XAU/USD Current price: $4,062The United States Producer Price Index rose by less than anticipated in June.Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testified before Congress, focus remains on inflation.XAU/USD is neutral-to-bearish, dangerously close to the $4,000 barrier. The US Dollar (USD) is under strong selling pressure on Wednesday, yet action around XAU/USD is muted. The Greenback found near-term demand at the beginning of the day, but changed direction following the release of the United States (US) Producer Price Index (PPI), which printed at 5.5% on a yearly basis in June, down from 6% in May. The reading came in below the market expectation of 6.6%. On a monthly basis, the PPI was down 0.3%.
The USD kept falling afterward, following comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Kevin Warsh. Warsh testified for a second consecutive day before Congress and maintained the focus on inflation as he said that current price pressures will not be permanent, while acknowledging that the latest inflation measures remain unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, Middle East tensions ramped up. The US conducted a military attack on Iran to take out coastal military installations, and tit-for-tat attacks in the region continue, although a Senior US official reported that talks between all parts have concluded, adding that discussions were “fruitful and positive.” Oil prices remain stable, meaning market players cling to hopes the situation won’t escalate further.
XAU/USD short-term technical outlook
The four-hour chart shows XAU/USD retains a mildly bearish bias as it sits below the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $4,073.52 and well under the 200-period SMA at $4,188.21. The metal nevertheless holds above the 20-period SMA at $4,048.14, hinting at near-term consolidation rather than a decisive breakdown. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator aims marginally higher, around 51, while the Momentum indicator has turned slightly positive within neutral levels, suggesting downside pressure is easing but not yet reversed.
In the daily chart, XAU/USD is more clearly bearish, as price holds beneath the short- and long-term moving averages. Spot gold is trading below the 20-day SMA at $4,092.16, while the 200-day SMA at $4,495.71 and the 100-day SMA at $4,559.53 remain well above, hinting at a market that stays capped within a broader corrective phase. The Momentum turns lower around its midline, while the RSI indicator stands near 42, suggesting subdued buying interest.
On the topside, immediate resistance is seen at the 100-period SMA at $4,073.52, followed by the $4,100 area, with a stronger cap at the 200-period SMA near $4,188.21, where a sustained break would be needed to reassert a bullish trend. On the downside, initial support is provided by the 20-period SMA at $4,048.14 ahead of the $4,000 mark. Below the latter, a recent low at $3,941 is the next level to watch.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (ADR) (NYSE:TSM) is expected to report second quarter results that come in slightly ahead of expectations, with Wedbush analysts pointing to strong revenue trends and continued demand for advanced semiconductor technologies as potential drivers for a stronger outlook.
Wedbush reiterated its ‘Outperform’ rating ahead of TSMC’s earnings, writing that the company’s monthly revenue figures indicate it likely exceeded the firm’s prior second-quarter top-line estimate by around 1%, similar to the previous quarter’s performance.
The analysts expect gross margins to have at least reached the midpoint of TSMC’s prior guidance range, noting that results appeared to track closely with expectations throughout the quarter.
Looking ahead, Wedbush expects TSMC could provide an improved revenue outlook for the full year. The company previously guided for sales growth of more than 30% in US dollar terms, while revenue growth has been tracking in the high-30% range year-to-date. Wedbush wrote that the ramp of TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology in the second half of 2026 could support at least mid-30% annual sales growth.
The analysts added that such an outcome could lead to higher 2026 estimates and reduce the magnitude of the slowdown they currently model for 2027.
Wedbush also highlighted gross margins as a key area to monitor, with the firm and consensus forecasts currently expecting some pressure in the second half of the year due to the 2nm launch and expanded overseas manufacturing capacity. The analysts wrote that third-quarter guidance should provide more visibility into how those factors will affect profitability, while recent currency movements could provide some benefit.
Capital spending will also be closely watched, with Wedbush writing that sustained demand for advanced nodes could prompt TSMC to raise its annual capex outlook again. The analysts noted that this would further support the view that current 2027 revenue growth expectations may be too conservative.
Wedbush wrote that TSMC remains one of its preferred hardware investments, citing the company’s position in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and packaging as a key beneficiary of the ongoing AI data center build-out and future edge AI opportunities across areas including optics, robotics, automotive technology and electronic design automation.
Shares of TSMC traded hands at $417 on Wednesday afternoon, having gained more than 37% so far this year.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) looks to hit new all-time highs with a strong earnings report Thursday before market open.
Here are the earnings estimates and key items to watch.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Q2 Earnings EstimatesAnalysts expect TSM to report second-quarter revenue of $39.76 billion, up from $30.07 billion in last year’s second quarter, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
The revenue estimate would mark a new company record, surpassing the $35.90 billion reported in the first quarter.
The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in 12 straight quarters.
Analysts expect TSM to report second-quarter earnings per share of $3.77, up from $2.47 in last year’s second quarter.
The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in more than 15 straight quarters.
Key Items to WatchTSM recently reported June revenue being up 6.2% month-over-month, with strong demand for AI chips cited as a reason for growth. The monthly revenue total was up 67.9% year-over-year.
The company is expected to give an update on its second half outlook for the rest of the year, which could impact the stock price and also impact the overall semiconductor market based on the health of demand.
Commentary on demand and costs could put the stock under pressure or send shares to new highs.
TSM stock is down 0.2% to $419.40 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $223.70 to $479.00. TSM stock is up 31.3% year-to-date in 2026 and up over 70% over the last 52 weeks.
Photo: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways Abbott is seeing strong growth in EPD, led by emerging markets and biosimilar expansion. ABT is resetting its Nutrition business through innovation and pricing action to support long-term growth. Abbott faces risks from higher costs, macro uncertainty and foreign exchange impacts on reported results. Strong momentum in Abbott Laboratories' (ABT - Free Report) Nutrition business is expected to support growth in the coming quarters. The company is driving solid growth in emerging markets within the Established Pharmaceuticals Division (“EPD”) business. However, currency fluctuations and dull macro scenario may restrict Abbott’s growth potential.
In the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have lost 32.4% compared with the industry’s 27.5% decline. The S&P 500 composite has risen 23.3% in the same period.
The leading at-home healthcare company has a market capitalization of $228.81 billion. Abbott beat on earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and matched in the other two, delivering an average surprise of 0.42%.
ABT’s TailwindsEPD Momentum Across Emerging Markets: Abbott’s EPD remains a steady contributor, supported by branded generics positions in faster-growing geographies. In the first quarter of 2026, EPD sales increased 13.2% on a reported basis and 9.0% on a comparable basis, with Key Emerging Markets up 9.4% on a comparable basis led by double-digit growth in several countries across Latin America and Asia Pacific.
The company continues to focus on demand drivers such as chronic disease prevalence and expanding access to care, which support durable volume growth across therapy areas. It is also expanding its biosimilar portfolio, which should deepen its offering in key markets and help sustain above-market growth as the business scales.
Innovation-Led Reset in Nutrition: Abbott is working through a transition in Nutrition that is intended to restore a healthier balance between price and volume over time. In the first quarter of 2026, Nutrition sales declined 6.0% on a reported basis and 7.7% on a comparable basis, reflecting lower volumes and the impact of strategic pricing actions taken in the fourth quarter of 2025. Adult Nutrition remains an important franchise within the portfolio and a more consistent cadence of innovation, which should help it defend brand positions as category conditions normalize.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Ails ABT Stock?Macro and Cost Variability: Abbott continues to operate amid an uncertain macro backdrop that can influence input costs and demand patterns across categories. In the first quarter of 2026, selling, general and administrative expenses increased 22.2% year over year, partly reflecting acquisition-related items, and the company continues to incur incremental costs tied to European MDR and IVDR compliance. If pricing, mix or volumes weaken in areas such as Nutrition, Abbott may have less flexibility to offset these costs, which could weigh on profitability even with ongoing cost actions.
Foreign Exchange Can Swing Reported Results: Abbott’s large international revenue base makes reported growth sensitive to currency translation. Any reversal in currency trends would quickly reduce reported growth rates and complicate comparisons against expectations.
Abbott’s Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share has remained unchanged at $5.48 in the past 30 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $50.42 billion, indicating a 13.7% rise from the year-ago reported number.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) and Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) .
Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.5%, well ahead of the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%. The company’s shares have rallied 43.8% against the industry’s 4.8% decline over the past year.
GMED carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 16% against the industry’s negative 3% yield. Shares of the company have gained 22.8% compared with the industry’s 4.8% growth. IART’s earnings topped estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.
Phibro Animal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 9.2% compared with the industry’s 2.8% yield. Shares of the company have climbed 43.1% against the industry’s 27.9% decline. PAHC’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.3%.
Key Takeaways RHHBY won FDA Priority Review for Gazyva's label expansion in primary membranous nephropathy.Roche's phase III MAJESTY study showed Gazyva outperformed tacrolimus in adults with pMN.Gazyva sales totaled $247 million in Q1 2026 as Roche expands its immunology pipeline. Roche (RHHBY - Free Report) announced that the FDA has granted Priority Review to the company’s supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) seeking label expansion of Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab).
The sBLA is seeking approval of the drug for the treatment of primary membranous nephropathy (pMN).
The FDA’s priority review is based on the positive phase III MAJESTY results, which showed superiority of Gazyva/Gazyvaro over an immunosuppressive therapy, tacrolimus, in adults with pMN.
Please note that Gazyva/Gazyvaro has already received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from the FDA for pMN, with an approval decision anticipated by November 2026.
Year to date, shares of RHHBY have lost 2.7% against the industry’s growth of 10.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on RHHBY’s Gazyva/GazyvaroThis latest development marks the second recent Priority Review granted to Gazyva/Gazyvaro by the FDA, following the acceptance of its application for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in May 2026.
A potential approval would make Gazyva/Gazyvaro the first FDA-approved therapy for pMN, expanding its nephrology franchise beyond its approved use in lupus nephritis and pending regulatory filings in lupus and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
Gazyva/Gazyvaro is already approved in the United States and the European Union for adults with lupus nephritis and is also approved in more than 100 countries for the treatment of multiple hematological malignancies.
Sales from the drug totaled $247 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 10% year over year.
pMN is a chronic autoimmune kidney disease that can cause progressive and irreversible kidney damage, potentially leading to kidney failure.
MAJESTY is the fourth positive phase III study of Gazyva/Gazyvaro in immune-mediated diseases, following the REGENCY study in lupus nephritis, ALLEGORY in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and INShore in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
The FDA has also granted Priority Review and BTD to Gazyva/Gazyvaro for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
The drug is also being investigated in the phase II POSTERITY study for children and adolescents with lupus nephritis.
Beyond Gazyva/Gazyvaro, Roche continues to strengthen its immunology pipeline with a focus on developing innovative therapies for immune-mediated kidney diseases.
This includes another drug in its portfolio, Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab), a first-in-class CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody which is currently being evaluated in SLE.
The company's expanding immunology portfolio provides additional long-term growth opportunities beyond its marketed products.
RHHBY’s Efforts to Diversify PipelineStrong growth from key drugs like Ocrevus, Vabysmo, Hemlibra and Phesgo has helped RHHBY offset declining revenues from legacy drugs.
Roche has a strong and diversified pipeline spanning multiple therapeutic modalities.
The FDA recently accepted and granted Priority Review to RHHBY’s new drug application for giredestrant, an investigational oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), for the adjuvant treatment of adults with ER-positive, HER2-negative stage I–III breast cancer. A regulatory decision is expected by Nov. 30, 2026.
