Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (ARLP - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $24.94, gaining 2.7% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $31.25 indicates a 25.3% upside potential.
The mean estimate comprises four short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $1.71. While the lowest estimate of $29.00 indicates a 16.3% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 32.3% to reach $33.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in ARLP. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why ARLP Could Witness a Solid UpsideThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.4%, as one estimate has moved higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, ARLP currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much ARLP could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
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Element Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: ESI) related to its sale to Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Element Solutions shareholders will receive $10.00 in cash and 0.500 shares of Solstice common stock for each Element Solutions share. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, Element Solutions shareholders are expected to own approximately 44% of the combined company.
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Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNX) related to its sale to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Crinetics shareholders are expected to receive $85.00 per share in cash.
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Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLS) related to its merger with Element Solutions, Inc.
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Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK) related to its merger with LCI Industries. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Patrick shareholders will own approximately 52% of the combined company.
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For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is California Water Service Group (CWT - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
California Water Service Group is one of 111 companies in the Utilities group. The Utilities group currently sits at #14 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.
The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. California Water Service Group is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CWT's full-year earnings has moved 0.3% higher within the past quarter. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
Based on the latest available data, CWT has gained about 15.4% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Utilities group have gained about 7.5% on average. This means that California Water Service Group is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
One other Utilities stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel Unsponsored ADR (ELPC - Free Report) . The stock is up 25.9% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel Unsponsored ADR's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 60.6%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, California Water Service Group belongs to the Utility - Water Supply industry, which includes 9 individual stocks and currently sits at #176 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 8.6% so far this year, so CWT is performing better in this area.
In contrast, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel Unsponsored ADR falls under the Utility - Electric Power industry. Currently, this industry has 63 stocks and is ranked #159. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +9%.
California Water Service Group and Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel Unsponsored ADR could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Utilities stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $TYL #TylerTech--Tyler Technologies will discuss its second quarter 2026 results during a conference call and webcast on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Tyler Technologies (TYL - Free Report) Tyler Technologies is a leading provider of integrated information-management solutions and services for the public sector.
TYL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. TYL has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 13.4% for the current fiscal year.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.19 to $12.82 per share. TYL also boasts an average earnings surprise of +2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, TYL should be on investors' short list.
Expanded ten-model portfolio supports cooling chill door capacities from 10kW up to 120kW for systems level to rack-scale AI factories Flexible Rear Door Heat Exchangers deliver rapid, low-disruption liquid cooling for both new and legacy data centers Integrated DCBBS deliver validated rack-scale infrastructure, intelligent management software, and global deployment services , /PRNewswire/ -- Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), an AI, Enterprise, Storage, and 5G/Edge IT Total Solution Provider, featuring Data Center Building Block Solutions® (DCBBS), today announced the expansion of its Rear Door Heat Exchanger (RDHx) portfolio, further strengthening its end-to-end liquid cooling solutions for high-density AI and HPC infrastructure. As a key component of DCBBS, the expanded RDHx portfolio offers flexible cooling capacities, providing data center operators with an easy-to-deploy path to liquid cooling for both new and legacy data centers.
Rear Door Heat Exchangers Optimized for High-Density AI & HPC Data Center Racks "We continue to expand our DCBBS offerings to provide our customers with unmatched customization and optimization options," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "Our expanded RDHx portfolio helps customers realize the benefits of liquid cooling, with a range from 10kW up to 120kW of cooling at the door level, with a max of 240kW of cooling capacity at the rack-level, enabling more efficient data center operations."
Learn more about Supermicro's RDHx portfolio here and in this video summary.
Customers can design and deploy validated rack-scale cooling solutions tailored to their facility requirements, infrastructure constraints, and workload demands, enabling higher compute density, improved cooling efficiency, and lower total-cost-of-ownership (TCO). The expanded portfolio of ten RDHx models can be deployed as a primary liquid cooling solution or integrated with Supermicro's Direct-to-Chip (D2C) liquid cooling technologies as part of a complete DCBBS infrastructure solution.
Supporting cooling capacities from 10kW up to 120kW per rack, RDHx enables organizations to increase compute density and cooling efficiency for AI and HPC workloads without requiring major facility modifications. Compatible with standard EIA, ORv3, and MGX racks, the solutions integrate seamlessly into both new data center deployments and existing facilities. As part of Supermicro's validated DCBBS portfolio, RDHx can be delivered with accelerated systems, rack-scale integration, facility power and cooling, intelligent management software, and deployment services, enabling customers to simplify procurement, reduce integration risk, and reduce Time-to-Online (TTO).
Key benefits of Supermicro RDHx solutions include the ability to:
Deploy Anywhere — Mount directly to standard EIA, ORv3, and MGX racks for rapid deployment, in both new data centers or retrofits, without the need for dedicated facility chilled water or extra hardware Maximize Reliability — Optimize energy efficiency with intelligent fan control, N+1 redundancy, and anti-condensation protection for continuous operation and simplified maintenance Simplify Power Integration — Integrate DC-powered models with rack busbars for streamlined deployment or AC-powered models for broad infrastructure compatibility Monitor Infrastructure — Track temperature, pressure, flow rate, and pump status in real time using Redfish®, SNMP, web-based management, and Supermicro SuperCloud Composer® (SCC) Supermicro DCBBS delivers complete, modular AI infrastructure built from validated components and subsystems, enabling flexible deployment from individual servers and networking to full rack-scale and data center-level solutions, including software and services. Supermicro continues to lead the industry with its comprehensive portfolio of AI infrastructure solutions, enabling organizations worldwide to deploy scalable, efficient, and environmentally responsible AI data centers.
Explore the full range of Supermicro liquid cooling solutions and DCBBS modular infrastructure options.
About Super Micro Computer, Inc.
Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI) is a global leader in Application-Optimized Total IT Solutions. Founded and operating in San Jose, California, Supermicro is committed to delivering first-to-market innovation for Enterprise, Cloud, AI, and 5G Telco/Edge IT Infrastructure. We are a Total IT Solutions provider with server, AI, storage, IoT, switch systems, software, and support services. Supermicro's motherboard, power, and chassis design expertise further enables our development and production, enabling next-generation innovation from cloud to edge for our global customers. Our products are designed and manufactured in-house (in the US, Taiwan, and the Netherlands), leveraging global operations for scale and efficiency and optimized to improve TCO and reduce environmental impact (Green Computing). The award-winning portfolio of Server Building Block Solutions® allows customers to optimize for their exact workload and application by selecting from a broad family of systems built from our flexible and reusable building blocks that support a comprehensive set of form factors, processors, memory, GPUs, storage, networking, power, and cooling solutions (air-conditioned, free air cooling or liquid cooling).
Supermicro, Server Building Block Solutions, and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc.
All other brands, names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in APLD over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Key Takeaways U.S. Bancorp is expected to report higher Q2 revenues and earnings on July 16.USB expects NII and fee income growth, supported by loan demand and stronger capital markets revenues.U.S. Bancorp acquired BTIG to expand capital markets services and institutional client capabilities. U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 16, 2026, before the opening bell. The company is expected to have witnessed year-over-year increases in quarterly revenues and earnings.
In the last reported quarter, the company’s results were supported by higher net interest income (NII) and solid fee revenue growth. However, a rise in provision was concerning.
USB has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat estimates in the trailing four quarters, the surprise being 5.76%, on average.
USB’s Key Developments in Q2In June 2026, U.S. Bancorp acquired BTIG, LLC. The transaction strengthens the company’s capital markets platform by adding institutional equity sales and trading, equity capital markets, equity electronic trading, and mergers and acquisitions advisory capabilities, marking a significant step in the bank’s efforts to expand its capital markets capabilities and deepen relationships with institutional clients.
The acquisition will allow U.S. Bancorp to add institutional equity sales and trading, equity capital markets, electronic trading, and mergers and acquisitions advisory to its existing offerings. This broader suite of services is expected to accelerate the bank’s capital market momentum and strengthen its ability to serve corporate and institutional clients.
Factors Influencing U.S. Bancorp’s Q2 PerformanceNII: In the second quarter of 2026, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and signaled a hike later this year. Thus, stabilizing funding and deposit costs are expected to have supported modest growth in USB’s NII in the quarter to be reported.
Management expects NII on a fully taxable equivalent basis to rise 6-7% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pegged at $4.34 billion, indicating a 7% increase from the year-ago reported figure.
Loans: According to the Fed’s latest data, the demand for commercial and industrial and consumer loans was solid in the second quarter, while the demand for real estate loans was comparatively modest. As a result, USB’s lending activity is expected to have seen a decent improvement.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $633.7 million for average earning assets indicates a 3.3% year-over-year increase.
Non-Interest Income: Client activity and market volatility eased compared with the exceptionally strong first quarter, but both remained elevated during the second quarter. Trading conditions were shaped by evolving expectations around artificial intelligence, ongoing geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation concerns and a more hawkish Federal Reserve. Volatility was high across equities, commodities, fixed income and foreign exchange markets. This is anticipated to have aided USB’s capital markets’ revenue growth in the first quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for capital markets revenues is pegged at $453.64 million, indicating a rise of 16.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Though mortgage rates increased in the second quarter to the mid-6% range, they were lower than the prior-year quarter’s reported level. Hence, refinancing activities and origination volume were decent. As a result, USB’s mortgage banking fees are expected to have witnessed some improvement in the quarter to be reported.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for mortgage banking revenues is pegged at $163 million, which indicates a marginal rise from the prior year quarter's reported figure.
The consensus mark for income from card revenues is pegged at $437.7 million, indicating a slight decline from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for trust and investment management fees is pegged at $759.9 million, indicating an 8.1% rise from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Overall, the consensus estimate for total non-interest income is pegged at $3.28 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 12%. Management expects the metric to rise 6-7% year over year.
Expenses: Although the company has been implementing expense-management actions, higher costs related to compensation and employee benefits, net occupancy, and ongoing investments in technology-led initiatives are likely to have kept the expense base elevated.
Management expects total non-interest expenses to rise 3-4% year over year.
Asset Quality: USB is unlikely to have set aside a substantial amount for potential loan delinquencies, given the modest improvement in the operating environment, supported by resilient economic growth, broadly stable credit conditions and the announced ceasefire in the Middle East. However, robust lending and persistently higher inflation are likely to have weighed on provision numbers.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-performing loans is pegged at $1.57 billion, indicating a decline of 4% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for USBPer our proven model, the chances of U.S. Bancorp beating estimates this time are high. 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. That is exactly the case here, as you can see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: U.S. Bancorp has an Earnings ESP of +0.34%.
Zacks Rank: USB currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share of $1.28 has been unchanged in the past seven days. The figure indicates an increase of 15.3% from the year-ago reported number.
The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $7.6 billion, suggesting a rise of 8.7% from the year-ago reported figure.
Other Bank Stocks to ConsiderHere are a couple of other bank stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.
The Earnings ESP for Webster Financial Corporation (WBS - Free Report) is +3.46% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 21, 2026. Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for WBS's quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $1.61 per share.
Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS - Free Report) is also scheduled to announce quarterly numbers on July 22. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.50% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Quarterly earnings estimates for NTRS have been revised upward to $2.68 per share over the past week.
