Public Storage uzavřela novou nezajištěnou revolvingovou úvěrovou linku v objemu 3,0 miliardy USD, termínovaný úvěr za 500 milionů USD a program komerčních papírů za 1,0 miliardy USD. Nahrazuje tím dosavadní linku ve výši 1,5 miliardy USD.
FRISCO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) (“Public Storage” or the “Company”) announced today that it has closed a new $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), plus a $500 million delayed draw term loan facility (the “Term Loan”), and established a $1.0 billion unsecured commercial paper program (the “Commercial Paper Program”). The Revolver replaces in its entirety the Company’s $1.5 billion revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature June 12, 2027.
“The successful closing of our new credit facilities and the establishment of our Commercial Paper Program further strengthens Public Storage’s fortress balance sheet, enhances our liquidity, lowers our effective cost of capital, and expands our financial flexibility,” said Joe Fisher, President and Chief Financial Officer of Public Storage. “These actions are fully aligned with our PS4.0 strategy and reinforce the capability of our value creation engine — giving us efficient, scalable access to capital to fund accretive acquisitions, development and redevelopment, lending, and other high-return opportunities, while continuing to support the long-term per share growth of the business. We appreciate the continued confidence and support of our banking partners.”
The Revolver has total commitments of $3.0 billion available for borrowings in US dollars and certain foreign currencies and matures on June 25, 2030, with extension options available through June 25, 2031. The Term Loan is available to be drawn in up to four advances on or prior to December 22, 2026 and matures on June 25, 2031. The credit facility documentation also includes an accordion feature that permits Public Storage to increase total commitments under the Revolver or incur additional term loans by up to $2 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments. Borrowings under the Revolver bear interest at SOFR plus 0.650% based on the Company’s current credit ratings, a reduction of 15 basis points as compared to the prior facility. Once drawn, the Term Loan will bear interest at SOFR plus 0.700% based on the Company’s current credit ratings. The spread applicable to both the Revolver and the Term Loan may increase or decrease in the future based on any change to Public Storage’s credit ratings.
Commercial paper notes issued under the Commercial Paper Program will rank pari passu with all of Public Storage’s other senior unsecured debt and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Public Storage.
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is serving as Agent for the Credit Facility. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acted as joint bookrunners.
Commercial paper notes to be offered under the commercial paper program have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The information contained in this news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes under the commercial paper program, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About Public Storage
Public Storage, a member of the S&P 500, is a REIT that primarily acquires, develops, owns, and operates self-storage facilities. At March 31, 2026, we: (i) owned and/or operated 3,546 self-storage facilities located in 40 states with approximately 259 million net rentable square feet in the United States and (ii) owned a 35% common equity interest in Shurgard Self Storage Limited (Euronext Brussels: SHUR), which owned 333 self-storage facilities located in seven Western European countries with approximately 19 million net rentable square feet operated under the Shurgard® brand. Our headquarters are located in Frisco, Texas.
Melius Research doporučuje kupovat čipy při poklesu, ale vyhýbat se hyperscalerům, dokud nebude jasné, jak z AI vydělají. Mezi favority řadí Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron, AMD a Dell.
Melius Research’s head of tech research, Ben Reitzes, told CNBC to lean into chip-stock weakness and stay clear of the cloud giants paying for the buildout. “I’m telling them to buy on the dip. These have been opportunities in the past, and we just don’t really see any change,” Reitzes said. His list of buys covers Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron, AMD, and Dell, while Microsoft, Oracle, and Google are on hold until their AI monetization model becomes legible.
The framing matters because the broader debate has shifted from whether AI demand exists to whether the spenders can ever earn it back. Reitzes argues the answer is to own the sellers of compute. “The world is shifting towards compute… It’s been three years into this, and we’re probably in a 20-year trend. Compute is really the fuel. It’s the oil, and it’s going to be bigger than oil ever was,” he said.
The chip side of the trade Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) | NVDA Price Prediction anchors the call. The Q1 FY27 earnings report showed revenue of $81.61 billion, up 85.2% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $75.25 billion and an $80 billion additional buyback authorization disclosed in the company’s SEC 8-K filing. Shares trade at a forward P/E of 24, with shares up 12.01% year to date.
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) delivered $10.8 billion in AI semiconductor revenue, up 143% year over year, in its Q2 FY26 report. The stock is up 13.72% year to date and carries a forward P/E of 36.
Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is the cleanest expression of the “single-digit multiple” pitch. Forward P/E sits at 11, despite an FQ2 26 print of $23.86 billion in revenue and $12.20 in non-GAAP EPS, beating consensus by 39.74%. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said, “In the AI era, memory has become a strategic asset for our customers.” The stock has run 324.63% year to date.
AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) posted Q1 FY26 revenue of $10.25 billion, up 37.9% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $5.78 billion, up 57%. CEO Lisa Su flagged the Meta partnership to deploy up to 6 GW of AMD Instinct GPUs. Shares are up 157.58% year to date.
Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) sits on Reitzes’ buy list as the lone hardware name. AI-optimized server revenue hit $16.13 billion, up 757% year over year, on $24.4 billion of AI orders booked. Gross margin compressed to 17.8% from 21.1%, illustrating the cost of being a reseller in this cycle.
Why is he skipping the hyperscalers? Reitzes’ capital-allocation argument is direct. “Why bother owning hyperscalers? They’re handing money to my other companies… They don’t generate cash. They may not generate cash next year, and they don’t buy back stock,” he said.
Microsoft is the cautionary tale. CapEx surged to $30.88 billion, up 84.4% year over year, in Q3 FY26. Satya Nadella said, “Our AI business surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, up 123% year-over-year.” Yet the stock is down 23.7% year to date. A Polymarket contract gives a 69% probability that Anthropic plus OpenAI will exceed Microsoft’s valuation by December 31, 2026.
Alphabet shows the same pattern. CapEx ran $35.67 billion, up 107.4% year over year, and free cash flow fell 46.6% year over year to $10.12 billion. Google Cloud grew 63% to $20.03 billion with backlog nearly doubling to over $460 billion, but shares dropped 6% on June 23 after John Jumper departed for Anthropic and Noam Shazeer for OpenAI.
What to watch next Reitzes’ wait-and-see line was blunt. “Call me when they figure it out. I don’t want to invest in that stuff while they’re figuring out the consumption versus subscription. What a mess you got,” he said. The next checkpoints arrive with hyperscaler July earnings, where CapEx guidance and any AI revenue disclosures will determine whether the picks-and-shovels gap keeps widening. Until then, the data favors the sellers.
Rocket Lab stock is gaining positive traction. What’s pushing RKLB stock higher? NASA Selects Rocket Lab To Launch Science MissionsRocket Lab has been selected to provide launch services for NASA’s PolSIR (Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer) and Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) missions.
Rocket Lab will launch the PolSIR mission aboard two dedicated Electron rockets no earlier than June 2027. The mission aims to study ice clouds that form at high altitudes in tropical and subtropical regions, ultimately allowing researchers to make more accurate weather predictions.
The TSIS-2 mission, which will measure the Sun’s energy input to Earth, is expected to launch aboard an Electron rocket in early 2027.
“Electron has become synonymous with reliability, precise orbital accuracy, and on-demand launch capability and we’ve been delivering this for NASA missions for almost a decade. We’re proud to deliver this once again for PolSIR and TSIS-2,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.
Other upcoming NASA missions slated for Rocket Lab include Aspera, an astrophysics mission to study how galaxies form and evolve, offering new insight into the workings of the universe. Later this year, the company is also scheduled to launch its own Photon spacecraft aboard Electron for NASA’s LOXSAT mission, a demonstration of in-space refueling technology that could support future Moon missions and human exploration of Mars.
RKLB Shares Rise After The CloseRKLB Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were up 5.59% in after-hours on Thursday, trading at $85.20 at the time of publication, according to Benzinga Pro.
Photo: courtesy of Rocket Lab.
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per share for the quarter, payable on September 3, 2026, for stockholders of record as of August 20, 2026.
About Woodward, Inc.
Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Our purpose is to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit our website at www.woodward.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements concerning the company’s cash dividend. Actual results could differ materially from projections or any other forward-looking statements and we have no obligation to update our forward-looking statements except as required by law. Factors that could affect performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from projections and forward-looking statements are described in Woodward's Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2025, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's leading homebuilders, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share for both Class A and Class B common stock payable on July 24, 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2026.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com.
Key Takeaways AppLovin has reported 85% adjusted EBITDA margin and 65% net margin.APP is shifting revenues toward higher-margin software while maintaining disciplined cost control.APP stock falls 31% year to date, while its margin stability stands out versus peers. The key story surrounding AppLovin Corporation (APP - Free Report) today is not just growth; it is the company’s exceptional margin strength. While AppLovin continues to expand its presence in the advertising ecosystem through performance-based tools and AI-driven optimization, its real competitive advantage lies in its operating efficiency.
A growing share of revenues is coming from higher-margin software offerings, which are increasingly driving profitability. Combined with disciplined cost management, this shift has significantly boosted bottom-line performance. As a result, a larger portion of incremental revenue now flows directly to profit, reinforcing the durability and quality of AppLovin’s business model. In the latest reported quarter, the company delivered an adjusted EBITDA margin of 85%, expanding 100 basis points from the prior year. Net margin also improved 1500 basis points to 65%, reflecting the strength of its operating structure.
This strong financial profile gives AppLovin the flexibility to continue investing in areas that support long-term growth, including AI innovation, platform improvements and balance-sheet optimization. That resilience is particularly valuable in the ad-tech sector, where market sentiment can change quickly, and short-term volatility sometimes overshadows underlying fundamentals.
The recent pullback in the stock appears to be driven more by market sentiment than by any structural weakness in the business. When a platform demonstrates scalable margins, steady demand, and disciplined capital allocation, temporary valuation resets can sometimes create attractive entry opportunities. If AppLovin can sustain its margin durability, the investment conversation may increasingly shift away from cyclical advertising trends and toward the company’s structural profitability advantage.
How AppLovin Stacks Up Against Key U.S. Peers
The Trade Desk (TTD - Free Report) operates a leading demand-side platform built around programmatic advertising and data-driven targeting. While the company benefits from strong relationships with premium brands and advertisers, its margin profile tends to be more sensitive to fluctuations in advertising spending. In many ways, The Trade Desk focuses on scale and reach, while AppLovin concentrates more heavily on performance and efficiency.
Unity Software (U - Free Report) also participates in the advertising ecosystem through its real-time 3D platform and monetization tools for developers. However, Unity’s advertising business remains closely tied to the developer community and has been more volatile. Unlike AppLovin, Unity is still working to balance growth with consistent profitability, which makes AppLovin’s margin stability a notable differentiator among these peers.Top of Form
APP’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
The stock has declined 31% year to date compared with the industry’s 5% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, APP trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.36, which is above the industry average of 21.03. It carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APP’s 2026 earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days.
APP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stifel oznámil, že celková klientská aktiva vzrostla meziročně o 18 % a poplatková o 23 % po vyloučení dopadu prodeje Stifel Independent Advisors. Bankovní úvěry se meziměsíčně zvýšily o více než 2 %.
June 25, 2026 16:15 ET | Source: Stifel Financial Corporation
ST. LOUIS, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today reported selected operating results for May 31, 2026, to provide timely information to investors on certain key performance metrics. Due to the limited nature of this data, a consistent correlation to earnings should not be assumed.
Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Total and fee-based client assets increased 18% and 23%, respectively, year-over-year, excluding the sale of Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. Growth was driven by market appreciation and solid advisor recruiting. Loan balances rose more than 2% from the prior month as demand in fund banking remained robust. Treasury deposits declined 3% in May, which was primarily a function of the timing of inflows and outflows by our corporate clients, but we continue to expect strong growth in the second quarter and beyond. Investment banking momentum remains strong, supported by increased capital raising activity. We expect second-quarter investment banking revenue to increase 25% to 30% from the second quarter of 2025.”
Selected Operating Data (Unaudited) As of % Change(millions)5/31/20265/31/2025 (1)4/30/2026 5/31/20254/30/2026Total client assets$579,678$501,357$568,887 16%2%Fee-based client assets$238,727$199,078$232,400 20%3%Private Client Group fee-based client assets$208,755$173,557$202,919 20%3%Bank loans, net (includes loans held for sale)$23,932$21,204$23,409 13%2%Client money market and insured product (2)$24,967$25,827$25,038 (3%)(0%)Treasury deposits (3)$10,805$6,155$11,116 76%(3%) (1) Total client assets and Private Client Group fee-based client assets as of May 31, 2025, include $9.3 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, of client assets from the Stifel Independent Advisors business that was sold on February 2, 2026.
(2) Includes Smart Rate deposits, Sweep deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash.
(3) Includes Other Bank deposits and Third-party Commercial Treasury deposits, which represent Venture, Fund, and Commercial deposits at Stifel Bancorp and third-party banks.
Company Information
Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a diversified financial services firm providing wealth management, commercial and investment banking, trading, and research services to individuals, institutions, and municipalities. Founded in 1890 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the firm operates more than 400 offices across the United States and in major global financial centers. As a firm where success meets success, Stifel works closely with retail and institutional clients aiming to transform opportunities into achievement. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.
Media Contact: Neil Shapiro (212) 271-3447 | Investor Contact: Joel Jeffrey (212) 271- 3610 | www.stifel.com/investor-relations
Truist zveřejnil výsledky své roční zátěžové zkoušky za rok 2026. Současný požadavek na stress capital buffer ve výši 2,5 % zůstane v platnosti do 30. září 2027.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced the release of the results of its annual company-run stress test, conducted in accordance with Dodd-Frank Act regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The results are available online at ir.truist.com/regulatory-disclosures.
"Truist's 2026 annual stress test results reaffirm the benefits of our diverse business mix and our disciplined risk management culture," said Truist Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Rogers. "Our strong capital position enables us to effectively serve our clients and stakeholders, generate sustainable shareholder returns, and continue delivering on our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities."
In accordance with the Federal Reserve's Feb. 4, 2026 announcement to maintain existing stress capital buffer requirements, Truist's current stress capital buffer requirement of 2.5 percent will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2027.
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist has leading market share in many of the high-growth markets in the U.S. and offers a wide range of products and services through wholesale and consumer businesses, including consumer and small business banking, commercial and corporate banking, investment banking and capital markets, wealth management, payments, and specialized lending businesses. Truist is a top-10 commercial bank with total assets of $549 billion as of March 31, 2026. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "pursue," "seek," "continue," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast," "potential," "target," "objective," "trend," "plan," "goal," "initiative," "priorities," or other words of comparable meaning or future-tense or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," or "could." Forward-looking statements convey Truist's expectations, intentions, or forecasts about future events, circumstances, or results. All forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which may change over time and many of which are beyond Truist's control. You should not rely on any forward-looking statement as a prediction or guarantee about the future. Actual future objectives, strategies, plans, prospects, performance, conditions, and results may differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statement. While no list of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties could be complete, some of the factors that may cause actual results or other future events or circumstances to differ from those in Truist's forward-looking statements include the risks and uncertainties more fully discussed in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) in Truist's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Truist's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by Truist or on its behalf speaks only as of the date that it was made. Truist does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of events, circumstances, or results that arise after the date that the statement was made, except as required by applicable securities laws. You, however, should consult further disclosures (including disclosures of a forward-looking nature) that Truist may make in any subsequent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Current Report on Form 8-K.
Bank of America snížila hodnocení PVH na Underperform a cílovou cenu na 70 USD z 90 USD kvůli vysoké expozici vůči EMEA, kde region tvoří zhruba 50 % tržeb. Očekává, že obnova potrvá déle a ziskovost zůstane pod tlakem.
PVH Corp. (NYSE:PVH) was downgraded to 'Underperform' from 'Neutral' by Bank of America, which also lowered its price objective to $70 from $90, citing the apparel company's significant exposure to Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and expectations that a recovery in the region could take longer than anticipated.
Shares of PVH traded hands at $72 on Thursday afternoon, up about 7% so far this year.
Bank of America analysts wrote that PVH's EMEA business accounts for about 50% of sales, the highest exposure among companies in their coverage universe, limiting the potential for upside amid a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.
The analysts lowered their earnings estimates for 2026 through 2028 by 1% to 3% to reflect softer sales and margin assumptions and reduced their valuation multiple to 4 times projected 2027 EV/EBITDA from 5 times previously.
Bank of America wrote that demand in Europe has weakened amid conflict in the Middle East, while PVH is also facing sales and margin pressure in its Middle East and Türkiye operations. Although the Middle East excluding Türkiye represents only about 1% of company sales, it contributes roughly 7% of total EBIT because the business is entirely wholesale.
Even if geopolitical tensions ease, the analysts wrote that a recovery in the region may take time, particularly as tourism flows into markets such as the United Arab Emirates have been affected. They added that PVH's wholesale business, which accounts for approximately half of total sales, could further slow the rebound because wholesale partners tend to be cautious about inventory commitments during periods of uncertainty.
Bank of America also noted that PVH's updated guidance already incorporates expected tariff refunds of about $100 million in the second quarter, equivalent to an estimated 100-basis-point benefit to annual gross margin. The analysts wrote that this leaves the company with less margin flexibility in 2026 relative to peers and creates more challenging comparisons in 2027.
Despite the tariff-related benefit, Bank of America expects PVH's EBIT margin to remain flat in 2026 as pressure in EMEA, tariff costs, licensing transitions and increased marketing spending offset potential gains.
While the analysts acknowledged longer-term opportunities for margin expansion through cost-cutting and strategic initiatives, they wrote that near-term profit-and-loss volatility is likely to continue overshadowing progress.
Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN | WEN Price Prediction) has recently become one of the market’s most closely watched stocks after a sharp rally this week sparked an explosion in options activity. CNBC’s Oliver Renick walked through the staggering activity on Options Action, explaining Wendy’s beaten-down turnaround story, new management, heavy short interest, and out-of-the-money calls trading at lottery-ticket prices.