Roche further strengthened its pipeline through an exclusive recent licensing and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics (NRIX - Free Report) to co-develop and co-commercialize bexobrutideg (NX-5948) for hematology, immunology and neurology indications. The deal broadens Roche's presence in hematological cancers while providing additional long-term growth opportunities in autoimmune and neurological diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nurix will receive an upfront payment of $700 million and is eligible for up to $2.3 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Roche will fund 60% of development costs, with Nurix responsible for the remaining 40%. In the United States, the companies will jointly commercialize bexobrutideg and share profits and losses equally. Roche will hold exclusive commercialization rights outside the United States, with Nurix receiving tiered royalties ranging from the low- to high-teens.
While Roche is making efforts to further diversify its broad portfolio, the company remains a late entrant into the highly competitive obesity market, which is currently dominated by other large-cap pharma players, such as Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) and Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) .
Roche’s obesity assets include enicepatide (CT-388) and petrelintide. Roche is rapidly advancing its obesity pipeline, with both enicepatide and petrelintide progressing into phase III studies.
Eli Lilly currently leads the obesity market with its tirzepatide-based dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
LLY’s arch rival Novo Nordisk also commands a strong position with its semaglutide-based GLP-1 therapies, Ozempic and Wegovy, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
With LLY and NVO deriving a significant portion of their revenues from cardiometabolic medicines, Roche faces an uphill battle to gain meaningful market share despite its expanding late-stage pipeline.
RHHBY’s Zacks RankRoche currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Key Takeaways HON's Process Automation and Technology organic revenues fell 6% in Q1 on weaker aftermarket sales.Honeywell expects the Middle East conflict to reduce Q2 sales by about 1%, weighing on the segment.HON completed its aerospace spin-off, sharpening its focus on industrial automation and capital allocation. Honeywell Technologies (HON - Free Report) has been witnessing weakness in the Process Automation and Technology segment. In the first quarter of 2026, the segment’s organic revenues decreased 6% on a year-over-year basis.
This decline was attributable to a 10% drop in organic sales in the aftermarket business owing to lower refining catalyst shipments and project delays. Also, reduced customer demand in the Middle East due to ongoing geopolitical tensions hurt its results. The conflict is likely to have hurt its Process Automation and Technology segment’s performance in the second quarter. HON anticipates the Middle East conflict to have an adverse impact on the segment's sales by 1% in the second quarter.
Nevertheless, growth in orders across petrochemical and refining verticals in the segment is expected to drive its long-term performance. The Process Technology segment’s orders grew 11% year over year in the first quarter.
It is worth noting that on June 29, Honeywell Technologies became a standalone public company following the spin-off of the Aerospace Technologies business from Honeywell International. The separation completed the company's multi-year portfolio restructuring, creating three independent publicly traded companies. With a sharper focus on industrial automation, Honeywell Technologies expects to benefit from improved operational focus, disciplined capital allocation and greater financial flexibility.
Business Performance of HON's PeersRBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC - Free Report) is witnessing strength in the Industrial segment (revenues increased 5.5% year over year in fourth-quarter fiscal 2026). Stable demand for RBC Bearings’ highly engineered bearings and precision components in food & beverage, semiconductor and warehousing markets bodes well for the segment.
Another peer, 3M Company (MMM - Free Report) , has been witnessing solid momentum in the Safety and Industrial segment, driven by strength in personal safety, industrial adhesives and tapes, and electrical markets. Stable demand for 3M’s electrical infrastructure products, like medium voltage cable accessories and insulation tapes, augurs well for the segment in the quarters ahead. Organic sales from 3M’s Safety and Industrial segment grew 3.2% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
HON's Price Performance and ValuationFollowing the spin-off of the Aerospace business, Honeywell’s shares have lost 2.2% compared with the Zacks Diversified Operations industry’s 3.7% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, HON is trading at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 25.09X, above the industry’s average of 15.05X. Honeywell carries a Value Score of F.
2:10pm: BoC holds rates North of the border, the Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25%, marking its sixth straight meeting without a policy change.
The bank said improving economic conditions and inflation gradually moving back toward target support holding rates steady, while geopolitical and trade uncertainties remain elevated.
Bank of America noted the BoC’s guidance remains cautious and data dependent, with policymakers balancing weak economic growth against inflation that remains above target. The firm expects the central bank to remain on hold through 2026, citing soft underlying activity, persistent excess supply and core inflation near 2%. While risks to rates are tilted slightly higher as the economy recovers, BofA said the bar for a hike remains high.
1:15pm: PPI offers fresh relief Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB), said the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report was notable less for the headline numbers and more for the downward revisions to inflation in recent months.
While Consumer Price Index (CPI) data isn't revised after it's released, those lower PPI revisions could feed into future revisions to the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, suggesting inflation may have been softer than previously thought.
That PCE inflation could be revised down a bit for April and May, Adams noted.
"The Fed will likely see June’s cool inflation as a justification for holding interest rates steady at the decision near the end of this month," he commented.
"Even so, it’s hard to feel too excited about last month’s drop in producer prices, which largely reflected lower energy prices—prices which rebounded in the first half of July as energy traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed."
12:05pm: More impressive bank earnings Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) (Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)) reported record second quarter revenue and profit that topped Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, driven by strength across its institutional securities, wealth management and investment management businesses.
The bank posted earnings per diluted share of $3.46 on net revenue of $21.35 billion for the quarter ended June 30, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.93 per share on revenue of $19.63 billion. A year earlier, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) (Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)) reported earnings per share of $2.13 on revenue of $16.79 billion.
Elsewhere, BlackRock Inc (NYSE:BLK) (BlackRock Inc (NYSE:BLK)) reported second-quarter profit that topped Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, powered by record inflows and higher fees.
The world's largest asset manager posted adjusted earnings of $13.91 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $12.57 and up 15% from a year earlier.
Revenue rose 31% to $7.08 billion, ahead of the $6.72 billion expected by analysts.
11:00am: PPI slows US producer prices unexpectedly declined in June, adding to signs that inflation pressures are easing and strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates in the coming months.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) fell 0.3% month over month, compared with expectations for no change, while annual producer inflation slowed to 5.5% from the expected 6.2%.
Core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% on the month, below forecasts of 0.3%, while the annual core rate eased to 4.7%, also coming in below the expected 5.1%.
10am: PayPal and BlackRock lead Wall St higher at open Wall Street has opened Wednesday trading on the front foot, with investors digesting more earnings.
The Nasdaq has added 0.6% in initial trades, while the S&P 500 and the Dow both climbed 0.3%.
PayPal leapt 14.5% on a reported bid from that payments company Stripe and private equity firm Advent.
BlackRock is among the standout S&P performers, jumping more than 7% after the world's largest asset manager reported a record US$15 trillion of assets under management.
The group attracted US$192 billion of net inflows during the second quarter as investors continued to pour money into exchange-traded funds.
Elsewhere, uniform supplier Cintas rose 4.7%, while software groups Adobe and Workday were also among the leading gainers in the Nasdaq 100.
8am: Nasdaq set to rally but Dow futures flat, PayPal climbs on bid report US stocks appeared set for a steady start on Wednesday as investors drew confidence from strong bank earnings and a softer-than-expected inflation report the day before, even as oil prices remained elevated following fresh US strikes on Iran.
Nasdaq futures were up 0.5% ahead of the opening bell, with S&P 500 futures up 0.1%, while those for the Dow Jones were little changed.
Wall Street finished mostly higher on Tuesday after June's consumer price data came in below expectations, easing concerns that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates this month.
The Nasdaq climbed 0.9% to close at 26,107.01, the S&P added 0.4% to 7,543.59 and the Dow inched 10 points or 0.02% higher to 52,508.27.
European markets were weaker in Wednesday trading, however, as slower-than-expected Chinese economic growth weighed on sentiment. London's FTSE 100 was dragged lower by miners and other cyclical stocks after China GDP expanded 4.3% in the second quarter, its slowest pace since 2023 and below the government's 4.5%-5% target range. Germany's DAX was down 0.8%.
Oil prices were trading broadly sideways following the recent surge, with WTI crude up 0.5% at just under $80 a barrel.
Investors were also watching PayPal, whose shares jumped over 18% in pre-market trading after Reuters reported that privately held Stripe had teamed up with Advent International to make a joint US$53 billion takeover approach.
Also, Nasdaq-listed ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, is set to climb around 3.5% after raising its 2026 guidance for a second time.
Earnings from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), BlackRock, Progressive and BNY are also out today.
BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that a class action lawsuit has been 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”). Intuit investors have until September 8, 2026 to file a lead plaintiff motion.IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN INTUIT INC. (INTU), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO PARTICIPATE IN TH.
Investors interested in Computer - Software stocks are likely familiar with Intuit (INTU - Free Report) and Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Right now, Intuit is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Microsoft has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Investors should feel comfortable knowing that INTU likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than MSFT has recently. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
INTU currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.84, while MSFT has a forward P/E of 19.95. We also note that INTU has a PEG ratio of 0.79. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. MSFT currently has a PEG ratio of 1.17.
Another notable valuation metric for INTU is its P/B ratio of 3.74. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, MSFT has a P/B of 6.9.
Based on these metrics and many more, INTU holds a Value grade of B, while MSFT has a Value grade of C.
INTU is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that INTU is likely the superior value option right now.
Investors might want to bet on Intuit (INTU - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Intuit is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Intuit imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for IntuitFor the fiscal year ending July 2026, this maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and other accounting software is expected to earn $23.86 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Intuit. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 4.3%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Intuit to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) between August 22, 2025 and May 20, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 8, 2026.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Intuit securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Intuit class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/intuit-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 8, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) they had overstated Intuit's competitive advantages and growth, as well as the overall strength and sustainability of its business model and operations; (2) in reality, Intuit was losing significant business in its tax-related business, particularly in its Turbo Tax business, as a result of, inter alia, increasing competitive and pricing pressures; (3) accordingly, Intuit's previously issued full year ("FY") 2026 TurboTax revenue growth guidance was unreliable and/or unrealistic; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Intuit class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/intuit-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305286
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.
By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Intuit (INTU - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and other accounting software a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Intuit is 19.3%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 18.4% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 11.6%.
Cash Flow GrowthWhile cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Intuit is 26.3%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 16.9%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 21.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 14.9%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Intuit. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.1% over the past month.
Bottom LineIntuit has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Intuit well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) securities between August 22, 2025 and May 20, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until September 8, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Intuit class action lawsuit. Captioned Baldwin v. Intuit Inc., No. 26-cv-07086 (N.D. Cal.), the Intuit class action lawsuit charges Intuit and certain of Intuit's top executive officers with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Intuit class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:
You can also contact attorneys Ken Dolitsky or Michael Albert of Robbins Geller by calling 800/851-7783 or via e-mail at [email protected].
CASE ALLEGATIONS: Intuit provides financial management, payments and capital, compliance, and marketing products and services.
The Intuit class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) they had overstated Intuit's competitive advantages and growth, as well as the overall strength and sustainability of its business model and operations; (ii) in reality, Intuit was losing significant business in its tax-related business, particularly in its Turbo Tax business, as a result of, among other things, increasing competitive and pricing pressures; and (iii) accordingly, Intuit's previously issued 2026 TurboTax revenue growth guidance was unreliable and/or unrealistic.
