The elimination of the $7,500 federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit was a hard hit for most automakers, but Rivian Automotive (RIVN +0.72%) was especially affected. EV demand had already stalled, but without tax incentives, they became a harder sell than gas-powered vehicles.
The state of California is taking action to incentivize car buyers to go green once again. The state has a new $135 million program to help first-time EV buyers through point-of-sale rebates. No tax filing is necessary.
There is a catch that helps Rivian in particular but hurts its competitor, Tesla (TSLA +0.71%). Incentives are available only for automobiles priced at or below $50,000 new and $25,000 used. The credit offers a $3,500 rebate for new vehicles and a $1,750 rebate for used vehicles. This immediately disqualifies most Tesla models, which are most often priced at luxury levels. The new Rivian R2 fleet, designed to be more affordable, starts at around $45,000.
The incentive also waives the price cap entirely if the automaker is headquartered in California. Rivian is based in Irvine, while Tesla relocated to Texas.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
This is great news for Rivian. The R2 fleet is generating significant interest, and state tax incentives could push fence-sitters into a Rivian. California's model could also serve as a template for other states looking to make up for the lost federal benefits.
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Several states offer benefits for EV and hybrid car purchases, but California could start a trend of states increasing tax credits or even matching the previously available federal credit. Any move in this direction would be welcome news for Rivian and other EV manufacturers looking to reignite demand.
Rivian's investors have patiently waited for the stock to rebound after losing over 80% of its value since going public in 2021. While the company's software and services segment is profitable, its automotive division is not. The R2's efforts to appeal to a mass market could benefit from state tax credits. Investors will need to remain patient as legislative efforts to boost EVs take time.
Catie Hogan has positions in Rivian Automotive. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Rivian Automotive stock is building positive momentum. What’s driving RIVN shares up? What Is Rivian’s Planned Stock Offering?Rivian said it plans an underwritten public offering of up to 75 million shares, plus a 30-day option for underwriters to buy up to an additional 11.25 million shares, implying gross proceeds of up to about $1.74 billion if priced near the prior $20.14 close. The company said proceeds are for general corporate purposes, including funding certain equity contributions tied to a U.S. Department of Energy loan-related arrangement.
Rivian ended Q1 with about $4.83 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and the raise is being framed as balance-sheet reinforcement rather than a pivot away from operations. That cash figure is central to how traders are sizing dilution risk versus runway.
RIVN Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchAt $18.57, the stock is trading 12.1% above its 20-day SMA ($16.64) and 17.4% above its 200-day SMA ($15.88), which keeps the intermediate trend pointed up after the May swing low. The catch is the bigger-picture overlay: the 50-day SMA remains below the 200-day SMA (a "death cross" that occurred in May), so longer-term trend followers may still treat rallies as prove-it moves until that relationship repairs.
Momentum is improving: MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which typically means downside pressure is fading and the latest upswing is gaining traction versus the prior downswing. In plain terms, MACD being above the signal line often signals buyers are starting to control the pace of the move rather than just reacting to bounces.
From a level-to-level trading view, the next upside test is the $21.00 area, while the chart has a clearer "line in the sand" near the mid-$15s where buyers previously defended the tape.
Key Resistance: $21.00 — a nearby round-number area where rebounds can stall Key Support: $15.50 — sits near the longer-term moving-average zone (200-day EMA at $15.59) where buyers have shown up What Is Rivian Automotive’s Business Model?Rivian is a battery electric vehicle automaker selling vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, with a lineup that includes a luxury truck, a full-size SUV, and a delivery van. It also develops electronic control units and related software for autos in a joint venture with Volkswagen, adding a "platform/software" angle beyond just vehicle sales.
The company plans to begin selling a midsize SUV in 2026, and it delivered over 42,000 vehicles in 2025, so funding and production cadence are central to the story. That’s why the proposed equity raise is a double-edged catalyst: it can extend liquidity for growth initiatives, but it also raises dilution concerns that can cap upside if demand for the deal is soft.
RIVN Earnings Preview: July 2026 ExpectationsLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 30, 2026 (confirmed) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: Loss of 79 cents (Up from Loss of 97 cents YoY) Revenue Estimate: $1.44 Billion (Up from $1.30 Billion YoY) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $20.47. Recent analyst moves include:
UBS: Neutral (Raises Target to $17.00) (July 9) BNP Paribas: Outperform (Raises Target to $24.00) (July 8) Jefferies: Hold (Raises Target to $17.00) (July 7) RIVN Stock Price Movement on FridayRIVN Stock Price Activity: Rivian Automotive shares were up 2.70% at $18.61 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
I've spent years covering what Cathie Wood is buying. The widely followed aggressive growth investor makes it easy. As the co-founder, CEO, and chief investment officer at Ark Invest she routinely publishes her firm's daily trades across all of its ETFs. Today I want to talk about some of her recent sell decisions.
Ark lightened its positions in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +0.69%), Robinhood Markets (HOOD 2.03%), and Roku (ROKU +0.59%) on Thursday. The three stocks have entirely different stories. One is experiencing sharply accelerating growth, but another is going in the different direction. The third recently announced that it was being acquired. Let's take a closer look at what could be driving Wood to reduce the weight of these three stocks in her ETF portfolios.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Advanced Micro Devices AMD stock has almost quadrupled in value over the past year. The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is fueling a surge in demand for its central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). Revenue growth has accelerated for three consecutive quarters.
Revenue rose 38% in AMD's latest quarter to $10.3 billion, but was essentially flat on a sequential basis. Reported earnings nearly doubled, rising a still better-than-expected 45% on an adjusted basis. The story has certainly gotten better for AMD over the past year, but have the skyrocketing shares outpaced the improving fundamentals?
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AMD's valuation has become challenging. The stock is now trading at 74 times this year's earnings and a still lofty 41 times next year's analyst profit target. Growth investors can justify paying higher multiples for ascending businesses in the AI boom, but there are limits.
Consider Nvidia (NVDA +2.97%), for example. The country's most valuable company by market cap is the one that started the movement. It's still growing considerably faster than AMD. Revenue rose 85% for its latest quarter, more than double AMD's growth. Reported net income more than tripled. Adjusted earnings more than doubled. Nvidia stock is trading at just 16 times next year's projected earnings. AMD might still be appealing, given its longer runway, but it's not shocking to see Wood lighten this winning position to deploy elsewhere.
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2. Robinhood Markets Growth has decelerated sharply at Robinhood lately. Revenue rose 15% in its latest quarter, the next-gen trading platform's weakest report since late 2022. As a painful reminder, that was the year that all of the major stock market indexes posted double-digit declines and the crypto market shed almost two-thirds of its value.
The climate is different this year, at least on the equities side. Stocks have been moving higher, but Robinhood's transaction-based revenue relies more on options and crypto than it does on stock trades. The platform has expanded into futures and predictive markets for growth, to keep its young trader base close and diversify its revenue streams.
In the meantime, investors have to be somewhat relieved to find the shares trading marginally higher in 2026 and up a respectable 22% over the past year. After back-to-back quarters of slowing top-line growth, a positive return is refreshing. It might also be why Wood is taking advantage of the disparity to reallocate her position in Robinhood.
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3. Roku You don't need a decoder ring to figure out this last sell decision. Roku agreed last month to a cash-and-stock deal -- initially valued at $160 per share -- to be acquired by Fox (FOXA +1.06%). I have been vocal about my displeasure with the arrangement, but a deal is a deal.
Roku CEO Anthony Wood has a majority of the voting shares and is backing the transaction. He also has a role waiting for him at Fox once the deal closes in the first half of next year. It's pretty much a done deal, with little chance of antitrust regulators nixing the pairing or a rival bidder stepping up with a substantially higher offer at this stage.
Investors can stick around until the deal closes in the first half of next year, but is the premium worth it? The deal calls for Fox to pay $96 in cash and 0.9693 shares of Fox Class A common stock. Fox shares have started to inch higher after initially plunging following the deal's announcement, but it's still well below the original $160 price tag. Investors are looking at $148.09 in value as of Thursday's close, largely anchored to the cash component. That's a 5.6% return over the next 6 to 12 months unless Fox shares move higher. As a growth investor, I can see why Wood would prefer to put that money to work elsewhere.
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About the Author
Rick Munarriz is a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst and long-time contributor to the company’s free offerings and premium investing services, including Rule Breakers and Supernova. He has analyzed stocks across media and entertainment, retail and restaurants, and emerging technologies for The Motley Fool for 30 years. Rick holds an MBA from the University of Miami, once traveled the country with his band Paris By Air, and on weekends he can be seen on stage at Just The Funny theater in Miami as an improv comedy performer and co-owner. He is a regular guest on CNBC, Fox Business, BBC, and NPR for his expert stock analysis. He lives with his family in Miami and Celebration, Florida.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Steel Dynamics (STLD - Free Report) Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Steel Dynamics, Inc. is among the leading steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States. It is one of the most diversified steel companies in United States with a vast range of specialty products. The company makes and markets steel products, processes and sells recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and fabricates and sells steel joist and decking products in the United States and internationally.
STLD is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 13.28; value investors should take notice.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.57 to $16.73 per share. STLD boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, STLD should be on investors' short list.
Shares in petroleum refiner PBF Energy (PBF 0.69%) rose by 10.6% in the week to Friday morning as the market reacted to the deterioration in US-Iran relations and the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.
PBF owns and operates six refineries in the U.S. and has a 50% interest in a renewable diesel facility. While its profitability is tied to conditions in the energy market and end demand for its refined products, the key metric that governs its profitability isn't so much the price of oil, but rather the marginal difference between the price of refined products and the oil, feedstocks, and energy products inputs that it uses to produce them. This is something usually referred to as the "crack spread" in the industry.
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These observations are relevant in a week when oil prices rose amid a resumption of conflict in the Persian Gulf (thereby increasing input costs for PBF Energy), but the stock rose by double digits in response to a concomitant increase in the crack spread. In other words, the increase in the crack spread more than offset the increase in oil prices.
Image source: Getty Images.
Crude oil and refined product availability, not just price The reason for the increase in the crack spread is that any closure of the Strait of Hormuz not only makes it harder for non-US refiners to acquire crude oil but also slows exports of refined products from the Gulf countries. These pressures naturally lead to a wider spread, and that's great news for PBF Energy.
It also highlights the long-term advantages of owning a domestic refiner amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Prediction markets are becoming retail derivatives platforms, evidenced by Kalshi and Polymarket expanding beyond elections, sports and entertainment into perpetual futures, margin trading, metals, FX and energy.
Demand may be easier than regulation, as court fights over gambling laws and challenges to federal approvals show that compliance could determine which platforms scale.
