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Sax Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA – Free Report) by 349.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,429 shares of the aircraft producer’s stock after buying an additional 8,107 shares during the period. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Boeing were worth $1,940,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highland Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Boeing in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 125 shares of the aircraft producer’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Boeing during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc bought a new position in shares of Boeing during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Bayban acquired a new stake in shares of Boeing during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors own 64.82% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Boeing Here are the key news stories impacting Boeing this week:

Positive Sentiment: Boeing delivered 57 aircraft in September, its highest monthly total of 2026, up from 51 in August and 55 a year earlier. Third-quarter commercial deliveries reached 161 aircraft, including 124 737s, while defense deliveries totaled 133 units. The increase supports Boeing’s efforts to raise production and convert its substantial backlog into revenue and cash. Reuters delivery report Positive Sentiment: The U.S. Navy’s selection of Boeing for the F/A-XX carrier-based fighter, along with a reported $715 billion order book, strengthens the company’s long-term commercial and defense growth outlook. Analysts also argue that Boeing could benefit from future U.S. tactical-aircraft programs. Order book and fighter program analysis Positive Sentiment: Barclays initiated favorable coverage with an Overweight rating, while other bullish commentary suggests Boeing’s recent setbacks may already be reflected in the stock’s valuation. Barclays coverage Neutral Sentiment: September and third-quarter delivery figures are preliminary and will not be considered final until Boeing reports its quarterly financial results. Boeing delivery announcement Negative Sentiment: Bernstein lowered its price target to $278 from $298 and cited limited visibility into Boeing’s cash flow. Persistent negative cash generation, heavy debt and comparisons with financially stronger aerospace companies remain major investor concerns. Bernstein price-target report Negative Sentiment: High oil prices, defense-sector uncertainty, a 737 MAX software issue and pending regulatory approvals are offsetting the delivery improvement. The stock also trades below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, reflecting continued technical caution. Boeing stock headwinds Boeing Price Performance Shares of BA stock opened at $186.61 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $207.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $215.84. The Boeing Company has a one year low of $176.77 and a one year high of $254.35. The firm has a market cap of $147.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 80.78 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.77, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.33. Boeing (NYSE:BA – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The aircraft producer reported ($0.76) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.34) by ($0.42). Boeing had a negative return on equity of 346.82% and a net margin of 2.41%. The company had revenue of $24.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($1.24) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -0.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Argus raised shares of Boeing from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $265.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. Robert W. Baird set a $300.00 price target on shares of Boeing and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Boeing from $295.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $269.16.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Boeing

Boeing Profile (Free Report)

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is a global aerospace company that designs, manufactures and supports commercial airplanes, military aircraft, spacecraft and related systems. Its commercial portfolio includes the 737, 787 Dreamliner and 777 families, as well as the 777X program. Boeing sells aircraft to airlines, cargo operators and leasing companies around the world.

Through its defense and space operations, Boeing provides products and services for the U.S. government, allied governments and other institutional customers.

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If you've been a longtime fan and follower of Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKA +0.42%) (BRKB +0.36%) former chief stock-picker Warren Buffett, then you know he's steered clear of technology stocks, arguing they're too difficult to understand.

That is, until somewhat recently. Berkshire took on a small (now-exited) position in Amazon back in 2019, and of course, Apple has grown to become the conglomerate's single-biggest equity holding since first stepping into it back in 2016. It's not clear to what extent these were Buffett-directed trades, and to be fair, both companies are as much consumer-oriented as they are technology names, making their businesses at least somewhat easier to understand.

If there was any doubt that Warren Buffett has officially warmed up to tech stocks, though, it's been wiped away this year by Berkshire's entry into a sizable stake in Google parent Alphabet (GOOG -0.60%) (GOOGL -0.64%).

Big commitment
It wasn't clear to what extent Warren Buffett had a hand in the matter when Berkshire first scooped up 17.8 million A shares of Alphabet in Q3 of 2025. By then, the Oracle of Omaha had already announced his then-impending retirement as CEO at the end of that same year, and seemed more interested in cleaning up some loose ends rather than adding new stocks to the company's portfolio. Besides, it was only about a $5 billion stake at the time, suggesting perhaps that he'd merely allowed one of his lieutenants to take on a token position.

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That changed dramatically in the first quarter of this year, however, when Berkshire bought another 36.4 million A shares of Alphabet, and then 24.5 million in Q2. Paired with the 27.2 million C shares of Alphabet purchased this year, this $37.4 billion (combined) holding accounts for a little over 10% of Berkshire Hathaway's $358 billion stock portfolio, making it the conglomerate's third-biggest holding.

The kicker: This was largely Buffett's idea after all. Although he still consults with current CEO Greg Abel on such matters, in an interview with CNBC this July, Warren Buffett plainly explained: "I initiated it."

The sector itself isn't exactly the stumbling block
This still doesn't mean Berkshire is embracing all technology stocks. As Buffett said in the very same interview, "I would say that I don't like it as well as at least four or five other businesses that we own."

It also doesn't mean Buffett is still calling all the shots despite no longer being CEO or chairman of the board. He adds, "I am not doing anything that he [current CEO Greg Abel] doesn't approve of. He's not doing anything I don't approve of. We talk all the time, but he is the decider."

Image source: Getty Images.

Rather, it's a recognition that at least two major technology companies meet a very specific requirement Buffett looks for in all of Berkshire Hathaway's holdings -- that is, "businesses that are going to earn high returns on capital for an extended period of time."

And that's a simple criterion more investors might want to consider before buying any new stock, in or out of the technology sector. It certainly seems to be working for Berkshire, allowing the conglomerate to buy and hold names it arguably wouldn't have at one point in its history.

News Summary:

NVIDIA introduces cuPotential, a new NVIDIA CUDA-X library developers can use to build AI agents that simulate how atoms and molecules interact, accelerating already GPU-optimized workflows by an additional 2-3x in early-access testing.NanoVDB, an open source library for working with 3D data, accelerates chipmaking simulation for AI-defined fabs, helping Lam Research achieve 30x faster simulation.NVIDIA NPP, a library for processing images on GPUs, accelerates chipmaking inspection for AI-defined fabs, helping KLA accelerate inspection.Applied Materials, Cadence, KLA, Lam Research, Siemens, Synopsys and other semiconductor leaders are using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and AI stack across chip design, manufacturing and testing, helping drive faster development, better yield and greater production capacity. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEMICON West -- NVIDIA today announced semiconductor leaders are adopting NVIDIA CUDA-X™ libraries — including the new NVIDIA cuPotential library, which developers can use to build AI agents that simulate how atoms and molecules interact — to advance AI-defined fabs.

AI-defined fabs are semiconductor factories where AI helps engineers optimize processes, solve production issues and improve production efficiency. As demand for advanced chips rises, such fabs must expand production while managing increasingly complex manufacturing processes. Engineers need new ways to model materials, analyze inspection data and test process changes in digital twins before applying them in production.

The expanded CUDA-X portfolio gives AI agents and engineering applications accelerated tools for semiconductor simulation, 3D data processing and image analysis, helping automate more engineering work across chip design and manufacturing so fabs can predict process behavior and improve yield.

“The semiconductor industry made the AI revolution possible. Now, AI is transforming how chips are built,” said Tim Costa, vice president and general manager of industrial and computational engineering at NVIDIA. “As fabs race to meet demand for advanced chips, NVIDIA CUDA-X and Omniverse libraries give AI agents accelerated simulation and inspection tools to help engineers manage complexity, improve yield and advance AI-defined fabs.”

NVIDIA cuPotential Accelerates How Researchers Model Atomic Interactions
Understanding how atoms and molecules interact is critical to modeling semiconductor materials and manufacturing processes, but these calculations can take significant amounts of time, even in software already optimized for GPUs.

NVIDIA cuPotential accelerates atomic-scale simulation with specialized GPU-accelerated functions developers can add to existing software. It helps researchers model electrical forces and other interactions across large numbers of atoms to test and refine simulations faster. Synopsys is among the early adopters using cuPotential to accelerate materials simulations.

By making these modeling capabilities available to AI agents, cuPotential helps agents run, evaluate and iterate on advanced molecular simulations. In early-access testing, the library accelerated already GPU-optimized workflows by an additional 2-3x.

