Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways RTX supports the F-35 with sensors, mission systems, targeting technologies and precision-guided weapons.Raytheon won a $13.5 million contract to support U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon fleet readiness through 2029.RTX also serves the F-15, F/A-18 and F-16 with radars, electronic warfare, missiles and sustainment. RTX Corporation (RTX - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the fighter aircraft market through its broad portfolio of advanced avionics, sensors, electronic warfare systems and precision weapons. The company supplies critical technologies that enhance the performance, survivability and mission effectiveness of some of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft operated by the U.S. military and allied nations.

A key example is RTX's role on the F-35 Lightning II, where it provides advanced sensors, mission systems, electro-optical targeting technologies and precision-guided weapons. These capabilities enable enhanced situational awareness, target detection and mission execution, supporting modern air combat operations.

RTX continues to expand its defense aviation business through new contract awards. Recently, its Raytheon business secured a contract worth approximately $13.5 million to supply 50 weapon repairable assemblies for the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon aircraft, supporting fleet readiness through 2029. The award highlights continued demand for the company's advanced airborne systems across military aviation platforms.

Beyond the F-35 program, RTX supports a broad range of fighter aircraft, including the F-15, F/A-18 and F-16, through its portfolio of radar systems, electronic warfare solutions, missiles and sustainment services. Its diversified offerings and long-standing relationships with defense customers position the company to benefit from increasing investments in next-generation air combat capabilities.

Rising geopolitical tensions, higher defense spending and military modernization programs are driving demand for advanced fighter aircraft worldwide. RTX's diversified defense portfolio and technological expertise position it well to benefit from the market's long-term growth.

Other Fighter Aircraft Stocks to WatchOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the fighter aircraft market are discussed below:

Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) : Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of manned and unmanned military aircraft. Its portfolio includes platforms such as the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, E-2C Hawkeye 2000 and F-5 Tiger fighter aircraft, along with advanced airborne mission systems that support modern military operations.

Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) : Lockheed Martin is one of the leading players in the fighter aircraft market through its portfolio of advanced combat aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-21 and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Zacks Rundown for RTXShares of RTX have surged 30.5% in the past year against the industry’s 3.3% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company’s shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Earnings being 26.77X compared with its industry’s average of 31.92X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RTX’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NOW's Q2 results may reflect strong AI adoption and subscription growth, but rising costs, competition and valuation risks cloud the outlook.

BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming September 8, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased Intuit Inc. (“Intuit” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INTU) securities between August 22, 2025 and May 20, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN INTUIT INC. (INTU), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD, XETRA:AMD) hosts its Advancing AI 2026 event next week in San Francisco, its first dedicated AI day since June 2025 when it launched its MI350 series GPUs and previewed its Helios rack system.

Jefferies analysts expect AMD to raise its addressable market estimate for AI CPUs above $200 billion, topping the figure Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA, XETRA:NVD) (Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA, XETRA:NVD)) gave in May. They are also watching for more detail on AMD's next-generation MI500 GPUs and scale-up roadmap, along with any new customer announcements.

New customer announcements have been the biggest swing factor at AMD's past two AI events. The firm's Asia supply chain checks suggest Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) (Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT)) is now a customer for AMD's MI400 series GPUs, joining previously disclosed customers OpenAI and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, XETRA:FB2A, SIX:FB) (Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, XETRA:FB2A, SIX:FB)).

The analysts said expectations center on a potential Anthropic announcement, noting reports that the AI company has been hiring engineers with ROCm experience, which they said suggests Anthropic is preparing to diversify its computing infrastructure.

Jefferies cautioned that deal economics matter more than any headline, noting AMD has already committed 20% of the company to OpenAI and Meta, so future deals would need smaller incentive packages.

A more traditional Anthropic agreement would reinforce confidence in AMD's ability to compete without equity incentives, the analysts said.

Jefferies expects new disclosure on the MI500 series, previewed at CES 2026 as CDNA 6 architecture on an advanced 2nm process with HBM4E memory targeted for 2027, with a claimed 1,000-times AI performance uplift versus an eight-GPU MI300X node.

The analysts expect the MI500 platform to move to a native Ultra Accelerator Link scale-up domain with 256 GPUs per rack, which may require optical interconnects.

Jefferies is watching for confirmation of a co-packaged optics approach and its supplier, noting AMD's investment in Ayar Labs and its work with Astera Labs Inc (NASDAQ:ALAB) on Ultra Accelerator Link and Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO, XETRA:1YD) (Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO, XETRA:1YD)) on scale-up networking.

Key Takeaways Stryker launched Mako RPS, a handheld robotic platform for total knee replacement procedures.Mako RPS pairs robotic technology with the Triathlon Total Knee System and familiar workflows.The platform uses real-time active adjustment and integrates with the Q Guidance System. Stryker (SYK - Free Report) recently announced the U.S. commercial launch of Mako RPS (Robotic Power System), a handheld robotic platform developed for total knee replacement procedures. The system introduces Mako Handheld Robotics, extending the Mako robotics portfolio into a new segment of the orthopedic robotics market.

According to Lisa Kloes, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Knee business, Mako RPS integrates robotic technology with the clinically proven Triathlon Total Knee System to provide surgeons with an intuitive surgical experience while preserving the familiarity of the implant and workflow they already use and trust.

Per Keith Evans, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Mako and Enabling Technologies business, customer response during the limited market release has been exceptionally strong. Mako RPS sets a new benchmark for handheld robotic technology by combining robotic capabilities, power tool expertise and a deep understanding of surgical workflows.

Likely Trend of SYK Stock Following the NewsFollowing the announcement, SYK shares gained 4.7% at yesterday’s close. Year to date, shares of the company have fallen 5.8% compared with the industry’s 20% decline. However, the S&P 500 has risen 10% in the same timeframe.

Stryker is likely to benefit from the commercial launch of Mako RPS, as the new platform broadens its orthopedic robotics portfolio and strengthens its leadership in robotic-assisted joint replacement. The launch could support higher adoption among surgeons while expanding the company’s reach to customers and care settings that may not have adopted robotic-assisted surgery. Compatibility with Stryker’s widely used Triathlon Total Knee System and Q Guidance System may further reinforce its integrated orthopedic ecosystem and create long-term growth opportunities.

SYK currently has a market capitalization of $121.31 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on Mako RPSThe Mako RPS marks the introduction of Stryker's Mako Handheld Robotics platform while complementing the company's Mako SmartRobotics with Mako 4 multi-specialty robotic-arm-assisted platform. Mako RPS offers surgeons an intuitive handheld robotic experience that combines Stryker's expertise in robotics and power tools, broadening access to robotic-assisted orthopedic procedures.

Compatible with Stryker's clinically proven Triathlon Total Knee System, Mako RPS features intraoperative planning and a robotically enabled saw equipped with the company's patented active adjustment technology. The system responds to the surgeon's hand movements to maintain alignment with the surgical plan in real time. It eliminates the need for cutting blocks, enabling surgeons to adopt robotic technology without changing their existing workflows.

Built to integrate with Stryker’s multi-specialty Q Guidance System, Mako RPS expands the company’s ecosystem of enabling technologies across orthopedic care. The launch also builds on the strong global presence of the Mako platform, which has supported more than 2.5 million procedures across 47 countries over the past two decades, highlighting Stryker’s continued focus on advancing robotic innovation in orthopedics.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Precedence Research, the orthopedic devices market is valued at $68.64 billion in 2026 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.3% through 2035.

The market is expanding, driven by the rising prevalence of orthopedic disorders, an aging population and injury incidence, integration of robotics and artificial intelligence in orthopedic surgeries and greater healthcare access and reimbursement support.

Other NewsStryker recently announced the launch of TPX HD, an advanced small bone power tool engineered to support performance, control and ergonomics across a range of complex orthopedic procedures. The tool is intended for use in total joint revisions, minimally invasive surgery and oral maxillofacial procedures.

SYK’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksStryker currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) , Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) and Cardinal Health (CAH - 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.

West Pharmaceutical reported first-quarter 2026 earnings per share (EPS) of $2.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.8%. Revenues of $844.9 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%.

