscal 2024, with acquisition-related charges driving most of the decline.

Nearly all of that growth came from consolidating Foot Locker for about five months after the Sept. 8, 2025 close, which added $3.1 billion in sales, while the legacy DICK'S business grew about 5% on its own.

The fiscal second quarter, which ended Aug. 1, 2026, was the first full quarter to show the two businesses side by side. Sales rose 53% to $5.59 billion, comparable sales in the DICK'S business grew 4.9%, and pro forma comparable sales at Foot Locker fell 3.6%.

The Foot Locker segment posted an operating loss of $31.9 million, and management cut its full-year GAAP earnings guidance to $10.94 to $11.94 per share from the $13.70 to $14.70 range it gave in March. The stock fell about 30% on the day the report was released.

As of its January 2026 balance sheet, the company has a debt-to-equity ratio of nearly 1.4x on the same basis, counting operating lease liabilities alongside borrowings.

Its current ratio is roughly 1.5x, suggesting it has $1.50 in short-term assets for every $1.00 in short-term debt. Free cash flow for the fiscal period, measured as operating cash flow minus gross capital expenditures, was close to $400.2 million.

Borrowings have grown since that balance sheet date. In September 2026, the company sold $1 billion of senior notes, split between a 6.2% series due 2036 and a 6.9% series due 2056, and said it intends to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes.

Risk profile comparisonCoupang competes with online, offline, and omnichannel retailers, and its annual report now lists AI shopping tools among the rivals it watches. The company's heavy concentration in the Korean market exposes it to local regulatory investigations regarding data security and fair trade laws.

Following a significant data incident in late 2025, the company faces multiple class action lawsuits and government investigations. In June 2026, Korea's privacy regulator announced about $410 million in fines, roughly $278 million for the incident and $132 million for a separate advertising-data matter, which the company accrued in the second quarter, and in October the company sued in the Seoul Administrative Court to overturn them.

Farfetch, acquired in January 2024, still carries restructuring costs inside the Developing Offerings segment, which lost $995 million on an adjusted EBITDA basis in 2025, and the dual-class stock structure ensures the founder retains significant voting control.

DICK'S Sporting Goods is defending a securities class action filed in September 2026 in federal court in Pennsylvania that claims the company overstated how far along the Foot Locker inventory cleanup was, along with an older securities suit over its 2022 inventory disclosures that partly survived a motion to dismiss in August 2025.

The company depends heavily on its largest vendors, with Nike (NKE -1.23%) accounting for approximately 31% of its merchandise purchases in fiscal 2025.

Such high supplier concentration means any shifts in Nike's distribution strategy could significantly impact inventory. Integration challenges with the Foot Locker acquisition remain a concern as the company closes stores and absorbs acquisition-related charges, including its review of unproductive assets, which management now expects to total up to $750 million, while an increasingly promotional athletic footwear market pressures margins.

Valuation comparisonDICK'S Sporting Goods appears significantly cheaper than Coupang on a forward P/E basis, while both trade at similar levels relative to their P/S ratio.

MetricCoupangDICK'S Sporting GoodsForward P/E46.7x12.3xP/S ratio0.7x0.6xValuation metrics include sourcing from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?I'd pick DICK'S Sporting Goods here, with the caveat that the Foot Locker cleanup may take longer than management expects.

The core DICK'S business still looks healthy, with comparable sales up again in the fiscal second quarter, which ended Aug. 1, and management holding its full-year comp outlook for that side.

The trouble lies within Foot Locker, which lost money in the quarter and prompted management to lower its full-year earnings guidance. That cut erased nearly a third of the stock's value in a day.

At about 12 times forward earnings, the shares appear to price in plenty of that pain, and the securities suit filed in September looks like a watch-list item rather than a change to the business.

Coupang's 2026 is being written by regulators. It swung to a second-quarter loss after booking roughly $410 million in Korean administrative fines, and its trailing free cash flow has shrunk to a sliver of what it was a year earlier.

Management is contesting the record privacy penalty in court, and the vouchers issued after the data breach cut revenue as customers redeemed them through mid-April. Management also expects a July warehouse fire to add losses in the third quarter.

The underlying business still looks durable, since active customers kept growing through the fallout and its same-day delivery network in Korea is hard for a rival to copy.

Coupang may well be the better business on a five-year view once the fines fade, but for 2026, DICK'S gets the nod.

