Will the explosive growth of a satellite pioneer or the recovery of an aerospace titan yield better results for your portfolio? Investors must weigh AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 1.27%) against Boeing (BA +1.17%) today.
AST SpaceMobile aims to revolutionize global connectivity via space-based cellular broadband for standard smartphones. Meanwhile, Boeing remains a cornerstone of global aviation and national security, manufacturing commercial planes and defense systems. Both companies face high-stakes capital requirements and technical hurdles, making this a classic matchup of growth potential versus industrial scale.
The case for AST SpaceMobileAST SpaceMobile is developing the first space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly to existing mobile devices. The company has secured definitive commercial agreements with major partners like AT&T and Verizon, targeting a global market of nearly 3 billion subscribers. However, having a few massive telecommunications partners means that customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business.
In FY 2025, the company reported revenue of nearly $70.9 million, representing growth of roughly 1,505.2% over the previous year. It reported a net loss of approximately $341.9 million for the same period. This resulted in a net margin of negative 482.2% as the firm builds out its satellite infrastructure to support commercial service.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the company maintained a current ratio of roughly 16.4x. This metric, which indicates the ability to cover short-term liabilities with current assets, shows a healthy liquidity position. The debt-to-equity ratio, comparing total debt to shareholder equity, is approximately 1.2x, while negative free cash flow reached nearly $1.1 billion. Monitoring how quickly firms burn through cash reserves is essential when investing in best small cap tech stocks.
The case for BoeingBoeing operates across commercial airplanes, defense, and space systems, serving a diverse global customer base. Its major customers include commercial airlines and government agencies such as NASA and the U.S. Department of War. The company recently integrated Spirit AeroSystems into its production system to better manage its complex supply chain and quality control requirements.
For FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $89.5 billion, an increase of roughly 34.5% year over year. The company generated a net income of nearly $2.2 billion during this period. This yielded a net margin of approximately 2.5%, marking a return to profitability after several years of significant net losses.
As of the December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is roughly 10.0x, indicating that total liabilities exceed shareholder equity by 10 times. The current ratio is approximately 1.2x. Free cash flow remained negative at nearly $1.9 billion. Note that stock-based compensation accounted for roughly 40.0% of operating cash flow, thereby inflating reported cash generation, since SBC is a non-cash expense.
Risk profile comparisonAST SpaceMobile requires substantial additional capital to expand its satellite constellation, and failure to secure financing could jeopardize its operations. The business also faces intense competition from established players like EchoStar (SATS 0.25%) and private rivals. Furthermore, operations are highly dependent on securing and maintaining critical regulatory licenses from the FCC and international bodies to rollout services.
Boeing faces ongoing production challenges and must adhere to strict FAA quality standards following previous safety accidents. A significant portion of its defense business relies on fixed-price contracts, which can lead to losses if development costs exceed estimates. Additionally, the company is vulnerable to shifts in U.S. government spending and competition from rivals like Lockheed Martin (LMT +1.80%) in the defense space.
Valuation comparisonWhile Boeing trades at a lower forward P/E, which measures price relative to future earnings estimates, AST SpaceMobile commands a premium based on its potential for revenue growth.
MetricAST SpaceMobileBoeingSector BenchmarkForward P/E65.7x52.8x36.4xP/S ratio409.9x1.9xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLK sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
If you’re seeking a highflier, both AST and Boeing present compelling cases. They represent different opportunities and appeal to different types of investors, though. AST is an early-stage company developing new technology and presents an opportunity for high growth. Boeing is a well-established company with multiple businesses and government contracts. Which one is the better investment for 2026?
Here's what makes AST so interesting: It is developing a satellite network that connects directly to standard smartphones, aiming to end “dead zones” not covered by standard land-based repeaters. But then, so are Starlink and other companies, so it’s facing competition. It’s also pre-revenue and investing heavily in its development. While it has great potential, its stock could also be volatile, to say the least.
Boeing is a diversified aerospace and defense giant. It has businesses in commercial aviation and space, and contracts with the U.S. government. Diversification is good for investors and can also be a major stability factor for a company. It has faced recent challenges from debt, production, and regulatory issues, but it still offers growth potential.
Aggressive investors, or those with a high risk tolerance, may find AST’s enormous potential appealing. But for those looking for a more established company with diversified operations and turnaround upside, Boeing is the stronger option, and the one I would choose.
Following a stellar first half of the year, stocks are trading higher as July gets underway. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index (RUT) hit a record high as it heads for its sixth straight win, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is up triple digits. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) are both in the black, though a sharp drop in chip stocks is keeping gains in check. Meanwhile, Chairman Kevin Warsh didn't hint at monetary policy during his remarks at the European Central Bank (ECB) conference in Portugal, though he did note "prices are way too high."
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
Guggenheim upgrades two beaten-down software stocks. Bloom Energy expands partnership to move the AI infrastructure needle. Plus, options traders eye Nike stock after earnings, META surges on cloud infrastructure buzz; and NBIS suffers a slide.
Options traders are targeting Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) today, after the athletic apparel retailer posted better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, but a notable decline in sales in China. So far, NKE has seen 157,000 calls and 106,000 puts exchanged, which is quadruple the options volume typically seen at this point. The March 55 call is the most popular, with new positions being bought to open there. At last look, NKE was reversing its early-morning losses, up 3.9% at $42.65.
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) is surging, last seen up 10.7% at $623.35, after news that the tech giant is developing plans for a cloud infrastructure business that will sell access to AI computing power and models. The 100-day moving average has kept a lid on gains so far, with the equity down 6% year to date.
Nebius Group NV (NASDAQ:NBIS) is falling sharply after Meta Platforms' announcement, down 15.8% at $232.43 at last glance. Falling further from its June 22 record high of $299.86, the AI cloud stock still has support at the 40-day moving average. Since the start of the year, NBIS is up 187%.
Nike’s NYSE: NKE fiscal Q4 2026 revenue and earnings beat were much needed, suggesting its recovery has begun to take hold.
NIKE Today
$42.40 +1.35 (+3.28%)
As of 03:14 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$40.00▼
$80.17Dividend Yield3.87%
P/E Ratio28.08
Price Target$56.04
The news triggered a stock price increase the day after the release. However, the strength of the report was underpinned by one-offs that overshadowed core weakness.
Get NIKE alerts:
While tariff refunds are good, aiding the company’s financial health and margin outlook, they aren’t the core business, which continues to struggle.
The critical detail was the impact of the release on analysts' sentiment. Analysts slashed price targets across the board, further weakening the Hold rating with sentiment resets, setting the stage for a deeper stock decline.
The upshot is that consensus continues to expect 30% upside; the rebound will be robust when it is triggered. The downside is that sentiment trends are souring and may not improve for several quarters. The company’s guidance was another weakness, foreshadowing a tough start to the year.
Nike Beats on Revenue, But Fails to Inspire ConfidenceNike had a tough quarter, with revenue falling by 4% on a currency-neutral (FXN) basis to $11 billion reported, a 1% year-over-year (YOY) decline. Revenue outpaced the consensus estimates, but the margin was slim and offset by core weaknesses. Regionally, North America was solid, growing by 3%, underpinned by shoe sales.
However, EMEA and China declined, with a 12% contraction in Greater China, driven by weakness across all categories. APAC grew, but tepidly at 1%. On a brand basis, both Nike and Converse contracted, Nike by 3% FXN and Converse by 34%. On a channel basis, Wholesale grew by 4% while Nike Direct contracted by 7%, reflecting the company’s shift back towards its wholesale roots.
Margin news was mixed and failed to inspire market confidence. The company included its tariff refund in its margin figures, which reflected a significant triple-digit YOY improvement. The bad news is that backing out the tariff impact leaves the gross margin down compared to the prior year and in question going forward. The shift back toward a more wholesale model affects gross margin. The net result in fiscal Q4 was 72 cents in adjusted earnings per share, including the tariff impact, or 20 cents excluding it, about 7 cents better than expected.
Guidance also failed to inspire confidence. While gross margin expansion was moved forward to Q1, the impact will be incremental as revenue continues to contract. The best-case scenario is a low-single-digit decline, sufficient to keep this market under pressure for the foreseeable future.
Dividend Is Safe, But Don’t Expect Buybacks This YearNike’s dividend is in danger but unlikely to be cut or suspended. While the fiscal year 2026 payout ratio topped its capital return, the balance sheet remains healthy and capable of sustaining operations. The payout ratio is expected to improve in the upcoming year, but not enough to enable a bullish outlook on share buybacks. Nike has ample authorization but insufficient cash flow, as reflected in the fiscal Q4 results. The share count increased by 0.35%, an incremental amount to be sure, but dilutive to shareholders, contrary to Nike’s long-standing trend.
Institutional flows are another concern for investors. This group holds a significant 65% of the shares, and activity reflects distribution in Q2. With this in play, NKE shares will struggle to advance without a potent catalyst and may even decline. Technically, NKE’s stock price is set up to fall. The market is on track to set fresh lows in July, opening the door to a much deeper decline. In this scenario, a new low would confirm the April-June 2026 price action as a Bear Flag, indicating the continuation of the trend and potential to fall as deeply as $20.
Nike Catalyst Won’t Emerge Until Late in the Year, If Not LaterNike’s catalysts revolve around CEO Elliot Hill’s turnaround plans. Critical milestones include the Investor Day conference slated for this fall and holiday-season product launches. The investor day event is expected to bring news on turnaround efforts and 2027 plans, while product launches include the highly anticipated Caitlin Clark shoe and apparel line. Further out, 2027 is expected to bring the first products from the Nike Mind project, a decade-old endeavor to combine neuroscience and athletic well-being into a footwear platform.
Nike’s biggest risk lies in its lost relevance. The company is losing share in key markets, specifically Greater China, while competitors like On Holdings NYSE: ONON are taking share. In this environment, Nike can regain footing but is unlikely to reclaim lost glory. The more likely scenario is that Nike continues as a leading shoe player, but in a diminished capacity.
Should You Invest $1,000 in NIKE Right Now?Before you consider NIKE, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and NIKE wasn't on the list.
While NIKE currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
The AI wave will soon hit public markets with Anthropic and OpenAI set to go public later this year. However, you don't have to wait to invest. This report shows seven AI stocks that you can buy today while the big model providers get ready to go public.
Before the end of its first trading day on the Nasdaq, Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 7.37%), or SpaceX, had joined an elite club: stocks with at least $2 trillion in market capitalization.
The club is so exclusive that only six other stocks belong to it. And unlike SpaceX, most of them underperformed in June. Here's my pick for the best one to buy in July.