More products create more insider-risk surfaces, as every new contract category, from prerecorded reality TV to government data and corporate events, requires stronger surveillance, conflict controls and information safeguards.
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are betting on growth across new financial products.
The industry’s product menu already stretches from political elections and World Cup matches to weather events. It now includes reality television, with Kalshi’s first markets tied to “Love Island USA” helping to more than double its weekly active female user base during part of June, illustrating how easily an exchange can turn an existing online fandom into a new trading constituency.
Prediction markets aren’t done there. Kalshi is reportedly in advanced discussions with regulators about expanding its perpetual futures business beyond cryptocurrencies into gold, other metals, foreign exchange and energy. Polymarket, meanwhile, has reportedly filed applications that would help it offer margin trading to customers in the United States.
Prediction markets, it would seem, are outgrowing the category that made them famous. They are evolving from event-based content into a new distribution layer for a potential next-generation of retail derivatives.
See also: Robinhood’s Memecoin Boom Shows Crypto’s Retail Market Is No Joke
Prediction Markets Are Becoming a Product Portfolio, Not a Betting Category The event contract services business is evolving from predicting discrete events to trading continuous exposure to economically important assets. That transition is occurring just as the industry’s regulatory position is becoming more complicated.
A federal judge this week rejected Kalshi’s attempt to prevent New York from applying state gambling laws to its sports contracts. Last month, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) sued the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and its chairman, Michael Selig, challenging a decision to let Kalshi and crypto exchange Coinbase list perpetual futures.
The result is a market in which product demand may be the easy part. The harder question is whether prediction platforms can develop a compliance system broad enough to support everything from television finales to leveraged commodity trades.
The Love Island contracts, for example, expose the prediction market category’s fundamental surveillance problem. Television episodes are produced before they are broadcast, meaning cast members, production staff, editors and others can possess information unavailable to the public. Similar informational asymmetries arise around economic announcements, court decisions, corporate events and government actions. The more subjects a platform makes tradable, the more types of potential insiders it must identify.
Goldman Sachs prohibited employees from participating in financial and political event contracts that could create actual or perceived conflicts involving the bank, its clients or the financial industry, particularly when workers could possess confidential corporate or macroeconomic information.
The Senate unanimously adopted a rule in April prohibiting senators, staff and officers from participating in prediction markets. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs followed this month with an executive order prohibiting state executive branch employees from using nonpublic government information for prediction market profits.
Read also: Prediction Markets Turn Uncertainty Into a Business Model
A Short History of Prediction Market Products and U.S. Regulation Despite all the action, prediction markets began as relatively constrained experiments in information aggregation. The CFTC said market operators have sought agency guidance since the early 1990s, and the first prediction market was designated as a federally regulated contract market in 2004. The central idea was that putting money behind a forecast could aggregate dispersed information more effectively than polls, surveys or expert opinion.
The model remained small partly because regulators treated event contracts as exceptional products. Contracts tied to economic indicators, elections or entertainment did not fit comfortably within either traditional futures regulation or state gambling frameworks.
Polymarket demonstrated the potential and limitations of operating outside that system. In 2022, the CFTC ordered the company to pay a $1.4 million penalty and wind down markets that violated federal derivatives laws. Polymarket later returned to the U.S. by acquiring federally licensed exchange and clearing infrastructure, creating a regulated domestic operation that is separate from its crypto-based international platform.
PYMNTS reported in September that when the CFTC issued a no-action letter regarding event contracts in response to a request from two businesses owned by Polymarket, it in essence gave Polymarket a regulatory green light to re-enter the U.S. market.
The industry’s short history, in other words, is not primarily a progression from one betting topic to another. It is a progression from restricted forecasting experiment to full-scale exchange infrastructure. That direction of travel appears to be continuing.
Zscaler (ZS - Free Report) is looking like an interesting pick from a technical perspective, as the company reached a key level of support. Recently, ZS broke out above the 50-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.
The 50-day simple moving average, which is one of three major moving averages, is widely used by traders and analysts to establish support and resistance levels for a range of securities. Because it's the first sign of an up or down trend, the 50-day is considered to be more important.
Shares of ZS have been moving higher over the past four weeks, up 16.7%. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, suggesting that ZS could be poised for a continued surge.
Looking at ZS's earnings estimate revisions, investors will be even more convinced of the bullish uptrend. There have been 14 higher compared to none lower for the current fiscal year, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
Investors should think about putting ZS on their watchlist given the ultra-important technical indicator and positive move in earnings estimate revisions.
Louisiana-Pacific (LPX - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Over the past month, shares of this home construction supplier have returned -2.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Building Products - Wood industry, which Louisiana-Pacific falls in, has lost 4.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Louisiana-Pacific is expected to post earnings of $0.64 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -35.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2 points to a change of -24.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.11 indicates a change of +105.4% from what Louisiana-Pacific is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Louisiana-Pacific.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Louisiana-Pacific, the consensus sales estimate of $683 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -9.5%. The $2.57 billion and $3.03 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -5% and +17.8%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryLouisiana-Pacific reported revenues of $574 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.7%. EPS of $0.38 for the same period compares with $1.27 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $572.45 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.27%. The EPS surprise was +322.22%.
Over the last four quarters, Louisiana-Pacific surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Louisiana-Pacific is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Louisiana-Pacific. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$37.57▼
$151.00Price Target$108.24
Rocket Lab NASDAQ: RKLB has been through a punishing stretch, to say the least. After peaking near $151 in May, the stock has fallen almost 45% from its record highs, closing at $82.55 on Thursday, July 10.
The post-SpaceX NASDAQ: SPCX IPO rotation out of space stocks, a broader risk-off tape, and heavy insider selling have all weighed on the name. But beneath the ugly chart, the past two weeks have delivered some significant bullish fundamental developments. For long-term investors, the disconnect between price action and recent developments might be hard to ignore and could even signal a potential entry point.
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Mission Success in Record TimeRocket Lab just delivered one of the more impressive operational feats in its history. As part of the U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission, the company designed, built, and launched a spacecraft under tight deadlines, then executed a record-shattering responsive launch in just 16 hours and 42 minutes from notice to liftoff. The mission did not end there. Rocket Lab subsequently completed complex on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations, proving its ability to track and inspect objects in space.
That capability matters enormously. Responsive launch and on-orbit inspection sit at the heart of what the Pentagon wants from commercial space partners, and no other company outside SpaceX has demonstrated it at this level. It is exactly the kind of execution that translates into future national security contracts, including work tied to the Golden Dome architecture and the Space-Based Interceptor program.
Morgan Stanley Sees a Path to $293Rocket Lab Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$108.24
31.11% Upside
Moderate Buy
Based on 21 Analyst Ratings
Current Price$82.55High Forecast$150.00Average Forecast$108.24Low Forecast$50.00Rocket Lab Stock Forecast Details
Despite the bearish price action and immense sell-off, analysts remain absolutely steadfast. On July 8, Morgan Stanley raised its bull-case price target for Rocket Lab to $293 from $185, while reiterating an Overweight rating and a $105 base-case target.
The bank's reasoning is straightforward: Rocket Lab is starting to look like a smaller SpaceX. The $8 billion acquisition of Iridium Communications, announced June 29, adds a global satellite network, L-band spectrum, and millions of recurring subscribers, continuing to transform Rocket Lab from a launch company into a vertically integrated space platform. As the analyst put it, the greatest value creation in the space economy comes not from launch alone, but from owning differentiated space-based infrastructure and monetizing recurring services.
Reaching $293 would require a clean, on-time Neutron debut, successful Iridium integration, and major defense awards converting into signed contracts. But even the $105 base case implies meaningful upside from current levels, and the consensus price target of $108.24 across 21 analysts sits over 31% above where the stock trades.
The Technical Line in the SandFrom a technical perspective, the picture is simpler. After a 45% drawdown, the big line in the sand for the bulls is the 200-day SMA, sitting around $76 per share. The stock has so far held above that level even through the worst of the selling. If it continues to defend that zone, a durable base could form, giving long-term buyers a defined-risk entry point. A decisive break below it, however, would put the broader uptrend that has been in place since early 2025 in genuine question. Until the stock reclaims higher levels, this remains a stabilization attempt rather than a confirmed reversal.
One notable caution for investors to note that could continue to weigh on the stock’s price action is insider selling. Insider selling has added to the negative sentiment, with CEO Peter Beck disclosing the sale of nearly 3 million shares over the past week. Insider sales after a massive multi-year run are not unusual, but the timing has not helped the tape.
August 6: The Next Big CatalystQ2 earnings are expected to arrive on August 6, and the report gives management the chance to reset the narrative. Investors should focus on four things. First, revenue was against the guided range of $225 million to $240 million, which came in well above consensus when issued. Second, any update on Neutron's debut timeline, the single most important variable in the Morgan Stanley bull case. Third, commentary on the Iridium deal, including the closing timeline and early integration planning. And fourth, backlog growth, which stood at a record $2.2 billion last quarter.
For long-term investors, the setup is compelling but conditional. The business is executing at the highest level in its history, the analyst community sees substantial upside, and the stock is down almost 45% from its peak. If the 200-day SMA holds and the August 6 report confirms the fundamental trajectory, this pullback may eventually be remembered as the opportunity it increasingly appears to be.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Rocket Lab Right Now?Before you consider Rocket Lab, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Rocket Lab wasn't on the list.
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The space race is growing fast, and you don’t have to have gotten in early on SpaceX to profit. This report shows seven space stocks you can buy today that may grow as rockets, satellites, defense, space internet, and new space technology become more important.
Key Highlights On July 9, ARK Invest acquired 217,896 shares of Circle Internet Group valued at approximately $13.7M The firm simultaneously offloaded 85,319 Robinhood Markets shares valued at roughly $9.8M Total Circle investments by ARK have exceeded $37M within approximately two months of 2026 Circle stock has plummeted 68% year-over-year while Robinhood has climbed more than 21% Analyst consensus places Circle’s price target at $131.76, suggesting potential 109% gains Cathie Wood’s investment firm ARK Invest acquired 217,896 shares in Circle Internet Group during trading on July 9, allocating approximately $13.7 million to the purchase. During the same session, the investment manager divested 85,319 Robinhood Markets shares, generating around $9.8 million in proceeds.
Shares of Circle concluded the trading day at $63.01, representing a 1.65% decline. ARK’s decision to accumulate shares during weakness aligns with the firm’s established strategy of adding positions in companies it maintains long-term conviction in.
Circle Internet Group, CRCL
Robinhood finished the session at $115.11, posting a 1.39% gain. By divesting during an upswing, ARK captured profits and freed up capital for alternative investments.
Sustained Accumulation Strategy in Circle This transaction represents part of a broader pattern. Earlier in July, specifically on July 1, ARK allocated approximately $18 million to Circle shares. Previously in May, an additional $5.5 million acquisition followed the company’s quarterly earnings disclosure.