West Pharmaceutical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.

Intuitive Surgical reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.50, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.2%. Revenues of $2.77 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.2%.

Intuitive Surgical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 14.3%. ISRG’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.

Cardinal Health reported a third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $3.17, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.2%. Revenues of $60.94 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.3%.

Cardinal Health has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 17%. CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 10.3%.

Key Takeaways GD won a four-year, $1.4 billion Canadian contract to supply 190 Armored Combat Support Vehicles.Its LAV family combines mobility, survivability and mission versatility for combat and reconnaissance.Rising defense budgets and fleet modernization are driving demand for GD's next-generation vehicles. General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the armored vehicle market through its portfolio of advanced land combat platforms and decades of expertise in military ground systems. The company develops and manufactures wheeled and tracked combat vehicles that support modern battlefield operations for the U.S. military, Canada and allied nations.

A key example is GD's Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) family, designed to deliver high mobility, survivability and mission versatility across combat and reconnaissance missions while providing enhanced troop protection.

GD recently expanded its presence in the market through its Canadian subsidiary, which secured a four-year contract worth approximately $1.4 billion (C$2 billion) from the Government of Canada to supply 190 Armored Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs). The award reinforces the company's long-standing relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces and reflects continued demand for its armored vehicle platforms.

Beyond the LAV and ACSV programs, GD also offers the Stryker combat vehicle and the Abrams main battle tank. Its broad portfolio and manufacturing expertise position the company to benefit as defense forces continue to modernize aging armored fleet.

Rising geopolitical tensions, increasing defense budgets and ongoing military modernization programs are driving demand for next-generation armored combat vehicles worldwide. As armed forces prioritize highly mobile and survivable platforms, GD is well-positioned to benefit from long-term growth in the global armored vehicle market.

Other Armored Vehicle Stocks to WatchOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the armored vehicle market are discussed below:

BAE Systems (BAESY - Free Report) : BAE Systems manufactures a broad portfolio of armored combat vehicles, including the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M109 self-propelled howitzer and M88 recovery vehicle. The company's expertise in combat vehicle design, production and modernization supports growing demand from the U.S. military and allied nations.

Textron (TXT - Free Report) : Textron designs, manufactures and supports a wide range of armored combat vehicles for military, law enforcement and special operations customers worldwide. Its COMMANDO family of vehicles combines mobility, survivability and mission flexibility to support a broad range of tactical operations.

The Zacks Rundown for GDShares of GD have risen 24.9% in the past year against the industry’s 3.3% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 1.77X compared with its industry’s average of 2.49X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Skyworks Solutions (SWKS - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Semiconductors - Radio Frequency industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

When looking at the last two reports, this chipmaker has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 10.29%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the last reported quarter, Skyworks came out with earnings of $1.15 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share, representing a surprise of 10.58%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.4 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.54 per share, delivering a surprise of 10.00%.

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

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

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

Skyworks has an Earnings ESP of +0.12% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 28, 2026.

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

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

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

TL;DR. One command spins up a working Hedera dapp with Next.js, a choice of Hardhat or Foundry, and AI agent context already wired in. Eight built-in templates at launch with more shipping through the year, plus a flagship cross-chain index strategy that takes ETH on Base and ends up holding native HBAR and an HTS token on Hedera. Built in the open with Buidler Labs.

npm create scaffold-hbar@latest Why scaffold-hbar Exists Bootstrapping a dapp typically means picking an SDK, hunting through examples, and stitching config together before the first transaction lands on testnet. scaffold-hbar collapses that into a single command, so prototypes ship in seconds rather than days. The templates ship with the patterns Hedera builders ask for most often, so projects start from best-practice foundations rather than a blank file.

New to Hedera? It’s the fastest way in. Already building? It’s a modern monorepo template built around Next.js, RainbowKit, and the scaffold-ui component library.

Three principles define scaffold-hbar:

Multichain-first — Hedera as part of a multichain stack, not isolated. AI-native — AI coding agents are first-class users of the toolchain. Pick your tools — developer ergonomics over forced migration. Multichain-First, Not Hedera-Only Many Hedera builders ship across multiple chains. scaffold-hbar treats that as the default, with bridge primitives wired in from the start, so multichain projects start from a working baseline rather than a blank Solidity file.

The bridge template ships with LayerZero, Chainlink CCIP, and Axelar wired in. The wiring is a solid starting point for production work. Going to production from there is the developer’s call, with the modifications, integration testing, and security audits any cross-chain deployment warrants.

The flagship community template goes further. It is a cross-chain index strategy. A user deposits on Base in ETH, LayerZero carries the message to Hedera, and on arrival the strategy contract splits funds 50/50 across two on-chain positions: native HBAR and HUSTLER, a custom HTS token created inside the template. The HUSTLER token and liquidity pool is created on first deploy; the template doubles as a working walkthrough of HTS token creation, SaucerSwap integration, and LayerZero composition in a single project.

Eight built-in templates are available at launch, with more shipping throughout the year:

Blank Template. Minimal scaffold. Pick your own primitives. Bridge. Cross-chain bridging through LayerZero, CCIP, or Axelar. Cross Chain DCA. Schedule smart contracts on other chains with Hedera as the hub. Hedera Native. HTS, HCS, and Schedule Service in a cohesive template. Oracles. Consume real time data with Chainlink datafeeds, Pyth, or Supra. Onchain Cron Job. Recurring on-chain payments via HIP-1215 Generalized Scheduled Contract Calls. Tokenize Subscriptions. Allow subscriptions / contracts to be sold and rented using a smart contract powered marketplace. x402 Pay Per Use. Use native online payments to buy and sell data stored in S3 buckets. And the flagship cross-chain index, opted into with the community org/repo form:

npm create scaffold-hbar@latest --template hedera-dev/template-hedera-lz-app Every template is testnet-ready out of the box, with deploy scripts and detailed READMEs that match.

AI-Native Foundations, Not Bolted-On AI coding agents are doing a growing share of the typing. Their fluency depends on the context they have access to and the languages they have seen the most. Hedera’s native SDKs are available in Python, JavaScript, and Go: the languages AI agents write best. Generated code drops straight into a Hedera project without translation, so building velocity stays high whether the developer or the agent is writing.

AI agents also work from inferred user intent and prior patterns. A generic prompt for “mint a token” might generate ERC-20 logic by default, even when the project needs an HTS token created through the Hedera system contract. The remedy is targeted context.

scaffold-hbar handles this during scaffolding. The CLI installs Hedera Skills by default: a package that loads Hedera context straight into the agent in your editor, covering system contracts, native services, the Hedera Agent Kit, and the day-to-day dev workflow tools. With Hedera Skills installed, Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex generate code that aligns with Hedera’s actual primitives from the first prompt onwards.

AI coding agents are treated as first-class users of the toolchain.

Pick Your Tools Developer ergonomics matter. Forcing a switch in package manager, Solidity framework, or component library is friction that kills projects before they start. scaffold-hbar meets developers where they already are.

Each scaffolded project is a monorepo with:

A Next.js (App Router) frontend with RainbowKit, wagmi, viem, Tailwind, and DaisyUI The scaffold-ui component library for Hedera-aware web3 UI (address inputs, balance displays, transaction signers) A choice of Hardhat or Foundry for contracts, where the template supports both Hedera testnet, mainnet, or local forked networks pre-wired with Hashio RPC and Mirror Node endpoints Built-in deployment scripts for supported templates, on both Hardhat and Foundry One-command verification on HashScan Yarn workspaces by default, with npm and pnpm supported alongside Frontend-only or contracts-only scaffolds for projects that need just one half of the stack Built in the Open scaffold-hbar is OSS, with Buidler Labs as the technical partner on the CLI and template architecture.

BuidlerLabs built the scaffold-hbar libraries, CLI, and templates to bring a familiar developer experience to Hedera, helping builders move faster from exploration to working applications. Drawing on its history of MIT-licensed open-source developer tools for Hedera, BuidlerLabs focused on practical, real-world examples that reduce onboarding friction, showcase the network’s capabilities, and support broader ecosystem adoption.

