Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

By PYMNTS  |  June 18, 2026

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Blockchain infrastructure platform Alchemy integrated its artificial intelligence-powered agent card with Visa Intelligent Commerce.

The integration is designed to provide AI agents a “complete identity and payment stack” and let them make online purchases on consumers’ behalf, according to a Thursday (June 18) press release.

“With AgentCard, an AI agent built on models from any provider, including OpenAI or Anthropic, can book a vacation, order groceries or renew a subscription on a consumer’s behalf, without the consumer ever touching a checkout screen,” the release said.

Setup takes developers less than a minute, giving agents everything they need to function, like a Visa payment token, a dedicated email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet, via a single API, according to the release.

The launch comes a little more than two months after Alchemy introduced AgentPay, a tool designed to help AI payment systems work together.

The latest integration lets agents make transactions with Visa-issued tokens, “preserving rewards, credit lines and card benefits” without needing to create new accounts or credentials, the release said.

“Every major computing shift has produced a new kind of economic actor,” Alchemy Co-Founder and CEO Nikil Viswanathan said in the release. “The internet created online businesses. Mobile created the app economy. AI agents are next, and they need to be able to access the global economy, and AgentCard is how that starts.”

Tanner Riche, vice president for growth products and partnerships at Visa, said in the release: “As AI agents take on a more active role in commerce, they need to demonstrate trusted identity and seamless ways to transact. Visa is working with partners across the ecosystem so developers can bring these experiences to market on our Visa Intelligent Commerce infrastructure designed to support agentic commerce in a manner that is secure, reliable and ready to scale.”

Meanwhile, AI agents face a security problem, PYMNTS reported June 10. The internet cannot determine if an  agent is authorized, who gave the authorization, and what limits it has.

“A person logs in once and leaves a behavioral trail fraud detection can read,” the report said. “Agents act continuously, spawn other agents and carry permissions that spread in ways no one mapped when access was first granted.”

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Visa (V - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this global payments processor have returned -0.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, to which Visa belongs, has lost 1.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Visa is expected to post earnings of $3.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

The consensus earnings estimate of $13.09 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.1%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $14.81 indicates a change of +13.1% from what Visa is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Visa is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Visa, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $11.35 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +11.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $45.35 billion and $50.05 billion estimates indicate +13.4% and +10.4% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVisa reported revenues of $11.23 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +17.1%. EPS of $3.31 for the same period compares with $2.76 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.69 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +5.03%. The EPS surprise was +7.12%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Visa is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Visa. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways Visa launched an AI-driven cashback program in the UAE with Mashreq and Rezolve AI.V is using rewards, data and AI to boost card usage and deepen issuer and merchant engagement.Data processing revenues rose 17% in Q1 2026, supporting Visa's value-added services strategy. Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) is partnering with Mashreq and Rezolve AI to launch "Everyday Cashback" in the UAE. Powered by Rezolve's Reward platform, the digital-first Card Linked Offers (“CLO”) program delivers personalized, AI-driven rewards to credit and debit cardholders. The offering gives consumers tailored cashback incentives while helping merchants reach shoppers through targeted promotions.

While the launch is unlikely to materially affect Visa's near-term financial results, it highlights the company's broader strategy to strengthen its payments ecosystem. Beyond processing transactions, Visa is increasingly embedding value-added services into everyday payments. Programs like CLO can boost card usage, deepen customer engagement and create additional value for banks and merchants.

The initiative aligns with trends seen in Visa's first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, which showed continued growth in value-added services, commercial solutions and cross-border volumes. Expanding engagement-driven offerings in fast-growing digital payment markets like the UAE can help Visa reinforce issuer relationships and keep more payment activity on its network.

The rollout is less about immediate revenues and more about strategic execution. It demonstrates how Visa is leveraging data, AI and rewards programs to drive transaction activity and deepen ecosystem participation. The approach could also help offset rising client incentives by supporting higher-margin revenue streams. Data processing revenues rose 17% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. While the Mashreq partnership alone will not move the needle, consistent execution of similar initiatives can strengthen Visa's competitive position and support long-term earnings growth.

How Are Competitors Faring?Industry peers like Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report)  are deploying their own AI-driven networks to capture value beyond basic payment processing.

Mastercard is aiming squarely at the machine-to-machine economy. MA recently expanded its AI capabilities via Agent Pay for Machines, a specialized infrastructure enabling AI agents and connected devices to securely authorize, orchestrate, and settle transactions autonomously.

PayPal is advancing its Agentic Commerce initiative, enabling AI agents to discover products and complete purchases on behalf of consumers. Through these efforts, PYPL is embedding its payment services into next-generation shopping experiences.

Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesOver the past year, shares of Visa have lost 7.2% compared with the industry’s 23.8% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.77, above the industry average of 16.89. V carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 14.1% jump from the year-ago period’s level.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Longer lives, more businesses being passed down, and an interest in alternative investments are reshaping how wealthy individuals plan and invest

Key takeaways:

Longer lifespans are changing how people plan for their finances with more than 90% saying it is a key factor. Twice as many business owners report inheriting their businesses versus two years ago. 77% of ultra‑high‑net‑worth (more than $25 million) respondents saying greater investment opportunity exists in private markets than public ones. , /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 Bank of America Private Bank Study of Wealthy Americans, surveying individuals with $3 million or more in investable assets, finds that longer lifespans, accelerating family business transitions and shifting investment preferences are reshaping financial priorities. More than 90% cite longevity as a critical planning consideration, while nearly one quarter of business owners report inheriting their companies, highlighting the speed at which multigenerational complexity is emerging.

"The Great Wealth Transfer is not simply a transfer of assets, it represents a meaningful shift in how clients define and engage with their wealth," said Katy Knox, President of Bank of America Private Bank. "As financial lives become increasingly complex, clients are looking for thoughtful, personalized strategies that bring together investing, credit, banking, and legacy planning in a more integrated and purposeful way."

Watch a video of Shim Sameer, Head of Products, Solutions and Platforms, Bank of America Private Bank, discuss the study findings.

Longevity moves to the center of financial planning
Longer lives are raising expectations for lasting wealth, but planning has yet to fully catch up.

92% say longevity is an important factor in financial planning, and 94% are already taking steps to optimize their health and increase longevity. 61% are now discussing longevity with their advisors. Yet long-term planning remains uneven: only 46% have the three essential documents (a will, living will or advance directive, and durable power of attorney). 55% of respondents have a trust, and 51% without a trust are likely to establish one, yet only 33% say they understand trusts quite well. Among younger married investors, planning is starting earlier: 32% of Gen Z and Millennials have a prenuptial agreement (with another 15% planning to), compared with 15% of Gen X and 4% of Boomers and Silents. Transfer of family businesses accelerates and family involvement rises
Business ownership plays an increasingly central role in wealth transfer despite gaps in formal succession planning.