What the Segment Highlighted Per Renick’s segment, Wendy’s shares popped about 40% this week before reversing on Thursday, June 25, with the stock down about 70% over the past five years. He noted the company is undergoing management changes and that hedge funds are reportedly shorting roughly one-third of outstanding shares, while retail traders are posting actively on Reddit.
Renick flagged that almost 200,000 options contracts traded this morning, over 150 times the daily average call volume. The crowd seems interested in the $9 strike call expiring August 21st at about $0.80, which would require roughly a 34% rally to pay off. Call buying is almost double put buying, and implied volatility is around 145, even higher than Micron’s ~115, a reference point Renick used purely to underscore how juiced WEN options have become.
The Fundamentals Behind the Frenzy Wendy’s is in the early innings of a turnaround. Interim CEO Ken Cook said on the Q1 2026 earnings call, “We are taking decisive action to strengthen the Wendy’s system and improve performance… While our first quarter results reflect a business in the early stages of a turnaround, we are making progress to improve our U.S. business and are confident in the direction we are heading.”
Q1 2026 results showed EPS of $0.12 versus the consensus of $0.10 and revenue of $540.637 million. The bear case is in the operating metrics: U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 7.8%, net income dropped 42.11%, and company-operated restaurant margins compressed 340 basis points to 11.4%. International is the bright spot, with systemwide sales up 6.0% and a new agreement to build up to 1,000 restaurants across China over the next 10 years.
Short interest sits at 82.4% of float, activist Nelson Peltz of Trian Partners has signaled he may sell his stake, buy more shares, or attempt an outright acquisition, and the company named Steve Cirulis CFO and Chief Strategy Officer on June 23, 2026. Directors Peltz, May, and Dolan made open-market purchases at $7.14/share on April 3, 2026.
The Risk Investors Should Keep in Mind The recent jump in Wendy’s options activity shows that investors are weighing whether management changes, heavy short interest, and improving corporate initiatives can eventually translate into a broader turnaround for the business. At the same time, weak U.S. same-restaurant sales and cautious Wall Street expectations show why opinions remain divided.
Wall Street is pricing caution. Analysts’ median price target is $7.84, with 16 Hold ratings, 4 Buys, and 5 Sell-equivalent ratings. Management reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $0.56–$0.60 and global systemwide sales approximately flat.
Cheap out-of-the-money calls on a name with 82.4% short interest can pay off spectacularly, but they can also expire worthless. Investors weighing this story should keep an eye on whether Project Fresh, the China rollout, and any Trian-driven transaction translate into stabilization of U.S. same-restaurant sales through the back half of 2026.
Onsemi se dohodla na akvizici Synaptics v čistě akciové transakci za zhruba 7 miliard USD. Obchod má posílit její pozici na trhu čipů pro zařízení s umělou inteligencí.
An Onsemi logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJune 25 (Reuters) - Onsemi (ON.O), opens new tab said on Thursday it had agreed to acquire Synaptics (SYNA.O), opens new tab in an all-stock deal valued at about $7 billion, potentially broadening the chipmaker's presence in the fast-growing market for AI-enabled devices
Shares of Onsemi fell about 7.4% in extended trading, while those of Synaptics were down 0.5%.
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Under the terms of the agreement, Synaptics shareholders will receive 1.350 shares of onsemi common stock for each Synaptics share. This exchange ratio represents a 19% premium based on the 10-day volume-weighted average closing prices of both companies' stocks.
"This transaction would add immediate connected compute capabilities, expand our software and ecosystem reach and position onsemi to deliver greater value as customers increasingly seek intelligent systems," Onsemi CEO Hassane El-Khoury said.
Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Quaker Houghton otevřel v čínském Zhangjiagangu nový výrobní závod a v Šanghaji rozšířil laboratoř, aby posílil lokální produkci a inovace v Asii a Tichomoří.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton ("the Company"; NYSE: KWR), the global leader in industrial process fluids, today announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, China, expanding local production capabilities to support growing customer demand across the Asia-Pacific region.
The facility strengthens Quaker Houghton's global manufacturing network and adds new production capabilities for die casting and grease product lines, while supporting key industries including steel, aluminum, automotive, beverage can, mining, and wind power.
"The opening of our Zhangjiagang facility is an important step in Quaker Houghton's long-term growth strategy in Asia," said Albert Ma, Senior Vice President, Regional Commercial Lead – Asia Pacific. "By adding new manufacturing capabilities locally in China, we are enhancing our ability to serve our customers with the innovative, high-quality solutions they know and expect from Quaker Houghton."
Earlier in June, Quaker Houghton also opened its expanded laboratory in Shanghai, adding testing and development capabilities to drive innovation, help customers stay ahead, and support growth. This includes dedicated labs for the company's grease business and QH FLUID INTELLIGENCE™ – a technology platform to measure, control, and optimize fluid and process performance.
Joseph Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, "These investments reflect the strategic importance of Asia Pacific to the Company's long-term growth strategy. They strengthen our ability to better serve our customers in the region by enabling local production of a larger portion of our diverse product portfolio and accelerating innovation to meet increasing demand across the region."
About Quaker Houghton
Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,700 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, has declared a third quarter dividend of $0.38 per common share. The dividend represents a two-cent, or 5.6%, increase over the previous quarter's dividend and will be paid on September 3, 2026 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 6, 2026.
"This announcement marks the fourteenth consecutive annual increase to Matson's quarterly dividend," said Matt Cox, Matson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The increase reflects the strength of our business and confidence in our long-term free cash flow growth. We will continue to be disciplined in our approach to capital allocation and are committed to the return of excess capital to shareholders through the execution of share repurchases after funding our dividend, supporting our operations with maintenance capital, and investing in growth opportunities, while maintaining an investment grade balance sheet."
About the Company
Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, which includes cargo from other Asia origins, provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Alaska to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout North America and Asia. Its integrated logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, supply chain management, and freight forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement, including but not limited to, statements about capital allocation plans, the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common shares pursuant to the repurchase program, and use of excess cash. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This release should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements.
J.M. Smucker má dividendový výnos 3,78 % a vedení chce dál podporovat čtvrtletní dividendu, zatímco snižuje dluh. Firma zároveň plánuje splatit dalších 500 milionů USD dluhu.
The packaged-food aisle has become a graveyard for income stories, with GLP-1 drugs, private label, and tariffs squeezing every legacy brand. J.M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM | SJM Price Prediction) sits inside that storm with Folgers, Café Bustelo, Jif, Uncrustables, Milk-Bone, and Hostess on its shelves. For retirees, the question is simple: can the 3.78% yield survive the noise?
Dividend Snapshot Metric Value Annual Dividend $4.40 Dividend Yield 3.78% Consecutive Years of Increases 27+ Most Recent Quarterly Raise $1.08 to $1.10 (May 2026) Aristocrat/King Status No (gap in public record) Cash Flow Buries the GAAP Headline GAAP net income was negative $138.7 million in fiscal 2026, but that figure is polluted by the $980 million Hostess impairment. Cash tells the truer story.
Metric TTM Assessment Earnings Payout (Adj. EPS) ~48% Healthy FCF Payout ~40% Healthy Operating Cash Flow Coverage ~3.2x Strong Smucker generated $1.2 billion in free cash flow, up from $816.6 million, and returned $464.7 million via dividends. Adjusted EPS of $9.15 against a $4.40 dividend leaves comfortable cushion.
Leverage Is the Real Pressure Point Metric Value Assessment Debt-to-Equity ~1.93x Aggressive Net Debt-to-EBITDA 3.8x Elevated Interest Coverage (GAAP) 0.94x Tight Cash on Hand $58.6M Thin The Hostess deal saddled the balance sheet, and $381.2 million in interest expense nearly swallowed GAAP operating income. Management is actively deleveraging.
27 Straight Years of Raises Year Annual Dividend 2025 $4.36 2024 $4.28 2023 $4.16 2022 $4.02 2021 $3.78 Growth has slowed to roughly 2% annually, a clear signal management is preserving cash for debt paydown.
The CFO Spells Out the Capital Plan On the June 9 call, CFO Tucker Marshall said, “We want to support quarterly dividends and grow them where appropriate.” He added a concrete target: “We also plan to pay down an additional $500 million of debt to get down to around a 3x leverage profile by the end of this fiscal year.” Dividends rank above buybacks, which only come back after the leverage target is hit.
Verdict: Safe With Caveats Dividend Safety Rating: Safe. The $1.2 billion FCF cushion, $9.75 to $10.25 FY27 EPS guide, and explicit CFO commitment all support the payout. The asterisk is leverage and a guided 3% to 4% revenue decline next year. Smucker fits an income thesis if coffee deflation and Uncrustables keep cash flow above $1 billion. The bear case rests on Hostess deteriorating further and forcing another impairment cycle. For now, the check clears.
Acuity Brands prudce roste po silných výsledcích za 3. čtvrtletí 2026. Tržby dosáhly 1,2 miliardy USD a upravený zisk na akcii (EPS) činil 5,31 USD, nad odhady.
Rising to a level it hasn't reached in months, Acuity Brands (AYI +17.64%) stock is rocketing higher today after the company reported strong third-quarter 2026 financial results this morning. At the opening of today's market session, shares of the industrial lighting company were priced at $349.89, a level it hasn't seen since mid-January.
As of 2:40 p.m. ET, shares of Acuity are up 19.8%.
Image source: Getty Images.
Beating analysts' estimates is just part of the story Reporting Q3 2026 sales of $1.2 billion, a 2% year-over-year increase, Acuity surpassed the consensus among analysts that the company would report revenue of $1.18 billion.
Today's Change
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359.39
At the bottom of the income statement, the company also provided better results than what Wall Street expected. Whereas analysts had anticipated the company posting adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.19, it reported $5.31, a 4% increase over the same period last year.
It wasn't only the income statement that gave investors something to celebrate.
Acuity reported Q3 2026 free cash flow of $462 million, a more than 30% increase over the $355 milion that it reported in Q3 2025.
Is Acuity stock a buy on today's news? For those seeking a conservative industrials stock, Acuity is worth strong consideration right now. The company is reporting strong free cash flow, which it's using to boost its financial health. Since the start of its fiscal year, Acuity has generated $520 million in operating cash flow and allocated $200 million to reducing debt. Trading at 22.4 times trailing earnings -- a discount to the S&P 500 P/E of 31.6 -- Acuity stock appears to be a bargain right now.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) expects to issue its second quarter financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The company expects to webcast a discussion of its results on Wednesday, July 29, at 10:00 a.m. ET, through its website at hanover.com.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com.
Ares Management znovu omezila výběry z vlajkového private credit fondu ASIF poté, co ve 2. čtvrtletí investoři požádali o odkup 14,4 % podílů. Fond povolil jen 5 % podílů.
Director, Co-Founder and CEO, at Ares Management Michael Arougheti attends the Milken Conference 2025 in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 6, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesMost withdrawal requests came from less than 1% of shareholder base, largely outside U.S.ASIF Q2 redemption requests jump to 14.4% from 11.6% in prior quarterRequests from U.S. private wealth investors accounted for just 2.4% of sharesJune 25 (Reuters) - Ares Management (ARES.N), opens new tab again capped withdrawals at its flagship private credit fund after redemption requests rose in the second quarter, according to a filing released Thursday.
Investors sought to pull 14.4% of shares from the $22.6 billion Ares Strategic Income Fund (ASIF) in the second quarter, up from 11.6% in the previous quarter. The fund limited withdrawals to 5% of shares, the customary threshold for such vehicles.
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Wealthy individuals have pulled money from non-traded private credit funds in recent months over concerns about lending standards and how software companies that borrowed heavily from direct lenders will navigate AI disruption.
Investors pulled a combined $12.9 billion from private credit funds for wealthy individuals in the first five months of 2026, according to investment bank Robert A. Stanger.
Most requests were concentrated among a small number of non-U.S. institutions and family offices, representing less than 1% of ASIF's more than 20,000 shareholders, the fund said. They accounted for nearly half of second-quarter requests.
Peer Apollo (APO.N), opens new tab has also recently flagged that withdrawal requests at its $26 billion private credit fund moderated from U.S. and increased from offshore.
Nearly two-thirds of repurchase requests at ASIF were submitted by investors who had tendered in the prior quarter.
"Optically, not a great update; however, the devil is in the details, and we are quite encouraged by the finer disclosure," TD Cowen analyst Bill Katz said, noting that the pattern of repurchase requests does not suggest widespread angst, while repeat requesters indicate redemption pressures are not building.
US PRIVATE WEALTH CHANNELWithdrawal requests from U.S. private wealth investors, ASIF's largest shareholder segment, represented only 2.4% of shares and declined 35% from the prior quarter.
The segment also accounted for nearly half of second-quarter inflows, ASIF said.
CEO Michael Arougheti said earlier this month that U.S. high-net-worth individuals were growing their alternatives exposure and not redeeming at the rate markets expected.
ASIF, launched in 2022, said its Class I shares had generated an annualized total return of 10.27% since inception, representing a 187-basis-point premium to broadly syndicated bank loans.
Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Accelerates onsemi’s evolution, building on its strength in power and sensing to become a leading provider of intelligent systems — expanding from AI data centers into Physical AIIncreases onsemi’s total addressable market by $30 billion to $243 billion by 2030Positions onsemi at the intersection of Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control — the four pillars of Physical AI — which enable machines to sense, decide, act and adapt in the physical worldWould combine complementary portfolios to drive significant customer value and deepen customer engagements SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. & SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) and Synaptics Incorporated (Nasdaq: SYNA) today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which onsemi has agreed to acquire Synaptics in an all-stock transaction, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $7 billion. The transaction value reflects a fixed exchange ratio of 1.350 shares of onsemi common stock for each Synaptics share and represents an approximately 19% premium to the volume weighted average closing prices of onsemi and Synaptics over the last 10 trading days.
The combination would accelerate onsemi’s evolution toward global leadership in intelligent systems. By adding Synaptics’ differentiated Edge AI compute franchise and strong portfolio of human-machine interface and wireless connectivity solutions, onsemi is expected to extend its capabilities beyond power and sensing to intelligent systems, delivering greater value to a broad range of end markets. Building on onsemi’s expertise in automotive, industrial and AI data center, the combined platform is intended to position onsemi at the center of Physical AI, with the potential to expand onsemi’s TAM by $30 billion to $243 billion by 2030.
“As artificial intelligence moves beyond the cloud and into the physical world, including automotive and industrial, the next phase of innovation will depend on systems that can sense, decide, act and adapt in real time,” said Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO of onsemi. “This shift towards Physical AI will require Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control to work together seamlessly. The addition of Synaptics helps position onsemi at the intersection of these four pillars, enabling us to capture a significantly larger AI opportunity that extends beyond AI data center and into edge applications. This transaction would add immediate connected compute capabilities, expand our software and ecosystem reach and position onsemi to deliver greater value as customers increasingly seek intelligent systems.”
“Today’s announcement marks an important step in accelerating Synaptics’ growth and leadership in Edge AI and Physical AI,” said Rahul Patel, Synaptics President and CEO. “Together with onsemi, we will combine Synaptics’ strengths in AI-native compute, connectivity, and human-machine interface with onsemi’s leadership in intelligent power and sensing to offer customers integrated solutions and development platforms across every layer of the Edge AI stack, deepening customer engagement and expanding across a greater total addressable market. The all-stock structure allows our shareholders to participate in the compelling growth and value creation opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with the onsemi leadership team to help realize the full value of this combination.”
Compelling Strategic and Financial Rationale
The combination is expected to deliver substantial value:
Enables capabilities from AI Infrastructure to Physical AI: onsemi is already well-positioned across the AI infrastructure ecosystem, from the energy grid to the data center core. This transaction is expected to extend that reach to the intelligent edge, enabling onsemi to address additional end markets while enhancing its capabilities to become a provider of integrated, system-level solutions across Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control. This compelling combination would enable systems that can sense, decide, act and adapt in real time across Physical AI applications, including autonomous driving, robotics, and AR/VR.
Adds a proven, scalable Edge AI connected compute platform to onsemi: Synaptics’ Astra platform combines purpose-built AI processors and NPUs for multimodal intelligence with an industry-leading wireless connectivity portfolio spanning Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and a full open-source software stack for rapid deployment.
Complementary portfolios designed to unlock significant revenue growth with scale: The combination of two highly complementary portfolios would allow onsemi to accelerate its innovation and product roadmap to capture higher dollar content per platform while fostering deeper long-term customer engagement. This is anticipated to increase onsemi’s exposure to higher-value, differentiated system solutions with embedded IP and software, supporting improved mix, margin expansion and durable growth.
Attractive financial profile: The transaction is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP EPS within 18 months of closing, with an expected $200 million in annual synergies and gross margins consistent with onsemi’s long-term financial model. onsemi remains committed to maintaining its existing capital return policy during the pendency period.
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Synaptics stockholders will receive 1.350 shares of onsemi common stock for each share of Synaptics common stock held at the time of closing, implying pro forma ownership of approximately 12% for Synaptics stockholders on a fully diluted basis.
As part of the transaction, one member of the Synaptics Board of Directors is expected to join onsemi’s Board of Directors.
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to approval by Synaptics stockholders, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
onsemi and Synaptics Reiterate Previously Provided Financial Outlooks
As part of today’s announcement, onsemi is reiterating its financial outlook for the second fiscal quarter of 2026 provided on May 4, 2026. Synaptics is reiterating its financial outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2026 provided on May 7, 2026.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
onsemi will host a conference call for the financial community at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 25, 2026, to discuss the transaction announcement. A live webcast and related presentation materials will be available on onsemi’s IR site at http://www.onsemi.com. The webcast replay and presentation will be available following the call. Investors and interested parties can also access the conference call by pre-registering here.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley served as lead financial advisor to onsemi. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also served as a financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel to onsemi. Qatalyst Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor and Baker McKenzie served as legal counsel to Synaptics.