In August 2026, a $5k HBAR bounty opens for community templates worth shipping in the CLI. Five winners receive $1k HBAR each. The winning templates merge into the CLI’s built-in list. The rubric publishes the day the bounty opens.

If you have a template you wish existed when you started your Hedera project, this is the moment to ship it.

Try It Now Pick a template, run the deploy command, and a working dapp is on Hedera testnet in under a minute.

Scaffold HBAR Docs: https://docs.hedera.com/solutions/tools/scaffold-hbar/index CLI repo: github.com/hedera-dev/create-scaffold-hbar Templates repo: github.com/hedera-dev/scaffold-hbar Hedera Skills: github.com/hedera-dev/hedera-skills Cross-chain index template: github.com/hedera-dev/template-hedera-lz-app Landing page: hedera.com/scaffold-hbar Discord: join the conversation

Compass Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS)'s COMP360 treatment model may face fewer regulatory hurdles as new Phase II analysis distinguishes the company’s psychological support approach from psychotherapy, Jefferies analysts have highlighted.

In a note reviewing a post-hoc analysis of Compass Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS)’ completed Phase II open-label trial of COMP360 in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Jefferies wrote that the study provided further detail on how the company’s treatment model separates monitoring and support during dosing sessions from traditional talk therapy.

The analysis examined audio recordings from 22 participants during COMP360 administration sessions, measuring interactions between patients and support providers. Jefferies highlighted that 78% of the more than six-hour dosing sessions were spent in silence, with providers largely remaining outside patients’ awareness while remaining available if needed.

The analysts wrote that the findings suggest the psychedelic experience was primarily inward-focused, with support staff serving a safety-monitoring role rather than actively engaging in psychotherapy. During the post-treatment integration period, participants spoke significantly more than providers, indicating that the sessions allowed patients to reflect on their experiences.

Although the analysis was conducted in a PTSD trial rather than Compass Pathways’ treatment-resistant depression (TRD) program, Jefferies noted that the company has applied a similar psychological support model across its clinical programs.

The report comes ahead of a September 2026 FDA hearing on psychedelics and Compass Pathways’ potential regulatory review of COMP360 for TRD. Jefferies estimated it has 75% to 85% confidence that the FDA will approve COMP360 for TRD by the end of 2026, citing positive results from three Phase IIb/III datasets, the therapy’s FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and the company’s receipt of an FDA CNPV voucher.

Jefferies also pointed to broader industry developments supporting the potential adoption of psychedelic treatments, including increasing interest from pharmaceutical companies and growing infrastructure for supervised psychedelic therapies. The analysts highlighted Spravato’s commercial performance as an indicator that patient demand and treatment-center capacity may support future adoption of COMP360.

The analysts wrote that the FDA’s recent psychedelic guidance further supports the distinction between psychological support and psychotherapy, noting that regulators have focused on evaluating whether psychotherapy contributes to treatment effects while psychological support is intended primarily to maintain patient safety.

Jefferies also noted that Compass Pathways’ trial design differs from the approach taken by Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA-assisted therapy application, which was rejected by the FDA in 2024 for PTSD. The analysts wrote that the FDA had raised concerns around Lykos’ use of psychotherapy alongside treatment, among other issues.

The analysts maintained that Compass Pathways could eventually achieve peak sales of more than $1.5 billion, which they estimated could support a valuation of $3 billion to $4.5 billion based on a 2-3x multiple.

Shares of Compass Pathways are up about 80% so far this year, trading hands at about $12.

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

When looking at the last two reports, this insurance brokerage has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 2.13%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the last reported quarter, Aon came out with earnings of $6.48 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.33 per share, representing a surprise of 2.37%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $4.76 per share and it actually produced earnings of $4.85 per share, delivering a surprise of 1.89%.

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Aon. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

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

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

Aon has an Earnings ESP of +0.24% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 29, 2026.

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

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

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

Key Takeaways Iridium is using strong free cash flow to invest in four growth areas while reducing net leverage.IRDM is advancing IoT, NTN Direct, PNT, aviation safety and government programs with new products.Iridium expects about $318M in 2026 pro forma free cash flow and $1.5B-$1.8B through the decade. Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM - Free Report) continues to generate strong free cash flow, providing the financial flexibility to support its expansion strategy while maintaining a disciplined capital allocation approach. On the last earnings call, management highlighted that its cash generation allows it to reduce net leverage quickly while also preserving the flexibility to invest in business growth opportunities through product development or potential tuck-in acquisitions.

As of March 31, Iridium had cash and cash equivalents of $111.6 million and ended the quarter with net leverage of 3.4x OEBITDA. The company also remains committed to an active and growing dividend program, having paid a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, while expecting its board to continue increasing the dividend in line with prior years. Capital expenditures totaled $30 million in the first quarter, and the company expects full-year CapEx to remain consistent with 2025 levels as it continues investing in Iridium NTN Direct. Iridium projects pro forma free cash flow of about $318 million in 2026 and expects to generate between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion in free cash flow over the remainder of the decade.

The company plans to utilize this financial strength to advance its four key growth areas while continuing to support its legacy business. In IoT, Iridium is preparing to launch its Iridium 9604 TriMode module, which combines satellite IoT, cellular IoT and GPS into a compact, cost-effective solution. The module is expected to simplify the product portfolio, lower integration costs and support expansion into cost-sensitive applications such as automotive, smart meters, agriculture and asset tracking. The company is also progressing toward the commercial launch of Iridium NTN Direct later this year, while continuing to expand agreements with mobile network operators and working with chip and module manufacturers to enable future standards-based connectivity.

Iridium is also investing in its Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) business, where the rollout of its new ASIC is generating strong interest from more than 100 companies. The company believes the new chip will accelerate deployments and continues to expect PNT to contribute at least $100 million in annual revenue by 2030.

Beyond PNT, Iridium is prioritizing national security missions through its growing work with the U.S. government and the Space Development Agency, while also expanding engineering and support activities. Aviation safety remains another strategic focus, with progress on new Certus aviation safety services and differentiated products intended to create additional opportunities. Management stated that partner activity remains strong, and the company plans to continue investing the cash it generates into these long-term growth initiatives while maintaining its focus on execution.

Taking a Look at IRDM’s CompetitorsAST SpaceMobile (ASTS - Free Report) is gaining from its leadership in direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity, supported by proprietary phased array technology and thousands of patent claims. The company has built a sizable liquidity base to fund satellite manufacturing, ground infrastructure and launch activity through early commercialization. As of March 31, 2026, the company reported approximately $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. The balance sheet also reflects additional convertible financing completed in early 2026, which management expects to support constellation deployment, technology investment and debt management initiatives. While the company is still operating at a loss, this funding reduces near-term refinancing risk and provides flexibility to sustain the planned deployment cadence as service activation progresses.

Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT - Free Report) is generating positive adjusted free cash flow. During the first quarter of 2026, the company reported adjusted free cash flow of $28.9 million compared with $47.6 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of cash receipts under the Updated Services Agreements, as the company received $7.5 million in accelerated service fees during the first quarter of 2026 compared with $22.5 million a year ago. During the quarter, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $35.2 million, while capital expenditures were primarily associated with the deployment of replacement satellites and the Extended MSS Network.

IRDM Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of IRDM have gained 144.2% in the past six months against the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry’s decline of 13.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, IRDM trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 5.39X, above the industry’s 2.8X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IRDM earnings for 2026 has been marginally revised upward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Iridium currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Posted by _ _xnake on Jul 17th, 2026

Palmer Square Capital BDC (NYSE:PSBD – Get Free Report) and Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Profitability This table compares Palmer Square Capital BDC and Ares Capital’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Palmer Square Capital BDC -26.82% 11.01% 4.14% Ares Capital 37.30% 9.85% 4.59% Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Palmer Square Capital BDC and Ares Capital, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Palmer Square Capital BDC 1 4 0 0 1.80 Ares Capital 0 3 8 0 2.73 Palmer Square Capital BDC presently has a consensus price target of $10.75, indicating a potential upside of 7.18%. Ares Capital has a consensus price target of $20.60, indicating a potential upside of 7.24%. Given Ares Capital’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ares Capital is more favorable than Palmer Square Capital BDC.

