Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Deere's Q3 earnings are expected to rise 0.8%, with revenues projected to increase 4.1% y/y.Deere faces weak farmer spending, low commodity prices and high production expenses heading into Q3.The Construction & Forestry segment is projected to deliver 16.9% sales growth and higher operating profit. Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 20 before the opening bell.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere’s earnings has moved north over the past 60 days to $4.79 per share. The consensus mark implies a 0.8% rise from the year-ago actual. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $10.78 billion, indicating a 4.1% year-over-year increase.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DE’s Earnings Surprise HistoryDeere’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 10.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What the Zacks Model Predicts for DeereOur model does not predict an earnings beat for DE this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here.

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Deere is -1.14%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Deere currently has a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped DE’s Q3 PerformanceDeere has been facing challenges due to weak farmer spending amid low commodity prices. In the wake of challenging conditions in the global agricultural and construction sectors, DE has been aligning its production with demand levels.
This is likely to have weighed on the company’s fiscal third-quarter performance. High production expenses are also expected to have impacted the company’s margin in the quarter.

Nevertheless, favorable price realization is expected to have negated some of these headwinds, as seen in the fiscal second quarter.

Projections for Deere’s Segments in Q3The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Production & Precision Agriculture segment’s revenues is pegged at $3.94 billion for the fiscal third quarter, suggesting a year-over-year decrease of 7.9%. Gains from price realization are likely to have been offset by escalated production expenses and lower shipment volumes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s operating profit is pegged at $491 million, indicating a 15.3% decrease from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.

The consensus estimate for the Small Agriculture & Turf segment’s revenues is pegged at $3.39 billion for the fiscal third quarter, implying a 12% increase from the prior-year quarter’s actual. The segment’s operating profit is estimated at $495 million, suggesting 2% year-over-year growth.

The Construction & Forestry segment’s sales are pegged at $3.57 billion for the fiscal third quarter, implying a 16.9% rise from the prior-year quarter’s reported number. The segment’s operating profit is pegged at $424 million, whereas it reported $237 million in the prior year.

The estimate for the Financial Services segment’s revenues is pegged at $1.61 billion for the fiscal third quarter, indicating a 4.1% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The projection for the segment’s operating profit is $271 million. The segment reported operating profit of $266 million in the prior-year quarter.

DE Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of the company have gained 23.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s 19.5% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

A Look at Deere’s Peer PerformancesLindsay Corporation (LNN - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.53 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 by 8.5%. The bottom line declined 14% year over year.

Lindsay’s sales totaled $160.8 million, down 5% year over year. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $169 million by 5.15%. Irrigation softness outweighed infrastructure growth. The quarter reflected persistent demand challenges in North America and Brazil.

CNH Industrial N.V. (CNH - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 13 cents, which declined from 17 cents in the prior-year quarter. The figure, however, surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents.

In the second quarter, CNH Industrial’s net sales grew 2% from the year-ago level to $4.80 billion and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.76 billion.

AGCO Corp. (AGCO - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings per share of $1.43 in second-quarter 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.54 by 7.14%. AGCO Corp posted adjusted EPS of $1.35 in the year-ago quarter.

Net sales declined 1% year over year to $2.61 billion and missed the consensus estimate of $2.73 billion. Excluding the favorable currency-translation impacts of 2.7%, net sales fell 3.7% year over year.

Key Takeaways Campbell's is expanding Meals & Beverages innovation with Condensed Sauces and new soup ideas.Cooking-focused soup products grew 3.4% fiscal year to date and 1.5% in fiscal Q3 2026.Rao's Q3 consumption rose 15%, while Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm added targeted snack launches. The Campbell's Company (CPB - Free Report) is putting greater emphasis on product innovation across key parts of its portfolio. The push is especially visible in Meals & Beverages, where upcoming launches are tied to at-home cooking and flavor exploration. The company is also increasing investment in consumer insights to support elevated brand investment and a bolder pipeline of innovation.

One of the clearest upcoming launches is Campbell’s Condensed Sauces, scheduled for the summer. The product is designed to tap consumers’ interest in cooking at home and experimenting with new flavors. Beyond this launch, Campbell’s has outlined a broader soup innovation pipeline focused on bringing newness, health benefits and additional eating occasions to the category.

The existing cooking-oriented portfolio provides a base for this strategy. Products used in scratch or semi-scratch cooking across Campbell’s, Swanson and Pacific represent roughly half of the U.S. retail soup portfolio. This group grew approximately 3.4% fiscal year to date and 1.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026.

Innovation is also visible across premium brands. Rao’s total brand consumption increased 15% in the fiscal third quarter, while sauce rose 13%, benefiting from fundamentals that included innovation from its Creamy line. Products outside pasta sauce consumption grew 22% in the fiscal second quarter, while Campbell’s plans to continue investing in Rao’s pasta, soup and frozen offerings. Pacific and Rao’s ready-to-serve soups also posted consumption growth of 7% and 8%, respectively.

In Snacks, Goldfish recently launched a Pokemon collaboration aimed at families with kids. Pepperidge Farm introduced limited-edition Maggie’s Apple Pie cookies, while Chessmen benefited from innovation and merchandising support. Together, these launches reflect Campbell’s focus on using targeted product innovation to create fresh consumer interest and support established snack brands.

Campbell's Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 2.6% over the past month, underperforming the industry and the S&P 500’s growth of 5.4% and 4.1%, respectively. However, CPB outperformed the broader Consumer Staples sector’s growth of 0.3% over the same period.

CPB Stock's Past Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Is Campbell's a Value Play Stock?Campbell's currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 11.28, which is lower than the industry average of 15.23 and below the sector average of 17.13. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.

CPB 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 24.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. USFD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). US Foods Holding delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.3% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

Key Takeaways Realty Income expands its data center strategy to broaden growth beyond traditional net-lease real estate.The strategy could support future hyperscale data-center investments across the U.S. and Europe.Long leases and investment-grade tenants provide predictable cash flows and broaden Realty Income's market. Realty Income’s (O - Free Report) push into data centers is beginning to take on greater strategic importance as the company looks to broaden its growth avenues beyond traditional net-lease real estate. A key component of that strategy is its existing partnership with Cloud Capital, under which Realty Income expects to invest up to $1.4 billion for a 45% stake in an initial three-asset Northern Virginia portfolio valued at more than $6 billion. The assets have less than 400 MW of capacity, are fully leased or pre-leased, and carry 15-20-year triple-net leases with investment-grade hyperscale tenants.   

The partnership is designed to be more than a one-time transaction. Realty Income describes it as a programmatic platform that could support future hyperscale data center investments across the United States and Europe.   

The Cloud Capital venture also builds on Realty Income’s existing data center relationship with Digital Realty. The company invested about $200 million in a build-to-suit data center joint venture in 2023 and held an 80% interest in two properties as of June 30, 2026.

The strategy gives Realty Income access to a global data center market estimated at more than $1 trillion in real estate value. For Realty Income, this could diversify its heavily retail-focused portfolio, broaden its addressable market and create a scalable source of long-term growth. The long-term leases and investment-grade tenants could also support predictable cash flows, while the partnership provides an avenue to deploy capital across the United States and Europe.

How Are Realty Income's Peers Adopting Data Center Strategy?Prologis (PLD - Free Report) is aggressively expanding beyond logistics into data centers.  In second-quarter 2026, its data center power pipeline expanded to 5.8 GW. Prologis started $1.6 billion of development across logistics and data centers, highlighting its focus on leveraging its global land bank and infrastructure to capture growing demand for AI and digital infrastructure.

Iron Mountain (IRM - Free Report) has already made data centers a meaningful growth business. In second-quarter 2026, it signed 13 MW of data center leases, taking year-to-date leasing to 110 MW, including 75 MW signed in July. Data center, digital and ALM businesses collectively grew over 50% year over year.

Realty Income’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Realty Income have risen 0.5% over the past three months, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of forward 12-month Price/Earnings (P/E), Realty Income is currently trading at 13.72X, which is at a discount to the industry average of 17.1X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Realty Income’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS has been revised marginally upward over the past two months. The consensus estimate calls for 4% growth year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Realty Income carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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The artificial-intelligence buildout is creating an unusual problem for semiconductor investors: demand is arriving faster than the supply chain can deliver the most advanced components. High-bandwidth memory, or HBM, is at the center of that squeeze because AI accelerators need enormous amounts of fast memory to keep their processors fed with data. 

That has been a major tailwind for Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) and SK hynix (NASDAQ:SKHY), whose HBM businesses are expanding alongside AI infrastructure spending. Now, however, a new wrinkle has appeared: Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is reportedly testing lower-memory configurations for its next-generation Rubin Ultra accelerators. That has raised concerns about “despec” risk.

What Does Despec Mean For Micron? Despec simply means reducing the amount or performance of a component from its original specification.

For Micron shareholders, that matters because every AI accelerator equipped with less HBM represents fewer memory bits sold. If Nvidia moves Rubin Ultra from a planned 1 terabyte of HBM to configurations as low as 192GB, the potential hit to memory demand could be meaningful.

The concern is not theoretical. According to BofA Global Research note, Nvidia is evaluating Rubin Ultra configurations ranging from 192GB to 288GB because of HBM supply constraints and HBM4e qualification delays.

But there is an important catch: Less memory comes with a performance penalty.

Supply chains are buckling under the AI boom, forcing a high-stakes engineering compromise. See why Nvidia’s shift to lower-memory specs is putting Micron shareholders on high alert. The Numbers Point Toward A Bottleneck, Not A New Normal BofA’s analysis says performance falls sharply below 500GB, making a return to much higher memory capacities more likely as supply improves. Nvidia’s own July technical documentation shows its standard Rubin GPU already supports up to 288GB of HBM4 and 22 terabytes (TB) per second of memory bandwidth.

That makes the current despec look more like an engineering compromise than a change in what AI systems ultimately need.

Ironically, the broader HBM supply chain is moving in the opposite direction. BofA says upcoming HBM4e and HBM5 generations are already being designed around 12-high and 16-high stacks, supporting roughly 500GB to 1TB of memory per accelerator. In other words, the industry is building more memory capacity into future products at the same time Nvidia is testing lower-capacity Rubin Ultra configurations.

BofA also argues that roughly 1TB ultimately becomes a “must-have” for Rubin Ultra, particularly as physical AI workloads demand larger memory pools.

What This Means For Micron Investors Nvidia’s testing of 192GB and 288GB configurations could reduce HBM content per Rubin Ultra accelerator during the initial ramp. That could create a temporary volume headwind for Micron and SK hynix if constrained HBM4e availability forces Nvidia to ship lower-memory versions.

But the bigger trend remains intact: AI workloads are becoming more memory-intensive, not less. Nvidia says Vera Rubin is designed for agentic AI and massive long-context workloads, with the platform already ramping into production. Those workloads make memory capacity increasingly important, while physical AI adds another demand driver.

Granted, investors should watch Rubin Ultra’s final configuration closely. A prolonged shift toward lower-memory accelerators would change the HBM growth story.

Key Takeaway For Micron shareholders, “despec” risk is worth monitoring but doesn’t yet undermine the investment thesis. The 192 GB to 288 GB configurations appear tied to near-term HBM4e supply and qualification constraints, while performance deteriorates below 500GB and the industry is already moving toward 500GB-to-1TB accelerators. 

In the end, that looks more like a temporary supply bottleneck than a collapse in HBM content. The momentum behind Micron and SK hynix remains intact as AI accelerators demand more memory, not less.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways AMC refinanced $400 million of 2027 debt and extended its maturity by four years.AMC's actions are expected to cut annual cash interest expense by approximately $16 million.AMC has $778 million in cash and has reduced debt by $1.7 billion since the end of 2020. AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC - Free Report) has made progress in reducing financial leverage through debt refinancing, repayments and equity-related actions. The company aims to bring leverage down to around 3x over time. Lower debt and borrowing costs could help improve financial flexibility as AMC works toward this goal.