Image source: Getty Images.
Biggest of the big The seven largest stocks in the world are currently:
CompanyMarket Cap*1-Month Stock Performance*Nvidia (NVDA 0.55%)$4.72 trillion(9%)Alphabet (GOOG +0.96%) (GOOGL +0.64%)$4.29 trillion(9.4%)Apple (AAPL +1.87%)$4.14 trillion(9.8%)Microsoft (MSFT +3.95%)$2.74 trillion(13.7%)Amazon (AMZN +2.29%)$2.59 trillion(12.5%)Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 6.27%)$2.36 trillion7%SpaceX$2.16 trillion21.5%** *Data as of market close on 6/29/2026. **SpaceX performance since Nasdaq debut at $150/share on 6/12/2026.
Aside from TSMC and, of course, SpaceX, all of these huge companies saw big share price declines over the past month. One big reason? Ongoing concerns about how they might be impacted by the current memory shortage.
Memory loss High-end memory chips for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and N-AND flash memory (NAND) are in very short supply, and as a result, they've gotten much more expensive. Yet DRAM and NAND are critical for AI applications and for many consumer devices, such as smartphones and laptops.
For Apple, more expensive DRAM and NAND chips mean the company has to accept thinner product margins for its devices that include DRAM and NAND, like iPhones and MacBooks, or pass that cost along to consumers. It had been absorbing the costs, but this month announced it would have to pass the costs on and raised prices on many of its products. Investors punished the stock, concerned that higher costs would hurt sales.
Today's Change
(
1.87
%) $
5.41
Current Price
$
294.77
For Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon, the memory shortage means they'll have to pay more for memory chips for their AI data center build-outs. These "hyperscalers" are already incurring massive AI capital expenditures, which are likely to increase even further in the short term as memory gets more expensive. The market is worried the costs won't justify the eventual benefits.
I think these concerns are likely to persist in the short term, which is why I'm not picking any of these stocks as my top July pick.
My top choice for July
Image source: Getty Images.
Although TSMC and SpaceX actually outperformed in June, TSMC's stock has already almost doubled over the past year, while SpaceX just looks ridiculously overvalued.
Nvidia's stock, on the other hand, is up only 23.6% over the past year, and its forward price-to-earnings ratio is surprisingly the lowest of the bunch. As a chipmaker, Nvidia is a beneficiary of the AI spending boom, not a spender, and while its AI systems rely on memory chips, it doesn't need to purchase them itself.
Today's Change
(
-0.55
%) $
-1.10
Current Price
$
198.99
Even though it's already the biggest company in the world by market cap, Nvidia edges out the other $2-trillion-plus companies in July. But over the long term, I think all six of the largest companies -- except SpaceX -- have excellent prospects for success and could all turn out to be long-term winners.
John Bromels has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Valar Atomics, a nuclear power startup, said on Wednesday it is partnering with Nvidia to develop a small data center in Utah that the companies claim will show how computing facilities needed for AI can conserve water.
Senate Banking Committee ranking member Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks, as Kevin Warsh, (not pictured) U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be next chair of the Federal Reserve,... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
CompaniesJuly 1 (Reuters) - A group of Senate Democrats requested on Wednesday that the Federal Reserve’s in-house watchdog investigate a meeting by the central bank’s top bank regulator and financial market participants held during a quiet period for Fed officials.
Citing Fed Vice-Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman’s attendance at a Bank of America client event held right after the June 16-17 Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the senators wrote “we ask” the Fed’s Inspector General “to review whether her attendance or comments violated any statutes, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures and whether the Fed’s existing framework governing such external events should be strengthened.”
Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
The letter, opens new tab was authored by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jack Reed, and Chris Van Hollen, and was written to Fed I.G. Michael Horowitz. The letter was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Fed rules prevent central bank officials from speaking on monetary policy issues in the days ahead of and just after FOMC meetings.
Bowman, in a statement shared by the Fed, said she did not violate central bank policy. “I did not share my views on monetary policy. I have consistently complied with all applicable FOMC and ethics rules and remain firmly committed to doing so,” the official said in the statement.
The Fed declined to comment on whether it had referred the matter to the I.G. A request for comment with the Inspector General did not get an immediate response.
Reporting by Dagmarah Mackos; Editing by Chris Reese and Chizu Nomiyama
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Shares of Walmart (WMT 4.27%) fell 4.5% on Wednesday as of 1:05 p.m. EDT. The day's fall marks an extension of a recent pullback in Walmart shares, which are now down nearly 20% from their May highs.
Today, a Wall Street analyst issued a negative note on Walmart's same-store sales, leading to another leg down in this month-long pullback.
Today's Change
(
-4.27
%) $
-4.84
Current Price
$
108.42
Cleveland Research channel checks show a slowdown Today, sell-side research firm Cleveland Research published a note on Walmart, stating that its channel checks showed a slowdown in same-store sales. The analyst noted that Walmart may be lowering prices to clear excess inventory, which the company may offset with tariff refunds. As a result, the analysts questioned whether Walmart will be able to beat its sales guidance for the quarter, which ends at the end of July.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration in early 2025, which affected all major retailers. As such, companies that paid tariffs to the government last year are now entitled to a refund. Customs and Border Protection began taking applications for refunds beginning on April 20.
However, while last year's tariffs were struck down, it is expected that the Trump Administration could issue new and potentially higher tariffs under a different statute, beginning on July 24.
Combined with higher oil prices in the second quarter due to the Iran war, consumers may be squeezed a bit. Higher oil and gas prices also drive up the costs of goods, as do tariffs. So, even though Walmart is perhaps best-positioned of nearly any big box retailer due to its buying power, it can't totally escape the dual problems of lower demand and higher costs.
Image source: Getty Images.
Walmart's high valuation does it no favors Even after the recent pullback, Walmart stock trades at a lofty 38 times earnings. This is for a company that guided to revenue growth of just around 4% this year.
That type of valuation reflects Walmart's competitive advantage as a consumer staples leader, but doesn't leave much margin of safety at all, should anything go wrong. With today's note, that was certainly enough to deepen the current pullback. Even with the recent slide, Walmart shares are no bargain.
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.
Medicare has officially started covering obesity drugs for the first time through a temporary government program – and companies like Walmart and CVS Health are playing an important role for patients.
The huge shift in Medicare policy is going to open up access to millions of older Americans who previously couldn't afford blockbuster GLP-1s from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to treat obesity. But many seniors may not know about this new coverage or how to navigate its complexities, such as eligibility requirements and how it differs from traditional Medicare insurance for drugs, CNBC previously reported.
A staggering 82% of all older Americans said they were unaware that Medicare was about to begin covering obesity drugs, according to a survey released in early June by the Obesity Care Advocacy Network.
Healthcare providers are always a reliable resource for patients, but many Medicare beneficiaries face long waits for appointments with doctors. So, Walmart and CVS Health are trying to step in to fill the gap.
Walmart and Sam's Club last week launched a nationwide effort to help Medicare patients better understand the new coverage, by offering more educational materials, more pharmacy support at almost 5,000 locations and assistance in navigating healthcare resources.
Walmart's website will curate several resources directed at Medicare beneficiaries, including a learning page that will help seniors interested in gaining coverage along with options for weight management support. The company will also provide other digital tools: For example, seniors who are regular Walmart shoppers can join what's called Everyday Health Signals, which can help review their grocery purchases and recommend healthier alternatives.
Those resources are still going to be broadly available for the patients that don't qualify for coverage under the government program, called Bridge, Kevin Host, senior vice president of Walmart Health & Wellness, said in an interview. Walmart is training its pharmacists and technicians, who will be providing one-on-one consultations to help patients understand what their next steps are and can help them manage side effects once they start therapy, Host said.
Pharmacists are "easily the most accessible healthcare professionals," he added. Walmart has 15,000 pharmacists, roughly half of whom have been with the company for more than a decade, Host said.
"You think about the relationships that they're able to establish – we got a pretty significant presence in rural spots, and many are medically underserved communities," he said.
CVS is also ramping up its GLP-1 support across 9,000 pharmacy locations and MinuteClinic, a division that provides retail clinic services, as the new coverage rolls out. The effort includes expanded pharmacy support designed to help patients access the treatments and manage common side effects so they can stay on them, according to a CVS release.
It also includes a new $49 MinuteClinic virtual visit that connects eligible patients with licensed clinicians who can evaluate and prescribe a GLP-1 treatment if appropriate.
"From helping patients manage side effects to identifying ways to lower costs, our pharmacists are there every step of the way," said Sid Tenneti, CVS's interim president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, in the release.
Walmart's Host said amid huge coverage changes, patients are looking for simplicity and experiences that are easier to navigate.
"We think we have the unique ability to help, and we're looking to help with accessibility and affordability," he said. "We're leveraging our trusted healthcare professionals, those pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and just bringing in everyday convenience at a national scale that very few organizations can match."
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at a new email: [email protected].
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 7.25%.
For the most recent quarter, JPMorgan Chase & Co. was expected to post earnings of $5.49 per share, but it reported $5.94 per share instead, representing a surprise of 8.20%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $4.92 per share, while it actually produced $5.23 per share, a surprise of 6.30%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for JPMorgan Chase & Co. lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. has an Earnings ESP of +2.71% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 14, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Altria has become a magnet for income-focused capital this year, with the stock climbing 32.55% year-to-date as retirees hunt for inflation hedges while the Fed has cut its target rate to 3.75%. Altria (NYSE:MO | MO Price Prediction) sells Marlboro, Copenhagen, Skoal, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY e-vapor, and its smokeable engine just posted a 65.1% operating margin. The question is whether the dividend is actually as bulletproof as the bulls claim.
Dividend Snapshot Metric Value Annual Dividend $4.24 per share Dividend Yield 5.73% Consecutive Years of Increases 60 increases in 56 years Most Recent Increase 3.9% (August 2025) Aristocrat-Class Status Yes (commonly recognized) Payout Ratios Leave Real Room Despite Volume Drag Altria earned $5.42 in adjusted diluted EPS for 2025 and pays $4.24 annually, putting the earnings payout ratio at 78.2%. That is elevated by general standards but normal for a mature tobacco operator. Cash coverage is what matters here. The company paid $7.0 billion in dividends in 2025 against operating income of $9.899 billion, with capex of only $175 to $225 million.
