FuelCell Energy vyskočila o 24 % po oznámení strategické dohody s Fit Energy na až 380 MW čisté, baseload on-site energie pro datová centra. Bloom Energy naopak klesla o 13 % po realizaci zisků.
Shares of FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) are up 24% to $24.45 in midday trading Friday, while Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) stock is down 13% to $268.65. It’s a rare same-session split for two fuel cell peers that typically trade together on AI data center power sentiment.
The FuelCell Energy catalyst is concrete: a marquee data center power agreement with Fit Energy. The Bloom Energy slide looks more like a profit-taking unwind layered on competitive rotation as capital chases the day’s deal winner.
FuelCell Energy and Bloom Energy both sit at the center of the AI power buildout, and shares of each have had violent runs heading into this session. The pattern is familiar in high-beta themes like FCEL and BE, where sentiment can pivot hard on a single contract announcement.
FuelCell Energy’s 380 MW Deal Drives the Move FuelCell Energy announced a strategic agreement with Fit Energy for up to 380 MW of clean, baseload on-site power for data centers. The deal includes an immediate deposit for an initial 30 MW, with delivery slated to begin in late 2026, plus warrants tied to future deployment milestones. That structure gives FuelCell Energy a near-term revenue trigger and upside tied to scale.
The deal validates FuelCell Energy’s pivot toward AI infrastructure. Management has flagged a commercial pipeline of roughly 4 GW, with 90% tied to data centers. The company is also funding a $200 million to $275 million expansion of its Torrington, Connecticut facility to push annualized capacity to 500 MW.
Analyst sentiment has been catching up. Canaccord Genuity upgraded FuelCell Energy stock to Buy with a $30 price target following the Q2 FY2026 report, citing positioning in AI data center power. CEO Jason Few has framed the strategy as “extending the grid to data centers,” a pitch that fits the AI infrastructure narrative driving today’s tape. Impressively, FCEL stock is up 307% over the past year.
Bloom Energy Cools After a Parabolic Run Bloom Energy stock entered Friday already in retreat after a profit-taking reversal in the prior session, so today’s slide extends a two-session unwind. Coming in, Bloom Energy was up 1,331% over the past year, so single-day air pockets come with the profile.
The competitive subtext matters too. FuelCell Energy’s Fit Energy win lands on the same data center turf Bloom Energy has dominated through its Oracle (NYSE:ORCL | ORCL Price Prediction) collaboration and a $5 billion Brookfield AI-infrastructure partnership. Bloom Energy’s fundamentals remain strong, with Q1 2026 revenue of $751 million, up 130% year over year, and FY2026 guidance raised to $3.6 billion.
Ultimately, trader positioning shifted faster than the fundamentals today. With Bloom Energy stock carrying a forward earnings ratio near 156x, a sharp pullback on rotation pressure fits the profile of a name that has run this far this fast. The product backlog still stands at roughly $6 billion, so today’s move is about price action, not the order book.
What Investors Can Watch From Here For FuelCell Energy, the next test is execution. Converting that 4 GW pipeline into actual revenue, and meeting the late-2026 delivery start on the Fit Energy initial 30 MW, are the concrete milestones. Investors can watch for follow-on data center agreements that confirm today’s narrative, plus any analyst price target revisions ahead of the next earnings report.
For Bloom Energy, the read is more about positioning than fundamentals. Investors may want to watch analyst valuation commentary in the coming sessions, given the size of the prior rally and the new competitive data point from FuelCell Energy. Bloom Energy stock carries a beta of 3.7, so risk-management discipline matters for anyone sizing fresh exposure.
The bigger picture: the on-site power thesis for AI data centers remains intact across both FuelCell Energy and Bloom Energy. Today’s divergence is more about who owns the next headline than a structural shift in the sector. Stock traders can keep their position sizes modest given the volatility both stocks just put on display, and they may want to track whether FuelCell Energy stock’s gap holds into next week.
Marvell Technology oznámila za 1. čtvrtletí zisk 80 centů na akcii a tržby 2,42 miliardy USD, obojí v souladu s odhady. Firma zároveň zvýšila výhled celoročních tržeb na zhruba 11,5 miliardy USD.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) . Shares have added about 37.3% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Marvell due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Marvell Technology Q1 Earnings Match Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/YMarvell came out with first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings of 80 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported earnings of 62 cents per share a year ago. The bottom line increased 29% year over year.
MRVL’s first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenues of $2.42 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.59%. MRVL reported revenues of $1.90 billion in the year-ago quarter.
MRVL Leans on Data Center MomentumThe top-line record was built on demand in both reported end markets. Data center revenues increased 27% year over year and 11% sequentially to $1.83 billion. Communications and other revenues were $585 million, up 29% year over year and 3% sequentially.
Management pointed to “exceptional AI-related bookings” across its data center lineup and guided for continued sequential acceleration as fiscal 2027 progresses. The message was that AI buildout is pulling through multiple product families, including optical interconnect, custom silicon and switching.
MRVL Broadens Its Connectivity FootprintMarvell Technology emphasized strength in 800G PAM4 products, a quick ramp of 1.6T solutions and expanding traction in Ethernet switching as networking becomes more critical in larger AI clusters. The company also said the shift toward larger, multi-site AI systems is increasing the importance of data center interconnect modules.
Strategically, MRVL highlighted an expanded partnership with NVIDIA across optics, NVLink Fusion integration and AI-RAN, intended to connect its custom silicon and optical networking capabilities into the NVIDIA ecosystem. Management said it has a line of sight to a $1 billion annualized DCI module revenue run rate during fiscal 2028.
Marvell Technology’s ProfitabilityMRVL reported non-GAAP gross margin of 58.9%. Non-GAAP operating margin was 35.0%, supported by $846.9 million of non-GAAP operating income. MRVL’s non-GAAP operating expenses were $576.9 million as the company continued investing in AI growth priorities.
MRVL Generates Cash While Locking in SupplyOperating cash flow was a record $638.8 million in the quarter. Cash and cash equivalents ended the period at $3.84 billion compared with $2.64 billion posted on Jan. 31, 2026. MRVL’s total debt stood at $4.96 billion.
MRVL repurchased $200 million of stock and paid $53.8 million in dividends. To support AI-driven demand, the company is forecasting approximately $1 billion of prepayments during fiscal 2027 to secure additional capacity, with the first payments beginning in the second quarter.
MRVL completed the Celestial AI acquisition on Feb. 2, 2026, and the buyout of XConn on Feb. 10, 2026, and the quarter’s results included both businesses from their acquisition dates.
The company also highlighted the acquisition of Polariton Technologies, positioning plasmonic-based silicon photonics as a pathway to higher modulator bandwidth and scaling optical performance to 3.2T and beyond.
Guidance for Q2 & Fiscal 2027For the second quarter of fiscal 2027, Marvell Technology guided revenues to $2.7 billion (+/-5%). Non-GAAP diluted earnings are expected to be 93 cents per share (+/- 5 cents).
Management also raised its broader outlook. MRVL now expects fiscal 2027 revenues to grow about 40% year over year to nearly $11.5 billion and sees fiscal 2028 revenues rising about 45% to roughly $16.5 billion.
The company expects data center growth of about 50% in fiscal 2027 and about 55% in fiscal 2028, with interconnect positioned as a key swing factor.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted -8.27% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Marvell has a average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a B. However, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the lowest quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Marvell has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerMarvell belongs to the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry. Another stock from the same industry, Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) , has gained 48.6% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended April 2026.
Applied Materials reported revenues of $7.91 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.4%. EPS of $2.86 for the same period compares with $2.39 a year ago.
Applied Materials is expected to post earnings of $3.35 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +35.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Applied Materials. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
Společnost Marvell Technology vykázala v 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 rekordní provozní cash flow ve výši 638,8 mil. USD navzdory rozsáhlým akvizicím. Na konci čtvrtletí měla v hotovosti 3,84 mld. USD.
Key Takeaways Marvell Technology posted a record Q1 fiscal 2027 operating cash flow of $638.8M despite major acquisitions.MRVL spent $1.42B on investing, mainly for Celestial AI and XConn Technologies acquisitions.Marvell Technology ended the quarter with $3.84B cash to support acquisitions and investments. Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) delivered a record operating cash flow of $638.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, almost doubling from $332.9 million reported in the year-ago quarter. This strong performance came despite the company completing major acquisitions during the first quarter of fiscal 2027, highlighting the strength of its underlying business and its ability to generate healthy cash from operations.
Marvell Technology's investing activities reflected its strategy of expanding through acquisitions. The company used $1.42 billion in investing activities compared with $94.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Most of this spending was related to the acquisitions of Celestial AI and XConn Technologies, while capital expenditures increased to $155.7 million, demonstrating continued investment in technology and infrastructure.
The improvement in operating cash flow was largely driven by non-cash expenses and favorable working capital movements. MRVL’s cash flow remained strong because of $225.2 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, $207.6 million in stock-based compensation, and a $331.8 million increase in the fair value of contingent consideration liability.
Financing activities generated $1.99 billion in cash, primarily due to the issuance of $2 billion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The company also raised $998.9 million through borrowings while repaying $500 million of debt. Overall, Marvell Technology maintained a strong liquidity position, ending the quarter with $3.84 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
MRVL’s current strategy will provide ample financial flexibility to fund acquisitions, capital investments and shareholder returns. MRVL would be able to maintain its leadership in the Custom Silicon, Networking & Switching, Optical Interconnect, Optical Components, Automotive and Enterprise Networking spaces.
How Competitors Fare Against MRVL StockThe company faces stiff competition in the networking and custom silicon space from Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) .
Broadcom is a leader in the domain of custom silicon solutions for data centers. Broadcom’s advanced 3.5D XDSiP packaging platform is critical to ensure the performance and efficiency of custom AI XPUs.
Advanced Micro Devices is another established player in the custom silicon solutions and AI accelerator market. Advanced Micro Devices offers semi-custom SoCs and Instinct Accelerators to power data centers.
MRVL's Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Marvell Technology have gained 231% year to date against the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s growth of 56.2%.
MRVL YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Marvell Technology trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 18.12X, lower than the industry’s average of 10.13X.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MRVL’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 42.3% and 53%, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2027 and 2028 have been revised upward in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marvell Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Akcionáři Lululemon schválili tři kandidáty vedení do představenstva, čímž pomohli uzavřít vleklý spor se zakladatelem Chipem Wilsonem. Akcie po zprávě vzrostly o více než 3 %.
Lululemon Athletica Inc (NASDAQ:LULU) shares rose more than 3% after shareholders approved three management-backed directors at the company’s June 25 annual general meeting, helping resolve a prolonged proxy dispute with founder Chip Wilson.
The elected directors include former Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh, Unilever executive Esi Eggleston Bracey and finance veteran Teri List. Their appointment strengthens the board as the company prepares for incoming CEO Heidi O’Neill, who is set to take over in September.
Lululemon also confirmed that two of Wilson’s nominees, former On co-CEO Marc Maurer and former ESPN chief marketing officer Laura Gentile, have also joined the board as independent directors.
A third mutually agreed director is expected to be added by October 1, expanding the board to 11 members.
The changes follow a settlement reached in May aimed at ending months of public tension between Wilson, who owns about 8.6% of the company, and Lululemon’s leadership.
Under the agreement, Wilson has also committed to an 18-month period of refraining from public criticism of the company.
Lululemon has struggled amid intensifying competition from rivals such as Alo Yoga and Vuori, with the stock down about 50% in the last 12 months.
Wendy’s posílila o 6 % díky virální kampani „Save Wendy’s“, která živí spekulace na short squeeze. Akcie ale za rok stále ztrácejí 34 % a fundamenty zůstávají slabé.
Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN | WEN Price Prediction) stock is up 6% to $7.74 in Friday midday trading, extending a remarkable rebound for the burger chain. The move puts the stock on track for what would be a third straight weekly gain after shares touched a roughly 12-year low on Monday.
The catalyst remains the viral “Save Wendy’s” campaign that swept r/WallStreetBets earlier this week, where posts like “Fixing Her: A Wendys (WEN) DD” drew hundreds of upvotes and lit up retail trader feeds. Reddit sentiment on Wendy’s peaked at a bullish score of 72 on June 25 before cooling.
Despite the rally, the stock remains down 34% over the past year. That collapse is exactly what created the unusual value and yield profile now drawing fundamental buyers alongside the meme crowd.
The “Save Wendy’s” Setup The meme army’s pitch is a classic short squeeze. Wendy’s stock short interest sits near 23% per S3 Partners and a record 26% per Yahoo/Koyfin data, giving forced buying real fuel. Reddit activity on r/WallStreetBets carried WEN stock higher all week.
Yet, the cooling has already started. By Friday, sentiment had dropped to neutral readings of 56 to 58, and a skeptical post titled “Wendy’s Meme Rally distracts from the bigger picture” began gaining traction. Mechanical short-covering can reverse swiftly once forced buyers are tapped out.
The Value Case for Wendy’s Per Yahoo Finance, Wendy’s stock trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 10.1x with a forward dividend yield of 7.65%. Unlike pure meme names, Wendy’s generates free cash flow and has a long history of paying dividends, with the most recent $0.14 quarterly payout distributed on June 15.
Insider conviction backs the value thesis. Wendy’s director and 10% owner Peter May bought 4,166 shares on April 3 at $7.14, with director Bradley Peltz purchasing 3,448 shares the same day at the same price. Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management remains involved, and speculation continues about whether leadership changes could lead to a broader transaction.
Settled leadership adds to the turnaround narrative. Bob Wright is now Wendy’s permanent CEO and Steve Cirulis is the new CFO, both formerly at Potbelly, driving the “Project Fresh” turnaround plan.
The Bear Case Investors Can’t Ignore The high yield is partly a math artifact of a collapsing share price. Wendy’s stock is down 66% over five years, the textbook profile of a potential value or dividend trap if the turnaround stalls. Dividend sustainability becomes a fair question, not a forecast.