When aggregated with the most recent transaction, ARK has channeled more than $37 million into Circle within roughly eight weeks. This represents an unusually concentrated buying campaign, even considering ARK’s characteristically bold positioning.
Circle operates as the entity behind USDC, a prominent stablecoin with substantial adoption throughout cryptocurrency markets. The company completed its public listing in 2025, with shares initially soaring nearly 300% above their initial offering price before experiencing a significant correction.
Trading at $63.01, Circle remains considerably below its post-listing peaks. Such declines often create attractive entry opportunities for growth-oriented investment vehicles like those managed by ARK.
Circle’s income generation is substantially dependent on interest yields from USDC reserve holdings. Declining interest rate environments would compress this revenue source. Additionally, the company confronts competitive pressure from Tether, whose USDT commands a dominant position in the worldwide stablecoin marketplace.
Analyst Sentiment and Legislative Context Wood has maintained support for Circle since its market debut, and her enthusiasm for cryptocurrency-related equities corresponds with her advocacy for the CLARITY Act. This proposed legislation aims to establish clearer boundaries determining when digital assets qualify as commodities versus securities, while extending the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s regulatory authority.
The bill failed to advance through the Senate by its July 4 deadline and currently faces an ambiguous legislative trajectory.
Nevertheless, Wall Street maintains predominantly optimistic views on Circle. Among the 25 analysts tracking the stock, 13 have assigned buy-equivalent or stronger ratings. The consensus 12-month price projection of $131.76 indicates potential appreciation exceeding 109% from present valuations.
Robinhood’s forecast appears comparatively restrained. The mean analyst target of $112.32 suggests approximately 2.4% downside from current trading levels, indicating many analysts believe the stock has fully absorbed its recent momentum.
Robinhood has appreciated more than 21% during the trailing twelve months. Circle has depreciated 68% across the identical timeframe.
Corporate insiders at both Circle and Robinhood have executed share sales in recent months, contrasting with ARK’s ongoing Circle accumulation campaign.
Circle (NYSE: CRCL) stock dropped by 1.65% on July 9, to close trading at $63. The drop mirrored the downturn seen with other crypto stocks like MSTR and COIN that also closed lower on July 9 after the broader crypto market dropped.
But that drop moved ARK Invest to buy the dip, with the fund manager arguing that Circle’s USDC stablecoin will retain its share in the stablecoin market despite the launch of the OUSD stablecoin on June 30.
ARK Invest Buys the CRCL Dip, Reiterates Bullish Outlook Data from the Ark Invest tracker shows that ARK Invest purchased $13.7 million worth of CRCL shares on July 9. The firm purchased 159,404 of these shares through its ARKK ETF, while 40,685 and 18,807 CRCL stock were purchased through the ARKW and ARKF ETFs, respectively.
This purchase comes barely two weeks after ARK Invest purchased another $17.8 million worth of CRCL shares on July 1.
The fund manager is making these buys despite a previous warning by Jefferies, saying that people might abandon Circle’s USDC for the OUSD stablecoin that claimed to have partnered with 140 institutions when it launched on June 30.
However, ARK Invest analyst Lorenzo Valente has dismissed this warning, saying that OUSD might not replace USDC because firms like Binance will not overhaul their entire operations and go for a new stablecoin.
“OUSD is not insignificant… But the market has overestimated the speed at which the shared profit model can break existing liquidity barriers,” the analyst said.
While CRCL stock did not rally after ARK Invest’s $13 million purchase or analyst Valente’s bullish thesis, technical analysis suggests that bulls still have a good grip.
CRCL Stock Price Defends Key Support Level as Bullish Momentum Fades CRCL stock price has touched the support of $61 three times since June 30. But each time the price dropped to this support, it bounced back up, suggesting that this is where buyers are entering the market.
If this crypto stock closes above this support of $61 for three straight days, the price could gain and reach the resistance of $84.
The AO bars that are negative but green suggest that bears are losing control. These AO bars support that the CRCL stock price could move from $61 to the June 22 high of $84.
However, the RSI reading of 34 suggests that the momentum is still bearish. This RSI reading needs to move above 50 to confirm that CRCL stock could move to $84.
CRCL Stock Price But if this bullish thesis fails and CRCL stock price closes below the support of $61, it might drop to the February low of $50.
CLARITY Act Nears Crucial Deadline A previous report by CoinGape stated that the final draft for the CLARITY Act could be released before August 7, when the US Congress breaks for the summer recess.
This final draft could remove regulations around stablecoin yield after banks fought back, saying that allowing Coinbase and Circle to pay out yields on stablecoins would reduce the deposits made with banks.
Besides CLARITY, financial regulators in the US will release GENIUS Act rules on July 18 that will guide stablecoin issuers like Circle on how they will issue and manage stablecoins.
Cathie Wood's ARK Invest executed a notable portfolio shift on July 9, acquiring 217,896 shares of Circle Internet Group ($CRCL) at a cost of roughly $13.7 million, while simultaneously offloading 85,319 shares of Robinhood Markets ($HOOD) worth approximately $9.8 million.
Circle's stock closed at $63.01 on the day of the trade, down 1.65%, while Robinhood finished the session at $115.11, up 1.39%. In effect, ARK was selling into $HOOD strength and buying $CRCL weakness, a move consistent with the firm's long-standing approach of accumulating positions in high-conviction names during periods of price softness.
A Sustained Bet on CircleThe July 9 purchase was not a one-off. When combined with the most recent acquisition, ARK has committed more than $37 million to Circle within roughly eight weeks. Wood has backed the stablecoin issuer since its debut, purchasing shares on its launch day.
Circle serves as the primary issuer of USDC, a leading stablecoin in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Following its 2025 public market debut, the company's shares surged nearly 300% from their initial offering price before experiencing a significant correction, and the stock remains substantially below those peak valuations at $63.01.
The decision to sell $HOOD comes even as the brokerage has gained more than 21% in the past year, far outperforming $CRCL's 68% decline. Robinhood is on track for a fourth consecutive year of gains, even as Circle ended last year in the red and appears set to do the same this year. Despite that underperformance, ARK continues to add to its $CRCL position.
Why ARK Keeps Buying the DipARK's decision to purchase during the downturn aligns with the firm's established strategy of accumulating positions in companies it views as long-term opportunities during periods of weakness. The investment firm also actively adjusts its ETF holdings so that no single stock exceeds 10% of a fund's portfolio, meaning ARK rebalances weightings when the value of certain assets fluctuates significantly.
Circle's business model relies significantly on interest income generated from USDC reserve holdings, meaning declining interest rates would directly impact this revenue stream, a key risk to monitor as the Federal Reserve's rate path remains uncertain.
Sources:
MoneyCheck: ARK Invest Pours $13.7M Into Circle (CRCL) While Dumping Robinhood (HOOD) Stock
Stocktwits: Cathie Wood's ARK Is Buying CRCL Stock's Slump While Selling HOOD's Gains
The Block: Ark Invest buys more Coinbase, Circle, Bullish, Robinhood shares amid stock declines
TLDR On July 9, 2026, ARK Invest purchased 34,080 Meta Platforms shares valued at $20.55 million The strategic acquisition precedes Meta’s anticipated Q2 earnings announcement scheduled for July 29 ARK divested 10,774 AMD shares worth $5.57 million, marking another consecutive week of position reduction The firm added 217,896 Circle Internet Group shares spanning three ETFs, totaling $13.96 million Analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus on Meta with an average target price of $817.15 Cathie Wood’s investment management firm, ARK Invest, executed several significant portfolio adjustments on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The most substantial transaction involved a $20.55 million stake increase in Meta Platforms through the ARK Innovation ETF.
Meta Platforms, Inc., META
The purchase encompassed 34,080 Meta shares, positioning ARK ahead of the social media giant’s upcoming second-quarter financial results disclosure on July 29.
Analyst projections suggest Meta will deliver earnings of $7.17 per share alongside revenue totaling $60.19 billion for the reporting period.
Meta’s Artificial Intelligence Initiatives Drive ARK’s Interest The investment decision follows a series of significant artificial intelligence developments from Meta. The tech giant introduced Muse Spark 1.1, marking its entry into paid AI model offerings, and rolled out innovative AI-powered business tools.
Meta has also announced that Iris, its proprietary AI semiconductor, will enter large-scale production this September. Additionally, the company revealed plans for a substantial capital commitment exceeding $13 billion toward constructing a cutting-edge data center facility in Alberta, Canada.
According to TipRanks, Meta receives a Strong Buy consensus recommendation derived from 34 Buy ratings alongside five Hold ratings. The consensus price target of $817.15 suggests potential upside of approximately 29.4% from present trading levels. Year-to-date, Meta shares have declined 4.2%.
ARK Reduces Semiconductor and Tech Exposure Concurrently, ARK liquidated 10,774 Advanced Micro Devices shares through its ARKK ETF, representing $5.57 million in value. This transaction extends a recent pattern of AMD position reduction spanning multiple trading sessions.
The investment firm also divested 85,319 Robinhood Markets shares valued at $9.69 million and offloaded 70,154 Roku shares worth $9.77 million.
ARK further reduced its Twist Bioscience holdings by selling 98,776 shares, generating proceeds of $8.83 million.
Beyond the Meta acquisition, ARK expanded its Circle Internet Group exposure by purchasing 217,896 shares distributed across its ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF ETFs, representing a combined investment of $13.96 million.
Additional accumulation included 105,364 Ionis Pharmaceuticals shares for $8.9 million and 544,385 Prime Medicine shares totaling $2.52 million.
Minor acquisitions encompassed 57,462 Generate Biomedicines shares valued at $911,921 and 46,302 Compass Pathways shares worth $646,838.
Following disclosure of ARK’s purchase activity, Meta stock advanced 6.58% on July 10.
Key Takeaways Crocs' LEGO Brick Clog drove strong social engagement and digital traffic.LoveShackFancy sold out globally, while Disney boosted accessories and premium Jibbitz charms.TikTok Shop expansion and Gen Z campaigns helped Crocs attract younger consumers and support DTC momentum. Strategic partnerships have been Crocs Inc.'s (CROX - Free Report) most effective tools for reinforcing brand relevance and expanding its appeal beyond its traditional customer base. In the first quarter of 2026, management highlighted collaborations as a key component of its consumer engagement strategy, using limited-edition launches, entertainment franchises and digital campaigns to create excitement around the brand. The company's multi-year global partnership with LEGO debuted with the LEGO Brick Clog, which management described as one of Crocs' best-performing partnerships on social media, generating significant consumer engagement and digital traffic.
