New coast-to-coast attraction, thousands of small business relationships, and a growing economic footprint underscore Disney’s role in the American economy
ANAHEIM, Calif. & LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Disney Experiences is making available a set of resources highlighting the company’s domestic economic impact — a story that reaches far beyond its theme park gates and into communities across the country.
Disney Parks & Resorts generates nearly $67 billion in annual economic impact across the United States and supports more than 403,000 jobs nationwide. Disney works with thousands of small businesses throughout the U.S. spanning manufacturing and food service to creative design and engineering fueling entrepreneurship and strengthening local economies across the country.
This summer, that nationwide footprint comes to life with the debut of Soarin’ Across America, a reimagined fan-favorite attraction that takes guests on an immersive, coast-to-coast flight over some of the country’s most iconic landscapes. The attraction itself is a product of Disney’s economic reach, with its filming and production supported by a network of U.S.-based businesses, from aviation operators to tourism companies, reflecting the types of small businesses that help power Disney experiences every day. Now open at Walt Disney World Resort and launching July 2 at Disneyland Resort, the attraction is part of Disney’s broader “Disney Celebrates America” initiative honoring the nation’s milestone anniversary.
Soarin’ Across America is just one example of how Disney Celebrates America is coming to life across the company’s brands and businesses. As part of the celebration, Disney is building on its relationship with Blue Star Families through a previously announced $2.5 million donation to create even more magical moments including special events and screenings for military families nationwide.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Digital Fact Sheet with key economic impact data, small business spotlights, and infographic available HERE Economic Impact Website: disneyexperiences.com/economic-impact — a comprehensive look at Disney’s coast-to-coast impact, featuring an interactive map, small business profiles, and state-by-state data Assets: photos and b-roll package of Soarin’ Across America available HERE Unscripted: Soarin’ Across America: The latest YouTube episode from Disney Parks about the story, people, and magic behind Disney’s updated attraction Soarin’ Across America - available HERE Spokesperson availability: Disney representatives and select small business owners available for interviews upon request UPCOMING DISNEY CELEBRATES AMERICA MILESTONES
It's not fun mapping out apocalyptic stock market scenarios, but it's worth knowing how your portfolio might hold up under duress. Stocks have been in a bull market for most of the past couple of decades, but there's bound to be some adversity -- it's part of being a long-term investor.
You shouldn't necessarily avoid risk. Often, younger, faster-growing companies, or tech stocks at the cutting edge of innovation, can generate life-changing returns. But it's wise to include some blue chip dividend stocks that have time-tested, rock-solid businesses that will endure, no matter what happens to the broader market.
These three stocks are Dividend Kings, meaning they have each raised their dividend for at least 50 consecutive years. They probably belong in your portfolio.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
1. This could be the world's most resilient business Altria Group (MO +0.03%) sells tobacco and nicotine products in the United States, led by its Marlboro cigarette brand. Smoking rates in the United States have steadily declined for many decades. Yet Altria Group has 56 consecutive years of annual dividend increases. And yes, Altria ships fewer cigarettes each year. Despite that, Altria continues to grow its profits by cutting costs and raising prices. Nicotine might be the most addictive legal substance on Earth, which affords tobacco companies unique pricing power.
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The obvious concern is that eventually, this playbook won't work as volumes shrink too much to overcome. But that concern is now decades old, and Altria still chugs on. Management has failed to diversify the business, but there's still time to get that right over the coming years. Altria's dividend payout ratio is still manageable at 75% of 2026 earnings estimates, and Wall Street anticipates low-to-mid single-digit annualized earnings growth.
Until then, Altria stock boasts a robust 5.9% dividend yield, sells a recession-proof product, and will almost assuredly continue inching that dividend higher year after year. Investors should be able to buy Altria and sleep well at night, at least for the next several years.
2. This retail giant still has a bright future Walmart (WMT +0.39%) is the world's largest retailer and a focal point of consumer spending in the United States. Its massive size and scale give it leverage with suppliers and overwhelming efficiencies to sell its goods at low prices that competitors simply cannot sustain. Today, roughly 90% of Americans live within a short drive of a Walmart store.
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Consumers can go to Walmart for groceries and household essentials, pick out a new TV, and have their tires changed, all in the same trip. Therefore, Walmart stores are typically busy, and that constant activity has made it a tremendous dividend stock with 53 consecutive annual dividend increases. Walmart has also adapted to industry changes, utilizing its store network to compete with Amazon in e-commerce. That has become a major growth engine for the future.
Analysts see Walmart growing earnings by 9% to 10% annually over the next three to five years, funding more dividend hikes along the way. Shoppers will almost certainly continue shopping at Walmart, so there's almost zero risk that the bottom will fall out of this world-class business model. Investors can buy, hold, and continue to count on Walmart no matter how shaky the markets may become.
3. A Buffett favorite and iconic brand The Coca-Cola Company (KO +1.03%) adds to this ongoing theme of products people need, no matter what happens. People will always get thirsty, and Coca-Cola is the best at capitalizing on that. It's a global beverage juggernaut with countless distribution points worldwide, including stores, venues, vending machines, you name it. Coca-Cola is known for its namesake soda but also sells dozens of other brands of soda, water, juice, coffee, tea, and more.
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There's no better endorsement a stock can get than from legendary investor Warren Buffett, who bought Coca-Cola stock for Berkshire Hathaway in the late 1980s. Buffett is a known fan of the iconic brand, and Berkshire Hathaway still holds the stock today. Part of the reason for that is Coca-Cola's clockwork-like dividend. The company has paid and raised the dividend for 64 consecutive years. Plus, the stock offers a solid initial dividend yield of 2.5% right now.
There's no reason to doubt the resiliency of Coca-Cola's dividend. Analysts see the company growing earnings by an average of 7% to 8% annually over the next three to five years. Coca-Cola sells more than 2.2 billion servings each day. All those little transactions add up to massive profits, and it's unlikely people worldwide will suddenly stop drinking its products. Investors can be like Buffett and put their hard-earned capital into Coca-Cola stock.
Altria (MO - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker have returned -5.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Tobacco industry, to which Altria belongs, has lost 4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
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.
For the current quarter, Altria is expected to post earnings of $1.48 per share, indicating a change of +2.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.68 points to a change of +4.8% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.87 indicates a change of +3.4% from what Altria 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, Altria 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 Altria, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $5.35 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +1.1%. For the current and next fiscal years, $20.53 billion and $20.68 billion estimates indicate +2% and +0.7% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAltria reported revenues of $4.76 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.3%. EPS of $1.32 for the same period compares with $1.23 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.56 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.39%. The EPS surprise was +6.45%.
Over the last four quarters, Altria surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
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.
Altria is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 Altria. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
Altria (MO - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $68.97, demonstrating a -1.75% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.98%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.35%.
The stock of owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker has fallen by 5.15% in the past month, lagging the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.54% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Altria in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 30, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.48, showcasing a 2.78% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $5.35 billion, up 1.06% from the year-ago period.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $5.68 per share and a revenue of $20.53 billion, indicating changes of +4.8% and +1.96%, respectively, from the former year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Altria should also be noted by investors. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. As of now, Altria holds a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
In terms of valuation, Altria is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.35. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.77.
Also, we should mention that MO has a PEG ratio of 2.62. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The average PEG ratio for the Tobacco industry stood at 2.12 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Tobacco industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 193, positioning it in the bottom 21% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.
Wall Street’s careening trajectory has left investors grappling with a highly volatile macro climate.
Despite brief relief from a tentative US-Iran ceasefire, the Federal Reserve’s latest Summary of Economic Projections paints a hawkish picture – slashing GDP expectations while projecting sticky PCE inflation at 3.6%.
With newly appointed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaling that interest rates will remain “higher for longer” and keeping a 2026 rate hike firmly on the table, hyper-growth sectors face sustained pressure.
When structural inflation and policy uncertainty cloud the horizon, cash flow is king.
Navigating this choppy backdrop requires anchoring a portfolio in rock-solid, defensive cash generators that balance market turbulence with reliable yield.
Irrespective of where the broader market heads next, three iconic dividend powerhouses offer the ultimate defensive blueprint for resilient income: Altria, Walmart, and Coca-Cola.
Tobacco may be in structural volume decline across the US – but Altria Group Inc has forged one of the market’s most paradoxically durable income stories.
MO has raised its dividend for 56 consecutive years, currently yielding “6.15%”, an uncommon payout for an investment-grade income stock.
Nicotine’s addictive properties afford pricing leverage few consumer categories can replicate, which is why the company’s payout ratio stands at about 75% of 2026 earnings estimates – a serviceable level that leaves capacity for further hikes.
As cigarette volumes contract annually, Altria offsets the pressure through disciplined cost reduction and consistent price increases on its Marlboro-led portfolio.
For MO, Wall Street analysts project low- to mid-single-digit annualized earnings growth, sufficient to sustain the dividend’s upward trajectory for the foreseeable future.
Walmart – the world’s largest retailer brings an operational moat of almost incomprehensible scale to the dividend equation.
With roughly 90% of the US population living within a short drive of a Walmart store, the company holds a captive consumer base spanning grocery, general merchandise, pharmacy, and automotive services, often under a single roof.
That physical density, combined with supplier leverage derived from WMT’s purchasing volume, enables sustained low-price leadership that competitors cannot match at equivalent margins.
Walmart has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years, and analysts project 9% to 10% annual earnings growth over the next three to five years, driven by accelerating e-commerce penetration and an expanding retail media advertising business.
So, the dividend, by any structural measure, faces minimal risk.
There aren’t a lot of businesses that can replicate the earnings consistency of Coca-Cola.
The company sells more than 2.2 billion product servings daily across a portfolio extending well beyond its flagship cola, encompassing water, juice, coffee, tea, and energy drinks, distributed through virtually every commercial channel globally.
That volume underpins a 64-year dividend growth streak, the longest among the three names profiled here, with a current yield of 2.65%.
Analysts project at least 7% compound annual earnings growth over the next three to five years, supported by price and mix improvements alongside geographic diversification across developed and emerging markets.
Perhaps the most durable endorsement: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has held Coca-Cola stock continuously since the late 1980s – an institutional conviction that, across four decades, has proven well-placed.
Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.
McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.
His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.
A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.
TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.
McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Target (TGT - Free Report) . Shares have added about 3.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Target due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Target Beats Q1 Earnings Estimates on Strong Sales, Raises ViewTarget reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year. The company witnessed broad-based momentum across merchandise categories and sales channels, aided by improved traffic trends, solid digital performance and continued strength in high-margin non-merchandise businesses. Management also raised its fiscal 2026 sales outlook following the better-than-expected start to the year.
Target’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsTarget reported adjusted earnings of $1.71 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 by 21.3%. The bottom line also increased 31.5% from adjusted earnings of $1.30 reported in the year-ago period. The big-box retailer generated net sales of $25,443 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24,460 million by 4%. The metric increased 6.7% year over year from $23,846 million.
Merchandise sales rose 6.4% to $24,894 million, while non-merchandise sales surged 24.6%, driven by strong growth in Roundel advertising revenues, Target Circle 360 membership income and the Target+ marketplace. Advertising revenues climbed to $246 million from $163 million in the prior-year quarter.
Meanwhile, comparable sales increased 5.6% against a decline of 3.8% in the year-ago quarter. The improvement reflected a 4.4% rise in traffic and a 1.1% increase in average transaction amount. Comparable store sales rose 4.7%, while comparable digital sales jumped 8.9%, led by more than 27% growth in same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360.
All six core merchandising categories registered year-over-year sales growth in the quarter. Food & Beverage, Beauty and Household Essentials remained key growth drivers, while Hardlines, Apparel and Home categories also posted gains amid improving consumer demand trends.
TGT’s Margin PerformanceGross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29% from 28.2% last year. The improvement was driven by lower markdown rates, supply-chain productivity gains, and growth in advertising and other high-margin revenues, partially offset by higher product costs.
SG&A expense rate increased to 21.9% from the prior-year GAAP rate of 19.3%. Excluding interchange fee settlement gains in the year-ago quarter, adjusted SG&A expense rate increased modestly from 21.7%. The increase reflected higher compensation costs, additional field training hours, higher incentive compensation, increased marketing expenses and planned investments in capital projects.
Adjusted operating income increased 29.1% year over year to $1,135 million, while adjusted operating margin expanded to 4.5% from 3.7% in the prior-year quarter.
Target’s Financial Health SnapshotTarget ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3,534 million compared with $5,488 million at fiscal 2025-end. Inventory remained well controlled at $12,317 million versus $13,048 million in the prior-year quarter. Long-term debt and other borrowings stood at $14,282 million, while shareholders’ investment totaled $16,395 million.
Capital expenditures increased 31% year over year to $1 billion, primarily driven by investments in new stores and remodel activity.
The company paid dividends of $516 million in the quarter. It did not repurchase shares in the fourth quarter and has approximately $8.3 billion remaining under its August 2021 authorization.
For the trailing 12 months, after-tax return on invested capital was 12.4%, down from 15.1% in the prior-year period.
A Sneak Peek Into TGT’s FY26 OutlookThe company raised its fiscal 2026 net sales outlook following stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance. Target now expects net sales growth of around 4% for the current fiscal year compared with its earlier expectation of about 2% growth. The company also continues to anticipate net sales growth in every quarter of the year.
Management expects the fiscal 2026 operating income margin rate to improve by more than 20 basis points from the adjusted operating margin rate of 4.6% reported in fiscal 2025. The company expects GAAP and adjusted earnings per share near the high end of the previously guided range of $7.50-$8.50.
Management emphasized that it remains focused on disciplined investments in store operations, technology capabilities, fulfillment services and merchandising initiatives while maintaining flexibility in an uncertain macroeconomic environment.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Target has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Target has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Target has promised investors that it's pursuing an aggressive turnaround with a new CEO at the helm, but its longtime former top executive Brian Cornell still leads the retailer's board of directors — and some major investors are signaling they're hungry for change.
Shareholder backing for Target's former CEO and current Executive Chairman Cornell fell to its lowest level ever during the company's annual general meeting this month.
While Cornell, 67, was comfortably reelected to his position on Target's board of directors, he saw the steepest drop in support since he joined the retailer's board more than a decade ago, when he was hired as its CEO.
In all, 87.2% of shareholders voted to reelect him to the board — a 4% decline from the year-ago period and a material drop from his historical average of 95% support. It's also well below the average level of support directors have received across the S&P 500 this year, which Harvard Law puts at 96.6%.
"Getting over 95% is normal. Getting under 95% is poor, and getting under 90 is very poor. It means people are going out of their way to say they don't want you there anymore," said Kevin Kaiser, an adjunct full professor of finance at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who teaches a course on shareholder activism.
Given how many investors automatically approve what major proxy firms or boards suggest they vote for, "anything below 90 is considered a very bad result" and is rare to see, Kaiser said.
Cornell's drop in support comes after he stepped down from his CEO role and transitioned to be Target's executive chairman in February as the company contended with dwindling profits, a falling share price and three straight years of annual sales declines.
Neil Saunders, retail analyst and GlobalData managing director, said some analysts and investors viewed Cornell's appointment to executive chair as a "reward for failure" and wanted a clean break from the management team that oversaw so many of Target's issues.
"If you don't do a good job as CEO, then arguably you should be cleared out of the boardroom and I think that's how most people view it," Saunders said. "I don't think that that is unreasonable. To get rewarded for delivering a decline in the share price and causing problems for the company, it just doesn't sit well with a lot of people."
A Target spokesperson declined to comment and instead referred CNBC to its 2026 proxy statement and a press release it issued announcing the voting results of its annual general meeting. In its proxy statement, the company said keeping the roles of board chair and CEO separate "is appropriate given the company's immediate strategic and operational priorities" as the positions have "distinct roles and responsibilities."
"The separated structure allows [CEO Michael Fiddelke] to focus on the business, including implementation of key initiatives, during the initial phase of his CEO tenure, while Mr. Cornell's service as Executive Chair allows the Board to continue to leverage his in-depth knowledge of our business and industry during this transitional phase," the statement reads.
Critiquing CornellSince joining Target as the retailer's CEO in 2014, Cornell grew sales by more than 44% and helped transform it into a $100 billion-plus juggernaut as he oversaw the expansion of its digital presence, grew stores and steered the company through the Covid-19 pandemic.
But over the past few years, he's faced rising criticism as the company has underperformed expectations and lost share to competitors like Costco, Walmart and Amazon. Target has been criticized for mismanaging inventory, under-investing in stores and falling behind on the trendy, eye-catching merchandise the retailer built its name on.
Target has also been the subject of backlash over its actions on a number of social justice issues, and the brunt of that has fallen on Cornell. The retailer reduced certain LGBTQ-themed pride merchandise in stores several summers ago and rolled back diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which led to nationwide boycotts and preceded weeks of foot traffic declines.
Combined, these issues have contributed to a precipitous drop in Target's share price, which is up about 33% year to date but still down by roughly 50% since its all-time high in 2021.
When the company announced that Cornell would be stepping down as CEO in February, Wall Street had favored an outside candidate to succeed him, according to a June 2025 survey of 51 investors by Mizuho Securities, an equity research firm.
When it said two insiders would continue to lead the company — Cornell as executive chair and company veteran Fiddelke as CEO— the same day that it forecast another annual sales decline, investors were disappointed, leading shares to fall. However, since then, it appears as if analysts and investors are warming up to Fiddelke, who received 99% of the vote during the company's meeting.
"It feels like they're doing a lot of things better in terms of merchandising," Michael Baker, a senior research analyst at investment bank D.A. Davidson, said in an interview. "To me that would be a sign of continued progress under Michael Fiddelke."
During the company's fiscal first quarter, which ended May 2, Target saw comparable sales grow 5.6% — its first positive same-store sales number in five quarters, with strength across all six of its core merchandising categories. While Target said its turnaround efforts are showing signs of early progress, finance chief James Lee acknowledged higher tax refunds helped to fuel spending, a benefit he expects to fade over the rest of the year.
Losing shareholder supportThe exact investors who voted against Cornell, and their reasons, aren't clear since complete voting records haven't been released yet, but two of the nation's largest public pension fund managers turned against him.
The Florida State Board of Administration, which manages the Florida Retirement System Pension Plan, the sixth-largest pension plan in the nation with about $277 billion in assets under management, voted against Cornell after supporting him for the past nine years, proxy records show.
The fund manager didn't return CNBC's request for comment, but proxy records show it voted against Cornell because of "poor long-term company performance."
New York's comptroller, which manages the $295 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, supported Cornell from 2017 through 2024 but voted against him at the last two meetings, state records show.
In a statement to CNBC, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said "Cornell and others should not be rewarded for poor performance."
"Investors are not supporting Target's leadership because it mismanaged the company's workforce, hurt the brand, and damaged shareholder value," DiNapoli said. "It's why New York state's pension fund and other shareholders voted against board directors and Target's executive pay plan."
While influential, the pension funds are not among Target's top 50 shareholders. It's not clear how Target's largest investors voted at the meeting.
A number of left-leaning activists — including SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management and Mercy Investment Services — called on investors to vote against Cornell. The activists have also urged investors to vote against Lead Independent Director Christine Leahy, who received 88.5% of the vote during the most recent meeting, an 8% decline in support from last year.
"Let's suppose somebody is being criticized and it's damaging our reputation with our customers and our employees, and as a solution to that, we promote this person to the executive chair role at the board level," said Wharton's Kaiser. "It just doesn't smell right, and the person who would have had the primary role in stopping that from happening would have been the lead independent board member."