Enlisting Capital: Wolfspeed's Defense DealWolfspeed NYSE: WOLF said it is advancing its silicon carbide technology roadmap, expanding its presence in AI data centers and pursuing operating and capital-structure improvements, Chief Executive Officer Robert Feurle said at the company’s 2026 annual shareholder meeting.

The company also said shareholders approved all proposals presented at the virtual meeting, including the election of seven directors, the 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, an advisory vote on executive compensation and the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Wolfspeed’s independent auditor for the current fiscal year.

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Technology and Manufacturing Roadmap These 3 Short-Squeeze Candidates Have Catalysts, But Their Risks Are Just as LargeFeurle said Wolfspeed’s strategy is centered on technology leadership, customer and revenue diversification, operational execution and financial discipline.

He pointed to the company’s June announcement that its fifth-generation silicon carbide MOSFET technology had reached commercial readiness. According to Feurle, the Gen 5 MOSFETs provide what he described as the industry’s best specific on-resistance while maintaining switching behavior introduced with the company’s Gen 4 products.

Power Struggle: Wolfspeed Sues Navitas Over AI ChipsWolfspeed’s 10 kV silicon carbide MOSFET was also recognized at PCIM, a European power-technology conference, as a top innovation at the event, Feurle said.

The CEO said Wolfspeed believes its vertically integrated 200 mm manufacturing capabilities, along with developing 300 mm capabilities, position the company to support growing demand for silicon carbide technology.

AI Data Center Revenue Growth Feurle said Wolfspeed continues to make progress across its core end markets and improve relationships with longstanding customers. He also highlighted AI data centers as an emerging growth market for the company.

Full-year fiscal 2026 revenue from the AI data center end market more than doubled from the prior year, according to Feurle. He said Wolfspeed has expanded its leadership presence with industry veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area and is seeing the benefits in both day-to-day customer interactions and revenue trends.

“We are extremely well-positioned” to support AI data center adoption as it scales, Feurle said, citing the company’s silicon carbide technology and manufacturing platform.

Operations and Financial Discipline Operational execution remains a central priority, Feurle said. Wolfspeed is focused on improving production yields and lowering unit production costs while maintaining speed, quality and cost discipline.

These efforts are intended to support both legacy and new customers and create a stronger foundation for sustainable growth and profitability, he said.

On financing, Feurle said Wolfspeed benefited from a refinancing completed in March that strengthened its capital structure and reduced its cost of capital.

He also discussed the company’s recently announced conditional 30-year, $1.5 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War. The commitment is intended to help advance the domestic wide-bandgap semiconductor supply chain, according to Feurle.

Feurle said the conditional commitment could provide long-term capital to support Wolfspeed’s strategy and further strengthen its capital structure. He said the financing’s pay-in-kind structure during its first five years could reduce intermediate-term cash interest payments, while lower capital costs could benefit customers, shareholders and national security.

Shareholder Votes Approved Melissa Garrett, Wolfspeed’s general counsel and corporate secretary, said a quorum was present at the meeting based on shares represented virtually or by proxy. The company’s inspector of elections reported that each proposal received the votes required for approval and that the advisory vote on executive compensation was favorable.

Wolfspeed expects to report final voting results in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days of the meeting.

About Wolfspeed (NYSE:WOLF)Wolfspeed, Inc is a semiconductor company focused on silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. Its products are designed to support the conversion and management of electrical power in applications that require high efficiency, high voltage, and operation at elevated temperatures.

The company develops and manufactures SiC power devices, including metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, diodes, power modules, and related components. It also produces SiC materials such as wafers and epitaxial substrates used by semiconductor manufacturers.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Wolfspeed Right Now?Before you consider Wolfspeed, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Wolfspeed wasn't on the list.

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), a leading global asset management firm, announced today it is working with Anthropic to bring its data to support portfolio intelligence and practice management available through Claude for Financial Advisors. Invesco's new connector will provide a toolkit that helps advisors strengthen their business and client relationships.

"Leading technology should strengthen the value advisors bring to their clients and create more opportunities for personalized interactions," said John McDonough, Head of Americas Distribution, Invesco. "We're excited to work with Anthropic to pair Invesco's model portfolios with our best-in-class practice management support. We believe this will be a major advancement toward helping advisors turn efficient access to Invesco expertise into more meaningful client conversations, stronger practices for their business, and deeper relationships that help the advisor and client grow together."

