XDC Network dosáhla nového maxima 27,7 milionu měsíčních transakcí, což je za posledních šest měsíců nárůst o 50 %. K síti se zároveň přidal Clear Street jako validátor.
There’s been an uptick in users and institutions that are engaging with XDC Network [XDC]. That, coupled with general market conditions, has given XDC price a good boost.
XDC network monthly transactions at an ATH Activity on XDC Network has reached a new peak. Monthly transaction count has climbed to an all-time high of 27.7 million. That’s a mammoth 50% increase over the past six months!
Source: Token Terminal Monthly transactions were at 5 million around early 2020, and grew through 2021 and 2022. Activity picked up further after 2024, with frequent shows above 20 million.
Institutional names are lining up at the door Clear Street has joined XDC Network as a masternode validator. They’ll take part in block validation, ledger maintenance and network governance.
Running a masternode requires operators to stake at least 10 million XDC. About the move, Clear Street Digital CEO Robert Rutherford said,
Compliant public blockchains are becoming part of the capital markets stack, and the firms that build market infrastructure should help operate that layer.
Clear Street is the latest in a series of big names to join XDC Network. Since April, Animoca Brands, Clearpool, SettleMint and CertiK have also come on board as validators.
XDC price pushes up higher At the time of writing, XDC was trading at around $0.0294. That’s a 2.38% increase for the day, and it follows big moves over the previous few sessions.
Source: TradingView RSI was at 69.84, putting it in a firmly overbought setup. Meanwhile, the MACD was positive, with the recent histogram bars expanding with the price increase.
As it stands, there’s clear bullish momentum… at least for the immediate short-term. However, with RSI at about 70, a pullback or a consolidation is likely when things calm down.
Final Summary XDC Network monthly transactions hit an ATH of 27.7 million, up 50% in six months. Clear Street has joined the network as a validator, among other big names.
Cincinnati Financial schválila pravidelnou čtvrtletní hotovostní dividendu 94 centů na akcii, splatnou 15. října 2026. Tím završuje 66 po sobě jdoucích let zvyšování ročních dividend.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CINF) announced that at today's regular meeting, the board of directors declared a 94 cents-per-share regular quarterly cash dividend. The dividend is payable October 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 23, 2026.
Stephen M. Spray, president and chief executive officer, commented, "Our financial strength remains in excellent shape, giving us the confidence and ability to continue executing on our plans to achieve profitable growth in our insurance operations. Our strong operations, in turn, create the basis for rewarding shareholders now and into the future. This October dividend payment completes 66 consecutive years of increasing annual cash dividends – a record we believe is matched by only seven other publicly traded U.S. companies."
About Cincinnati Financial
Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers primarily business, home and auto insurance through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its two standard market property casualty companies. The same local independent insurance agencies that market those policies may offer products of our other subsidiaries, including life insurance, fixed annuities and surplus lines property and casualty insurance. For additional information about the company, please visit cinfin.com.
Mailing Address:
Street Address:
P.O. Box 145496
6200 South Gilmore Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141
Safe Harbor Statement
Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, are based upon our current estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words like "seek," "expect," "will," "should," "could," "might," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "likely," "future," or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made; we assume no obligation to update such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
Insurance-Related Risks
Risks and uncertainties associated with our loss reserves or actual claim costs exceeding reserves Increased frequency and/or severity of claims or development of claims that are unforeseen at the time of policy issuance Unusually high levels of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations or changes in weather patterns, environmental events, war or political unrest, terrorism incidents, cyberattacks, civil unrest or other causes; and our ability to manage catastrophe risk Risks associated with analytical models in key areas such as underwriting, pricing, capital management, reserving, investments, reinsurance, and catastrophe risk management Inadequate estimates or assumptions, or reliance on third-party data used for critical accounting estimates Events or conditions that could weaken or harm our relationships with our independent agencies and hamper opportunities to add new agencies, resulting in limitations on our opportunities for growth Mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidations of agencies that result in a concentration of a significant amount of premium in one agency or agency group and/or alter our competitive advantages Our inability to manage business opportunities, growth prospects, and expenses for our ongoing operations Changing consumer insurance-buying habits The inability to obtain adequate ceded reinsurance on acceptable terms, for acceptable amounts, and from financially strong reinsurers; and the potential for nonpayment or delay in payment by reinsurers Domestic and global events, such as the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, future pandemics, inflationary trends, changes in U.S. trade and tariff policy, and disruptions in the banking and financial services industry, resulting in insurance losses, capital market or credit market uncertainty, followed by prolonged periods of economic instability or recession, that lead to: Securities market disruption or volatility and related effects such as decreased economic activity and continued supply chain disruptions that affect our investment portfolio and book value Significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of securities and impairment of the assets Significant decline in investment income due to reduced or eliminated dividend payouts from securities Significant rise in losses from surety or director and officer policies written for financial institutions or other insured entities or in losses from policies written by Cincinnati Re or Cincinnati Global An unusually high level of claims in our insurance or reinsurance operations that increase litigation-related expenses Decreased premium revenue and cash flow from disruption to our distribution channel of independent agents, consumer self-isolation, travel limitations, business restrictions and decreased economic activity The inability of our workforce, agencies, or vendors to perform necessary business functions Financial, Economic, and Investment Risks
Declines in overall stock market values negatively affecting our equity portfolio and book value Downgrades in our financial strength ratings Interest rate fluctuations or other factors that could significantly affect: Our ability to generate growth in investment income Values of our fixed-maturity investments and accounts in which we hold bank-owned life insurance contract assets Our traditional life policy reserves Economic volatility and illiquidity associated with our alternative investments in private equity, private credit, real property, and limited partnerships Failure to comply with covenants and other requirements under our credit facilities, senior debt, and other debt obligations Recession, prolonged elevated inflation, or other economic conditions resulting in lower demand for insurance products or increased payment delinquencies The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends consistent with current or past levels impacting our ability to pay shareholder dividends or repurchase shares General Business, Technology, and Operational Risks
Ineffective information technology systems or failing to develop and implement improvements in technology Difficulties with technology or data security breaches, including cyberattacks, could negatively affect our, or our agents', ability to conduct business; disrupt our relationships with agents, policyholders, and others; cause reputational damage, mitigation expenses, data loss, and expose us to liability Difficulties with our operations and technology that may negatively impact our ability to conduct business, including cloud-based data information storage, data security, remote working capabilities, and/or outsourcing relationships and third-party operations and data security Disruption of the insurance market caused by technology innovations – such as driverless cars – that could decrease consumer demand for insurance products Delays, inadequate data developed internally or from third parties, or performance inadequacies from ongoing development and implementation of underwriting and pricing models and methods, including usage-based insurance methods, automation, artificial intelligence, or technology projects and enhancements expected to increase our efficiency, pricing accuracy, underwriting profit, and competitiveness Intense competition, and the impact of innovation, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and changing customer preferences on the insurance industry and the markets in which we operate, could harm our ability to maintain or increase our business volumes and profitability Inability to defer policy acquisition costs for any business segment if pricing and loss trends would lead management to conclude that the segment could not achieve sustainable profitability Unforeseen departure of certain executive officers or other key employees that could interrupt progress toward important strategic goals or diminish the effectiveness of certain longstanding relationships with insurance agents and others Our inability, or the inability of our independent agents, to attract and retain personnel Events, such as a pandemic, an epidemic, natural catastrophe, or terrorism, which could hamper our ability to assemble our workforce, work effectively in a remote environment, or other failures of business continuity or disaster recovery programs Regulatory, Compliance, and Legal Risks
Actions of insurance departments, state attorneys general or other regulatory agencies, including a change to a federal system of regulation from a state-based system, that: Impose new obligations on us that increase our expenses or change the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates Place the insurance industry under greater regulatory scrutiny or result in new statutes, rules, and regulations Restrict our ability to exit or reduce writings of unprofitable coverages or lines of business Increase assessments for guaranty funds, other insurance‑related assessments, or mandatory reinsurance arrangements; or that impair our ability to recover such assessments through future surcharges or other rate changes Increase our provision for federal income taxes due to changes in tax laws, regulations, or interpretations Increase other expenses Limit our ability to set fair, adequate, and reasonable rates Restrict our ability to cancel policies Impose new underwriting standards Place us at a disadvantage in the marketplace Restrict our ability to execute our business model, including the way we compensate agents Adverse outcomes from litigation, environmental claims, mass torts or administrative proceedings, including effects of social inflation and third-party litigation funding on the size and frequency of litigation awards Events or actions, including unauthorized intentional circumvention of controls, which reduce our future ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Effects of changing social, global, economic, and regulatory environments Additional measures affecting corporate financial reporting and governance that can affect the market value of our common stock Risks and uncertainties are further discussed in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 30.
Myriad Uranium dokončila převzetí 100 % akcií Rush Rare Metals a Rush se stala její stoprocentní dceřinou společností. Akcie Rush byly vyřazeny z Canadian Securities Exchange.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2026) - Myriad Uranium Corp. (CSE: M) (OTCQB: MYRUF) (FSE: C3Q) ("Myriad" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Rush Shares") of Rush Rare Metals Corp. ("Rush") pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement"), as previously announced by Myriad in news releases dated February 13, 2026 and July 13, 2026.
Myriad's CEO, Thomas Lamb, commented: "This merger is a significant value catalyst for Myriad. Full ownership of Copper Mountain gives us a clean, simplified structure and complete control over a uranium project we believe could become America's largest. I want to recognize Pete Smith, whose original vision created both Rush and Myriad, and I'm pleased he'll remain closely involved as an advisor to the Company going forward."
Under the Arrangement, Myriad issued an aggregate of 24,983,671 Myriad common shares (each, a "Myriad Share") to Rush shareholders, representing approximately one (1) Rush Share to 0.5405 Myriad Shares (the "Exchange Ratio"). In addition, all outstanding Rush stock options were replaced with an aggregate of 2,110,120 Myriad stock options (each, a "Myriad Option"), with appropriate adjustments made to reflect the Exchange Ratio.
The Arrangement was approved by the Rush shareholders at an annual general and special meeting held on August 17, 2026. On August 19, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued the final order to approve the Arrangement. For additional details respecting the Arrangement, see Rush's management information circular dated June 23, 2026, a copy of which can be found under Rush's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Following completion of the Arrangement, Rush has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Myriad, and the Rush Shares have been delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Spinout of Boxi Property
As part of the Arrangement, Rush shareholders received an aggregate of 11,555,816 common shares ("Spinco Shares) of a subsidiary of Rush, 1577075 B.C. Ltd. ("Spinco"), representing one (1) Rush Spinco share for each four (4) Rush Shares outstanding. In exchange for the Spinco Shares, Rush transferred all of its right, title and interest in and to its Boxi Property in Quebec and has funded $100,000 to support the capitalization of Rush Spinco.
Letter of Transmittal
Registered Rush shareholders should send their completed and executed letters of transmittal and their Rush share certificates to the depository, TSX Trust Company, as soon as possible in order to receive their Myriad Shares to which they are entitled under the Arrangement. Non-registered Rush shareholders who hold shares through a broker or another intermediary should follow the instructions provided to them by their broker or such other intermediary. A copy of the letter of transmittal is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under Rush's profile.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Certain directors and officers of Myriad hold securities of Rush which will be exchanged for Myriad securities and Spinco Shares under the Arrangement, which exchange is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). This related party transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction does not exceed 25% of Myriad's market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. In considering and unanimously approving the transaction, there were no materially contrary views, abstentions (except for any abstentions required by corporate law) or material disagreements by any Myriad director.
About Myriad Uranium Corp.
Myriad Uranium Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Copper Mountain Uranium Project in Wyoming, USA. Copper Mountain hosts multiple historic uranium deposits and past-producing mines, including the Arrowhead Mine (approximately 500,000 lbs U₃O₈ produced). Union Pacific conducted extensive exploration and development in the district during the late 1970s, including approximately 2,000 boreholes and advanced mine planning, before the uranium market downturn in 1980. Union Pacific is estimated to have invested approximately C$125 million (2026 dollars) in the project, generating significant historical resource estimates.
A news release detailing a comprehensive assessment of Copper Mountain's uranium endowment by Bendix Engineering for the US Department of Energy published in 1982 can be viewed here.
Myriad holds a 10% free carried interest in the Red Basin Uranium Project, recently sold to 8VC- and Overmatch-backed Subatomic Industries. Red Basin carries significant historical resource estimates from extensive drilling by Occidental Oil in the late 1970s, and also hosts vanadium, which has been designated a strategic and critical mineral by the U.S. government. Note the caution on historical estimates below.
Myriad's 100%-owned Breccia Pipe Project in Arizona comprises at least 23 breccia pipes that are prospective for uranium and REEs. One of the pipes, the Wate Pipe, was previously owned and explored by Energy Fuels and is the subject of a historical resource estimate.
Note: A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Copper Mountain, Red Basin, and Breccia Pipe Project historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves and Myriad is not treating historical estimates as current resources or reserves. Myriad intends to conduct further work to determine whether the historical estimates can be verified and, if appropriate, supported by current mineral resource estimates.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, each company's business, plans, outlook and business strategy. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect," "anticipate," "intend", "estimate", "plan", "forecast", "project" and "believe" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information, including, but not limited to: the prospects of the combined company following completion of the Arrangement; and that the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement will be realized. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement or implement the business plan for the combined company, negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known current mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Myriad set out in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis and other filings which have been filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under Myriad's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although Myriad has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward- looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Myriad does not undertake any obligation to update or reissue forward- looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.
The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310909
Source: Myriad Uranium Corp.
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Oracle získala u ministerstva pro záležitosti veteránů větší příležitost: strop kontraktu na elektronické zdravotní záznamy Oracle Health se zvýšil zhruba o 17 miliard USD na asi 27 miliard USD. Firma ale peníze nezíská hned; jde o vyšší strop pro budoucí zakázky.
Oracle Corp. (ORCL, Financials) has just received a significantly larger opportunity with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA boosted the maximum on Oracle Health’s electronic health record contract by roughly $17 billion to approximately $27 billion.
That’s a big figure, but with an essential caveat. Oracle won’t see $17 billion right away. The boost just provides the VA with greater flexibility for awarding contracts as the rollout proceeds. And there is much to do.
Only 14 of the VA’s 164 medical centers are live on the federal EHR system, and most are not yet using it. The deal now also includes three more one-year options that may keep the program running through May 2031.
A longer runway might be significant for Oracle's software division, Mizuho says. The brokerage reiterated its Outperform rating and $320 price target, saying the larger VA opportunity might help boost SaaS growth over the next several years.
Oracle has spent most of the last few years trying to sell investors on its cloud infrastructure story. That gives the corporation another lever for growth, one supported by a significant government customer. The next thing to watch will be simple: How fast that excess contract capacity transforms into actual task orders and revenue.
Hyliion Holdings čelí vyšetřování Robbins LLP kvůli možnému porušení zákonů o cenných papírech. Akcie HYLN v úterý klesly o 16 % po zprávě short-sellera Pelican Way Research, která zpochybnila klíčovou zákaznickou dohodu.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP is investigating Hyliion Holdings Corp. (AMEX: HYLN) to determine whether certain Hyliion Holdings officers and directors violated securities laws and breached fiduciary duties to shareholders. Hyliion is a power generator company whose primary product is the KARNQ Power Module.
Why Are We Investigating Hyliion Holdings?
Hyliion stock dropped 16% on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, following the release of a short-seller report from Pelican Way Research that questioned the legitimacy of a major customer agreement that had recently driven the Company's valuation up by approximately 150%. Specifically, the Company announced a non-binding LOI with VFG Holdings for up to 250 KARNO Cores, representing approximately $133 million in potential revenue.
Pelican Way Research alleged that the VFG LOI accounted for roughly one-third of Hyliion's reported $400 million-plus pipeline and questioned whether the LOI provided meaningful commercial validation. The report further alleged that VFG, which Pelican Way identified as VFG Tech Holdings, LLC, was incorporated in January 2026, appeared to have only four LinkedIn employees, had a minimal website, and lacked evidence of funding or operating substance sufficient to support an order of that size.
The report also noted that the Company's Financial filings show that between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2025, Hyliion brought in a total of $8 million in cumulative revenue. Over that exact same period, CEO Thomas Healy was paid $15.4 million in total compensation.
What Can Shareholders Do Now?
If you lost money investing in Hyliion Holdings Corp. contact Robbins LLP for more information by submitting an inquiry, emailing attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or calling (800) 350-6003.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.
About Robbins LLP
A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders.
To be notified if a class action against Hyliion Holdings Corp. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.
Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Co-founder Kieran Warwick says the reduction puts the Ethereum game studio past 12 months of runway, with the remaining team working almost entirely on its Overworld MMO.
Illuvium's team has agreed to reduce its wages again to preserve the studio's runway, which co-founder Kieran Warwick now puts at more than 12 months, he said Friday.
The cut buys Illuvium past August 2027 on Warwick's own numbers, at a point when crypto gaming studios are closing. Proof of Play announced on Aug. 5 that it was ceasing operations and open-sourcing Pirate Nation's code and art under CC0. The games Illuvium has already shipped cover a fraction of its payroll: the protocol generated $9,781 in fees and revenue over the past 30 days, according to DefiLlama, which puts the trailing-year annualized rate at $123,194.
DefiLlama values Illuvium's treasury at $2.78 million against $60 million raised, and the ILV staked in its pools at $2.21 million, or 7.98% of market capitalization. ILV trades at $3.35, up 6.1% on the day and 17.9% over the week, per CoinGecko, for a market cap of $27.74 million. The token hit an all-time low of $2.69 on July 29 and sits 99.8% below its November 2021 high of $1,911.26.
The wider crypto market rose 18.6% over the same seven days. Warwick closed his post by saying his confidence had "nothing to do with the price of ETH."
Wages Cut Even FurtherWarwick said the studio has "heavily reduced costs" over six months and that the team "agreed to reduce their wages even further to preserve runway." He did not give the size of the cut, the number of staff remaining, or the studio's cash position.
The February update in which Warwick set out the current plan put runway "into mid next year," meaning mid-2027. Friday's wording — "over 12 months of runway again" — indicates the figure had fallen below a year in the six months since.
The Team We Have Left"The team we have left is almost entirely focused on the MMO, and most of them have been with us for more than three years," Warwick wrote, referring to Overworld.
February's post targeted a December 2026 release for Overworld, with multiplayer combat, dungeon runs, creature capture and onchain items, and no player-versus-player mode at launch. Warwick gave no date on Friday, saying he was running his "final play session of the latest Overworld build" before publishing feedback.
