WINCHESTER, Va., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trex Company [NYSE:TREX], the world’s leading brand of wood-alternative decking, railing and outdoor living products, has been named to TIME’s “America’s Best Companies 2026” list. Presented by TIME and research partner Statista, the annual ranking recognizes companies that excel in financial performance, employee satisfaction and sustainability.
“This recognition is especially meaningful as Trex celebrates its 30th anniversary,” said Adam Zambanini, President and CEO of Trex Company. “For three decades, we’ve focused on creating long-term value for our customers, channel partners, employees, shareholders and communities. Being recognized by TIME reflects the dedication of our team, the strength of our culture and our commitment to innovation, operational excellence and responsible business practices.”
To determine this year’s rankings, thousands of U.S. companies were evaluated based on employee satisfaction, financial performance and sustainability transparency. Drawing on employee survey data, financial results, and publicly available environmental, social and governance (ESG) information, the 1,000 highest-scoring companies were identified to be recognized as America’s Best Companies 2026.
Trex is the only decking brand to be included in this year’s roster and was ranked among the Top 100 Sustainable Engineering, Manufacturing & Medical Technology Companies. The full list of this year’s honorees is published on TIME.com.
Engineering, Manufacturing & Medical Technology
Since pioneering composite decking in the mid-1990s, Trex has grown from a category creator into a comprehensive outdoor living brand. Building on its legacy of product innovation and sustainable manufacturing, the company now offers an extensive portfolio that includes decking, railing, deck drainage, flashing tapes, LED lighting, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, fencing, lattice, outdoor furniture and other complementary products. Today, Trex products are sold through more than 6,700 retail locations across six continents.
For more information, visit Trex.com.
About Trex Company, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Trex Company [NYSE: TREX] has invented, reinvented and defined the wood-alternative decking category. Today, the company is the world’s #1 brand of premium, sustainable, wood-alternative decking and residential railing, and a leader in high-performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products. Boasting the industry’s strongest distribution network, Trex sells products through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents. Through strategic licensing agreements, the company offers a comprehensive outdoor living portfolio that includes deck drainage, flashing tapes, deck lighting, outdoor kitchen components, fencing, pergolas, spiral stairs, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture – all marketed under the Trex® brand.
Based in Winchester, Va., Trex is proud to have been named America’s Most Trusted® Outdoor Decking^ for the past 6 years (2021-2026) and included in Newsweek’s list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2026. Additionally, USA Today included Trex on its 2026 list of “America’s Climate Leaders.” The company has also been ranked on Barron’s list of the 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies (2024 and 2025), was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek, highlighted as one of the 100 Best ESG Companies by Investor’s Business Daily, and named the Sustainable Brand Leader in the decking category by Green Builder Media for 16 consecutive years. For more information, visit Trex.com. You may also follow Trex on Facebook (trexcompany), Instagram (trexcompany), X (Trex_Company), LinkedIn (trex-company), TikTok (trexcompany), Pinterest (trexcompany) and Houzz (trex-company-inc), or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).
^2021-2026 DISCLAIMER: Trex received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2021-2026 America’s Most Trusted® Outdoor Decking studies. Study results are based on the experiences and perceptions of people surveyed. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70823445-13d2-443b-b4d9-4bf4921dbe92
Trex Named to TIME’s List of “America’s Best Companies 2026” Trex is the only decking brand to be included in this year’s roster and was ranked among the Top 100...
Key Takeaways RLI has raised its regular dividend for 51 straight years and hiked quarterly payout by 12.5% in May 2026. RLI declared a $2.00-per-share special dividend and approved a new $250 million share repurchase program. Strong underwriting, operating cash flow and disciplined capital management aid shareholder returns. RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) has a disciplined and shareholder-friendly capital deployment strategy that balances investments in business growth with consistent capital returns. The company generates strong underwriting profits and operating cash flow, enabling it to return excess capital while maintaining a conservatively capitalized balance sheet.
RLI has increased its regular dividend for 51 consecutive years, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to returning cash to shareholders. In May 2026, the board increased the quarterly dividend by 12.5% to 18 cents per share. When capital exceeds business needs, RLI distributes excess cash through special dividends. The company declared a $2.00-per-share special dividend in May 2026, totaling approximately $184 million, continuing its history of periodic special dividend payments.
RLI's board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program to return more value to investors. With the latest authorization, the board approved the issuance of up to $250 million of the company’s outstanding common stock in May 2026.
Management emphasizes maintaining financial flexibility and capital adequacy before distributing excess capital, ensuring the company can support underwriting growth and withstand catastrophe losses. Strong underwriting profitability, recurring operating cash flow, investment income, a conservatively capitalized balance sheet and disciplined risk management provide RLI with the financial strength and flexibility to deploy capital efficiently while creating long-term shareholder value.
RLI's capital allocation strategy is a key investment strength. The combination of regular dividend increases, periodic special dividends, opportunistic share repurchases and continued investment in the business reflects disciplined capital management that has consistently enhanced long-term shareholder value.
What About Its Peers?First American Financial Corporation (FAF - Free Report) follows a balanced capital-return strategy that combines a steadily growing dividend with opportunistic share repurchases. FAF generally uses a combination of regular dividend increases and selective share repurchases to distribute excess capital. FAF has increased its dividend for more than 15 consecutive years, reflecting management's commitment to returning capital through various housing market environments.
American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG - Free Report) has one of the most shareholder-friendly capital allocation policies in the U.S. insurance sector. AFG regularly generates capital that is needed to support underwriting operations. Returning excess capital to shareholders in the form of regular and special cash dividends and through opportunistic share repurchases is an important and effective component of American Financial’s capital management strategy. The combination of growing regular dividends, frequent special dividends, opportunistic buybacks and strong underwriting profitability has enabled the company to deliver substantial cash returns to investors over time.
RLI’s Price PerformanceShares of RLI have lost 14.2% in the past year against the industry.
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RLI’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book ratio of 3.11, above the industry average of 1.49.
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Estimate Movement for RLIThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for RLI’s third-quarter 2026 has moved down 1.8% in the past 60 days. The same for the full-year 2026 and 2027 EPS has moved up 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
Key Takeaways Eversource is simplifying its portfolio to focus on regulated electric and natural gas utility operations. The Aquarion Water sale brought nearly $1.7B in net proceeds to reduce debt and strengthen its balance sheet. Eversource plans $26.5B in investments through 2030 to modernize infrastructure and support EPS growth. Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is benefiting from its transition to a pure-play regulated electric and natural gas utility. This portfolio simplification reduces business risk, strengthens cash flow and supports consistent earnings growth through constructive regulatory outcomes and disciplined infrastructure investments.
On June 30, 2026, Eversource completed the sale of its Aquarion Water Company, receiving nearly $1.7 billion in net proceeds to reduce debt. The transaction improves the balance sheet and sharpens the company's focus on its core regulated electric and natural gas businesses, supporting long-term earnings growth.
The company plans to invest $5.07 billion in 2026 and $26.5 billion through 2030, with an additional $1 billion of potential investment opportunities. These investments are expected to improve grid reliability, modernize energy infrastructure and enhance service reliability, supporting long-term regulated earnings growth.
The company's regulated business model allows it to recover eligible infrastructure investments through rate hikes, providing steady cash flows and greater earnings visibility. Despite the sale of Aquarion Water Company, Eversource expects its long-term EPS growth of 5-7% through 2030, reflecting confidence in its regulated utility strategy.
Overall, Eversource's constructive regulatory environment, expanding regulated investment plan, stronger balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation provide a solid foundation for sustainable earnings growth and long-term shareholder value.
Streamlined Utility Portfolio Supports Earnings GrowthUtility companies are streamlining their portfolios by divesting non-core businesses and focusing on regulated operations, improving earnings visibility. This strategy enhances financial flexibility, supports efficient capital deployment and drives sustainable cash flow generation.
NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) is further strengthening its regulated utility focus through its planned acquisition of Dominion Energy, creating a business with more than 80% regulated operations and a streamlined growth platform.
Spire Inc. (SR - Free Report) is benefiting from strategic portfolio optimization, supported by the acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee and the divestiture of its non-core businesses, Spire Marketing and Spire Storage.
ES’ Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year decrease of 1.68%, while the estimate for 2027 EPS suggests a 6.32% increase.
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ES’ Returns on Equity (ROE)Eversource's trailing-12-month ROE is 11.59%, higher than the industry average of 11.21%.
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ES’ Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have risen 6.7% compared with the industry’s 3.4% growth.
Key Takeaways Coherent stock has soared 247% in a year but pulled back 11% over the past month.AI demand drove Datacenter & Communications to 75% of third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues.COHR's backlog extends into 2028, while long-term supply agreements stretch through 2030. Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) has been one of the standout performers in the technology hardware space over the past year. The stock has surged an impressive 247%, significantly outperforming the industry's 8% growth and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 24% advance. More recently, however, COHR has pulled back 11% over the past month, suggesting the stock may be entering a healthy correction after its remarkable run.
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The recent weakness raises an important question for investors: Is this a buying opportunity, a signal to hold existing positions, or a reason to stay on the sidelines? While the valuation remains elevated, Coherent's strengthening fundamentals indicate that the company's long-term growth story remains intact.
AI Infrastructure Demand Is Reshaping COHR’s BusinessCoherent's transformation has been fueled by booming demand for AI infrastructure. The company's Datacenter & Communications segment has become its primary growth engine, accounting for 75% of third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues while delivering 41% year-over-year growth.
This shift is significant because it changes the company's revenue profile. Historically, hardware manufacturers have been exposed to short product cycles and volatile demand. Today, Coherent is increasingly tied to long-duration AI infrastructure spending, providing investors with greater confidence in future earnings.
Unlike traditional semiconductor hardware cycles, AI-related investments are supported by large-scale cloud deployments and multi-year capital spending plans, making demand considerably more predictable.
Long-Term Orders Improve COHR’s Revenue VisibilityOne of the biggest positives for Coherent is the dramatic improvement in order visibility.
Rather than experiencing the typical cyclical increase in hardware demand, the company is witnessing a step-change in customer commitments. Record backlog levels now extend into calendar 2028, while long-term supply agreements stretch through 2030.
This level of visibility substantially lowers the risk that new manufacturing investments become underutilized during an economic slowdown.
To support this unprecedented demand, Coherent invested approximately $290 million in capital expenditures during the third quarter of fiscal 2026, more than doubling spending from the prior-year period.
Importantly, this aggressive capacity expansion is backed by contractual customer commitments rather than speculative demand forecasts.
Operating Leverage is Beginning to Pay OffThe surge in AI-related demand is translating directly into stronger profitability.
Higher factory utilization and improved supply chain efficiencies contributed to a 163-basis-point expansion in the adjusted operating margin during the third quarter. Meanwhile, adjusted net income climbed nearly 56% year over year, highlighting the operating leverage created by rising production volumes.
As manufacturing assets become increasingly utilized, incremental revenues are flowing through to earnings at a faster pace, improving the overall quality of Coherent's financial performance.
This combination of expanding margins and stronger earnings suggests the company is benefiting not only from higher sales but also from greater operational efficiency.
Strategic Partnerships Strengthen Financial FlexibilityCoherent has also significantly strengthened its balance sheet.
A major catalyst came from NVIDIA's (NVDA - Free Report) $2 billion equity investment, which increased Coherent's cash balance to roughly $3 billion during the third quarter of fiscal 2026 from approximately $1.5 billion in the previous quarter.
Beyond the financial benefits, NVIDIA's investment serves as an important strategic validation of Coherent's technology and its role within the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure ecosystem.
Management has simultaneously accelerated debt reduction. During the quarter, Coherent repaid $162 million of debt, reducing its leverage ratio to 0.5X from 1.7X in the previous quarter.
Lower leverage, higher liquidity and declining interest costs collectively provide the company with considerably greater financial flexibility as it continues investing in future growth.
Premium Valuation Appears Supported by Improving FundamentalsCoherent currently trades at approximately 37.56 times forward earnings, nearly double the industry's 21.49 times forward earnings multiple.
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At first glance, that premium valuation may appear demanding. However, investors are paying for a business that is becoming fundamentally different from the cyclical hardware manufacturer it once was. Multi-year customer commitments, record backlog, expanding margins, stronger cash generation and a healthier balance sheet are all contributing to a more predictable earnings profile.
While short-term volatility is always possible following such a strong rally, Coherent's growing exposure to AI infrastructure spending and long-term customer agreements provides a solid foundation for sustained growth over the coming years.
Coherent's Top and Bottom Line Expectations Remain RobustCoherent's growth prospects remain compelling, supported by strong demand across AI-driven datacenter infrastructure and improving operating leverage. The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects fiscal 2026 revenues of $7.1 billion, indicating 21.5% year-over-year growth. Momentum is expected to accelerate further in fiscal 2027, with revenues forecast to increase 37.7% from the prior year.
The earnings outlook is equally impressive. The consensus estimate indicates fiscal 2026 EPS of $5.47, suggesting 55% year-over-year growth. Looking ahead, analysts expect EPS to climb another 52.5% in fiscal 2027, indicating confidence that Coherent's expanding AI-related business, improving margins and higher manufacturing utilization will continue to drive profitability.
Such robust top- and bottom-line projections reinforce the investment case that Coherent's transition toward AI infrastructure is creating a stronger, more predictable earnings profile despite the stock's premium valuation.
