Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Between August 13 and 14, 2026, Q2 2026 13F filings landed and told a rare story: Stanley Druckenmiller, Seth Klarman, David Tepper, Dan Loeb, and Berkshire Hathaway all moved into Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) in the same quarter. Consensus buys of that magnitude across value, macro, and event-driven billionaires almost never happen simultaneously in a single mega-cap name.

The filings, which report positions as of June 30, 2026, show the following.

Berkshire Hathaway added 24,541,369 GOOGL shares to reach 78,791,167 shares, a position valued at $28,157,599,351, and also added 23,603,218 GOOG shares to reach 27,188,433, valued at $9,606,489,032, together roughly 0.93% of the company. Druckenmiller’s Duquesne Family Office opened a brand new GOOGL position of 336,300 shares worth $120,184,000. Klarman’s Baupost Group added 190,800 GOOG shares to reach 1,371,931 shares valued at $484,744,000. Tepper’s Appaloosa added 117,300 GOOG shares to reach 1,850,000, valued at $653,660,500. Loeb’s Third Point took GOOGL from 175,000 to 1,025,000 shares, adding 850,000 shares valued at $366,304,250, and opened positions in two additional Alphabet share classes. It’s worth emphasizing that Buffett is now the Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and day-to-day CEO duties fall to Greg Abel. However, recent reporting from The Wall Street Journal shows that Buffett pushed for an outsized addition of Alphabet during the quarter.

The Thesis ‘Smart Money’ Is Backing Alphabet trades at a trailing P/E of 17 against a PEG of 0.969, and shares sit at $345.90, down 6.75% over the past month even after a 70.93% one-year run. Q2 earnings were the catalyst: EPS of $9.11 against a $3.04 estimate, revenue of $119.80 billion up 24.2% year over year, and Google Cloud accelerating to 82% growth at $24.77 billion. Sundar Pichai noted “nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 using” Gemini Enterprise, and Gemini models now process 22 billion API tokens per minute.

For value-oriented investors like Klarman and Tepper, this is a Mag 7 franchise trading at a cyclical trough multiple while cloud reaccelerates. For Druckenmiller, a macro allocator opening a new position, the thesis reads as an AI infrastructure call.

The Other Side Retail Investors Should Weigh ‘Smart money’ bought a company that has been visibly bleeding senior AI talent. In June, five top Google AI researchers left in seven days, and Jim Cramer called Noam Shazeer’s jump to OpenAI “a coup.” Then in August, a key AI architect quit, reigniting fears Gemini is losing ground to OpenAI and Anthropic. Cash costs are climbing too: Q2 free cash flow turned negative at $5.86 billion, long-term debt rose from $46.5 billion to $98.2 billion, and the buyback was suspended.

Against all this news, Alphabet has badly underperformed Mag 7 peers across the past month like Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). Remember that 13-F filing are a snapshot in time. Reports of recent buys were just released, but only cover positions on June 30th. While Berkshire is unlikely to have reduced its Alphabet holdings, it will be interesting whether other names on this list that trade more frequently (such as Tepper and Druckenmiller) reduce or increase their position in Alphabet as the stock trails peers across what’s generally be a rally for AI stocks in recent weeks.

Is It Worth Following? 13F filings are point-in-time snapshots disclosed roughly 45 days later, so none of these funds necessarily hold these positions today, and share counts, not dollar values, are the only reliable signal of activity. That said, the coincidence of Druckenmiller, Klarman, Tepper, Loeb, and Berkshire buying the same name at 15x forward earnings is a legitimate flag for a retirement investor.

The thesis is defensible: cheapest Mag 7 multiple, accelerating cloud, and Waymo optionality. The risk is equally clear: talent flight and a CapEx cycle that has already erased free cash flow. Follow it as a research prompt for your own diligence.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

American Electric Power
AEP +0.64% 77

, a regulated utility and electricity-transmission operator, traded almost flat at $125.46 Monday morning as the AI infrastructure race pushed deeper into the power sector. NVIDIA
NVDA +0.44% 95

agreed to backstop up to $105 billion of financing obligations tied to OpenAI's massive Ohio data center project while investing $1.5 billion in SB Energy, the SoftBank-backed developer behind the campus.

The big winner from the AI boom may not just be chipmakers. Utilities are becoming the backbone of the next growth cycle. AEP Ohio is positioned to supply electricity for the Pike County project, which could eventually require 4.25 gigawatts of initial capacity with expansion options beyond that. The company is also supporting a $4.2 billion transmission upgrade program, while SB Energy has committed to covering those infrastructure costs instead of shifting the burden onto existing customers.

The valuation story remains more balanced. AEP traded at $125.41 versus its GF Value™ of $114.89, placing the stock approximately 9.16% above its estimated intrinsic value. Investors are clearly giving AEP credit for its role in powering the AI expansion, but the earnings impact is still a future event. Electricity is not expected to begin flowing to the site until 2029, meaning regulatory approvals, construction execution and demand growth will determine whether this becomes a major earnings catalyst or simply a long-term infrastructure bet.

The AI race needs more than GPUs. It needs power, transmission lines and companies capable of delivering electricity at massive scale. AEP is now sitting directly in the middle of that opportunity.

Check the Warning Signs for

AEP

now!

Key Takeaways Vicor shares have surged 114.2% YTD as stronger demand, backlog growth and AI prospects lift sentiment.VICR's backlog hit about $380M, up 145% y/y, while 1H revenues rose 35%.Vicor targets more than $600M in 2026 revenues as royalties rise and Gen2 VPD development advances. Vicor (VICR - Free Report) shares are trading at a premium, as suggested by a Value Score of F. In terms of the trailing 12-month EV/Sales, VICR is trading at 21.88X, higher than the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 8.44X. VICR is trading at a higher multiple compared with peers, including Monolithic Power Systems’ (MPWR - Free Report) 20.62X, Analog Devices’ (ADI - Free Report) 15.19X and Texas Instruments’ (TXN - Free Report) 13.43X.

Vicor’s Shares Trade at a Premium
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Is Vicor worth buying at current prices? Let us dig deep to find out.

VICR Shares Ride on AI ProspectsYear to date (YTD), Vicor shares have outperformed the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, as well as Monolithic Power Systems, Analog Devices and Texas Instruments. Vicor returned a whopping 114.2% YTD while the broader sector, Monolithic Power Systems, Analog Devices and Texas Instruments have returned 18.9%, 54.7%, 43.6% and 61.1%, respectively.

Vicor Stock’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

VICR’s sharp YTD appreciation has been supported by a combination of stronger operating momentum, rapidly improving demand visibility and increased confidence in its AI-related power-delivery opportunity. On a year-over-year basis, first-half 2026 revenues increased 35% to $256.3 million.

More importantly for investor sentiment, backlog reached roughly $380 million, up 26% sequentially and 145% year over year, while book-to-bill remained above 1. Vicor attributed the backlog strength largely to rising product demand rather than the new license agreement, highlighting strength across high-performance computing, automatic test equipment, industrial, and aerospace and defense markets.

The new licensing agreement materially strengthened the recurring royalty narrative. In the second quarter of 2026, royalty revenues reached $30.4 million compared with $10.4 million in the year-ago quarter, with the latest agreement expected to contribute $5 million in third-quarter 2026 and $10 million per quarter for the subsequent four quarters.

Vicor consequently raised its outlook to more than $600 million of 2026 revenues and expects nearly 10% sequential revenue growth in third-quarter 2026, reinforcing expectations that the current demand upcycle has further room to run.

VICR’s Prospects Ride on AI-Related DemandVicor benefits from its exposure to the increasing power-density requirements of AI accelerators and high-performance computing systems. The company believes that first-generation vertical power delivery solutions are increasingly constrained by insufficient current density and current gain, while Vicor’s second-generation VPD architecture is targeting current densities of up to 5 amps/mm² with current gain above 40.

The company has completed an initial 3 amps/mm² chipset for its lead customer, and is developing demonstration systems for additional customers and expects to push beyond 4 amps/mm² around late 2026 or early 2027. VICR expects engagement with additional hyperscalers and OEMs through 2026, with some programs potentially evolving into production ramps around late third-quarter 2027 or fourth-quarter 2027.

A second structural driver is the combination of product sales and IP licensing, which could increase revenue scale and margin potential. Vicor has set long-term objectives of $2.5 billion in revenues, a 70% gross margin and a 40% operating margin compared with its previous targets of $1 billion and 65%, with management describing licensing and power-module sales as mutually reinforcing businesses. Vicor already has multiple OEM licensees and one hyperscaler licensee, while management expects licensing income to expand materially over time as OEMs and hyperscalers increasingly address Vicor’s IP portfolio.

Capacity expansion is another important enabler. Demand is already absorbing additional capacity at Vicor’s first vertically integrated ChiP fab, and management said that the facility is approaching full utilization. Vicor is therefore pursuing a second fab; management indicated that the initial phase would roughly double capacity, while potential sites could ultimately accommodate two to three times the capacity of the first fab. This expansion is critical to achieving the $2.5-billion revenue objective and should provide room to support AI customers as Gen2 VPD adoption develops.

Vicor’s 2026 Earnings Estimate Revision Shows Rising TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.12 per share, up 6.1% over the past 30 days, suggesting 19.54% growth from the 2025 reported figure.

The consensus mark for third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 71 cents per share, down by four cents over the past 30 days and indicating 12.7% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

ConclusionVicor’s premium valuation leaves limited room for execution missteps, but the company’s improving fundamentals and expanding AI opportunity provide meaningful support for the stock. Robust backlog growth, rising royalty revenues, strengthening demand across high-performance computing markets and continued progress with its next-generation VPD technology position Vicor well for sustained growth.

Although the stock’s strong YTD rally and elevated valuation may warrant some near-term caution, Vicor’s growing exposure to AI infrastructure, expanding licensing opportunity and planned capacity additions strengthen its long-term growth prospects. Investors willing to tolerate valuation-related volatility may consider VICR an attractive stock to hold for continued participation in the AI-driven power-delivery opportunity.