Semiconductor Leaders Advance AI-Defined Fabs With NVIDIA CUDA-X
AI-defined fabs require faster ways to model chip designs, materials behavior and manufacturing processes before changes reach production. NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries — including NVIDIA cuPotential for simulating atomic interactions, NVIDIA cuEST for modeling electronic behavior and NVIDIA cuDSS for solving complex engineering simulations — accelerate these workloads to help make fabs more autonomous.

Synopsys is using cuPotential, cuEST and cuDSS to accelerate semiconductor simulations, with early QuantumATK results showing a potential 30x speedup using cuEST, and S-Device benchmarks showing a 12x speedup using cuDSS. The company’s AgentEngineer solutions interoperate with NVIDIA Nemotron™ open models and NVIDIA NeMo™ to support AI agents for chip design and verification.

Cadence is using NVIDIA accelerated computing, NVIDIA Nemotron open models and CUDA-X libraries to bring agentic AI to the design and simulation of electromechanical systems — from semiconductors to advanced packaging and printed circuit boards. Examples include Cadence AuraStack AI Super Agent optimizing advanced packages for heat and stress 8x faster using cuDSS with Cadence Celsius, and Nemotron with ChipStack AI Super Agent for semiconductor design and verification.

COMSOL is accelerating semiconductor multiphysics simulations with NVIDIA cuDSS, delivering up to 10x faster simulations to help engineers optimize equipment and processes. Its upcoming COMSOL MCP Server will use the NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra open model to enable AI-assisted modeling and design exploration.

Voltai accelerates advanced chip packaging with Voltaire, its agentic multiphysics platform for 3D-IC design and simulation. Voltaire combines AI agents with GPU-accelerated solvers powered by NVIDIA cuDSS and CUDA-X libraries, compressing complex electro-thermal-mechanical simulation workflows from months to a day.

ChipAgents uses NVIDIA AI infrastructure and NVIDIA model-training and optimization software to develop specialized AI models for chip design. The company is also working with NVIDIA to develop Build-A-Chip Bench, a new AI benchmark that evaluates agents across end-to-end workflows from specification to graphic data system. The benchmark gives the industry a comprehensive measure of progress toward fully autonomous semiconductor engineering.

NVIDIA Open Libraries Help Prepare and Optimize Manufacturing Workflows
Fabs depend on thousands of process steps that must be modeled, refined and validated before production. The NVIDIA cuLitho library accelerates calculations for printing chip patterns; NanoVDB — an open source library for working with 3D data — accelerates chipmaking simulations; and the open NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo™ framework helps train physics AI models to predict how physical systems behave.

Siemens is using cuLitho to speed up Calibre software for chip-pattern refinement and mask preparation. Its Solido team is also developing agent-driven characterization workflows with Nemotron open models and NVIDIA NeMo open libraries.

Lam Research intends to integrate NanoVDB into its advanced semiconductor process modeling platform SEMulator3D, part of the company’s Semiverse Solutions family of virtual products. The addition of NanoVDB is expected to accelerate select wafer-etch modeling by up to 30x, while using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo has been demonstrated to assist in reducing plasma-prediction simulation time to as little as milliseconds instead of days.

Luminary is applying NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo to semiconductor package design, training physics AI models to predict temperature, pressure drop and thermal stress across package configurations — enabling engineers to explore 100x more designs in the same schedule without running a new simulation for every option.

AI-Defined Fabs Inspect and Test Chips With NVIDIA CUDA-X Libraries
AI-defined fabs need to analyze inspection images and test data quickly enough to catch defects, maintain equipment and improve yield. NVIDIA NPP, a library for processing images on GPUs, and NVIDIA RAPIDS cuDF, a library for processing large datasets on GPUs, help accelerate test and quality-control workflows.

Using NVIDIA AI and accelerated computing, imec is removing noise from scanning electron microscope images used for sub-nanometer chip measurements and using NVIDIA cuLitho to enable computationally intensive process-window optical proximity correction — achieving a 30% improvement in the lithography process window.

KLA applied insights from its highly optimized production kernels to a new NPP NCC kernel that achieved performance levels 50x faster than earlier CPU versions, comparable with KLA’s hand-tuned implementations.

Teradyne is using NVIDIA NPP and accelerated computing to accelerate image-sensor testing, and RAPIDS cuDF and CuPy for GPU calculations, to deliver approximately 85x faster probe-maintenance inference, helping identify degrading probes before they affect yield.

Advantest has integrated NVIDIA Nemotron and NVIDIA Kumo-Anomaly into ACS RTDI to enable AI-driven semiconductor production analytics. Powered by NVIDIA Grace Blackwell systems, ACS delivers real-time diagnostics and inferencing that recommend corrective actions for test cells. Advantest is also using NVIDIA NeMo Switchyard AI agents to automate model selection, streamline semiconductor test workflows and reduce response times from hours to minutes.

NVIDIA Technologies Advance Fab Operations and Automation
In an AI-defined fab, equipment data must move from instruments into AI systems fast enough to support operational decisions.

Applied Materials is using NVIDIA Omniverse™ and NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries, including cuDSS, cuEST and PhysicsNeMo, across materials discovery, process development and fab optimization — enabling up to 35x faster chamber simulations and fab digital twins that help optimize layouts and material flow.

Analog Devices Inc. is combining Synopsys physics simulation with the NVIDIA Isaac Sim™ framework and Omniverse libraries to develop high-fidelity sensing simulations and robotic benchmarks, helping engineers evaluate how sensors behave within complete robotic systems.

FANUC and Foxconn are connecting their robot models to the Mega NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint, enabling manufacturers to simulate and validate robotic operations in factory digital twins before physical deployment.

OMRON is using NVIDIA Cosmos™ open world models and the NVIDIA Metropolis Blueprint for video search and summarization in its inspection equipment to develop agents that combine visual data, equipment documentation and manufacturing knowledge. These agents help engineers analyze printed circuit board results, investigate potential defect causes, and support troubleshooting and quality control.

Availability
NVIDIA cuPotential is available in early access. NanoVDB is available as open source within OpenVDB, and NPP is available through NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit. Lam Research’s NanoVDB-accelerated SEMulator3D capability is targeted for release by the end of this year.

Learn more by joining NVIDIA at SEMICON West.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in AI and accelerated computing.

For further information, contact:
Pixie Bitner
Corporate Communications
NVIDIA Corporation
[email protected]

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: expectations with respect to growth, performance, availability, and benefits of NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, and related trends and drivers; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners, and the development, availability and benefits of related offerings; expectations with respect to technology developments, and related trends and drivers; projected market growth and trends; expectations with respect to AI and related industries; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing products and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; NVIDIA’s ability to realize the potential benefits of business investments or acquisitions; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on NVIDIA’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

© 2026 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, and other NVIDIA product and service names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

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NVIDIA and Semiconductor Leaders Advance AI-Defined Fabs NVIDIA today announced semiconductor leaders are adopting NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries — including the ne...

3M Company (NYSE:MMM) will release earnings for its third quarter before the opening bell on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Analysts expect the Saint Paul, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings of $2.39 per share, up from $2.19 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for MMM’s quarterly revenue is $6.61 billion. It reported $6.32 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On July 21, 3M reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and raised its FY26 adjusted EPS guidance above estimates.

3M shares gained 0.6% to trade at $163.79 on Wednesday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

JP Morgan analyst Chigusa Katoku maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $205 to $185 on Oct. 9, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 53%.
Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Tusa initiated coverage on the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and a price target of $195 on Sept. 25, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.
Mizuho analyst Brett Linzey maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $160 to $180 on July 23, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.
UBS analyst Amit Mehrotra maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $190 to $218 on July 22, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.
Citigroup analyst Andrew Kaplowitz maintained the stock with a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $166 to $183 on July 22, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.
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San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 14, 2026) - Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of current, long-term shareholders of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) against certain of its officers and directors for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.

What Should Bank of America Shareholders Do?

If you have held Bank of America shares before 2024, and continue to hold shares, you may have standing to seek corporate governance reforms at Bank of America, including improvements to internal controls, regulatory compliance, and executive oversight.

To learn more, visit: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/bank-of-america-corp/

You may also contact Johnson Fistel, PLLP at [email protected] or (619) 814-4471. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Investigation Background

On October 13, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) had assessed a $1.2 billion penalty against Bank of America, N.A., a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. According to Treasury, the bank admitted that it willfully violated the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain an adequate anti-money-laundering program, conduct required due diligence for foreign correspondent accounts, and file suspicious activity reports. The enforcement action addressed failures involving priority national-security risks, including Chinese money-laundering networks and illicit finance along the southwest border.