Wealth transfer is underway as 23% wealthy business owner respondents report inheriting their business, compared to 11% in 2024 and 5% in 2022. Family involvement in business decisions rose to 27%, up from 7% in 2024, alongside increased participation in governance and future planning. Only 24% report no family involvement, down from 49% in 2024. 78% of wealthy business owners say succession planning is important to their wealth strategy, yet only 20% have a fully documented succession plan. Family conversations (25%) rank among the biggest estate planning challenges for family business owners. UHNW investors prioritize private markets and strategic credit
Ultra‑high‑net‑worth (UHNW) investors with over $25 million in investable assets are increasingly focused on private markets, strategic use of credit, and intentional planning to preserve wealth across generations.

77% of UHNW respondents believe more money can be made in the private markets than in the public markets. UHNW investors cite real estate as the top opportunity for investment growth, up notably from 2024, followed by private equity. More than half of respondents with over $25 million use credit strategically or occasionally, compared to 16% of respondents with $3M–$10M.   UHNW respondents use credit to pursue opportunities (37% vs. 22% for $3M–$10M), support business operations (36% vs. 12%), bridge timing gaps between liquidity events (34% vs. 20%), and facilitate wealth transfer (22% vs. 9%).   61% of UHNW respondents express concern about their children's motivation and are taking actions such as supporting business ventures (51%), incorporating provisions into trusts (41%) and not disclosing the full amount of family wealth to them (36%). Younger investors are redefining diversification
Younger investors (Gen Z and Millennials, ages 21 to 45) are reshaping how wealth is built and diversified, as they embrace alternative investments and emerging technologies.

67% of younger investors believe traditional stocks and bonds can no longer deliver above-average returns. Younger investors allocate nearly half as much to stocks as older generations, while allocating more to alternatives (15%) and crypto (13%) than older investors. Crypto ranks as the #1 "wealth‑creation opportunity" for young wealthy: 29% rank it #1; 58% currently own crypto (up from 49% in 2024) and 92% either own or are interested.   88% of younger investors say they're likely to allocate more to alternatives in the next few years, compared with just 15% of Boomers and Silents. 47% of young investors use AI to research companies or markets, and 87% are comfortable with advisors using AI to help manage portfolios, yet 65% still prefer to receive investment advice from a human advisor. 42% of younger respondents own art; among those who do not, 75% are interested in own art and 94% own collectables. Read more about the 2026 Bank of America Private Bank Study of Wealthy Americans.

Frequently asked questions

Question: How does Bank of America Private Bank help clients navigate today's more complex wealth landscape?
Answer: Bank of America Private Bank delivers integrated wealth management built for complexity by bringing together solutions spanning wealth strategy, trust and estate planning, investment management, banking, specialty lending, and philanthropy. Advisors, support by award-winning digital platforms, work across disciplines, to help clients manage growth, liquidity, longevity, and legacy as their priorities evolve.

Question: How does Bank of America Private Bank support long‑term planning across generations?
Answer: Bank of America Private Bank helps families plan for longevity and wealth transfer through trust and estate planning, business succession strategies, and family education. Advisors facilitate conversations across generations to align financial plans with family values, helping clients preserve wealth, prepare heirs, and plan for extended lifespans.

Question: How is Bank of America Private Bank supporting investors as interest in alternatives grows?
Answer: The Private Bank offers access to a broad range of alternative investment strategies, including private equity, real estate, and select opportunistic investments, alongside traditional portfolios. Advisors help clients evaluate where alternatives fit within an individual client's overall asset allocation, balancing risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and long‑term objectives.

Question: How does Bank of America Private Bank help clients use credit strategically as part of their wealth plan?
Answer: Advisors work with clients to use credit strategically, whether to manage liquidity, finance major lifestyle purchases, support business opportunities, or preserve investment positions, while aligning borrowing decisions with long‑term wealth goals.

Question: What role does technology and artificial intelligence play at Bank of America Private Bank?
Answer: Bank of America Private Bank uses AI to support advisor capacity, deepen client relationships, and help teams find information faster and more efficiently. In 2025, 93% of Private Bank clients were digitally active, reflecting strong adoption of our digital banking tools.

2026 Bank of America Private Bank Study of Wealthy Americans Methodology
Escalent, an independent market research company, conducted an online survey on behalf of Bank of America Private Bank among 1,431 wealthy individuals in the United States. Respondents were ages 21 or older with at least $3 million in investable assets, excluding primary residence. Participants were sourced from multiple panel providers targeting wealthy individuals. The survey was fielded from January 8, 2026, to February 5, 2026. Data were weighted to reflect the U.S. high‑net‑worth population by age, investable assets, region, and gender, and respondents are not necessarily clients of Bank of America or its wealth and investment management businesses.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,500 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. As the #1 small business lender in the United States (FDIC), Bank of America offers industry leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact

Julia Ehrenfeld, Bank of America
Phone: 1.646.855.3267
[email protected]

Carolyn Batt, Bank of America
Phone: 1.646.983.1369
[email protected]

MAP # 8971085

Important disclosures
Bank of America Corporation ("Bank of America") is a financial holding company that, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, provides banking and non-banking financial services.

Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").

Bank of America, N.A., and U.S. Trust Company of Delaware (collectively the "Bank") do not serve in a fiduciary capacity with respect to all products or services. Fiduciary standards or fiduciary duties do not apply, for example, when the Bank is offering or providing credit solutions, banking, custody or brokerage products/services or referrals to other affiliates of the Bank.

Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Credit and collateral subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

Bank of America and its affiliates do not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Investment products:

Are Not FDIC Insured

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

©2026 Bank of America Corporation.

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

Mark Cabana, Co-Head of Global Rates Research at Bank of America Securities, came on CNBC this morning ahead of the FOMC decision with a thesis that has very little to do with the dot plot and almost everything to do with the man holding the gavel. “Kevin Warsh is a relative stranger to the bond market, at least as far as acting in Fed chair capacity,” Cabana said. That is the unusual part. The bond market has spent the better part of two decades learning the tells of Powell, Yellen, and Bernanke. Warsh is something closer to a returning expat.

A chair the bond market hasn’t traded against Rates traders price personalities as much as data. Powell’s pauses, Yellen’s word choice, Bernanke’s academic tics all got absorbed into the curve over years. Warsh has been on the outside looking in for a long stretch. “It is also very unusual for an outsider to assume a Fed chair responsibility,” Cabana noted. “They grew up through the Fed. Warsh has been gone for 15 years.”