Metric TTM Value Assessment Earnings Payout Ratio 78.2% Elevated but Manageable FCF Payout Ratio (est.) ~76% Healthy 2026 EPS Guidance $5.56 to $5.72 Lowers Payout Further Negative Equity Reflects Buybacks, Not Distress Signals Altria carries negative shareholders’ equity of $3.211 billion, a function of years of aggressive buybacks. EBITDA of $15.79 billion against the debt load keeps leverage manageable, and cash sits at $3.531 billion. The smokeable margin expansion to 65.1% confirms pricing power is offsetting the 5% industry volume decline.
20 Years of Increases and Counting Year Annual Dividend 2026 (run rate) $4.24 2025 $4.16 2024 $4.08 2023 $3.92 2022 $3.68 2021 $3.52 The 5-year dividend CAGR runs roughly 3.8%, in line with management’s mid-single-digit growth target through 2028.
Management’s Tone: Confident, Not Hedging CEO Billy Gifford told investors on the Q1 2026 call: “We delivered a strong start to the year, growing adjusted diluted EPS by 7.3% in the first quarter. Our highly cash-generative businesses supported significant returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.” On the prior call, he noted the company “returned $8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases combined” in 2025. That tone reflects confidence.
Verdict: Safe, With Pricing Power Doing the Heavy Lifting Dividend Safety Rating: Safe. The 78% earnings payout is the only number I would flag, but 2026 guidance of $5.56 to $5.72 mechanically eases it. I would be comfortable owning Altria for income if you accept that pricing power drives the thesis. I would be cautious if Marlboro share losses accelerate past current declines or if regulators target menthol and nicotine caps more aggressively. For now, the dividend looks intact.
Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Free StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.
From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus.
Oil & gas stock Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) hit a record high of $176.40 on March 30. Though the shares have shed 22.5% since then, last seen trading at $136.93, they've run into strong support at the 200-day moving average, which has historically yielded bullish returns in the past.
According to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, XOM is trading within 0.75 times the 200-day moving average's 20-day average true range (ATR), after spending at least 80% of the previous two weeks and 80% of the prior 42 trading sessions above that trendline. This setup has appeared 12 times over the last decade, after which the stock was higher one month later 87% of the time, averaging a 5.3% gain.
A similar move from the stock's current perch would have it trading at $144.19 -- a region that provided support from April to early June. Furthermore, XOM's 14-day relative strength index (RSI) of 27.5 sits in "oversold" territory, which often precedes a short-term bounce.
Exxon Mobil Corporation is upgraded to Buy as oil inventories hit multi-decade lows in both the US and globally. The U.S. strategic petroleum reserve is now lower than the bottom level observed during the COVID pandemic. I expect the refilling of the inventory to start in the near 1–2 years and to catalyze an oil price rebound.
ExxonMobil (XOM 0.11%) has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years. That puts it on track to join the elite club of Dividend Kings, which have raised their payouts annually for at least half a century. It currently pays a forward yield of 3%.
ExxonMobil maintained that streak even as the U.S. endured four major recessions over the past four decades. Including reinvested dividends, its stock has generated a total return of 4,450% over the past 40 years. Let's see why it's so resilient, and why I'd still buy it today.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why is ExxonMobil a resilient company? ExxonMobil's upstream business extracts oil and natural gas, its midstream business owns more than 16,000 miles of pipelines across North America, and its downstream business produces petroleum products. That diversification insulates it from volatile oil prices.
Higher oil prices usually generate tailwinds for its upstream business, as its revenue growth outpaces its expenses, but they can hurt its downstream business with higher input costs. But when oil prices decline, its downstream business can grow faster than its upstream business. Its midstream business, which simply charges "tolls" for pipeline use, flourishes in both markets.
Today's Change
(
-0.11
%) $
-0.15
Current Price
$
136.57
ExxonMobil has a presence in over 56 countries, but it gets more of its oil and gas from the United States. It still gets about a fifth of its resources from the volatile Middle East, but it usually offsets that pressure with its stable production in other markets.
To further reduce its dependence on the Middle East, it's expanding its largest oil fields in the Permian Basin, building more offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, importing oil sands from Canada, and ramping up production in Guyana (one of the world's fastest-growing oil regions) and other high-growth markets across Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It's also exporting more liquefied natural gas (LNG) and expanding its carbon capture and storage business.
How sustainable is ExxonMobil's dividend? ExxonMobil's EPS growth has been volatile over the past five years. Its profits surged in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices soaring, but normalized over the following three years. However, its fluctuating EPS still easily covered its annual dividend hikes.
Metric
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Diluted EPS
$5.39
$13.26
$8.89
$7.84
$6.70
Dividend per Share
$3.49
$3.55
$3.68
$3.84
$4.00
Payout Ratio
64.7%
26.8%
41.4%
49%
59.7%
Data source: ExxonMobil.
This year, the price of WTI crude oil surged again after the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, hitting a four-year high of $112.25 per barrel in mid-May. It's since pulled back to under $70 per barrel, but analysts still expect that spike to boost ExxonMobil's EPS by 75% to $11.71 this year and comfortably cover its forward dividend rate of $4.12 per share.
Over the past 12 months, ExxonMobil spent 92% of its free cash flow (FCF) on its dividends. That cash dividend payout ratio should also decline this year as its profits soar.
Why is ExxonMobil a safe investment right now? ExxonMobil's upstream business benefited from soaring oil prices, and it should keep thriving as long as the price of WTI crude oil stays far above its breakeven level of about $30 per barrel. Even if crude oil prices finally pull back, its midstream and downstream businesses can pick up the slack and generate plenty of cash to cover its dividends.
At $136 per share, ExxonMobil still looks like a bargain at 12 times this year's earnings. It's not as tightly tethered to oil prices as companies like Occidental Petroleum, which generates most of its revenue from its upstream business, but it's still a rock-solid investment.
Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.
McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.
His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.
A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.
TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.
McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.
Detroit automakers such as General Motors (GM 2.37%), Ford Motor Company (F 1.48%), and Stellantis (STLA +1.65%) (if you still count the latter) have long been plagued by low valuations. While Wall Street is slowly changing its perception of these automakers as investments, thanks to a more intriguing and lucrative future centered on driverless vehicle technology and increasing software monetization, automakers' valuations seldom rise above a modest 10 times price-to-earnings ratio.
Let's cover what holds valuations down and, with one simple graph, show how GM has finally broken free of this confinement.
Stereotypes are changing In the past, investors shunned automakers as long-term investments due to many negative factors. Those include the view that automakers were highly cyclical, leaving them exposed to boom-and-bust economic volatility; ballooning legacy costs such as pension and healthcare obligations; capital-intensive operations that left them with thin margins; and the "dinosaur" narrative, in which management was slow to adapt and sometimes arrogant.
Image source: General Motors.
Those narratives are slowly changing, but for the most part, automakers' valuations have stayed stuck in neutral -- that is, except for General Motors. A rare longtime exception to these low valuations was Ferrari (RACE +1.34%), which has long recorded absurdly high margins and broke free of being viewed as a traditional automaker long ago, and is treated more as an ultra-luxury stock. That's why the following graph is so telling for long-term investors, because finally, another automaker has broken free of these chains and, impressively, matched Ferrari's lofty valuation.
Data by YCharts.
As you can see, especially over the past year, GM's valuation has rapidly approached Ferrari's lofty position, while the remainder of the automotive industry struggled to break a 10x P/E ratio.
How did GM break free? One of the primary driving forces behind GM's rapid valuation increase is how it chooses to return value to shareholders. While crosstown rival Ford is heavily lauded for its often lucrative dividend yield, which generally checks in between 4% to 5% and in recent years has been boosted with an annual special dividend due to better cash flow, General Motors has taken a different approach and essentially bet on itself and repurchased massive amounts of stock on the cheap.
In fact, GM has spent a staggering $30 billion on share buybacks over the past five years and retired about 500 million shares over that span. Going hand-in-hand with share buybacks is that Wall Street is rewarding GM's free cash flow, enabling it to make these massive purchases: GM has generated roughly $53 billion in free cash flow since 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, inflating prices, tariffs, and trade policy changes. The next graph shows just how drastically GM has reduced its shares outstanding and the price increase it helped drive.
Data by YCharts.
One major drawback right now is that, because share repurchases have been a big driver of GM's improving valuation, it's become more challenging as the shares aren't nearly as cheap as they once were. Don't expect GM to pull back on its strategy just yet, but it could change the benefits the strategy has driven recently.
What it all means Investors could certainly argue that Ford deserves a better valuation than it's currently receiving, especially given that it returns significant value to shareholders through its dividend and has seen a large boost in market capitalization following the unveiling of Ford Energy, which seizes on the growth in AI infrastructure and energy demand. However, Ford also has much work to do on its vehicle quality and has led the U.S. industry in massive recalls, which have increased warranty costs that dinged its earnings on a couple of occasions.
Today's Change
(
-1.48
%) $
-0.20
Current Price
$
13.70
However, Ford's crosstown rival, GM, is doing something that only Ferrari has achieved, driving its P/E multiple nearly three times that of many of its competitors. That's because Wall Street is recognizing not only GM's impressive cash flow, but its reduced share count thanks to buybacks, as well as growing high-margin business and recurring revenue from digital services such as OnStar and Super Cruise. One major reason for investors to buy into GM over its competitors is that it's finally broken free of historically low automaker P/E multiples. These graphs may be simple, but they speak volumes.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering GE Aerospace (GE - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry.
This industrial conglomerate has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 12.28%.
For the last reported quarter, GE came out with earnings of $1.86 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61 per share, representing a surprise of 15.53%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.44 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.57 per share, delivering a surprise of 9.03%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For GE, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
GE has an Earnings ESP of +3.20% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 16, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Goldman Sachs (GS - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry.
When looking at the last two reports, this investment bank has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 13.22%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, Goldman came out with earnings of $17.55 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16.34 per share, representing a surprise of 7.41%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $11.77 per share and it actually produced earnings of $14.01 per share, delivering a surprise of 19.03%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Goldman lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Goldman currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.98%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 14, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
FedEx plans to sell FedEx Supply Chain to CMA CGM Group, a Marseille-based global provider of sea, land, air and logistics solutions, at an enterprise value of $1.4 billion.
The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary regulatory approvals, the companies said in a Wednesday (July 1) press release.
FedEx Supply Chain provides warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, returns, recycling and transportation management services, according to a company structure page on FedEx’s website.
Upon the closing of the acquisition, CMA CGM subsidiary CEVA Logistics would see its North American contract logistics operations nearly triple in size. After integrating FedEx Supply Chain’s assets and nearly 10,000 team members, CEVA Logistics would operate about 150 warehouses and have 20,000 employees in North America, according to the release.