On May 20, 2026, during pre-market hours, Reuters published an article entitled "Intuit to cut 17% of global jobs to streamline operations, memo shows," allegedly reporting that Intuit "is laying off about 17% of its workforce, or about 3,000 employees worldwide." On this news, the price of Intuit stock dropped nearly 4%, according to the complaint.
Later that day, during post-market hours, Intuit issued a press release announcing its fiscal third quarter 2026 results, allegedly reporting weak Q3 2026 tax season revenue, including that TurboTax revenue grew by only 7% year-over-year versus consensus estimates of at least 8% revenue growth. The Intuit class action lawsuit further alleges that on an accompanying conference call that day, Sasan K. Goodarzi, Intuit's Chairman and CEO, disclosed that TurboTax online paying units were expected to grow by only 2% as total Internal Revenue Service filers were expected to decline by approximately 30 basis points, representing the "most significant industry-wide contraction since the post-COVID tax season." On this news, the price of Intuit stock dropped over 20%, according to the complaint.
THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Intuit securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Intuit class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Intuit class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Intuit class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Intuit class action lawsuit.
ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors – $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) sits atop one of the most consequential AI infrastructure stories of the decade. AI semiconductor revenue compounds at triple-digit rates, custom accelerator bookings stack faster than the company can ship, and management guides to growth reacceleration into the back half of fiscal 2026.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Broadcom is $416.68, implying 5.93% upside from the $393.35 quote. The recommendation is buy, with 90% confidence.
Metric Value Current Price $393.35 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $416.68 Upside 5.93% Recommendation BUY Confidence 90% What Just Happened With Broadcom AVGO is up 41% over the past year and 11.37% year to date, though the stock has cooled from a 52-week high of $494.18.
Q2 fiscal 2026 delivered revenue of $22.19 billion, up 47.9% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $2.44 extended the streak to eight consecutive quarters EPS beats. AI semiconductor revenue reached $10.80 billion, up 143%. In early July, reports of a $30 billion Apple chip deal through 2031 briefly pushed wallstreetbets sentiment to 75.
The Case for $533 and Beyond The bull case is straightforward: this is a next-Nvidia-caliber compounding story. CEO Hock Tan called AI XPU and networking demand “simply insatiable” and told investors 2027 AI revenue will “very easily” exceed $100 billion. Q3 guidance calls for $29.4 billion in revenue and $16 billion in AI silicon, up over 200%.
Confirmed gigawatt commitments from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google, plus a $35 billion Apollo-backed XPU platform, provide visibility into 2028. Our bull scenario prices AVGO at $533.02, a 35.51% total return, tracking closely with $523.73 Street consensus.
What Could Go Wrong AVGO trades at a trailing P/E of 67 and forward P/E of 21, leaving no room for AI capex disappointment. Customer concentration is real: a handful of hyperscalers dominate the pipeline, and 68 recent insider transactions were net sellers. Total liabilities sit at $91.47 billion.
July 16 is the Final Day to Tap Into the Lithium Boom (sponsor)
General Motors, POSCO, and 50,000+ everyday investors have already backed lithium producer EnergyX.
Here's why you should do the same before their July 16 investment deadline: lithium prices are up 75% this year, with demand projected to grow a staggering 5X by 2040.
With tech that can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods, EnergyX is preparing to unlock up to 15M+ tons. Become a private-stage EnergyX investor before the July 16 deadline.
Our bear scenario points to $364.84, a 7.25% pullback. Gross margin compression to approximately 74% in Q3 reflects mix shift toward high-volume XPUs. Free cash flow at 46% of revenue still funds the $10 billion buyback with room to spare.
How Broadcom Stacks Up Against NVIDIA and Marvell NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the merchant GPU standard. NVIDIA trades at a lower trailing multiple than AVGO’s 67, suggesting our target embeds a real premium for Broadcom’s software-plus-custom-silicon mix.
Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) is the purest custom silicon comparable. Marvell grows more slowly than Broadcom’s AI segment and lacks the VMware software cash engine. That asymmetry makes our target a balanced one.
Broadcom Price Prediction 2026-2030 The 24/7 Wall St. price target with a buy rating and high confidence is anchored by AI bookings visibility stretching into 2028. AVGO looks most constructive if it consolidates into Q3 earnings and Hock Tan reiterates the 2027 AI target. The setup weakens if hyperscaler AI capex commentary softens or gross margins slip below 73%.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 2027 $462 2028 $495 2029 $505 2030 $512 These projections assume Broadcom executes on the $100 billion 2027 AI target and holds operating margins near 67%. Meaningful upside or downside comes from hyperscaler capex resets, VMware renewal cycles, or export policy shifts affecting AI silicon.
Meet America's Newest $1b Unicorn (Sponsor) A US startup just passed a $1 billion private valuation, joining billion-dollar private companies like OpenAI and ByteDance. Unlike those other unicorns, you can invest in EnergyX right now; but only until July 16.
Over 50,000 people already have, along with global giants like General Motors and POSCO.
Here's why there's so much interest: EnergyX's patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That's a big deal, as demand for lithium is expected to 5X current production levels by 2040. Become an early-stage EnergyX shareholder before the 7/16 investment deadline.
Investors might want to bet on Cummins (CMI - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Cummins is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Cummins imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for CumminsFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this engine maker is expected to earn $29.35 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Cummins. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 12.6%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Cummins to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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 Cummins (CMI - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Automotive - Internal Combustion Engines industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This engine maker has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 10.78%.
For the last reported quarter, Cummins came out with earnings of $6.15 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.6 per share, representing a surprise of 9.82%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $5.2 per share and it actually produced earnings of $5.81 per share, delivering a surprise of 11.73%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Cummins. 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.
Cummins currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.43%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 4, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
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.
Booking Holdings, Alphabet, and six other companies have underperformed their sectors despite improving earnings expectations, setting up potential upside during second-quarter earnings season.
JPMorgan believes the new Hyperliquid partnership will weigh on earnings for both firms, yet says pro-crypto legislation backed by President Donald Trump‘s administration could ultimately prove to be the more important story for investors.
Hyperliquid Changes The EconomicsCoinbase and Circle announced in May that Hyperliquid would adopt USDC as its preferred stablecoin, a move designed to deepen the token’s presence across one of crypto’s fastest-growing decentralized exchanges.
The catch? JPMorgan says the revised arrangement significantly changes how the two companies split the economics.
Coinbase will now classify USDC held on Hyperliquid as “on-platform,” allowing it to earn reserve income before paying 90% of that revenue back to Hyperliquid. The firm estimates roughly $6 billion of USDC, or about 8% of the circulating supply, now sits on the platform.
The result is a near-term revenue headwind for both companies, prompting JPMorgan to lower earnings estimates. The brokerage now expects the full impact of the revised economics to become more visible during the second half of 2026, alongside a softer crypto trading environment marked by lower volumes, weaker digital asset prices and declining DeFi activity.
The Prisoner’s DilemmaJPMorgan argues the Hyperliquid deal highlights a broader challenge for the Coinbase-Circle partnership.
Rather than simply sharing the benefits of USDC adoption, both companies are incentivized to compete for distribution partners. Winning those relationships could increasingly require giving away a larger share of the economics, creating what the analysts describe as a classic “prisoner’s dilemma.”
In other words, USDC adoption may continue to grow while the value each company captures from that growth gradually shrinks.
Washington May Be The Bigger CatalystThat’s why JPMorgan believes investors shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
The firm continues to view U.S. digital asset market structure legislation as a potential turning point for the industry, even as the path to passage becomes more uncertain with the Senate’s legislative calendar narrowing ahead of its August recess.
Clearer crypto rules could encourage greater institutional participation, improve market confidence and accelerate development across the digital asset ecosystem—all of which could expand demand for USDC.
JPMorgan also expects higher interest rates to support reserve income through 2027, particularly for Coinbase, even after trimming its forecasts for USDC balances.
For investors, Hyperliquid may explain the next few quarters. But if Trump’s crypto agenda succeeds in creating a clearer regulatory framework, the long-term winner may not be the company that negotiated the better deal—it could be the one serving a much larger stablecoin market.
Photo: Skorzewiak on Shutterstock.com
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Roblox To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Roblox between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Roblox Corporation ("Roblox" or the "Company") (NYSE: RBLX) and reminds investors of the August 7, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Watch our latest video highlighting the key allegations:
Cannot view this video? Visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFoJC-j0rW0
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Roblox's organic growth potential; notably, that Roblox would see a significant slowdown in its growth rates as enrollment in the age verification rollout would quickly taper, compounding the resulting slowdown in on-platform communication, resulting in app store rating reductions and a swift reduction in organic growth. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Roblox's securities at artificially inflated prices.
On April 30, 2026, Roblox announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Management slashed bookings growth guidance down to 8-12% and a corresponding decline to margin expectations. Defendants disclosed the age verification rollout had caused much more significant impacts engagement and organic growth than management had previously suggested and age check adoption had only increased to 51% global daily active users, from 45% at the end of the previous quarter.
Investors and analysts reacted immediately to Roblox's revelation. The price of Roblox's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $55.26 per share on April 30, 2026, Roblox's stock price fell to $45.13 per share on May 1, 2026, a decline of about 18.33% in the span of just a single day.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Roblox's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the Verra class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/RBLX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Roblox Corporation Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the Roblox Corporation securities fraud lawsuit about?
The Roblox Corporation securities fraud lawsuit is a federal securities class action alleging that Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX) and its executives made false and misleading statements to investors by concealing that the Company's age verification rollout would cause a significant slowdown in growth rates, reduce on-platform communication, lead to app store rating reductions, and materially impair Roblox's organic growth potential. As the truth emerged on April 30, 2026 — when Roblox announced Q1 fiscal 2026 results, slashed bookings growth guidance to just 8-12%, disclosed margin deterioration, and revealed that age verification adoption had only reached 51% of global daily active users (up from just 45% the prior quarter), signaling far greater engagement impacts than management had previously suggested — RBLX's stock price fell from $55.26 to $45.13 per share, a decline of approximately 18.33% in a single day, causing significant losses for investors.
Who may be eligible to participate in the Roblox Corporation class action lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or acquired Roblox Corporation (RBLX) securities between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026 — the Class Period — and suffered financial losses may be eligible to participate in the Roblox securities class action. Participation as a class member does not require taking any affirmative legal action; eligible investors may recover losses simply by remaining members of the class. Whistleblowers, former Roblox employees, and others with relevant information about the Company's conduct are also encouraged to come forward.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment in the Roblox Corporation lawsuit?
A lead plaintiff in the Roblox Corporation class action is a court-appointed investor — typically the one with the largest financial interest in the case — who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of all class members. Any Roblox investor who purchased RBLX securities during the Class Period may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice. The deadline to seek lead plaintiff appointment is August 7, 2026. Importantly, choosing not to seek the lead plaintiff role does not affect an investor's ability to share in any recovery obtained for the class.
What should investors do if they purchased Roblox Corporation stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased Roblox Corporation (RBLX) securities between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026 and suffered losses should contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP immediately to discuss their legal rights. The deadline to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Roblox Corporation securities class action is August 7, 2026. To speak directly with securities litigation partner Josh Wilson, call 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310), or visit www.faruqilaw.com/RBLX for more information.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305152
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
SummaryArtisan Mid Cap Fund portfolio generated strong absolute returns and outpaced the Russell Midcap® Growth Index.Within IT, several semiconductor holdings produced exceptional returns, with multiple positions rising more than 100% during the period.During the quarter, we initiated new positions in Entegris, Modine Manufacturing and C.H. Robinson Worldwide. tsingha25/iStock via Getty Images
The following segment was excerpted from Artisan Mid Cap Fund Q2 2026 Commentary.