Peers to Watch: Lumentum and IPG PhotonicsAmong U.S.-listed peers, Lumentum Holdings (LITE - Free Report) and IPG Photonics (IPGP - Free Report) offer useful comparisons for investors evaluating Coherent. Like Coherent, both LITE and IPGP operate in optical components and photonics markets that benefit from increasing demand for high-speed data communications and advanced laser technologies. However, Coherent currently stands apart because of its unusually strong AI infrastructure exposure, record backlog extending into 2028, long-term supply agreements through 2030, and a significantly strengthened balance sheet following NVIDIA's strategic investment. These factors have helped improve earnings visibility and differentiate Coherent's growth profile within the photonics industry.
COHR Remains a Buy for Long-Term AI InvestorsCoherent’s remarkable rally reflects meaningful improvements in its business rather than market enthusiasm alone. The company has strengthened its revenue visibility through long-term customer commitments, expanded profitability as AI-driven demand boosts operating leverage, and reinforced its balance sheet with greater financial flexibility. Although the stock trades at a premium and could experience periodic volatility after its strong advance, its transformation into a critical supplier for AI infrastructure supports a more durable growth outlook. With robust revenue and earnings expectations, improving execution and favorable industry trends, Coherent remains an attractive buy for investors seeking long-term exposure to the expanding AI ecosystem.
COHR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX | NFLX Price Prediction) and Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) both reported first quarter results this spring with sharply divergent profiles. Netflix is a pure streaming machine collecting a $2.80 billion Warner Bros. breakup check. Comcast is a diversified operator juggling broadband erosion, Olympics costs, and a Peacock unit that keeps bleeding cash.
Ad Tier Lifts Netflix. Olympics Squeezes Comcast. Netflix pulled in $12.25 billion in Q1 revenue, up 16.2% year over year, with EPS of $1.23. The ad-supported tier drove over 60% of Q1 sign-ups in ads countries, and advertiser count grew 70% year over year to 4,000+ clients. Ad revenue is tracking to roughly $3 billion in 2026. That is a genuine second growth engine, not a slide-deck aspiration.
Comcast posted $31.46 billion in revenue and EPS of $0.79, its fourth straight beat. But adjusted EBITDA fell 16.8% as Media EBITDA swung to negative $426 million under Milan Cortina and Super Bowl LX programming costs. Peacock added subs to 46 million, but its EBITDA loss widened to $432 million. CEO Brian Roberts pitched the quarter as a pivot in motion, citing “record wireless line additions” of 435,000.
Focused Streamer Vs. Sprawling Conglomerate Lens Netflix Comcast Core Bet Global streaming plus ads Broadband, wireless, parks, Peacock Margin Direction Op margin target 31.5% in 2026 Broadband revenue -5.1%; video losses 322,000 Capital Return Buybacks ($6.8B left) Dividend yield 5.56% Forward P/E 24 7 Netflix walked from the Warner Bros. deal and pocketed the fee. Comcast went the other direction, completing the Versant Media Group spin on January 2, 2026 to slim NBCUniversal down.
The Next Test Is Whether The Pivot Sticks I will be watching whether Netflix can hit its $50.7B to $51.7B full-year guide while doubling ad revenue and absorbing the InterPositive GenAI acquisition. For Comcast, the tell is broadband. Losses narrowed to 65,000 from 183,000 a year ago, but the 5-year price guarantee is still young, and video keeps shrinking.
Why Netflix Looks Like The Cleaner Story My read is straightforward. Netflix trades at a forward multiple of 24 with return on equity of 48.5% and a free cash flow guide raised to roughly $12.5 billion. You are paying a fair price for compounding scale, pricing power, and a genuine ad business. Comcast is cheaper for a reason. Its $32.29 analyst target and 5.56% yield reward patience, but you inherit cord-cutting, cable capex, and a Peacock unit still absorbing NBA rights. For investors focused on yield and turnaround stories, Comcast offers that profile. For me, Netflix is the cleaner story this quarter based on the growth trajectory and margin profile.
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Stripe’s acquisition of the crypto wallet infrastructure firm Privy in 2025 is already bearing fruit: Privy, together with Solana infrastructure provider Jito Labs, has launched a new transaction routing system called FullSend. The innovative solution is designed to enable faster and more reliable inclusion of transactions on the Solana blockchain, aiming to improve efficiency across the network.
Direct routing to block producersAccording to company statements, FullSend has been quietly integrated into Privy wallets since the beginning of the year. During this period, FullSend has achieved a remarkable performance rate, successfully including 99.999% of transactions across millions of attempts.
The FullSend system routes transactions signed through Privy wallets directly to Solana’s current and upcoming block leaders via Jito’s low-latency network. Since block producers on Solana rotate roughly every 400 milliseconds, delivering transactions to the right validator at the right moment is crucial for timely inclusion.
Traditionally, transactions are propagated through public or hosted RPC nodes, acting as intermediaries for network communications. FullSend removes these middlemen, delivering transactions straight to block leaders. By bypassing this layer, companies report that transaction inclusion latency is reduced to around 50 milliseconds, compared to 200 milliseconds or more with classic routing approaches.
Glossary: An RPC node is a technical access point allowing wallets and applications to communicate with a blockchain network. MEV refers to strategies for extracting additional revenue from transactions observed before block production; this can include front-running and transaction reordering.
Streamlining complexity for developersPrivy’s Chief Technology Officer Asta Li emphasized that the central goal of FullSend is to reduce the complexity developers face when juggling priority fees, extra network incentives, and endpoint selection.
Privy’s leadership highlighted that FullSend is designed to ease the burden on developers, simplifying the process of balancing priority fees, added incentives, and connection management within the network.
Jito Labs noted that its infrastructure reliably gets transactions directly to validators responsible for producing upcoming blocks. This approach helps users maintain standard priority fees and reduces their exposure to automated bots targeting pending transactions.
Enhanced protection against MEV attacksBoth companies maintain that FullSend offers additional safeguards against widespread MEV attack vectors, including front-running, sandwich attacks, and transaction censorship. As speed and precision become more critical in Solana-based applications, infrastructure-level protections are increasingly vital.
Jito Labs CEO Lucas Bruder underscored that speed and reliability are now core requirements for applications on Solana. He stated that, by routing directly to block leaders, FullSend delivers native MEV protection alongside improved performance.
Stripe continues expanding in crypto infrastructureThis move marks the latest chapter in Stripe’s growing footprint in the crypto infrastructure space. The payments technology giant acquired Privy in 2025 and, earlier this year, Privy announced a collaboration with Alchemy to onboard institutional users.
Privy reports that its infrastructure is now used by prominent fintech firms including Klarna, Ramp, and Deel, as well as crypto trading platforms such as Hyperliquid. The company states its technology supports over 140 million accounts and handles billions of dollars in monthly transaction volume. Meanwhile, Stripe is broadening its investments in blockchain-based payment systems—most notably, by developing the stablecoin-focused Layer 1 blockchain, Tempo.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Jupiter, the largest decentralized exchange aggregator on Solana, has opened its Active Staking Rewards claim window for the second quarter of 2026. The 50 million JUP reward pool is now available to eligible stakers, with claims accepted through October 8.
The Q2 period covers April 1 through June 30, and the claim window opened on July 8 at 2:00 PM. Users who maintained a minimum average stake of 50 JUP during that period can collect their share through the Jupiter Rewards Hub or the platform’s dedicated voting site.
Any rewards left on the table after the October 8 deadline revert to the community treasury.
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How Active Staking Rewards actually work Eligibility isn’t particularly demanding. Stake at least 50 JUP on average during the quarter, participate in DAO votes, and you’re in the running. The program has maintained a consistent 50 million JUP allocation per quarter since at least 2024.
One detail that separates this from a simple airdrop: claimed rewards get compounded directly into existing stakes, automatically boosting voting power within the Jupiter ecosystem. Rather than encouraging users to claim and dump, Jupiter has structured the system so that engaged participants become progressively more influential in governance.
Why Jupiter keeps betting on governance participation By tying rewards specifically to governance participation rather than raw liquidity provision or trading volume, Jupiter is filtering for users who actually care about the protocol’s direction. The 50 JUP minimum stake keeps the barrier low enough that casual users can participate, while the requirement to actually vote on DAO proposals ensures some baseline level of engagement. Community feedback has been largely positive, though some users have raised minor concerns about wallet requirements and the timing of claim windows.
Jupiter’s position as Solana’s leading DEX aggregator gives these governance decisions real weight. The platform routes trades across numerous decentralized exchanges on Solana, meaning the DAO’s choices about fee structures, integration partners, and protocol upgrades have tangible effects on one of the network’s most critical pieces of infrastructure.
What this means for JUP holders and the Solana ecosystem The steady cadence of 50 million JUP distributions every quarter creates a predictable emission schedule. For current JUP stakers, the math is straightforward: participate in governance, claim your rewards, and watch your voting power compound over time.
The reversion of unclaimed tokens to the community treasury means the protocol doesn’t waste emissions on disengaged holders. Tokens that would have gone to passive participants instead flow back into a pool that can fund future initiatives, development, or additional reward cycles.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Shares of Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL | MRVL Price Prediction) are up 7% to $247 and change in midday trading Thursday, riding a broad semiconductor rebound that’s lifted the entire AI chip complex. Marvell stock came into the session bruised after a sharp multi-week pullback, setting up an oversold bounce.
The move stems from broad sector catalysts. Traders are responding to blowout preliminary Q2 results from Samsung, continued strength at SK Hynix, and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee framing the recent selloff as a buying opportunity in AI infrastructure names.
Some of Marvell’s peers are participating in the rally while others are lagging behind. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) stock is up 3%, but NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares are down 1% today.
A Broad Sector Rebound Powers the Move Marvell stock had faded after its June 22, 2026 S&P 500 inclusion, unwinding some of the technical buying that drove a strong run into the event. Insider selling and valuation concerns amplified the July drawdown.
The supportive fundamental backdrop hasn’t changed. Marvell has an expanded NVIDIA partnership via NVLink Fusion, a reported $2 billion strategic investment tie-up, a wave of analyst target hikes, and the recent Teralynx T100 switch launch with 102.4 Tbps of silicon aimed at AI clusters.
Marvell’s AI-Driven Growth Story Marvell’s Q1 FY2027 results reported May 27, 2026 showed revenue of $2.418 billion, up 27.6% year over year (YoY), with data center revenue of $1.833 billion (76% of total). Management guided Q2 FY2027 revenue to $2.7 billion, implying 35% YoY growth.
The company’s valuation is a pressure point, though. Marvell stock trades at a trailing P/E of 85x per Yahoo Finance, the richest of the three names. That reflects both depressed trailing earnings and a stock that has run 191% year to date (YTD).
CEO Matt Murphy told investors that the company sees “exceptional AI-related bookings” and significantly raised its FY2027 and FY2028 outlook. That growth is real, but the average analyst target price of $252.26 sits near MRVL stock’s current quote, which suggests that the implied upside is limited.
Broadcom Trades at a Growth-Justified Premium Broadcom stock trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 66x, above the sector average but below that of Marvell. AVGO stock is up 15% YTD, well behind Marvell’s move but still ahead of the market.
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Broadcom’s Q2 FY2026 results, reported June 3, 2026, showed revenue of $22.19 billion, up 47.9% YoY, with AI semiconductor revenue of $10.8 billion, up 143% YoY. The company’s Q3 FY2026 guidance calls for AI semiconductor revenue of $16 billion, over 200% YoY growth. That scale gives Broadcom’s premium some cover.
NVIDIA Screens as the Cheapest of the Trio NVIDIA stock trades at a trailing P/E of 31x with a forward P/E of 22x. NVDA stock is up 8% YTD, lagging both peers despite $81.62 billion in Q1 FY2027 revenue (up 85.2% YoY) and Q2 guidance of $91 billion. On growth-adjusted multiples, NVIDIA stock screens as the most reasonably valued of the three AI chip leaders.
The apparent contradiction is that NVIDIA stock carries the largest market cap at $4.77 trillion but also the lowest multiple. Evidently, the earnings scale has finally caught up to the share price.
SOXX Confirms the Sector Move The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) is up 5% today, confirming a sector-wide rally rather than a single-name story. The ETF holds Marvell, Broadcom, and NVIDIA and carries a 0.34% expense ratio.
The concentration risk is worth noting with the SOXX ETF. The fund’s top holdings dominate the returns, so this ETF behaves as an amplified play on the same AI-infrastructure trade lifting its largest components today.
What to Watch Now Investors can watch for whether Marvell stock holds today’s 7% gain into the close, given the stock’s beta of 2.2 and recent volatility. A close at session highs would suggest that the oversold bounce has legs.
Discipline is crucial here, and investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest in high-beta AI names. Marvell’s next fundamental catalyst is the company’s Q2 FY2027 earnings, which will test whether the AI-infrastructure thesis can grow into the multiple.
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As of roughly noon E.T., the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.81%) rose 0.56% to 7,524.39, the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +1.18%) climbed 0.78% to 26,073.17, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.35%) added 0.24% to 52,473.28 as AI chip strength helped markets stabilize after war‑driven volatility.
Market moversChip and optical‑communication names, including Marvell Technology (MRVL +7.01%), Corning (GLW +6.98%), Coherent (COHR +5.13%), and Lumentum (LITE +11.98%), were among the day’s notable gainers amid sector‑wide demand for communications chips. However, high-valuation AI behemoth Palantir (PLTR 3.37%) extended its 29% decline year-to-date, dropping about 4% so far today.
What this means for investorsDespite the U.S.-Iran ceasefire being paused for now, and the market facing a growing drumbeat of analysts saying we might be in “bubbly” territory, stocks surged higher today, buoyed by the strength of AI and semiconductor stocks. In addition to a handful of analyst upgrades of semiconductor stocks, SK Hynix's upcoming U.S. ADR offering is estimated to be more than seven times oversubscribed, indicating that immense investor appetite remains in the space.