Key Takeaways Marathon Petroleum posted $1.4B Refining & Marketing adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2026.MPC achieved 99% refining margin capture despite completing nearly 40% of planned annual maintenance.MPC benefits from domestic crude sourcing, logistics flexibility and higher-margin jet fuel projects. The current refining market remains highly supportive for U.S. refiners, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) is emerging as a clear beneficiary. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted global fuel supply, while strong demand for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel has kept crack spreads elevated. At the same time, constrained global refining capacity and robust export demand continue to create a favorable pricing environment, allowing efficient refiners to capture stronger margins.
Marathon Petroleum is among the biggest beneficiaries of these conditions. During the first quarter of 2026, the company generated $1.4 billion in Refining & Marketing adjusted EBITDA, with refining margin capture reaching 99% despite completing nearly 40% of its planned annual maintenance. Its refineries operated at 89% utilization, reflecting disciplined operations and strong commercial execution.
The company's advantage extends beyond favorable industry conditions. Marathon Petroleum sources most of its crude from the United States and Canada, reducing exposure to global supply disruptions while enabling it to capitalize on attractive domestic feedstock economics. Its integrated logistics network also allows rapid adjustments in crude sourcing, product yields and exports, helping maximize profitability as market conditions evolve.
Strategic investments further strengthen this position. The recently completed Garyville jet fuel expansion and upcoming yield-improvement projects increase exposure to higher-margin products, particularly jet fuel and diesel, where demand remains healthy. Combined with strong planning, operational reliability and commercial optimization, these initiatives position Marathon Petroleum to sustain superior refining margins even as market volatility persists.
Other Energy Players Benefiting From Current Refining MarginsValero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) is among the largest independent refiners in the United States, with a combined high-complexity throughput capacity of nearly 3 million barrels per day across its refineries. VLO's refining footprint is heavily concentrated along the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Midcontinent, offering feedstock sourcing flexibility, with management emphasizing that crude availability is not a significant constraint for the company. Moreover, its Gulf Coast access enables it to sell refined products in high-demand markets and capitalize on the current increase in export demand for distillates driven by the supply disruptions in the Middle East. This positions Valero to benefit from elevated refining margins and strong international demand for refined products.
Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) is well positioned to benefit from the current refining environment through its diversified refining, midstream and chemicals operations. Management expects supply disruptions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, to keep refined product markets tight, boosting margins for U.S. refiners. Strong demand for jet fuel and declining product inventories are also supporting favorable refining fundamentals. Additionally, Phillips 66 remains largely shielded from Middle East crude supply risks, as most of its feedstock comes from Canada, the United States and Latin America, allowing it to maintain high refinery utilization and capitalize on stronger margins.
The Zacks Rundown on Marathon PetroleumShares of Marathon Petroleum displayed a staggering rally of 72.7% in the past six months, compared with the Oil/Energy sector’s gain of 17.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective — in terms of forward price-to-sales ratio — MPC is trading at a discount of 0.64X compared with the industry average of 1.34X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MPC’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $33 per share, indicating 208.4% year-over-year growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
A strong stock as of late has been Edison International (EIX - Free Report) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 6.3% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $77.95 in the previous session. Edison International has gained 27.6% since the start of the year compared to the 7.5% move for the Zacks Utilities sector and the 9% return for the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 28, 2026, Edison International reported EPS of $1.42 versus consensus estimate of $1.32.
For the current fiscal year, Edison International is expected to post earnings of $6.12 per share on $18.79 in revenues. This represents a -6.56% change in EPS on a -2.72% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $6.54 per share on $19.5 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 6.87% and 3.76%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsWhile Edison International has moved to its 52-week high in the recent past, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Edison International has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are D and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 12.5X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 18.4X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 5X versus its peer group's average of 9.6X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.33. This is good enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective, making Edison International an interesting choice for value investors.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Edison International currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Edison International meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Edison International shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One stock to keep an eye on is Edison International (EIX - Free Report) . EIX is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.09. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 15.63. Over the past 52 weeks, EIX's Forward P/E has been as high as 16.17 and as low as 7.94, with a median of 9.49.
We also note that EIX holds a PEG ratio of 1.30. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. EIX's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 1.49. Over the past 52 weeks, EIX's PEG has been as high as 1.91 and as low as 1.02, with a median of 1.29.
Investors should also recognize that EIX has a P/B ratio of 1.24. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 2.77. Over the past 12 months, EIX's P/B has been as high as 2.08 and as low as 1.08, with a median of 1.30.
Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. EIX has a P/S ratio of 1.5. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 2.64.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Edison International is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, EIX feels like a great value stock at the moment.
In its upcoming report, Crown Holdings (CCK - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $2.15 per share, reflecting no change compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $3.33 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.9%.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Crown metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
Analysts predict that the 'External Sales- Americas Beverage' will reach $1.58 billion. The estimate points to a change of +12.5% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus among analysts is that 'External Sales- European Beverage' will reach $676.58 million. The estimate points to a change of +6.6% from the year-ago quarter.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'External Sales- Transit Packaging' of $538.69 million. The estimate points to a change of +2.4% from the year-ago quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'External Sales- Other segments' will reach $358.12 million. The estimate suggests a change of +9.5% year over year.
The average prediction of analysts places 'External Sales- Asia Pacific' at $267.52 million. The estimate points to a change of +4.5% from the year-ago quarter.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Segment Income- Americas Beverage' will likely reach $253.62 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $268.00 million.
Analysts expect 'Segment Income- European Beverage' to come in at $101.80 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $97.00 million.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Segment Income- Transit Packaging' reaching $65.96 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $72.00 million.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Segment Income- Other segments' should arrive at $43.48 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $35.00 million.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Segment Income- Asia Pacific' should come in at $49.17 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $50.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Crown here>>>
Over the past month, Crown shares have recorded returns of +7.1% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CCK will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Key Takeaways TransUnion is benefiting from demand for big data analytics and reported 14% first-quarter revenue growth.TRU expanded AI offerings & completed acquisitions to strengthen analytics, fraud & messaging capabilities.TransUnion's solid liquidity supports flexibility, while debt and competition continue to pose challenges. Shares of TransUnion (TRU - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past month. The stock has risen 9.7% compared with the industry’s 1.8% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite barely moved during the said time frame.
TRU’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to be up 5.6% year over year. Earnings for 2026 and 2027 are projected to rise 10.5% and 16.9% year over year, respectively. Revenues are expected to increase 12.4% in 2026 and 128.3% in 2027.
Factors That Bode Well for TRUTransUnion, a leading global provider of risk and information solutions to businesses and consumers, benefits from the fast-growing big data and analytics market, driven by the strong demand for data-backed business insights and reports by organizations. This increasing pace of harnessing data for business insights and decision-making enables TRU to leverage advanced technology to enhance its analytics capabilities and expand its database. The company reported first-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 14% year over year on a reported basis and 11% organically in constant currency.
TRU’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered innovative solutions also play a key role in its overall growth. The company is expanding its next-gen AI-powered product portfolio to support long-term sustainability.
It recently introduced TruIQ Analytics Orchestrator, which utilizes Google's Gemini models to streamline advanced credit modeling through natural language prompts, enhanced its AI-powered marketing audience solutions that transform static customer segments into dynamic, value-driven audiences and upgraded its AI-powered fraud model factory, which is capable of launching new fraud detection models two to three times faster. These innovations and technological advancements are expected to improve scalability and reduce operational costs.
TRU’s disciplined buyout strategy is strengthening its outlook. Recently, the company completed the acquisition of TransUnion Mexico, allowing it to enter the attractive Mexican credit market and further supporting its market expansion and portfolio diversification. The acquisition of RealNetworks’ Mobile division boosts its messaging capabilities, which complement its trusted call solutions business.
The company’s current ratio (a measure of liquidity) was 1.93 at the end of the first quarter of 2026, higher than the industry average of 1.01. A current ratio of more than 1 often indicates that the company is well-positioned to pay off its short-term obligations.
Risks to WatchPast acquisitions and aggressive expansion have burdened TransUnion with substantial debt. Although the debt has fueled the company's growth. It has also increased operating costs and limited future opportunities.
Global business information service providers operate in a fiercely competitive landscape. TRU faces heightened competition from firms like Equifax, Experian and LexisNexis across sectors. This competition fuels innovation across the industry while driving pricing pressures. Ongoing technology investments increase the challenge of maintaining profitability while competing for growth.
TransUnion currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Veralto Corporation (VLTO - Free Report) and Corpay, Inc. (CPAY - Free Report) .
Veralto Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. VLTO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9% on average.
Corpay, Inc. also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.3%. CPAY's earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and matched once, with the surprise being 2% on average.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when SEI Investments (SEIC - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis investment management firm is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -18.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $637.92 million, up 14% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 3.17% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for SEI?For SEI, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that SEI will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that SEI would post earnings of $1.29 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.44, delivering a surprise of +11.63%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
SEI doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, MSCI (MSCI - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $4.89 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +17.3%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $856.06 million, up 10.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for MSCI has been revised 1.9% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +0.83%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP indicates that MSCI will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
For the quarter ended June 2026, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (PNC - Free Report) reported revenue of $6.9 billion, up 21.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $4.85, compared to $3.85 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.44 billion, representing a surprise of +7.13%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +7.54%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.51.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how The PNC Financial Services Group performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Efficiency ratio: 60% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 58.9%.Total nonperforming assets: $2.15 billion compared to the $2.55 billion average estimate based on four analysts.Book value per common share: $145.52 versus the four-analyst average estimate of $146.34.Total interest-earning assets - Average balance: $555.01 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $552.4 billion.Net charge-offs to average loans: 0.3% compared to the 0.3% average estimate based on four analysts.Net interest margin: 3% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 3%.Total nonperforming loans: $2.03 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2.45 billion.Tier 1 risk-based ratio: 11.1% versus 11.3% estimated by two analysts on average.Leverage Ratio: 9% versus 9% estimated by two analysts on average.Net interest income (Fully Taxable-Equivalent - FTE) (non-GAAP): $4.13 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $4.12 billion.Total Noninterest Income: $2.77 billion versus $2.33 billion estimated by four analysts on average.Net Interest Income: $4.11 billion compared to the $4.09 billion average estimate based on four analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for The PNC Financial Services Group here>>>
Shares of The PNC Financial Services Group have returned +7.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The market expects Patterson-UTI (PTEN - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis provider of onshore contract drilling services is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +33.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.14 billion, down 6.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 150% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Patterson-UTI?For Patterson-UTI, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +12.50%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Patterson-UTI will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Patterson-UTI would post a loss of$0.1 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$0.06, delivering a surprise of +40.00%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Patterson-UTI appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Virtu Financial (VIRT - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, NY, Virtu Financial is a market-leading financial services firm that leverages cutting-edge technology to provide execution services and data, analytics and connectivity products to its clients and deliver liquidity to the global markets. It provides a wide array of offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. The company was founded in 2008.
VIRT is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 8.9; value investors should take notice.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.47 to $6.69 per share. VIRT also boasts an average earnings surprise of +25.1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, VIRT should be on investors' short list.