The fundamentals justify the skepticism. Wendy’s Q1 2026 U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 8%, a sharp deterioration, and net income dropped 42%. A low trailing P/E ratio on declining earnings can flatter the picture because forward earnings may look quite different.
Wall Street remains cautious on Wendy’s stock. The analyst consensus skews to hold, with 16 hold ratings against just 1 strong buy and 3 buys, and an average target of $7.79 roughly in line with current trading.
What to Watch The next real test for Wendy’s stock arrives with Q2 2026 earnings on August 14. Same-restaurant sales trends and early strategy commentary from Cirulis can shape whether the bounce holds.
For now, Wendy’s stock looks like more than a pure meme name, as the company has real cash flow and real insider buying activity. However, the depressed valuation reflects genuine traffic problems that have not yet turned. Investors interested in the turnaround thesis should consider keeping their WEN position sizes modest until Q2 results confirm whether Project Fresh is starting to bite.
Nutanix ve 3. fiskálním čtvrtletí překonal odhady zisku i tržeb a zároveň zvýšil výhled na celý fiskální rok 2026. Akcie ale za měsíc po výsledcích klesly asi o 3,8 %.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Nutanix (NTNX - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 3.8% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Nutanix due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Nutanix Q2 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates, Sales Rise Y/YNutanix delivered third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of 47 cents per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.29% and improved 11.9% year over year.
Revenues rose 10% year over year to $703.1 million, beating the consensus mark by 2.53%.
The average contract duration increased to 3.4 years from 3.1 years in the year-ago quarter. Longer contract duration can help improve revenue visibility for a subscription-heavy model while reflecting customers’ willingness to commit to longer-term platform deployments.
NTNX’s Top-Line Details for Q3Product revenues (51.9% of total revenues) increased 5.6% year over year to $364.9 million. Support, maintenance & other services revenues (48.1% of total revenues) rose 15.2% to $338.1 million.
Subscription revenues (94.6% of total revenues) climbed 9% to $664.8 million from the year-ago quarter’s figure. Professional services and other revenues (5.4% of total revenues) improved 30.5% to $38.3 million.
Annual recurring revenues (ARR) grew 15% year over year to $2.43 billion, reflecting continued momentum in the company’s subscription model.
Nutanix added 730 new logos, up 18% year over year, signaling continued customer acquisition despite what management described as a dynamic environment. The company’s cumulative customer count rose to 31,710 by the end of the quarter, reflecting the steady expansion of its installed base
NTNX’s Operating Details for Q3In the fiscal third quarter, Nutanix’s non-GAAP gross margin contracted 40 basis points year over year to 87.8%.
Non-GAAP operating expenses increased 8% year over year to $460.5 million.
Non-GAAP operating income totaled $156.5 million, up 14.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Non-GAAP operating margin was 22.3%, up 80 bps from the year-ago quarter. The company highlighted that operating income expanded from the prior-year period, driven by improved operating leverage alongside revenue growth.
NTNX’s Balance Sheet & Cash FlowAs of April 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents plus short-term investments totaled $2.01 billion, up from $1.87 billion as of Jan. 31, 2026.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2026, cash generated from operating activities was $207.5 million and free cash flow was $197.2 million, underscoring the company’s ability to translate operating execution into cash even as it continues investing in growth initiatives.
Shareholder returns also received an incremental lift. Nutanix announced that its board authorized an additional $750 million of common stock under the company’s existing share repurchase program, expanding capacity for potential buybacks going forward.
NTNX Raises FY26 GuidanceNTNX raised its fiscal 2026 guidance across metrics, reflecting confidence in business momentum. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company guided revenues to $725-$745 million and non-GAAP operating margin to 21-23%, with diluted weighted average shares outstanding expected to be approximately 292 million.
For fiscal 2026, NTNX now expects revenues of $2.82-$2.84 billion, non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 22.5% and free cash flow of $760-$780 million. Management noted that server hardware shortages and partner pricing increases continue to affect the timing of converting bookings into revenues, an impact that the updated outlook incorporates into expectations for the fiscal fourth quarter and into fiscal 2027.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted 6.42% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Nutanix has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Nutanix has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
F5 kupuje SurePath AI a rozšiřuje tím svou platformu pro zabezpečení AI ve firmách. Akvizice má pomoci odhalovat modely, agenty i neznámé AI nástroje v síti.
by Todd Bishop on Jun 26, 2026 at 10:45 amJune 26, 2026 at 11:05 am
François Locoh-Donou, F5’s chairman, president and CEO, at the company’s headquarters this week. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop) F5’s acquisition this week of SurePath AI, a startup that detects artificial intelligence on corporate networks, is part of a broader effort by the Seattle company to cement itself in the booming market for securing AI for businesses.
“The more an enterprise adopts AI, the less visibility it has into what AI is operating in the organization,” said François Locoh-Donou, F5’s chairman, president and CEO, in an interview for this weekend’s GeekWire Podcast, conducted Thursday at the company’s downtown Seattle headquarters.
Denver-based SurePath, founded in 2023 and led by co-founder Casey Bleeker as CEO, had about 19 employees and had raised roughly $6 million in venture funding, according to PitchBook. Financial terms of F5’s acquisition weren’t disclosed.
SurePath monitors a company’s network to identify which AI tools and agents employees are using, including ones the company doesn’t know about, and tracks what they do.
F5 is incorporating SurePath into its broader AI security platform, announced this week, designed to discover the AI models and agents running inside a company, test them for vulnerabilities, and apply guardrails to keep them in check.
Locoh-Donou said customers have been forced to cobble that together from separate products. “Having four, five, six different tools to discover, test and secure your AI is a nightmare,” he said.
Kunal Anand, F5’s chief product officer, compared the problem to an earlier era, when employees adopted cloud software faster than their IT departments could track it. The big difference is that the AI version is moving faster and carries higher stakes.
“Shadow AI is shadow SaaS with a faster clock and a larger blast radius,” he wrote in a blog post.
F5, founded in Seattle in 1996, makes technology for securing and deploying applications across multiple platforms. The publicly traded company reported $3.1 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year and marked its 30th anniversary in May.
The SurePath deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions for the company, including its purchase last fall of CalypsoAI, now offered as F5 AI Red Team and F5 AI Guardrails.
Locoh-Donou said the company weighs three things in each acquisition: whether it can build the technology itself fast enough, whether the deal genuinely serves customers, and, above all, whether the team will fit F5’s culture.
“We have encountered companies in the industry that had great technology and brilliant people, but it was very clear to us that they would never be a great fit,” he said. “And so we walked away.”
Locoh-Donou discussed the acquisition, F5’s evolution, the rise of AI, the World Cup in Seattle and other topics in the GeekWire Podcast conversation. Look for the episode this weekend, and subscribe to GeekWire in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Landstar je levně oceněný a dál vrací kapitál prostřednictvím dividend a odkupů, ale trápí ho slabší poptávka po přepravě a vyšší kapacita kamionů. Tržby mají zůstat slabé.
Key Takeaways LSTR supports shareholders through dividends and buybacks while maintaining a low debt profile. LSTR is hurt by reduced demand for freight services and increased truck capacity. LSTR shares have gained in the past six months, but lags its industry and peers like JBHT and WERN. Landstar System, Inc. (LSTR - Free Report) looks cheap from a valuation standpoint. Considering the forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio (P/S-F12M), LSTR is trading at a discount compared to the industry.
The stock has a forward 12-month P/S-F12M of 1.33X compared with 2.68X for the industry over the past five years. These factors indicate that the stock’s valuation is attractive.
LSTR P/S Ratio (Forward 12 Months) Vs. Industry Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Now, the question is whether it is worth buying, holding, or selling the Landstar stock at current prices. Let us delve deeper to find out.
Tailwinds Working in Favor of LSTR StockLandstar's efforts to develop its heavy haul services in addition to the cross-border transportation with Mexico are commendable. Cross-border transportation offers significant growth opportunities to LSTR as companies are increasingly sourcing products from Mexico because it moves production lines close to the United States, not only saving production costs but also making the supply chain more secure. Development of the company's heavy haul services should also boost profitability. Heavy haul business refers to the transportation of loads that are larger and heavier than the prepared roadways and bridges can bear, and they need specialized equipment and expert drivers. By bolstering its heavy haul capabilities, LSTR will be able to deliver goods between different sectors (mining, construction and manufacturing) that need transportation of large machinery and equipment.
Landstar’s strong balance sheet increases financial flexibility. The company ended first-quarter 2026 with cash and cash equivalents (and short-term investments) of $353.25 million, much higher than the current debt level of $26.1 million. This implies that the company has sufficient cash to meet its current debt obligations. Meanwhile, long-term debt has decreased to $43.14 million at first-quarter 2026 end from $48.5 million at fourth-quarter 2025 end.
A solid balance sheet enables the company to reward shareholders with dividends and share repurchases. As a reflection of its shareholder-friendly stance, in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, LSTR paid dividends of $115.6 million, $117.1 million, $120.5 million and $124.7 million, respectively. Dividend-paying stocks like LSTR are generally safe bets for creating wealth, as these payouts act as a hedge against economic uncertainty, which characterizes current times.
Landstar is also active on the buyback front. LSTR repurchased shares worth $285.9 million in 2022, $53.9 million in 2023, $81.4 million in 2024 and $179.8 million in 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, Landstar purchased 150,923 shares for $22.6 million. Landstar is currently authorized to purchase up to an additional 1,115,195 shares under its longstanding share purchase program. Buybacks not only reduce the total outstanding share count, thereby increasing earnings per share, but also signal management's belief in the intrinsic value of the stock.
What Do Earnings Estimates Say for LSTR?The positive sentiment surrounding LSTR stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 and third-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward in the past 90 days. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 earnings has also been projected northward in the past 90 days.
The favorable estimate revisions indicate brokers’ confidence in the stock.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LSTR Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of LSTR stock have gained 43.6% over the past six months, underperforming the transportation-truck industry’s 40.2% surge, as well as that of other industry players, J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) and Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN - Free Report) ), within the same time frame.
LSTR Stock’s Six-month Price Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Headwinds Weighing on LSTR StockLandstar is being hurt by reduced demand for freight services and increased truck capacity. Due to the weakness in freight demand, shipment volumes and rates are low. The top line has been suffering mainly due to the below-par performance of its key segment, namely, truck transportation. Revenues are likely to be weak going forward.
Risks associated with the economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions and tariff-induced economic uncertainty continue to bother the stock’s performance. As things stand now, consumer spending and business investments remain low, and production levels have decreased in response to reduced demand, affecting demand for goods transportation and resulting in a freight recession (The Cass Freight Shipments Index, which has declined in all the first five months of 2026. This measure has also deteriorated year over year in each of the past 12 months in 2025, which confirms the overall declining trend). We currently believe that these factors indicate persistent weakness in freight demand through the remainder of this year.
The still-high inflation reading continues to hurt consumer sentiment and growth expectations. With labor and material costs showing no signs of letting off, the ability to pass these increases through to the consumer will determine the profitability of trucking companies like LSTR.
The truck industry, of which Landstar is an integral part, has been persistently battling a driver shortage for several years. As old drivers are retiring, trucking companies are finding it difficult to find new drivers to take their place since the low-paying job does not appeal to the younger generation.
Not an Opportune Time to Buy LSTR StockIt is understood that LSTR stock is currently attractively valued. Moreover, Landstar's efforts to develop its heavy haul services are commendable and should boost profitability. Cross-border transportation with Mexico also offers significant growth opportunities. A solid balance sheet allows the company to continue paying dividends and buying back shares, reflecting its pro-shareholder stance.
Despite these positives, we advise investors not to buy LSTR stock now, as it continues to be hurt by reduced demand for freight services and increased truck capacity. Due to the demand weakness, shipment volumes and rates are low. Driver shortage continues to be another major concern. Considering all these factors, we advise investors to wait for a better entry point and not buy LSTR now. For those who already own the stock, it will be prudent to stay invested. The company’s current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) justifies our analysis. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Wanchain oznámil integraci s Rango Exchange, která má prostřednictvím WanBridge a xFlows podporovat cross-chain transakce napříč EVM i non-EVM sítěmi. Cílem je sjednotit fragmentovanou likviditu a zjednodušit multi-chain swapy.
In a strategic move to address friction within the multifaceted DeFi environment and provide users with seamless experiences, Wanchain, a decentralized multi-chain blockchain platform, today announced an important strategic integration with Rango Exchange, a cross-chain DEX aggregator. This collaboration enabled Wanchain to integrate Rango Exchange’s cross-chain DEX aggregation infrastructure to further advance its interoperability and liquidity capabilities, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of its all-in-one blockchain network that allows users to interact with a wide range of chains and assets efficiently in a non-custodial manner.
Wanchain operates as a decentralized blockchain interoperability platform built to efficiently connect isolated networks, enabling users to smoothly move assets and applications across different DeFi ecosystems.
‼️New integration‼️
We are happy to announce that @RangoExchange has officially integrated Wanchain into its crosschain aggregator & DEX!
In this integration, Rango will utilize WanBridge & xFlows to support crosschain transactions across both EVM & non-EVM chains ⛓️
🧵1/3 pic.twitter.com/Gk4RqFuwe3
— Wanchain (@wanchain_org) June 26, 2026 Wanchain Solves Liquidity Fragmentation with Rango Exchange Through its partnership with Rango Exchange, Wanchain aims to expand the efficiency of its cross-chain interoperability platform, especially in key areas such as token swap, liquidity fragmentation solution, and bridge risk mitigation. In the large DeFi world, various assets exist on various chains, and so their liquidity (trading volume and pools) is split among different networks. However, the liquidity fragmentation concern arises when some chains have full order book depth while others have inadequate, causing problems, including higher slippage and poorer price discovery for huge trades. This situation normally forces users to look for liquidity across networks, a complicated process involving manual bridging and numerous swaps. This fragmentation problem often causes users painful experiences as traders struggle to find the best prices, developers encounter difficulty integrating separate markets, and institutions experience lower capital efficiency as liquidity spreads thin across gateways.