Elsewhere, PepsiCo (PEP 3.04%) unofficially kicked off earnings season this morning, delivering mixed earnings that prompted shares to dip roughly 3%. The beverages and snacks giant grew sales by 6% in the second quarter, but said it saw weaker consumer spending in the U.S. due to higher gas prices and broader macroeconomic volatility.
Whether or not the AI and technology industries are indeed in “bubbly territory” as many analysts suggest, there are a surprising number of S&P 500 stocks near their 52-week lows, so plenty of opportunities remain despite the indexes trading at or near all-time highs.
Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Coherent, Corning, Lumentum, Marvell Technology, Palantir Technologies, and Workday. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Investors interested in Leisure and Recreation Products stocks are likely familiar with Yeti (YETI) and Pool Corp. (POOL). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
Key Takeaways Envista posted positive first-quarter 2026 growth across major businesses and expanded margins.NVST strengthened its dental portfolio with the Versah acquisition and continued product launches.Envista faces tariff costs, China uncertainty and foreign exchange risks despite developed market strength. Envista (NVST - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, supported by the continued execution of its three strategic priorities. Targeted acquisitions further enhance the company’s product portfolio and market position. It also benefits from strong momentum in the international markets while deepening channel penetration. Meanwhile, adverse macroeconomic impacts and currency fluctuations raise concerns for Envista’s operations.
Over the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has risen 24.2% against the 28% decline of the industry and 23.2% rise of the S&P 500 composite.
The leading optical retailer has a market capitalization of $4.41 billion. The company’s earnings yield of 5.2% is well ahead of the industry’s 3.2% yield. In the trailing four quarters, Envista delivered an average earnings surprise of 15.43%.
Factors Supporting NVST's GrowthProgress With Strategic Priorities: Envista continues to execute on its strategy built around three areas: growth, operations and people. In the first quarter of 2026, all major businesses delivered positive growth, with 8.4% core growth in the Specialty Products & Technologies segment and 11.5% core growth in the Equipment and Consumables segment. The company has been reinvesting to support durable share gains, with sales and marketing and R&D both up double digits and new products central to results. Recent launches included Nobel S Series in implants, the Spark clear aligner launch in Japan and DEXIS software enhancements that add AI-driven workflow and diagnostics tools.
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The Envista Business System (“EBS”) helped drive gross margin expansion of 100 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin growth of 120 basis points. Tariff costs increased $11 million from the prior year but were offset by supply-chain, G&A and pricing initiatives. Simultaneously, Envista is advancing its continuous improvement culture, supported by steady gains in employee engagement and talent development. The company also served 3,700 patients through the Envista Smile Project.
Value-Adding Acquisitions in Core Dental Categories: Envista continues to use M&A to broaden its clinical offering and strengthen go-to-market positions in attractive dental segments.
In first-quarter 2026, NVST acquired Versah for about $54.7 million, adding the Densah Burs system used for osseodensification, a technique intended to improve osteointegration in certain implant indications. Management expects the deal to be accretive across growth, margins and EPS, and it described synergy through Envista’s existing clinical education and commercial channels. This builds on prior acquisitions that expanded implants and imaging, including Osteogenics and the Carestream intraoral scanner business that now operates within the DEXIS portfolio and supports a more competitive implants platform over time.
International Reach and Channel Expansion: Developed markets were the key growth engine in first-quarter 2026, with North America and Europe both delivering double-digit gains. Developing markets are growing in the high single digits, excluding softness in China tied to policy uncertainty. The Spark launch in Japan adds a new growth vector in a sizable aligner market where the company already has strong orthodontic relationships, creating a cross-sell opportunity into clear aligners. Management also highlighted continued progress with DSOs and clinician education as levers to deepen penetration.
Factors Weighing on EnvistaMacro and Policy Headwinds: Management continues to flag global economic uncertainty alongside geopolitical volatility, which can weigh on dental utilization and purchasing cycles. China remains a source of uncertainty for the implants business as channel partners continue to adjust inventory levels ahead of the anticipated volume-based procurement (VBP) process, which management expects to begin between the second and third quarters. Tariffs also remain a cost headwind. First-quarter 2026 adjusted EBITDA reflected a $11 million year-over-year increase in tariff costs, with similar quarterly levels anticipated through 2026.
Foreign Exchange and Global Exposure: In the first quarter of 2026, 52.7% of Envista’s revenues came from customers outside the United States, exposing sales, margins and cash flow to currency fluctuations and regional demand variability. While balance sheet hedging has reduced quarter-to-quarter volatility compared with the prior year, foreign exchange movements continue to affect performance and can influence reported results. Regional disruptions, including conflicts in the Middle East and evolving conditions in China, add complexity to planning and may at times offset strength in developed markets.
NVST Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Envista’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has remained constant at $1.42 in the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.86 billion. This suggests a 5.2% increase from the year-ago reported number.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .
IDEXX Laboratories has an earnings yield of 2.6% compared to the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 26.3%. IDXX shares have rallied 2.7% against the industry’s 8.2% decline over the past year.
IDXX carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Align Technology, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of the company have dipped 14.5% against the industry’s 10.5% growth. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.
Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 13.7% against the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 31.4% against the industry’s 8.2% decline over the past year.
Shares of Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ:OPEN) are up 11% to $5.30 at midday Thursday, breaking away from the rest of the iBuyer group in an otherwise uneven session for beaten-down real estate names.
Peer Offerpad Solutions (NYSE:OPAD) is trailing at up 4% to $5.22, while Zillow Group (NASDAQ:Z | Z Price Prediction) stock has added 2% to $32.96. A week ago, these three names rallied in unison; today, Opendoor stock is the clear winner.
The divergence stands out because Opendoor stock is still down 10% year to date, so today’s pop looks more like an oversold bounce than a fundamental re-rating. Retail sentiment appears to be doing the heavy lifting today.
Retail Flow Drives the Move There’s no single news trigger behind OPEN stock’s jump. The action looks like retail and momentum flow into volatile small-cap real estate names, stacked on top of an oversold bounce off depressed levels. Reddit chatter has been quietly building.
Opendoor sentiment on Reddit stayed firmly bullish into the move, with sentiment scores ranging from 66 to 74 across the past several sessions. Discussion has migrated from r/wallstreetbets to r/stocks, suggesting broader retail interest beyond pure speculation.
The macro backdrop remains soft for Opendoor and its iBuyer peers. Housing starts fell to 1.18 million annualized in May, down from a March peak, and existing home sales slipped to 4.09M in June. Those readings keep OPEN and OPAD transaction volumes suppressed, which frames today’s move as a flow-driven rally rather than a fundamental shift.
The Valuation Irony Here’s the twist: today’s price winners are the two unprofitable iBuyers, while the one name actually earning money is lagging behind.
Opendoor stock carries no TTM P/E ratio and has TTM EPS of -$1.76. The company’s most recent quarter showed revenue down 38% year over year, and its analyst target sits at just $4.82, below today’s price. Offerpad is deeper in the red with TTM EPS of -$11.70 and a 50% year-over-year revenue decline; OPAD shares are down 59% year to date.
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Zillow is the profitable one, with TTM EPS of $0.25 and a TTM P/E ratio of 131x. The company saw Q1 2026 revenue growth of 18% and earnings growth of 5x year over year. Yet, Zillow shares remain down 52% year to date, and today’s small gain barely registers next to Opendoor’s double-digit jump.
Bull and Bear Cases on Opendoor The bull case rests on the “Opendoor 2.0” turnaround narrative, retail momentum, and index-flow interest. Management has guided to adjusted EBITDA breakeven for Q2, and CEO Kaz Nejatian has been vocal that the operating machine is working. That combination has pulled speculative capital into the name.
The bear case shouldn’t be overlooked, however. Opendoor is GAAP unprofitable, highly rate-sensitive, and carries a beta of 3.56, meaning big up days can flip to big down days quickly. Furthermore, Opendoor’s dilution risk sits at 964.7 million shares outstanding, and OPEN stock’s 52-week range of $0.73 to $10.87 tells you exactly how wide the swings can get. Thus, investors should keep their position sizing modest on this one.
For broader housing-theme exposure without single-stock iBuyer risk, the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSEARCA:XHB) offers a diversified alternative, though it doesn’t hold Opendoor or Offerpad.
What to Watch Now Investors can watch for whether Opendoor stock holds the $5 in the coming sessions and whether volume confirms the breakout attempt. The stock’s beta of 3.56 means a reversal could be just as sharp as today’s rally, so entries this late in the session carry above-average risk.
The next real test comes with Opendoor’s Q2 2026 report, when the adjusted EBITDA breakeven guide gets measured against actual results. Any slippage against that bar could unwind the recent retail bid quickly. Until then, momentum traders may keep OPEN and OPAD active into Friday.
Zillow shares remain the odd name out. Traders willing to look past the company’s elevated 131x TTM P/E and focus on the forward multiple of 15x may find the profitable property-tech name to be a more durable story once the retail bounce fades.
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Zillow (NASDAQ: ZG | ZG Price Prediction) posted $46 million in net income last quarter while Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ: OPEN) lost $173 million. Zillow runs a digital tollbooth on home search traffic. Opendoor buys houses with cash, holds them, and hopes to resell fast.
Ad Dollars Flow In. Inventory Sits on the Books. Zillow’s $708 million in Q1 revenue grew 18.4% year over year, powered by three engines that never touch a deed. Rentals climbed 42% as multifamily listings scaled to 76,000 properties. Mortgage revenue jumped 56%, with purchase loan originations up 96% to $1.5 billion. CEO Jeremy Wacksman told investors the platform is “embedding AI throughout the real estate experience in ways that make Zillow increasingly indispensable.” Believable, given 220 million monthly unique users keep showing up.
Opendoor’s story hinges on operations. Revenue fell 38% to $720 million as homes sold dropped to 1,921 units. Yet new CEO Kaz Nejatian argues the machine is finally tuned: aged inventory over 120 days collapsed from 51% to 10%, and acquisition contracts topped 5,000, the highest since 2022. Gross margin nudged up to 10.0%. Progress, but the operating cash burn hit negative $246 million.
A Tollbooth Versus a Warehouse Lens Zillow Opendoor Core Bet SaaS agent tools, rentals, mortgage leads Buying and reselling homes for cash Balance Sheet Exposure Minimal; ad marketplace Heavy inventory plus $193M current convertibles Q1 Profitability $182M adjusted EBITDA $49M adjusted net loss Zillow’s 73.3% gross margin lets management repurchase stock aggressively: 13.5 million shares bought for $626 million in the quarter. Opendoor, meanwhile, took a $105 million RSU charge tied to Nejatian’s arrival. Different worlds.
What Decides the Second Half Housing itself remains soft. Existing home sales sit at 4.17 million annualized, and housing starts just fell 15.4% month over month. I will be watching whether Zillow’s Enhanced Markets, now 49% of connections, keep pushing agent monetization higher. For Opendoor, the tell is whether Q2 hits adjusted EBITDA breakeven and whether the 5% to 7% contribution margin range holds when cohorts mature.
Why I Lean Toward Zillow, With Eyes Open Personally, I favor Zillow here. A capital-light platform compounding mid-teens revenue growth with real cash generation is easier to underwrite than a house-flipper still burning cash. The stock is down 54.2% over the past year, which stings, yet the FTC trial and legal headwinds feel priced in at a 14 forward P/E. Opendoor is a genuine turnaround story, and its 795.68% one-year rally shows what happens when a busted stock finds a pulse. But I want more quarters of proof before betting on the warehouse over the tollbooth. If you like variance and believe Nejatian’s cohort math, Opendoor fits. If you prefer durable margins, Zillow is the cleaner read.
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Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering ATI (ATI - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry.
When looking at the last two reports, this maker of steel and specialty metals has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 9.07%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, ATI came out with earnings of $1 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.88 per share, representing a surprise of 13.64%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.89 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.93 per share, delivering a surprise of 4.49%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For ATI, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. 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.
ATI has an Earnings ESP of +1.32% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Uranium Energy (UEC - Free Report) . Shares have added about 5.4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Uranium Energy due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Uranium Energy Earnings Miss Estimates in Q3 on Higher SpendingUranium Energy reported an adjusted loss of seven cents per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, excluding the impacts of non-recurring items, compared with the year-ago quarter’s loss of six cents. The figure was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of five cents.
Including non-recurring items such as fair value loss on equity securities, the company posted a loss of 11 cents in the quarter.
Uranium Energy's earnings miss largely mirrored a heavier cost structure as the company advanced multiple initiatives at once, from mine development to the buildout of its broader U.S. fuel-cycle ambitions.
Uranium Energy reported no sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 as the company did not record any purchased-uranium inventory sales in the period.
During the quarter, the company produced 32,195 pounds of uranium concentrate produced at a total cost of $54.61 per pound, including a cash cost per pound of $46.69.
Uranium Energy stayed focused on building optionality around its uranium inventory and ISR ramp. As of April 30, 2026, the company held 1,456,000 pounds of purchased uranium concentrate inventory.
Operating Spend Pressures ResultsTotal operating costs rose 73.8% year over year to $40.8 million, driven primarily by mineral property expenditure of $29.5 million (up 88.4% from $15.7 million). General and administrative expenses were $9.43 million compared with $6.38 million, while depreciation, amortization and accretion totaled $1.82 million compared with $1.41 million.
As a result, Uranium Energy posted an operating loss of $40.8 million, wider than the $23.5-million operating loss incurred in the year-ago quarter.
Scales ISR Output With Burke Hollow OnlineOperationally, Uranium Energy reached a milestone by commencing production at its Burke Hollow IRS project, a greenfield ISR asset that is moving from development into early production activities.