The market expects First American Financial (FAF - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis financial services company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.78 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +16.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.03 billion, up 10.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 3.04% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for First American Financial?For First American Financial, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.17%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that First American Financial will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that First American Financial would post earnings of $1.06 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.33, delivering a surprise of +25.47%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
First American Financial appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, Chubb (CB - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $6.6 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +7.5%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $15.89 billion, up 7.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Chubb has been revised 0.3% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +4.97%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that Chubb will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Key Dates and Disclosure Events Peabody Energy Shareholders Need to Know: From "On Time and On Budget" Assurances to a $14.50 Per Share Loss
, /PRNewswire/ -- October 14, 2024. July 31, 2025. October 30, 2025. February 5, 2026. March 30, 2026. May 5, 2026. Between these dates, Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) shareholders allege they were repeatedly assured of a March 2026 full-scale longwall production date at the Centurion mine while concealed operational failures were already undermining that timeline. Shares ultimately fell $14.50 from their Class Period high, a decline of approximately 36.7%. The lead plaintiff deadline is August 24, 2026.
Find out if you are eligible to recover losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
October 14, 2024 — The "On Time and On Budget" Assurance
Peabody hosted a Special Call devoted entirely to the Centurion mine. The Company's President of Global Operations told investors development was "ahead of schedule" and expressed confidence in the March 2026 longwall full ramp up. The Company disclosed that $250 million of the estimated $489 million in development capital had already been spent and that all required licenses and permits were in place for the southern district.
July 31, 2025 — Timeline Accelerated to February 2026
During the second quarter 2025 earnings call, management announced it was accelerating the longwall start-up target from March to February 2026, citing "strong execution." Shield installation was projected to begin in November 2025, and the workforce had reached approximately 260 employees with plans to reach 400 by early 2026.
October 30, 2025 — Shipment Projections Expanded Sevenfold
On the third quarter 2025 earnings call, the Company projected Centurion shipments would "expand sevenfold in 2026 to 3.5 million tons." The lawsuit contends that management described development and hiring as "on track" and noted longwall equipment was "beginning to be installed underground."
February 5, 2026 — $2.1 Billion NPV and "Finishing Touches"
Management stated the team was "putting the finishing touches" on the mine and that longwall mining had commenced "well ahead of its original schedule." The Company raised Centurion's net present value estimate from $1.6 billion to $2.1 billion.
March 30, 2026 — First Corrective Disclosure
Peabody filed a Regulation FD Disclosure slashing first quarter Centurion output guidance to 250,000 tons from 700,000 tons, citing "greater-than-anticipated mine commissioning challenges." No details on the nature of those challenges were provided. BTU shares fell 9.7% in a single trading session.
May 5, 2026 — Full Scope Revealed
The Company disclosed that 8-year-old repurposed equipment had failed under full load conditions, triggering electrical and mechanical breakdowns with conveyors and chutes. Slow longwall advancement caused moisture accumulation in roof cavities and floor softening beneath shields. Full year Centurion guidance was cut by 1 million tons, met segment costs rose to $123 to $133 per ton, and the segment recorded an adjusted EBITDA loss of $7 million. BTU shares fell another 5.7%.
Chronology of Alleged Disclosure Failures
October 2024: Equipment described as new and "state-of-the-art"; the action alleges it was actually 8-year-old repurposed machinery with updated technology retrofitted onto aging hardware July 2025: Timeline accelerated to February 2026 despite equipment not yet operating under full underground load conditions February 2026: NPV raised to $2.1 billion and management claimed longwall mining had started, yet commissioning failures were allegedly already occurring March 2026: First admission of problems, but scope and cause withheld from investors May 2026: Full disclosure of mechanical, electrical, and geological failures that the complaint alleges were foreseeable risks of deploying aging equipment underground "Timely disclosure of material developments is fundamental to fair and efficient markets. This chronology raises important questions about why investors were told the project was ahead of schedule while equipment and geological challenges were allegedly already manifesting underground." — Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Submit your claim before the deadline or call (212) 363-7500.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR REPRESENTATION — Levi & Korsinsky, LLP provides sophisticated counsel to institutional investors evaluating lead plaintiff opportunities. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. Ranked among ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the BTU Lawsuit
Q: When did Peabody Energy allegedly mislead investors? A: The class period runs from October 14, 2024 to May 4, 2026. During this time, management allegedly made repeated assurances about the Centurion mine ramp-up timeline while concealing mechanical, electrical, and geological challenges that made those assurances misleading.
Q: How much did BTU stock drop? A: Shares fell approximately 36.7% from the Class Period high of $39.50 to $25.00, a decline of $14.50 per share. The decline occurred across two corrective disclosure events on March 30 and May 5, 2026.
Q: What is the BTU lead plaintiff deadline? A: The deadline to apply for lead plaintiff appointment is August 24, 2026. This deadline applies only to investors seeking to serve as lead plaintiff. Class members who do not apply may still participate in any recovery.
Q: What do BTU investors need to do right now? A: Gather brokerage records including purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Contact Levi & Korsinsky for a free, no-obligation evaluation at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as a class member.
Q: What if I already sold my BTU shares — can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold them. Investors who bought during the class period and sold at a loss may still participate.
Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony? A: No. The overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. You submit a claim form to receive your portion of recovery.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: Nothing. Securities class actions are handled on a pure contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, no out-of-pocket costs.
Q: How long will the lawsuit take to resolve? A: Securities class actions typically take two to four years from initial filing to resolution.
The energy sector has quietly produced some of 2026’s biggest winners. While much of Wall Street has remained focused on artificial intelligence and technology stocks, oil refiners have delivered returns that rival many of the market’s hottest names. Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC | MPC Price Prediction), Valero (NYSE:VLO), and HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO) have all gained more than 80% this year, while even Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) has climbed over 54%.
Those gains haven’t happened just because crude oil prices are soaring. The real story lies elsewhere, and investors who understand one key industry metric will have a much clearer picture of whether this rally still has room to run.
The Number That Matters Most Let’s start with the industry’s most important profitability gauge: the 3-2-1 crack spread.
Despite the intimidating name, the concept is surprisingly straightforward. The 3-2-1 spread estimates the gross margin a refinery earns by turning three barrels of crude oil into two barrels of gasoline and one barrel of distillate fuel, such as diesel or jet fuel. It’s essentially the difference between what refiners pay for crude and what they receive for the fuels they sell.
When that spread widens, refiners generally make more money on every barrel they process. When it narrows, profits come under pressure.
According to Bloomberg data, the U.S. WTI 3-2-1 crack spread recently climbed to a $59 per barrel, and far above the historical range that refiners typically enjoy. Since the start of 2026, refining margins have nearly tripled.
What’s unusual this time is why margins have expanded. Although crude oil prices pulled back recently after a truce between the U.S. and Iran was signed (an agreement that President Trump just declared was “over”), gasoline and diesel prices have remained elevated because due to a severe shortage of global refining capacity, the Iran War, Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, and lower fuel exports. That combination creates an unusually profitable environment for refiners.
The Stocks Tell The Story Investors haven’t missed the opportunity. Refinery stocks are soaring in 2026, with many of the biggest players rising more than 80% compared to a near-11% gain by the S&P 500. The market isn’t rewarding refiners because they produce oil. It’s rewarding them because they’re earning unusually rich margins converting oil into finished fuels.
Oil producers generally benefit when crude prices rise. Refiners can thrive when crude prices stay relatively subdued while gasoline and diesel remain expensive. Those are two very different investment theses.
Granted, each company has its own strengths. Marathon Petroleum continues generating substantial cash flow through its large refining network and MPLX (NYSE:MPLX) midstream partnership. Valero remains one of North America’s lowest-cost operators. Phillips 66 offers additional exposure through chemicals and midstream assets. Yet all the companies currently share one common tailwind: elevated refining margins.
Watch The Margin, Not The Oil Price That said, crack spreads rarely stay elevated forever. History shows refinery margins tend to normalize as fuel supplies increase, refinery utilization rises, or crude prices rebound faster than gasoline and diesel prices. Reuters recently noted that today’s extraordinary profitability could prove temporary as crude markets rebalance following recent supply disruptions.
That’s why savvy investors shouldn’t focus solely on headline oil prices. If crude crude prices fall again, it doesn’t automatically hurt refiners. In some cases, it actually boosts profitability if refined products remain expensive.
Key Takeaway In short, refinery stocks have earned their remarkable gains because one number has moved decisively in their favor: the WTI 3-2-1 crack spread. As long as that margin remains well above historical norms, companies like Marathon Petroleum, Valero, HF Sinclair, and Phillips 66 should continue generating robust cash flow.
Ultimately, investors considering these stocks should spend less time watching the daily price of crude oil and more time following refining margins. The crack spread has become the industry’s financial heartbeat, and today it’s still beating loudly.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Marathon Petroleum didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, TX. It was founded in 1980 and is one of the largest independent refiners and marketers of petroleum products in the United States.
VLO is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 9.41; value investors should take notice.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.78 to $32.04 per share. VLO also boasts an average earnings surprise of +28%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, VLO should be on investors' short list.
Conexeu Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXU) is aiming its investigational CXU™ platform at the largest unclaimed frontier in injectable aesthetics: restoring real body volume at a scale today's fillers were never built to reach, a move built on the company's completed 12-month P.R.O.O.F.™ preclinical study.
RENO, Nev., /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary — Every so often, a wave of demand in one corner of medicine spills over and creates an entirely new market next door. The GLP-1 weight-loss boom is doing exactly that. As roughly 1 in 8 U.S. adults have now used a GLP-1 medication and millions reshape their bodies, a second-order demand has appeared: restoring the natural fullness that rapid weight loss leaves behind. Boston Consulting Group projects provider revenue from GLP-1-related aesthetic care will nearly triple, from about $0.7 billion to $2.0 billion by 2030. Conexeu Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXU), a preclinical-stage biotechnology company, is aiming its investigational CXU™ tissue-restoration platform at precisely that opening.
Key Takeaways
An unclaimed category. Large-volume body contouring, and restoration of the breasts, hips, and buttocks, is a significant injectable aesthetics category that no product has yet claimed at scale. Conexeu is positioning CXU™ as a potential first mover in what it calls bioregeneration. A multi-billion-dollar backdrop. The buttock augmentation market alone is projected to expand from roughly $2.99 billion in 2023 to $11.72 billion by 2030, while breast implant and reconstruction markets together approach $6 billion by 2030. A completed proof point. Conexeu has finished its 12-month P.R.O.O.F.™ preclinical study evaluating CXU™ in a large-volume model, with detailed findings reserved for peer-reviewed publication. A GLP-1 demand driver. Post-weight-loss volume restoration is emerging as a durable tailwind, with category leaders like Galderma and Novo Nordisk publicly validating the same shift. A capital-cycle parallel. Just as the energy sector shows how a demand supercycle rewards the companies that build the right infrastructure, Conexeu is building the product layer for the aesthetics wave that GLP-1s set in motion. The Open Frontier No Injectable Has Claimed
Large-volume restoration operates at a scale existing injectables were never built to serve. Traditional facial fillers were designed for fine lines and small-volume touch-ups, with a typical syringe holding about one-fifth of a teaspoon. Body restoration often requires hundreds of times that volume. Fat grafting is surgical and loses an estimated 30 to 70 percent of transferred volume to reabsorption, frequently requiring repeat procedures. Implants remain foreign material. So, the largest opportunity in aesthetics has also been its most stubborn: how to restore real volume with a needle instead of an operating room.
Conexeu's answer is CXU™, a thermosensitive, flowable collagen scaffold. It is designed to flow through a fine needle for placement, conform to three-dimensional geometry, and set in situ at body temperature, supplying a structural scaffold the body's own cells and signals can populate, so that tissue can form where the material is placed rather than being displaced by an inert filler. The company completed its 12-month P.R.O.O.F.™ study, short for Performance and Regeneration Outcomes of Flowable Collagen, evaluating that approach in a large-volume model. It is important to note that P.R.O.O.F.™ is a preclinical, animal-model milestone. It does not represent a commercial launch or regulatory clearance, and the findings have not been peer-reviewed.