Warsh built a reputation as a hawk during the financial crisis era, but the world he inherits runs on AI productivity arguments, a disinflation story, and a labor market that keeps refusing to roll over. Cabana put the uncertainty plainly. “He wants regime change. He wants to change many things at the Fed. But we really don’t have a strong sense for how his leaning is on monetary policy.” You can read Warsh’s old speeches all you want. They were written before transformers, before tariffs became a fiscal tool, before the Fed’s balance sheet got this large.

The committee leans hawkish, and the dot plot will show it Cabana expects no move today, but he is paying attention to where the rest of the committee plots itself. “We still think there will be individuals that pencil in hikes for this year,” he said. “And what we need to hear from Warsh is how prevalent is that view?”

The hawkish argument has a clean version. Cabana asked it out loud. “Are interest rates restrictive in this economy right now? To me, it is not clear at all that they are.” The U.S. consumer keeps spending. Credit spreads behave. Equities trade like a cut is coming. If policy is not actually restrictive, then the asymmetry shifts, and a chair with hawkish DNA might find a committee that already agrees with him.

What the curve and mortgages are pricing The bond market is straddling the question. The 10-year Treasury sits at 4.43% and the 2-year at 4.05%, a modestly positive slope that says the market believes in eventual easing while refusing to commit to it. The 30-year mortgage sits near 6.5%, inside a 6.25% to 6.75% range, sticky and not particularly responsive to chatter about cuts. A meaningful hike from here would push that figure modestly higher, but the base case is flat.

The disinflation argument has a real anchor. WTI crude collapsed to roughly $76 a barrel after trading in a $90 to $100 range. That takes pressure off the goods side of the basket. If Warsh wants to lean dovish, energy gives him cover. If he wants to lean hawkish, the resilient consumer gives him cover. Cabana’s point is that you cannot yet tell which lever he reaches for, and that is the volatility.

Hold today, a choppy session ahead Cabana’s setup is a hold at this meeting, with the rates market currently pricing roughly one hike over the next 6 to 12 months. The trade is really about the press conference. Every adjective Warsh picks is going to get parsed by people who do not have a decade of his behavior to compare it against. For a sense of the broader macro setup investors are weighing alongside this, see the Treasury’s daily yield curve data, which has shown a 13 basis point swing in the 10-year over the past two weeks. Volatility is the position. Clarity is the catalyst.

Bank of America (BAC 0.83%) shares have produced a total return of roughly 110% over the past three years (as of June 16). That kind of strong performance, coupled with the fact that Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway has a large stake in the business, might incentivize investors to add the financial institution to their portfolios.

Here are three things you need to know about Bank of America before buying.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Bank of America's deposit base is a huge advantage Bank of America has the leading market share in retail consumer deposits in the U.S. This is a massive advantage because it provides an extremely low-cost source of funding that impacts the company's success. As of March 31, the consumer banking segment had total deposits of of $951 billion.

What's noteworthy is that management says 91% of its checking accounts are customers' primary accounts. That means these deposits are very sticky. Here's where Bank of America benefits from switching costs, as consumers aren't likely to change their main banking service provider once trust and a relationship are established.

In the past decade, the company's consumer banking deposits have increased by 67%. While this isn't exactly eye-popping growth, it's a clear sign that Bank of America has an expanding pool of liquidity that can support lending opportunities and regulatory requirements.

2. Bank of America reported strong Q1 financial results Bank of America reported net revenue (up 7% year over year) and diluted earnings per share (up 25%) that both came in well ahead of analyst expectations in the first quarter. The strong financial results occurred amid heightened economic uncertainty.

Of note, investment banking fees soared 21%. And net interest income jumped 9% year over year to $15.7 billion. Higher profits boosted the return on tangible common equity to 16%. This is a significant improvement from the reported 14% in the year-ago period.

The business has been successful at keeping expenses under control. The efficiency ratio declined to 61% from 63% in Q1 2025. This metric divides non-interest expenses by net revenue, and a lower number is better.

Today's Change

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Current Price

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3. The stock's valuation is reasonable given the bank's growth Shares of Bank of America are currently trading in record territory. So, investors might wonder if the valuation is too rich to consider buying at these levels.

The stock trades at a price-to-book ratio of 1.5, which isn't expensive given how well the business is performing.

Consensus estimates call for diluted EPS to rise at a compound annual rate of 14.6% between 2025 and 2028. This potentially introduces a robust tailwind for the stock.

In the meantime, the return profile is bolstered by the current dividend yield of nearly 2%.

Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

BAC trades below peers on a P/S basis, but rising costs and a mixed earnings outlook may temper near-term upside despite growth drivers.

A "For Sale" sign stands in front of a house, on the North Shore of Long Island city of Glen Cove, New York, U.S., August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJune 23 (Reuters) - A majority of U.S. consumers now say they would prefer to buy a home rather than rent ​or move in with family, the first time since 2023 that sentiment has ‌favored homeownership, according to Bank of America's latest homebuyer insights report.

The findings point to improving sentiment toward homeownership, even as elevated mortgage rates, high home prices and limited housing supply continue to weigh on ​the market.

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Prospective buyers appear less willing to wait for conditions to improve, with ​Gen Z and millennials leading the change in attitudes, the survey showed. Of ⁠the 2,000 respondents to BofA's poll, 53% now favor buying, while 47% favored renting or ​moving in with family.

"Despite real and persistent challenges in the market, buyers and owners are ​increasingly optimistic, and many are starting to move forward rather than waiting on the sidelines. We are seeing meaningful changes in attitudes toward homeownership," Bank of America head of consumer lending Matt Vernon said in ​a statement.

BofA said 71% of respondents were waiting for interest rates and home prices to ​fall before purchasing, down from 75% in 2025.

Homeowners are also moving up their timeline for buying another ‌property. ⁠About 22% said they plan to purchase within the next year, compared with 15% in 2025, according to the report.

Still, affordability remains the biggest obstacle for would-be buyers, with high home prices and elevated interest rates ranking among consumers' top concerns, the survey found.

"Affordability remains the ​main barrier or constraint ​out in the ⁠market, but that buyer intent is rising. Homeowners are still experiencing those life events that have traditionally led to a home purchase," Vernon ​told Reuters.

Consumers are increasingly recognizing that higher rates may persist for ​longer, a ⁠view that aligns with BofA's expectation that mortgage rates for the year will remain in a 6.25% to 6.75% range, he added.