Volatility & Risk Palmer Square Capital BDC has a beta of 0.81, meaning that its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ares Capital has a beta of 0.56, meaning that its stock price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation This table compares Palmer Square Capital BDC and Ares Capital”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Palmer Square Capital BDC $124.39 million 2.51 -$3.17 million ($1.04) -9.64 Ares Capital $3.05 billion 4.52 $1.30 billion $1.63 11.79 Ares Capital has higher revenue and earnings than Palmer Square Capital BDC. Palmer Square Capital BDC is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ares Capital, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership 6.5% of Palmer Square Capital BDC shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 27.4% of Ares Capital shares are held by institutional investors. 1.1% of Palmer Square Capital BDC shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.5% of Ares Capital shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends Palmer Square Capital BDC pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.4%. Ares Capital pays an annual dividend of $1.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 10.0%. Palmer Square Capital BDC pays out -138.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ares Capital pays out 117.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Palmer Square Capital BDC is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary Ares Capital beats Palmer Square Capital BDC on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Palmer Square Capital BDC (Get Free Report)

Palmer Square Capital BDC Inc. is an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company which primarily lends to and invests in corporate debt securities, including small to large private U.S. companies and has elected to be regulated as a business development company. Palmer Square Capital BDC Inc. is based in MISSION WOODS, Kan.

About Ares Capital (Get Free Report)

Ares Capital Corporation is a business development company specializing in acquisition, recapitalization, mezzanine debt, restructurings, rescue financing, and leveraged buyout transactions of middle market companies. It also makes growth capital and general refinancing. It prefers to make investments in companies engaged in the basic and growth manufacturing, business services, consumer products, health care products and services, and information technology service sectors. The fund will also consider investments in industries such as restaurants, retail, oil and gas, and technology sectors. It focuses on investments in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southwest regions from its New York office, the Midwest region, from the Chicago office, and the Western region from the Los Angeles office. The fund typically invests between $20 million and $200 million and a maximum of $400 million in companies with an EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million. It makes debt investments between $10 million and $100 million The fund invests through revolvers, first lien loans, warrants, unitranche structures, second lien loans, mezzanine debt, private high yield, junior capital, subordinated debt, and non-control preferred and common equity. The fund also selectively considers third-party-led senior and subordinated debt financings and opportunistically considers the purchase of stressed and discounted debt positions. The fund prefers to be an agent and/or lead the transactions in which it invests. The fund also seeks board representation in its portfolio companies.

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« PREVIOUS HEADLINECommunity Health Systems (NYSE:CYH) Price Target Raised to $3.75

TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI – Get Free Report) and SLB (NYSE:SLB – Get Free Report) are both large-cap energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Insider & Institutional Ownership 96.6% of TechnipFMC shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.0% of SLB shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of TechnipFMC shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of SLB shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability This table compares TechnipFMC and SLB’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets TechnipFMC 10.62% 34.06% 11.30% SLB 9.26% 15.54% 7.51% Dividends TechnipFMC pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. SLB pays an annual dividend of $1.18 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. TechnipFMC pays out 7.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. SLB pays out 51.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. TechnipFMC has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and SLB has increased its dividend for 5 consecutive years. SLB is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Risk & Volatility TechnipFMC has a beta of 0.7, indicating that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SLB has a beta of 0.72, indicating that its share price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares TechnipFMC and SLB”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio TechnipFMC $9.93 billion 2.89 $963.90 million $2.62 27.49 SLB $35.71 billion 1.97 $3.37 billion $2.29 20.56 SLB has higher revenue and earnings than TechnipFMC. SLB is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than TechnipFMC, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations for TechnipFMC and SLB, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score TechnipFMC 0 3 12 1 2.88 SLB 1 3 18 2 2.88 TechnipFMC currently has a consensus target price of $69.64, indicating a potential downside of 3.29%. SLB has a consensus target price of $60.30, indicating a potential upside of 28.10%. Given SLB’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe SLB is more favorable than TechnipFMC.

Summary TechnipFMC beats SLB on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About TechnipFMC (Get Free Report)

TechnipFMC plc engages in the energy projects, technologies, and systems and services businesses in Europe, Central Asia, North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Subsea and Surface Technologies. The Subsea segment engages in the design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, fabrication, installation, and life of field services for subsea systems, subsea field infrastructure, and subsea pipe systems used in oil and gas production and transportation. It provides subsea production and processing system; flexible pipe; subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines; vessels; robotics; well and asset services; and Subsea Studio for optimizing the development, execution, and operation of current and future subsea fields. The Surface Technologies segment designs, manufactures, and services products and systems used in land and shallow water exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. This segment offers drilling; surface wellheads and production trees systems; iComplete, a pressure control system; fracturing tree and manifold systems; flexible pipes; safety and integrity systems, multiphase meter modules, in-line separation and processing systems, and standard pumps; well control and integrity systems; separation and processing systems; skid systems; and flow measurement and automation solutions. It also offers planning, testing and installation, commissioning, operations, replacement and upgrade, maintenance, storage, preservation, intervention, integrity, decommissioning, and abandonment; and supplies flowline products and services. TechnipFMC plc was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

About SLB (Get Free Report)

Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products. It also offers subsurface geology and fluids evaluation information; open and cased hole services; exploration and production pressure, and flow-rate measurement services; and pressure pumping, well stimulation, and coiled tubing equipment solutions. In addition, the company offers mud logging, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services, as well as engineering support services; supplies drilling fluid systems; designs, manufactures, and markets roller cone and fixed cutter drill bits; bottom-hole-assembly and borehole enlargement technologies; well cementing products and services; well planning, well drilling, engineering, supervision, logistics, procurement, and contracting of third parties, as well as drilling rig management solutions; and drilling equipment and services, as well as land drilling rigs and related services. Further, it provides artificial lift production equipment and optimization services; supplies packers, safety valves, sand control technology, and various intelligent well completions technology and equipment; designs and manufactures valves, chokes, actuators, and surface trees; and OneSubsea, an integrated solutions, products, systems, and services, including wellheads, subsea trees, manifolds and flowline connectors, control systems, connectors, and services. The company was formerly known as Socie´te´ de Prospection E´lectrique. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1926 and is based in Houston, Texas.

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All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

Atmos Energy (ATO - Free Report) is headquartered in Dallas, and is in the Utilities sector. The stock has seen a price change of 6.21% since the start of the year. Currently paying a dividend of $1.00 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 2.25%. In comparison, the Utility - Gas Distribution industry's yield is 3.67%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.32%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $4.00 is up 14.9% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Atmos Energy has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 8.75%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Atmos's current payout ratio is 49%, meaning it paid out 49% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Looking at this fiscal year, ATO expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $8.43 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 13.00%.

Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.

For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers its shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, ATO is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

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Shares of Lucid (NASDAQ:LCID | LCID Price Prediction) are up 10% in midday trading Friday to $7.09, extending what is now a third consecutive up day for the embattled electric vehicle maker. The move puts Lucid stock back above its pre-rumor July 9 level of $5.83, effectively erasing the take-private and Chapter 11 rumor-cycle scare that hammered shares earlier this week.

It’s been a veritable roller-coaster ride for LCID stock. Lucid shares tagged an intraday flash low of $2.37 on July 14 before closing that session at $4.50. That was followed by an 18% pop to $5.45 on July 15, a 12% gain to $6.46 on July 16, and today’s continuation higher.

This could be read as a rumor-scare recovery rather than a full comeback. Lucid stock is still down 32.5% year to date (YTD) and down 77% over the past year. The relief rally has clawed back the immediate panic losses, but nothing more.