"Large-volume body contouring is the prize no one has claimed, and it is exactly where we are aiming CXU™," said Miles Harrison, President and CEO of Conexeu. "Neuromodulators, fillers, and biostimulators were each defined by a first mover, and we believe CXU™ can help establish a potential new category, bioregeneration, by pairing volume with tissue regeneration."
What a First Mover Can Do
Category creation in aesthetics is not theoretical. BOTOX® began as a medical product and, after its 2002 aesthetic approval, defined an entirely new injectable category, neuromodulators, from a standing start. That category is now estimated at between $9 and $12 billion, and AbbVie's Botox franchise alone reached roughly $5.9 billion in fiscal 2025. Each injectable category that followed was likewise defined by a first mover. Conexeu's thesis is that large-volume bioregeneration is the next such opening. This is a category analogy, not a product comparison; CXU™ and BOTOX® address different needs by different mechanisms.
"Few existing injectables were designed to restore larger volumes and remain in place. That is a requirement problem, not a marketing problem, and it is why the category remains open," said Claudia Chavez-Munoz, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer. "We are evaluating CXU™ against that requirement through disciplined preclinical work."
The Bigger Lesson: Demand Waves Reward the Builders
Investors who want to understand the opportunity in front of Conexeu can look to a very different corner of the market for the pattern. Across the energy sector, a demand supercycle, driven by tight refining capacity, geopolitical supply disruptions, and structural under-investment, has rewarded the companies positioned with the right assets and the discipline to execute. The specific businesses differ entirely from a preclinical biotech, but the underlying dynamic is the same one Conexeu is betting on: when a powerful, durable wave of demand arrives, the companies that built the right product or infrastructure to meet it are the ones that capture the value. The names below are illustrative market context from that capital cycle, not peers or comparables to CNXU.
Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) offers the clearest read on how quickly a demand cycle can reprice a business built to serve it. In the first quarter of 2026, Valero swung to net income of $1.3 billion, or $4.22 per share, reversing a $595 million loss a year earlier, as its refining segment generated $1.8 billion in operating income on throughput of 2.9 million barrels per day. Its renewable diesel segment turned a $141 million year-ago loss into $139 million of operating income, a reminder that the same operator can capture more than one wave at once. That is the essence of a platform thesis: build the capability, then let multiple demand streams flow through it, which is exactly the logic behind Conexeu's one-formula, one-device platform strategy.
Talos Energy (NYSE: TALO) shows the leverage that a focused, high-margin operator gains by concentrating on a differentiated niche. The Gulf of America-focused independent delivered first-quarter 2026 production of roughly 89,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, generating adjusted EBITDA of $293 million, or about $37 per barrel of oil equivalent, among the top-decile margins in its sector. It also agreed to acquire deepwater Gulf assets from Shell for $850 million to deepen that position. The takeaway relevant to Conexeu is not the offshore economics but the principle: an operator that owns a hard-to-replicate niche captures outsized value when demand arrives. Conexeu is trying to establish exactly that kind of defensible position in large-volume bioregeneration before the category exists in earnest.
PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF) illustrates the other side of the same coin: execution risk during the build-out. PBF posted a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of $0.88 per share even as revenue rose nearly 12% year over year to $7.90 billion, weighed down by the phased restart of its Martinez refinery after a 14-month rebuild. The company is targeting $350 million in annualized savings through its Refining Business Improvement program. For a preclinical company like Conexeu, PBF is a useful reminder that even businesses positioned for a favorable cycle must still execute through operational milestones, exactly the disciplined, milestone-by-milestone path Conexeu describes for its own program.
Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) rounds out the picture by showing what disciplined, long-horizon investment looks like when it pays off. The Norwegian energy major delivered record first-quarter 2026 production of 2.313 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, up 9% year over year, with adjusted operating income of $9.77 billion, while its renewable power generation grew 29%. Equinor's combination of a cash-generating core and a growing next-generation business is the mature version of the bet Conexeu is making early: fund the platform through its milestones today so it can scale across multiple markets tomorrow. Conexeu is targeting exactly that kind of expansion, from wound care and periodontal applications to facial and body tissue restoration, subject to the regulatory review still ahead.
The Demand Is Not Speculative
The tailwind behind Conexeu's target market is already visible in the behavior of category leaders. Galderma has run Phase IV clinical work on GLP-1-related facial volume loss, and Novo Nordisk's chief executive publicly signaled interest in aesthetic and longevity medicine in June 2026. Roughly 1 in 8 U.S. adults have now used a GLP-1 medication, and many who transform their bodies look to complete that transformation with restored, natural fullness. Boston Consulting Group estimates the GLP-1 aesthetic opportunity will grow from about $0.7 billion to $2.0 billion over five years. Conexeu is positioning CXU™ to serve that completed-transformation demand.
Consistent with its full program, Conexeu is reserving specific findings, endpoints, and implantation volumes for peer-reviewed publication so the data can be evaluated independently. These are preclinical findings, not peer-reviewed, and clinical significance has not been established. The company is advancing a predicate-based regulatory strategy for its lead candidate, targeting a 510(k) submission in the first quarter of 2027, subject to required testing, manufacturing, and documentation.
CONTINUED… Stay ahead of the next Conexeu Sciences milestone and get the full story and updates here.
About Conexeu Sciences Inc.
Conexeu Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXU) is a preclinical-stage regenerative tissue platform company. Its patented bioregenerative extracellular matrix (ECM) platform, CXU™, is built on a single structural principle: one formula, one device, designed to scale across multiple addressable markets, including wound care, periodontal applications, and facial and body tissue restoration, with further opportunities in 3D printing, biofabrication, and veterinary markets. The Company is advancing a predicate-based U.S. regulatory strategy with an anticipated 510(k) submission in early 2027 for its initial indication, subject to regulatory review. Miles Harrison serves as President and Chief Executive Officer.
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DISCLAIMER / DISCLOSURE
Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. This article is being distributed for Market Equities Limited, ("MEL"), which wholly owns and operates USA News Group. MEL has been paid a fee for Conexeu Sciences Inc. advertising and digital media from Creative Direct Marketing Group ("CDMG"). There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Conexeu Sciences Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. MEL and its owner/operators do not own any shares of Conexeu Sciences Inc., but reserve the right to buy and sell shares of Conexeu Sciences Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MEL has been reviewed and approved on behalf of Conexeu Sciences Inc. by CDMG. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.
CXU™ and the Company's device candidates, including Ten-Minute Tissue™, are investigational and have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority for any use. The P.R.O.O.F study is a preclinical, animal-model study; preclinical results are not necessarily predictive of results in humans, have not been peer-reviewed, and clinical significance has not been established.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This publication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the CXU™ platform, Ten-Minute Tissue™, and B.R.E.A.S.T.™; the early-stage, preclinical nature of the company's device candidates and the inherent uncertainty of preclinical and clinical development, including the possibility that preclinical results may not be predictive of clinical outcomes and that study objectives described as met may not translate into clinical benefit, regulatory clearance, or commercial success; the investigational status of CXU™, which is not cleared or approved in any jurisdiction; risks associated with the planned 510(k) submission, including that it may not be completed within the anticipated Q1 2027 timeframe or at all, and that the FDA may request additional information or determine the device is not substantially equivalent to the identified predicate; the ability to expand the platform across additional indications, each of which would require separate regulatory authorization; and the pace and degree of market adoption. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. References to other companies are based on those companies' public disclosures, are provided for industry context only, and do not imply any partnership, endorsement, affiliation, or comparable performance. CXU™, Ten-Minute Tissue™, and B.R.E.A.S.T.™ are trademarks of Conexeu Sciences Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Shares of Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) have gained 2% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $193.11, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $257.05 indicates a potential upside of 33.1%.
The mean estimate comprises 20 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $35.25. While the lowest estimate of $203.00 indicates a 5.1% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 68.3% to reach $325.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in FIVE. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You May Not Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why FIVE Could Witness a Solid UpsideThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.5% over the past month, as two estimates have gone higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, FIVE currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much FIVE could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Leidos (LDOS - Free Report) Founded in 1969, Delaware-based Leidos Holdings, Inc. is a global science and technology leader that serves the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets. Its core capabilities include providing solutions in the fields of cybersecurity; data analytics; enterprise IT modernization; operations and logistics; sensors, collection and phenomenology; software development; and systems engineering.
LDOS is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 8.66; value investors should take notice.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $12.30 per share. LDOS boasts an average earnings surprise of +13.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, LDOS should be on investors' short list.
Progressive (PGR - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.85 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.7 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.88 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.19%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this insurer would post earnings of $4.84 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.96, delivering a surprise of +2.48%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Progressive, which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, posted revenues of $23.01 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.37%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $21.62 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Progressive shares have lost about 0.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 10.2%.
What's Next for Progressive?While Progressive has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Progressive was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.59 on $23.44 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $17.30 on $92.72 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Insurance - Property and Casualty is currently in the top 43% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, W.R. Berkley (WRB - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 20.
This insurance company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.09 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +3.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.2% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
W.R. Berkley's revenues are expected to be $3.7 billion, up 1.7% from the year-ago quarter.
The Retail-Wholesale group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Sonic Automotive (SAH - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Retail-Wholesale sector should help us answer this question.
Sonic Automotive is one of 187 companies in the Retail-Wholesale group. The Retail-Wholesale group currently sits at #3 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Sonic Automotive is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SAH's full-year earnings has moved 6% higher within the past quarter. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the latest available data, SAH has gained about 49.3% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Retail-Wholesale sector has returned an average of 1% on a year-to-date basis. As we can see, Sonic Automotive is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.
One other Retail-Wholesale stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Tilly's (TLYS - Free Report) . The stock is up 111.1% year-to-date.
In Tilly's' case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 67.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Breaking things down more, Sonic Automotive is a member of the Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, which includes 9 individual companies and currently sits at #107 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 6.5% this year, meaning that SAH is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
Tilly's, however, belongs to the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry. Currently, this 38-stock industry is ranked #73. The industry has moved -7.6% so far this year.
Investors with an interest in Retail-Wholesale stocks should continue to track Sonic Automotive and Tilly's. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis specialty insurance company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.71 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -15.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $455.81 million, up 3.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for RLI Corp.?For RLI Corp., the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.71%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that RLI Corp. will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that RLI Corp. would post earnings of $0.85 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.83, delivering a surprise of -2.35%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
RLI Corp. doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT priority. It has become a business necessity. As companies move more workloads to the cloud and adopt artificial intelligence (AI), cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated. Ransomware, phishing attacks and large-scale data breaches are now more frequent and far more expensive. A single successful attack can disrupt operations, damage a company's reputation and lead to significant financial losses.
This changing threat landscape is creating a massive opportunity for cybersecurity companies. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cybersecurity market is expected to grow from $218.98 billion in 2025 to nearly $699.39 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%. Growth is being fueled by stricter regulations, rising digital transformation and the need for stronger protection across cloud environments and AI-powered applications. Leaders like Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW - Free Report) , CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD - Free Report) and Zscaler, Inc. (ZS - Free Report) are already monetizing this demand with platforms built for modern threats.