The survey also found that prospective buyers and current homeowners are ⁠increasingly ​using AI in the homebuying process, with one in ​five using AI tools or chatbots in the past year to calculate costs, scout neighborhoods and track market trends.

Reporting ​by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Tasim Zahid

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Saeed Azhar is a Reuters financial journalist and part of the U.S. banking team, which covers Wall Street's biggest banks. He focuses on Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, and also writes about regional banks. Before moving to New York in July 2022, he led the finance team in the Middle East from Dubai, and also worked in Singapore, covering Southeast Asia finance.

Basil writes stories across the U.S. finance file including banks, asset managers, payment firms, insurers, and exchange operators. He also covers initial public offerings on U.S. exchanges and venture capital funding.

A BP logo is seen at a petrol station in London, Britain, January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesDrivers say prices rose 30 cents a gallon where AI was in wide useLawsuit seeks damages for antitrust violationsCalifornians pay highest gas prices ​in USDefendants not available for commentJune 22 (Reuters) - Gas station operators ‌including BP (BP.L), opens new tab, Circle K (ATD.TO), opens new tab, Marathon Petroleum (MPC.N), opens new tab, 7-Eleven (3382.T), opens new tab, Walmart (WMT.O), opens new tab and Albertsons (ACI.N), opens new tab were sued on Monday by California drivers who accused them of using artificial intelligence to boost prices at ​the pump.

According to a proposed class action, the defendants violated ​California's main antitrust law, the Cartwright Act, by using an AI-based ⁠tool that uses data from competing gas stations to "coordinate high prices ​and wring more money from the pockets of consumers."

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The lawsuit in the Sacramento, ​California federal court said the scheme violated Assembly Bill 325, a California law that took effect on January 1 and was intended to crack down on algorithmic price ​fixing.

Drivers said gas prices have risen as much as 30 ​cents a gallon in areas where high percentages of stations use the AI tool, which comes ‌from ⁠a company called Kalibrate.

Each penny costs California drivers an extra $134 million per year, boosting gasoline prices to "astronomical" levels sometimes reaching $7 a gallon, the complaint said.

"While families struggle to afford the commute to work, defendants have conspired to ​put an end ​to competition, joining ⁠an AI-powered trust to ensure that no matter where a driver turns, the price for gasoline is artificially ​high," the complaint said.

The defendants operate more than 1,700 ​gas stations ⁠in California, according to the complaint. Kalibrate is also a defendant. The defendants either did not immediately respond to requests for comment or declined to ⁠comment.

Californians pay ​the nation's highest gas prices, averaging $5.58 per ​gallon for regular, according to AAA. The national average is $3.93.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for ​drivers who paid too much for gasoline.

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Walmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) stock has seen significant insider trading by the Walton Family Holdings Trust.

The Walton Family Holdings Trust sold 4,424,704 shares of Walmart common stock on June 16, 2026, for approximately $535.8 million, according to a Form 4 filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) analyzed by Finbold on June 23. The Trust sold Walmart stock in multiple transactions at weighted-average prices ranging from $120.99 to $122.42 per share.

Following the reported transactions, the Trust beneficially owned 502,305,752 WMT shares, valued at approximately $59.62 billion at press time. As such, the Trust has sold more than 11 million Walmart shares in 2026.

In March, the Trust sold 2,779,586 Walmart shares. In May, the Walton Family Holdings Trust sold 2,053,327 shares. Earlier in June, the Trust offloaded 1,771,333 Walmart shares.

Walmart stock price performance and forecast Year-to-date (YTD), Walmart stock has been trapped in a horizontal consolidation. The notable YTD sales of WMT shares by the Walton Family Holdings Trust could have impacted investors’ confidence.

Moreover, the WMT stock price struggled to rally above the supply level around  $134.75 twice YTD. After closing Monday trading at about $117.18, Walmart stock price traded at approximately $118.70 during Tuesday’s pre-market session.

WMT stock price performance for YTD. Source: TradingView Despite the Trust sales in 2026, Walmart stock has received a strong buy from Wall Street investors for the next 12 months. As of press time, the 12-month average target for WMT stock from 27 Wall Street analysts was $142.46, as per data shared by TipRanks.

Walmart stock price forecast. Source: TipRanks However, continued sales from the Walton Family could further weigh on WMT stock price in the near term.

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A Walmart store is shown in Oceanside, California, U.S., May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJune 23 (Reuters) - Retail bellwether Walmart (WMT.O), opens new tab has signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement ​with Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab, the companies said ‌on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, Constellation Energy will supply nuclear power from its Dresden ​Clean Energy Center in Illinois to ​Walmart's previously announced "high-tech" perishable distribution center, ⁠currently in development in Belvidere, ​Illinois.

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Walmart will buy about 176 megawatts of ​electricity, including 30 megawatts of additional output from planned upgrades, under two 15-year contracts starting ​in 2029 and 2030.

The agreement ​is among the first between a major U.S. ‌retailer ⁠and a nuclear energy provider and underscores growing corporate interest in baseload clean power, which can provide electricity around ​the clock.

The ​deal ⁠would support investment in efficiency upgrades, or uprates, at the ​Dresden Clean Energy Center, allowing ​the ⁠plant to increase output without building new generation capacity.

Dresden, one of Constellation's ⁠largest ​nuclear plants, is licensed ​to operate through 2049 and 2051.

Reporting by Varun ​Sahay in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Walmart stock is gaining positive traction. Why are WMT shares climbing? Walmart’s Long-Term Nuclear Power Agreement ExplainedConstellation’s Jim McHugh noted that the deal drives “meaningful investment” to bolster grid reliability and sustain local jobs. Emphasizing the corporate benefit, Walmart’s Shayne Wahlmeier stated that the partnership allows them to expand operations while prioritizing “affordable, reliable and clean energy for our business and the communities we serve.”

WMT Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchFrom a longer-term trend view, Walmart is holding above its 200-day SMA ($116.55) by about 1.8%, which keeps the bigger-picture uptrend intact even after the stock cooled from its May peak near the $135.16 52-week high. At the same time, it’s trading about 4.9% below the 50-day SMA ($124.86) and about 5.1% below the 100-day SMA ($125.03), so the intermediate trend still needs repair.

Momentum is improving: MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which typically signals that downside pressure is easing and buyers are starting to regain control. That said, the 20-day SMA remains below the 50-day SMA (a bearish crossover), so bulls generally want to see follow-through that reclaims the mid-term averages rather than a one-day bounce.