In addition, following the execution of the transaction, CMA CGM and FedEx expect to enter into multiyear commercial agreements in which CMA CGM will become a preferred ocean carrier for FedEx and the companies will work together on air cargo capacity solutions. These agreements are expected to begin between now and 2028, per the release.
CMA CGM Group Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé said in the release that the acquisition and partnership will expand CEVA Logistics’ activities in North America and strengthen the company’s ability to provide integrated supply chain solutions.
“These deals also reinforce our long-term commitment to investing in the United States and supporting the resilience and efficiency of its supply chain,” Saadé said.
FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam said in the release that the sale of FedEx Supply Chain enables FedEx to continue sharpening its focus on high-value verticals such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace and data centers.
“By streamlining our portfolio, FedEx is better positioned to execute our long-term vision and continue to serve as the heartbeat of the industrial economy, delivering unmatched connectivity, reliability and value to our customers globally,” Subramaniam said.
When reporting its quarterly earnings on June 23, FedEx said that it finalized the spinoff of its less-than-truckload (LTL) business, FedEx Freight, into a new publicly traded company on June 1. The company said in an earnings presentation that the move positions both companies for success as “focused industry leaders.”
Key Takeaways FedEx is cutting flight frequencies, parking aircraft and reducing its workforce to counter weak demand. FedEx has reported better-than-expected results in Q4 driven by cost-cut initiatives.FedEx is reshaping costs through DRIVE, which delivered $4B in recurring savings across fiscal 2024-2025. FedEx (FDX - Free Report) is reshaping its cost structure through the company-wide DRIVE initiative to better align operations with post-pandemic market conditions. The program delivered $1.8 billion in recurring savings in fiscal 2024 and another $2.2 billion in fiscal 2025.
In addition, FedEx is improving efficiency through network transformation initiatives such as Network 2.0, Tricolor and its European optimization efforts. These initiatives have enabled the company to surpass its fiscal 2026 transformation-related savings target of $1 billion. At the same time, investments in data and technology are helping FedEx enhance customer experience, secure new business and unlock additional value.
However, geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation continue to pressure consumer sentiment and economic growth, resulting in softer shipping demand. To counter these headwinds, FedEx has stepped up cost-reduction efforts by cutting flight frequencies, parking aircraft and reducing its workforce. These initiatives contributed to better-than-expected earnings and revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
Rival United Parcel Service (UPS - Free Report) is also pursuing aggressive cost-cutting measures to navigate the weak demand environment. The company has eliminated multiple operational positions and closed several facilities as it restructures the network and focuses on higher-margin business opportunities.
A key part of UPS' strategy is reducing its dependence on Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) . In 2025, UPS reached an agreement in principle with Amazon to reduce shipment volumes by more than 50% by June 2026. CEO Carol Tomé noted that Amazon was not UPS' most profitable customer and the planned volume reduction is allowing it to right-size the network while prioritizing more profitable business.
FDX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Earnings Surprise HistoryShares of FDX have gained in single digits (% wise) in the past six months, outperforming its industry.
6-Month Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, FDX trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.77X, making it cheap compared with industrial levels.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company has an impressive earnings surprise history, as shown below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FDX’s Zacks RankFDX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Investors might want to bet on Cisco Systems (CSCO - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Cisco basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Cisco imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for CiscoThis seller of routers, switches, software and services is expected to earn $4.28 per share for the fiscal year ending July 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Cisco. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 3.8%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Cisco to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering IBM (IBM - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry.
When looking at the last two reports, this technology and consulting company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 4.96%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, IBM came out with earnings of $1.91 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81 per share, representing a surprise of 5.52%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $4.33 per share and it actually produced earnings of $4.52 per share, delivering a surprise of 4.39%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For IBM, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
IBM has an Earnings ESP of +1.33% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 22, 2026.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Updated United policy coverage from the largest commercial insurer in the U.S. means 100 million total covered lives have access to the FDA-approved Shield blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screeningShield is the first and only FDA-approved blood test included in both ACS and NCCN guidelinesWith rising rates of CRC in younger people, the first major commercial insurer in the U.S. expands Shield coverage to eligible policyholders aged 45 or older PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced its Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer screening (CRC) is now covered for eligible UnitedHealth Group (UHG) members1, making it the first major commercial insurer to provide coverage for adults 45 or older amid rising CRC rates for adults under 652 and mortality for younger adults as the leading cause of cancer death for those under 50.3
Shield is the first and only FDA-approved blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening in average-risk adults age 45 and older and can be completed with just a blood draw during a routine doctor’s visit, offering Americans a more accessible screening option that overcomes the barriers associated with traditional methods.
Approximately 40 million Americans are covered by UHG’s plans, including members under employer and individual plans, beneficiaries covered by Medicare Advantage and individuals with supplemental Medicare coverage. The updated policy coverage from UHG offers those above the age of 45 and at average risk of colorectal cancer access to the latest innovation in colorectal cancer screening.
“More than 100 million people across America now have access to the Shield blood test,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. “With the rising rates of colorectal cancer in younger people, expanding Shield coverage through United, the nation’s largest commercial health insurer, to the 45+ population as a primary screening option marks a critical milestone in our commercial expansion to make colorectal cancer screening more accessible.”
Demonstrating strong clinical performance and real-world evidence published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM),4 Shield is the only FDA-approved blood test included in both ACS5 and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.6
About Shield
Shield is a methylation partitioning cell-free DNA (mp-cfDNA) non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Guardant Health Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential utilities, values, benefits and advantages of Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy tests or assays, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors. These and additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Guardant Health’s financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include those discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and elsewhere in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and in its other reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Key Takeaways Phillips 66 and Halliburton have surged 33.7% and 56.4%, respectively, beating the broader oil-energy sector.Phillips 66 may benefit from lower crude costs while its midstream and chemicals arms add resilience.Halliburton could gain as lower oil prices support upstream activity and demand for its services. The United States and Iran had signed an interim deal last month that ended months of conflict and led to the resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. With both countries having entered a 60-day negotiation period to reach a permanent peace deal, commodity prices have retreated from their recent highs.
Some investors may assume that energy companies’ prospects will weaken from here. But the reality appears to be quite different. Two large-cap energy players, Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) and Halliburton (HAL - Free Report) , have surged 33.7% and 56.4%, respectively, over the past year, outperforming the broader oil-energy sector. Can this rally continue? Let’s take a closer look.
2 Energy Stocks in the Spotlight: PSX & HALWest Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) oil is currently trading below $70 per barrel, according to data from Oilprice.com, significantly lower than the more than $100 per barrel reached in May this year. Phillips 66, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is likely to gain from the softer crude pricing environment. This is because PSX, a leading refining company, is now able to purchase oil at a lower cost, enabling the production of end products.
Although a leading refiner, PSX, unlike most of its refining peers, has diversified its business across midstream and chemicals. It is to be noted that the midstream business, by its very definition, is resilient since it generates stable cash flows as the assets are being utilized for the long term, and is less vulnerable to commodity price volatility. Hence, having a diversified business model, the large-cap stock is insulated from commodity price volatility to a great extent. Given the strength and resilience of its business model, Phillips 66 has significant room to continue its upward trajectory.
Halliburton is a leading oilfield service player providing technologies, products and services to the exploration and production companies across the entire well life cycle. The current oil prices, which are much lower than the shut-in prices, are likely to aid upstream activities, which are expected to have a positive impact on demand for the #2 Ranked Halliburton’s services encompassing Completion and Production & Drilling and Evaluation. The large-cap oilfield service company is thus well-positioned to sustain its upward momentum. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Shares of Salesforce (CRM +4.51%) rose on Wednesday after an investment bank upgraded its rating on the beleaguered tech stock.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
AI fears are overblown Like many software stocks, Salesforce's shares have come under pressure as investors have grown increasingly concerned about the threat posed by AI to traditional software-as-a-service (SaaS) business models.
Prior to today's gains, Salesforce's stock price was down 43% from its 52-week high back in July 2025.
Today's Change
(
4.51
%) $
7.07
Current Price
$
163.73
Guggenheim analyst John DiFucci believes the steep drop was an overreaction.
DiFucci acknowledges the risks presented by AI and even concedes that the expected boom in AI agents could weigh on Salesforce's growth. Yet he does not think that it will lead to "Armageddon" for the software leader.
In turn, he argues that Salesforce's current stock price does accurately reflect the company's current and future prospects in an AI-driven world.
All told, DiFucci placed a $228 price target on Salesforce's shares and upgraded the stock from neutral to buy. His new price forecast represents potential gains for investors of roughly 38% from the stock's current price near $165.
Acquisitions are helping Salesforce adapt Salesforce's acquisitive strategy should enable it to integrate more AI offerings into its services. It struck a deal to purchase agentic AI-powered customer support provider Fin for $3.6 billion in June. The deal is expected to bolster Salesforce's Agentforce autonomous AI agent platform.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Salesforce. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of KMB, SU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Key Takeaways General Mills' Q4 earnings and sales beat estimates, with EPS up 27% and net sales rising 1%.Organic sales were broadly flat, while adjusted gross margin rose 150 bps to 34.2% of sales.GIS expects fiscal 2027 organic sales to range from a 1.5% decline to 0.5% growth. General Mills, Inc. (GIS - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased year over year.
The company posted adjusted earnings of 95 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 82 cents. The bottom line also increased 27% year over year on a constant-currency (cc) basis, driven by elevated adjusted operating profit, a reduced adjusted effective tax rate and fewer shares outstanding, partially offset by higher net interest expense.
Net sales increased 1% to $4,609.6 million, benefiting from a 7-point contribution from the 53rd week and a 1-point benefit from foreign currency exchange, partially offset by a 7-point headwind from the net impact of divestitures and acquisitions. On an organic basis, sales were broadly unchanged, including a 1-point benefit from favorable trade expense timing. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,604 million.
GIS’ Quarterly Margin PerformanceThe adjusted gross margin increased 150 basis points (bps), reaching 34.2% of net sales, supported by favorable pricing and mix, with higher input costs partially offsetting these gains. Favorable trade expense timing contributed a 60 bps benefit to adjusted gross margin. We expected an adjusted gross margin expansion of 50 bps.
General Mills’ adjusted operating profit increased 13% in constant currency to $705 million, driven by elevated adjusted gross profit dollars, including a 7-point benefit from favorable trade expense timing. Adjusted operating margin improved 160 bps to 15.3%. We expected an adjusted operating margin of 14.3% for the quarter.