These issues explain why Wanchain integrated Rango Exchange’s multi-chain DEX aggregation infrastructure. Rango, with its cross-chain DEX aggregator, has the proficiency in connecting multiple DEXs and bridges, providing one-stop routing for multi-chain swaps. Therefore, the integration of Rango Exchange helps unify fragmented liquidity across networks connected with Wanchain, allowing users on Wanchain to access better yield opportunities across networks without manually bridging and switching wallets. This tech fusion means Rango’s DEX aggregator automates the multi-step process, making cross-chain trading on Wanchain smooth, and assists users in finding better prices from the combined liquidity of multiple chains. As a result, the integration of Rango’s DEX aggregator makes a seamless user experience on Wanchain and connected cross-chain networks, despite the underlying liquidity remaining on separate chains.
Advancing DeFi User Experience with Cross-Chain Liquidity Solutions With its partnership with Rango Exchange, Wanchain aims to unlock new opportunities for customers and increase their capital efficiency in the larger DeFi landscape. DeFi clients always look for new opportunities to make the most of their asset holdings. Hence, this collaboration with Rango’s cross-chain DEX aggregator is set to further open up a huge volume of locked capital and bring a huge amount of liquidity for multi-chain trading on Wanchain.
The alliance between Wanchain and Rango Exchange showcases that liquidity aggregation is a crucial component in the multichain DeFi space. This makes fragmented markets unified and frictionless, consequently helping to decrease arbitrage gaps, minimize slippage, and allow large trade executions without severe impact.
AUTHOR
Nicholas Otieno is a fintech writer specializing in cryptocurrency markets. Since 2019, he has written articles to educate readers about cryptocurrency and its substantial positive impact on global prosperity. Nicholas is a Bitcoin holder, believing firmly in its fundamentals. His work has been featured in publications such as Finance Magnates, Blockchain.News, Bitcoin Magazine, Coincub, and among others. When he's not writing, Nicholas enjoys performing domestic tasks, spending time with friends, listening to music, and watching football.
Abercrombie & Fitch v 1. čtvrtletí překonala odhad na EPS 1,47 USD, ale tržby 1,11 miliardy USD za odhady zaostaly. Firma potvrdila celoroční výhled růstu tržeb o 3–5 %.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) . Shares have added about 8.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Abercrombie due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Abercrombie & Fitch Company before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Abercrombie's Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Hollister Sales Flat Y/YAbercrombie posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein the top line lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate while the bottom line surpassed the same. Meanwhile, the company’s sales increased year over year, but earnings fell. Abercrombie’s earnings per share (EPS) of $1.47 in the fiscal first quarter fell 7.5% from the year-ago quarter. However, the bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26 per share.
Net sales rose 2% year over year to $1.11 billion but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion. The quarter marked the 14th straight quarter of sales growth. Results were driven by higher sales in the Americas and a sharp acceleration in APAC, partially offset by weaker demand in EMEA. Comparable sales dipped 1% on a constant-currency basis, reflecting a softer regional mix despite continued growth in key markets.
Americas net sales increased 3% year over year to $899.9 million, supported by 1% comparable-sales growth. APAC was the standout in growth rate, with net sales up 24% to $46.5 million and comparable sales up 15%. In contrast, EMEA net sales declined 10% to $167.4 million and comparable sales fell 11%, which management tied to softer demand as the Middle East conflict ramped up, particularly impacting the Hollister brands in the region.
Abercrombie Brands’ PerformanceBy brand, Abercrombie net sales rose 3% to $564.7 million, while Hollister net sales were essentially flat at $549.1 million.
The brand split underscores that the company’s growth in the quarter was concentrated in Abercrombie, while Hollister held revenues steady but faced pressure in comparable sales. Comparable sales were flat for Abercrombie and down 2% for Hollister.
ANF’s Margins & ExpensesSelling expenses increased 7.8% to $431.2 million and rose 230 basis points (bps) to 38.7% of net sales, while general and administrative expense increased 4.5% to $182.8 million and moved up 50 bps year over year to 16.4% of sales.
Operating income of $88.8 million declined 18.5% from adjusted operating income of $109 million, and adjusted operating margin contracted 180 bps to 8%.
Abercrombie’s Cash Flow Backed Buybacks and FlexibilityANF ended the quarter with $594.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and maintained total liquidity of approximately $1 billion, including borrowing available under its ABL facility. Inventory was $532.7 million, down 1.7% from the prior-year quarter.
Operating cash flow was $44.3 million compared with a use of $4 million a year ago, while capital spending totaled $61.3 million. The company repurchased 1.2 million shares for about $105 million during the quarter and had $745 million remaining under its March 2025 authorization, reinforcing management’s emphasis on returning capital alongside continued investment in stores and brand-building.
Abercrombie’s Q2 & FY26 OutlookManagement maintained its fiscal 2026 outlook for net sales growth of 3-5% and operating margin of 12-12.5%, with net income per share expected in the range of $10.20-$11.00. The company continues to plan roughly $450 million in share repurchases and capital expenditures of around $225 million versus $200-$250 million expected earlier. It expects an effective tax rate of about 30%.
For fiscal 2026, Abercrombie plans 30 net store openings, together with 80 remodels and rightsizes, and 20 closures.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ANF expects net sales growth of 2-4% and an operating margin of around 10%, with net income per share projected at $1.80-$2.00. The outlook also embeds a year-over-year tariff headwind of about 120 basis points in the quarter, while the fiscal-year tariff impact was reduced to an unfavorability of around 20 basis points. The company noted it has applied for approximately $100 million of tariff refunds under IEEPA. It expects share repurchases of at least $150 million in the fiscal second quarter.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted -22.78% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Abercrombie has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a score of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Abercrombie has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
CEO Tanger Stephen Yalof uvedl, že od začátku roku roste návštěvnost i tržby v outletových centrech. Firma zároveň ve 1. čtvrtletí vykázala Core FFO ve výši 0,59 USD na akcii, což je meziročně o 11 % více.
Stephen Yalof, CEO of Tanger (NYSE:SKT | SKT Price Prediction), a retail REIT that owns and operates outlet shopping centers across the U.S., delivered an on-the-ground read of the U.S. shopper on a recent CNBC appearance, telling viewers that consumers have kept coming back to Tanger’s shopping centers since the beginning of the year. CEO Yalof says that despite anticipated headwinds from rising, sticky inflation, the company is seeing traffic up and sales up across its outlet portfolio. His commentary offers a window into a roughly 38-center outlet REIT concentrated in secondary and Southeastern markets rather than major coastal cities.
What Yalof Is Seeing in the Outlet Channel According to Yalof, today’s shopper wants entertainment and food experiences in addition to shopping, which is why Tanger has been reframing its centers as lifestyle destinations rather than pure discount stops. He flagged Gen Z as a standout segment that wants to shop in physical environments, touch products, and shop in groups, summarizing the behavior as “shopping is entertainment again.”
Yalof also said Tanger is borrowing a lesson from the full-price retail world: consumers “might come for food but stay for shopping,” driving cross-shopping across tenants. On brand traction, he pointed to a value-and-trade-down dynamic, with names like Coach and Ralph Lauren resonating with younger shoppers in the outlet channel.
The Numbers Behind the Commentary Tanger’s own first-quarter results offer a quantitative backdrop for the CEO’s optimism. The company reported Core FFO of $0.59 per share, up 11% from the prior year, with occupancy ending the quarter at 97%, up 120 basis points year-over-year, and sales productivity of $482 per square foot on a trailing 12-month basis. Revenue came in at $150.42M, ahead of a $143.65M estimate, while net income rose 53.21% year over year to $29.4M. Leasing activity hit record levels with 651 leases totaling 3.4 million square feet over the last 12 months and blended rent spreads of 10.5%.
Yalof paired that with a capital-return signal, noting a 7% increase in the dividend supported by earnings growth and conservative payout ratios. Tanger now carries a dividend yield near 2.97% and trades at roughly 38x trailing earnings, with a $4.66B market cap.
Retail Sales Data Confirms These Trends Independent data partially confirms these trends. U.S. retail sales have climbed five months in a row, from $734,503M in January 2026 to $763,705M in May 2026, the highest reading in the 12-month series. BEA personal consumption expenditures also stepped up each month of 2026, reaching $22,059.8B in May 2026, with recreation and food services spending both higher year over year.
Sentiment tells a different story. The University of Michigan index sat at 49.8 in April 2026, down 6.6% from a month earlier, deep in what the survey treats as recessionary territory. That gap between how consumers feel and what they spend is the key tension Yalof’s commentary speaks to.
What to Watch Yalof’s comments reinforce a theme that has puzzled investors throughout 2026: consumers continue to spend even as surveys suggest they’re becoming more pessimistic. Tanger’s rising traffic at outlet locations, higher sales, record leasing activity, and increased guidance all point to continued resilience in discretionary retail, particularly among value-oriented shoppers.
Whether that strength persists will become clearer over the second half of the year. Investors might get more insights over time from holiday-season traffic, tenant sales productivity, occupancy trends, and whether inflation or tariffs begin to meaningfully pressure consumer spending.
Bath & Body Works v 1. čtvrtletí překonala odhady zisku i tržeb, ale čisté tržby meziročně klesly o 3,2 % na 1,378 miliardy USD. Firma zároveň potvrdila celoroční výhled pro fiskální rok 2026.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Bath & Body Works (BBWI - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Bath & Body Works due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
BBWI Q1 Earnings Top Estimates as Growth Strategy Fuels OptimismBath & Body Works posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, sales and adjusted earnings declined year over year, reflecting persistent pressure from cautious consumer spending, category mix challenges and tariff-related cost inflation. Management noted that underlying business trends remained consistent with the softness seen in recent quarters.
Despite the pressured environment, the company highlighted encouraging progress from its Consumer First Formula strategy, which is designed to drive sustainable long-term growth. The initiative focuses on strengthening hero categories, accelerating disruptive product innovation, modernizing the brand, improving digital and marketplace capabilities, and operating with greater speed and efficiency.
Management stated that early proof points from these efforts are beginning to resonate with consumers and expects momentum to build through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
BBWI’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsBath & Body Works reported adjusted earnings of 32 cents per share in the fiscal first quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents. However, adjusted earnings declined 34.7% from 49 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Net sales declined 3.2% year over year to $1,378 million but exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,370 million. Performance reflected softer demand trends across several categories, partially offset by growth in soaps, sanitizers and international markets.
Net sales for Stores - U.S. and Canada declined 4.3% year over year to $1.06 billion.
Direct - U.S. and Canada net sales slipped 1.5% year over year to $246 million. Management noted that normalized for the free shipping threshold change, stores and digital performed comparably during the first quarter. Buy Online, Pickup In Store represented approximately 20% of the total direct demand.
International and Other net sales increased 9% year over year to $70 million, which includes domestic third-party wholesale revenues. International net sales increased 5%, while system-wide retail sales rose 11% during the quarter.
Within North America, Body Care sales declined in the mid-teens, Home Fragrance sales decreased in the low-single digits, and Soaps & Sanitizers sales increased in the low-single digits.
Sneak Peek Into BBWI’s MarginsAdjusted gross profit declined 9.1% year over year to $588 million. Moreover, the adjusted gross margin contracted 270 basis points to 42.7% from the prior-year period.
The adjusted merchandise margin rate declined 210 basis points year over year due to tariffs, inflation, crude oil impacts of approximately 130 basis points and category mix. However, adjusted average unit retail remained flat year over year.
Adjusted SG&A expenses remained flat year over year at $436 million. However, as a percentage of sales, adjusted SG&A deleveraged 100 basis points to 31.7% due to sales deleverage, investments associated with the Consumer First Formula and inflationary wage pressures. These pressures were partially offset by Fuel for Growth savings initiatives and incremental cost reductions.
Adjusted operating income declined 27.6% year over year to $151 million, while the adjusted operating margin contracted 370 basis points to 11%.
Bath & Body Works’ Store UpdateDuring the fiscal first quarter, Bath & Body Works opened 13 stores and closed 17 stores across North America. Selling square footage totaled 5.48 million square feet at the quarter-end.
Internationally, partners operated 579 stores, including 542 international stores and 37 travel retail locations. International partners opened eight stores and closed two during the quarter, reflecting continued expansion outside North America.
BBWI’s Financial Health SnapshotBath & Body Works ended the fiscal first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $820 million compared with $636 million in the prior-year period. Long-term debt stood at $3.61 billion versus $3.89 billion last year.
Inventories declined to $782 million from $869 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting disciplined inventory management.
In the fiscal first quarter, the company generated $244 million in operating cash flow and invested $49 million in capital expenditure. BBWI also redeemed $284 million of January 2027 notes during the quarter and paid out $40 million in dividends.
BBWI’s Q2 GuidanceFor the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company expects net sales to decline 5-3% from $1.55 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Management expects the underlying business trend to decline in the low-single-digit percentage. Promotional activity is anticipated to be the same as that reported last year.
International net sales are projected to increase in the low to mid-single-digit range during the quarter. However, management highlighted that the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is expected to weigh on international performance.
The gross profit margin for the fiscal second quarter is expected to be 40%. The anticipated margin pressure reflects higher store occupancy costs, deleverage associated with lower sales volumes and continued investments in product transformation initiatives.
The SG&A expense rate is expected to be 31.8%, reflecting sales deleverage, wage inflation, merit increases and continued investments in the Consumer First Formula. These headwinds are expected to be partially offset by savings generated through the company’s Fuel for Growth initiative.
Bath & Body Works expects fiscal second-quarter earnings per share of 20-25 cents, whereas it reported earnings of 30 cents and adjusted earnings of 37 cents in the prior-year quarter.
BBWI Reaffirms FY26 OutlookBath & Body Works reaffirmed all elements of its fiscal 2026 guidance despite continued macroeconomic uncertainty and value-focused consumer behavior. For fiscal 2026, the company expects net sales to decline 4.5-2.5% year over year from the fiscal 2025 reported sales of $7.291 billion. Management noted that the outlook assumes a macroeconomic backdrop similar to fiscal 2025, with consumers continuing to exhibit cautious, value-seeking spending behavior and promotional activity remaining at levels comparable to the prior year.