Four other products are launching this year, he said: a Celebrations collection for Illuvium Beyond, Beyond Chaos, Primal Tactica and Loadout. That schedule has slipped from February, when Warwick said Beyond's Wave 5 would complete the collectible card game's first set, to be followed by a three-year celebration set and then Set 2. Wave 5 shipped with a Lamborghini exclusive collection that ran from April 21 to May 5. Warwick now says the Celebrations collection "will be the final release in the Set 1 collection." He gave no detail on Beyond Chaos.
Beyond, launched in March 2023, is Illuvium's "number one revenue-generating game by a long shot," Warwick wrote in February.
Steam Debut In OctoberPrimal Tactica is the product of the licensing deal Warwick described in February, when Arena's head designer asked to take the IP and ship a game with the web3 elements stripped out on Steam, with Illuvium keeping most of the revenue after platform fees. Warwick said Friday the build is nearly complete, will debut at Steam Next Fest in October, and that "Illuvium receives the lion's share of the revenue." He offered test keys by direct message.
The Steam listing names Errata Studio Ltd as developer and publisher, sets an Early Access release for Q4 2026, and describes a roguelike autobattler with more than 200 creatures called Primals. Illuvium is not mentioned on the page.
Nothing To Stake ForLoadout, Warwick said, "will distribute tokens to the Illuvium staking contract and give people a reason to stake ILV and ILV-ETH again."
Warwick's X bio lists him as founder of Loadout, a Solana trading platform for game tokens that routes 4% of each token's trading volume to the game's treasury and charges a 1% protocol fee. Its site reports 2.7K traders signed up and 37 studios confirmed, with no launch date. Warwick said an announcement is close.
Stakers have little coming to them now. DefiLlama puts holders' revenue at a $0 30-day run rate. Under Staking V3, launched on Base in November 2025, direct ILV rewards trigger at 150 ETH revenue milestones — roughly $360,000 at current prices, against the $9,781 the protocol took in over the past month. Illuvium also says distributions resume only once its Safety Pool is fully funded under ICCP-22. Shards, the seasonal loyalty points stakers earn daily, are emitted at a rate that falls 2.97% every Monday.
Sentiment At All-Time LowWarwick's February post described crypto sentiment as "at an all-time low" and crypto gaming as "even lower." A month later, Solana Foundation president Lily Liu said gaming on a blockchain "is not coming back."
Illuvium raised $72 million in a land sale over four days in June 2022, selling 19,969 plots by Dutch auction. DefiLlama counts $12 million in total capital raised by the protocol. Kieran Warwick is CEO of Illuvium Labs and his brother Aaron is game director.
FDA autorizovala 11 nových nikotinových sáčků Philip Morris, včetně 9mg variant Zyn Ultra Citrus, Menthol a Wintergreen. Úřad je označil za méně škodlivé než jiné orální a bezdýmné tabákové produkty.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it had authorized 11 nicotine pouch products recently launched by Philip Morris (PM.N), citing lower levels of harmful constituents compared with other oral and smokeless tobacco products.
Philip Morris unveiled its higher-strength Zyn Ultra nicotine pouches in June, at prices lower than its flagship Zyn brand, to fend off competition from British American Tobacco's (BATS.L) Velo.
Here are more details:
The latest authorization follows the agency's June approval of 20 variants of the company's Zyn pouches as less harmful than cigarettes.
These pouches, placed under the lip to deliver nicotine, are the fastest-growing nicotine category in the United States.
The newly authorized products include 9 mg Zyn Ultra Citrus, Menthol, and Wintergreen variants made by Philip Morris subsidiary Swedish Match USA.
Last month, Philip Morris reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and said it would increase investment in Zyn as competition intensifies. However, the tobacco company lowered its annual forecast amid currency headwinds.
Akcie Eli Lilly v pátek vzrostly asi o 1,9 % na 1 268,23 USD, protože trh dál sází na její léky na obezitu. Ve 2. čtvrtletí tržby vyskočily o 48 % na 23 miliard USD a firma zvýšila celoroční výhled tržeb na 85 až 87 miliard USD.
, the drugmaking giant behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, jumped approximately 1.9% to $1,268.23 Friday afternoon. Thursday's dip did not scare buyers. It brought them back. The stock is once again charging toward its 52-week high as Wall Street bets that Lilly's obesity-drug machine still has plenty of fuel.
The numbers are monstrous. Second-quarter revenue rocketed 48% to $23 billion. Mounjaro sales exploded 91% to $9.94 billion, while Zepbound delivered another $4.93 billion after growing 46%. Lilly responded by lifting its full-year revenue forecast to between $85 billion and $87 billion. And this is not a two-drug story forever. According to Investor's Business Daily, Lilly has 35 Phase 2 programs and another 41 therapies in Phase 3 trials.
Still, the concentration risk is impossible to ignore. Mounjaro and Zepbound generated roughly 65% of quarterly revenue, putting manufacturing, insurance coverage and competitive pricing under a brutal spotlight. Yet investors keep paying up because Lilly keeps delivering growth that almost no company of its size can touch. Even better, the stock's $1,268.23 market price remains 16.32% below its $1,520 GF Value estimate. Lilly is expensive at roughly 43 times trailing earnings—but Friday's rally says Wall Street still sees firepower behind that premium.
Injective udržuje syntetické trhy iAssets otevřené i při výpadku cenového feedu; u akcií se pauza týká jen víkendů, P/L zůstává fixní na poslední ceně a likvidace je prakticky nemožná.
@injective has built a suite of synthetic perpetual markets, called iAssets, that let traders gain exposure to equities, commodities, and foreign exchange without holding the underlying asset.
Margin is posted in $USDT (or other supported stablecoins), and leverage is available, varying by market. The contracts are accessed primarily through frontends like the Helix decentralized exchange.
How oracle pauses workThe 24/7 nature of crypto creates a structural tension with traditional markets. FX and commodity price feeds do not run continuously, and equity feeds follow their own session schedules. For equities, the oracle pauses only on weekends, aligned with the underlying equity market structure.
Traders can still open or close positions during a freeze, but profit and loss stays fixed at the last reported price, making liquidation virtually impossible until the feed resumes.
Capital efficiency without the collateral poolInjective's design distinguishes it from CDP-based synthetic protocols by avoiding pre-funded collateral pools and instead relying on market makers to provide depth and dynamically allocate capital. Builders on Injective can permissionlessly access Pyth price feeds spanning equities, commodities, FX, and crypto. These feeds have already been integrated by Helix, a decentralized order book exchange serving retail traders and institutions alike.
Injective's RWA perpetuals crossed $6 billion in cumulative volume by early November 2025, per Messari, with by mid-2026. The oracle-pause mechanism is a key part of that infrastructure, ensuring that market access remains open even when the underlying data source goes offline, without exposing traders to unfair liquidations in the process.
Sources:
Injective Docs: iAssets Overview
Injective Docs: 24/5 Equity Feeds and SEDA Integration
CoinGecko: Injective in 2026 Convergence Report
Coherent obchoduje nad 40násobkem EBITDA a nad 60násobkem upraveného zisku, takže prostor pro zklamání je malý. Firma čeká v 1. čtvrtletí asi 50% růst tržeb a 70% růst non-GAAP EPS meziročně.
Key Takeaways Coherent trades above 40X EBITDA and 60X adjusted earnings, leaving little room for disappointment.COHR guides for about 50% Q1 revenue growth and a 70% rise in non-GAAP EPS year over year.Coherent's backlog extends into fiscal 2028, while capacity, margins and demand durability remain key. Coherent (COHR - Free Report) offers investors a compelling growth story, but its valuation makes the entry point important. Based on fiscal 2026 results, the stock trades above 40 times EBITDA and above 60 times adjusted earnings, levels that leave little room for operational disappointment.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Those multiples could decline rapidly if Coherent delivers the growth currently anticipated. First-quarter guidance indicates roughly 50% year-over-year revenue growth and a 70% increase in non-GAAP earnings per share. Full-year consensus projections of $9.46 per share in earnings and approximately $2.8 billion in EBITDA would lower the valuation to about 36 times earnings and 25 times EV/EBITDA.
The central question is how long exceptional datacom demand can continue. Coherent’s backlog extends into fiscal 2028, making manufacturing capacity and production ramps the primary near-term constraints. However, supply should eventually catch up with demand, potentially slowing revenue growth and pressuring the premium investors assign to the shares.
Margin expansion may provide some support, though the opportunity appears measured. Fiscal 2026 adjusted gross margin improved 152 basis points to 39.4%, while management continues to target more than 42%. Greater internal production of indium phosphide lasers could help, but rising transceiver sales carry relatively lower margins. With adjusted operating margin already near 20%, revenue growth will likely remain the dominant earnings driver.
COHR’s Peer LandscapeLumentum Holdings (LITE - Free Report) and Fabrinet (FN - Free Report) provide useful comparisons within the optical communications ecosystem. Lumentum is exposed to similar AI-driven networking demand, while Fabrinet benefits from increased manufacturing requirements across optical products. Investors comparing Coherent with Lumentum should assess differences in product exposure and profitability. Likewise, Fabrinet offers another perspective on how capacity expansion converts into earnings. Ultimately, Lumentum and Fabrinet reinforce that execution, margins and demand durability matter alongside headline growth.
COHR appears attractive for long-term AI infrastructure believers, but its valuation and volatility favor a disciplined entry price.
COHR’s Price Performance & EstimatesThe stock has declined 20% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 12% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COHR’s fiscal 2027 earnings increased over the past 60 days.
COHR currently sports a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Aptos zaznamenal nové historické maximum 11,7 milionu transakcí za den, což je o 6,5 % více než předchozí rekord za posledních 24 hodin. Růst naznačuje trvale silnější aktivitu na síti.
Aptos Hits 11.7 Million Daily Transactions@Aptos has recorded a new all-time high of 11.7 million transactions in a single day, a 6.5% increase over the previous record set just 24 hours earlier. The back-to-back peaks signal that demand on the network is not a one-off spike but part of a sustained upward trend in on-chain activity.
The milestone fits into a broader pattern of accelerating growth in 2026. The 11.7 million figure reported on August 21 represents another step above that range.
Architecture Built for This Kind of LoadThe numbers reflect an infrastructure deliberately engineered for high throughput.
Much of that capacity comes from Aptos's parallel execution engine.
The transaction growth also comes alongside broader ecosystem development.
With daily transaction counts continuing to set new highs and network infrastructure designed to handle far greater loads, @Aptos appears to be building durable momentum rather than chasing short-term spikes.
Sources
TheStreet Crypto: Aptos crosses 4.5 billion total transactions as daily activity hits record
Everstake: Aptos in 2026 - Latest News, Roadmap, and DeFi Updates
Nansen: Aptos H2 2025 Report
C.H. Robinson ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila EPS o 24,8 % na 1,61 USD a tržby o 19,3 % na 4,93 mld. USD, obojí nad odhady analytiků. Provozní marže se rozšířila na 34,7 %.
Key Takeaways C.H. Robinson's Q2 EPS rose 24.8% to $1.61, beating the consensus estimate by 5.2%.CHRW's adjusted operating margin expanded 360 basis points to 34.7% on productivity gains.CHRW's premium valuation, $1.68B debt load and limited price-target upside temper the bull case. C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW - Free Report) has a stronger fundamental case after a solid second-quarter earnings beat, improving profitability and continued shareholder returns. The stock’s sharp three-month pullback may draw investor attention, especially as earnings and margins move higher.
Still, the setup is not clearly compelling. CHRW trades at a premium to industry and sector benchmarks, carries rising debt and has only limited upside to the stated price target.
CHRW’s Earnings Beat Strengthens the CaseC.H. Robinson reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.61 per share, up 24.8% year over year. The result topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53 by 5.2%.
Revenues rose 19.3% year over year to $4.93 billion and exceeded the consensus mark of $4.42 billion by 11.7%. Higher pricing across truckload, LTL, air and ocean services supported the top-line gain.
C.H. Robinson Expands Operating MarginsProfitability improved faster than adjusted gross profit. Adjusted gross profits increased 6.5% year over year to $738.0 million, while adjusted income from operations advanced 19.5% to $263.2 million.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 360 basis points to 34.7%. That improvement came even as operating expenses rose 1% to $482.2 million, showing that cost optimization and productivity gains helped offset higher incentive compensation tied to strong operating performance.
The company’s earnings presentation also highlights the operating model behind the margin improvement. CHRW said it is using Lean principles and custom-built AI tools to streamline processes, reduce waste, decouple headcount growth from volume growth and drive operating leverage.
CHRW’s Valuation Offers Little Clear DiscountValuation limits the bull case. CHRW trades at 20.79X forward 12-month earnings, above 15.33X for the Zacks sub-industry and 14.62X for the broader transportation sector. It is also slightly above the S&P 500’s 20.34X multiple.
The stock is not far from its own historical norm either. Over the past five years, CHRW’s forward P/E has ranged from 11.49X to 33.46X, with a median of 20.98X. That makes the current multiple look fair to full rather than clearly discounted.
C.H. Robinson’s Price Target Caps the UpsideThe stated $151 price target compares with a reported share price of $143.83. That implies positive but limited appreciation potential.
The narrow spread matters because investors are being asked to pay near a historical median multiple while still relying on continued earnings execution. Shares have plunged 18% over the past three months, but they remain up 17.1% over the past year, so the pullback does not automatically make the stock cheap.
CHRW’s Leverage Tempers the Bull CaseThe balance sheet adds caution. CHRW ended the second quarter with $154.59 million in cash and cash equivalents, while long-term debt stood at $1.68 billion.
Cash-flow trends also weakened. Cash generated from operations fell to $35.9 million from $227.1 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly because higher freight rates drove a negative working-capital swing.
Shareholder returns remain a positive offset. In the second quarter, CHRW returned $301.3 million to shareholders, including $226 million of share repurchases and $75.3 million of dividends. However, higher leverage and working-capital demands reduce financial flexibility despite solid earnings. Apart from CHRW, other stocks like Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR - Free Report) and Expeditors (EXPD - Free Report) from the similar industry have also been consistently rewarding their shareholders.
C.H. Robinson’s Scores Favor SelectivityThe bottom line: C.H. Robinson’s earnings beat, margin expansion and capital returns support investor interest, especially after the stock’s recent pullback. But the valuation, debt load and limited price-target upside argue against an aggressive stance.
CHRW carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which supports patience. Its Growth, Momentum and VGM Score of B are constructive, but the C Value Score aligns with a stock trading near its historical median multiple and above industry valuation benchmarks. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Igra Labs se integrovala s Tangem a přináší Kaspa-native DeFi více než milionu uživatelů hardwarové peněženky. Držitelé $IGRA mohou používat aplikace Igra bez přesunu aktiv do horké peněženky.
Igra Labs Goes Live on Tangem@Igra_Labs has integrated with @Tangem, bringing Kaspa-native decentralised finance to more than one million hardware wallet users. The move gives $IGRA holders access to the Igra apps ecosystem while keeping private keys secured in cold storage, removing a trade-off that has historically pushed DeFi users toward less secure software wallets.
The integration is built on WalletConnect, delivered through Tangem app version 6.1.3. For Tangem users, that means approving transactions via NFC tap rather than exposing keys to an internet-connected device.
What the Integration Means for Kaspa DeFiIgra Network is the EVM-compatible execution layer built on top of Kaspa's proof-of-work BlockDAG.
By connecting to Tangem through WalletConnect, $IGRA holders can now interact with decentralised apps on Igra Network without moving assets to a hot wallet first.
That security baseline now extends to Kaspa-native DeFi for the first time, as the Igra and Tangem integration marks a meaningful step in making cold-storage-secured DeFi access a practical reality rather than a technical workaround.
Sources
Igra Network Public Mainnet Launch, Crypto Adventure
WalletConnect on Tangem, Tangem Official Blog
Kaspa Integrated on Tangem, Kaspa.org
Sezzle ve 2. čtvrtletí uvedla, že její AI chatbot vyřešil 68 % příchozích dotazů zákazníků a měl vyšší spokojenost než lidští agenti.
AI také vytvořila 88 % nového kódu a zvýšila produktivitu vývojářů o 20 % mezikvartálně.
Key Takeaways Sezzle's AI chatbot deflected 68% of consumer inbounds and achieved higher satisfaction than human agents.AI shopping assistant drove a 3.6 times higher product click rate and reached 80% of Sezzle Anywhere users.AI developed 88% of new code as developer productivity rose 20% quarter over quarter. Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) is pushing AI deeper into its business, and the early numbers suggest the effort is affecting customer service and internal productivity. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported that its AI support chatbot deflected 68% of consumer inbounds and achieved higher customer satisfaction than human agents.
The consumer side is showing gains. Sezzle’s AI shopping assistant generated a 3.6 times higher product click rate than the control group and was live for 80% of Sezzle Anywhere users. Management plans to expand the tool to all consumers, tying AI more closely to engagement and shopping activity.
Inside the company, AI is increasingly integrated into daily operations. Sezzle reported that 88% of new code was AI-developed, while 30% of merged code received an added AI review layer. Developer productivity rose 20% quarter over quarter, and 98% of support tickets were automatically graded through its AutoQA process.
These efficiency gains come as Sezzle is growing. In the second quarter of 2026, revenues rose 51.7% year over year to $149.7 million, while adjusted EBITDA reached $58 million with a 38.8% margin. Active subscribers increased 76.4% to 854,000, and average quarterly purchase frequency climbed to a record 7.2 times.
Management is also using AI to speed product development. Sezzle said the upcoming Sezzle Send product was built largely with AI by a small team in weeks rather than months. Sezzle Send already had approximately 100,000 prospective users on its wait list, giving investors another data point to watch, as AI moves from support tools into product creation.
How Are Its Competitors Faring?Klarna Group plc (KLAR - Free Report) is pushing AI beyond customer support and into the core of its payments and shopping operations. The company is using AI to automate service, personalize recommendations, improve marketing and raise employee productivity. Its AI assistant quickly became a major service channel, handling about two-thirds of customer-service chats within its first month.
Affirm (AFRM - Free Report) is embedding artificial intelligence across underwriting, servicing, engineering, pricing and merchant promotions, making AI a broader operating tool rather than a standalone feature. Its AdaptAI platform uses real-time data to tailor financing incentives and improve conversion, with early deployments producing nearly a 10% incremental improvement in merchant conversion rates.