About onsemi
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) delivers intelligent power and sensing technologies that enable electrification, energy efficiency, safety, and automation across automotive, industrial, and AI data center end-markets. With a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, onsemi helps customers solve complex challenges to achieve higher efficiency, improved performance, and lower system cost, while supporting a safer, cleaner, and more energy‑efficient world. The company is part of the S&P 500® index. Learn more at www.onsemi.com.
About Synaptics Incorporated
Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is driving innovation in AI at the Edge, bringing AI closer to end users and transforming how we engage with intelligent connected devices, whether at home, at work, or on the move. As a go-to partner for forward-thinking product innovators, Synaptics powers the future with its cutting-edge Synaptics Astra™ AI-Native embedded compute, wireless connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions. We’re making the digital experience smarter, faster, more intuitive, secure, and seamless. From touch, display, and biometrics to AI-driven wireless connectivity, video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing, Synaptics is a force behind the next generation of technology enhancing how we live, work, and play.
Contact Information
onsemi
Parag Agarwal
Vice President - Investor Relations & Corporate Development
onsemi
(602) 244-3437 [email protected]
Krystal Heaton
Director, Head of Public Relations
onsemi
(480) 242-6943 [email protected]
Synaptics
Munjal Shah
Vice President – Investor Relations
Synaptics
(408) 518-7639 [email protected]
This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction between Synaptics Incorporated and ON Semiconductor Corporation. This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Synaptics’ and onsemi’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the expected date of closing of the proposed transaction and the potential benefits thereof, their respective businesses and industries, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by Synaptics and onsemi, all of which are subject to change. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Synaptics’ or onsemi’s actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors and risks that may impact future results and performance include, but are not limited to, the following factors: (1) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from regulators or the stockholders of Synaptics for the transaction are not obtained; (2) litigation relating to the transaction; (3) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the transaction; (4) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts the current plans and operations of Synaptics or onsemi, including restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (5) the ability of Synaptics and onsemi to retain and hire key personnel; (6) competitive responses to the proposed transaction; (7) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; (8) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; (9) the combined companies’ ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from the transaction, as well as delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined companies’ existing businesses; (10) uncertainty as to the long-term value of onsemi’s common stock; (11) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; and (12) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as Synaptics’ and onsemi’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, will be more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.
In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Synaptics’ overall business, including those more fully described in Synaptics’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2025, and its quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal year, and onsemi’s overall business and financial condition, including those more fully described in onsemi’s filings with the SEC including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and its quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for its current fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and speak only as of the date made, and neither Synaptics nor its management undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form a part of, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Important Additional Information about the Transaction and Where To Find It
The proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of Synaptics for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, onsemi will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Synaptics and that also constitutes a prospectus of onsemi. Each of Synaptics and onsemi will provide the proxy statement/prospectus to Synaptics stockholders. Synaptics and onsemi also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Synaptics or onsemi may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). In addition, investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by the parties on Synaptics Investor Relations at https://investor.synaptics.com/ (for documents filed with the SEC by Synaptics) or onsemi Investor Relations at https://investor.onsemi.com/ (for documents filed with the SEC by onsemi).
Participants in the Solicitation
Synaptics, onsemi, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction, and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more detailed information about Synaptics’ executive officers and directors under the headings “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors,” “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Named Executive Officer Compensation Tables,” “CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure,” “Pay Versus Performance Disclosure” and “Beneficial Ownership of Certain Stockholders” in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 16, 2025. To the extent holdings of Synaptics common stock by the directors and executive officers of Synaptics have changed from the amounts of Synaptics common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=817720&owner=exclude under the tab “Ownership Disclosures”. You can find more detailed information about onsemi’s executive officers and directors under the headings “The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance,” “Compensation of Executive Officers” and “Stock Ownership” in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 2, 2026. To the extent holdings of onsemi common stock by the directors and executive officers of onsemi have changed from the amounts of onsemi common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1097864&owner=exclude under the tab “Ownership Disclosures”. Additional information about Synaptics’ executive officers and directors and onsemi’s executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available.
Eastman Chemical zvýšila dividendu už 16. rok v řadě a za rok 2025 vyplatila 381 milionů USD při volném cash flow 424 milionů USD. Firma uvádí, že nový závod na methanolýzu přidal v roce 2025 asi 60 milionů USD do zisku.
Eastman Chemical (NYSE: EMN | EMN Price Prediction) is a Kingsport, Tennessee specialty materials company whose molecular recycling (methanolysis) facility is reshaping its cash flow profile. Trading at $72.49 with a 4.56% yield, the question for income investors is straightforward: can the company keep funding the payout through a cyclical chemicals trough?
Dividend Snapshot Metric Value Annual Dividend $3.34 Dividend Yield 4.56% Consecutive Years of Increases 16 years Most Recent Quarterly Rate $0.84 (ex-date June 15, 2026) Dividend Aristocrat Status No (needs 25 years) The Cash Flow Math Works, Even in a Down Year Eastman paid $381 million in dividends in 2025 against $424 million in free cash flow (operating cash flow of $970 million minus capex of $546 million). FY2025 adjusted EPS came in at $5.42, while the dividend run rate is roughly $3.32 per share.
Metric Value Assessment Earnings Payout (Adj.) ~61% Healthy FCF Payout ~90% Elevated OCF Coverage 2.5x Strong The FCF cushion narrowed in 2025 versus $688 million in 2024, but 2026 capex guidance of about $400 million should restore breathing room.
Leverage Is the Real Watch Item Metric Value Net Debt $4.59B EBITDA (TTM) $1.37B Net Debt / EBITDA ~3.4x Cash on Hand (Q1 2026) $665M Leverage above 3x EBITDA is elevated for a cyclical, but the $665 million cash balance and targeted $125 to $150 million in 2026 cost reductions provide insulation.
16 Straight Raises, Including Through 2020 Year Annual Dividend Paid 2025 $381M 2024 $379M 2023 $376M 2022 $381M 2021 $375M The quarterly rate has climbed from $0.46 in 2016 to $0.84 today, and management held the line through the pandemic.
Management Calls Out the Catalyst CEO Mark Costa said on the FY2025 call: “We continued to prioritize stockholder returns and raised the dividend for the 16th consecutive year. In total, we returned approximately $500 million through dividends and share repurchases.” He added: “In 2025, we generated operating cash flow approaching $1 billion, a clear validation of our disciplined approach to cost and working capital management.” The Kingsport methanolysis facility, contributing about $60 million of incremental earnings in 2025 with $30 million more targeted in 2026, is the secular growth engine.
Verdict: Safe, With Leverage as the Asterisk Dividend Safety Rating: Safe. The adjusted-earnings payout near 61% is comfortable, OCF covered the dividend 2.5x, and the recycling ramp adds structural cash flow. EMN screens favorably for income if the methanolysis economics and 11x forward P/E mark a cyclical trough. The risk case builds if olefin pricing weakens further and net debt drifts above $4.59 billion, which would pressure capital allocation. For now, the payout is well covered.
ANDOVER, Mass., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, today announced the expansion of its Atotech equipment manufacturing site in Guangzhou, China.
With an investment of USD 25 million, the expansion will add approximately 323,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations space and is expected to double the site’s production capacity upon completion, which is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027.
This investment reinforces MKS’ ongoing commitment to customers across Asia, where localized manufacturing, speed, and responsiveness are increasingly critical. The expansion is driven by sustained growth in AI-related markets — particularly in semiconductor, advanced packaging, and advanced PCB applications — where customers demand greater scale, faster turnaround, and closer technical collaboration.
The new facility expansion is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing operations, enhancing capabilities across production, final assembly, logistics, and testing and validation. Beyond increased manufacturing capacity, the site will continue to support R&D activities, while strengthening global technology collaboration with customers and original equipment manufacturers.
To support more sustainable operations, the facility will incorporate a photovoltaic power system designed to supply a significant portion of its daytime electricity demand, contributing to improved energy efficiency and long-term sustainable growth.
“Expanding our operations in Asia strengthens our ability to support customers in one of the world’s most dynamic electronics manufacturing hubs,” said Dave Henry, Executive Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing and General Manager, Materials Solutions Division. “By increasing capacity, enhancing operational efficiency, and advancing innovation, we are improving responsiveness to customer demand while building a strong foundation to support the next wave of AI-driven growth globally.”
“This expansion reinforces Guangzhou’s strategic role within our global manufacturing network,” said Tassilo Thuene, Vice President and General Manager, Equipment Business, Materials Solutions Division. “With added capacity, enhanced testing and validation capabilities, and greater operational flexibility, we are well positioned to meet evolving customer requirements and enable the next wave of innovation in advanced electronics and AI-related applications.”
The expanded facility is designed to streamline production flows, reduce complexity, shorten lead times, and improve delivery reliability. Once fully ramped, the site is expected to generate significant additional annual output, further strengthening MKS’ position in high-growth electronics markets.
About MKS Inc.
MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world’s leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.
About the Atotech Brand
Atotech, a brand within the Materials Solutions Division of MKS, develops leading process and manufacturing technologies for advanced surface modification, electroless and electrolytic plating, and surface finishing. Applying a comprehensive systems-and-solutions approach, the Atotech portfolio includes chemistry, equipment, software, and services for innovative and high-technology applications. These solutions are used in a wide variety of end-markets, including datacenter, consumer electronics and communications infrastructure, as well as in numerous industrial and consumer applications such as automotive, heavy machinery, and household appliances.
With its well-established innovative strength and industry-leading global TechCenter network, MKS delivers pioneering solutions through its Atotech brand – combined with unparalleled on-site support for customers worldwide. For more information, please visit us at atotech.com.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding MKS’ manufacturing and operations expansion plans, expected production capacity and output, ability to support customer needs, and anticipated demand and growth opportunities in high-growth electronics markets. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact should be considered to be forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein, including as a result of the factors described in MKS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release.
SpaceX plánuje příští měsíc začít stavět 8mílové potrubí Starpipe do texaských zařízení pro starty Starship. Potrubí má být v provozu do 26. ledna a má urychlit starty rakety.
SummaryCompaniesSpaceX plans to start building 8-mile pipeline next monthProject would fuel more launches of Starship moon rocketPipeline is part of sprawling SpaceX gas plans in TexasWASHINGTON, June 25 (Reuters) - SpaceX (SPCX.O), opens new tab plans to begin next month building an eight‑mile (13-km) natural gas pipeline called "Starpipe" to its Texas launch facilities, according to county filings, as Elon Musk’s company seeks to ramp up launches of its next‑generation Starship rocket.
Starpipe, which will end at SpaceX’s Texas company town of Starbase, is expected to be in service by January 26, according to a document filed last month with the Texas Railroad Commission by SpaceX affiliate Lone Star Mineral Development and reviewed by Reuters.
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The pipeline plan, previously reported by Rio Grande Valley Business Journal, signals Musk's intent to accelerate Starship's development and lay the groundwork for a faster flight rate. The 40‑story rocket is central to SpaceX’s push to expand its Starlink broadband network, deploy orbital AI data center satellites, and eventually carry astronauts to the moon and Mars.
Designed to be fully reusable, Starship uses about 630,000 gallons (2.4 million liters) of liquid methane per launch, currently delivered by hundreds of tanker trucks in an hours-long process incompatible with Musk's expansion plans. Starship has completed 12 test launches since 2023, but Musk aims to ramp up to dozens, hundreds and eventually thousands of launches a year.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
SPACEX'S BIG GAS PLANSThough it is unusual for a space company to build its own natural gas pipeline for launchpad fuel, Starpipe might only be an initial step in a longer-term plan for SpaceX, which has spent years exploring its own drilling operations near Starbase and throughout Texas, according to a Reuters review of Cameron County land records.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC on June 12, when the company went public, that the company planned to build pipelines and process its own propellant, and was looking into drilling its own natural gas.
Extracting natural gas would be a challenging pursuit for a company with no oil and gas experience, said Stan Lindsey, an oil and gas consultant in Texas.
“I’m not saying it's beyond the realm of possibility … it’s possible they got a really nice prospect," Lindsey said. But if those drilling plans fall short, he added, “they’ve got a fallback position” with Starpipe.
SpaceX has signed over 100 paid-up oil and gas leases with Texas property owners since 2023, the land records show.
Starpipe would begin on an 83-acre (34-hectare) piece of land at the Port of Brownsville that SpaceX is in talks to lease from the city for 50 years, a port official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private.
Engineering plans SpaceX filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, included in a public notice issued last August, show SpaceX wants to build a liquefaction facility at Starbase to process the piped-in natural gas into liquid methane.
"Certainly that would make the most efficient sense," said William Farrar, a longtime oil and gas lawyer in Texas and geoscientist.
The company could tap into Enbridge's Valley Crossing Pipeline expansion project that would run close to Starpipe's start point, Lindsey said.
Enbridge did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SPACEX WANTS TO OWN SUPPLY CHAINSpaceX's move into gas infrastructure, typically the domain of energy and pipeline firms, underscores its longstanding strategy of controlling as much of its supply chain as possible, a capital‑intensive approach that has helped the company outpace rivals in rocket and spacecraft development.
The effort positions SpaceX to manage an unusually broad chain of resources, stretching from natural gas deep beneath Earth's surface to the moon, where Musk wants to use lunar material for AI‑focused satellite production, an ambitious and untested goal.
The pipeline’s 16‑inch (406-mm) diameter suggests fuel demand exceeding what Starship would require for 25 launches, the annual cadence currently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SpaceX ultimately aims to deploy thousands of solar‑powered, AI‑focused satellites whose combined energy output could approach one-fifth of the U.S. power grid, according to its initial public offering prospectus.
Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Joe Brock and Rod Nickel
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Joey Roulette is a space reporter for Reuters covering the business and politics of the global space industry, often focusing on space power competition and how commercial interests intersect with international relations. He was part of a team that won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in national reporting for Reuters' coverage of Elon Musk's business empire. On the space beat for roughly a decade, Joey previously worked for the New York Times, the Verge, and various publications in Florida.
Apple od roku 2012 odkoupil vlastní akcie za 851 miliard USD a 30. dubna přidal dalších 100 miliard USD na odkupy akcií. Firma se tak blíží hranici 1 bilionu USD v kumulovaných zpětných odkupech.
Investors are certainly familiar with just how profitable Apple (AAPL 5.56%) is. Its reported net income margin in the fiscal 2026 second quarter (ended March 28) was a fantastic 26.6%. Pricing power and brand loyalty help drive bottom-line performance.
This kind of financial strength has allowed the business to take care of its shareholders. To be more specific, there are 850 billion reasons (and counting) why investors love Apple stock.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Apple started its capital returns program in 2012. Since then, the business has repurchased $851 billion worth of shares, a truly massive figure that exceeds the current market capitalizations of all but 18 publicly traded companies.
On April 30, Apple added $100 billion in capacity for additional stock buybacks. This adds to the $64 billion remaining on its prior authorization. In total, this means it won't be long until Apple eclipses $1 trillion in cumulative share repurchases.
Today's Change
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-5.56
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All else equal, buybacks introduce a tailwind to earnings per share (EPS) because they reduce the number of shares outstanding. In the past decade, Apple's diluted EPS has risen at a compound annual rate of 15.5%. During that time, the diluted outstanding share count shrank by about 33%.
Apple's stock price has soared 1,140% in the last 10 years (as of June 23). Investors should credit some of this performance to the leadership team's capital allocation policy.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Tržby společnosti Meta Platforms meziročně vzrostly o 33 % na 56,3 miliardy USD díky růstu zapojení do AI. Na 2. čtvrtletí 2026 očekává tržby 58 až 61 miliard USD.
Key Takeaways Meta Platforms posted 33% year-over-year revenue growth to $56.3 billion, aided by AI engagement. META saw Reels watch time rise 10%, while AI-translated videos reach 500M weekly viewers. Meta Platforms expects Q2 2026 revenues of $58B-$61B as it expands AI infrastructure. Meta Platform (META - Free Report) is benefiting from its accelerating growth into artificial intelligence (AI), which is driving significant top-line growth and positioning the company for further upside.
META’s release of the Muse family of models and the upgraded Meta AI assistant has positioned the company as a leader in personal superintelligence, with billions of users now accessing these AI-powered features. This surge in AI-driven engagement is translating directly into top-line growth, as evidenced by a 33% year-over-year increase in total revenues to $56.3 billion for the first quarter of 2026.
The company’s focus on integrating AI into its platforms, which includes Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads, is driving user as well as advertising engagements. AI is heavily dependent on data, of which META has a trove, driven by its more than 3.56 billion daily users. Meta Platforms continues to see strong engagement trends with Instagram Reels, where watch time increased by 10% and Facebook video time increased by 8% globally in the first quarter of 2026. AI-translated videos are now watched weekly by more than 500 million users on Facebook and Instagram. Threads continue to grow with more than 500 million monthly active users.
Meta Platforms’ generative AI advertising tools are gaining strong traction, with more than 8 million advertisers using at least one GenAI ad creative tool in the first quarter of 2026. Video generation tools improved conversion rates by more than 3% while adoption among small and medium businesses has been particularly strong.
Meta Platforms is spending heavily on expanding AI infrastructure, which is expected to benefit the company’s top-line growth. For the second quarter of 2026, the company expects total revenues between $58 billion and $61 billion.
META Faces Stiff CompetitionMeta Platforms is facing stiff competition from competitors like Snap (SNAP - Free Report) and Reddit (RDDT - Free Report) . Both Snap and Reddit are expanding their portfolio in the AI space.
Reddit’s investments in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools remain noteworthy. The launch and adoption of Reddit Max, an automated, AI-powered campaign tool, enabled advertisers to achieve a 17% reduction in cost per action and a 25% increase in conversion rate in the first quarter of 2026. About 50% of Max campaign advertisers now use AI-powered creative features, and brands like Cozy have reported a 35% higher ROAS and a 28% lower cost per acquisition with these tools.