Performance Discussion The portfolio generated strong absolute returns and outpaced the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index returned 14.6%, the highest single-quarter return
S&P Global is rated a BUY, as AI disruption risks are overstated and unfairly discounted across the business. Ratings and Indices segments generate nearly two-thirds of adjusted segment profit, are highly regulated, and are resilient to AI threats. Market Intelligence, contributing 22% of profits, faces the most AI risk but remains profitable and strategically important despite modest growth.
@Theotrade's Don Kaufman takes us through today's Big 3 and highlights options trades for each. He sees Lowe's (LOW) as well positioned if interest rates move lower, views Costco (COST) as a defensive rotation play, and discusses his bearish setup in Strategy (MSTR).
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Headquartered in Chicago, Ventas (VTR - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 19.41% so far this year. The seniors housing real estate investment trust is paying out a dividend of $0.52 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.25% compared to the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry's yield of 3.98% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.34%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.08 is up 8.3% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Ventas has increased its dividend 1 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 0.70%. 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. Ventas's current payout ratio is 58%, meaning it paid out 58% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
VTR is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $3.87 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 11.21%.
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. However, not all companies offer 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. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, VTR 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).
Fortinet (FTNT - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Fortinet is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Fortinet imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for FortinetFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this network security company is expected to earn $3.15 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Fortinet. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 6.5%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Fortinet to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Cintas Corporation: The Deep Value Opportunity in Plain SightCintas NASDAQ: CTAS said it ended fiscal 2026 with strong fourth-quarter revenue growth, record profitability metrics and a fiscal 2027 outlook that calls for continued gains in sales and adjusted earnings.
President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Schneider said fourth-quarter revenue rose 8.9% to $2.91 billion, while organic revenue growth, excluding acquisitions and foreign currency effects, was 8.4%. Gross margin was 51%, matching the company’s third-quarter level, which Schneider described as an all-time high, and up about 130 basis points from the prior year.
Get Cintas alerts:
MarketBeat Week in Review – 03/09 - 03/13Operating income increased 12.7% to $673 million, or 23.2% of revenue. Excluding transaction expenses related to the company’s pending acquisition of UniFirst, adjusted operating margin was 23.6%, up about 120 basis points year over year. Diluted earnings per share rose 15.6% to $1.26, while adjusted diluted EPS increased 18.3% to $1.29.
For the full fiscal year, Cintas reported revenue of about $11.26 billion, up 8.9% from fiscal 2025. Organic revenue growth was 8.3%. Schneider said the results marked the 55th year out of the past 57 in which Cintas grew both its top and bottom lines.
Building a Juggernaut: The Cintas-UniFirst Merger“Our strong top-line performance highlights the durability of our business model in all macro environments,” Schneider said. He added that the company continues to see a “massive” total addressable market across customers of all sizes and industries.
Full-year gross margin was 50.7%, up 70 basis points from the prior year. Schneider said Cintas has expanded gross margin by 450 basis points over the past four years. Fiscal 2026 operating margin was 23.1%, or 23.3% on an adjusted basis excluding UniFirst-related transaction expenses, which Schneider said was an all-time high for the company. Adjusted diluted EPS for the year was $4.94, above the company’s March guidance range of $4.86 to $4.90, which also excluded UniFirst transaction costs.
Segment Growth Led by First Aid, Fire Protection Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Rozakis said Cintas saw “strong results across all of our business segments” in the fourth quarter. Organic growth in Uniform Rental and Facility Services was 7.9%, while First Aid and Safety Services grew 13.2% and Fire Protection Services grew 10.7%. Uniform Direct Sales declined 4%.
Within the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment, Rozakis said fourth-quarter revenue mix included 47% from uniform rental, 20% from dust control, 16% from hygiene services, 11% from linen, 3% from shop towels and 3% from catalog sales.
Gross margin by business was 50.2% for Uniform Rental and Facility Services, 57.9% for First Aid and Safety Services, 50.8% for Fire Protection Services and 42% for Uniform Direct Sales. Rozakis said Fire Protection’s gross margin was an all-time high, though he cautioned that margins in that business can vary by quarter due to revenue mix and ongoing acquisition integration.
Rozakis said Cintas continues to win new customers, with about two-thirds of new customers transitioning to a managed program after previously handling related services on their own. He said retention rates remained “very attractive,” while pricing was close to historical levels.
Fiscal 2027 Outlook Calls for Continued Growth Cintas guided for fiscal 2027 revenue of $12.1 billion to $12.25 billion, implying total growth of 7.4% to 8.7%. The company expects adjusted diluted EPS of $5.36 to $5.50, representing growth of 8.5% to 11.3%.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Scott Garula said fiscal 2027 will include one more workday than fiscal 2026, which should add about 40 basis points to total revenue growth. The guidance assumes constant foreign exchange rates, no additional acquisitions, net interest expense of about $105 million and an effective tax rate similar to fiscal 2026’s 20.2% rate. The outlook excludes future share repurchases, significant economic disruptions or downturns, and non-recurring transaction costs tied to UniFirst.
In response to analyst questions, Garula said the fiscal 2027 guidance implies adjusted incremental margins in the 30% to 32% range, within Cintas’ stated long-term range of 25% to 35%. He also said the outlook implies operating margin expansion of 10 to 60 basis points across the guidance range.
Garula noted that higher energy costs affected fourth-quarter results by about 20 basis points year over year and sequentially. He said the company’s fiscal 2027 guidance assumes an uptick in energy expenses roughly on par with the fourth-quarter impact.
Capital Allocation and UniFirst Update Garula said Cintas generated $709.1 million in operating cash flow in the fourth quarter, its strongest cash flow quarter of the year. During the quarter, the company made $96 million in capital expenditures, completed $61.9 million of acquisitions and paid $180.6 million in dividends.
For fiscal 2026, Cintas invested $395.1 million in capital expenditures, equal to 3.5% of revenue, and deployed $164.5 million toward acquisitions in route-based businesses. The company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, which Garula said was its second-largest annual return of capital.
Schneider also provided a brief update on Cintas’ pending acquisition of UniFirst. He said UniFirst shareholders approved the merger in June, while regulatory review remains ongoing in the U.S. and Canada. Cintas received a second request from the Federal Trade Commission, which Schneider said was expected and similar to the process the company experienced with its G&K Services acquisition. He said Cintas remains optimistic the deal will close during the second half of calendar 2026, but added that the company would not provide further commentary to avoid speculation.
Management Cites Large Market Opportunity Despite Macro Uncertainty Analysts asked management about the macroeconomic environment, customer budgets and hiring trends. Schneider said Cintas has operated amid uncertainty for several years and remains focused on factors it can control, including investments in employees, technology and products.
Rozakis said customers remained responsive to Cintas’ value proposition and that all four of the company’s growth levers are performing well: new business, retention, pricing and penetration of current customers through cross-selling and upselling. He said retention rates are at all-time highs and pricing is “right at historical levels,” possibly slightly above historical levels but immaterial in nature.
Management pointed to healthcare, hospitality, education and state and local government as strategic vertical markets that continue to contribute to growth. Rozakis said these verticals are performing above overall company growth, reflecting how Cintas organizes not only sales but also products and service models around those markets.
Schneider said Cintas is not dependent on employment growth, though it benefits from strong GDP and hiring trends. He said the company has a little over 1 million business customers compared with an estimated 16 million to 20 million businesses in North America. Garula added that there are roughly 180 million people going to work in North America, while Cintas serves about 5 million wearers.
“We remain encouraged by the momentum in our business,” Schneider said in closing. “Our results demonstrate the power of our strategy and the critical value we provide in addressing customers’ image, safety, cleanliness, and compliance needs.”
About Cintas NASDAQ: CTASCintas Corporation NASDAQ: CTAS is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Cintas Right Now?Before you consider Cintas, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Cintas wasn't on the list.
While Cintas currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Nuclear energy is entering a new growth cycle as rising power demand, expanding data centers, and renewed policy support bring the sector back into focus. After strong gains in recent years, the most impactful phase of nuclear investment may still be ahead. This report highlights seven nuclear energy stocks positioned across the value chain—combining near-term revenue with long-term upside as next-generation technologies scale. Click the link below to unlock the full list.
Key Takeaways Cintas posted Q4 earnings of $1.29 per share on $2.91 billion in revenues, beating estimates.CTAS delivered a record 51% gross margin, driven by 8.4% organic revenue growth and solid demand.Cintas forecasts fiscal 2027 revenues of $12.10-$12.25 billion and EPS of $5.36-$5.50. Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.29 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 by 4%. The bottom line increased 18.3% from the year-ago quarter figure. Revenues of $2.91 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.88 billion by 1% and rose 8.9% year over year.
The top line was driven by 8.4% organic revenue growth, reflecting solid demand across its route-based businesses. Record gross margins also stood out as a key highlight in the quarter.
Cintas’ Segmental ResultsThe company has two reportable segments, Uniform Rental and Facility Services and First Aid and Safety Services. Other businesses, like Uniform Direct Sale and Fire Protection Services, are included in All Other. Quarterly sales data are briefly discussed below.
Cintas’ Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment generated revenues of $2.20 billion, up 8.2% year over year from $2.03 billion. Segment operating income rose to $529.5 million from $465.1 million, reflecting steady demand and operating leverage.
The First Aid and Safety Services segment delivered revenues of $368.1 million, increasing 13.5% from $324.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating income climbed to $98.6 million from $76.7 million, supported by strong demand for safety and compliance solutions.
Revenues from the All Other segment totaled $339.4 million, up 8.6% from $312.6 million a year ago. Segment operating income increased to $59 million from $55.7 million.
Margin ProfileCintas’ cost of sales (comprising costs related to uniform rental and facility services and others) increased 6.2% year over year to $1.42 billion. Cintas reported gross profit of $1.48 billion, up 11.6% year over year. Gross margin improved 130 basis points to 51%, marking a record high.
Selling and administrative expenses totaled $793.2 million, up 8.9% from the year-ago quarter figure. Despite this increase, operating income rose 12.7% to $673 million.
Operating margin was 23.2%, up from 22.4% in the prior-year quarter, helped by higher sales. Net income increased 14% to $511 million, with a tax rate of 21.2%.
Cintas’ Balance Sheet & Cash FlowExiting fiscal 2026, Cintas had cash and cash equivalents of $289 million compared with $264 million at the end of fiscal 2025. Long-term debt was about $1.43 billion compared with $2.42 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.
In fiscal 2026, it generated net cash of $2.28 billion from operating activities, up 5.1% from the year-ago period. Capital expenditures in the same period totaled $395.1 million, down 3.4% year over year.
The company repurchased shares worth $952.1 million compared with $934.8 million in the previous fiscal year. Dividend payments totaled $701.5 million, up 14.7% year over year.
Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor fiscal 2027, the company expects revenues to be in the range of $12.10-$12.25 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are projected in the range of $5.36-$5.50. The guidance excludes any expected impacts associated with the pending UniFirst acquisition.
Management expects net interest expense of approximately $105 million and an effective tax rate of 20.2% for the year. The outlook assumes stable foreign exchange rates and excludes contributions from acquisitions.
Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks from the same space are discussed below:
Duluth Holdings (DLTH - Free Report) presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Duluth’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 107.5%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DLTH’s fiscal 2027 bottom line has increased 45.8%.
Columbia Sportswear (COLM - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Columbia Sportswear’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 44.1%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLM’s 2026 earnings has increased 3.8%.
Vince Holding (VNCE - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Vince Holding’s earnings topped the consensus estimate thrice and missed once in the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 635.7%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for VNCE’s fiscal 2027 earnings has increased 59.5%.
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, 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.
Headquartered in Baltimore, T. Rowe Price (TROW - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 13.37% so far this year. The financial services firm is paying out a dividend of $1.30 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 4.48% compared to the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 2.76% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.34%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $5.20 is up 2.4% from last year. Over the last 5 years, T. Rowe Price has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.97%. 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. T. Rowe's current payout ratio is 52%, meaning it paid out 52% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
TROW is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $9.95 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 2.37%.
Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that TROW is not only an attractive dividend play, but also represents a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Key Takeaways West Pharmaceutical is benefiting from strong HVP demand, GLP-1 programs and Annex 1 conversions.WST raised organic growth guidance as biologics, biosimilars and premium products gained momentum.West Pharmaceutical faces risks from GLP-1 concentration and qualification timelines that limit capacity. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST - Free Report) is well positioned for growth, backed by strong demand for HVPs, expanding GLP-1 drug programs and regulatory-driven Annex 1 conversions. However, tariff impacts, destocking in generics and execution challenges at constrained European facilities are concerning.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have gained 29.9% year to date against the industry's 0.7% decline. The S&P 500 Index has risen 9.7% in the same time frame.
West Pharmaceutical, with a market capitalization of $25.41 billion, is a leading global manufacturer engaged in the design and production of technologically advanced, high-quality, integrated containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products. Its earnings are anticipated to improve 13.9% over the next five years. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 19.37%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Positive Factors Driving WST’s ProspectsHigh-Value Product Components Continue to Drive Premium Growth: West Pharma's High-Value Product (HVP) Components business remains its strongest earnings driver, delivering 23% organic growth in the first quarter, supported by robust demand across both GLP-1 and non-GLP-1 applications. More than two-thirds of the quarterly outperformance came from non-GLP-1 products, indicating that growth is becoming increasingly diversified.
Biologics expanded 26%, while biosimilars, Annex 1 conversions and HVP upgrades continued to accelerate. This broad-based demand reduces reliance on any single therapeutic category and reinforces the company's transition toward a higher-margin product mix. Management's decision to raise full-year organic growth guidance to 7-9% reflects confidence that these structural growth drivers will remain intact beyond the current quarter.
Annex 1 Adoption Creates a Multi-Year Premiumization Opportunity: Regulatory changes under EU Annex 1 continue to represent one of West Pharma's most durable long-term growth catalysts. Management disclosed that Annex 1-related projects increased 66% year over year, with conversions now extending beyond Europe as pharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly standardize manufacturing processes globally.
The company expects Annex 1 and HVP conversion to contribute approximately 200 basis points to annual revenue growth in 2026 and believes the opportunity extends across at least 6 billion units targeted for conversion. Since these upgrades improve pricing and margins without requiring incremental market volume, the trend provides a structurally attractive earnings lever that should support sustained margin expansion for several years.
GLP-1 Market Expansion Continues to Provide Long-Term Demand Visibility: Management remains increasingly optimistic that GLP-1 therapies will remain a long-duration growth engine rather than a cyclical opportunity. GLP-1-related HVP Component sales represented 10% of total company revenues, while management reiterated that oral GLP-1 therapies are expanding — not replacing — the injectable market.
Additional growth drivers include broader insurance coverage, reduced drug prices, generic launches outside the United States and expanding indications beyond diabetes and obesity. The company also highlighted a growing pipeline of combination molecules and next-generation biologics, positioning West Pharma to benefit regardless of which manufacturers ultimately capture market share. This diversified exposure strengthens long-term revenue visibility across the injectable drug ecosystem.
Biologics and Biosimilars Are Strengthening Revenue Diversification: West Pharma continues to benefit from accelerating biologics commercialization, with the biologics business growing 26% organically during the first quarter. Growth is increasingly driven by commercialized therapies rather than speculative pipeline launches, providing greater earnings visibility.
Management highlighted strong momentum in NovaPure products, rising biosimilar launches and easing regulatory requirements that support broader therapy adoption. Biosimilar introductions often expand patient access instead of replacing branded therapies, allowing West Pharma to maintain or even increase elastomer demand. As pharmaceutical companies continue investing in biologics and biosimilars worldwide, the company appears well positioned to capture sustained demand across both established and emerging therapies.
Key Challenges Facing WSTGLP-1 Exposure Continues to Increase Concentration Risk: Although management emphasized diversified growth, GLP-1 therapies remain an increasingly important contributor to West Pharma's financial performance, accounting for approximately 10% of total company revenue. While executives are optimistic about long-term demand, the business remains exposed to changes in reimbursement policies, competitive drug launches, pricing dynamics and regulatory developments affecting obesity and diabetes therapies.
Any slowdown in GLP-1 adoption, unexpected pricing pressure or shift toward alternative treatment modalities could disproportionately affect HVP Component growth. As investors increasingly associate West Pharma's valuation with the GLP-1 market, sustained dependence on this therapeutic category creates an important concentration risk despite improving diversification elsewhere in the portfolio.
Capacity Expansion Remains Constrained by Qualification Timelines: While operational improvements have significantly increased available production capacity, West Pharma's ability to monetize additional demand remains partially constrained by lengthy pharmaceutical qualification processes.
Management indicated that transferring production between manufacturing sites and validating second-source facilities typically require six to 12 months, limiting the speed at which incremental capacity can be utilized. As demand for HVP Components continues to exceed available supply in several product categories, these regulatory and customer qualification requirements may delay revenue realization. Consequently, even with strong end-market demand, the pace of growth remains partly dependent on customer validation timelines that are largely outside the company's direct control.
Estimate TrendWST has been witnessing a stable estimate revision for 2026. In the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has remained unchanged at $8.60 per share, implying a gain of 18% from the prior-year reported level. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $3.33 billion, indicating an 8.4% increase from the 2025 reported level.
Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) , Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) and Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Align Technology reported first-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $2.58, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.2%. Revenues of $1.04 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.8%.
Align Technology has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3%. ALGN’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 7.80%.
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 each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 10.3%
Trading in Lucid Group (LCID +21.21%) stock was halted several times yesterday due to volatility after a publication that follows electric vehicle (EV) companies reported that the company was considering filing for bankruptcy or going private.
Shares plunged more than 50% before reversing course after the company called the report false. Lucid then took it a step further. After releasing a letter to the editor of EV (electric-vehicles.com), Lucid's stock popped today. As of 10:13 a.m. ET, Lucid shares were up by 17%.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Investors still need to watch the balance sheet Lucid's letter, signed by its chief legal officer, stated: "Lucid unequivocally denies the central factual assertions" that were reported. It also reiterated that it was not considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nor taking the company private.
It also said that the company was looking into the "circumstances surrounding publication" and "all available legal remedies."
Today's Change
(
21.21
%) $
0.98
Current Price
$
5.60
Investors certainly breathed a sigh of relief from this strong response. Lucid reported having about $4.7 billion in liquidity when it reported Q1 results in early May. It is still losing money, however, and that is what investors need to monitor.
Lucid is hoping its new Gravity SUV will help spur demand, and it has also entered a partnership with Uber Technologies to build and deploy a premium, purpose-built global robotaxi fleet using its EV technology.
Look for updates regarding both when the company reports second-quarter results on Aug. 4. That will likely drive where Lucid stock goes from here.
Howard Smith has positions in Lucid Group. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
NEW YORK, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Lucid securities between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/LCID.
Lucid Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that:
(1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity;
(2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results;
(3) accordingly, the defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid’s manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and
(4) as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
What's Next for Lucid Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/LCID. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Lucid you have until July 28, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Lucid Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Lucid Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Lucid (LCID +21.32%) stock was surging this morning, trading 20% higher as of Wednesday noon, after the company categorically denied reports that it was filing for bankruptcy.
For a few chaotic hours on Tuesday, shares of the electric vehicle (EV) maker cratered more than 55%, triggering multiple volatility trading halts as panic struck investors.
After all, an exclusive report from EV news publication, electric-vehicles.com, claimed “sources” to have stated that Lucid had asked AlixPartners to deliver its findings on two options: go private or file for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Image source: Getty Images.
AlixPartners isn’t doing what the markets thinkLucid slammed the report as “completely false”, clarifying that it hadn’t set up any special board committee to explore the two options.
The rumor mill's roots can be traced to a recent CarBuzz report claiming that Lucid has retained the world’s largest turnaround consultancy firm, AlixPartners.
Lucid has indeed retained AlixPartners, as the company just confirmed, but only to help the EV maker improve execution, strengthen operations, and realize its full potential in products, technology, and innovation.
Lucid has set the record straight: AlixPartners is not involved in anything else and has not recommended bankruptcy to the company’s management or board.
Why the market panicked, and Lucid stock crashedLucid investors were quick to hit the sell button following the report, but it’s hard to blame them.
AlixPartners is one of the world’s largest turnaround and restructuring consulting companies, and Lucid is navigating a rough patch.
Lucid appointed Silvio Napoli as its new CEO on June 1, who has since initiated significant operational and organizational changes.
In Late June, Lucid announced that it was laying off 18% of its U.S. workforce, which could save the company $158 million in annualized costs.
Today's Change
(
21.32
%) $
0.99
Current Price
$
5.61
The EV maker had already suspended its 2026 production guidance of 25,000-27,000 vehicles in May as Napoli was conducting a business review. Management explicitly stated that the near-term conditions were “uneven” and that the company would adjust production accordingly.
These updates kept piling on investors who were already trying to digest poor delivery numbers, a massive capital raise, and a temporary halt to Lucid’s Gravity SUV line due to a supplier quality issue.
What should you do with Lucid stock now?Here’s something that may shock you: The rumor about Lucid going private or filing for bankruptcy isn’t new.
During its Q1 earnings call in May, an analyst asked Lucid management how it plans to address “concerns about bankruptcy or potential take-private scenario.”
Marc Winterhoff, then serving as interim CEO before stepping back to the Chief Operating Officer role on June 1, replied that while management won’t speculate on rumors, restoring investor confidence is a priority. He insisted Lucid is moving into a phase where it could leverage recent investments to boost its operations and financials.
Of course, in a classic twist, Winterhoff exited Lucid within a few weeks, but that’s a story for another day.
While it is still uncertain how Lucid plans to boost sales and margins amid the ongoing challenges, including a global EV slowdown, the company does have cash. It ended Q1 with $700 million in cash and raised $1.05 billion in April.
That is perhaps why Lucid could aggressively shoot down bankruptcy reports, stating that it has “sufficient liquidity to carry its operations well into next year.”
For Lucid, the roller-coaster ride should serve as a stark reminder that the market’s patience is wearing out, and it must turn around quickly. For investors, it’s strictly a wait-and-watch, as Lucid is still on borrowed time and its Saudi majority investor’s lifeline.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Lucid Group To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Lucid Group between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Lucid Group, Inc. ("Lucid Group" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LCID) and reminds investors of the July 28, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (3) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid's manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Lucid Group's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the Lucid Group class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/LCID or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Lucid Group, Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the Lucid Group securities fraud lawsuit about?