SEZL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Sezzle have outperformed in the past three months compared with the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Sezzle’s shares have a Value Score of D. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, SEZL stock is trading at 19.1X, which is at a premium to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services Market industry’s 18.85X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sezzle’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward to $5.24 in the past month. The consensus estimate for the metric indicates a year-over-year increase of 45.96%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sezzle currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Quantum Computing Inc. zvýšila tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 na 5,6 milionu USD z 61 tisíc USD a objednávková kniha dosáhla zhruba 42,5 milionu USD. Společnost také dodala systém Dirac-3 globální poradenské firmě.
Key Takeaways QUBT's revenues surged, backlog hit $42.5 million, and Dirac-3 was delivered to a global firm.QNT's revenues jumped 279%, with $81 million in year-to-date bookings and a $28-$32 million outlook.QUBT and QNT offer differentiated growth paths as investors demand stronger commercial evidence. The quantum-computing trade has entered a more demanding phase in the second half of 2026. After a powerful rally earlier this year, investors are increasingly looking beyond qubit milestones and government support toward revenue visibility, cash requirements and commercialization. This shift comes as the macro backdrop becomes less favorable for high-risk growth stocks within the quantum computing space.
Against this backdrop, two pure-play quantum computing stocks outside the sector's leading names that are showing notable commercial momentum are Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi and Quantinuum Inc. (QNT - Free Report) . Let’s delve deeper.
A Cooling Labor MarketThe Federal Reserve kept the federal funds target range at 3.5%-3.75% at its July 29 meeting, while inflation remains elevated. Going by the BLS’ July CPI report, released in August 2026, the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% year over year, with core CPI up 2.5%, while the energy index increased 14.7% for the 12 months ending July. The labor market is also cooling. July nonfarm payrolls declined 23,000, with unemployment at 4.1%, according to the BLS’ August-released Employment Situation Summary report.
Higher Yields, Persistent Inflation and Fiscal Risks Add PressureThe macro backdrop is becoming less forgiving for long-duration, speculative technology stocks. The BEA's latest Personal Income and Outlays report showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rising 3.7% year over year in June, while core PCE increased 3.3%. Although the headline PCE index fell 0.1% month over month, underlying inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, limiting the scope for rapid monetary easing.
Producer-price pressures add to the challenge. July Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 4.7% year over year, although the index was unchanged month over month. Prices excluding food, energy and trade services also rose 4.7% over the 12 months ended in July, suggesting that cost pressures remain elevated.
Image Source: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
At the same time, real consumer spending increased 0.4% in June, according to the BEA, indicating that the U.S. economy still has an important source of resilience. That makes the backdrop less about an outright economic downturn and more about persistent inflation, elevated borrowing costs and a higher hurdle for speculative investments.
The bond market is adding another layer of pressure. Reuters reported on Aug. 21 that U.S. long-term yields remained elevated, with the 30-year Treasury yield around 5.25%, as investors weighed inflation, fiscal deficits and a U.S. debt load that has surpassed $40 trillion. Oil prices also climbed amid renewed Middle East tensions, increasing the risk that energy inflation could complicate the Fed's policy path.
For quantum stocks, the message is increasingly clear- technological promise alone is no longer enough. Investors want evidence that bookings, partnerships and technical milestones can translate into scalable commercial revenue.
Why IONQ and QBTS Are Under PressureThe pressure on prime-line pureplay quantum stocks like IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) is therefore not necessarily a rejection of quantum technology. It reflects the widening gap between ambitious long-term opportunities and near-term financial execution. IonQ delivered an impressive 287% year-over-year increase in its second-quarter revenues and raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $280-$290 million. However, its valuation remains lumpy, while the company continues to invest heavily in expansion and integration following the SkyWater acquisition. IONQ currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
D-Wave faces a different challenge. First-half bookings surged 1,120% year over year, but second-quarter revenue was only $3.1 million, essentially flat from a year earlier. The disparity shows the sector's key bottleneck- turning bookings, pilots and technical advances into recurring revenue at scale. QBTS also carries a Zacks Rank #4 right now.
Government Support is Strong - But Commercialization Still MattersWashington continues to support the strategic development of quantum computing. A June 22 White House executive order called for a national effort to develop a powerful quantum computer and accelerate quantum capabilities for commercial applications. The Department of Energy subsequently launched its Quantum Genesis initiative targeting scientifically relevant, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
These initiatives strengthen the industry's long-term opportunity, but government support does not eliminate execution risk. Quantum companies still face hardware-scaling, error-correction, manufacturing, data-preparation and customer-adoption bottlenecks.
QUBT: Diversification Creates a Different Growth ProfileQuantum Computing or QCi’s second-quarter 2026 revenues jumped to $5.6 million from $61,000 a year earlier, while contract backlog reached approximately $42.5 million. The company also completed its NHanced Semiconductors acquisition and delivered its Dirac-3 quantum optimization system to a global consulting firm. Importantly, QUBT is building exposure across quantum photonics, semiconductors and quantum optimization rather than relying on a single hardware pathway.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Based on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target for QCi comes to $18.33, representing an increase of 125.2% from the last closing price of $8.14.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QNT: Commercial Momentum Is AcceleratingQuantinuum offers another differentiated route into quantum computing, with an enterprise-focused full-stack model spanning hardware, software and applications. Its second quarter revenue increased 279% year over year, while the company raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $28-$32 million and reported year-to-date bookings of $81 million. Its Helios system also demonstrated near-five-nines logical fidelity, strengthening its technology proposition. Quantinuum's planned integration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure provides another potential avenue for enterprise adoption. With more than $2 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments after its IPO, QNT has substantial resources to fund development. Its key risk remains valuation and the long path to profitability.
The stock also carries a Zacks Rank #3. Based on short-term price targets offered by 12 analysts, the average price target for Quantinuum comes to $97.17, representing an increase of 77% from the last closing price of $54.90. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SpaceX vypustila dalších 24 satelitů Starlink a blíží se hranici 11 000 satelitů na oběžné dráze. Síť už tvoří téměř dvě třetiny aktivních satelitů kolem Země.
SpaceX SPCX shares gained 1.4% on Friday as investors weighed the rapid expansion of its Starlink satellite network, upcoming share unlocks and the company's significant capital spending requirements.
The stock had fallen 3% on Wednesday and declined 4.1% on Thursday as another 319 million shares held by employees, early investors and other insiders became eligible for trading.
SpaceX launched another 24 Starlink satellites from California on Tuesday, bringing the constellation closer to 11,000 spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
Tracking data from astronomer Jonathan McDowell showed around 10,979 Starlink satellites in orbit as of Aug. 19, with about 10,963 operational.
SpaceX has launched more than 12,700 Starlink satellites since 2019, although roughly 1,700 have since deorbited.
The network now represents nearly two-thirds of all active satellites orbiting Earth.
SpaceX has approval to launch between 15,000 and 19,000 Gen-1 and Gen-2 Starlink satellites by 2031.
The company has also sought approval for a next-generation constellation of up to 100,000 satellites.
CEO Elon Musk said earlier this month that the Starlink system could eventually exceed 100,000 satellites.
He has also said the space economy will be significantly larger than Goldman Sachs' current $1.8 trillion projection for 2035.
Starlink is already a major contributor to SpaceX's financial performance.
The company's Connectivity segment generated $4.3 billion in revenue during the second quarter of 2026, accounting for about 55% of SpaceX's total $7.8 billion revenue.
The segment generated $1.7 billion in operating profit, up 66% year over year.
The growth was supported by a doubling of subscribers to 12 million.
SpaceX aims for Starlink to eventually carry most of the world's internet traffic.
The company also sees potential applications in AI infrastructure, mobile connectivity and internet services for homes, businesses and governments.
Investors are also monitoring the impact of additional shares becoming available for trading.
The Aug. 20 unlock made up to 319 million restricted shares eligible for trading. The shares represented about 2.4% of SpaceX's outstanding stock and could increase the company's tradable float by around 20%.
Additional unlocks are scheduled through the rest of 2026, while Musk's large stake remains locked until June 2027.
Meanwhile, DZ Bank analyst Markus Leistner initiated coverage with a Sell rating and a $100 price target.
The bearish view contrasts with broader Wall Street sentiment, with about 75% of analysts covering SpaceX rating the stock Buy. The average analyst price target stands near $226.
The differing views partly reflect the scale of SpaceX's future investment requirements.
FactSet estimates SpaceX revenue could exceed $100 billion in 2027, compared with about $44 billion in 2026.
However, Wall Street projects roughly $800 billion in cumulative capital spending by the end of the decade.
Much of that spending is expected to support AI and communications infrastructure.
SpaceX currently operates about 1.4 gigawatts of computing capacity at two terrestrial data centers and aims to reach 10 gigawatts by the end of 2027.
For investors, the company's rapid Starlink growth offers significant revenue potential, but the scale of required investment and continued share unlocks remain important factors for the stock.
Alphabet poprvé přímo zpeněžil své TPU čipy, čímž se oficiálně dostal do výroby čipů. Nové tržby se promítly do čtvrtletních tržeb cloudové divize 24,8 miliardy USD, meziročně +82 %.
There's no denying that Alphabet's (GOOG +1.40%)(GOOGL +1.46%) cloud computing results were the centerpiece of the company's recently posted second-quarter report. This business unit's revenue improved by a whopping 82% year over year, more than tripling its operating income as a result.
As encouraging as that is, however, perhaps it's not the most exciting leap Google's parent company made during the three months ending in June. Far more important was the fact that -- for the first time ever -- the company's so-called Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) were also directly monetized, officially putting Alphabet in the chipmaking business.
Alphabet is in the right place at the right time Nvidia remains the leading designer of artificial intelligence processors. But several technology giants with the capabilities of designing their own, often in partnership with players like Broadcom -- are doing so. Alphabet's one of them. Its Tensor Processing Units were initially used strictly in-house, with capacity leased to clients via Google Cloud. But now, some are being shipped to data centers operated by third parties.
Image source: Getty Images.
We don't know how much revenue these chips actually produced last quarter, although it likely wasn't a great deal. All we know is that these sales were reflected within the company's Q2 cloud computing revenue of $24.8 billion, which, as was noted, grew 82% year over year.
Nevertheless, look for an increasingly bigger impact from TPUs going forward.
See, the AI industry has only scratched the surface of establishing the infrastructure it thinks it will eventually need. Technology industry research outfit Technavio expects the worldwide artificial intelligence chip business's annual revenue to grow at an average annual pace of more than 24% between now and 2030, when it will be $155 billion bigger than it is now. That growth outlook jibes with Global Market Insights' projection, which is calling for $1.1 trillion worth of annual artificial intelligence chip sales by 2035.
Already a well-proven cloud technology name, Alphabet is positioned to capture at least its fair share of this growth.
Bolstering the bullish case It's not a reason in and of itself to own Alphabet stock. The lion's share of the company's sales and operating income still comes from its market-leading search engine, and for the time being, most of its cloud computing revenue reflects rented access to its service and apps rather than revenue stemming from sales of Tensor Processing Units. And with Google Cloud's backlog of future business growing by $50 billion to $514 billion as of the end of Q2 (and Q2's total revenue of $119.8 billion, for perspective), that's not apt to change in the immediate future. That's even more so the case given that the company's current supply of TPU chips is being rationed between external customers and internal use.
The potential revenue that TPUs could -- and likely will -- bring to the table in the near and distant future, however, is yet another good reason to take a swing at Alphabet stock.
Today's Change
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1.46
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4.96
Current Price
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Of course, the top reason to buy right now remains that shares of the powerhouse technology company are still down 15% from their mid-May peak, for reasons that most analysts don't agree with. The majority of Wall Street pros covering the ticker still rate it as a strong buy, with a consensus price target of $426.40. That's 24% above the stock's present price.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:BABA) reported mixed results for its first quarter on Thursday.
Alibaba reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of $39.64 billion, up 9% year over year and above the $38.63 billion analyst estimate. However, adjusted earnings per ADS fell 42% to $1.26, missing expectations of $1.85. Adjusted net income declined 38% to $3.05 billion, while adjusted EBITA fell 30% to $4.03 billion. Net income plunged 75% to $1.54 billion.
“We delivered a strong quarter, driven by the improving commercialization of our full‑stack AI capabilities,” said Eddie Wu, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “Alibaba Cloud’s external revenue growth accelerated to 45%, with AI-related product revenue delivering triple-digit growth for the twelfth consecutive quarter. We recently launched frontier language, coding, video, audio, image and music models, all delivering top-tier performance. We introduced QwenWork, an AI workforce agent that unleashes enterprise productivity and capabilities. With our full‑stack AI strategy, we have put Alibaba in a superior position to capture the substantial growth of demand for artificial intelligence and AI compute.”
Alibaba shares dipped 8.4% to trade at $119.62 on Friday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Alibaba following earnings announcement.
Baird analyst Colin Sebastian maintained the stock with an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $164 to $160. Barclays analyst Jiong Shao maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $195 to $200. JP Morgan analyst Alex Yao maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $205 to $210. Considering buying BABA stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Nvidia příští středu po uzavření trhu zveřejní výsledky za fiskální 2. čtvrtletí. Investoři už ale po třech po sobě jdoucích reportech s překonáním odhadů a zvýšením výhledu čekají víc než jen další překonání odhadů.
NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) reports fiscal second-quarter results next Wednesday after the market close, and the print arrives as the chipmaker’s remarkable AI-driven rally faces a stagnant stretch.
NVDA stock is trending. See the chart and price action here. Nvidia shares have surged from roughly $11 in late 2022, split-adjusted, to about $216 today, a gain near 1,700% since ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch kicked off the AI boom, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
The move ranks among the most powerful multi-year runs by any large-cap stock in recent market history, and the long-term chart remains firmly in an uptrend despite a sluggish past year.
Bespoke highlights just how dramatic the shift in fundamentals has been. Quarterly revenue has exploded since late 2022, blowing past Wall Street’s consensus estimates by wide margins nearly every period. Few companies have seen fundamentals catch up to a stock’s rally quite like this one.
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The Triple-Play KingNvidia has become what Bespoke calls a “triple-play king,” a company that consistently beats both earnings and revenue estimates while also raising guidance.
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Over the past 20 quarterly reports spanning five years, the chipmaker has delivered 14 triple plays, including three straight heading into Wednesday’s release.
The catch: Nvidia’s triple plays no longer guarantee a stock pop. Shares finished lower on each of the last three beat-and-raise reports, suggesting investors have priced in near-flawless execution and now demand something more.
Sky-High ExpectationsExpectations have grown too large for good news alone to move the needle. A beat-and-raise quarter, once cause for celebration, now reads as the baseline.
Nvidia investors increasingly want confirmation that AI demand extends well beyond the current cycle, plus clarity on margins as competition intensifies from custom silicon and rival chipmakers.
Wednesday’s report will test whether Nvidia can finally snap the pattern. A fourth consecutive triple play met with another sell-off would reinforce the idea that the stock has entered a “prove it” phase, one where even flawless numbers cannot overcome heightened investor demands.
NVDA Stock Price Activity: Nvidia stock was down 0.47% at $215.89 at the time of publication on Friday, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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BMO Capital Markets označila Nvidia za „top pick“ před zveřejněním výsledků za fiskální 2. čtvrtletí, které mají být zveřejněny 26. srpna po uzavření trhu, a stanovila cílovou cenu na 340 USD. Firma má AI systémy na příštích 12 měsíců plně vyprodané.
Buy Nvidia (NVDA). The article says systems are “fully booked for the next 12 months” and the Vera Rubin NVL72 ramps in the back half, so earnings should confirm demand/supply tightness rather than hype. Valuation is framed as a “discount” at ~18x forward P/E versus very high growth (84% revenue growth in fiscal 2027).
Key Risk: Customers suddenly slow AI capex or cancel/defers orders, breaking the “fully booked” visibility.
AI infrastructure beneficiaries
Buy Broadcom (AVGO). If NVDA demand stays strong, hyperscalers keep building AI clusters, which pulls through networking/ASIC spend. AVGO is a direct second-order beneficiary of more AI rack deployments and higher switch/accelerator demand tied to NVDA-led buildouts.
Key Risk: AI infrastructure spending shifts away from networking/ASICs or AVGO’s AI-related revenue growth disappoints despite NVDA strength.
Nvidia NVDA stock is in focus on Friday after BMO Capital Markets said the chipmaker remains a “top pick” for those seeking exposure to the global artificial intelligence (AI) buildouts.
Analyst Harsh Kumar announced an Outperform rating and $340 price target on the semiconductor behemoth heading into its fiscal Q2 earnings set to be released on August 26th (after market close).
Ahead of the earnings event, Nvidia stock is up over 30% versus its year-to-date low.
BMO’s bullish thesis starts with Nvidia’s unusually strong position across the AI computing stack.
Kumar said the giant’s AI systems are “fully booked for the next 12 months as demand exceeds supply,” a striking assessment heading into its earnings report.
That level of visibility matters because it suggests NVDA shares’ growth story is being supported by actual customer demand rather than simply elevated expectations around AI spending.
BMO also expects Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin NVL72 system to begin ramping in the back half of the year.
The new platform could provide another leg of growth as hyperscalers and other large customers continue expanding AI infrastructure.
Kumar’s broader view is that AI remains in “the early innings,” with capital expenditures expected to rise for years as demand for AI tokens and computing capacity expands.
Crucially, BMO does not believe Nvidia’s valuation has become excessive relative to its expected growth.
Kumar pointed to the stock’s 18x forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple – calling that valuation “a discount” when measured against the firm’s expected revenue growth.
According to him, NVDA could grow revenue by 84% in fiscal 2027 and another 50% in the year after.
His argument goes directly against one of the biggest concerns surrounding Nvidia shares: whether the stock already prices in too much of the AI boom.
At roughly $216, Nvidia remains below its $236 high and has recently struggled to regain its May peak.
The combination of a still-elevated growth rate, massive AI infrastructure demand and a valuation BMO considers compelling gives the bull case more substance than simply betting on another AI-driven rally.
Wall Street’s expectations for Nvidia Corp’s fiscal Q2 results are already enormous.
Consensus estimates call for about $92.16 billion in revenue and $2.09 in adjusted earnings per share, representing year-over-year growth of about 96% and 99%, respectively.
The underlying strength in Nvidia’s financials reflects sustained demand for its AI chips – as cloud providers and other major tech firms continue committing enormous sums to AI infrastructure.
Note that NVDA stock also currently pays a small dividend yield of 0.46%, which makes it even more attractive as a long-term holding.