Snap has reached 956 million monthly active users and 483 million daily active users in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the continued adoption of Augmented Reality Lenses, Spotlight and AI-powered features. Key growth drivers include its AI-powered automation solutions, AI Sponsored Snaps, Sponsored Snaps, Promoted Places, Dynamic Product Ads and subscription offerings, including Snapchat+, Memories Storage and Lens+.
META’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesMETA’s shares have lost 15.6% in the year-to-date period, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s return of 14.9%.
META Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
META shares are overvalued, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 5.09X compared with the Internet - Software’s 3.54X. META has a Value Score of C.
META Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $33.01 per share, which has increased by a penny over the past 30 days. This suggests 40.53% year-over-year growth.
Meta Platforms currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Five researchers out of Google’s core AI team in seven days, and the market noticed. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) shares fell 5.09% over the past week to $345.29, and dropped another 1.14% Thursday morning to $341.34. The catalyst is talent, the subtext is product, and the spread between the two is where investors are getting nervous.
What Maggie Germain told CNBC On CNBC’s Closing Bell Overtime Wednesday, reporter Maggie Germain laid out why the exits look like a pattern rather than coincidence. When the host pressed whether pre-IPO equity alone explained the moves, Germain pointed at a hole in Google’s product lineup. “Google at this point doesn’t have something that competes with Codex and Claude Code, and that’s where researchers are really gravitating,” she said. Coding assistants are the wedge product for enterprise AI sales right now, and the labs building the best ones are hoovering up Google’s bench.
The standouts are real names. Noam Shazeer, a Gemini co-lead and one of the original authors of the Transformer paper, is heading to OpenAI. John Jumper, the Nobel laureate behind AlphaFold, is going to Anthropic. Two more DeepMind researchers are reportedly headed to Anthropic as well, and DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis acknowledged “the most ferociously competitive talent market the tech industry has ever seen.” The newer departures sit below Shazeer or Jumper in seniority, yet the cadence is the story.
Why pre-IPO equity changes the math Both Anthropic and OpenAI have confidentially filed S-1s, which converts a researcher’s grant from “maybe valuable someday” into “valuable on a defined timeline.” Polymarket traders are pricing the competitive gap quite directly. As of Thursday, the market gives Anthropic a 98.2% implied probability of holding the top model on Chatbot Arena by June 30, with Google at just 0.3%. Over one month, Anthropic’s odds rose 22.2 points while Google’s fell 17.7.
Compounding the mood, Gemini 3.5 Pro was reportedly pushed from a June release to July. Talent churn alongside a product slip compounds the credibility problem with enterprise buyers.
The numbers that complicate the panic Strip out the last week and the underlying business is still firing. Q1 FY26, reported April 29, delivered EPS of $5.11 against a $2.63 estimate on revenue of $109.90 billion, up 21.8% year over year. Google Cloud grew 63% to $20.03 billion, with backlog nearly doubling sequentially to over $460 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai told investors that Gemini’s API processed more than 16 billion tokens per minute, up 60% from the prior quarter, per Alphabet’s Q1 FY26 8-K.
So why the selloff. Capex hit $35.67 billion in Q1, more than doubling year over year, with FY26 guidance of $175 billion to $185 billion. Investors are being asked to fund a hyperscale build while watching the people who would justify that spend walk to competition. GOOGL’s composite sentiment score has fallen 19.16 points in seven days and 24.88 over thirty. Year to date, the stock is still up 10.46%, and over one year, up 107.64%. The selloff reflects positioning rather than a break in the business.
How the rivals are trading If you assumed talent flowing into the OpenAI and Anthropic camps was juicing their cloud backers, the price action disagrees. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is down 3.55% on the week and 24.10% year to date to $355.23, weighed by the same AI capex anxiety dragging Alphabet. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), which backs Anthropic and committed roughly 5 gigawatts of Trainium capacity to it, is down 1.36% on the week to $230.05, up just 1.49% year to date.
What to keep an eye on The July Gemini release is the readable catalyst. If 3.5 Pro lands and clears the 1500 Chatbot Arena threshold the market currently prices at 25%, the talent narrative softens. If it slips again or debuts middling, the question stops being about five researchers and starts being about whether enterprise customers stay parked in Vertex AI when Codex and Claude Code keep shipping. Polymarket is currently pricing an 80% chance GOOGL closes lower on June 25, which tells you where the very short-term crowd has placed its chips.
Stifel snížil cílovou cenu Microsoftu na 400 USD kvůli obavám ze silného tlaku na marže a přehnaných odhadů zisku. Akcie MSFT mezitím klesly na nové 52týdenní minimum.
Microsoft MSFT shares inched lower and printed a fresh 52-week low this morning after a senior Stifel analyst, Brad Reback, lowered his price target on the tech behemoth to $400.
As sentiment shifts from blind AI enthusiasm to cold financial scrutiny, MSFT’s relative strength index (RSI) has crashed into the late 20s, indicating “oversold” conditions that often trigger a near-term reversal.
Still, Reback recommends some caution in playing Microsoft stock that’s already down more than 25% year-to-date.
In his research note, Reback argued the current consensus estimates for Microsoft are “somewhat” ignoring the potential for severe margin compression ahead.
“Severe costs associated with running and scaling Azure’s rapid growth will create unprecedented friction,” he told clients.
According to the Stifel analyst, MSFT’s gross margins (2027) could shrink by 450 basis points on a year-over-year basis to about 63%, significantly below Street’s optimistic consensus of 66.5%.
This dramatic contraction is almost entirely structural – driven by explosive capex and subsequent heavy depreciation costs of building, cooling, and maintaining specialized AI data centers.
Note that MSFT shares are currently trading decisively below their major moving averages (MAs), reinforcing that bears remain firmly in control.
Stifel trimmed its price objective on Microsoft shares also because it believes the consensus EPS estimates for FY27 are inflated by a full dollar.
Wall Street currently expects the titan’s full-year per-share earnings to come in at $19.45, a number analyst Brad Reback sees as highly unrealistic given its surging finance lease obligations and upper single-digit operating expense growth.
This structural expenditure leaves very little room for traditional enterprise cost-cutting measures to balance the scales.
Plus, he also highlighted a continuous decline in organic free cash flow as a major corporate red flag.
If FCF fails to rebound in FY27, Microsoft’s historical flexibility to “aggressively” fund growing shareholder dividends and execute massive share buyback plans will face restrictive boundaries – the analyst added.
All in all, Stifel’s research report perfectly encapsulates a broader, sector-wide realignment hitting the entire technology architecture space.
The market is aggressively transitionary; investors are no longer content with magnificent top-line annualized AI run rates (such as Microsoft's recent $37 billion metric) if it requires tracking toward an astronomical $190 billion in annual capital spending to secure it.
As capex intensity across the enterprise software sector balloons, Wall Street is enforcing a stricter valuation discipline, punishing firms whose near-term cash return profiles are being swallowed by multi-year infrastructure cycles.
For MSFT stock, breaking out of this bearish cycle will require proving to a newly skeptical market that its heavily funded Copilot and Azure AI products can efficiently convert into highly profitable, high-margin software recurring revenue rather than remaining capital-guzzling utilities.
Microsoft od 1. srpna zdraží konzole Xbox kvůli rostoucím nákladům na komponenty; Xbox Series S 512GB podraží o 100 USD na zhruba 500 USD a Series X začne asi na 750 USD.
Hours after Apple announced price increases for MacBooks and iPads, Microsoft said consumers can also expect to pay more for Xbox game consoles, reflecting rising component costs.
Starting Aug. 1, Xbox Series S consoles containing 512GB of storage will go up by $100 to about $500, Microsoft said Thursday, while models with 1TB will increase by $150 more. The entry-level Xbox Series X will now start at about $750.
"Last October, we increased XBOX console price by $20-$70 in the U.S.," the company said in a blog post. "We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options."
Microsoft said "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."
Memory manufacturers such as Micron and SK Hynix have a limited capacity, and they are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory for artificial intelligence infrastructure, such as Nvidia's graphics processing units. Manufacturers are raising prices to reflect higher demand, resulting in wider profit margins.
That puts a strain on consumers looking to buy devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers. Apple's announcement on Thursday came after CEO Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal that price increases had become inevitable.
"The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles," the Xbox unit said in the post. "Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make."
Microsoft said the 2 TB Xbox Series X, introduced in 2024, will no longer be available.
Microsoft shares sank almost 4% on Thursday. Apple's stock dropped 5%.
Skoro 400 lokálních a regionálních novin podalo žalobu na OpenAI a Microsoft kvůli údajnému porušení autorských práv. Tvrdí, že jejich články byly použity k tréninku ChatGPT a Microsoft Copilot bez souhlasu.
A coalition of publishers of nearly 400 local and regional newspapers has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies stole the newspapers’ copyrighted news articles, used that content to build and train commercial AI products, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, and reproduced or repurposed the content without permission or compensation, Platkin LLP, the law firm that filed the suit, said in a Wednesday (June 24) post on LinkedIn.
Platkin LLP was founded this year by former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and a team of litigators from the attorney general’s office, according to the firm’s LinkedIn profile.
Matthew Platkin said in the post that the lawsuit “seeks to ensure these local publications creating original content will have meaningful protections in the AI era.”
“AI systems do not critically evaluate city council and community meetings,” Platkin said. “They don’t investigate local crimes and corruption, publish obituaries, or cover the new restaurant opening downtown. Local reporters do. This lawsuit is not about stopping AI innovation, but ensuring that innovation happens fairly and within the bounds of the law.”
Neither Microsoft nor OpenAI immediately replied to PYMNTS’ request for comment.
The New York Times filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI in December 2023, alleging copyright infringement. The newspaper claimed the tech companies used its content without permission to develop their AI products.
Reached by PYMNTS at the time, an OpenAI spokesperson said the firm respects the right of content creators and owners and is “committed to working with them to ensure they benefit from AI technology and new revenue models.”
In December, a federal judge directed OpenAI to provide millions of anonymized ChatGPT logs in a copyright case brought by The New York Times and other media organizations. The publishers contended that the logs were necessary to determine whether the AI system reproduced protected articles.
OpenAI and Microsoft also face a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a group of authors who accuse the companies of misusing the authors’ books to train AI software, while OpenAI faces a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Encyclopedia Britannica and its subsidiary Merriam-Webster, who allege the company scraped their articles to train its AI.
3M v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila upravené organické tržby v segmentu Safety & Industrial o 3,2 % a provozní marži o 100 bazických bodů. Firma čeká za letošek asi 3% růst organických tržeb a EPS 8,50–8,70 USD.
Key Takeaways 3M's Safety & Industrial segment posted 3.2% adjusted organic sales growth in Q1 2026.MMM's segment margin rose 100 bps on volumes, productivity and capital discipline.3M expects about 3% organic sales growth and EPS of $8.50-$8.70 in 2026. 3M Company (MMM - Free Report) continues to gain from the strong momentum in its Safety & Industrial segment, a key contributor to its growth. An increase in demand across personal safety, industrial adhesives and tapes, abrasives and electrical has been aiding the segment’s momentum. Sales in the personal safety, industrial adhesives and tapes, abrasives and electrical markets collectively increased in the mid-single-digit range in the first three months of 2026.
A rise in demand for electrical infrastructure products like medium voltage cable accessories and insulation tapes also supported performance. The segment’s adjusted organic sales grew 3.2% year over year in the first quarter. Its adjusted operating margin also improved 100 basis points year over year, supported by higher sales volumes, productivity initiatives and disciplined capital allocation. However, continued investments aimed at business expansion and tariffs partially offset the results. Weakness in the roofing granules business is also concerning for 3M.
Backed by strong operational execution, 3M has provided a positive outlook for 2026. The company expects adjusted organic sales growth of about 3% year over year and projects adjusted earnings in the range of $8.50-$8.70 per share, indicating continued earnings growth from 2025 levels.
Segmental Snapshot of MMM’s PeersAmong 3M’s major peers, Honeywell International Inc. (HON - Free Report) is witnessing solid momentum in its Building Automation segment, driven by ongoing strength in both the building solutions and building products businesses. In the first quarter of 2026, Honeywell’s segment’s revenues increased 11% year over year. It contributed approximately 20.6% to Honeywell’s total revenues during the quarter.
MMM’s another peer, Carlisle Companies Incorporated’s (CSL - Free Report) Carlisle Construction Materials segment decreased 5.1% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. Carlisle’s segment’s revenues were offset by the weakness in the new construction market. It contributed approximately 72.2% of Carlisle’s total revenues during the quarter.
The Zacks Rundown for MMMShares of 3M have gained 10% in the past year against the industry’s decrease of 4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, 3M is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.40X, above the industry average of 15.78X. MMM carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MMM’s earnings for 2026 has increased a penny in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MMM stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Visa spustila Visa Destinations, mobilní cestovní platformu, která má zákazníkům nabízet doporučení, průvodce městy a kurátorské zážitky. Služba je zatím dostupná v několika světových destinacích.
Visa has launched a travel platform as it moves to expand its role beyond payments.
Visa Destinations, announced Thursday (June 25), is live now in Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Thailand.
“Travel is expected to grow 10% annually over the coming years. It consistently shows resilience to the world’s events and consumers protect it,” Katya Petelina, head of global cross-border and global sales and commercial operations at Visa, said in a news release.
She also cited company research showing that customers will cut back everyday spending to save up for travel.
“With Visa Destinations, we are accompanying travelers throughout their journey and helping them discover the moments that make a destination memorable, while giving our issuers and merchant partners a meaningful way to participate in the economic growth that travel creates.”
Available to Visa customers via a mobile first platform, Visa Destinations provides “tastemaker recommendations, city guides, and curated experiences” in keeping with what Visa calls its pivot from “being the way to pay for travel to becoming a travel companion.”
Research by PYMNTS Intelligence shows the increasing importance of digital tools for travelers and travel companies.
The data shows that 93% of those companies now offer at least one embedded finance capability, with digital wallets the most common. The research also indicates that companies tie these tools to higher conversion rates and fewer abandoned bookings, as well as gains in efficiency and quicker product rollout.
“The shift reflects how travel platforms are being built,” PYMNTS wrote earlier this year. “Search, booking, payments and loyalty are being woven into a single flow. Keeping the customer inside that flow reduces friction and creates more opportunities to capture spend.”
In other travel news, PYMNTS wrote recently about the resurrection of global business travel, with spending in that sphere projected between $1.62 trillion and $1.69 trillion for the calendar year, according to estimates cited by the Global Business Travel Association industry group, an all-time high that surpasses the record set before the pandemic.
“What makes business travel particularly significant in 2026 is not the volume of trips being taken. It is the nature of those trips,” PYMNTS wrote.
“Organizations are traveling with greater intention, focusing on activities that create measurable business value. Those journeys increasingly revolve around supplier relationships, customer acquisition, market expansion and strategic partnerships—the very activities that generate future trade and payment flows.”
Ford přiznal, že samotná AI nestačila k vyřešení problémů s kvalitou, a proto znovu najal asi 350 zkušených technických specialistů. Firma je zapojila do revizí návrhů a mentorování mladších inženýrů.
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Ford scored a big quality award on Thursday. The company is praising veteran workers. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Ford staged a quality comeback. The automaker credits part of the turnaround to pairing AI with something more old-school: veteran engineers.
Executives at Ford told reporters this week that the company had hired, promoted, or brought back about 350 experienced technical specialists as part of a sweeping effort to fix vehicle-quality problems. Those engineering veterans have helped mentor younger staff, lead design reviews, and improve the AI and automated quality tools Ford uses to catch defects before vehicles reach customers, they said.
They also offered a striking admission: AI and automation were not enough on their own.
"Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it's only as good as information you use to train it," Charles Poon, Ford's vice president of vehicle hardware engineering, said. "Mistakenly, we thought that by just introducing artificial intelligence and ingesting the design requirements that we had, that would produce a high-quality product."
Poon said Ford had not done enough in prior years to preserve the knowledge of its most experienced engineers, some of whom left the company before their expertise was fully integrated into Ford's systems. He said quality problems often showed up at the boundaries between teams, where design, manufacturing, software, and hardware collide.
Quality win, recall hangover
Ford just improved its standing in one of the auto industry's biggest yearly tests. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images The comments came as Ford celebrated a major milestone.
Consumer data analytics firm JD Power named Ford the top mass-market brand in its latest initial-quality study, trailing only Porsche and Genesis overall, according to the study released Thursday. Ford narrowly beat Lexus, which has long been one of the strongest performers in the rankings.
That's a big turnaround. Just three years ago, Ford ranked 15th out of 25 major automakers in the same study.
For years, Ford has faced headwinds on its product quality. In 2025, Ford issued 152 recalls, nearly doubling the previous record set by General Motors in 2014 with 77 safety bulletins.
As of Thursday, Ford had issued 51 recalls this year, according to the NHTSA's dashboard. That's still more than double Chrysler, the next-closest automaker, which had issued 19.
Ford executives said many of the continued recall issues are tied to vehicles and platforms designed between 2013 and 2020, calling recalls a "lagging indicator." They framed the JD Power win as proof that a new approach is taking hold, and said internal data shows "clear improvement" in newer vehicles.
Still, the initial-quality study measures problems in new vehicles, not long-term durability, making it an early signal rather than a full verdict on whether Ford has solved its recall problem.
Ford says it changed how it catches problems
Ford says it's been making manufacturing quality improvements since 2023. Bloomberg/Getty Images Ford launched its quality reset in 2023.
In that time, Kumar Galhotra, Ford's COO, said the company has more than doubled its technical specialist population. Those specialists now lead mandatory design reviews and look for failure points before parts ever reach the plant floor.
"They hunt for failure points before a part ever reaches the plant floor," he said.