During the second quarter, AMC refinanced $400 million of debt due in 2027, extending the maturity by four years. The company also converted approximately $155.8 million of exchangeable debt due in 2030 into equity. In addition, AMC completed a $150 million at-the-market equity offering, raising more than $85 million, followed by a $200 million registered direct equity offering. The company then moved to redeem $125.5 million of senior subordinated notes due in 2027.

These actions are expected to reduce AMC’s annual cash interest expense by approximately $16 million. The company also does not anticipate any material debt principal payments before 2029. Further savings could come from lower interest rates on approximately 75% of the debt as leverage improves, potentially reducing annual interest expense by another $51 million.

AMC ended the second quarter with $778 million of cash, excluding restricted cash, while debt has declined $1.7 billion since the end of 2020. The stronger balance sheet and lower borrowing costs should help reduce financial pressure. However, AMC still needs to make further progress from leverage below 6.5x to reach its 3x target.

AMC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of AMC have surged 100% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 5% growth. In the same time frame, AMC has outperformed industry players like Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (CNK - Free Report) and The Marcus Corporation (MCS - Free Report) .

AMC’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, AMC trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.39, below the industry’s average of 2.9. Cinemark and Marcus have P/S ratios of 1.2 and 1.11, respectively.

AMC’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMC’s 2026 loss per share indicates a 77.1% year-over-year improvement. Conversely, industry players like Cinemark and Marcus are likely to witness growth of 126.9% and 652.9%, respectively, year over year in 2026 earnings.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AMC’s Zacks RankAMC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Square today announced an expanded, preferred partnership with OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech, bringing reservations, payments, and guest data together in one connected view. Restaurants have historically managed reservation and transaction data across separate systems, making it difficult to oversee the full customer journey. By building together, the integration further connects OpenTable’s powerful guest insights with Square’s transaction and operational data, giving operators a more complete understanding of their guests on Square software and hardware including Square Handheld. With this view, restaurant operators can link reservations to revenue and make more informed decisions about loyalty, marketing, and guest engagement.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260818790087/en/

Photo courtesy of Square and OpenTable

OpenTable helps operators understand who their guests are, from their booking behaviors, to dining preferences, and special occasion dates. Meanwhile, Square provides insight into what happens once guests arrive, including order details, spend, payment method, and repeat visits. Building on the companies’ point-of-sale partnership that began in 2022, this enhanced integration unlocks deeper insights sharing between the two platforms to address the restaurant pain point of disconnected systems.

“Reservations, payments, and guest data shouldn’t be different systems that restaurant operators have to stitch together themselves,” said James Schonzeit, Head of Food and Beverage at Square. “No one has time for that, and we’re not in the business of gatekeeping their most valuable insights. By providing a cohesive view of guest and transaction data, Square and OpenTable are removing the manual work of piecing together who a guest is, so operators can get valuable time back and spend it on the hospitality and craft that keeps their guests happy.”

One Unified View for Better Guest Recognition and Engagement

Across both the Square and OpenTable platforms, expanded capabilities that restaurants can now opt-into include the following:

View every guest more completely: Reservation history, dining preferences, and transaction data come together in a unified guest profile, helping restaurants recognize returning diners and deliver more personalized hospitality.Turn reservations into lasting guest relationships: Connect reservation and transaction data to power loyalty, personalized marketing, and more meaningful guest engagement.Measure the true value of every reservation: Link bookings to spend, repeat visits, and lifetime value, giving operators a deeper understanding of guest behavior and business performance.“Restaurants can do their best work when they have tech running behind the scenes that interacts seamlessly to deliver insights that power hospitality – that’s what this expanded partnership enables,” said Robin Chiang, Chief Growth Officer at OpenTable. “Square is a natural partner to support OpenTable’s mission of serving restaurants and we look forward to working together to deliver best-in-class guest insights, connectivity and security.”

“Square and OpenTable working closely together means our restaurant isn't guessing who's walking through the door,” said Justin Pichetrungsi, James Beard Award–winning chef and owner of Anajak Thai. “We might know their favorite dish, what they're celebrating, their preferences, and how regularly they visit. Our ability to cater to this only improves the hospitality our restaurant is known for. Both platforms have become essential to how we run our business, and now we're able to keep raising the bar on what our guests experience every time they book, sit down with us, order, and pay."

What's Next

Today’s announcement marks the next step in Square and OpenTable's shared vision to simplify restaurant operations and deliver a more connected guest experience. Future enhancements will focus on faster onboarding, smarter reservation workflows, richer guest intelligence across every ordering channel, and deeper integration of loyalty, customer engagement, and payment experiences.

The partnership serves restaurants across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Ireland, and France. To learn more, visit: squareup.com/us/en/ref/opentable

About Square

Square helps businesses turn transactions into connections and businesses into neighborhood favorites.

In 2009, Square started with a simple invention — the first mobile card reader, which changed how the entire financial system thinks about small businesses. Square has since grown into a global business platform helping millions of sellers of all sizes participate and thrive in their communities.

Whether independently run or a global chain, Square understands that sellers succeed when they have the freedom to focus on the experiences that keep customers coming back. From point of sale and payments to online commerce, staff management, cash flow tools, and more, Square brings together the tools sellers need to run and grow on one intelligent platform. For more information, visit squareup.com.

About OpenTable

OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 70,000 restaurants worldwide fill 2 billion seats a year. OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260818790087/en/

The best AI infrastructure trade of 2026 could be a server maker. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL | DELL Price Prediction) trades at $490.81, up 293.52% year to date on record AI server orders. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target is $560.77, implying 14.25% upside over 12 months. We rate Dell a buy with 90% confidence.

  Metric Value Current Price $490.81 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $560.77 Upside 14.25% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% A $24 Billion Quarter Reset the Narrative Dell’s Q1 FY27 earnings on May 28, 2026 reframed the AI trade. Revenue hit $43.84 billion, up 87.54% YoY, with non-GAAP EPS of $4.86 beating consensus by nearly 64%.

AI-optimized server revenue reached $16.13 billion (+757% YoY), and management booked $24.4 billion in AI orders in a single quarter, exiting with a $51.3 billion AI backlog. The stock has climbed 19.12% in the past month and sits 2% from its 52-week high of $514.

The Case for $585 and Higher Our bull scenario points to $585.31, or roughly 19% upside. Dell raised FY27 revenue to $165 to $169 billion and non-GAAP EPS to $17.90 at midpoint, up 74% YoY. CEO Jeff Clark said “demand continues to exceed supply” and framed customer conversations as “multi-year in nature. Think three, four, five years.”

ISG operating margin expanded to 10.5%, with agentic AI layering in as a fresh tailwind for traditional servers. 19 buy or strong buy ratings against zero sells show sell-side alignment with the bull view.

What Could Go Wrong Our bear case lands at $422.16, a 14% drawdown. Q1 gross margin compressed to 17.8% from 21.1% YoY as low-margin AI servers dominate mix. Negative stockholders’ equity of -$1.4 billion and hyperscaler concentration pose real risks.

Operating income still grew 213.82% YoY, offsetting the mix shift. A beta of 1.4 means any AI capex pause would hit Dell harder than the market.

How Dell Stacks Up Against HPE and Super Micro Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) is the closest enterprise server analog. HPE raised FY26 non-GAAP EPS guidance to $3.35 to $3.45 after posting Q2 revenue of $10.68 billion, up 40% YoY. HPE’s FY27 framework calls for 8% to 12% revenue growth, well below Dell’s 47% FY27 guide. Dell is scaling faster and returning more capital, supporting a premium.

Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) is the AI server pure play. SMCI guided FY27 revenue to $65 to $72 billion and trades at a P/E near 12.

The cheap multiple reflects margin instability (Q1 FY26 GAAP gross margin was 9.3%) and an ongoing board review tied to export-control matters. Dell’s diversified ISG and CSG mix earns its higher multiple. The peer set supports our $560.77 target as a reasonable read.

Dell Price Prediction 2026-2030 The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $560.77 is our high-conviction call, backed by 90% model confidence and a forward P/E of 27 that looks fair given 74% EPS growth guidance.

The bull thesis rests on hyperscaler AI capex holding through 2027 (Dell is one server maker inside that buildout, and we mapped seven other non-chip AI infrastructure names in a free report). The bear thesis kicks in if memory and GPU supply loosen in a way that cracks pricing power.

Extending the 24/7 Wall St. price target model forward, here is where Dell could trade assuming ISG growth normalizes and traditional server refresh cycles support the base.

Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $560 2027 $625 2028 $685 2029 $730 2030 $763 These projections assume Dell converts AI backlog to revenue and defends ISG operating margins. Significant upside or downside could result from hyperscaler AI capex trajectory or a sustained shift in GPU allocation away from Dell’s platforms.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Shares of Carvana (NYSE:CVNA | CVNA Price Prediction) are down 7% to $65.50 Tuesday morning, extending a slide that has left Carvana stock lower for 2026 even as the used-vehicle disruptor just posted its best quarter on record. The move puts the year-to-date figure squarely at odds with the operating story.

Through Monday’s close, Carvana stock was down 17% year to date (YTD). CarMax stock, meanwhile, was up 51% over the same stretch. That inversion is the headline, and it puts pressure on the original thesis that Carvana’s online-first model was uniquely defensible against traditional dealers.

Record Quarter, Falling Stock Carvana’s Q2 2026 report on July 29 delivered all-time records. Total revenue reached $7.4 billion, up 52% versus Q2 2025, net income was $513 million, up 66.6%, and retail units sold hit 197,325, up 38%.

Carvana’s gross profit per unit was $7,014, down 5.4%, the one operating metric moving the wrong way. Online used-vehicle inventory at Carvana reached roughly 77,000 as of June 30, up from 75,000 at year-end 2025 and 53,000 a year earlier.

CEO Ernie Garcia III flagged inventory as a drag on the July 29 call, stating “Inventory has undergrown sales over the last several months, and that certainly creates a headwind to just the overall business. The team’s got a great plan, and we’re confident they’ll catch up and hopefully surpass it in the not-too-distant future.” The comment framed inventory build as a near-term margin headwind rather than a demand problem.

Garcia frames Carvana’s growth as a virtuous circle where more inventory drives more sales, sales make marketing more efficient, and demand pulls in more inventory. The company is also integrating ADESA, acquired in 2022, across 56 U.S. locations, with a stated goal of selling 3 million used cars annually within five to 10 years.

The Bear Debate Retail investor debate on Stocktwits has moved past the quarterly beat at Carvana. Community threads flag skepticism about the business model, concerns over aggressive accounting, elevated institutional short interest, and recent reports of federal scrutiny of related-party transactions.

None of those concerns are established fact against Carvana, and the company holds 2% of the U.S. used retail vehicle market with capacity for 1.5 million annual retail units and real estate to scale to 3 million. Yet the friction between short holders and long holders has widened, and Carvana stock reflects that unease more than the record quarter.

Peers Sit Flat as CarMax Runs CarMax (NYSE:KMX) stock is down 0.4% to $58.29 Tuesday, with CarMax shares up 51% year to date through Monday’s close. The company runs more than 255 stores, with digital capabilities supporting 84% of retail unit sales, and CarMax Auto Finance originated $8 billion in loans in fiscal 2026 against a $16 billion portfolio.

Meanwhile, Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) stock is down 0.4% to $367.91, with Lithia shares up 12% year to date through Monday. The company operates the largest global automotive retail footprint, including Driveway.com, GreenCars.com, and Driveway Finance Corporation across the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

Also, AutoNation (NYSE:AN) stock is down 0.8% to $203.43, with AutoNation shares down 0.7% year to date through Monday. The company runs franchised dealerships nationwide, and AutoNation Finance carries a portfolio exceeding $2.7 billion.