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

Key Takeaways RLI's decentralized model enables specialized risk selection and pricing while adapting to market conditions. RLI delivered $59.9 million of underwriting income and an 85.6 combined ratio in Q2 2026. RLI's underwriting profits support dividends, share repurchases and investment income from insurance float. RLI Corp.’s (RLI - Free Report) decentralized underwriting model supports strong underwriting profitability by giving individual business units significant autonomy to assess risks, price policies and select accounts based on specialized expertise. This approach enables RLI to respond quickly to changing market conditions while maintaining disciplined risk selection rather than pursuing premium growth at the expense of margins. The model has contributed to a long track record of underwriting profitability, with RLI recording its 30th consecutive year of underwriting income in 2025, generating $264.2 million of underwriting income at an 83.6 combined ratio.

The momentum continued in 2026, with RLI producing $59.9 million of underwriting income and an 85.6 combined ratio in the second quarter, supported by strong margins in its Property and Surety businesses.

Underwriting profit is a core earnings driver and competitive advantage for RLI because it allows the company to generate profits directly from its insurance operations, rather than relying primarily on investment income.

Profitable underwriting allows RLI to earn money from premiums while retaining the premiums and reserves for investment, creating a dual earnings engine of underwriting income plus investment income. RLI specifically identifies these as two of the ways it generates shareholder returns.

Strong underwriting earnings increase financial flexibility, supporting regular dividends, special dividends and share repurchases. In 2025, RLI returned $184 million through a $2-per-share special dividend, while its strong financial performance helped drive a 33% increase in book value per share.

Underwriting profit enables RLI to compound earnings, strengthen capital, generate investment income from insurance float and return more capital to shareholders. Its long record of sub-100% combined ratios makes underwriting profitability a particularly important differentiator for RLI.

What About Its Peers?The Travelers Companies’ (TRV - Free Report) underwriting income is one of the most important earnings drivers. It allows the company to generate profit from its core P&C insurance operations while also producing investment income from the premiums and reserves it holds. Higher underwriting profitability contributes to stronger core income and cash generation, which gives Travelers greater capacity to pay dividends and repurchase shares.

Chubb Limited’s (CB - Free Report) profitable underwriting directly increases its earnings. Chubb Limited benefits from both underwriting income and investment income. Consistent underwriting profits increase the amount of capital Chubb Limited can retain within the business. This supports balance-sheet strength, business expansion and investments in technology, data and AI.

RLI’s Price PerformanceShares of RLI have lost 4.6% in the past year against the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RLI’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book ratio of 3.34, above the industry average of 1.42.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for RLIThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for RLI’s fourth-quarter 2026 has moved up 4.5% in the past 30 days. The same for the full-year 2026 EPS has moved up 4.7% in the past 30 days.

The consensus estimate for RLI’s 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates year-over-year decreases. The consensus estimate for RLI’s 2026 and 2027 revenues indicates year-over-year increases.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways Northern Oil and Gas posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13, beating estimates despite a year-over-year decline.Production rose 9% to 145,659 Boe/d, led by a 35% increase in natural gas and NGL volumes.Northern Oil and Gas repurchased 2.95 million shares and raised its buyback authorization to $243 million. Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NOG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. The outperformance reflects strong natural gas production. However, the bottom line declined from the year-ago adjusted profit of $1.37 due to weaker natural gas prices.

The Minnetonka, MN-based oil and gas exploration and production company reported oil and gas sales of $671 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $546 million. Moreover, the top line increased from the year-ago figure of $574 million, driven by higher oil price realization.

On June 1, the company closed the Duvernay Light Oil Joint Development for total consideration of $262.1 million. During the quarter, NOG completed 30 ground game transactions, adding over 2,300 net acres and an additional 6.2 net wells for $44.7 million, which was inclusive of associated development costs.

During the second quarter, Northern Oil and Gas repurchased 2.95 million shares of common stock at an average price of $20.37, including commissions and increased the share repurchase authorization program to about $243 million.

NOG’s Q2 Production DetailsThe second-quarter production increased 9% year over year to 145,659 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d). Additionally, the figure beat our estimate of 143,105 Boe/d.

While oil volume totaled 68,275 Bopd (an 11% decrease year over year), natural gas (and natural gas liquids) amounted to 464,330 thousand cubic feet per day (a 35% increase). Our model estimate for oil volume and natural gas production was pegged at 71,300 Bopd and 415,800 thousand cubic feet per day, respectively.

The average sales price for crude was $90.02 per barrel, indicating a 54% increase from the prior-year quarter’s level of $58.37. Moreover, the figure beat our expectation of $69.40 per barrel.

The average realized natural gas price was $2.64 per thousand cubic feet compared with $2.89 in the year-earlier period. Our model estimate for the same was pinned at $2.32 per thousand cubic feet.

NOG’s Costs & ExpensesTotal operating expenses in the quarter decreased to $392.7 million from $530.6 million in the year-ago period. This was mainly on account of a reduction in production expenses, legal settlement expense, depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion expenses, impairment of oil and gas assets expenses, and other expenses. The metric was below our estimate of $400.1 million.

Capital Expenditures of NOGThe company reported capital expenditures of $195.8 million for the second quarter, excluding non-budgeted acquisitions and other unplanned items. Of this total, $151 million was dedicated to drilling and completion activities on organic assets, while $44.7 million was allocated to Ground Game efforts, including associated development costs.

During the second quarter, NOG placed 12.7 net wells into production.

NOG’s Financial PositionThis Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s free cash flow for the quarter totaled $159 million.

As of June 30, 2026, Northern Oil and Gas had $47.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company had a long-term debt of $2.7 billion, with a debt-to-capitalization of 57.7%.

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

Important Energy Earnings at a GlanceWhile we have discussed NOG’s second-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in the energy space.

U.S. energy operator APA Corporation (APA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.89 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85. The bottom line rose from the year-ago adjusted profit of 87 cents. The outperformance was primarily driven by higher realized oil prices and lower year-over-year expenses.

Revenues of $2.4 billion were down 8.2% from the year-ago quarter’s sales and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%, caused by a decrease in natural gas revenues.

As of June 30, APA had $444 million in cash and cash equivalents and $3.7 billion in long-term debt, representing a debt-to-capitalization of 34.8%.

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY - Free Report) reported a second-quarter 2026 net profit of 99 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. The bottom line more than doubled from the year-ago quarter’s 43 cents. This outperformance can be attributed to higher oil and NGL prices and growth in overall production volumes.

The oil and gas exploration and production company’s total revenues were $479 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $440 million. The top line also increased 50.2% from $319 million recorded in the year-ago period, driven by higher revenues from oil and natural gas liquids (NGL).

As of June 30, 2026, Magnolia had cash and cash equivalents of $295.9 million. The company had long-term debt of $393.6 million, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 15.5%.

Permian Resources Corporation (PR - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 69 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 23.2%. The bottom line also increased significantly from the year-ago quarter’s adjusted earnings of 27 cents. This outperformance was primarily driven by higher oil and NGL price realizations.

The company’s oil and gas sales of $1.86 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 billion by 13.3%. Revenues also increased from the year-ago quarter’s $1.2 billion, aided by a higher year-over-year contribution from oil sales, NGL sales and purchased gas sales during the quarter.

As of June 30, 2026, PR had $131.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company had a long-term debt of approximately $3 billion, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 20%.

Key Takeaways Natera is supporting Kupando's Phase 1 skin cancer trial with its Latitude tissue-free MRD test.Latitude will track ctDNA at multiple timepoints to assess molecular response to KUP-101 treatment.The trial will enroll patients with advanced skin cancers at activated clinical sites in Germany. Natera (NTRA - Free Report) recently announced a collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics to support a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with advanced skin cancers. The collaboration will use Natera’s Latitude tissue-free molecular residual disease (MRD) test to monitor treatment response to KUP-101, Kupando’s investigational immunotherapy targeting innate immune activation.

Management stated that Natera is pleased to support Kupando’s development of its first-in-class approach to innate immune activation. Latitude’s ability to evaluate ctDNA dynamics across diverse solid tumors can provide molecular insights into treatment response, potentially supporting the clinical development of KUP-101 in difficult-to-treat cancers.

Likely Trend of NTRA Stock Following the NewsShares of NTRA have declined 1.9% since the announcement on Wednesday. Year to date, shares of the company have gained 35.3% compared with the industry’s 0.6% growth and the S&P 500’s 13.2% rise.

The collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics could positively impact Natera by expanding the use of its Latitude MRD testing in early-stage clinical research. Incorporating Latitude into a Phase I trial provides an opportunity to demonstrate the assay’s ability to track ctDNA dynamics across multiple advanced skin cancers and potentially broader solid tumor types. Successful results could strengthen Natera’s position in the growing MRD and precision oncology market, support additional biopharma partnerships, and increase adoption of its testing platform in clinical trials.

NTRA currently has a market capitalization of $44.67 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on the NewsThe collaboration follows the successful dosing of the first patient in Kupando’s Phase 1 trial. Following the initial dosing, Kupando’s safety committee approved continued enrollment across activated clinical sites, including leading oncology centers in Germany. The trial will generate serial molecular data to help characterize patient response to KUP-101 during treatment.

Under the collaboration, Latitude testing will be conducted at multiple timepoints during the trial to evaluate changes in ctDNA following KUP-101 treatment. The study is being conducted at activated clinical sites in Germany and will enroll patients with advanced tumors across multiple skin cancer types.

KUP-101 is designed to activate the innate immune system and induce trained immunity, offering a potentially tissue-agnostic approach across several solid tumor types. The investigational therapy is being evaluated both as a standalone treatment and in combination with other agents. By incorporating Latitude MRD testing into the trial, Kupando aims to better characterize the molecular activity of KUP-101 and generate data that may inform future clinical development.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Precedence Research, the minimal residual disease testing market was valued at $1.70 billion in 2025 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 12% through 2034.