Key levels are fairly clean here: $112.50 is the nearby "line in the sand" where buyers previously stepped in, while $133.00 sits as a round-number/pivot-style ceiling not far below the prior highs where rebounds can stall. A push through resistance would also put the stock back in range of the 52-week high, while a break of support would likely shift focus back toward the low-$110s and the 200-day area.

Key Resistance: $133.00 — a nearby round-number ceiling where rebounds can stall, also aligning with the stock’s recent high-zone Key Support: $112.50 — a nearby area where buyers previously stepped in, sitting not far above the 200-day trend zone What Is Walmart and How Does It Operate?Since its founding in 1962, Walmart has become the world’s largest retailer, operating over 10,700 stores globally (including 4,600 namesake U.S. locations and another 600 Sam’s Club outlets) and serving about 270 million customers each week. In aggregate, the company posted more than $713 billion in fiscal 2026 sales, with a growing e-commerce footprint layered on top of its store base.

Its business is split across Walmart US (68% of fiscal 2026 sales), Walmart International (19%), and Sam’s Club (13%). Within the U.S., nearly 60% of its $486 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue came from grocery, which makes reliable, cost-aware energy procurement relevant—especially as it expands supply-chain infrastructure like the planned high-tech perishable distribution center referenced in Illinois.

Walmart’s Benzinga Edge Rankings: Strengths and WeaknessesBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Walmart, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

The Verdict: Walmart’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a quality-and-growth-leaning profile with only moderate momentum and value support. For longer-term investors, that often means the setup works best when price is reclaiming the 50-day/100-day area rather than fading below the 200-day trend.

WMT Stock Price Activity Tuesday MorningWMT Stock Price Activity: Walmart shares were up 1.58% at $119.03 on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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The retail giant is purchasing Vibe.co, a company that enables advertising through connected TVs.

Walmart plans to expand access to connected TV advertising by acquiring Vibe.co. By acquiring Vibe.

As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.

Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.

Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.

The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.

The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.

“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”

Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.

The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.

Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.

Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.

Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.

The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.

“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.

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June 24, 2026 Tuesday's MarketsS&P 500
7,365 (-1.44%)Nasdaq
25,587 (-2.21%)Dow
51,667 (-0.09%)Bitcoin
$62,397 (-3.08%)

Source: Image created by Jester AI.

1. Prologis Targets Buyout of U.K. Peer A $16.63 billion takeover bid for U.K. peer Segro by Prologis (PLD 2.57%) has been rejected unequivocally, despite it reflecting a value at a 25% premium to Segro's last closing stock price, as the Hidden Gems and Dividend Investor recommendation looks to grow inorganically.

"Prologis believes that its global platform, balance sheet strength and diversified capital base can unlock the significant embedded value of Segro's development and data center pipeline": Despite the statement confirming the deal was a "compelling value proposition," the current rejection could see another higher bid submitted in the near future. "The company is... doing a great job of quietly getting into the data center space": Earlier this month, Fool contributing analyst Matt Frankel noted why Prologis could do well as "they own, I think it's about 3,000 acres of land that they could potentially build profitable data centers on. They're helping to address one of the biggest problems in the data center space, which is power." 2. Walmart Buys Vibe.co for Ad Push The WSJ reports Walmart (WMT +0.19%) is paying $1.4 billion to purchase Vibe.co, a French advertising-tech company. If correct, the purchase price would mark Walmart's biggest deal in two years, signaling clear intent to push into this market.

"The acquisition advances Walmart's strategy to build more accessible, full-funnel advertising solutions through Walmart Connect": Given Vibe.co's focus on advertising within connected televisions, Walmart will be targeting small and medium advertisers with smaller budgets than large-scale ad teams. Another push in the long-term strategy move: The deal comes two years after purchasing connected-TV maker Vizio, which helped open up more platforms where it could sell advertising. In adding Vibe.co to enhance the product, it's aiming to compete with Amazon (AMZN +1.18%) on ad revenue.

3. Overnight Moves From FDX, KBH, and CBRS

FedEx (FDX 1.99%) fell around 6% ahead of the market open. Although quarterly revenue and earnings beat expectations, broader concern about underwhelming forward guidance and narrowing margins weighed on the Stock Advisor rec by Team Rule Breakers. KB Home (KBH +15.91%) rallied about 3% in pre-market trading thanks to revenue beating expectations, although it did adjust its full-year 2026 targets due to concerns around affordability challenges. Cerebras (CBRS 13.12%) dropped over 10% before the opening bell after it posted a quarterly net loss of $14 million and warned its core gross margin will shrink to 36-38% in the coming quarter, down from 46.5% from Q1. 4. Next Up: Wednesday Earnings from JEF, TCOM, and MU Jefferies (JEF 2.56%) reports earnings following the market close, with the Team Hidden Gems rec forecast to deliver decent growth driven by a continued rebound in deal activity from last quarter and elevated trading desk activity. Trip.com (TCOM +1.21%) delivers quarterly results post market close. Growth is expected thanks to international platform expansion and a rebound in Chinese outbound travel. Micron (MU 0.48%) will release Q3 results after the closing bell, coming off the back of a 13% move lower yesterday on broader memory chip valuation concerns – though the Team Rule Breakers rec is still up by more than 750% over the last year! Analysts expect revenue of around $35 billion, a 40% jump from last quarter, with a record gross margin of 81% to 81.6%. 5. Today's Take: When AI Threatens Your Portfolio

Chief Rule Breaker David Gardner built a philosophy on backing the disruptor, not the disrupted; I take it further: Owning the threat is the cleanest hedge against your own portfolio.-- Yasser El-Shimy Team Rule Breakers

The potential for AI disruption is something I regularly assess in my portfolio. Fortunately, the bulk of my investments aren't likely to face significant headwinds, such as real estate investment trusts, banks, and industrials. But there are a few I have to watch more closely.-- Matt Frankel Team Hidden Gems

6. Your Take Nasdaq futures were up over 0.5% in early trading, following the tech rout of the past two days.

Which names on your watchlist just got more attractively priced?

Discuss with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying!

This image and article was created using Large Language Models (LLMs) based on The Motley Fool's insights and investing approach. It has been reviewed by our AI quality control systems. Since LLMs cannot (currently) own stocks, it has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Jefferies Financial Group, Micron Technology, Prologis, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends FedEx and KB Home and recommends the following options: short July 2026 $60 calls on KB Home. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways JPMorgan aims to operate Chase in at least five European countries by the end of 2030.Chase has gained more than 3 million U.K. customers and roughly 30 billion pounds in deposits.JPMorgan sees Europe as a long-term retail banking investment, not an immediate earnings driver. JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) is planning to deepen Chase’s presence in Europe, marking a major step in its international retail banking strategy. The U.S. banking giant wants its digital bank to operate in at least five European countries by the end of 2030. Building on its current presence in the U.K. and Germany, the company is reportedly considering expansion into additional European markets, including France, Spain and Italy.