In its proxy statement, Target called Leahy a strong director "supported by a governance structure designed to further promote independence" as it recommended shareholders vote in her favor.
It's unclear whether or not the investor pressure will have an impact on Target's board, but Kaiser said change at that level typically happens when directors see such dramatic drops in support during annual meetings.
"It means there's a lot of pressure now on the board and on the individuals on the board and they clearly are losing the support of the shareholders," Kaiser said. "If they don't do something, the next [annual general meeting] won't go well for them."
Key Takeaways Target plans about $5B in 2026 capex for new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and tech upgrades.Target opened its 2,000th store, advanced 100 remodels and plans more than 30 new stores this year.Target's Q1 gross margin rose 80 basis points to 29%, while inventory turns improved more than 10%. Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) kicked off fiscal 2026 with an aggressive capital expenditure of $1 billion during the first quarter. This represents a substantial 31% increase compared to the prior year, fueled by heightened investments in new stores and comprehensive store remodels. The retail giant plans to maintain this momentum by deploying approximately $5 billion for the full year, with funds directed toward new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and technology upgrades.
The early financial indicators provide positive signals regarding asset productivity and operational execution. Target achieved a notable milestone by opening its 2,000th store while advancing more than 100 remodel projects. The company plans to open more than 30 stores this year and intends to add about 300 new stores by 2035. Management highlighted that remodel investments are being prioritized in food and other frequency-driven categories where returns have been strongest.
The supply chain is another major recipient of capital. Target recently opened a food distribution center in Colorado and a receiving facility in Houston that is expected to process roughly 25 million cartons annually. These investments are designed to improve inventory availability, increase network capacity and reduce operational inefficiencies. These improvements are particularly important because Target fulfills more than 95% of sales through its stores.
Early indicators suggest these investments are already supporting performance. First-quarter gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29%, aided in part by supply-chain productivity improvements. Inventory productivity also improved, with inventory turns rising more than 10% year over year.
Still, the ultimate measure of success will be whether these projects generate returns above Target’s current capital efficiency levels. For the trailing 12 months through the first quarter, after-tax return on invested capital fell to 12.4% from 15.1% a year ago. Management remains confident that driving sustainable top-line growth through enhanced physical and digital capabilities will ultimately fuel margin expansion and optimize long-term capital efficiency.
How Dollar General and Costco Compare to TargetDollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) is investing heavily to drive long-term returns through store enhancements, technology and expansion initiatives. In first-quarter fiscal 2026, Dollar General spent $352 million on capital projects, including store remodels, relocations, new store openings and technology upgrades. The company completed 659 Project Renovate remodels and 711 Project Elevate remodels during the quarter while reaffirming plans for roughly 4,730 real-estate projects in fiscal 2026. DG envisions capital expenditures between $1.4 and $1.5 billion for fiscal 2026.
Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continues to invest aggressively in warehouse expansion, digital capabilities and member experience. Costco expects capital expenditures of roughly $6.5 billion this year to support new warehouses, remodel existing locations and enhance its digital platform. The company is targeting more than 30 net new warehouse openings annually in the coming years, reflecting confidence in the long-term returns from these investments. Strong membership growth and nearly 90% renewal rates further support Costco’s investment strategy.
What the Latest Metrics Say About TargetTarget has seen its shares jump 13.7% over the past three months compared with the industry’s rise of 2.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Target's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.27, lower than the industry’s ratio of 31.26. However, TGT is trading above its 12-month median level of 13.41.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The consensus mark for earnings has risen 13 cents to $8.35 per share over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2026) - F4 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FFU) ("F4" or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive drilling results and the expansion of its ongoing Murphy Lake drill program in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. Due to continued encouraging results including anomalous radioactivity in 100% of target areas drill tested during this program, coupled with strong drilling efficiency, the program scope has been increased from the originally planned 2,500 metres to 4,000 metres.
Drillhole ML26-021 encountered strong limonite, bleaching and clay alteration in the sandstone above the unconformity (Image 1). The hole also intersected anomalous radioactivity up to 350 cps over a total of 1.0 m in basement rocks just below the unconformity.
The three most recent drill holes (ML26-019A, ML26-020, and ML26-021) were completed in Target Areas 4 and 5 on the Murphy Lake South Trend. All three holes intersected anomalous radioactivity and/or strong alteration along strike from historic mineralization in ML22-006: 0.065% U₃O₈ over 2.5 m (including 0.242% U₃O₈ over 0.5 m) (see F3 uranium Corp news release dated August 10, 2022).
Highlight Drill Holes:
ML26-019A (Target Area 4)
Handheld scintillometer readings >300 cps over 1.0m (323.0 – 323.5 m, and 324.0 – 324.5 m) with a peak of 510 cps in basement rocks just below the unconformity.Corresponding anomalous downhole gamma readings >500 cps over 3.8 m (319.7 – 323.5 m) peaking at 2,564 cps (Figure 2).ML26-021 (Target Area 5):
Handheld scintillometer readings >300 cps over a total of 1.0 m (287.5 – 288.0 m and 292.0 292.5 m), with a peak of 350 cps. Associated with strong limonite, bleaching, and clay alteration in the Athabasca Sandstone above the unconformity.Corresponding anomalous downhole gamma readings >500 cps over 7.5 m (286.2 – 293.7 m) peaking at 1,694 cps (Figure 3).Program Update:
Seven holes have now been completed across multiple target areas. Anomalous radioactivity has been intersected in all target areas tested to date, with five of the seven holes returning elevated radioactivity and every hole displaying strong hydrothermal alteration at the unconformity.Drilling is now advancing to Target Area 6 to test a strong parallel conductor identified by the recent partner-funded MLEM survey.Erik Sehn, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, commented:
"This Murphy Lake program continues to deliver strong results. These latest three holes on the Murphy Lake South Trend have added more anomalous radioactivity and strong alteration, bringing the total to five holes with radioactivity intersected in four target areas to date — two on the Murphy Lake North Trend and two on the Murphy Lake South Trend. With approximately 3,200 metres drilled so far, these encouraging intersections combined with better than expected drilling efficiency justify expanding the program to 4,000 metres. We look forward to testing additional high-priority targets with the increased meterage."
F4 is the operator of the fully funded program, with UraniumX Discovery Corp. earning up to a 70% interest pursuant to the option agreement (news release dated July 29, 2025).
Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Handheld Spectrometer Results
ML26-020585N5474776492601430111-78Exploration; no radioactivity >300cps294.5479ML26-021195S5473296491829429112-70287.50288.000.50300288.6356
292.00292.500.50350
Handheld spectrometer composite parameters:
1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5 m
2: CPS Cut-Off of 300 counts per second
3: Maximum Internal Dilution of 2.0 m
Figure 1. Murphy Lake 2026 Drill Program
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Figure 2. Line 585N Cross Section
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Figure 3. Line 195S Cross Section
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Image 1. Anomalous Radioactivity and Strong Alteration in Drill Hole ML26-021
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The natural gamma radiation detected in the drill core, as detailed in this news release, was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 spectrometer which has been calibrated by Radiation Solutions Inc. The Company designates readings exceeding 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer (occasionally referred to as a scintillometer in industry terminology; this stems from historical naming conventions and the shared functionality of detecting gamma radiation between a spectrometer and a scintillometer)—as "anomalous", readings above 10,000 cps as "highly radioactive", and readings surpassing 65,535 cps as "off-scale". The Company may also report radioactivity as measured with a downhole QL-40GR gamma probe from Mount Sopris. The Company designates readings exceeding 500 cps on the downhole gamma probe as "anomalous".
Readers are cautioned that handheld spectrometer (scintillometer) and downhole gamma probe readings are preliminary in nature, are not directly or consistently correlated to uranium grades determined by chemical assay, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for analytical results. All radiometric readings are subject to confirmation by laboratory assay.
Samples from the drill core are split into half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5 m downhole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS.
The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U₃O₈ as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U₃O₈ as "ultra-high grade".
All depth measurements reported are downhole and true thicknesses are yet to be determined.
About Murphy Lake:
F4's 609-hectare Murphy Lake Property is located in the north-eastern corner of the Athabasca Basin, 30 km northwest of Orano's McClean Lake deposits, 5 km south of IsoEnergy's Hurricane Uranium Deposit and 4 km east of Cameco's La Rocque Lake Uranium Zone where drill hole Q22-040 intersected 29.9% U₃O₈ over 7.0 m. The 2022 maiden drill program at the Murphy Lake Property consisted of 14 completed drillholes totaling 6,850 m; drill hole ML22-006 intersected 0.065% U₃O₈ over 2.5 m from 322.5 m to 325.0 m, including 0.242% U₃O₈ over 0.5 m.
Qualified Person
The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved on behalf of the Company by Sam Hartmann, P.Geo., President & Chief Operating Officer of F4, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
This news release also refers to neighboring properties in which F4 Uranium has no interest, and the Qualified Person has been unable to verify the information from those properties. Mineralization on those neighboring properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Murphy Lake Property.
For additional information on the Murphy Lake Property, please refer to the National Instrument 43-101 Report titled "Technical Report For The Murphy Lake Project, NE Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada" effective March 20, 2024, available at www.sedarplus.ca.
About F4 Uranium Corp:
F4 Uranium is a Canadian uranium exploration company focused on the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, led by the management and exploration team behind multiple uranium discoveries in the Basin, including most recently Patterson Lake North and Broach Lake. The project portfolio comprises 16 wholly owned properties totaling approximately 157,000 hectares, several of which sit near established uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R, NexGen Energy's Arrow and IsoEnergy's Hurricane. The assets were spun out of F3 Uranium in 2024. F4's exploration program is split between the west and east sides of the Athabasca Basin, with the Company operating as both an explorer and project generator providing investors early-stage exposure to the Basin.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
"Ray Ashley"
Raymond Ashley, CEO
F4 Uranium Corp.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds under the existing option agreement, and completion of the planned exploration program, are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/302496
Source: F4 Uranium Corp.
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Vancouver, BC – June 23, 2026 – TheNewswire - Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (“Stellar” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SPX, TGAT: 6YP and FSX: 6YP) is pleased to announce a 10,000 meter auger drill program at the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote d’Ivoire.
Highlights
• Joint venture operator MetalsGrove Mining Ltd. (“MetalsGrove”) has consolidated the exploration targets at the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospects - Fifty-Five, Central, South East and South West Prospects following ongoing technical review and field verification of multiple gold anomalies.
A two-rig, two-stage 10,000-meter auger drilling program is planned to test gold anomalous clusters at the Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects, with mobilisation and commencement targeted for end June.
Recent soil geochemistry interpretation has defined a total of 7 Potential Drill Targets within the consolidated4 prospects on the permit. These targets will be progressively refined through ongoing infill soil sampling and auger drilling before drilled by Aircore/Reverse Circulation (AC/RC) or diamond drilling (DD) from late 2026.
Infill soil sampling programs continue across all four prospects at varying grid spacings,with results continuing to enhance target definition and prioritisation for drill testing.
About the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Stellar-MetalsGrove Zuénoula Gold Project is a joint venture exploration project between Stellar’s Ivorian subsidiary Aucrest SARL (“Aucrest”) and MetalsGrove Mining Ltd.’s Ivorian subsidiary MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd (MetalsGrove) to advance Stellar’s 395.78 square kilometer early-stage exploration permit called Zuénoula in Côte d’Ivoire (see Figure 2 below). Pursuant to the joint venture agreement MetalsGrove, the project operator, may earn up to a 50% interest in the Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring US$3,000,000 in exploration expenditures and up to an 80% interest in the Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring a total of US$6,000,000 in exploration expenditures. (For further details of the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Agreement see Stellar news release December 9, 2025.)
Stellar Management Commentary
Stellar President and CEO J. François Lalonde commented:
"Following extensive soil sampling and target refinement, the joint venture exploration team has consolidated the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospect areas and are preparing to commence a 10,000-meter auger drilling program across the 7 defined potential drill targets. The program is designed to test the bedrock potential beneath surface gold anomalies and represents a critical step towards AC, RC and diamond drilling later this year.
The definition of seven potential drill targets marks an important milestone in the systematic exploration approach and highlights the growing scale and prospectivity of the Zuénoula Gold Project. Several targets exhibit kilometre-scale strike lengths and remain open to further refinement through ongoing infill soil sampling. With more than 1,700 soil samples currently awaiting assay results, there is significant potential to further expand these targets and discover more targets across the permit.
We look forward to updating shareholders as auger drilling commences and additional soil sampling assay results continue to strengthen the discovery potential at Zuénoula."
Stellar is pleased to announce the planned commencement of a two-rig, two-stage, 10,000 meter auger drilling program at its Zuénoula Permit in Côte d’Ivoire to test the area’s seven potential drill targets defined from multiple gold anomalies identified through the Company’s systematic soil geochemistry programs.
The joint venture operator has consolidated the exploration targets at the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospects following ongoing technical review and field verification of multiple gold anomalies identified from completed various surface soil sampling programs to date (Figure 1). The Fifty-Five Prospect now incorporates the original Fifty-Five Prospect and its northeastern extension, while the South East Prospect combines the former Konezra Prospect with the South East Prospect. The Central Prospect and South West Prospect remain unchanged from previous reporting. This refinement provides a clearer framework for exploration targeting and reflects the Company's growing understanding of the distribution and continuity of gold anomalism across the project area.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1. Zuénoula Soil Sampling Progress Across the Four Consolidated Exploration Prospects
A two-rig, two-stage, 10,000 m auger drilling program within the Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects has been designed (Figure 2) to test the most significant gold anomalous clusters identified. Stage 1 will comprise approximately 5,000m of drilling on a nominal 400m × 50m drill pattern, followed by Stage 2 infill drilling on a 250m × 25m spacing, subject to the results obtained from the initial phase. Auger drilling is planned to an average depth of approximately five metres to test the mineralisation potential from the upper saprolite horizon. Results from ongoing soil infill programs across all three auger target areas will be incorporated into final drill planning to further refine and optimise drill line locations prior to commencement. The two-rig mobilisation and commencement date is scheduled for end June 2026.
Interpretation of the current soil geochemistry dataset (Figure 1 & Table 1) has increased the definition of potential drill targets to 7 (Figure 2), each exhibiting kilometre-scale prospective strike length (Figure 3 and 4). These targets will continue to be refined through ongoing infill soil sampling and auger drilling programs, with the objective of defining coherent bedrock-related mineralisation suitable for follow-up AC/RC or DD from late 2026.
Infill soil sampling continues at varying grid spacings across all four prospects at the Zuénoula Permit. To date, assay results have been received for 1,617 soil samples, while a further 1,755 samples are awaiting laboratory analysis. An additional 306 samples are scheduled for collection.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 2. Planned Auger Drilling Areas and 7 Potential Drill Targets Defined at Zuénoula Permit
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Figure 3. Planned Auger Drilling Areas and Potential Drill Targets Defined
at Fifty-five and Central Prospects
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Figure 4. Planned Auger Drilling Area and Potential Drill Targets at South East Prospect
Next Phases of Work
The Company has planned the following next phases of exploration programs to advance the identification of new potential drill targets and refine existing potential drill targets for drill testing:
Auger drilling:
Auger drilling across 3 Prospects: 10,000 meters in 2 stages.
South West Prospect: 400m*400m (pending assay results)
Qualified Person
The technical information contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Robert Perring, a current member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG) and Exploration Manager of MetalsGrove Mining Limited. Mr. Perring is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.
About Stellar Africagold Inc.
Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian precious metal exploration company focused on precious metals
in North and West Africa, with active programs in Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire. Stellar’s principal exploration projects are its advancing gold discovery at the Tichka Est Gold Project in Morocco, and its
early-stage exploration Zuénoula Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire which is operated in Joint Venture with MetalsGrove Mining Ltd subsidiary, MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd.
The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange symbol TSX.V: SPX, the Tradegate Exchange TGAT: 6YP and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange FSX: 6YP.
The Company maintains its head office in Vancouver, BC and has a country office in Marrakech, Morocco.
QA/QC
JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1
Section 1- Sampling Techniques and Data
Criteria
JORC Code Explanation
Commentary
Sampling Techniques
Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialied industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as downhole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.) These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.
Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.
Aspects of the determination ofmineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.
In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done, this would be relatively simple (e.g. ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.
No drilling has been undertaken on Zuénoula PR-750
All soil samples collected on Zuénoula PR-750 have been analysed for gold by fire assay at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
SOIL SAMPLING STAGES
Stage 1: Initial, permit-wide, broad-spaced soil sampling on 1000m x 1000m grid
Stage 2: Gold anomalous clusters and trends defined by multiple anomalous soil samples (+20ppb Au) are then infilled with soil samples collected on 400m x 400m grid
Stage 3: Coherent gold soil anomalies are then infilled with soil samples collected on 200m x 200m grid
Stage 4: Higher density 200m x 50m soil sampling to sharpen definition of gold soil anomalies
Stage 5: Augering and trenching of coherent gold soil anomalies
Stage 6: Drill testing of gold soil and auger anomalies.
SOIL SAMPLING PROCEDURES
MGA has contracted the experienced consulting group SEMS Exploration Services (SEMS) to conduct all soil sampling
Up to four sampling crews may be active at any one time
The MGA Exploration Manager was onsite at the start of the field program to instruct the sampling crew on the Standard Sampling Procedure required by MGA
MGA provided SEMS Exploration Services with an Excel table listing the designated sample point locations using WGS-84 UTM zone 29N coordinates
Each soil sample is collected from within 20 metres of the designated sample point, with the actual sample point then recorded
At each sample point: 1) the organic rich soil is brushed away, 2) a 40cm deep hole dug and the sample collected by taking a channel-cut along the bottom 20cm of the hole, 3) 1000g of the minus 2mm sieved fraction of each sample is collected from the sample point, 4) gold is determined by fire assay (LDL 2ppb)
Duplicate samples are collected every 20th sample, certified reference material (CRM) inserted every 20th sample, and blanks inserted every 20th sample.
Samples are stored at the secure SEMS field compound in Zuénoula prior to transport to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan of gold analysis.
Drilling Techniques
Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. corediameter,tripleorstandard tube,depthofdiamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).
No drilling has been undertaken.
Drill Sample Recovery
Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.
Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.
Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade,andwhether samplebias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarsematerial.
No drilling has been undertaken.
Logging
Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnicallyloggedtolevel of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, miningstudiesandmetallurgical studies.
Soil samples are comprehensively logged for a range of parameters including colour, soil horizon, sample weight, slope, dominant grain size (clay, silt, sand), general topography, residual or transported, proximity to artisanal workings, other ground disturbances such as field plowing, and general land use (grassland, plantation, crop, etc.).
Sub-sampling Techniques and Sample Preparation
Ifcore,whethercutorsawnand whether quarter, half or all core taken.
Ifnon-core,whetherriffled,tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry.
For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.
Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stagestomaximise representivity of samples.
Measures taken to ensure that thesamplingisrepresentativeof the in-situ material collected, including, for instance, results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.
Whethersample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.
No drilling has been undertaken
No sub-sampling of the 1000g soil samples is undertaken prior to the sample arriving at Bureau Veritas laboratory
At Bureau Veritas, the entire 1000g sample is pulped prior to the laboratory taking a 50g split for lead collection fire assay determination of gold concentration.