Factors like the demand for highly sensitive technologies like next-generation sequencing and digital PCR, which accurately detect minimal residual cancer cells to guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes, are boosting the market’s growth.

Other NewsNatera announced that its MRD test, Signatera, received certification as a Class C device under the European Union’s In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) for use across multiple types of cancer. Signatera is certified to be used in adjuvant and surveillance settings across a broad range of cancers, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast, skin, gynecological, head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and pan-cancer immunotherapy monitoring.

Natera partnered with Aveta Biomics to support AVTA 30-01, a global Phase 3 registrational trial of its oral immunotherapy, APG-157, in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Natera’s Signatera test will be integrated into the AVTA 30-01 Phase 3 study to assess MRD and treatment response during neoadjuvant, induction, adjuvant and follow-up care.

Natera partnered with Eledon Pharmaceuticals to integrate its Prospera kidney transplant assessment test into Eledon’s planned Phase 3 clinical trial of tegoprubart, an investigational therapy designed to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplantation.

NTRA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksNatera currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) and The Cooper Companies (COO - Free Report) .

Globus Medical, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.

West Pharmaceutical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.37, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.9%. Revenues of $872.3 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%.

WST has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 16%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 17.4%.

The Cooper Companies, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported a second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.21, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10%. Revenues of $1.08 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.6%.

COO has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 8.3%. COO’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 5.8%.

Key Takeaways Helmerich & Payne posted an adjusted Q3 loss of 11 cents per share as revenues reached $1 billion.North America Solutions revenues fell 5% year over year, while Offshore Solutions revenues rose 7.8%.HP expects Q4 North America direct margin of $245M-$255M, supported by 145-151 average active rigs. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (HP - Free Report) reported a third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted net loss of 11 cents per share, in sharp contrast with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of adjusted net income of 11 cents. Moreover, the bottom line decreased considerably from the year-ago quarter’s reported profit of 22 cents. This was primarily due to an adjustment made for a gain of $115 million related to the sale of Utica Square and lower-than-expected performance of the company's North America Solutions segment.

Operating revenues of $1 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $988 million. Sales from Drilling Services beat the consensus mark by 4.4%. However, the figure decreased by $6 million from the year-ago quarter’s level. This was primarily caused by lower year-over-year revenues from the North America Solutions and International Solutions segments.

The company distributed approximately $25 million to its shareholders as part of its ongoing dividend program.

HP’s Q3 Segmental PerformanceNorth America Solutions: Operating revenues of $562.9 million were down 5% year over year, with 142 average active rigs. The top line beat our model projection of $546.1 million.

Operating profit totaled $140.3 million compared with $157.6 million in the prior-year period. The reported figure also beat our model estimate of $113.1 million.

International Solutions: Operating revenues of $250.1 million decreased 5.9% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $265.8 million. However, the top line beat our projection of $234.9 million.

Operating loss reached $54.4 million, compared with the prior-year period loss of $166.5 million. The figure was below our projected loss of $93 million.

Offshore Solutions: Revenues of $174.4 million increased 7.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $161.8 million. The top line beat our projection of $157.5 million.

Operating profit totaled $16.8 million compared with $8.8 million in the year-ago quarter.  The figure beat our estimate of $11 million.

HP’s Financial Position

As of June 30, 2026, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company spent $200.2 million on capital programs. HP had $204.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, while the long-term debt totaled $1.8 billion (debt-to-capitalization of 41%).

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

HP’s Guidance for Q4 & FY26Helmerich & Payne’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 outlook points to continued strength in North America, more variable international performance and stable offshore operations. For North America Solutions, the company expects direct margin of $245 million to $255 million, with an average of 145 to 151 active rigs, compared with a fiscal-year average rig range of 140 to 144. International Solutions is expected to generate direct margin of $25 million to $45 million on 60 to 70 average rigs, compared with a fiscal-year average rig range of 60 to 66. Offshore Solutions is projected to deliver direct margin of $26 million to $30 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, while full-year direct margin is expected at $113 million to $117 million, supported by 30 to 35 average rigs/management contracts. The “Other” segment is expected to contribute up to $5 million of direct margin.

For the full fiscal 2026, HP expects gross capital expenditures of $270 million to $310 million, depreciation of approximately $700 million, research and development expense of about $28 million, Selling, general & administrative expenses of $265 million to $285 million, cash taxes of $150 million to $180 million, and interest expense of roughly $100 million. Overall, the outlook implies a relatively constructive finish to fiscal 2026, led by higher North American activity and margins.

Important Earnings at a GlanceWhile we have discussed HP’s fiscal third-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in this space.

U.S. energy operator APA Corporation (APA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.89 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85. The bottom line rose from the year-ago adjusted profit of 87 cents. The outperformance was primarily driven by higher realized oil prices and lower year-over-year expenses.

Revenues of $2.4 billion were down 8.2% from the year-ago quarter’s sales and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%, caused by a decrease in natural gas revenues.

As of June 30, APA had $444 million in cash and cash equivalents and $3.7 billion in long-term debt, representing a debt-to-capitalization of 34.8%.

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY - Free Report) reported a second-quarter 2026 net profit of 99 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. The bottom line more than doubled from the year-ago quarter’s 43 cents. This outperformance can be attributed to higher oil and NGL prices and growth in overall production volumes.

The oil and gas exploration and production company’s total revenues were $479 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $440 million. The top line also increased 50.2% from $319 million recorded in the year-ago period, driven by higher revenues from oil and natural gas liquids (NGL).

As of June 30, 2026, Magnolia had cash and cash equivalents of $295.9 million. The company had long-term debt of $393.6 million, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 15.5%.

Permian Resources Corporation (PR - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 69 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 23.2%. The bottom line also increased significantly from the year-ago quarter’s adjusted earnings of 27 cents. This outperformance was primarily driven by higher oil and NGL price realizations.

The company’s oil and gas sales of $1.86 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 billion by 13.3%. Revenues also increased from the year-ago quarter’s $1.2 billion, aided by a higher year-over-year contribution from oil sales, NGL sales and purchased gas sales during the quarter.

As of June 30, 2026, PR had $131.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company had a long-term debt of approximately $3 billion, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 20%.

Key Takeaways Cirrus Logic posted record Q1 results, with adjusted EPS up 21.9% and revenues rising 12.9%.HPMS revenues climbed to $210.7 million, or 46% of sales, as new camera, power and battery products advance.Q2's $540 million revenue midpoint implies a 4% yearly decline as spending rises and PC growth is delayed. Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS - Free Report) delivered record fiscal first-quarter results, but its next-quarter outlook makes the post-earnings picture less straightforward. Smartphone demand and high-performance mixed-signal momentum remain supportive.

The counterweight is a fiscal second-quarter revenue midpoint that implies a year-over-year decline, alongside higher operating expenses and delayed PC growth. Investors must weigh those pressures against an expanding product pipeline.

Cirrus Logic's Q1 Beat Sets a High BarFiscal first-quarter adjusted earnings reached $1.84 per share, up 21.9% year over year and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45. Revenues increased 12.9% to about $460 million, supported by higher smartphone component sales.

Demand remained strong for custom boosted amplifiers and smart codecs. Cirrus expects those products to ship across multiple future smartphone generations, supporting its core audio business while research and development resources move toward newer applications.

CRUS HPMS Growth Broadens the Smartphone StoryHigh-Performance Mixed-Signal revenues climbed to $210.7 million from $167.2 million a year earlier and represented 46% of quarterly sales. Development remains active across a next-generation camera controller, a smart power integrated circuit for 3D sensing and additional battery and power products.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 23%, led by industrial, data center and automotive demand. Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI - Free Report) posted 37% fiscal second-quarter revenue growth across all end markets. Those results provide broader mixed-signal demand context as Cirrus works to expand beyond its mobile concentration.

Cirrus Logic's Q2 Outlook Turns MixedFor the fiscal second quarter, Cirrus expects revenues of $510-$570 million. The $540 million midpoint implies 17% sequential growth but a 4% year-over-year decline, creating a tougher comparison after the June-quarter performance.

The outlook will test whether higher smartphone content and newer products can produce sustained growth beyond seasonal improvement. Weaker fiscal 2027 PC expectations also reduce one near-term diversification driver.

CRUS Spending and Wafer Benefits Shape MarginsGAAP gross margin is projected at 52%-54%. The range includes a temporary benefit from favorably priced wafers purchased under prior agreements with GlobalFoundries, with that tranche expected to largely sell through during the quarter.

Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected at $140-$146 million, up from $135.4 million in the first quarter. Full-year operating expenses are also expected to rise as Cirrus increases research and development investment.

Cirrus Logic's PC Delays Shift Growth to 2027Management lowered fiscal 2027 PC revenue expectations because of constrained supply of a key industry platform, memory and component shortages and delayed model introductions. The company characterized those issues as timing-related rather than a change in the underlying opportunity.

Customer interest in Cirrus' low-power smart codec for AI-enabled PCs remained strong, with multiple designs targeted for calendar 2027. Several customers also announced PCs based on NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform that are expected to ship later in 2026 with Cirrus amplifiers and codecs.

CRUS Signals Temper the Post-Earnings ReadThe earnings beat and HPMS expansion support the longer-term product story, but the fiscal second-quarter year-over-year decline, higher spending and delayed PC growth keep the near-term setup cautious. New content will need to translate into steadier growth.

CRUS currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). It has a Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B, while its Value Score is C. The B scores indicate favorable characteristics in several styles, but Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank. With the Rank at #5, the near-term signal remains unfavorable despite the strong first-quarter results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways UMB Financial hit a new high as loan, deposit and fee-income growth support its expansion.Hancock Whitney's growth strategy targets Florida and Texas while supporting modest NIM expansion.East West Bancorp raised its 2026 NII growth outlook to 7-9% amid robust loan growth. Investors often view a fresh 52-week high as a sign of strong price momentum. When a stock reaches a new yearly peak, it can indicate sustained investor confidence and attract additional market participants looking to capitalize on the upward trend.