Underlying business trends are expected to fall 3% for the year. However, management believes that investments in innovation, improved marketing execution and expanded customer touchpoints will begin contributing more meaningfully over time, with stronger benefits anticipated during the back half of fiscal 2026 and into fiscal 2027.
Bath & Body Works expects its fiscal 2026 adjusted gross profit margin to be 42.4%. The company expects buying and occupancy deleverage tied to lower sales volumes, along with merchandise margin pressure from product investments, to weigh on profitability. These pressures are expected to be partially offset by Fuel for Growth initiatives.
Management noted that tariff-related costs, including product cost inflation, are expected to remain roughly neutral to year-over-year earnings for fiscal 2026. The outlook also assumes elevated energy prices throughout the remainder of the year.
The adjusted SG&A expense rate is expected to be 29.2%, reflecting wage inflation, Consumer First Formula investments and sales deleverage, partially offset by savings from the Fuel for Growth initiative. Bath & Body Works continues to target $250 million in cumulative savings over two years under its Fuel for Growth program, with $175 million expected to be realized in fiscal 2026. The savings are expected to be split roughly evenly between gross margin and SG&A benefits.
Bath & Body Works expects fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $2.40-$2.65, whereas it reported adjusted earnings of $3.21 in fiscal 2025. Earnings are projected between $3.00 and $3.25, whereas it reported EPS of $3.11 in fiscal 2025. The company emphasized that its guidance does not assume any share repurchases or potential tariff refunds during fiscal 2026.
Bath & Body Works expects $270 million in capital expenditure in fiscal 2026, primarily focused on strategic investments tied to product transformation, digital capabilities and operational initiatives.
The company also expects to maintain its annual dividend of 80 cents per share during fiscal 2026 while continuing to prioritize disciplined capital allocation and balance-sheet strength. The free cash flow for fiscal 2026 is projected to be $600 million, providing flexibility to support investments, dividends and debt management initiatives.
Management stated that fiscal 2026 will serve as a foundational investment year as the company works to reposition the business for sustainable, durable long-term growth. The company believes its leadership position in home fragrance, soaps & sanitizers and body care categories, combined with disciplined cost management and consistent free cash flow generation, provides a strong foundation to execute its long-term transformation strategy successfully.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted 9.3% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Bath & Body Works has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Bath & Body Works has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
EDF podepsala dohodu o prodeji své divize EDF Power Solutions v USA a Kanadě fondu KKR. Součástí jsou provozy a aktiva o výkonu 5,6 GW obnovitelných zdrojů.
The logo is seen prior to the presentation of the French state-owned utility EDF 2023 half-year results in Paris, France, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJune 26 (Reuters) - EDF signed an agreement to sell EDF Power Solutions in the United States and Canada to private equity firm KKR, the company said on Friday.
KKR will acquire the operations and assets. In the U.S. and Canada, EDF Power Solutions operates 5.6 gigawatts of renewable assets.
The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.
EDF, which owns and operates France's nuclear fleet, must raise cash to maintain its 57 aging reactors and finance the construction of six new units.
In November EDF CEO Bernard Fontana told Reuters the company was considering selling between 50% and 100% of its U.S. renewable unit, a deal that could value the business at nearly €4 billion ($4.56 billion).
EDF has developed 26 gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage projects plus electric vehicle charging sites and has 17 GW under service contracts in North America, which includes a small amount in Canada and Mexico, according to its website.
($1 = 0.8773 euros)
Reporting by Margaux Perrin in Gdansk, Editing by Louise Heavens
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Capri Holdings (CPRI - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 4.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Capri Holdings due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Capri Holdings Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates, Sees FY27 Growth AheadCapri Holdings delivered fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and declining year over year. However, earnings surpassed the consensus estimate and improved significantly from the prior-year quarter.
Management highlighted that strategic initiatives introduced last year are gaining traction, with improving trends visible across both Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. The company noted that actions taken to strengthen product innovation, brand desirability and consumer engagement are resonating well with consumers, providing early validation of its transformation efforts. Capri Holdings also emphasized that fiscal 2026 was focused on stabilizing the business and building a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
Looking ahead, management expressed confidence in returning to revenue and earnings growth in fiscal 2027, projecting low-single-digit revenue growth and nearly 40% earnings-per-share growth. Longer term, the company aims to grow Michael Kors revenues to $4 billion and Jimmy Choo revenues to $800 million while significantly improving profitability and delivering sustainable long-term shareholder value.
More on Capri Holdings’ Q4 ResultsCapri Holdings reported adjusted earnings of 22 cents per share for the fourth quarter, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents. The bottom line improved significantly from an adjusted loss of $4.55 per share reported in the year-ago period. On a reported basis, the company posted a loss of one cent per share compared with a loss of $4.90 in the prior-year quarter.
Total revenues came in at $796 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $804 million. The top line declined 3.7% year over year on a reported basis and 7% on a constant-currency basis.
By geography, The Americas remained the largest region but was also the main drag, with revenues of $433 million compared with $493 million in the year-ago quarter. EMEA improved to $246 million from $223 million, while Asia edged up to $117 million from $111 million, partially offsetting softness in the Americas.
Gross profit increased to $516 million from $495 million in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin expanded 490 basis points to 64.8%, aided by a $40 million reduction in the cost of goods sold tied to estimated IEEPA tariff refunds.
Operating loss narrowed to $27 million from $57 million a year ago. On an adjusted basis, operating loss improved to $1 million from $15 million in the prior-year quarter, with adjusted operating margin improving to negative 0.1% from negative 1.8% a year ago.
CPRI’s Q4 Revenue Insights by SegmentsMichael Kors generated revenues of $656 million, down 5.5% year over year on a reported basis and 8.4% on a constant-currency basis. The brand experienced sequential improvement in retail trends, with full-price retail channel comparable sales increasing across all regions. Total retail channel average unit retails (AURs) increased by a mid-single-digit percentage, while wholesale sales at the point of sale improved to approximately flat compared with the prior year.
Gross margin expanded to 64.6%, benefiting from an estimated receivable related to IEEPA tariff refunds. Operating income increased to $57 million from $32 million a year ago, while operating margin expanded to 8.7% from 4.6% in the prior-year quarter.
Jimmy Choo delivered a solid performance, with revenues increasing 5.3% year over year to $140 million on a reported basis and remaining flat on a constant-currency basis. Retail sales increased by a mid-single-digit percentage, with sequential improvement across all regions, while wholesale point-of-sale trends also improved sequentially. Gross margin came in at 65.7%. However, the brand reported an operating loss of $20 million compared with an operating loss of $10 million in the prior-year quarter.
Capri Holdings’ Financial Health SnapshotCapri Holdings exited fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $135 million and total borrowings of $357 million, resulting in net debt of $222 million, a significant improvement from $1.4 billion in the prior year. Operating cash flow for fiscal 2026 totaled $197 million, while capital expenditures were $63 million, leading to free cash flow of $134 million. Inventory levels declined 17% year over year to $581 million, reflecting improved inventory discipline and operational efficiency.
Capri Holdings resumed a more aggressive capital return stance in the quarter, repurchasing approximately 4 million shares for $79 million. The remaining authorization under the share repurchase program was $921 million at the end of the fourth quarter.
Capri Holdings’ Q1 OutlookFor the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Capri Holdings expects total revenues of approximately $750 million and operating income of around $10 million. Net interest and other income are projected at roughly $20 million, while the effective tax rate is expected to be approximately negative 50%. The company anticipates earnings per share of about 40 cents.
Within the segments, Michael Kors revenues are projected at approximately $585 million, with the operating margin expected in the high-single-digit range. Jimmy Choo revenues are anticipated to be approximately $165 million, with the operating margin in the low-single-digit range.
CPRI’s FY27 GuidanceFor fiscal 2027, Capri Holdings expects total revenues of approximately $3.525 billion, representing growth of nearly 1.5% from fiscal 2026 revenues of $3.474 billion. The company projects operating income of around $190 million compared with $23 million reported in fiscal 2026. Net interest and other income are projected in the range of $85-$90 million, while the effective tax rate is expected to be in the low-teens range. The company anticipates earnings per share of about $2.15. Capri Holdings also plans share repurchases of nearly $200 million and capital expenditures of approximately $125 million during the fiscal year.
For Michael Kors, fiscal 2027 revenues are expected to be approximately $2.9 billion, with the operating margin projected in the low-double-digit range. Jimmy Choo revenues are anticipated to be approximately $625 million, with the operating margin in the low-single-digit range.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 20% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Capri Holdings has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Capri Holdings has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Tesla uzavřela žalobu kvůli smrtelné nehodě z roku 2023 s FSD (Supervised), ale federální vyšetřování systému pokračuje. NHTSA zkoumá, zda software správně reaguje na zhoršenou viditelnost. Vyšetřování bylo otevřeno v roce 2024 po čtyřech hlášených nehodách v podmínkách nízké viditelnosti a v březnu 2026 bylo povýšeno na engineering analysis.
Image Credits:Getty Images Tesla has settled a lawsuit connected to a fatal 2023 crash involving a vehicle using the company’s advanced driver assistance system known as Full Self-Driving.
Bloomberg was first to report on the settlement. Terms were not disclosed.
The lawsuit was filed against Tesla and the driver by the daughter of Johna Story, a 71-year-old woman who was struck by a Tesla Model Y. Story was hit after she stepped out of her own vehicle to direct traffic around a crash that had occurred earlier due to sun glare.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) automated driving software in 2024 after four reported crashes in low visibility conditions — including the one involving Story. NHTSA said, at the time, it was investigating the driver assistance system to find out whether it could “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions,” such as “sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.”
That investigation was upgraded in March 2026 to an engineering analysis. In that report, the agency wrote “Available incident data raise concerns that Tesla’s degradation detection system, both as originally deployed and later updated, fails to detect and/or warn the driver appropriately under degraded visibility conditions such as glare and airborne obscurants.”
While the settlement ends the family’s lawsuit, this upgraded NHTSA investigation has not yet been closed. At stake for Tesla for the federal investigation is a host of possible outcomes, including a recall.
The federal agency also opened an investigation into FSD in October 2025 after receiving reports the software caused the vehicles to run red lights or cross into the wrong lane.
BTIG potvrdila Uberu doporučení Buy a cílovou cenu 100 USD, ale varuje, že robotaxi strategie může investorům přinést větší přínos až za několik let. U Uberu je v USA jen asi 200 exkluzivních ne-Waymo robotaxi, která jezdí přes Avride v Dallasu a Motional v Las Vegas.
In a research note published Friday, Fuller reiterated a Buy rating and maintained a $100 price forecast, but argued that Uber’s growing list of autonomous vehicle (AV) partnerships has yet to meaningfully shift investor sentiment.
Waymo Remains The Clear LeaderAccording to BTIG estimates, roughly 4,100 robotaxis are currently providing paid rides across 11 U.S. cities. About 3,800 of those vehicles belong to Waymo, while only about 300 are spread across five competing AV platforms.
The firm estimates around 1,000 autonomous vehicles are available through the Uber app in the U.S. However, roughly 800 of those are Waymo vehicles, and about 500 are also accessible through the Waymo app.
That leaves Uber with only about 200 exclusive non-Waymo robotaxis, operating through Avride in Dallas and Motional in Las Vegas. BTIG does not expect Uber’s exclusive AV fleet to reach the thousands until 2027 or 2028.
Long-Term View Remains PositiveBTIG said it still sees a long-term path for a fragmented autonomous vehicle market, with multiple platforms, car owners and fleet managers using Uber as a demand aggregator.
However, the firm said that shift could take years, with Waymo still the dominant platform and visibility limited. Investors likely need to see other AV platforms scale and a much larger robotaxi fleet on Uber’s app before giving the company more credit for its U.S. rideshare business, BTIG said.
While Uber’s on-app robotaxi count may rise in the second half, BTIG does not expect thousands of exclusive non-Waymo vehicles until late 2027 or 2028, leaving few near-term catalysts.
The brokerage maintained its Buy rating and $100 price forecast, based on a 15-times multiple of its 2027 EBITDA estimate. BTIG expects Uber’s adjusted EBITDA to grow about 30% while continuing to benefit from expansion in mobility, delivery, advertising and Uber One memberships.
Uber Technical AnalysisUber stock rose nearly 3% on Friday, outperforming a weaker broader market. The Nasdaq fell 0.81%, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.16%.
Uber is rebuilding momentum above key moving averages. The stock traded about 4.9% above its 20-day simple moving average of $71.43 and roughly 2% above its 50-day SMA of $73.45.
However, shares remain about 8.1% below the 200-day SMA of $81.56 after falling 19.5% over the past 12 months.
The MACD indicator remains above its signal line, pointing to improving buying momentum. Even so, the longer-term trend remains under pressure following the 50-day SMA’s move below the 200-day SMA earlier this year.
Key resistance sits near $81, close to the 200-day SMA. Support is around $69, above the 52-week low of $67.19.
Uber Price ActionUBER Price Action: Uber Technologies shares were up 3.03% at $74.44 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways Alphabet's ad revenues rose 15.5% to $77.25B in Q1 2026, helping lift total revenues by 22% to $109.9B. GOOGL expanded AI across ads, boosting relevance, Maps engagement and Smart Bidding performance. Alphabet deepened its Walmart partnership to improve ad targeting and measure online and in-store sales. Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) is benefiting from rising advertising revenues, which have become a key growth driver of its robust financial performance. In the first quarter of 2026, Google’s advertising revenues increased 15.5% year over year to $77.25 billion and accounted for 70.3% of total revenues.
The company’s consolidated revenues surged 22% year over year to $109.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking the company’s 11th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The core of this momentum lies in Google Services, where advertising remains the dominant revenue stream. Google Search & other advertising revenues grew 19% to $60.4 billion, while YouTube ads contributed $9.9 billion, up 11% from the previous year.