Quality of Assay Data and Laboratory Tests
The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying andlaboratoryproceduresused and whether the technique is considered partial or total.
Forgeophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments,etc.,theparameters used in determining the analysis, including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrationfactorsapplied,and
their derivation, etc.
Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, externallaboratorychecks)and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established.
Bureau Veritas is an internationally accredited assay laboratory located in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Assay results for all samples presented in the announcement were determined by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL 2ppb), which is a total gold extraction method for analysis.
The lower detection limit (LDL) of 2ppb is considered appropriate for greenfields, early stage, exploration soil sampling
Fire assay gold is considered one of the most reliable assay techniques for gold analyses.
Verification of Sampling and Assaying
The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.
Theuseoftwinnedholes.
Documentationofprimarydata, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.
Discussanyadjustmentstoassay data.
FIRE ASSAY ANALYSIS
All samples have been analysed for gold by fire assay at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
The 1000g -2mm sample collected in the field is analysed for gold by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL 2ppb)
At the laboratory, the 1000g -2mm sample is dried and pulverised to 85% passing 75 microns.
This sample pulp is then mixed with a combination of chemical reagents, which when heated to high temperatures results in the formation of a lead button and slag. The lead button that contains the precious metals (including gold) is cupelled at high temperature. The lead is adsorbed by the cupel leaving behind a bead that contains the precious metals.
The bead is acid digested and analysed by AAS, with a lower detection limit of 2ppb Au
Location of Data Points
Accuracy and qualityof surveys used to locate drillholes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.
Specification of the grid system used.
Quality and adequacy of topographic control.
A handheld GPS is used to locate the soil data positions, with a +/-5m vertical and horizontal accuracy
Sample locations (UTM WGS-84 zone 29N) and sample descriptions are noted on a standard form in the field and entered on a computer.
GPS measurements of sample positions are sufficiently accurate for exploration targeting gold systems.
Data Spacing and Distribution
Data spacing for reporting Exploration Results.
Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geologicalandgradecontinuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.
Whethersamplecompositing hasbeenapplied.
An 1,000m x 1,000m offset grid pattern has been adopted for the entire permit area, excluding areas of irrigated sugar cane and villages.
Broad-spaced soil sampling (1000m by 1000m) and low level gold fire assay analysis (LDL 2ppb) is considered an effective technique for identifying and delimiting gold anomalous clusters and trends, which are then followed up with higher density sampling at 400m 400m, 200m x 200m, and in some areas 200m x 50m, as the next phases of sampling ahead of trenching, augering, and drill testing of coherent gold soil anomalies.
Orientation of data in relation to geological al structure
Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.
If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.
The sample location configuration has been deliberately planned to avoid directional bias.
Sample security
The measures taken to ensure sample security.
1000g of -2mm sieved fraction of soil samples are collected in plastic bags, assigned individual sample numbers and transported to the secure SEMS compound in Zuénoula
Samples have been analysed by fire assay at Bureau Veritas in Côte d’Ivoire and were personally transported to the laboratory by a senior member of the MetalsGrove Abidjan-based exploration team.
Audits or Reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.
The sampling and assay techniques adopted by MetalsGrove has been effectively used in the Vavoua-Kounahiri district, and more widely in Cte d’Ivoire, to define drill targets and it is considered an effective initial approach for defining gold anomalous lithogeochemical trends.
Section 2 - Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
Criteria
JORC Code Explanation
Commentary
Mineral Tenement and Land Tenure Status
Type, reference name/number, location and ownership, including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.
The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting, along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.
Following the acquisition of the three Gemica joint venture (JV) permits PR-454 (granted), PR-1063 (application) and PR-1102 (application) in Côte d’Ivoire, MetalsGrove entered another JV with TSX-V listing company Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (Stellar) on PR-750 Zuénoula.
Zuénoula PR-750 was granted on 17 April 2024 for an initial four-year period, renewable for two additional three-year periods.
The Zuénoula permit is located with Kounahiri West, Vavoua and Vavoua West permits occupy a combined area of 1,315 km², strategically situated along the Abujar–Napie gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt in central west of Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 100 km north of the Abujar gold mine and 160 km south of the Napié gold project.
Exploration Done by Other Parties.
Acknowledgement and appraisal of exploration by other parties.
MetalsGrove is not aware of any previous systematic exploration for gold having been conducted within either Zuénoula PR-750, Vavoua PR-454, Vavoua West PR-1102, or Kounahiri West PR-1063
Geology
Deposit type, geological setting, and style of mineralisation.
The Vavoua, Vavoua West, Kounahiri West and Zuénoula permitsare located in the central west of Côte d'Ivoire at the south edge of the West Africa craton. This region is the world’s largest Proterozoic gold-producing region, and Cte d’Ivoire contains 35% of the region’s Birimian Group rocks, which host multiple multi-million-ounce gold ore systems.
The GEMICA JV permits and Stellar JV permit, together cover a combined area of 1,315 km², and are strategically situated along the Abujar–Napié gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt, and are located approximately 100 km north of the Abujar gold mine and 160 km south of the Napié gold project.
Drillhole Information
A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results, including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:
easting and northing of the drillhole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in metres) of the drillhole collar dip and azimuth of the hole
down hole length and interception depth hole length.
No drilling results are included in this release.
Data Aggregation Methods
In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g., cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.
Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated, and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.
The assumption used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.
No data aggregation methods were applied to the soil sampling data.
Relationship Between
Mineralisation Widths and
Intercept Lengths
If the geometry of mineralisation with respect to the drillhole angle is known, its nature should be reported.
Not applicable.
Diagrams
Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to, a plan view of drillhole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.
See maps in the body of the report.
Balanced Reporting
Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practied, avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results.
The soil assay data was interpreted by the MGA Exploration Manager who has more than 40 years of gold exploration experience. MGA assay results are also interpreted with reference to the surface geochemical expressions of more than 15 of the major gold discoveries in Cote d’Ivoire.
Other Substantive Exploration Data
Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported, including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.
Not applicable.
Further Work
The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions, or depth extensions, or large-scale step-out drilling).
Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.
Completion of 200m x 200m sampling at Fifty-Five Prospect NE area.
Plotting and interpreting the assay results for the 1755 soil samples currently being assayed at Bureau Veritas.
Start stage 1- 5,000 metres auger drilling at 400m x 50m spacing at refined 7 Potential Drill Targets area across Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects.
Stellar’s President and CEO J. François Lalonde can be contacted at +1 514-9940654 or by email at [email protected]. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.stellarafricagold.com.
On Behalf of the Board
J. François Lalonde
President & CEO
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements which may not have been based solely on historical facts but rather may be based on the Company’s current expectations about future events and results. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis.
Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, exploration risk, mineral resource risk, the Company not achieving the production milestones described herein, changes in business plans or commodity prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, geopolitical country risk, and the risk factors described in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2026) - Nexus Uranium Corp. (CSE: NEXU) (OTCQB: NEXUF) (FSE: JA7) ("Nexus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") with 1584563 B.C. Ltd. (the "Optionee"), a private company incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, pursuant to which the Optionee may acquire a 100% interest in the JD Property (the "Property"), comprising six Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") lode mining claims covering one collapse breccia pipe uranium target within the Company's Arizona Strip Project, located in Mohave County, Arizona, subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty (the "NSR Royalty") retained by Nexus.
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.
Retail
Target’s Turnaround Wins Another Wall Street Backer
In this article
It’s a down day for the market, but not for Target: The big-box retailer got an upgrade from Wolfe Research, the latest vote of confidence for its nascent turnaround.
Shares of Domino’s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ:DPZ) were down on Tuesday after the company announced on Wednesday that CEO Russell Weiner would retire at the end of September.
• Domino’s Pizza stock is testing key support levels. Why did DPZ hit a new low?
The latest news of Weiner stepping down as CEO follows a series of disappointing announcements by the company, according to BTIG.
The Domino’s Pizza Analyst: Analyst Peter Saleh maintained a Buy rating, while cutting the price target from $450 to $425.
The Domino’s Pizza Thesis: Weiner’s retirement is disappointing given the company’s success under his leadership, his role in the U.S. business turnaround and his short tenure of just over four years as CEO, Saleh said in the note.
Check out other analyst stock ratings.
"We believe Russell was instrumental in the launch of the Mix and Match platform, the focus on carryout to differentiate the brand, and much of the advertising strategy following the financial crisis," the analyst wrote.
He added that this news follows disappointing first-quarter earnings and a softer sales outlook from Domino’s Pizza.
COO and President of Domino US Business Joe Jordan would become the company’s CEO on Oct. 1. Jordan would also join the board of directors. This comes at a time when Domino’s same-store sales are growing below the 3% long-term target, the analyst stated.
Weiner would take over as the executive chairman of the board of directors, following the departure of David Brandon after being with Domino’s for 28 years, Saleh further mentioned.
"While we recognize the optics, with a CEO transition occurring just as sales have softened, we continue to believe in the market share gains driven by best-in-class unit economics, strong franchise system, an unmatched value platform, and a substantially larger advertising budget than peers," he further wrote.
DPZ Price Action: Shares of Domino’s Pizza had declined by 2.93% to $286.48 at the time of publication on Tuesday.
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LoveShackFancy, Hollister, Overtime and more bring trend-forward styles to guests for the back-to-school and back-to-college season More than 50% of the assortment is new this year, with thousands of items exclusive to Target across apparel, school supplies, dorm decor and more Everyday value, wish lists and Target Circle offers — including 20% off for teachers and college students1 — help guests discover and save on trend-right styles , /PRNewswire/ -- Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is bringing together the brands, trends and value students and families are looking for this back-to-school and college season, with more partnerships than ever, design-led owned brands and standout assortments across apparel, school supplies, dorm and more. Backed by a standout assortment of new and exclusive products, Target continues to strengthen its merchandising authority as a destination for style, design and value.
Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value
Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value
Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value
Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value
"Back-to-school and back-to-college are big moments for families and at Target we believe shopping for them should be inspiring and joyful – an opportunity for delight as you find everything you need," said Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. "So we've put together an assortment with more trend-forward style, great design and unrivaled value than ever before. It's distinctly Target. And combined with a seamless shopping experience, it's even easier for students of all ages to discover fun, new ways to express themselves."
The season's biggest style launches
Among the season's standout launches is LoveShackFancy x Target, available beginning July 5 for a limited time only. Designed for tweens and teens, the exclusive partnership brings the brand's feminine aesthetic to apparel, accessories, beauty, school supplies and more. The collection retails for under $55, with most items under $25, and includes special extra finds featuring LoveShackFancy's iconic prints from Yoobi, Wet Brush, Goody, Case-Mate and Wild.
Additional new brand launches include:
Overtime expands its sports-inspired style at Target with an exclusive collection featuring Overtime apparel at Target for the first time alongside backpacks, lunch accessories and water bottles. The collection starts at $24.99 and is available online and in select stores June 14 and nationwide July 5. The Hollister Collection at Target is available beginning June 28 with apparel, accessories and, a first for Hollister, home products including bedding and dorm decor, with most items priced under $50. Owala x Cat & Jack launches nationwide July 5 with backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles and accessories featuring playful details like mini backpacks and bag charms, with many items priced between $3 and $25. Poppi x Target is now available with a limited-time, only-at-Target dorm collection that brings Poppi's bright, playful aesthetic to robes, decorative pillows, throw blankets, Hydrojugs and mini fridges, with items starting at $20. Target's owned brands are delivering style and value across every school-year need, including:
All in Motion is expanding into the uniform shop for the first time and bringing comfortable and versatile active-inspired styles to everyday school wardrobes starting at $15. Threshold is making its dorm debut with elevated decor, warm textures and stylish designs, with most items priced under $50. up&up is launching a new pastel school supplies collection featuring notebooks, folders and other classroom essentials in soft, modern colors, starting at $0.69. Room Essentials is refreshing its dorm assortment with colorful bedding and decor, with sheet sets starting at $10 and comforters starting at $20. Cat & Jack is adding fresh prints, bright colors and versatile styles starting at $5. Dealworthy continues to make school essentials more affordable with $5 backpacks, $3 lunch bags, and $2 bento boxes and water bottles. Extra savings on must-have styles
For early shoppers, Target Circle Deal Days continues through June 26, featuring up to 45% off sought-after school and college essentials. College students and teachers who are members of the free Target Circle loyalty program can save even more, including 20% off one storewide purchase from July 5 through Sept. 121 and more than 50% off an annual Target Circle 360 membership 2.
Bringing style to life across every touchpoint
In stores, guests will find even more ways to express their personal style and school pride through expanded personalization options and locally tailored college gameday destinations. On Target.com and in the Target app, AI-powered recommendations for student and teacher wish lists help surface forgotten essentials and inspire stylish finds. Through the back-to-school campaign, Do Your Thing, and back-to-college campaign, Let's Run to Target, guests will discover fresh style inspiration, new trends and ideas for the school year ahead.
About Target
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.
1 Subject to terms and conditions. Valid July 5, 2026, through September 12, 2026. College student or teacher verification required.
2 Verified teachers and college students pay $49/year for an annual membership (regular price $99/year).
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2026) - Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: ALEX) ("Alpha" or the "Company") is pleased to announce recently available sampling results from shallow Rotary Air Blast ("RAB") drilling at the Anagulu Copper-Gold Porphyry Project. To date results are now available for a total of 4,738 metres of an ongoing RAB drilling program being conducted to follow up from initial termite mound sampling copper anomalies. The reconnaissance RAB drilling program is designed to expand and define the target footprint of the Anagulu Copper-Gold Porphyry where it is concealed under immature soil cover. This new batch of results reported here relate to 2,609 metres in 335 holes with an average depth of 7.8 metres in the ongoing program.
This project is located within its 100% owned, 514km² Kerkasha Project located in Eritrea. The Anagulu copper-gold porphyry was discovered by the Alpha team through surface sampling and mapping with follow-up drilling. Previously reported drilled intercepts include 108 metres @ 1.24 g/t gold and 0.60% copper including 49 metres @ 2.42 g/t gold and 1.10% copper, and 120 metres @ 0.47 g/t gold and 0.30 % copper in drill holes AND001 and ANRD049 respectively. The project is located some 7 kilometres south of the Company's shallow, Aburna Gold Project and these projects are two of three significant discoveries made by the Alpha team on the Kerkasha licence.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ONGOING ANAGULU COPPER-GOLD PORPHYRY RECONNAISSANCE RAB DRILLING
Shallow RAB drilling delivers new Nightjar Target Zone measuring some 1 kilometre along trend and 125-150 metres in width with top of bedrock copper samples ranging from 3,390 parts per million (ppm) (0.33%) to 310 ppm copperNightjar Target Zone is located some 2 kilometres northeast from the main area of drilled porphyry copper-gold mineralization, is located near a magmatic-hydrothermal breccia, and could represent a second intrusive porphyry centreCamel Target Zone expanded and defined to over 1 kilometre along trend and 125-250 metres width with top of bedrock copper samples in RAB Area 5, ranging from 3,274 ppm (0.33%) to 300 ppm copperThe width and grade of the Camel Target increases to the southwest and overall appears to have higher copper values than the comparable Discovery target zone based on the RAB sample resultsCamel Target remains open to the southwest where RAB drilling is ongoing in an area with anomalous termite mound sampling resultsJohn Wilton, CEO of Alpha, stated: "We are very pleased with this second batch of shallow RAB drilling copper results from the ongoing exploration field activities at our Anagulu Porphyry Copper-Gold Prospect. These results have delivered the new Nightjar target zone located some 2 kilometres northeast of Alpha's original Anagulu discovery area and expanded the Camel target zone to over 1 kilometre along trend. In general, both the width and grade of the Camel target increases towards the southwest, and these top of bedrock copper values exceed those of the comparable Discovery target zone.
These new and expanded target zones have significant scale footprints of over 1 kilometre along trend and some 125 to 250 metres in near surface widths. Importantly the Camel and Nightjar target zones were concealed under areas of shallow but immature soil cover, precluding them from conventional soil sampling detection. These new copper-gold target zones further indicate the large size footprint and shallow depth potential of the Anagulu Porphyry Copper-Gold Prospect. These zones will be tested by follow up reverse circulation and core drilling."
ANAGULU COPPER GOLD PROJECT: RAB SAMPLING RESULTS
Alpha's ongoing RAB drilling program at the Anagulu Project has to date completed 595 holes for 4,738 metres with an average depth of approximately 7.96 metres per hole. This shallow RAB drilling program is deployed as a rapid and cost-effective reconnaissance exploration method to initially test and define copper anomalies generated by termite mound sampling in areas of predominantly immature, transported soil cover. The RAB holes provide valuable top of bedrock and weathered bedrock geological and geochemical information. Representative material from the deepest two, one-metre, samples of each RAB drill hole are analysed by pXRF with the peak copper value, one metre sample reported, and as this shallow drilling method is intended to identify and define near-surface copper anomalies its relationship to the targets true thickness is unknown at this time (see QA/QC section for more details).
Figure 1 shows the location and outline of the Nightjar, Camel and other recently identified RAB target zones based on an approximately greater than 400 ppm copper contour. The significantly expanded target footprint of the porphyry copper-gold mineralization is clearly illustrated within and to the boundaries of an overall 4 by 2-kilometre prospective area that had already been defined by the Alpha team by drilling and recognised from copper in soil data to extend for some 2 by 0.5 kilometres.
The new Nightjar target is located some 2-kilomteres northeast of the previously discovered copper-gold mineralization. This Nightjar target alone extends over 1 kilometre along a north-north-east trend, has an approximate near-surface width of some 125 to 150 metres and occurs in an area of mapped magmatic-hydrothermal breccia. The top of bedrock RAB sample results within the interpreted target zone range from 3,390 ppm copper (0.33% copper) to 310 ppm copper.
The location of the Nightjar target, its appreciable size and proximity to magmatic-hydrothermal breccia mapped in outcrop suggests that it could represent a second fertile porphyry centre recognised, to date, on the property.
Figure 1 also shows how the recent Area 5 RAB results have expanded and defined the Camel target zone to over 1 kilometre along its southwest to northeast trend. The Camel target has a near-surface width of some 125 metres in the northeast, expanding to approximately 250 metres in the southwest where it currently remains open into an area of anomalous copper samples in termite mounds.
It is also apparent that the overall copper tenor of the Camel target increases towards the southwest. Within the Camel target, RAB sample values from the top of bedrock range from 3,274 ppm copper (0.32% copper) to 300 ppm copper.
In addition, these recent results from the Area 5 RAB drilling have outlined a zone of anomalous copper values southwest of Alpha's historical Anagulu discovery for some 500 metres in an area of only limited RC and core drilling. This newly defined Discovery zone target from the RAB drilling has a width of up to 250 metres, with top of bedrock copper values ranging from 1,406 ppm to 300 ppm copper. This new data will be integrated into Alpha's surface mapping and drilling database to determine if this target motivates more drill testing of the mapped quartz-eye diorite unit known to host most of the currently known copper-gold mineralization at Anagulu.