The coordinated action included a $750 million civil penalty imposed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which is credited against FinCEN's $1.2 billion penalty. The OCC found that the bank's transaction monitoring system failed to properly monitor trillions of dollars in transactions, resulting in numerous late suspicious activity reports involving billions of dollars. The OCC further stated that significant compliance deficiencies persisted after a December 2024 cease-and-desist order.

On October 14, 2026, Bank of America reported that its third-quarter results included a $1.2 billion regulatory settlement charge, reducing diluted earnings per share by $0.17. The company reported quarterly net income of $6.9 billion, compared with $8.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025.

Johnson Fistel is investigating whether certain officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with oversight of the company's Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering compliance programs, and whether shareholders may pursue remedies on the company's behalf.

About Johnson Fistel, PLLP | Top Law Firm, Securities Fraud, Investor Rights

Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, Idaho, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. The firm also represents foreign investors who have purchased securities on U.S. exchanges.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318957

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Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 3.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 63,124 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 2,538 shares during the period. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $20,883,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. now owns 29,956 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $9,805,000 after buying an additional 1,973 shares in the last quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. grew its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 343,644 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $112,485,000 after acquiring an additional 15,017 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services increased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 18.7% in the 1st quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services now owns 41,218 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $12,125,000 after acquiring an additional 6,492 shares in the last quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. increased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 43,527 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $12,804,000 after acquiring an additional 1,794 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,170,524 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $383,148,000 after acquiring an additional 33,071 shares in the last quarter. 71.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More JPMorgan Chase & Co. News Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week:

Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan reported third-quarter net income of approximately $15.3 billion, up 6% year over year, while revenue increased about 8% to $50.2 billion. Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Banking, and Asset & Wealth Management all posted year-over-year profit growth. JPMorgan Chase Reports Third-Quarter Net Income Positive Sentiment: Management offered preliminary 2027 net interest income guidance of roughly $107 billion, implying continued growth from late-2026 levels. Executives also said uncertain markets are delaying corporate deals rather than eliminating them, supporting the investment-banking recovery. JPMorgan Sees Deal Delays, Not Cancellations Positive Sentiment: The bank appointed Rob Sweeney global chair of investment banking and has added more than 1,000 investment bankers this year, positioning JPMorgan to benefit if mergers and equity issuance continue recovering. JPMorgan Taps Rob Sweeney Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan declared a $1.65-per-share dividend and repurchased $664 million of stock. Analysts also expect the bank could raise its dividend again in 2027, although that remains a forecast rather than a company announcement. Prediction on JPMorgan’s Dividend Negative Sentiment: Adjusted EPS of $5.75 missed the $5.94 consensus, and revenue of roughly $50.2 billion fell short of expectations near $51.2 billion. Lower fixed-income trading revenue and investment-securities losses were key factors, making the result a disappointment after JPMorgan’s long streak of beats. JPM Q3 Earnings Lag Estimates Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that elevated rates, inflation, a flattening yield curve, fiscal deficits, and a potential future credit cycle could pressure funding costs and loan growth. CEO Jamie Dimon also warned about risks from rogue AI agents, while JPMorgan is restricting outside agents from directly accessing customer accounts. JPMorgan Restricts Outside AI Agents Insider Activity In other news, insider Robin Leopold sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $352.81, for a total value of $882,025.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 71,047 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,066,092.07. This trade represents a 3.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 0.41% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes JPM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $370.00 target price for the company. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $360.00 price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Monday, July 6th. HSBC increased their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $369.00 to $377.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated a “positive” rating and issued a $370.00 price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $361.79.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock opened at $331.99 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $349.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $329.50. The stock has a market cap of $882.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.02. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12-month low of $279.10 and a 12-month high of $366.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $5.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $50.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $51.23 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 18.23% and a net margin of 21.86%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.07 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 24.18 earnings per share for the current year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be paid a $1.65 dividend. This is a boost from JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 6th. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s payout ratio is 28.28%.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City. Through its businesses, the company provides banking, investment banking, asset management, private banking, commercial banking, consumer lending and payment services to individuals, businesses, institutions and governments.

The company operates through major business areas that include Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Banking, and Asset & Wealth Management. Its products and services include deposit accounts, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, business financing, investment and advisory services, securities trading and custody, payment processing, and wealth-management solutions.

JPMorgan Chase serves customers in the United States and maintains operations and client relationships across international markets.

Read More Five stocks we like better than JPMorgan Chase & Co. A Chinese Rival Just Spooked Memory Stocks—How Worried Should Micron Investors Be? Could T-Mobile’s Satellite Competition Fears Create a Buying Opportunity? Surgical Precision, Sustainable Returns: Johnson & Johnson Secures Its Cash Flow Runway Tesla’s Robotaxi Lands in Paris—But Europe’s Real Fight Is Over Cheap EVs Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM – Free Report).

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Home Depot has raised its dividend through four straight years of record-low housing turnover, but one number in its quarterly reports could flip that story fast.

Shares of Home Depot (NYSE:HD | HD Price Prediction) are down 13.43% year to date and 20.96% over the past year. Through that decline, the company has kept paying $2.33 per share every quarter. For retirees who own the stock, the price reflects a frozen housing market. The dividend reflects a cash engine that still covers the bill comfortably.

Free Cash Flow Funds the $9.32 Payout
In February, Home Depot raised its quarterly dividend 1.3% to $2.33. That works out to $9.32 a year and marked its 156th consecutive quarterly cash dividend. The quarterly amount has gone up every year since 2013, rising from $0.39 then to $2.33 now.

Free cash flow pays for it. Home Depot produced $12.65 billion of free cash flow in fiscal 2025 from $16.33 billion of operating cash flow. Across 997.69 million shares, the current rate costs roughly $9.3 billion a year, or about 74% of that free cash flow. Measured against fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $14.69, the payout ratio is about 63%. The forward yield sits near 3.2%, and the stock trades at about 21 times earnings.

Free cash flow fell 29.53% in fiscal 2025.

Housing Turnover Will Decide This Dividend
Big renovations tend to follow home sales. Sellers fix up a house before they list it, and buyers redo kitchens after they move in. Homeowners who locked in low mortgage rates aren’t moving, so fewer of those projects happen. Existing-home sales ran at 3.99 million in September, just above August’s 3.93 million low. CFO Richard McPhail laid it out in August:

“Housing turnover, just as one point in the economy that we watch, has been at historical lows. It has never been lower as a percentage of the housing stock. We’ve seen housing turnover at these low levels for four years now.”

Even so, second-quarter adjusted EPS of $4.92 came in ahead of the $4.73 consensus, and revenue grew 5.7% to $47.86 billion. The company paid about $2.3 billion in dividends during the quarter. Earlier in the year, CEO Ted Decker said:

“The underlying demand in our business was relatively similar to what we saw throughout fiscal 2025, despite greater consumer uncertainty and housing affordability pressure.”

Lowe’s and Target Show the Trade-Offs
Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) paid $4.75 per share in fiscal 2025 against $12.28 in adjusted EPS, a payout of about 39%. That leaves it more buffer, but its yield is only about 2.49%. Lowe’s also carries negative shareholders’ equity of $7.437 billion and has guided to flat comparable sales.

Target (NYSE:TGT) paid out about 60% of fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS, while its free cash flow fell 25.69% to $2.835 billion. Its second-quarter EPS of $4.11 included a one-time tariff refund worth $1.65 per share.

Home Depot pays a higher yield than Lowe’s, and it supports that payout with far more free cash flow than Target.

Verdict: Durable, With One Clear Tripwire
Home Depot’s dividend is durable. Free cash flow covers it with more than enough room to spare, and the company has raised it through four years of record-low housing turnover. Fiscal 2026 guidance calls for adjusted EPS growth of flat to 4.0%. That outlook supports more small raises, with modest increases the likely pattern.

One thing would change this answer: another free cash flow decline the size of fiscal 2025’s. That would leave free cash flow near $8.9 billion, below the dividend bill. If that happens, the board would have to fund the payout with debt or slow the raises. Watch free cash flow in each quarterly report.