Decoding GIS’ Segmental PerformanceNorth America Retail: Revenues in the segment were $2,466.6 million, down 4% year over year, including a 10-point headwind from the divestiture and a 7-point benefit from the 53rd week. Organic net sales were essentially unchanged from the prior year, while Nielsen-measured retail sales declined 4%. The difference was primarily cused by a previously anticipated 2-point benefit from trade expense timing and favorable changes in retailer inventory levels.
Segment operating profit of $506.4 million increased 7% for both reported and in constant currency. Growth was driven by favorable net price realization and product mix, along with lower selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses. These benefits were partially offset by lower volumes, including the impact of the U.S. yogurt divestiture, and higher input costs. Favorable trade expense timing contributed approximately 9 percentage points to quarterly operating profit growth.
North America Pet: Revenues rose 4% year over year to $702.4 million, benefiting by 7-points from the 53rd week. Sales grew at a double-digit rate in cat food, increased at a low-single-digit rate in dog food and declined slightly in pet treats. Organic net sales declined 3%, while all-channel retail sales fell approximately 1%. The difference was largely attributable to changes in retailer inventory levels.
Segment operating profit increased 14% to $160 million on both a reported and constant-currency basis. The improvement was driven primarily by favorable net price realization and mix, as well as lower input costs, partially offset by elevated SG&A expenses, including a double-digit increase in media investments.
North America Foodservice: Revenues were $574.6 million, which decreased 1%, including a 7-point headwind from the U.S. yogurt divestiture and a 6-point benefit from the 53rd week. Organic net sales were essentially flat, including a 2-point headwind from index pricing on bakery flour.
Segment operating profit gained 22% to $101.3 million, primarily due to Holistic Margin Management cost savings and favorable net price realization and mix, partially offset by input cost inflation.
International: Revenues in the segment were $858.4 million, up 16% year over year, benefiting from an 8-point contribution from the 53rd week and a 5-point benefit from foreign currency exchange. Organic net sales grew 3%, driven by strong performance in Brazil, Europe, India and China.
Segment operating profit increased to $61 million from $33.7 million a year ago, driven by favorable net price realization and mix, along with higher volumes, partially offset by higher input costs and increased SG&A expenses.
GIS’ Financial Health Snapshot & Other DevelopmentsGeneral Mills ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $453.8 million, long-term debt of $12,416 million and total stockholders’ equity (excluding noncontrolling interests) of $7,368.4 million.
The company generated $2,166.2 million in cash from operating activities in fiscal 2026. Capital investments amounted to $539.9 million during the same period. The company paid out dividends worth $1,315 million and bought shares for $500 million in the aforementioned period.
GIS declared a quarterly dividend of 61 cents per share, payable on Aug. 3, 2026, to its shareholders of record as of July 10.
What to Expect From GIS in Fiscal 2027?General Mills expects consumer demand to remain challenging in fiscal 2027 and plans to drive growth through product innovation focused on health, flavor, indulgence and pet humanization trends. The company aims to support profitability with at least $750 million in cost savings, although earnings will face headwinds from the absence of the prior year's 53rd week, higher incentive expenses and the impact of recent divestitures.
The company has provided its full-year fiscal 2027 outlook. Organic net sales are projected to range from a decline of 1.5% to growth of 0.5%. On a constant-currency basis, adjusted operating profit is expected to be down 8% to 13% from the fiscal 2026 base of $2.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to be between $3.00 and $3.20, with an immaterial impact from foreign currency exchange. The company also expects free cash flow conversion to be approximately 95% of adjusted after-tax earnings.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company’s shares have lost 7% in the past three months against the industry’s growth of 3.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 12.3% and 575.6%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels. Darling Ingredients delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.8%, on average.
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.
The consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 254.9% from the year-ago figures.
Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA holds a Zacks Rank of 2. Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
HomeIndustriesFood/Beverages/Tobacco‘Cat growth is on fire,’ one executive saysJuly 1, 2026, 2:39 p.m. ET
After making its products cheaper last year, General Mills is now trying to make them better as it seeks to win over increasingly price-conscious consumers and reverse a monthslong stock drop.
During its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, the packaged-food giant GIS — known for grocery brands like Cheerios and Annie’s and pet foods like Tiki Cat and Blue Buffalo — said it would lean harder into “innovation” within its high-end products this fiscal year, following the success of items like higher-protein Cheerios and bolder-flavor Chex Mix.
Sony said on Wednesday that it would stop releasing new video games for the PlayStation console on disc in January 2028 following a shift in consumer preferences.
“Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only,” the company said on its official PlayStation blog.
In practice, that means gamers will have to download directly from Sony’s PlayStation store or obtain a download code when purchasing a title from a retailer.
The announcement comes as the upcoming exclusively digital release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is predicted to become one of the biggest-selling cultural products of all time, has caused some consternation among gamers.
There was grumbling on social media that the lack of a physical disc would eliminate any secondhand market for the title. Sony said the upcoming shift “has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format”.
Sony began its move towards digital downloads in 2020 with the release of the latest console, PlayStation 5, which had a version without a disk drive.
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” the company said. “We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans.”
Piers Harding-Rolls at Ampere Analysis said: “The purchasing trends of gamers are clear.” In 2013, when the PS4 launched, only 13% of game sales were digital, but had risen to nearly 80% in 2025, he noted.
That didn’t stop gamers from complaining, however. “It’s a catastrophe,” said gamer and content creator Conkerax on YouTube.
skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
“Inevitably there will be concerns from PlayStation gamers around various aspects of this announcement including choice, accessing older physical games on new consoles, the ability to collect physical games and game preservation,” said Ampere’s Harding-Rolls.
He noted that the shift towards digital would have a negative impact on specialist games retailers, and would also hit the secondhand market.
The announcement renewed speculation about the next-generation PlayStation 6 console. Sony’s announcement “pretty much confirms PS6 will be digital only”, said Daniel Ahmad at Niko Partners, a video game market research firm.
Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.
In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Block (XYZ - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this mobile payments services provider a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Block is 55%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 64.4% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 21.1%.
Impressive Asset Utilization RatioAsset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric exhibits how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Block has an S/TA ratio of 0.63, which means that the company gets $0.63 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.61, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Block looks attractive from a sales growth perspective as well. The company's sales are expected to grow 8.1% this year versus the industry average of 7.7%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Block. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1% over the past month.
Bottom LineBlock has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #1 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Block well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE American: HYLN) on behalf of investors who suffered losses and whether those losses may be recoverable under federal securities laws.
What Should Hyliion Investors Do?
If you purchased Hyliion securities and suffered losses on your investment, you are encouraged to contact Johnson Fistel to learn more about the investigation.
To join the investigation click here.
For more information, contact Jim Baker at [email protected] or (619) 814-4471.
There is no cost or obligation to you.
Why Is Johnson Fistel Investigating Hyliion?
On June 23, 2026, Pelican Way Research published a short report concerning Hyliion titled "Hyliion: A Glorified Science Project Who Has Continuously Failed To Meet Expectations And Is Now Throwing Around A Meaningless Deal." The report stated that Hyliion's stock had risen significantly following the Company's announcement of a non-binding LOI with VFG Holdings for up to 250 KARNO Cores, representing approximately $133 million in potential revenue.
Pelican Way Research alleged that the VFG LOI accounted for roughly one-third of Hyliion's reported $400 million-plus pipeline and questioned whether the LOI provided meaningful commercial validation. The report further alleged that VFG, which Pelican Way identified as VFG Tech Holdings, LLC, was incorporated in January 2026, appeared to have only four LinkedIn employees, had a minimal website, and lacked evidence of funding or operating substance sufficient to support an order of that size.
In light of these allegations, Johnson Fistel is investigating whether Hyliion Holdings complied with federal securities laws. If you suffered losses, or are a long-term holder of Hyliion stock, contact Johnson Fistel.
About Johnson Fistel, PLLP | Securities Fraud & Investor Rights
Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, Idaho, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder litigation involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and other violations of state and federal law.
Johnson Fistel has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Plaintiff Law Firms by ISS Securities Class Action Services. In 2024, the firm recovered approximately $90,725,000 for investors.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. This press release may be considered a promotional communication. The attorney responsible for this communication is Frank J. Johnson.
Contact:
Johnson Fistel, PLLP
501 W. Broadway, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
James Baker, Investor Relations – or – Frank J. Johnson, Esq.
(619) 814-4471
[email protected] | [email protected]
Are you looking for good future investment income? Most investors can find dividend stocks worth owning right now. Picking income stocks worth holding in the distant future, however, is a bit trickier.
But, while past performance is no guarantee of future results, past results are a pretty good indicator of what the future likely holds.
To this end, if you'd like to be pocketing $3,000 worth of annual dividend income in 2036, buy 156 shares of club-based retailer Costco Wholesale (COST 0.95%) today, at a total cost of around $146,000.
The present isn't anything like the likely future None of these numbers makes sense at first blush. Costco's current forward-looking yield is just a hair over 0.6%, and besides, $146,000 is a massive amount of money.
Image source: Getty Images.
The numbers make much more sense, however, when you know the rest of the story. That is, while Costco stock's current yield is tiny, the company's dramatically grown its quarterly per-share payout over the past decade, from $0.45 as of mid-2016 to $1.47 now. Assuming the retailer maintains this average annualized growth rate of more than 12%, come 2036, Costco's quarterly per-share payment could be around $4.80, or $19.20 per year.
Dividend stocks don't have to be just dividend holdings This still seems less than thrilling, given the total amount of money tied up in the meantime. Just understand that this dividend-paying stock has also logged some serious gains over the past 10 years, advancing from $155 then to $940 now, in step with the company's continued expansion that's still in place, and that's likely to persist. A repeat of this growth is certainly possible, making the sizable investment in Costco today worth it in the long run. Moreover, based on its growth track record to date, a $146,000 investment in Costco today could produce nearly $10,000 worth of annual dividend income in 20 years.
Today's Change
(
-0.95
%) $
-8.93
Current Price
$
926.54
Perhaps the more important takeaway, though, is acknowledging that some fantastic future income investments should be established now so they're ready to produce then.
BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming August 24, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased First Solar, Inc. (“First Solar” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FSLR) securities between February 26, 2025 and February 24, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN FIRST SOLAR, INC. (FSLR), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
What Happened?
On January 7, 2026, Jefferies downgraded First Solar from Buy to Hold, stating that during 2025, the Company had lowered guidance, faced significant de-bookings, and experienced margin compression. Additionally, Jefferies claimed that “[international] facilities remain a pain point while tariffs exist” and “underutilization at [international] facilities remains a concern.”
On this news, First Solar’s stock price fell $27.67, or 10.3%, to close at $241.11 per share on January 7, 2026, thereby injuring investors.