The Lucid Group securities fraud lawsuit is a federal securities class action alleging that Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) and its executives made false and misleading statements to investors by concealing that a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity SUV and overstating the Company's manufacturing and delivery capabilities. As the truth emerged through a series of disclosures - including an April 3, 2026 announcement that only 3,093 vehicles were delivered in Q1 2026 due to a 29-day delivery disruption caused by a supplier seat defect, an April 14, 2026 filing revealing Q1 revenue of just $280-$284 million against a consensus estimate of $433.8 million and a $1.05 billion capital raise, and a May 5, 2026 earnings report showing a net loss of over $1 billion and GAAP EPS of -$3.46 - LCID's stock price fell sharply across multiple trading sessions, causing significant losses for investors.
Who may be eligible to participate in the Lucid Group class action lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or acquired Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID) stock between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026 - the Class Period - and suffered financial losses may be eligible to participate in the Lucid Group securities class action. Participation as a class member does not require taking any affirmative legal action; eligible investors may recover losses simply by remaining members of the class. Whistleblowers, former Lucid Group employees, and others with relevant information about the Company's conduct are also encouraged to come forward.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment in the Lucid Group lawsuit?
A lead plaintiff in the Lucid Group class action is a court-appointed investor - typically the one with the largest financial interest in the case - who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of all class members. Any Lucid Group investor who purchased LCID stock during the Class Period may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice. The deadline to seek lead plaintiff appointment is July 28, 2026. Importantly, choosing not to seek the lead plaintiff role does not affect an investor's ability to share in any recovery obtained for the class.
What should investors do if they purchased Lucid Group stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID) stock between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026 and suffered losses should contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP immediately to discuss their legal rights. The deadline to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Lucid Group securities class action is July 28, 2026. To speak directly with securities litigation partner Josh Wilson, call 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310), or visit www.faruqilaw.com/LCID for more information.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305145
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. ("ZoomInfo" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GTM).
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN ZOOMINFO TECHNOLOGIES INC. (GTM), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE AUGUST 24, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) ZoomInfo's optimistic plan for continued growth was undermined by slowing seat-based demand, weakening upsells and customers revising decisions to purchase AI products and develop internal AI-driven go-to-market solutions, making ZoomInfo's 2026 full year revenue guidance increasingly unlikely to be met; and (2) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTM) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired ZoomInfo securities between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GTM.
ZoomInfo Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose:
The true state of ZoomInfo's slowing seat-based demand, weakening upsell opportunities, and deteriorating fundamentals across its downmarket and upmarket segments. That Defendants' optimistic growth narrative, including representations that full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $1.247–$1.267 billion was achievable and that Copilot penetration was on or ahead of schedule. That customers were migrating toward consumption-based models and developing internal AI-driven go-to-market solutions, trends Defendants minimized despite their material adverse impact on ZoomInfo's business.On May 11, 2026, ZoomInfo reported its first quarter 2026 results and slashed its full-year revenue guidance by approximately $62 million
Following this news, the price of ZoomInfo's common stock declined dramatically, from a closing market price of $6.04 per share on May 11, 2026, ZoomInfo's stock price fell to $4.06 per share on May 12, 2026, a decline of about 33%.
What's Next for ZoomInfo Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/GTM, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in ZoomInfo you have until August 24, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to ZoomInfo Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for ZoomInfo Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303087
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has released a new version of the ZoomInfo Chrome Extension, the browser tool that surfaces verified contact and company data on the page a seller is already viewing. The new extension was rebuilt natively from the ground up, and the rebuild is what makes it faster and lets it find more. Pages load 2 to 3 times faster than the previous extension. The slowest moment in browser prospecting is the wait betwe.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Dave & Buster's (PLAY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 17.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Dave & Buster's due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Dave & Buster's Q1 Earnings & Revenues Miss EstimatesDave & Buster's reported weak first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with adjusted earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both metrics also declined on a year-over-year basis.
The quarter was primarily weighed down by weaker customer demand at existing locations, as reflected in lower comparable-store sales. This softness, particularly in the company's core entertainment segment, contributed to an overall decline in revenues. At the same time, profitability came under pressure due to higher labor, administrative and depreciation-related expenses, which compressed operating margins.
Despite a challenging quarter, Dave & Buster's highlighted several encouraging developments. Management noted that its back-to-basics strategy is gaining traction, with improvements across food and beverage offerings, marketing initiatives and the refreshed remodel program contributing to a stronger guest experience. The company continued to execute on its growth strategy through new store openings, remodel activities and international franchise expansion.
Dave & Buster’s Q1 Earnings & RevenuesFor the fiscal first quarter, the company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 22 cents, which missed the consensus mark of 37 cents by 40.5%. In the year-ago quarter, it had reported an adjusted EPS of 76 cents.
Quarterly revenues of $559.2 million missed the consensus estimate of $571 million by 2.1% and declined 1.5% year over year. The top line was pressured by a $29.2 million decline in comparable store revenues, partly offset by an $18.1 million increase in noncomparable store revenues.
Dave & Buster’s Sales Mix Shows DivergenceFood and Beverage revenues (38.3% of total revenues in the reported quarter) increased 6.5% year over year to $214.1 million. The company cited eat-and-play combo enhancements and menu changes made in the second half of fiscal 2025 as factors supporting higher food attach rates and check growth. Our estimate was $202.5 million.
Entertainment revenues (61.7%) fell 5.9% year over year to $345.1 million. Our estimate was $373.1 million.
Comparable store sales (including Main Event-branded locations) declined 5.4% year over year. Management attributed the decline in comparable store revenues to a reduction in walk-in business relative to the prior-year period.
Dave & Buster’s Q1 Operating HighlightsOperating income totaled $46.9 million compared with $63.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating margin declined to 8.4% from 11.1% reported in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Our estimate for operating income was $43 million.
Adjusted EBITDA came in at $123.2 million compared with $136.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 22% from 24%, reflecting softer sales leverage and higher operating cost pressure.
Dave & Buster’s Balance Sheet and Cash FlowCash and cash equivalents were $19.6 million as of May 5, 2026, compared with $16.6 million as of Feb. 3, 2026. Long-term debt, net, was $1.50 billion compared with $1.52 billion at fiscal 2025-end. The company ended the quarter with $499.1 million of available liquidity, consisting of cash and availability under its $650 million revolving credit facility.
Net cash provided by operating activities improved to $113.8 million from $95.8 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to working-capital timing, partly offset by lower net income. Capital expenditures were $105.3 million, down from $154.6 million. Adjusted free cash flow was positive $25.3 million against negative $58.8 million in the year-ago quarter.
PLAY’s Store Growth and OutlookThe company opened one new domestic store in the first quarter and has opened three additional domestic stores in the second quarter. It has completed remodels of six Dave & Buster’s stores so far in fiscal 2026 and expects to complete two more during the remainder of the year.
International franchise growth also continued. Dave & Buster’s opened its fifth international franchise store in May and sixth in June, and expects at least one more opening during the remainder of fiscal 2026. Management said its back-to-basics strategy is gaining traction across food and beverage, marketing and remodels, and reiterated confidence in generating more than $100 million in free cash flow in fiscal 2026.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates revision have trended downward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted -22.22% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Dave & Buster's has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Dave & Buster's has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerDave & Buster's is part of the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry. Over the past month, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 22%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended April 2026 more than a month ago.
Cracker Barrel reported revenues of $797.37 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2.9%. EPS of $0.29 for the same period compares with $0.58 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Cracker Barrel is expected to post a loss of $0.33 per share, indicating a change of -144.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -7.7% over the last 30 days.
Cracker Barrel has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of A.
Key Takeaways LUV's Q2 EPS estimate of 52 cents is down 3.70% in 60 days, while up 20.93% from last year's actual.Strong bookings and higher ticket prices are expected to drive 18.38% revenue growth to $8.58B.Rising labor costs may pressure margins; LUV's -1.21% ESP and Zacks Rank #3 hint at a possible miss. Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 22.
Southwest Airlines has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in one of the remaining quarters and matched the mark in another quarter), delivering an average beat of 246.97%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s see how things have shaped up for Southwest Airlines this earnings season.
Factors Likely to Have Influenced LUV’s Q2 PerformanceThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUV’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $8.58 billion, indicating 18.38% growth year over year. Management anticipates second-quarter 2026 unit revenues (RASM) to increase in the range of 16.5% to 18.5%,on a year-over-year basis, with capacity up flat to up 1% year over year.
We expect LUV's performance in the to-be-reported quarter to have been boosted by an uptick in total revenues, driven by high passenger revenues, as domestic air-travel demand stabilizes. Our estimate for passenger revenues in the to-be-reported quarter indicates a 18.5% increase from the second-quarter 2025 actual.
LUV is also expected to benefit from revenue initiatives and continued cost control, which contribute to solid results and strong momentum. LUV’s customer-focused product offering, operational excellence and dramatic progress from the transformational initiatives implemented last year are likely to act as other tailwinds. Further, Southwest Airlines’ lean cost structure, expanding operations and strategic partnerships, coupled with its efforts to reward its shareholders, also bode well.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUV’s second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised downward by 3.70% in the past 60 days to 52 cents per share. However, the consensus mark implies an upside of 20.93% from the year-ago actual. The consensus estimate lies within the company-provided guided range of 35-65 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Fuel remains a key swing factor in near-term results. Notably, oil prices declined by almost 31% during the April-June 2026 period, with oil prices being down 20% during the month of June 2026 alone. As fuel expenses represent a key input cost for any transportation player, a fall in oil prices bodes well for the bottom-line growth of airline stocks. For the second quarter of 2026, the company assumes fuel cost per gallon to be between $4.10 and $4.15.
Escalated labor and airport costs are also likely to have been high, which would have hurt the company’s bottom-line performance in the June quarter. LUV expects to continue experiencing increased cost pressure from the labor agreements and deals inked with the pilots. We expect operating costs to increase 16.9% in the second quarter of 2026 from first-quarter 2025 actuals, led by the 5.9% rise in salaries and related costs.
LUV anticipates second-quarter 2026 CASM-X to be between 3.5% and 4.0% year over year, which includes an expected 1.2-point impact from the removal of six seats from the Boeing 737-700 fleet to enable extra legroom seating.
What Our Model Says About LUVOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Southwest Airlines this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Southwest Airlines has an Earnings ESP of -1.21% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Highlights of LUV’s Q1 EarningsSouthwest Airlines reported first-quarter of 2026 earnings per share of 45 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improving from a loss of 13 cents in the year-ago quarter. The quarter reflected solid execution as the carrier’s commercial and cost initiatives began showing up more clearly in reported results.
Operating revenues of $7.24 billion edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.21 billion for a 0.4% surprise and rose 12.8% year over year.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.31% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CSX is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 22. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised marginally upward over the past 30 days. CSX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and missed in the remaining one, the average beat being 3.2%.
Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.00% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
EXPD is set to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Expeditors’ second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised 2.52% upward over the past 60 days. EXPD’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
Schneider National (SNDR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.50% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. SNDR is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings has remained flat at 22 cents over the past 60 days. SNDR’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the preceding four quarters (missing the mark twice and met the mark once in the remaining three quarters). The average miss is 17.97%.
A broad selloff hit AI-linked hardware and chip stocks on Wednesday as investors locked in gains from a months-long rally and questioned how long red-hot demand for AI infrastructure can support current valuations.