A key driver behind this surge is Alphabet’s aggressive integration of advanced AI models, particularly Gemini, across its entire ads infrastructure. These AI enhancements have significantly improved ad relevance and user intent understanding, allowing Alphabet to match ads more precisely to user queries, even for longer, more complex searches that were previously difficult to monetize. In the first quarter of 2026, the company announced that Google Maps, with AI-driven improvements, has led to a nearly 10% increase in user engagement with promoted pins, while Smart Bidding powered by Gemini has enabled advertisers to achieve greater precision and performance.
Alphabet’s partnership with Walmart remains noteworthy. The company recently partnered with Walmart Connect to integrate Walmart’s first-party shopper audiences into Display & Video 360, starting with YouTube campaigns. Advertisers can now target high-intent Walmart shoppers and measure how video ads drive online and in-store sales through closed-loop measurement, improving campaign effectiveness and return on ad spend.
Alphabet’s leadership in AI and strong partnerships with major retailers and tech companies position the company for continued growth and further upside in the digital advertising market.
Alphabet Faces Tough CompetitionAlphabet is facing stiff competition from the likes of Reddit (RDDT - Free Report) and Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) . Both Reddit and Meta Platforms are expanding their footprint in the ad space.
Reddit is benefiting from strong demand in its advertising business, which has become a key growth driver of its impressive financial performance and future growth prospects. In the first quarter of 2026, Reddit reported total revenues of $663 million, up 69% year over year, with advertising revenues growing even faster at 74% to $625 million. This marks Reddit’s seventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth above 60%, underscoring the sustained momentum in its ad business.
Meta Platforms’ focus on integrating AI into its platforms, which include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads, is driving user engagement to boost ad revenues. In the first quarter of 2026, Meta's advertising revenues were $55.02 billion, up 33% year over year.
GOOGL’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAlphabet shares have risen 9.8% year to date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s rise of 14.5%.
GOOGL Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
GOOGL stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price/sales of 8.95X compared with the broader Computer and Technology sector’s 6.43X. Alphabet has a Value Score of D.
GOOGL's Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $14.30 per share, which has increased by a penny over the past 30 days. This suggests 32.28% growth from 2025’s reported figure.
Alphabet currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Alphabet vydal prioritní akcie s dividendou 6,25 %, ale jen do konverze na kmenové akcie 15. května 2029. Poté mohou investoři očekávat běžný dividendový výnos 0,25 %.
Alphabet (GOOGL 0.62%) (GOOG 0.58%) historically has had no shortage of growth opportunities to direct its capital toward. That's why it never paid a dividend in the past, as management felt the cash was better suited to reinvest in the business. This philosophy changed in June 2024, when the company paid its first quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share. That payout is now $0.22 per quarter. But the low dividend yield of 0.25% isn't enough to compel income investors to buy this Magnificent Seven stock.
The situation looks a bit different now. Alphabet is investing so much to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure that it has now tapped equity markets to raise fresh capital. As part of a nearly $85 billion raise, the company issued $16.75 billion of convertible preferred stock (GOOGM is the Class A equivalent, and GOOGN is the Class C equivalent). It offered a hefty 6.25% dividend yield at issuance.
That seems like a good deal, especially since the preferred stock comes from one of the most dominant tech companies. Before you rush to buy, read the fine print first.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Sitting between bondholders and common shareholders Preferred equity is a hybrid security that mimics both bonds, because they have a fixed dividend, and equities, since they represent ownership. And on the capital structure, it sits between bondholders and common shareholders. If a company goes bankrupt and has to liquidate assets, preferred holders get paid out before common equity holders.
These investment products are catered to a specific type of market participant. Investors who want to earn yield and limit downside will find preferred equities attractive.
Today's Change
(
-0.62
%) $
-2.13
Current Price
$
341.58
Bullish investors should pass on this Alphabet's preferred stock isn't perpetual. Instead, it will convert to common shares on May 15, 2029. So, the 6.25% dividend yield will be active for only about three years. After that, investors can expect to receive the common stock's low 0.25% yield.
The conversion details can be confusing for average investors. Your decision to buy the preferred stock comes down to your forecast of where Alphabet's common shares will be in the future. If the stock price doubles in five years, which is a reasonable view given the company's impressive profit growth relative to its current valuation, then it makes sense to keep things simple and own the common shares.
On the other hand, if you believe Alphabet's common shares will be flat or decline over the next five years, then owning the preferred shares is interesting. There's income to be made.
For long-term investors, however, it's best to pass on this financial instrument. While the dividend yield draws a lot of attention, the fine print presents a more complex situation.
Netflix sází na AI pro lepší doporučování, vyhledávání a tvorbu obsahu, aby zvýšil udržení uživatelů. Firma zároveň rozšiřuje AI nástroje pro reklamu a mobilní rozhraní.
Key Takeaways Netflix is using AI to improve discovery, recommendations and conversational search for users.AI creator tools and a new mobile interface aim to boost content efficiency and engagement.Amazon and Disney are expanding AI capabilities, challenging Netflix's retention advantage. Netflix’s (NFLX - Free Report) aggressive AI strategy is emerging as a key differentiator that could strengthen user retention and help drive long-term revenue growth. The company has made AI one of its three strategic priorities, using generative AI to improve content discovery, personalize recommendations, test conversational search features and create higher-quality promotional assets. These enhancements are designed to help members quickly find relevant content, increasing engagement and reducing churn. Management also noted that its internal engagement-quality metric reached another record high in the first quarter, highlighting how a better user experience can translate into stronger retention.
Beyond improving content discovery, Netflix is leveraging AI to improve content creation. Its acquisition of InterPositive expands the company's suite of AI-powered filmmaking tools, enabling creators to produce content more efficiently while enhancing storytelling. Since content remains Netflix's largest investment, improving production efficiency could increase returns on content spending over time. The company is also rolling out an upgraded mobile interface featuring a vertical video discovery feed, further enhancing personalization and engagement.
Meanwhile, Netflix continues to expand AI beyond streaming. At its May 2026 Upfront event, the company introduced AI-powered advertising tools to help brands optimize campaigns, demonstrating how AI is also supporting its fast-growing advertising business. However, the long-term success of Netflix's AI initiatives will depend on consistently delivering engaging content and effectively implementing new AI features amidst fierce competition.
By combining AI-driven personalization, creator tools, product innovation and advertising capabilities, Netflix is strengthening engagement across its platform, supporting higher user retention and creating additional long-term monetization opportunities.
Netflix's AI Investments Face Powerful CompetitorsNetflix's AI-driven personalization for retention faces growing competition from Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) , which leverages AWS AI, Bedrock and Alexa+ capabilities to enhance personalization, advertising and ecosystem engagement. While AMZN benefits from superior AI infrastructure, scale and investment capacity, it lacks Netflix's dedicated streaming focus. However, AMZN's broader monetization opportunities make it a formidable competitor.
The Walt Disney Company (DIS - Free Report) is strengthening its competitive position by expanding AI through hyper-personalized recommendations, interactive Disney+ and technology-led engagement to reduce churn. DIS combines premium intellectual property with cross-platform experiences, creating long-term opportunities beyond streaming. However, the company remains early in AI deployment, making execution and technology integration key challenges. Even so, its expanding AI capabilities and ecosystem strengths position DIS as a meaningful challenger to Netflix's established AI-driven retention advantage.
NFLX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Netflix have declined 24.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s fall of 11%.
NFLX’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Netflix appears overvalued, trading at a trailing twelve-month P/S ratio of 6.5X, higher than the industry's 3.82X. NFLX carries a Value Score of D.
NFLX’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.60 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days and up by 2% over the past 60 days. This indicates a 42.29% increase from the previous year.
EPS Trend of NFLX Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NFLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Netflix vzrostl o více než 5 %, protože investoři sází na živé sportovní přenosy a AI jako motor dlouhodobého růstu. Firma rozšiřuje spolupráci s NFL, WWE a MLB.
Netflix Inc. NFLX shares rose more than 5% on Friday, outperforming the broader market.
Investors assessed the streaming giant's growing investments in live sports programming and artificial intelligence initiatives as potential drivers of long-term growth and user engagement.
The S&P 500 gained 0.3% while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.06%.
Investors appeared encouraged by Netflix's efforts to diversify beyond its traditional on-demand content model and create new opportunities for subscriber retention and monetization.
Netflix has increasingly embraced live sports rights after previously avoiding regular live programming.
The company has secured agreements covering WWE programming, Major League Baseball events and an expanded NFL package.
The NFL arrangement includes five games during the 2026 season and the NFL Honors show in February 2027.
The schedule includes a Week 1 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Australia on Sept. 10 and a Thanksgiving Eve game between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 25.
It also features two Christmas Day games and an additional Week 18 contest.
Netflix's four-year partnership with the NFL runs through the 2029-2030 season, providing a recurring pipeline of live content across multiple months each year.
The company is also associated with a proposed Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch scheduled for Sept. 19.
However, the event's status remains uncertain due to a lawsuit seeking to block the stream.
Investors have also been monitoring strategic developments after Netflix reportedly lost a $22 billion bidding contest for Roku.
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the effort as "muscle-building," while indicating that the company remains disciplined in evaluating acquisition opportunities.
Netflix has identified artificial intelligence as one of its three strategic priorities and is deploying the technology across several areas of its business.
The company is using generative AI to improve content discovery, personalize recommendations, test conversational search features and create promotional assets.
Management said its internal engagement-quality metric reached another record high during the first quarter, highlighting improvements in user experience and retention.
Netflix is also applying AI to content production. Its acquisition of InterPositive expanded the company's portfolio of AI-powered filmmaking tools aimed at helping creators produce content more efficiently while improving storytelling capabilities.
The company has also introduced an upgraded mobile interface featuring a vertical video discovery feed designed to further improve personalization and engagement.
Beyond streaming, Netflix is expanding AI into advertising.
During its May 2026 Upfront event, the company introduced AI-powered advertising tools intended to help brands optimize campaigns, supporting the growth of its ad-supported business.
Competition and technical challenges remainDespite Friday's gains, Netflix shares remain under pressure from a technical perspective.
The stock is trading 5.3% below its 20-day simple moving average, 12.71% below its 50-day moving average and 22.6% below its 200-day moving average.
A death cross that formed in December 2025, when the 50-day moving average moved below the 200-day moving average, continues to signal a longer-term downtrend.
Momentum indicators suggest the stock may be oversold. Netflix's relative strength index stands at 20.76, well below the threshold of 30 that often indicates stretched conditions.
Competition in AI-driven personalization is also intensifying.
Amazon.com is leveraging AWS AI, Bedrock and Alexa+ capabilities to strengthen personalization and advertising offerings, while Walt Disney is expanding artificial intelligence features across Disney+ and other services.
Even so, investors appear increasingly focused on whether Netflix's combination of selective live sports rights and expanding AI capabilities can strengthen engagement, reduce subscriber churn and create additional long-term monetization opportunities.
Johnson & Johnson oznámil nová data pro IMAAVY u generalizované myasthenie gravis, která ukazují trvalejší kontrolu onemocnění u pacientů v rané fázi i s nižší symptomovou zátěží. Bezpečnost zůstala podle studie konzistentní.
New analyses from the Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study support the impact of IMAAVY in anti-AChR+a, anti-MuSK+b adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) including those early in their disease, participants with lower symptom burden and those who experienced common infections To address an important evidence gap, the PETUNIAc study design will be presented – demonstrating the innovative way pregnancy outcomes data will be collected following treatment with IMAAVY IMAAVY, an immunoselective neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker, is designed to target and reduce pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies associated with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) , /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced new data across 12 abstracts at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2026 Congress that offer additional insight into the use of IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu) throughout clinically relevant points in the generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) treatment journey. The analyses include adults with anti-AChRa or anti-MuSKb antibody-positive gMG who were early in their disease course or had lower baseline symptom burden – providing insight into the potential importance of addressing pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) early in disease progression where use of advanced therapies may be less common.1,2 Additional research to be shared include outcomes shortly after common infections, which are a known cause of disease exacerbations in gMG, and plans to address evidence gaps in use of IMAAVY during pregnancy.3,4
"For many people living with generalized myasthenia gravis, achieving and maintaining sustained disease control is an important goal throughout the course of their disease, from the moment they are diagnosed and across the different stages of their journey," said Carlo Antozzi, M.D., Neurological Institute Foundation C. Besta of Milan, Italy.d "These post-hoc analyses add to the growing body of evidence on IMAAVY, which is designed to selectively target and bind the neonatal Fc receptor with high affinity, and reduce pathogenic immunoglobulin G autoantibodies associated with generalized myasthenia gravis."