The company also created an industrial system team to bring engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain closer together. Before that approach, Galhotra said Ford had previously relied too heavily on a "find and fix" approach — identifying problems after they appeared and trying to resolve them quickly.
Now, Ford says it is trying to prevent problems before they happen.
Ford previously told Business Insider that it had developed two bespoke AI-enhanced scanning tools that helped validate that cars were properly assembled before rolling off the lot. The tools, called AiTriz and MAIVs, both debuted in 2024.
While Ford has previously said the tools are helping improve product quality, the company did not say whether the 350 specialists worked directly on them.
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Ben Shimkus is a reporter for the Business News desk. He writes about cars, transportation, retail, and jobs. Ben's reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Verge, Automotive News, USA Today, AutoBody News, LGBTQ Nation, TopSpeed, and Out Magazine. He's also held staff writing positions at The U.S. Sun and the Daily Mail. He graduated from NYU with a Master's in journalism in 2024. Email Ben at [email protected] or message him privately on Signal at bshimkus.41.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) Analyst/Investor Day June 24, 2026 2:15 PM EDT
Company Participants
Cristiano Amon - CEO, President & Director
Antonios Pialis - Executive VP & General Manager of Data Center for Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Tim Davis - Co-Founder, President, Chief Product Officer & Secretary
Tony Pialis
Nakul Duggal - EVP, Group GM of Automotive, Industrial, Embedded IoT, & Robotics - Qualcomm Technologies
Brett Adcock - CEO, CFO, Secretary & Director
Chris Lattner - Co-Founder & CEO
Clément Delangue - Co-Founder, President, CEO & Director
Akash Palkhiwala - Executive VP, CFO & COO
Conference Call Participants
Brett Simpson - Arete Research Services LLP
Satya Nadella - Microsoft Corporation
Mark Zuckerberg - Meta Platforms, Inc.
Tareq Amin - Al-Mustaqbal Lil-Thaka Al-Istinai Company
David Reger - Neura Robotics GmbH
Panos Panay - Amazon.com, Inc.
Rick Osterloh
Christopher Caso - Wolfe Research, LLC
James Schneider - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Joseph Cardoso - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Presentation
Brett Simpson
Arete Research Services LLP
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Qualcomm's 2026 Investor Day. It's great to be here in New York, and it's great to see so many familiar faces.
Now a lot of you have been asking me recently why I joined Qualcomm. And well, I think it's pretty clear. I think we have a really compelling investment case. And today is an opportunity to really share with you why we're so excited about what lies ahead for Qualcomm. We've got a lot to share with you today.
Before we jump into things, I just want to say a big thanks to everyone involved from Qualcomm and making this day possible. It's a huge amount of work. I really had no idea how much man hours goes into put an event like this on. And just wanted to say thanks to everyone. It's really amazing. And I also wanted to say a big thanks to all the executives from
Carnival vykázal rekordní tržby, upravený čistý zisk i zákaznické zálohy ve 2. fiskálním čtvrtletí. Investory ale znepokojil slabší výhled a akcie po výsledcích klesly zhruba o 5 %.
Carnival NYSE: CCL just reported its second fiscal quarter, and it’s clear from the numbers that the company is sailing in the right direction. But warning signs of rough waters ahead spooked investors.
Carnival Today
$28.26 -0.65 (-2.24%)
As of 03:29 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$23.45▼
$34.03Dividend Yield2.12%
P/E Ratio12.73
Price Target$35.13
Based on the latest figures, Carnival continues to execute one of the stronger post-pandemic recoveries in travel. For the three months ended May 31, Carnival posted record levels of revenue, adjusted net income, net yields, and customer deposits. Even with geopolitical tensions and significantly higher fuel costs, the company’s net income rose more than 20%.
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But the company’s forward guidance did little to calm nerves, and that overshadowed an otherwise positive quarterly performance. The stock slid sharply after earnings were announced and closed the day down roughly 5%.
Most analysts still like the stock, but investors should recognize that with real strengths come risks.
Strong Quarterly Results Beat ExpectationsCarnival’s second-quarter results were convincing. Net income came in at $537 million, 5% lower than a year earlier, though adjusted net income, which strips out one-time items, reached $569 million, up more than 21% year-over-year. Overall, revenue of $6.66 billion represented a 5.3% increase over the same period a year ago.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was a record $1.58 billion, up from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were 39 cents, and adjusted EPS rose more than 15% to 41 cents, up from 35 cents in the prior-year period and above analysts’ expectations.
The company also said it repurchased more than $450 million of company stock and, with a dividend yield of 2%, distributed $207 million in dividends in the latest quarter.
Healthy Margins Despite Higher Fuel CostsWhile the headline figures were impressive, the unit economics were also encouraging. Net yields in constant currency rose 2.2% for the quarter. Continued price discipline showed up as well, as adjusted daily cruise costs per bed, excluding fuel, held essentially flat year-over-year.
Predictably, fuel was the most visible cost challenge during the quarter. Carnival noted that the increase in earnings per share came despite fuel prices and currency movements, which lowered per share earnings by 6 cents, equal to an overall hit of $73 million for the quarter.
Given 30% higher fuel costs, gross margin yields were down 3.9%. But with adjusted earnings still hitting records, the operating model appears to be holding.
An additional bright spot was a 5.6% improvement in fuel consumption per available lower berth day, suggesting that operational efficiency was at least partially offsetting price pressures.
Debt Reduction Continues to Strengthen the Balance SheetThe latest numbers also showed Carnival’s recovery continuing after more than three years in the making. When the global cruise industry shut down during the pandemic, Carnival took on enormous debt to survive, suspended its dividend, and watched its stock collapse from the low $50s to nearly $7 in the space of a few months.
Its recovery has been methodical and convincing. As of May 31, long-term debt had dropped to $23.4 billion, continuing a steady decline from $32 billion near the end of 2022. The company’s net interest expense improved in the latest quarter to $285 million from $341 million a year earlier.
Strong Demand Faces External RisksThe rest of the year looks strong for the company, though concerns remain.
On the plus side, customer deposits, or the amount consumers have paid to book a cruise months in advance, hit a record $9 billion by the end of the quarter, up more than $450 million compared with the prior year record. In all, Carnival has booked 93% of its capacity and expects record net yields for the rest of the year, the company’s CEO said.
That positive outlook, however, is paired with cautionary forward concerns. The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have significantly cut into Carnival’s operations in the Mediterranean Sea, and concerns linger about demand and net yields going forward.
While earnings for the second quarter came in above analysts’ expectations, revenue missed fractionally from what analysts projected. Further instability in high-tourist areas could continue to cut into passenger bookings.
Further, energy costs remain a significant variable that can shift results quickly. And weather disruptions, macroeconomic slowdowns, or a shift in consumer spending priorities could each push a slowdown that’s not easy to offset. The consumer discretionary sector is always subject to volatility, and competitors, such as Royal Caribbean NYSE: RCL and Norwegian Cruise Line NYSE: NCLH, are stepping up their offerings.
Current Price$28.73High Forecast$45.00Average Forecast$35.13Low Forecast$28.70Carnival Stock Forecast Details
Overall, though, Wall Street analysts like what they see. Of the 26 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy with a 12-month average target price of $35.13 per share, up more than 20% from current levels.
Finally recovering from its collapse five years ago, shares are up roughly 12% over the past three months. That upside got even more attractive after the pullback that occurred after Carnival reported second-quarter earnings—a reaction similar to what occurred after its first-quarter report.
In all, 21 analysts recommend Buy, while five have the stock as a Hold. The highest price target is $45, while the lowest is $28.70 per share.
Carnival Appeals Most to Aggressive InvestorsFor investors, the choices seem clear. Carnival Corporation has just delivered its best-ever quarter by several key measures, and the record customer deposit balance suggests demand is not fading.
Aggressive investors who are willing to accept cyclicality and balance-sheet risk could likely find the stock interesting. For those who believe in the durability of consumer travel demand, Carnival offers a combination of strong fundamentals, forward momentum, and a meaningful upside.
Conservative investors seeking above a 2% dividend yield, more predictable results, and greater balance-sheet strength might prefer other options.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Carnival Right Now?Before you consider Carnival, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Carnival wasn't on the list.
While Carnival currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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The AI boom is creating opportunities across semiconductors, cloud computing, enterprise software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation.
Inside this report, you’ll find 10 companies positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment and becomes a core growth driver for corporate America.
The semiconductor market has seen immense growth over the past year, and that momentum continues with Micron Technology (MU) blowing analyst expectations out of the water. Expect ETFs offering pure play exposure to the memory semiconductor industry to benefit in at least the near-term future.
Key Takeaways Micron beat analyst expectations on Wednesday, reporting EPS of $25.11 and revenue of $41.5 billion, while also raising Q4 revenue guidance to $49 billion to $51 billion. A multi-year agreement with Anthropic and soaring memory component demand from data center construction are cementing Micron’s role as a critical component in the AI infrastructure ecosystem. Numerous ETFs are benefiting from Micron’s earnings performance, including DRAM, RAM, and VLUE, which all include Micron as a top allocation. Micron Surpasses Q3 Earnings Expectations After the closing bell on Wednesday, Micron announced Q3 earnings, beating analyst expectations across the board. The company reported EPS of $25.11 and revenue of $41.5 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $20.39 and $35.1 billion, respectively. Looking ahead to Q4, the company anticipates revenues of $49 billion to $51 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $43.2 billion, according to Yahoo Finance.
On Monday prior to earnings, Micron announced a multi-year agreement with Anthropic to supply memory and storage chips to the AI developer. This deal links the demand of flagship AI models to how the infrastructure is designed, supplied, and deployed at scale.
The continued construction of data centers is driving demand for memory components known as DRAM. Micron announced DRAM revenue of $31.3 billion, beating analyst expectations of $27.5 billion.
Pure-Play Memory Strategies Capitalizing Since its inception in early April, the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) has seen returns of over 150%, and inflows of $17.5 billion. The fund provides pure-play exposure to the companies driving the physical hardware of the AI sector, requiring companies to derive at least 50% of their revenues directly from the memory components industry.
DRAM maintains a highly concentrated portfolio, with three holdings — Micron (24.25%), Samsung Electronics Co (005930) (26.49%), and SK Hynix (000660) (24.26%) — accounting for approximately 75% of the fund’s assets. Micron’s recent earnings beat serves as a major driver for the fund, due to its concentrated portfolio.
For investors seeking increased exposure to the AI memory industry, Roundhill Investments recently launched the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (RAM). With an expense ratio of 125 basis points, the fund provides leveraged exposure to DRAM, seeking to replicate 2X the daily performance of the underlying ETF, offering investors a tactical way to magnify daily returns.
Broader Funds Benefiting Among other funds with high allocations to Micron is the iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE). Following the fund’s semiannual May rebalance, Micron now accounts for a 23.4% weighting in the fund, with the next highest weight being Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 4.7%.
The fund tracks the MSCI USA Enhanced Value Index, which focuses on isolating value stocks from the MSCI USA Index, with a heavy emphasis on the tech sector. The strategy employs a sector-neutral and fundamentals-based methodology, to capture value across the broader market.
Due to strong earnings and cash flow growth, Micron’s fundamental metrics, forward and trailing P/E ratio, remain relatively low at 9.11 and 23.70, respectively. This is significantly lower and more value-oriented than the broader AI market, in which a company like Nvidia (NVDA) has forward and trailing P/E ratios of 22.68 and 30.47.
For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Equity ETF Content Hub.
Lockheed Martin získal dvě zakázky od amerického ministerstva obrany v hodnotě 8,2 miliardy USD a 35,3 miliardy USD. Tyto kontrakty mají do roku 2032 výrazně zvýšit jeho tržby.
Lockheed Martin (LMT +2.85%) stock jumped 2.8% through 1:15 p.m. ET Thursday on no obvious good news.
No obvious good news today, that is to say. But if you scroll back just a couple of days through the defense contract announcements posted by the U.S. Department of Defense on its website, I think you'll quickly find the reason why investors are so keen on LockMart stock today.
Image source: Getty Images.
An $8.2 billion contract -- and Lockheed stock falls On Tuesday, DOD announced an $8.2 billion contract will go to Lockheed Martin to increase the number of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) it can produce per year, and also the number of PrSMs the Army buys from Lockheed Martin.
Granted, the contract is spread over six years, ending in 2032, making the annual revenue increase only about $1.4 billion. Still, it seems strange that this news sent Lockheed Martin's stock down 2.4% yesterday!
A $35.3 billion contract, and Lockheed stock barely budges Speaking of yesterday, yesterday's headline was Lockheed winning a $35.3 billion Missile Defense Command contract to produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptor missiles -- used to shoot down exoatmospheric ballistic missiles -- also through 2032. Priced near $12.7 million per unit (about three times the cost of a Patriot missile), this contract envisions Lockheed producing an astounding 2,800 THAAD interceptors.
And over the next six years, it will add nearly $5.9 billion to Lockheed's annual revenue haul.
Today's Change
(
2.85
%) $
14.00
Current Price
$
505.64
What it means for Lockheed stock So two days of contracts just grew Lockheed's annual revenue haul by about $7.3 billion. Even on the defense giant's already sizable $75.1 billion revenue stream, that's close to a 10% increase. And Lockheed stock is only back to flat because of it?
Sounds like a buying opportunity to me.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Lockheed Martin zvýšil dividendu už 23. rok v řadě a na konci roku 2025 vykázal rekordní backlog ve výši 194 miliard USD. Volný peněžní tok dosáhl 6,908 miliardy USD a firma čeká 6,5 až 6,8 miliardy USD v roce 2026.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT | LMT Price Prediction) is a stock worth owning for decades because its revenue is effectively underwritten by the U.S. government and a global alliance system that does not negotiate down its threat environment to suit a recession. For a retirement investor who has already paid tuition chasing momentum, it fits the profile of a long-duration anchor position to research for reinvestment and patience.
Pillar 1: A Business Built Like Infrastructure Lockheed ended 2025 with a record $194 billion backlog, more than 2.5 years of sales, anchored by sole-source and duopoly franchises: the F-35, PAC-3, THAAD, Aegis, Sikorsky rotorcraft, and the Orion spacecraft. Customers are locked into these platforms for decades. CEO Jim Taiclet noted on the Q1 2026 call that factory production is already up more than 60% from just two years ago, supported by seven-year framework agreements on Patriot and PrSM that aim to lift munitions output three to four times current rates. The Pentagon’s FY 2027 budget request totals $756.8 billion for procurement and RDT&E, with $52.9 billion earmarked for critical munitions. That is the demand stream feeding the backlog.
Pillar 2: Income That Compounds Without Drama Lockheed has now raised the dividend for 23 consecutive years, with the quarterly payout climbing from $0.22 in 1999 to $3.45 in 2026 and zero cuts through the 2008 crisis, COVID, or the 2022 rate shock. The current yield sits near 2.64%, and management returned $3.0 billion in buybacks during 2025 with $9.1 billion of repurchase authorization in place. FY2025 free cash flow reached $6.908 billion, and 2026 guidance calls for $6.5 billion to $6.8 billion. That cash funds the payout, the buyback, and roughly $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion in capital expenditures without straining the balance sheet.
Pillar 3: It Survives Cycles Other Stocks Do Not Defense outlays are tied to geopolitics, not GDP. The beta of 0.106 reflects that decoupling. Allied procurement is structural: Goldman Sachs flagged the +€800 billion ReArm Europe Plan 2030 as a megatrend, and Lockheed is positioned as lead integrator for the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The F-35 is, as Taiclet put it, “superior to every other airplane in the world today that we face”, and the Pentagon’s request includes 855 F-35 aircraft over the program horizon.
The Scenario Where It Underperforms Fixed-price classified programs can blow up. Q2 2025 was the proof: EPS came in at $1.46 against a $6.57 estimate after $1.6 billion in pre-tax program losses, including a $950 million reach-forward charge on a classified Aeronautics program. Yet revenue barely moved, the backlog still grew to a record by year-end, the dividend was raised anyway, and Q3 and Q4 returned to beats. Program charges are episodic. The Department of War demand cycle is structural, and that asymmetry is the entire point.
Lockheed Martin’s rising dividend and the structural geopolitical demand cycle frame it as a long-duration anchor position for investors prioritizing income compounding over trading.
BXP podepsala dlouhodobý pronájem asi 320 000 čtverečních stop v Reservoir Place s Boston Dynamics. Firma tam soustředí výrobu, výzkum a vývoj, školení i AI operace.
Key Takeaways BXP leased about 320,000 square feet at Reservoir Place to Boston Dynamics under a long-term agreement.Boston Dynamics will consolidate manufacturing, R&D, training and AI operations. Reservoir Place is part of BXP's Urban Edge portfolio across more than 5M sq. ft. and serves a mix of tenants. BXP, Inc. (BXP - Free Report) signed a long-term lease agreement with Boston Dynamics for approximately 320,000 square feet at Reservoir Place, a 530,000 square foot building located at 1601 Trapelo Road in Waltham, MA. The transaction represents one of the largest innovation-focused office leasing transactions in Greater Boston this year.
Boston Dynamics, a global leader in mobile robotics, plans to transform the leased space into a premier center for robotics and AI innovation. The company intends to consolidate manufacturing, research and development, training and artificial intelligence functions that are currently distributed across multiple locations into the new facility. Boston Dynamics expects to relocate to Reservoir Place in phases beginning in mid-2027.
Reservoir Place was selected for its scale, flexibility and connectivity to support Boston Dynamics' long-term growth while enabling the company to maintain its strong presence in Massachusetts. The project is the result of a collaborative effort among Boston Dynamics, the City of Waltham and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to retain and expand one of the state's most prominent innovation companies.