Rumor Denials Fueled the Multi-Day Bounce Three catalysts stacked back to back to break the panic on Lucid. The company filed an 8-K on July 14 denying the take-private and bankruptcy chatter, and Cantor Fitzgerald followed the next day, reaffirming that Lucid has funding into next year. Then on July 16, CEO Silvio Napoli posted a personal LinkedIn rebuttal pushing back directly on the bankruptcy and take-private narrative.

Today’s Lucid move doesn’t carry a fresh company-specific catalyst. It looks like continuation, short covering, and momentum piling into a heavily shorted battleground name, and options positioning supports that read. Lucid’s full-chain put/call ratio sits at 0.64, with the nearest weekly expiration skewing even more call-heavy at 0.49.

Insiders have been active on the buy side, too. Lucid stock data shows 19 recent insider transactions with net buying, and Polymarket puts the odds of a Lucid bankruptcy before 2027 at just 23%. Wall Street coverage on Lucid stock is more muted, with 1 Buy, 8 Hold, and 3 Sell ratings and a consensus analyst price target of $8.30.

SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion. Open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts. See for yourself by clicking here now.

Tesla and Rivian Don’t Follow Higher The peer tape confirms that today’s move is specific to Lucid. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock is down 2% today to $382. Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) stock is only modestly higher at $17.40, well shy of Lucid’s double-digit surge, and neither name appears to be riding Lucid’s coattails.

The Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV) shows the same story at the fund level. DRIV holds Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla, but Lucid sits at just 1% of net assets versus Tesla’s 3% weight. That’s why the ETF barely twitches on a double-digit Lucid swing; DRIV is a narrow, thematic fund, with its volatility profile set by mega-cap names like Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), and Tesla.

The Lucid playbook here rhymes with other retail short-covering setups. Carvana (NYSE:CVNA) ran a similar bankruptcy-scare-to-relief-rally cycle a couple of years back. Lucid isn’t there yet, but the mechanics of denial plus covering plus momentum are familiar.

What to Watch Next The next real test for Lucid is August 4, when the company reports its Q2 2026 earnings after the close. Napoli has committed to a full strategic update on that call. Between now and then, investors can watch for whether today’s Lucid gains hold into Friday’s close and whether the Gravity SUV ramp and the Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) and Nuro robotaxi rollout narrative stays intact.

Rivian reports first, after the close on July 30. That report could reset sentiment across the EV cohort ahead of Lucid’s own numbers. Traders may want to size their Lucid positions carefully, as battleground names cut both ways and today’s higher price hands the short sellers a much cheaper entry than they had at the July 14 lows.

Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Free StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.

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Posted by _ _xnake on Jul 17th, 2026

SEALSQ (NASDAQ:LAES – Get Free Report) and Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends and earnings.

Risk and Volatility SEALSQ has a beta of -7.88, indicating that its share price is 888% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lam Research has a beta of 1.8, indicating that its share price is 80% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership 1.3% of SEALSQ shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 84.6% of Lam Research shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Lam Research shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares SEALSQ and Lam Research”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SEALSQ $18.25 million 25.81 -$34.19 million N/A N/A Lam Research $18.44 billion 21.77 $5.36 billion $5.30 60.56 Lam Research has higher revenue and earnings than SEALSQ.

Profitability This table compares SEALSQ and Lam Research’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SEALSQ N/A N/A N/A Lam Research 30.94% 66.21% 31.61% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for SEALSQ and Lam Research, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SEALSQ 1 1 1 0 2.00 Lam Research 0 6 28 0 2.82 SEALSQ currently has a consensus price target of $6.00, suggesting a potential upside of 145.90%. Lam Research has a consensus price target of $358.67, suggesting a potential upside of 11.75%. Given SEALSQ’s higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe SEALSQ is more favorable than Lam Research.

Summary Lam Research beats SEALSQ on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SEALSQ (Get Free Report)

SEALSQ Corp, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets semiconductor chips in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers semiconductors, such as VaultIC secure elements, secure arm platform, and smart card reader chips; identity provisioning services, such as IoT device provisioning and chip provisioning; and managed PKI for IoT solutions and trust services. The company provides device-to-cloud authentication, device attestation for matter, GSMA root certificate, device-to-device authentication, data protection, anti-counterfeiting and brand protection, security access, device ID provisioning, identity lifecycle management, and satellite IoT connectivity solutions. Its products are used in various applications, such as smart energy, smart home, automotive EV charging, consumer IoT, aerospace and military, telecommunications, logistics, medical, luxury, and other industrial applications. SEALSQ Corp was founded in 2022 and is based in Cointrin, Switzerland.

About Lam Research (Get Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers ALTUS systems to deposit conformal films for tungsten metallization applications; SABRE electrochemical deposition products for copper interconnect transition that offers copper damascene manufacturing; SOLA ultraviolet thermal processing products for film treatments; and VECTOR plasma-enhanced CVD ALD products. It also provides SPEED gapfill high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition products; and Striker single-wafer atomic layer deposition products for dielectric film solutions. In addition, the company offers Flex for dielectric etch applications; Kiyo for conductor etch applications; Syndion for through-silicon via etch applications; and Versys metal products for metal etch processes. Further, it provides Coronus bevel clean products to enhance die yield; Da Vinci, DV-Prime, EOS, and SP series products to address various wafer cleaning applications; and Metryx mass metrology systems for high precision in-line mass measurement in semiconductor wafer manufacturing. The company sells its products and services to semiconductors industry in the United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and internationally. The company was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

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« PREVIOUS HEADLINERobert W. Baird Issues Positive Forecast for Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) Stock Price

Key Takeaways U.S. retail sales rose 0.2% in June as online sales and easing energy costs supported spending.AMZN, FIVE, DLTR, TGT and TJX stand out for strong retail positions and online or value offerings. Lower inflation and resilient consumer spending could continue supporting the retail sector. U.S. retail sales grew in June, as energy costs eased and online sales surged. The retail sector has been making a steady rebound amid high inflation and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Despite these challenges, spending has remained resilient, boosting the sector. 

Given this situation, it would be ideal to invest in retail stocks with a strong online presence. We have selected five stocks, namely, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) , Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) , Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) and The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) .

Retail Sales SurgeRetail sales rose 0.2% in June after increasing 1% in the prior month, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. The rise came in line with analysts’ expectations. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales climbed 6.7%.

The monthly gain was the slowest in five months, yet the sector continued to perform well. One of the biggest boosts came from lower gasoline prices after tensions between the United States and Iran eased in mid-June. Receipts at gas stations fell 5.3% last month, after jumping 2.6% in May.

Receipts at auto dealerships rose 1.9% in June. Also, online retail sales rose 1.9% last month, driven by Amazon Prime Day sales.

Sales at electronics and appliance stores advanced 0.8% in June, while receipts at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores rose an impressive 1.3%.

Higher prices due to high tariffs have been weighing on household budgets, but higher incomes are boosting spending. Also, impressive tax refunds this year have been helping consumers spend more freely.

The U.S. economy grew 2.1% in the first quarter. Also, inflation declined sharply in June after surging for three months. The consumer price index declined 0.4% month over month, surpassing analysts’ expectations of a decline of 0.2%. Year over year, CPI fell to 3.5% in June, beating analysts’ expectations of a reading of 3.8%.

The sudden decline in inflation has also raised hopes that the Federal Reserve could wait for a longer period before deciding on whether to hike interest rates. Lower interest rates are likely to boost the sector further.

5 Retail Stocks With UpsideAmazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc. is one of the largest e-commerce providers, with sprawling operations in North America, now spreading across the globe. AMZN’s online retail business revolves around the Prime program, well-supported by the company’s massive distribution network. Further, the Whole Foods Market acquisition helped Amazon establish a footprint in the physical grocery supermarket space. AMZN also enjoys a dominant position in the cloud-computing market, particularly in the Infrastructure as a Service space, thanks to Amazon Web Services.

Amazon.com has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.1% over the last 60 days. AMZN presently has a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Five Below, IncFive Below, Inc. is a specialty value chain retailer that provides a wide range of premium quality and trendy merchandise for $5 or below. FIVE mainly targets teenagers or pre-teen shoppers for its products, which include certain brands and licensed merchandise. Notably, these products belong to categories such as Style, Room, Sports, Tech, Create, Party, Candy and Now.