AI is becoming the biggest catalyst for the cybersecurity industry. Traditional security tools largely react after an attack has occurred. AI changes that by helping companies identify suspicious activity, detect threats earlier and automate responses before serious damage is done. As cyberattacks become faster and more complex, AI-powered security is quickly becoming a must-have rather than an optional feature.
Companies like Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) , Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT - Free Report) , Cloudflare, Inc. (NET - Free Report) and Okta, Inc. (OKTA - Free Report) are well-positioned to benefit from this trend. Each company is embedding AI across its security platform to improve threat detection, simplify security management and deliver better outcomes for customers. These investments not only strengthen their competitive positions but also open new long-term growth opportunities.
Our Cybersecurity Screen makes it easy to identify high-potential stocks at any given time, just like the four mentioned above. Leveraging advanced tools, our thematic screens identify companies shaping the future, making it easier to capitalize on emerging trends.
Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 37 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity.
Cisco Systems offers cybersecurity products and services that prevent unauthorized access to system resources and protect from worms, spam, viruses and other malware. The company has been integrating AI into its product portfolios across networking, security, collaboration and observability.
Strong demand for Cisco Systems’ products in developing AI infrastructure has been a game-changer for the company. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, CSCO received $1.9 billion worth of AI infrastructure orders from web-scale customers, bringing the total year-to-date orders to $5.3 billion.
Data center switching orders continue to register solid double-digit year-over-year growth in the fiscal third quarter, implying strong demand. These orders are coming from some of the biggest players in cloud computing and reflect a growing demand for AI-optimized networks. Cisco Systems is expanding its AI portfolio for data centers with solutions like the Unified Nexus Dashboard, Cisco Intelligent Packet Flow, configurable AI PODs and 400G bidirectional (BiDi) optics.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, CSCO’s AI-powered platform gives it a competitive edge. These innovations are likely to accelerate customer adoption and support strong long-term revenue growth for the company. Currently, Cisco Systems sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Fortinet provides networking and security solutions to enterprises, service providers and government entities across 100 countries. The company is using AI to make its cybersecurity platform faster, smarter and more automated.
FTNT has embedded AI across the Fortinet Security Fabric through its FortiAI platform, which helps security teams detect threats, automate incident response and simplify security operations using generative AI. This reduces response times and improves productivity for customers facing increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Fortinet is also applying AI to enhance network security, secure access service edge (SASE) and security operations (SecOps) solutions. Its AI-powered threat intelligence, supported by FortiGuard Labs, analyzes billions of security events each day to identify emerging threats and deliver real-time protection. These capabilities help customers improve security while lowering operational complexity.
Fortinet's expanding AI portfolio is supporting demand from enterprises modernizing their security infrastructure. As organizations increasingly adopt AI while facing more advanced cyber threats, this Zacks Rank #1 company's integrated platform and AI-driven innovations position it to win larger enterprise deployments, drive recurring revenues and sustain long-term growth.
Cloudflare is a global web infrastructure and security company. The company is leveraging the AI boom to expand beyond networking and cybersecurity into AI infrastructure and developer services.
Cloudflare has introduced a broad suite of AI offerings, including Workers AI, Vectorize, AI Gateway and Durable Objects, enabling developers to build, deploy and scale AI applications directly on Cloudflare's global edge network. By running AI inference closer to end users, Cloudflare reduces latency, lowers costs and improves application performance.
The company is also using AI to strengthen its cybersecurity platform. Its security solutions rely on machine learning to detect malicious traffic, stop automated bot attacks and identify emerging threats in real time. As AI-driven cyberattacks become more sophisticated, these capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable for enterprise customers.
Cloudflare's AI investments are already contributing to customer growth, with enterprises adopting its platform for both AI application delivery and security. As AI workloads continue to expand globally, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's edge infrastructure and integrated platform position it to generate higher enterprise spending and sustain long-term revenue growth.
Okta is a cloud-based Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution provider. The company is using AI to enhance its identity security platform while helping enterprises adopt AI applications securely.
Okta has introduced AI-powered capabilities across its Identity Threat Protection and Identity Security Posture Management solutions to detect unusual login behavior, identify compromised accounts and automate risk-based access decisions in real time. These features improve security while reducing the burden on IT teams.
Okta is also enabling organizations to securely manage access to generative AI applications and AI agents through its Workforce Identity Cloud and Customer Identity Cloud platforms. As businesses deploy more AI tools, identity management is becoming increasingly critical, creating a new growth opportunity for the company.
With identity remaining at the center of enterprise security, this Zacks Rank #2 company’s AI initiatives strengthen customer retention, expand cross-selling opportunities and position the company to benefit from the growing adoption of AI-powered enterprise applications.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Evercore (EVR - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Evercore Inc. is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. Founded in 1995, the company operates from its offices and affiliates in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
EVR is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. EVR has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 34.9% for the current fiscal year.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.37 to $19.64 per share. EVR boasts an average earnings surprise of +30.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, EVR should be on investors' short list.
Key Takeaways STM is expanding AI infrastructure and automotive sensing with new partnerships and acquisitions.ADI is benefiting from AI, industrial automation and power management demand across key end markets.Both companies expect stronger 2026 growth as AI and industrial investments support semiconductor demand. The semiconductor industry is benefiting from rising investments in artificial intelligence (“AI”), industrial automation, electrification and connected devices, creating attractive opportunities for companies with diversified chip portfolios. While the industry's long-term growth outlook remains favorable, investors are increasingly focusing on businesses that combine innovation with resilient end-market demand and consistent financial execution.
Against this backdrop, STMicroelectronics N.V. (STM - Free Report) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI - Free Report) stand out as two prominent semiconductor players, though they operate with distinct business models. STMicroelectronics has a strong presence in automotive and industrial semiconductors, with growing exposure to silicon carbide, microcontrollers and power management solutions. Analog Devices, meanwhile, specializes in high-performance analog, mixed-signal and power management chips that serve industrial, automotive, communications and healthcare markets, generating stable cash flows through its diversified customer base.
Both companies are well positioned to capitalize on secular trends such as AI-enabled edge computing, vehicle electrification and factory automation. However, differences in growth prospects, valuation, profitability and exposure to cyclical end markets make the investment case for each stock unique. Let's compare STM and ADI across these key factors to determine which semiconductor stock looks more attractive for investors today.
The Case for STMSTMicroelectronics is strengthening its long-term growth profile by expanding beyond the traditional automotive and industrial markets into fast-growing artificial intelligence infrastructure. During the first quarter of 2026, management highlighted strong booking momentum across all end markets, with the book-to-bill ratio remaining well above one and distributor inventories returning to normal levels. The company expects double-digit revenue growth in 2026, supported by engaged customer programs and a growing pipeline of AI-related opportunities rather than a broad industry recovery alone.
STMicroelectronics is also building a stronger competitive position through product expansion and strategic partnerships. Management expects data center revenues to exceed $500 million in 2026 and surpass $1 billion in 2027, driven by growing demand for power semiconductors, silicon photonics, microcontrollers and optical connectivity solutions. A multiyear commercial engagement with Amazon Web Services, collaboration with NVIDIA on AI infrastructure and robotics and the acquisition of NXP's MEMS sensor business further enhance STM's exposure to high-growth markets, including cloud computing, factory automation and advanced automotive sensing.
Beyond revenue growth, STMicroelectronics sees improving profitability as production volumes recover and its manufacturing optimization program progresses. The company expects gross margin to improve sequentially through the remainder of 2026, supported by better factory utilization, a favorable product mix and increasing contributions from AI-focused products. Management also pointed to continued momentum in automotive silicon carbide, industrial microcontrollers, low-earth-orbit satellite applications and advanced sensing technologies, providing multiple growth drivers that could support earnings expansion over the next several years.
The Case for ADIAnalog Devices continues to strengthen its position as a leading analog semiconductor company by capitalizing on both cyclical recovery and long-term secular trends. The company delivered record second quarter fiscal 2026 revenues and earnings, driven by broad-based demand across industrial, automotive and communications markets. Management highlighted that its diversified business model, resilient supply chain and continued investments in research and development are enabling ADI to capture rising customer demand while supporting growth opportunities.
A major pillar of ADI's growth story is its expanding exposure to AI and intelligent industrial systems. The company is seeing robust momentum in AI-driven data center infrastructure, where both its optical connectivity and power management businesses are growing rapidly. Beyond AI, Analog Devices is benefiting from increasing semiconductor content in factory automation, robotics, energy infrastructure, healthcare equipment and aerospace and defense applications. Analog Devices’ planned acquisition of Empower Semiconductor is expected to further strengthen the power management portfolio and enhance its ability to serve next-generation AI computing platforms.
The company is also backed by exceptional profitability and disciplined execution. Analog Devices reported record gross and operating margins, reflecting favorable product mix, pricing strength and efficient manufacturing. Management remains optimistic about continued above-seasonal growth, supported by strong order trends, healthy backlog and lean customer inventories across key end markets. Combined with its long product life cycles and expanding presence in high-value applications, ADI appears well positioned to deliver durable revenue growth and consistent shareholder returns over the long run.
What Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Indicate for STM and ADI?The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects STMicroelectronics' 2026 revenues to grow 22.1% year over year, while earnings per share are expected to surge 135.9% to $1.25 from 53 cents reported in 2025. In addition, analysts have raised the company's 2026 earnings estimates over the past 30 days, indicating improving confidence in its outlook.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For Analog Devices, the Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for 32.3% year-over-year revenue growth and 58.2% rise in fiscal 2026 earnings per share. However, analysts have left ADI's fiscal 2026 earnings estimates unchanged over the past 30 days, implying a stable earnings outlook.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance & ValuationSTM stock has surged 150.2% in the past six months compared with the S&P 500’s growth of 8.1%. Conversely, ADI’s shares have risen 30.8% in the same time frame.
Price Performnace
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
STM is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 33.66X, above its median of 30.80X over the last year. ADI’s forward earnings multiple sits at 28.47X, down from its median of 30.45X over the same time frame.
P/E (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Which Stock Has the Edge?Both STMicroelectronics and Analog Devices are well positioned to benefit from long-term semiconductor growth trends, supported by expanding AI opportunities, industrial automation and electrification. ADI stands out for its diversified portfolio, superior profitability and resilient business model, making it an attractive long-term investment.
However, STM appears to have a slight edge at present, driven by stronger earnings momentum, improving analyst estimate revisions, accelerating AI-related growth initiatives and stronger recent stock performance. Both STM and ADI currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this maker of hardware and software products for validating chip designs have returned -2.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Computer - Software industry, which Cadence falls in, has lost 5.2%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Cadence is expected to post earnings of $2.05 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24.2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $7.94 points to a change of +11.2% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $9.3 indicates a change of +17.2% from what Cadence is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Cadence is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Cadence, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.58 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +23.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $6.2 billion and $6.97 billion estimates indicate +17.1% and +12.4% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCadence reported revenues of $1.47 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +18.7%. EPS of $1.96 for the same period compares with $1.57 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.69%. The EPS surprise was +4.26%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Cadence is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Cadence. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
British Pound Technical Outlook: GBP/USD Short-Term Trade Levels GBP/USD is attempting to break above a multi-month downtrend with bulls testing pivotal resistance at the yearly open today. A daily close above resistance would strengthen the case that a more significant low is in place and invalidate the May downtrend. Failure to sustain the breakout would keep the broader downtrend intact / threaten resumption. U.S. retail sales and Michigan confidence on tap into the close of the week- UK employment / CPI next week. Resistance 1.3460/74 (key), 1.3509, 1.3591/93- Support 1.3397, 1.3302/26 (key), 1.3187/94 GBP/USD is attempting to complete its most significant technical breakout in months after a 2.6% recovery off the yearly lows carried Sterling back into a major resistance zone defined by the yearly open and key Fibonacci retracement levels. The latest advance has improved the near-term technical outlook, but buyers still need confirmation above this pivotal barrier to invalidate the broader May downtrend. With the weekly opening-range already breaking to the upside, attention now turns to whether Sterling can build on this momentum and confirm a more durable trend reversal. Battle lines drawn on the GBP/USD short-term technical charts.