Post-hoc analyses from the pivotal Vivacity-MG3 study in adults with antibody positive gMG (spanning anti-AChR+ and anti-MuSK+) will be presented which provide new insights that could inform clinical care including:
Patients early in their disease course (within five years of diagnosis) show improved outcomes: IMAAVY plus standard of care (SOC) showed greater reductions in MG-ADLe scores versus placebo plus SOC (-4.9 vs. -2.7) at Week 24, with a greater proportion of patients receiving IMAAVY also achieving the stringent measure of sustained meaningful clinical improvement (MCI)f for ≥20 weeks compared to placebo.1,5 IMAAVY is the only FcRn blocker evaluated to demonstrate sustained MCI over this duration in the double-blind phase of its pivotal study.5,g Patients with lower baseline symptom burden sustain MCI: IMAAVY plus SOC decreased symptom severityh and improved daily functioning at Week 24 versus placebo plus SOC (MG-ADL scores of -4.5 vs. -2.3).2 A greater proportion of patients receiving IMAAVY also achieved sustained MCI in this setting, adding further insights for healthcare professionals into the use of IMAAVY in patients with less severe disease.6,i Patients maintain control after contracting common infections: In the IMAAVY arm, observed symptom improvements were maintained within two weeks after patients contracted common infections, providing data on the use of IMAAVY after periods when the likelihood of disease exacerbations is elevated.3,j,k Safety and tolerability were consistent across all patients in the study and across other nipocalimab studies.7,8,9 The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) was 84% in both the IMAAVY and the placebo arms and serious adverse events (SAEs) were 9% in the IMAAVY arm compared to 14% in the placebo arm.7,k
Ongoing evidence generation in gMG will also be highlighted, including:
Innovative PETUNIA study design: PETUNIA is designed to generate real-world safety data on pregnancy, maternal, and infant outcomes following exposure to IMAAVY during pregnancy.4 By leveraging prospective and retrospective reports the study aims to capture more detailed information on outcomes in this setting, helping to expand the evidence base beyond the traditional post-marketing safety monitoring requirements and support clinical decision-making in an area where current evidence is limited.4,c "People living with generalized myasthenia gravis often face unpredictable symptoms that can interfere with everyday life, underscoring the need for continued innovation grounded in disease biology," said David Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Global Immunology Therapeutic Area Head, Johnson & Johnson. "At Johnson & Johnson, we are committed to advancing research in autoantibody diseases to better understand the role of IMAAVY, an FcRn blocker designed to help address the underlying cause of generalized myasthenia gravis, while preserving humoral immune function. We are continuing to explore the potential of IMAAVY in supporting sustained disease control across key moments in patients' lives."
The full list of accepted Johnson & Johnson abstracts can be found HERE.
IMAAVY is approved for adult and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older) with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive gMG by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).10,11
Editor's Notes:
a. Anti-AChR+= anti-acetylcholine receptor positive antibody.
b. Anti-MuSK+= anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase positive antibody.
c. Pregnancy Enhanced Tracking with Neonatal and Infant Assessment (PETUNIA) is a post-marketing FDA requirement.
d. Dr. Carlo Antozzi has provided consulting, advisory and speaking services to Johnson & Johnson. He has not been paid for any media work.
e. MG-ADL (Myasthenia Gravis – Activities of Daily Living) provides a rapid clinical assessment of the patient's recall of symptoms impacting activities of daily living, with a total score range of 0 to 24; a higher score indicates greater symptom severity.12
f. The proportion of patients achieving a meaningful clinical improvement [MCI] is defined as a ≥2-point improvement in MG-ADL score at Week 24.1,2
g. At Week 24, patients diagnosed within five years who were treated with IMAAVY plus standard of care (SOC) achieved greater reductions in MG-ADL scores from baseline compared with placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −4.9 [2.88] vs −2.7 [2.46]; difference: −2.22 [standard error (SE): 0.76]; p=0.005).1
h. This is based on QMG (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis) score which is a 13-item assessment by a clinician that quantifies MG disease severity through muscle weakness. The total QMG score ranges from 0 to 39, where higher scores indicated greater disease severity.12
i. At Week 24, patients with MG-ADL scores lower than 9 treated with IMAAVY plus SOC achieved greater reductions in MG-ADL scores from baseline compared with placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −4.5 [2.64] vs −2.3 [2.37]; difference: −2.23 [SE: 0.588]; p<0.001). Additionally, QMG reductions were also greater with IMAAVY plus SOC from baseline compared to placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −5.2 [4.45] vs −1.9 [3.69]; difference: −3.38 [SE:0.986]; p=0.001).2
j. Among patients who experienced an infection/infestation, the median (IQR) change from pre- to post-infection in MG-ADL scores was 0.0 (−1.0 to 1.0) with IMAAVY versus 1.0 (0.0 to 2.0) with placebo; in QMG scores, the median (IQR) change was 0.0 (−1.0 to 2.0) versus 1.0 (−1.0 to 1.0), respectively.3 Overall, infections/infestations were reported in 42.9% of patients in the IMAAVY group (71 events) and 41.8% in the placebo group (59 events).3
k. IMAAVY may increase the risk of infection, including serious infections. It is recommended to delay treatment in patients with active infection until resolution.10
ABOUT GENERALIZED MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (gMG)
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody disease in which the immune system mistakenly makes antibodies (e.g., anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR], anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase [MuSK]), which target proteins at the neuromuscular junction and can block or disrupt normal signaling from nerves to muscles, thus impairing or preventing muscle contraction.13,14 The disease impacts an estimated 700,000 people worldwide.15 The disease affects both men and women and occurs across all ages and racial and ethnic groups, but it most frequently starts in young women and older men.15 Roughly 50% of individuals diagnosed with MG are women, and about one in five of those women are of child-bearing potential.16,17,18 Approximately 10 to 15% of new cases of MG are diagnosed in pediatric patients 12-17 years of age.17,19,20,21 Among juvenile MG patients, girls are affected more often than boys, with over 65% of pediatric MG cases in the U.S. diagnosed in girls.22,23,24
Initial disease manifestations are usually eye-related, but approximately 85% of MG patients experience additional advancements to the disease manifestations, referred to as generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). 25,26,27,28,29,30 This is characterized by severe muscle weakness and difficulties in speech and swallowing.25,26,27,28,29 Approximately 100,000 individuals in the U.S. are living with gMG.31 Vulnerable gMG populations, such as pediatric patients, have more limited therapeutic options.32
ABOUT THE PHASE 3 VIVACITY-MG3 STUDY
The Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study (NCT04951622) was specifically designed to measure sustained efficacy and safety with consistent dosing in this unpredictable chronic condition where unmet need remains high.33,34,35 Antibody positive or negative adult gMG patients with insufficient response (MG-ADL ≥6) to ongoing SOC therapy were identified and 199 patients, 153 of whom were antibody positive, enrolled in the 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial.34,35 Randomization was 1:1, nipocalimab plus current SOC (30 mg/kg IV loading dose followed by 15 mg/kg every two weeks) or placebo plus current SOC. Baseline demographics were balanced across arms (77 nipocalimab, 76 placebo).35 The primary efficacy endpoint was the comparison of the mean change from baseline to Weeks 22, 23, and 24 between treatment groups in the MG-ADL total score.34 A key secondary endpoint included change in Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score.34 Long-term safety and efficacy were further assessed in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) phase.
ABOUT IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu)
IMAAVY is an immunoselective treatment designed to target, bind with high affinity, and block the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), reducing circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that drive disease while also preserving key immune functions.36,37,38 IMAAVY is currently approved for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody positive.10
Nipocalimab is being investigated across three key segments in the autoantibody space including Rheumatologic diseases, Rare Autoantibody diseases, and Maternal Fetal diseases mediated by maternal alloantibodies, in which blockade of IgG binding to FcRn in the placenta is believed to limit transplacental transfer of maternal alloantibodies to the fetus.34,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted several key designations to nipocalimab including:
EU EMA Orphan medicinal product designation for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in October 2019 and fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) in April 2025 U.S. FDA Fast Track designation in HDFN, and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) in July 2019, gMG in December 2021, FNAIT in March 2024, Sjögren's disease (SjD) in March 2025, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in January 2026 U.S. FDA Orphan drug status for wAIHA in December 2019, HDFN in June 2020, gMG in February 2021, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in October 2021 and FNAIT in December 2023 U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for HDFN in February 2024 and for SjD in November 2024 U.S. FDA granted Priority Review in gMG in Q4 2024 and wAIHA in Q2 2026 The legal manufacturer for IMAAVY is Janssen Biotech, Inc.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about IMAAVY?
IMAAVY is a prescription medicine that may cause serious side effects, including:
Infections are a common side effect of IMAAVY that can be serious. Receiving IMAAVY may increase your risk of infection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following infection symptoms: fever chills shivering cough sore throat fever blisters burning when you urinate Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions may happen during or up to a few weeks after your IMAAVY infusion. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after your IMAAVY infusion: a swollen face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat difficulty swallowing or breathing itchy rash (hives) chest pain or tightness Infusion-related reactions are possible. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms during or a few days after your IMAAVY infusion: headache rash nausea fatigue dizziness chills flu-like symptoms redness of skin Do not receive IMAAVY if you have a severe allergic reaction to nipocalimab-aahu or any of the ingredients in IMAAVY. Reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis.
Before using IMAAVY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
ever had an allergic reaction to IMAAVY. have or had any recent infections or symptoms of infection. have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take IMAAVY should not receive live vaccines. are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known whether IMAAVY will harm your baby. Pregnancy Safety Study. There is a pregnancy safety study for IMAAVY if IMAAVY is given during pregnancy or you become pregnant while receiving IMAAVY. Your healthcare provider should report IMAAVY exposure by contacting Janssen at 1-800-526-7736 or www.IMAAVY.com. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of IMAAVY?
IMAAVY may cause serious side effects. See "What is the most important information I should know about IMAAVY?"
The most common side effects of IMAAVY include: respiratory tract infection, peripheral edema (swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet), and muscle spasms.
These are not all the possible side effects of IMAAVY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for IMAAVY and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.
Dosage Form and Strengths: IMAAVY is supplied as a 300 mg/1.62 mL and a 1,200 mg/6.5 mL (185 mg/mL) single-dose vial per carton for intravenous injection.
ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity.
Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com.
Follow us at @JNJInnovMed.
Janssen Biotech, Inc. is a Johnson & Johnson company.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of IMAAVY. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com, www.investor.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.
REFERENCES
1 Antozzi C, et al. Efficacy of Nipocalimab in Patients Early in Their Disease Course of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Post-Hoc Analysis of VIVACITY-MG3. Presented at EAN 2026. Abstract #TNPN-C-A-25-GBL-066
2 Antozzi C, et al. Efficacy of Nipocalimab in Patients with Lower Baseline Score of Myasthenia Gravis Activity of Daily Living in VIVACITY-MG3 Study. Presented at EAN 2026. Abstract #NPN-C-A-25-GBL-065
3 Antozzi C, et al. Effect of Nipocalimab on Sustained Myasthenia Gravis Control During Infections: Post-Hoc Analysis of the Vivacity-MG3 Study. Presented at EAN 2026. Abstract #NPN-C-A-25-GBL-068
4 Goyal N, et al. Pregnancy Enhanced Tracking with Neonatal and Infant Assessment (PETUNIA): Design of a Safety Study for Nipocalimab in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. Presented at EAN 2026. Abstract #NPN-C-A-25-GBL-071
5 Antozzi C, et al. Efficacy of Nipocalimab in Patients Early in Their Disease Course of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Post-Hoc Analysis of VIVACITY-MG3. Presented at EAN 2026. Poster presentation #EPO-0143
6 Antozzi C, et al. Efficacy of Nipocalimab in Patients with Lower Baseline Score of Myasthenia Gravis Activity of Daily Living in VIVACITY-MG3 Study. Presented at EAN 2026. Poster presentation #EPO-1051
7 Antozzi, C et al., Efficacy and safety of nipocalimab in adults with generalised myasthenia gravis (Vivacity MG3): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. The Lancet Neurology. 2025; 24:105–16.
8 Kenneth J, et al. Nipocalimab in Early-onset Severe Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus & Newborn. N Engl J Med. 2024 Aug 8;391(6):526-537
9 Noaiseh G, et al. Efficacy and safety of nipocalimab in patients with moderate-to-severe Sjögren's disease (DAHLIAS): a randomised, phase 2, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Lancet. 2025 Nov 22;406(10518):2435-2448.
10 IMAAVY® U.S. Prescribing Information. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/761430s000lbl.pdf. Last accessed: June 2026.
11 European Medicines Agency. IMAAVY® Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/imaavy-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Last accessed: June 2026
12 Wolfe GI. Myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile. Neurology. 1999;22;52(7):1487-9.
13 Bacci, ED et al. Understanding side effects of therapy for myasthenia gravis and their impact on daily life. BMC Neurol. 2019;19(1):335.
14 Wiendl, H et al. Guideline for the management of myasthenic syndromes. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2023; 16:17562864231213240.
15 Chen J, Tian D-C, Zhang C, et al. Incidence, mortality, and economic burden of myasthenia gravis in China: A nationwide population-based study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2666-6065%2820%2930063-8.
16 Ye, Yun et al. Epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in the United States. Frontiers in neurology vol. 15 1339167. 16 Feb. 2024.
17 Dresser, Laura et al. Myasthenia Gravis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations. Journal of clinical medicine vol. 10,11 2235. 21 May. 2021.
18 J&J. Data on file.
19 Evoli A, et al. Juvenile myasthenia gravis with prepubertal onset. Neuromuscul Disord. 1998 Dec;8(8):561-7.
20 Evoli A. Acquired myasthenia gravis in childhood. Curr Opin Neurol. 2010 Oct;23(5):536-40.
21 Finnis MF, Jayawant S. Juvenile myasthenia gravis: a paediatric perspective. Autoimmune Dis. 2011; 2011:404101.
22 Haliloglu G, et al. Gender prevalence in childhood multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. J Child Neurol. 2002 May;17(5):390-2.
23 Parr JR, et al. How common is childhood myasthenia? The UK incidence and prevalence of autoimmune and congenital myasthenia. Arch Dis Child. 2014 Jun;99(6):539-42.
24 Mansukhani SA, et al. Incidence and Ocular Features of Pediatric Myasthenias. Am J Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr; 200:242-249.
25 Law, N et al. The Lived Experience of Myasthenia Gravis: A Patient-Led Analysis. Neurol Ther. 2021;10(2):1103-1125.
26 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Myasthenia Gravis. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/myasthenia-gravis Last accessed: June 2026.
27 Bever, CT et al. (1983), Prognosis of ocular myasthenia. Ann Neurol. 1983;14(5):516-9.
28 Kupersmith, MJ et al. Development of generalized disease at 2 years in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Arch Neurol. 2003;60(2):243-8.
29 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Myasthenia gravis fact sheet. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/sites/default/files/migrate-documents/myasthenia_gravis_e_march_2020_508c.pdf. Last accessed: June 2026.
30 Cleveland Clinic. Myasthenia Gravis: Treatment & Symptoms. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17252-myasthenia-gravis-mg. Last accessed: June 2026.