The read is straightforward. The incumbents have built their own digital storefronts and captive-finance arms, which weakens the argument that Carvana’s online model is uniquely defensible. CarMax’s large 2026 gain against Carvana’s decline is the clearest expression of that shift.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLY) shares are down 2% year to date through Monday’s close. The fund holds Carvana among many constituents, so it offers a loose read on used-vehicle retail, with concentration in a small number of large consumer names and no leverage.

What to Watch Investors could look for signs that Carvana’s inventory growth catches up to sales in coming quarters. Any formal disclosure tied to the reported scrutiny of related-party transactions could reframe the bear case at Carvana.

Carvana’s gross profit per unit is the other line to track, since it was the sole operating metric moving the wrong way last quarter. Stabilization there would blunt one of the loudest points in the short thesis.

On the peer side, CarMax’s late-fall Strategic Update under new CEO Keith Barr is the next major catalyst for the incumbents. A credible turnaround plan could sustain the KMX rerating and keep pressure on the argument that Carvana’s model is uniquely defensible.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Rocket Lab's GHOST extends Electron and HASTE operations beyond existing launch sites.GHOST combines rockets, launch infrastructure and range-control systems in a deployable system.Rocket Lab's Kodiak facility will feature two launch pads to support high-frequency campaigns. Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) is expanding its launch infrastructure strategy with GHOST, a globally deployable launch system designed to support orbital and suborbital missions from new locations. On Aug. 10, 2026, the company unveiled GHOST as a containerized system that packages rockets, launch infrastructure, ground support and range-control systems for deployment worldwide.

GHOST is designed to extend the reach of Rocket Lab's Electron and HASTE rockets beyond its existing launch sites. The system's first location, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 4, will be established at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, AK, with two launch pads planned to aid high-frequency campaigns. The facility is expected to make its operational debut with a suborbital launch in 2027.

The deployable infrastructure also allows Rocket Lab to use common ground infrastructure for both Electron and HASTE. This gives the company greater flexibility to support orbital and suborbital missions from additional locations while expanding the potential applications of its existing launch vehicles.

By making launch infrastructure more modular and transportable, GHOST could help Rocket Lab respond to missions that require greater geographic flexibility and rapid site activation. Expanding launch locations also provides an opportunity to support sovereign launch requirements and time-sensitive national security missions, potentially broadening Rocket Lab's addressable launch market.

Companies Expanding Responsive Launch InfrastructureThe growing need for flexible access to space is encouraging launch companies to expand infrastructure and mission capabilities. Companies like Firefly Aerospace, Inc. (FLY - Free Report) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX - Free Report) are also enhancing launch capabilities to improve mission flexibility and responsiveness.

Firefly Aerospace operates launch infrastructure for its Alpha rocket and is expanding its launch capabilities to support commercial and government missions.

Space Exploration Technologies leverages a geographically distributed launch network and high launch cadence to enable rapid deployment of commercial and national-security missions.

Earnings Estimates for RKLB StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 70.37% and 56.25%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RKLB Stock Is Trading at a PremiumRocket Lab is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 41.62X compared with the industry average of 8.88X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RKLB Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, RKLB shares have surged 100.3% compared with the industry’s 16.3% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RKLB’s Zacks RankRocket Lab currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The U.S. solar market continues to benefit from strong demand from utilities, commercial customers and power-hungry data centers, with SEIA forecasting the nation’s solar fleet to double over the next five years. However, policy changes under the OBBBA and rising tariffs are creating a more uneven growth outlook by increasing uncertainty, raising manufacturing costs and putting pressure on supply chains. While utility-scale solar is expected to remain the primary growth driver, the expiration of residential tax incentives and ongoing trade actions could weigh on broader market expansion. A few prominent companies that solar investors may want to monitor are First Solar (FSLR - Free Report) , Enphase Energy (ENPH - Free Report) and T1 Energy Inc (TE - Free Report) . 

About the Industry The Zacks Solar industry can be fundamentally categorized into two groups of companies. One is involved in designing and producing high-efficiency solar modules, panels and cells, while the other is engaged in installing grids and, in some cases, entire solar power systems. The industry also includes a handful of companies that manufacture inverters for solar power systems, which convert solar power from modules into electricity required by electric grids. Per a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”), solar’s share of U.S. electricity generation will be 8% in 2026 and 9% in 2027. It remains the nation's dominant form of new generating capacity.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Solar Industry Strong Demand Supports Solar Market Growth: Across the United States, utilities and commercial customers are turning to solar power paired with battery storage to meet their growing need for affordable, dependable and cleaner electricity. Higher power costs and corporate decarbonization goals are strengthening the economic case for solar, while battery systems provide an added layer of reliability by supplying electricity when grid conditions are strained or outages occur. At the same time, surging power requirements from data centers are creating a powerful new source of demand for renewable generation and energy storage. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence, cloud services and other digital technologies is driving hyperscalers and technology companies to commit substantial capital to large-scale solar and storage projects. By securing additional generation and storage capacity, these companies can better address their future electricity needs while advancing their emissions-reduction and net-zero objectives.

A report published in June 2026 by the Solar Energy Industries Association (“SEIA”) states that U.S. solar outlook for 2026-2031 has been raised by 1.4%, driven mainly by stronger utility-scale demand. The updated forecast points to the U.S. solar fleet doubling over the next five years, although annual capacity additions are expected to remain largely stagnant. By comparison, the previous doubling of the U.S. solar industry took just three years.

Policy Changes Reshape the U.S. Solar Growth Outlook: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) has significantly changed the timeline for federal solar tax incentives. The key July 4, 2026, deadline for beginning construction has now passed, meaning solar projects that did not commence construction by that date generally must be placed in service by Dec. 31, 2027, to qualify for the Section 48E Investment Tax Credit or Section 45Y Production Tax Credit. Another major policy issue is the OBBBA's new Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) restrictions. These rules affect projects seeking the 45Y and 48E credits, as well as manufacturers claiming the Section 45X advanced manufacturing credit. The OBBBA also eliminated the Section 25D residential clean-energy tax credit for customer-owned solar and storage systems after Dec. 31, 2025. This has created a more immediate headwind for the residential market than for utility-scale solar. SEIA expects residential installations to decline sharply in 2026 following the expiration of 25D. SEIA expects the OBBBA to create a more uneven growth profile. Developers have been accelerating projects and securing their pipelines in response to the new tax-credit rules, which could pull some installations forward into 2026-2027 while creating greater uncertainty beyond that period.

Tariff Policies Add Pressure to the U.S. Solar Industry: The heightened U.S. tariffs on imported goods have been negatively impacting nearly all industries, and solar is no exception. As expected, these tariffs have increased manufacturing costs for solar companies, which were already grappling with raw material shortages due to global supply-chain challenges. The SEIA’s June 2026 report highlights tariffs and ongoing trade actions as a significant challenge for the U.S. solar manufacturing industry. Although domestic module production has expanded substantially and now supplies about 70% of U.S. solar installations, manufacturers still depend heavily on imported solar cells, with the United States having only about 3 GW of domestic cell manufacturing capacity. New preliminary antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) tariffs announced for solar cells and modules from India, Indonesia and Laos add further pressure, while Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam were already subject to tariffs. Together, these six countries supplied 78% of U.S. cell imports in 2025, meaning the trade measures could raise costs and tighten component availability for domestic manufacturers. SEIA also warned that a potential Section 232 action on solar-grade polysilicon and derivative products could further constrain U.S. solar manufacturing, depending on its scope.

Zacks Industry Rank Reflects Gloomy Outlook The Zacks Solar industry is housed within the broader Zacks Oils-Energy sector. It currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #202, which places it in the bottom 18% of more than 247 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bleak near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is due to a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have lost confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential over the past few months. The industry’s bottom-line estimate for the current fiscal year has moved down 10.7% to $1.34 since May 31.

Before we present a few solar stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Lags Sector & S&P 500 The solar industry has underperformed both its sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively lost 6.9% over the past year, while the Oils-Energy sector has risen 37.6%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has surged 23% in the same time frame.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA, which is commonly used for valuing solar stocks, the industry is currently trading at 10.66X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.16X and the sector’s 5.83X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 32.53X, as low as 4.48X and at the median of 12.44X.

EV-EBITDA Ratio (TTM)

 

3 Solar Stocks to Watch First Solar: Based in Tempe, AZ, the company is a leading global provider of comprehensive PV solar energy solutions and specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling solar electric power modules using a proprietary thin-film semiconductor technology. On July 30, 2026, FSLR reported second-quarter results. The company achieved record second-quarter and first-half module sales volume, surpassed 100 GW of cumulative global module sales, and ended June with a substantial 45.1 GW contracted backlog extending through 2030. First Solar also maintained its 2026 guidance, including 17.0-18.2 GW of volume sold, $4.9-$5.2 billion in net sales and $2.6-$2.8 billion in adjusted EBITDA.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Solar’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates an improvement of 24.91% from the prior-year reported figure. The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS indicates an improvement of 36.93% year over year. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Price & Consensus: FSLR

Enphase Energy: Based in Fremont, CA, this company is a global energy technology company that delivers energy management technology for the solar industry. It designs, develops, manufactures and sells home energy solutions, which connect energy generation, energy storage and control and communications management on a single intelligent platform. On July 28, 2026, Enphase Energy reported second-quarter results. The company shipped 1.59 million microinverters and 113.8 MWh of IQ Batteries, with battery shipments up from 103.1 MWh in the first quarter. U.S. manufacturing remained strong with 1.58 million microinverters and battery inverters shipped from its Texas and South Carolina facilities.

The consensus estimate for Enphase Energy’s 2027 EPS indicates an increase of 20% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2027 sales indicates an increase of 9.56% year over year. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Price & Consensus: ENPH

T1 Energy: Based in New York, the company is an energy solutions provider, building an integrated supply chain for solar and batteries. On Aug. 12, 2026, T1 Energy reported second-quarter results. T1 Energy reported approximately $250 million in net sales, while the company’s G1_Dallas facility continued to ramp up production. The company expects full-year 2026 production to reach the high end of its 3.1-4.2 GW target. T1 Energy also monetized its remaining 2025 Section 45X tax credits for $39.1 million, helping strengthen liquidity. However, it remained loss-making, with an estimated net loss from continuing operations of $34-$37 million and negative adjusted EBITDA of $14.5-$11.5 million.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for T1 Energy’s 2026 EPS indicates an increase of 83.25% year over year. The consensus estimate for 2026 sales indicates an increase of 27.23% year over year. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Price & Consensus: TE

Main Street Capital (MAIN +0.14%) has been a very reliable income stock. The business development company (BDC) has never cut its base monthly dividend since going public in 2007, something most of its peers have done at least once. Instead, it has increased this payment by 141% overall, including 12 raises since 2021.

Here's a closer look at what makes it such a bankable monthly dividend stock.

Image source: Getty Images.

A stable and steadily rising income base Main Street Capital currently pays a base monthly dividend of $0.265 per share ($3.18 annualized). At its current annualized rate and share price, it yields 5.4%. The base rate has grown by 3.9% over the past year and by over 29% since 2021.

Several factors have helped drive its stable, growing dividend. Main Street Capital set its base monthly dividend at a conservative level. Its distributable net investment income (DNII) before taxes currently covers the payout by a comfy 1.4 times. Meanwhile, its investment portfolio primarily consists of secured loans that generate recurring interest income to support the dividend. Additionally, Main Street Capital will make equity investments in its portfolio companies that generate dividend income and provide capital appreciation. The upside from those equity investments has been a key driver of dividend growth over the years, as Main Street can monetize gains and reinvest the proceeds to expand its portfolio of income-generating investments. They've helped grow its net asset value per share by 164% since 2007.