At Burke Hollow, the company said that the uranium recovery process was initiated with oxygen and carbon dioxide injection, and it commissioned a satellite ion-exchange plant with 2,500 gallons per minute of capacity. It also completed and tested an additional 46 wells in phase 1A as it built out field infrastructure.
The company is also projecting higher production rates in the fiscal fourth quarter, with new header houses and Burke Hollow expected to operate for a full quarter.
Cash Position at Q3 EndUranium Energy exited the quarter with $794 million in liquid assets and no debt, underscoring a balance sheet positioned to fund development across multiple hubs.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $488 million at April 30, 2026, compared with $149 million at the end of July 31, 2025.
In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, net cash used in operating activities was $90 million compared with an outflow of $41 million in the year-ago quarter.
Management Commentary and OutlookManagement expects production to increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 as Christensen Ranch header houses and Burke Hollow contribute for the full quarter. Unit costs are expected to decline as volumes.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Analysts were quiet during the last two month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Uranium Energy has a poor Growth Score of F, a score with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the bottom 20% quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook Uranium Energy has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.
Baker Hughes (BKR) was a big mover last session on higher-than-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions might not help the stock continue moving higher in the near term.
Key Takeaways Jabil develops medical solutions for medical device manufacturers, pharma and healthcare technology companies.JBL provides design, production, testing, regulatory, supply chain and cold-chain logistics services.JBL is expanding digital health, AI-enabled medical technologies and smart manufacturing capabilities. Jabil Inc. (JBL - Free Report) is a global manufacturing solutions provider that serves the healthcare industry through its advanced engineering, design and production expertise. The company partners with medical device developers, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare technology firms to develop innovative medical solutions that improve patient care.
Jabil offers a wide range of healthcare products, including diagnostic systems, patient monitoring systems, imaging equipment components, drug delivery devices, surgical instruments and minimally invasive medical technologies. It also manufactures wearable health devices and connected medical products for remote patient monitoring and provides services for orthopedic, cardiovascular and robotic-assisted surgical systems.
The company provides end-to-end support throughout the product development process, including rapid prototyping, testing, regulatory support, supply chain management, aftermarket services, specialized packaging and cold-chain logistics. These services help customers improve efficiency, maintain product quality and meet global healthcare standards.
Jabil is expanding its capabilities in digital health, AI-enabled medical technologies and smart manufacturing to address the growing demand for advanced healthcare solutions. With its global production network, the company is likely to capitalize on the increasing adoption of next-generation medical technologies.
How Are Competitors Advancing in the Healthcare Sector?Jabil faces competition from Celestica Inc. (CLS - Free Report) and Sanmina Corporation (SANM - Free Report) . Celestica is expanding its Healthcare business by supporting the development and production of advanced medical devices. The company provides engineering, manufacturing and supply chain services to healthcare and medical technology companies. Celestica supports the production of medical products used in surgery, medical imaging, diabetes care and diagnostic testing.
Sanmina provides engineering, manufacturing and supply chain services to the healthcare industry. The company supports the production of diagnostic equipment, medical imaging systems, patient monitoring devices and surgical products. Sanmina helps medical device companies with testing, repair and regulatory support.
JBL’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJabil has gained 47.2% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 85.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 20.29 forward earnings, lower than 23.95 for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for Jabil's fiscal 2026 have increased 3.6% to $12.74 over the past 60 days, while those for 2027 have also increased 15.6% to $16.59.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Jabil currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd today announced the successful energization of two new 345 kV transmission substations to its grid, enabling the interconnection of up to 550 megawatts (MW) of wind generation in LaSalle and Woodford counties. With unprecedented demand for electricity across the US and here in Illinois, ComEd customers have seen the impact of higher PJM, the electric transmission grid operator for 65 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia, including ComEd's serv.
Es geht um besseres Sehen, schnelleres Erfassen sowie präziseres Operieren und damit um einen großen Gewinn für den Patienten. Damit lassen sich Dutzende Vorträge von Ärzten zusammenfassen, die sich Ende Juni zum ersten europäischen Kongress über „Spatial Computing“ in der Medizin zusammengefunden hatten. Mediziner, Entwickler, Computerwissenschaftler und Ingenieure trafen in Leipzig auf einer Veranstaltung des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik zusammen.
Spatial Computing ist ein sperriger Begriff, der eigentlich räumliches Rechnen meint und von Apple zum Start seiner Computerbrille Vision Pro vor drei Jahren in die Welt gesetzt wurde. Die Rede war von einer nahtlosen Verschmelzung digitaler Inhalte mit der physischen Welt in einem dreidimensionalen Raum. Die Vision Pro hat sich indes so wenig durchgesetzt wie der Begriff Spatial Computing. Beide harren in einer kleinen Nische für dreidimensionale Anwendungen in den Bereichen von VR, virtueller Realität, und AR, erweiterter Realität, im Jargon Augmented Reality. Die Vision Pro ist dafür bestens gerüstet. Sie stellt Fotos und Videos mit 4K für jedes Auge und insgesamt 23 Millionen Pixel zur Verfügung.
Alles gleichzeitig im Blick: Patientendaten, aktuelle Aufnahmen und eine 3D-Darstellung des ThoraxHerstellerWer sie trägt, ist wahlweise abgeschottet von der eigenen Umgebung im VR-Modus unterwegs oder sieht virtuelle, berechnete Objekte, die scheinbar in der realen Welt stehen. Etwa das Alien aus dem Computerspiel im heimischen Wohnzimmer. Zur Besonderheit der Vision Pro gehört, dass sie sich allein mit Blicken und Gesten steuern lässt. Einen Menüeintrag anschauen, Zeigefinger und Daumen zweimal schnell wie bei einem Doppelklick mit der Maus tippen, schon ist ein Kommando ausgelöst.
Nach zwei Operationen unverzichtbar
Diese Computerbrille erobert nun die Operationssäle der westlichen Welt. Als wir nach Leipzig reisten, gingen wir davon aus, dass die Wissenschaftler und Ärzte unterschiedliche Hardware diverser Hersteller präsentieren würden. Das war jedoch nicht der Fall. Was die Pioniere im Bereich im Bereich der Chirurgie präsentierten, lief ausnahmslos auf der Vision Pro.
Professor David S. Baskin, Neurochirurg am Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, blickt auf mehr als 5000 endonasale Eingriffe zurück und beschreibt die Fortschritte der Endoskopie, also der Untersuchung oder Operation mithilfe einer Kamera und Instrumenten, die in den Körper eingebracht werden. Er ist überzeugt, dass die alten, nicht räumlichen Verfahren der Darstellung des Operationsbereichs dem Untergang geweiht seien, weil die Apple Vision Pro nunmehr eine überlegene Darstellung liefere. Bereits nach zwei Operationen halte er sie für unverzichtbar.
Die Vision Pro mit ihrer immersiven Darstellung überwinde die Einschränkungen konventioneller Monitore: Der Operateur müsse einen exakten Abstand einhalten. Das funktioniere im Operationssaal meist nicht, und die Steh- oder Sitzhaltung des Chirurgen sei anstrengend.
Der Chirurg kommandiert, die Maschine kontrolliert: Endoskope plus Vision ProHerstellerMit der Computerbrille könnten außerdem Assistenzarzt und Ausbilder gleichzeitig dieselbe Ansicht sehen. Das sei entscheidend für die Lehre, weil in der Chirurgie subtile Veränderungen von Handposition und -winkel eine große Rolle spielten. Der Ausbilder stehe bequem hinter dem Assistenzarzt, sehe genau, was dieser sieht und macht, und gäbe präzise Anweisungen.
Bisher unerreichte Tiefenwahrnehmung
Ähnlich argumentiert Christy Gaudet vom traditionsreichen deutschen Hersteller von Endoskopen, Karl Storz. In modernen Operationssälen sei die Videoqualität bei minimalinvasiven Eingriffen bislang durch den Monitor und die Position des Chirurgen eingeschränkt. Die Vision Pro erlaube es nun, dass Chirurgen den dreidimensionalen Videostream präzise vor Augen hätten, er bilde einen persönlichen „Cockpit“-Arbeitsbereich.
Wenn jedes Detail zählt: die digitale Krankeakte mit Befunden und Aufnahmen im Blick des ArztesHerstellerKarl Storz nutze Hardware zur Bildverbesserung, anschließend werde das Signal mit WLAN an bis zu drei Vision-Pro-Nutzer übertragen, und zwar mit einer Latenz von unter 100 Millisekunden. Auch Gaudet betont: Die Chirurgen könnten jedes einzelne Pixel wahrnehmen und hätten eine bisher unerreichte Tiefenwahrnehmung und Gewebedifferenzierung im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Monitoren. Weil mehrere Betrachter exakt dasselbe Bild sähen, würden Zusammenarbeit und Ausbildung deutlich erleichtert.
Andere Chirurgen schildern, dass die Computerbrille zudem viele Informationen zusammenführe, die man bisher nur auf unterschiedlichen Bildschirmen sehen könne. Dazu gehören zum Beispiel die Vitalparameter des Patienten oder Röntgenaufnahmen. Auch sei es möglich, verzögerungsfrei Ärzte anderer Krankenhäuser zur Konsultation hinzuzuschalten.
Während einer Vorführung dürfen wir durch die scheibenförmigen Aufnahmen eines CT scrollen und das Bild intuitiv mit einer Handbewegung drehen: hochspannend für den Laien, vielleicht wegweisend für die Profis.
Key Takeaways HII is expanding its UUV presence through its REMUS family of autonomous underwater systems.REMUS vehicles support surveillance, reconnaissance and mine countermeasure missions.REMUS 130 adds flexibility, endurance and custom payload options powered by Odyssey software. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) market through its advanced REMUS family of autonomous underwater systems. The company is expanding its presence in next-generation maritime autonomy by developing highly capable UUVs that support naval, commercial and scientific missions while enhancing underwater surveillance, reconnaissance and mine countermeasure capabilities.
A key example is HII's continued expansion of its REMUS portfolio. The company's REMUS family of UUVs is designed to collect critical underwater data across a wide range of missions. These autonomous systems are known for their durability, long service life and modular architecture, allowing customers to upgrade capabilities as mission requirements evolve. REMUS vehicles can operate independently or alongside crewed platforms, including submarines, helping extend operational reach while reducing risk to personnel.
The latest REMUS 130 further strengthens HII's underwater autonomy capabilities. Built on the proven REMUS 300 technology, the platform offers enhanced operational flexibility, improved endurance and a modular design that allows users to customize payloads for different missions. Powered by HII's Odyssey software suite, the vehicle supports advanced mission planning, autonomous navigation and multi-platform coordination, improving mission effectiveness across complex underwater environments.
Growing geopolitical tensions, rising maritime security concerns and increasing investments in naval modernization are driving demand for autonomous underwater systems worldwide. HII's broad REMUS portfolio, continued investment in autonomous technologies and strong relationships with defense customers position the company well to benefit from this expanding market.
Other UUV Stocks to Keep on the WatchlistOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the UUV market are discussed below:
General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) : Through its Mission Systems business, General Dynamics develops advanced autonomous underwater vehicles, including the Knifefish and Bluefin Robotics platforms. The company's UUV portfolio supports mine countermeasure, underwater surveillance and maritime security missions for the U.S. Navy and allied defense customers.
BAE Systems plc (BAESY - Free Report) : BAE Systems continues to expand its underwater autonomy capabilities through its Riptide family of UUVs. These systems combine autonomous underwater platforms with advanced sensors, navigation and electronic payloads, supporting intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and other complex maritime operations.
The Zacks Rundown for HIIShares of HII have surged 12.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 4.5% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 0.85X compared with its industry’s average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII’s 2026 earnings has moved south over the past 60 days.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Smucker (SJM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Smucker due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Smucker Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss on Volume DipThe J. M. Smucker reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results. Adjusted earnings were $2.77 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.65. Earnings increased 20% from the prior-year quarter, driven by higher pricing, increased adjusted gross profit, favorable SD&A expenses and lower interest expense.
Net sales were $2,268.1 million, up 6% year over year. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,271 million. Comparable net sales, excluding prior-year divestiture-related sales and favorable foreign currency exchange, increased 6%. Comparable net sales growth reflected a 10-percentage-point benefit from net price realization, mainly driven by higher pricing for coffee and sweet baked goods. This was partly offset by a 4-percentage-point decline in volume/mix, primarily due to decreases in coffee and sweet baked goods, partially mitigated by growth in Uncrustables sandwiches.
Adjusted gross profit increased 4% year over year to $835.3 million. The upside reflected higher net price realization, partially offset by increased costs, including commodity costs and tariffs, along with unfavorable volume/mix. The company incurred approximately $23 million in tariff expenses in the quarter, mainly impacting the U.S. Retail Coffee segment.
Adjusted operating income rose 14% to $482.1 million, reflecting increased adjusted gross profit and favorable SD&A expenses. Lower marketing spend and distribution costs more than offset higher general and administrative expenses.
Decoding SJM’s Q4 Segmental PerformanceU.S. Retail Coffee: Net sales increased 12% to $830.6 million, driven by higher pricing across the portfolio. Net price realization contributed 21 percentage points, while volume/mix declined 8 percentage points due to decreases in Dunkin’ and Folgers, partly offset by growth in Café Bustelo. Segment profit increased 1% to $214 million, as pricing gains and lower marketing spend mostly offset higher costs, including commodity costs and tariffs, and unfavorable volume/mix.