Dividend investors who want checks arriving on a tighter cadence than Home Depot’s quarterly schedule have options; we rounded up seven monthly payers in a free guide here: The 7 Monthly Dividend Stocks That Pay You Every 30 Days.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned that a halt to data center construction could trigger an economic slowdown.

"If we have a moratorium of some sort in this country, we will be in a recession," Fink told CNBC Wednesday, after BlackRock reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings early Wednesday. BlackRock advanced about 1% in late morning trading.

"So much of our economy is based on the buildout of this capex," Fink added, referring to the massive investments made to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Fink's warning comes as strong, local opposition to data center construction has emerged as a key issue in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as communities struggle with rising utility costs, water use, environmental damage and questions over investment transparency.

While Fink acknowledged fears about the data center buildout, he also noted "most of it is on misinformation."

The stakes are high. Wall Street analysts estimate total AI capital expenditures could climb above $1 trillion in 2027 and total in excess of $5 trillion by 2030.

"Data centers are not the problem. They're creating more new jobs than ever before," the BlackRock CEO explained. The scale of investment has created demand for construction workers, physical digital infrastructure, AI compute hardware and energy infrastructure to secure grid power, he said.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) on Tuesday posted upbeat third-quarter results.

UnitedHealth Group reported quarterly earnings of $4.69 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $4.15 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $112.694 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $111.403 billion.

UnitedHealth raised its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to at least $20.50 per share from its previous range of $19.50 to $20. The revised outlook exceeds the analyst consensus estimate of $19.86.

The company also increased its GAAP earnings forecast to at least $19.50 per share, up from its previous guidance of $18.45 to $18.95. Analysts had expected $18.35 per share.

“Our third quarter results reflect the discipline and execution our teams are bringing to every part of our business, as we continue evolving UnitedHealth Group to deliver a simpler, more supportive experience for patients and the clinicians who care for them,” said Stephen Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

UnitedHealth shares gained 3% to trade at $389.04 on Wednesday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on UnitedHealth following earnings announcement.

Baird analyst Michael Ha maintained the stock with a Neutral and lowered the price target from $453 to $427.
Barclays analyst Andrew Mok maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $441 to $440.
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Key Takeaways Merck's Keytruda generated $16.40 billion in first-half 2026 sales, up 4.2% year over year.Keytruda Q3 sales could benefit from strong metastatic demand, earlier-stage launches and label expansions.Merck targets $35 billion in peak Keytruda sales by 2028, before biosimilars threaten future growth. Merck’s (MRK - Free Report) revenues are primarily derived from the oncology portfolio, led by its blockbuster PD-L1 inhibitor, Keytruda. The drug accounts for more than 55% of the company’s pharmaceutical sales.

Keytruda generated $16.40 billion in sales in the first six months of 2026, increasing 4.2% year over year. Keytruda Qlex, the subcutaneous formulation of Keytruda, contributed $590 million during this period. Keytruda Qlex can offer substantially quicker administration time than the intravenous infusion of Keytruda.

Building on this growing momentum, we expect investors to keep a close eye on Keytruda's sales performance when Merck reports its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29.

Keytruda sales are likely to have gained from continued strong momentum in metastatic indications and rapid uptake across earlier-stage launches during the third quarter. Recent label expansions, including Keytruda’s use in combination with Pfizer’s Padcev in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, have broadened its patient base and should also support sales growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Keytruda’s third-quarter sales stands at $7.45 billion.

Importantly, the company expects Keytruda’s strong growth to continue until the drug loses patent exclusivity in 2028. Management expects the drug to achieve peak sales of $35 billion by 2028 before it loses exclusivity.

However, Keytruda is expected to face significant biosimilar competition around 2028-2029. Once biosimilars enter, Keytruda’s sales are likely to decline sharply.

PD-L1 Inhibitors Competing With MRK's KeytrudaKeytruda faces competition from other PD-L1 inhibitors, including Bristol Myers’ (BMY - Free Report) Opdivo, Roche’s (RHHBY - Free Report) Tecentriq and AstraZeneca’s (AZN - Free Report) Imfinzi.

BMY’s Opdivo, like Keytruda, is approved across multiple cancer types, including lung, melanoma and kidney cancers. Bristol Myers recorded $4.63 billion in Opdivo sales in the first half of 2026, down 3.9% year over year.

Tecentriq is Roche’s leading immuno-oncology drug approved for multiple cancer indications. RHHBY recorded CHF 1.70 billion in Tecentriq sales in the first half of 2026, up 6% year over year.

AZN’s Imfinzi generated sales of $3.55 billion in the first half of 2026, up 29%, driven by strong demand growth across all regions from established indications and new launches. Imfinzi has strategically expanded its use across multiple cancer indications, strengthening AstraZeneca’s oncology portfolio.

MRK's Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesYear to date, shares of Merck have rallied 37.7% compared with the industry’s 15.1% rise. The stock has also outperformed the sector and the S&P 500 during the same time frame, as seen in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Merck appears to be trading at a discount compared to the industry. Going by the price/earnings ratio, MRK’s shares currently trade at 17.94 forward earnings, lower than 18.33 for the industry. The stock is trading above its 5-year mean of 13.04.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share has declined from $2.78 to $2.66, while the same for 2027 has declined from $9.67 to $9.27 over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MRK's Zacks RankMerck currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Key Takeaways Emerson's underlying sales rose 6% and orders climbed 7% in Q3 fiscal 2026, supporting growth.Acquisitions of Glue and AspenTech expand Emerson's software and automation capabilities.Free cash flow rose 9% to $2.62 billion, supporting dividends and share repurchases.
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the near term, courtesy of strength across its segments and accretive acquisitions. The company's efforts to reward its shareholders handsomely add to its appeal.

EMR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). In the past year, the company has gained 25.5% against the industry’s 15.5% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let’s delve into the factors that make this company a smart investment choice at the moment.

Market Demand: EMR is experiencing healthy demand across most of its end markets. The company’s underlying sales increased 6% year over year in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, while underlying orders rose 7%. Emerson anticipates overall underlying sales to grow about 3.5% year over year in fiscal 2026, driven by strength in the power, LNG, life sciences, semiconductor and aerospace & defense end markets. Continued customer investments in automation, productivity, reliability and resiliency should also support steady progress.

Business Strength: The company is benefiting from the performance of the Intelligent Devices and Software and Systems groups. Within the Intelligent Devices group, strength in the Final Control segment, driven by momentum in power, LNG and midstream gas end markets, is aiding EMR. Within the Software & Systems group, strength in the power end market is supporting the Control Systems & Software segment.

Strength in the semiconductor and aerospace & defense end markets is aiding the Test & Measurement segment. A rise in demand for electrical products and growth in industrial activity in North America are boosting performance in Emerson’s Safety & Productivity segment. Given the healthy demand across its end markets, Emerson expects net sales to increase approximately 5% year over year in fiscal 2026.

Accretive Acquisitions: Emerson continues to use acquisitions to broaden its automation, software and measurement capabilities. In August 2026, EMR acquired Glue Inc. The acquisition will strengthen Emerson’s Test & Measurement segment by adding software-defined, data-centric validation capabilities to the NI portfolio.

In March 2025, the company acquired the remaining shares of Aspen Technology that it did not already own for approximately $7.2 billion. Emerson had acquired a 55% majority stake in AspenTech in 2022 and later increased its ownership to about 57%. AspenTech now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary and is reported within the Control Systems & Software segment. The transaction expands EMR’s industrial software offering and its capabilities in software-defined control and grid management. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company’s software annual contract value increased 9% year over year to $1.68 billion, while annual contract value in AspenTech’s Digital Grid Management suite rose to 28%.

Shareholder Returns: Strong cash flows allow Emerson to effectively deploy capital to make acquisitions, repurchase shares and pay dividends. In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, its free cash flow increased 9% year over year to approximately $2.62 billion. The company’s free cash flow totaled $3.25 billion, up 12% in fiscal 2025. In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, it paid out dividends of $935 million and repurchased common stock worth $898 million. In November 2025, the company hiked its dividend by 5%. Emerson plans to repurchase shares worth approximately $1 billion and pay out dividends of about $1.2 billion in fiscal 2026.

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked companies are discussed below.

Eaton Corporation plc (ETN - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The company delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 1.3%. In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for ETN’s 2026 earnings has increased 0.6%.