Netflix uvedl tržby za 2Q 2026 ve výši 12,56 miliardy USD, meziročně o 13,37 % více, a EPS 0,80 USD překonal konsensus. Společnost zároveň potvrdila celoroční výhled tržeb 51 až 51,4 miliardy USD.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX | NFLX Price Prediction) has been one of 2026’s most punished megacaps, and the setup is starting to look asymmetric. With shares at $80.44 and free cash flow guidance of roughly $12.5 billion for the year, our proprietary model calls for sharp mean reversion.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Netflix is $177.34, implying 121% upside over the next 12 months. Our recommendation is buy with high model confidence.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $80.44 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $177.34 Upside +121.0% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% How a Streaming Leader Ended Up in the Bargain Bin Netflix lost roughly a third of its value over the past year, down 33.93% from $121.42 a year ago and 14.44% lower year to date. Shares have stabilized, gaining 18.67% in the past month off a 52-week low of $65.08.
Q2 2026 delivered revenue of $12.56 billion up 13.37% and EPS of $0.80 beating the $0.7883 consensus. Management guided full-year revenue to $51 to $51.4 billion with a 31.5% operating margin target. The stock was punished more for engagement-data disclosure changes than any operational miss.
Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead Netflix’s addressable market is enormous relative to current penetration. CFO Spence Neumann said Netflix reaches an audience “approaching a billion people” while capturing just 7% of a $670 billion addressable revenue market and 5% of global TV view share.
Advertising revenue is on pace to roughly double to $3 billion in 2026, with advertiser count up 70% year over year. Buybacks are aggressive, with $4.7 billion repurchased in Q2 (a company record) and $27.1 billion remaining under authorization. Our bull case models to $191.03.
What Could Go Wrong The bear case is a valuation reset. Q2 free cash flow declined 32.73% to $1.53 billion, and Q1 EPS missed by 8.55%. Bulls counter that FCF decline reflects higher cash taxes tied to the $2.80 billion Warner Bros. termination fee and front-loaded content amortization, with underlying economics intact.
Competition from Alphabet, Amazon, Disney, and TikTok remains structural, and $1 billion of debt matures later this year. Reddit’s composite sentiment is bearish at 38, and insider activity is net selling. Our bear case still lands at $141.71, well above spot.
How Netflix Compares to Disney and Spotify Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) is the direct streaming rival. Disney trades at a P/E of 15 with operating margin of 14.6%, versus Netflix’s 33.4%. Disney is cheaper on earnings, but Netflix earns roughly double the margin and delivers 42.76% ROE against Disney’s 11.78%. That gap justifies a premium multiple.
Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) is the closest pure-play subscription comp. Spotify trades at P/E near 50 with operating margin of 12.8%, roughly double Netflix’s multiple on materially thinner profitability. If Spotify deserves that multiple on subscription growth, Netflix at 24 times forward earnings looks conservatively priced. The peer set makes our $177.34 target look reasonable.
Company P/E Operating Margin Netflix 24 33.4% Disney 15 14.6% Spotify 50 12.8% Buy the Reset Reiterating the 24/7 Wall St. price target of $177.34, a buy rating, and 90% model confidence. A business generating $12.5 billion of free cash flow with expanding margins should not trade at 25 times forward earnings for long.
The bull thesis holds if ad revenue continues tracking to double this year. The setup weakens if content amortization growth reaccelerates into 2027.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $105.84 2027 $175.30 2028 $318.93 2029 $467.36 2030 $600.43 These projections assume Netflix executes on advertising, live programming, and gaming while sustaining pricing power. Meaningful downside could result from subscriber saturation in developed markets or a competitive shock from a well-funded rival.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Altria zvýšila spodní hranici výhledu upraveného EPS pro rok 2026 na 5,61 USD, zatímco horní hranice zůstala na 5,72 USD. Ve 2. čtvrtletí jí pomohly 4,5% cenové realizace u smokeable a marže 64,8 %.
Key Takeaways Altria raised the low end of 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.61, keeping the $5.72 high end unchanged.MO's 4.5% smokeable price realization and 64.8% margin helped support the earnings outlook in Q2.Cigarette volumes fell 3.2%, while oral tobacco income dropped 8% and capital spending guidance increased. Altria Group, Inc. (MO - Free Report) missed second-quarter consensus expectations, but adjusted earnings still increased year over year and management raised the low end of its 2026 earnings outlook. That combination puts more weight on execution in the second half.
Pricing, smokeable margins and cigarette import and export benefits support the earnings path. Cigarette volume declines, weaker oral tobacco results and higher capital spending remain the main offsets.
Altria’s Q2 Miss Still Came With Earnings GrowthAdjusted second-quarter earnings were $1.48 per share, up 2.8% year over year but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.50. Higher adjusted operating companies income and a lower share count supported the increase.
Net revenues rose 0.1% to $6.11 billion. Revenues net of excise taxes increased 1.2% to $5.356 billion, below the consensus mark of $5.362 billion.
MO’s Narrower Guidance Raises the Earnings FloorAltria narrowed 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $5.61-$5.72 per share from $5.56-$5.72. The revision leaves the upper end unchanged while lifting the lower end by 5 cents.
The new range implies 3.5-5.5% growth from adjusted earnings of $5.42 per share in 2025. Management narrowed the range after first-half adjusted earnings increased 4.9% to $2.80 per share.
Altria’s Pricing and Margins Support the OutlookSmokeable price realization was 4.5% in the second quarter, led by Marlboro pricing and partly offset by Basic mix. Adjusted smokeable operating companies income increased 2.4% to $3.02 billion, while margin expanded 30 basis points to 64.8%.
Management continues to expect a greater benefit from cigarette import and export activity in the second half than in the first half. It expects that benefit to be more balanced between the third and fourth quarters.
MO’s Volume and Cost Pressures Could Limit ProgressDomestic cigarette shipment volume declined 3.2% in the second quarter, or an estimated 4.5% after adjusting for trade inventory movements. Oral Tobacco Products revenues fell 5.3%, while adjusted operating companies income declined 8% as lower volume and higher promotional investment weighed on results.
Capital expenditure expectations increased to $375-$450 million from $300-$375 million. Peer execution also raises the competitive bar. Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) said smoke-free products generated about 42% of first-half 2026 net revenues, while British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI - Free Report) reported 18% growth in first-half New Category revenues.
Altria’s Second-Half Estimates Set the Next TestThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for third-quarter earnings of $1.50 per share and fourth-quarter earnings of $1.40. The full-year 2026 earnings estimate stands at $5.67 per share.
The consensus sales estimates are $5.33 billion for the third quarter and $5.09 billion for the fourth quarter. Those figures provide the next operating benchmarks as investors assess whether pricing and second-half benefits are offsetting volume and spending pressure.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MO’s Signals Keep the Guidance Reset in PerspectiveThe narrowed guidance provides a clearer 2026 earnings range, but the operating path still depends on pricing, margin discipline and the timing of second-half benefits. Volume pressure and weaker oral tobacco profitability leave less room for execution slippage.
MO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), a VGM Score of C, Value Score of C, Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of D. The Style Score framework favors A and B grades, particularly alongside Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks, while a Zacks Rank #3 can still support holding an existing position. MO’s C and D scores point to a more mixed near-term setup. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
United Airlines dokončila první fázi rozšíření pilotního výcvikového centra v Denveru a přidala 40 zařízení CAE od roku 2022, čímž kapacita stoupla na 86 simulátorů. Centrum zvládne přes 32 000 výcviků ročně a až 860 pilotů denně.
Key Takeaways United Airlines added 40 CAE training devices since 2022, bringing the Denver center's total to 86.The center can conduct over 32,000 training events annually and train up to 860 pilots per day.United Airlines expects phase-two groundbreaking in 2027, with the expanded facility operational around 2030. In a bid to strengthen its network, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) is expanding its footprint beyond providing airline services to passengers to training pilots. To this end, United Airlines announced the completion of the first phase of expansion of the pilot training facility, adding 40 new CAE training devices (a combination of full-motion and fixed simulators) since 2022.
UAL’s chief executive officer (CEO), Scott Kirby, was accompanied by CAE's president and chief executive officer, Matthew Bromberg, along with other UAL and CAE leaders, to acknowledge the completion of phase one.
Kirby stated, "United pilots are the best aviators in the world, and the pace at which our team has completed this project is an example of making investments that support our high standard of excellence."
Phase two of the expansion project is set to start next year and is anticipated to be operational by 2030.
UAL’s Flight Training Center DetailsUAL’s Flight Training Center is located in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver. The facility is spread across 22 acres (almost 700,000 square feet of training space) and is the only training facility for the airline's nearly 18,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots.
UAL's flight training center now has eight total buildings and a total of 86 CAE training devices: 52 state-of-the-art full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices. The center can conduct more than 32,000 training events annually and train up to 860 pilots per day. The facility operates 24 hours a day for 362 days a year.
UAL has started formal site building plans and expects groundbreaking on the next phase of the Flight Training Center expansion to begin on the new land in 2027, with the facility expected to be operational around 2030. The airline plans to supervise the additional Flight Training Center in conjunction with its current facility.
The Center was originally constructed between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Stapleton Airport complex and has been used as UAL’s main pilot training facility since then. Since 2016, UAL has invested $370 million in the Flight Training Center overall.
UAL’s Expansion in DenverUnited Airlines has spent nearly $1 billion in investments since 2021 to boost the customer experience in the region, as Denver is one of its fastest-growing hubs. In 2025, nearly $40 million was spent on hotel room nights in Denver for pilots visiting the training facility, with an expectation to spend nearly $50 million on hotel room nights in 2026.
UAL hired more than 1,400 people in Denver last year and plans to hire more than 1,300 people in 2026.
To ConcludeUnited Airlines continues to be the popular career destination choice for pilots, given its largest widebody fleet in North America and the global network and hubs across the United States. UAL has hired more than 9,500 pilots since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021. In 2026, UAL has hired 700 pilots so far, with plans to hire hundreds more this year.
Given this encouraging backdrop, the expansion seems to be a strategic business step on UAL’s part, reflecting its strength in training pilots.
UAL's Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderPresently, UAL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP - Free Report) as well.
Expeditors currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
SHIP has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 38%.
ExxonMobil čeká do konce dekády růst produkce v Permianu na 2,5 mil. barelů ropného ekvivalentu denně a celkové produkce na 5,5 mil. barelů ropného ekvivalentu denně. Firma zároveň cílí na růst zisku o 25 mld. USD a cash flow o 35 mld. USD mezi lety 2024 a 2030.
Key Takeaways XOM expects Permian production to reach 2.5 Moebd and total production to hit 5.5 Moebd by decade-end.ExxonMobil's fifth Guyana FPSO is on track for startup by year-end, supporting upstream production growth.XOM targets $25B in earnings growth and $35B in cash-flow growth between 2024 and 2030. ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (XOM - Free Report) remains well-positioned for continued growth in earnings and cash flows, supported by its advantaged assets and focus on cost efficiency. The company’s earnings are primarily driven by its Upstream segment, aided by advantaged volume growth in Guyana and the Permian Basin. XOM expects its Permian production to reach 2.5 million oil equivalent barrels per day (Moebd) by the end of this decade, while total production is anticipated to reach 5.5 Moebd.
The company continues to invest in production growth from these advantaged upstream assets. In Guyana, ExxonMobil’s fifth FPSO is on track for startup by year-end, while the Longtail development is on the path to reach a final investment decision. New technology deployment and extended-reach development in the Permian Basin are anticipated to enhance well recovery and drive capital efficiency.
XOM’s structural cost savings have reached $16.3 billion since 2019. With the oil price environment remaining favorable for oil and gas producers, XOM is expected to benefit from its focus on production growth. The company intends to deliver approximately $25 billion of earnings growth and $35 billion of cash-flow growth between 2024 and 2030, supported by its advantaged assets, high-value product growth and further cost reductions.
Other Industry Majors With a Low-Cost Production ProfileConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) and EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG - Free Report) are two other energy firms that own low-cost resource bases in the shale basins of the United States, supporting their profitability.
ConocoPhillips is involved in the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), bitumen and natural gas. The company boasts a strong asset base in the shale basins of the United States, including the Delaware Basin, Midland Basin, Eagle Ford and Bakken shale. These assets support low-cost production, which enables ConocoPhillips to maintain its profitability and generate free cash flow even during periods of low oil prices.
EOG Resources is a leading independent exploration and production company with operations focused on the prolific acres in the United States as well as several resource-rich international basins. EOG boasts a high-return, low-decline asset base and stands out among the low-cost producers in the United States. The company’s focus on maintaining a resilient balance sheet and lowering production costs should enable it to weather oil price volatility.
XOM’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of XOM have gained 56.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 50.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, XOM trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 9.27X. This is above the broader industry average of 5.82X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XOM’s 2026 earnings hasn’t seen any revisions over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XOM, COP and EOG each currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Colgate-Palmolive zvýšil výhled zisku pro základní byznys, protože objemy i marže se zlepšují. Přesto zůstává tlak v Severní Americe a valuace je 22,47× forward zisků.
Key Takeaways CL's volumes are improving, margins are holding up and management raised its Base Business earnings outlook.Emerging-market organic sales rose 4.8%, while North America fell 3% as U.S. demand and competition weighed.CL trades at 22.5X forward earnings, above key benchmarks, while favorable estimate revisions add support. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) enters the second half of 2026 with better operating momentum. Volumes are improving, margins have held up better than expected and management lifted its Base Business earnings outlook.
The restraint is valuation. CL still trades above its sub-industry, sector and the broader market, while weakness in North America leaves less room for execution misses.
Colgate's Growth Mix Is Getting HealthierSecond-quarter organic sales rose 2.4%, with organic volume up 0.8% and pricing contributing 1.6%. Worldwide organic volume improved sequentially for a third straight quarter, giving Colgate a more balanced growth mix than one driven mainly by price.
Emerging markets added breadth, with organic sales up 4.8%. Latin America rose 5.3% and Asia Pacific increased 5.2%, while management expects the second half to be somewhat more volume-driven as innovation and brand penetration efforts scale.
CL's Margin Outlook Improves Despite Higher CostsGross profit margin expanded 140 basis points year over year to 61.5% in the second quarter. Revenue growth management, productivity, pricing and mix helped absorb higher investment, including a 15% increase in advertising.
Management now expects full-year gross profit margin to be roughly flat year over year, versus a prior expectation for a decline. That upgrade matters because raw-material and tariff costs are still expected to be higher in the second half than in the second quarter.
Colgate's North America Weakness Caps the UpsideNorth America remains the clearest operating drag. Second-quarter organic sales fell 3% and organic volume declined 3.9% as softer U.S. categories, retailer inventory reductions, heavier competition and some market-share loss pressured results.
Competitive intensity is meaningful. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) competes in oral care through brands including Crest and Oral-B, while The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) has a broad home-care portfolio. Colgate plans selective pricing and promotional actions, but persistent category softness could slow the volume recovery.
CL's Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorCL trades at 22.47X forward 12-month earnings, above the Zacks sub-industry's 18.38X, the sector's 17.2X and the S&P 500's 20.6X. That premium raises the hurdle for further upside if U.S. demand or cost pressures worsen.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock is not at an extreme relative to its own history. Its current multiple sits below the five-year median of 23.5X, with the five-year range spanning 19.4X to 28.8X. The valuation therefore looks elevated versus external benchmarks but less stretched versus Colgate's historical norm.
Colgate's Earnings Revisions Add SupportThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the current fiscal year has moved higher, with the estimate up 1.3% over four weeks and 1.1% over 12 weeks. Second-quarter Base Business earnings of 99 cents per share also beat the consensus mark of 95 cents by 4.2%.
Projected EPS growth for the current fiscal year is 4.3%. That keeps the valuation-growth trade-off in focus because estimate revisions are favorable, but the expected earnings growth rate remains modest relative to the stock's forward multiple.
CL's Mixed Style Scores Reinforce PatienceThe operating picture has improved, but the valuation premium and North American pressure argue for patience rather than treating recent progress as an unqualified buying signal. CL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), consistent with a balanced near-term stance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CL has a VGM Score of B, a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B, but a Value Score of D. The B grades are favorable within their respective styles, while the Value Score is a counterweight. Because the Zacks Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, the mix shows favorable growth and momentum characteristics alongside weaker value characteristics.
UnitedHealth v roce 2026 čeká pokles počtu členů v Medicare Advantage o zhruba 1,1 milionu, protože opouští nerentabilní plány. Zároveň zvýšila výhled upraveného zisku na akcii (EPS) na 19,50–20 USD.
Key Takeaways UnitedHealth expects MA enrollment to fall by 1.1 million members as it exits unprofitable plans.Medicare margins are expected above 3% in 2026 as pricing and benefit changes improve the membership mix.UnitedHealth raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20 amid improving medical cost trends. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) is taking a more disciplined approach to Medicare Advantage (MA), with profitability increasingly taking precedence over membership expansion. This shift comes as elevated medical costs continue to challenge the industry and pressure insurers to reassess pricing, benefits and market participation.
UnitedHealthcare expects 2026 MA enrollment to decline by approximately 1.1 million members, reflecting targeted exits from unprofitable plans. However, Medicare margins are now expected to finish the year above 3%. The improvement reflects tighter benefit design, pricing actions and a more favorable membership mix, while the company expects Medicare medical cost trends to come below the initial estimate of near 10%.
Cost-control initiatives are also becoming an important part of the strategy. Network curation, care management, affordability programs and greater use of value-based care are helping contain medical expenses. Favorable claims experience and a lighter respiratory season have provided additional support. UNH’s consolidated medical care ratio improved to 86.7% in the second quarter from 89.4% a year ago. The company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20. For 2027, benefit planning remains centered on current cost trends, with adjustments to benefits and selective market participation aimed at maintaining margin stability.
The strategy could place UnitedHealth on a more sustainable MA growth path, even as near-term enrollment remains under pressure. Improving medical cost trends and a gradual recovery in membership could strengthen the economics of UnitedHealth’s MA business. If these trends persist, UNH could emerge from its current reset with a more profitable MA business and a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
How Are Competitors Faring?Some of UNH’s major competitors in the medical space are Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) .
Humana remains heavily exposed to Medicare Advantage, making medical cost control and benefit optimization critical to its outlook. HUM is focusing on pricing, network management and operating efficiencies to restore margins while navigating membership pressure and elevated utilization across its MA portfolio.
Elevance Health is sharpening its Medicare Advantage strategy by prioritizing profitable growth over broad membership gains. Portfolio repositioning, disciplined plan design and a stronger focus on D-SNP and HMO offerings are improving performance, while care management and favorable claims trends support ELV’s path toward at least a 2% operating margin in 2026.