Crocs also complemented this initiative with collaborations that directly supported product innovation. The LoveShackFancy collection sold out globally, reinforcing the demand for newer silhouettes such as the Classic Ballet Flat. At the same time, the Disney collaboration featuring Mickey Mouse helped drive strong growth in bags, accessories and premium Jibbitz charms, demonstrating that partnerships can extend spending beyond footwear into higher-margin personalization categories.
Management indicated that these initiatives contributed to strong consumer response across multiple product categories, including clogs, sandals and accessories, supporting the company's broader diversification strategy.
Beyond products, Crocs is using partnerships to deepen digital engagement. The company expanded its presence on TikTok Shop globally and was recognized as the platform's Top Seller of the Year for 2025. It also introduced innovative marketing campaigns, including a Gen Z-focused micro-drama series and experiential launches tied to events such as NBA All-Star Week.
Management believes that these collaborations and marketing activations are helping attract younger consumers while strengthening direct-to-consumer momentum. As Crocs broadens its product portfolio and global reach, strategic partnerships appear to be doing more than creating short-term buzz. They are reinforcing brand visibility, supporting product innovation and helping the company differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive casual footwear market.
Zacks Rundown for CROXCrocs’ shares have jumped 26.8% in the past three months against the industry’s decline of 3.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CROX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.94X, lower than the industry’s average 14.65X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 9.3% and 7.7%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CROX stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Discretionary SpaceDuluth Holdings Inc. (DLTH - Free Report) is a specialty apparel retailer known for its durable, workwear-inspired clothing and accessories, serving men and women through its Duluth Trading brand across direct-to-consumer channels and retail stores. At present, the company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DLTH’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 39.5% from the year-ago reported figure. Duluth Holdings has delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 107.5%, on average.
Steven Madden Ltd. (SHOO - Free Report) designs, sources, markets and sells fashion-forward branded and private-label footwear, accessories, handbags and apparel for women, men and children across the world. SHOO currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Steven Madden’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 11.7% and 22.9%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. SHOO delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 1.9%, on average.
Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) engages in the design, development, marketing and distribution of outdoor, active and lifestyle products in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada. At present, COLM has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLM’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2.6% and 4.6% from the year-ago reported numbers. COLM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 44.1%, on average.
Andrew King, General Partner at Bastille Capital and President of Future Union, told CNBC on July 10 that the defense trade has decoupled from the traditional playbook. Record Pentagon budgets would ordinarily be expected to lift America’s largest defense contractors. Instead, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and other household names have fallen sharply since February, even as military spending reaches new highs.
King argues capital is rotating into private companies and allied international operators that own the fastest-growing pieces of modern warfare. “We got very frothy in the defense market. And there’s other ways to play other than just the public markets. What you’re seeing is a rotation into other public companies,” King said.
Record Defense Spending Is No Longer Lifting the Usual Winners Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT | LMT Price Prediction) has declined 20.34% from its February 20, 2026 close of $650.58 to $518.26.
And Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) has fared even worse, down 25.87% over the same window.
That underperformance sits against a Department of War budget request that keeps climbing. The FY 2027 plan totals $1.45 trillion, up $440.894 billion from FY 2026 enacted levels, with $52.9 billion for Critical Munitions and $59.7 billion in procurement and RDT&E funding for vital space capabilities. The money is flowing, but investors have decided the incumbents are no longer the best way to invest in the upcoming opportunity.
The New Defense Winners May Be Hiding Among 300 Allied Companies King proposed a new framework for investors considering investments in defense companies. “We are coming out with the Allied Defense League, which specifically focuses on the 300 companies that are the most important to compete against adversarial countries, many of which… one third of the list is international, which we’ve never seen before,” he said.
92 of the 300 companies are international, up from 84 last year, a structure King describes as unprecedented. That mirrors what Goldman Sachs Asset Management flagged as a 2026 megatrend, citing the +€800 billion in EU defense spending in the ReArm Europe Plan 2030 as evidence that allied balance sheets are now doing structural work.
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Recent contract flow reinforces the pattern. Raytheon UK’s Omnia Training consortium just secured a £2 billion, 15-year contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to build the British Army’s Collective Training System, with 270 new UK jobs created. The transaction is a template for how allied budgets now anchor programs that once ran through Washington first.
Space Has Become Its Own Defense Battleground King still sees the US as a winner. “The US still owns the AI, the compute, the strategic resources, but increasingly, the allies own the strike verticals, the iterable drone type things that are outside of the core,” he said. His conclusion for portfolio construction: “Instead of thinking US hegemony, now we’re thinking this is an allied play. That’s how we win in the future.”
Space is treated as its own vertical. “Space is [an] entire own category. SpaceX is one of those eight. SpaceX is dominated by the US, as you might imagine. But there’s other players that are coming out like ICEYE and others that do some very interesting things… really critical to the allied play,” King said. As an example of space companies coming into the public light, Blue Origin is raising $10 billion at a $130 billion valuation, its first outside capital.
What to Watch Next The FY 2027 budget request totals $1.45 trillion; Europe is committing more than €800 billion through its ReArm Europe Plan; and allied governments are awarding multibillion-dollar contracts for munitions, drones, space, training, and other strategic capabilities.
King’s argument is which stocks are benefiting from this increased military spending. Lockheed Martin has fallen more than 20% since February 20, Northrop Grumman has declined nearly 26%, and the leveraged DFEN aerospace and defense fund is down approximately 15% over the same period. Meanwhile, private companies, specialized operators, and international allies are gaining importance across the eight defense verticals King tracks.
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Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.
Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.
Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.
In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Most stocks, about 60%, fall into the #3 (Hold) category, and they are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with a #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) rating, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market, with Strong Buy stocks outperforming more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Woodward?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Woodward (WWD - Free Report) holds a #2 (Buy) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $2.51 a share 17 days away from its upcoming earnings release on July 27, 2026.
By taking the percentage difference between the $2.51 Most Accurate Estimate and the $2.39 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Woodward has an Earnings ESP of +5.10%. Investors should also know that WWD is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
WWD is just one of a large group of Aerospace stocks with a positive ESP figure. Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.
Northrop Grumman, which is readying to report earnings on July 21, 2026, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. Its Most Accurate Estimate is currently $6.85 a share, and NOC is 11 days out from its next earnings report.
For Northrop Grumman, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.84 is +0.22%.
WWD and NOC's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
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Key Takeaways Baker Hughes wins three contracts for Cheniere's Sabine Pass LNG expansion and turbine upgrades.Train 7 and related projects will support more than 6 MTPA of incremental LNG capacity.The awards expand Baker Hughes' equipment backlog and create recurring lifecycle service opportunities. Baker Hughes (BKR - Free Report) has strengthened its position in the global liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) market by securing three major awards from Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG - Free Report) and Bechtel Energy Inc. for Cheniere’s Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana. The contracts, which were booked in the second quarter, include liquefaction equipment for the Train 7 expansion, a boil-off gas re-liquefaction unit and fleet-wide gas turbine technology upgrades. These awards reinforce Baker Hughes' long-standing partnership with Cheniere while expanding its role in one of the world's largest LNG export facilities.
The Phase 1 expansion will feature seven PGT25+ G4 gas turbines driving 15 centrifugal compressors, supporting approximately 6 million tons per annum (MTPA) of additional LNG production capacity.
BKR will upgrade the facility's installed fleet of aeroderivative PGT25+ G4 gas turbines over the next four years, improving turbine power output and operational efficiency across Sabine Pass' existing 30 MTPA production capacity. Together with Train 7 and the boil-off gas re-liquefaction unit, these upgrades are expected to add more than 6 MTPA of incremental LNG capacity.
The awards strengthen Baker Hughes' business model while expanding its exposure to the growing global LNG market. The contracts not only generate equipment sales but also create recurring lifecycle service opportunities. As global natural gas demand continues to rise, LNG infrastructure investment remains robust.
BKR's diverse portfolio of liquefaction equipment, gas turbines and digital services positions the company to capitalize on this long-term growth trend. The Cheniere awards enhance BKR's cash flow generation, strengthen its project backlog and bolster its overall investor appeal.
Baker Hughes and Cheniere carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each at present.
Some better-ranked stocks in the energy sector are National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR - Free Report) and Cenovus Energy Inc. (CVE - Free Report) . NESR and CVE currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (“EIA”) short-term energy outlook, daily U.S. LNG exports are projected to increase to 18.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 2027, up from 15.1 Bcf recorded in 2025. Rising LNG exports are expected to boost demand for natural gas, benefiting producers such as Cenovus, which is exposed to natural gas production.
LNG exporters like Cheniere also stand to gain from higher export volumes and transportation demand. Energy service providers such as Baker Hughes and NESR could benefit from increased drilling, production and infrastructure activity required to support increased natural gas development and production.
National Energy Services Reunited delivers integrated drilling and reservoir services across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia-Pacific, helping producers maximize output and efficiency. With the rising global demand for electricity fueling a shift toward natural gas, NESR is well-positioned to capitalize on growing upstream energy investments.
By leveraging its fully integrated upstream and downstream operations across Canada and the United States, Cenovus consistently generates robust cash flow. To further expand production, CVE is advancing key optimization initiatives at Christina Lake North, Sunrise, West White Rose and Foster Creek.
Po roce 2008 byla v americké a nejen americké ekonomice patrné znatelné dezinflační tlaky. Růst také nebyl nijak zářný. Fed tak snížil sazby co to šlo a držel se nákupu aktiv i poté, co již nešly ani náhodou považovat za preventivní protikrizovou politiku. K tomu se začaly objevovat další úvahy o tom, co by šlo ještě „stimulačně“ dělat s monetární politikou. Mimo jiné se hovořilo o zvednutí inflačního cíle. To se vrátilo i po roce 2020 a zdá se mi, že obecně šlo o odmítanou tezi. A nyní ke zvednutí cíle došlo a nic moc se kolem toho neděje.
Nový předseda Fedu Kevin Warsh podle svých slov klade váhu hlavně na to, aby oficiální inflace začínala dvojkou. Co je za ní, už jej prý zase tolik nezajímá. Jinak řečeno, podle tohoto pohledu je to s inflací v pořádku, pokud nepřesáhne 2,99 %. Přehnal jsem to, když jsem to nazval zvednutím inflačního cíle? Oficálně, ze zákona, k ničemu takovému nedošlo a většina členů vedení Fedu může dál považovat za cíl 2 %. Třeba Mohamed El-Erian ale již nějakou dobu hovoří o tom, že Fed by měl cíl zvednout neoficiálně někam ke 3 %. Připadá mi, že tohle je docela dost postatný krok tímto směrem. A bezesporu můžeme hovořit o tom, že onen 2 % cíl značně změknul tím, jak dlouho jej není dosahováno.