Dell Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:DELL) fell as much as 12%, touching a session low of $397.69, after a report that Meta Platforms is developing plans to lease out surplus AI training and inference capacity to enterprise customers. The news stoked concern that hyperscale cloud providers may have over-built data center infrastructure, a development that could slow future server orders for system integrators such as Dell.
Rising memory costs added to the pressure on Dell's margins, given that AI-optimized servers already carry lower gross margins than the company's traditional hardware lines. GF Securities recently downgraded the stock to "Hold" from "Buy," citing a stretched valuation after shares had rallied roughly 200% and traded near 34 times forward earnings. Extensive insider selling, totaling about $1.56 billion over three months with no offsetting purchases, has also weighed on sentiment.
Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) dropped about 9%, extending losses as investors weighed reports that Washington is considering tighter unilateral restrictions on exports of high-bandwidth memory products, a step that would carry direct implications for the chipmaker's international revenue. Competition from Chinese memory manufacturers has also been cited as a growing longer-term threat to Micron's pricing power.
SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) shares slid sharply after a research firm cut its near-term outlook for the NAND flash market, pointing to average selling prices falling faster than previously expected. That shift reinforced concern that the memory industry's supply-demand balance is tipping toward a surplus as capacity expansions across the sector outpace demand from enterprise and consumer electronics customers.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD, XETRA:AMD) shares also fell, caught up in the broader retreat across semiconductor and memory names. The stock has been especially sensitive to swings in sentiment after more than doubling year-to-date on optimism around its EPYC server processors and Instinct AI accelerators, leaving it vulnerable to profit-taking once the mood in AI hardware shifted.
The declines mark the latest bout of volatility in a sector that has posted extraordinary gains through 2026 on the back of surging AI infrastructure spending. Traders and analysts described Wednesday's moves largely as a valuation reset rather than a sign of a broader breakdown in AI demand, though the Meta capacity report and renewed scrutiny of hardware margins have added a fresh layer of uncertainty heading into the next round of quarterly earnings.
Coinsilium Group Limited (AQSE:COIN, OTCQB:CINGF, FRA:5CT) CEO Eddy Travia joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion alongside Predictive Labs CEO Johann Evrard to discuss the company's increased investment in Predictive Labs and the launch of Nijinn, a discovery terminal for prediction markets.
Evrard explained that Nijinn is a data aggregation product rather than a trading platform — it doesn't handle money or execute trades. Instead, it sits above multiple prediction-market venues, pulling together pricing, fees and resolution rules into a single interface. "We turn all that noise into a clear signal," he said. The whitelist opens next month, followed by a free tier in September and a paid Pro tier in October, targeting arbitrage, market making and hedging professionals, with around five or six venues at launch.
Travia said Predictive Labs fits within Coinsilium's broader strategy across blockchain, agentic AI and digital market infrastructure, with the company's role extending beyond capital to include strategy, partnerships and commercial growth. He also highlighted the company's Bitcoin treasury as a source of resilience and flexibility to support further venture-building opportunities.
Visit Proactive’s YouTube channel for more videos. Please give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications for future content.
A broad selloff hit AI-linked hardware and chip stocks on Wednesday as investors locked in gains from a months-long rally and questioned how long red-hot demand for AI infrastructure can support current valuations.
Dell Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:DELL) fell as much as 12%, touching a session low of $397.69, after a report that Meta Platforms is developing plans to lease out surplus AI training and inference capacity to enterprise customers. The news stoked concern that hyperscale cloud providers may have over-built data center infrastructure, a development that could slow future server orders for system integrators such as Dell.
Rising memory costs added to the pressure on Dell's margins, given that AI-optimized servers already carry lower gross margins than the company's traditional hardware lines. GF Securities recently downgraded the stock to "Hold" from "Buy," citing a stretched valuation after shares had rallied roughly 200% and traded near 34 times forward earnings. Extensive insider selling, totaling about $1.56 billion over three months with no offsetting purchases, has also weighed on sentiment.
Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) dropped about 9%, extending losses as investors weighed reports that Washington is considering tighter unilateral restrictions on exports of high-bandwidth memory products, a step that would carry direct implications for the chipmaker's international revenue. Competition from Chinese memory manufacturers has also been cited as a growing longer-term threat to Micron's pricing power.
SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) shares slid sharply after a research firm cut its near-term outlook for the NAND flash market, pointing to average selling prices falling faster than previously expected. That shift reinforced concern that the memory industry's supply-demand balance is tipping toward a surplus as capacity expansions across the sector outpace demand from enterprise and consumer electronics customers.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD, XETRA:AMD) shares also fell, caught up in the broader retreat across semiconductor and memory names. The stock has been especially sensitive to swings in sentiment after more than doubling year-to-date on optimism around its EPYC server processors and Instinct AI accelerators, leaving it vulnerable to profit-taking once the mood in AI hardware shifted.
The declines mark the latest bout of volatility in a sector that has posted extraordinary gains through 2026 on the back of surging AI infrastructure spending. Traders and analysts described Wednesday's moves largely as a valuation reset rather than a sign of a broader breakdown in AI demand, though the Meta capacity report and renewed scrutiny of hardware margins have added a fresh layer of uncertainty heading into the next round of quarterly earnings.
Investors woke up feeling great about a sweet inflation report on Wednesday morning. By lunchtime, chip stocks had other plans and the gains got slippery.
The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.68%) was up 0.28% as of 12:15 p.m. ET after reaching a session high of 0.8% around 10:15 a.m. The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.38%) gained just 0.1%, fading from an early peak of 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.25%) held up best at 0.3%, though it also pulled back from a morning high above 0.5%.
^DJI data by YCharts
Good news, bad news, and a $53 billion surprise The morning started with a pleasant surprise from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wholesale prices actually fell 0.3% in June, the first monthly decline since August 2025. Economists had expected a flat trend. Coming one day after a cooler-than-expected consumer price report, it looked like inflation might finally be loosening its grip.
New York Fed President John Williams added fuel to the optimism, declaring that "there are encouraging reasons to expect that inflation has peaked." Traders responded by slashing the odds of a July rate hike from 42% to just 17%.
But semiconductor stocks dragged the broader market lower as the session progressed.
SK Hynix (SKHY 8.28%) cratered 13.2%, giving back most of Tuesday's 18.5% surge. Fellow memory chip maker Micron Technology (MU 7.57%) tumbled 9.4% on fears that Chinese memory chips are getting more competitive. Nvidia (NVDA 0.74%) slipped 2.2%, and AMD (AMD 3.25%) dropped 6.4%. If you're keeping score on chip stocks at home, that's Monday down, Tuesday up, Wednesday down again. Exhausting stuff.
Image source: Getty Images.
Caterpillar (CAT 2.28%) had the Dow's worst day, falling 4.2% and dragging 234 points off the index. The heavy equipment maker has become an unlikely AI trade thanks to demand for data center construction, which means it now gets to participate in tech's mood swings. Today, it was a drag.
Mega-cap technology stocks provided a counterweight. Apple (AAPL +4.00%) popped 4.1% on reports it's shopping for AI chip start-ups. Alphabet (GOOG +4.04%) (GOOGL +3.81%) gained 3.7%, Microsoft (MSFT +3.09%) rose 3.4%, and Amazon (AMZN +3.11%) tacked on 3.4%.
Health insurers continued their slide. Elevance Health (ELV 8.93%) dropped 10.8% despite crushing earnings estimates, because slim margins mattered more than the beats. It's the classic "beat and raise but tank anyway" pattern that makes earnings season so unpredictable. Other insurance giants fell in solidarity.
Meanwhile, oil prices crept higher as U.S.-Iran tensions showed no signs of cooling, with analysts warning the conflict could become a "forever war."
Index
NASDAQ Composite IndexToday's Change
(
0.68
%)
+
176.56
Index Level
26,283.57
Stepping back from the chaos This week has been a masterclass in market whiplash. Monday brought a Korean market meltdown and chip carnage. Tuesday delivered IBM's worst day since 1987 but also a semiconductor bounce. Wednesday opened on inflation relief before chips resumed their slide.
Warren Buffett offered his assessment in a CNBC interview: "It's tough to find values when everybody is preferring gambling."
For long-term investors, the message is familiar: volatility creates opportunity, but patience remains essential. The inflation data suggests the Fed may have more flexibility than feared, even as rate hikes remain on the table for later this year.
That's worth remembering the next time a semiconductor headline sends indexes spinning.
Anders Bylund has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Micron Technology, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, Micron Technology, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Key Takeaways ELV topped Q2 EPS and revenue estimates as premium yields and CarelonRx sales supported results.Elevance Health raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $27.00 and lifted operating cash flow outlook.ELV grew operating cash flow to $6.2B as cash rose, while medical membership declined 1.5% year over year. Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.45, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.6%. However, the bottom line declined 15.7% year over year.
Operating revenues advanced 0.8% year over year to $49.8 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 2.9%.
The quarterly results were primarily driven by higher premium yields in the Health Benefits segment and increased CarelonRx product revenues. The upside was partly offset by a decline in overall medical membership and an elevated expense level.
ELV’s Q2 Operational UpdateAs of June 30, 2026, Medical membership of Elevance Health was around 44.9 million, which dipped 1.5% year over year. The decrease was due to the expected loss of some commercial fee-based customers and a decline in Individual ACA and Medicaid membership. The reported figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44.8 million and our estimate of 44.5 million.
Premiums totaled $41.3 billion in the quarter under review, which remained flat year over year and surpassed our estimate of $39.3 billion. Product revenues grew 3.7% year over year to $6.3 billion, marginally missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9% and our estimate by 0.5%.
Net investment income rose 44.9% year over year to $704 million. The Adjusted operating margin of 3.6% deteriorated 140 basis points (bps) year over year.
Total expenses escalated 2.2% year over year to $48.5 billion in the second quarter, higher than our estimate of $46.7 billion. The year-over-year increase was due to higher cost of products sold, operating expenses and interest expenses.
The operating expense ratio was 11.1%, which increased 100 bps year over year. The benefit expense ratio increased 80 bps year over year to 89.7%.
Q2 Segmental Results of ELVHealth Benefits
The unit recorded operating revenues of $42.7 billion in the second quarter, which rose 2.7% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $41.2 billion as well as our estimate of $40.7 billion. The segment benefited from increased premium yields.
The unit recorded an operating gain of $0.9 billion, which fell 43.8% year over year. It also missed the consensus mark of $1 billion. The operating margin deteriorated 170 basis points year over year to 2.1%.
Carelon
The segment’s operating revenues rose 6.1% year over year to $19.2 billion in the quarter under review, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18.4 billion and our estimate of $18.3 billion. The year-over-year increase was driven by higher CarelonRx product revenues and the scaling of risk-based capabilities in Carelon Services.
The unit’s operating gain of $0.9 billion was up 1% year over year, reflecting better profitability in specialty pharmacy. The operating margin deteriorated 30 bps year over year to 4.9%.
Corporate & Other
Operating revenues amounted to $6 million. The unit incurred an operating loss of $81 million, wider than the prior-year quarter’s loss of $71 million.
ELV’s Financial Details (As of June 30, 2026)Elevance Health exited the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $10.2 billion, which advanced 7.8% from the 2025-end level. Total assets of $126.4 billion increased 4.1% from the figure as of 2025-end.