BXP has owned and operated Reservoir Place since 1998. The property is part of BXP's Urban Edge portfolio, a mixed-use destination spanning more than 5 million square feet across Waltham, Weston and Lexington. BXP’s Urban Edge portfolio is home to a diverse mix of technology, life sciences and professional services companies, offering premium workplaces alongside housing, retail and dining options, hotels, fitness and wellness amenities, and extensive open spaces.
The lease further reinforces Reservoir Place's position as a leading destination for technology and innovation companies in Massachusetts. It also underscores the continued demand for high-quality office space that supports collaboration, attracts top talent and accommodates long-term growth strategies.
ConclusionBXP is expected to benefit from stable, long-term rental income at Reservoir Place through this landmark lease with Boston Dynamics. The addition of a globally recognized mobile robotics leader strengthens BXP's tenant roster, increases occupancy at a key asset and reinforces the appeal of its high-quality office properties to innovation-focused tenants.
In the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 20.7% compared with the industry's 11.5% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) and Prologis (PLD - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CUZ’s 2026 FFO per share is pegged at $2.94, which indicates year-over-year growth of 3.52%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLD’s full-year FFO per share is pinned at $6.18, which calls for an increase of 6.37% from the year-ago period.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Affirm uzavřel partnerství s Backcountry a rozšiřuje tak svou síť obchodníků v outdoorovém segmentu. Zákazníci mohou u nákupu rozdělit platbu do splátek bez pozdních poplatků či skrytých nákladů.
Key Takeaways Affirm adds Backcountry, expanding its footprint in the outdoor recreation market.More merchant partnerships can boost GMV, transactions and user engagement.Flexible payment options may increase conversion rates and average order values. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) recently announced a partnership with outdoor gear retailer Backcountry, giving shoppers a new way to pay for purchases over time at checkout. Customers buying outdoor equipment, apparel, footwear and adventure gear can select Affirm and split purchases into multiple installments, depending on eligibility.
The offering includes transparent payment schedules, with no late fees or hidden charges. The move expands Affirm’s presence in the outdoor recreation category and adds another merchant to its growing network. AFRM’s active merchant count jumped 44% year over year in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 to 515,000. For Backcountry, the partnership provides customers with added payment flexibility, especially for higher-ticket purchases that can make outdoor activities more accessible.
Outdoor gear purchases can be expensive, particularly for premium equipment and seasonal adventures. By adding Affirm, Backcountry lowers the upfront cost barrier for customers while maintaining pricing transparency. The partnership can improve conversion rates, encourage larger purchases and attract shoppers who want flexibility without relying on traditional credit cards.
The partnership could support higher gross merchandise volume (GMV) for Affirm by generating additional transaction activity. The company’s GMV rose 35% year over year to $11.6 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. It expects to generate GMV of $49.265-$49.565 billion for fiscal 2026.
More merchant integrations also strengthen Affirm’s network effect, helping the company acquire users and increase engagement across categories. For Backcountry, offering AFRM’s BNPL options may lift average order values.
AFRM’s YTD Price PerformanceOver the year-to-date period, shares of Affirm have gained 5.2% against the 16.7% fall of the industry it belongs to.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Rank & Key PicksAffirm currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader payments space are Klarna Group plc (KLAR - Free Report) , Paymentus Holdings, Inc. (PAY - Free Report) and Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Klarna’s current-year earnings indicates a 105.1% year-over-year improvement. KLAR has witnessed four upward estimate revisions over the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $4.44 billion, indicating 26.5% year-over-year growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Paymentus’ current-year earnings indicates a 19.7% year-over-year jump. PAY beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues implies 19.9% year-over-year growth.
The consensus estimate for Remitly Global’s current-year earnings indicates a 331.3% year-over-year surge to $1.38 per share. It has witnessed one upward estimate revision and no downward movement over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for RELY’s current-year revenues is pegged at $1.97 billion, implying 20.4% year-over-year growth.
BF.B čeká ve fiskálním roce 2027 zhruba stagnace organických tržeb a pokles organického provozního zisku o 3 % až 5 %. Tahounem zůstávají rozvíjející se trhy, Travel Retail a inovace, zatímco vyspělé trhy dál slábnou.
Key Takeaways BF.B is benefiting from strong growth in emerging markets and Travel Retail, led by Jack Daniel's and New Mix.BF.B's innovation pipeline, including Tennessee Blackberry and New Mix, continues to support portfolio.BF.B expects flat organic sales and a 3%-5% decline in organic operating income in fiscal 2027. Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) enters fiscal 2027 with a cautious setup. Premium spirits, emerging-market demand and innovation continue to support the portfolio, while weak developed-market consumption limits the recovery.
Brown-Forman’s fiscal 2026 net sales declined 1% on a reported basis to $3.9 billion and were flat organically. Fourth-quarter net sales rose 2% to $912 million and increased 2% organically, but earnings per share fell 62% year over year to 12 cents.
The geographic split explains the flat outlook. Emerging markets increased 14% on a reported basis and 12% organically in fiscal 2026, driven by the Jack Daniel’s family of brands in Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, along with double-digit growth for New Mix in Mexico. Travel Retail net sales rose 6% on a reported basis and 5% organically, helped by higher volumes of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. These gains show demand resilience. New Mix is benefiting from consumer interest in flavor, convenience and value in Mexico, while Brazil is supporting the Jack Daniel’s portfolio through broader distribution and revenue-growth management.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Developed markets remain weak. In the United States, reported net sales declined 7% in fiscal 2026 and were flat organically. The decline reflected the end of the Korbel relationship, the absence of the Sonoma-Cutrer prior-year transition services agreement, lower volumes of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and unfavorable portfolio mix.
Developed International net sales were flat on a reported basis but declined 3% organically. The shortfall was tied to the absence of American-made beverage alcohol from retail shelves in most Canadian provinces, plus declines in Germany and the United Kingdom. Canada declined nearly 60% in fiscal 2026, and management continues to assume American spirits will remain off shelves across most of Canada in fiscal 2027.
Innovation is helping, but it does not remove earnings risk. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry reached almost 300,000 nine-liter depletions in the United States by fiscal year-end and almost 150,000 nine-liter depletions across six European launch markets. New Mix net sales increased 41% on a reported basis and 33% organically, reflecting share gains in Mexico and its launch in the United States.
The premiumization strategy also remains relevant. Whiskey products’ net sales increased 3% on a reported basis and 1% organically in fiscal 2026, supported by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry, favorable foreign exchange and Woodford Reserve growth in the United States. Diageo plc (DEO - Free Report) is a relevant peer for investors watching premium spirits demand, as global beverage-alcohol portfolios face similar shifts in consumer spending. Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ - Free Report) , a beer, wine and spirits company, offers another comparison point for investors assessing category balance.
Still, fiscal 2027 points to limited near-term upside. Brown-Forman expects organic net sales to be approximately flat and organic operating income to decline 3-5%. The operating-income outlook reflects higher input costs, product-mix pressure from faster ready-to-drink growth and the cost cycle tied to barreled whiskey inventory. Used-barrel sales also remain a drag after non-branded and bulk net sales declined 68% in fiscal 2026.
Financial flexibility provides a counterweight. Brown-Forman generated $1 billion in cash flows from operations in fiscal 2026, up from $598 million in the prior year. Free cash flow increased $462 million to $893 million, and the company returned $827 million to stockholders through regular dividends and share repurchases.
The bottom line is that BF.B’s flat sales outlook looks defensible, but not especially dynamic. Emerging markets, Travel Retail, innovation and premium brands are helping stabilize the business, while developed-market demand, Canada disruption, used-barrel weakness and cost inflation keep earnings visibility constrained.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It has a VGM Score of C, Value Score of C, Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of B. The Rank points to a neutral near-term earnings-revision profile, while the Style Scores suggest mixed factor support, with momentum stronger than value or growth.
For investors, that combination supports a watchful stance rather than a forceful bullish view. BF.B has durable brand equity and stronger cash flow, but fiscal 2027 still depends on whether emerging-market momentum and innovation can offset macro strain in developed markets.
Lucid má za rok 2025 tržby 1,35 miliardy USD, ale čistou ztrátu 2,70 miliardy USD a volný peněžní tok -3,83 miliardy USD. Vlastní kapitál se za rok propadl z 3,87 miliardy USD na 717 milionů USD, tedy o více než 81 %.
Lucid (NASDAQ:LCID | LCID Price Prediction) at $5.19 faces a deteriorating risk/reward setup. The stock sits within striking distance of its 52-week low of $4.47, and the latest filings show a capital structure deteriorating faster than deliveries can compensate.
Lucid builds the luxury Air sedan and Gravity SUV from its Arizona plant, with a Saudi Arabia facility scheduled to add midsize production in 2027. Full-year 2025 revenue reached $1.35B on 17,840 vehicles produced, while the net loss came in at $2.70B and free cash flow at negative $3.83B. Shares are down 75.97% over one year and 97.91% over five.
Why The Bull Case Still Exists At $5 Bulls point to operational acceleration. Q4 2025 revenue jumped 122.9% year over year to $522.73M, beating consensus, and deliveries grew 72%. Management guides 25,000 to 27,000 vehicles in 2026, with Gravity ramping and a midsize platform on deck.
The partnership stack is real. Uber (NYSE:UBER) expanded its robotaxi commitment to a minimum of 35,000 vehicles and raised its equity stake to $500 million. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) powers the Level 4 autonomy stack, Aston Martin licenses Lucid technology, and PIF continues to backstop the balance sheet. Pro forma liquidity stands at $4.7 billion, with runway into the second half of 2027.
The Balance Sheet Metric Bulls Cannot Explain Away Shareholders’ equity collapsed from $3.87B at year-end 2024 to $717M at year-end 2025, an erosion of more than 81% in twelve months. Retained earnings now sit at negative $16.64B. Q1 2026 was worse, with gross margin clocking negative 110.4% and the net loss rising to $1.0 billion versus $366 million a year earlier.
On a single day in early June, the interim CEO, CFO, and SVP of Finance disposed of shares at $5.68. Share count has roughly doubled since 2021, and every capital raise extends that dilution.
The Patience Argument A Hold case rests on the incoming CEO. Silvio Napoli took the role with the stated goal of building “a more self-sufficient company, one that progresses towards funding its own growth.” Guidance has been suspended pending his review. If unit costs compress as promised and Gravity deliveries convert the 2,407-vehicle inventory buildup into revenue, the burn rate could moderate. The cost of waiting, however, is more dilution.
What The Numbers Say Lucid currently trades at $5.19 with a market cap of roughly $2.09 billion. The consensus analyst target sits at $8.40, implying meaningful upside. The ratings split across 12 covering analysts tilts cautious:
Buy: 1 Hold: 8 Sell: 1 Strong Sell: 2 Year to date, LCID has fallen 50.9% against an S&P 500 that is roughly flat to modestly positive. Trailing EPS sits at -$13.14, book value per share is negative $1.064, and Polymarket traders price the odds of a 2026 bankruptcy announcement at 4.05%.
Why The Sell Call Wins At This Price At $5.19, Lucid is a Sell. Q1 2026 free cash flow was negative $1.44 billion. Cash on hand fell to $700 million before the latest raise. The $4.7 billion pro forma cushion only exists because PIF added $550 million in convertible preferred, Uber added $200 million in common, and Lucid sold another $300 million through a registered offering. Every quarter that gross margin stays at negative 110.4% consumes that cushion.
Watch three triggers in 2026: another capital raise that prints more shares, M2 construction delays in Saudi Arabia, and any miss on the 25,000 to 27,000 vehicle production target. The thesis flips only if gross margin turns convincingly positive and the company demonstrates a quarter of materially reduced burn without fresh equity issuance.
At current levels, Lucid’s survival plan and its dilution plan are effectively the same plan, which is a structural challenge for equity holders.
Bank of America vidí u DraftKings rychle rostoucí prediction markets, ale varuje před vyššími náklady a ztrátami až 550 milionů USD letos, nad současným výhledem. Zůstává u hodnocení Neutral.
Draftkings Inc (NASDAQ:DKNG) shares have been volatile over the past month as investors continue to weigh the potential impact of prediction markets on the company’s growth outlook, according to Bank of America.
The analysts wrote that DraftKings shares have swung between an intraday low of $23.50 and a high of $30 since May, before easing back to around $25, or roughly 17% below recent highs. Shares were down another 4% at about $23.50 on Thursday.
They wrote that the move reflects a growing debate among investors around prediction market volumes, core sports betting trends, and valuation, particularly ahead of major sporting events.
The bank wrote that it has broken down the current “bull-bear” debate across prediction markets, DraftKings’ core business, and earnings outlook, while also raising its long-term prediction market total addressable market (TAM) estimate to $1.9 trillion in annual volume, up from a prior $1.3 trillion. Despite the higher TAM assumption, the firm made no changes to its earnings estimates and maintained a Neutral rating on the stock.
On prediction markets, Bank of America wrote that volumes have been accelerating, with DraftKings reporting annualized activity of about $3 billion in May, and projections suggesting that could rise to roughly $9 billion in June.
The analysts wrote that DraftKings’ market share has increased from around 1.3% in April to over 2% on certain days in June, and could potentially reach 5% to 10% by 2027 if product and marketing initiatives continue to scale. Under that scenario, the firm wrote that prediction markets could generate $500 million to $1 billion in revenue by 2027, with high incremental margins, though market-making activity could introduce additional upside volatility.
However, Bank of America also wrote that higher volumes may come with increased customer acquisition and promotional costs. The analysts estimate potential losses of $300 million to $550 million this year, above DraftKings’ current guidance of $200 million to $300 million.
They wrote that aggressive promotional activity, including offers such as “trade $5 get $200,” alongside lower fee economics and evolving market structure, could pressure near-term profitability until market-making scales further.
On the core business, Bank of America wrote that DraftKings continues to gain share in sports betting, supported by ongoing product improvements and marketing efficiency, with sports net gaming revenue now approaching parity with FanDuel.
At the same time, the analysts wrote that concerns remain around potential cannibalization from prediction markets, structural hold volatility following recent unfavorable sports outcomes, and softness in iGaming trends. They noted that iGaming has seen roughly 400 basis points of market share loss over the past 18 months, while gross gaming revenue growth slowed to low-single digits in the second quarter.
Dell klesl o 6 %, zatímco Western Digital vzrostl o 5 % po silných výsledcích Micronu, které podpořily paměťové a úložné tituly. Trh tak dnes zvýhodňuje dodavatele pamětí před výrobci serverů a PC.
Shares of Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL | DELL Price Prediction) are down 6% in midday trading Thursday, last changing hands near $407 after closing at $434.06 on Wednesday. The slide stands out because it’s happening on a day when memory and storage names are ripping higher.
At the same time, Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) stock is up 5%, trading near $678. The split between a server and PC builder falling while a storage maker rallies tells the story of today’s market action in AI hardware stocks.
Both names have been monster performers in 2026. Dell stock is up 224% year to date through Wednesday’s close, while Western Digital stock has climbed 296% year to date. Today’s divergence isn’t subtle.
Two Sides of the Memory Boom The catalyst behind Western Digital’s move is straightforward. Memory and storage stocks rallied after Micron Technology‘s (NASDAQ:MU) blowout quarterly results “justify elevated valuations” and reinforced the view that AI capital spending keeps accelerating. Memory has been a bottleneck in the AI buildout, and that scarcity is now showing up as pricing power for the suppliers.
Western Digital is a pure-play HDD beneficiary of that dynamic. The company’s most recent quarter showed non-GAAP gross margin of 51% and revenue of $3.34 billion, up 46% year over year. CEO Irving Tan summed up the demand backdrop, stating, “Virtually every AI workload, from training, inference, agentic AI to physical AI, creates data that is stored persistently and cost-efficiently on HDDs.”
Dell’s drop today doesn’t have a single confirmed catalyst, but it likely reflects the flip side of that same memory squeeze. Dell builds servers and PCs that buy memory, so the rising prices lifting Western Digital and peers translate into input-cost pressure for Dell’s box-maker business. It’s the same dynamic behind hardware-cost worries hitting other consumer device names this week.
Margin Pressure Was Already Visible Dell’s most recent earnings made the margin issue concrete. In Q1 FY2027, the company posted revenue of $43.84 billion, up 88% year over year, alongside AI-optimized server revenue of $16.13 billion, up 757% year over year. The top-line growth here is undeniable.
Yet, the same report showed gross margin compressed to 18% from 21% year over year, with management attributing the pressure to a mix shift toward lower-margin AI servers. With memory costs climbing on top of that mix shift, the bear read on Dell today is that the margin math gets harder before it gets easier.
There’s also a simpler explanation worth flagging. After a 224% run this year, some profit-taking in Dell stock is hardly surprising. One red day after that kind of rally isn’t a thesis change.
Peers Follow the Split The divergence is showing up across the complex. SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) and Micron are riding the memory bid alongside Western Digital, while assemblers and hardware makers that purchase those components are mixed at best. Capital appears to be rotating, at least for the session, toward the picks-and-shovels suppliers feeding the AI buildout rather than the box makers stitching the systems together.
Western Digital isn’t a cheap stock here. Sentiment in the WallStreetBets community spiked to a very bullish reading of 82 last week before cooling. That mix of retail enthusiasm and the scale of this year’s run means expectations are elevated.
What to Watch Western Digital reports its Q4 FY2026 results in late July, with the company guiding to revenue of $3.65 billion plus or minus $100 million and non-GAAP EPS of $3.25 plus or minus $0.15. Dell follows with Q2 FY2027 numbers in late August, with management guiding to revenue of $44 billion to $45 billion.
Investors can watch whether today’s split widens into a broader rotation between memory suppliers and hardware assemblers, or fades as the market digests Micron’s results. The next earnings cycle should clarify how much of the memory boom flows to margins, and how much gets absorbed by buyers like Dell.
cbdMD uvítala výzvu Bílého domu, aby Kongres zajistil spravedlivé zacházení s produkty z konopí a upravil federální regulaci. Firma tvrdí, že jasnější pravidla podpoří přístup ke full-spectrum CBD a ochrání poctivé firmy.