Figure 2 illustrates how the Camel target zone has been generated to date by the RAB program to over more than 1 kilometre, with in general, increasing near-surface, width and copper grade towards the southwest. It is also importantly noted that the Camel target zone appears to have an overall higher copper grade than the comparable RAB drilled area of the Discovery target zone (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Map Showing New and Expanded RAB Drilling Target Zones, Termite Mound Sampling Results, with Previous Reported Selected Drilling Results.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/302659_7d370071e4743889_002full.jpg
Figure 1 notes: RAB drill sampling results reported are from representative material from the deepest two, one-metre, samples of each RAB drill hole which are analysed by pXRF with the peak copper value, one metre sample reported, and as this drilling method is intended to identify and define near-surface copper anomalies its relationship to the targets true thickness is unknown at this time. Previously reported results in Alpha Exploration news releases; Alpha Expands the Footprint of the Anagulu Copper-Gold Porphyry and New Camel Target Zone Measures at Least 1 x 0.25km, April, 2026, Alpha Exploration announces final 2024 drilling results at Aburna Gold and Anagulu Gold Copper prospects and updates exploration plans for 2025, March 21st 2025., Alpha Exploration Reports 95m of 1.30 g/t AuEq from Anagulu Porphyry Gold-Copper Prospect, Kerkasha Project Eritrea, December 9, 2021, and NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Kerkasha Project, Eritrea, RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration, 21 June 2021.
Figure 2: Composite Cross Section View Looking Northeast Through lines SS-23, SS-40 and SS-45 Showing Expanded and Defined Camel Target in Context of Previously Reported Drill Hole Results.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/302659_7d370071e4743889_003full.jpg
Figure 2 notes: RAB drill sampling results reported are from representative material from the deepest two, one-metre, samples of each RAB drill hole which are analysed by pXRF with the peak copper value, one metre sample reported, and as this drilling method is intended to identify and define near-surface copper anomalies its relationship to the targets true thickness is unknown at this time. Previously reported results in Alpha Exploration news releases; Previously reported results in Alpha Exploration news releases; Alpha Expands the Footprint of the Anagulu Copper-Gold Porphyry and New Camel Target Zone Measures at Least 1 x 0.25km, April, 2026, Alpha Expands Anagulu Porphyry Mineralisation with Drill Intercept of 120 metres grading 0.30% Copper and 0.47 g/t Gold, February 24, 2026, Alpha Exploration announces final 2024 drilling results at Aburna Gold and Anagulu Gold Copper prospects and updates exploration plans for 2025, March 21st 2025., Alpha Exploration Reports 95m of 1.30 g/t AuEq from Anagulu Porphyry Gold-Copper Prospect, Kerkasha Project Eritrea, December 9, 2021, and NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Kerkasha Project, Eritrea, RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration, 21 June 2021.
Table 1: Selected RAB Drilling Sample Results Area 3
Area 3 RAB Hole IdDepth From
(m)Depth To
(m)Sample
IdCu ppm
pXRF
Area 3 RAB Hole IdDepth From
(m)Depth To
(m)Sample
IdCu ppm
pXRFANRBA3-R17-0079108026943390
ANRBA3-R02-0031213802677600ANRBA3-R08-0059108024511595
ANRBA3-R13-00467802397589ANRBA3-R08-003238024491373
ANRBA3-R07-00289802578578ANRBA3-R13-003348023981372
ANRBA3-R13-00456802396556ANRBA3-R08-005898024501138
ANRBA3-R09-00312802438555ANRBA3-R12-004238024011119
ANRBA3-R12-006910802405532ANRBA3-R15-003568023781119
ANRBA3-R13-00345802399507ANRBA3-R16-006788027021041
ANRBA3-R11-00523802423504ANRBA3-R18-007910802690981
ANRBA3-R07-002910802579503ANRBA3-R16-00689802703972
ANRBA3-R15-00234802380497ANRBA3-R08-00312802448931
ANRBA3-R11-00656802421492ANRBA3-R10-00534802424912
ANRBA3-R12-00534802402477ANRBA3-R05-0051415802617872
ANRBA3-R07-00389802581473ANRBA3-R15-00245802381847
ANRBA3-R16-00156802367458ANRBA3-R15-00367802379821
ANRBA3-R18-00667802688457ANRBA3-R10-00545802425792
ANRBA3-R05-0031112802620448ANRBA3-R18-00678802689780
ANRBA3-R16-00145802366440ANRBA3-R18-0071011802691778
ANRBA3-R10-00689802427438ANRBA3-R12-00689802404766
ANRBA3-R04-001910802637435ANRBA3-R17-00645802697729
ANRBA3-R11-00512802422428ANRBA3-R05-0051314802616690
ANRBA3-R05-0031213802621422ANRBA3-R09-00323802439689
ANRBA3-R07-00456802583403ANRBA3-R12-00412802400687
ANRBA3-R10-00678802426402ANRBA3-R17-00634802696640
Table 2: Selected RAB Drilling Sample Results Area 5
The RAB drilling and related results were managed by Alpha Exploration's field team with the field operations conducted in-line with the standard operating procedures implemented at this project. Representative material of bedrock and weathered bedrock for the deepest two, one-metre, samples of each RAB drill hole, were screened to provide approximately 200 grams ("g") of minus 75-micron material. Termite mound samples are collected and processed in-line with the standard operating procedures implemented at this project. Four sub-samples of each mound are sampled collecting approximately a 2kg sample. This sample is gently pulverized to break up any soil clods and sieved to -75um to obtain a uniform representative sample. For the RAB and termite mound samples an aliquot is collected using a scoop and a sub-sample analysed with QA/QC samples inserted every 25th field sample analysed by Portable X-ray Fluorescence ("pXRF") within the Company's field laboratory in Asmara, Eritrea. The pXRF is routinely monitored by the QA/QC sample results to check its calibration. The pXRF instrument used is an Olympus Vanta M-series VMR with a 50Kv, 0.2mA tube.
Table 3: RAB Drillhole ID, Azimuth, Dip, End of Hole Depth, Collar Coordinates
Hole IdAzimuthHole DipEOHX_UTM_37NY_UTM_37NElevationANRBA3-R17-0070-90103428311647335885ANRBA3-R08-0050-90103427311646884885ANRBA3-R08-0030-9033426311646885888ANRBA3-R13-0030-9043427811647134876ANRBA3-R08-0050-9093427311646884885ANRBA3-R12-0040-9033427311647085878ANRBA3-R15-0030-9063428811647234876ANRBA3-R16-0060-9083427811647285885ANRBA3-R18-0070-90103428311647385880ANRBA3-R16-0060-9093427811647285885ANRBA3-R08-0030-9023426311646885888ANRBA3-R10-0050-9043427301646985881ANRBA3-R05-0050-90153427311646734881ANRBA3-R15-0020-9053428311647234878ANRBA3-R15-0030-9073428811647234876ANRBA3-R10-0050-9053427301646985881ANRBA3-R18-0060-9083427811647385880ANRBA3-R18-0070-90113428311647385881ANRBA3-R12-0060-9093428311647085880ANRBA3-R17-0060-9053427811647335884ANRBA3-R05-0050-90143427311646734881ANRBA3-R09-0030-9033426311646934882ANRBA3-R12-0040-9023427311647085878ANRBA3-R17-0060-9043427811647335884ANRBA3-R02-0030-90133426311646585883ANRBA3-R13-0040-9073428311647135874ANRBA3-R07-0020-9093425811646835889ANRBA3-R13-0040-9063428311647135874ANRBA3-R09-0030-9023426311646934882ANRBA3-R12-0060-90103428311647085881ANRBA3-R13-0030-9053427811647134876ANRBA3-R11-0050-9033427311647035880ANRBA3-R07-0020-90103425811646835889ANRBA3-R15-0020-9043428311647234878ANRBA3-R11-0060-9063427811647034890ANRBA3-R12-0050-9043427801647085884ANRBA3-R07-0030-9093426311646834888ANRBA3-R16-0010-9063428311647284887ANRBA3-R18-0060-9073427811647385880ANRBA3-R05-0030-90123426311646735880ANRBA3-R16-0010-9053428311647284887ANRBA3-R10-0060-9093427811646985881ANRBA3-R04-0010-90103425311646684883ANRBA3-R11-0050-9023427311647035880ANRBA3-R05-0030-90133426311646735880ANRBA3-R07-0040-9063426801646835894ANRBA3-R10-0060-9083427811646985881ANRBA5-R10-0090-9083416891644362862ANRBA5-R12-0100-9083416851644267860ANRBA5-R12-0100-9073416851644267860ANRBA5-R14-0070-9063414871644169859ANRBA5-R04-0100-9063419341644664864ANRBA5-R04-0100-9053419341644664864ANRBA5-R10-0100-9073417361644366857ANRBA5-R05-0010-9053414871644617868ANRBA5-R10-0110-9073417831644363868ANRBA5-R10-0090-9073416891644362862ANRBA5-R14-0070-9053414871644169859ANRBA5-R11-0020-9023413381644314868ANRBA5-R05-0090-9073418881644618865ANRBA5-R09-0110-90103418391644414860ANRBA5-R03-0010-9053415331644713868ANRBA5-R06-0100-9073418861644565868ANRBA5-R10-0100-9083417361644366857ANRBA5-R07-0100-9073418371644515863ANRBA5-R05-0090-9083418881644618865ANRBA5-R05-0020-9093415341644617867ANRBA5-R11-0100-9083417381644316861ANRBA5-R13-0080-9083415341644220861ANRBA5-R05-0020-9083415341644617867ANRBA5-R08-0100-9083418361644464869ANRBA5-R08-0100-9073418361644464869ANRBA5-R14-0010-9023411841644164864ANRBA5-R06-0100-9083418861644565868ANRBA5-R12-0070-9073415351644266863ANRBA5-R13-0080-9073415341644220861ANRBA5-R14-0010-9033411841644164864ANRBA5-R09-0100-9083417881644416862ANRBA5-R09-0110-90113418391644414860ANRBA5-R09-0100-9073417881644416862ANRBA5-R07-0100-9083418371644515863ANRBA5-R09-0090-9073417371644414860ANRBA5-R13-0020-9023412411644214867ANRBA5-R11-0100-9073417381644316861ANRBA5-R12-0090-9053416341644267862ANRBA5-R12-0090-9063416341644267862ANRBA5-R14-0080-9073415371644165861ANRBA5-R13-0060-9053414371644217862ANRBA5-R03-0010-9063415331644713868ANRBA5-R10-0110-9083417831644363868ANRBA5-R07-0090-9063417871644514867ANRBA5-R09-0080-9073416851644414862ANRBA5-R09-0090-9083417371644414860ANRBA5-R10-0020-9053413381644367872ANRBA5-R14-0080-9083415371644165861ANRBA5-R08-0010-9053413901644468868ANRBA5-R14-0050-9063413901644165860ANRBA5-R14-0090-9093415861644167859ANRBA5-R07-0090-9053417871644514867ANRBA5-R13-0010-9023411901644213878ANRBA5-R06-0070-9083417361644565863ANRBA5-R07-0020-9053414381644516870ANRBA5-R12-0110-90103417331644266868ANRBA5-R13-0010-9033411901644213878ANRBA5-R13-0060-9043414371644217862ANRBA5-R12-0070-9083415351644266863ANRBA5-R08-0090-9053417861644463868ANRBA5-R13-0070-9083414851644220859ANRBA5-R12-0080-9093415861644266862ANRBA5-R10-0020-9033413381644367872ANRBA5-R05-0110-9073419841644616867ANRBA5-R13-0030-9023412871644213863ANRBA5-R07-0020-9043414381644516870ANRBA5-R08-0090-9063417861644463868ANRBA5-R14-0090-9083415861644167859ANRBA5-R05-0070-9073417841644613864ANRBA5-R05-0010-9043414871644617868ANRBA5-R12-0110-90113417331644266868ANRBA5-R14-0060-9063414361644167858ANRBA5-R11-0080-9063416421644312860ANRBA5-R12-0080-9083415861644266862ANRBA5-R12-0130-9053418341644265859ANRBA5-R11-0010-9033412961644315874ANRBA5-R14-0060-9053414361644167858ANRBA5-R12-0020-9033412861644266869ANRBA5-R08-0010-9043413901644468868ANRBA5-R12-0060-9053414861644267864ANRBA5-R04-0020-9053415341644665868ANRBA5-R07-0110-9093418871644516868ANRBA5-R11-0020-9033413381644314868ANRBA5-R13-0070-9073414851644220859ANRBA5-R09-0080-9083416851644414862ANRBA5-R11-0070-9083415881644317859ANRBA5-R12-0020-9023412861644266869ANRBA5-R12-0030-9053413351644264865ANRBA5-R12-0030-9043413351644264865QUALIFIED PERSON
All scientific and technical information in this press release, including the results of the Aburna drill program and how these results relate to the ongoing exploration at the Kerkasha Project has been reviewed, verified, and approved by John Wilton CGeol FGS, CEO & Director of Alpha and a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
ABOUT ALPHA
Alpha (TSXV: ALEX) is an exploration company that is rapidly advancing a number of important gold and base metal discoveries it has made across the 100% owned, 514 km2 Kerkasha Project in Eritrea.
The Aburna Gold Prospect is an exciting new gold discovery where recent drilling has confirmed a high-grade mineralized system, with grades including 18m @ 15.33 g/t Au, 16 m @ 14.07 g/t Au, 9 m @ 10 g/t Au and 23 m @ 6.74 g/t Au.
The Anagulu Gold-Copper prospect with recent drilling intersections of 108 m @ 1.24 g/t Au and 0.60% Cu including 49 m @ 2.42 g/t Au and 1.10% Cu, and 109 m @ 0.79 g/t Au and 0.35 % Cu within a porphyry unit drilled over 2kms along trend, and with an overall and expanding exploration target footprint of some 4 by 2kms.
The Company is managed by a group of highly experienced and successful mining and exploration professionals with long track records of establishing, building and returning value to stakeholders from a number of world class gold and base metal discoveries in Eritrea and across the wider Arabian Nubian Shield.
Cautionary Notes
This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to future dataset interpretations, sampling, plans for its projects (including the Anagulu prospect), surveys related to Alpha's assets, and the Company's drilling program. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, Alpha has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions and the price of gold and other minerals. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Although management of Alpha believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to Alpha's financing efforts; risks associated with the business of Alpha given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to exploration activities; those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. Alpha does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/302659
Source: Alpha Exploration Ltd.
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On June 12, Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)(SPCX +0.71%) entered the record books as the largest initial public offering (IPO) in Wall Street's storied history. It nearly tripled the capital raise of the previous recordholder, Saudi Aramco, and made a brief run after its debut to a nearly $3 trillion market cap.
Given that SpaceX combines two of the largest addressable opportunities, artificial intelligence (AI) and the space economy, retail investor demand for shares has been otherworldly. Additionally, CEO Musk has a track record of delivering outsize returns with his other trillion-dollar company, Tesla.
Image source: Getty Images.
With parabolic sales growth forecast over the coming years, one Wall Street analyst foresees SpaceX reaching $401/share and becoming a $5.3 trillion company by the end of 2027. But historical precedent has a much better track record of forecasting price targets than Wall Street analysts.
Trying to guess which direction a hot IPO will move in the short term is incredibly difficult. Retail investor hype and emotion are virtually impossible to quantify.
However, in the weeks leading up to SpaceX's debut, the research team at Truist Financial released a data set detailing the performance of 30 of the most-hyped, tech-driven IPOs over the last 14 years. Beginning with Facebook (now Meta Platforms) in May 2012, Truist tracked the returns of these brand-name IPOs at various intervals, up to 12 months.
Moral of the story-do NOT chase hot IPOs
Year-1 average drawdown = 55%
Year-1 median drawdown = 54%
Table: Truist pic.twitter.com/xt864JD4Xh
-- Puru Saxena (@saxena_puru) June 3, 2026 But the most telling statistic from Truist's data set is the maximum year-one drawdown for each of the 30 IPOs. On average, these tech-centered IPOs endured a peak-to-trough drawdown of 55% within the first 12 months after their debut, with 11 of 30 plummeting 64% to 90%.
If the assumption is made that SpaceX put in its high last week at $225.64 per share, a 55% maximum drawdown would take it to $101.53 within the next 12 months.
Image source: Getty Images.
SpaceX shares can plunge a lot further than historical precedent suggests While a $101.53 price target would effectively align with history, SpaceX may be an outlier for one of Wall Street's biggest year-one drawdowns.
Thanks to amended index inclusion rules for the Nasdaq-100 and U.S. Russell Indexes, coupled with SpaceX's historically low post-IPO float, it's likely to receive an index fund-buying boost during its first few weeks as a public company. But once this initial buzz fades, it could be a long ride down.
SpaceX's staggered lockup period for insiders may prove disastrous for retail investors. Instead of a typical 180-day lockup period where insiders can't sell their shares, SpaceX provides several time- and performance-based unlock periods to allow insiders to dump their shares on retail investors.
Great look at the SpaceX shares unlock schedule as well as the potential passive buying schedule from @JSeyff @FrancisSharoon Depending on the early post-IPO returns, this could really play with and disperse the returns of "passive" funds (which is why there's arguably no such... pic.twitter.com/KOuEkJlngF
-- Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) May 28, 2026 Musk's AI and space company also brings a historically unsustainable valuation to the table. Companies at the forefront of game-changing technologies haven't been able to sustain price-to-sales (P/S) ratios above 30 for an extended period. SpaceX ended the previous week at a P/S ratio of almost 131!
Furthermore, SpaceX's prospectus notes that the company will issue debt and equity to expand its AI data center infrastructure and for mergers/acquisitions. It's a virtual guarantee that retail investors will contend with share-based dilution.
History says SpaceX is headed for $101.53 -- but I believe this is a generous target for an unproven and unprofitable company.
Sean Williams has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms, Tesla, and Truist Financial. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA (June 24, 2026) – TheNewswire - ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV: ANK) (“ANGKOR” OR “THE COMPANY”) announces that a total of 2,800 meters of diamond drilling is planned for the Andong Bor copper-gold target in Cambodia over the coming months. Drilling will focus on the Thmei North (“TN”) target, a one-square-kilometer copper anomaly.
The program is staged around the Cambodian seasons: an initial 1,200 meters in three holes is starting June 24 2026 to be completed during the current dry-season window with the balance of the program to follow in early 2027 once the fields are dry and the crops have been harvested.
DRILL PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Total program: 2,800 meters of diamond drilling planned at the Thmei North copper-gold target over the next 8 months.
First phase: three 400-metre holes to be drilled starting June 24th 2026, before the heavy rains descend upon the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Second phase: the remaining 1,600 meters to be drilled in early 2027, once the fields are dry and the crops have been harvested.
Hole orientation: the three initial holes will be drilled to the east to better intersect the mineralized beds.
Core will be logged, photographed, and sampled, with selected intervals dispatched for assay as the program progresses.
THMEI NORTH — DRILLING TO THE EAST
The Andong Bor license is 100.28 square kilometers and straddles Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces. Drilling completed in 2025 showed that the main structures controlling mineralization are north-northwest (NNW) striking and steeply west dipping. These three holes will be drilled to the east in order to better intersect the mineralized beds.
In this modified copper porphyry model, the best mineralization is found within potassic-altered sediments adjacent to feldspar porphyry diorite dikes of varying widths. The intrusive dikes vary in width from a few meters to tens of meters. By drilling to the east, the Company will maximize mineralized sedimentary rock interceptions as it drills through alternating lithologies of intrusive and sedimentary rocks.
Dennis Ouellette, VP Exploration, comments: “Our 2025 drilling told us how this system is oriented. The structures controlling mineralization are north-northwest striking and steeply west dipping, so by drilling to the east we put the core across the mineralized beds rather than down them. The best copper sits in the potassic-altered sediments next to the feldspar porphyry diorite dikes, and an eastward orientation lets us cut the most of that favorable host as we pass in and out of the intrusive dikes.”