Invesco brings decades of expertise to deliver industry-leading portfolio intelligence for existing advisors and clients utilizing Invesco's Model Portfolios, who will be able to access portfolio information directly via Claude, adding time for robust problem-solving through Invesco's proprietary practice management research. Invesco's portfolio optimization resources combine analytical tools, market and economic insights, and investment expertise to help advisors construct portfolios aligned with each client's broader wealth plan and objectives.

"We are excited to roll out Claude-connectivity, which will allow existing model advisors to have greater access to Invesco's portfolio intelligence in their daily workflows, with the flexibility to work with our purpose-built portfolios or the custom models we develop together," said Clint Harris, Global Head of Solutions & Custom Strategies. "Custom solutions can meet advisors' evolving needs for deeper partnerships, providing an opportunity to interact with their clients in ways that help advisors grow their businesses."

Invesco empowers advisors to strengthen client relationships, manage, and grow their practices through research, tools, and coaching across the client experience, providing a single source of support. For example, advisors who use Invesco's connector in Claude will have access to Invesco's research-based referrals program which helps advisors grow their business with personalized scripts and better integrated business development.

Invesco Solutions & Custom Strategies offers a broad range of institutional-quality model portfolio solutions with active, passive, factor-based and tax-aware approaches. Advisors can use ready-to-implement portfolios or work with Invesco to develop custom models aligned with their firm's asset allocation, manager and investment preferences, while customizable SMAs address individual client needs, including taxes, concentrated positions, preferences and restrictions. Backed by Invesco's investment expertise and ongoing support, these solutions help advisors scale investment management while creating more time to serve clients and grow their practices.

Claude for Financial Advisors is designed to support the work advisors complete throughout the day—from preparing for a client meeting to helping explain a portfolio change. It features skills and new connectors to tools that firms already use to run their businesses, including CRM, custody, portfolio reporting, financial planning, estate planning and meeting tools.

About Invesco Ltd.
Invesco Ltd. is one of the world's leading asset management firms serving clients in more than 120 countries. With US$2.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, we deliver a comprehensive range of investment capabilities across public, private, active, and passive. Our collaborative mindset, breadth of solutions and global scale mean we're well positioned to help retail and institutional investors rethink challenges and find new possibilities for success. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.

The Invesco models are overseen by the Invesco Investment Solutions and Custom Strategies team. The team is a part of Invesco Advisers, Inc., an investment adviser; it provides investment advisory services to individual and institutional clients and does not sell securities. It is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Advisers, Inc. provides investment advisory services to individuals and institutions and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. 

The Invesco Connector for Claude for Financial Advisors provides information for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. Investors should consult a financial professional before making investment decisions.

AI-generated outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated and must be independently reviewed before use. Such outputs are not recommendations by Invesco and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for investment decisions.

Invesco does not provide tax advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific tax situation.

Contact: Stephanie Diiorio, [email protected], 212.278.9037

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.

Key Takeaways Vertex is expected to report Q3 2026 sales of $3.40 billion and earnings of $4.92 per share.Trikafta/Kaftrio sales are projected at $2.49 billion, while Alyftrek's global revenues topped $1B in H1 2026.Casgevy infusions, rising Journavx prescriptions & pipeline updates are key areas to watch. We expect Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX - Free Report) to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 2, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter sales and earnings is pegged at $3.40 billion and $4.92 per share, respectively.

Let’s see how things might have shaped up before the announcement.

Factors Likely to Influence VRTX's Q3 ResultsVertex’s revenues in the to-be-reported quarter are likely to have been driven by strong demand for its blockbuster cystic fibrosis (“CF”) medicine, Trikafta/Kaftrio (Trikafta’s brand name in Europe). The drug still accounts for the majority of Vertex’s total revenues.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Trikafta/Kaftrio sales is currently pegged at $2.49 billion for the third quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, higher Trikafta/Kaftrio sales are likely to have caused sales erosion of VRTX’s other CF drugs — Symdeko (marketed as Symkevi in Europe), Orkambi and Kalydeco.

We expect investors to focus on the sales performance of its fifth CF medicine, Alyftrek (vanza triple), during the third quarter.

Alyftrek sales surged sequentially in the last reported quarter, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. Per management, the U.S. and European launch of Alyftrek is progressing well across all patient groups. The drug has already surpassed $1 billion in global revenues during the first half of 2026.