Then, on February 24, 2026, First Solar released its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results, revealing that earnings had significantly missed expectations. The Company also issued lower-than-expected revenue guidance for 2026 citing customer headwinds.
On this news, First Solar’s stock price fell $33.09, or 13.6%, to close at $210.12 per share on February 25, 2026, thereby injuring investors further.
What Is the Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Defendants had overstated First Solar’s capacity to manage the impact of U.S. tariff policy on the Company’s business; (2) Defendants understated the extent to which its responses to U.S. tariff policy, including the intentional underutilization of production facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam, and attempted relocation of production to the U.S., were likely to negatively impact First Solar’s projected performance in the 2026 fiscal year; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired First Solar securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than August 24, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements.
Contact Us to Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020
Telephone: (215) 638-4847
Email: [email protected]
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Enbridge (ENB - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This oil and natural gas transportation and power transmission company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 3.95%.
For the last reported quarter, Enbridge came out with earnings of $0.71 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.69 per share, representing a surprise of 2.90%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.6 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.63 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.00%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Enbridge lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Enbridge currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.27%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 31, 2026.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Key Takeaways Realty Income formed a joint venture to invest in stabilized hyperscale data centers with long-term leases.O plans up to $1.4B for the venture, with about $700M of initial funding in Q2 and Q3 2026.Realty Income will first acquire a 45% stake in a fully leased Northern Virginia hyperscale data center. Realty Income Corporation (O - Free Report) is expanding its presence in the data centers through a new joint venture with Cloud Capital, its affiliates, and a global institutional investor. The venture will target stabilized hyperscale assets leased to investment-grade tenants under long-term triple-net leases.
The first move is the planned acquisition of three data center assets in key markets. Realty Income will initially acquire a 45% stake in the first asset, a fully leased hyperscale data center in Northern Virginia’s “data center alley,” one of the most active data center markets in the United States.
The company expects to invest up to $1.4 billion in the venture over time, with about $700 million of initial funding planned for the second and third quarters of 2026. The structure gives Realty Income room to pursue additional qualifying data center developments and acquisitions in the United States and Europe.
The deal also fits Realty Income’s broader push beyond traditional retail real estate. Its investor presentation lists data centers as part of a roughly $14 trillion total addressable market across core and high-growth sectors, and notes existing exposure through a build-to-suit joint venture with Digital Realty.
Realty Income enters this expansion with scale behind it. As of March 31, 2026, the company owned 15,571 properties, served 1,786 clients across 92 industries, had a 98.9% occupancy rate and generated about $5.2 billion in annualized base rent, giving it a large platform for this newer asset class.
How Are Other Retail REITs Partnering?Simon Property Group (SPG - Free Report) is using partnerships to widen its retail ecosystem, combining ownership stakes, platform investments and brand alliances to drive traffic, redevelopment and mixed-use demand. Its ties with Catalyst, Rue Gilt Groupe and Jamestown support its retail, e-commerce and real estate capabilities. In first-quarter 2026, total portfolio NOI rose 6.7%.
Kimco Realty (KIM - Free Report) partnership approach centers on capital-light growth through joint ventures, institutional relationships and structured investments that expand its grocery-anchored, mixed-use platform without overburdening the balance sheet. These arrangements support residential densification, redevelopment and higher-yield financing opportunities across U.S. markets. In the first quarter of 2026, Kimco invested $76.4 million in structured investments.
O’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Realty Income have gained 8.5% in the past six months, underperforming the industry’s growth of 21%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, O trades at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 13.71, below the industry but ahead of its one-year median of 13.60. It carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Over the past 30 days, estimates for O’s 2026 FFO per share have been revised upward to $4.45, while estimates for 2027 have been revised upward to $4.59.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Realty Income currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp recently appeared on CNBC to sharpen his critique of frontier AI labs, arguing that enterprises deploying models from OpenAI and Anthropic are “livid” about how much proprietary value flows to model providers. Karp framed the new Palantir partnership with NVIDIA as a direct response, positioning the two companies as the operational stack that lets enterprises control their own data, weights, and business logic.
Karp Says Enterprises Have A Trust Problem Karp claimed enterprises using frontier models feel they are “paying for tokens that create no value” while handing over proprietary IP and “alpha” to third parties. He described that dynamic as “stealing” business value and a “wealth tax” on companies using AI to generate operational returns.
That framing extends what Karp has previously called “commodity cognition,” the view that model quality is converging while operational leverage accrues to whoever owns the deployment layer. He positioned Palantir’s ontology and application layer, combined with NVIDIA infrastructure, as giving enterprises ownership of “the means of production” for AI, especially in critical-infrastructure settings where data control is non-negotiable. He asserted Palantir has more demand than it can supply and pointed to roughly $15-$18 billion in free cash flow two years out as validation of the model-plus-application-layer approach despite market skepticism.
Palantir’s Growth Story Backing CEO Karp’s Claims Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.63 billion, up 84.7% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $0.33 against a $0.28 estimate. U.S. commercial revenue reached $595 million, up 133% year over year, and the company closed 206 deals of at least $1 million, with a total contract value of $2.41 billion. Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $7.65 billion to $7.66 billion, implying 71% growth.
On the earnings call, Karp said, “Palantir’s Rule of 40 score has soared to 145%. We have shattered the metric, a feat matched only by other fellow AI infrastructure companies: NVIDIA, Micron and SK Hynix.”
PLTR trades at $126.87, down 34.36% year to date and 25.47% over the past month. On a five-year view, shares are still up 371.97%. The valuation remains stretched at a forward P/E near 74x, which explains why Karp keeps invoking demand and cash-flow projections as counterweights.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Why NVIDIA Is Central To The Strategy NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the infrastructure half of Karp’s pitch. In Q1 fiscal 2027, NVIDIA reported revenue of $81.6 billion, up 85.2% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.87. Data Center revenue was $75.25 billion, up 92%, and the company guided Q2 revenue to $91.0 billion plus or minus 2%. CEO Jensen Huang said “Agentic AI has arrived, doing productive work, generating real value and scaling rapidly across companies and industries.”
NVDA trades at $196.24, up 7.42% year to date and 26.81% over the past year. The Palantir tie-up gives NVIDIA a direct route into regulated enterprise and government workloads where customers want to run models on their own ontology rather than through a third-party API.
What To Watch Next Karp’s criticism of OpenAI and Anthropic reflects his view of how enterprise AI should be deployed. For investors, the key metrics to watch are whether Palantir’s $4.92 billion U.S. commercial remaining deal value continues to grow, whether NVIDIA’s Data Center business can sustain growth near 90% as hyperscaler AI spending matures, and whether the companies’ joint AI platform begins driving meaningful customer wins.
If Karp’s vision of enterprises owning the AI “means of production” is resonating with commercial buyers, it will likely show up in commercial TCV, deal count, and customer adoption through 2026.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Key Takeaways PLTR's U.S. commercial revenues surged 133% as AI platform adoption accelerated across enterprises.Palantir expanded its adjusted operating margin to 60% and lifted its Rule of 40 score to 145%.PLTR surpassed 1,000 customers while larger contracts strengthened future revenue visibility. Palantir Technologies (PLTR - Free Report) shares have declined 14% over the past year compared with the industry’s 22% fall. While the stock has faced valuation concerns and broader volatility across the artificial intelligence sector, the company's operating performance continues to strengthen. From accelerating commercial adoption to expanding profitability and industry-leading software metrics, Palantir is demonstrating that its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is becoming a powerful long-term growth engine.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AIP Continues Driving Commercial ExpansionPalantir's AIP is delivering exceptional momentum across its U.S. commercial business. The clearest evidence is reflected in revenue growth, with U.S. commercial revenues surging 133% year over year and 18% sequentially. The performance suggests that enterprises are moving beyond AI experimentation and increasingly deploying Palantir's AI-powered software in mission-critical production environments.
Customer expansion remains equally encouraging. U.S. commercial customer count increased 42% year over year and 8% sequentially, highlighting the company's ability to win new clients while deepening relationships with existing customers. A growing installed base not only expands recurring revenue opportunities but also creates favorable conditions for higher-value platform adoption over time.
Compared with many enterprise software providers, including ServiceNow (NOW - Free Report) and C3.ai (AI - Free Report) , Palantir appears to be translating AI demand into measurable commercial execution, supported by growing customer adoption and larger enterprise deployments.
Larger Deals Reinforce Future Revenue VisibilityDemand strength is also evident in Palantir's expanding deal pipeline. The number of U.S. commercial contracts valued at $1 million or more increased 1.6 times from the prior year. Deals worth at least $5 million also grew at the same pace, indicating that customers are committing to increasingly larger AI deployments as confidence in the platform continues to rise.
Meanwhile, remaining deal value climbed 112% year over year, while total contract value reached $1.18 billion, representing a 45% increase from the prior-year period. These metrics provide stronger visibility into future revenue opportunities and reinforce the durability of Palantir's commercial momentum.
While ServiceNow continues benefiting from enterprise workflow automation demand and C3.ai remains focused on enterprise AI applications, Palantir's growing contract values highlight its ability to secure large-scale, long-duration AI engagements across multiple industries.
Profitability Continues Reaching New HeightsPalantir's first-quarter 2026 results also showcased remarkable operational discipline. Adjusted operating income climbed to $984 million, representing an impressive 60% operating margin. Over the past year, adjusted operating income has increased dramatically from $391 million in the first quarter of 2025 to nearly $1 billion. Operating margins have expanded consistently, improving from 44% in the first quarter of 2025 to 46% in the second quarter, 51% in the third quarter, 57% in the fourth quarter, and ultimately 60% in the first quarter of 2026.
These results demonstrate meaningful operating leverage, with revenue growth increasingly flowing through to profits instead of being offset by higher operating expenses. Unlike many AI software companies that sacrifice profitability to sustain growth, Palantir continues to strengthen both simultaneously.
Rule of 40 Highlights Elite Software QualityOne metric particularly underscores Palantir's execution: the Rule of 40, widely regarded as one of the software industry's most important measures of business quality. While a score above 40% is generally considered strong, PLTR has moved into an entirely different league.
Its Rule of 40 improved from 64% in the second quarter of 2024 to an extraordinary 145% by the first quarter of 2026. During the same period, revenue growth accelerated from 27% to 85%, while adjusted operating margins expanded from 37% to 60%.
This rare combination of accelerating growth and expanding profitability distinguishes Palantir from many software peers. Even as C3.ai continues investing aggressively to expand its AI offerings and ServiceNow scales its enterprise software platform, Palantir's balanced execution demonstrates exceptional operational efficiency.