U.S. bank stocks have been gaining momentum amid an increasingly supportive macroeconomic backdrop, helping UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF - Free Report) , Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC - Free Report) and East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC - Free Report) hit fresh 52-week highs on Friday.

What Cheered Investors?The rally reflects a combination of company-specific strength and improving sentiment toward the broader economy. Recent inflation data have offered some reassurance on the price front. The Consumer Price Index rose just 0.1% in July, whereas annual inflation moderated to 3.4% from 3.5% in June. The easing in underlying inflationary pressures has helped temper concerns about another near-term rate hike.

Meanwhile, the broader economy continues to expand. The U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, following 2.1% growth in the first quarter, with consumer spending and investment contributing to the expansion. Continued economic growth is generally conducive to healthy loan demand and credit performance, providing another supportive backdrop for lenders.

At its July meeting, the Federal Reserve kept the interest rate steady at 3.50-3.75%, noting that economic activity continued to expand at a solid pace even as inflation remained above its 2% objective. Against this backdrop, moderating inflation, coupled with continued economic growth, has strengthened expectations that policymakers can afford to keep rates steady rather than tighten monetary policy further. 

Despite the softer inflation data, longer-term Treasury yields remain elevated. This, alongside relatively stable short-term policy rates, can support asset yields and provide opportunities for banks to improve spreads as funding costs stabilize or reprice more slowly. This, in turn, could offer support to net interest income (NIM) and margins, although the impacts will vary depending on individual banks' balance-sheet and deposit mixes. Together, easing underlying inflation, a steady Fed policy stance, elevated longer-term rates and continued economic expansion have helped improve investor sentiment toward the banking sector.

Against such a constructive industry backdrop, banks like UMBF, HWC and EWBC are worth keeping on the radar. Each of the three stocks has gained more than 30% over the past year.

Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
 

With these stocks trading at fresh 52-week highs, the key question is whether they still have room to run. Let us take a closer look at their fundamentals and growth prospects.

UMBF, HWC & EWBC in FocusUMBF Financial provides banking services and asset servicing in the United States. Its banking subsidiary — UMB Bank, National Association — offers banking, asset management, trust, credit card and cash-management services to commercial, retail, government and correspondent-bank customers.

The company continues to benefit from revenue strength, aided by rising loan and deposit balances, along with diversified fee income.  In January 2025, the Heartland Financial USA acquisition added $9.8 billion in loans and $14.3 billion in deposits. Management noted that loan and deposit pipelines remain broad-based across markets, which, along with continued realization of integration synergies, is expected to support balance sheet growth going forward. Stabilizing funding costs and healthy loan demand are expected to support net interest income expansion.

UMB Financial has been shifting its business mix toward fee-based revenues to reduce its dependence on spread income. Management noted that pipelines remain active across fund services, corporate trust and private wealth, which is expected to support continued growth in fee-based income.
UMBF enjoys a solid liquidity position. Its cash and interest-bearing due from banks is $6.4 billion and debt (comprising short-term and long-term debt) is $4.1 billion. 

At present, UMBF Financial carries a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings indicates growth of 16.4% and 4.6% for 2026 and 2027, respectively. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Earnings Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

UMBF hit a 52-week high, touching $152.48 before closing the session at $152.04 on Friday.

Hancock Whitney is a bank and financial holding company. It operates through 182 full-service bank branches and 226 automated teller machines across Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Texas. 

HWC remains focused on a multi-year strategy that combines organic investment with targeted acquisitions. The company’s organic plan includes adding revenue-generating associates (already hired 42 net new bankers in the first half of 2026 against a full-year goal of 50) and expanding in Florida and Texas. In May, the company agreed to acquire OFB Bancshares, Inc., broadening its presence in Orlando, Jacksonville and the Florida Panhandle. Hancock Whitney plans to combine OFB’s local relationships with its broader platform and expanded private banking and fee-income capabilities, supported by the 2025 Sabal Trust acquisition. These initiatives should support sustained revenue growth and deepen full-relationship banking across higher-growth markets.

Higher securities yields, asset repricing and the acquired deposit base should help the company’s NIM, although the benefit from lower rates on maturing certificates of deposit is expected to diminish. Assuming a flat-rate environment, management expects modest NIM expansion in the second half of 2026.

HWC maintains a decent liquidity profile. As of June 30, 2026, Hancock Whitney had total debt of $1.76 billion (most of which consisted of short-term borrowings). At the end of the second quarter of 2026, the company had $29.6 billion in deposits, with non-interest-bearing balances representing 35% of the total deposits, while brokered deposits were at zero.

At present, HWC carries a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings indicates growth of 12.6% and 12.3% for 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Earnings Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Hancock Whitney hit a 52-week high, touching $80.13 before closing the session at $79.78 on Friday.

East West Bancorp is the bank holding company for East West Bank. Incorporated in 1998, the company serves as a financial bridge between the United States and China by providing various consumer and commercial banking services to the Asian-American community.

East West Bancorp is focused on its organic growth strategy. Supported by continued loan growth and deposit repricing, the company’s NII is expected to continue to improve. Down-rate protection hedge programs, rising interest-earning assets and a continued focus on acquiring low-cost deposits are expected to offer support. Robust loan growth and hedge programs are expected to aid East West Bancorp’s revenues. Assuming flat rates, management has raised its NII outlook to 7-9% year-over-year growth in 2026 (up from the prior stated 6-8% rally). The company expects period-end loans to increase 6-8% this year.

East West Bancorp’s non-interest income has been consistently improving over the past few years. As management expects steady growth in deposits and loans through sustained client acquisition, the company’s fee income is likely to get a boost via deposit account fees and lending fees.
The company has a solid balance sheet position. As of June 30, 2026, it had total debt (comprising Federal Home Loan Bank advances and long-term debt and finance lease liabilities) of $3.03 billion, while cash and cash equivalents were $5.10 billion. 

At present, EWBC carries a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings indicates growth of 11.8% and 6.5% for 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Earnings Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

EWBC hit a 52-week high, touching $137.31 before closing the session at $136.60 on Friday.

Investors of social media company Reddit (RDDT -5.27%) received great news last week: it will be joining the S&P 500 index on Aug. 18. The index includes the top companies on U.S. markets. For a stock to make it onto the index, it's a sign of its size, success, and profitability.

Shares of Reddit jumped on the news last week. However, on a year-to-date basis, they're still down 23%. At around $178, they're also roughly 37% below their 52-week high of $282.95. Could this news send them soaring back to those levels?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why Reddit's stock could rally further on this news It's a big deal for a stock to be added to the S&P 500. Many funds track the index, and when a stock is added to it, they have to buy it to ensure they match its composition. Thus, there will be new purchases of the stock, potentially lifting its share price in the process.

Many investors buy S&P 500 index funds as a way to gain exposure to the overall market, as it gives them diversification across many sectors. Stocks that get added to the index usually experience increases in their share prices afterward. Reddit, which has been having a lackluster year in 2026, may have more room to rise higher in the near term.

Today's Change

(

-5.27

%) $

-9.39

Current Price

$

168.71

Is Reddit's stock a good buy right now? At around $34 billion in market cap, Reddit isn't fairly large when it comes to the tech sector. The company is, however, experiencing tremendous growth and may grow significantly more over the years.

In its most recent quarter, which went up until the end of June, it grew its revenue by an impressive 61%, totaling $805 million. And it generated a strong profit of $253 million, which was 31% of its top line.

At more than 41 times earnings, its valuation isn't terribly cheap, but for the growth it's experiencing and potential it possesses to become much larger in the future, it may be justifiable. Although millions of users rely on chatbots for answers these days, there are concerns about their trustworthiness and reliability, and Reddit's online communities may offer more value for people seeking balanced options. That's why I'm not concerned about the business, as it may remain a popular destination for users.

While the social media stock may not surge back to its 52-week high right away, as that would involve a significant rally, it can be a great buy for investors today, as it has plenty of upside in both the short term and over the long haul.

Key Takeaways GE Vernova's backlog reached $176 billion as orders surged 88% organically to $24.2 billion.Gas backlog and slot reservations rose to 116 GW, while data-center orders topped $5 billion year to date.GE Vernova's Q2 revenues grew 22%, while adjusted EBITDA rose 62% and free cash flow reached $5.1 billion. GE Vernova Inc. (GEV - Free Report) has entered into latter half of 2026 with a robust backlog that strengthens its revenue outlook. As electricity consumption continues to rise, growing demand for the company’s power-generation and grid technologies is translating into a stronger order pipeline and greater visibility into future business performance.

The company ended the second quarter of 2026 with a $176-billion backlog, up $13 billion sequentially, while orders increased 88% organically to $24.2 billion. Power and Electrification led the gains, reflecting accelerating demand for generation and grid infrastructure.

The strength of GE Vernova’s Power business is particularly notable. Gas equipment backlog and slot reservation agreements increased from 100 gigawatt (GW) to 116 GW, and management expects at least 125 GW by year-end. Electrification continues to benefit from grid investment and data-center demand, with data-center orders exceeding $5 billion year to date.

The company’s backlog expansion is already being accompanied by stronger financial results. GE Vernova generated $11.1 billion of revenues in the second quarter, up 22% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA increased 62% to $1.25 billion. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 11.3% from 8.5% a year earlier. Free cash flow reached $5.1 billion in the quarter compared with just $194 million in the second quarter of 2025.

With electricity consumption, grid investment and generation requirements creating structural opportunities across its portfolio, the company’s growing backlog could remain one of its most important drivers of revenue and earnings growth over the next several years.

Companies Benefiting From the TrendThe broader industry is experiencing a similar investment cycle. U.S. utilities are increasing capital spending as data centers, industrial activity and electrification drive electricity demand.