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1 Mobilizing Drilling Rig for Andong Bor
THMEI SOUTH — NEXT STEPS
Thmei South requires further auger soil geochemistry to extend the existing copper geochemical anomaly southward and determine its full extent. Thmei South will be the focus of subsequent drill programs.
QUALIFIED PERSON:
Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc., P.Geo., is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA #104257) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). He is the Company’s VP Exploration on site and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this document.
ABOUT ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP.
ANGKOR Resources Corp. is a public company, listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange, and is a leading resource explorer and developer in Cambodia working towards mineral and energy solutions across the country. The Company's mineral subsidiary, Angkor Gold Corp. Co., Ltd., currently holds two mineral exploration licenses in Cambodia with multiple prospects in copper and gold. Both licenses are in their first two-year renewal term.
Angkor’s Cambodian energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources Co., Ltd., was granted an onshore oil and gas license in the southwest quadrant of Cambodia called Block VIII. The original 7,300 km² license was reduced to approximately 4,300 km² upon voluntary removal of parks and protected areas, subsequently adjusted through government remapping directed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and then expanded by 220 km² with the addition of the Kirirom Basin in the northeast, resulting in the current area of approximately 4,095 km².
EnerCam is actively advancing oil and gas exploration activities onshore to meet its mission to prove Cambodia as a nation with its own oil and gas resources. The Company completed 2D-seismic in 2025 and has identified multiple drill targets with multiple target zones. As it has completed an additional Environmental Impact Assessment on the drilling target areas, which is now submitted for approval by the Ministry of Environment, the Company plans to follow with drilling Cambodia’s first privately financed onshore exploratory oil and gas wells under a Production Sharing Contract.
Please follow @AngkorResources on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
_____________________________________
Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to oil and gas risks of the seismic interpretation uncertainty and the preliminary nature of structural closure estimates; drilling risk and the absence of a drilled well on the Concession; reservoir and fluid uncertainty; PSC compliance obligations and the risk of relinquishment for non-performance; oil price exposure; and Cambodia-specific sovereign and regulatory risk.
As well, additional uncertainties on the mineral projects exist regarding the potential for gold and/or other minerals at any of the Company’s properties, the prospective nature of any claims comprising the Company’s property interests, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, uncertainty of sample results, timing and results of future exploration, and the availability of financing.
Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Key Takeaways Costco appears better positioned than Target, backed by resilient memberships and stronger earnings momentum.COST saw membership fee income rise 10.7%, with Executive members accounting for about 75% of sales.Target has outperformed year to date, but Costco's loyalty, execution and growth prospects stand out. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) are two prominent names in the Retail–Discount Stores industry. Costco, with a market capitalization of approximately $424.7 billion, operates a membership-based warehouse model that offers a wide assortment of products at competitive prices. The company runs a global network of 931 warehouses, including 639 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Target, by contrast, has a market capitalization of roughly $60.9 billion and operates more than 2,000 stores across the United States. Renowned for its blend of value, convenience and style, Target offers an extensive selection of merchandise spanning essentials, groceries, apparel, home furnishings, and beauty products. Its strong private-label portfolio and omnichannel capabilities have helped it remain a preferred destination for a broad range of shoppers.
As consumers continue to navigate evolving economic conditions and shifting spending priorities, the key question for investors is which retail giant is better positioned to generate stronger returns in the periods ahead.
The Case for CostcoCostco remains one of the compelling long-term investments in the retail space, given its industry-leading value, loyal membership base, and consistent execution across both physical and digital channels. The company’s focus on offering high-quality merchandise at compelling prices continues to resonate with consumers who are selective about where and how they spend. This value-driven positioning has allowed Costco to remain relevant across different economic cycles while strengthening its relationship with members. The membership-based model creates a recurring and highly predictable revenue stream.
Membership fee income increased 10.7% year over year to $1,373 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Renewal rates remained strong at 92.2% in the United States and Canada, and 89.7% worldwide. Costco is also seeing continued growth in its higher-tier Executive Membership program, which is particularly important because these members tend to shop more frequently, spend more per visit and engage with a broader range of offerings. Executive members now account for approximately 75% of total sales.
The digital ecosystem is also becoming an increasingly important growth engine. Management highlighted strong engagement across its website, mobile app, same-day delivery platform and personalized digital offerings. The company is also leveraging artificial intelligence, enhanced search capabilities and personalization tools to enhance product search and increase conversion rates. Costco is also improving checkout speed through mobile wallet enhancements, digital membership cards and the international rollout of shopping cart pre-scan. These investments should support member traffic and productivity over time. Digitally enabled comparable sales increased 21.5%, while site and app traffic surged 37% during the quarter.
Costco’s warehouse business continues to generate healthy traffic and spending trends. The company currently operates more than 930 warehouses globally and expects to end the fiscal year with approximately 940 locations while targeting more than 30 net new warehouse openings annually over time. Management continues to see significant expansion opportunities across Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. At the same time, Costco is investing approximately $6.5 billion this year to expand warehouse capacity, remodel high-volume locations, increase logistics capabilities, support Kirkland Signature products and enhance digital infrastructure.
The Case for TargetTarget has emerged as one of the most compelling turnaround stories in retail, supported by a clear strategic vision, strengthening customer engagement, and a renewed focus on long-term growth. The company is executing a broad transformation centered on merchandising, store operations, digital capabilities and customer experience. These initiatives are resonating with consumers, positioning Target to capture market share and drive sustainable growth.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Target is the strength of its merchandising strategy. Management has sharpened its focus on high-opportunity categories such as beauty, health and wellness, food, baby, home and toys, where the company enjoys strong brand credibility and consumer loyalty. By introducing new products, refreshing assortments more frequently and creating trend-driven offerings that appeal to families and younger shoppers, Target is rebuilding its reputation as a destination for style and value. Target added around 1,500 new health and wellness items and plans to refresh about 40% of that assortment this year while introducing 3,000 new food items.
Target’s omnichannel ecosystem remains another major competitive advantage. The company has successfully integrated its stores, digital platforms and fulfillment capabilities into a seamless shopping experience that meets customers wherever they choose to shop. Same-day fulfillment services, digital growth initiatives and membership offerings are driving stronger customer engagement while reinforcing convenience and loyalty. At the same time, Target’s extensive store network serves as both a shopping destination and a fulfillment engine, allowing the company to deliver speed and efficiency while maintaining attractive economics.
The company continues to expand its store footprint, remodel existing locations and invest in high-return growth opportunities across its business. At the same time, it benefits from a growing mix of higher-margin revenue streams, including advertising, marketplace services and membership programs, which provide additional earnings diversification beyond traditional retail sales. Combined with a strong balance sheet, a long history of returning capital to shareholders and management’s confidence in the company’s long-term outlook, these factors make Target an attractive investment opportunity for investors seeking a blend of growth, profitability and durable competitive advantages.
Target now expects net sales growth of around 4% for fiscal 2026 compared with its earlier expectation of about 2% growth. However, management noted that Target faced its easiest comparison in the first quarter and will face a tough comparison in the second quarter, including the anniversary of last year’s Nintendo Switch 2 launch. Management further suggested that higher tax refunds likely helped consumer spending in the first quarter, with that benefit expected to fade over the rest of the year.
COST vs. TGT: How Do Estimates Stack Up?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.4% and 13.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.8% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimates for earnings per share for the current and next fiscal years have increased by 5 cents and 6 cents to $20.38 and $22.46, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share calls for year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 2.9% rise in sales and 6.4% growth in earnings. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimates for earnings per share for the current and next fiscal years have increased by 2 cents and 3 cents to $8.35 and $8.89, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
COST vs. TGT: A Look at Past-Year Stock PerformanceTarget has significantly outperformed Costco on a year-to-date basis. While Costco shares have gained 11.1%, Target stock has surged rallied 37.2%, reflecting stronger recent investor sentiment and a more robust market performance.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
COST vs. TGT: A Peek Into Stock ValuationCostco trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 43.40, below its one-year median of 46.54, but still at a premium to the industry average of 31.31. On the other hand, Target’s forward 12-month P/E of 15.66 sits above its median of 13.42, yet remains below the broader industry level.
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COST vs. TGT: Which Stock Looks More Promising Now?While both retailers possess compelling strengths, Costco appears to be the better choice for investors at this stage. Its highly resilient membership-driven business model, consistent execution, expanding global footprint and stronger earnings momentum provide greater visibility into long-term growth. Although Target has made meaningful progress in its turnaround efforts and offers attractive valuation support, Costco’s superior operating consistency, customer loyalty and growth prospects make it the more compelling investment for investors seeking durable returns.
Both Costco and Target carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Delta Airlines Implementation advances Delta's ongoing efforts to improve fleet efficiency across global operation
, /PRNewswire/ -- VCT today announced that Delta Air Lines will install a finlet modification package from Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) across its Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet, bringing the enhancement to 240 aircraft once installation has been completed. The decision follows a comprehensive technical collaboration and in-service evaluation between the two companies, including analysis of flight test data, operational trends and engineering review of aerodynamic performance.
HOW FINLETS WORK
Finlets are aerodynamic devices installed on the aft fuselage of an aircraft that reshape airflow, reduce drag, and improve fuel efficiency. All aircraft generate vortices in flight, particularly at the wing tips and aft fuselage. VCT's Finlets reduce flow separation and improve the pressure distribution along the aft fuselage, resulting in lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions.
"Equipping these Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleets with Finlets represents a significant milestone for VCT. We are proud to provide a practical technology that helps airlines improve fuel efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance operating economics," said Gil Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Vortex Control Technologies.
BUILDING ON PROVEN FLEET MODIFICATION WORK
The finlet implementation builds on Delta's ongoing fleet modification approach and was cemented with safety and strategy in mind, driven by a rigorous evaluation process. The assessment encompassed flight test validation, analysis of operational trends and engineering review of aerodynamic performance using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis on Delta's 737NG aircraft.
Delta's decision to equip its Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet with Finlets reflects the airline's continued focus on reducing fuel consumption, lowering emissions, and improving operational efficiency through practical, data-driven solutions.
SUSTAINABILITY AS AN OPERATIONAL COMMITMENT
With approximately 90% of Delta's carbon emissions originating from jet fuel consumption, initiatives such as Finlets play an important role in improving fleet efficiency while supporting the airline's broader sustainability objectives.
"Delta seeks out partners and innovations that enhance performance, reduce environmental impact, and generate long‑term operational benefits," said Amelia DeLuca, Delta's Chief Sustainability Officer. "We appreciate the strong partnership with VCT throughout the evaluation process and are looking forward to this implementation to further support our ongoing fleet efficiency initiatives."
By moving forward with this sustainability program, Delta continues to advance its environmental commitments, driven by the dedication and hard work of the teams that made the evaluation possible.
About Delta Airlines
Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer. There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on up to 5,000 peak day flights to more than 290 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta operates significant hubs and key markets in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bogota, Boston, Detroit, Lima, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo. Learn more at www.delta.com.
About Vortex Control Technologies
Headquartered in Seattle, Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) designs sustainable performance-enhancing modifications for commercial and military aircraft. Through advanced aerodynamic solutions such as Finlets, VCT helps operators reduce fuel burn and emissions. The company's technologies have already saved tens of millions of gallons of jet fuel and prevented over 100,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Learn more at www.vcteco.com.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page.
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VCT Cette mise en œuvre s'inscrit dans le cadre des efforts continus de Delta visant à améliorer l'efficacité de sa flotte au niveau international
, /PRNewswire/ -- VCT a annoncé aujourd'hui que Delta Air Lines allait installer un kit de modification Finlet proposé par Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) sur l'ensemble de sa flotte de Boeing 737-800 et 737-900ER, portant ainsi à 240 le nombre d'appareils équipés de cette amélioration une fois l'installation terminée. Cette décision fait suite à une collaboration technique approfondie et à une évaluation en service menées conjointement par les deux entreprises, comprenant notamment l'analyse des données d'essais en vol, l'étude des tendances opérationnelles et l'examen technique des performances aérodynamiques.
COMMENT FONCTIONNENT LES FINLETS ?
Les Finlets (ou ailettes) sont des dispositifs aérodynamiques installés à l'arrière du fuselage d'un avion qui permettent de rediriger le flux d'air, de réduire la traînée et optimiser l'efficacité énergétique. Tous les aéronefs génèrent des tourbillons en vol, notamment au niveau des extrémités des ailes et de la partie arrière du fuselage. Les Finlets de VCT réduisent la séparation du flux et améliorent la répartition de la pression le long de la partie arrière du fuselage, ce qui se traduit par une baisse de la consommation de carburant et par une réduction des émissions de carbone.
« L'installation de Finlets sur ces flottes de Boeing 737-800 et 737-900ER marque une étape importante pour VCT. Nous sommes fiers de proposer une technologie pratique qui aide les compagnies aériennes à améliorer leur rendement énergétique, à réduire leurs émissions de carbone et à optimiser leur rentabilité opérationnelle », a déclaré Gil Morgan, directeur général de Vortex Control Technologies.
UNE EXPÉRIENCE ÉPROUVÉE EN MATIÈRE DE MODIFICATION DE FLOTTES
Le déploiement des Finlets s'inscrit dans le cadre de la stratégie de modernisation continue de la flotte de Delta et a été pensé dans un souci de sécurité et de stratégie, à l'issue d'un processus d'évaluation rigoureux. Cette évaluation portait notamment sur la validation par des essais en vol, l'analyse des tendances opérationnelles et l'examen technique des performances aérodynamiques à l'aide d'analyses de dynamique des fluides numérique (CFD) sur les appareils 737NG de Delta.
La décision de Delta d'équiper sa flotte de Boeing 737-800 et 737-900ER de Finlets témoigne de l'engagement constant de la compagnie aérienne à réduire sa consommation de carburant, à diminuer ses émissions et à améliorer son efficacité opérationnelle grâce à des solutions concrètes et fondées sur des données.
LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE, UN ENGAGEMENT OPÉRATIONNEL
Étant donné qu'environ 90 % des émissions de carbone de Delta sont dues à la consommation de kérosène, des technologies comme celles des Finlets jouent un rôle important dans l'amélioration de l'efficacité de la flotte, tout en contribuant à la réalisation des objectifs plus larges de la compagnie aérienne en matière de développement durable.
« Delta recherche des partenaires et des innovations qui améliorent les performances, réduisent l'impact environnemental et génèrent des avantages opérationnels à long terme », a déclaré Amelia DeLuca, directrice du développement durable chez Delta. « Nous apprécions le partenariat solide que nous avons établi avec VCT tout au long du processus d'évaluation et nous nous réjouissons à l'idée de déployer cette solution, qui viendra renforcer nos efforts continus en matière d'efficacité de notre flotte ».
En poursuivant la mise en œuvre de ce programme de développement durable, Delta continue de faire progresser ses engagements environnementaux, grâce au dévouement et au travail acharné des équipes qui ont rendu cette évaluation possible.
À propos de Delta Airlines
Grâce à un service exceptionnel et au pouvoir de l'innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE : DAL) ne cesse de chercher des moyens de faire en sorte que chaque voyage soit adapté à chaque client. Ce ne sont pas moins de 100 000 personnes qui travaillent pour Delta afin d'offrir une expérience client de classe mondiale sur plus de 5 000 vols quotidiens en période de pointe vers plus de 290 destinations sur six continents, reliant les personnes entre elles et les personnes et les lieux.
Basée à Atlanta, Delta exploite d'importants hubs et dessert des marchés clés à Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bogota, Boston, Détroit, Lima, Londres-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York (JFK et LaGuardia), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Salt Lake City, Santiago (Chili), São Paulo, Seattle, Séoul (Incheon) et Tokyo. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur www.delta.com.
À propos de Vortex Control Technologies
Basée à Seattle, la société Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) conçoit des solutions de modification durables visant à améliorer les performances des avions commerciaux et militaires. Grâce à des dispositifs aérodynamiques avancés tels que les Finlets, VCT aide les opérateurs à réduire la consommation de carburant et les émissions. Les technologies de l'entreprise ont déjà permis d'économiser des dizaines de millions de gallons de kérosène et d'éviter plus de 100 000 tonnes métriques d'émissions de CO₂. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur www.vcteco.com.
Falling crude prices are boosting the airline sector this morning, Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) last seen up 2.9% at $84.59. The equity remains within a chip-shot of its June 15 record peak of $87.39, up 21% for 2026 thanks to an added layer of support at the 20-day moving average.
Options traders were extremely call heavy ahead of the crude-induced surge. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Delta Air Lines stock's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.15 ranks in the 70th annual percentile.
This sentiment is echoed by the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.16, which ranks higher than 89% of readings from the past year. Should these bullish bets begin to unwind, it could trigger headwinds for the airline outperformer.
Short sellers have been retreating, with short interest down 4.9% during the most recent reporting period. This accounts for nearly 4% of the stock's available float, or over two days' worth of pent-up buying power.
It's also worth noting that the stock sports a Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 12 out of 100. This suggests the equity has consistently realized lower-than-expected volatility over the past 12 months -- a boon to premium sellers.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines' (NYSE:DAL) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2150 per share, an increase of approximately 15% over previous levels. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 9, 2026, and will be paid on July 30, 2026.
About Delta
No one better connects the world
Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer.
There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on up to 5,500 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to more than 300 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other.
Delta served more than 200 million customers in 2025 – safely, reliably and with industry-leading customer service innovation – and was recognized by Cirium for being the top on-time airline in North America for the fifth consecutive year.
We remain committed to ensuring that the future of travel is connected, personalized and enjoyable. Our people's genuine, enduring motivation is to make every customer feel welcomed and cared for across every point of their journey with us.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines will hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss its June quarter 2026 financial results at 10 a.m. ET, Friday, July 10th, 2026.
A live webcast of this event will be available at ir.delta.com and an online replay will be available shortly after the webcast is complete.
About Delta Air Lines
No one better connects the world
Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer.
There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on up to 5,500 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to more than 300 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other.
Delta served more than 200 million customers in 2025 – safely, reliably and with industry-leading customer service innovation – and was recognized by Cirium for being the top on-time airline in North America for the fifth consecutive year.
We remain committed to ensuring that the future of travel is connected, personalized and enjoyable. Our people's genuine, enduring motivation is to make every customer feel welcomed and cared for across every point of their journey with us.
Key Takeaways Delta Air Lines boosted its quarterly dividend 15% to 21.5 cents per share from 18.75 cents. DAL shares rose 2.4% on June 18 after the dividend hike announcement by its board. Delta Air Lines has more than doubled its quarterly dividend since reinstating payouts in 2023. In a shareholder-friendly move, Delta Air Lines’ (DAL - Free Report) board of directors approved a dividend hike of 15%, thereby raising its quarterly cash dividend to 21.50 cents per share (86 cents annualized) from 18.75 cents (75 cents annualized). The raised dividend will be paid out on July 30, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2026. The move underscores DAL's strong financial position and robust cash-flow generation, highlighting its commitment to delivering value to shareholders.
Shares of DAL performed well on the bourse on June 18, 2026, closing the trading session at $84.18 per share, up 2.4% from the previous day's closing. The surge comes on the heels of the dividend hike announcement by Delta’s board of directors, reflecting investor confidence in the stock.