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads: Net sales rose 1% to $454.1 million. Net price realization added 2 percentage points, led by higher pricing for Uncrustables sandwiches and lower trade spend for Jif peanut butter. Volume/mix declined 2 percentage points, reflecting lower sales of Jif peanut butter and Smucker’s fruit spreads, partly offset by growth in Uncrustables. Segment profit surged 37% to $124.7 million, aided by lower marketing spend, higher pricing, lower costs, lapping equipment write-off charges and lower pre-production expenses tied to the new Uncrustables manufacturing facility.
U.S. Retail Pet Foods: Net sales increased 2% to $401.7 million. Pricing contributed 3 percentage points, driven by cat food and dog snacks, while volume/mix declined 2 percentage points due to weakness in dog snacks and the lapping of contract manufacturing sales related to divested pet food brands. Segment profit advanced 18% to $125.7 million, supported by higher pricing and lower marketing spend.
Sweet Baked Snacks: Net sales decreased 5% to $237.2 million. Excluding noncomparable sales related to the divestiture of certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands, net sales declined 4%. Volume/mix reduced sales by 12 percentage points, mainly due to softness in snack cakes and breakfast products, partly offset by growth in donuts. Higher pricing contributed 8 percentage points. Segment profit rose 45% to $29 million, reflecting higher pricing and lower marketing expenses, partly offset by unfavorable volume/mix and higher costs. Management noted that the segment’s fourth-quarter sales exceeded expectations, aided by a faster-than-anticipated return to production following the February fire at its Emporia, KS, facility. Hostess Donettes grew net sales 13% in the quarter.
Away From Home: Net sales increased 15% to $228.3 million. Excluding favorable currency movements, sales rose 14%. Net price realization added 8 percentage points, mainly due to higher coffee pricing, while volume/mix contributed 6 percentage points, driven by increases in Uncrustables sandwiches, fruit spreads and coffee. Segment profit climbed 21% to $55.3 million, benefiting from higher pricing and favorable volume/mix, partly offset by higher costs. The company also began presenting Away From Home as a reportable segment, reflecting the business’s increased scale and strength.
SJM’s Financial Health Snapshot & GuidanceThe company ended fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $58.6 million and long-term debt, excluding the current portion, of roughly $6.4 billion. Total shareholders’ equity was $5.5 billion. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $579.2 million in the quarter. Free cash flow was $483.9 million. For fiscal 2026, free cash flow totaled about $1.16 billion. The company returned $464.7 million to shareholders through dividends and repaid $720 million of debt during the year.
Smucker issued its fiscal 2027 outlook. The company expects net sales to decline 3% to 4% year over year, primarily due to lower net price realization and unfavorable volume/mix. Management noted that the sales decline mainly reflects expectations for green coffee deflation, as the company plans to pass lower costs to consumers through pricing.
Adjusted earnings per share are expected in the band of $9.75-$10.25, implying year-over-year growth of 7-12%. The guidance assumes an adjusted gross profit margin of approximately 38%, SD&A expenses rising about 5%, net interest expense of nearly $345 million, an adjusted effective tax rate of 24.3% and weighted-average shares outstanding of 107 million.
Free cash flow is projected to be approximately $1 billion, with capital expenditures of $325 million. Management expects to pay down about $500 million of debt in fiscal 2027 and move toward a leverage ratio of around 3.0 net debt to adjusted EBITDA by the end of the fiscal year. The company expects volume/mix growth across its key platforms — Uncrustables, Cafe Bustelo, Meow Mix and Milk-Bone — in fiscal 2027.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates revision have trended upward during the past month.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Smucker has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Smucker has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Investors in Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Aug. 21, 2026 $115.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Boot Barn shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Boot Barn is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry that ranks in the Top 22% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, two analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while none have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $1.56 per share to $1.69 in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Boot Barn right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
Key Takeaways Boot Barn is using stores, exclusive brands and digital growth to support a balanced expansion model.Fiscal 2026 comps rose 7.2%, with retail stores up 6.2% and e-commerce sales increasing 15.3%.BOOT plans 70 store openings in fiscal 2027, supporting expected sales growth of 14-16%. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) is leaning on a balanced growth model that combines store expansion, category depth, exclusive brands and digital execution.
For investors, the question is whether those strengths can keep driving sales while near-term margin pressure from occupancy, freight and expansion costs remains part of the story.
Boot Barn Demand Drivers Still Look BroadBoot Barn’s demand base is not tied to a single trend. The company serves western lifestyle and workwear customers across footwear, apparel, hats, accessories and related categories, giving it a broader retail position than a narrow fashion concept.
Fiscal 2026 same-store sales increased 7.2%, with retail stores up 6.2% and e-commerce up 15.3%. Fourth-quarter comps rose 6.1%, helped by higher transaction count and average unit retail, with strength across men’s western boots, ladies’ western boots, apparel and denim.
The durability signal is also meaningful. Many of Boot Barn’s top-selling styles have been in the assortment for more than five years, which lowers fashion-cycle risk and supports a steadier core merchandise base.
For comparison, Tractor Supply Company (TSCO - Free Report) gives investors another rural and work-related retail reference point. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) is a relevant footwear and lifestyle-brand peer when assessing how branded product identity can shape consumer demand.
BOOT Store Expansion Is Still the Main EngineStores remain central to Boot Barn’s long-term thesis. The company ended fiscal 2026 with 539 stores across 49 states, while management believes the United States can support about 1,200 locations over time.
New-store economics remain attractive. Boot Barn targets roughly $3.2 million in first-year sales on about $1.7 million of total net investment, with a payback period of about 1.8 years.
The store base has already reshaped the company. Boot Barn opened 267 stores over the past five years, effectively doubling its chain, and those locations contributed more than $750 million of fiscal 2026 revenues.
The company opened 80 stores in fiscal 2026 and plans 70 openings in fiscal 2027. That expansion is expected to help support fiscal 2027 sales growth of 14-16%.
Boot Barn Brands Add Margin and IdentityExclusive brands are becoming a larger part of the Boot Barn model. Their penetration rose 220 basis points in fiscal 2026 to 40.8% of sales.
That shift matters because in-house labels do more than broaden product choice. Brands such as Cody James, Shyanne, Hawx and Cleo + Wolf help Boot Barn address specific customer needs while differentiating its assortment from retailers that rely more heavily on third-party labels.
Exclusive brands also support the margin story. Merchandise margin expanded 80 basis points in fiscal 2026, helped by buying scale, supply-chain efficiencies and higher exclusive brand penetration.
Management expects exclusive brand penetration to reach 41.3% in fiscal 2027 and continues to target 50% over time. That provides a longer-term path to product differentiation and profitability support.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BOOT Digital Strategy Expands ReachBoot Barn’s digital strategy is designed to reinforce the physical fleet, not replace it. Stores still generated about 90% of fiscal 2026 sales, while e-commerce represented about 10%.
Website visits exceeded 164 million in fiscal 2026, up from more than 114 million in fiscal 2025. In the fourth quarter, e-commerce same-store sales increased 14.1%, faster than the retail store comp gain.
Omnichannel services add convenience across channels. Boot Barn supports buy online, pick up in store, curbside pickup, ship-from-store and in-store returns, tying digital traffic back to the store base.
The company is also investing in dedicated brand sites and artificial intelligence tools, including Range Finder and a piloted in-store consumer AI solution. Fiscal 2027 guidance calls for e-commerce same-store sales growth of 11-13%.
Boot Barn Signals Point to Growth With CautionThe bottom line is that Boot Barn still has several credible growth levers, led by stores, resilient categories, exclusive brands and digital reach. The caution is that faster expansion is also adding near-term cost pressure.
Gross margin declined 80 basis points in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, management expects gross margin of 37.1-37.3%, down from 39.1% a year earlier, reflecting freight and occupancy headwinds.
BOOT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). That rank suggests a more balanced near-term setup rather than a clear positive or negative earnings-revision signal. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The stock also has a VGM Score of A, with a Growth Score of A and Momentum Score of A, but a Value Score of C. That mix supports the view that operating momentum remains visible, while investors should stay alert to valuation and margin pressure.
Key Takeaways BOOT expects fiscal 2027 net sales to rise 14-16%, supported by 70 planned store openings.E-commerce same-store sales are projected to rise 11-13% in fiscal 2027, outpacing retail stores.Margin pressure from occupancy, freight and distribution costs keeps BOOT's near-term setup mixed. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) gives investors a clear trade-off. Sales trends, store growth and digital momentum remain healthy, but the margin outlook is less clean.
The stock is not an obvious bargain. BOOT may still fit growth-oriented investors, but the near-term setup supports patience more than aggressive buying.
BOOT Sales Growth Looks Hard to IgnoreBOOT expects fiscal 2027 net sales to grow 14% to 16% year over year, supported by 70 planned store openings and continued same-store sales gains. Management projects consolidated same-store sales growth of 2% to 4%, with retail stores up 1% to 3%.
E-commerce remains the faster-growing channel, with same-store sales expected to rise 11% to 13% for fiscal 2027. Recent results support that outlook. Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales rose 18.7% to $538.8 million, while consolidated same-store sales increased 6.1%.
New-store economics add to the bullish case. Boot Barn targets about $3.2 million in first-year sales per new store, with roughly $1.7 million of total net investment and a payback period of about 1.8 years.
Boot Barn Margins Face a Tough Near-Term TestMargin pressure is the key reason to avoid chasing the stock. For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Boot Barn expects gross margin of 37.1% to 37.3%, down from 39.1% in the year-ago period.
The full-year picture is also softer. Fiscal 2027 gross margin is expected to be 37.7% to 37.9%, below fiscal 2026’s 38.1%. Higher occupancy, freight and distribution costs are weighing on profitability.
The hurdle rate has also moved higher. Boot Barn expects to leverage buying, occupancy and distribution center costs only at 10% same-store sales growth for fiscal 2027. That means even healthy sales growth may not quickly translate into stronger margins.
BOOT Valuation Looks Balanced, Not CheapBOOT trades at 17.54X forward 12-month earnings. That is below the Zacks sector and the S&P 500, but above the Zacks sub-industry multiple of 14.08X.
The stock also sits close to its own five-year median of 18.42X. That makes the valuation look balanced rather than deeply discounted.
A $166 price target, based on 18.59X forward 12-month earnings, leaves some room for upside from the recent stock price. Still, the setup does not scream cheap given the margin risks.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Boot Barn Balance Sheet Supports PatienceBoot Barn has the financial flexibility to keep investing through the margin squeeze. The company ended fiscal 2026 with $141 million in cash and no borrowings under its $250 million revolving credit facility.
Operating cash flow also improved sharply. Net cash provided by operating activities was $304.9 million in fiscal 2026, compared with $147.5 million in fiscal 2025.
The company continues to fund growth, with fiscal 2027 capital expenditures expected at $125-$130 million. It also repurchased 286,504 shares for $50 million during fiscal 2026.
For investors comparing specialty retail names, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO - Free Report) offers another way to assess discretionary spending trends across footwear, apparel and outdoor categories. Tractor Supply Company (TSCO - Free Report) is also relevant because rural lifestyle and work-oriented retail demand can overlap with parts of Boot Barn’s customer base.
BOOT Ratings Show Why the Call Is MixedThe bottom line is that BOOT looks more like a watch-and-selectively-buy growth story than a clear value play. The sales engine is working, but near-term earnings quality is being tested by freight, occupancy and expansion costs.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). That rank points to a neutral short-term setup rather than a strong near-term buying signal. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Style Scores are more favorable for growth investors. BOOT has a VGM Score of A, a Growth Score of A and a Momentum Score of A, suggesting solid growth and price-trend characteristics. Its Value Score of C is the offset, reinforcing the view that the stock is better suited to investors prioritizing growth and momentum over a discounted entry point.
Key Takeaways Boot Barn's fiscal 2026 same-store sales rose 7.2%, led by e-commerce growth of 15.3%.Exclusive brands reached 40.8% of BOOT sales, helping merchandise margin expand 80 basis points.BOOT ended fiscal 2026 with 539 stores and sees long-term potential for about 1,200 U.S. stores. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) offers a useful window into several trends shaping specialty retail. Investors can use BOOT to track how western lifestyle demand, exclusive brands, omnichannel tools and store-led expansion are changing niche apparel and footwear retail.
BOOT enters fiscal 2027 with healthy sales momentum, a larger store base and a clearer role for technology inside the store network.
Boot Barn Is Riding Western Lifestyle DemandBoot Barn is benefiting from sustained category demand rather than a short-lived fashion cycle. Fiscal 2026 consolidated same-store sales increased 7.2%, with retail store same-store sales up 6.2% and e-commerce same-store sales up 15.3%.
The demand profile was broad. Fourth-quarter same-store sales rose 6.1%, supported by higher transaction count and average unit retail, with strength across men’s western boots, ladies’ western boots, apparel and denim.
Many top-selling styles have been in the assortment for more than five years. That consistency, combined with category and geographic breadth, supports the view that western lifestyle demand has a durable base.
BOOT Shows Private Labels Gaining PowerBOOT’s exclusive-brand progress points to a broader retail shift toward owned labels. Exclusive brands represented 40.8% of fiscal 2026 sales, up 220 basis points from the prior year and up 1,900 basis points over six years.
The company uses proprietary labels to address underserved product categories and price points. Cody James, Shyanne, Hawx and Cleo + Wolf help Boot Barn offer differentiated assortments across western lifestyle and workwear.
Brand ownership also supports loyalty and margin potential. Fiscal 2026 merchandise margin expanded 80 basis points, helped by exclusive-brand growth, buying economies of scale and supply-chain efficiencies. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) gives investors another specialty-footwear comparison point built around category-focused brands.