Crane Company (CR - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. It has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.4%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CR’s 2026 earnings has increased 0.4% in the past 60 days.

Constellium SE (CSTM - Free Report) currently has a Zacks Rank of 2. CSTM delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 83.3%.

In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Constellium’s 2026 earnings has increased 2.4%.

Oracle (ORCL -7.12%) stock tumbled an unlucky 7% through 10:10 a.m. ET this morning -- and here's the weird thing: It did this right after Mizuho analyst Siti Panigrahi reiterated his "outperform" rating on the stock and confirmed he still thinks Oracle shares are worth $320.

But the stock only costs $133 today!

Image source: Oracle.

Mizuho still loves Oracle stockThat's a strange reaction to a buy rating, I must say. So how do we explain it?

According to Panigrahi, Oracle is making "continued construction progress" on its Project Jupiter -- the gigantic AI data center it's building in the New Mexico desert for $165 billion. It has proposed rerouting the gas pipeline that supplies power to the data center (via Bloom Energy fuel cells) to avoid restarting its environmental review.

The analyst is optimistic this effort will succeed, but notes that investors will need to wait for further updates on Oct. 28.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

74/100

Today's Change

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-7.12

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What's next for OracleProblem is... investors don't seem interested in waiting. They're selling first and asking questions later.

Why? As StreetInsider.com reminds us today, Oracle recently suffered a credit rating downgrade to BBB- (one notch above "speculative") on worries that the company is spending too much on capital investment to build Project Jupiter, with little revenue to offset its costs. OpenAI isn't required to make payments for the data center before 2027, and Oracle's cash situation could look tenuous in the meantime.

S&P Global Market Intelligence data show Oracle with $37.1 billion in cash currently, burning nearly $29 billion a year, and at risk of needing to add to its $169.1 billion debt load. Mizuho may be right that the stock will be undervalued. The question is whether Oracle can survive long enough for investors to realize that value?

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Oracles capex surged to $28.5B, driving first-quarter fiscal 2027 free cash flow to negative $5.4B.'Oracle reaffirmed fiscal 2027 capex of $90-$95 billion, with no timeline for positive free cash flow.Cloud infrastructure rose 121% to $7.4B as AI contracts boosted remaining performance obligations to $664B. Oracle's (ORCL - Free Report) aggressive AI infrastructure buildout has put its free cash flow (FCF) outlook under scrutiny. In first-quarter fiscal 2027, capital expenditures jumped to $28.5 billion from $8.5 billion a year ago, pushing FCF to negative $5.4 billion despite record operating cash flow of $23 billion, up 184% year over year. Net of customer prepayments, cash capex was about $18 billion.

Guidance indicates the pressure will persist. Oracle reiterated fiscal 2027 capex of $90-$95 billion, with net cash capex capped at $70 billion, and has not set a timeline for FCF to turn positive after a negative $23.7 billion in fiscal 2026. The company plans to raise about $40 billion in debt and equity this year, including a $20 billion at-the-market stock sale completed in the first quarter, which dilutes shareholders. Gross margin is also expected to decline in fiscal 2027 as new sites ramp.

Still, the demand backdrop supports the spending. Remaining performance obligations rose $209 billion year over year to $664 billion, aided by more than $30 billion in new AI cloud contracts that Oracle said require no incremental capital raising and largely affect capex only from fiscal 2028. The company delivered 850 megawatts of capacity and more than 300,000 GPUs, while cloud infrastructure revenues surged 121% to $7.4 billion. Management expects projects to generate strong FCF soon after ramping, with conversion potentially near 100% of post-tax EBITDA.

For second-quarter fiscal 2027, Oracle expects total revenue growth of 30-34% and cloud revenue growth of 65-71% in USD, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.85-$1.93. Full-year revenues are now projected at a minimum of $90 billion, with non-GAAP EPS raised to $8.10 from $8.05. While the revenue trajectory is encouraging, FCF is likely to remain negative in the near term, making capex discipline and the upcoming Oct. 28 Investor Day key to watch.

How ORCL’s Capex Strategy Compares With Microsoft & AmazonOracle’s cash-flow strain mirrors a broader AI spending wave among U.S. hyperscalers. Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) spent $41 billion on capex, including finance leases, in fourth-quarter fiscal 2026, up 69% year over year, yet Microsoft still generated $19.6 billion in FCF, though down 23%. Microsoft expects FCF to stay positive in fiscal 2027. Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) raised its 2026 capex outlook to $220 billion from $200 billion after second-quarter capex climbed to $54.2 billion from $32.1 billion. Consequently, Amazon’s trailing 12-month FCF swung to an outflow of $7.6 billion from an inflow of $18.2 billion, leaving Amazon’s cash profile closer to Oracle’s current position.

ORCL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesORCL shares have plunged 26.5% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s growth of 22.6% and the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s decline of 2.1%.

ORCL’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ORCL’s valuation remains relatively attractive, with the stock trading at a trailing 12-month P/E ratio of 21.06X, lower than the sector average of 1.02X. Oracle has a Value Score of C.

ORCL’s Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ORCL’s fiscal 2027 earnings is currently pegged at $8.13 per share. The estimate implies 6.55% year-over-year earnings growth.

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

Zacks Investment Research recently initiated coverage of Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (APT - Free Report) with a "Neutral" recommendation, highlighting strong growth in its Disposable Protective Apparel business, improving operating efficiency and a debt-free balance sheet. However, rising input costs, tariff uncertainty and persistent weakness in residential construction could limit the company's near-term growth prospects.

Alpha Pro Tech manufactures disposable protective apparel, infection control products and construction weatherization materials. The company's investment outlook reflects opportunities from strengthening apparel demand, planned price increases and expanded manufacturing capabilities, balanced against challenges in its housing-sensitive Building Supply business.

Disposable Protective Apparel has emerged as a key growth driver. Segment revenues increased 24.9% year over year to $7 million in the second quarter of 2026, supported by stronger demand from major distribution partners. Disposable protective garment sales rose 29%, benefiting from improved distribution activity and higher selling prices.

The research report highlights several key factors that could drive Alpha Pro Tech's growth. Operating performance also showed encouraging signs. Excluding tariff refunds, second-quarter operating income climbed 29.8% year over year to $1.73 million, while the operating margin expanded to 9.3% from 8%. The company's ability to control operating expenses despite rising sales contributed to improved profitability.

Alpha Pro Tech's financial position provides another advantage. As of June 30, 2026, the company held $18.9 million in cash, maintained a debt-free balance sheet and reported working capital of $51 million. Its ongoing share repurchase program and manufacturing joint venture in India further support financial and operational flexibility.

However, potential investors should consider certain risks outlined in the report. Higher resin prices, transportation expenses and tariffs pressured the gross margin in the first half of 2026. Although management plans price increases in the third quarter to recover costs, their effectiveness remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Building Supply revenues inched up 0.5% in the first half of 2026, reflecting subdued housing activity. Elevated mortgage rates and affordability concerns could continue to restrain construction-related demand. Dependence on major distribution partners and uncertainty surrounding non-recurring tariff refunds add further risks.

From a valuation perspective, APT trades at 7.27 times trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA, below the Zacks subindustry average of 7.96 times. Its shares have gained 19.3% over the past year, outperforming the subindustry's 30% decline.

For a comprehensive analysis of Alpha Pro Tech's financial health, strategic initiatives and market positioning, you are encouraged to view the full Zacks research report. This in-depth report provides a detailed discussion of the company's operational strategies, financial performance, and the potential risks and opportunities that lie ahead.

Read the full Research Report on Alpha Pro Tech here>>>

Note: Our initiation of coverage on Alpha Pro Tech, which has a modest market capitalization of $58.8 million, aims to equip investors with the information needed to make informed decisions in this promising but inherently risky segment of the market.

Key Takeaways General Mills shares dropped 13% in a month as weak demand and projected fiscal 2027 profit declines weigh. GIS expects fiscal 2027 adjusted operating profit to fall 8%-13%, despite improving U.S. retail trends. GIS trades at 10.2X forward earnings, while dog-food weakness and uncertain demand recovery remain key risks. General Mills, Inc. (GIS - Free Report) shares have fallen about 13% in the past month, reflecting a fiscal 2027 setup still defined by weak demand and earnings pressure. The lower price raises the question of whether improving execution can create enough support for investors.