The company has consistently increased its dividend since reinstating shareholder payouts in 2023, raising its quarterly dividend by 50% to 15 cents per share in 2024, followed by a 25% increase to 18.75 cents per share in 2025 and a further 15% hike to 21.50 cents per share in 2026. Overall, the quarterly dividend has more than doubled from its 2023 level, reflecting Delta Air Lines' strengthening financial position, robust cash-flow generation and commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.
Dividend-paying stocks provide a solid income stream and have fewer chances of experiencing wild price swings. Dividend stocks, like DAL, are safe bets for creating wealth, as the payouts generally act as a hedge against economic uncertainty, as in the current scenario.
Overall, Delta Air Lines is benefiting from resilient travel demand, particularly in premium and international markets, which continues to support its revenue growth and cash generation. Backed by a strong financial position, the airline remains well-positioned to continue rewarding shareholders through dividend growth and other capital-return initiatives. We believe such shareholder-friendly initiatives should boost investor confidence and positively impact this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock’s bottom line.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Delta is not the only player in the Zacks Transportation sector that has rewarded its shareholders through dividend payouts or share buyback programs. To name a few, SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW - Free Report) , reflecting its shareholder-friendly stance, increased its existing repurchase plan by $250 million in May 2025. SkyWest repurchased 783,000 shares for $75 million during the first quarter of 2026.
As of March 31, 2026, SkyWest had $138 million available under its current share repurchase program. Buybacks not only reduce the total outstanding share count, thereby increasing earnings per share, but also signal management's belief in the intrinsic value of the stock.
Similarly, Expeditors International of Washington's (EXPD - Free Report) announcement of a 5% increase in its semi-annual dividend in May 2026 to $0.81 per share, coupled with its recently authorized $3 billion share repurchase program, underscores the company's strong financial position and commitment to shareholder returns. Having returned nearly $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks since 2024, Expeditors continues to leverage its robust cash generation and balance sheet strength to enhance shareholder value while maintaining its long-standing status as a dividend aristocrat.
Delta Air Lines has outperformed the market, rising 77% in the past year, reflecting strong fundamentals and resilience. Despite robust Q1 results and a 14.7% dividend increase, DAL now trades at a forward P/E of 12x, appearing fairly valued. I downgrade DAL from buy to hold due to heightened macro risks, potential rate hikes, and increased near-term downside risk.
Delta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $85.92, demonstrating a +2.07% change from the preceding day's closing price. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.37%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.29%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.33%.
The airline's shares have seen an increase of 10.56% over the last month, surpassing the Transportation sector's gain of 4.68% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Delta Air Lines in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.49, down 29.05% from the prior-year quarter. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $17.42 billion, indicating a 4.65% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $5.52 per share and a revenue of $65.1 billion, representing changes of -5.15% and +2.74%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Delta Air Lines. 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.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 4.96% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Delta Air Lines is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
In terms of valuation, Delta Air Lines is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 15.24. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 11.82 for its industry.
It is also worth noting that DAL currently has a PEG ratio of 1.16. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Transportation - Airline industry had an average PEG ratio of 0.94.
The Transportation - Airline industry is part of the Transportation sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 202, this industry ranks in the bottom 18% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.
As American travelers feel the pinch of inflation and elevated airline costs, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian revealed exactly what it will take for ticket prices to decline, pointing directly to a lack of market supply rather than solely fluctuating fuel costs.
"People ask me all the time – what's happening with prices?" Bastian told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. "Prices will come down when we can fly more, when there's more supply, it's a supply and demand. Right now we're kind of logjammed."
"There's not a lot of supply we can bring in because the air traffic control system is congested. As you open up the skies, and you bring more flow, that's going to help bring pricing down and enable us to bring more people to more places," he said.
After months of elevated prices due to conflict in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, commercial traffic is ramping up in the key waterway after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last Wednesday signed a 14-point memorandum aimed at ending the war. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that 19 million barrels of oil flowed out of the Strait of Hormuz the day prior.
JETBLUE CUTS BACK AT NEWARK, LAGUARDIA AIRPORTS AS AIRLINE SHIFTS FOCUS TO FLORIDA
"I think the initial shock, you know, prices went up about 10 to 15%, not just [at] Delta, across the airline industry. And I think that was probably the right level," Bastian said. "Oil prices have come down now, so I think we're in a pretty good spot."
Delta CEO Ed Bastian visits "Mornings With Maria" at Fox Business Network Studios on June 23, 2026. (Getty Images)
However, Bastian revealed that rising energy costs directly hit Delta’s bottom line by nearly $2 billion, forcing the airline's hand in raising ticket prices.
"We had no choice," he said, while also spotlighting how government spending accountability and deregulation could also bring ticket prices down.
"We have seen more progress being made to eliminate those bottlenecks and continue to allow aviation to flow smoothly in the last year and a half than we've had probably in the last number of decades. It's that significant," Bastian noted.
"I hope, as an American people, we continue to invest in that future. It's probably the smartest investment that we can make, because what we're doing is, we're making the air flow more smoothly. We're enabling people not just for safety – safety is always our top priority – but [allowing] for more flights," which the CEO says ultimately mitigates customer costs.
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Bastian also discussed how Delta has recaptured investment-grade ratings from all three major credit agencies, won back Berkshire Hathaway as a top shareholder and is expanding localized operations such as "Delta TechOps" into a multibillion-dollar third-party maintenance powerhouse.
"We're going to get to a point here in the next couple of years where our balance sheet will be a fortress balance sheet, something that's never really happened in our industry to that point," he said. "This is the industry that the U.S. holds as the gold standard… So whether it's Boeing, whether it's our airlines, our aviation space, our technical prowess and know-how, we're the gold standard."
READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS
Fox News’ Greg Norman-Diamond and Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
United Airlines is expected to benefit from falling fuel prices and robust demand, despite recent industry volatility. Industry capacity is expected to be tight in the second half of the year, allowing stronger airfares but raising regulatory scrutiny. UAL faces elevated risks from aggressive growth plans, rising labor costs, high capex, and FAA-imposed hub constraints.
In the latest trading session, United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) closed at $118.32, marking a +2.15% move from the previous day. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.09%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.14%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.91%.
Coming into today, shares of the airline had gained 18.17% in the past month. In that same time, the Transportation sector gained 3.66%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.29%.
The upcoming earnings release of United Airlines will be of great interest to investors. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.9, showcasing a 50.9% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $17.58 billion, indicating a 15.41% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $9.63 per share and a revenue of $66.59 billion, representing changes of -9.32% and +12.72%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for United Airlines. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. 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, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 2.08% higher. United Airlines presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, United Airlines is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.03. This expresses a discount compared to the average Forward P/E of 12.19 of its industry.
Investors should also note that UAL has a PEG ratio of 0.96 right now. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Transportation - Airline industry held an average PEG ratio of 0.96.
The Transportation - Airline industry is part of the Transportation sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 201, which puts it in the bottom 18% 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.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
United flight 14 is set to depart Newark/New York for London this evening aboard a Boeing 777-200, marking a major milestone as the airline's first widebody customer flight outfitted with Starlink – the first of nearly 60 widebody aircraft expected to have Starlink this year, with the entire widebody fleet expected to have it onboard next summer
United is the largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific and will leverage Starlink, the world's most advanced satellite network, to deliver fast and reliable internet access for Mileage Plus® members, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals
More than 400 United planes have Starlink today, and the airline expects to have close to 1,000 Starlink-equipped aircraft before the end of this year
, /PRNewswire/ -- United is accelerating the rollout of fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members as United flight 14 is set to depart Newark/New York for London this evening aboard a Boeing 777-200, marking the airline's first transatlantic widebody customer flight equipped with Starlink and the first of nearly 60 United widebody aircraft expected to have Starlink this year. United expects to have its entire widebody fleet outfitted by next summer as the airline expands Starlink's high-speed, reliable internet across its fleet.
United Accelerates Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout with First Widebody Transatlantic Flight As the world's largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific, United will leverage Starlink's low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver reliable internet around the world, including when flying over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals.
More than 400 United planes have Starlink today, and the airline expects to outfit close to 1,000 aircraft before the end of this year.
International travelers can expect to see Starlink-enabled 777-200 aircraft on routes between United's hub airports in Newark/New York, Washington D.C, Houston and San Francisco and popular international destinations like London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Tokyo and more.
"United is changing what it means to stay connected on an overseas flight," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "Starlink offers the same fast, reliable internet access and connectivity we're all used to at home, delivered in the air at 35,000 feet, flying anywhere around the world. This technology has the potential to transform how we think about the inflight experience for both our customers and our employees."
Expanding Starlink Across United's Fleet
Since launching Starlink Wi-Fi last spring, the airline has flown more than 18.6 million passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft across more than 311,000 flights, powering 9.9 million devices – and Wi-Fi customer satisfaction scores on those airplanes nearly doubled during that time.
"Our ability to deploy Starlink Wi-Fi across our fleet at this speed and scale is a testament to the expertise of our team and the strength of our collaboration with Starlink," said Ankit Gupta, United's Chief Air Operations Officer. "Together, we've built a highly efficient installation program that is transforming the onboard experience for our customers. With Starlink expected on close to 1,000 aircraft by year-end, we're moving quickly to bring fast, reliable connectivity to more travelers than ever before."
Unlocking New Travel Experiences
United has more than 167,000 seatback screens across nearly 900 planes and plans to roughly double that number as it takes delivery of hundreds of new airplanes and retrofits existing aircraft.
The rollout of Starlink will further enhance that investment, helping power a more connected and personalized onboard experience across both personal devices and seatback entertainment systems. Together, Starlink connectivity and United's next generation seatback technology deliver faster, more seamless access to content and digital experiences customers use every day, with performance that feels closer to being connected at home than traditional inflight Wi-Fi. MileagePlus members on Starlink-enabled planes can experience:
Gaming at 35,000 feet: Jump back into live games, stream gameplay and stay connected to gaming platforms in real time. Seamless shopping and planning: Browse online, schedule grocery deliveries, book restaurant reservations and finalize travel plans – all from your seat. Real-time work collaboration: Upload and download files, edit shared documents and update work as a team without interruption. Multi-device connectivity: Connect across multiple devices simultaneously, including phone, tablet, laptop and seatback screens without major slowdowns. Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United® MileagePlus® members, and customers will receive a notification before their flight if it's equipped with Starlink.
Visit united.com/starlink for additional information.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".
Key Takeaways UAL launched its first Starlink-equipped transatlantic widebody,boosting connectivity to long-haul. UAL plans nearly 60 Starlink widebodies by end-2026 and full widebody completion by next summer. UAL says 18.6M passengers flew on Starlink-equipped aircraft, Wi-Fi satisfaction nearly doubled. United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) is rapidly strengthening its onboard connectivity offering through the accelerated rollout of Starlink-powered Wi-Fi across its fleet. The launch of the first transatlantic widebody flight equipped with Starlink marks a significant milestone, as it extends high-speed internet access beyond domestic and short-haul routes to long-haul international operations. With nearly 60 widebody aircraft expected to feature Starlink by the end of 2026 and the entire widebody fleet targeted for completion by next summer, UAL is positioning itself as a leader in in-flight connectivity.
The initiative is particularly important given United Airlines' extensive international network spanning both the Atlantic and Pacific regions. Starlink's low-Earth orbit satellite technology enables reliable internet service over oceans, polar regions and other remote areas where conventional in-flight Wi-Fi often struggles. This capability enhances the passenger experience on some of the airline's longest routes, allowing travelers to remain connected throughout their journeys without significant interruptions.
Customer adoption metrics suggest that the investment is already yielding positive results. Since the launch of Starlink Wi-Fi, more than 18.6 million passengers have flown on Starlink-equipped aircraft, using nearly 10 million connected devices across more than 311,000 flights. The company also reported that customer satisfaction scores for Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft nearly doubled, underscoring the growing importance of dependable connectivity as a differentiating factor in airline service quality.
Beyond passenger convenience, the Starlink rollout supports UAL's broader digital transformation strategy. The combination of high-speed connectivity and the airline's expanding seatback entertainment network creates opportunities for enhanced onboard services, including real-time collaboration, gaming, streaming and multi-device connectivity. With plans to equip nearly 1,000 aircraft with Starlink by year-end, United Airlines is making a substantial investment aimed at improving customer loyalty, strengthening its competitive position and setting a new benchmark for the in-flight experience.
UAL’s Share Price PerformanceUAL’s shares have gained 50.2% over the past year compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 28.7% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
UAL’s Zacks RankUAL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Teekay Tankers Ltd (TNK - Free Report) .
EXPD currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Expeditors has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.9% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
Teekay Tankers Ltd currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
TNK has an expected earnings growth rate of 98% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 10.2%.
Airline offers streaming seatback experience through July 20 on as many as 150 Starlink-enabled aircraft thanks to the world's fastest, most reliable inflight Wi-Fi service
Live TV streaming content from DIRECTV IN FLIGHT includes free access to more than a dozen channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1, Apple F1, ABC, ESPN, TNT, CBS, NBC, TBS and BBC, featuring live soccer, news, weather, business and entertainment
, /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and DIRECTV are teaming up to enable passengers to watch live streaming TV on Starlink-enabled, United seatback screens through July 20, which will allow soccer fans to catch all the action from the summer's biggest sports tournament through the last match on as many as 150 Starlink-enabled aircraft thanks to the world's fastest, most reliable inflight Wi-Fi service.
United Airlines and DIRECTV Team Up to Stream Live TV - Including Live Sports - on Starlink-Enabled Seatback Screens This Summer Through DIRECTV and BBC, United customers on these aircraft have free access to more than a dozen live TV channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1, Apple F1, ABC, ESPN, TNT, CNN, CBS, NBC, TBS and BBC News, offering live soccer, sports, news, weather, business and entertainment.
In 2024, United set a new standard of inflight connectivity by signing the industry's largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink's fast, reliable Wi-Fi service to the airline's mainline and regional aircraft fleet, for free for MileagePlus® members. Today, Starlink is active on more than 400 United mainline and United Express® aircraft, and the carrier expects to outfit its entire fleet before the end of 2027.
"United is adding Starlink to more aircraft than any other airline in the world and teaming up with DIRECTV is a way for us to give customers a glimpse into the future of inflight entertainment with live sports and do it during one of the world's most popular sporting events," said Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer. "Our journey started nearly a decade ago with a decision to install screens in every seat. We already have more than 160,000 screens across our fleet, with plans to basically double that number soon via new deliveries and retrofits. But just having static screens with On Demand content was never our end game. The real customer benefit happens when those screens are dynamic and offer real-time, streaming content just like your phone. That's where the combination of Starlink's reliable and fast connectivity and DIRECTV IN FLIGHT live TV is a game-changer."
This initiative uses the "Viasat Live TV" and "Thales 360" web-enabled applications to tap into live TV content and present it to customer's seatback screens; streamed to the aircraft using Starlink connectivity.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".
The Elon Musk ConnectionOn Tuesday, United announced a partnership with DIRECTV that will bring live television, including sports programming, to Starlink-enabled flights.
American Airlines is also betting on Starlink. Last month, the carrier announced plans to equip more than 500 regional and narrow-body aircraft with the satellite-based internet service beginning in 2027.
A Rare Bullish SignalWhile investors focus on fleet upgrades and passenger experience, the charts are quietly flashing bullish signals.
American Airlines recently completed a Golden Cross, a technical pattern that occurs when a stock’s 50-day moving average rises above its 200-day moving average. Technical traders often view the formation as a sign of improving long-term momentum.
United appears close to generating the same signal after a strong June rally.
Chart created using Benzinga Pro
The 50-day average at $101.84 is closing in on the 200-day average at $102.42, with positive volume supporting further gains. If the crossover occurs, both airlines would share an unusual combination: bullish technical momentum and a growing partnership with Starlink.
Why Investors Are Paying AttentionFor years, airlines competed primarily on fares, routes and loyalty programs. Connectivity is now emerging as another battleground.
Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network offers faster internet speeds and lower latency than many legacy inflight systems, allowing passengers to stream content, browse the internet and stay connected more seamlessly while flying.
Whether better Wi-Fi ultimately translates into higher profits remains unclear. But investors often look for companies that are improving both operationally and technically.
American Airlines has already joined the Golden Cross club. United appears poised to follow. And in both cases, Elon Musk’s Starlink is becoming part of the story.
Image via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways XOM is seeking approval for up to 35 wells in four prospect areas of Guyana's Stabroek Block.The 2028-2033 campaign aims to find new deposits and assess their size and commercial viability.XOM topped 900,000 barrels per day in Guyana, with a fifth FPSO set for first oil in 2026. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM - Free Report) is planning a major expansion of its offshore drilling activities in the Stabroek Block and has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in Guyana for a new appraisal program in the block. The Stabroek Block is considered one of the world's largest oil discoveries made in recent years. ExxonMobil is already advancing several developments at the Stabroek Block, including Uaru, Whiptail and Hammerhead.
The program involves drilling up to 35 exploration and appraisal wells across four prospect areas offshore Guyana. The drilling locations, however, have not yet been finalized. The exploration wells will help XOM discover new oil and gas deposits in this frontier, while the appraisal wells determine their size and commercial viability. The drilling campaign is expected to start in 2028 and continue through the end of 2033, alongside other drilling programs in the block.
Guyana’s EPA has stated that the exploration and appraisal program is not expected to have significant environmental impacts on its own. However, a cumulative impact assessment is required to assess the effects of all the drilling activities taking place in the region. The Stabroek Block offshore Guyana is one of XOM's most successful discoveries, and the company is continuously working to increase its production from the block. Notably, in the first quarter, ExxonMobil reached record production levels above 900,000 barrels per day in Guyana. Its fifth floating production, offloading and storage (FPSO) vessel in the country is slated to achieve first oil in 2026, expanding its daily production capacity.
XOM’s Zacks Rank and Key PicksXOM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are W&T Offshore (WTI - Free Report) , Galp Energia SGPS SA (GLPEY - Free Report) and FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.
W&T Offshore benefits from its prolific Gulf of America assets, which offer low decline rates, strong permeability and significant untapped reserves. The company’s recent acquisition of six shallow-water fields in the Gulf of America boosts its future production prospects and is expected to enhance its revenues.
Galp Energia is a Portuguese energy company engaged in exploration and production activities. The company’s oil exploration efforts have yielded positive results, particularly with the Mopane discovery in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. This discovery allows Galp to expand its global presence with the potential to become a significant oil producer in the region. It is also involved in refining and marketing of oil products and natural gas marketing and sales.
FuelCell Energy is a clean energy company that offers scalable, reliable, low-carbon power solutions. It produces power using flexible fuel sources such as biogas, natural gas and hydrogen. The company’s proprietary molten carbonate fuel cell systems generate electricity through an electrochemical process instead of burning fuel, reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the environmental impact of power generation. FCEL is anticipated to play a crucial role in the energy transition by enabling industries and communities to shift from traditional fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives.
The agreement between the United States and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is very positive. Already, Iranian oil tankers are moving through this critical supply chokepoint. Others will likely follow in short order, with tankers lining up for the journey. The price of oil has been falling, but that may be more a matter of perception than reality.
Indeed, the ongoing warnings from key industry participants about oil inventories still stand. Here's what you need to know and why it could take longer than Wall Street seems to believe for the energy sector to return to normal again.
Image source: Getty Images.