The move signals JPMorgan’s intent to build a scalable consumer banking platform outside its dominant U.S. base. Chase entered the U.K. in 2021 and has since gained strong traction (more than 3 million customers and roughly £30 billion in deposits), helped by competitive savings rates, cashback benefits and brand recognition. Its German launch (May 2026) has opened the door to continental Europe, where a common regulatory and technology framework may make future rollouts easier than the initial U.K.-to-EU transition.

For JPMorgan, the opportunity lies in gathering low-cost deposits, expanding customer relationships and cross-selling products such as cards, insurance, lending and wealth solutions over time. A broader European footprint will also diversify consumer banking revenues and support long-term growth.

However, the strategy is unlikely to deliver quick profits. Europe’s retail banking market is fragmented, heavily regulated and dominated by entrenched local banks. Digital players such as Revolut, Monzo and N26 have already intensified competition for younger and rate-sensitive customers. JPMorgan will have to keep spending heavily on technology, marketing and customer incentives to gain scale.

Overall, the expansion underscores JPMorgan’s confidence in its brand, balance sheet and digital capabilities. Still, the move must be viewed as a long-term retail banking investment rather than an immediate earnings driver.

How Do JPM’s Peers Fare in Terms of Branch Expansion Plans?JPMorgan’s two close peers are Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) and Citigroup (C - Free Report) .

Bank of America continues to show that branches remain relevant in an AI-driven banking era. As of March 31, 2026, Bank of America operated 3,540 financial centers and 14,902 ATMs, while advancing plans to open 150-plus centers across 60 markets by 2027.

Citigroup plans to renovate much of its 650-branch U.S. network and selectively open new locations by 2028. This will reshape Citigroup’s physical footprint around wealth management and advisory services rather than routine retail transactions.

JPMorgan’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJPM’s shares have gained 5.8% over the past six months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, JPMorgan trades at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 3.22X, slightly below the industry average. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPMorgan's 2026 earnings indicates a 10.3% year-over-year rise, while 2027 earnings are expected to grow at a rate of 5.4%. Over the past month, earnings estimates for 2026 have moved lower to $22.40, while those for 2027 have moved higher to $23.60.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Anthropic logo, a keyboard and a robotic hand in this illustration created on June 5, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

June 18 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), opens new tab has stopped its staff in Hong Kong from accessing Anthropic's AI models, in a sign ​of intense scrutiny on the technology's use outside the U.S., the ‌Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The wording of Anthropic's usage terms in its licensing agreement with JPMorgan prompted the bank ​to remove Claude models from an internal drop-down list ​of approved large language models available to employees ⁠in the Asian financial hub, the report said.

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The move follows ​a similar decision by Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab, which in April removed Claude from ​a list of approved tools available to its Hong Kong-based bankers.

JPMorgan and Anthropic did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside business hours. ​Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

The restrictions by ​the two Wall Street banks come amid rising U.S.-China tensions over AI technology, ‌data ⁠security and access to advanced computing tools.

While AI models built by U.S. firms are not available in mainland China, Hong Kong has largely remained a market where some models operate, ​with usage limits ​set by U.S. ⁠companies.

Earlier this week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, ​ordered the company to suspend exports of its ​Mythos ⁠and Fable AI models to destinations worldwide and all foreign nationals, citing concerns they could be used by military intelligence users in ⁠China, ​Russia and other countries of concern.

U.S. ​President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that negotiations with Anthropic are "going fine."

Reporting by ​Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Harikrishnan Nair

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

The JPMorgan Chase & Co. logo in one of the headquarters’ entrances in New York City, U.S., April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJune 18 (Reuters) - JPMorgan (JPM.N), opens new tab has tapped insider Ben Walter to oversee the bank's workplace solutions business, ​according to an internal memo seen by ‌Reuters on Thursday.

Walter will replace Vince La Padula, who is leaving after 23 years at the bank ​to take on a senior role ​at the Internal Revenue Service.

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J.P. Morgan Workplace ⁠Solutions provides equity compensation and share plan ​services globally. Formerly known as Global Shares, it was acquired ​by JPMorgan in 2022.

Walter most recently led Chase for Business, which serves more than 7.4 million small businesses ​across the U.S.

Prior to JPMorgan, Walter was ​the global retail CEO at specialty insurer Hiscox (HSX.L), opens new tab. Earlier, ‌he also held ⁠roles at BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab and the Boston Consulting Group.

La Padula, who joined JPMorgan in 2004, helped lay the foundation for JPMorgan's workplace solutions organization ​following the ​acquisition of ⁠Global Shares.

"Over 23 years, he delivered outsized impact — including significantly expanding ​our lending franchise — and he helped ​position ⁠workplace solutions for long-term growth, doubling assets and participants in just three years," said Mary ⁠Callahan ​Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan ​Asset & Wealth Management.

Reporting by Pragyan Kalita in Bengaluru and Nupur ​Anand in New York; Editing by Leroy Leo

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $325.22, moving -2.47% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.09%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.14%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 1.91%.

The stock of company has risen by 10.43% in the past month, leading the Finance sector's gain of 4.44% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.29%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on July 14, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $5.44, signifying a 9.68% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $48.01 billion, up 6.9% from the prior-year quarter.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $22.44 per share and a revenue of $195.45 billion, representing changes of +10.32% and +7.12%, respectively, from the prior year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.05% higher. As of now, JPMorgan Chase & Co. holds a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Looking at its valuation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 14.86. This expresses no noticeable deviation compared to the average Forward P/E of 14.86 of its industry.

We can additionally observe that JPM currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.62. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The Financial - Investment Bank industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.1 as trading concluded yesterday.

The Financial - Investment Bank industry is part of the Finance sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 84, this industry ranks in the top 35% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

Published June 19, 2026 3:39pm EDT

Investigators are examining a global investment empire tied to Tehran's leadership The Department of Justice is investigating transactions tied to a business network linked to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei that reportedly had exposure to major U.S. financial institutions, according to a Bloomberg News report.

Bloomberg reported federal investigators are examining how companies connected to Khamenei built a global investment portfolio with transactions involving Wall Street firms including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.

The reported probe is part of a broader Justice Department investigation into alleged money laundering and corruption involving entities tied to Khamenei, according to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter.