Následující graf od Gavekal Research ukazuje, že nyní je cíle pana Warshe dosahováno jen u tzv. trimmed PCE a mediánu PCE. V druhém případě jde o inflaci u střední položky koše zboží a služeb, v prvním o inflaci bez extrémních hodnot.
Zdroj: X
Po roce 2008 se zvedla docela velká vlna proti politice Fedu a některých dalších centrálních bank. Byly kritizovány nízké sazby i zmíněné kvantitativní uvolňování, častým argumentem byl hodně obecný koncept, či dojem „ničení hodnoty peněz“. Hovořilo se mimo jiné o „tištění peněz“, kupodivu i mezi odborníky i přesto, že jde o výraz značně zavádějící. Což ukazuje i to, že když rozvaha centrální banky klesá, nikdo nemluví, či se neraduje z „ničení peněz“. Hovoříme tu totiž fakticky o výměně aktiv mezi centrální bankou a bankami soukromými, což je přece jen něco jiného. V oné době jsem napsal řadu článků poukazujících na to, že tehdejší monetární politika nemusí být ani zdaleka bez chyby, ale celkové nastavení má své rácio. A některé obavy jsou hodně přehnané.
Nyní mám opět opačný pohled, než to, co vypadá jako konsenzus. Nyní se totiž ani zdaleka neobjevuje tolik úvah o nevhodně nastavené monetární politice, jen občas nějaká o nezodpovědnosti fiskální. Přitom mám dojem, že nyní by mohly být více namístě než před cca deseti lety. A důvodem není zdaleka jen chování současné vlády. Uvažme mimo jiné následující: Obě hlavní politické strany v USA mají podle mne jasnou tendenci utrácet a uvolňovat. Demokraté flirtují s teoriemi typu MMT, Republikáni si na potřebu nějakého teoretického rámce ani nehrají. Nový předseda Fedu provedl osobní veřejnou změnu inflačního cíle (i přesto se o něm začalo hovořit jako o jestřábovi). Skutečná inflace vyjma celkem speciálních ukazatelů už dlouhou řadu let ani tohoto cíle nedosahuje.
Dá se tvrdit, že kdyby neutrální sazby byly v USA kolem 3 %, současná „kvalitativní“ stránka monetární politiky (sazby) je stále restriktivní. Tedy nastavena tak, aby inflace po vyvanutí přechodných faktorů pokračovala v poklesu k 2 %. A mohu mít celkově špatný dojem a vše se může vrátit k monetárně inflační rovnováze u 2 %. Mám ale pocit, že když to nebylo zase tolik namístě, hemžilo se to všude přehnanými teoriemi a kritikou. Nyní v podstatě nic takového neslyšíme, přesto se situace podle mne posunuje tím méně vítaným směrem. Snad se mýlím.
Významným faktorem je tu pak samozřejmě ona přechodnost inflačních faktorů. V této souvislosti bych poukázal na určitý jev: Neustále se střídající skutečně přechodné faktory dávají dohromady už jeden velký, nepřechodný. Každá velká vlna, která bije do lodi, je přechodná a už se nevrátí. Ale dohromady mohou ukazovat na nějaký přetrvávající jev
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Invesco Ltd. operates as an independent investment manager and offers a wide range of investment products and services. The company was incorporated in 1935. As of March 31, 2026, Invesco served clients in more than 120 countries and had AUM worth $2.16 trillion.
IVZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. IVZ has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 1.1% over the past four weeks.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $2.60 per share. IVZ boasts an average earnings surprise of +7.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, IVZ should be on investors' short list.
Investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Cognex Corporation (CGNX - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Computer and Technology peers, we might be able to answer that question.
Cognex Corporation is one of 613 individual stocks in the Computer and Technology sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #3 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.
The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Cognex Corporation is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CGNX's full-year earnings has moved 51.5% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
Based on the latest available data, CGNX has gained about 82.8% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Computer and Technology group have gained about 16.8% on average. This shows that Cognex Corporation is outperforming its peers so far this year.
One other Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) . The stock is up 129.1% year-to-date.
The consensus estimate for Applied Materials' current year EPS has increased 9.3% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Looking more specifically, Cognex Corporation belongs to the Electronics - Testing Equipment industry, which includes 4 individual stocks and currently sits at #23 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 18.3% so far this year, meaning that CGNX is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
On the other hand, Applied Materials belongs to the Electronics - Semiconductors industry. This 50-stock industry is currently ranked #42. The industry has moved +51.1% year to date.
Going forward, investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should continue to pay close attention to Cognex Corporation and Applied Materials as they could maintain their solid performance.
LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Hub Group, Inc. (“Hub” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: HUBG) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 28, 2026.
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].
The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.
According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Hub suffered from material misstatements in its financial statements from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024 including its annual reports for 2023 and 2024. The Company’s misstatements included operating revenue, operating income, and revenue recognition. The Company’s financial statements from Q1 2025 to Q3 2025 contained misstatements related to the understatement of purchased transportation costs amongst other errors. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Hub, investors suffered damages.
Join the case to recover your losses
The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.
CONTACT:
The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335 [email protected]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 10, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hub Group, Inc. ("Hub Group" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: HUBG) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Hub Group securities between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026 (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION
If you are an investor in Hub Group and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.
DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than August 28, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.
On February 5, 2026, Hub Group announced preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2025 results and disclosed the identification of a $77 million accounting error due to "the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable in the first nine months of 2025." Additionally, the Company said it "plans to restate its financial statements for the first, second and third quarters of 2025," and "is continuing to assess the potential impact to its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023."
On this news, the price of Hub Group stock fell $9.37 per share, or 18.25%, to close at $41.96 per share on February 6, 2026.
Then, on May 12, 2026, Hub Group announced that it had "identified certain transactions that were prematurely or incorrectly recognized or not adequately supported," causing its 2023 and 2024 annual reports filed with the SEC to be "materially misstated," such that they "should no longer be relied upon." The Company did not quantify the expected misstatement, although it stated that it "expects to conclude that it did not maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023."
On this news, the price of Hub Group stock fell $5.24 per share, about 12.5%, to close at $36.62 per share on May 12, 2026.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, the Company's financial statements contained material misstatements caused by the premature and incorrect recognition of certain transactions and other material misstatements caused by the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable.
WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?
Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.
Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America-the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act-$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.
For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:
Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.
https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/hub-group-inc/
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/304703
Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP
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LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Insulet Corporation (“Insulet” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: PODD) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 31, 2026.
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].
The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.
According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Insulet suffered from defective controls over its manufacturing processes. The Company faced increased risks of safety violations due to these deficiencies. The Company’s manufacturing problem necessitating its March 2026 Medical Device Cirrection impacted a greater number of its Pod Products than it claimed. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Insulet, investors suffered damages.
Join the case to recover your losses
The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.
CONTACT:
The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335 [email protected]
The analysis found that between 2023 and 2026, Hyperliquid’s Bitcoin perpetuals produced an average annualized financing premium of 7.17% above Binance, while Ether perpetuals displayed a premium of 5.31%. The report looks at how funding rates, which maintain perpetual swaps in line with underlying spot prices, may differ dramatically amongst contracts that are otherwise comparable. In its Q2 2026 Derivatives Report, which was issued today, BitMEX identified three structural factors that contribute to financing rate discrepancies in perpetual futures markets and highlighted trading possibilities that result from variations in exchange demography, margin design, and oracle mechanisms.
The report looks at how funding rates, which maintain perpetual swaps in line with underlying spot prices, may differ dramatically amongst contracts that are otherwise comparable. These variations are often caused by market structure rather than short-term emotion, according to BitMEX’s report, giving traders repeated opportunities.
“Funding rates are often viewed as a simple indicator of market sentiment, but the reality is more nuanced,” said Peter Wilkinson, CEO at BitMEX. “Our research shows that structural factors such as collateral type, exchange participant profiles, and index construction can create persistent funding rate differences that traders may be able to identify and exploit strategically.”
BitMEX discovered that Bitcoin perpetual contracts with various forms of collateral may result in funding rate environments that range significantly, which is one of the report’s main conclusions. The financing gap between BitMEX’s bitcoin-margined XBTUSD contract and its USDT-margined XBTUSDT contract, according to historical data, averaged around 3.93% annualized over the previous three and a half years, remained negative in 94% of rolling 90-day periods.
The research also examined variations in financing rates across exchanges. The study found that between 2023 and 2026, Hyperliquid’s Bitcoin perpetuals produced an average annualized financing premium of 7.17% above Binance, while Ether perpetuals displayed a premium of 5.31%. The operational obstacles that restrict institutional arbitrage activity on decentralized venues and variations in trading demographics are mostly responsible for the discrepancy, according to BitMEX.
The expanding market for tokenized commodities perpetuals was a third area of interest. As futures-based indices rolled between contracts during times of market stress, financing rates on crude oil (WTI) perpetual contracts reached very high levels. According to the report, during a futures roll in April 2026, BitMEX’s WTIUSDT funding rate momentarily dropped to about -531% annualized. This shows how a venue’s index construction for more recent digital asset types, such as WTI, can affect funding rate behavior independently of overall market sentiment.
Cross-margin funding arbitrage, cross-exchange funding spreads, and possibilities related to futures-roll mechanics in commodities perpetuals are among the possible tactics identified by the research as a result of these structural insights. In order to differentiate between long-term structural possibilities and shorter-term event-driven dislocations, it suggests that traders should concentrate on determining the fundamental cause of funding rate disparities before trying to capitalize it.
You can see the whole BitMEX Q2 2026 Derivatives Report, “Three Sources of Funding-Rate Alpha,” at the BitMEX Blog.
The OG cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, BitMEX, offers experienced traders a platform that meets their demands with minimal latency, deep cryptocurrency native, particularly BTC liquidity, and unparalleled dependability.
A crypto enthusiast. Loves to write. Gives full dedication to every task assigned. Specializes in delivering on tight deadlines. An animal lover, especially dogs.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania American Water is encouraging customers throughout portions of its statewide service territory to voluntarily reduce their water consumption in response to the drought watch declaration expansion announced recently by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). While the company always encourages wise water use, Pennsylvania American Water is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their nonessential water use by 10-15% (a reduction of approximately 11-16 gallons per day) in accordance with DEP's guidance.
"We're asking our customers in affected areas to observe the DEP's request and be mindful of their nonessential water use during this drought watch," said Brandy Braun, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. "Our sources of supply are currently adequate to meet the needs of our customers, but we want to prepare for the potential for more severe conditions that could lead to stricter conservation measures in the future."
Of the 18 counties currently included in DEP's drought watch declaration, nine are within areas where Pennsylvania American Water provides water service. Those counties include Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northampton and York.