Five Below’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 35.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 10.7% over the past 60 days. FIVE presently carries a Zacks Rank #1.

Dollar TreeDollar Tree, Inc. is an operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise and other assortments. DLTR’s stores successfully operate in major metropolitan areas, mid-sized cities and small towns. Dollar Tree offers a wide range of quality everyday general merchandise in many categories, including houseware, seasonal goods, candy and food, toys, health and beauty care, gifts, party goods, stationery, books, personal accessories, and other consumer items.

Dollar Tree’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 21.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current-year earnings has improved 3.7% over the past 60 days. DLTR has a Zacks Rank #2.

Target CorporationTarget Corporation has evolved from being a pure brick & mortar retailer to an omni-channel entity. TGT has been investing in technologies, improving websites and mobile apps, and modernizing the supply chain to keep pace with the changing retail landscape and better compete with pure e-commerce players.

Target Corporation’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 10.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 3.7% over the past 60 days. Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The TJX CompaniesThe TJX Companies, Inc.i s a leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the United States and worldwide. TJX’s broad range of assortments at varying prices helps it reach out to a broad range of consumers. In addition, The TJX Companies tries to attract consumers through a rapid turn of inventories.

The TJX Companies’ expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 2.2% over the past 60 days. TJX presently has a Zacks Rank #2.

Every World Cup produces a moment nobody saw coming. This year, WEEX, a world leading crypto exchange, gave its community three ways to get ahead of it: a live prediction data report with Foregate, a $1,000,000 Dice Rush campaign, and an interview with football legend Michael Owen that ended up predicting the tournament’s biggest upset before it happened.

The Guide That Reads the Tournament Like a Market WEEX teamed up with ForeGate, the Solana-based on-chain prediction market, to publish the ForeGate 2026 World Cup Winning Guide — a living report tracking advancement odds, likely matchups, and title paths as the tournament unfolds.

The idea was simple: treat football like a market, not a guessing game.

Where most World Cup content freezes on kickoff day, this one kept moving — updated as results came in, odds shifted, and underdogs made their case. While the tournament kept changing, WEEX made sure the data changed with it.

WEEX Cup: Where Every Roll Could Be Worth $1,000,000 Alongside the data, WEEX built something louder: WEEX Cup – Dice Rush, a World Cup-themed event backed by a $1,000,000 USDT prize pool, plus trial fund, token rewards and more!

The mechanics are built for momentum, not complexity:

Earn dice — complete tasks like deposits, trading, or inviting friends Roll to win — move across the board, unlock BTC, ETH, USDT, coupons, and more Stack points — unlock milestone rewards and enter WEEX Cup match predictions Back a champion — use points to support the team you believe will lift the trophy, then share the prize pool with everyone who called it right Users who picked less-favored outcomes were positioned for bigger rewards — a mechanic that turned out to be more prophetic than anyone expected.

The numbers tell the story. Over 100,000 users have joined the event so far. More than $1,000,000 in rewards has already been distributed, with top winners claiming over $2,000 each.

One line sums up the design philosophy: the crowd isn’t always right, and the ones who bet against it get paid more for being early.

When WEEX and Michael Owen Predicted the Upset Before It Happened Weeks before Cape Verde became the story of the tournament, WEEX COO Andrew Weiner sat down with football legend Michael Owen to talk about what makes this World Cup different.

One line from that conversation stands out now:

“When you’re in the minority of opinion, you have the biggest chance for the biggest value.”

Owen went further, pointing to the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams as fertile ground for exactly this kind of surprise:

“There’s possible value in certain situations — it’s down to people to try to find it.”

Then Cape Verde happened.

A nation of 546,000 people, ranked outside the world’s top 70, playing in its first-ever World Cup — and it didn’t just show up. It drew Spain 0-0. It drew Uruguay 2-2. It drew Saudi Arabia 0-0, advancing out of the group stage without winning a single match, one of only five teams in World Cup history to do so.

Then, in the round of 16, Cape Verde held reigning champions Argentina to a 1-1 draw through regulation time — before finally falling 3-2 in extra time.

Four matches. Three former World Cup champions faced. Zero regulation-time losses.

It was, by every measure, the value Owen had described weeks earlier — found by a team nobody was pricing in.

A football legend called it before the tournament even started. That’s the kind of insight WEEX brought to its community.

WEEX’s World Cup Journey: Three Moves, One Idea Report, game, and conversation weren’t three separate campaigns. They were one belief, expressed three ways:

The best value in football — and in markets — is rarely where everyone’s already looking.

WEEX didn’t just watch the World Cup happen. It built tools to help its community read it, play it, and occasionally, predict it before the world caught on.

Disclaimer: This information does not hold any official affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement with FIFA or any official international football governing body. 

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Solana has maintained short-term support after breaking out of a falling wedge pattern, which keeps the pathway open toward the $79 to $81 range. This recent technical movement has prompted renewed optimism among traders, as buyers have managed to defend a critical support area following previous failures to sustain upward momentum.

Solana’s rebound raises exit rally considerationsAnalyst Killa argued that while Solana’s recovery may open the door to the $120 to $170 price region, the longer-term chart still points to potential weakness beyond that zone. The analyst warned that an increase in token supply and the concentration of SOL holdings among large investors could cap the cryptocurrency’s upward potential, limiting its ability to revisit earlier highs.

At current levels near $75, the price is viewed more as an accumulation area for medium-term traders than as the foundation of a lasting bull market. The analyst suggested that any significant advance would first need to reclaim $100 before approaching the $120 to $170 resistance, where major selling pressure is likely to return.

Concerns about future token supply and the behavior of large holders remain central to the bearish case. However, these point to the need for more detailed on-chain data to verify if insiders or foundation-linked entities are actively influencing price trends. The technical chart alone, according to Killa, does not provide enough evidence regarding the actual distribution or sale of tokens.

For Solana’s current rebound to gain traction, the cryptocurrency must maintain its upward momentum and create a pattern of higher lows, especially in the $60 to $70 region. A loss of this support could trigger further losses, with lower price targets of $40 and possibly $20 to $30 coming into play if the weakness intensifies.

A more definitive shift in sentiment could occur if Solana manages to break above $170 and then secure that level as a new support base. Until such a breakout is confirmed, analysts see any large upward move as an opportunity for early investors to exit rather than a sign of a sustained return to all-time highs.

Mini dictionary: Falling wedge — A falling wedge is a bullish chart pattern formed when an asset’s price moves between two converging downward sloping trendlines. The breakout above the upper trendline often indicates a reversal or continuation to the upside.

Key LevelSignificance$79-$81First upside target after wedge breakout$120-$170Upper resistance; potential area for sellers$60-$70Critical support zone for bullish scenario$40 / $20-$30Downside targets if support is lost$170+Potential trigger for sustained uptrend The current area near $75 is seen as a potential accumulation zone for medium-term trades rather than the beginning of a lasting bull cycle, with the $120 to $170 region likely to attract renewed selling activity.

Technical breakout shifts short-term outlookSolana has moved above a falling wedge pattern after successfully retesting previous resistance at $74 to $76, strengthening the bullish short-term outlook. The transition of this region from resistance to support marks a critical support-resistance flip, suggesting buyers are now in control of the immediate trend.

This key price zone had rejected multiple recovery attempts in the past, but maintaining a position above it now helps sustain upward pressure and reduces the risk of a quick reversal. The breakout from the falling wedge indicates that the recent correction phase, which produced a series of lower highs and lows from the $83 level, may have ended or is at least on hold.

Looking ahead, holding above the broken trendline and the $74 to $76 support area remains essential. Any return below this level could see the trend invalidated and shift focus back to lower support levels near $72 to $73. Sustained strength above current prices would validate $79 to $81 as the next targets for SOL bulls.