Customer Growth Supports Long-Term OpportunityPalantir continues expanding its customer ecosystem at an impressive pace. Total customers have now surpassed the 1,000-customer milestone, while commercial customer growth remains strong across both U.S. and international markets.
Importantly, customer expansion often serves as an early indicator of long-term revenue durability, as larger installed bases create additional opportunities for upselling, platform expansion and increased customer spending. The continued rise in commercial customers also reflects growing enterprise confidence in deploying AI-powered operational systems across mission-critical business functions.
Although valuation concerns and broader AI-sector volatility remain risks, Palantir's expanding customer ecosystem, accelerating commercial momentum, rising profitability and exceptional Rule of 40 performance reinforce the company's long-term investment narrative. As enterprises continue to accelerate AI adoption, Palantir appears well-positioned to capitalize on expanding demand, larger contracts, and durable recurring revenue growth.
Analyst Sentiment Remains Highly FavorableConsensus estimates continue to support Palantir’s growth trajectory. Earnings are projected to increase 84.5% in 2026 and 40% in 2027, while revenue growth expectations remain robust at 72% in 2026 and 42% in 2027, as commercial AI adoption accelerates.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Analyst sentiment has also improved considerably. Over the past 60 days, analysts issued 11 upward earnings estimate revisions for 2026, with no downward revisions. Forecasts for 2027 also moved higher with 10 upward revisions against none downward, reflecting growing confidence in Palantir’s execution capabilities and expanding AI opportunity.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PLTR Stock Looks Like a Compelling BuyPalantir continues to distinguish itself through rapid commercial adoption, expanding customer relationships, improving profitability and disciplined execution. The company's Artificial Intelligence Platform is gaining traction across enterprises, while larger contracts and a growing customer base provide visibility into sustained long-term growth. At the same time, exceptional operating efficiency demonstrates that Palantir is scaling its business without compromising profitability. With analyst sentiment becoming increasingly optimistic and enterprise AI adoption still in its early stages, the recent share-price weakness appears to present a compelling opportunity for long-term investors. Despite near-term valuation concerns, Palantir's strengthening fundamentals support a Buy recommendation for investors seeking exposure to one of the software industry's leading AI growth stories.
PLTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Landon Swan from @LikeFolio discusses whether Palantir's (PLTR) business could become commoditized as AI continues to grow its commercial customer base. He examines the difference between consumer sentiment and investor sentiment surrounding Palantir as the company's software becomes more embedded in customer operations.
Momentum for leading artificial intelligence (AI) chip stocks has been incredibly bullish over the last year, and Micron Technology (MU 9.76%) has been one of the best-performing names in the category. Soaring demand for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and other solutions has translated into stellar growth in unit sales that has pushed revenue higher, and increased pricing power has also lifted sales and driven big gains in profit margins.
Thanks to big gains in sales and earnings, Micron stock has been one of the market's biggest overall winners over the last year -- and it now has a market capitalization of roughly $1.29 trillion, ranking it as the world's 13th-largest publicly traded company. Read on for a look at what a $1,500 investment in the stock made one year ago would be worth at today's prices.
Image source: Getty Images.
Buying Micron stock a year ago would have been a great move As of this writing, Micron stock is up 820% over the last year of trading. That means that if you had invested $1,500 in the stock one year ago today and held on to your position, it would now be worth more than $13,800.
AI-related demand for memory chips has transformed the company's business, and the need for these chips was actually so strong that it caused the company to move out of providing memory solutions for the consumer market so that it could focus more of its design and production capacity on the far more profitable high-end, enterprise artificial intelligence market. The move has been paying off for the company in a big way, and it's possible that the supply-constrained environment for memory chips will allow the business to continue posting stellar sales and earnings growth, translating into more big wins for shareholders.
Keith Noonan has positions in Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
President Trump said that the U.S. chipmaker would make a significant donation to a new type of investment account for children created by the administration.
Halfway through the year, Woods is making a change to his top two picks.
• What’s going on with NVDA stock?
In an interview with Benzinga at the halfway point of 2026, Woods is ready to make a change to his favorite Magnificent Seven stocks for the second half of the year and into 2027.
"I still love the story in Alphabet," Woods tells Benzinga. "I like what they’re doing."
On the technical side for Alphabet, Woods said he’d like to see the stock stay above the $350 level.
Woods says Alphabet being added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average could be a good thing or a bad thing, but he much prefers the stock over Verizon, the name Alphabet replaced in the index.
"I think it’s a great thing."
After naming Tesla a "story to watch in 2026" and picking the stock as one of his top picks for 2026, Woods is making a change.
"Tesla, I’m a little weary of it. Looked for Tesla technically and once that broke $420 I was out."
While there could be speculation of a merger between Tesla and SpaceX, Woods said he’s going to avoid the stock.
"I think Nvidia has now given us an opportunity to get it on the cheap here. The recent weakness in the stock should bode well for investors who’ve been waiting for an opportunity to get in."
Woods said Nvidia’s revenue growth is outpacing others and they’re not spending as much other hyperscalers.
"Their fundamental story hasn’t changed."
Woods said Nvidia stock looks "inviting" for the next six months if not longer.
"I think these are the two that will have the longevity."
Woods calls Alphabet a core holding and tells Benzinga he puts his money where his mouth is, as he’s owned the stock for more than 15 years.
Just missing out on the top two was Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), which Woods said is a great company, but might be more of a long-term growth story.
Is Magnificent Seven Still Magnificent?"I think it will be a top index because those seven stocks’ market caps are now in the top 10. And thot’s how you want to look at it," Woods tells Benzinga.
Woods said it’s natural for some other stocks to come and take market cap away.
"But when you look at the story that shaped us in this bull run, this secular bull run, those were the seven stocks that started it."
Image via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) just delivered one of the most remarkable nine-month runs in mega-cap history, and the memory cycle bulls are convinced this is only the second inning. Our model takes a more cautious view.
After running the numbers through our proprietary framework, the 24/7 Wall St. price target for Micron is $996.22, which implies a 12.02% downside from the current price.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $1,132.33 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $996.22 Upside/Downside -12.02% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 90% Why We Could Be Wrong Before going deeper, I want to be fair to the bulls. Micron is one of the most divisive stocks in the market right now, and real upside could come from sustained HBM4 pricing power into calendar 2027 or the activation of the 16 long-term supply deals secured through 2030.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target is one datapoint among many. A detailed bull case appears below outlining why Micron could outrun our model.
An 11x Run Meets a Blowout Quarter The setup here is extreme. Micron is up 296.92% year to date and 800.86% over the past year, trading 9% off the $1,255 52-week high.
Q3 FY2026, filed June 24, 2026, was a blowout: revenue of $41.46B beat by 17.6%, non-GAAP EPS of $25.11 beat by 23.79%, and GAAP gross margin reached 84.6%. Management guided Q4 to $50B in revenue with non-GAAP EPS of $31. Yet shares fell 6.69% the day after the report, hinting that expectations had run ahead of the fundamentals.
The Bull Case Above the Target The bull case rests on AI memory becoming a structurally scarce asset. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra called out “multi-year Strategic Customer Agreements” enhancing predictability, and HBM4 is ramping in high volume with HBM4E targeted for calendar 2027.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Sell-side analysts are loudly bullish: Deutsche Bank lifted its target to $1,550, Morgan Stanley moved to $1,200, and DA Davidson went to $2,000 arguing the memory cycle is “not yet over.” The consensus target is $1,365.08. If HBM4 pricing holds and Q4 guidance proves conservative, shares could realistically test $1,500.
What Could Go Wrong The risks are mostly cyclical. Weekly RSI sits at 81.98, deeply overbought for the eighth straight week. Historically, Micron has pulled back after earnings beats: the average one-week change post-earnings across eight quarters is -1.13%. Capex of $7.83B in a single quarter plus a $325M loss on debt prepayments show the cost of staying ahead.
Morningstar flagged “yellow flags for memory stocks”, and insider activity skews toward selling. Bulls would counter that the heavy capex funds HBM4E capacity that pays off through 2030. A bear scenario lands near $725.
Hold for Now My verdict is hold with 90% confidence. The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $996.22 reflects a stock that has priced in a perfect cycle. A more constructive setup would require Q4 revenue above $51B with margins above 86%.
The picture weakens if RSI stays above 80 and hyperscaler capex commentary softens. The factor that tips the scale: the model values forward EPS at a sober multiple, and current pricing demands the cycle keeps accelerating.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $996 2030 $972 These projections assume Micron continues executing on HBM4 and HBM4E with disciplined capex. A sharper memory downcycle in 2029 or 2030 could pull shares toward the bear path near $624.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Micron (MU 9.85%) stock is seeing a substantial pullback in Wednesday's trading, with shares down 9.6% as of 2:10 p.m. ET. The S&P 500 was up 0.1% at the same point in the day's trading, and the Nasdaq Composite was off 0.2%.
While moves for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite look relatively muted today, many leading chip stocks are getting hit with big sell-offs. Meanwhile, investors appear to be moving into artificial intelligence (AI) software stocks. On the other hand, there was actually some good news for Micron today.
Image source: Getty Images.
Micron loses ground as investors shift into AI software stocks Top AI chip stocks have been massive winners this year, and few names in the space have been bigger winners than Micron. Even with some recent volatility, the company's share price is up roughly 267% year to date. But while the AI chip trade has been hot in 2026, bullish momentum has wavered recently.
While there hasn't been any negative news for Micron recently, the company's share price has faced some pressure as investors take profits on AI chip stocks. At the same time, investment dollars appear to be rotating back into artificial intelligence software stocks.
Today's Change
(
-9.85
%) $
-113.68
Current Price
$
1040.61
Micron lands new partnership deal Micron stock is moving lower today, but there has actually been some good news for shareholders. The company announced that it had entered into a new partnership with General Motors. Through the contract, Micron will provide memory chips and storage platforms to support GM's vehicle production and deliveries. Long-term contracts securing high profit margins have been a major source of bullish momentum for Micron over the last year, and it looks like the company is poised to continue recording wins along those lines.
Keith Noonan has positions in Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
HomeIndustriesComputers/ElectronicsTech StocksTech StocksMost of Sandisk’s annual revenue could eventually come from its new business model contracts that provide better visibility, BofA saysJuly 1, 2026, 2:17 p.m. ET
Shares of Sandisk were falling Wednesday as investors moved out of the broader chip sector following a strong run in the first half of the year. But with supply shortages of NAND expected to persist through next year, one analyst sees more room for Sandisk’s stock to run.