Southern Company (SO - Free Report) : The company is positioned to benefit from rising electricity demand in its service territories and continued investment in generation and grid infrastructure.

Entergy Corporation (ETR - Free Report) : Its service territories include areas experiencing industrial and data-center-related load growth, creating opportunities for additional generation and grid investment.

Earnings Estimates for GEVThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates an increase of 74.11% and that for 2027 EPS implies a decline of 21.2% year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GEV Stock Trading at a PremiumGEV is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 39.79X compared with the industry average of 25.39X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GEV Stock’s Price PerformanceIn the past six months, the company’s shares have risen 30% against the industry’s 4.2% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Oklo (OKLO -0.56%), a developer of microreactors, completed its construction of Groves One, its pilot isotope-production reactor, in just 229 days this June. CEO Jacob DeWitte subsequently claimed Oklo would build its reactors at a "world record speed" in the U.S. to serve the soaring energy demands of the AI boom and American manufacturing.

Oklo's deployment of Groves One wasn't the fastest in history, since a few small reactors were deployed even faster during the early Atomic Age and Cold War. Still, it marked the fastest U.S. non-military reactor build under modern environmental and Department of Energy (DOE) regulations. Let's see why that's a bright green flag for Oklo's investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

The first major step toward its first commercial deployments Oklo's Aurora microreactor is tiny compared to a conventional nuclear reactor. It generates just 1.5 MWe, but it can be connected to more microreactors to generate up to 75 MWe per "Powerhouse" plant. That's not much power compared to a conventional nuclear power plant, which typically generates more than 1,000 MWe. Still, Oklo's smaller plants are well-suited for rapid deployments in remote and off-grid areas.

The Aurora runs on metallic uranium fuel pellets, which are denser, have higher thermal resistance, and are cheaper to fabricate than the uranium dioxide fuel pellets used in traditional reactors. By processing its pellets in a closed loop, its reactors can last for a decade without refueling. Conventional reactors are refueled in stages every two years.

Today's Change

(

-0.56

%) $

-0.25

Current Price

$

44.13

Oklo's microreactors sound like a game changer for the nuclear energy market, but they haven't been commercially deployed yet. It plans to start generating meaningful revenue after it deploys its first commercial reactors in Idaho in 2027, but it needs to pass a few crucial tests first.

Last month, Oklo received a Startup Authorization (to load nuclear fuel and start testing) from the DOE following a safety and operation readiness review. On Aug. 5, the Groves Isotope Test Reactor achieved criticality (a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction) for the first time.

But is Oklo's stock worth buying today? Oklo's progress is encouraging, but it wasn't flawless. It actually missed the DOE's initial target for achieving criticality by July 4, while four other microreactor developers -- Antares, Valar Atomics, Deployable Energy, and Aalo Atomics -- met that deadline.

Assuming Oklo successfully deploys its first commercial reactors, analysts expect Oklo's revenue to surge from nothing in 2025 to $55 million in 2028. But with a market cap of $8.3 billion, it's already valued at 149 times its 2028 sales. It's also expected to stay unprofitable, and its share count has risen by more than 50% since its public debut in May 2024. Those issues make Oklo's stock a bit too hot to handle in this volatile market.

Prediction markets traders still see Paramount Skydance as likely to succeed in its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, but a battle in court with 12 state attorneys general is increasing the chances that the merger falls through. 

Traders on prediction market platform Kalshi think that there's a 74% likelihood that Paramount will acquire Warner Bros. by July 2027, while there are 22% odds that a deal doesn't go through by that date. 

Before California and 11 other states sued to block the merger on July 13, odds Paramount would succeed in acquiring the company were over 80%. However, the likelihood the merger would be successful fell to as low as 66% on July 24 when Paramount announced it would delay the acquisition to 2027.

On Kalshi, speculators are asked in the market who will successfully take over Warner Bros. before July 2027, and contracts are resolved from news reports, official press releases and or government filings.

Meanwhile, on platform Polymarket, odds are a similar 23% that no acquisition succeeds by June 30, 2027. The contracts on Polymarket are resolved using a consensus of reporting. 

The merger's termination date is March 4, 2027, and that date automatically extends to June 4, 2027 if only regulatory obstacles remain. 

A federal judge set a March 2027 trial date for the states' lawsuit. Paramount said before the date was announced that it wouldn't complete the acquisition until court rules on the states' claims or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. If the deal doesn't close by Sept. 30, Paramount will owe 25 cents per share, per quarter to Warner Bros. shareholders until the transaction is finalized. 

Last week, the Directors Guild of America and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees wrote a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta — who has taken the lead in the states' case against the merger — and Paramount CEO David Ellison, calling on them to negotiate a solution or push to move the start date of the trial earlier to avoid prolonged uncertainty. 

Disclosure: CNBC and Kalshi have a commercial relationship that includes customer acquisition and a minority investment.

Key Takeaways Uber and Pony AI plan to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe, including Zagreb.The partnership combines Pony AI's Level 4 technology with Uber's global mobility platform.Uber's partnership model supports robotaxi expansion without developing or owning every vehicle. Uber Technologies (UBER - Free Report) and Chinese company Pony AI (PONY - Free Report) have expanded their strategic partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 Pony AI robotaxis across Europe. The collaboration will extend beyond the forthcoming commercial service on Uber’s platform in Zagreb to four additional European cities. Rollout details will be disclosed in phases, while the broader agreement also covers planned deployments in the Middle East.

The agreement provides a clearer route to commercial scale for PONY’s joint-deployment model, which combines Level 4 autonomous-driving technology, a major mobility platform and daily fleet management. Technology providers, platform operators and fleet partners can work together within each market, with some participants potentially performing multiple roles. Vehicle ownership and financing arrangements may vary by location.

Pony AI will contribute its Level 4 technology and the passenger-experience and operational expertise gained from several large-scale robotaxi deployments. Uber will provide access to customers through its global mobility platform, including booking, payments and customer support, alongside the expanding network of human drivers. Established local partners selected for individual markets may manage everyday fleet operations.

The Chinese company already runs paid, fully driverless robotaxi services across the country’s four tier-one cities. The company has achieved citywide break-even unit economics in several markets, supporting the commercial viability of its model at scale.

The expanded collaboration advances Pony AI’s growth strategy by complementing its entry into new markets with regional-scale fleet deployments. The companies began working together in May 2025, when they announced plans to introduce Pony.ai robotaxis to Uber’s platform internationally. In 2026, they partnered with Croatian mobility company Verne to launch Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, with it acting as the local fleet owner and operator. Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, indicated that the collaboration was intended to create a repeatable commercial model capable of expanding rapidly and reliably between cities.

For Uber, the development could substantially accelerate the robotaxi push without the requirement to develop autonomous driving technology or to own and operate every vehicle itself. Integrating PONY’s proven system with Uber’s customer base, booking infrastructure and local operating network gives the platform a potentially repeatable, asset-flexible approach to entering multiple markets. The planned fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles would also help Uber move beyond isolated trials, increase the availability of autonomous rides and strengthen its position as a central marketplace connecting passengers with both human-driven and driverless vehicles.

Uber aims to gain a stronghold in the robotaxi market through strategic partnerships. By adopting this approach, Uber has avoided the massive R&D costs of developing autonomous systems in-house. In 2020, Uber sold the self-driving division but retained its focus on becoming the ultimate ride-hailing super app.

In line with its partnership-driven strategy, Uber, in collaboration with another Chinese company, WeRide (WRD - Free Report) , announced earlier this year plans to introduce commercial robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich Region. This move represents their second joint deployment in Europe, coming just weeks after the announcement of a similar initiative in Madrid.

Since December 2024, WeRide and Uber have introduced robotaxi services across several Middle Eastern markets, including fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as public services in Riyadh. These deployments provide an operational foundation for their European expansion.

UBER’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of UBER have gained in low single digits (% wise) over the past three months. Despite the not-so-impressive performance, UBER’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet-Services industry over the same time frame.

3-Month Price ComparisonImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, UBER trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales of 2.44X. UBER trades at a discount compared with its industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Uber’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD | AMD Price Prediction) trades at $514.39, with the setup looking balanced. The AI accelerator thesis is real, but the stock already reflects most of it. Chase Coleman’s Tiger Global cut NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) while adding AMD and SpaceX reframes AMD as the marginal AI trade instead of the incumbent bet.

AMD chases Nvidia in accelerators while gaining share in server CPUs. Shares are up 140.19% year to date and 184.27% over the past year, powered by a Data Center segment that now represents 58% of total revenue, up from 42% a year ago. Tiger Global’s swap into AMD out of mega-cap incumbents signals that AMD’s forward risk/reward beats stocks already priced for perfection.

Why the Bulls Are Piling In Q2 was a genuine inflection. Revenue hit $11.5 billion, up 50% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $6.7 billion, up 107%. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 56%, and Q3 guidance points to roughly $13 billion in revenue, up 41% at the midpoint.

The catalyst list is stacked. AMD announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic to deploy up to 2 gigawatts of MI450 series GPUs in Helios, plus expanded Microsoft deployment of Helios on Azure. Lisa Su told investors AMD now expects data center segment revenue to more than double year-over-year in 2027, and to significantly exceed our $20 annual EPS target within our strategic timeframe.

Sell-side agrees: 41 of 51 analysts rate the stock Buy or Strong Buy, with a $612.84 target price.

Why the Bears Say the Ramp Is in the Price Valuation is extreme. AMD trades at a trailing P/E near 132 and a forward P/E of 69, with a price-to-sales ratio of 20. Return on equity sits at just 10.2%, thin for a hypergrowth story.

Nvidia’s Data Center revenue dwarfs AMD’s entire company. China export controls, a Gaming segment down 31% year over year, and free cash flow pressure from surging capex compound the challenge. The bear case: the H2 execution bar is unforgiving.