Breaking above the upper trendline of the falling wedge pattern implies weakening selling pressure and brings the $79 to $81 region into focus as Solana’s immediate upside target.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

TLDR: Argentine Judge Martínez de Giorgi froze 25 crypto accounts tied to the $LIBRA investigation. Six exchanges, including Binance and Bybit, must submit full customer KYC and transaction records. Police traced fund flows from “Team Libra Wallets” through Solana and Tron blockchain networks. The $LIBRA token collapse reportedly cost more than 40,000 investors nearly $100 million in losses. An Argentine judge froze 25 crypto accounts connected to the $LIBRA token investigation on Friday. Federal Judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi ordered six exchanges, including Binance, Bybit and Bitfinex, to identify account holders.

The order followed a police report tracing fund flows from wallets linked to the token promoted by President Javier Milei in February 2025. The ruling seeks to prevent further asset movement during the ongoing probe.

Judge Orders Exchanges to Reveal Account Holders Judge Martínez de Giorgi issued the resolution at the request of prosecutor Eduardo Taiano. The order relied on a technical report from the Cybercrime Department of the Argentine Federal Police.

Six platforms were named in the ruling: Binance, Bybit, OKX, CoinEx, FixedFloat and Bitfinex. Ten addresses were tied to Binance, eight to Bybit, and smaller numbers to the remaining exchanges.

Each exchange must now hand over complete KYC files for the affected accounts. This includes account opening documents, internal memos and IP connection records.

Linked bank account information and full transaction histories were also demanded. The Cybercrime Department will compile the official documentation for the case file.

The judge pointed to Argentina’s regulatory gap, noting there is no “governing body in matters of cryptocurrencies.”

Argentine Judge Freezes 25 Crypto Accounts, Orders Six Exchanges to Identify Account Holders

Argentine federal judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi ordered 25 crypto accounts linked to the LIBRA investigation frozen and directed Binance, Bybit, OKX, CoinEx, FixedFloat and Bitfinex… pic.twitter.com/rvTmh8eFFv

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 17, 2026

He explained the freeze was needed to “avoid damage that is impossible to repair later.” Preventing further transfers of potential criminal proceeds was described as necessary to the case. The order also seeks to stop related offenses from continuing during the legal process.

The resolution further stated the measure was “indispensable” to secure eventual asset recovery. Judicial authorities want to block any handling or disposal of funds tied to the alleged crime.

This step aims to preserve evidence while the broader investigation proceeds. Prosecutors say the frozen accounts remain central to tracing the token’s collapse.

Investigators Trace Fund Movements Across Networks The police report used backward tracing and open-source intelligence to reconstruct the fund flow. Investigators found that funds departed from wallets identified as “Team Libra Wallets.”

Millions of tokens moved toward the Meteora liquidity protocol between February 14 and 15, 2025. The balances later converged into a single intermediary wallet identified by investigators.

From that wallet, funds moved on November 25, 2025, to an address linked to a Solana-based vault. Arkham Intelligence had previously flagged this address in connection with the $LIBRA token.

A larger transfer occurred on May 10, 2026, involving nearly 500,000 USDT moved to the Tron network. The transaction was completed in 16 seconds using automated liquidity solvers.

No traditional exchange handled that specific transfer, according to the police findings. Once funds reached Tron, investigators say a smurfing pattern began.

Fragmented amounts were distributed daily across multiple wallets to complicate tracing efforts. Seventeen separate bridges moving USDC or USDT from Solana to Tron were identified in total.

Case Origins Trace Back to Presidential Post The $LIBRA case began after Milei promoted the token on X on February 14, 2025. The token’s price surged from roughly $0.01 to near $5 within hours.

It then collapsed following sell-offs attributed to the token’s creators and early holders. More than 40,000 people reportedly suffered losses in the crash.

Total withdrawals from the token are estimated at approximately $100 million. Kip Network, led by Julian Peh, and Kelsier Ventures, owned by Hayden Davis, face scrutiny.

Both firms are named as participants in the token’s creation and launch. Lobbyist Mauricio Novelli and his associate Manuel Terrones Godoy are also accused.

The judge recently removed plaintiffs who had claimed status as injured investors. That decision has been appealed before Chamber I of the Buenos Aires Federal Court. The investigation into the $LIBRA token collapse continues under prosecutor Taiano’s direction.

Robinhood Chain has been live for exactly one week, and aggregators are already racing to plug into it. Velvet Capital’s trading terminal, VelvetX, announced support for Robinhood Chain on July 7, enabling single-transaction cross-chain swaps from networks like Solana, Base, BNB Chain, and Ethereum, no manual bridging required.

For anyone who’s ever watched their tokens disappear into a bridge for 20 anxiety-filled minutes, that last part matters. The integration means traders can move assets directly onto Robinhood’s Arbitrum-based Layer 2 through VelvetX without the usual multi-step headache that makes cross-chain activity feel like filing taxes.

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What VelvetX actually does here VelvetX is Velvet Capital’s AI-driven trading terminal. It handles spot trading, perpetuals, and yield strategies across multiple chains, essentially trying to be a one-stop shop for DeFi traders who don’t want twelve browser tabs open at once.

The cross-chain routing is powered by the 0x protocol, which was selected as the swap and liquidity infrastructure provider for Robinhood Chain itself. In English: 0x acts as the plumbing that finds the best prices and routes trades across different blockchains, so users don’t have to manually hop between networks.

Velvet Capital is backed by notable investors including YZi Labs and DWF Labs. The project has a native token, VELVET, with a circulating supply of roughly 421 million tokens against a maximum supply of 1 billion.

Robinhood Chain’s first week Robinhood Chain launched its public mainnet on July 1, built on the Arbitrum technology stack. The chain’s pitch goes well beyond simple token swaps. Robinhood is using it to offer stock tokens accessible across 120 countries. The chain also supports DeFi applications, including lending solutions powered by Morpho.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Solana price has fallen nearly 4% to about $74 after a rejection near $77, as a global technology sell-off and leveraged long liquidations have pushed traders toward caution.

Summary

Solana price tests $74 support after losing its rising trendline and facing weak four-hour momentum. A recovery above $76.50 could trigger short liquidations and drive SOL toward $78–$80. Losing $74 would expose the daily Supertrend support at $69.60 and deepen downside risks. According to data from crypto.news, Solana (SOL) price extended its decline on July 17 after failing to hold above the $76.50–$77 resistance area. Selling accelerated as semiconductor shares led losses across global markets, with Nasdaq 100 futures down 1.8%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 off 4%, and Taiwan’s benchmark plunging more than 6%.

The drop can partly be attributed to the rout due to doubts over stretched artificial intelligence valuations and leveraged retail positions.

Strong U.S. data added pressure on speculative assets. Initial unemployment claims fell to 208,000 from 216,000, while June retail sales rose 0.2%. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed toward 4.60%, and the dollar strengthened, raising the cost of holding high-beta assets such as Solana.

Institutional demand has provided only limited relief. U.S. spot Solana exchange-traded funds attracted $8.36 million on July 6, their strongest daily intake in almost two months, per data from SoSoValue. However, the inflow was not enough to prevent SOL from retreating from its early-July high near $83.

Solana price can rebound if bulls reclaim $76.50 On the 4-hour chart, SOL trades near $74.87 and has reached the lower Bollinger Band at $74.33. The middle band at $76.51 now serves as immediate resistance, while the upper band sits at $78.69. A 4-hour close above the midpoint would give buyers another chance to test the $78–$80 region.

Solana price 4-hour chart — July 17 | Source: crypto.news Momentum remains weak but is approaching levels where relief rallies can develop. The 4-hour relative strength index has dropped to 36.58, below its signal average of 45.48 but still above the oversold threshold of 30. Price has also formed a sequence of lower highs since its July 4 peak near $83.

According to crypto analyst SatoshiOwl, SOL has reached a support area after breaking beneath an ascending trendline.

“Hold here and we could see a relief bounce back toward $78–$80. Lose it, and a deeper flush becomes much more likely.”

Ali Charts offered a longer-term counterpoint, noting that the TD Sequential indicator has produced a buy setup on Solana’s monthly chart. The analyst described it as a potential early warning of a macro trend change, although the monthly setup requires confirmation from shorter time frames.