Boot Barn Tech Is Blending Stores and DigitalBoot Barn is not treating digital as a separate business. Its technology investments are aimed at making stores more useful and expanding product access.
The omnichannel tool kit includes a mobile app, AI-enabled Range Finder, the WHIP endless-aisle platform and Cassidy, an in-store consumer AI pilot. Stores also support buy online, pick up in store, curbside pickup, ship-from-store and in-store returns.
That model uses physical stores as selling floors and fulfillment nodes. Fiscal 2026 website visits exceeded 164 million, and e-commerce accounted for 10.4% of consolidated sales.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BOOT Expansion Reflects a Still-Open White SpaceBoot Barn’s expansion shows how specialized concepts can still take share nationally. The company ended fiscal 2026 with 539 stores across 49 states and opened 80 stores during the year.
Management believes the United States can support about 1,200 Boot Barn stores over time. That view leaves meaningful geographic white space even after years of rapid expansion.
The store model remains central to the growth case. Over the past five years, Boot Barn opened 267 stores, effectively doubling the chain, and these stores contributed more than $750 million of fiscal 2026 revenues. Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI - Free Report) offers a relevant denim and apparel benchmark for investors tracking heritage categories within modern retail assortments.
Boot Barn Screens Well for Trend-Focused InvestorsBoot Barn screens well for trend-focused investors because the operating story lines up with durable niche demand, private-label growth, store-enabled digital tools and national expansion.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which tempers the near-term call. A Rank #3 can be appropriate to hold, but it does not carry the same positive earnings-estimate signal as a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
BOOT’s Style Scores add more nuance. The stock has a VGM Score of A, Growth Score of A and Momentum Score of A, indicating favorable growth and momentum characteristics within the Zacks framework. Its Value Score of C is the caveat. Trend strength and operating momentum do not automatically mean the shares are inexpensive.
Arista Networks is well-positioned for Q2 earnings, with optimism driven by strong demand for its AI connectivity and Ethernet switching solutions. Recent management commentary and supply chain updates suggest CY26 gross margins may bottom at 62-64%, with potential for upward guidance revision. I am reiterating my Bullish rating on ANET and raising my price target to $209, reflecting anticipated EBITDA multiple expansion and accelerating growth.
Key Takeaways Flywire's Q1 2026 revenues rose 41% as B2B, Education, Travel and Healthcare drove growth.Flywire raised FY2026 payment-processing ramp-up contribution outlook to 3-4 percentage points.Flywire expects broader B2B software adoption to strengthen long-term growth and profitability. Flywire Corp.'s (FLYW - Free Report) B2B business is becoming a key growth driver as enterprises look to modernize manual, fragmented invoice-to-cash workflows. Its software-enabled payment platform automates invoicing, collections and accounts receivable processes, enabling customers to improve efficiency while expanding payment volumes and software adoption over time.
The momentum was evident in the first quarter of 2026. Flywire reported revenues of $188.1 million, up 41% year over year, while Revenue Less Ancillary Services rose 43% to $184 million, or 37.2% on a constant-currency basis. Management attributed the strong performance to a better-than-expected education season, continued strength in Travel, and payment-processing ramp-up in Healthcare and B2B.
B2B growth is being fueled primarily by expanding existing customer relationships rather than new client wins. Increased payment-processing volumes from B2B invoice migration initiatives, along with the Cleveland Clinic implementation, contributed a mid-single-digit percentage-point tailwind to first-quarter revenue growth. Management expects a similar contribution in the second quarter before these ramp-up benefits moderate in the second half of 2026. It also raised its expected full-year 2026 revenue contribution from payment-processing ramp-up to 3-4 percentage points.
While these B2B ramp-ups carry a lower-margin profile, weighing on adjusted gross margin, they are meaningfully boosting revenue growth and payment volume. As Flywire expands software adoption across its B2B customer base and moves beyond the initial ramp-up period, the business is expected to deliver a stronger mix of software revenues alongside payment processing, supporting long-term growth and profitability.
How Are FLYW’s Competitors Fairing?BILL Holdings (BILL - Free Report) is a listed competitor in AP/AR automation, SMB payments and financial workflows. In its March 2026 quarter, BILL served 493,800 businesses, processed $89 billion in TPV (+12% year over year) and handled 34 million transactions (+14% year over year), showing BILL’s scale in B2B payments.
Corpay (CPAY - Free Report) is another listed competitor in corporate payments, payables, cards and vendor-payment workflows. In first-quarter 2026, CPAY reported 25% year-over-year revenue growth, 11% organic revenue growth and 29% adjusted EPS growth, underscoring CPAY’s commercial payment strength.
FLYW’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of FLYW have rallied 50.6% over the past three months, outperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of forward 12-month P/E, FLYW stock is trading at 15.82X, which is at a discount to the Zacks Internet Software industry’s 27.31X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Flywire’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been significantly revised upward. It indicates a significant year-over-year increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Flywire currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NEW ORLEANS, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 27, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against AeroVironment, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AVAV) (“AeroVironment” or the “Company”), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Get Help
AeroVironment investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-avav-1 or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
AeroVironment and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the U.S. Space Force’s Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Satellite Control Network; (ii) accordingly, defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and (iii) as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
The case is Norrell v. AeroVironment, Inc., et al., No. 26-cv-01429.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
If you purchased or acquired AeroVironment securities between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, contact Bragar Eagel & Squire partners Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (212) 355-4648.
Click here to participate in the action.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
What’s Happening?
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Aerovironment, Inc. (“Aerovironment” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:AVAV) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired AeroVironment securities between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”).Investors have until July 27, 2026 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. What are the Allegation Details?
The lawsuit alleges that Defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts by understating the likelihood that AeroVironment would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Satellite Control Network.On January 20, 2026, AeroVironment announced that the U.S. government had issued a stop work order on the Company’s agreement to deliver BADGER systems to the SCAR program. On this news, AeroVironment's stock price fell $61.97 per share, or over 15%, to close at $330.89 per share on January 20, 2026.Then, on March 10, 2026, AeroVironment announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. These financial results reflected the impact of a $151.3 million goodwill impairment in the Company’s space division after the stop work order on the Company’s BADGER systems built for the SCAR program. AeroVironment also reported that the U.S. Space Force had terminated the Company’s contract concerning the SCAR program, and as a result, it would have to “recompete” for the SCAR program. On this news, AeroVironment’s stock price fell $13.84 per share, or 6.24%, to close at $207.73 per share on March 11, 2026.
What are my Next Steps?
If you purchased or otherwise acquired Aerovironment shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at [email protected], telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.
About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, South Carolina, and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in securities,
derivative, and commercial litigation as well as individuals in consumer protection and data privacy litigation. The firm has a nationwide practice and routinely handles cases in both federal and state courts. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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BENSALEM, Pa., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion.
Investors suffering losses on their investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in these class actions at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected].
Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)
Class Period: January 28, 2026 – April 21, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) the Company’s first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; (2) that the Company’s advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; (3) that, as a result, the Company was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s margins, business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV)
Class Period: June 25, 2025 – March 10, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the SCAR program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the SCN; (2) accordingly, Defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS)
Class Period: January 14, 2025 – May 6, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis’ Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; (2) Zoetis’ Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and (3) Zoetis’ dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID)
Class Period: February 25, 2026 – April 13, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 28, 2026
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results; (3) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid’s manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
To be a member of these class actions, you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about these class actions, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
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www.howardsmithlaw.com
Robinhood’s week-old Earn product has a clear favorite, and it’s not even close. Ethena’s USDe synthetic dollar has emerged as the dominant collateral asset in the lending vault powering Robinhood’s new yield offering, with users overwhelmingly routing their deposits through the protocol.
The Earn product, which launched July 1 alongside Robinhood Chain itself, lets users lend USDG, a stablecoin issued by Robinhood, into a Morpho-powered vault curated by Steakhouse Financial. The estimated return: 7% APY from borrower interest.
How the vault actually works Users deposit USDG into the vault, which then lends those funds to borrowers who post collateral. That collateral comes from three sources: Ethena’s USDe, Spark’s spUSDG, and Maple’s SyrupUSDG.
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As of July 8, Ethena accounts for approximately $100 million of the stablecoin supply on Robinhood Chain. The total supply has surpassed $200 million, meaning Ethena represents roughly 50% of all stablecoins circulating on the chain. That’s a commanding position for a protocol that only listed its ENA governance token on Robinhood back in November 2025.
Insurance coverage for the vault has been arranged through Lloyd’s of London and RELM, covering risks associated with smart contracts and cyber threats.
Why Ethena keeps winning distribution battles USDe works differently from traditional stablecoins like USDC or USDT. Rather than holding dollar reserves in bank accounts, Ethena maintains its peg through a delta-neutral hedging strategy, essentially holding crypto assets while shorting equivalent positions in perpetual futures. The yield comes from funding rates that perpetual futures traders pay.
What this means for investors Robinhood had roughly 24 million funded accounts the last time it reported figures. For ENA token holders, more USDe demand generally means more protocol revenue. The token has been trading on Robinhood since November 2025, giving retail users a direct way to express a thesis on the protocol’s growth.
Ethena’s roughly 50% share of on-chain stablecoin supply suggests users and capital allocators are expressing a strong preference over the two other collateral providers, Spark and Maple. The exact asset allocation percentages among the collateral providers have not been disclosed.
The product is progressively rolling out to U.S. users. Smart contract vulnerabilities, funding rate compression, and regulatory scrutiny of yield products remain live concerns.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Investors looking for stocks in the Financial Transaction Services sector might want to consider either Corpay (CPAY - Free Report) or MasterCard (MA - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Corpay and MasterCard are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. This means that CPAY's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
CPAY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.88, while MA has a forward P/E of 26.51. We also note that CPAY has a PEG ratio of 0.90. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. MA currently has a PEG ratio of 1.62.
Another notable valuation metric for CPAY is its P/B ratio of 6.62. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, MA has a P/B of 68.33.
Based on these metrics and many more, CPAY holds a Value grade of B, while MA has a Value grade of D.
CPAY is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that CPAY is likely the superior value option right now.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--"We are reaffirming 2026 full year guidance for all financial measures." That was the promise Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) made to shareholders on May 6, 2026. Twenty days later, the Company slashed that guidance by $35 million at the midpoint after disclosing that Avis Budget Group had terminated a contract representing over 10% of total revenue. Shares collapsed 71%, erasing $9.23 per share in value. Find out if you qualify to recover losses from the VR.
Key Takeaways Credo's fiscal 2026 revenue more than tripled to over $1.3 billion on AI demand.CRDO expects fiscal 2027 revenue growth above 80%, supported by its expanding optical portfolio ramp.Credo cited customer concentration and supply chain constraints as key risks. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd’s (CRDO - Free Report) shares have appreciated 165.1% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s growth of 76.2%. The Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 composite have registered growth of 35.2% and 24.7%, respectively, over the same time frame.
The stock has outperformed Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) , which gained 42.1% during the same period. However, Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) and Astera Labs (ALAB - Free Report) have outperformed CRDO, with their shares appreciating 216.7% and 305.3%, respectively, over the past year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let us take a closer look at CRDO’s fundamentals, key growth drivers, competitive strengths and potential risks to determine whether the stock remains an attractive investment.
Factors to ConsiderCredo is benefiting from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, which continues to drive strong demand for its high-speed connectivity solutions. Fiscal 2026 was another transformative year for the company, with revenue surpassing $1.3 billion, more than tripling year over year. Non-GAAP net income increased more than fivefold to $662 million, reflecting strong execution, product leadership and healthy margins. In the fiscal fourth quarter, revenue reached a record $437 million, exceeding the company's entire fiscal 2025 revenue, while non-GAAP gross margin remained strong at 68.3%. Management attributed this performance to Credo's ability to capitalize on the increasing importance of reliable, power-efficient connectivity as AI clusters continue to expand.
The company continues to strengthen its competitive position through a comprehensive connectivity portfolio designed for AI infrastructure. Its strategy spans die-to-die, chip-to-chip, multi-rack copper and facility-wide optical interconnect solutions, enabling it to address connectivity needs across the entire AI data center. Management stated that hyperscalers and Neo cloud providers increasingly seek partners capable of delivering multiple generations of connectivity products with deep system-level integration. Credo believes its vertically integrated approach, covering SerDes technology, silicon, firmware, telemetry software and system-level solutions, differentiates it from competitors and positions it as a long-term network architecture partner.
Credo's Active Electrical Cable (AEC) business remains a major growth driver. As AI clusters become larger and more complex, customers are increasingly prioritizing network reliability and power efficiency. Management noted that its ZeroFlap AECs provide significantly higher reliability than conventional laser-based optical modules while consuming less power, making them well-suited for in-rack and multi-rack deployments. The company continues to experience strong adoption among hyperscale and Neo cloud customers for both 100-gig and emerging 200-gig-per-lane deployments. It also remains on track with its PCIe Gen 6 AEC family, where customer engagement and design activity continue to expand.
The optical business is expected to become another significant growth engine. Management believes fiscal 2027 will represent an inflection point as demand increases for optical DSPs, silicon photonics and ZeroFlap optics. The recently completed acquisition of Dust Photonics expands Credo's capabilities with silicon photonics technology, strengthening its portfolio across 800G and 1.6T solutions while providing a roadmap to higher-speed products. The company expects its optical DSPs, silicon photonics PICs and ZeroFlap optics to each generate more than $100 million in fiscal 2027 revenue, with the combined optical portfolio expected to contribute more than $600 million. Management believes this portfolio will support sustained long-term growth.