There are encouraging signs in U.S. retail and premium pet food, while productivity actions could help margins over time. Yet dog food remains weak, earnings are expected to contract and demand visibility is limited.

Why GIS Shares Face Persistent PressureGeneral Mills expects fiscal 2027 organic net sales to range from a 1.5% decline to 0.5% growth. Adjusted operating profit is projected to fall 8%-13% in constant currency, while adjusted earnings are expected at $3-$3.20 per share.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company expects category growth to remain below historical trends, and unfavorable comparisons are adding pressure. The difficult backdrop is broader than GIS. The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) expects 2026 organic net sales to decline 0.5%-2%, while The Campbell's Company (CPB - Free Report) guides fiscal 2027 organic net sales down 2%-4%.

General Mills Shows Early Retail ImprovementU.S. retail sales declined 2.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, improving from a 4.1% decline in the second half of fiscal 2026. Most priority categories also posted better dollar-share trends, while household penetration and distribution increased.

Pillsbury retail sales stabilized after eight straight quarters of declines as General Mills renovated 70% of its canned dough portfolio. With base-price adjustments completed, management is focusing on innovation, renovation and favorable mix to support better volume trends.

GIS Pet Weakness Remains a Key RiskPet performance remains uneven. Tiki Cat delivered double-digit retail sales growth in the fiscal first quarter, while Blue Tastefuls grew at a mid-single-digit rate. Cat feeding has now produced at least mid-single-digit retail sales growth for eight consecutive quarters.

Dog food moved in the opposite direction, falling at a high-single-digit rate. Blue Buffalo Wilderness remains the most challenged dry dog food business, and management expects its broader product, packaging, positioning and value changes to take time.

General Mills’ Valuation Reflects Lower ExpectationsGIS trades at 10.2X forward 12-month earnings, below the Zacks sub-industry’s 13.9X and its own five-year median of 14.5X. The discount suggests investors already reflect a meaningful amount of operating pressure in the share price.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

That gap does not remove execution risk. General Mills is prioritizing leverage reduction, while first-quarter adjusted operating profit fell 11% in constant currency. Its $3 billion cumulative cost-savings target through fiscal 2030 could support future earnings, but demand recovery remains important.

GIS Signals Favor Value Over GrowthThe sell-off has made GIS less expensive, but the investment case still depends on sustained retail improvement, a better dog-food trajectory and evidence that productivity can offset inflation and softer volumes. Valuation alone does not establish a durable earnings recovery.

GIS currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of B, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C. That mix is consistent with stronger value characteristics than growth characteristics, while the middling Momentum and VGM readings favor patience until operating progress becomes clearer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Palantir and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have called off their legal fight over claims the Labour mayor was blocking the US tech company from signing a contract with the Metropolitan police because of its values and ethics.

Palantir and the mayor’s office of policing and crime (Mopac) announced on Wednesday they had withdrawn allegations against each other, heading off a high court trial scheduled for January.

Palantir sued Mopac in June after Khan stepped in to block it from awarding Palantir a two-year £50m deal for Scotland Yard to use AI to process intelligence in criminal investigations in a system called unified operational analytics (UOA), citing a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules.

With Palantir also working for the Israeli military and the Trump administration in its immigration crackdown, Khan has previously said Londoners only wanted to see public money being paid to companies that “share the values of our city”.

Louis Mosley, who heads Palantir in the UK and Europe, responded by accusing Khan of politicising procurement and said he was “putting politics above public safety”. He said: “What Londoners value is not being mugged, not being raped by a serving police officer.”

The agreement to drop the claims against each other comes a month after the former deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson was hired as a full-time lobbyist by Palantir. The firm was concerned that if public authorities were able to block it from winning contracts due to objections to the values of its senior leadership, it would undermine its ability to operate in the UK.

It comes as Palantir also faces a battle to retain its £330m NHS medical data contract amid a vociferous campaign from parts of the public and MPs for it to be axed and replaced by a less controversial company.

Palantir and Mopac said in a joint statement that Mopac’s May 2026 decision to block the contract “was not based on Palantir’s values or ethics or any wider reporting about the company”.

“Mopac recognises Palantir’s concerns that media reporting of a statement from the mayor’s spokesperson before the decision was taken could have incorrectly created the impression that an assessment of the company’s values had been a factor in that decision,” it said. “Mopac’s consideration was based upon its statutory role of examining spend proposals, against the appropriate legal tests and the relevant guidance on procurement, governance, affordability and ensuring value for money for Londoners.”

Khan said: “London is the technology capital of Europe, and I am proud that leading software firms choose the city as their home. Palantir makes a significant contribution to jobs and investment in the capital, employing a large number of Londoners whose services have been procured legally by organisations across the UK and beyond.”

Watson said: “The mayor and his team have recognised their actions could have created the impression that the decision to block the UOA contract was based on Palantir’s values. I’m very pleased that they have today corrected any such impression, and that even in the face of extreme provocation from highly organised pressure groups, decisions about deploying technology can still be made on their merits and in the public interest.”

A new procurement process for the £50m police tech deal is under way and Mopac has agreed to treat Palantir “fairly and equally” if it bids, as expected. Equally Mopac is not bound to agree to Palantir’s appointment. Each side is covering its own legal costs, no admissions of liability are made and no damages have been paid.

On the same day Ryan Cohen went on a podcast and told listeners to bet against GameStop, he was quietly signing off on a very different kind of statement with the SEC.

GameStop‘s (NYSE:GME | GME Price Prediction) president, CEO, and board chair, Ryan Cohen, filed a Form 4 on October 13, 2026. It reported two open-market purchases of GameStop Class A stock made that same day: 844,130 shares worth $22.8 million. Also on October 13, The Pomp Podcast published an episode with Cohen as the named guest. On the episode, he called his GameStop investment a mistake and told the audience to “Bet against us.”

The stock barely responded. GameStop opened at $27.71 on October 14.

Inside the Form 4: Two Purchases With No Trading Plan Behind Them
Both trades carry transaction code P, which means an open-market purchase. Cohen bought 67,130 shares at $26.75 and 777,000 shares at $27.00. After the trades, he held 42,492,652 shares directly. Table II, the section where warrants and other derivatives would show up, is empty.

Cohen left one box on the form unchecked. Insiders check it when a trade runs under a pre-arranged plan (a Rule 10b5-1 plan), which schedules purchases months ahead and gives the insider a legal defense against trading-on-inside-information claims. The box is blank, so these were discretionary purchases. A planned trade can reflect a decision made months earlier in a different market. A discretionary one shows what Cohen chose to do at these prices, on that day.

Mistake at Entry, Conviction Now
On The Pomp Podcast, Cohen said, “Investing in GameStop was a screw up.” He also said that “when you’re in a position where there’s no exit hatch, that’s when greatness is achieved.” Asked about his legacy, he answered: “Turning around GameStop.”

One reading is plain regret about how he got into the company. The second reading is a contrarian joke from someone who sees himself as stuck with GameStop yet committed to it. The filing supports the second reading. Someone who regrets a position does not add $22.8 million to it at their own discretion.

Paying Up After a Big Run Brings Its Own Risks
Cohen bought into strength, near the stock’s 52-week high. Shares rose 13.2% over the past week, 28.7% over the past month, and 38.6% year to date. Over five years, they are still down 39.5%. BeInCrypto, via Yahoo Finance, counts $97 million in reported purchases since September 10, with the first purchase priced at about $20. It also puts his holding at 46.2 million shares, or roughly 9.1% of the company, including warrants. This figure differs from the direct holding reported on the Form 4.

Dilution is the weak spot. BeInCrypto reports that an August debt-for-stock swap added about 55.5 million new shares, roughly 12% of the count at the time. GameStop also lists its proposed acquisition of eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) as an execution risk. If a renewed eBay bid used cash and stock, it would dilute the stake Cohen is building.

Should Shareholders Give More Weight to the Filing or the Podcast?
The filing, a sworn SEC disclosure of a discretionary $22.8 million purchase, says more than a joke made on a podcast. What it shows is Cohen’s conviction, though, and that is no guarantee of returns. The trigger to check is GameStop’s next 8-K on eBay. If it involves paying partly in stock, Cohen will be diluting his own position, and his buying looks less like discipline. A close below $26.75 would put his newest shares underwater.