Review my latest Weekly Strategy Webinar for an in-depth breakdown of this Sterling technical setup and more. Join live on Monday’s at 8:30am EST.
British Pound Price Chart – GBP/USD Daily
Chart Prepared by Michael Boutros, Sr. Technical Strategist; GBP/USD on TradingView
Technical Outlook: In last month’s British Pound Short-term Outlook, we noted that GBP/USD had rebounded off downtrend support and that, “From a trading standpoint, rallies would need to be limited to 1.3326 IF price is heading lower on this stretch with a close below 1.3187 needed to fuel the next leg of the decline.” Sterling marked a six-day rally off the lows into the monthly cross with the advance extending nearly 2.4% off the June low. The rally exhausted into downtrend resistance last week with price straddling the 200-day moving average for the past five-days. The weekly opening range breaking today and the focus is on a reaction into the objective yearly open with a close above needed to keep the immediate advance viable and fuel the next leg higher.
British Pound Price Chart – GBP/USD 240min
Chart Prepared by Michael Boutros, Sr. Technical Strategist; GBP/USD on TradingView
Notes: A closer look at Sterling price action shows GBP/USD trading within the confines of an embedded ascending pitchfork extending off the May lows. Sterling is testing a major pivot zone today at 1.3460/74- a region defined by the 61.8% retracement of the May decline, the February low-day close (LDC), and the objective 2026 yearly open. A breach / daily close above this threshold is needed to invalidate the multi-month downtrend and suggest a more significant low is in place. Subsequent resistance is eyed at the May 25th swing high at 1.3509 with the next major technical consideration eyed at the 61.8% retracement of the yearly range and the 2025 May & August swing highs at 1.3591/93. Look for larger reaction there IF reached.
Initial support rests with the May low / low close 1.3302/26. Note that the 75% parallel of the downslope converges on this level into the close of the week and losses below this threshold would validate a break of the multi-week uptrend and threaten resumption of the broader May downtrend. Subsequent support rests with the 61.8% retracement at 1.3260 and the March low close / 38.2% retracement of the 2025 advance at 1.3187/94.
Bottom line: Sterling is attempting to breakout of a multi-month downtrend with a breakout of the weekly opening-range supporting the rally today. From a trading standpoint, losses would need to be limited to the 200-day moving average near ~1.3397 IF price is heading higher on this stretch with daily close above 1.3474 needed to fuel the next leg of the advance.
Keep in mind we get still get the release of U.S. retail sales and Michigan consumer sentiment into the close of the week. Key U.K. data hits next week with the May employment report and the consumer price index (CPI)on tap. Stay nimble into the release and watch the weekly close here for directional guidance. Review my latest British Pound Weekly Forecast for a closer look at the longer-term GBP/USD technical trade levels.
Key GBP/USD Economic Data Releases
Active Short-term Technical Charts
US Dollar Short-term Outlook: USD Uptrend Faces Make-or-Break Test After CPI Euro Short-term Outlook: EUR/USD Coils Above Critical Support- Decision Time Gold Price Short-term Outlook: XAU/USD Bulls Try to Carve Out a Low After 30% Drop Canadian Dollar Short-term Outlook: USD/CAD Coils Below Resistance—Breakout Looms Australian Dollar Outlook: AUD/USD Holds Major Support—Reversal Risk Builds Swiss Franc Short-term Outlook: USD/CHF Overbought Rally Tests Major Resistance Japanese Yen Short-term Outlook: USD/JPY Breakout Stalls at 2024 High as Intervention Risk Builds --- Written by Michael Boutros, Senior Technical Strategist
Investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Amkor Technology (AMKR - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Computer and Technology sector should help us answer this question.
Amkor Technology is a member of the Computer and Technology sector. This group includes 613 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #2. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Amkor Technology is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMKR's full-year earnings has moved 28.3% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
According to our latest data, AMKR has moved about 77.8% on a year-to-date basis. At the same time, Computer and Technology stocks have gained an average of 15.8%. This shows that Amkor Technology is outperforming its peers so far this year.
Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO - Free Report) is another Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 64.1%.
In Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd.'s case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 41.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Looking more specifically, Amkor Technology belongs to the Electronics - Semiconductors industry, which includes 50 individual stocks and currently sits at #43 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 45% so far this year, meaning that AMKR is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. is also part of the same industry.
Amkor Technology and Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Paychex (PAYX - Free Report) Paychex, Inc. is one of the leading providers of integrated human capital management (“HCM”) solutions for payroll, human resource (“HR”), retirement and insurance services for small- to medium-sized businesses. The company was incorporated in Delaware in 1979.
PAYX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. PAYX has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.2% for the current fiscal year.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $5.96 per share. PAYX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, PAYX should be on investors' short list.
TEAM Anywhere/SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ: TEAM), a leading provider of AI collaboration and team productivity software, today announced that it will release financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2026 after market close on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Atlassian will host a conference call to discuss the financial results at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time. In conjunction with its earnings press release, Atlassian will post a shareholder le.
Key Takeaways Atlassian's Service Collection surpassed $1B ARR, growing more than 30% year over year.AI users resolve issues 13% faster and handle 20% more, supporting deeper platform adoption.Atlassian's cloud transition is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled cloud offerings. Atlassian Corporation’s (TEAM - Free Report) Service Collection strategy has become a key growth pillar, strengthening its long-term revenue outlook. The business surpassed $1 billion in annual recurring revenues (ARR) while growing more than 30% year over year as of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, highlighting strong demand for its AI-powered enterprise service management platform. More than 65,000 customers, including over half of the Fortune 500, now use Service Collection, while enterprise ARR is growing more than 50% year over year, reflecting increasing adoption among large organizations. Beyond traditional IT service management, the platform is expanding into HR, finance, legal and marketing, broadening Atlassian's addressable market and creating additional recurring revenue opportunities.
Artificial intelligence is further accelerating Service Collection's adoption and customer value. Customers using AI-powered capabilities resolve issues 13% faster and handle 20% more issues, while Service Collection drives 50% of all agentic automation runs across Atlassian's platform. These productivity gains encourage deeper platform adoption and create cross-selling opportunities for complementary offerings such as Rovo, Jira and Confluence.
The long-term outlook is further supported by Atlassian's June 2026 announcement outlining the gradual transition away from Data Center deployments toward its cloud platform. This strategy is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled cloud offerings, in which Service Collection plays a central role. Combined with expanding enterprise adoption and AI-driven monetization, the Zacks Consensus Estimate projects first-quarter and full-year fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 16.1% and 13.3%, respectively, suggesting the $1 billion milestone could serve as a foundation for continued growth acceleration.
TEAM Faces Stiff Competition in Strategic ImplementationAtlassian is facing stiff competition in strategic execution as rivals continuously strengthen their AI-driven ITSM, enterprise workflow automation and platform capabilities, intensifying the battle for large enterprise customers.
ServiceNow (NOW - Free Report) competes directly with Atlassian through its AI-native enterprise platform spanning ITSM, CRM, HR, security and workflow automation. ServiceNow emphasizes governance, policy-driven AI, workflow orchestration and an open platform while expanding through AI Control Tower and data fabric. ServiceNow also benefits from broad enterprise adoption, deep integrations and platform scale, challenging TEAM's enterprise expansion strategy.
Freshworks (FRSH - Free Report) is emerging as a stronger rival to Atlassian by expanding its AI-driven enterprise service platform. Its platform offers fast deployment, lower implementation complexity and lower ownership costs. Freshworks is expanding Freshservice, AI-powered Freddy Copilot, IT asset management and enterprise workflows, targeting mid-market and enterprise ITSM opportunities. Freshworks leverages ease of adoption and value-driven execution to pressure TEAM in AI service management.
TEAM’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesTEAM shares have declined 24.9% over the past six months, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s gain of 13% and the Zacks Internet - Software industry’s modest rise of 0.9%.
TEAM’s 6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Atlassian trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 3.07X, compared with the industry’s 4.03X. TEAM has a Value Score of D.
TEAM’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TEAM's fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $6.07 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating projected year-over-year growth of 10.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TEAM stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The market expects Teledyne Technologies (TDY - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis defense and aerospace industry supplier is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.77 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +11%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.56 billion, up 3.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Teledyne?For Teledyne, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.52%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Teledyne will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Teledyne would post earnings of $5.48 per share when it actually produced earnings of $5.80, delivering a surprise of +5.84%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Teledyne appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsara (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, today released its 2026 State of Connected Operations (SOCO) Asset Theft & Loss Report, Quantifying the Hidden Cost of Asset Invisibility. The report finds that equipment theft and loss is not just a replacement-cost problem—it's an CAD $18M annual operational drain for mid-size organizations (majority between CAD $340M and
COLUMBIA, Md., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenable® Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TENB), the exposure management company, today announced the expansion of the Tenable One Exposure Management Platform, unifying application security risks with all other exposure data. By integrating static code vulnerability data, Tenable One delivers complete, code-to-runtime visibility across the entire attack surface.
Security teams have long struggled with a code security problem where vulnerable code reaches production faster than it can be reviewed. This problem is exacerbated by the use of generative AI, which empowers developers to ship code three to four times faster, while potentially introducing flaws at 10x the rate.1 Application security teams and developers typically rely on siloed solutions that lack the contextual infrastructure intelligence required to determine if a code vulnerability poses a real-world threat to the business. This disconnected approach creates a major and exploitable blind spot.
Tenable One ingests, analyzes and normalizes data from relevant application development and security sources, including AI application security tools, such as Claude Security. Tenable One then connects all ingested exposure data – unifying Tenable telemetry with data from other security tools, including endpoint protection, cloud security, vulnerability management, operational technology security and more, and vital business context from repositories like configuration management databases – designed to deliver the most complete view of enterprise risk, and accelerate remediation prioritization and action. With this platform expansion, Tenable One shifts organizations from reactive application scanning to proactive risk prioritization, connecting code risks to the runtime systems, cloud workloads, identities and attack paths they put at risk.
“Bringing application security data into Tenable One, we're giving our customers the context they’ve been missing,” said Eric Doerr, Chief Product Officer, Tenable. “Security teams don’t need to wade through a sea of vulnerabilities. With Tenable One, security teams know exactly where they are exposed the moment an exposure is created – whether an agentic AI security tool discovers a new zero-day in an open-source library or a human error introduces risk. For the first time, security teams can see code flaws and prioritize remediation actions alongside all other forms of risk for more effective risk reduction.”
Application security data integrations are now available for all Tenable One customers. More information about Tenable One and application security data integrations is available at: https://www.tenable.com/blog/application-security-data-exposure-management-integration
1 Cloud Security Alliance, “Vibe Coding’s Security Debt: The AI-Generated CVE Surge,” By Cloud Security Alliance AI Safety Initiative, April 2026.