UnitedHealth’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of UNH have gained 25.2% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 21.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, UnitedHealth trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.96, above the industry average of 15.60. UNH carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $19.69 per share, implying 20.4% growth from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
UNH stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Synopsys před výsledky za 3Q ukázal silný růst: tržby ve 2Q stouply meziročně o 41,98 % na 2,28 mld. USD a non-GAAP EPS překonal odhad o 5,96 %.
Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled.
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Synopsys (NASDAQ:SNPS | SNPS Price Prediction) is the highest-conviction EDA setup in front of the August 26, 2026 after-market fiscal Q3 report, and the data behind that call leaves little room for deliberation. Two consecutive beat-and-raise quarters, expanding margins, and a rapidly deleveraging balance sheet frame the risk/reward as one-sided.
Beat-And-Raise Pattern Already In Motion Synopsys posted non-GAAP EPS of $3.35 against a $3.1617 consensus in Q2, a 5.96% beat, on the heels of a 5.98% Q1 beat. Revenue climbed 41.98% year-over-year to $2.28 billion. Management then raised the FY2026 non-GAAP EPS range to $14.72 to $14.80 and revenue to $9,625 to $9,705 million. Q3 guidance already calls for revenue of $2,410 to $2,460 million and EPS of $3.63 to $3.69. The trajectory is a company beating its own raised bar.
AI-Driven EDA Demand Is Compounding Design Automation adjusted operating margin expanded to 43.3%, and backlog reached $11 billion. CEO Sassine Ghazi framed demand directly: “AI is scaling semiconductor demand, architectural diversity and complexity of chips and the systems they power”. Hyperscaler custom silicon and Ansys integration synergies drove more than 30 full-flow technical wins in Q2 alone.
Cash Generation Funds The Deleveraging Synopsys targets approximately $2,000 million in FY2026 free cash flow and repaid $3.46 billion in debt during H1 FY2026, alongside $262.5 million in buybacks. The September 30, 2026 Investor Day extends the story past this report.
Head-To-Head Against Cadence Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) is the obvious comparable, and it loses on the metrics that matter. Cadence grew Q2 revenue 24.23% year-over-year against Synopsys’s 41.98%. Cadence’s FY2026 non-GAAP EPS guide of $8.05 to $8.15 and revenue guide of $6.26 billion to $6.34 billion sit well below Synopsys’s $14.76 EPS midpoint and $9,665 million revenue midpoint. Cadence carries a larger $86.74 billion market cap versus SNPS at roughly $76.83 billion. Investors are paying more for slower growth on a smaller revenue base.
Dismissing The Debt Concern The standard pushback centers on the $10.0 billion long-term debt load from the Ansys deal and $403.6 million of quarterly intangibles amortization pressuring GAAP earnings. That objection collapses under H1’s $3.46 billion in paydown and roughly $2B in annual free cash flow, and amortization is a non-cash accounting item. Analyst positioning agrees, at 18 buy, 5 hold, and 1 sell, with an average target of $561.03 against a recent print of $401.24.
SNPS sits at the top of the pre-earnings watchlist heading into next Wednesday’s release.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Clorox za poslední měsíc vzrostl o 13,1 %, ale růst dál brzdí inflace, slabší marže a utlumená poptávka. Firma čeká pro fiskální rok 2027 organický růst tržeb 3,5–4,5 %, po očištění o srovnávací efekt ERP beze změny až mírně vyšší.
Key Takeaways Clorox's rally faces tests from inflation, softer margins and subdued underlying demand.Organic growth is expected to be flat to slightly positive excluding ERP comparison benefits.Clorox faces more than $200 million in inflation, while fiscal 2027 EPS estimates have declined. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) has climbed 13.1% in the past month, rebounding as investors digest its fiscal fourth-quarter results and fiscal 2027 outlook. The advance has come despite pressure from inflation, subdued category demand and softer margins.
Clorox’s recent earnings beat, the GOJO acquisition and completion of its U.S. enterprise resource planning rollout provide reasons for optimism. The durability of the rally, however, will depend on whether those catalysts translate into better underlying sales growth and margin recovery.
What is Fueling CLX's Rebound?Fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.66 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 by 1.2%. Sales of $1.95 billion also beat the consensus mark by 1.8%, though they fell 2% year over year. GOJO added about 10 percentage points to reported sales growth, partly offsetting a 13% organic sales decline that largely reflected the ERP shipment comparison.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For fiscal 2027, management expects net sales to rise 13-14%, including about 9.5 points from GOJO. Adjusted earnings per share are projected at $5.70-$6.00, up 3-8%. ERP productivity benefits are expected to begin later in the year. Home Care has posted eight consecutive quarters of share growth, while Glad Trash and Hidden Valley Ranch returned to share growth in the fiscal fourth quarter.
The Rally Still Faces Margin and Demand TestsProfitability remains the central challenge. Fiscal 2026 gross margin fell 290 basis points to 42.3%, while fourth-quarter gross margin declined 520 basis points to 41.3%. Management expects fiscal 2027 gross margin of about 42%, with cost savings more than offset by higher-than-normal inflation and negative mix. Inflation is projected to exceed $200 million, more than twice the company's historical $75-$100 million range.
Headline growth also overstates the underlying demand picture. Fiscal 2027 organic sales are expected to increase 3.5-4.5%, but more than 3.5 points of that growth comes from lapping the prior-year ERP inventory drawdown. Excluding that comparison, organic sales are expected to be flat to up slightly. Fresh Step remains early in its reset, while value-seeking consumers and a soft grilling category add risk.
Peer Trends Put CLX's Setup in ContextThe Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) reported flat organic sales in its fiscal fourth quarter and 1% organic growth for fiscal 2026. Its results show that even large branded peers are navigating a muted growth environment.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) , meanwhile, posted second-quarter organic sales growth of 5.8% and a 40-basis-point increase in adjusted gross margin to 45.4%. CLX trades at 17.7X forward 12-month earnings, slightly below its sub-industry's 18.2X multiple but near the consumer staples sector's 17.2X.
Can Clorox Keep the Gains Building?Clorox can extend its rebound if GOJO integration, ERP productivity and improving market shares support healthier underlying organic growth while margins recover. The fiscal 2027 setup offers catalysts, but much of the expected top-line improvement still comes from acquisition and comparison effects rather than broad demand acceleration.
Near-term signals remain cautious. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings has declined 3.8% in the past four weeks to $5.82 per share. CLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of D. Recent price strength has not yet been matched by favorable earnings revisions or Style Score support, keeping execution in focus.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Clorox čeká, že GOJO přidá do fiskálního roku 2027 asi 9,5 bodu k růstu čistých tržeb a podpoří upravený zisk na akcii. Marže ale dál snižuje inflace o více než 200 milionů USD a slabší organická poptávka.
Key Takeaways Clorox expects GOJO to add 9.5 points to fiscal 2027 sales growth and boost its health platform.Organic sales growth may be limited as inflation tops $200 million and negative mix pressures margins.Clorox must deliver stronger core demand and margin recovery as ERP benefits fade. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) enters fiscal 2027 with a larger health-and-hygiene platform after the GOJO acquisition, but investors are weighing that growth against weaker margins and muted underlying demand. Clorox expects GOJO to add about 9.5 percentage points to fiscal 2027 net sales growth and be accretive to adjusted earnings per share.
The earnings outlook offers improvement, yet much of the reported growth comes from acquisition and enterprise resource planning (ERP) comparison effects. Persistent inflation, softer categories and negative mix keep the near-term investment case balanced rather than straightforward.
GOJO Gives Clorox a New Growth EngineClorox's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales fell 2% to $1.95 billion but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91 billion by 1.8%. GOJO contributed about 10 percentage points to sales growth. Health and Wellness sales increased 16% to $860 million, with the acquisition contributing about 28 points to the segment's growth.
GOJO also changes Clorox's longer-term mix. The combined global health-and-hygiene portfolio now accounts for more than half of net sales. For fiscal 2027, management expects total net sales to increase 13-14%, including the roughly 9.5-point GOJO contribution, while adjusted earnings are projected at $5.70-$6.00 per share, up 3-8%.
Margin Pressure Limits the UpsideProfitability is the main counterweight. Fiscal 2026 gross margin declined 290 basis points to 42.3%, while fourth-quarter gross margin dropped 520 basis points to 41.3%. The quarter included about 150 basis points of pressure each from the ERP shipment comparison and GOJO inventory step-up, alongside higher commodity, manufacturing and logistics costs.
Clorox expects fiscal 2027 gross margin of about 42%, with cost savings more than offset by higher-than-normal inflation and negative mix. Inflation is expected to exceed $200 million, more than twice the company's historical $75-$100 million range. Organic sales are forecast to rise 3.5-4.5%, but more than 3.5 points reflect the ERP comparison. Excluding that benefit, organic sales are expected to be flat to up slightly.
Peer Results Show a Mixed Staples BackdropThe Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) reported flat organic sales in its fiscal fourth quarter and 1% organic sales growth for fiscal 2026. That performance underscores the subdued demand environment across large branded household and personal-care categories, even for companies with broad portfolios and substantial scale.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) offered a more favorable margin comparison. Its second-quarter 2026 organic sales increased 5.8%, while adjusted gross margin expanded 40 basis points to 45.4%. The contrast shows that consumer-staples companies are navigating similar inflation and value pressures with different operating outcomes.
Is CLX Stock Worth Buying Now?The GOJO acquisition gives Clorox a credible growth driver, and completed ERP investments could support productivity later in fiscal 2027. Still, the core business must show firmer organic demand and better margin progression before the growth profile looks more durable. CLX trades at 17.9X forward 12-month earnings, modestly below its sub-industry's 18.2X multiple.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Near-term Zacks signals remain cautious. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is $5.82 per share and has declined 3.8% in the past four weeks. CLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), along with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of D. Under the Zacks framework, the Rank points to unfavorable earnings-revision trends, while the weaker Growth, Momentum and VGM scores provide limited support for an aggressive buying case.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Molson Coors expects a 1%-2% U.S. price increase in 2026 to help cushion shipment declines and higher costs.U.S. domestic shipments fell 7.3% in Q2, while the broader U.S. beer industry was estimated down 4.2%.Premiumization, price-pack changes and brand support are aimed at improving mix amid weak category demand. Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP - Free Report) continues to rely on pricing and favorable mix as key levers to counter persistent volume weakness in a challenging beer market. Consumer spending remained pressured in the second quarter of 2026, with shoppers increasingly favoring convenience and dollar channels as well as smaller pack sizes. Against this backdrop, the company remains focused on protecting price realization while refining its price-pack architecture across Coors Light, Miller Lite and its value portfolio. Premiumization, supported by brands such as Peroni and Fever-Tree, also remains an important component of its revenue-management strategy.
The need for these pricing actions is evident in Molson Coors’ recent volume trends. In the second quarter, U.S. domestic shipments declined 7.3%, while the company estimated that the broader U.S. beer industry fell 4.2%. Consolidated net sales revenues decreased 3.6% on a constant-currency basis, underscoring the impact of softer volumes. However, Molson Coors continues to expect an annual U.S. price increase of 1%-2% in 2026, alongside mix benefits from premiumization across both business units. These measures should provide some cushion against shipment declines and elevated input costs.
Nonetheless, pricing alone may not be sufficient to restore sustainable top-line growth if category demand and market-share trends remain weak. Management has acknowledged that share performance is not yet where it wants it to be and is therefore stepping up commercial execution, innovation, retail activation and brand support. Progress across Coors Banquet, Peroni, value offerings and beyond-beer brands provides additional avenues to improve mix and lessen reliance on the core beer category. The effectiveness of these initiatives, coupled with disciplined pricing, will likely determine how well Molson Coors can navigate persistent volume pressure in the second half.
TAP’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have declined 13.9% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Beverages - Soft Drinks industry’s loss of 5.1% and the broader Consumer Staples sector’s fall of 3.4%.
TAP Stock's Six-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is TAP Stock a Value Play?Molson Coors shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 8.67X, at a discount compared with the industry’s average of 14.97X. The stock is undervalued compared with its industry peers, offering compelling value to investors looking for exposure to the beverage segment.
TAP P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.7% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) is a leading beverage company with a portfolio of 32 billion-dollar brands spanning sparkling beverages, water, sports drinks, dairy and value-added beverages. KO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coca-Cola’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.03% and 9.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Coca-Cola delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.6%, on average.
Primo Brands Corporation (PRMB - Free Report) is a leading North American branded beverage company focused on healthy hydration. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Primo Brands’ current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of 2.5% from the prior year’s reported levels. PRMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.7%, on average.
Michael Burry varuje, že výstavba datových center pro AI připomíná excesy před rokem 2008 kvůli kruhovému financování a skrytému zadlužení. Zmínil NVIDIA, Oracle, Nebius Group, Micron Technology a Palantir Technologies. NVIDIA klesla o 0,9 % na 214,87 USD, Micron Technology o 1 % na 961,96 USD, Oracle naopak vzrostl o 3 % na 146,81 USD, Palantir Technologies o 4 % na 180,20 USD a Nebius Group o 0,1 % na 220,28 USD.
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Michael Burry issued a fresh warning Friday that the AI data center boom mirrors the structural excesses that preceded 2008, arguing that circular financing, off-balance-sheet vehicles and captive insurers are quietly building leverage across the ecosystem. The investor behind the Big Short trade reportedly declared in a Substack post that “The shenanigans are apparent today for those that care to look.”
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) stock is down 0.9% to $214.87 in Friday midday trading, its sixth straight losing session. Notably, Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) shares are falling 1% to $961.96, extending a pullback from record levels reached on HBM4 memory shipments.
Meanwhile, Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) stock is rising 3% to $146.81, one of several names Burry called out. Also, Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) shares are climbing 4% to $180.20 in a session shrugging off the Substack, while Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS) stock is up 0.1% to $220.28. That’s just one day of share-price gains, but investors might wonder how Burry is justifying his cautionary tone.
Circular Financing at the Heart of the Warning Burry’s central charge is that a growing share of NVIDIA’s future revenue is “majority financed in a circular arrangement” rather than pulled through by organic end-user demand. He points to special-purpose vehicles, off-balance-sheet financing and captive insurers as mechanisms that can absorb risky debt while making leverage harder to see from the outside.
The pattern shows up at Oracle. In its Q4 FY26 report, Oracle disclosed remaining performance obligations of $638 billion, with $75 billion tied to bring-your-own-hardware or prepaid customer arrangements. Oracle also plans to raise $40 billion in debt and equity in fiscal 2027 to fund a $70 billion capex program, per its 8-K filing.
Nebius Group tells a similar story from the buyer side. The company’s disclosed capital stack (including NVIDIA pre-funded warrants, convertible debt and uncommenced lease obligations) reflects the sort of intertwined arrangements Burry says obscure true leverage.
Data That Sparked the Warning Burry anchored his argument to data from Torsten Slok, Apollo’s chief economist, showing that data-center construction accelerating even after the Federal Reserve began raising rates in 2022 while rate-sensitive segments contracted. Moreover, private non-residential construction excluding data centers fell 7.9% year over year in June.
In the same post, Burry asserted, “GDP growth is really counting on that data center buildout.” Slok reads that resilience as evidence investors expect AI returns to justify the cost of capital, while Burry treats it as a risk indicator worth flagging.
Semiconductors as a group capture the boom he is questioning. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) was up 74% year to date (YTD) through Thursday’s close, and Micron stock was up 242% over the same stretch on HBM4 memory shipments.
Names Burry Has Positioned Against Burry has positioned against several AI infrastructure names, including Micron Technology, Oracle, Nebius Group and Palantir Technologies. PLTR stock trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 148.68x and a price-to-sales ratio of 67.91x, valuations that leave little room for a growth stumble.
Furthermore, Friday’s session argues both ways. Oracle stock and Palantir Technologies stock are rising against his thesis, and NVIDIA stock and Micron shares are falling in line with it. NVIDIA’s slide predates the Substack post, extending a five-session losing streak through Thursday.
The chipmaker’s own disclosures illustrate the scale in play. NVIDIA reported Q1 FY27 revenue of $82 billion, and total supply commitments and prepaids reached $145 billion. CEO Jensen Huang stated on the call that “Demand has gone parabolic.”
What Investors Can Take Away The question Burry is raising centers on whether the investment boom has built a financial system that now depends on AI demand continuing at its current pace. Nebius, NVIDIA, Oracle’s capex program and Micron Technology’s take-or-pay memory contracts all sit inside that dependency loop. Riding a mania is fine as long as you plan the exit, and we covered both halves in a free bubble survivor’s handbook.
Traders can size AI infrastructure exposure with an eye on financing structure disclosures rather than headline growth alone. Shareholders may want to watch how remaining performance obligations at Oracle and Nebius convert into cash flow over the coming quarters.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Fastenal zvýšil tržby z MRO o 16,4 % meziročně na 1,08 miliardy USD a tento segment tvořil 44,6 % čtvrtletních tržeb. SG&A klesly na 23,5 % tržeb a provozní marže zůstala na 21 %.
Key Takeaways FAST's FMI sales rose 16.4% YoY to $1.08 billion, reaching 44.6% of second-quarter sales.FMI automation supports replenishment efficiency, customer retention and fixed-cost leverage for FAST.FAST cut SG&A to 23.5% of sales, helping offset gross-margin pressure and hold operating margin at 21%. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) is steadily expanding the role of its Fastenal Managed Inventory (FMI) platform, strengthening a technology-enabled service model that could support greater operating leverage over time. In the second quarter of 2026, FMI sales increased 16.4% year over year to $1.08 billion and represented 44.6% of total revenues, up from 44.1% a year ago. Weighted FASTBin and FASTVend signings rose 8.3% to 6,993 units, while the installed base increased 6.5% to 140,789 machine-equivalent units.
The leverage opportunity stems from FMI's ability to automate inventory management, improve replenishment efficiency and deepen customer integration. Management views FMI installations as leading indicators of future sales, retention and operating efficiency. As more customer spending moves through these systems, Fastenal can potentially support higher sales volumes without a proportionate increase in operating costs.
The second-quarter results provide evidence of that benefit. SG&A expenses improved to 23.5% of sales from 24.4% a year ago, helped by labor productivity and fixed-cost leverage. This offset a 75-basis-point decline in gross margin and allowed operating margin to remain at 21%. Fastenal's larger strategic accounts generally carry lower gross margins, but management believes their higher volumes improve fixed-cost absorption and operating efficiency. FMI is also supporting Fastenal's broader push toward larger customers. Contract sales rose 17.6% and represented 75.8% of quarterly sales, while customer sites generating at least $50,000 per month increased 16.5%.