31 DRG EPI (2021) & Optum Claims Analysis Jan 2012-December 2020.
32 O'Connell K, Ramdas S, Palace J. Management of Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis. Front Neurol. 2020 Jul 24;11:743.
33 Bubuioc, A et al. The epidemiology of myasthenia gravis. J Med Life. 2021;14(1):7-16.
34 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04951622. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04951622 Last accessed: June 2026.
35 Antozzi, C et al. Nipocalimab in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Results from a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Phase 3 Study. Abstract at 2024 European Academy of Neurology Congress. June 2024.
36 Seth, N et al. Nipocalimab, an immunoselective FcRn blocker that lowers IgG and has unique molecular properties. MAbs. 2025;17(1):2461191
37 Zhu, LN et al. FcRn inhibitors: a novel option for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Neural Regen Res. 2023;18(8):1637-1644.
38 Ling, LE et al. M281, an anti‐fcrn antibody: Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety across the full range of IGG reduction in a first‐in‐human study. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2018;105(4):1031–1039.
39 ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03842189. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03842189. Last accessed: June 2026.
40 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05327114. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05327114. Last accessed: June 2026.
41 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04119050. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04119050. Last accessed: June 2026.
42 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05379634. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05379634. Last accessed: June 2026.
43 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05912517. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05912517. Last accessed: June 2026.
44 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04968912. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04968912. Last accessed: June 2026.
45 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04882878. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04882878. Last accessed: June 2026.
46 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06449651. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06449651. Last accessed: June 2026.
47 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06533098 Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06533098. Last accessed: June 2026.
Delta Air Lines zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu o 15 % na 21,50 centu na akcii z 18,75 centu. Od obnovení výplat v roce 2023 ji už více než zdvojnásobila.
Key Takeaways DAL raised its quarterly dividend to 21.50 cents per share from 18.75 cents.Delta Air Lines has more than doubled its quarterly dividend since reinstating payouts in 2023.Dividend-paying stocks are less susceptible to market swings and act as a hedge against economic uncertainty. Last week, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL - Free Report) stated that its board of directors had announced an increase in its quarterly dividend payout, reflectingthe company’s commitment to boosting shareholder value, apart from underlining confidence in its business.
Dividend-paying stocks provide a solid income stream and have fewer chances of experiencing wild price swings. Dividend stocks are safe bets for creating wealth, as the payouts generally act as a hedge against economic uncertainty, like the current scenario.
Given this backdrop, the question that naturally arises is: Should investors buy, hold, or sell DAL stock now? A more in-depth analysis is needed to make that determination. Before diving into DAL’s investment prospects, let’s take a glance at its financial numbers.
DAL’s Recent Dividend Increase of 15%In a shareholder-friendly move, Delta Air Lines’ board of directors approved a dividend hike of 15%, thereby raising its quarterly cash dividend to 21.50 cents per share (86 cents annualized) from 18.75 cents (75 cents annualized). The raised dividend will be paid on July 30, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2026. The move underscores DAL's strong financial position and robust cash-flow generation, highlighting its commitment to delivering value to shareholders.
Delta Air Lines has consistently increased its dividend since reinstating shareholder payouts in 2023, raising its quarterly dividend by 50% to 15 cents per share in 2024, followed by a 25% increase to 18.75 cents per share in 2025 and a further 15% hike to 21.50 cents per share in 2026. Overall, the quarterly dividend has more than doubled from its 2023 level, reflecting Delta Air Lines' strengthening financial position, robust cash-flow generation and commitment to enhancing shareholder returns. Such shareholder-friendly initiatives should boost investor confidence and positively impact the bottom line.
Apart from being shareholder-friendly, Delta Air Lines is benefiting from resilient travel demand, particularly in premium and international markets, which continues to support its revenue growth and cash generation. Delta Air Lines continues to invest in AI and data-driven tools to improve retailing and the customer experience. Delta Sync now supports logged-in experiences across onboard channels. Backed by a strong financial position, the airline remains well-positioned to continue rewarding shareholders through dividend growth and other capital-return initiatives.
DAL Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of DAL have gained 32.7% so far this year, outperforming the Zacks Airline industry’s 10.2% growth, as well as that of other industry players, American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL - Free Report) and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) ), within the same time frame.
DAL Stock's YTD Price Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Headwinds Weighing on DAL StockThe ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a rise in oil prices, and airlines remain exposed because most U.S. carriers have abandoned broad fuel-hedging strategies. Delta Air Lines' June-quarter outlook assumes a fuel price of approximately $4.30 per gallon at the forward curve as of April 2, 2026. Management said that this adds more than $2 billion of additional fuel expense compared to the start of the year, partially offset by an expected refinery benefit of about $300 million.
Higher labor and recovery costs continue to bother airlines. Delta Air Lines' non-fuel cost base continues to move higher, led by wages and crew-related items. Salaries and related costs increased 8% in 2025 to $17.5 billion, reflecting wage increases, including for pilots. In the March quarter, non-fuel CASM (CASM-Ex) increased 6% year over year to 15.13 cents, with management citing higher recovery costs and the continuation of higher crew-related costs. These cost pressures are likely to hurt margin expansion, even when demand looks healthy.
Airline stocks’ market volatility continues to remain a concern. Management highlighted heightened volatility in fuel markets and is adjusting capacity with a downward bias until the fuel environment improves. With earnings sensitive to these external variables, DAL may not fit investors who are uncomfortable with sharp day-to-day swings in airline shares.
What Do Earnings Estimates Say for DAL?The negative sentiment surrounding DAL stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second quarter of 2026 and the third quarter of 2026 earnings has been revised downward in the past 90 days. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 earnings has also been projected southward in the past 90 days.
The unfavorable estimate revisions indicate brokers’ lack of confidence in the stock.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Unattractive Valuation Picture for DAL StockDelta Air Lines looks expensive from a valuation standpoint. Considering the forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio (P/S-F12M), DAL is trading at a premium compared to the industry.
The stock has a forward 12-month P/S-F12M of 0.92X compared with 0.63X for the industry over the past five years. The company’s forward 12-month P/S-F12M ratio is also above the median level of 0.53X over the past five years. These factors indicate that the stock’s valuation is unattractive.
DAL's P/S Ratio (Forward 12 Months) Vs. Industry Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Not an Opportune Time to Buy DAL StockDelta Air Lines benefits from resilient demand for travel and a revenue mix that leans increasingly toward premium, loyalty and other higher-margin streams. Resilient travel demand, premium mix, loyalty partnerships, and technology-led personalization support revenue durability, cash generation, and strategic flexibility over cycles. Backed by a strong financial position, the airline remains well-positioned to continue rewarding shareholders through dividend growth and other capital-return initiatives.
Despite these positives, we advise investors not to buy DAL stock now due to the headwinds it continues to face, such as fuel price volatility, rising labor and recovery costs and macro uncertainty, which can pressure margins and amplify near-term earnings swings for shareholders. Share price volatility and unattractive valuation are concerning.
We, therefore, advise investors to wait for a better entry point. For those who already own the stock, it will be prudent to stay invested. The company’s current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) justifies our analysis. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
McDonald’s letos plánuje otevřít v Číně zhruba 1 000 restaurací, i když slabší spotřebitelské podmínky dál tlačí na krátkodobý růst tržeb. Ve 2. čtvrtletí firma čeká zpomalení srovnatelných tržeb kvůli volatilitě na Blízkém východě a v Asii.
Key Takeaways MCD plans to open about 1,000 restaurants in China this year despite softer consumer conditions.MCD's China market share held steady in Q1 as the company continued advancing its development agenda.MCD expects Q2 IDL comparable sales growth to slow amid Middle East and Asia market volatility. McDonald’s Corporation (MCD - Free Report) continues to position China as a long-term growth lever within its International Developmental Licensed (IDL) segment, even as near-term macroeconomic pressure remains a constraint. In the first quarter of 2026, IDL comparable sales increased 3.4%, driven by continued strength in Japan. While China remains challenged by softer consumer conditions, McDonald’s maintained market share and continued to advance its development agenda, with management reaffirming plans to open approximately 1,000 restaurants in the market this year.
The development commitment underscores management’s confidence in China’s long-term unit-growth potential. However, with macroeconomic pressure in China expected to persist, the benefit of new restaurant openings is more likely to support long-term system growth than provide an immediate offset to near-term IDL volatility.
The broader IDL outlook also remains uneven. McDonald’s expects second-quarter IDL comparable sales growth to decelerate from first-quarter levels, primarily due to volatility in the Middle East and some markets in Asia. Broader cost inflation and supply-chain uncertainty add another layer of pressure to the global operating backdrop.
Even so, McDonald’s retains several levers to defend segment performance. Its value focus, marketing scale and disciplined local execution should help support demand across international markets. China’s share stability points to sustained brand relevance despite weaker consumer conditions, while Japan’s continued strength provides a stabilizing factor for the segment.
Overall, China expansion is unlikely to fully offset near-term macro pressure across IDL markets. However, disciplined execution of the restaurant-opening plan, combined with continued share stability, could make China an important contributor to McDonald’s broader international growth strategy over time.
McDonald’s Competitive PositionYum! Brands, Inc. (YUM - Free Report) provides a relevant benchmark because it is also using franchise-led development and international scale to support growth in a volatile backdrop. In the first quarter of 2026, KFC opened 648 new stores, supported by a strong start in China and development across 45 countries. YUM also noted that the Middle East conflict has caused some uncertainty and short-term delays in select markets, but it does not expect a change to KFC’s development plans for the year.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) offers another China comparison, as it is shifting toward a licensed structure while pursuing transaction-led recovery. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Starbucks China delivered positive comps, supported by transaction growth of more than 2%. The company also plans to expand its China footprint from more than 1,000 county-level cities today to more than 1,500 over the next three years.
Against this backdrop, McDonald’s positioning depends on whether China unit growth can translate into sustained share stability and stronger long-term IDL performance. Yum! Brands is leaning on franchisee strength and development momentum, while Starbucks is using local partnership and transaction-led growth to support China expansion. McDonald’s differentiation lies in its ability to pair disciplined China development with value, marketing scale and brand relevance.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of McDonald’s have declined 9.2% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 7.4%.
MCD’s One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MCD trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 6.43, above the industry’s average of 3.30.
MCD’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCD’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year increase of 6%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of MCD Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MCD’s Zacks RankMCD stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
PayPal v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 zvýšil celkový objem plateb o 11 % na 464 miliard USD. Venmo rostlo o 14 % a zaznamenalo už šesté čtvrtletí dvouciferného růstu.
Key Takeaways PayPal's Q1 2026 TPV rose 11% year over year to $464 billion, reflecting broad-based payment strength.Venmo TPV grew 14%, its sixth straight quarter of double-digit growth, led by deeper consumer engagement.PYPL saw faster PSP growth, stronger merchant retention and gains in debit, tap-to-pay and branded TPV. PayPal Holdings (PYPL - Free Report) reported stronger payment volume growth in the first quarter of 2026, with total payment volume (TPV) rising 11% year over year to $464 billion, or 8% on a currency-neutral basis. This double-digit increase reflects broad-based strength across the company’s payment ecosystem despite an increasingly competitive landscape.
A major contributor was the continued strength of Venmo. Venmo TPV grew 14% year over year, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Management highlighted Venmo’s momentum as a sign of deeper consumer engagement, supported by expanding debit card usage, Pay with Venmo and broader financial services opportunities.
Payment service provider (PSP) activity also supported growth. PayPal’s PSP volume accelerated to 11% from 7% in the second half of 2025, with Enterprise Payments growing in the mid-teens. The company benefited from stronger merchant retention, disciplined growth in profitable new business, and rising demand for payment processing and value-added services.
Branded experiences provided an additional layer of support. TPV from branded experiences increased 5%, driven by online checkout, PayPal and Venmo debit cards and tap-to-pay transactions. Although branded checkout growth remained modest at 2% on a currency-neutral basis, it improved from the prior quarter and showed early signs of stabilization.
Overall, PayPal’s payment volume growth appears to be driven by a combination of Venmo engagement, accelerating PSP performance, increased debit and tap-to-pay adoption and improving branded checkout trends. If PayPal can keep strengthening consumer value and merchant performance, double-digit TPV growth could remain an important part of its broader turnaround story.
How Block and Adyen Compare on Volume MetricsBlock Inc. (XYZ - Free Report) offers a comparable merchant payment metric through Square Gross Payment Volume (GPV). In Q1 2026, Square’s GPV grew 13% year over year to $61.2 billion, supported by stronger seller activity and higher payment volumes. Total GPV reached $63.1 billion. Management’s focus on disciplined execution helped Square maintain momentum despite competitive pressure.
Adyen (ADYEY - Free Report) uses processed volume as a key metric. In Q1 2026, processed volume increased 21% year over year to €382 billion, reflecting broad-based growth across global merchants. Net revenues grew 16%, or 20% at constant currency, helped by wallet share gains with existing customers and strong contribution from newer merchant cohorts.
PYPL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of PayPal have declined 2.7% in the past three months, underperforming both the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, PayPal shares are trading cheaply, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, PYPL stock is trading at 7.66X, at a significant discount to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry’s 16.97X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PayPal’s estimate revisions reflect a negative trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS is pegged at $5.30, down by a cent over the past two months.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PayPal currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Moderna vzrostla o 14 % na 69,29 USD a výrazně překonala Merck i Pfizer. Růst podporuje optimismus kolem pipeline a dřívější souhlas poradního panelu FDA s vakcínou proti chřipce mFlusiva.
Shares of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA | MRNA Price Prediction) are up 14% to $68 and change in afternoon trading Friday, extending a remarkable run for the mRNA pioneer. Intraday, MRNA stock hit a new 52-week high of $69.29.
The rally easily outpaces peer vaccine makers. Merck (NYSE:MRK) stock is up 2% to $128, while Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) stock trades up 2% to $24 and change. On a single-session basis, Moderna stock is clearly leading the vaccine complex.