About Tenable
Tenable® is the exposure management company, exposing and closing the cybersecurity gaps that erode business value, reputation and trust. The company’s AI-powered exposure management platform radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the attack surface, equipping modern organizations to protect against attacks from IT infrastructure to cloud environments to critical infrastructure and everywhere in between. By protecting enterprises from security exposure, Tenable reduces business risk for over 40,000 customers around the globe. Learn more at tenable.com.
COLUMBIA, Md., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenable® Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TENB), the exposure management company, today announced that it will release financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026, after the U.S. market close on Wednesday, July 29. Tenable will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the results.
A live webcast of the event will be available on the Tenable Investor Relations website at https://investors.tenable.com. A dial-in will be available domestically at 1-877-407-9716 or internationally at 1-201-493-6779. An archived replay will be available after the call.
About Tenable
Tenable® is the exposure management company, exposing and closing the cybersecurity gaps that erode business value, reputation and trust. The company’s AI-powered exposure management platform radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the attack surface, equipping modern organizations to protect against attacks from IT infrastructure to cloud environments to critical infrastructure and everywhere in between. By protecting enterprises from security exposure, Tenable reduces business risk for over 40,000 customers around the globe. Learn more at tenable.com.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact, will report its second quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday, July 29, before the U.S. financial markets open for trading. In conjunction with this announcement, Blackbaud will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the company's financial results.
Event:
Blackbaud's Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call
Date:
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. ET
Live Webcast:
investor.blackbaud.com
Live Dial-In:
1-877-407-3088 or +1 201-389-0927
A webcast will be available and archived on Blackbaud's investor webpage following the call.
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact. Serving nonprofits, educational institutions, companies committed to corporate social responsibility, and individual change makers, Blackbaud propels impact at scale with the sector's most intelligent solutions for fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grant making, corporate social responsibility, and education management. With the deepest expertise powered by the world's largest philanthropic data set, the most connected workflows, and the most powerful impact network, Blackbaud's solutions are building a future where resources are unleashed at the speed of need. Blackbaud has been recognized by Fast Company, Newsweek, Quartz, Forbes and more for AI innovation, responsible leadership and workplace excellence. Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Inquiries
[email protected]
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
Analysts on Wall Street project that Wintrust Financial (WTFC - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $3.15 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 13.3% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $737.16 million, increasing 9.9% from the same quarter last year.
Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 0.2% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
Bearing this in mind, let's now explore the average estimates of specific Wintrust metrics that are commonly monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Efficiency Ratio' of 54.0%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 56.9% in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Net Interest Margin' reaching 3.6%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 3.5%.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Average balance - Total earning assets' will reach $67.86 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $62.22 billion.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Total Non-Interest Income' should arrive at $135.50 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $124.09 million.
Analysts predict that the 'Net interest income - FTE' will reach $601.66 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $549.57 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts expect 'Wealth management' to come in at $42.85 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $36.82 million in the same quarter last year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Fees from covered call options' should come in at $5.00 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $5.62 million.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Other Non-Interest Income' will likely reach $21.05 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $23.01 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Service charges on deposit accounts' will reach $21.20 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $19.50 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
The consensus estimate for 'Mortgage banking' stands at $26.42 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $23.17 million.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Operating lease income, net' at $16.60 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $15.17 million in the same quarter last year.
Analysts forecast 'Net Interest Income' to reach $599.82 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $546.69 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Wintrust here>>>
Over the past month, Wintrust shares have recorded returns of +3.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), WTFC will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has reached a key milestone in its distributed shipbuilding initiative with the installation of the first grand blocks, made up of three units constructed by partner facilities, for Thad Cochran (DDG 135), a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Fabricated by Gulf Copper and Eastern Shipbuilding, the units arrived at Ingalls ahead of the ship’s October 2025 keel authentication, demonstrating successful early-sequence production by qualified offsite partners and enabling increased throughput at Ingalls.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our partner network and the efficiencies of distributed shipbuilding for our destroyer production line,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette. “The DDG 135 pilot is proof that we can expand capacity across the program while allowing our skilled Ingalls shipbuilders to focus on final assembly, integration and testing.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-erects-first-grand-blocks-built-by-distributed-shipbuilding-partners-on-thad-cochran-ddg-135.
Since 2023, Ingalls has built an expanded network of qualified fabrication partners through a structured evaluation process that included technical capability assessments, workforce reviews, quality system verification and close collaboration with Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair Gulf Coast (SSGC). All partners are fully integrated into HII’s quality and material-control systems, ensuring consistency with shipyard production standards.
Building on the success of Thad Cochran, outsource work is also underway for John F. Lehman (DDG 137) and Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139) by five different partnering companies that support Ingalls-destroyer construction. To date, all of the off-site production contracts have been awarded for 32 structural and pre-outfitted units for DDG 137 and 37 units for DDG 139. Of those units, the first two for DDG 137 have already arrived at Ingalls Shipbuilding ahead of the previously announced start of fabrication ceremony that took place July 1, marking another advantage as outsourced units are phased into the Ingalls construction processes for destroyers.
“Early deliveries for DDG 137 units show the model is not only repeatable but scalable,” said Blanchette. “Pushing work outside yard increases capacity. We have more hands working on more units that enables more work to be done in parallel and can contribute to accelerating the build by the Ingalls team. I’m confident as more partners come online and produce larger, more outfitted units, over time we expect to gain additional schedule efficiency while expanding capacity across multiple ship classes.”
There are 40 ships under construction at both HII shipyards and the shipyards will deliver five ships over the next 12 months, including an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. To sustain this momentum, HII is counting on distributed shipbuilding to help increase the throughput to meet a generational demand. Combined, HII doubled its distributed shipbuilding last year, and has a goal of increasing it by an additional 30% this year.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Old National Bancorp (ONB - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis holding company for Old National Bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.62 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +17%.
Revenues are expected to be $714.7 million, up 9.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.26% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Old National Bancorp?For Old National Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.53%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Old National Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Old National Bancorp would post earnings of $0.6 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.61, delivering a surprise of +1.67%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Old National Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerPeoples Bancorp (PEBO - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Banks - Midwest industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.84 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +40%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $119.65 million, up 4.5% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Peoples Bancorp has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.43%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Peoples Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
O bublině na umělé inteligenci se hovoří stále více. Podobně jako dříve je tu řada názorů a argumentů pro i proti. I při pouhém srovnávání valuací s minulými našponovanými epizodami je pak dobré brát v úvahu některé faktory, jako je například současná a tehdejší výše bezrizikových sazeb. Právě na tento příběh se dnes podíváme zejména v souvislosti s tím, jak se vyvíjely valuace i indexu se stejnými vahami. Tedy tam, kde jsou brány všechny společnosti stejnou měrou. Což může mimo jiné lépe ukazovat, jak trhy smýšlí o plošnějším vlivu nových technologií.
V následujícím grafu vidíme vývoj nejčastěji používaného valuačního, či lépe řečeno naceňovacího měřítka na trhu. Tedy tzv. forward PE, které je počítané jako poměr cen akcií k ziskům očekávaným pro následujících 12 měsíců. Toto PE tak může jevit bublinovatost přímo – pokud se nám zdá, že je v historickém či fundamentálním kontextu příliš vysoko. A může být bublinovaté skrytě, pokud jsou ony očekávané zisky příliš vysoko. PE by totiž například mohlo dosahovat z historického hlediska umírněných hodnot, ale pokud by zisková očekávání byla iracionálně vysoká, fakticky by takové PE také indikovalo bublinu.
Vedle tmavší křivky popisující ono forward PE vidíme i křivku světlou, která popisuje PE pro index s rovnými vahami. Společnosti jako NVIDIA, či Tesla tu tak mají stejnou váhu, jak ty nejmenší na trhu. Toto druhé PE se nyní pohybuje kolem 16, což je podobná úroveň jako v letech 2015 – 20. A tyto valuace jsou výrazně výš, než během nafukování internetové bubliny. Obojí je zajímavé a podíváme se na to níže. Zde shrnutí: Poměry neváženého a váženého PE jsou nyní 20:16, v roce 2019/2000 to bylo 23:15. Nebo krátce později dokonce už 23:10 (zafungovaly tehdy valuace s rovnými vahami jako signál mohutného obratu na trhu?).
Zdroj: X
Připomeňme si nejdříve, že bezrizikové sazby jako výnosy desetiletých vládních dluhopisů jsou teď kolem 4,6 %. V letech 2015 – 20 se nacházely maximálně u 3 %, v průměru byly znatelně níž. Při všem ostatním konstantním by to znamenalo, že nyní by valuace měly být níž. Nejsou, což může být dáno nižšími rizikovými prémiemi a/nebo vyšším očekávaným růstem. Takže (u indexu se stejnými vahami) tyto dvě proměnné cca přesně vyrovnávají ony vyšší bezrizikové sazby (valuace jsou tudíž podobné jako tehdy). Šlo by o klasickou ukázku toho, že je ošemetné brát do úvahy pouze vývoj výnosů dluhopisů nebo jen růst (ekonomiky a zisků). Jde totiž o propojené nádoby.
Za prvé tedy platí, že valuace při stejných vahách akcií v indexu jsou nyní podobné jako před rokem 2020. Současné vyšší sazby jsou totiž cca vyváženy větším optimismem. V letech 1995 – 2000 pak byly výnosy dluhopisů mezi 4,6 – 7,6 %. Tedy v průměru znatelně výš než dnes. A valuace (opět hovořím o stejných vahách v indexu) zase znatelně níž. Celkově se tak v porovnání s devadesátými lety dá říci, že: Tehdejší růstová očekávání, respektive celkové nadšení z tehdejších nových technologií, nedokázalo plně eliminovat vliv vyšších sazeb a valuace tím dostat na úrovně, kde jsou nyní.
K tomu ještě jedna připomínka toho, že zisky nemusí být tím, co firmy vydělají. A to je důležité i u valuací: Není to zase tak dávno, co na trhu existoval jeden jev - poměry cen akcií k ziskům byly z historického hlediska znatelně výš, než poměry cen k volnému toku hotovosti FCF. Ceny akcií relativně k tomu, co firmy skutečně vydělávaly, nebyly zase tak vysoko, jak by se zdálo z pohledu na PE. Klíčovou proměnnou zde byly investice – FCF bylo relativně k ziskům vysoko (P/FCF ne tak vysoko jako P/E), protože investiční výdaje firem byly relativně nízko. To nutně neznamenalo, že by byly nízko investice – jejich objem. Docházelo totiž k tomu, že ceny řady investičního zboží klesaly (minimálně v relativním vyjádření k cenám zboží spotřebního).
Toto období každopádně zřejmě na agregátní úrovni skončilo s tím, jak začal AI investiční boom. U velkých hyperscalerů, jejichž hospodaření není z hlediska agregovaných čísel žádnou poznámkou pod čarou, došla situace dokonce do stavu, kdy jejich FCF investiční potřeby nepokrývá. A tyto firmy se stále více obrací na trhy, aby financovaly jejich vize a projekty (viz i včerejší článek o tom, že stále více jde o trhy dluhopisové). Samozřejmě ve vidině toho, že se vše hojně zaplatí. Čímž jsme zpět u tématu (ne)bubliny.