Long-term debt, less the current portion, amounted to $30.7 billion and fell 0.4% from the figure as of Dec. 31, 2025. There were no short-term borrowings at the end of the second quarter, while the current portion of the long-term debt amounted to $375 million.
Total equity of $45 billion was up 2.3% from the 2025-end level.
Elevance Health generated net cash flow from operations of $6.2 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026. The figure rose from the prior-year figure of $3.1 billion.
ELV: Capital Deployment UpdateElevance Health bought back shares worth $0.7 million in the second quarter. It had a leftover capacity of around $5.3 billion under its share buyback authorization as of June 30, 2026.
Elevance Health paid a quarterly dividend of $1.72 per share, adding up to a cash distribution worth $373 million.
ELV’s Revised 2026 OutlookThe company now expects adjusted EPS to be at least $27.00, up from the previous guidance of at least $26.75.
The operating margin for the Health Benefits segment was earlier estimated to witness a decrease of 50-25 bps from the 2025 reported figure. Also, the operating margin for CarelonRx was expected to see a 25-0 bps decline, while the same for Carelon Services was estimated to witness an increase of 0-25 bps.
Management had earlier projected operating revenues to witness a low-single-digit decline in 2026 from the 2025 level. Premium revenues were estimated to witness a mid-single-digit decline from the 2025 level. Medical enrollment was forecasted to be between 43.2 million and 43.9 million in 2026.
Net investment income was expected to be $1.9 billion. Interest expenses were forecasted to be $1.5 billion in 2026, while operating cash flow guidance raised to at least $6.0 billion. Diluted shares are estimated to be 219-220 million.
ELV’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksELV currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) and Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD - Free Report) , each currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s second quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.87 per share, which has witnessed one upward revision in the past 60 days, with no movement in the opposite direction. It beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 0.8%. The consensus estimates for UNH’s second quarter2026 revenues is pinned at $110.05 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CVS Health’s second quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.87 per share, which has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days, with no movement in the opposite direction. It beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.8% The consensus estimates for CVS’ second quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $100.18 billion, implying 1.3% year-over-year growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pediatrix Medical’s second quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 57 cents per share, indicating a 7.6% year-over-year increase. It beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 21.3%. The consensus estimate for MD’s second quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $ 477.34 million, implying 1.8% year-over-year growth.
Investors breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday, July 14, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in below consensus, signaling that inflation slowed month over month in June. The index declined 0.4% between May and June, mainly due to falling energy prices.
The annual rate of 3.5%, while still well above target, also came in below the 3.8% consensus. But the biggest relief came to rate-sensitive sectors like fintechs, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and entry-level homebuilders, many of which have been beaten down by sticky inflation, high rates, and weary consumers. While one print doesn’t equate to a trend, June’s number bodes well for this group, especially the three stocks we’ll discuss below.
Get SoFi Technologies alerts:
The Hike Scare Just Lost a Few TeethInflation had been creeping higher in recent months, and Federal Reserve governors like Christopher Waller had been considering voting for rate hikes as early as this month when the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets on July 29. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, the odds of a July rate hike reached as high as 42% on July 13, but dropped to just 16.6% the day after the cool CPI release.
The odds of a September rate hike are still nearly 60% (and cuts still appear completely off the table), but a three-month period of relief could be meaningful for the sectors we mentioned earlier. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped sharply after the CPI release, a boost for homebuilders, since 30-year fixed mortgage rates most closely track the 10-year Treasury yield. Fintechs also suffer when mortgage rates are high, as loan demand weakens and credit risk increases. They’re also frequently considered growth stocks with earnings potential, not necessarily current profits. And REITs are both a bond proxy and a real estate proxy, benefiting from lower Treasury yields and lower borrowing costs to acquire property.
While June’s report is the largest one-month CPI decline since April 2020, it's important to understand how the calculus has shifted. Waller has said it will take several months of data to convince him inflation is actually heading in the right direction, and most of the CPI relief came from lower gasoline prices (down 9.7% month-over-month). The relief may not last, but investors are now betting on a scenario in which a single rate hike is on the table rather than multiple increases before year-end. A pause into 2027 remains a dream-world outcome, one that would likely require hypnotizing several heads of state, but the market is at least starting to price in a less aggressive path.
3 Stocks That Benefit From Rate ReliefThree stocks, one each from the REIT, homebuilder, and fintech industries, offer broad exposure to a potential slow-rate environment. Rate hikes may not be avoided entirely, and cuts still appear unlikely, but these stocks could benefit if additional hikes are pushed further out.
D.R. Horton: The Affordability HomebuilderD.R. Horton Today
$151.29 +1.30 (+0.87%)
As of 02:22 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$129.11▼
$184.54Dividend Yield1.19%
P/E Ratio14.18
Price Target$168.62
D.R. Horton Inc. NYSE: DHI is the country’s largest homebuilder by total volume, specializing in entry-level homes for first-time buyers. More than 60% of the company’s homes go to first-time buyers, a group for whom affordability is often the most crucial factor. Lower mortgage rates put more renters into the pool of buyers, and also allow DHI to boost margins by reducing the amount of buydowns and incentives it offers.
The company posted a top and bottom-line earnings beat during its Q2 2026 report in April and upgraded its full-year revenue estimates, but buydowns and incentives were one area of stress for management, with more than 70% of closings requiring a buydown. The Q3 2026 report is scheduled for July 21, so this CPI report is welcome news for management ahead of that conference call. D.R. Horton also has a policy tailwind thanks to the June passage of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which sent DHI shares up nearly 7% in a single session.
Realty Income: Bond-like Yields With Strong Underlying BusinessRealty Income Today
O
Realty Income
$63.74 -0.03 (-0.05%)
As of 02:22 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$55.86▼
$67.93Dividend Yield5.10%
P/E Ratio52.26
Price Target$67.17
Few publicly traded companies are more linked to the 10-year Treasury yield than Realty Income Corp. NYSE: O, the long-term net-lease REIT. The company pays a 5.1% dividend with a more than 30-year track record of annual payout increases. And most importantly, this isn’t a weak REIT dependent on steady rates. The underlying business is in terrific shape, as evidenced by a Q1 2026 earnings beat, during which management raised Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) and investment volume guidance. It also deployed $2.8 billion in capital at a cash yield of 7.1%, and that spread will only get healthier as funding costs fall. If the 10-year yield continues to drop and rate hikes are postponed, the stock’s biggest overhang is removed, and the 5.1% dividend can continue growing.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$14.92▼
$32.73P/E Ratio41.08
Price Target$22.78
SoFi Technologies Inc. NASDAQ: SOFI is the high beta way to play rates if the Fed stands pat. The company earns most of its income from lending, especially personal and student loans. SoFi is a nationally chartered bank with a diverse lending book, but demand for personal and student loan refinancing had been dormant during the high-rate regime. The stock is down nearly 30% year to date. However, this performance belies some promising results.
Despite the massive stock drawdown, SoFi’s Q1 2026 report was strong as revenue grew 42% year-over-year to $1.09 billion, above the anticipated $1.05 billion. The company also reported record loan originations totaling $12.2 billion. A steady-rate environment may not trigger a stampede of refinancings, but it could help revitalize the company’s sleepy student loan refinance program. Analysts at Goldman Sachs seem to agree; they boosted their price target on the stock from $17 to $21 on July 9.
Should You Invest $1,000 in SoFi Technologies Right Now?Before you consider SoFi Technologies, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and SoFi Technologies wasn't on the list.
While SoFi Technologies currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
With the proliferation of data centers and electric vehicles, the electric grid will only get more strained. Download this report to learn how energy stocks can play a role in your portfolio as the global demand for energy continues to grow.
July 7 was a rough day for Rivian Automotive (RIVN +3.03%) shareholders. The upstart electric vehicle (EV) company saw its stock plunge 18.1%, its largest single-day decline in almost two years. Rivian had announced only days earlier that it topped its second-quarter guidance with 12,194 deliveries, and raised its full-year delivery outlook from 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles to 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles.
The culprit? A new common-stock offering that underlines the reality that Rivian is still losing a ton of money and needs substantial additional capital to continue growing. It can be tempting to buy Rivian stock on this dramatic decline. Here's why that's probably not a good idea in this case.
This sell-off was about more than the share dilution Rivian sold 75 million new shares at $15.50 per share, raising approximately $1.2 billion in gross proceeds. The company also granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 11.25 million shares of common stock. The funds are for general corporate purposes and equity contributions for a loan arrangement with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Image source: Rivian.
Beyond the share dilution the new shares will cause, the offering priced shares at $15.50, well below the open-market price at the time. Rivian and institutional buyers agreeing to the offering at such a deep discount probably doesn't send a great message to the market about how the parties involved view the stock. But most of all, the offering is a harsh reminder of how far Rivian still has to go to remain financially viable. The company has burned over $3 billion in free cash flow over the past four quarters alone.
Buy the dip? No thanks Rivian trades at a valuation that is completely disconnected from most of the automotive industry. The most successful automotive companies broadly trade at under 1 times sales. Rivian trades at 3.8 times sales, even after the stock's sell-off. Although Tesla is an exception, it's hardly fair to compare it with Rivian, since Tesla has Elon Musk and has shifted its business focus to autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robotics.
Today's Change
(
3.03
%) $
0.53
Current Price
$
18.03
The reason why automotive companies trade at such low valuations is the same reason Rivian still needs to raise money. Manufacturing vehicles, whether EVs or regular combustion models, is very capital-intensive. Factories are expensive to build, and they need to operate at nearly full capacity to produce vehicles profitably.
If Rivian continues to sell more vehicles, its margins should improve as volumes rise. Rivian's just not there yet. It's probably wise to stay on the sidelines until Rivian's valuation drops closer to that of other automotive stocks or the company grows enough that it no longer needs additional funding.
• Rivian Automotive stock is charging ahead with explosive momentum. Why is RIVN stock surging?
On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco maintained Rivian with an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $12 to $13.
On July 9, UBS analyst Joseph Spak reiterated Rivian with a Neutral and raised the price target from $16 to $17. On July 8, BNP Paribas analyst James Picariello maintained Rivian with an Outperform and raised the price target from $22 to $24.
Rivian outperformed several legacy automakers in the second quarter as its deliveries beat internal guidance and the company raised its full-year outlook.
Rivian Beats Its Own TargetRivian produced 12,613 vehicles and delivered 12,194 units in the second quarter of 2026, topping its internal delivery guidance of 9,000 to 11,000 vehicles. The company benefited from steady commercial van demand, sequential growth in its R1 platform and the rollout of R2 deliveries.
Rivian Stands Out Against RivalsRivian also raised its full-year 2026 delivery outlook to 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles, signaling confidence in demand through the rest of the year.
Technical AnalysisRivian is trading above all its major moving averages, which keeps the intermediate trend pointed up: it’s 8.3% above the 20-day SMA ($16.78) and about 14%–15% above the 50-day ($15.81), 100-day ($15.76), and 200-day ($15.91) SMAs. That said, the longer-term backdrop still carries some baggage because the 50-day SMA remains below the 200-day SMA after the death cross in May.
Earnings OutlookLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 30 (confirmed) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: Loss of 79 cents (Up from a loss of 97 cents year-over-year) Revenue Estimate: $1.44 billion (Up from $1.30 billion YoY) Top ETF ExposureSignificance: Because Rivian carries meaningful weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.
RIVN Price ActionRIVN Stock Price Activity: Rivian Automotive shares were up 2.63% at $17.96 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