Energy markets don't operate like a light switch The big problem with energy prices right now is that investors are treating months of supply constraints as if they could be solved overnight. That's just not how the energy sector works. Producing oil, moving it to where it is needed, processing it into usable products, and then selling it takes time. This is why inventories are so important. Countries and companies normally keep some extra oil around, so a short-term disruption in the complex energy chain doesn't derail the entire system.
However, the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East was more than just a delayed tanker. It shut down one of the most important oil supply routes in the world, through which an estimated 20% of the world's oil flows. The price of oil rose quickly in response, which makes sense.
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Inventories were used as a buffer, protecting the world from the full brunt of the supply disruption. That's what the inventories are meant to do, but there's a longer-term issue to consider. Right now, Wall Street is acting as if energy markets will return to normal instantly. But that is highly unlikely, since inventories now need to be rebuilt. Essentially, demand will be higher than normal for a period.
How bad is the energy situation? This is something that the CEOs of ExxonMobil (XOM 2.12%) and Chevron (CVX 2.31%), two of the world's largest energy companies, have been warning about for a long time. These two integrated energy giants have a birds-eye view of the issue, since their globally diversified businesses span the entire energy value chain. Notably, the agreement comes as the U.S. strategic energy reserve is at its lowest level since 1983, underscoring warnings from Exxon and Chevron.
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The United States isn't alone in drawing down reserves to help offset the lack of supply. Those reserves will have to be replenished before the supply/demand imbalance is fully rectified. And that will likely extend the energy market recovery well beyond what investors currently price into oil and natural gas. Exxon and Chevron have both warned that higher oil prices could be on the way as the on-the-ground reality of the energy sector becomes more important than news flow from the conflict.
Adding to the worry is the agreement's sustainability. The conflict has lingered, with periods of cooling that only heat up again. This could be the deal that sticks, but it is far from clear that it is just yet. Moving oil through the Strait of Hormuz will be a high-risk venture for at least a little longer, as companies and countries gauge the new agreement's strength.
The initial flow isn't going to be the true picture, either Complicating the picture is the line of oil tankers waiting to go through the Strait. That will make it appear that a flood of oil is hitting the market, which it will be. But that flood will quickly slow as energy markets return to normal and inventories are rebuilt. Investors looking at this situation shouldn't call an all clear just yet.
That said, Exxon and Chevron are built to deal with energy market turbulence. For most investors, they are a good way to get long-term exposure to the sector. And they are also good companies to listen to when the sector is in turmoil. Right now, these two industry giants are providing an important note of caution that you shouldn't ignore.
The midstream energy segment is standing out for its resilience as oil prices face downward pressure following this week’s landmark U.S.-Iran peace deal. WTI crude oil dropped 15.5% from June 10 through June 16, falling from $90.03 per barrel to $76.05 per barrel. While broader energy took a hit, midstream proved its defensiveness.
Key Takeaways Midstream energy infrastructure ETFs outperformed broader energy funds during a 15.5% drop in crude oil prices. The sector’s resilience is driven by fee-based business models and relative insulation from day-to-day commodity price moves. Midstream ETFs provide attractive yields, with indexes for AMLP and ENFR yielding 7.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Defensive Strength in Midstream Energy Midstream’s recent stability highlights the segment’s tendency to hold up better than other subsectors during periods of oil price volatility. Midstream companies utilize fee-based business models, which means they display lower sensitivity to commodity price swings, supporting steady cash flows.
It’s important to note that midstream’s outlook isn’t strictly tied to the front month of the commodities curve. Instead, the greater focus should be the forward curve, which producers use to determine capital expenditure budgets and future drilling plans. WTI crude futures for 2027 are roughly $10 per barrel higher than at the start of this year, albeit prices have dipped below $70 per barrel in recent days.
While the broader Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) declined 5.0% on a total-return basis from June 10 through June 16, midstream ETFs proved more resilient. The Alerian MLP Infrastructure ETF (AMLP) fell just 3.6%, while the Alerian Midstream Energy Select ETF (ENFR) declined a modest 2.6%. ENFR benefited from defensive performance from large Canadian names and a greater tilt toward natural gas infrastructure.
Major integrated oil components dragged down broader funds, evidenced by Exxon (XOM) — which comprises over one-fifth of XLE’s total weighting — sliding roughly 4% in a single trading session this week and falling almost 6% over the period discussed.
Pockets of concentrated weakness did emerge within the midstream segment, particularly among liquefied natural gas (LNG) names. Venture Global (VG) and NextDecade (NEXT) underperformed during the recent multi-day pullback on peace talks as international LNG benchmarks fell. However, VG and NEXT are still up 63% and 38%, respectively, year-to-date through June 16 with the stronger backdrop for U.S. LNG exports.
Midstream Energy ETFs Offer Defensive Value Midstream’s defensive qualities include more stable cash flows and healthy yields. The generous income offered by midstream investments can help offset some market volatility.
The Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index (AMZI), which underpins AMLP, is yielding 7.3% as of June 16. AMLP is the largest MLP ETF and the second-largest overall energy ETF, offering concentrated exposure to energy infrastructure MLPs.
Meanwhile, the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI), tracked by ENFR, is yielding 4.7% as of June 16. ENFR provides diversified exposure to North American midstream energy infrastructure corporations and MLPs, operating as the lowest-cost ETF in the energy infrastructure segment.
Looking for midstream insights in your inbox? Subscribe here to keep a pulse on midstream investing through our weekly updates.
For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Energy Infrastructure Content Hub.
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The one big thing investors have learned from the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is that oil and natural gas remain vital to the world's normal functioning. This is why most investors should have some exposure to the sector. That said, the next year is likely to be complicated for the energy industry because of the lingering impact of the war.
I expect oil prices to fall back to where they were before the conflict in 2027, to around $60 per barrel for Brent Crude. However, getting to that point could be a bit of a rollercoaster ride, as industry fundamentals take center stage as newsflow from the conflict becomes less important. Here's how I'd invest in the energy sector today to prepare.
Image source: Getty Images.
The big picture view of the energy sector Right now, there is too little oil and natural gas to go around because the Strait of Hormuz has been shut down. The impact of that has been muted by companies and countries working down their oil and natural gas reserves. As the Strait reopens, oil tankers stuck on the wrong side will likely lead to a rush of oil hitting the market, but global reserves still need to be replenished.
So oil prices may fall initially, only to rise again as market fundamentals become increasingly important. This is basically what ExxonMobil (XOM 2.12%) and Chevron (CVX 2.31%), two of the world's largest energy companies, have been discussing for months. At this point, the U.S. strategic oil reserve is near levels last seen in 1983. That's a situation that has to be rectified, and it is just one example of what has been taking place around the world.
Brent Crude Oil Wholesale Spot Petroleum Price data by YCharts
At the same time, there have been fundamental changes in the global energy market. For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has left OPEC, freeing it from the production limits set by the group. Also, the United States has ramped up exports, and countries around the world may take an increasing interest in energy security. Then you have to take into account lingering demand changes as countries attempt to reduce energy use to address supply constraints from the conflict.
How oil moves will likely be different in the future, and there might actually be more of it, as the International Energy Agency just warned. That would lead to lower energy prices, but only after a period of elevated demand that pushes oil and gas prices higher. The energy sector could be volatile for a bit, and that assumes that the agreement to end the conflict holds.
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The best way to get your oil exposure While most investors should probably have some exposure to the energy sector, it is probably best not to attempt to time oil and natural gas prices. Sure, if oil prices rise, companies like Diamondback Energy (FANG 1.63%) and Devon Energy (DVN 2.07%) will likely benefit. It is also appealing that they operate in the onshore U.S. market, far from geopolitical tensions. But when oil prices fall, these producers typically get hit quite hard.
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A more conservative route is probably better. That's where energy giants like Exxon and Chevron come in. They have assets spread across the world and portfolios spanning the entire energy value chain. This diversification helps to soften the peaks and valleys in the energy market. In addition, they have the two strongest balance sheets in their integrated peer group. They are, basically, designed to survive the entire energy cycle.
The proof is Exxon and Chevron's dividends The strength of these two businesses shines through in their dividends, which have been increased annually for decades. Exxon, the larger of the two companies, has a dividend yield of 2.9% right now. Chevron's yield is 4%. While the most conservative investors may prefer Exxon, the extra yield Chevron offers today probably makes it the more attractive buy for income-focused investors. Either one, however, would be a good option for navigating what is likely to be an unusual year ahead in the energy market.
Before the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East broke out, Brent crude was trading in the $60 range. As fighting flared, news from the conflict pushed oil up to just over $130 a barrel. Today, as the two sides appear to have reached a tentative agreement to end the conflict, oil is trading around $80.
It seems logical to expect oil to return to $60 in short order, assuming the agreement to end the conflict holds. But two of the world's largest energy companies, ExxonMobil (XOM 2.12%) and Chevron (CVX 2.31%), have warned that industry fundamentals are weaker than Wall Street realizes. That could mean higher, not lower, prices once fundamentals start to drive energy prices.
Image source: Getty Images.
What's going on with oil? The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz. It is estimated that about 20% of the world's oil flows through that chokepoint. That's a huge amount of oil, and it is why the Strait became such an important point of contention. You can't simply shut off the spigot and expect nothing to happen.
The obvious first impact was a rapid rise in energy prices. However, that was just the most obvious impact, and the one that got the most media attention. In the background, companies and countries had to deal with less oil. However, the energy industry is accustomed to dealing with minor disruptions, such as shipping delays, which can disrupt the normal flow of oil and natural gas. This is why companies and countries have energy reserves. Those reserves were tapped during the conflict to soften the impact of the reduced energy supply.
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Exxon and Chevron have both warned that inventories are at worrying levels. To put a number on that, the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve fell to roughly 340 million barrels in mid-June, the lowest level in 40 years.
To be fair, the drop in the reserve started in 2011, well before the current conflict. However, starting in mid-2023, the reserve began to be rebuilt. All the gains have now been lost, and the U.S. has to start over. But the United States isn't alone in this process; countries and companies around the world have tapped their reserves as well.
Higher oil prices could emerge even as supply opens up The energy sector doesn't work like a switch; you can't just turn it on and off at will. There is a process involved in producing, transporting, and processing oil and natural gas. As newsflow around the conflict recedes, the fundamentals of the energy market will likely take center stage. Exxon and Chevron are both openly warning that the fundamentals aren't very good right now.
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In the long run, industry watchers like the International Energy Agency (IEA) expect a glut of oil to lead to lower energy prices. But that isn't expected to occur until some time in 2027, with the IEA warning that it could take months for the energy market to stabilize, assuming the agreement to end hostilities holds.
According to the IEA, global reserves could hit historic lows before oil becomes more available toward the end of 2026. That means there could be months of uncertainty ahead for the energy sector, and it wouldn't be at all shocking to see oil prices rise in the span. The energy sector has a long history of being volatile.
This is why sticking to the giants is a good choice While the current upheaval in the energy sector has been headline news, it's not surprising from a historical perspective. In fact, it is par for the course. Which is why most investors looking to include an energy component in their portfolios should probably stick with financially strong and diversified industry giants like Exxon and Chevron.
They have proven that they can handle the ebbs and flows of the energy sector in relative stride. Notably, they have both increased their dividends annually for decades, demonstrating their resilience. Of the two, Chevron is smaller but has the higher yield, at around 4%, which should make it particularly interesting to income-focused investors. That said, Exxon is usually one of the most efficient operators in the industry, so if you like sticking to the biggest and best, it will probably be the better pick for you.
Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Editor’s Note: If you read Joe Austin‘s piece yesterday, you know the argument: the real AI money isn’t where everyone’s looking.
Today he’s back to prove it again, this time in a different industry entirely.
Same thesis, new terrain — and the opportunity is just as overlooked. Joe and Marc Chaikin are laying out the full picture on Wednesday, June 24, when they’ll debut the first AI-powered tool Chaikin Analytics has ever built.
But charter access is limited, so reserve your spot while you can.
Now here’s Joe…
The search for oil and gas never stops. And it never looks the same.
On Alaska’s North Slope, rigs operate in some of the most punishing conditions on Earth. In winter, temperatures routinely drop well into the negatives. Around the winter solstice, daylight can last as little as two hours a day.
The enemy is the environment. Low light, brutal cold, and encroaching sea ice shut down operations for nearly half the year. When your drilling window is that short, every hour counts.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles south, drillships in the warm waters off Guyana operate over the Stabroek Block — a deepwater tract that ExxonMobil Corp.’s (XOM) CEO has called one of the biggest oil discoveries in nearly two decades. The water here can be more than 6,000 feet deep before you even reach the oil reservoir.
Everything costs a fortune, and nothing stops. The day rate for drillships runs between $400,000 and $500,000 per day.
Then there’s the U.S. shale patch.
In the Permian Basin and the Marcellus Shale, the challenge isn’t weather or day rates. It’s doing more with less. From late 2022 through late last year, the active rig count in the lower 48 states dropped by about one-third.
But over that same period, Permian production jumped 18%. Appalachia production increased 10%. And last July, the lower 48 states set a new monthly production record for crude oil.
Fewer rigs. More oil. That’s efficiency — and AI is driving it.
These are three environments with very different problems. But the solution is always the same: better technology. And right now, that means AI.
AI Is Reshaping Oil and Gas Drilling In Real Time — and the Results Are Measurable Across the oil and gas industry, AI is reshaping how wells get drilled.
The basic machinery has been around for decades: a derrick to support the drill string, a rotary system to spin the bit, a hoist to raise and lower equipment, and a circulation system to pump drilling fluid in and out of the hole. But what happens inside those systems has changed dramatically.
Sensors in the drill string now send live data up from the bottom of the hole while drilling is still underway. That gives engineers a real-time read on rock type, pressure, and well direction. Software tracks mud weight and chemistry in real time, catching pressure warning signs before fluids start flowing into the well uncontrolled.
Directional drilling lets crews bend the well path underground to reach targets thousands of feet away — making it possible to drill multiple wells from a single surface location. And as each section is drilled, it gets lined with steel casing and cemented in place. Evaluation tools verify the cement has set before the crew moves deeper.
For years, skilled operators and engineers managed all of this by reading data, making judgment calls, and adjusting on the fly. Now, AI is taking over that work. And the results are measurable.
The AI Revolution That’s Already Happening Where Nobody’s Looking Surface systems no longer just follow preset rules. They learn from live well data, make decisions, and adjust drilling parameters faster and more consistently than any human can. In one 2024 drilling program, an AI-driven system drilled nearly 50% faster than a manual crew.
Downhole, AI now interprets data from drilling tools in real time and adjusts the well path automatically — keeping the bit in the most productive zone without waiting for a geologist to weigh in. At a well in Ecuador, an AI system made 25 course corrections along a single well section, each in seconds. That well became one of the best producers in the country.
On the fluids side, machine-learning models can flag signs of a pressure imbalance 10 to 12 minutes earlier than conventional monitoring tools. And cement evaluation models that once required a specialist to manually read complex acoustic logs now run automatically, faster, and with better accuracy.
This is what physical AI looks like. It’s not a chatbot or a software upgrade. It’s machines making real-time decisions in conditions where a human mistake costs millions of dollars — or worse.
Where the Investing Opportunity Is: A Sector Flashing Bullish That Many Investors Are Ignoring Many of the companies driving this transformation fall under the energy equipment and services industry. These aren’t household names. They’re not the Nvidias or the Microsofts that get discussed on financial television every day.
But they’re doing something just as important: they’re making one of the world’s most capital-intensive industries dramatically more efficient. And the Power Gauge — Marc Chaikin’s 20-factor stock rating system — currently rates this corner of the market as “strong.”
Of the 58 stocks in the energy equipment and services industry that the Power Gauge tracks, 26 carry a “bullish” or better rating. Only one gets a “bearish” or worse.
I’ve spent 40 years on Wall Street. And I’ll tell you — when a less-obvious sector lights up like this, it’s worth paying attention.
The AI opportunity isn’t just in the big infrastructure names. It’s in the companies using AI to transform physical industries — oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, power generation. These are trillion-dollar industries that are just beginning to feel the full impact of what this technology can do.
A New Tool for Finding the Next Generation of AI Winners Here’s the challenge: Finding the right stocks in these less-covered corners of the market is hard. There’s no shortage of companies claiming AI capabilities. The question is which ones have the real financial and technical momentum behind them — and which ones are just along for the ride.
That’s a problem Marc has spent his entire career trying to solve. And on June 24, we’re unveiling the most powerful tool he’s ever built to do it.
It’s called the Time Machine. It’s Chaikin Analytics’ first-ever AI-powered platform — and it works by scanning decades of market history to find stocks today whose fundamental and technical fingerprints match the early profiles of stocks like Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), and Meta Platforms Inc. (META), just before they made their biggest moves.
In backtesting, it surfaced stocks that went on to deliver gains of 995%, 1,406%, and 3,804% — all while the “seed” stocks they were matched against posted far more modest returns.
This is the first time Marc and I have shown this to anyone outside of Chaikin Analytics. Charter membership spots are limited, and this offer won’t be repeated.
If you want to be among the first to access the Time Machine — and see which stocks it’s flagging as the next generation of potential 10X winners — the first step is to reserve your spot for our free event on June 24.
Folks who sign up now get early beta access to the Time Machine before June 24, so you can start exploring the platform right away. No purchase required. Get on the list for that free broadcast here.
The oil and gas AI story is just one example of what the Time Machine is designed to find. The opportunity is much bigger than any one sector.
SPRING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced that its redomiciliation from New Jersey to Texas is expected to become effective on July 1, 2026.
As part of this change, ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation will become the publicly traded parent company, replacing Exxon Mobil Corporation of New Jersey. Shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “XOM,” and shareholders are not required to take any action.
Shareholders approved the move to Texas at the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting. Additional details are available in the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. ExxonMobil expects to file a Form 8-K upon completion.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international energy and petrochemical companies, creates solutions that improve quality of life and meet society’s evolving needs.
The Company’s primary businesses - Upstream, Product Solutions and Low Carbon Solutions – provide products that enable modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and lower emissions technologies. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. ExxonMobil also owns and operates the largest CO2 pipeline network in the United States. In 2021, ExxonMobil announced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission-reduction plans for 2030 for operated assets, compared to 2016 levels. The plans are to achieve a 20-30% reduction in corporate-wide greenhouse gas intensity; a 40-50% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity of upstream operations; a 70-80% reduction in corporate-wide methane intensity; and a 60-70% reduction in corporate-wide flaring intensity. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and ExxonMobil’s Advancing Climate Solutions.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements related to the benefits and effects of the proposed redomiciliation of ExxonMobil from New Jersey to Texas (the “Texas Redomiciliation”) and other statements of future events or conditions following the Texas Redomiciliation also are forward-looking statements. Actual future results or events, including future litigation; expectations related to the Texas business environment and Texas courts; potential benefits, implications, risks, costs, tax effects, cost savings, or other related implications associated with the Texas Redomiciliation; the Company’s future financial position, growth opportunities, and trends in the markets in which we operate; and the prospects, plans, and objectives of management and the Board, could differ materially due to a number of factors. These factors include, without limitation, legislative, regulatory, or judicial developments; unexpected costs, fees, or expenses related to the Texas Redomiciliation; the nature, cost, and outcome of any litigation or other legal proceedings, including any such proceedings related to the Texas Redomiciliation; unanticipated responses to the Texas Redomiciliation from customers, suppliers, and others with whom the Company does business; any inability to consummate the Texas Redomiciliation within the anticipated time period, or at all, due to any reason, including the failure to obtain necessary shareholder or regulatory approvals; and other risks identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2026, the preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 10, 2026, and as otherwise described or updated from time to time in ExxonMobil’s other filings with the SEC.