As federal reclassification efforts advance and major U.S. exchanges open to compliant operators, cbdMD points to its position as an established, NYSE American–listed company in a maturing cannabinoid category
, /PRNewswire/ -- cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD), one of the nation's most recognized and trusted hemp-derived wellness companies, today welcomed the Administration's call urging Congress to ensure the fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and requesting immediate action to revise federal hemp regulation to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.
In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority the Administration strongly supports. The request calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by preserving access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, while preserving Congress's intent to restrict products that pose health risks. The Administration also urged Congress to adopt a responsible federal framework or, at minimum, extend the current implementation timeline so that lawmakers have time to get the policy right. The request builds on the President's earlier public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to the full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.
"We are encouraged to see the Administration advocating so clearly for responsible, science-backed hemp products that consumers depend on every day," said Ronan Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of cbdMD. "cbdMD has always believed the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that distinguish responsible operators from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty for compliant companies is exactly what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We commend the policymakers who are working toward that outcome."
Separately, broader federal cannabis policy developments continue to draw investment, research, and institutional attention to the cannabinoid category. Notably, major U.S. exchanges have begun permitting the listing of the plan-touching operators that comply with federal, state and local medical cannabis framework. Although cannabis reclassification is distinct from the federal treatment of hemp-derived products, recent exchange-listing developments for compliant cannabis operators reflect a market that is moving toward greater legitimacy, transparency, and regulatory maturity. As an established hemp-derived wellness company with recognized brands, national distribution, and a listing on a national securities exchange, cbdMD believes it is well-positioned as the cannabinoid category moves toward greater maturity, transparency, and regulatory clarity.
"We believe cbdMD is purpose built for this next phase of the market," Kennedy added. "Our focus remains on serving our customers with trusted, efficacious products, supporting responsible regulation, and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment may present."
About cbdMD, Inc.
cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD) is a leading wellness company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a portfolio of trusted hemp-derived and wellness brands, including cbdMD, Bluebird Botanicals, Paw CBD, ATRx Labs, and the Oasis line of hemp-derived THC beverages. The Company is committed to quality, science, and transparency across its product lines. For more information, visit cbdmd.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding potential changes to the federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived products; the timing or outcome of legislative, administrative, or agency action; the evolution of U.S. capital markets and securities exchange listing practices for the cannabinoid category; and the Company's competitive position and potential opportunities. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Such risks include, without limitation: that Congress or the Administration may not act, may act on a different timeline, or may adopt adverse regulation or regulation different from what is currently proposed; the potential impact of the statutory changes to the federal definition of hemp scheduled to take effect November 12, 2026; the fact that the ongoing federal cannabis reclassification proceedings concern marijuana, are separate from and do not directly govern the regulation of hemp-derived products, and may not conclude on the timeline or with the outcome the Company anticipates; that securities exchange practices regarding the listing of cannabis-related companies may change or may not develop as expected; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
Contacts
cbdMD, Inc.
Ronan Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
(704) 445-3064
American Financial Group zvýšila dividendu o 10 % na 3,52 USD na akcii v srpnu 2025 a vyplatila i mimořádnou dividendu 1,50 USD na akcii. V 1. čtvrtletí 2026 vrátila akcionářům téměř 260 milionů USD prostřednictvím dividend a zpětných odkupů.
Key Takeaways American Financial raised its dividend 10% in 2025, marking 20 consecutive years of increases. AFG declared a $1.50 per share special dividend in February 2026, totaling about $125 million. AFG returned nearly $260 million via dividends and buybacks in first-quarter 2026. American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG - Free Report) has one of the most shareholder-friendly capital allocation policies in the U.S. insurance sector. AFG regularly generates capital that is needed to support underwriting operations. Returning excess capital to shareholders in the form of regular and special cash dividends and through opportunistic share repurchases is an important and effective component of American Financial’s capital management strategy.
AFG's shareholder return profile is a major investment attraction. The combination of growing regular dividends, frequent special dividends, opportunistic buybacks and strong underwriting profitability has enabled the company to deliver substantial cash returns to investors over time.
In August 2025, AFG increased its annual dividend by 10% to $3.52 per share, marking its 20th consecutive year of dividend increases. The company's 10-year dividend CAGR is approximately 12.3%. This increase in AFG’s annual dividend reflects its confidence in the company’s financial condition, liquidity and prospects for long-term growth.
AFG, the specialty property & casualty insurer, supplements its regular dividend with large special dividends when excess capital accumulates. In February 2026, the board declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 per share. The aggregate amount of this special dividend will be approximately $125 million. This special-dividend policy has become a major component of the company's total shareholder return strategy and distinguishes it from many peers that rely primarily on regular dividends and buybacks.
Management opportunistically buys back stock when valuations are attractive. During the first quarter of 2026, AFG repurchased approximately $60 million of shares, reducing share count and enhancing per-share earnings growth. AFG returned nearly $260 million to the shareholders through a combination of regular dividends, special dividends and share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026. AFG’s entrepreneurial, opportunistic culture and disciplined operating philosophy continue to position it well for long-term success.
What About Its Peers?RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) has one of the most shareholder-friendly capital return programs in the property & casualty insurance industry. The company combines a steadily growing regular dividend, frequent special dividends and opportunistic share repurchases to return excess capital to shareholders while maintaining underwriting discipline. The company has increased its regular dividend for 51 consecutive years, placing it among the longest dividend-growth records in the insurance sector.
First American Financial Corporation (FAF - Free Report) follows a balanced capital-return strategy that combines a steadily growing dividend with opportunistic share repurchases. FAF generally uses a combination of regular dividend increases and selective share repurchases to distribute excess capital. FAF has increased its dividend for more than 15 consecutive years, reflecting management's commitment to returning capital through various housing market environments.
AFG’s Price PerformanceShares of AFG have gained 11.1% in the past year, outperforming the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AFG’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book ratio of 2.46, above the industry average of 1.41.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Movement for AFGThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFG’s second-quarter 2026 has moved down 1.6%, and the third-quarter 2026 EPS has moved up 13.5% in the past 60 days. The same for full-year 2026 and 2027 EPS has moved up 3.5% and 2%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
The consensus estimate for AFG’s 2026 and 2027 EPS and revenues indicates a year-over-year increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AFG stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
BlackLine rozšiřuje svou platformu pro finanční operace o Finance Control Console, která má centralizovat řízení AI, dohled a auditní stopu pro oddělení CFO. Firma spustila i program náhledu pro zákazníky a strategické partnery.
Kondigt een preview aan van de Finance Control Console, die gecentraliseerd AI-beheer met menselijke inbreng en geïntegreerde waarneembaarheid biedt June 25, 2026 12:30 ET | Source: BlackLine, Inc.
LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackLine, Inc. (Nasdaq: BL) heeft vandaag nieuwe functies op het gebied van governance en waarneembaarheid aangekondigd voor Agentic Financial Operations Platform™, waarmee het de vertrouwensinfrastructuur die financiële bedrijven nodig hebben om AI binnen de CFO-afdeling te implementeren, te beheren en op te schalen, verder versterkt.
Naarmate financiële teams de overstap maken van het gebruik van enkele AI-agents naar het beheer van mogelijk honderdduizenden agents binnen door BlackLine, partners, klanten of externe partijen ontwikkelde applicaties, verschuift de uitdaging van automatisering naar governance en controle. De Finance Control Console™ biedt een gecentraliseerde laag en een commandocentrum dat is ontworpen voor het beveiligen en monitoren van AI-agentprocessen op grote schaal, het handhaven van beleid, het beheren van risico’s en het waarborgen van de verantwoordingsplicht binnen dit steeds complexer wordende ecosysteem. Om te voldoen aan de verplichte compliance- en rapportage-eisen van de CFO-afdeling, biedt de Console de diepgaande transparantie en controleerbaarheid die financiële teams nodig hebben.
Het mandaat voor AI-integriteit
Nu het gebruik van AI snel toeneemt, staan leidinggevenden van financiële afdelingen voor een duidelijk mandaat: de productiviteit van AI benutten zonder de financiële integriteit in gevaar te brengen. Elke AI-gestuurde handeling die van invloed is op de financiële administratie moet traceerbaar en verklaarbaar zijn en voldoen aan vastgelegde controles. Om AI veilig in de kernprocessen van een bedrijf te integreren, moeten CFO’s werken aan een diepgaand inzicht in de operationele context, continue governance en vertrouwen bij auditors.
Door te zorgen voor de governance, verantwoordingsplicht en transparantie die nodig zijn om AI veilig in te zetten, stelt het uitgebreide Agentic Financial Operations Platform van BlackLine bedrijven in staat om de betrouwbare invoering van AI te versnellen en tegelijkertijd de controle te behouden over elke actie en elk resultaat.
"Wij zijn ervan overtuigd dat het volgende tijdperk van de financiële sector aangedreven zal worden door AI, maar beheerd blijft door de financiële sector", aldus Owen Ryan, Chief Executive Officer van BlackLine. "CFO’s kunnen en zullen hun financiële verantwoordelijkheid niet delegeren aan ongereguleerde, niet-transparante AI-modellen. De bedrijven die AI met succes opschalen, zijn de bedrijven die intelligente automatisering combineren met compromisloze verantwoordingsplicht en controle. Door deze vertrouwensinfrastructuur op te zetten, biedt BlackLine de onafhankelijke controlelaag waarmee financiële teams AI veilig kunnen inzetten, elke actie kunnen sturen en het vertrouwen in elk resultaat kunnen behouden."
De basis voor betrouwbare, financiële AI-agentprocessen
Het BlackLine Agentic Financial Operations Platform™, dat aangedreven wordt door Studio360 en Verity™ AI, biedt de operationele basis die nodig is om AI veilig in te zetten en te beheren binnen de CFO-afdeling. Het platform bevat wee fundamentele lagen:
Systeemonafhankelijke gegevenslaag: deze laag koppelt gestructureerde en ongestructureerde financiële gegevens, workflows, beleidsregels, beheer en operationele context binnen alle bedrijfssystemen aan elkaar. Door financiële intelligentie te combineren met de bedrijfscontext biedt het platform de basis die AI nodig heeft om nauwkeurig te functioneren binnen complexe financiële omgevingen.Financieel besturingssysteem: deze laag coördineert financiële workflows, AI-agents en samenstelbare diensten binnen het door de financiële afdeling gedefinieerde beheer, de beleidsregels en governancekaders. Hierdoor kunnen bedrijven steeds complexere financiële processen automatiseren, terwijl zij blijven werken binnen de kaders die door het financiële management zijn vastgesteld. Samen bieden deze mogelijkheden de operationele basis die nodig is om AI veilig in te zetten binnen de CFO-afdeling.
Finance Control Console: het commandocentrum voor door de financiële afdeling beheerd AI
De Finance Control Console vormt de kern van het uitgebreide platform van BlackLine , die leidinggevenden van financiële afdelingen het inzicht, beheer en toezicht biedt dat nodig is om door AI-gestuurde financiële processen op grote schaal te beheren.
Om te voldoen aan strenge compliance-, audit- en governance-eisen biedt de oplossing:
Realtime inzicht in door AI-gestuurde financiële processenGecentraliseerde governance en beleidsbeheerVolledige audittrajecten van geautomatiseerde actiesVerslagen van verklaarbare bedrijfsbeslissingen die voldoen aan compliance- en auditvereistenRisicomonitoring en uitzonderingsbeheer met menselijke tussenkomstToezicht op AI-agents die ontwikkeld zijn door BlackLine zelf of zijn partners, klanten of externe partijen De op open standaarden gebaseerde, interoperabele Finance Control Console stelt bedrijven in staat om AI-processen consistent te beheren binnen hun gehele financiële technologie-ecosysteem. Voor CFO’s fungeert de Finance Control Console als een gecentraliseerd commandocentrum voor het beheer van door AI aangestuurde financiële activiteiten. Door beleid af te dwingen en auditklare gegevens bij te houden, versnelt de oplossing de invoering van AI, terwijl de verantwoordingsplicht, die nodig is om de integriteit van de financiële administratie te waarborgen, behouden blijft.
"De uitdaging waar CFO’s voor staan, is niet meer om te bepalen of AI financieel werk kan verrichten. De uitdaging is om te bepalen of AI kan worden vertrouwd om financieel werk uit te voeren die aan de governancestandaarden voldoet die de financiële afdeling vereist", aldus Jeremy Ung, Chief Technology Officer bij BlackLine. "Met 25 jaar expertise in financiële processen en het vertrouwen van meer dan 4.300 klanten wereldwijd, combineert BlackLine AI, automatisering, ingebouwde controles en governance in een speciaal ontwikkeld platform voor de CFO-afdeling. Hierdoor kunnen financiële bedrijven sneller handelen zonder in te boeten aan vertrouwen, compliance of verantwoordingsplicht."
Lancering van het Finance Control Console Preview Program
BlackLine heeft vandaag zijn Finance Control Console Preview Program aangekondigd, waarmee zakelijke klanten en strategische partners de kans krijgen om de toekomst van AI-governance in de financiële sector mede vorm te geven.
Deelnemers krijgen vroege toegang tot de mogelijkheden van de Finance Control Console, werken mee aan governancekaders en helpen bij het vaststellen van opkomende best practices voor Agentic Financial Operations.
Ga voor meer informatie over het Agentic Financial Operations Platform™ van BlackLine naar BlackLine.com.
Over BlackLine
BlackLine (Nasdaq: BL) biedt een betrouwbare infrastructuur voor de financiële sector in het AI-tijdperk: een toekomst waarin de financiële sector het tijdperk van AI-agents aanstuurt, waarbij intelligentie, integriteit en vertrouwen hand in hand gaan. Het BlackLine Agentic Financial Operations Platform™, aangedreven door Studio360 en Verity™ AI, biedt CFO-afdelingen de mogelijkheid AI op te schalen in de processen van opname tot rapportage (Record-to-Report), van factuur tot betaling (Invoice-to-Cash) en elk ander proces waarbij de financiële afdeling de controle heeft en de integriteit ervan bij elke stap waarborgt.
Door gegevens te bundelen, AI te integreren en betrouwbaarheid in te bouwen in elk proces, tilt BlackLine financiën en boekhouding van louter rapporteren over het bedrijf naar het in realtime aansturen ervan.
Gesteund door investeringen in toonaangevend onderzoek en ontwikkeling, en beveiligingspraktijken van wereldklasse, werken meer dan 4.300 klanten in diverse sectoren samen met BlackLine om hun bedrijven de toekomst in te leiden. Financiële afdelingen nemen het voortouw. Ga voor meer informatie naar blackline.com.
Omnicom Media a NBCUniversal spouštějí Dynamic Contextual Content pro CTV, který propojuje data o publiku s kontextem pořadů a optimalizuje reklamu v reálném čase. Řešení je nyní v beta verzi a v USA by mělo být spuštěno do konce roku.
New Solution Combines AI-Powered Creative Optimization In-Flight with Contextual Signals to Deliver More Relevant Advertising Experiences Across Streaming Environments
Announcement Wraps Omnicom Media's Cannes News Blitz Revealing First-Mover Partnerships That Connect Brand Content to Platform Programming, Viewing Experiences and Consumer Expectations
, /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) connected capability, and NBCUniversal have co-developed a new solution to bring greater contextual intelligence and creative relevance to CTV advertising. The initiative combines audience and performance data from Omnicom's Acxiom identity solution with NBCUniversal's contextual signals to power Dynamic Contextual Content (DCC), a new approach to CTV advertising that aligns tailored creative messaging with specific episodes and environments in-flight.
The initiative is designed to help brands develop adaptive creative experiences tailored to how consumers engage with streaming content in real time. By pairing contextual signals with AI-powered creative production and optimization, the companies are creating a more intelligent, self-optimizing CTV system that enables brands to rethink how creative performance is measured and delivered.
For example, a travel brand could run a connected TV campaign across NBCUniversal programming tied to summer travel planning. Based on contextual signals combined with real-time engagement data, the travel brand could adapt its creative mid-flight based on the more optimally performing content environment.
The DCC solution grew out of Omnicom Media's Connected Content study, which examined consumer sentiment around the current state of advertising and explored the factors that drive engagement across content and delivery experiences. The research found that while streaming environments have evolved rapidly, creative formats and delivery systems have not kept pace with how audiences actually experience CTV content today.
"Consumers expect advertising to feel more connected to the experience they are having in the moment," said Megan Pagliuca, Chief Product Officer at Omnicom Media. "Today, even premium CTV advertising is often delivered without consideration for the context surrounding it. Through this collaboration with NBCUniversal, we are bringing together data, content intelligence, and AI-powered creative capabilities to help brands move from simply reaching audiences to delivering relevance within the moments that matter most."
How It Works
Acxiom audience data is paired with NBCUniversal content metadata to identify priority shows, episodes, environments, and moments. Advertisers can then map tailored creative variants - enabled by the Omnicom Production AI-driven content and production engine - to the content moments where they are expected to resonate most strongly with their specific audiences, moving from fixed creative assets to in-flight creative optimization. Creative versioning is informed by performance measurement and integrated into Omni's Video Content. With this integration, brands understand which combination of contextual tags and creative versions are driving business objectives.
"Marketers are navigating a fragmented, highly competitive ecosystem while being held to performance metrics," said Ryan McConville, Chief Product Officer and EVP, Ad Products & Solutions, NBCUniversal. "By pairing NBCUniversal's content metadata with Omnicom's audience and performance data, we can make creative optimization actionable and open up more relevant, effective ways for brands to engage their customers."
The collaboration reflects a broader shift in the streaming marketplace, where marketers are increasingly focused not only on reaching audiences at scale, but also on improving the quality and contextual relevance of each advertising exposure.
The Dynamic Contextual Content solution is currently in beta and is expected to be live in the US by end of year.