DOJ CLEARS PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS MERGER AFTER 8-MONTH ANTITRUST PROBE, SAYS DEAL COULD BOOST COMPETITION

JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York City. Federal investigators are reportedly reviewing transactions tied to a business network linked to Iran's supreme leader that involved major U.S. financial institutions. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images)

JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to FOX Business' requests for comment.

Investigators are reviewing the role U.S. financial institutions may have played in processing or facilitating transactions linked to the network, though Bloomberg reported the investigation does not necessarily mean charges will be filed.

The reported inquiry comes as the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Iran and sought to crack down on sanctions evasion and illicit financial activity tied to Tehran and its leadership.

JPMORGAN CHASE LAUNCHES AMERICAN DREAM INITIATIVE TO EXPAND SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT ACROSS THE US

Citigroup headquarters in New York City. The bank was named in a report on a Justice Department investigation examining transactions linked to a business network tied to Iran's supreme leader. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

The investigation could place renewed scrutiny on how major financial institutions identify and monitor potentially sanctioned entities operating through complex international ownership structures and investment vehicles, a longstanding challenge for global banks and regulators.

Bloomberg reported that investigators' primary focus is Khamenei and the network of businesses tied to him rather than the banks themselves.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % JPM JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. 331.57 -2.57 -0.77% C CITIGROUP INC. 144.52 -0.54 -0.37% GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Khamenei became Iran's supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike. As Iran's highest-ranking authority, he has final say over major state decisions, including foreign policy and the country's nuclear program.

The reported investigation comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran as the administration continues to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on the Iranian regime.

Wealth Management

Photo credit: Getty Images

AI can now draft a financial plan in seconds. That is why tens of billions in market value vanished in February—and why the firms that endure will be the ones that own the control points, not the ones with the warmest handshake.

In the trading session this winter after a little-known software company unveiled an AI tax-planning tool, investors did something revealing. They sold the wealth managers.

The product was Hazel, an AI-enabled tax-planning workflow built into Altruist’s advisor platform. Nothing about it was science fiction; AI has been seeping into wealth management for years. But the market’s reaction was swift and pointed. Publicly listed wealth managers fell in the mid-to-high single digits in the session that followed, erasing more than $20 billion in value in short order. Three weeks later, the drawdown across major names passed $100 billion.

The market was not reacting to a single tool. It was re-underwriting a business model. If the cost of producing a complex tax plan collapses toward zero, what exactly is the client paying for—and who keeps the fee?

The Question I Left Open Last MonthI spent last month’s column on a version of this question in asset management, and I closed it with a line borrowed from McKinsey that I have not been able to shake: planning is getting cheaper than supervision. The value, I argued, was not disappearing. It was migrating towards the firms that own the data, the relationships, and the judgment that no agent can replicate on its own. McKinsey calls those defensible positions the control points.

That was the right frame for asset management. And the recent Hazel sell-off forced the same question into the open for wealth management, where the relationship is not a feature of the product—the relationship is the product. So what are control points, and how will they separate the winners from the used-to-bes?

MORE FOR YOU

Tasks Are Not JobsLet’s start with what the sell-off did not mean. It did not mean the advisor is finished. Rather it highlights how AI is exceptionally good at compressing the invisible labor of the industry--the tasks of preparation, data extraction, drafting, scenario modeling. Replacing tasks is not the same as replacing the human who is accountable for the judgment, the trust, and the behavioral coaching that clients actually hire.

The numbers support the distinction. McKinsey reports roughly 80% of affluent households still say they want a human relationship, and interest in holistic advice—the integrated, life-spanning kind that is hardest to automate—climbed from 29% in 2018 to 52% in 2023. Fee rates on relationships above $1 million have held remarkably steady at about 104 basis points since 2019. And the industry faces a projected shortfall of 90,000 to 110,000 advisors by 2034, which makes AI a capacity lever the industry needs, not a threat it can wish away.

So the replacement of humans question is the wrong question. The right question is as AI commoditizes the technical output, which parts of the value chain become mere features, and which become control points?

What Is A Control Point A control point is a position in the workflow that stays scarce even after the surrounding work becomes free. The four below adapt McKinsey’s framework.

The first is governed data. AI is only as good as the permissioned, high-fidelity information it runs on. The firm that owns the proprietary client record—the full household balance sheet, the history, the context—owns the floor for every downstream tool.

The second is the interface. This is the advisor's workspace, the screen where the relationship is actually managed. McKinsey's sharpest warning is here: if an AI-driven operating system becomes the primary interface and a third party owns it, the incumbent's century-old back office quietly degrades into a background utility. Hazel is interesting precisely because a tax tool is a plausible Trojan horse for the interface.

The third is auditability. For years the industry assumed regulation was a moat—that compliance was too hard to automate, so trust-based advice was safe. AI is dismantling that assumption by industrializing the oversight itself. The moat does not vanish; it moves to whoever builds auditability by design, i.e. evidence trails, supervision workflows, explainability that a regulator and a client can both follow. Compliance staff are a cost. Auditable systems are a control point.

The fourth is execution rails—the legal and technical ability to turn a recommendation into a completed transaction, securely. Insight is becoming abundant. The toll booth is the ability to act on it.

Underneath these four is accountable judgment--the named human who owns the decision when it matters and the behavioral coaching that keeps a client from selling at the bottom.

Notice what every item on the list has in common? Trust used to be a feeling—the advisor's rapport and the brand's reputation. In the AI era, trust is becoming infrastructure. Permissioned data governance, a defended interface, auditability, supervised execution—these are trust rendered as an operating system, engineered into the stack rather than carried in a relationship. The firms that win will not be the ones with the warmest handshakes. They will be the ones that have built trust into something they own.

What That Looks Like In PracticeThis is no longer theoretical. JPMorgan's asset and wealth management arm has been building exactly this, and its 2025 shareholder letter is unusually specific about it.

Its Connect Coach platform, launched just over a year ago, now serves roughly 12,000 users across the Private Bank and U.S. Wealth Management and runs 25 specialized AI agents that push around a million personalized, AI-driven insights to front-office staff. Advisors use it to accelerate meeting prep, support portfolio analysis, and generate call summaries—precisely the document-heavy tasks AI is expected to absorb first.

But the strategic point is not the productivity. It is who owns the layer. By building Connect Coach in-house, JPMorgan keeps the client data, the workspace, and the supervision under its own roof rather than depending on an outside vendor for them. That is an incumbent defending the interface control point: rather than let an independent platform like Altruist’s Hazel become the operating system its advisors work inside—and slide between the firm and its clients—JPMorgan owns that layer itself. The supporting numbers tell the same story: The firm’s private bank advisor headcount has nearly doubled since 2010 to about 4,100, while revenue per banker rose 15% from 2020 to 2025. Capacity is going up and the relationship is staying close. That is the disruption scenario—reshaped economics, human core intact—rather than the displacement one.