Exxon Mobil (XOM - 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 oil and natural gas company have returned -11% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. The Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry, to which Exxon belongs, has lost 13.1% 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.
Exxon is expected to post earnings of $3.96 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +141.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +2.9%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $11.86 points to a change of +69.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +3.2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.66 indicates a change of -10.1% from what Exxon is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Exxon.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Exxon, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $97.91 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +20.1%. For the current and next fiscal years, $392.6 billion and $383.52 billion estimates indicate +18.2% and -2.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryExxon reported revenues of $85.14 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2.4%. EPS of $1.16 for the same period compares with $1.76 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $81.49 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.47%. The EPS surprise was +8.41%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once 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.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
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.
Exxon is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount 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 Exxon. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
SummaryCompaniesExxon seeks compensation for property seized in 1960Trump allowed wave of US lawsuits against CubaExxon sued under US law called the Helms-Burton ActTrump administration supported Exxon in caseWASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court made it easier on Tuesday for U.S. companies to seek compensation from Cuba's government for property seized decades ago by former leader Fidel Castro's government, ruling in favor of ExxonMobil (XOM.N), opens new tab in its lawsuit against Cuban state-owned firm Corporación CIMEX.
In a 6-3 decision, the court said a legal defense called foreign sovereign immunity, which generally prohibits U.S. lawsuits against foreign governments and their agents, is not available in cases like the one Exxon brought against CIMEX under a 1996 U.S. law called the Helms-Burton Act.
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Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who authored the ruling, wrote that the 30-year-old federal law eliminates "the sovereign immunity of Cuban agencies and instrumentalities."
"The Helms-Burton Act authorizes private suits against Cuban agencies and instrumentalities — suits that would largely be nonstarters if subjected to the FSIA's requirements," Kavanaugh wrote, referring to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976.
The court's six conservative justices were in the majority. Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent that was joined by the court's two other liberal members.
Kagan said that the plaintiffs should be required to show that their suit was exempt from the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, arguing that, "Nothing in the text or 'architecture' of the Helms-Burton Act suggests that Congress abrogated the sovereign immunity of these defendants — much less that it did so with the requisite unmistakable clarity."
The Supreme Court reversed a lower court's 2024 ruling that CIMEX could invoke the sovereign immunity defense.
The decision removes a major obstacle Exxon faced in its 2019 lawsuit that accused CIMEX of unlawfully using a refinery and service stations that once belonged to Standard Oil, Exxon's corporate predecessor. The case will return to a lower court for further deliberations on CIMEX's potential liability.
A Helms-Burton Act provision called Title III permits lawsuits to be filed in U.S. courts against anyone who "traffics" in property confiscated by Cuba's communist government after the 1959 revolution that brought Castro to power. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration supported Exxon's appeal to the Supreme Court.
An Exxon spokesperson welcomed the court's decision on Tuesday, calling it "a critical moment in a 60-year effort to be compensated for what the Cuban government illegally seized."
"It reflects two things: the merits of our argument and the fact that our company will fight a good fight for as long as it takes," the spokesperson said.
The logo of Exxon Mobil Corporation is shown on a monitor above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, December 30, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
U.S.-CUBA TENSIONSThe ruling was issued at a rancorous time in U.S.-Cuban relations. The United States on May 20 brought murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, Fidel's younger brother, in a major escalation in Trump's pressure campaign against Cuba's government.
Under Trump, the United States has effectively imposed a blockade on Cuba by threatening sanctions on countries supplying it with fuel, triggering power outages and exacerbating its worst crisis in decades.
Exxon's suit involved Fidel Castro's confiscation of all of the U.S. energy company's Cuban oil and gas assets in 1959, which represented a loss valued at $70 million at the time. Exxon's current claim is now valued at more than $1 billion because of interest and the potential for enhanced damages.
According to Exxon, its assets were transferred to CIMEX, Cuba's largest state-owned conglomerate. CIMEX continues to hold and profit from the confiscated property.
Exxon's lawsuit was part of a flood of about 40 cases filed under the Helms-Burton Act in 2019 and 2020 because of a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba during Trump's first term in office.
When it passed the Helms-Burton Act, Congress authorized the U.S. president to suspend Title III on national security grounds. The provision was then suspended by three presidents seeking to avoid diplomatic conflicts with allies like Canada and Spain whose companies have invested in Cuba. Trump lifted that suspension in 2019.
Lower court rulings had made it difficult for U.S. companies to prevail in such cases, with most lawsuits being dismissed on jurisdictional or procedural grounds.
CRUISE DISPUTEThe decision was one of two issued by the Supreme Court this year in cases involving the Helms-Burton Act and Cuba.
In the other case, the court delivered a setback on May 21 to four American cruise operators that contested $440 million in combined judgments in litigation brought by a U.S. company called Havana Docks Corporation accusing them of unlawfully using docks in Cuba that it built and were later seized.
The justices set aside a lower court's decision to throw out the judgments against Carnival (CCL.N), opens new tab, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH.N), opens new tab, Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL.N), opens new tab and MSC Cruises that were awarded to Havana Docks. The Supreme Court's decision sent the case back to the lower court for it to consider other defenses offered by the cruise lines.
Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Will Dunham
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
The US Supreme Court made it easier on Tuesday for US companies to seek compensation from Cuba’s government for property seized decades ago by former leader Fidel Castro’s government, ruling in favor of Exxon Mobil in its lawsuit against Cuban state-owned firm Corporación CIMEX.
In a 6-3 decision, the court said a legal defense called foreign sovereign immunity, which generally prohibits US lawsuits against foreign governments and their agents, is not available in cases like the one Exxon brought against CIMEX under a 1996 US law called the Helms-Burton Act.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who authored the ruling, wrote that the 30-year-old federal law eliminates “the sovereign immunity of Cuban agencies and instrumentalities.”
Exxon is seeking compensation from Cuba for property seized decades ago by former leader Fidel Castro’s government. Christopher Sadowski “The Helms-Burton Act authorizes private suits against Cuban agencies and instrumentalities — suits that would largely be nonstarters if subjected to the FSIA’s requirements,” Kavanaugh wrote, referring to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976.
The court’s six conservative justices were in the majority. Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent that was joined by the court’s two other liberal members.
Kagan said that the plaintiffs should be required to show that their suit was exempt from the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, arguing that, “Nothing in the text or ‘architecture’ of the Helms-Burton Act suggests that Congress abrogated the sovereign immunity of these defendants — much less that it did so with the requisite unmistakable clarity.”
The Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s 2024 ruling that CIMEX could invoke the sovereign immunity defense.
The decision removes a major obstacle Exxon faced in its 2019 lawsuit that accused CIMEX of unlawfully using a refinery and service stations that once belonged to Standard Oil, Exxon’s corporate predecessor. The case will return to a lower court for further deliberations on CIMEX’s potential liability.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, center, who authored the ruling, wrote that the Helms-Burton Act eliminates “the sovereign immunity of Cuban agencies and instrumentalities.” CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images A Helms-Burton Act provision called Title III permits lawsuits to be filed in U.S. courts against anyone who “traffics” in property confiscated by Cuba’s communist government after the 1959 revolution that brought Castro to power. The Trump administration supported Exxon’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
The ruling was issued at a rancorous time in US-Cuban relations. The US last month brought murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, Fidel’s younger brother, in a major escalation in Trump’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s government.
Under Trump, the US has effectively imposed a blockade on Cuba by threatening sanctions on countries supplying it with fuel, triggering power outages and exacerbating its worst crisis in decades.
Exxon Mobil has sued Cuban state-owned firm Corporación CIMEX. LightRocket via Getty Images Exxon’s suit involved Fidel Castro’s confiscation of all of the U.S. energy company’s Cuban oil and gas assets in 1959, which represented a loss valued at $70 million at the time. Exxon’s current claim is now valued at more than $1 billion because of interest and the potential for enhanced damages.
According to Exxon, its assets were transferred to CIMEX, Cuba’s largest state-owned conglomerate. CIMEX continues to hold and profit from the confiscated property.
Exxon’s lawsuit was part of a flood of about 40 cases filed under the Helms-Burton Act in 2019 and 2020 because of a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba during Trump’s first term in office.
When it passed the Helms-Burton Act, Congress authorized the U.S. president to suspend Title III on national security grounds. The provision was then suspended by three presidents seeking to avoid diplomatic conflicts with allies like Canada and Spain whose companies have invested in Cuba. Trump lifted that suspension in 2019.
Lower court rulings had made it difficult for US companies to prevail in such cases, with most lawsuits being dismissed on jurisdictional or procedural grounds.
Key Takeaways XOM's upstream business is supported by WTI crude trading above $70 per barrel.ExxonMobil aims to grow Permian production to 1.8 million oil equivalent barrels this year.Chevron and ConocoPhillips may also benefit from strong oil prices and Permian exposure. The West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude is trading at more than the $70-per-barrel mark. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) in its latest short-term energy outlook projected WTI at $88.32 per barrel for this year, higher than $65.40 last year. A highly favorable pricing environment for the commodity is likely to continue supporting Exxon Mobil Corporation’s (XOM - Free Report) exploration and production activities, which derive the majority of its earnings.
The company has a massive footprint in the Permian, the most prolific oil and gas play in the United States, and offshore Guyana. In the Permian, the integrated giant has been employing lightweight proppant technology and hence is capable of boosting its well recoveries by up to as much as 20%. On the first-quarter earnings call, XOM mentioned that it is staying aligned with its plan of growing its production in the most prolific basin to 1.8 million oil equivalent barrels this year.
In Guyana, XOM has made several oil and gas discoveries, further highlighting its solid production outlook. Record production from both resources has been aiding its top and bottom lines. In both resources, the breakeven costs are low.
Will CVX & COP Also Gain From the Ongoing Oil?Like XOM, Chevron Corporation (CVX - Free Report) and ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) will benefit from the ongoing strength in oil prices. Let’s delve a little deeper.
With COP generating a significant proportion of revenues from crude oil, the handsome price of the commodity is extremely favorable for the leading oil and gas exploration and production company, much like other energy giants, such as XOM and CVX.
The upstream energy giant also has low-cost drilling opportunities across Permian, Eagle Ford and Bakken that could be successfully developed over two decades. Thus, the outlook for ConocoPhillips’ upstream operations looks bright.
Chevron, on the other hand, has been witnessing a growth in production volumes, thanks to its footprint in the Permian – the most prolific basin in the United States. CVX is thus well-poised to gain from prevailing oil prices.
XOM’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of XOM have gained 29% over the past year compared with the 28.8% improvement of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, XOM trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA of 9.27X. This is above the broader industry average of 6.11X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XOM’s 2026 earnings has seen upward revisions over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XOM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
New Zoom Virtual Agent capabilities help organizations build AI agents faster, optimize performance over time, and deliver more personalized customer experiences through a connected Zoom CX platform. At a glance: New Zoom Virtual Agent capabilities
Agent Architect: Generate production-ready voice and digital AI agents from a simple prompt. Create intelligent agents that can reason through requests, collaborate with other agents, and orchestrate customer interactions across systems and channels.Agent Performance Suite: Test, validate, and optimize AI agents throughout their lifecycle. Simulate customer interactions before deployment and track resolution rates, containment, customer satisfaction (CSAT), and cost per resolution after launch.Quality Management for Zoom Virtual Agent: Evaluate AI and human interactions using a common quality framework. Identify improvement opportunities, track service quality, and help AI learn from successful human-assisted resolutions.Enhanced customer context layer: Customer interactions create context that follows customers across Zoom CX, helping Zoom Virtual Agent, Zoom Contact Center, and Zoom AI Expert Assist deliver more personalized experiences and reduce the need for customers to repeat themselves.Outcome-based pricing: An optional pricing model that aligns AI automation costs with customer outcomes through resolved or successfully routed interactions across voice and chat.Multi-location deployments: Build AI-powered customer experiences once and deploy them across multiple locations while maintaining local phone numbers, routing, greetings, and knowledge bases. SAN JOSE, Calif., June 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced new AI capabilities for
Zoom Virtual Agent (ZVA), its virtual agent that uses conversational AI to resolve customer issues end to end.
The new capabilities, including Agent Architect and Agent Performance Suite, along with enhancements to the customer context layer across Zoom CX, help organizations generate and deploy AI agents faster. They also enable teams to optimize performance over time and deliver more personalized customer experiences across channels.
The first wave of AI in CX has often focused on deployment to help increase efficiency and reduce costs. The challenge now is moving beyond launch to effectively measure AI agent performance, maintain quality, and deliver more personalized customer experiences at scale. Zoom CX connects the full lifecycle of AI automation — from agent creation and customer context to performance optimization — helping organizations deliver more effective customer experiences and better outcomes.
"AI has significantly accelerated the CX landscape, and organizations not focused on outcomes fall behind," said Chris Morrissey, general manager of Zoom CX. "It's no longer just about deploying it to drive efficiency, but about having the context to drive personalization at scale. But the challenge is eliminating the tradeoff between speed and sophistication, and Zoom CX bridges that gap so teams can personalize better, deliver faster, and drive stronger outcomes."
Turn simple prompts into production-ready AI agents
Today’s way of building AI agents forces teams to choose between speed (simple agents) and sophistication (requiring advanced technical resources). The new Agent Architect is designed to eliminate that tradeoff by making AI agent creation generative. Instead of manually designing workflows, teams can start with a simple prompt and have Agent Architect expand it into a production-ready voice or digital agent. The Agent Architect interprets intent, fills in missing context, and connects the right capabilities and data sources to generate sophisticated workflows with minimal manual effort.
AI Agent Architect can generate autonomous agents that guide customers through complex requests, determine the next best action, and orchestrate work across systems and tools. Rather than following rigid scripts, agents can gather missing information, adapt to customer needs, and take action to move issues toward resolution. Before deployment, teams can review and refine agent behavior to align with business requirements, customer expectations, and compliance standards.
By transforming prompts into production-ready customer journeys, AI Agent Architect helps organizations accelerate deployment, expand self-service, and deliver faster resolutions across the customer journey.
Improved AI performance for better results
Zoom also announced the Agent Performance Suite, a new offering for Zoom Virtual Agent designed to give customer experience leaders a clearer understanding of what's working, where automation is falling short, and how to improve customer outcomes over time.
As organizations expand AI across customer service operations, visibility becomes increasingly important. Teams need a way to evaluate performance, identify automation gaps, and confidently scale AI while maintaining service quality. The Agent Performance Suite combines Agent Performance, Quality Management for Zoom Virtual Agent, and KB Suggestions, helping organizations test, measure, and continuously optimize AI-powered customer service.
Agent Performance: Test, validate, and optimize AI agents
Test and optimize AI agents throughout their lifecycle by simulating realistic customer scenarios before deployment and comparing simulation results with production outcomes. This helps teams identify improvement opportunities, validate performance, and expand successful use cases.Utilize real-time dashboards for visibility into live AI agent operational metrics, including resolution rates and containment. Quality Management: Extend consistent evaluation standards
Evaluate AI, human, and hybrid interactions using the same quality standards to understand what's working, where customers are struggling, and where improvements are needed. By applying the same standards across AI, human, and hybrid interactions, organizations can deliver more consistent customer experiences regardless of how issues are resolved. KB Suggestions: Fix knowledge gaps across agents
Teams can also use KB Suggestions when connected with Zoom Contact Center to help expand and improve self-service content. Zoom Virtual Agent can identify successful human-assisted resolutions and draft new knowledge base articles that teams can review and publish. Over time, this helps improve resolution consistency, reduce repeat contacts, and continuously strengthen AI-powered customer service. The Agent Performance Suite helps organizations create a continuous improvement cycle in which every interaction — whether AI, human-driven, or hybrid — can be measured, evaluated, and used to improve customer outcomes.
Separately, Zoom Virtual Agent also now offers an outcome-based pricing option that gives customers another way to simplify billing and connect AI investment to business value. With this option, pricing is tied to resolved or successfully routed interactions across voice and chat.
Scale AI-powered services across every location
Organizations with multiple locations often face a difficult tradeoff: maintain consistent customer experiences across all sites or customize experiences to local needs. Zoom Virtual Agent’s multi-location deployments eliminate that tradeoff by enabling organizations to build AI-powered customer experiences once and deploy them across an entire network.
With centralized management, teams can maintain consistent service quality, governance, and automation workflows across locations while allowing each site to customize phone numbers, greetings, department routing, and knowledge bases for local customer needs. Native Zoom Phone or Zoom Contact Center integration, along with centralized administration, helps simplify deployment while providing visibility across locations.
For example, a retailer can deploy a single AI agent across hundreds of stores while allowing each location to tailor responses based on store-specific inventory, promotions, and policies. Customers can upload a photo to identify a product, verify availability, troubleshoot a purchase, or receive personalized recommendations, while corporate teams maintain centralized management and visibility across the network.
Whether supporting retail stores, healthcare facilities, campuses, franchise networks, or other distributed operations, Zoom Virtual Agent multi-location deployments help organizations scale AI-powered service efficiently without building and maintaining separate agents for every location.
Make every customer interaction smarter
These new capabilities help organizations build, measure, and optimize AI-powered customer service. To make these experiences even smarter, Zoom CX is deepening the customer memory that powers every interaction.
Zoom CX maintains context within and across conversations, so customers don't have to repeat themselves as they move between virtual agents and live agents. Now, that memory goes even further — dynamically capturing context from prior engagements and layering it with AI reasoning to build a richer, more intelligent understanding of each customer over time. This isn't static data retrieval; it's a living context layer that informs AI recommendations, agent guidance, and routing decisions across Zoom Virtual Agent, Zoom Contact Center, and Zoom AI Expert Assist.
Because Zoom CX brings together virtual agents, live agents, and AI-powered assistance on a connected platform, this accumulated intelligence flows naturally across the customer journey, so every future interaction starts informed by not just what's happening now, but also what came before.
Connect AI automation to better customer outcomes
With these innovations, Zoom CX helps businesses create, manage, and optimize AI-powered customer service at scale. By bringing together customer context, agent creation, performance optimization, and quality management, organizations can deliver more effective customer experiences and better outcomes over time.
The next phase of AI in customer service will not be defined by how many agents organizations deploy, but by how effectively they use AI to resolve customer needs. Zoom CX helps organizations connect customer interactions, context, and action to deliver better service, faster resolutions, and measurable business impact.
The new capabilities for Zoom Virtual Agent are now available. Customers interested in learning more can contact their Zoom account representative or visit zoom.com. To hear more about these announcements, visit Zoom at booth #339 during CCW Las Vegas from June 22–25, 2026.
About Zoom
Zoom (NASDAQ:ZM) is a system of action for modern work, turning live collaboration into completed results. From entrepreneurs to global enterprises, customers choose Zoom to seamlessly collaborate, communicate, and drive outcomes across meetings, phone, contact center, and more — all with the built-in assistance of Zoom AI. Founded in 2011, Zoom is headquartered in San Jose, CA. For more information, visit zoom.com.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Ford Motor Company (F - Free Report) Dearborn, MI-based Ford is one of the leading automakers in the world. It manufactures, markets and services cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles.
F is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Auto-Tires-Trucks stock. F has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 10.3% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.13 to $1.64 per share. F boasts an average earnings surprise of +58.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, F should be on investors' short list.