Overall, Fastenal's rising 44.6% FMI sales mix appears capable of supporting greater operating leverage through automation, customer retention and fixed-cost efficiencies. While price/cost pressure and investment needs could limit near-term margin expansion, continued FMI penetration should strengthen the company's ability to convert sales growth into improved operating efficiency over time.
How Fastenal Stacks Up Against PeersFastenal competes in a distribution market increasingly shaped by digital tools, inventory automation and operating efficiency. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM - Free Report) and SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (SITE - Free Report) are pursuing similar productivity and customer-integration initiatives.
MSC Industrial is expanding its vending and in-plant solutions while improving productivity across its sales organization. In third-quarter fiscal 2026, vending installations increased 7% year over year to about 30,800 machines, while sales through vending rose 15% and represented roughly 20% of company sales. Sales to customers with in-plant programs increased 16% and accounted for about 21% of sales. MSC is also using automation and AI to reduce manual work and support growth without proportionate headcount increases.
SiteOne is also using digital tools and operational initiatives to improve customer engagement and productivity. The company's siteone.com sales increased more than 50% year to date, while regular active users rose about 40%. Management said digitally engaged customers are growing faster than the company average and that the platform helps increase market share while making associates more productive. SiteOne is pairing these digital initiatives with delivery efficiencies, branch optimization and tight SG&A management as it targets further EBITDA margin expansion.
Fastenal’s FMI platform remains a key competitive advantage, supporting customer integration, retention, share gains and greater operating efficiency as adoption expands.
FAST Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies have gained 26.2% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Industrial Services industry, the broader Industrial Products sector and the S&P 500 Index.
FAST YTD Share Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FAST stock is currently trading at a premium compared with its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.84, as shown in the chart below.
FAST P/E Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Estimate Revision of FASTFAST’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have increased over the past 30 days. The estimated figures for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 12.8% and 15.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Fastenal currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Cummins těží z AI boomu: ve 2. čtvrtletí mu tržby Power Systems vzrostly o 19 % meziročně díky silné poptávce po záložním napájení datacenter. S&P Global čeká, že hyperscale firmy letos utratí za AI zhruba 750 miliard USD.
Data centers can't simply shut down when the grid fails. That's why these facilities require enormous backup generators capable of providing electricity almost immediately.
That's exactly what Cummins (CMI -0.51%) provides. The company best known for diesel engines also happens to be a major supplier of backup power for data centers, and that's becoming increasingly valuable as AI spending soars.
S&P Global estimates that Alphabet (GOOG +1.22%)(GOOGL +1.37%), Amazon (AMZN -0.39%), Meta Platforms (META +0.70%), Microsoft (MSFT +0.34%), and Oracle (ORCL +3.38%) will collectively spend approximately $750 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, equal to about 38% of their combined revenue. Much of that spending is being driven by AI and the data centers required to support it. Cummins is already cashing in.
Not a one-quarter phenomenon During the second quarter, Cummins' Power Systems sales jumped 19% year over year, driven by strong global demand for data center power equipment. Segment EBITDA margin also reached 24.5%, up from 22.8% a year earlier.
This isn't just a one-quarter phenomenon, either. Cummins says its growth in the data center market is being driven partly by sales of diesel and natural gas generator sets used for backup power, as AI racks are becoming more power-hungry.
Cummins says traditional data center racks averaged around 12 kilowatts, while next-generation AI racks could reach 600 kilowatts or more. The more electricity these facilities consume, the more backup generating capacity they need when the grid goes down.
Image source: Getty Images.
Cummins is moving beyond backup power Cummins is also starting to sell generators that don't simply wait around for an outage. In June, the company announced an agreement with Circe Energy to provide high-powered natural gas generators for a large high-performance-computing data center in West Texas. Those generators will be part of a behind-the-meter microgrid providing primary power, with deliveries scheduled from 2026 through 2030.
That's a huge opportunity. Grid connections can take years, and AI developers don't necessarily want to wait. Cummins can now potentially sell generators both as emergency backup and as a bridge, or even alternative, to traditional grid power.
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An industrial stock riding the AI boom Make no mistake: Cummins isn't an AI pure play. Trucks, engines, components, and industrial equipment remain major parts of its business. But AI is also serving as a catalyst for a new form of revenue generation for the company.
The truth is, you don't have to bet on which AI model wins or which semiconductor eventually replaces today's graphics processing units. The world's largest technology companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars building computing infrastructure, and every one of those facilities requires reliable backup power. Cummins already sells the equipment that provides it. It's pretty much a no-brainer.
If hyperscalers really spend around $750 billion this year, Cummins only needs a small piece of that infrastructure build-out for data centers to become a much bigger part of its business.
Jeff Siegel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Cummins, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
McCormick uvedl, že tržby divize Flavor Solutions v konstantní měně vzrostly o 6 % a organicky o 3 % ve fiskálním 2. čtvrtletí. Firma čeká, že tento objemový impuls potáhne růst celé společnosti i ve fiskálním roce 2026.
Key Takeaways McCormick's Flavor Solutions sales rose 6% in constant currency, with 3% organic growth in fiscal Q2.Americas Flavor Solutions organic sales rose 4%, with Flavors and Branded Foodservice driving volume gains.MKC expects Flavor Solutions volume momentum to continue and drive company volume growth in fiscal 2026. McCormick & Company, Inc.’s (MKC - Free Report) Flavor Solutions business emerged as a key volume driver in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with volume growth exceeding expectations. Segment sales rose 6% in constant currency, reflecting a 3% acquisition contribution and 3% organic growth. Organic growth was driven equally by volume and pricing, showing that the segment’s top-line improvement was not dependent on price alone.
The Americas was the main source of strength. Flavor Solutions' organic sales in the region increased 4%, with a 2% contribution from price and a 2% increase in volume. The volume gain reflected strong performance across the Flavors portfolio, including large CPG customers and high-growth innovators, along with robust growth in Branded Foodservice. Growth across the Flavors customer base also included private-label customers. In Branded Foodservice, distributor volume recovery, sustained demand in non-commercial channels and strong e-commerce performance supported the quarter. Branded Foodservice growth was balanced across channels during the quarter.
The growth drivers extend beyond current customer demand. Innovation plans have started to commercialize across large CPGs, private label and high-growth innovators, with activity especially strong in cereals, soft drinks, sports nutrition and snacking. McCormick is also participating in beverage innovation, protein and better-for-you products. A majority of second-quarter customer briefs were tied to health and wellness innovation and renovation, while reformulation projects with large CPG customers are increasing and beginning to reach the market.
The regional picture was not uniformly strong. EMEA organic sales were flat as softer QSR traffic, particularly in the United Kingdom, and pressured volume. Asia-Pacific organic sales were also flat, with 1% volume growth offset by price. Still, McCormick expects Flavor Solutions volume momentum to continue and the segment to drive total company volume growth for fiscal 2026.
MKC’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 17.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry, the broader Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500, which advanced 12.2%, 2.4% and 2.5%, respectively, during the same period.
MKC Stock's Past 3 Months’ Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is MKC a Value Play Stock?McCormick currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 17.06 compared with the industry average of 15.36. This valuation places the stock at a premium relative to peers, indicating broader market expectations around its business stability and ability to navigate current cost and demand dynamics.
MKC P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America and internationally. At present, Darling Ingredients sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 12.8% and 926.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. At present, CHEF flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. Chefs' Warehouse delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.4%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Chefs' Warehouse’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 10.6% and 33.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures.
The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) develops, manufactures, markets and distributes coconut water products under the Vita Coco brand name in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific. COCO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vita Coco’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 31.6% and 64.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Western Union spustila program Beyond Efficiency s cílem ušetřit 50 milionů USD v roce 2026 a 200 milionů USD do konce roku 2027. Ziskovost snižuje růst digitálních transakcí, zatímco provozní marže ve 2. čtvrtletí klesla na 15 % z 19 %.
Key Takeaways Western Union targets $50M in 2026 savings and $200M by the end of 2027.Digital growth is pressuring revenue and margins as transactions shift away from cash payouts.AI, lower payout costs and operational changes aim to support profitability and second-half results. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) is facing profitability pressure as its business shifts toward digital payments. In the second quarter of 2026, branded digital transactions grew 25%, but adjusted revenues increased only 6%. At the same time, adjusted operating margin fell to 15% from 19% a year ago. The shift from cash payouts to digital and account payouts is weighing on revenues and profit per transaction.
To address the profitability pressure, the Beyond Efficiency program targets $50 million in run-rate savings by year-end 2026 and $200 million by the end of 2027. The plan includes reducing discretionary operations and technology capacity by 20% and closing existing European digital wallets, which is expected to generate $6 million to $8 million in run-rate savings.
The company is using AI to automate work and align operations with local markets. For example, APAC agent onboarding is being moved from Lithuania and Costa Rica to Manila, which is expected to reduce unit labor costs while improving cost, quality and speed. Another focus is lowering the cost of moving money. In Colombia, it recently reduced a digital payout cost from more than $2 per transaction to less than $0.50 per transaction, which should boost contribution profit.
Execution of these steps is key to an earnings turnaround. New agent wins, a better revenue mix and the accelerated Beyond Efficiency program are expected to support stronger results. With full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance revised down to $1.25-$1.35, disciplined execution will be critical for WU to stabilize profitability and strengthen its long-term earnings trajectory.
How Are Competitors Faring?Some of WU’s competitors in the payments space include Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT - Free Report) and Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY - Free Report) .
Euronet operates across electronic payments, money transfers and financial services. Its diversified operations include Ria Money Transfer, a global ATM network and electronic point-of-sale processing. EEFT continues to invest in expanding its physical and digital payment infrastructure to support global transaction growth.
Remitly Global focuses on digital financial services, with cross-border remittances as its core business. Operating an asset-light, mobile-first model, RELY continues to expand its digital platform and customer reach while focusing on transaction growth and operating efficiency in the international money-movement market.
Western Union’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of WU have fallen 16% over the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 14.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Western Union trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.02X, significantly down from the industry average of 18.84X. WU carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Western Union’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.29 per share, implying a 26.3% decline from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WU currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
BounceBit Chain po protokolové zranitelnosti zastavil produkci bloků a rozhodl o trvalém ukončení provozu sítě. BB bude znovu vydán jako BEP-20 na BNB Chain, bez 286 543 148 tokenů od útočníků.
Cross-chain yield protocol BounceBit has released a security incident notice, stating its blockchain network suffered a protocol-level vulnerability attack from 21:02 UTC on August 19 to 01:54 UTC on August 20. Attackers exploited an authorization flaw in Evmos’ underlying architecture to transfer BB tokens from 9 mainnet accounts without account owners’ authorization. Per the notice, the attackers moved approximately 286.5 million BB via 14 transactions. The incident is limited to BounceBit Chain itself, with no involvement of private key leaks, signature forgery, wallet, hardware device, or exchange account security issues. BounceBit’s CeDeFi Strategy, Promo Vaults, Prime, and RWA products were all unaffected. BounceBit noted the vulnerability stemmed from an authorization validation flaw in Evmos’ protocol-native module. When the attacker called the relevant module via a smart contract, they bypassed the security check that should verify the fund source account’s authorization, allowing them to designate any account as the fund source. After the incident, BounceBit Chain stopped block production at block height 20,702,857. The team decided not to perform a chain upgrade, instead permanently shutting down BounceBit Chain and reissuing BB as a BNB Chain-based BEP-20 token. The new BB supply will be based on an on-chain snapshot taken before the first abnormal transfer (block height 20,697,260). The 286,543,148 BB tokens transferred by attackers will not be included in new balances. Users do not need to submit applications or migrate wallets; the official will automatically distribute new BB to corresponding BNB Chain addresses.
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Paramount Skydance uvedla, že získala všechna regulační schválení potřebná k uzavření akvizice Warner Bros. Discovery. Firma zároveň tlačí na dohodu se 12 státními žalobci, kteří transakci napadají.
<p>"Now Streaming" is The Fly's weekly recap of the stories surrounding the biggest content streamers.</p><p><b>PLAYING THIS WEEKEND: </b>This weekend's most notable streaming content is the fifth and final season of Netflix <a href="/NFLX">(NFLX)</a> mystery teen drama "Outer Banks." Meanwhile, Hulu <a href="/DIS">(DIS)</a> subscribers can catch the first episode of the new season of comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," while HBO Max <a href="/WBD">(WBD)</a> users can stream psychological drama film "Mother Mary," starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. </p><p><b>PARAMOUNT/WARNER BROS.:</b> Last Friday, Paramount Skydance <a href="/PSKY">(PSKY)</a> said it has satisfied all regulatory clearances required under the merger agreement to close its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company said, "The eight-month review process has spanned 68 countries worldwide, including the European Union, UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, COMESA, the U.S. Department of Justice and, most recently, Mexico, which announced its clearance today. These independent regulators from across the globe applied the law and market definitions that reflect how audiences consume entertainment and how media companies compete today - and have consistently found no basis to prevent the transaction from moving forward. Paramount and WBD could and would close today and begin delivering the benefits recognized by regulators around the world, theater owners and others across the industry but for the actions of just 12 state attorneys general." 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Bloom Energy v posledních týdnech prudce oslabil, z letošního maxima 350 USD spadl na zhruba 200 USD a klesá sedmou seanci v řadě. Investory dál trápí vysoké ocenění, i když tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí vyskočily o 165 % na 1,06 miliardy USD.
Onsite power supply chain — Buy (SPWR/ENPH basket)
Buy a small basket of solar/energy-infrastructure names that benefit from the same data-center buildout tailwind but trade at more reasonable multiples than BE. The second-order effect of hyperscaler/AI power demand is more grid-scale and on-site generation/efficiency spend (solar + storage + power electronics) to reduce delivered power costs and speed deployments. If BE’s valuation compresses, capital often rotates into cheaper “picks-and-shovels” that still ride the capex wave. Use a basket approach (e.g., SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) and Enphase (ENPH)) to reduce single-name risk while targeting the broader theme.
Key Risk: Data-center power demand shifts toward cheaper grid upgrades or long-term utility contracts, reducing incremental spend on distributed generation and power electronics.
Bloom Energy (BE) — Sell/Short
Sell or short BE. The news is bullish on growth (AI data-center power, higher gross margins, big Brookfield deal), but the stock is already pricing perfection: forward non-GAAP P/E ~74 vs S&P ~20. With BE below the 50/100-day EMAs and a multi-week freefall, any “good news” is likely to be met with valuation-driven selling. Thesis: growth won’t be enough fast enough to defend a premium multiple while momentum is negative. Key catalyst to watch is whether the next earnings report sustains margin expansion without guidance surprises.
Key Risk: BE keeps beating expectations and expands margins faster than the market expects, forcing valuation re-rating upward despite the downtrend.
Bloom Energy stock has slumped sharply in recent weeks, falling from its year-to-date high of $350 to around $200. The stock has declined for seven consecutive sessions, reaching its lowest level since August 3. Its technical indicators suggest that further downside may be ahead, while persistent valuation concerns continue to weigh on investor sentiment.
Bloom Energy has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, helped by the ongoing data center boom. It has partnered with some of the biggest companies in the industry like Oracle and Nebius. Recently, it inked a $25 billion deal with Brookfield, one of the biggest private equity companies in the world.
The most recent earnings report showed that its revenue soared by 165% in the second quarter to $1.06 billion as it continued delivering onsite power to data centers. This growth will likely continue in the foreseeable future after the company continues to monetize its projects.
Its gross margins jumped from 26.7% in the second quarter of last year to the current 33.4%, with its profitability accelerating. KR Sridhar, the CEO, said:
“Today, all the major US hyperscalers and over a dozen US neoclouds, AI labs, and colocation data center operators have validated and approved our power solutions for their AI factories. Bloom is now a standard for AI onsite power.”
This growth will likely continue as the data center buildup gains steam. For example, Nvidia has reached a financing deal with OpenAI for a Ohio data center project valued at over $105 billion.
It has also reached a $500 billion deal with several financial companies like BlackRock, BlackStone, Goldman Sachs, and Brookfield to fund data centers. Bloom Energy will be one of the top beneficiaries of these investments.
Yahoo Finance data shows that analysts are upbeat about its growth prospects, especially after the company launched Power Connect, which can reduce its onsite power installation time by over 40%.
The average estimate is that its revenue will by 103% this year to $4.13 billion this year. After that, it will make over $6.77 billion next year. Its earnings-per-share is expected to move from 76 cents to $2.71 this year. It is expected to nearly double next year to $4.89.
The main challenge, however, is that it has become a highly overvalued company, with its forward price-to-earnings on a non-GAAP basis being 74, much higher than the S&P 500 Index average of over 20. As such, it needs to demonstrate strong revenue and profitability growth to justify this valuation.
BE stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that BE stock has been in a strong freefall in the past few months. It has moved from the year-to-date high of $351 to the current $200. It is also in the process of erasing most of the gains it made after releasing its financial results earlier this month.
The stock has dropped below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), a sign that bears remain in control. Therefore, the path of the least resistance for the stock is downwards, with the next key target to watch being at $180. In the long term, however, the stock will bounce back
SEI Investments vykázala za 2. čtvrtletí upravený zisk na akcii (EPS) 1,66 USD, nad odhadem 1,45 USD, a tržby vzrostly meziročně o 14,7 % na 641,6 milionu USD. Akcie jsou za poslední měsíc výše o 11,2 %.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for SEI Investments (SEIC - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is SEI due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
SEI Investments Beats on Q2 Earnings as Revenues & AUM Rise Y/YSEI Investments’ second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.66 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45. The bottom line reflected a rise of 38.3% from the prior-year quarter.
Results were aided by higher revenues and a rise in AUM. However, higher expenses acted as a spoilsport.
Results excluded certain non-recurring items. After considering these, net income attributable to SEI Investments was $195.7 million, down 13.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues & AUM Improve, Expenses RiseTotal quarterly revenues were $641.6 million, up 14.7% year over year. The rise was driven by higher asset management, administration and distribution fees, as well as information processing and software servicing fees. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $637.9 million.
Total expenses were $444.6 million, up 8.2% year over year. The increase was due to a rise in almost all cost components, except for consulting, outsourcing and professional fees, facilities, supplies and other costs, and depreciation charges.
Operating income (GAAP) rose 33% year over year to $197 million.