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But wait, there's even more income here As a BDC, Main Street Capital must distribute at least 90% of its taxable net income to shareholders in dividends. Given its conservative monthly dividend level, the company needs to return additional income to shareholders, which it does by periodically paying supplemental quarterly dividends. Main Street has paid one for 20 consecutive quarters, including maintaining its current rate of $0.30 per share since early 2024. Add that to the monthly payments ($4.38 annualized), and Main Street's total current income yield is 7.4%.

Unlike the monthly dividend, Main Street Capital has cut and suspended this supplemental payment in the past due to market conditions. However, this dual dividend structure provides investors with a bankable recurring monthly income stream and the potential for meaningful additional income each quarter from supplemental payments. It has already declared its next supplemental dividend of $0.30 per share, payable in September. It currently expects to pay an additional significant supplemental dividend in December, based on its expectation of continued strong performance in the third quarter.

One bankable payment plus a potential income bonus Main Street Capital offers investors the opportunity to earn two income streams. It pays a base dividend set at a level it can sustain and grow. Additionally, it periodically pays supplemental dividends from its excess income. The BDC has increased its base payment 12 times since 2021, while making 20 straight supplemental quarterly payments. While there might be a time in the future when it doesn't make a supplemental payment, the BDC should continue to sustain and grow its base payment. Its unique dividend policy makes it an excellent passive-income stock to hold over the long term.

Hydrogen and fuel cell stocks are sliding Tuesday morning as the 10-year Treasury note yield sits near the top of its 52-week range. Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) stock is down 5% to $2.17.

Meanwhile, Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) stock is falling 8% to $214.44. FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) stock is holding relatively steady, as it’s only down 0.5% to $22.25.

Plug Power, Bloom Energy, and FuelCell Energy fund plants, manufacturing capacity, and long-duration projects, so higher discount rates compress their valuations while higher borrowing costs raise the price of buildout. Both effects push the same way.

The Yield Backdrop The 10-year Treasury yield at 4.728% sits below the 52-week high of 4.747% and inside a 52-week range that starts at 3.947%. Rate-sensitive corners of the market feel this immediately, and Plug Power, Bloom Energy, and FuelCell Energy sit at the sharp end given cash burn and long project horizons.

A higher discount rate compresses the present value of profits that management projects years out. Higher borrowing costs raise the tab on capital these companies need to build capacity.

Plug Power’s Q2 2026 Cushion Plug Power stock trails its peers on YTD gains despite a Q2 2026 report showing margin progress. The company’s revenue reached $178.3M, representing 2.5% year over year (YoY) growth from $168.8M. The company’s adjusted earnings were -$0.07, essentially in line.

The margin picture told a sharper story. The company’s adjusted EBITDA margin was negative 25.4%, and service margin reached 27%. CEO Jose Luis Crespo described a “meaningful step” in gross margin, approaching breakeven, and attributed it to improved service reliability and better utilization at hydrogen production plants.

On the earnings call, Crespo told Colin Rusch of Oppenheimer that better unit reliability, more efficient technician coverage, and recent service price adjustments drove the service margin gain. He told Eric Stine of Craig Hallum that refreshes for two major customers follow normal fleet renewal timing, with roughly 2,000 units expected in 2026 and further activity across the next three years. CFO Paul Middleton, replying to Manav Gupta of UBS, pointed to equipment volume growth, manufacturing cost reductions, and service reliability improvements as the main levers for the second half.

Rate exposure runs directly through liquidity at Plug Power. Middleton told Sameer Joshi of H.C. Wainwright that Plug Power’s convertible debt is long-dated and low cost, and that asset monetization and working capital improvements are supporting liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. A business running a negative 25.4% adjusted EBITDA margin that leans on asset monetization for cash faces more exposure to the price and availability of capital than a self-funding peer.

Peers Diverge: Bloom Energy and FuelCell Energy Bloom Energy stock is falling 8% to $214.44 Tuesday, giving back a slice of a year to date (YTD) advance of 167% through Monday’s close. The company makes solid oxide fuel cell systems for onsite power and has become a meaningful supplier to AI data center operators, including major U.S. hyperscalers and neocloud and colocation operators.

FuelCell Energy stock is essentially flat, down 0.5% to $22.25, with a YTD gain of 206% through Monday. Its business designs and operates carbonate fuel cell systems for distributed power generation, with a generation portfolio of approximately 62.8 MW across U.S. sites under long-term power purchase agreements.

Selling in Bloom Energy is heaviest despite AI data center exposure, while selling in FuelCell Energy is minimal. This points to a rate event rather than a demand event.

Plug Power’s 16% YTD gain through Monday trails both of the company’s peers by wide margins. A smaller run-up means less air to give back in a derating. PLUG stock has not been rewarded for the operational progress the second quarter showed, and the low absolute share price means small dollar moves produce large percentage swings.

Meanwhile, the Global X Hydrogen ETF (NASDAQ:HYDR) is up 44% year to date through Monday’s close. This narrow thematic vehicle carries significant concentration risk. A single-theme hydrogen basket offers little protection when the entire theme derates on rates.

What to Watch Investors could look for signs that the 10-year yield breaks above its 52-week high, as another leg higher can keep pressure on the group. Plug Power management has guided to positive gross margin in the second half, a key operational milestone for the stock. The material handling refresh cycle and its 2,000-unit 2026 target are the concrete milestones behind that path.

Plug Power’s bull case rests on margin progress, the 27% service margin, reduced cash burn, and long-dated, low-cost convertible debt. The bear case is real: a negative 25.4% adjusted EBITDA margin, continued losses, reliance on asset monetization for liquidity, and 2.5% revenue growth that is modest for a company still valued on future scale.

Given the low share price and volatility in Plug Power stock, your position sizes should stay moderate (we wrote a free playbook on speculating with just 5% of a portfolio, here: Small Stakes, Big Swings). Market action into the close and any further move in yields could set the tone for the hydrogen group through the rest of the week.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways CVS posted broad-based Q2 growth, with revenues up 7% and adjusted EPS rising 40% year over year.CVS raised 2026 revenue, operating income and adjusted EPS targets after a strong first-half performance.Caremark pressures, membership declines and medical costs remain key hurdles for CVS heading into 2027. CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) reported its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5. Revenues reached $106 billion, while adjusted operating income came in at approximately $5.2 billion, up more than 7% and 35%, respectively, from the prior-year quarter. The company saw growth across both the top and bottom lines in all of its operating segments. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) improved significantly, increasing 40% year over year to $2.58.

CVS ended the quarter with approximately $2.7 billion of cash at the parent and unrestricted subsidiaries and a leverage ratio of roughly 3.5. Cumulative operating cash flow reached nearly $10.6 billion in the first half, reflecting strong earnings year to date and the impact of working capital improvements. Following the solid six-month performance, management raised its outlook for the full-year 2026 adjusted EPS and cash flow from operations.

The quarterly results, however, did not translate into a stronger stock performance. CVS shares ended the session 5.1% lower than the previous day’s close.

CVS Outpaces Key Benchmarks & PeersOver the past 12 months, the stock has climbed 32.4% compared with the industry’s 9.6% growth, the Medical sector’s 10.2% increase and the S&P 500 composite’s 23.7% gain. The stock has also fared better than peers UnitedHealth Group (UNH - Free Report) and Elevance Health (ELV - Free Report) , which have risen 29.8% and 25.1%, respectively, over the same period.

CVS Stock’s 12-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CVS Health’s Q2 Results: Broad-Based Growth Across SegmentsThe Health Care Benefits revenues increased 3.5%, driven by strength in the Government business. This growth was partially offset by the company’s strategic exit from the individual exchange business this year, which brought total medical membership down by roughly 700,000 members compared to the prior-year period. CVS is seeing significant momentum in Aetna's margin recovery, with year-to-date adjusted operating income expanding by more than $2 billion, reflecting the cumulative impact of the actions taken over the past two years.

Medical benefit ratio was 87.4% compared to 89.9% in the prior year, with the impact of changes in our individual exchange risk adjustment position associated with the 2025 plan year as well as the impact of favorable prior-year development contributing roughly 140 basis points (bps).

In Health Services, the top line grew 11.5% year over year, led by pharmacy drug mix and brand inflation. However, continued pharmacy client price improvements remained a drag on growth. Adjusted operating income growth of 10% was primarily driven by improved purchasing economics and pharmacy drug mix and modest improvement in the health care delivery business, which rose 23%.

Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness revenues increased slightly in the quarter, driven by pharmacy drug mix, higher prescription volume, including contributions from the Rite Aid asset acquisitions, and brand inflation. Adjusted operating income grew 10%, primarily due to core pharmacy strength and incremental contributions from the Rite Aid transaction.

CVS Health Sets Higher 2026 TargetsCVS Health raised its full-year 2026 outlook across key financial metrics. The company now expects revenues of at least $414 billion, up from its previous forecast of at least $405 billion. Enterprise adjusted operating income is projected at $16.58 billion to $16.92 billion compared with the prior range of $15.53-$15.87 billion.

Within this outlook, Health Care Benefits adjusted operating income is now expected to reach $5.03 billion to $5.37 billion, more than $1 billion above the previous guidance. Adjusted EPS is now expected in the range of $7.90-$8.10 compared with the prior range of $7.30-$7.50.

CVS’ Earnings Revision TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for the company’s EPS to increase 17.3% to $7.92 in 2026, followed by another 7% increase to $8.48 in 2027. The estimates have moved higher consistently over the past three months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

A Look at CVS’ ValuationCVS trades at a forward, five-year Price/Sales (P/S) of 0.28X, slightly above its historical median of 0.26X but well below the 0.52X industry average. It has a Value Score of A.

CVS Health’s 5-year P/S F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

By comparison, peers UnitedHealth Group and Elevance Health command higher valuations, trading at a P/S of 0.80X and 0.44X, respectively.

CVS Faces Near-Term HeadwindsIn the second quarter, CVS Caremark’s 340B business faced some pressure. Restrictions imposed by pharma manufacturers on covered entities and some large specialty drugs turning generic weighed on the program. Though the impact was offset by strength in other parts of Caremark, management expects these pressures to persist and pose a headwind in 2027.

Caremark’s membership decline remains another challenge next year. The fall is expected to result from CVS’ transition to the lowest-net-cost pricing model and taking a more deliberate approach to client renewals and the selling season. Product actions and market exit by some of the company’s health plan customers will also likely play a role.

Medical cost utilization remains a key risk to Aetna’s recovery despite the improvement seen in the first half of 2026. Macroeconomic factors, including inflation, tariffs, interest rates, unemployment and supply-chain disruption, can affect costs, consumer behavior and cash flow across the enterprise.   

Our Take on CVS StockCVS Health’s latest results show strength across key parts of the business and continued progress in Aetna’s margin recovery. Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness maintained solid momentum, while Health Services benefited from drug mix and brand inflation. Health Care Benefits also gained from strength in the Government business. The raised full-year guidance adds to the positive outlook.

At the same time, Caremark’s 340B pressures and expected membership declines remain notable near-term hurdles, while higher medical cost utilization could slow Aetna’s margin recovery.

The stock has outperformed its industry, sector and peers over the past 12 months. Valuation also remains attractive, with CVS trading at a lower sales multiple than its industry and peers. Given these factors, existing shareholders may want to retain their position. Prospective investors, however, should wait for a more favorable entry point.