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NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its position in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN – Free Report) by 19.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 15,350 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,460 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC’s holdings in Texas Instruments were worth $4,424,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of TXN. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Texas Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $24,607,313,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in Texas Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth about $4,488,666,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in Texas Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth about $3,700,842,000. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in Texas Instruments by 1.5% during the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 12,149,167 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,621,302,000 after purchasing an additional 177,511 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Texas Instruments by 10.6% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,184,514 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,154,831,000 after purchasing an additional 1,749,513 shares in the last quarter. 84.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have commented on TXN. Mizuho raised their price objective on Texas Instruments from $300.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded Texas Instruments from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Texas Instruments from $300.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. KeyCorp increased their target price on Texas Instruments from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Texas Instruments from $278.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $304.26.

View Our Latest Analysis on Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Price Performance NASDAQ:TXN opened at $287.85 on Wednesday. Texas Instruments Incorporated has a 12 month low of $152.73 and a 12 month high of $334.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $271.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $275.18. The company has a current ratio of 4.86, a quick ratio of 3.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market cap of $262.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.35.

Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The semiconductor company reported $2.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.23. Texas Instruments had a net margin of 31.11% and a return on equity of 35.77%. The company had revenue of $5.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.41 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Texas Instruments has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.230-2.570 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Texas Instruments Incorporated will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Texas Instruments Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 10th. Investors of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. This is an increase from Texas Instruments’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. This represents a $6.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Texas Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is 86.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling In other Texas Instruments news, VP Tsedeniya Abraham sold 7,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.63, for a total transaction of $1,852,410.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 23,181 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,134,388.03. This trade represents a 23.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the company’s stock.

Texas Instruments Company Profile (Free Report)

Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) designs and manufactures analog and embedded semiconductor products used in industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment, and enterprise systems. Its analog products help manage power, sense and measure real-world signals, and support signal processing, while its embedded processing products provide computing and control functions within electronic systems.

The company offers a broad portfolio of semiconductors, including power-management devices, amplifiers, data converters, microcontrollers, processors, and connectivity products.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Texas Instruments A Chinese Rival Just Spooked Memory Stocks—How Worried Should Micron Investors Be? Could T-Mobile’s Satellite Competition Fears Create a Buying Opportunity? Surgical Precision, Sustainable Returns: Johnson & Johnson Secures Its Cash Flow Runway Tesla’s Robotaxi Lands in Paris—But Europe’s Real Fight Is Over Cheap EVs Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TXN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN – Free Report).

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RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) will release earnings for its third quarter before the opening bell on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Analysts expect the Arlington, Virginia-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.77 per share, up from $1.70 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for RTX’s quarterly revenue is $24.05 billion. It reported $22.48 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On Oct. 13, RTX’s Raytheon was awarded $729 million in counter-drone contracts for U.S., Qatar, and Jordan.

Shares of RTX gained 1.7% to trade at $186.09 on Wednesday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

TD Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $240 to $225 on Oct. 9, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%. UBS analyst Gavin Parsons maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $198 to $215 on July 24, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 59%. RBC Capital analyst Ken Herbert maintained an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $230 to $250 on July 24, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%. Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino maintained a Positive rating and raised the price target from $235 to $245 on July 24, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%. Wells Fargo analyst David Strauss maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $200 to $230 on July 24, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%. Considering buying RTX stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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The market expects Reliance (RS - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 21, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis metals service-center company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $6.76 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +85.7%.

Revenues are expected to be $4.68 billion, up 28.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.68% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. 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 Reliance?For Reliance, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.37%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1.

So, this combination indicates that Reliance will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Reliance would post earnings of $5.38 per share when it actually produced earnings of $6.27, delivering a surprise of +16.54%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two 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.

Reliance appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

CVS Pharmacy Inc. and various subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a Justice Department case alleging it unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, officials said Tuesday.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought in 2024 that accused the healthcare giant of prescribing massive amounts of opioids and other controlled substances “to fuel its own profits at the expense of public health and safety.”

It’s the latest effort by the federal government to hold accountable companies that officials have alleged helped fuel the U.S. addiction and overdose crisis.

“Today’s settlement is a significant milestone in the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by cracking down on pharmacies who unlawfully fulfill prescriptions for controlled substances,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in an emailed statement.

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CVS said in a statement that its pharmacists were trained “in the safe and appropriate use of all medications” and that it had implemented “best-in-class” programs to help them “make the best decisions on behalf of patients.”

The company said it strongly disagreed with the claims made in the lawsuit and that the settlement admits no wrongdoing.

The company said in 2024 that pharmacists were being held to “vague, undefined, and ever-changing standards of practice” when it comes to filling prescription opioids.

Explore TopicsCVSdepartment of justice

Shares of CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD -3.61%) were trading sharply lower on Wednesday, falling as much as 4.9% in early trading and were still down 3% as of 11:50 a.m. ET.

The catalyst that sent the cybersecurity stock lower was a report that the company could face a new threat from artificial intelligence (AI).

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Budding competition?Reports surfaced late on Tuesday that AI start-up OpenAI was in early discussions to acquire cybersecurity and security research company Trail of Bits, according to a report that first appeared in The Information. The software security company developed a following for its work in finding and securing vulnerabilities in open-source software.

The report suggested that this might be a first step by OpenAI in developing a competitive cybersecurity business.

This isn't the first time the two companies have been linked. Earlier this year, OpenAI partnered with Trail of Bits in the pair's Patch the Planet initiative, which sought to strengthen open-source software by identifying and securing exploitable vulnerabilities. During the first week, the collaboration uncovered hundreds of vulnerabilities and security issues and developed patches to secure them.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

84/100

Today's Change

(

-3.61

%) $

-9.43

Current Price

$

251.78

SaaSpocalypse, part 2Today’s stock decline bears an uncanny resemblance to the rout that hit software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks earlier this year on fears that AI would make them obsolete. Since then, many of these same stocks have rebounded and hit new heights as investors have come to understand that reality is much more complicated and that most of these offerings aren't so easily replicated.

Moreover, one of Wall Street's finest expressed his support for CrowdStrike in the wake of the report. BTIG analyst Gray Powell maintained a buy rating and raised his price target to $312 from $245 -- suggesting potential upside of 19% compared to Tuesday's closing price. The analyst suggested that investors are underestimating the pace of AI-based cybersecurity adoption and the potential to drive the company's long-term growth.

CrowdStrike stock is up 115% so far this year, resulting in a spike in its valuation. At 201 times forward earnings and 157 times next year's expected earnings, any bit of uncertainty could sink the stock. That said, since its IPO in mid-2019, CrowdStrike has gained 1,640%, underscoring why it deserves a premium.

Danny Vena, CPA has positions in CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Dave & Buster's (PLAY - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Dave & Buster's due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Dave & Buster's Q2 Earnings & Revenues Miss EstimatesDave & Buster's reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both metrics deteriorated on a year-over-year basis.

The company continued to face pressure from lower comparable store sales and weaker entertainment revenues. Higher store operating costs also weighed on profitability. However, food and beverage revenues increased, while management highlighted improving same-store sales trends during July and the fiscal third quarter to date.

Dave & Buster's Q2 Earnings & RevenuesFor the fiscal second quarter, the company reported an adjusted loss per share of 27 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of 19 cents. This resulted in a negative surprise of 242.1%. In the year-ago quarter, it posted adjusted earnings of 40 cents per share.

Quarterly revenues totaled $544.1 million, missing the consensus estimate of $561 million by 3.1% and declining 2.4% year over year.

Food and beverage revenues, accounting for 38.9% of total revenues in the reported quarter, increased 9.6% year over year to $211.5 million from $192.9 million. Management attributed the improvement partly to enhanced menu offerings and eat-and-play combo initiatives, which supported higher food attach rates.

Entertainment revenues, representing 61.1% of quarterly revenues, declined 8.8% year over year to $332.6 million from $364.5 million. Comparable store revenues fell $15.3 million, partially offset by a $14.2 million increase in noncomparable store revenues.

Comparable store sales, including Dave & Buster's and Main Event locations, declined 2.9% year over year. Management noted improving overall same-store sales in July, with continued improvement during the fiscal third quarter to date.

PLAY's Q2 Operating HighlightsDuring the fiscal second quarter, operating income amounted to $19.4 million compared with $53 million reported in the year-ago quarter. The operating margin contracted to 3.6% from 9.5%.