The Honest CounterA skeptic would push back, and should. Control points are not permanent. McKinsey notes that baseline capability is inflating fast, so today’s differentiator—slick AI summaries, sophisticated tax modeling—becomes tomorrow’s table stakes. Fee pressure is real too, though likelier to surface as demands for transparency and unbundling than as a cut to the steady 104 basis points. And the incumbent’s edge is a path, not a guarantee: many firms still run on fragmented, decades-old systems. So the deeper danger isn't that JPMorgan moves—it's that most firms assume their relationships keep them safe and never build the infrastructure at all, which is McKinsey's bluntest point: most are not yet building seriously for either scenario.

There is also a longer-horizon caution. As McKinsey notes in its 2035 outlook, the next generation of clients is shifting the basis of trust from "trust me" to "show me"—from reputation to demonstrated, auditable outcomes. That cuts both ways. It rewards the firms building trust as infrastructure, and it punishes the ones still trading on a logo.

The Race Is To Become UnrentableThe wealth management industry long assumed it sat safely on the relationship side of the automation line. This February the market called that assumption into question and priced in the doubt. The signal in the sell-off was not that advisors are obsolete. It was that the economics of advice are being rebuilt around what cannot be cheaply copied.

Producing the plan is getting cheaper by the month. Being accountable for it is not. Trust is no longer just something an advisor earns across a table—it is something a firm builds, owns, and is increasingly the only thing worth paying for.

© Billion Photos / Shutterstock.com

Income investors keep coming back to the same playbook in choppy markets: own businesses that have raised their payouts every single year, no matter what the economy is doing. June is a natural moment to reposition into dividend growers because mid-year cash needs to be put to work, and the three names below have done the one thing that matters most to compounders. They keep writing bigger checks, year after year, through every recession, crash, and inflation cycle since the 1960s.

Here are three Dividend Kings (or king-adjacent) names worth a hard look this month.

Coca-Cola (KO) Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO | KO Price Prediction) is the cleanest expression of the “pay you more every year” thesis. Management confirmed on the Q4 2025 call that this marks the 63rd consecutive year of dividend increases, putting it among the most elite Dividend Kings in the market. The company paid $8.8 billion in dividends during 2025, and the most recent quarterly payout sits at $0.53 per share, with an ex-dividend date of June 15, 2026 and a payment date of July 1, 2026.

The bull case got stronger in April. Q1 2026 revenue rose 12% year over year to $12.47 billion, organic revenue grew 10%, and operating margin expanded to 35% from 33%. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volumes jumped 13%. Management is guiding to comparable EPS growth of 8% to 9% and roughly $12.2 billion in free cash flow for 2026, which more than covers the dividend. Shares are up 17% year to date at $80.36, and the Street’s average target sits at $85.97.

Risk: The pending sale of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa creates a roughly 4% revenue headwind, and Asia Pacific operating income fell 17% last quarter. Trailing valuation at a 26 P/E is not cheap for a low-single-digit organic grower in a normalized year.

Procter & Gamble (PG) Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) recently checked the box on its 70th consecutive annual dividend increase and its 136th consecutive year of dividend payments since incorporation in 1890. That is roughly a century and a half of uninterrupted cash returns. The current quarterly dividend stands at $1.0885 per share, with an ex-dividend date of April 24, 2026. Management has earmarked roughly $10 billion in dividends for FY2026 on top of $5 billion in planned buybacks.

Q3 FY26 results showed the engine is still running. Net sales rose 7% to $21.24 billion, organic sales grew 3%, and the Beauty segment posted 7% organic growth. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar called it “a solid acceleration in top-line results… with broad-based growth across product categories and regions.” The stock trades at $152.52 after a 7% YTD gain, with the analyst target average at $163.43 and a current yield of 3%.

Risk: P&G is absorbing roughly $400 million in after-tax tariff costs and a $150 million commodity headwind in FY2026, and Core EPS is now expected toward the low end of the $6.83 to $7.09 range. Core gross margin compressed 100 basis points, which is the kind of slow drip that can mute total return even if the dividend keeps climbing.

AbbVie (ABBV) AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) is the highest-yielding name of the three at 3%, with a most recent quarterly payout of $1.73 per share and an ex-dividend date of April 15, 2026. The dividend has been raised every year since the 2013 spinoff from Abbott, and combined with the parent’s heritage, the lineage qualifies it as part of a 50-plus-year Dividend Aristocrat track record. Quarterly payouts climbed from $1.55 in 2024 to $1.64 in 2025 to $1.73 in 2026.

The Humira-to-immunology handoff is working. Q1 2026 revenue rose 12% to $15.00 billion, with Skyrizi up 31% to $4.48 billion and Rinvoq up 23% to $2.12 billion. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $14.08 to $14.28. CEO Robert A. Michael said AbbVie is “off to an excellent start in 2026, with first-quarter results exceeding our expectations.” Shares trade at $221.80, off slightly year to date, and the analyst average target is $253.55 based on 8 strong buys and 16 buys.

Risk: Humira sales fell 39% to $688 million, the trailing GAAP P/E reads at 111 on IPR&D-charge noise, and shareholders’ equity is negative. The forward P/E of 16 is a far more accurate read on the underlying business.

What To Watch Next All three names share a single common feature: they have raised payouts through every recession of the past half century, and each is doing it again in 2026. KO is the steadiest compounder, PG is the deepest moat, and ABBV is the highest yield with the most growth attached. For June income hunters wanting durable raises rather than chasing yield traps, this is the bench to study.

Researchers and developers believed they could improve the company's crown jewel—and sell consumers on a laundry ‘tile.'

Procter & Gamble (PG - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $147.68, demonstrating a -1.8% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.37%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.29%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.

The world's largest consumer products maker's stock has climbed by 4.11% in the past month, exceeding the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 1.01% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Procter & Gamble in its upcoming earnings disclosure. In that report, analysts expect Procter & Gamble to post earnings of $1.44 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 2.7%. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $21.46 billion, indicating a 2.74% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $6.91 per share and a revenue of $87.15 billion, representing changes of +1.17% and +3.4%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Procter & Gamble. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.07% lower. At present, Procter & Gamble boasts a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

In terms of valuation, Procter & Gamble is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 21.77. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 18.47.

Also, we should mention that PG has a PEG ratio of 6.54. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Consumer Products - Staples industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 3.13 as of yesterday's close.

The Consumer Products - Staples industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 169, finds itself in the bottom 31% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.