CVS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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First-of-its-kind platform transforms Xfinity WiFi into an always-on layer of cybersecurity, physical and family protection for tens of millions of homes and devices

Available to Xfinity Internet customers at no additional cost

Key Takeaways:

Xfinity Shield is the first-if-its-kind platform to combine cybersecurity, home and family protection into one seamless app experience.Powered by Comcast's advanced network and AI capabilities, Xfinity Shield transforms home WiFi into always-on protection via the Xfinity Gateway.Xfinity Shield has two offerings: WiFi Shield provides security built into Xfinity WiFi at no additional cost to Xfinity Internet customers, and Shield Select further extends protection through hardware, AI-enhanced monitoring and access to emergency services for $15 per month. PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast introduces Xfinity Shield, a first-of-its-kind platform for intelligent home protection. Xfinity Shield leverages AI capabilities embedded across the nation’s largest converged network and Xfinity Gateway technology to transform WiFi into an always-on layer of cybersecurity, physical and family protection.

As homes become increasingly connected, so do the risks that come with them. The average Xfinity customer now connects 36 devices to WiFi, exposing households to more online risks. The Xfinity Gateway helps block malicious activity before it reaches devices and provides protection across the entire home. Today, Comcast identifies, filters, and blocks an average of 30 million threats every day.

But protecting the home extends beyond cybersecurity. Consumers today often juggle separate, expensive solutions for digital security, home monitoring and family safety. Xfinity Shield addresses this fragmentation by bringing these capabilities together in a new product suite – managed through one simple experience in the Xfinity app.

"Xfinity Shield represents our vision for the next era of the intelligent home," said Jon Gieselman, Chief Growth Officer, Connectivity & Platforms, Comcast. "We believe the network should do more than connect devices. It should help protect the people, their personal information, and everything within their homes that depend on our most reliable WiFi every day. That’s the vision behind Shield: advancing the role of WiFi to both connect and protect the home.”

WiFi Shield: Built-In At-Home Protection

At the heart of Xfinity Shield is WiFi Shield, included at no additional cost for Xfinity Internet customers*, which delivers three layers of protection built into the WiFi experience:

Digital Protection: Cybersecurity Starts at the Network
WiFi Shield includes Xfinity CyberSecure, cybersecurity that helps automatically protect any device connected to the Xfinity Gateway from malware, hackers, phishing attempts and other online threats before they reach devices in the home. Unlike device-specific security tools, CyberSecure works at the WiFi level – assessing threats on the home network continuously to help protect every connected device – while also giving customers greater visibility and control when new devices join the network. Physical Protection: Awareness Without Additional Equipment
An opt-in feature, WiFi Motion uses the Xfinity Gateway and connected devices to detect motion inside the home – without cameras or traditional motion detectors. Using Xfinity Gateway intelligence, WiFi Motion detects changes in the home’s radio frequency signal between the Xfinity Gateway and a WiFi connected device, then sends instant notifications to customers through the Xfinity app when unexpected activity is detected. It provides an added layer of awareness without recording video, capturing images or identifying individuals. Family Protection: Simpler Controls for Healthier Digital Habits
Through Family Settings, customers can access tools that help establish online boundaries and create healthier digital habits for every member of the household. With devices connected through the Gateway, families can create profiles and organize devices by person in the app – enabling them to manage screen time, set device limits, pause WiFi and build schedules. Within the Xfinity app, customers can also customize these features and notifications in three protection modes – Home Watch, Away Watch and Dark Watch – providing peace of mind when they’re home, away or asleep.

Shield Select: Enhanced Protection with AI-Powered Capabilities

For customers seeking an additional layer of protection, Comcast is also introducing Shield Select, which combines all the benefits of WiFi Shield with integrated hardware and enhanced capabilities. Shield Select includes an indoor camera, door/window sensor, cloud video storage capabilities and 24/7 urgent response functionality that allows customers to tap for emergency help.

Shield Select provides smart motion detection to AI-powered cameras that identifies people, pets, vehicles and package deliveries.

"Our goal was simple: make protection easier, smarter and more accessible," said Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer, Comcast. "We believe the future of protection should be integrated into the technology people already use every day, not added as another product they have to manage. With Xfinity Shield, WiFi delivers protection that helps safeguard people's digital lives, homes and families in a simple, digital-first experience."

Getting Started with Xfinity Shield
Xfinity Shield is the latest offering from Xfinity Home and is available beginning August 18. WiFi Shield is available nationwide for all Xfinity Internet customers with Advanced Xfinity Gateways. Customers can seamlessly upgrade to Shield Select for $15 per month in the Xfinity app.

WiFi Shield and Shield Select are the first offerings in this new platform, with additional capabilities and experiences to follow in 2027.

*Customers must have an Advanced Xfinity Gateway to have access to all features.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

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Nutanix and ChronoScale plan to integrate their platforms so enterprises can extend into ChronoScale GPU-as-a-Service, pre-paid inference tokens through ChronoScale Token Factory, and a locally-deployed ChronoScale Foundry for enterprise agentic AI workflowsChronoScale to leverage Nutanix Agentic AI software solution for neoclouds to deliver broad portfolio of accelerated compute and AI servicesCollaboration extends to go-to-market, joint solution development, technical integration, and customer engagement programs SAN JOSE, Calif. and Menlo Park, Calif., Aug. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX), a hybrid cloud leader and AI innovator, and ChronoScale Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: CHRN), an accelerated compute platform purpose-built to support demanding artificial intelligence workloads, today announced a strategic partnership to jointly deliver enterprise-ready AI infrastructure and help accelerate adoption of AI services across global markets.

The partnership brings together complementary capabilities enterprise customers have historically had to assemble themselves — combining Nutanix's full portfolio of agentic AI solutions with ChronoScale's accelerated compute, enterprise AI foundry, and outcome-driven delivery model.

ChronoScale and Nutanix Platform Integration

ChronoScale plans to leverage Nutanix software within its AI infrastructure platform to help deliver a broad portfolio of accelerated compute and AI services. The parties expect Nutanix software to help support customer onboarding, tenant management, service automation, virtualized infrastructure, managed Kubernetes environments, and advanced AI service offerings. ChronoScale's platform is designed to support a broad ecosystem of technology partners. The companies also intend to jointly maintain demonstration and proof-of-concept environments to support customer evaluations and accelerate adoption of agentic AI solutions in the enterprise.

Extended GPU capacity, on-premises and beyond

ChronoScale plans to extend the Nutanix on-premises cloud footprint with elastic access to modern GPU capacity. Customers are expected to be able to procure reserved capacity through ChronoScale GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) for predictable workloads, or draw on ChronoScale Token Factory — pre-paid inference tokens backed by leading open-source models — for burst and experimental workloads. The parties intend to integrate both offerings with the Nutanix enterprise AI offerings, including Agent Gateway and Private Inferencing, with the goal of providing customers a single control plane across their on-premises environment and ChronoScale capacity.

ChronoScale Foundry, delivered through Nutanix

Nutanix will enable the deployment of ChronoScale Foundry, an enterprise AI foundry, inside the customer's own environment, giving enterprises a managed platform to build, run, and govern agentic workflows locally. Agents, enterprise data, and workflow state remain within the customer's boundary. Enterprise customers are expected to be able to deploy Foundry directly through the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform Catalog, extending Nutanix's AI portfolio into managed agentic workloads.

The partnership is designed to help enterprises globally deploy production-scale AI environments faster, with greater operational simplicity, sovereignty, security, and scalability.

The partnership being announced today is underpinned by the strategic relationship and technology partnership that both ChronoScale and Nutanix have with NVIDIA. Chronoscale is an NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP), delivering an accelerated computing platform, built and optimized using NVIDIA-validated reference designs to deliver consistent performance at scale. Nutanix is an NVIDIA technology partner and ISV that has a suite of NVIDIA validated software to operate enterprise AI factories.

Together, ChronoScale and Nutanix intend to deliver an integrated platform built on NVIDIA AI economics that is designed to reduce operational complexity and accelerate time-to-value for enterprises adopting AI at scale. ChronoScale plans to deploy NVIDIA HGX B300 systems interconnected via NVIDIA Spectrum-X networking and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, including NVIDIA NIM microservices and NVIDIA NeMo to deliver a production-ready stack.

Executive Commentary

"The next phase of AI is about making enterprise-grade infrastructure easier to consume and faster to deploy. This partnership with Nutanix brings together two complementary strengths — Nutanix's proven cloud platform and ChronoScale's accelerated compute, AI services, and Enterprise AI Foundry — to give customers a shorter, more sovereign path to production AI. It is an important milestone in our mission to become the platform where the global AI ecosystem converges."

— Cenly Chen, Chief Executive Officer, ChronoScale

"Organizations are looking for a simpler path to deploying AI at scale. ChronoScale is building an impressive global AI infrastructure platform designed for the demands of modern AI workloads. Together, we will help enterprises accelerate their AI transformation by combining high-performance infrastructure with the operational simplicity, flexibility, and security that Nutanix delivers."

— Tarkan Maner, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Nutanix

The partnership also establishes a framework that includes joint marketing activities, sales enablement, technical collaboration, joint solution development, and customer engagement programs. Nutanix and ChronoScale intend to work together to target Global 2000 organizations and other enterprise customers seeking scalable AI infrastructure and sovereign AI services. The companies intend to jointly maintain demonstration and proof-of-concept environments to support customer evaluations and accelerate enterprise adoption of Agentic AI solutions. The partnership is expected to be implemented through one or more definitive agreements.

About ChronoScale

ChronoScale Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: CHRN) is an accelerated compute platform purpose-built to support demanding artificial intelligence workloads. Focused on large-scale deployments, ChronoScale delivers dedicated compute environments — including GPU-as-a-Service, Token Factory, and the ChronoScale Foundry for enterprise agentic AI — optimized for performance, sovereignty, and long-term operational execution, with the ability to scale capacity alongside accelerating AI demand.

About Nutanix

Nutanix is a hybrid cloud leader and AI innovator, offering organizations a unified infrastructure software platform to safely run applications, data, and AI anywhere. Trusted by customers worldwide, Nutanix empowers more than 50% of the Global 2000 to innovate faster with AI, while modernizing infrastructure, simplifying operations, and controlling costs. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media.

ChronoScale Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this Press Release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to: statements regarding the Company, its plans and objectives and anticipated future economic performance; statements about the cloud compute industry; statements regarding the Company's ability to expand capacity and meet accelerating demand; statements regarding future leadership of the Company; and statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to uncertainty. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company's expectations. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include: limitations on the Company's ability to attract and retain key personnel, including executive officers and Board members of the Company; customer concentration, and an inability to renew existing customer agreements; the success of the Company's risk management activities, including any failure by the Company to implement and maintain effective internal controls; litigation, including the potential litigation concerning the business combination; cash flow and access to capital; conditions in the debt and equity capital markets; slower than anticipated growth in the cloud compute industry; uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2026, as amended on April 10, 2026, subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed with the SEC on April 3, 2026, and the risks described in other filings that the Company may make from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Nutanix Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains express and implied forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the referenced partnership; planned technical integrations; future products, services, and offerings; anticipated customer benefits; joint go-to-market activities; referral arrangements; customer adoption; the timing and availability of future solutions; and the parties' ability to successfully negotiate, execute, and implement definitive agreements relating to the contemplated collaboration. These forward-looking statements are based on Nutanix's current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the parties' ability to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements, complete anticipated integration efforts, develop and deliver contemplated functionality, successfully execute go-to-market activities, achieve customer adoption, and realize the anticipated benefits of the collaboration, and other risks and uncertainties described in Nutanix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2025 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10‑Q and other filings. These forward‑looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward‑looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Many of the anticipated products, services, integrations, offerings, features and functionalities described herein remain in various stages of planning, development, testing and implementation and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The development, release, and timing of any such products, features or functionalities are subject to change. Nutanix will not have any liability arising from reliance on this press release for any failure to deliver, or delay in the delivery of, any such products, features or functionalities. Any future product or product feature information is intended to outline general product directions, and is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation for Nutanix to deliver any functionality. This information should not be used when making a purchasing decision.