CONTACT: [email protected]
About Omnicom Media
Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, is the world's largest global media management network. Powered by the Omni Intelligence Platform, Omnicom Media agencies leverage $75.6 billion in billings, 40,000+ specialists across 70+ markets, and the industry's most powerful portfolio identity, commerce, and intelligence assets to design dynamic Growth Ecosystems that enable the world's most ambitious businesses to grow faster and smarter. The Omnicom Media portfolio includes global media agency brands OMD, Initiative, PHD, UM, Hearts & Science, and Mediahub; core Omnicom Integrated Media offerings Acxiom, the world's premier identity solution, and the Flywheel digital commerce practice; and specialty services across the cloud consulting, creator, financial, healthcare, and sports & entertainment categories. For more information visit omnicommedia.com
Saia spouští iniciativu REV zaměřenou na rychlejší přepravu, širší logistické služby a lepší sledování zásilek v Severní Americe. Firma zavádí více než 2 000 zlepšení tranzitních časů a standardní garantované doručení v 10:00.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saia Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) a leading provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the launch of Saia REV, a new company-wide initiative focused on delivering faster transit times, expanded logistics capabilities and enhanced shipment visibility for customers across North America.
REV, which stands for Rapid, Expanded and Visible, launches this month and brings together a series of strategic investments in technology and Saia’s network, which are designed to help customers’ freight move with greater speed, flexibility and confidence.
The initiative reflects Saia’s continued investment in network optimization, technology, and the customer experience as shipper expectations continue evolving toward greater speed, predictability, and transparency.
“REV is about giving customers more ways to move freight, faster routes across key lanes, and a better overall shipping experience,” said Saia Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Ray Ramu. “Customers need transportation partners that can deliver confidence through dependable service. By investing in technology and our network, we’re continuing to improve their experience - from pickup through delivery.”
As part of the REV rollout, Saia is implementing several improvements:
Faster Transit Times
Saia has made significant investments in technology, network optimization, and its linehaul operations to support faster, more consistent transit times and enable many of the service enhancements being introduced. More than 2,000 transit time improvements across its network will create faster service across key lanes, allowing reductions from five-day to four-day service, four-day to three-day service, and, in some cases, even faster transit schedules.
Enhanced Delivery
Because of the consistency of its transit time performance, Saia has automated its Guaranteed 10 a.m. delivery service, further strengthening its existing guaranteed offerings with increased delivery precision to support an earlier delivery window. While other carriers offer morning delivery as a custom solution, Saia is offering a standard guaranteed 10 a.m. service, which is the earliest by any nationwide LTL carrier in the industry. The company is also introducing a unified expedited service designed for time-sensitive shipments that require additional support.
“Customers increasingly need both speed and predictability because their operations depend on it,” Ramu added. “That commitment is reflected in Saia’s 0.50% cargo claims performance, which also demonstrates the predictability, and care customers can expect when their freight moves through our network. Truly every investment has been made to create a more reliable and seamless transportation experience for our shippers - from pickup through final delivery.”
Greater Shipment Visibility
Another key component of REV is the launch of a new track-and-trace experience that delivers turn-by-turn visibility throughout a shipment’s entire journey - from assigned pickup through final delivery - not just at dispatch. The platform will offer customers dynamic, real-time shipment tracking, updated ETAs, and integrated communication tools designed to improve transparency.
In addition, Saia’s continued investment in digital tools is giving customers a more complete view of their shipping activity, including predictive insights that help anticipate accessorial needs such as liftgate service or limited-access deliveries. At the same time, Saia.com is being refreshed to better reflect the company’s growing capabilities and the customer experience it delivers.
REV also expands the role of Saia Logistics as part of Saia’s broader strategy to provide more comprehensive transportation and logistics support beyond traditional LTL services. Earlier this year, Saia rebranded LinkEx, its full-service third-party logistics (3PL) and supply chain management company, to Saia Logistics to better align its portfolio of logistics solutions, including truckload brokerage, expedited shipping, warehousing, international freight forwarding, final mile delivery, and on-site transportation management services.
As part of the initiative, and to support the growing demand for complex delivery solutions, Saia Logistics is rolling out multiple, expanded final mile capabilities including:
Residential delivery,White glove service,Room-of-choice delivery,
Debris removal, andTwo-person delivery teams.
“REV brings the spirit of Saia’s ‘It’s a Yes’ campaign to life by expanding the ways the company can say yes to customers, whether that means faster transit times, enhanced visibility, broader logistics capabilities or more flexible service options,” said Ramu. “It reflects Saia’s ongoing investment in service enhancements, enabling technology and operational improvements that will continue evolving alongside customer needs and expectations.”
For more information about Saia, visit Saia.com.
About Saia Inc.
Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) is a full-service freight and logistics provider with a national footprint built to deliver reliable, flexible shipping solutions. With industry-leading operations and a strong emphasis on the customer experience, the company helps keep freight - and businesses - moving. Saia offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, brokered truckload, expedited transportation, and other logistics services. Headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, the company operates 218 terminals providing national service. Saia has repeatedly been recognized for its people-centric, safety-driven, and sustainability-minded focus. For more information on Saia, Inc., visit Saia.com.
For more information, contact:
Jeannie S. Jump
Saia Senior Marketing and Corporate Affairs Specialist
Phone: 770-232-4069 · E-mail: [email protected]
GlobalFoundries v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila hrubou marži na 29 % z 23,9 % a výnosy vzrostly o 3 % na 1,63 miliardy USD. Růst táhl segment Communications Infrastructure a Data Center, kde výnosy stouply o 32 %.
Key Takeaways GlobalFoundries' Q1 gross margin rose 510 bps to 29%, as revenues increased 3% to YoY $1.63B.GFS saw Communications Infrastructure and Data Center revenues jump 32%, helped by a richer AI mix.GlobalFoundries expects silicon photonics revenues to roughly double in 2026 as SiGe demand stays strong. GlobalFoundries Inc. (GFS - Free Report) is starting to show that its AI opportunity is not limited to direct exposure to GPUs or leading-edge logic chips. Instead, the company is benefiting from the broader infrastructure required to support AI, including silicon photonics, silicon germanium, automotive semiconductors, embedded memory and industrial connectivity.
The first quarter of 2026 suggests that strategy is beginning to pay off. While first-quarter revenues increased a modest 3% year over year to $1.63 billion, the more important story was profitability. Gross margin (Non-IFRS) expanded to 29%, up from 23.9% a year earlier, a remarkable 510-basis-point improvement and the largest year-over-year expansion in more than three years. Management now expects another quarter of roughly 28.5% gross margin despite ongoing investments in capacity and technology. The improvement was driven by a richer revenue mix, with Communications Infrastructure and Data Center revenues climbing 32% to $230 million. Management expects silicon photonics revenues to roughly double in 2026 and forecasts high-30% growth for the broader segment.
The margin implications could be meaningful. Management described silicon germanium, another key optical networking, as margin accretive and said demand is strong enough that capacity at its Vermont fab is oversubscribed well into 2027. GlobalFoundries is expanding capacity in silicon photonics, FDX and high-performance SiGe to meet customer demand, but these investments are being targeted toward higher-value technology corridors rather than broad commodity capacity.
GlobalFoundries is also extending its AI exposure into physical AI, including robotics and industrial automation. The company expects Home and Industrial IoT to become a key beneficiary of physical AI beyond 2026, even though that segment declined in the first quarter due to shipment timing and inventory normalization. Its partnership with Inova Semiconductors for a robotics control reference platform supports this longer-term strategy.
At 29% non-IFRS gross margin, GlobalFoundries is close to a key profitability milestone. If silicon photonics continues to scale, automotive remains resilient and Technology Services grows as expected, 30% may not be the ceiling. It may be the beginning of a more profitable phase for the company.
Can GFS Outpace Silicon Photonics Rivals Like TSM & UMC?GlobalFoundries is not alone in targeting the fast-growing silicon photonics market. Among its closest competitors is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM - Free Report) , which is advancing co-packaged optics through its COUPE platform. Leveraging its leadership in advanced process technologies and packaging, TSM is well-positioned to serve hyperscalers and AI chip designers seeking higher-bandwidth interconnect solutions. However, GlobalFoundries differentiates itself with a specialized optical networking portfolio that combines silicon photonics, silicon germanium, packaging, testing and manufacturing services.
United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC - Free Report) is also expanding its presence in silicon photonics. The company recently announced a strategic partnership to develop thin-film lithium niobate photonics for AI infrastructure and plans to launch its first silicon photonics process design kit in 2027. UMC is also evaluating hybrid bonding, TSV and chiplet integration to support future co-packaged optics applications, underscoring the industry's growing focus on AI networking technologies.
GFS’ Stock Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of GlobalFoundries have surged 133.7% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s 48.4% growth.
GFS 6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
GFS stock is currently trading at a premium to its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47.61, as shown in the chart below.
P/E (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Estimate Revision of GFSGFS’ earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have trended upward in the past 60 days to $1.89 and $2.62 per share, respectively. The revised estimates for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 9.9% and 38.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
GFS currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Labcorp is expanding oncology, neurology and genetic testing to support long-term growth.LH's Q1 2026 revenues increased 5.8%, aided by acquisitions, partnerships and network expansion.Labcorp's AI, automation and launchpad savings initiatives aim to improve efficiency and margins. Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH - Free Report) , or Labcorp, is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters owing to its progress on its strategic priority to lead in important specialty testing areas, which are growth drivers for both its businesses. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions help the company broaden its patient and provider network while deepening its presence in key markets. Additionally, it leverages AI and technology to enhance margins and customer experience. Yet, macroeconomic pressures and adverse currency swings pose risks for Labcorp.
In the past year, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has risen 3.2% compared with 2.2% growth of the industry and a 23.3% increase of the S&P 500 Composite.
The renowned healthcare diagnostics company has a market capitalization of $21.20 billion. Labcorp’s earnings yield of 6.9% is well ahead of the industry’s 4.3% yield. In the trailing four quarters, the company delivered an average earnings surprise of 3.31%.
Let’s delve deeper.
Tailwinds Supporting LH StockTargeted Development in High-Growth Areas: Labcorp’s continued expansion in faster-growing specialty testing areas, such as oncology, women’s health, autoimmune disease and neurology, is strengthening its growth profile. In the first quarter of 2026, Neurology delivered double-digit growth, driven by an expanded Alzheimer's testing portfolio. Oncology benefited from several newly launched liquid biopsy tests and wider availability of MRD solutions. The MRD portfolio includes the Plasma Detect ID for patients with stage I–III breast cancer or stage I–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer, as well as the Labcorp Plasma Detect Genome for stage III colon cancer, which is now available nationwide.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The integration of Invitae has further expanded the company’s reach in genetic testing solutions. Labcorp is also collaborating with Illumina to advance precision oncology through applications of next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions across the healthcare ecosystem. The Labcorp OnDemand consumer health platform delivered double-digit growth in the first quarter, supported by its expanded offerings.
Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships to Drive Growth: In recent years, Labcorp has built a significant number of strategic relationships with health systems and regional/local laboratories, expanding its patient and provider network, and strengthening its presence in key markets. In the first quarter of 2026, enterprise revenues grew 5.8% year over year, with net acquisitions contributing 1.4%.
Recent activities include the purchase of select assets of Crouse Health’s Laboratory Alliance of Central New York’s (Lab Alliance) laboratory business and an agreement to manage their daily inpatient lab operations. Labcorp also acquired select assets of New York-based Empire City Laboratories, became the first U.S. commercial laboratory with an agreement to implement Roche’s cobas Mass Spec solution, and signed a new multi-year partnership agreement with SOMOS.
Focus on Operational Efficiency: The company continues to benefit from its launchpad initiatives, which target $100-$125 million in savings annually. In the first quarter of 2026, Labcorp expanded its collaboration with PathAI to deploy an FDA-cleared digital pathology platform across its national anatomic pathology labs and hospital lab partnerships. Together with Amazon Web Services and Datavant, the company is developing a new AI-powered real-world data platform to accelerate Alzheimer's research. More recently, Labcorp teamed up with Optum.ai to simplify laboratory operations by advancing AI.
Across its core operations, AI and automation are already deployed in areas such as pathology, cytology and microbiology. Labcorp’s generative AI tool, Test Finder, is designed to simplify lab test selection and is also integrated into Labcorp Diagnostic Assistant.
What Ails Labcorp?Macroeconomic Risks: Labcorp’s operations are heavily dependent on the demand for diagnostic testing and drug development services from patients, physicians, hospitals, medical device companies, and others. In recent times, volatilities in global economic conditions, including inflation, have significantly reduced the demand for these services, affecting the customers’ ability to pay and, consequently, the profitability of the company. Added to this, the escalation of the present geopolitical tensions and retaliatory tariffs is putting pressure on the supply chain and services, increasing the prices of offerings. In the first quarter of 2026, the cost of revenues went up 5.3% year over year.
Exposed to Currency Headwind: Labcorp's huge exposure in international markets makes it vulnerable to currency fluctuations. With the recent upward trend observed in the value of the U.S. dollar, further acceleration expected by analysts in this value will cause the company’s revenues to face a tough situation overseas.
LH Stock’s Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Labcorp’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has increased 1 cent to $18.00 in the past 30 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 revenues is pegged at $14.71 billion, implying 5.4% growth compared to the last year.
Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .
Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.9% compared with the industry’s negative 3.5% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 26.3%. GMED shares have rallied 39.2% against the industry’s 7.5% decline over the past year.
GMED sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Align Technology, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of the company have dipped 9% against the industry’s 6.9% growth. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.
Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 13.6% against the industry’s negative 3.5% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 45.5% against the industry’s 7.4% decline over the past year.
CRH dnes dokončila zrušení svých 5% a 7% prioritních akcií. Stažení 5% prioritních prioritních akcií z obchodování na Euronext Growth Dublin se očekává s účinností od 7:00 BST zítra, v pátek 26. června 2026.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Further to the announcement made on March 13, 2026, CRH (NYSE: CRH) today announces that the separate schemes of arrangement to cancel the Company’s 5% preference shares and 7% preference shares became effective today, June 25, 2026, and that the preference shares have been cancelled.
Cancellation of the admission of the 5% preference shares to trading on Euronext Growth Dublin is expected to occur with effect from 7:00 a.m. (BST) tomorrow, Friday June 26, 2026.
About CRH
CRH is the leading provider of building materials critical to modernizing infrastructure. With our team of 83,000 people across 4,000 locations, our unmatched scale, connected portfolio, and deep local relationships make us the partner of choice for transportation, water, and reindustrialization projects, shaping communities for a better tomorrow. CRH (NYSE: CRH) is a member of the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.crh.com.
Credo Technology Group oznámila za 4. fiskální čtvrtletí tržby 437 milionů USD, meziročně o 157 %, a non-GAAP EPS 1,16 USD. Za celý fiskální rok 2026 tržby ztrojnásobila na 1,34 miliardy USD.
I am opening with our verdict on Credo Technology Group (NASDAQ:CRDO | CRDO Price Prediction). The stock has rallied 86.94% year to date, and our proprietary model now sees the shares trading almost exactly where they should.
The 24/7 Wall St. price target for Credo is $263.97, which sits a hair below the last close of $268.99. That implies 1.87% downside, a hold rating, and a 90% (high) confidence reading.
Metric Value Current Price $268.99 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $263.97 Upside/Downside -1.87% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 90% Why We Could Be Wrong Our 24/7 Wall St. price target sits a touch below where Credo trades today, and that gap is small enough to flip. The bull catalysts are real: the just-closed Dust Photonics acquisition opens a silicon photonics path to 3.2 Tbps, and management is guiding to more than $600 million in optical revenue for fiscal 2027. Treat our target as one datapoint. A full bull case sits below.
From $79 to $269 in a Year Credo has been one of the AI infrastructure trade’s cleanest winners. The stock is up 192.63% over the past year, 23.16% over the past month, and 7.89% in the past week alone. Shares now trade 17% below the 52-week high of $308.67 and well above the $84.25 low.
The fuel is fundamental. Q4 FY26 revenue hit $437 million, up 157.02% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.16 beating the $1.0341 estimate by 12.17%. Full-year FY26 revenue tripled to $1.34 billion, and non-GAAP net income grew more than 5x to $662 million.
The Case for $335 and Higher Our bull-case path lands at $335.34 over the next 12 months, a 24.67% gain. The setup is credible. CEO Bill Brennan guided FY27 revenue growth to more than 80% year over year, with Optical DSPs, SiPho PICs, and ZeroFlap optics each contributing more than $100 million.
He also flagged Neo Cloud customers eventually reaching roughly 20% of total revenue. The Street’s bullish camp is thick: 4 Strong Buy, 13 Buy, 1 Hold, 0 Sell ratings.
The Risks Worth Watching The bear path takes Credo to $207.53, or 22.85% downside. Customer concentration is the headline risk: in Q4, the top customer was 34% of revenue and the second largest was 27%. Inventories also jumped to $250.8 million, and the trailing P/E sits at 108.
In fairness, bulls would counter that the inventory build supports the FY27 optical ramp Brennan described, and the forward P/E is a more digestible 51. Composite sentiment has also slipped 10.03 points over 30 days.
Credo Price Prediction 2026-2030 The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $263.97 is functionally on top of the current quote, our recommendation is hold, and our confidence is 90%. The decisive factor is valuation symmetry: trailing multiples have caught up to FY26’s spectacular growth.
The bullish trigger to watch is whether the FY27 optical ramp tracks ahead of the $600 million bar and Neo Cloud customers diversify the top-line. The bearish trigger is whether the top-two customers slow orders or gross margin slips below the 67% to 69% guide.
Looking further out, here is where our model projects Credo could trade, assuming the optical inflection plays out and AI capex stays elevated.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $263.97 2030 $294.24 These projections assume Credo continues converting design wins into revenue. Significant upside could emerge from CPO and NPO traction in FY28, while a hyperscaler capex pause is the largest downside risk.