Following a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force on June 29, 2026, DEP worsened its declaration from Watch to Warning for four counties – Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh – based on public water supply levels and data related to four indicators: precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater level and soil moisture. According to DEP, a drought warning declaration is the second level of the state's three drought classifications. Learn more on DEP's drought information webpage.
Pennsylvania American Water offers multiple water conservation resources in the Wise Water Use section of its website. It also is a member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, which developed an online Water Use Calculator that allows visitors to input water use information specific to their household and offers tips on where they can save water and energy based on that data. The company also periodically shares water conservation tips and reminders with customers through email campaigns, bill enclosures and social media posts.
Below are tips for conserving water inside and outside the home:
Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it. Regularly check your toilet, faucets, and pipes for leaks with our free leak detection kits. If you find a leak, have it fixed as soon as possible. Install water-saving showerheads, toilets and faucet aerators. Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. Products and services that have earned the WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient while maintaining performance. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes in the sink. Water your lawn only when it needs it. When you do, water in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk, driveway or patio. Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall. For information, see this Penn State Extension guide. About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About Pennsylvania American Water
Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 1,200 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million people.
AppLovin (APP - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this mobile app technology company have returned +8.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. The Zacks Technology Services industry, to which AppLovin belongs, has gained 0.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
AppLovin is expected to post earnings of $3.72 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +64.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.2%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $15.93 points to a change of +58.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -0.3%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $20.89 indicates a change of +31.2% from what AppLovin is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.7%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for AppLovin.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of AppLovin, the consensus sales estimate of $1.94 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +54%. The $8.24 billion and $10.59 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +42% and +28.4%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAppLovin reported revenues of $1.84 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24.2%. EPS of $3.56 for the same period compares with $1.67 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.77 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.86%. The EPS surprise was +4.71%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
AppLovin is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about AppLovin. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Commvault To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Commvault between January 28, 2025 and January 26, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 10, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Commvault Systems, Inc. ("Commvault" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CVLT) and reminds investors of the July 17, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
Defendants provided investors with material information pertaining to Commvault's projected ARR growth for fiscal year 2026. Defendants' statements included, among other things, misleading guidance and projections related to the Company's new net ARR growth. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Commvault's ARR growth environment; pertinently, Commvault knew or recklessly disregarded that the Company's ARR growth guidance failed to properly factor in crucial variables, such as the type of sale. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Commvault's securities at artificially inflated prices.
On January 27, 2026, Commvault reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 ended December 31, 2025, including "40% growth in SaaS ARR to $364 million," as noted by the Company's Chief Accounting Officer ("CAO") during the earnings call to discuss these results. Additionally, the CAO said "60% of our deals actually closed in the last few weeks of the quarter." According to Bloomberg Intelligence, "SaaS ARR growth of 40% represents a meaningful deceleration from 56%" reported for the second quarter fiscal 2026.
Following this news, Commvault stock declined over 31% on January 27, 2026.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Commvault's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the Commvault class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/CVLT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Commvault Systems Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the Commvault Systems securities fraud lawsuit about?
The Commvault Systems securities fraud lawsuit is a federal securities class action alleging that Commvault Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVLT) and its executives made false and misleading statements to investors by providing materially misleading guidance and projections related to the Company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth while concealing that its ARR growth guidance failed to properly account for crucial variables - such as the type of sale - that significantly affected the Company's true growth trajectory. As the truth emerged on January 27, 2026, when Commvault reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results showing SaaS ARR growth of only 40% - a meaningful deceleration from 56% in the prior quarter - CVLT's stock price fell over 31% in a single day, causing significant losses for investors.
Who may be eligible to participate in the Commvault Systems class action lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or acquired Commvault Systems (CVLT) stock between April 29, 2025 and January 26, 2026 - the Class Period - and suffered financial losses may be eligible to participate in the Commvault securities class action. Participation as a class member does not require taking any affirmative legal action; eligible investors may recover losses simply by remaining members of the class. Whistleblowers, former Commvault employees, and others with relevant information about the Company's conduct are also encouraged to come forward.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment in the Commvault Systems lawsuit?
A lead plaintiff in the Commvault Systems class action is a court-appointed investor - typically the one with the largest financial interest in the case - who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of all class members. Any Commvault investor who purchased CVLT stock during the Class Period may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice. The deadline to seek lead plaintiff appointment is July 17, 2026. Importantly, choosing not to seek the lead plaintiff role does not affect an investor's ability to share in any recovery obtained for the class.
What should investors do if they purchased Commvault Systems stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased Commvault Systems (CVLT) stock between January 28, 2025 and January 26, 2026 and suffered losses should contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP immediately to discuss their legal rights. The deadline to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Commvault Systems securities class action is July 17, 2026. To speak directly with securities litigation partner Josh Wilson, call 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310), or visit www.faruqilaw.com/CVLT for more information.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/304612
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
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Wall Street analysts expect First Horizon National (FHN - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 15.6%. Revenues are expected to be $873.47 million, up 5.2% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone an upward revision of 0.2% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain First Horizon metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Efficiency Ratio' will reach 57.5%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 59.2%.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Average Balance - Total interest earning assets' should arrive at $78.03 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $75.89 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Net Interest Margin (FTE)' at 3.5%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 3.4%.
Analysts forecast 'Total nonperforming assets' to reach $604.50 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $606.00 million.
The consensus estimate for 'Total nonperforming loans and leases' stands at $603.00 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $593.00 million.
Analysts predict that the 'Net Interest Income' will reach $678.48 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $641.00 million.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Total Non-Interest Income' of $198.21 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $189.00 million in the same quarter last year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net interest income (FTE)' should come in at $680.14 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $645.00 million in the same quarter last year.
View all Key Company Metrics for First Horizon here>>>
Over the past month, First Horizon shares have recorded returns of +2.8% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), FHN will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.
Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.
On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.
One stock to keep an eye on is Post Holdings (POST - Free Report) . POST is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 12.87, which compares to its industry's average of 14.40. Over the past year, POST's Forward P/E has been as high as 19.52 and as low as 12.72, with a median of 16.42.
We should also highlight that POST has a P/B ratio of 1.44. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 1.69. Over the past year, POST's P/B has been as high as 1.75 and as low as 1.42, with a median of 1.62.
Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. POST has a P/S ratio of 0.45. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.67.
Finally, investors should note that POST has a P/CF ratio of 7.45. This figure highlights a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find firms that are undervalued when considering their impressive cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 10.70. Over the past year, POST's P/CF has been as high as 9.41 and as low as 7.35, with a median of 8.35.
These are only a few of the key metrics included in Post Holdings's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, POST looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.
Key Takeaways Super Micro Computer earned over $1B in nine-month net income but used $7.6B in operating cash.Receivables hit $8.4B, inventories reached $11.1B, and the cash conversion cycle rose to 106 days.SMCI sees fourth-quarter gross margin at 8.2-8.4%, making DCBBS crucial to capturing more value. Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) is chasing explosive AI-driven revenue growth, while its rising working-capital intensity is something to look at. During the first nine months of fiscal 2026, the company generated more than $1 billion in net income but consumed $7.6 billion in operating cash.
Since June 2025, accounts receivable increased from $2.2 billion to $8.4 billion, while inventories surged from $4.7 billion to $11.1 billion. The cash conversion cycle also nearly doubled sequentially to 106 days. Therefore, it is important to monitor whether receivables and inventory normalize as delayed AI deployments come online or whether heavy working-capital requirements are becoming structural.
Margin sustainability is another critical aspect. SMCI’s non-GAAP gross margin recovered to 10.1% from 6.4% sequentially. However, the company expects it to fall back to 8.2-8.4% in the fourth quarter. Large AI customers generate enormous volumes but also possess significant pricing power.
One customer alone represented 27% of third-quarter revenues, making the customer mix a major determinant of profitability. For SMCI, the success of Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) will therefore be crucial. By bundling servers with cooling, power, networking, software and services, SMCI aims to capture more value from each deployment and improve margins.
However, investors need clearer evidence that DCBBS is materially changing the company’s economics. SMCI also faces stiff competition as the AI data center market is likely to grow at an unprecedented pace throughout 2026 and 2027.
How Competitors Fare Against SMCIBig players like Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) and Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) are competing with SMCI in this space.
Dell Technologies is a major supplier of servers and storage systems, with a broad customer base across enterprises and cloud providers. Its scale, established distribution and service offerings give it an edge in winning large contracts. However, Dell Technologies has not grown as quickly as SMCI in AI-specific systems; its ability to bundle hardware with services makes it a strong rival.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is also expanding aggressively into AI and high-performance computing. Its GreenLake platform provides customers with flexible, cloud-like consumption models, which can be attractive to enterprises. Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s focus on hybrid cloud and AI workloads positions it as a direct competitor in areas where SMCI is seeking growth through its DCBBS strategy.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers a range of servers, including HPE ProLiant, HPE Synergy, HPE BladeSystem and HPE Moonshot servers. Dell Technologies has built the Dell AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA. Dell also collaborated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI for Dell PowerEdge servers.
SMCI’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Super Micro Computer have lost 3.6% year to date against the Zacks Computer – Storage Devices industry’s growth of 280.7%.
SMCI YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, SMCI is trading at a discount at a forward 12 Month P/S multiple of 0.33X compared with the industry’s P/S multiple of 4.28X.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Super Micro Computer’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 24.27% and 22.9%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings have been revised upward in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Super Micro Computer currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Bloom Energy stock is showing positive momentum. What’s the outlook for BE shares? What Is Bloom Energy’s Response to Short Report?Management rejected a short report from Hunterbrook Media as "false and misleading," saying it stands behind the accuracy and integrity of its audited financial statements and pointing investors to its latest 10-K and 10-Q filings. The company also disputed claims around scandium oxide sourcing, saying it has enough supply to meet current demand and backlog and that its supply is not dependent on China.
Bloom’s supply-chain debate is also being framed against specific prior executive language, including CEO KR Sridhar’s April 2025 earnings-call line: "We are not dependent on China for scandium." The short thesis leans on trade data and other analysis to challenge that claim, while Bloom has said it will "correct the record" and emphasized a diversified, multi-country supply chain built over two decades.
Bloom Energy Stock: Key Levels To WatchFrom a longer-term view, the stock is still in a powerful uptrend, up 894.27% over the past 12 months and trading well above its 200-day SMA ($168.64) and 100-day SMA ($223.97). The near-term picture is choppier: price is below the 20-day SMA ($284.09) and 50-day SMA ($282.17), which keeps the recent pullback/consolidation structure in play.
RSI is the cleaner momentum lens right now, sitting at 45.18, which signals neutral-to-soft momentum rather than an overbought "blow-off" or an oversold washout. In plain terms, RSI helps gauge whether buying or selling pressure is getting stretched; here it suggests the stock may need more basing before momentum improves.