ChronoScale Investor Relations & Media Contacts

Matt Glover or Ralf Esper
Gateway Group, Inc.
+1 949 574 3860
[email protected]

Nutanix Investor Relations & Media Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Richard Valera
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Jennifer Massaro
[email protected]

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Four of the most closely watched hedge fund managers on Wall Street disclosed sizable long positions in Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ:LSCC | LSCC Price Prediction) in 13F filings covering the quarter that ended June 30, 2026, released on August 14, 2026. Steve Cohen’s Point72 added to what is now a $228.2 million position, representing 0.25% of the fund’s portfolio. Daniel Sundheim’s D1 Capital held 1,084,051 shares worth $165.8 million, or 0.48% of the portfolio. Dmitry Balyasny added to a 882,412-share stake valued at $135 million, and Israel Englander’s Millennium added to a 585,818-share position worth $89.6 million.

The counter-signal deserves equal weight. Stanley Druckenmiller’s Duquesne Family Office completely exited its LSCC position, previously valued at roughly $30 million. Given Druckenmiller’s track record, that exit registers as a legitimate contrarian datapoint.

What the Bulls See The thesis for the four buyers is grounded in a fundamental acceleration that became visible after the quarter closed. Lattice reported record Q2 2026 revenue of $201 million, up 62% year over year, with the Compute and Communications segment growing 83% year over year on AI server demand. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.53, more than doubling year over year, and non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 71.7%.

The larger catalyst is the AMI acquisition, which closed July 27, 2026 for $1 billion in cash plus 5.2 million shares. AMI brings a $200 million-plus annual revenue run rate with mid-to-high 70% gross margins and EBITDA margins above 40%. Combined Q3 guidance calls for $245 million to $265 million in revenue, an annualized run rate above $1 billion. CEO Ford Tamer told analysts that “the visibility is increasing daily. It’s really unprecedented. We’ve got visibility all the way to the end of 2027. 2027 is pretty much booked.”

Cohen, Sundheim, Balyasny, and Englander were positioning ahead of these disclosures. The stock has since responded, gaining 80.31% year to date and 108.83% over the past year.

What Druckenmiller Might Be Seeing Druckenmiller’s exit almost certainly predates the Q2 report. The bear case rests on the price paid for the operating story. Lattice trades at a trailing P/E of 522 and a forward P/E of 66, with a price-to-sales ratio of 28. Insiders have logged 28 recent transactions net to selling. Layer in 78% Asia revenue concentration, AMI integration risk, and semiconductor cyclicality, and the risk framing sharpens.

Verdict for Retail Investors The consensus target from analysts sits at $164.92, with 11 buys and 1 sell, above the current $125.10 quote. The four-fund consensus is worth respecting because it aligns with an operating inflection: record revenue, expanding margins, an accretive acquisition, and booked capacity into 2027. For a retirement-focused investor, the setup worth watching is a pullback toward the 200-day moving average near $104, where the fundamental picture remains intact and Druckenmiller’s valuation objection loses some of its bite. The smart-money signal aligns with the operating thesis rather than the current top tick.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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New responsible AI features bring enhanced transparency and governance to AI-powered marketing, while a new partnership with Gryphon unites responsible AI with compliance assurance

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ: PEGA), the enterprise AI software company for mission-critical work, today announced new responsible AI advancements that accelerate AI-powered customer engagement while reducing risk. The first is the general availability of Pega Customer Engagement StudioTM, a set of new agentic and automation capabilities within Pega Customer Decision Hub™ that enable the rapid design of customer engagement strategies using natural language, embedded best practices, and built-in governance to confidently optimize campaign effectiveness.

Pega also announced a partnership with Gryphon, a leading contact governance platform that provides omnichannel governance, continual auditability, and reach recovery for enterprises across highly regulated industries, including financial services, insurance, healthcare, retail, and communications, to meet TCPA, TRS, DNC, and FDCPA requirements. Together with Pega’s newest capabilities, these advancements reinforce that AI speed and responsibility must go hand in hand.

Market Context: Rising Pressure on Responsible AI

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, businesses are simultaneously expected to operationalize AI and scale customer engagement. According to EY, organizations are struggling to find this balance, noting “Only a third of companies have responsible controls for current AI models despite nearly three-quarters having AI integrated into initiatives across the organization.”

Governance should not constrain customer engagement but rather serve as the foundation for safe, sustainable AI adoption. Enterprises that embed transparency and compliance into AI systems can scale with confidence while reducing reputational and regulatory risk.

A Closer Look: Governed AI at Scale

New responsible AI enhancements for Pega Customer Decision Hub help ensure AI-powered marketing is fast, auditable, and accountable. These enhancements are a part of Pega Customer Engagement Studio, a new Customer Decision Hub agentic experience announced at PegaWorld® 2026 that unifies Pega and third-party agents so marketers can move from brief to live, personalized actions in minutes.

Benefits include:

Get campaigns right the first time: Enables users to design campaigns conversationally while the embedded AI assistant captures intent, asks clarifying questions, and generates strategy logic. It also automatically validates against best practices, translates intent into executable rules, and enforces approval workflows with audit history, escalation, and re-approval controls. Simplify policy creation and reduce training needs: Helps users build advanced engagement policies for always-on actions without expert training. An AI assistant reuses approved logic, guides policy configuration (eligibility, suitability, applicability, and contact rules), and leverages existing data models to improve consistency and reduce build time. Reduce risk with intelligent validation and monitoring: Prevents misconfiguration with an eligibility criteria builder that validates targeting rules, while compliance monitoring detects changes (such as opt-outs) in connected systems and flags issues before execution. These features complement existing Customer Decision Hub offerings including Customer Profile Viewer for clearer decision transparency and Pega T-SwitchTM for configurable AI explainability. Additionally, Ethical Bias Check ensures fairness by identifying and mitigating bias before deployment, enabling more responsible, transparent customer engagement. Together, users gain a more responsible approach to their AI usage to get customer engagement right, every time.

Pega and Gryphon: A New Strategic Partnership

Pega is partnering with Gryphon to further advance its responsible AI strategy. Pega Customer Decision Hub governs AI behavior through transparent, unbiased models and clearly defined engagement logic focused on decision quality and fairness, while Gryphon complements this by governing outreach legality as a discrete compliance layer. Together, the partnership introduces two key capabilities for joint clients:

Optimization: While Customer Decision Hub intentionally suppresses audiences based on engagement policies, organizations often over-suppress out of caution. The Gryphon ONE platform recovers audiences by identifying legally valid exemptions and state-specific rules. Revenue calculator: Gryphon ONE quantifies the financial impact of over-suppression and legal exposure, enabling data-driven executive and sales conversations not natively addressed in Customer Decision Hub. By combining Customer Decision Hub and Gryphon ONE, organizations can move faster than those retrofitting compliance, creating an end-to-end approach that links responsible decisioning with trusted customer engagement.

Availability

Organizations can visit Pega’s Responsible AI page to better understand real-world examples of AI risk within their industries and how to address them. Pega’s new agentic capabilities and Pega Customer Engagement Studio are now available at no additional cost to existing Pega Customer Decision Hub clients as part of the Pega InfinityTM 26 release.

Quotes & Commentary

“Enterprises can’t afford to treat AI governance as an afterthought,” said Rob Walker, general manager, 1:1 customer engagement, Pega. “This expansion of our responsible AI capabilities – from our new agentic AI offerings to our partnership with Gryphon – gives our clients the ability to move faster with AI while helping ensure every decision is transparent, compliant, and accountable.”

"Pega and Gryphon share a foundational belief: that AI-powered customer engagement must be both intelligent and responsible, all the way through to delivery," said Clay McNaught, CEO, Gryphon. "We're giving our joint customers a clear, trusted path from AI decision to compliant contact."

Supporting Resources

Product page: Pega Customer Decision Hub Pega’s approach to AI-powered marketing Learn more about Gryphon Background: Responsible AI at Pega About Pega

Pega delivers the platform to reimagine, run, and evolve the processes and decisions an enterprise can't afford to get wrong. We combine AI with proven architecture to keep mission-critical operations governed, scalable, and continuously adaptable. Since 1983, the world's largest organizations have trusted Pega to turn transformation ambition into durable results. Learn more at pega.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

More News From Pegasystems Inc.

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Key Takeaways Clean Harbors gained 15.9% in six months, beating the industry's 5% decline and the S&P 500's 14% rally.CLH's 2026 EPS estimate rose 11.9% in 60 days, with four upward revisions and no downward changes.CLH had $517M in cash versus $13M in current debt, while Q2 FCF climbed to $115M from negative $91M. Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) stock has gained 15.9% over the past six months against the industry’s 5% decline and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 14% rally.

6-Month Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

Outlook Reinforced by Upward Estimates Revision: For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for top line is pinned at $6.6 billion, suggesting 6.9% year-over-year growth. The consensus estimate for EPS is pegged at $9.51, implying a 30.6% increase.

Over the past 60 days, four EPS estimates for 2026 have been revised upward with no downward adjustments, highlighting optimistic sentiments among analysts. In the same period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS moved up 11.9%.

Robust analyst conviction, coupled with bright top- and bottom-line momentum, bolsters CLH’s performance in 2026. This stock offers a solid risk-reward entry point for investors seeking a growth play, supported by strong fundamentals and analyst sentiment.

Solid Liquidity Profile: As of June 30, 2026, CLH held $517 million in cash and equivalents against a current debt of $13 million. The company’s liquidity profile stands on the back of a manifold increase in operating cash flow to $239 million during the second quarter of 2026 and a free cash flow (FCF) of $115 million, which is a significant rise from the preceding quarter’s negative FCF of $91 million. A strong balance sheet and cash position rank CLH’s liquidity profile in the top tier.

                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Clean Harbors’ current ratio attests to its solid liquidity profile. During the second quarter of 2026, CLH’s current ratio of 2.13 outperformed its industry average of 1.02, signaling effective short-term debt coverage and minimal liquidity risks.

                                                                  Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Capital Return via Persistent Share Buyback: The company repurchased $50.2 million of stock in 2022, $51.1 million in 2023, $55.2 million in 2024 and $250 million in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, it repurchased another $52.1 million of common stock. During the second quarter of 2026, share count dipped marginally year over year, which, when combined with 34.3% net income growth, led to a 36.4% jump in EPS. This EPS accretion maximizes shareholders' value.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderClean Harbors currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Acuity (AYI - Free Report) and Marsh (MRSH - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Acuity has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10%. AYI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average.

Marsh has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.7%. MRSH delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.1%, on average.

Shares of CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) are down 7% Tuesday morning to $98.11, an outlier decline on a day when the broader cloud software basket trades higher. The catalyst is rising Treasury yields rather than any change in AI demand.

The 10-year Treasury yield sits at 4.73%, near the top of its 52-week range of 3.95% to 4.75%. For the most debt-dependent name in AI infrastructure, that repricing hits harder than for any listed peer. Our coverage of David Tepper’s disclosed second-quarter positions discussed CoreWeave’s capital structure earlier today.

Why Yields Are the Story CoreWeave finances multi-billion-dollar data center construction with borrowed money, and much of its earnings sit years in the future. Higher yields raise both the interest cost on that debt and the discount rate applied to those future cash flows. Both dials moved against the stock at once.

The Q2 2026 balance sheet spells out the exposure. Interest expense reached $640 million in the quarter, debt-to-equity sits at 8.94, and net debt to EBITDA is 10.75.

The bull case is real. Second-quarter revenue doubled to $2.575 billion, backlog stands at $104 billion, and adjusted EBITDA margin is 59%. The net loss came in narrower than analysts had modeled.