Enterprise Products Partners (EPD - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this provider of midstream energy services have returned +3.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production Pipeline - MLB industry, to which Enterprise Products belongs, has gained 2.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Enterprise Products is expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +12.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of $3.01 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +13.2%. This estimate has changed +0.9% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.29 indicates a change of +9.5% from what Enterprise Products is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Enterprise Products is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Enterprise Products, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $13.49 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +18.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $56.02 billion and $60.61 billion estimates indicate +6.5% and +8.2% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryEnterprise Products reported revenues of $14.39 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -6.7%. EPS of $0.68 for the same period compares with $0.64 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.19 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +9.03%. The EPS surprise was -4.23%.
Over the last four quarters, Enterprise Products surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Enterprise Products is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Enterprise Products. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today unveiled new regulated industry data from its eighth annual Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) survey and research report shared earlier this year. Serving as a deep-dive companion to the global report, the Healthcare, Financial Services, and Public Sector industry reports reveal how organizations are adapting infrastructure strategies to support growing AI adoption.
Nutanix’s ECI survey indicates that enterprise AI adoption is accelerating across healthcare, financial services, and public sector organizations, but many reported that their infrastructure is not ready to run these workloads at scale. The report identified concerns around shadow AI risks, data sovereignty, compliance, and organizational silos as organizations work to modernize hybrid multicloud environments for AI applications.
While Nutanix’s global ECI survey illustrated a baseline of challenges with AI infrastructure readiness among IT decision-makers, these new analyses reveal that the pressure is significantly magnified within these highly regulated sectors. Enterprise AI adoption is accelerating rapidly across healthcare, financial services, and public sector organizations, yet IT leaders in these fields report a much sharper infrastructure deficit. Because of strict regulatory mandates, these specific industries face heightened exposure to shadow AI risks and data sovereignty violations compared to the global average, transforming generic organizational silos into critical compliance vulnerabilities as they attempt to modernize hybrid multicloud environments.
“Organizations across every industry are working to move their AI projects from experimentation to delivering real business value, but the infrastructure requirements vary significantly depending on sector and workload,” said Thomas Cornely, EVP of Product Management at Nutanix. “The one consistent factor is a need for infrastructure and operating models that deliver flexibility, resiliency, and security to run both traditional and AI-powered applications at scale.”
The rise of shadow AI, when employees or business units use AI tools outside approved IT governance or security oversight, is an ongoing concern that highlights governance gaps in these highly regulated industries. Additionally, organizational silos between business units and IT teams add to the potential complexity of AI use and governance.
Key findings from this year’s report by industry, based on survey responses, include:
Healthcare: AI Innovation Must Balance Security and Compliance
As healthcare organizations transition AI workloads directly to the bedside, application containerization has become foundational to supporting this innovation by providing secure, portable environments that eliminate cloud latency and protect data sovereignty. However, balancing these modern deployments with general on-premises infrastructure readiness remains the industry's primary operational hurdle.
According to the Nutanix ECI Healthcare Report, 72% of healthcare IT leaders cite data sovereignty as a top infrastructure priority.Data from the Nutanix study reveals that 83% of healthcare organizations view unauthorized "shadow AI" tools as a critical business and data risk.The Nutanix ECI study revealed the top AI applications or capabilities healthcare organizations expect to use within the next three years include generative AI (62%), agentic AI or autonomous agents (57%), and predictive analytics or machine learning models (55%).
AI adoption in healthcare is accelerating, driven by the need to improve operational efficiency, enhance patient outcomes, and support innovation in both clinical and administrative workflows. However, challenges such as infrastructure readiness, shadow AI, and operational barriers remain significant. Containers are playing a key role as healthcare organizations seek to support innovation while protecting sensitive patient data and meeting regulatory requirements.
"As we expand facilities and scale modern applications, our underlying infrastructure must deliver localized performance and resilience without compromising patient data privacy. Healthcare organizations are feeling increasing pressure to support AI workloads while ensuring governance, security, and operational consistency across the environment. To enable AI safely at the point of care, organizations must break down silos, align technology and clinical workflows, and maintain clear control over how sensitive data is managed. Utilizing a hybrid approach, anchored by Nutanix, can help lean IT teams simplify operations while balancing innovation, compliance, and performance."
— Benjamin Urquhart, Chief Technology Officer, Five Horizons Health Services
Download the complete Nutanix Healthcare Enterprise Cloud Index Report to explore the full findings.
Financial Services: Resilience and Governance Drive AI Strategies
Financial institutions are aggressively deploying AI to optimize everything from core systems to edge operations, including in-branch personalization, customer service, anomaly detection, and more. However, strict data sovereignty requirements are forcing a shift toward secure, hybrid cloud architectures.
The Nutanix Financial Services ECI Report found that 86% of financial sector executives believe unmanaged shadow AI tools introduce severe business risk.Research from the Nutanix study indicates that 62% of financial services IT leaders expect conversational and agentic AI to materially improve customer or employee experiences.According to Nutanix’s report, 90% of financial services IT leaders report AI is meaningfully accelerating container adoption.
While financial services organizations continue to improve infrastructure to support AI adoption, data protection and other concerns limit public cloud use to just 62% despite 79% citing data sovereignty as a high priority or must-have factor. Containers and hybrid infrastructure are emerging as critical components needed for scaling AI responsibly to support high-performance workloads from core systems to the edge, including in-branch personalization, point-of-sale anomaly detection, and predictive ATM maintenance.
“AI has the potential to transform how we support our families in the homebuying journey, but to truly deliver on that promise, we must bridge the gap between innovation and operational reality. By leveraging agentic AI within a secure, hybrid environment, we are streamlining our mortgage processes while maintaining the high standards of governance and trust our customers expect. This approach allows us to scale our technology footprint with the flexibility needed to stay ahead in a highly regulated industry.”
— Dr. Caleb Ondrusek, EVP Technology and Innovation, Fairway Home Mortgage
Access the complete Nutanix Financial Services Enterprise Cloud Index for detailed industry benchmarks.
Public Sector: Modernization Efforts Accelerate Amid Infrastructure Challenges
Faced with a dual mandate to advance mission outcomes and safeguard public data, government agencies are turning to application containerization to improve the speed, scalability, and security of their AI workloads, even as organizational silos increase the risk of unmanaged shadow AI.
Government and education IT leaders surveyed in the Nutanix Public Sector Report overwhelmingly agree (91%) that unvetted AI usage creates severe mission and security risks.A key takeaway from the Nutanix ECI research is that 73% of public sector infrastructure is currently unready to run complex AI workloads on-premises.Findings from the Nutanix industry study indicate that 87% of public sector technology leaders expect their reliance on application containerization to scale up over the next three years.
The findings show that public sector organizations, including federal, state, and local governments, K-12, and higher education, are incorporating AI into business operations ranging from benefits eligibility to fraud detection. Yet, they are facing barriers in infrastructure readiness, workforce capability, and governance. This drives the urgent need for public sector IT leaders to build modernized hybrid infrastructure that can support the growing needs of this diverse industry.
"Our people are our greatest asset, and they're naturally drawn to tools that help them serve our community better. At the City of Seguin, we embrace AI as a force multiplier for that mission. But enthusiasm without guardrails creates risk, and shadow AI isn't just a security concern; it's a governance gap. Our focus has been on modernizing our infrastructure and building the culture and clear digital policies that channel our team's innovation energy in the right direction, so our staff can innovate confidently within a secure, compliant framework that works for the mission, not against it.”
— Shane McDaniel, Chief Information Officer, City of Seguin, Texas
Read the full findings in the Nutanix Public Sector Enterprise Cloud Index Report.
For the eighth consecutive year, Nutanix commissioned a global research study to assess the state of cloud adoption, containerization, and GenAI application deployment. Conducted in November 2025 by Wakefield Research, the survey gathered responses from 1,600 cloud, IT, and engineering executives with at least a manager-level title. Respondents represent organizations with 500 or more employees across Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To learn more about the report and findings, please download the full eighth annual ECI report or industry specific reports here.
Additional Resources:
Nutanix Healthcare Enterprise Cloud Index Blog PostNutanix Financial Services Enterprise Cloud Index Blog PostNutanix Public Sector Enterprise Cloud Index Blog Post
About Nutanix
Nutanix is a hybrid multicloud computing leader, offering organizations a unified software platform for running applications and AI and managing data anywhere. With Nutanix, organizations can simplify operations for traditional and modern applications, freeing them to focus on business goals. Trusted by more than 30,000 customers worldwide, Nutanix helps empower organizations to transform digitally and power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media.
Certain information contained in the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud Index report content may link or refer to, or be based on, studies, publications, surveys, and other data obtained from third‑party sources and Nutanix’s own internal estimates and research. While Nutanix believes such third‑party studies, publications, surveys, and other data are reliable as of the date of publication, they have not been independently verified unless specifically stated, and Nutanix makes no representation or warranty as to the adequacy, fairness, accuracy, or completeness of any information obtained from third‑party sources. Our decision to publish, link to, or reference any third‑party content should not be considered an endorsement of that content. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice or a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix.
One stock that might be an intriguing choice for investors right now is ArcBest Corporation (ARCB - Free Report) . This is because this security in the Transportation - Truck space is seeing solid earnings estimate revision activity, and is in great company from a Zacks Industry Rank perspective.
This is important because, often times, a rising tide will lift all boats in an industry, as there can be broad trends taking place in a segment that are boosting securities across the board. This is arguably taking place in the Transportation - Truck space as it currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 15 out of nearly 250 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned from this perspective, especially when compared to other segments out there.
Meanwhile, ArcBest is actually looking pretty good on its own too. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firm’s prospects in both the short and long term.
In fact, over the past month, current quarter estimates have risen from $2.01 per share to $2.19 per share, while current year estimates have risen from $5.87 per share to $6.11 per share. This has helped ARCB to earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), further underscoring the company’s solid position. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
So, if you are looking for a decent pick in a strong industry, consider ArcBest. Not only is its industry currently in the top third, but it is seeing solid estimate revisions as of late, suggesting it could be a very interesting choice for investors seeking a name in this great industry segment.
Chris Turner at ING says EUR/USD rallied on softer US CPI but warns that rising Oil and European natural gas prices limit upside. He expects EUR/USD to struggle above 1.1460/70 and potentially retreat toward 1.1360/80 if Oil gains another leg higher. Strong demand below 1.14 and possible rotation into European equities are noted, though flows into US-listed eurozone ETFs remain muted.
Energy sector weighs on Euro"Along with most dollar pairs, EUR/USD very much enjoyed yesterday's soft US CPI release. Were it not for developments in the Gulf and in energy markets in general, we would be happy to call EUR/USD steadily higher from here. But European natural gas is now back to levels seen in mid-March and, as above, it is too early to trade an 'all-clear' US inflation story."
"In the absence of a major improvement in energy markets, we suspect that EUR/USD will struggle to break above the 1.1460/70 area and again could move down to the 1.1360/80 area should oil prices deliver another leg higher."
"We do note, however, that there seems to be strong demand for EUR/USD sub 1.14. One suggestion could be a rotation into European equities as analysts raise expectations for European earnings. That may be the case, but so far those flows have not shown up in US-listed eurozone equity ETFs, e.g., the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF."
"Elsewhere, a pro-risk environment given lower prospects of Fed tightening, higher energy prices and potentially lower volatility favouring the carry trade all point to the Norwegian krone recovering some of its losses since May. We have a one-month target at 11.05 for EUR/NOK, but the move could easily extend to 10.95."
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