Why Patience May Be the Smarter Trade AMD beat Q2 by 3.06% yet fell 7.04% on the day. Shares are off 2.79% over the past month even after a 6.42% weekly bounce. Options positioning is neutral, with a full-chain put/call ratio of 0.59.

The Helios ramp is the swing factor. Initial shipments begin Q3 2026, ramping through Q4 into 2027. Investors need one clean quarter of execution before rerating higher.

The Numbers Behind the Verdict AMD trades at $514.39 against an average analyst target of $612.84, implying meaningful upside if targets hold. Coverage is broad, with 51 analysts tracking the name and sentiment overwhelmingly positive.

AMD’s 140.19% year-to-date gain outpaces Nvidia’s advance year to date. AMD has already done the catch-up trade Tiger Global was buying.

The Verdict on AMD at $514 At $514.39, the risk/reward on AMD looks balanced.

The bull case requires flawless execution. Helios shipments must ramp on schedule in Q4, Data Center margins must hold at 56%, and Anthropic gigawatt deployments must convert on time in H1 2027. Any slip resets the stock quickly, as the Q2 earnings-day drawdown showed.

AMD’s customer list, which includes OpenAI, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Anthropic, and Microsoft, blunts the bear case for a short. Server CPU share gains continue, embedded is recovering with more than $18 billion of new design wins tracking this year, and MI450 pull runs ahead of internal forecasts.

Investors are watching the Q3 report against the $13 billion guide, confirmation on Helios shipments, and whether valuation resets closer to the forward multiple. A stock up 184% in a year leaves little room for execution slippage.

The story remains intact; the next quarter will help set the price.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) stock traded lower on Monday as structural headwinds from its second-quarter guidance continued to depress the share price. The decline comes despite a brief lift last Thursday following disclosures from Pershing Square Capital Management.

The Nasdaq is up 0.14% while the S&P 500 has shed 0.15% and Communication Services is down 0.7%.

• Netflix stock is facing resistance. Why is NFLX stock retreating?

Pershing Square Discloses New PositionBillionaire investor Bill Ackman re-entered Netflix, acquiring 3.15 million shares. The new position makes up 4.9% of Pershing Square’s portfolio. Ackman previously exited Netflix in 2022 with a $400 million loss after purchasing over $1 billion in stock at $400 per share and selling at $225 per share.

Pershing Square stated that “Netflix has since effectively won the streaming wars” and noted the stock’s “current valuation multiple represents a substantial discount.”

Second-Quarter Revenue Misses EstimatesOn July 16, Netflix reported second-quarter revenue of $12.56 billion, missing the Street consensus estimate of $12.59 billion despite rising 13% year-over-year. UCAN revenue hit $5.43 billion (+10%), EMEA reached $4.03 billion (+14%), LATAM generated $1.58 billion (+21%) and APAC totaled $1.51 billion (+16%).

Read Next

Earnings per share came in at 80 cents, beating the Street estimate of 79 cents. View hours grew 2% year-over-year in the first half of 2026. Live programming accounted for 5% of 2026 content spend and 1% of view hours, while ad-related revenue remains on track to top $3 billion for 2026.

Soft Guidance Triggers PressureMarket sentiment remains tied to conservative forward guidance. Netflix projects third-quarter revenue of $12.86 billion (12% year-over-year growth), falling below Street estimates of $13.01 billion.

Latest Private Market Opportunities

Join 400,000+ Investors

Expected third-quarter earnings of 82 cents per share also lag behind the Street consensus of 84 cents. Additionally, Netflix narrowed its full-year revenue outlook to $51 billion–$51.40 billion from $50.70 billion–$51.70 billion, compared to the Street estimate of $51.41 billion.

NetFlix Technical Levels to WatchFrom a trend perspective, Netflix is trying to stabilize in the short term, trading above its 20-day SMA ($73.25) and 50-day SMA ($74.75), but it remains 7.9% below its 100-day SMA ($83.54) and 13.6% below its 200-day SMA ($89.04). That "short-term bounce inside a longer-term downtrend" setup often creates choppy tape, especially with the 20-day SMA still below the 50-day SMA (a bearish alignment).

Key Resistance: $78.50 Key Support: $71 NFLX Stock Price Activity: Netflix shares were down 2.14% at $76.49 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Read Next

Image via Shutterstock

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

The retail giant Target (TGT -0.93%) doesn't want to be left behind in the artificial intelligence revolution. To keep up with the ever-evolving technology landscape, the company has hired its first-ever Chief AI Officer, Chandhu Nair. The hope is that Nair will develop a cohesive AI strategy to boost Target's growth and improve operational efficiency.

The main responsibilities of the role will be to tie together Target's AI initiatives to improve the shopping experience and more efficiently manage inventory. Target has had a rough few years amid declining foot traffic and consumer backlash regarding DEI policies.

Image source: Getty Images.

Target has already begun investing in generative AI tools, including Target Trend Brain, which can identify future style, color, and material trends. Target also launched an AI chat assistant last holiday season that helped shoppers find gifts.

Today's Change

(

-0.93

%) $

-1.44

Current Price

$

153.04

Rivals such as Walmart (WMT -0.56%) are also investing in AI, so Target needs a smart strategy to keep pace.

This is all part of a greater effort to turn around a struggling Target. The company's multi-year strategy includes up to $5 billion in investments to improve growth through modernization. Target's stock has rebounded substantially in 2026, up more than 55% as of this writing. Still, over five years, the stock is down 40%. In the first-quarter earnings report, Target reported a 6.7% increase in net sales, well above company expectations.

The turnaround thus far seems to be working, and appointing a Chief AI Officer should expedite the strategy. If Nair is successful in his endeavor, I'd expect the Target turnaround to not only continue but perhaps accelerate as we head into the holiday shopping season.

Catie Hogan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

ExxonMobil (XOM +1.13%) technically missed Wall Street's expectations for the second quarter. Adjusted earnings came in at $3.52 per share, just below the consensus estimate of $3.60. That was enough to trigger a negative reaction. But focusing only on the earnings miss overlooks what was arguably one of ExxonMobil's strongest operating quarters in years.

The company reported $14.5 billion in earnings and $14.7 billion in adjusted earnings, its highest quarterly earnings in roughly four years. ExxonMobil also generated $23.6 billion in cash flow from operations and $17.2 billion in free cash flow, giving it plenty of room to continue investing in growth while returning cash to shareholders.

Operations continue to improve Perhaps the most encouraging numbers weren't on the income statement at all. Exxon delivered its highest upstream production in more than two decades, excluding temporary Middle East disruptions. Production in the Permian Basin reached a record 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, while the company's fifth floating production vessel for Guyana is scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter, adding another 250,000 barrels per day of production capacity.

The downstream business also performed well. Exxon reported record diesel production, helping offset refinery maintenance earlier in the year. Chemical products earned $1.13 billion, while the Energy Products segment rebounded sharply to $5.47 billion after posting a loss during the previous quarter.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

All about the cash One reason Exxon continues separating itself from many competitors is its ability to generate cash across a wide range of commodity prices. During the quarter, the company returned $9.4 billion to shareholders through $4.3 billion in dividends and $5.1 billion in share repurchases. It also reduced net debt by approximately $7 billion, further strengthening an already healthy balance sheet.

Today's Change

(

1.13

%) $

1.79

Current Price

$

160.86

Meanwhile, management continues investing heavily in future production. Year-to-date capital expenditures reached $13 billion, supporting growth in the Permian Basin, Guyana, LNG projects, and higher-value chemical businesses. Exxon also says its cumulative structural cost savings have now reached $16.3 billion, exceeding the combined savings reported by its international oil major peers.

Looking beyond one quarter The earnings miss largely reflected factors that were difficult for analysts to model, including volatile commodity prices, refinery maintenance, and temporary production disruptions in the Middle East. CFO Neil Hansen said the company's underlying business remained strong despite those short-term headwinds.

Quarterly earnings estimates can fluctuate by a few cents for any number of reasons. But production growth, free cash flow, balance-sheet strength, and capital allocation are much better indicators of long-term performance. And Exxon appears to be executing well on all four.

The company continues to expand production from some of the world's lowest-cost oil assets, generate significant cash flow, reduce debt, and return billions of dollars to shareholders. Those are the numbers that ultimately determine long-term value. Yes, the earnings miss may have spooked some investors, but the company's underlying operating performance remains solid.

huettenhoelscher/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

McDonald's adds energy drinks for first time. (0:15) L3Harris CEO steps down over conduct. (1:01) Big Tech has $3T in off-balance-sheet commitments. (1:29)

This is an abridged transcript of the podcast:

Our top story so far, from Happy Meals to Hyper Meals.

McDonald's (MCD) officially added energy drinks to its menu for the first time today with the debut of its new Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer.

The energy drink is made with Red Bull, blue raspberry flavoring and freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces. Customers can also order a reduced-sugar option with Red Bull Zero or a regular 8.4-ounce Red Bull can.

A Citi survey showed that 60% of energy beverage consumption at restaurants and coffee shops is incremental. Meanwhile, 49% of respondents said an energy drink purchased at a restaurant would replace one purchased elsewhere.

And 74% of respondents are very or somewhat interested in purchasing energy drinks from a restaurant or coffee shop, including 44% who are very interested.

Morgan Stanley thinks the energy drink platform could be a "swing factor" for McDonald's investors to watch in the second half of the year.

Among active stocks, L3Harris Technologies (LHX) is lower after Chairman and CEO Christopher Kubasik stepped down over conduct that was "not consistent" with the company's values. But L3Harris stressed the departure was not related to its financials or operations.

Wells Fargo upgraded Okta (OKTA) to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing signs of improving demand and execution in its core business.

Analyst Richard Poland said the company's focus on large enterprises, including adding capacity and expanding partnerships, is "bearing fruit."

And nine big tech companies have around $3T in off-balance-sheet commitments, mostly tied to AI infrastructure, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The paper looked at expenses at Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Meta (META), Oracle (ORCL), Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Broadcom (AVGO), SpaceX (SPCX) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) that aren't reflected on their balance sheets but instead appear in the footnotes of their most recent securities filings.