Meanwhile, the bear case is that deeply negative free cash flow requires continuous capital markets access, and cost of sales rose 180% last quarter, matching the pace of the two prior quarters. A business with a 59% adjusted EBITDA margin and a $104 billion backlog still faces a first-order cost-of-money problem, with $640 million of interest expense and net debt to EBITDA of 10.75 keeping the equity sensitive to rates.

Peers Are Barely Moving Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS | NBIS Price Prediction) stock is down 0.9% to $266.50, essentially flat. The company is also leveraged, with roughly $10 billion in aggregate convertible principal across six series maturing from 2029 to 2033, plus a $775 million senior secured facility collateralized by GPU infrastructure and contracted cash flows. Remaining performance obligations stand at $37.5 billion, anchored by a five-year, $12 billion deal with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META).

Debt alone doesn’t explain the divergence. CoreWeave’s specific ratios and its far larger negative free cash flow separate it from Nebius, though Nebius carries its own customer concentration risk with three customers each representing more than 10% of quarterly revenue. Cloudflare (NYSE:NET) stock, the connectivity cloud and security platform, is down 1% to $303.82. Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) shares, the cloud data platform, are down 0.3% to $329.03, effectively unchanged.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) stock is down 24% year to date through Monday’s close, the one large AI-cloud name in the red for 2026. Through Monday, CoreWeave shares were up 48%, Nebius stock up 221%, Cloudflare stock up 56%, and Snowflake stock up 50% for the year.

WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund (NASDAQ:WCLD) shares are up 2% to $40.65, and the fund is up 14% year to date through Monday. The WCLD fund is a thematic vehicle carrying concentration risk relative to the broad market, and it isn’t leveraged. A green print in WCLD stock while CoreWeave stock is sinking 7% is the clearest available evidence that Tuesday is a cost-of-capital story for CoreWeave specifically.

What to Watch CoreWeave has roughly 1.5 GW of active data center power and targets more than 8 GW by 2030. The expansion pipeline includes a 250-MW greenfield campus in Kenilworth, New Jersey, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania site planned initially at 100 MW with potential to reach 300 MW, and two Stockholm colocation campuses. Management added eight data centers under construction or brought online in the second quarter, taking the global footprint to roughly 51 facilities (we profiled seven of the power, cooling, and networking suppliers behind this kind of AI buildout in a free report).

Investors can watch for a break in the 10-year yield above its 52-week high. The next CoreWeave debt issuance and whether it prices at a wider spread than recent deals is the immediate signal for the credit market. Free cash flow direction is the other open question as contracted capacity converts to recognized revenue.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

BioMarin to pay $275 million upfront, plus additional payments upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones

Alesta to spin out all non-ALE1 assets to a new entity and Alesta employees to transfer to the spinout entity prior to close

ALE1 has significant potential to help BioMarin expand into larger rare disease markets with a medicine intended to address a high unmet need for patients and offers strong strategic fit for the company

, /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) announced today that BioMarin has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alesta Therapeutics to gain Alesta's lead clinical-stage asset, ALE1. Alesta plans to spin out all non-ALE1 assets prior to the close of the transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to be completed this quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

ALE1 is an orally active, small molecule for the potential treatment of hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare genetic bone disease caused by mutations in the ALPL gene. ALE1 has the potential to be the first oral therapy for HPP and is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial assessing safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics in healthy volunteers and adults with HPP.

HPP is a serious condition that can affect bone and tooth mineralization, resulting in easy or frequent bone breaks, early tooth loss, and, in adults, clinically significant muscle weakness, fatigue and pain. If approved, ALE1 is expected to be the first oral therapy approach that targets the central disease metabolite, PPi (inorganic pyrophosphate), with the potential to impact both skeletal and broader manifestations of HPP through systemic correction of disease biology. The program will become part of BioMarin's Skeletal Conditions Business Unit following close.

"ALE1 is a strong strategic fit for BioMarin, bringing a potential oral alternative to the injectable therapies available today for people living with HPP around the world while meaningfully strengthening our early-stage clinical pipeline," said Alexander Hardy, President and Chief Executive Officer of BioMarin. "This is exactly the kind of opportunity to address a significant unmet need that lets us compete in larger rare disease markets – adding an asset that has the potential to reach our largest addressable patient population. We plan to continue to seek these kinds of opportunities as we focus on clinical-stage innovation to drive durable growth for BioMarin."

Under the terms of the agreement, BioMarin will acquire Alesta and Alesta shareholders will receive an upfront payment of $275 million plus up to $215 million in subsequent payments upon achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones. Additionally, immediately prior to the close of BioMarin's acquisition of Alesta, Alesta will spin out all non-ALE1 assets to a new entity and former Alesta employees will transfer to the spinout entity. As a result, no Alesta employees will become employees of BioMarin in connection with the transaction. BioMarin intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand. BioMarin expects to provide updated full-year 2026 guidance reflecting the acquisition of Alesta following the closing of the transaction. Excluding the upfront consideration, the transaction is expected to have a modestly dilutive impact on 2026 financial results.

"We chose to partner with BioMarin due to their deep commitment to people living with rare diseases," said Ilan Ganot, Chief Executive Officer of Alesta Therapeutics. "BioMarin's global reach, scale, and proven expertise in rare disease drug development make it an ideal partner to advance ALE1 and realize its potential as a promising treatment for patients with HPP worldwide. This acquisition is also a testament to the extraordinary work, scientific expertise, and drug development capabilities of the Alesta team."

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to BioMarin, and Jones Day is serving as legal counsel in connection with the acquisition. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Alesta, and Goodwin Procter LLP and NautaDutilh N.V. are serving as legal counsel.

About ALE1
ALE1 is designed to inhibit a novel target that regulates levels of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), the metabolite at the center of HPP pathology. By lowering excess PPi, ALE1 aims to restore healthier bone and mineral metabolism across the full spectrum of HPP.

More than 9,000 people have been diagnosed with HPP in the U.S., however, the disease is often underdiagnosed due to a broad spectrum of symptoms that can mimic more common conditions.

About BioMarin
BioMarin is a leading, global rare disease biotechnology company focused on delivering medicines for people living with genetically defined conditions. Founded in 1997, the San Rafael, California-based company has a proven track record of innovation, with nine commercial therapies and a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline. Using a distinctive approach to drug discovery and development, BioMarin seeks to unleash the full potential of genetic science by pursuing category-defining medicines that have a profound impact on patients.

To learn more, please visit www.biomarin.com.

About Alesta Therapeutics
Alesta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing novel oral small-molecule therapies for underserved diseases. The company's lead asset, ALE1, is being developed for hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare genetic disorder with significant unmet need.

For more information, visit www.alestatherapeutics.com.  

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about, among other things, the proposed acquisition of ALE1, the lead clinical-stage asset, of Alesta Therapeutics (Alesta) by BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin) and the business prospects of BioMarin, including, without limitation, statements about: the anticipated occurrence, manner, funding and timing of the closing of the proposed acquisition; BioMarin's plans to update financial guidance; the potential impact of the acquisition on BioMarin's financial results and financial guidance; the prospective benefits of the proposed acquisition, including expectations that it will be a strong strategic fit for BioMarin and will meaningfully strengthen BioMarin's early-stage clinical pipeline; expectations regarding ALE1 and its ongoing development, including its potential to be a first-in-class oral therapy for the treatment of hypophosphatasia (HPP) and the potential benefits of ALE1 to patients with HPP around the world; BioMarin's plans to drive durable growth and strengthen its pipeline for the future; BioMarin's ability to compete in larger rare disease markets; BioMarin's expectations regarding unmet need and opportunities in HPP that may potentially be addressed by ALE1, including BioMarin's estimates regarding the prevalence of HPP; and other statements that are not historical facts.

These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: consummating the proposed acquisition in the anticipated timeframe, if at all; Alesta's ability to complete the contemplated spinout of non-ALE1 assets prior to closing of the proposed acquisition, if at all; the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals will be made; the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay, or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction (or only grant approval subject to adverse conditions or limitations); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of regulatory approvals or actions, if any; the effects of the proposed acquisition (or the announcement thereof) on BioMarin's stock price and/or BioMarin's operating results; unknown or inestimable liabilities; the development, launch and commercialization of products and product candidates; BioMarin's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed acquisition will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period and that integration will not be successful or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the time-consuming and uncertain regulatory approval process for pharmaceutical product development; the costly and time-consuming pharmaceutical product development process and the uncertainty of clinical success, including risks related to failure or delays in successfully initiating or completing clinical trials and assessing patients, including with respect to current and planned future clinical trials; global economic, financial, and healthcare system disruptions and the current and potential future negative impacts to BioMarin's business operations and financial results; the sufficiency of BioMarin's cash flows and capital resources; BioMarin's ability to fund the acquisition; BioMarin's evaluation of the potential impact of the transaction on its financial results and financial guidance; BioMarin's ability to achieve targeted or expected future financial performance and results and the uncertainty of future tax, accounting and other provisions and estimates; the effects of the transaction on relationships with key third parties, including employees, customers, suppliers, other business partners or governmental entities; transaction costs; risks that the proposed acquisition disrupts current plans and operations; risks that the proposed transaction diverts management's attention from ongoing business operations; changes in Alesta's business during the period between announcement and closing of the proposed acquisition; any legal proceedings and/or regulatory actions that may be instituted related to the proposed acquisition; and those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption "Risk Factors" in BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, as such factors may be updated by any subsequent reports. Investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

BioMarin® is a registered trademark of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contacts:

Investors

Media

Traci McCarty

Erin Rau

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

(415) 455-7558

(925) 683-9622

SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Shares in SpaceX Corp (NASDAQ:SPCX) are poised to open lower on Tuesday as investors brace for a fresh wave of insider stock hitting the market.

About 319 million shares held by employees and early backers become eligible for sale on 20 August, the latest tranche to escape the lock-up that followed the rocket maker's record June flotation.

The stock was trading down 2.5% ahead of the opening bell in New York.

That marked a reversal from Monday, when the shares climbed almost 6%.

The rally came as a run of regulatory filings showed more than 1,500 institutions had built positions in Elon Musk's space and satellite company, alongside a clutch of bullish analyst notes.

Ownership is unusually concentrated, however, with just 23 investors controlling more than 80% of the reported shares.

Alphabet, the Google parent, is the largest holder at 551.2 million shares, followed by Fidelity on 302.6 million.

Thursday's release is the second big supply event in a fortnight.

An earlier expiry on 6 August freed roughly 912 million shares, more than doubling the pool of stock available to trade.

That unlock had been widely feared, yet the anticipated flood of selling failed to materialise and the shares rose instead.

The next batch is seen as a sterner test, since early investors can now take profits at a much higher price.

SpaceX sank to an all-time low of $104.83 on 3 August, but has since recovered to around $146, back above its $135 float price.

The staggered releases run through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.

Musk's own stake, of roughly 6.4 billion shares, stays locked until June 2027, the single largest overhang still to come.

In July 2025, Meta gathered parenting influencers from all over Australia at a waterfront venue overlooking the Sydney Opera House. It was a camping-themed event and in many ways was like any other influencer affair. There were Instagram-branded tents to take pictures in, an Instagram-branded step-and-repeat, a custom-tote making station and Instagram-branded snacks and coffee cups.

But this “screen smart” event wasn’t about the photo op.

Meta was playing defense: the company had five months until the Australian government planned to enforce a new law that banned children under 16 from using social media platforms. The Silicon Valley-based firm told influencers that blanket bans on teens’ use of social media weren’t effective and recruited them to send a message to their hundreds of thousands of followers: Meta already had tools to help parents keep teens safe on Instagram.