The daily chart remains constructive above the Supertrend support at $69.62. Chaikin Money Flow stands at 0.03, which shows that capital flow is still marginally positive despite the latest sell-off. SOL must first recover the former horizontal support at $76.64 before the daily structure can improve.

Solana daily price chart — July 17 | Source: crypto.news CoinGlass’ three-day liquidation heatmap places the nearest large pools of leveraged positions above the market. Dense clusters sit near $76.50–$76.70, $78, and $78.70, making those levels possible price magnets if SOL rebounds. A move through $76.70 could liquidate short positions and accelerate a recovery toward $78.

A break below $74 would expose the $69.60 support zone Downside risk will rise if SOL closes decisively below the $74–$74.30 area. The heatmap shows less concentrated liquidity immediately beneath the current price, leaving room for a quicker decline toward $72 before the daily Supertrend level near $69.62 comes into play.

Solana liquidation heatmap | Source: CoinGlass A loss of $69.62 would invalidate the remaining bullish daily setup and expose the June recovery base between $64 and $66. Macroeconomic pressure could deepen that move if Treasury yields continue higher, technology shares extend their decline, or renewed U.S.-Iran tensions lift oil prices and reduce demand for risk assets.

For now, SOL remains caught between weak four-hour momentum and positive daily capital flow. Bulls need $76.50 back to target the liquidity stacked near $78–$80, while a failure to protect $74 would place the $69.60 trend support at risk.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Ondo Extends Always-On Access to 16 Tokenized Assets@OndoFinance has activated 24/7 minting and redemption for 10 additional tokenized stocks, including $AMD, $INTC, and $SPCX. The move brings its total lineup to 16 institutional-grade assets available for real-time settlement across @Solana, @BNBChain, and @Ethereum.

The expansion builds on a push that began in late June 2026, when Ondo became what it described as the first platform to offer true around-the-clock minting and redemption for tokenized U.S. equities. Until that point, minting and redemption had paused over weekends in line with traditional U.S. equity markets. The latest rollout eliminates one of the last restrictions linking tokenized assets to conventional trading schedules.

Ondo Stocks lists more than 430 tokenized stocks and ETFs across Solana, Ethereum, and BNB Chain, and is the first platform in the category to surpass $1 billion in total value locked.

Primary Issuance, Not Just Secondary TransfersA key distinction in Ondo's model is how liquidity is sourced. Ondo has argued that many platforms advertising 24/7 tokenized stock trading primarily enable transfers between users rather than continuous access to underlying liquidity. Its architecture enables primary issuance around the clock, effectively bypassing traditional banking and stock exchange downtime.

Ondo's tokenized stocks draw liquidity directly from public markets, where trading depth is substantial. Other platforms rely on onchain liquidity pools, which are limited in depth by design, meaning larger trades, especially over weekends when markets are thinner, can move prices significantly and cost traders far more.

Ondo's tokenized securities can also be used as collateral across platforms, including Ondo Perps, Morpho, Euler, and other DeFi ecosystems. The announcements follow Ondo surpassing 180,000 on-chain asset holders, indicating increasing demand for access to traditional financial products through blockchain solutions.

Tokenized stock transfers have surged roughly 105 percent month over month to approximately $8.4 billion in value, with Ondo leading the space at around $846 million in distributed value, ahead of other platforms like xStocks and Securitize.

Sources
TheStreet Crypto: Ondo Launches True 24/7 Minting and Redemption for Tokenized Stocks
Crypto Briefing: Ondo Introduces 24/7 Minting and Redemption for Tokenized Stocks and ETFs
The Defiant: Ondo Finance Launches 24/7 Minting and Redemption for Tokenized US Stocks and ETFs

The U.S. cryptocurrency industry is entering what one of its leading lobbyists describes as a decisive moment. 

During her Friday appearance on Fox Business, Kristin Smith, president of Solana Policy Institute, said the coming days could determine whether the industry finally secures a comprehensive federal regulatory framework after years of uncertainty.

"We've come so far with this legislation since the House passed the Clarity Act a year ago," Smith said. "There has been a lot of bipartisan input into this bill, and it is the best, most comprehensive language we've seen."

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However, despite her optimism, betting markets have become increasingly skeptical that the legislation will cross the finish line this year.

Ethics negotiations become central obstacleEthics negotiations have stalled the passage of the much-talked-about bill, and Smith claims that the crypto industry itself cannot dictate the outcome.

"It is absolutely essential," she said. "It's one of those tricky issues where it's not the crypto industry's place to decide what the deal is."

According to Smith, discussions with Democratic lawmakers have made it clear that they will insist on the addition of "ethics language."

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"I have met with members of Congress, especially Democrats. They need to have some sort of ethics language to be able to vote for it," she said. 

The proposed provisions would establish conflict-of-interest rules governing elected officials' involvement with crypto businesses.

Smith believes a compromise remains achievable. "This is a president who knows the art of the deal. If we get the president and the Democrats to agree on this issue, that will break the logjam, and we will be able to get the votes needed to get this through the Senate sometime next week or the following," she added. 

The most significant crypto legislation Smith described the legislation as the most significant crypto reform effort to date. If enacted, Smith argues, the legislation would dramatically improve investor protections while accelerating institutional adoption.

"Once we get this passed, we are going to see an unleashing of economic activity around the crypto space," she said.

She predicted the bill would lead to an upgrade to the financial services system, more traditional institutions adopting crypto technology and integrating it into their services.

Betting markets turn increasingly pessimisticDespite the industry's public optimism, prediction markets have actually become more pessimistic. 

According to Kalshi, the probability that U.S. crypto market structure legislation becomes law before Jan. 1, 2027, has fallen to roughly 36%. 

There is still some hope. The House Financial Services Committee will hold an informational field hearing in New York examining how the Clarity Act could foster innovation. Updated legislative text remains rather elusive so far, according to recent reports. 

BitGo Adds Qualified Custody and Off-Exchange Settlement for USDM1@BitGo has launched institutional-grade qualified custody and off-exchange settlement for USDM1, described as the world's first natively issued onchain secured sovereign bond. The deployment spans @StellarOrg, @Ethereum, and @Solana, giving professional firms a regulated path to hold dollar-denominated sovereign debt with 24/7 liquidity and near-instant finality.

USDM1 is issued by the Republic of the Marshall Islands and is backed 1:1 by short-duration U.S. Treasury instruments held in bankruptcy-remote custody. Structured in the style of a fully collateralized Brady bond under New York law and advised by Cleary Gottlieb, the instrument gives holders a perfected first-priority security interest in the underlying collateral under the UCC. It is regulated and supervised by the Marshall Islands Monetary Authority.

Unlike tokenized or wrapped instruments, USDM1 is issued directly on public blockchains against segregated Treasury reserves, with minting and burning corresponding to bond issuance and redemption. The instrument pays a sovereign coupon and is compatible with standard derivatives, repo, and securities lending frameworks, making it viable as institutional collateral alongside existing legal netting structures.

Go Network Integration Targets Real-Time Collateral and SettlementBitGo's move integrates USDM1 into the Go Network to support real-time collateralization and settlement. The architecture is designed to cut the multi-day settlement cycles typical of traditional fixed-income markets, replacing them with T+0 finality and programmable transfer across three major public blockchains.

The institutional case for USDM1 has been building for some time. M1X Global, the sovereign financial infrastructure company behind USDM1's development, closed an oversubscribed seed round led by Paradigm in July 2026, bringing total funding to $8.5 million. Paradigm partner Arjun Balaji noted that "24/7 markets require collateral that can move 24/7," citing USDM1 as a reference model for natively issued sovereign debt.

Beyond institutional markets, USDM1 also serves as the disbursement rail for the Marshall Islands' ENRA universal basic income program, described as the world's first nationwide on-chain UBI initiative, launched in November 2025.

Sources:
USDM1 Official Site: Sovereign USD-Denominated Financial Instrument
PR Newswire: USDM1 Now Available on Anchorage Digital
PR Newswire: M1X Global Announces Further Funding Led by Paradigm