Beyond its core businesses, Credo continues to advance several emerging growth opportunities. The company is developing Active Light Cable (ALC) solutions that extend the reliability and power advantages of AECs into longer-distance optical connectivity using MicroLED technology. It is also expanding its OmniConnect portfolio, including its Weaver gearbox solution, to address increasing memory bandwidth and density requirements for next-generation AI inference architectures. Customer engagement remains strong, and management expects production ramps for both ALC and OmniConnect solutions to begin in fiscal 2028, adding new long-term growth drivers.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company's financial outlook remains bright, supported by continued AI-driven demand. For fiscal 2027, Credo expects revenue growth of more than 80% year over year, with the second half benefiting from the ramp of its optical portfolio. Management anticipates non-GAAP gross margin to remain broadly consistent with fiscal 2026 levels while maintaining a non-GAAP net margin near 50%. The company also generated record operating cash flow and free cash flow during the fiscal fourth quarter, ending the year with approximately $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents, providing ample financial flexibility to invest in future growth opportunities.
However, Credo continues to face customer concentration and supply chain-related risks. During the fourth quarter of 2026, four customers each accounted for more than 10% of revenue, with the largest customer contributing 34%, highlighting continued dependence on a limited number of large customers despite ongoing diversification efforts. Management also acknowledged that the supply chain remains tight across the industry and noted that current fiscal 2027 guidance is based on the existing tariff environment, which remains subject to change.
A Look at CRDO’s ValuationThe stock trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 18.84, above the industry’s average of 9.04. AVGO, MRVL and ALAB trade at a forward 12-month P/S of 12.25X, 14.73X and 36.42X, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CRDO’s Upward EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRDO’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has been significantly revised upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Should You Do With CRDO Stock Now?Sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Credo appears to be a compelling investment opportunity at the moment.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Credo Technology Group (NASDAQ:CRDO | CRDO Price Prediction) is the quiet AI infrastructure story that suddenly is not quiet anymore. Its Active Electrical Cables and 1.6T interconnects sit inside training clusters at five of the six major hyperscalers, and fiscal 2026 revenue more than tripled to $1.335 billion. Shares are up 79.78% year to date to $258.69. Can Credo shares reach $500 by 2030?
Why Credo Shares Are Cooling After a Historic Run The rally has paused. CRDO is down 0.15% over the past week, though still up 16.39% over the past month and 177.09% over the past year. After that move, digestion is normal.
The pushback is valuation. Simply Wall St. recently argued the stock looks fully valued, and another piece framed it as facing a valuation test as growth momentum cools. Sequential revenue growth slowed from 51.9% in Q3 to 7.4% in Q4. Add a beta of 3.202, and every macro wobble hits this ticker three times harder. The stock is being asked to prove the ramp is durable.
Wall Street Sees Modest Upside. Our Model Sees Fair Value. Analysts are almost uniformly constructive. The consensus target sits at $269.81 with 4 Strong Buys, 13 Buys, 1 Hold, and zero sells, or 94% bullish. Stifel recently pushed its target to $350 and Evercore initiated at $325. Our model is more cautious near term.
The base case predicted price is $243.80 (a HOLD at 90% confidence), with a bull case of $334.22 and a bear case of $194.01 over the next year. Analysts are directionally right on trajectory and slightly light on earnings power. With quarterly earnings growth of 3.432 YoY, the multiple has room to compress even at higher prices.
The Path to $500 Per Share Reaching $500 from today’s price of $258.69 would require a gain of 93.3%. That is aggressive but not absurd given a beta above 3 and a five-year return of 2,120.52%.
With forward EPS of $3.59, a $500 price implies a forward P/E of 139. Our base case of $243.80 already implies roughly 76, so $500 requires about 63 of additional multiple expansion on today’s EPS. The path runs through EPS growth.
Q4 FY26 alone produced $1.16 in non-GAAP EPS, an annualized run rate near $4.64 before the ZeroFlap Optics, ALCs, and OmniConnect ramps CEO Bill Brennan called out. He described fiscal 2026 as “another defining year” and said Credo expects “continued strong financial performance” in fiscal 2027.
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If FY30 EPS reaches $7 to $8 on TAM expansion and 1.6T adoption, $500 implies a much more reasonable 60 to 70 forward multiple. The risk: hyperscaler capex is cyclical, and CRDO’s customer concentration means one deferral resets the story.
Where Credo Trades Today vs Its Earnings Power On forward EPS of $3.59, CRDO trades at roughly 72 forward earnings. Expensive on the surface, but not against 205.68% revenue growth and 805.04% net income growth.
Shares sit 13% below the 52-week high of $308.67 and well off the low of $86.48. The valuation is a bet that the earnings ramp continues long enough for the multiple to melt without the price falling.
Is $500 Realistic? Here’s My Take Reaching $500 by 2030 requires a 93.3% gain and is a stretch. But it is a stretch with a real blueprint.
Three things need to go right: EPS needs to roughly double from today’s run rate as optical and OmniConnect scale, hyperscaler diversification needs to broaden beyond current top customers, and the AI capex cycle needs to remain intact through decade end.
A hyperscaler pause that exposes customer concentration risk derails it. We’ve outlined the blueprint for how Credo Technology could reach $500 in 2030.
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Investors might want to bet on Axon Enterprise (AXON - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Axon is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Axon imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for AxonThis maker of stun guns and body cameras is expected to earn $7.83 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Axon. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 15.3%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Axon to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Calix (CALX - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Internet - Software industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
When looking at the last two reports, this cloud, software platforms, systems and services provider for communications service providers has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 3.95%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, Calix came out with earnings of $0.4 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.38 per share, representing a surprise of 5.26%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.38 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.39 per share, delivering a surprise of 2.63%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Calix, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. 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.
Calix currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.03%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 20, 2026.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
July 9 (Reuters) - India's Apollo Micro Systems (APLL.NS), opens new tab will acquire a 41.33% stake in defence equipment maker Premier Explosives (PRMR.NS), opens new tab for 15.5 billion rupees ($162.50 million), the companies said on Thursday.
Here are the details:
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Per India's takeover regulations, Apollo Micro Systems will also offer to buy up to an additional 26% stake in Premier Explosives from public shareholders at 698 rupees per share.
Consolidations have risen in India's fast-growing defence manufacturing sector, which has benefited from increased government spending and a push for local production.
The deal, expected to complete within five months, is subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Competition Commission of India.
Premier Explosives, which manufactures high-energy materials, rocket motors, countermeasures and munitions for the defence and aerospace sectors, will continue to operate under its existing brand after the acquisition.
Apollo Micro said the acquisition combines the companies' defence systems and energetic materials capabilities, helping expand their participation in defence and space programmes.
($1 = 95.3875 Indian rupees)
Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
PriceSmart NASDAQ: PSMT is accelerating growth and outpacing peers in revenue growth, suggesting further upside for its stock price. The risk is its valuation, which, at approximately 36x the current year forecast, is high.
The caveat for bears is that this valuation aligns with peers, pricing in quality and growth, and likely underestimates PriceSmart’s strength. The company is well-positioned as the leading (in some cases) membership club retailer in Latin America. Its warehouse empire spans 12 countries and one U.S. territory, with new markets opening regularly.
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$188.93 -0.18 (-0.09%)
As of 01:32 PM Eastern
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52-Week Range$101.30▼
$199.84Dividend Yield0.74%
P/E Ratio37.32
The critical detail in 2026, and the operational factor for share prices, is the expected six new clubs by next spring, a more than 10% increase, with at least one in a new market with great potential. The fiscal Q3 results included plans to open the first PriceSmart in Chile. Chile represents a more lucrative market, with a well-established retail industry lacking a membership club, and consumers with greater spending power.
Estimates suggest that as many as five PriceSmarts could be located in Chile, with longer-term growth possible. Country-specific catalysts include a lean toward more economically friendly policies, attracting foreign investment, and its position in mining and green energy. Chile's dominance in lithium and copper, and its emergence in green hydrogen, are fueling the economic growth and rising incomes that underpin the spending power PriceSmart depends on.
PriceSmart Delivers in Latest Quarter, Outperforms PeersPriceSmart had a solid fiscal Q3, with revenue growing 12.5% to $1.48 billion. The growth outpaced Costco NASDAQ: COST, accelerated from the prior year, and beat the analyst consensus by approximately 200 basis points (bps). Strength was seen across the network, with merchandise sales underpinning the strength. Comp sales, a sign of localized strength and organic growth, increased by 10.7% and are expected to remain strong in the upcoming quarters. Region-specific catalysts include rapidly improving industrialization, employment, and consumer health.
Margin new was another factor underpinning the stock price increase posted this year. The company is widening its margin with scale, driving a 14.4% increase in adjusted EBITDA despite foreign exchange and macroeconomic headwinds and cost pressures.
The company does not issue formal guidance, but it showed clear momentum in its results and an optimistic outlook, given its accelerating expansion plans. The likely outcome is that PriceSmart will continue to grow at a robust pace in the coming quarters, with growth accelerating in 2027 as new stores come online.
PriceSmart’s Weak Analyst Coverage Masks High Institutional SupportPriceSmart’s analyst coverage is weak, with only one tracked by MarketBeat, but there are mitigating factors.
The large, 80% institutional ownership, numerous large ownership blocks, lack of regular market-moving news (to drive trading volume), and low market cap are to blame. That said, institutions and long-term oriented funds hold the bulk of shares, while insiders control nearly all the rest. In this environment, the stock price can continue to rise, as institutions have been accumulating, and cash flows give them no reason to exit.
PriceSmart’s cash flow enables it to invest in growth, sustain a healthy balance sheet, and return capital to investors. The capital return is dividend distribution, which, although low in yield, is strong in reliability and growth. The yield is below average, about 0.7% annualized as of mid-July, but coverage is ample, the payout ratio runs below 30%, and annual increases are becoming the norm.
PriceSmart Set Up to Advance in Q3 2026PriceSmart’s stock price experienced some volatility ahead of the release but stabilized in its wake. The result is that support was confirmed at the $190 level, and a bullish pattern is emerging. The past few weeks' action amounts to consolidation within an uptrend and is potentially a Bullish Flag. If confirmed by a breakout to the upside, the upside targets correspond to the magnitude of the preceding rally, or about $30. In this scenario, PSMT's share price can rise to $220 or higher by year’s end.
PriceSmart’s biggest risks lie in its business model, which relies on cross-border dealings. Risks include currency devaluation, as it buys in U.S. dollars and sells in local currency, and currency repatriation. Some markets, specifically Trinidad & Tobago, have faced severe currency shortages that have prevented the repatriation of profits. Geopolitical instability, supply, and import barriers also pose threats. The company mitigates these threats with dynamic sourcing, geographic diversification, regional logistics hubs, and private labels.
What the market gets wrong about this stock is that it is neither a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer nor a simple emerging-market play, but rather a highly specialized membership club with durable cash flows and a moat. The membership model, specifically the fees, underpins its profitability, making it more of a subscription service with a 90% renewal rate than a retailer. Additionally, the threat posed by eCommerce giants is mitigated by PriceSmart's footprint, which enables more cost-effective delivery of bulky items at scale to remote locations.
Should You Invest $1,000 in PriceSmart Right Now?Before you consider PriceSmart, you'll want to hear this.
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MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.
The window to lock in three July dividend checks is closing fast. Two of these stocks, Science Applications International and NetApp, go ex-dividend tomorrow, meaning today is the last trading day to buy shares and still qualify for the upcoming payment. A third, Bank OZK, gives investors a slightly longer runway into next week. All three payouts land inside this month.
Quick mechanics: to collect a dividend, you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date. Buy on or after the ex-date and the seller keeps the check. The pay date is simply when the cash hits your account.
Science Applications International (SAIC) Science Applications International (NASDAQ:SAIC | SAIC Price Prediction) just declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 per share, with an ex-dividend date of July 10, 2026 and a payment date of July 24, 2026. That makes today, July 9, the buy-by deadline. The trailing dividend yield sits at roughly 1.3% on an indicated annual payout of $1.48, with shares recently trading around $112.01.
Coverage is the easy part here. The Reston, Virginia defense IT contractor reported Q1 FY27 adjusted diluted EPS of $3.23, beating the $2.28 consensus, and raised full-year guidance to adjusted diluted EPS of $9.90 to $10.10 on revenue of $7.0 billion to $7.2 billion. Free cash flow ran $577 million in FY26 and is guided above $600 million this year. Against a $1.48 annualized dividend, the payout ratio against EPS is in the mid-teens and cash coverage is not a question. The forward P/E is 10x.
NetApp (NTAP) NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) shares the same tight deadline. The quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share carries an ex-date of July 10, 2026, with cash paid July 29, 2026. Investors must be shareholders of record before tomorrow’s open, which means buying today. The indicated yield is roughly 1.25%, modest on the surface, but that number is partly a function of the stock’s run. NTAP is up 55.98% year to date and 57.3% over the past year.
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On coverage, the Sunnyvale storage company reported Q4 FY26 non-GAAP EPS of $2.43 on revenue of $1.95 billion, up 12.5% year over year. Full-year FY26 non-GAAP EPS came in at $8.13 and free cash flow reached $1.87 billion, up 40%. Management guided FY27 non-GAAP EPS to $8.70 to $9.00. That puts the $2.08 annualized dividend at less than a quarter of earnings, with billions in FCF headroom and another $950 million already returned through buybacks last fiscal year. All-flash and the NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) co-engineered AI Data Engine are the growth engines behind the numbers.
Bank OZK (OZK) Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) offers the highest yield of the three and a slightly longer window to act. The Little Rock, Arkansas regional bank declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share on July 1, 2026, with an ex-date of July 13, 2026 and a payment date of July 20, 2026. Buy by Friday, July 10, to be positioned before shares trade ex-dividend Monday. The current yield is about 3.59%, and the annualized forward estimate is $1.92.