Since 2024, Meta has tapped an army of influencers to promote its safety tools for teens. A new report by the Tech Transparency Project, a digital advocacy group, shows that whenever a government began discussing social media regulations for teens, Meta started recruiting lifestyle, parenting and mental health creators to promote parental and other safety controls the company already offers, including its accounts for users between the ages of 13 and 17, which have more restrictions than regular accounts. Meta recruited influencers through events, like the one in Australia, and paid some of them for their advocacy by sponsoring posts, according to the report.

Meta also found support from parent, advocacy and research groups that it supports financially in pushing back against teen bans or restrictions, according to the report.

Meta’s reliance on influencers to fight the bans suggests the company recognizes it can’t fight these measures, which would could cost it millions of users, alone, said Katie Paul, the director of the Tech Transparency Project. Meta needs to use influencers to spread its message because people don’t trust the company, said Paul. “The brand has become a problem,” Paul said.

Responding to questions about the report, Meta said that the firm works hard to “build strong protections for teens and effective controls for parents”.

“Blanket bans don’t keep young people safe, they simply push them toward less safe, unregulated corners of the internet,” said Edward Patterson, a spokesperson. “Where our apps remain available, such as in Australia where 16- and 17-year-olds are defaulted into Teen Accounts, we will continue working with parents and experts to ensure families are aware of our safety features, and know how to make the most of them.”

In November 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to ban teens under 16 from using social media apps. The law, which went into effect in December 2025, required social media companies to shut down existing teen accounts and reject new ones. (Meta already had rules in place that barred kids younger than 13 from opening an account.)

Concern over teen use of social media has been growing since at least 2021, when whistleblowers including Frances Haugen and Arturo Bejar shared internal Meta documents showing the company knew teens were being exposed to harmful content but didn’t work to mitigate those harms. In the US, several states sued Meta, accusing the company of deliberately making its platform addictive to younger users.

Meta has since introduced teen accounts with built-in restrictions, including limits on who can message teen users and more sensitive content filters that limit their exposure to violent or harmful videos. But concerns have remained.

Australia passed its law after a 2025 study it commissioned found that 96% of children between the ages of 10 and 15 used social media and that 71% of those children were exposed to harmful content, including fight videos, posts that encourage unhealthy eating or exercise habits and sexist or otherwise hateful posts.

Concern over teen use of social media has been growing since at least 2021. Photograph: Anna Barclay/Getty ImagesMeta has taken down 756,000 accounts it suspected belonged to teens since the ban. Meanwhile, the move to restrict or altogether ban teens from using social media has gained momentum around the world.

Indonesia became the first south-east Asian country to roll out a blanket teen social media ban in March 2026. Some states in India have issued blanket bans, while the country continues to consider regulating social media use for children. Brazil introduced the Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents in March 2026 which, among other regulations, requires strict age verification systems and children’s accounts to be linked to their parents’.

These countries represent some of the biggest markets for social media companies and Meta in particular. In all of them, Meta launched some version of its influencer campaign.

In Australia, several of the creators who attended the “Instagram Safety Camp” had paid partnerships with the company and shared posts lauding Meta for the work it was doing to keep teens safe. Tammin Sursok, an actor known for her role in Pretty Little Liars who posts about parenting, said the event was “an amazing way to hear what Instagram is doing to keep our teens safe with #instagramteenaccounts”. She cited some teen account features including parental supervision, protections from explicit images and restrictions to livestreaming and ended her post with #instagrampartner implying a paid partnership with the company.

Meta said it does not disclose the terms of individual partnerships.

One of the panels featured a representative from ReachOut Australia, an online youth mental health resource, who later shared insights from the safety camp online. ReachOut Australia lists Meta as one of its “gold” sponsors. As part of their partnership with ReachOut, Meta helped finance an online teen safety series that touted Instagram teen accounts in several episodes.

Meta said it had been working with ReachOut for the better part of a decade to create campaigns that inform users of the safety tools available to them, but that the organization had its own independent editorial voice and mission. “No partner, including Meta, reviews or approves what we publish or what our people say publicly,” a spokesperson for ReachOut Australia said.

In Indonesia, months after the government announced it was considering age restrictions for social media platforms, Meta hosted a series of events including its Instagram safety camp. Darius Sinathrya, a well-known Indonesian actor with 1.8 million followers, shared footage of one of the panels and encouraged his followers to try Meta’s safety features. “Come on, parents try this feature to make your children safer and smarter in the digital world,” he wrote in his caption.

In February 2026, Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s electronics information technology minister, said the government was discussing age-based social media restrictions. Over the next few months, mom influencers all over India began sharing paid posts about Instagram’s teen accounts. One account with 250,000 followers, Imperfect Mom Who Travels, posted a video that showed her son starting an Instagram teen account. “Glad to see @Instagram Teen Accounts come with built-in protections designed for age-appropriate experiences from day one. #ad,” the caption reads.

That same week, a senior fellow at the New Delhi-based thinktank Observer Research Foundation argued in a column that teen social media bans are ineffective. The Observer Research Foundation received funding from Facebook India in 2022 and lists Meta as well as several other big tech firms among its partners.

Meta said it did not pay the author or organization to write the opinion piece. Observer Research Foundation did not respond to a request for comment.

Bejar, the Facebook whistleblower who worked on online safety at the company, said influencers promoting teen accounts were creating a false promise of safety and security the accounts just don’t provide.

“You can still search for suicide and self-harm content even though they promise you can’t,” Bejar said. “You can search for eating disorder content and it’s their own search recommendations that circumvent their own safety features.”

It was yet more evidence that Meta cares more about its brand than safety, Bejar said. “It’s wrong that they’re leveraging their own platform to both advertise and then also leverage creators who benefit from the platform. There’s conflicts of interest across the board to create a false and dangerous impression of security and safety for young people.”

Meta said Bejar’s experience with Instagram’s safety features predated teen accounts.

Governments around the world are scrambling to mitigate the harms of social media on teen users, and many are reaching for blanket bans or other age-based restrictions to do so. Experts are still debating whether those restrictions are effective, enforceable or the best mechanism to protect children.

In Australia, the country’s internet regulator found that more than 80% of teens were still using social media three months after the ban. Many teens also reported they weren’t asked their ages when using those platforms despite the government intending to double the penalty for tech firms that don’t comply with the law. The study highlights how difficult it is to police and enforce restrictions on digital platforms.

“We never expected that this would have 100% compliance,” said Andrew Leigh, assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities and treasury, at a conference defending the ban. “We don’t get 100% compliance out of minimum drinking age laws, but it’s still appropriate that ​we have that ​law on the ⁠books.”

In the US and the UK, digital advocacy groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Fight for the Future, which have historically opposed many of Meta’s data-privacy practices, have argued that bans and other age-based restrictions deny young people their rights to access information and speak online, said David Greene, senior counsel at EFF.

Greene argues government intervention should be a last resort and that non-governmental alternatives – such as parental control tools provided by the companies – are better options than a government stepping in.

Paul of the Tech Transparency Project, argued Meta had had many opportunities to prove it can create a platform that’s safe for children and teens.

“Facebook and its sister platforms have been around for 20 years at this point and the company has proven that it cannot be trusted to self-regulate – so what we’re seeing is governments taking that last resort and saying: ‘OK if kids can’t be protected on these platforms we’re going to have to do it ourselves,’” said Paul.

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - JULY 09: Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference at the Sun Valley Lodge on July 9, 2026 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Getty Images

This article was written by Doug Nathman, with research by his team at Trefis.

Management no longer begins discussions with cloud migrations, and what has taken their place is priced differently.

Over the course of two years of earnings calls, Microsoft (MSFT) has subtly altered its focus. The growth narrative once emphasized transferring customers’ current workloads into its cloud services. It now prioritizes agents, model selection, and a usage meter. This strategic shift is proving effective, reshaping the revenue profile for shareholders.

Migrations Were A Recognized Growth Catalyst A Year AgoOn the fiscal 2025 first-quarter call the CEO described continued growth in cloud migration, and on the fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter call migrations were accelerating again. By the fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results, cloud migration no longer leads the prepared remarks, which turn first to the AI platform and infrastructure. Its place has been taken by agents as the workload, inside a model system in which any single model is substitutable. The base is large: Microsoft Cloud passed $168 billion of annual revenue in fiscal 2025, up 23%, and $214 billion in fiscal 2026, up 27%. Microsoft’s overall revenue for fiscal 2026 surpassed $331 billion, up 18%. The cloud grew faster even as management changed the driver it credits.

Per Seat Plus Consumption Represents A Distinct Revenue ModelAs Microsoft transitioned to usage-based pricing throughout the quarter, Copilot revenue on GitHub surged over 60% quarter on quarter. However, that same usage impact affected the gross margin of Intelligent Cloud, although management indicated that margins improved over the quarter due to the business model transition. Azure's usage revenue remains capacity-constrained: management states demand continues to outpace available capacity. The base engine is lagging, with paid M365 Commercial seats increasing by 6% year over year compared to a 14% increase in reported M365 Commercial cloud revenue during the same quarter, thus the additional revenue stems from usage and premium packages within the existing user base.

The Subdued Segment Is The On-Premises Server DivisionOne reason the migration topic has quieted is due to the business that those migrations originated from. Revenue in the on-premises server segment remained relatively stable year over year in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, declining by 1% when adjusted for constant currency. Management projects a decrease in the low to mid-single-digits for fiscal Q1 2027 due to an ongoing shift of customers to cloud solutions and a comparison with the previous year's results.

This transition has not halted; it has simply fallen out of the spotlight. The overall company data indicates no pressure: trailing-twelve-month revenue growth accelerated to 17.8%, with net margin at 40.3%, its highest three-year value.

The M365 Commercial Cloud Growth Rate Will Clarify ThisThis represents a pivot rather than a withdrawal: management anticipates another fiscal year of double-digit revenue and operating income growth in fiscal 2027, with full-year operating margins declining by less than one percentage point. For fiscal Q1 2027, management projected M365 Commercial cloud growth of about 16% in constant currency, adjusting for prior-year revenue recognition, equating to 15% on an as-reported basis, and expects it to gain momentum throughout fiscal 2027 as usage-based billing becomes more prevalent. Acceleration suggests the meter is generating revenue in addition to the seats; a flat trajectory implies the seats remain effective, and rankings of companies whose guidance continually improves are created for that very inquiry.

American Airlines is finally giving a green light to seatback screens as the carrier works to close a profit gap with rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. But customers will have to wait a little while.

The new screens, which will feature 4K displays, will start appearing with new deliveries from Boeing and Airbus in 2028. The airline will also retrofit aircraft so passengers in all cabins will be able to use the screens and other additions like Bluetooth audio pairing and USB-C charging.

American has been "seriously considering" the technology, along with a major cabin revamp, for months. The company had long eschewed seatback screens, with executives contending that it wasn't worth the cost of equipment and weight they added to the aircraft and saying they expected flyers to use their own devices for entertainment.

"The technology has advanced so much from when we made this decision more than a decade ago," Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in an interview. "Ultimately, when you have customer preference and customer satisfaction improvements, that also generates revenue."

She declined to say how much American is spending on the initiative but said the installations should be complete in the early 2030s.

On Tuesday, American announced that its revamp will include more first-class seats on its Airbus A321neos and its Boeing 737 Max 10s, though deliveries of the latter are still several years away. American is also adding more extra legroom seats across its fleet.

Those premium seats can be double the price of a coach ticket or more. For example, a round-trip ticket from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was going for $447 in coach and $1,161 in first class.

American CEO Robert Isom told CNBC in June that he and his team are working to close the profit gap with its large airline competitors, through more premium seats, plush lounges and improving the airline's network. He said American is also planning to refurbish its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with the carrier's new business-class suites, and add more of them. The carrier is also in the market for new wide-body planes and has been evaluating options from Boeing and Airbus.

American reported a profit of $71 million for the second quarter, compared with United's $805 million and Delta's $1.6 billion in the same period.

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