The company expects rising patient numbers from the label expansions for Alyftrek and Trikafta, along with launches of Alyftrek in additional geographies for treating younger patients, to drive CF growth in the to-be-reported quarter.

Year to date, shares of Vertex have risen 14.2% compared with the industry’s increase of 5.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Q3 Sales Expectation for VRTX’s Non-CF ProductsVertex and its partner CRISPR Therapeutics’ (CRSP - Free Report) one-shot gene therapy, Casgevy, is approved for two blood disorders — sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

Vertex leads the global development and commercialization of Casgevy under the terms of the 2021 agreement, with support from CRISPR Therapeutics.

Casgevy sales soared on a sequential basis in the last quarter due to an increase in patient infusions, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. The launch of Casgevy continues to progress across the United States, Europe and other countries. Nonetheless, Vertex expects continued quarter-to-quarter variability in Casgevy infusions in 2026. An update is expected on the call.

Sales of VRTX’s new non-opioid pain medicine Journavx (suzetrigine) increased sequentially in the last quarter, driven by strong prescription growth and inventory restocking. The drug’s launch metrics and reimbursement trends are also improving. Vertex expects higher sales from Journavx in the third quarter as prescription volumes are rising.

Several updates related to Vertex’s pipeline candidates, which are in mid- to late-stage studies for treating diseases like acute and neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, and cell therapy for type I diabetes, are also expected on the upcoming earnings call.

In June 2026, the FDA accepted VRTX’s regulatory filing seeking approval for its investigational candidate, povetacicept, for treating adults with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a rare progressive kidney disease. A final decision from the FDA is expected on Nov. 30, 2026.

VRTX's Earnings Surprise HistoryVertex has a mixed record of earnings surprises over the trailing four quarters. The company beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, delivering an average surprise of 2.28%. In the last reported quarter, VRTX delivered a negative earnings surprise of 1.25%.

What Our Model Says for VRTXOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Vertex this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

Earnings ESP: Vertex’s Earnings ESP is +4.98%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our  Earnings ESP Filter.

VRTX’s Zacks Rank: Vertex currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are two drug/biotech stocks that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:

Gilead Sciences (GILD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Gilead’s stock has risen 31.6% so far this year. GILD beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.12%, on average. Gilead is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29.

Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.53% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Shares of Pfizer have risen 25.9% so far this year. Pfizer beat earnings estimates in each of the last four reported quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 16.62%. Pfizer is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Nov. 3.

Key Takeaways LNT prepares to report Q3 earnings, with estimates indicating a 9.8% year-over-year rise in EPS to $1.23.Customer growth, rising electricity demand and cost-control efforts are expected to support LNT's Q3 earnings.Higher operating and maintenance expenses, along with financing costs, may weigh on LNT's quarterly results. Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, after market close. The company delivered a negative surprise of 1.52% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors That Are Likely to Have Impacted LNT’s Q3 PerformanceAlliant Energy’s investments in electric distribution to support electrification are expected to have enhanced grid reliability, improved customer service and contributed to its bottom-line performance in the to-be-reported quarter.

Electricity rates across Alliant Energy’s service areas remain below the national average, helping attract new customers. The company’s expanding customer base and the associated growth in electricity demand may have contributed to revenue growth in the upcoming quarter.

Steady economic expansion, rising demand from data centers and continued cost-control measures are likely to have bolstered its third-quarter earnings.

However, increased operations and maintenance expenses, along with higher financing costs, may have offset some of these benefits in the to-be-reported quarter.

Q3 Expectations for LNTThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $1.21 billion, implying a year-over-year fall of 0.1%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.23 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 9.8%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total electricity delivered is pegged at 9,234.21 megawatt-hours (MWh), up 0.4% year over year.

What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for LNTOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Alliant Energy this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is +3.79%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Currently, Alliant Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) is slated to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +7.87% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

NI’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.55%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 22 cents per share, which suggests a year-over-year rise of 15.8%.

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP - Free Report) is slated to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.23% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

AEP’s long-term earnings growth rate is 7.58%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings stands at $2.04 per share, which implies a year-over-year jump of 13.3%.

Edison International (EIX - Free Report) is slated to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

EIX’s long-term earnings growth rate is 3.86%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.79 per share.

Marvell shares just cratered while management raised its revenue outlook, creating a rare tension between Wall Street's confidence and the market's sudden cold feet. Here is what the numbers say about which side gets it right.

Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL | MRVL Price Prediction) just pulled back sharply. Shares trade at $224.01 after an 8.13% drop today. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target is $271.84, which means 21.35% upside over the next 12 months. The model rates the stock a buy with high confidence.

24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary

Metric
Value

Current Price
$224.01

24/7 Wall St. Price Target
$271.84

Upside/Downside
21.35%

Recommendation
BUY

Confidence Level
90%

The stock and the business are heading in opposite directions right now. Management raised its revenue outlook for both fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 and guided Q3 revenue to $3.150B +/- 5%.

Wall Street’s consensus target of $341.63 sits well above ours, so I treat $271.84 as a measured base case with room to run higher.

A 165% Rally Hits an October Air Pocket
Marvell has fallen 8.33% over the past week and 12.62% over the past month. It is still up 165.04% year to date. Shares sit about 32% below the 52-week high of $329.73 and far above the low of $70.62.

Chip stocks as a group just came off nine consecutive losing days. Marvell then bounced nearly 7% on October 19, when traders moved back into risk.

The fundamentals are holding up well. Q2 fiscal 2027 revenue came in at $2.7393B, +36.5% YoY, ahead of the $2.707B consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.94 beat the $0.9289 estimate.

Data Center revenue grew 46% and now makes up 79% of sales. At its October Investor Day, Marvell raised its long-term revenue forecasts and lifted its fiscal 2029 custom chip target.

Why Bulls See $350 and Beyond
Our bull case reaches $350.85, a 56.62% return. The October Investor Day raised management’s outlook above its earlier earnings-call targets of roughly $12 billion in fiscal 2027 revenue and about 50% growth in fiscal 2028. They also expected custom revenue to more than double next year.

Non-GAAP operating margin should reach the 38% to 40% target range in Q4. The expanded Google deal includes a warrant for up to 7% of Marvell shares, signaling confidence in the custom business.

CEO Matt Murphy said: “Even as our revenue base becomes significantly larger, our growth rate is accelerating.” Coverage counts 8 Strong Buy, 32 Buy and zero Sell ratings. The consensus target means 52.5% upside.

What Could Drag Marvell Toward $209
Our bear case is $209.36. Revenue depends on a handful of hyperscalers, and any of them could design more chips in-house. Supply of advanced wafers is tight, and stock-based compensation rose to $207.6M from $142.1M.

GAAP operating margin of 16.8% trails the non-GAAP 36.6%, partly because of a $331.8M contingent consideration charge. That charge is acquisition-related and should not repeat every quarter. Debt also looks manageable, with net debt at just 0.27 times EBITDA.

Is Marvell Pricier Than Broadcom and NVIDIA?
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) competes most directly with Marvell in custom AI silicon. Its AI semiconductor revenue grew 221% to $16.70 billion last quarter.

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) sets the benchmark for AI accelerators and also partners with Marvell through NVLink Fusion. Both peers are growing faster and trade at lower forward multiples.

Our model gives half its weight to a forward-earnings value well below today’s price, which already builds in some multiple compression. That makes the peer comparison support our 24/7 Wall St. price target as reasonable.

Company
Forward P/E
Latest Revenue Growth YoY

Marvell
62x
36.5%

Broadcom
19x
85.5%

NVIDIA
25x
105.85%

Pullback Widens the Gap to Our Price Target
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $271.84, a buy rating and 90% confidence all reflect one thing above all: growth is speeding up while the stock is falling.

I’d grow more constructive if Q3 lands near the $3.150B guidance and custom revenue ramps on schedule. I’d turn cautious if supply constraints or a hyperscaler moving chip design in-house knocks fiscal 2028 targets off course. For now, the data favors the bulls.

Here is where the 24/7 Wall St. price target model projects Marvell could trade, assuming current growth trends hold.

Year
24/7 Wall St. Price Target

2026
$271.84

2027
$277.30

2028
$300.85

2029
$348.88

2030
$365.63

These projections assume Marvell keeps executing on custom silicon and optical connectivity. The results could land well above or below this path depending on scale-up optics adoption or a slowdown in hyperscaler spending.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Boot Barn's Q2 revenues are projected to rise 15% to $581.2M, while EPS is expected to grow 19% to $1.63.Store expansion, robust workwear demand and growing omnichannel capabilities are likely to support Q2 results.BOOT shares have fallen 28% in three months and trade at a forward P/E of 11.87X, below the industry's 12.92X. With Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) set to announce its second-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings results after the market closes on Oct. 28, investors face a critical question: Can BOOT maintain its streak of positive earnings surprises, or will challenges in the retail sector temper its growth?