For a bank, the right coverage read is earnings and payout ratio. OZK trades at a trailing P/E of 8x on TTM EPS of $6.15, which puts the $1.92 forward dividend at well under a third of earnings. The dividend has risen by a penny per quarter for eight straight quarters, a steady growth cadence for income holders (readers building around that kind of grinding, low-drama payout growth may want to see how we think about it in Never Touch the Principal at 247wallst.com). The caveat: OZK has heavy commercial real estate exposure, and shares fell 6.58% over the past week, which is inflating that headline yield.
Buy-By Deadlines, Payments, and Yields at a Glance Ticker Buy-By Date Ex-Date Pay Date Dividend Yield SAIC July 9, 2026 July 10, 2026 July 24, 2026 $0.37 1.3% NTAP July 9, 2026 July 10, 2026 July 29, 2026 $0.52 1.25% OZK July 10, 2026 July 13, 2026 July 20, 2026 $0.48 3.59% Bottom Line Chasing a single quarterly check is never a strategy by itself. The names above are worth a look because the coverage is real, the dates are confirmed, and the payments are already declared. Miss the ex-date and you miss the payment: it is that simple. If any of these fit an existing income plan, the deadline to act is measured in hours for SAIC and NetApp, and just a couple of trading days for Bank OZK.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and NetApp didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 7.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Casey's due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
CASY Q4 Earnings Beat on Inside Sales & Fuel Margin StrengthCasey's reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with both the top and bottom lines beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased year over year.
The company posted quarterly earnings of $4.37 per share, beating the consensus mark of $3.36 by 30.1%. Earnings rose 66.2% from $2.63 in the prior-year quarter. Revenues of $4.57 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion by 4% and advanced 14.5% year over year. Inside same-store sales rose year over year, while fuel margins expanded sharply.
CASY’s Quarterly Performance: Key DetailsCasey’s delivered net income of $162.7 million in the fourth quarter, up 65.5% from $98.3 million in the year-ago period. EBITDA increased 33.2% year over year to $350.3 million, driven by higher inside and fuel gross profit.
The company benefited from strength inside the store and at the pump. Total inside sales rose 7.4% from the prior year to $1.52 billion, while total inside gross profit increased 10.5% to $643.4 million.
Casey’s Inside Sales Show Broad MomentumInside same-store sales increased 5.5% compared with 1.7% growth in the prior-year quarter. On a two-year stack basis, inside same-store sales increased 7.4%.
The upside was led by strong demand for whole pizzas, appetizers and sides in the prepared food and dispensed beverage category. Non-alcoholic beverages supported growth in grocery and general merchandise.
CASY’s Margin Profile StrengthensInside margin expanded to 42.4% from 41.2% in the year-ago quarter. Cost of goods management, improved waste and mix shift were the primary drivers of the 120-basis-point margin expansion.
Prepared food and dispensed beverage margin improved to 59.5% from 57.8%. Grocery and general merchandise margin increased to 35.7% from 34.8%, aided by favorable category mix and cost discipline.
Casey’s Segmental Sales TrendsPrepared food and dispensed beverage sales increased 9.2% year over year to $427.6 million. Same-store sales for the category advanced 6.6%, supported by whole pizzas, appetizers and sides.
Grocery and general merchandise sales rose 6.7% to $1.09 billion. Same-store sales in the category increased 5.1%, with notable strength in non-alcoholic beverages, particularly energy drinks.
CASY’s Fuel Business Delivers Strong GainsFuel gallons sold increased 3.6% year over year to 848.3 million, driven by a large store base and same-store gallon growth. Same-store fuel gallons were up 1.5% compared with 0.1% growth in the prior-year quarter.
Fuel gross profit jumped 29.1% to $397.4 million. Fuel margin improved to 46.9 cents per gallon from 37.6 cents a year earlier. Casey’s also generated $15.2 million in renewable fuel credits in the quarter, up $10.8 million from the prior-year period.
Casey’s Expense Trends and Cash PositionTotal operating expenses rose 10.1% year over year to $730 million. Operating 40 more stores accounted for roughly 2% of the increase, while same-store employee expense contributed about 1.5%, mainly due to higher labor rates.
The company ended the quarter with $1.4 billion in available liquidity, including $523 million in cash and cash equivalents and $900 million in available borrowing capacity. Casey’s repurchased about $63 million of shares during the quarter and its board expanded the repurchase authorization to $1 billion.
CASY’s Fiscal 2026 Finish & 2027 ViewFor fiscal 2026, Casey’s reported diluted earnings of $19.16 per share, up 30.9% year over year. Net income increased 30.7% to $714.4 million, while EBITDA rose 23.6% to nearly $1.5 billion.
For fiscal 2027, management expects inside same-store sales to increase 2-5%, with an inside margin above 42%. Same-store fuel gallons sold are expected to range between a 1% decline and a 1% increase. Total operating expenses are projected to rise 5-7%, while EBITDA is expected to grow 8-10%.
Casey’s Store Growth & Shareholder ReturnsCasey’s operated 2,944 stores as of Apr. 30, 2026. During fiscal 2026, the company added 40 new stores through construction, acquired 40 stores and opened one prior acquisition, while closing 41 stores.
The company expects to open at least 120 stores in fiscal 2027 through a mix of mergers and acquisitions and new store construction. Casey’s also raised its quarterly dividend by 14% to 65 cents per share, marking the 27th consecutive annual dividend increase.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Casey's has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Casey's has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today continued its significant expansion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), with the launch of eight nonstop des
, /PRNewswire/ -- Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2025 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Element Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: ESI) related to its sale to Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Element Solutions shareholders will receive $10.00 in cash and 0.500 shares of Solstice common stock for each Element Solutions share. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, Element Solutions shareholders are expected to own approximately 44% of the combined company. Is it a fair deal?
Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/element-solutions-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much? About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
[email protected]
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2026 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
MMS benefits from recurring government contracts, solid liquidity and shareholder returns, but regulatory shifts and contract dependence remain key risks.
NEW YORK & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capella University and the WNBA today announced a multi-year partnership, making Capella the Official Higher Learning Partner of the WNBA.
Key Takeaways ABM's first-half sales bookings of a record $1.2B signal strong demand and customer acquisition.ABM's WGNSTAR buyout strengthened its semiconductor presence and drove high-double-digit organic growth.ABM's FCF improved nearly $180M in the first six months as it reaffirmed its 2026 growth outlook. ABM (ABM - Free Report) stock has had an impressive run over the past three months. The company’s shares have ascended 13.4%, outpacing the industry’s 1.8% rise and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 10.8% rally.
3-Month Share Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let us delve into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.
Unprecedented Sales & Organic Revenue ExpansionIn the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ABM achieved a record $1.2 billion in sales bookings for the first half of the year. This indicates strong market demand for its services and the success of its customer acquisition strategies.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, ABM's organic revenues grew 5.5% year over year, moving up to 6.1% in the following quarter. Capitalizing on the lofty sales bookings, expectations around sustained momentum in organic revenues, which support the top line, are further solidified.
WGNSTAR Buyout CompletionABM completed the WGNSTAR acquisition at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2026. This buyout bolstered the company’s presence within the semiconductor fabrication environment.
During the second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, Scott Salmirs, president, CEO and director, stated that the company has landed “tens of millions of dollars in new business,” hinting at the immediate benefits enjoyed from ABM’s market strength, facilitated by WGNSTAR. Moreover, this buyout led to delivering high double-digit growth in organic revenues across the company’s semiconductor market.
FCF Recovery Bolsters LiquidityThe company ended the second quarter of fiscal 2026 with a current ratio of 1.46. A current ratio exceeding 1 bodes well with investors as it suggests efficient coverage of short-term obligations. ABM’s liquidity position is better than its peers, as evidenced by an industry average of 1.13.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ABM recorded $71.2 million in free cash flow (FCF) for the first six months of 2026 compared with the preceding year’s negative FCF of $107.8 million. It marks a hefty FCF enhancement worth nearly $180 million in the first six months. As the company recovered FCF, it raised management’s prospects to pay off short-term obligations, bolstering ABM’s liquidity position.
Reaffirmed 2026 Outlook Raises Investors’ RapportIn the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ABM reaffirmed its full-year outlook, aiming at the top end of 3-4% organic growth and a 4-5% top-line improvement. The reaffirmed guidance indicates consistency that accumulates premium in the market. Investors gain confidence as sticking to a growth rate is a sign of a competitive moat and a resilient business model. ABM’s outlook acts as a safety net that leads to an increase in stock prices.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderABM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) and AppLovin (APP - Free Report) .
Coherent presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
COHR has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 46.8%.
Coherent delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.2% on average.
AppLovin currently has a Zacks Rank of 2. APP has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 38.8%.
AppLovin delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.4%, on average.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Badger Meter To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Badger Meter between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Badger Meter, Inc. ("Badger Meter" or the "Company") (NYSE: BMI) and reminds investors of the August 3, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that Badger Meter's strong financial results reflected "ongoing favorable industry trends," "secular growth drivers," and "solid operating execution." They likewise touted "strong" demand and said they were seeing "robust order pacing and a strong bid pipeline that positions us well for continued sales and earnings growth," and that Badger Meter possessed a "long runway" for growth.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Badger Meter's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the Badger Meter class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/BMI or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Badger Meter Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the Badger Meter securities fraud lawsuit about?
The Badger Meter securities fraud lawsuit is a federal securities class action alleging that Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and its executives made false and misleading statements to investors by touting "strong" demand, a "robust" order pipeline, and a "long runway" for growth while concealing that the Company's financial results were not sustainable. As the truth emerged through a series of disclosures - including disappointing Q2 2025 results and a sequential sales decline forecast on July 22, 2025, missed revenue expectations and a 6% sequential decline in utility water sales on January 28, 2026, and Q1 2026 earnings that missed consensus estimates by $0.26 per share with revenue missing by $28.58 million on April 17, 2026 - BMI's stock price dropped sharply, causing significant losses for investors.
Who may be eligible to participate in the Badger Meter class action lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or acquired Badger Meter (BMI) stock between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026 - the Class Period - and suffered financial losses may be eligible to participate in the Badger Meter securities class action. Participation as a class member does not require taking any affirmative legal action; eligible investors may recover losses simply by remaining members of the class. Whistleblowers, former Badger Meter employees, and others with relevant information about the Company's conduct are also encouraged to come forward.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment in the Badger Meter lawsuit?
A lead plaintiff in the Badger Meter class action is a court-appointed investor - typically the one with the largest financial interest in the case - who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of all class members. Any Badger Meter investor who purchased BMI stock during the Class Period may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice. The deadline to seek lead plaintiff appointment is August 3, 2026. Importantly, choosing not to seek the lead plaintiff role does not affect an investor's ability to share in any recovery obtained for the class.
What should investors do if they purchased Badger Meter stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased Badger Meter (BMI) stock between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026 and suffered losses should contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP immediately to discuss their legal rights. The deadline to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Badger Meter securities class action is August 3, 2026. To speak directly with securities litigation partner Josh Wilson, call 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310), or visit www.faruqilaw.com/BMI for more information.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/304597
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMI.
Badger Meter Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
the Company's reported strong financial results did not reflect "ongoing favorable industry trends," "secular growth drivers," or "solid operating execution," as represented, but were instead unsustainable; Defendants' statements touting "strong" demand, "robust order pacing," and a "strong bid pipeline" overstated the true state of the Company's demand environment and ability to generate continued sales and earnings growth; and contrary to Defendants' claims that the Company possessed a "long runway" for growth, the Company's growth prospects were materially overstated, such that Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and future prospects.What's Next for Badger Meter Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMI, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Badger Meter you have until August 3, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Badger Meter Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Badger Meter Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
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Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/300223
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
LOS ANGELES, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP reminds investors of the upcoming August 3, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter, Inc. (“Badger Meter” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BMI) common stock between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR BADGER METER INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
What Happened?
On July 22, 2025, Badger Meter released its second quarter 2025 financial results, reporting below-consensus earnings, revenue growth decline, and margin deterioration. The Company also expected that “absolute sales [would] decline sequentially in the third quarter of 2025.”
On this news, Badger Meter’s stock price fell $40.42, or 16.5%, to close at $204.80 per share on July 22, 2025, thereby injuring investors.
Then, on January 28, 2026, Badger Meter released its fourth quarter 2025 financial results, revealing missed revenue expectations and a “6% sequential decline in utility water sales” due to “previously communicated project pacing effects.”
On this news, Badger Meter’s stock price fell $18.09, or 11%, to close at $146.32 per share on January 28, 2026.
Then, on April 17, 2026, Badger Meter released its first quarter 2026 results, disclosing that total sales were “9% lower than the prior year,” “[u]tility water sales declined 10% year-over-year,” “[o]perating earnings of $35.2 million, with an operating margin of 17.4%, compared to operating earnings of $49.4 million and an operating margin of 22.2% in the prior year,” and “[d]iluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.93, down from $1.30 in the first quarter of 2025.” The Company cited “project timing” and “softer short-cycle municipal customer ordering.”
On this news, Badger Meter’s stock price fell $36.75, or 24.1%, to close at $115.54 per share on April 17, 2026, thereby injuring investors further.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Badger Meter’s financial results during the Class Period were at least partially attributable to the Company’s practice of pulling-forward customer orders to recognize revenue early, which concealed weakening demand and deteriorating near-term order trends; (2) this practice also depleted revenue otherwise available for future periods, ultimately causing the disappointing financial results the Company later reported; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter common stock during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than August 3, 2026 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150,
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Charles Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com.