As of June 30, 2026, AUM was $606.7 billion, reflecting a rise of 17.2% from the prior-year quarter. Client assets under administration (AUA) were $1.36 trillion, up 19.7%. Client AUA did not include $14.3 billion related to Funds of Funds assets reported as of June 30, 2026.
Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, the company bought back 1.3 million shares for $112.4 million at an average price of $86.92 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month.
VGM ScoresCurrently, SEI has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, SEI has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerSEI is part of the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry. Over the past month, BlackRock (BLK - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 9.9%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.
BlackRock reported revenues of $7.08 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +30.6%. EPS of $13.91 for the same period compares with $12.05 a year ago.
For the current quarter, BlackRock is expected to post earnings of $14.24 per share, indicating a change of +23.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.1% over the last 30 days.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for BlackRock. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
Alaska Air Group zavede v květnu 2027 sezónní přímé linky ze Seattlu do Athén a Paříže. Linka do Athén začne 12. května 2027 a linka do Paříže 25. května 2027. Athény budou první nonstop spojení Seattlu s tímto městem a jediné ze západního pobřeží do Řecka.
Key Takeaways Alaska Air Group will launch seasonal Seattle-Athens and Seattle-Paris nonstop service in May 2027. The Athens route will be Seattle's first nonstop to Athens & the West Coast's only link to Greece's Cap Boeing 787-9s will serve both routes as ALK grows Seattle to seven intercontinental destinations. Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) is expanding its international footprint from Seattle with new nonstop seasonal service to Athens and Paris, reinforcing its position as Seattle’s largest international carrier. The Athens service will begin on May 12, 2027, operating three times weekly through October, while Paris service will start on May 25, 2027, with five weekly flights over the same period. The new routes are expected to provide travelers in the Pacific Northwest with more convenient access to key European destinations.
The Athens route is particularly notable, as Alaska will become the first airline to offer nonstop service between Seattle and Athens and the only carrier to provide a nonstop connection between the West Coast and Greece’s capital. Meanwhile, the Paris route will provide direct access to one of the most in-demand transatlantic markets from the region. The airline also expects the expanded network to support same-day connections between Honolulu and Paris through Seattle, improving international connectivity for travelers from Hawaii.
Both routes will be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring Alaska’s new long-haul international experience, including lie-flat Business Class Suites, premium amenities and Starlink Wi-Fi. With Athens and Paris, Alaska’s Seattle intercontinental network will grow to seven destinations, alongside Iceland, London, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. The airline plans to add at least five more intercontinental destinations by 2030, supported by additional Dreamliners.
The expansion underscores Alaska’s broader strategy of transforming Seattle into a major global gateway and increasing its long-haul international presence. Its oneworld alliance and other global partnerships will further enable passengers to connect to hundreds of destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This international growth could strengthen Alaska’s competitive position in the Pacific Northwest while giving the carrier greater exposure to growing demand for long-haul leisure and business travel.
ALK’s Share Price PerformanceALK’s shares have declined 32.4% in the past three months compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 0.3% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALK’s Zacks RankALK currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP - Free Report) as well.
Expeditors currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
SHIP has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 38%.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Medpace (MEDP - Free Report) . Shares have added about 1.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Medpace due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Medpace Holdings, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
MEDP Q2 Earnings and Revenues Surpass EstimatesMedpace Holdings, Inc.reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $4.25 per share, up 37.1% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.17%.
Revenues rose 17.2% to $707.33 million and surpassed the consensus mark by 1.12%. On a constant-currency basis, growth was also 17.2%, indicating that foreign exchange had little effect on the reported expansion.
Medpace Posts Record Quarterly Awards
Net new business awards jumped 28.2% to $795.7 million, driving a net book-to-bill ratio of 1.13. Management attributed the record net bookings performance partly to a meaningful decline in cancellations from elevated first-quarter levels.
Backlog as of June 30, 2026 rose 4.9% year over year to $3.01 billion. Medpace expects about $1.96 billion of backlog to convert into revenues over the next 12 months. The quarterly backlog conversion rate increased to 24.1% from 21.2% a year ago.
MEDP Sees Oncology Regain Momentum
Management said oncology accounted for more than half of second-quarter bookings and initial award notifications. This marked a shift from the recent period when cardiometabolic programs were a larger contributor to business growth.
Medpace expects oncology to move back toward a more historically typical share of its portfolio over the next year. Cardiometabolic award notifications have moderated, while oncology opportunities have strengthened. The company also reported meaningfully higher request-for-proposal activity both sequentially and year over year.
Medpace Highlights Cash Position and Buybacks
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $502.7 million at the second quarter-end compared with $652.7 million as of March 31, 2026.
Net days sales outstanding remained favorable at negative 59.6 days.
Cumulative cash flow from operating activities came in at $162 million compared with $274.4 million a year ago.
MEDP repurchased approximately 706,000 shares for $294.7 million during the second quarter. The company had $527 million remaining under its authorized share repurchase program at quarter-end.
MEDP Raises Its 2026 Outlook
Medpace now expects 2026 revenues of $2.805-$2.885 billion, implying growth of 10.9%-14% over 2025 levels. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $2.84 billion.
EBITDA is projected between $618 million and $642 million, suggesting growth of 10.8%-15.1%.
GAAP net income is forecast at $494-$514 million, while earnings are expected between $17.25 and $17.95 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate expects earnings to be $17.51 per share. The guidance assumes a 19%-19.5% tax rate, $21.1 million of interest income and no additional share repurchases after June 30.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted 5.61% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Medpace has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision looks promising. It comes with little surprise Medpace has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerMedpace belongs to the Zacks Medical Services industry. Another stock from the same industry, Elevance Health (ELV - Free Report) , has gained 4.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.
Elevance Health reported revenues of $49.83 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.8%. EPS of $7.45 for the same period compares with $8.84 a year ago.
Elevance Health is expected to post earnings of $4.82 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.5%.
Elevance Health has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.
Alliant Energy těží z růstu počtu odběratelů: ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 měla 1 011 128 odběratelů elektřiny a 432 892 odběratelů plynu. Firma čeká 60% růst zatížení do roku 2031.
Key Takeaways Alliant Energy's customer growth supports higher utility sales and a stronger regulated revenue base. LNT expects load to grow 60% by 2031, driven by large customer demand progressing with 2026 expectations. LNT plans nearly $13.4B in capital investments through 2029 to support demand and customer growth. Alliant Energy’s (LNT - Free Report) earnings prospects are supported by ongoing additions to electric and natural gas customer volumes. Its geographic footprint and regulatory tools support new wind and gas resources tied to load growth. A broader customer base also strengthens demand growth, helping offset fluctuations in usage and supporting long-term revenue expansion.
The company’s diversified customer base provides greater revenue stability by reducing its reliance on any single customer segment. In the second quarter of 2026, Alliant Energy reported 1,011,128 electric customers, up 0.69% from 1,004,242 a year earlier, while natural gas customers increased 0.47% to 432,892 from 430,859. This continued customer expansion can support higher utility sales and strengthen the company’s regulated revenue base over time. The company expects 60% load growth by 2031, with large customer demand projected to begin materializing in 2026, supporting a multi-year expansion in electricity consumption.
The growth opportunity is also supported by Alliant Energy’s strategic investment program. The company plans nearly $13.4 billion in capital investments through 2029. These investments are aimed at supporting economic development, customer growth and rising energy demand.
Alliant Energy expects 2026 ongoing earnings per share (EPS) of $3.36-$3.46 and long-term EPS growth of 5-7% through 2029, supported by increasing capital investments and rising utility demand. Therefore, stronger customer growth can support Alliant Energy’s investment plans by increasing electricity and gas demand and helping expand its rate base.
Growing Customer Base Drives Utility GrowthA steadily expanding customer base creates fresh demand for utility services, supporting revenues and earnings. Along with LNT, other utilities also witness continued customer expansion, as discussed below:
NextEra Energy’s (NEE - Free Report) Florida Power & Light unit added more than 90,000 average customers year over year in the second quarter of 2026, while weather-normalized retail sales rose 0.6%, driven primarily by population growth and supporting continued capital investment and earnings growth.
Xcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) reported 0.7% year-over-year growth in both its electric and natural gas customer bases in second-quarter 2026.
The Zacks Rundown on LNTLNT’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 6.52% and 7.21%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LNT’s Stock Trading at a Premium LNT is trading at a premium to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 19.36X versus the industry average of 15.42X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LNT’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past six months, the company’s shares have plunged 3.4% compared with the industry’s 7.9% decline.
RLI za měsíc po poslední výsledkové zprávě vzrostla asi o 6,4 % díky lepšímu než očekávanému zisku, růstu pojistného a vyšším investičním výnosům. Tržby za 2. čtvrtletí stouply na 463 milionů USD.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is RLI Corp. due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for RLI Corp. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
RLI's Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Premium Growth, Investment Income
RLI Corp. reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of 83 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.9%. The bottom line increased 1.2% from the prior-year quarter.
The quarterly results reflect continued premium growth, higher investment income and favorable prior-year reserve development. However, weaker underwriting performance in the casualty segment partly offset these positives.
Operational PerformanceOperating revenues for the reported quarter were $463 million, up 4.9% year over year, driven by higher net premiums earned and net investment income. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.6%.
Gross premiums written (GPW) increased 3.1% year over year to $579.7 million, driven by strong growth in the casualty segment. Our estimate was $592.9 million.
Net investment income increased 16.8% year over year to $46 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $42.7 million, while our estimate for the metric was pegged at $40.7 million. The investment portfolio’s total return was 3.4% in the quarter.
Total expenses increased 6.4% year over year to $367.9 million, primarily due to higher policy acquisition costs, insurance operating expenses and interest expense on debt. Our estimate was $376.8 million.
Underwriting income fell 3.7% year over year to $59.9 million. Our estimate was $53.1 million. The combined ratio deteriorated 110 basis points year over year to 85.6, reflecting higher catastrophe losses. Our estimate was 87.2.
Segmental ResultsCasualty lines’ GPW rose 10.6% year over year to $339 million. The figure was above our estimate of $338.1 million.
The underwriting income decreased significantly to $1.7 million from $8.3 million, down 79% year over year. The combined ratio deteriorated 280 bps year over year to 99.3%. The figure was above our estimate of 98.4%.
Property lines’ GPW fell 5.9% year over year to $199.3 million. The figure was below our estimate of $207.7 million.
The underwriting income increased to $53.5 million, up 8.1% supported by favorable reserve development. The combined ratio improved 530 bps year over year to 56.8%. Our estimate was 65.2%.
Surety lines’ GPW declined 5.7% year over year to $41.4 million. The figure was below our estimate of $47.1 million.
The underwriting income improved 5.4% year over year to $4.7 million. The combined ratio improved 70 bps year over year to 87.2%. Our estimate was 84.8%.
Financial UpdateRLI exited the second quarter with total investments and cash of $4.9 billion, up 4.5% from 2025-end.
Book value was $19.09 per share as of June 30, 2026, up 11% from the figure as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Net cash flow from operations was $145.2 million, down 16.9% year over year.
The statutory surplus increased 5.2% from 2025-end to $1.94 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Return on equity was 24.5%, expanding 480 bps from the year-ago period.
Capital Deployment UpdateOn June 12, 2026, the insurer paid a regular quarterly dividend of 18 per cent per share for the second quarter. RLI’s cumulative dividends totaled more than $1.3 billion, paid over the last five years.
On May 14, 2026, the board of directors approved a $250 million share repurchase program. The company repurchased 0.2 million shares for $12 million during the second quarter. As of June 30, 2026, $238 million remained available under the authorization.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month.
VGM ScoresCurrently, RLI Corp. has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, RLI Corp. has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Kinder Morgan po poslední měsíční výsledkové zprávě oslabila asi o 3,5 %. Firma ale zvýšila celoroční výhled a dividendu o 2 % na 29,75 centu na akcii.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 3.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Kinder Morgan due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Kinder Morgan, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Kinder Morgan Q2 Earnings Beat EstimatesKinder Morgan reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 37 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents by 19.35%. Earnings increased 32.1% from 28 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues increased 10.8% year over year to $4.48 billion from the prior year’s figure of $4.04 billion. Revenues surpassed the consensus estimate of $4.29 billion by 4.43%.
Strong quarterly results benefited from broad-based segment growth, led by higher natural gas transportation and gathering volumes. Natural gas transport volumes rose 7%, while gathering volumes increased 26%.
KMI's Natural Gas Business Leads GrowthNatural Gas Pipelines adjusted segment earnings before depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBDA) expenses increased to $1.46 billion from $1.35 billion a year earlier. Higher contributions from the Texas Intrastate system and gathering assets supported the improvement.
Transportation volumes averaged 47,886 billion British thermal unit per day (BBtu/d) compared with 44,818 BBtu/d in the prior-year quarter. Growth reflected higher LNG deliveries on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, stronger Texas Intrastate demand, higher export volumes to Mexico and increased power-generation demand in Arizona.
Gathering volumes advanced to 4,637 BBtu/d from 3,692 BBtu/d. KinderHawk volumes rose 54%, supported by increased Haynesville activity. Management noted that the system is effectively full and is adding 1 billion cubic feet per day of treating capacity.
Kinder Morgan's Other Segments AdvanceProducts Pipelines adjusted segment EBDA increased to $339 million from $289 million. Higher commodity prices and stronger butane blending volumes and rates more than offset weaker transportation activity.
Due to a temporary disruption of the West Coast supply and higher commodity prices, total refined product volumes declined 5% to 1.62 million barrels per day (MMBbl/d) from the year-ago figure of 1.71 MMBbl/d. Crude and condensate volumes fell 16% to 421,000 barrels per day (Bbl/d), largely because the Double H system was converted from crude oil to natural gas liquids service.
Terminals adjusted segment EBDA rose to $309 million from $300 million. Higher liquids terminal rates, ancillary fees and favorable commodity pricing supported results. Liquids utilization was 93%, while the Jones Act tanker fleet remained fully contracted for 2026.
CO2 adjusted segment EBDA increased to $207 million from $145 million. Total net oil production increased 10% to 28,040 Bbl/d, driven by a 15% rise in SACROC production. The realized weighted average oil price increased to $73.78 per barrel from $67.60, while the realized weighted average NGL price was $33.38 per barrel, higher than the $32.08 per barrel recorded a year earlier.
KMI's Cost Profile Supports Profit GrowthTotal operating costs, expenses and other expenditures increased 8.3% year over year to $3.13 billion. Costs of sales rose to $1.41 billion from $1.21 billion, while operations and maintenance expenses increased to $806 million from $773 million.
Operating income increased 16.8% to $1.35 billion. The operating margin expanded to 30.1% from 28.5%, reflecting revenue growth that outpaced increases in operating expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA reached a second-quarter record of $2.20 billion, up 12% year over year. Net income attributable to KMI increased 21% to $867 million, while reported earnings rose to 39 cents per share from 32 cents.
Kinder Morgan Expands Project PipelineThe project backlog stood at $9.6 billion at the end of the quarter, down from $10.1 billion sequentially after approximately $660 million of expansion projects entered service. Natural gas projects represented about 92% of the backlog.
The board also granted contingent approval to nearly $400 million of projects that will enter the backlog after contract execution. Management expects to sanction significant additional projects from an opportunity set exceeding $10 billion during the second half of 2026.
Kinder Morgan's Cash Flow & Balance SheetCash flow from operations was $1.96 billion in the quarter. Meanwhile, free cash flow was $978 million and free cash flow after dividends reached $313 million.
As of June 30, 2026, KMI reported $89 million in cash and cash equivalents. Net debt stood at $32.03 billion at quarter-end. The net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 3.6X from 3.8X at the end of 2025.
KMI Raises 2026 OutlookKinder Morgan expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA) to exceed its original $8.6 billion budget by more than 5%. The company also expects adjusted earnings to surpass its initial $1.36-per-share budget by more than 12%.
The revised guidance reflects strong first-half performance across all business segments.
KMI’s Dividend GrowthThe quarterly dividend was raised 2% to 29.75 cents per share, equivalent to $1.19 per share annually. The dividend is payable Aug. 17, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 3.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Kinder Morgan has a average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. However, the stock has a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Kinder Morgan has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Keurig Dr Pepper má v energetických nápojích přes 9% podíl a roční net sales asi 1,5 mld. USD, zatímco americký kávový byznys oslabil: tržby klesly o 3,2 %, pod shipments o 11,6 % a provozní zisk o 24,7 %.
Key Takeaways KDP's energy portfolio topped 9% market share and reached about $1.5B in annualized net sales.U.S. Coffee sales fell 3.2%, pod shipments dropped 11.6% and operating income declined 24.7%.KDP expects lower-cost inventory, easing tariffs and better trade inventory trends to aid Coffee. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP - Free Report) is gaining strong traction in the fast-growing energy drink category, which is emerging as an important growth engine for its U.S. Refreshment Beverages business. The company’s energy portfolio crossed the 9% market-share threshold in the second quarter of 2026, up significantly from less than 1% about four years ago. Brands such as Bloom, GHOST and C4 have benefited from distribution expansion, product innovation and strong in-store execution. KDP’s energy business is now running at roughly $1.5 billion in annualized net sales, putting the company well on track toward its double-digit market-share goal.
The momentum in energy comes at a time when KDP’s U.S. Coffee business remains under pressure. U.S. Coffee net sales declined 3.2% in the second quarter, while volume mix fell 8.2 percentage points and pod shipments dropped 11.6% on a reported basis. Segment operating income declined 24.7%, hurt by higher green coffee costs, tariffs, unfavorable mix and increased marketing spending. Nonetheless, brewer shipments increased 2.1%, marking a return to growth, while management expects lower-cost inventory, easing tariff impacts and improving trade inventory trends to support better Coffee performance in the second half.
Importantly, KDP does not appear to view energy growth as coming directly at the expense of coffee. Management noted that shifts between the two caffeine categories have been broadly neutral over the past three to four years, suggesting consumers continue to use both for different occasions. This gives KDP an advantage through its diversified exposure to beverages and coffee, with energy providing a strong source of incremental growth while the Coffee business works through near-term cost and demand pressures. Continued gains in energy, coupled with a potential improvement in U.S. Coffee trends, could support a more balanced growth profile for KDP over the balance of 2026.
Keurig Dr Pepper’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 8.7% in the past three months, outperforming both the industry and the broader Consumer Staples sector, which have grown 5.1% and 2%, respectively.
KDP Stock's Past Three-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is KDP a Value Play Stock?Keurig Dr Pepper currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 12.97X, lower than the industry average of 19.95X and the sector average of 17.24X. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.