Key Resistance: $303.00 — a nearby round-number area that also sits above the short-term moving-average zone, where rebounds can stall Key Support: $247.50 — a nearby pivot area just below current price where buyers previously showed up How Bloom Energy Operates in the Fuel Cell MarketBloom Energy designs, manufactures, sells, and installs solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation, with "Bloom Energy Servers" that can run on natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen to deliver 24/7 stationary electricity. The company sells in the U.S. and internationally, so investors tend to focus on scaling, component sourcing, and the durability of its supply chain.
That’s why the current debate around scandium oxide matters: the short report questioned whether Bloom’s supply assumptions could constrain production, while the company says it has visibility to support production of 25GW per year and isn’t dependent on China to scale supply. When a stock is already extended on the long-term chart, these credibility and execution questions can quickly drive volatility around key technical levels.
Bloom Energy Earnings Preview for July 2026Looking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 28, 2026 (confirmed) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: 36 cents (Up from 10 cents YoY) Revenue Estimate: $804.17 million (Up from $401.24 million YoY) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $259.50. Recent analyst moves include:
Susquehanna: Positive (Raises Target to $298.00) (July 10) Baird: Outperform (Maintains Target to $310.00) (July 9) Jefferies: Hold (Raises Target to $246.00) (July 6) Bloom Energy’s Benzinga Edge Scorecard BreakdownBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Bloom Energy, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
The Verdict: Bloom Energy’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a classic High-Flyer setup—very strong momentum and growth paired with extremely weak value. For longer-term holders, that usually means the trend can stay intact, but drawdowns can be sharp when the narrative gets challenged.
Bloom Energy ETF Exposure: Key Funds to WatchSignificance: Because BE carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.
Bloom Energy Stock Price Activity TodayBE Stock Price Activity: Bloom Energy shares were down 1.29% at $253.71 during premarket trading on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Fuel-cell stocks are losing a chunk of their monster 2026 gains on Friday morning, with three high-profile names all trading sharply lower. FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) is leading the decline, off 11% to $20.49, while Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) is down 8% to $235.69 and Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) is lower by 6% to $2.24.
The moves come after an extraordinary run. Year to date, FuelCell Energy stock is up 181%, Bloom Energy stock is up 174%, and Plug Power stock has advanced 14%. Investors have bid the group up on the AI data center power thesis, and profit-taking looks like the dominant force this morning.
None of the three currently carries a trailing P/E ratio, as each remains unprofitable. Trailing EPS stands at -$6.20 for FuelCell Energy, -$0.05 for Bloom Energy, and -$1.39 for Plug Power.
Three Separate Threads, One Sector Unwind FuelCell Energy is the clearest story. The company’s $225 million share offering priced at $21 was set to close on or about July 9, and FuelCell Energy shares have now slipped below that offering price. That dilution overhang is compounding after a Q2 FY2026 report that showed revenue of $35.59 million, down 5% year over year, and a $42.57 million non-cash impairment tied to the Groton project.
Bloom Energy shares are contending with a different overhang. On July 8, Hunterbrook alleged that Bloom Energy depends on China for scandium and questioned its accounting and production goals. Bloom Energy rebutted the claims as “false and misleading,” citing sufficient scandium inventories, no China dependence, and visibility to up to 25 GW. The market initially shrugged off the report, with Bloom Energy stock bouncing on July 9, but the report appears to be weighing again today alongside garden-variety profit-taking.
Plug Power has no fresh company-specific catalyst. PLUG stock appears to be moving in sympathy with the broader hydrogen and fuel-cell complex.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Sector Rotation and the Hydrogen ETF Read-Through The Global X Hydrogen ETF (NYSEARCA:HYDR) is a useful gauge here. Bloom Energy is its top U.S. holding at 15% of net assets, followed by Plug Power at 9% and FuelCell Energy at 5%. Together, the three names represent 29% of HYDR’s net assets, so today’s move hits the fund squarely. HYDR is a narrow, volatile thematic vehicle, and that concentration cuts both ways.
Retail sentiment on Bloom Energy has been mixed. A single high-engagement r/wallstreetbets post titled “1,100 Shares $BE (Margin + Cash): Margin Called + Naked Options” drew 112 upvotes and 87 comments as the selloff took hold, a reminder that leveraged retail positioning tends to accelerate downside in these names.
Bull and Bear on the Primary Name The bull case for FuelCell Energy stock rests on momentum and clean-energy exposure to AI data center power demand. Management flagged a 4 GW pipeline, 90% data center-related, and cash of $373 million to fund the Torrington capacity build-out. The analyst target price of $22 sits near current levels, with a rating mix of 6 hold and 2 sell/strong sell ratings.
The bear case is dilution, chronic unprofitability, and a beta of 2.31 that means outsized swings in both directions. FuelCell Energy stock is still down 91.5% over five years, so the recent gains sit on a fragile base.
Investors may want to keep their position sizes modest in FuelCell Energy stock given the volatility profile, and can watch for whether FCEL can reclaim the $21 offering price. The next scheduled catalyst worth watching is Bloom Energy’s next quarterly report, followed by Plug Power’s Q4 2026 target for positive EBITDA including stock-based compensation (EBITDAS).
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) Findlay, OH-based Marathon Petroleum Corporation is a leading independent refiner, transporter and marketer of petroleum products. The company, in its current form, came into existence following the 2011 spin-off of Houston, TX-based Marathon Oil Corporation’s refining/sales business into a separate, independent and publicly-traded entity. In October 2018, Marathon Oil completed the acquisition of its rival Andeavor in a $23.3 billion deal, thereby becoming the nationwide largest refining company by market capitalization. The deal also made the company the largest U.S. refiner and the fifth largest in the world by capacity.
MPC is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 8.6; value investors should take notice.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $4.13 to $32.96 per share. MPC also boasts an average earnings surprise of +49.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, MPC should be on investors' short list.
The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Boston Scientific (BSX - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Boston Scientific currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.48, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 29 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.48 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 29 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and four are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 72.4% and 13.8% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BSX
Check price target & stock forecast for Boston Scientific here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Boston Scientific, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is BSX Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Boston Scientific, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 0.2% over the past month to $3.36.
Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Boston Scientific. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for Boston Scientific with a grain of salt.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: TransUnion (TRU - Free Report) Headquartered in Chicago, IL, TransUnion is one of the leading global providers of risk and information solutions to businesses and consumers. The company provides consumer reports, risk scores, analytical services and decision-making capabilities to businesses. What sets TransUnion apart are its distinctive and comprehensive datasets, next-generation technology and its analytics and decision-making capabilities — which enable it to deliver insights across the complete consumer lifecycle. TransUnion boasts rich domain proficiency across key industry verticals, including insurance, healthcare and financial services. It also caters to verticals like wireless, real estate and general commercial/business information. Possession of both nationwide consumer credit data and comprehensive, diverse public records data, enables the company to better predict behavior, assess risk and address a broader set of business issues for its customers.
TRU is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Business Services stock. TRU has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 16.2% over the past four weeks.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.75 per share. TRU also boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, TRU should be on investors' short list.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CDW (CDW - Free Report) Headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL, CDW Corporation, founded in 1984, provides discrete hardware and software products alongside integrated IT solutions that support mobility, security, data center optimization, cloud computing, virtualization and collaboration environments.
CDW is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. CDW has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 8.6% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.22 to $10.75 per share. CDW boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CDW should be on investors' short list.
The market expects Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 17. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.98 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +8.9%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.25 billion, up 44.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.44% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Fifth Third Bancorp?For Fifth Third Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.61%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Fifth Third Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Fifth Third Bancorp would post earnings of $0.84 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.83, delivering a surprise of -1.19%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Fifth Third Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerU.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.28 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +15.3%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $7.62 billion, up 8.7% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for U.S. Bancorp has been revised 0.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.34%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggests that U.S. Bancorp will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Fair Isaac (FICO - Free Report) Fair Isaac Corporation, better known as FICO, offers analytical tools, software and solutions that help in making informed decisions.
FICO is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. FICO has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 46% for the current fiscal year.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.07 to $43.63 per share. FICO also boasts an average earnings surprise of +8.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, FICO should be on investors' short list.
Wall Street analysts forecast that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (PNC - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $4.51 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 17.1%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $6.47 billion, exhibiting an increase of 13.7% compared to the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 0.3% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.
Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.
Bearing this in mind, let's now explore the average estimates of specific The PNC Financial Services Group metrics that are commonly monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts.
Analysts expect 'Efficiency ratio' to come in at 58.9%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 60.0%.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Total nonperforming assets' will likely reach $2.55 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $2.14 billion.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Book value per common share' reaching $146.34 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $131.61 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts predict that the 'Total interest-earning assets - Average balance' will reach $552.40 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $507.61 billion.
The consensus estimate for 'Total nonperforming loans' stands at $2.45 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $2.11 billion in the same quarter last year.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Tier 1 risk-based ratio' of 11.3%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 11.9%.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Leverage Ratio' will reach 9.0%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 9.3%.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net Interest Income' should come in at $4.09 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $3.56 billion.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Total Noninterest Income' should arrive at $2.33 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $2.11 billion in the same quarter last year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Net interest income (Fully Taxable-Equivalent - FTE) (non-GAAP)' will reach $4.12 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $3.58 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Capital markets and advisory' at $478.35 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $321.00 million in the same quarter last year.
Analysts forecast 'Card and cash management' to reach $765.86 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $737.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
View all Key Company Metrics for The PNC Financial Services Group here>>>
Shares of The PNC Financial Services Group have demonstrated returns of +7.3% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), PNC is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.
The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.
Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Most stocks, about 60%, fall into the #3 (Hold) category, and they are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with a #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) rating, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market, with Strong Buy stocks outperforming more than any other rank.
Should You Consider EOG Resources?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. EOG Resources (EOG - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $5.07 a share, just 25 days from its upcoming earnings release on August 4, 2026.
EOG has an Earnings ESP figure of +0.36%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $5.07 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.05. EOG Resources is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
EOG is one of just a large database of Oils and Energy stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Talos Energy (TALO - Free Report) .
Slated to report earnings on August 5, 2026, Talos Energy holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $0.43 a share 26 days from its next quarterly update.
For Talos Energy, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.32 is +35.79%.
EOG and TALO's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Comfort Systems (FIX - Free Report) .
Comfort Systems currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.33, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 12 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.33 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 12 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 10 are Strong Buy, representing 83.3% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for FIX
Check price target & stock forecast for Comfort Systems here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying Comfort Systems, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is FIX a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Comfort Systems, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $43.08.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Comfort Systems. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Comfort Systems.