A possible factor dragging on the chip sector Wednesday is a Bloomberg report that Meta Platforms META is considering selling its excess cloud capacity, D.A. Davidson managing director Gil Luria told MarketWatch.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 1, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zillow securities between February 11, 2025 and May 7, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/Z.
Zillow Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
Zillow's agreement with Redfin Corporation was not a "partnership," but rather an acquisition of Redfin's business; as a result of the Redfin Agreement, Zillow faced a materially heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and liability under federal antitrust laws; upon the filing of an antitrust lawsuit, Zillow continued to downplay its legal exposure; and as a result, defendants' statements about Zillow's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.What's Next for Zillow Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/Z, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Zillow you have until August 10, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Zillow Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Zillow Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/301087
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of MercadoLibre, Inc. (“MercadoLibre” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MELI) investors concerning the Company’s possible violations of federal securities laws.
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN MERCADOLIBRE, INC. (MELI), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
What Happened?
On May 7, 2026, MercadoLibra released its first quarter 2026 financial results and disclosed that loans which were “typically on average of 5 months” had now “moved to 8 months” and that the Company is “taking provisions in Brazil... related on the one hand, to extending the average term of our loans.”
On this news, MercadoLibre’s stock price fell $237.49, or 12.7%, to close at $1,632.52 per share on May 8, 2026, thereby injuring investors.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you purchased MercadoLibre securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Telephone: (215) 638-4847
Email: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Innovent Biologics, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) on Tuesday entered into a distribution and promotion agreement for Eli Lilly’s breast cancer therapy Verzenios (abemaciclib) in mainland China.
• Eli Lilly stock is facing resistance. Why is LLY stock retreating?
Under the deal, Innovent will oversee the product’s importation, marketing, distribution and promotion, while Lilly will continue to manufacture, supply, and develop the medicine.
The collaboration gives Innovent exclusive commercialization rights for Verzenios in mainland China, with Lilly remaining the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) for the therapy.
Verzenios Approved Across Multiple Breast Cancer IndicationsVerzenios, a CDK4 & 6 inhibitor developed by Lilly, has received approval in China for several breast cancer indications.
Doctors use the therapy with endocrine therapy, including tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, as adjuvant treatment for adults with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, node-positive early breast cancer that carries a high risk of recurrence.
Doctors also use it to treat hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
They can administer the treatment with an aromatase inhibitor as an initial endocrine-based therapy for postmenopausal women or combine it with fulvestrant for patients whose disease has progressed after prior endocrine therapy.
In addition, doctors use Verzenios in combination with imlunestrant to treat adults with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have previously received endocrine therapy.
Partnership Seeks to Expand Patient AccessVerzenios became the first CDK4 & 6 inhibitor included in China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) Class B in 2021.
In 2025, its listing was renewed, extending reimbursement coverage across both early and advanced breast cancer indications.
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY | LLY Price Prediction) is $1,349.37, pointing to 12.5% upside from a recent price of $1,199.43. We rate LLY a buy with a 90% confidence score. The GLP-1 franchise is compounding faster than the market appreciated last spring, and Foundayo just opened a scalable oral channel to more than 1 billion people globally.
Metric Value Current Price $1,199.43 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $1,349.37 Upside 12.5% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% A Recovery Rally Built on Foundayo and a Q1 Blowout Lilly has been one of 2026’s cleanest turnaround stories. Shares are up 8.34% in the past week, 8.55% over the past month, and 11.99% year-to-date, after climbing off an August 2025 low near $701. The stock now sits about 1% from its 52-week high of $1,238.
Q1 2026 lit the fuse. Revenue of $19.799 billion grew 55.5% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $8.55 beat consensus by 25.88%. Mounjaro delivered $8.662 billion (125% growth), Zepbound added $4.160 billion, and management raised full-year revenue guidance to $82 billion to $85 billion with EPS of $35.50 to $37.
The Case for $1,400+: Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead Our bull case target is $1,409.34, a 17.5% return. The engine is the incretin franchise. Combined Mounjaro and Zepbound revenue hit $12.8 billion in Q1, and international volume grew 81%.
Foundayo, the first oral GLP-1 with no food or water restrictions, is already tracking with 80% of prescriptions going to new-to-class patients, expanding the market rather than cannibalizing injectables.
Retatrutide’s Phase III diabetes readout showed 11.1 to 16.6 kilograms of weight loss, and the pipeline runs 42 active Phase III programs. Wall Street’s consensus target sits at $1,222.62, with 24 Buy ratings.
The Risks Worth Watching Our bear case is $1,111.80, a 7.31% pullback. Realized prices fell 13% in Q1 as rebates, Zepbound cash-pay cuts, and China’s NRDL inclusion took bites out of net revenue.
Bulls will counter that volume grew 65% and gross margin still landed at 82.6%, so unit economics remain excellent. Insider activity leaned toward selling with 15 recent transactions, though heavy investment in four acquisitions and $584 million in IPR&D charges are cash going into future growth, not fundamental deterioration. Novo Nordisk competition and potential pharmaceutical tariffs remain overhangs.
The Bottom Line: A BUY Rating on Lilly My 24/7 Wall St. price target is $1,349.37, a buy with 90% confidence. The tipping factor is the guidance raise: management moved both revenue and EPS ranges higher after just one quarter, and Foundayo contribution is barely in the numbers yet.
The setup strengthens if Foundayo’s Q3 DTC launch drives another guidance hike. The thesis weakens if pharmaceutical tariffs materialize or Q2 price erosion accelerates beyond the low-to-mid teens management has guided.
Looking further ahead, here is where our model projects Lilly could trade if current growth and margin trajectories hold.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 (year-end) $1,263.70 2027 $1,349.37 2030 $1,798 These projections assume Lilly sustains GLP-1 leadership, executes the Foundayo global rollout, and its 42 Phase III programs deliver meaningful pipeline conversion. Significant upside could come from retatrutide approval; downside risk stems from patent-cliff exposure and accelerating biosimilar competition later in the decade.
Web3 security has changed dramatically over the past few years.
As protocols become more sophisticated and billions of dollars in value move on-chain every day, traditional bug bounty programs are increasingly struggling to keep pace. Security teams face growing volumes of spam, low-quality submissions, and operational overhead, while experienced security researchers often spend weeks waiting for responses, dealing with unclear processes, or wondering whether valid findings will ultimately be rewarded.
Today, we're introducing CertiK Hunt, our next-generation security research platform built to address these challenges.
CertiK Hunt connects high-quality security researchers with trusted Web3 projects through invite-only security programs designed to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
CertiK Hunt brings together bug bounty programs, audit competitions, and AI-powered security challenges in one curated ecosystem focused on quality over quantity.
Why We Built CertiK Hunt CertiK has been deeply embedded in the Web3 space for years, working with hundreds of projects across the ecosystem. Through this experience, we've identified significant gaps in the current bug bounty and audit competition landscape, making it clear that Web3 projects need a more continuous and comprehensive security solution to effectively protect themselves.
We've closely monitored how other platforms operate and have noticed that projects often receive overwhelming numbers of duplicate, AI-generated, or out-of-scope reports that consume valuable engineering time without improving security.
At the same time, talented researchers frequently encounter slow response times, inconsistent communication, unclear reward processes, and platforms where signal is buried beneath noise.
The result is frustration on both sides.
CertiK Hunt was designed to change that.
Built Around Quality Unlike open platforms that allow anyone to submit reports, CertiK Hunt is intentionally invite-only.
Security researchers are selected based on their technical expertise, previous findings, contributions to the security community, and overall reputation. By maintaining a curated researcher network, projects can spend less time filtering submissions and more time fixing real vulnerabilities.
Projects also undergo a review process before launching programs. This helps ensure that participating teams are committed to running professional security programs and treating researchers fairly throughout the disclosure process.
Our goal is simple: create an environment where high-quality researchers and serious projects can work together efficiently.
CertiK Hunt is designed to support multiple ways of improving protocol security.
Bug Bounty Programs Continuous security testing is conducted by experienced researchers who are rewarded for responsibly disclosing valid vulnerabilities. Bug bounty programs are one of the most effective and necessary crowdsourced defenses, relying on multiple sets of eyes to uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. This approach has already proven its value by helping companies save billions of dollars through responsibly disclosed vulnerabilities, making it an essential component for any Web3 project that takes security seriously.
Audit Competitions Have you made an upgrade to your code? Did you add a fresh batch of smart contracts that require immediate attention? Do you have a timeframe for when you need your code to be checked? Then run an audit competition—a unique and efficient way to get all security researchers’ eyes on your code as they compete to find bugs.
AI Security Challenges As AI becomes an increasingly important tool for security research, CertiK Hunt will also host AI-focused challenges that encourage new approaches to vulnerability discovery and analysis. These challenges will help researchers explore innovative techniques and push the boundaries of automated security testing.
Designed for Researchers Researchers deserve more than a submission form.
CertiK Hunt provides a dedicated portal where participants can:
Track the status of their submissions Communicate directly throughout the review process Participate in exclusive security programs Our objective is to create a platform where researchers can focus on what they do best: finding impactful vulnerabilities.
A quick preview: you can expect a leaderboard, exclusive rewards, and plenty of exciting features ahead!
Designed for Projects For projects, CertiK Hunt provides access to an experienced network of security researchers without the operational burden that often comes with public programs. By limiting participation to approved researchers, projects receive higher-quality submissions, reduce time spent triaging spam, and can work more closely with trusted security professionals.
For your convenience, we offer a range of flexible triaging tiers designed to accommodate projects of all sizes and needs. Whether you're looking for basic support or a more comprehensive, hands-on approach, you can choose the level of service that best aligns with your project's goals, complexity, and available resources.
Whether launching a bug bounty after an audit, running a competitive code review before a major release, or continuously strengthening protocol security, CertiK Hunt provides a flexible platform tailored to modern Web3 development.
The Next Chapter of Web3 Security CertiK Hunt builds on years of experience protecting the Web3 ecosystem while introducing a new approach centered around quality, collaboration, and trust.
As the platform evolves, we plan to continue expanding its capabilities with additional program types, new researcher tools, deeper analytics, and features that improve collaboration between projects and security researchers.
Our mission remains the same: help make Web3 more secure by connecting exceptional researchers with the projects building the future of blockchain.
Join CertiK Hunt If you're an experienced security researcher interested in joining our invite-only community, request an invitation today.
If you're building in Web3 and want to launch a bug bounty program, audit competition, or AI security challenge, connect with our team to learn how CertiK Hunt can help secure your protocol.