KDP P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.7% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) is a leading beverage company with a portfolio of 32 billion-dollar brands spanning sparkling beverages, water, sports drinks, dairy and value-added beverages. KO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coca-Cola’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.03% and 9.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Coca-Cola delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.6%, on average.
Primo Brands Corporation (PRMB - Free Report) is a leading North American branded beverage company focused on healthy hydration. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Primo Brands’ current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of 2.5% from the prior year’s reported levels. PRMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.7%, on average.
Key Takeaways Vertiv lifted adjusted operating margin to 22.6% as sales rose 24% in the second quarter of 2026. Vertiv expects third-quarter adjusted margins of 24%-25%, backed by growth, leverage and productivity. Amphenol's margin reached 29.8%, while Super Micro Computer's rose to 14.3% in fiscal 2026. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) is benefiting from significant margin gains, positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the data center infrastructure sector from companies like Amphenol (APH - Free Report) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) . In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported an adjusted operating margin of 22.6%, a substantial increase of 410 basis points year over year and well above its previous guidance. This margin expansion was driven by disciplined operational execution, productivity improvements and favorable price-cost dynamics, partially offset by tariff impacts.
VRT’s robust margin performance is underpinned by strong sales growth across key regions. Net sales in the second quarter of 2026 were up 24% compared to the prior year, with the Americas and APAC regions each growing by 29%. The EMEA region returned to positive sales growth, further supporting the company’s global momentum.
When comparing Vertiv to peers like Amphenol and Super Micro Computer, Vertiv’s margin gains and operational momentum stand out. While Amphenol and Super Micro Computer are also benefiting from secular trends in data center and AI infrastructure, Vertiv’s focus on end-to-end solutions for power and thermal management, as well as its ability to scale complex projects globally, provides it with a unique competitive edge. Vertiv’s collaboration with NVIDIA and VisionBay AI in Taiwan showcases its leadership in deploying both AC and 800-volt DC architectures, which increases Vertiv’s content opportunity per megawatt and differentiates it from competitors.
Vertiv remains confident in the persistence of strong operating margins. For the third quarter of 2026, adjusted operating profit is projected to be between $898 million and $938 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 24% to 25%, supported by organic growth, operating leverage and productivity. Regional manufacturing, supply chain actions and disciplined capacity investment remain key to sustaining the margin trajectory as projects scale. Management raised 2026 adjusted operating margin guidance to 23.3%-24.3% and expects pricing to exceed inflation, including current tariffs and countermeasures.
How Competitors Fare Against VRTVertiv’s AI infrastructure solutions are facing increasing competition from Amphenol and Super Micro Computer. Both Amphenol and Super Micro Computer are expanding their offerings to support high-density, AI-driven data center deployments.
Amphenol is benefiting from a significant expansion in its operating margins. In the second quarter of 2026, adjusted operating income was $2.61 billion, up 80.2% year over year. Adjusted operating margin improved 420 basis points (bps) year over year to 29.8%, driven by robust operating leverage on significantly higher sales volumes. A major factor behind this margin expansion is Amphenol’s broad-based growth across diverse end markets. In the second quarter of 2026, IT datacom represented about 43% of sales and grew 63% organically year over year.
Super Micro Computer is evolving from just a server and hardware vendor into a full IT solutions provider. Products like DCBBS (Data Center Building Block Solutions) bundle hardware, software, cooling, networking and support into complete systems. This strategy increases revenue per deal and improves margins. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, non-GAAP operating margin increased to 14.3% from 7.2% in the previous quarter.
Vertiv’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesVRT’s shares have surged 63.3% year to date compared with the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 15.8% rise. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 14.1% over the same period.
VRT Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv stock is trading at a premium, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book of 21.41X compared with the Computer and Technology sector’s 8.48X. VRT has a Value Score of D.
VRT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.64 per share, which has increased 3.58% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 58.10% increase from the year-ago quarter.
Vertiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Wendy’s v USA ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 zaznamenala pokles návštěvnosti zákazníků o 12,5 % a tržby ve stejných restauracích klesly o 7 %. Firma spouští pětibodový obrat, ale tlak na návštěvnost čeká i ve druhé polovině fiskálního roku 2026.
Key Takeaways Wendy's U.S. traffic fell 12.5%, contributing to a 7% decline in fiscal Q2 same-restaurant sales.Wendy's reset targets menu value, sharper branding, stronger operations and better digital engagement.July traffic stayed in line with Q2 trends, with Wendy's expecting pressure through the second half of 2026. The Wendy's Company (WEN - Free Report) is confronting a sharp traffic problem as new leadership begins a broad turnaround aimed at restoring customer demand. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, U.S. traffic declined 12.5%, contributing to a 7% decrease in U.S. same-restaurant sales. A 5.6% increase in average check provided a partial offset, while U.S. same-restaurant sales improved sequentially by 80 basis points from the first quarter. Still, the magnitude of the traffic decline highlights the challenge facing the restaurant chain as it works to reconnect with consumers.
Management sees the traffic weakness as more than consumer pressure, citing erosion in food-quality differentiation, a weaker value proposition, inconsistent execution and ineffective traffic-driving marketing. Wendy’s five-point reset targets these issues through menu and value improvements, sharper branding, stronger operations, better digital engagement and improved restaurant economics. The menu overhaul will span ingredients, items, categories and pricing architecture.
Better execution and digital engagement could support recovery. U.S. customer satisfaction improved, while company-operated restaurants outperformed the broader U.S. system in same-restaurant sales by 280 basis points. Wendy’s also invested $8.3 million in technology, including app enhancements and targeted marketing. However, July traffic remained in line with fiscal second-quarter trends, and management expects continued traffic pressure through the second half of fiscal 2026 while it develops the broader turnaround plan.
Wendy’s five-point reset directly targets several factors contributing to its traffic weakness, particularly value, food quality, marketing and execution. If these initiatives improve customer perception and frequency, demand could gradually recover. However, with traffic trends still weak, measurable improvement in visits and same-restaurant sales will be the clearest test of whether the turnaround is gaining traction.
How WEN Stacks Up Against Key QSR RivalsStarbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) provides a relevant turnaround benchmark for Wendy’s because it is using stronger store execution, menu innovation and loyalty engagement to rebuild transactions. Under its Back to Starbucks strategy, Green Apron Service has improved staffing, operating routines and service consistency, while marketing and beverage innovation are creating more reasons for customers to visit across dayparts. These efforts helped drive U.S. comparable sales growth of 7.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, including a 4.2% increase in transactions, while Starbucks Rewards reached 35.8 million 90-day active U.S. members.
Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM - Free Report) offers another useful comparison through Taco Bell, which continues to combine value, innovation, cultural relevance and digital engagement to drive traffic and market-share gains. Taco Bell delivered 7% same-store sales growth in the second quarter of 2026, outperforming the broader QSR industry for the ninth consecutive quarter. Digital sales mix reached 47%, up 5 percentage points year over year, with more than half of that growth coming from first-party loyalty channels. Its restaurant-level margin also expanded 170 basis points to 26.2%, demonstrating how stronger demand can translate into improved restaurant economics.
Against this backdrop, Wendy’s faces a demanding traffic recovery. Starbucks is already translating improved execution and loyalty engagement into transaction growth, while Taco Bell is using value, innovation and digital capabilities to sustain QSR outperformance.
WEN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Wendy’s have gained 12.5% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, the broader Retail and Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index.
WEN Three-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WEN trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.75, below the industry’s average of 3.12.
WEN’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WEN’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have trended downward in the past 30 days. The revised estimates for 2026 imply year-over-year growth of 2.1%, while 2027 estimates imply a year-over-year decline of 39.8%.
EPS Trend of WEN Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Akcie společnosti Teledyne za poslední měsíc klesly o 2,7 % po výsledcích, které překonaly odhady: upravený EPS činil 6,28 USD a tržby 1,66 miliardy USD. Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled upraveného EPS pro rok 2026 na 24,45–24,65 USD.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Teledyne Technologies (TDY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Teledyne due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Teledyne Technologies Inc. reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $6.28 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.78 by 8.7%. The bottom line also improved 20.8% from $5.20 recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Including one-time items, the company recorded GAAP earnings of $5.37 per share, up 21.6% from the prior-year period’s earnings of $4.43.
The year-over-year improvement in the bottom line can be attributed to higher net sales and operating income in the second quarter than the year-ago quarter’s reported actuals.
Operational Highlights of TDYTotal sales were $1.66 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57 billion by 5.9%. The top line also jumped 9.8% from $1.51 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. This improvement was driven by higher year-over-year sales across all business segments.
TDY’s Segmental PerformanceInstrumentation: Sales in this segment increased 5.5% year over year to $387.8 million, driven by higher sales of marine instrumentation, primarily due to stronger offshore energy and defense markets.
The adjusted operating income declined 0.1% year over year to $104.8 million.
Digital Imaging: Quarterly sales in this division increased 12.7% year over year to $868.7 million. The segment benefited from higher sales of infrared imaging detectors, components and subsystems for defense and commercial applications. Surveillance systems, industrial and scientific imaging systems, and X-ray products also contributed to the growth.
The adjusted operating income rose 31.2% year over year to $217.6 million.
Aerospace and Defense Electronics: Sales in this segment totaled $286.4 million, up 8.2% from the prior-year quarter. The improvement was driven by higher sales of defense electronics and aerospace electronics.
The adjusted operating income increased 8.6% year over year to $79.7 million.
Engineered Systems: Revenues in this division jumped 8.4% year over year to $119.6 million due to higher sales of engineered products and energy systems.
This segment's operating income rose 24.8% to $15.1 million.
Financial Condition of TDYTeledyne’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $340.1 million as of June 28, 2026 compared with $352.4 million as of Dec. 28, 2025.
Its long-term debt was $2.027 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026 compared with $2.025 billion as of Dec. 28, 2025.
Cash flow from operating activities totaled $315.2 million during the first six months of 2026 compared with $226.6 million in the same period last year.
TDY generated free cash flow of $284.7 million, up from $196.3 million in the prior-year quarter.
Teledyne Raises 2026 Earnings ViewFor the third quarter of 2026, Teledyne expects adjusted earnings between $6.05 and $6.15 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TDY’s third-quarter earnings is pegged at $5.90, which is lower than the company's guided range.
For full-year 2026, Teledyne raised its adjusted earnings outlook to $24.45-$24.65 per share from the previous range of $23.85-$24.15. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $24.10, which is lower than the company's guided range.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Teledyne has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Teledyne has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerTeledyne belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry. Another stock from the same industry, AAR (AIR - Free Report) , has gained 2.3% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended May 2026.
AAR reported revenues of $928 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +23%. EPS of $1.53 for the same period compares with $1.16 a year ago.
AAR is expected to post break-even earnings per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of 0%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed 0%.
AAR has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for PulteGroup (PHM - Free Report) . Shares have added about 2.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is PulteGroup due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
PulteGroup Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, New Orders Up Y/YPulteGroup reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with adjusted earnings and total revenues topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but declining year over year.
The quarterly results reflect reduced home-closing volumes, softer average selling prices (ASP) and margin compression. Ongoing softness in the housing market because of weaker consumer confidence and ongoing affordability challenges due to high mortgage rates hurt the top-line growth.
Inside PulteGroup’s Q2 HeadlinesQuarterly earnings were $2.48 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.38 by 4.2%. Earnings declined 18.2% from $3.03 in the prior-year quarter.
Total revenues (Homebuilding & Financial Services) of $3.983 billion edged past the consensus mark of $3.980 billion by 0.1% but fell 9.6% year over year.
PulteGroup’s Homebuilding HighlightsHomebuilding segment’s revenues decreased 9.7% year over year to $3.89 billion. Home sale revenues fell 10.8% to $3.81 billion, reflecting weaker delivery volumes and lower average pricing. Land sale and other revenues increased to $78.9 million from $34.6 million.
The number of homes closed declined 8.4% year over year to 6,997 units. Deliveries decreased across the Northeast, Midwest, Texas and West regions, while closings in the Southeast and Florida remained relatively stable. The ASP of homes delivered fell 2.7% to $544,000 from $559,000.
Net new orders increased 6.4% year over year to 7,536 homes. Order growth was recorded across all buyer groups, supported by an 8% increase in average community count to 1,074. The dollar value of net new orders rose 5.1% to $4.08 billion.
PulteGroup ended the quarter with a backlog of 10,966 homes, up 1.7% from the prior-year level. Backlog units increased in the Northeast, Florida, Midwest and Texas, while the Southeast and West reported declines. The value of homes in backlog slipped 0.6% to $6.80 billion. The divergence between higher units and lower value indicates that the average value of homes in backlog declined year over year, consistent with the company’s broader pricing pressure.
Home sale gross margin contracted 200 basis points (bps) year over year to 25%. However, the metric improved 60 basis points sequentially from the first quarter of 2026, indicating some near-term stabilization in profitability.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses declined to $383 million from $390 million. However, as a percentage of home sale revenues, SG&A expenses increased 100 bps to 10.1%, as the lower revenue base reduced operating leverage.
PulteGroup’s Financial Services DetailsFinancial Services revenues declined 4.2% to $96.9 million. Overall, the revenue mix reflected continued housing-market pressure as affordability constraints, volatile mortgage rates and economic uncertainty affected buyer activity.
Mortgage origination volume decreased to 4,629 loans from 4,984, while origination principal fell to $1.98 billion from $2.16 billion. The mortgage capture rate improved modestly to 85.2% from 84.8%.
PHM’s Liquidity and Buybacks Stay in FocusPulteGroup ended the quarter with $1.38 billion in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. Notes payable totaled $1.82 billion, resulting in a debt-to-capital ratio of 12.3% and a net debt-to-capital ratio of 3.3%.
Operating cash flow for the first six months of 2026 declined 58.1% year over year to $176.8 million, partly reflecting an $807.3 million increase in inventories. During the second quarter, PHM repurchased 3.1 million shares for $373 million. First-half repurchases totaled $681.2 million, representing 5.5 million shares.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.
VGM ScoresCurrently, PulteGroup has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, PulteGroup has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerPulteGroup belongs to the Zacks Building Products - Home Builders industry. Another stock from the same industry, D.R. Horton (DHI - Free Report) , has gained 3.7% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.
D.R. Horton reported revenues of $9.23 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0%. EPS of $3.20 for the same period compares with $3.36 a year ago.
D.R. Horton is expected to post earnings of $3.10 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.5%.
D.R. Horton has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for QuantumScape Corporation (QS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11.4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is QuantumScape due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for QuantumScape Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
QuantumScape Q2 Loss Narrower-Than-ExpectedQuantumScape reported second-quarter 2026 loss of 16 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 11.1%. The company had incurred a loss of 20 cents per share a year earlier.
QuantumScape did not report GAAP revenues. The quarter featured lower operating expenses, improving Eagle Line productivity and $10.8 million in customer billings. The company also expanded its automotive relationships and established business verticals targeting electric vehicles, AI data centers, aerospace and defense.
Operating Expenses DeclineGAAP net loss narrowed 14.4% year over year to $98.24 million from $114.70 million. Total operating expenses fell 14.1% to $106.13 million, supporting the improvement in the bottom line.
Research and development expenses declined 18.4% to $82.53 million. General and administrative expenses increased 5.3% to $23.59 million. Interest income was $8.36 million, down from $8.94 million in the prior-year quarter.
QS Builds Automotive PartnershipsThe company announced a multi-year partnership with Honda to advance its solid-state lithium-metal battery technology for automotive and other applications. The agreement followed an extensive evaluation of QuantumScape’s technology and adds another top-10 global automaker to its customer portfolio.
QS also updated its collaboration and licensing arrangement with Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo. The revised milestones focus on automotive cell development, larger-format cells and QuantumScape’s future technology roadmap. The company is working with four top-10 automakers and shipped cells to another automotive customer during the quarter.
Eagle Line Ramps Sample ProductionQuantumScape continued to ramp the Eagle Line, its automated pilot production line in San Jose. Core tools achieved uptime above 90%, while key productivity measures reached management’s targets. The company is increasing cell volumes and shipping samples to customers.
QS aims to double cell output further in the second half of 2026. Higher production is expected to accelerate customer shipments, shorten development cycles and provide a foundation for transferring manufacturing processes to future high-volume facilities. QS continues to work with Murata Manufacturing and Corning on scaling ceramic separator production through the Cobra process.
QuantumScape Targets New High-Value MarketsThe company created three business verticals. QSEV will focus on electric vehicles, QSDC will pursue AI data centers, and QSAS will address advanced applications such as aerospace and defense.
QSDC is working with original design manufacturers and data center architects on solutions based on the QSE-5 platform. QSAS shipped QSE-5 cells to a major U.S. defense contractor and is engaging other aerospace and defense customers. Management believes the technology’s energy density, power capability and safety profile can support these markets.
QS Advances Safety and Larger-Format CellsIncreased Eagle Line output enabled broader safety testing of QSE-5 cells. Testing included nail penetration, external short circuits and thermal stability at temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius. Management said the larger test set replicated findings from earlier prototypes.
The company also demonstrated that its Cobra process can produce larger ceramic separators. Larger-format cells can improve packaging efficiency and raise cell-level energy density, while giving QS greater flexibility to meet varying customer requirements.
Capital Spending Forecast ReducedAdjusted EBITDA loss was $64.19 million compared with a loss of $63.01 million a year earlier. QuantumScape maintained its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250-$275 million.
Capital expenditures totaled $4.62 million, down 46.2% from $8.59 million in the prior-year quarter. QS lowered its 2026 capex guidance to $27-$37 million from $40-$60 million, reflecting capital discipline and savings on specific projects.
Strong Liquidity PositionNet cash used in operating activities improved to $56.75 million from $61.84 million a year ago. Customer billings totaled $21.8 million during the first half of 2026, surpassing the $19.5 million recorded for all of 2025.
QuantumScape ended June with $859 million in liquidity, comprising $132.87 million in cash and cash equivalents and $726.13 million in marketable securities. The balance sheet provides funding as the company scales the Eagle Line, develops larger-format cells and pursues commercialization across its three business verticals.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
VGM ScoresAt this time, QuantumScape has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision looks promising. Interestingly, QuantumScape has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerQuantumScape is part of the Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Over the past month, Autoliv, Inc. (ALV - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 5.6%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.
Autoliv reported revenues of $2.8 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.3%. EPS of $2.43 for the same period compares with $2.21 a year ago.
Autoliv is expected to post earnings of $2.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -4.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -7%.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Autoliv. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of A.