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues stands at $581.2 million, indicating a 15% increase from the prior-year reported figure. On the earnings front, the consensus estimate has remained stable at $1.63 per share over the past 30 days, implying year-over-year growth of 19%.

Boot Barn Holdings has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%, on average. In the last reported quarter, this Irvine, CA-based company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 35.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What the Zacks Model Indicates for BOOT’s Q2 EarningsAs investors prepare for Boot Barn Holdings’ second-quarter results, the question looms regarding an earnings beat or miss. Our proven model predicts that an earnings beat is likely for Boot Barn Holdings this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Boot Barn Holdings has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +0.92%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped BOOT’s Q2 OutcomeBoot Barn Holdings’ second-quarter fiscal 2027 performance is likely to have benefited from its aggressive store expansion strategy and the encouraging performance of newly opened locations. The company entered the quarter with strong momentum in new store productivity, reflecting healthy customer demand across its expanding footprint. Management remained confident in its store-opening pipeline, supported by attractive store economics and opportunities to expand into underserved markets. The addition of new locations is likely to have strengthened Boot Barn’s market presence, attracted new customers and supported overall sales growth during the quarter.

Beyond store expansion, Boot Barn’s efforts to strengthen its merchandise assortment and reinvigorate the workwear business are likely to have aided second-quarter performance. The company has been benefiting from improved demand for work boots and work apparel, driven by better in-store merchandising, increased marketing focus and a stronger selection of established third-party brands. Management indicated that the workwear business maintained healthy momentum entering the quarter, reflecting resilient demand from customers purchasing products for everyday work needs. Continued strength in this category, along with merchandising improvements in denim and women's Western boots, may have helped attract customers and support sales.

Meanwhile, Boot Barn’s growing omnichannel capabilities are likely to have provided another boost to its quarterly performance. The company has been witnessing encouraging demand across its digital business, supported by the strength of bootbarn.com and its efforts to create a seamless shopping experience. Services such as buy online, pick up in store and ship-to-store have been helping drive customer engagement while making inventory more accessible across channels. The company's ability to fulfill online orders through its store network is also likely to have supported fulfillment efficiency and profitability. These initiatives, combined with continued investments in digital shopping capabilities, may have helped sustain e-commerce momentum during the quarter.

On its last earnings call, management guided consolidated same-store sales in the range of flat to up 2%, with retail store same-store sales between down 1% and up 1% and e-commerce same-store sales growth of 10% to 12%.

On the profitability front, Boot Barn’s focus on merchandise margin expansion and disciplined cost management is likely to have supported earnings growth. The company has been benefiting from improved full-price selling, favorable buying economies of scale, supply-chain efficiencies and strategic sourcing initiatives. Management also expected lower freight expenses compared with the prior-year period, which may have provided additional support to merchandise margins. Anticipated tariff refunds are likely to have offered a favorable contribution to profitability. Together with efficient expense management and better operating leverage, these factors may have boosted Boot Barn’s bottom-line performance during the second quarter.

BOOT Stock Price PerformanceShares of Boot Barn Holdings have fallen 28% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 10.7% decline.

Boot Barn Holdings has trailed Designer Brands Inc. (DBI - Free Report) and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW - Free Report) . While shares of Designer Brands have risen 0.7%, those of Wolverine World Wide have dropped 2.8%.

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Does BOOT Present a Strong Case for Value Investing?Boot Barn Holdings’ valuation remains discounted relative to the industry. BOOT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 11.87, below the industry average of 12.92. The stock also trades below its 12-month median P/E multiple of 19.07.

However, BOOT trades at a premium to Designer Brands and Wolverine World Wide, which have forward 12-month P/E multiples of 11.04 and 11.19, respectively.

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Final Words on BOOTBoot Barn appears well-positioned ahead of its second-quarter earnings release, supported by store expansion, healthy workwear demand, growing omnichannel capabilities and margin improvement efforts. The likelihood of an earnings beat, coupled with its discounted valuation and encouraging growth prospects, strengthens the stock’s investment appeal despite recent share price weakness. Existing investors may consider retaining their positions, while prospective investors could view the recent pullback as an opportunity to gain exposure ahead of earnings.