Total cost of products increased to $83.2 million from $76.4 million. Operating payroll and benefits rose to $140.2 million from $138.7 million, while other store operating expenses jumped to $192.9 million from $186.9 million. Depreciation and amortization expenses climbed to $73.7 million from $65.2 million.

Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $98.9 million compared with $129.8 million in the year-earlier period. The adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 18.2% from 23.3%. Store operating income before depreciation and amortization decreased to $127.8 million from $155.4 million, with the margin contracting to 23.5% from 27.9%.

Dave & Buster's Cash Flow & LiquidityFor the first six months of fiscal 2026, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $160.6 million compared with $129.8 million in the prior-year period.

Capital expenditures were $190 million, down from $243.8 million a year ago. Adjusted free cash flow improved to positive $19.5 million compared to negative $36.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2025. The company ended the quarter with available liquidity of $492.1 million.

Balance Sheet of PLAYAs of Aug. 4, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $16 million compared with $16.6 million as of Feb. 3, 2026. Long-term debt, net, was approximately $1.50 billion compared with $1.52 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.

PLAY's net total leverage ratio was 3.5 times at quarter-end. The company had $476.1 million of unused commitments under its revolving credit facility and stated that it was in compliance with its debt covenants.

Dave & Buster's Store Development UpdatesDave & Buster's continued to advance its store development initiatives during the fiscal second quarter. The company opened six new domestic stores during the period and ended the quarter with 250 company-owned locations.

The company expects to complete two additional Dave & Buster's remodels during the remainder of fiscal 2026, bringing the full-year total to eight. Internationally, PLAY had six franchise stores open and expects to add at least one more international franchise location during the remainder of fiscal 2026.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

The consensus estimate has shifted -6.83% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Dave & Buster's has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a score of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Dave & Buster's has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.

Key Takeaways Coty prioritizes fewer, high-impact product launches to strengthen core brands and drive incremental demand.Prestige cosmetics posted double-digit sales growth in Q4 fiscal 2026, fueled by Kylie and Burberry.Coty's FY2027 pipeline includes BOSS Bottled Beyond for Her, Kylie Mood Stones and new fragrance launches. Coty Inc. (COTY - Free Report) is sharpening focus on product innovation to strengthen sales momentum across prestige fragrances and cosmetics. Through the Coty.Curated framework, the beauty company is prioritizing fewer, bigger and more impactful launches, supported by focused investments in core brands. The strategy emphasizes introducing products that generate incremental demand while strengthening existing franchises. New offerings across Hugo Boss, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Kylie Cosmetics and Calvin Klein remain central to Coty's growth initiatives.

Recent launches have shown encouraging traction. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, prestige cosmetics delivered double-digit sales and sell-out growth, supported by Kylie, Burberry and the early contribution from Marc Jacobs makeup. Marc Jacobs fragrances recorded double-digit sales growth over the past six months, aided by the Daisy Murakami collection and Perfect Absolute. Kylie Cosmetics also achieved double-digit growth in both fragrance and makeup sales during the same period. Meanwhile, Calvin Klein's Euphoria Elixirs supported fragrance share gains across Germany, France, Italy and Mexico.

Coty's fiscal 2027 innovation pipeline includes BOSS Bottled Beyond for Her, extending the franchise into women's fragrances, alongside Kylie Cosmetics' Mood Stones fragrance collection. Marc Jacobs Beauty makeup, launched online in June 2026, recorded an early online sell-out at Sephora ahead of targets, with a broader rollout into hundreds of U.S. Sephora stores and Travel Retail beginning in September. Planned fragrance introductions under Etro in the second half of fiscal 2027, Swarovski in calendar 2027 and Marni in fiscal 2028 are expected to broaden Coty's portfolio.

In Consumer Beauty, Coty is concentrating on high-impact launches across CoverGirl, Rimmel, Max Factor and Sally Hansen. These targeted introductions, alongside continued prestige innovation, are designed to strengthen core franchises and support more consistent sales growth.

Coty’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 31.1% in the past three months compared with the industry, the broader Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500 index’s rise of 26.9%, 0.6% and 3%, respectively.

COTY Stock's Past 3 Months Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Is COTY a Value Play Stock?Coty currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 9.81, below the industry and the sector’s average of 24.53 and 17.02, respectively. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.

COTY P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to Considere.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF - Free Report) provides cosmetics and skin care products worldwide and currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for e.l.f. Beauty’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings calls for growth of 20.3% and 16.6%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. ELF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 61.5%, on average.

Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. TGT delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.5%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 5.1% and 37.8%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals.

Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) is an operator of discount variety stores offering a broad assortment of everyday consumables and discretionary merchandise. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.2%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 6.6% and 36.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.

Sax Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX – Free Report) by 138.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,076 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,438 shares during the quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Lam Research were worth $3,638,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Lam Research by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,704,130 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $26,320,468,000 after acquiring an additional 1,545,830 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Lam Research by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 22,821,354 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,906,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,638,406 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Lam Research by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 11,244,147 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $4,872,426,000 after acquiring an additional 584,489 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in shares of Lam Research by 411.8% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 11,089,395 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $4,805,368,000 after acquiring an additional 8,922,854 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in Lam Research by 23.7% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 10,147,479 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,168,107,000 after acquiring an additional 1,942,862 shares during the last quarter. 84.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Ava Harter sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.46, for a total value of $1,512,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 42,462 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,843,056.52. This represents a 10.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Bethany Mayer sold 9,557 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $314.74, for a total value of $3,007,970.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 20,995 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,607,966.30. The trade was a 31.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Lam Research Here are the key news stories impacting Lam Research this week: Positive Sentiment: Higher price target: DBS Bank raised its price target for Lam Research to $416, signaling continued confidence in the company’s earnings outlook and potential upside. DBS Bank lifts target to USD 416 for Lam Research stock Positive Sentiment: Improving earnings estimates: Erste Group Bank raised its FY2027 EPS forecast for LRCX to $9.40 from $9.34 and its FY2028 estimate to $11.99 from $11.68. The revisions support the view that demand for wafer-fabrication equipment should remain strong. Positive Sentiment: Constructive outlook ahead of earnings: Analysts expect Lam Research, Texas Instruments and Western Digital to deliver strong results and guidance. Lam’s latest quarter already featured record revenue, operating margin and EPS, while management guided to another strong quarter. Lam Research, TI and Western Digital are likely to post strong results, guidance: UBS Neutral Sentiment: Broad sector profit-taking: Applied Materials, Lam Research and KLA all declined as investors reduced exposure to semiconductor-equipment shares following a substantial AI-fueled advance and ahead of major industry earnings reports. Semiconductor Equipment Stocks Slide as Investors Take Profits on a Huge Year Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: Quiver Quantitative reported 55 insider sales and no insider purchases over the past six months, including sales by CEO Timothy Archer and other senior executives. While such transactions may reflect compensation or diversification, the one-sided pattern can weigh on sentiment. Why Lam Research Stock Is Down Today Lam Research Trading Down 2.7% LRCX opened at $301.11 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $310.95 and its 200-day moving average is $307.35. Lam Research Corporation has a 1-year low of $134.04 and a 1-year high of $438.50. The company has a current ratio of 2.63, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company has a market cap of $376.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.28, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.85.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The semiconductor company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $6.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.66 billion. Lam Research had a net margin of 31.27% and a return on equity of 67.60%. The firm’s revenue was up 30.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.33 EPS. Lam Research has set its Q1 2027 guidance at 2.000-2.300 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Lam Research Corporation will post 9.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lam Research Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 23rd will be given a $0.33 dividend. This is an increase from Lam Research’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 23rd. Lam Research’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets LRCX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 price objective on shares of Lam Research in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and set a $385.00 target price (up from $367.00) on shares of Lam Research in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $450.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Lam Research in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Lam Research from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, September 4th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $420.00 price target on Lam Research in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $364.59.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LRCX

About Lam Research (Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation is a semiconductor equipment company that designs, manufactures, and services systems used in the fabrication of integrated circuits and other electronic devices. Its equipment supports key steps in the wafer manufacturing process, helping semiconductor producers create increasingly small and complex features on silicon wafers.

The company’s portfolio includes systems for etch, deposition, wafer cleaning, surface preparation, and related manufacturing processes.

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