Key Takeaways Comfort Systems targets 4M square feet of modular capacity by end-2026 as demand drives expansion.Q1 CapEx surged to $147M, funding a Texas modular assembly building and automation investments.Large customers need more capacity, while new customers are placing sizable trial orders. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) is expanding its modular capabilities as customer demand creates a need for greater off-site production capacity. Modular revenues accounted for 17% of total revenues in the first quarter of 2026, making the business a meaningful part of the company’s construction operations. The company is on track to reach 4 million square feet of modular capacity by the end of 2026 and is evaluating further investments.
The expansion is supported by a sharp increase in capital spending. Capital expenditures reached $147 million in the first quarter, up from $22 million a year ago, and represented 5.1% of revenues compared with 1.2%. Spending included the purchase of a large modular assembly building in Texas and other investments in modular capabilities. Full-year CapEx is expected to remain near 5% of revenues as Comfort Systems invests in facilities and automation equipment.
The capacity buildout is also tied to customer demand. Existing large customers require additional capacity, while new customers are placing sizable trial orders. For many facilities, Comfort Systems seeks multiyear customer commitments at agreed volume levels before committing capacity. This approach can improve visibility around asset use, support pricing and deepen customer relationships.
The broader operating environment also provides support. First-quarter revenues rose 56% to $2.9 billion, while same-store revenues increased 51% year over year. Mechanical segment revenues, which include modular activity, grew 47% year over year. Taken together, rising modular scale, customer-backed capacity additions and automation investments could strengthen Comfort Systems’ ability to serve larger project volumes. However, the higher capital requirement makes disciplined capacity deployment and sustained customer demand important to realizing returns from the expansion.
Comfort Systems’ Competitive LandscapeComfort Systems, alongside close peers, AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) and Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) , is pursuing different strategies to strengthen its position across the HVAC and infrastructure markets. All three are benefiting from demand for advanced cooling, energy-efficient systems and data center infrastructure.
Comfort Systems has distinguished itself through strong project execution and expanding mechanical, electrical and modular capabilities for complex data center and advanced technology projects. AAON focuses on highly engineered and configurable HVAC solutions, supported by capacity expansion and improved production. Demand for data center thermal management and specialized cooling applications is also supporting growth opportunities.
Carrier Global competes through a broad HVAC portfolio, product innovation and integrated building solutions. Its business is supported by commercial HVAC demand, aftermarket services, digital connectivity and energy-efficient offerings. While Comfort Systems emphasizes project execution and modular capabilities, AAON relies on specialized HVAC and cooling solutions and Carrier Global uses product breadth, system integration and a broad service network to compete across end markets.
FIX Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this Texas-based heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical contracting service provider have surged 90.8% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Building Products - Air Conditioner and Heating industry, the Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FIX stock is currently trading at a premium compared with the industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.07, as the trend lines suggest below.
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Earnings Estimate Trend of FIXFIX’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have moved upward in the past 60 days to $43.08 and $52.59 per share, respectively. The revised estimates for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 49.2% and 22.1%, respectively.
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Comfort Systems currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Highlights Bitcoin surged 3.5% to approach $64,000, closing the week with a 4.2% gain Major altcoins including Ether, XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana saw positive Friday sessions The Nasdaq outperformed with a 1.3% increase, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.8% Memory chip manufacturers like Micron and Sandisk dominated S&P 500 gains Dollar depreciation combined with robust AI semiconductor demand fuels coordinated crypto and stock market advances The leading cryptocurrency bounced back toward the $64,000 threshold on Friday, shaking off mid-week declines triggered by escalating geopolitical concerns. This resurgence coincided with substantial rallies across Asian trading floors and continued weakness in the U.S. dollar.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Digital gold experienced a 3.5% upward movement after temporarily sliding to approximately $61,850 in response to President Trump’s statements regarding potential expanded military operations against Iran. Trading volume reached $28 billion over a 24-hour period. Bitcoin concluded the trading week with a cumulative 4.2% increase.
Ether advanced 2.6% to reach $1,760, recording a weekly gain of 4%. XRP climbed 2.2% while TRON emerged as the week’s strongest performer among major cryptocurrencies with a 4.7% seven-day increase. Dogecoin posted a 2.6% daily gain but remained marginally negative for the week. Solana stood as the lone major token unable to secure weekly profits, rising 2.6% on Friday while maintaining a 2.1% weekly deficit.
Market observers highlighted leveraged trading as a critical element behind the rapid price recovery. Traders liquidated positions following geopolitical headlines, then quickly re-entered the market within hours.
“When liquidation cascades begin influencing price movements, markets can accelerate beyond what fundamental demand would support,” explained Shawn Young, chief analyst at MEXC Research.
Semiconductor Sector Powers Wider Market Momentum The cryptocurrency rebound occurred in tandem with robust equity market performance. Across Asia, South Korea’s Kospi index soared 4%, partially fueled by memory chip producer SK Hynix, which successfully priced $26.5 billion in American depositary shares, marking one of this year’s most significant equity offerings.
MSCI’s Asia Pacific stock index advanced 1.4%, narrowing its weekly decline to below 1%. The Japanese yen appreciated 0.6% while Japanese government bond yields contracted following statements from Japan’s Finance Minister advocating for increased domestic asset allocations by pension funds.
American Markets Mirror Technology Sector Strength U.S. equity indexes concluded Thursday’s session in positive territory with technology stocks spearheading the advance. The Nasdaq climbed 1.3%, the S&P 500 rose 0.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 129 points, representing a 0.3% gain.
E-Mini S&P 500 Sep 26 (ES=F) Approximately two-thirds of S&P 500 constituents finished higher. Memory chip producers Micron and Sandisk ranked among the session’s top gainers, accompanied by optical technology firms Lumentum and Corning.
The greenback declined for its second consecutive week. Bitcoin market watchers emphasize this development’s significance. Cryptocurrency appreciation this week occurred as dollar valuations decreased, indicating the movement represents partially a foreign exchange dynamic rather than exclusively a crypto phenomenon.
No cryptocurrency-specific catalysts propelled Bitcoin’s weekly performance. Major ETF flows remained absent, no protocol developments emerged, and exchange platforms operated without disruption. Bitcoin weathered oil price volatility, bond market turbulence, and two separate rounds of American military action against Iran, yet still secured weekly gains.
Should dollar weakness persist and artificial intelligence chip demand maintain current levels, market analysts anticipate cryptocurrency markets will continue correlating with semiconductor industry cycles.
Zcash price moved above $500 as buyers responded to confirmation of the Ironwood network upgrade. ZEC gained 7% to $502.30 within 24 hours and extended its weekly rise to 10%. Stronger derivatives activity supported the move. Meanwhile, a breakout above key moving averages reinforced bullish momentum.
Ironwood Upgrade Strengthens Zcash Network Ironwood upgrade will go live on 28 July 2026 with block 3,428,143. Zcash core developer, Sean Bowe, affirmed that the key players in the Zcash ecosystem supported it.
The upgrade is based on the identification of a severe vulnerability in the Orchard shielded pool in May. The vulnerability theoretically would enable counterfeit ZEC tokens to be introduced into the circulation undetected.
LATEST: ⚡ Zcash developers say they’re nearing a mathematical proof that the upcoming Ironwood shielded pool has no hidden counterfeiting bugs. pic.twitter.com/5AmpKYSOEz
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 8, 2026
Orchard will be permanently retired by developers, and no further transactions will be allowed to enter the affected pool. It will be substituted with a redesigned shielded pool that has stronger security provisions.
The new design will comprise of formal verification, external security measurements and quantum-resistant note designs. These actions are set to defend the integrity of supply and enhance trust in private dealings.
Crypto Market Recovery Supports ZEC Price The crypto market value soared by 2.25% within 24 hours to approximately 2.2 trillion.
Bitcoin price rose above $64,000 to extend its recovery, which boosted the mood in key digital assets. Ether price also trended towards its 50-day average around $1,800.
A confirmed Ethereum breakout at such a level may aid in futher gains throughout the market. XRP traded around $1.10, having held support at $1.09.
The broader recovery provided ZEC traders with more confidence ahead of the Ironwood activation. Nonetheless, above $500 is significant to sustain the existing bullish formation.
ZEC Open Interest Surges 27.32% to Reach $1.02 Billion Zcash derivatives trading activity increased as traders got more exposure before the Ironwood network upgrade.
The trading volume increased by 49% to $1.98 billion, indicating significant participation in the short-term market.
Open interest Open interest also rose 27% to $1.02 billion with additional positions outstanding in futures markets.
The cumulative rise indicates higher trader interest as the market players track the recent price surge of ZEC.
However, rising leveraged positions could increase volatility as Zcash approaches important resistance levels.
How High Can Zcash Price Go in July 2026? At the time of writing, the ZEC price surged to $509, gaining 7% on the four-hour chart.
Zcash price is also trading within an uptrending channel, which serves to sustain the prevailing bullish price setup.
The chart shows Zcash price reclaiming the $500 resistance zone after several failed attempts earlier this month. A four-hour close above the level of $510 may reinforce the breakout and invite additional buying.
Tradingview The Relative Strength Index is at 69, and ZEC is approaching overbought. Meanwhile, the MACD line remains above its signal line, while the histogram has turned positive.
The upper limit of the channel is close to the level of $525, forming the first short-term goal of the sellers. A decisive break beyond that point would reveal the more formidable area of resistance at $550.
With the momentum solid, the Zcash price would possibly test later against $600 as the next psychological target.
Analysts at Watcher Guru, a US-based cryptocurrency and whale tracking platform, say that due to changing market conditions, it seems unlikely that XRP will repeat its 500% surge.
As is known, XRP experienced one of the most remarkable price increases in the market in 2024. Trading at around $0.50 in July 2024, XRP rose to approximately $2.40 by the end of the year, gaining nearly 500% in value in six months.
This strong performance has generated significant profits for investors, making XRP one of the key altcoins in the market once again.
At that time, Bitcoin also surpassed $100,000 for the first time, boosting the cryptocurrency market in general, including XRP. Analysts at this point noted that this rise in XRP and the market was largely driven by expectations of US President Donald Trump’s re-election and moderate policies supporting cryptocurrencies.
However, analysts argue that current conditions are very different from those supporting the 2024 rally. Global economic uncertainties, geopolitical risks stemming from US-Iran tensions, and a more cautious approach from investors are among the factors limiting optimism in the crypto market.
It is also argued that global capital is now concentrated in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, which is causing other asset classes, such as cryptocurrencies, to underperform.
In conclusion, analysts argue that while a 500% increase in XRP by the end of 2026 is theoretically possible, the 2024 surge may be behind us due to changing market conditions. They believe that the gloomy market sentiment makes a repeat of the 2024 surge in 2026 highly unlikely.
*This is not investment advice.
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