The items include obligations under outstanding leases, long-term borrowings and purchase commitments. And they're growing faster than traditional capex.

In other news of note, popular ice cream maker Rebel Creamery has filed for bankruptcy less than one month after losing a lawsuit against rival Van Leeuwen over trademark rights.

The privately owned company built its identity around low-carb, high-fat products with no added sugar.

Van Leeuwen sued Rebel in April 2021, alleging that Rebel’s packaging copied its distinctive pastel, monochromatic look and black-script branding.

And the first-ever electric car manufactured by Ferrari (RACE) was sold at Sotheby's for $40M -- a new vehicle auction record.

Ferrari filled its entire 2026 allocation of just under 500 Ferrari Luce cars in less than two months after its May launch, despite a base price around $640K and mixed public reactions to its design.

And in the Wall Street Research Corner, space is moving from the final frontier to an institutional asset class, as falling launch costs, private investment and public-market funding reshape the orbital economy.

In a report titled "The Second Space Age," Goldman Sachs said space is becoming “a new pillar of the industrial economy,” with its own supply chains, infrastructure nodes and points of concentration where economic power can accumulate.

The global space-based economy (NASA) (UFO) is forecast to reach $1.8T by 2035. More than $55B was invested into the space ecosystem in 2025, while the first quarter of 2026 posted a record $36B of investment.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Oil has become one of the clearest financial beneficiaries of the Iran war — and one of the biggest headaches for American drivers. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy shipments, remains effectively closed, with little tanker traffic moving through the waterway. 

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is above $82 a barrel and Brent is above $88, compared with roughly $73 Brent before the war. The result has been a windfall for Big Oil. Bloomberg reported in July that combined earnings for the five supermajors were on track to be the third-highest in history, while several companies have already reported profits more than double a year ago.

Exxon And Chevron Are Already Cashing In Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM | XOM Price Prediction) reported $14.5 billion of second-quarter profit, up from $7.1 billion a year earlier. Chevron (NYSE:CVX) reported $12.1 billion, compared with $3.1 billion. Together, they generated roughly $26.6 billion in quarterly earnings.

Both companies are integrated — meaning they produce crude, refine it into gasoline and diesel, and market those products. That matters when a geopolitical shock disrupts the entire energy chain.

Chevron’s upstream earnings jumped to $8.2 billion, while downstream earnings reached $4.9 billion. Exxon generated $17.2 billion of free cash flow and returned $9.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.

Their stocks reflect that strength, with Exxon and Chevron both up 33% year-to-date. Neither, though, is at its March peak, leaving room for further gains if crude prices remain elevated.

While American drivers face $4 at the pump, two oil giants just pocketed a combined $26.6 billion by turning global chaos into a record-breaking windfall. War Escalation Could Raise Gas Prices Further Trump has repeatedly accused oil companies of gouging consumers, singling out Exxon, Chevron, BP (NYSE:BP), and Shell (NYSE:SHEL), and demanding lower prices. In June, he said gasoline should be $2.25 a gallon and ordered a Justice Department investigation into potential price gouging.

However, Exxon and Chevron don’t simply choose the price posted at every gas station. Local competition, regional supply, refining margins, transportation costs, and crude prices all influence what motorists pay.

AAA’s national average was about $4.06 a gallon this morning, versus $3.98 a month earlier and $3.11 a year ago. Gasoline had been below $3 before the Iran war began. Notably, widening the war could make Trump’s price problem worse.

Trump has repeatedly extended the truce to give negotiations with Iran more time. Yet Iran continues threatening shipping through Hormuz, and Reuters reported today that Tehran is considering a shift to a “fully offensive” posture if diplomacy fails.

Now Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of peace talks. Oman is a U.S. ally and has been mediating between Washington and Tehran.

The Bigger Risk For Investors An attack on Oman would introduce another Middle Eastern country into the conflict. If other Gulf states that have so far remained outside the fighting begin choosing sides, the market could price an even larger supply disruption.

That would be bullish for Exxon and Chevron’s upstream businesses and potentially their refining operations. But investors shouldn’t assume every additional $10 in crude translates directly into another $10 billion of profit. Demand can weaken, refining margins can reverse, and a peace deal reopening Hormuz could send oil prices sharply lower. Brent crude is already well below its $126 wartime peak.

Key Takeaway In short, Exxon and Chevron are unusually well positioned for a prolonged oil shock because their integrated businesses can capture profits from production through refining and marketing. Another escalation could push quarterly earnings above their already massive Q2 totals — but investors shouldn’t chase the stocks solely on the prospect of war.

The better thesis is that Exxon and Chevron have demonstrated they can convert elevated crude and refining margins into billions of dollars of cash. If Hormuz remains closed, that cash machine could keep running. If peace finally reopens the strait, the windfall can disappear almost as quickly as it arrived.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Nordson's Q3 revenues are expected to rise 5.1%, while adjusted EPS is projected to increase 13.2%.Industrial Precision Solutions may benefit from demand in coating, polymer processing and packaging.Advanced Technology Solutions is expected to gain from healthy demand for electronics dispense systems. Nordson Corporation (NDSN - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended July 31) results on Aug. 19, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter earnings has remained steady in the past 60 days. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history, having outperformed the consensus estimate in each of the preceding four quarters. The average surprise was 2.3%.

The consensus estimate for fiscal third-quarter revenues is pegged at $779 million, suggesting growth of 5.1% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The consensus estimate for adjusted earnings is pinned at $3.09 per share, indicating a 13.2% increase from the year-ago quarter’s number.

Let’s see how things have shaped up for Nordson this earnings season.

Factors to Note Ahead of NDSN’s Q3 ResultsThe Industrial Precision Solutions segment’s results are likely to benefit from growing demand for industrial coating and polymer processing systems. Continued investments in packaging, product assembly and precision agriculture end markets are expected to have boosted revenues. The consensus mark for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $364 million, indicating a 3.7% increase from the year-ago figure.

The Advanced Technology Solutions segment is expected to have benefited on the back of healthy demand for electronics dispense systems. The consensus mark for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $191 million, indicating a 11.7% increase from the year-ago figure.

Increased demand for engineered fluid solutions and medical product lines is likely to have aided the Medical and Fluid Solutions segment in the to-be-reported quarter. The consensus mark for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $224 million, indicating a 2.3% increase from the year-ago figure.

In March 2026, Nordson acquired CapstanAG to strengthen its precision agriculture portfolio and expand its presence in North America. The buyout, which enhanced the company’s portfolio of advanced solutions for fluid management and precision spraying, is expected to have boosted its top line during the quarter.

However, rising costs and operating expenses have been concerns for Nordson for some time now. The impacts of high labor and raw material costs are likely to have affected its margins and profitability. Also, investments associated with product development and growth initiatives are expected to have hurt the company’s performance.

Given the company’s substantial international operations, foreign currency headwinds are likely to have marred its margins and profitability.

Earnings Whispers for NDSNOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for NDSN this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as elaborated below.

Earnings ESP: NDSN has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as both the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at $3.09 per share. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: NDSN presently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performance of Other CompaniesGraco Inc. (GGG - Free Report) posted quarterly earnings of 91 cents per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents per share. This compares with earnings of 75 cents per share a year ago.

Graco posted revenues of $591 million for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3%. This compares with year-ago revenues of $572 million.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.57 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20. The bottom line increased 45.4% year over year.

Stanley Black’s net sales of $3.96 billion beat the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion. The top line increased 0.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 86 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents. The bottom line increased 7.5% year over year.

Total revenues of $2.05 billion beat the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. The top line increased 8.5% year over year.

Peloton Interactive (PTON -3.55%) stock went public in September 2019 priced at $29, but by the end of 2020, it had reached a record-closing high of almost $163. The COVID-19 pandemic fueled a surge in demand for the company's stationary exercise bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, because they helped fitness enthusiasts maintain their workout routines at home.

But lockdowns and social restrictions gradually ended in 2022, and demand for Peloton's exercise equipment subsequently collapsed. The company quickly found itself losing billions of dollars per year because sales fell so sharply, threatening its very survival.

As a result, Peloton stock has plunged by 96% from its peak. But although the company continues to struggle with weak sales, its bottom line has improved significantly. Could this be the ultimate buying opportunity for investors?

Image source: Peloton Interactive.

Let's start with the bad news Peloton's annual revenue peaked at $4 billion in its fiscal 2021 (ended June 30, 2021), led by equipment sales, which accounted for $3.1 billion of that total. Five years later, the company's total revenue was down 40% to just $2.4 billion in fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026), with equipment sales bringing in just $770 million -- less than one third of the total.

There are two reasons for the steep decline in hardware sales. First, demand for Peloton's at-home exercise equipment collapsed after the worst of the pandemic was over, because gyms and other training facilities quickly reopened. Even after tapping into third-party retailers like Amazon and Dick's Sporting Goods, the company has struggled to revive its slumping sales.

Second, Peloton has pivoted toward selling digital subscriptions because they carry higher profit margins than hardware, and these now account for the majority of its revenue.

There is the connected fitness subscription, which allows equipment owners to access virtual classes and performance tracking features. Then there is a separate subscription for the company's mobile app, which can be used by fitness enthusiasts who don't own any Peloton equipment. It provides them with workout plans and other basic features.

Unfortunately, the subscription business isn't doing very well, either. As of June 30, Peloton had 5.5 million connected fitness subscribers, down 8% year over year, and 503,000 app subscribers, down 9%.

With both equipment and subscription sales sputtering, management now expects Peloton to generate somewhere between $2.3 billion and $2.4 billion in revenue during fiscal 2027, representing a decline of 6% at the low end of the range. It would be the sixth straight annual revenue decline since fiscal 2021.

It seems management was caught off guard by the steep decline in equipment demand after fiscal 2021, because they positioned Peloton's costs as if more sales growth was coming. As a result, with more money going out and less money coming in, the company suffered a mind-boggling net loss of $2.8 billion during fiscal 2022.

At that point, Peloton was in a race against time to slash costs, or else it would have run out of cash and potentially not survived. Fortunately, management has turned the ship around in that respect. The company's total operating expenses were just $1.1 billion during fiscal 2026, down 68% from their fiscal 2022 peak of $3.4 billion.

As a result, Peloton just eked out an annual GAAP profit of $63.2 million. After excluding one-off and non-cash expenses like stock-based compensation, it delivered adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $468.2 million. Simply put, the company is no longer at risk of going under -- at least for now.

Should investors buy Peloton stock? The only way Peloton can maintain profitability is by continuing to slash costs, or by finding a way to generate more revenue. Since we know revenue is slated to fall yet again in fiscal 2027, that option might be out the window. Cutting costs is a road to nowhere in the long run, because every time management pulls money away from areas like marketing, it becomes even harder to find new customers and grow sales.

Today's Change

(

-3.55

%) $

-0.20

Current Price

$

5.43

As a result, I think Peloton is in a dangerous spiral that could wind up threatening its viability in the next few years. The company is sitting on over $1.2 billion in cash, so it has some headroom to continue experimenting with different strategies to reignite equipment and subscription sales. However, it's also carrying $944 million in long-term debt, so it doesn't have an endless amount of time to produce results.

In my opinion, it's never a good idea to invest in shrinking businesses because they tend to destroy shareholder value over time, so it might be a good idea to avoid Peloton stock.

Key Takeaways CVS Health's Q2 EPS rose more than 40%, driven mainly by improved Health Care Benefits profitability.CVS' Health Care Benefits AOI improved by more than $2 billion year over year so far in 2026.CVS now expects 2026 Health Care Benefits AOI of $5.03B-$5.37B, over $1B above prior guidance. In the second quarter of 2026, CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.58, up more than 40% from the prior-year quarter. The strong earnings growth was mainly driven by improved adjusted operating income in the Health Care Benefits segment.

The division generated more than $37 billion in revenues, rising more than 3% year over year, as growth in the government business more than offset some of the impact of CVS’ planned exit from the Individual Exchange business in 2026. Medical membership was approximately 26 million at quarter end, flat sequentially but down roughly 700,000 from the prior-year quarter. The decline mainly reflected CVS’ Individual Exchange exit, partly offset by gains in commercial fee-based membership.

Adjusted operating income (AOI) came in at approximately $2.4 billion, while the medical benefit ratio (MBR) was 87.4%. Both improved meaningfully from the prior-year quarter as CVS continued executing its margin recovery plan.

CVS Health is beginning to see the results of actions taken at Aetna over the past two years. The company has strengthened its clinical programs, improved operations and maintained a disciplined approach to cost management and pricing. Those efforts have helped drive more than $2 billion in year-over-year AOI improvement so far this year.

The quarter’s results also included the impact of changes in the Individual Exchange risk adjustment position for the 2025 plan year and favorable prior-year development. These items contributed approximately 140 basis points to the MBR. Even excluding these items, CVS Health’s core performance came in ahead of expectations, driven largely by Medicare, owing to strong medical cost management and disciplined pricing. Medicaid and Commercial businesses performed in line with expectations.

Management now expects Health Care Benefits AOI of $5.03 billion to $5.37 billion for 2026, more than $1 billion above its previous guidance.

Key Developments Among CVS Health’s PeersThe Cigna Group (CI - Free Report) delivered total revenues of $71.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $7.78 in the second quarter of 2026, up 7% and 8.1%, respectively. Specialty and Care Services benefited from secular tailwinds, along with strength at Accredo and its broader specialty pharmacy services. Cigna Healthcare also delivered results ahead of expectations, supported by customer growth in the U.S. employer business, disciplined pricing and execution, including in the stop-loss business.

Walmart (WMT - Free Report) completed the acquisition of Vibe.co, a leading self-service streaming TV advertising platform, earlier this month. The addition will help the company’s U.S. commerce media business, Walmart Connect, bring to market new and distinct ways for advertisers to plan, buy and measure streaming TV advertising. 

CVS’ Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesOver the past year, CVS Health shares have risen 38.4% compared with the industry’s 12.2% growth. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of valuation, CVS shares are trading at a forward sales multiple of 0.29 over the past five years compared with its 0.52 industry average. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Here’s how estimates for the company’s earnings have been shaping up.  

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Third Point’s Dan Loeb opened a brand new stake of 20,000,000 shares of Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD | WBD Price Prediction), valued at $533,200,000, according to the fund’s Q2 2026 13F disclosure. It was the single largest new position Loeb established in the quarter, built from zero. Two other prominent managers joined him. In the same three-month window, David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital and George Soros’s Soros Fund Management were also buyers of Warner Bros. Discovery. Positions are dated as of June 30, 2026 and were filed August 13-14, 2026.

That’s an unusual alignment. Activist, value, and macro schools rarely converge on the same media stock in the same quarter. Warner Bros Discovery is far from a widely held Magnificent 7 stock. Let’s see why some of the biggest names in investing are all piling in.

What Each Manager Did Dan Loeb / Third Point. New position: 20,000,000 shares valued at $533,200,000. Built from zero and Loeb’s largest new bet of the quarter.

David Einhorn / Greenlight Capital. New position: 2,246,180 shares valued at $59,883,158. Also built from zero.

George Soros / Soros Fund Management. Added 396,080 shares to reach 1,488,690 shares, valued $39,688,475.

13F filings disclose long US-listed equity positions only and never state rationale. They’re a snapshot of what funds held on June 30th, so positions could have moved since then.

What’s Actually Happening at WBD WBD sits at the center of the biggest corporate reshuffling in media. The board initiated a review of strategic alternatives and later agreed to a sale to Paramount Skydance. Management said on the Q2 call, “We remain confident that our agreed upon sale to Paramount Skydance will be completed.” The closing is on hold until the earlier of five days after legal proceedings complete or June 1, 2027. A December 2025 Netflix(Nasdaq: NFLX) bid was terminated, with a $2.80 billion Netflix termination fee paid in Q1 2026.

The operating picture is mixed but improving where it counts. Q2 2026 streaming revenue crossed $3 billion for the first time, with Adjusted EBITDA of $512 million and a margin near 17%. GAAP EPS came in at $0.06 versus a consensus of -$0.10. Revenue of $8.72 billion missed by 5.39%, dragged by a 39% ex-FX drop in Studios and NBA-rights loss. Net leverage sits at 3.4x with $29.7 billion net debt. Market cap is roughly $70.17 billion.

The forward slate is loaded: Harry Potter series premiering on HBO Max Christmas Day 2026, plus 2027 tentpoles including a new Batman, Man of Tomorrow, and Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Management is targeting 150 million streaming subscribers by year-end 2026 and a long-term 20%+ streaming Adjusted EBITDA margin.

The Bull Case and the Risks The setup offers multiple structural paths: deal close at a premium, standalone separation, or continued streaming inflection. Shares are up 137.61% over the past year, though still down 2.88% year-to-date at $27.99. The analyst target sits at $29.82.

Then there are the risks. Merger completion is uncertain into mid-2027, domestic linear pay TV subs are declining 10%, and separation costs run roughly $350 million quarterly. Gross debt is $33.1 billion.

The Take Three elite managers buying the same media name in one quarter is a signal worth studying, not a trade to copy blindly. Remember what a 13F is: a 45-day-old snapshot of long US equity positions. Prices have moved since June 30, and none of these managers has explained why they bought. The filings show conviction. The thesis is up to the investor to build.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

On Jim Cramer’s Mad Money on August 14, 2026, Corning (NYSE:GLW | GLW Price Prediction) Chair and CEO Wendell Weeks was asked a question that many retirement-focused shareholders have been asking themselves this year: are tariffs hurting the business? His answer was blunt.

“No. Tariffs really have de minimis impact on us and that’s because of our philosophy,” Weeks said. “You got a sense of that today in the factory we locate close to our customers because the primary way that we win is with innovation.”

The Two Numbers Behind the Claim Weeks then offered the specific figures that anchor the argument: “So as a result, let’s take the U.S. for example. 90% of our U.S. revenue is created by U.S. origin products. Only 1% of what we sell in the United States we make in China. So tariffs, because of our fundamental philosophy and our values tend not to have a significant impact on us.”

Those two figures, attributed to Weeks on the broadcast rather than to a formal company disclosure, are the spine of the case. If 90% of what Corning sells into the United States is made in there, and only 1% of U.S. sales originate from Chinese factories, the surface area exposed to Section 301 duties and the ongoing U.S.-China trade friction is narrow by construction.

A Strategy That Wasn’t Designed as a Tariff Hedge The mechanism Weeks described predates the current tariff cycle. Corning has long placed plants near its largest customers and competed on product innovation rather than low-cost labor arbitrage. That posture shows up in the current customer roster: the Kentucky facility producing 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass, the Nvidia partnership to expand U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing, and the Amazon multi-billion-dollar agreement for U.S. data center fiber, cable, and connectivity. A footprint built for proximity to customers happens to also insulate the company from import duties.

The Gap Between the Stock and the Thesis Cramer’s question was premised on tariffs weighing on the stock even as the underlying business seemed unaffected. The price data reflects that tension. Corning opened at $169.74 as of August 17, 2026, up 9.6% over the prior month, but still up 93.4% year to date and 158.8% over the past year.

The Q2 numbers back Weeks’ operational confidence. Core EPS of $0.78 beat consensus of $0.75, Optical Communications revenue rose 32% year over year to $2.07 billion, and core operating margin expanded 190 basis points to 20.9%. Guidance called for Q3 core EPS of $0.85 to $0.89, roughly 28% growth.

For investors weighing tariff risk against fundamentals, the CEO drew the line clearly. Whether the market accepts 90% and 1% as the right frame is what to watch as Corning heads into Q3.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.