There’s no fresh same-day headline that cleanly explains the size of the move. Instead, traders appear to be extending momentum from a de-risking event last week, combined with bullish pipeline messaging and a likely short-covering component in a heavily traded name.
FDA Panel De-Risking and Pipeline Optimism Fuel the Run The biggest catalyst in the rear-view mirror was an FDA advisory committee unanimously endorsing Moderna’s flu vaccine, mFlusiva (mRNA-1010), for adults 50 and older. That vote is a key step ahead of the August 5, 2026 PDUFA date, which would mark Moderna’s fifth approved product if cleared.
Moderna also held a Science Day this week highlighting its push beyond vaccines into oncology and autoimmune disease, including T-cell engagers, an in-vivo CAR-T program, and a personalized cancer vaccine, with messaging around a 2028 break-even goal. Jefferies raised its MRNA price target to $53 from $45, while keeping a Hold rating.
The fundamental backdrop has been improving. Moderna’s Q1 2026 revenue came in at $389 million, up 264% year over year and beating consensus by 65%, with the company reaffirming guidance for up to 10% revenue growth in 2026 in its most recent 10-Q filing.
Moderna Leads, but Merck Won the Week Zoom out and the picture gets more nuanced. Over the past month, Moderna stock is up 45%, while Merck stock has added 7% and Pfizer stock has fallen 6%. Year to date, the gap is even wider, with Moderna up 130% against Merck’s 21% gain and Pfizer’s modest 3% decline.
Pfizer remains the laggard. Comirnaty revenue fell 59% to $232 million in Q1 2026, underscoring how reliant the company still is on its non-COVID portfolio. Pfizer’s forward P/E ratio of 8x and 7% dividend yield keep it a value-and-income story rather than a momentum trade.
The Street Is Still Cautious on Moderna For all the enthusiasm, the sell-side has not fully signed off. The MRNA stock consensus analyst target price sits at $43.45, well below today’s quote, with 16 Hold ratings against a smaller cluster of Buys and Sells. Leerink sits near $24 and Morgan Stanley near $33, meaning Moderna stock is running ahead of where most of the Street is positioned.
Moderna’s insiders have been net sellers as well, with 75 recent insider transactions tilting toward selling. That doesn’t invalidate the bull case, but it argues for keeping position sizes modest given MRNA stock’s volatility profile and forward P/E ratio of 23x on still-uncertain forward earnings.
What to Watch Next The next clear data point is the August 5, 2026 FDA decision on mRNA-1010. Investors can also watch upcoming Phase 3 readouts for norovirus, intismeran in melanoma, and propionic acidemia, any of which could shift the medium-term narrative for Moderna.
For today, the answer to the title’s question is clear. On a single-day basis, and across the past month and year to date, Moderna stock is decisively outperforming Merck stock and Pfizer stock. Whether the stock can hold above the $65 level into next week may say more about momentum traders than about the underlying biotech story.
Shopify hlásí, že návštěvnost z AI u obchodů merchantů ve 1. čtvrtletí 2026 meziročně vzrostla 8x a objednávky z AI vyhledávání téměř 13x. Firma má navíc strukturováno přes 1 miliardu produktů pro objevování řízené AI.
Key Takeaways SHOP reported AI-driven traffic to merchant stores rose 8x year over year in Q1 2026.Shopify saw orders from AI-powered searches increase nearly 13x, with higher new-buyer conversion.SHOP has structured more than 1 billion products to support AI-led discovery across shopping platforms. Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) is positioning agentic commerce as a potential new demand channel for merchants as artificial intelligence begins to reshape how shoppers discover, compare and purchase products online. The company is embedding its platform into emerging AI shopping ecosystems, giving merchants another route to reach buyers beyond conventional search and direct website traffic.
The early signals are notable. In the first quarter of 2026, AI-driven traffic to Shopify stores increased 8x year over year, while orders generated from AI-powered searches rose nearly 13x. New buyer orders from AI searches also occurred at nearly twice the rate of traditional organic search, suggesting that AI-led discovery may help merchants reach incremental customers. Shopify has also structured more than 1 billion products with clean attributes, real-time pricing and accurate inventory, allowing AI agents to surface relevant products more effectively across channels such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google AI services.
The opportunity extends beyond traffic growth. More AI-driven shopping activity could support higher merchant GMV over time, which would benefit Shopify’s broader commerce ecosystem if those transactions flow through its platform. Shopify Payments processed $67 billion of GMV in the first quarter, up 41% year over year, while penetration reached 67% of total GMV. Shop Pay processed $35 billion of GMV, growing 59% year over year.
Shopify is also working to become part of the infrastructure layer behind AI commerce. The company co-developed the Universal Commerce Protocol with Google to support agentic commerce across platforms. Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce and Stripe have joined the related council, reinforcing the importance of common standards as AI agents become more involved in product discovery, checkout, payments and post-purchase activity. For Shopify, that participation strengthens its position as a connector between merchants and emerging AI-led shopping surfaces.
Shopify’s ability to turn agentic commerce into a durable growth channel will likely depend on whether AI-led shopping continues gaining adoption and converts into meaningful merchant activity. The first-quarter metrics show strong early momentum, but the financial impact will depend on how much of that traffic converts into orders, GMV and deeper merchant engagement. If AI increasingly becomes a starting point for online shopping, Shopify’s catalog, payments infrastructure and unified commerce platform could give the company a larger role in the next phase of digital commerce.
Shopify’s Competitor LandscapeAmazon.com, Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) provides a relevant benchmark for SHOP because it is also positioning AI as a major force in how consumers discover and purchase products. Amazon’s advantage lies in its marketplace scale, fulfillment network and large buyer base, supported by AI tools across shopping, advertising and AWS. However, Amazon’s model remains more controlled and marketplace-centered, while Shopify’s agentic commerce push is focused on helping independent merchants surface products across emerging AI shopping channels.
Wix.com Ltd. (WIX - Free Report) provides a closer product-level comparison because it also serves merchants and small businesses building digital storefronts. Wix is using AI to simplify website creation, design and business workflows through tools such as Harmony and Base44. Its AI strategy is more focused on creation and site-building, while Shopify’s opportunity is tied more directly to commerce execution, including product discovery, checkout, payments and merchant services.
Against this backdrop, Shopify’s agentic commerce opportunity is distinct from Amazon’s marketplace-led scale and Wix’s website-creation focus. SHOP’s potential advantage is that its AI commerce push is being built on a platform already expanding across multiple merchant use cases, including online commerce, payments, Shop Pay, catalog infrastructure, POS and international selling. That broader commerce stack gives Shopify a wider transaction base through which AI-led discovery can translate into merchant activity over time.
SHOP’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Shopify have declined 0.2% in the past three months against the industry’s 25.3% growth.
SHOP’s Stock Three-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SHOP stock is currently trading at a premium. It is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 8.89, above the industry average of 7.6.
SHOP’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SHOP’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 55.6%. Estimates for 2026 earnings per share have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of SHOP Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SHOP stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
FedEx klesl o 1,8 % poté, co FedEx Freight ve svém prvním výsledku jako samostatná firma oznámil provozní zisk 158 milionů USD, meziročně o 66,9 % méně. Na výsledky dolehla také 205milionová položka související s vyčleněním.
FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) slipped 1.8% to $323.57 after FedEx Freight (FDXF) reported mixed quarterly results. In its first earnings release as an independent company, FedEx Freight posted a drop in operating income to $158 million, down 66.9% from a year prior. Results were weighed down by $205 million in costs related to its separation from FedEx Corporation, highlighting the financial impact of the recent spinoff.
On the charts, FDX have recovered to back above the supportive $320 level after a brief pullback on June 24. The stock has shed just 6% since its June 15 all-time high of $345.36 and still boasts an 85% 12-month lead.
Plus, FDX puts have been popular in recent days. This is per the shipping name's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.73 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which sits in the 85th percentile of its annual range. Echoing this is FDX's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.02, which indicates a heavy preference for puts among short-term traders.
Chevron hledá další dohody pro napájení datových center v USA po kontraktu s Microsoftem v Texasu. Projekt Kilby má mít výkon 2,67 GW a první elektřina má přijít v roce 2028.
A Chevron gas station sign is seen in Austin, Texas, U.S., October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesChevron expects a final investment decision on Project Kilby by the end of the yearChevron targets West Texas, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Rockies and Utah for future projectsNEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab is exploring additional data center deals across the U.S., including the Midwest, Rockies, and Gulf Coast, following its two-decade-long contract to power a Microsoft data center in West Texas, a company executive told Reuters.
Oil and gas companies such as Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab are angling to profit from the record-high electricity demand generated by Big Tech's AI-driven data center expansion, offering their natural gas and experience developing large and complex energy projects.
Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.
Chevron said on Monday it signed an agreement to develop a natural gas-fired power facility, called Project Kilby, which would have 2.67 gigawatts of capacity and provide dedicated electricity to Microsoft's data center campus in Pecos, Texas. The project is the first of its kind for Chevron and will be big enough to power a city the size of San Francisco.
CHEVRON EYES TEXAS, MIDWEST, GULF COASTThe oil major sees potential for additional projects in West Texas, which is part of the Permian Basin, the top U.S. oilfield that holds abundant natural gas resources, said Jeff Gustavson, Chevron's president of new energies, in an interview on Wednesday.
Other regions of interest include the Midwest and Gulf Coast — an important energy production and shipping area — as well as near Colorado's Rocky Mountains, he said. The company is also considering data center deals in Utah, where Chevron has a hydrogen facility.
"We'll look at other parts of the country. We'll look at it with Microsoft. We'll look at it with other potential customers," Gustavson said. "If we can put the right pieces together to meet our return thresholds, you can see more announcements over time."
Kilby provides Chevron with a separate revenue stream not exposed to the commodity price risk of its core business. Gustavson said Chevron and its partners are finalizing project design details and declined to disclose the estimated cost.
Analysts said this week it is too early to tell whether providing power to data centers will become a meaningful revenue stream for Chevron.
Chevron expects to make a final investment decision by the end of the year. The first power from Kilby is expected in 2028, with the project taking several years to hit full capacity.
The project, which will require seven GE Vernova turbines and multiple smaller turbines from Caterpillar, can eventually expand beyond its initial 2.67 gigawatt capacity.
Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York and Sheila Dang in Houston; Editing by Rod Nickel
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Caterpillar v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 snížil upravenou provozní marži na 18 % kvůli 26% růstu nákladů na prodej pod tlakem cel. Na rok 2026 čeká celní náklady 2,2–2,4 mld. USD.
Key Takeaways CAT Q1 2026 adjusted operating margin falls to 18% as cost of sales jumps 26% on tariff pressures.CAT expects $2.2-$2.4B tariff costs in 2026, keeping margins near the low end of its target range.CAT 2026 revenue estimate of ~$76.5B implies margins near the low end of 18-22%, slightly above 2025. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) reported a 30-basis-point year-over-year decline in its adjusted operating margin to 18% in the first quarter of 2026. This was mainly due to 26% year-over-year increase in the cost of sales, reflecting unfavorable manufacturing costs, including the impact of higher tariffs.
Tariffs introduced since early 2025 amounted to approximately $600 million in the first quarter of 2026. This was, however, below the company’s earlier estimate of $800 million. The lower figure was mainly due to a one-time adjustment in the calculation of 2025 tariff expenses.
Caterpillar had witnessed margin pressures in 2025 as well. Adjusted operating margin contracted 350 basis points year over year to 17.2% in 2025. The trend deteriorated progressively throughout the year, with margins declining from 18.3% in the first quarter to 17.6% in the second, 17.5% in the third, and 15.6% in the fourth quarter.
A key factor behind the margin compression was a significant increase in costs owing to tariffs. Cost of sales rose 11% year over year to $44.7 billion in 2025. While costs were down 7% in the first quarter, they climbed in each subsequent quarter, with the steepest jump of 29% occurring in the fourth quarter.
Total tariff impacts for 2025 reached about $1.8 billion and are expected to persist in 2026 as well. Management expects full-year 2026 tariff costs to be $2.2-$2.4 billion.
Even though Caterpillar expects low double-digit sales and revenue growth year over year in 2026, adjusted operating margin is expected near the bottom of its targeted range, factoring in the continued tariff pressures. The company, however, indicates margins would be higher than previous expectations.
Caterpillar maintains its adjusted operating margin outlook of 15–19% at revenue levels of around $60 billion. If revenues reach $72 billion, the operating margin range is 18–22%, while revenues of $100 billion could support margins in the range of 21–25%. This is shown in the chart below.
Image Source: Caterpillar Inc.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is currently at around $76.5 billion. This suggests the adjusted operating margin will come in near the low end of 18-22%, a slight improvement from 17.2% reported in 2025.
Among peers, Terex Corporation (TEX - Free Report) reported a 30-basis-point year-over-year contraction in operating margin to 8.7% in the first quarter of 2026. Cost of goods sold surged 55.6% year over year. In 2025, Terex reported a 100-basis-point decline in operating margin to 10.4% in 2025. This was primarily due to lower volumes across both segments and unfavorable manufacturing variances stemming from proactive production cuts and tariff impacts. This was partially offset by cost-efficiency initiatives and contributions from its ESG acquisition.
Komatsu Ltd. (KMTUY - Free Report) reported a 230-basis point contraction in operating margin to 13.7% in fiscal 2025 (ended March 31, 2025) due to the impact of additional U.S tariffs. Komatsu expects to suffer annual negative impacts of 37.8 billion yen ($0.24 billion) from increased costs linked to U.S. tariffs in fiscal 2026. Komatsu’s projection for the operating margin for fiscal 2026 is 12.3%, a contraction of 140 basis points.
CAT’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesCAT shares have gained 176.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 138.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Caterpillar is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 38.37X compared with the industry average of 33.92X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAT’s 2026 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 29.3%. The earnings estimate for 2027 indicates 24.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for Caterpillar for both 2026 and 2027 have moved up over the past 60 days, as shown in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Caterpillar stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Macy’s v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila čisté tržby o 1,8 % na 4,7 miliardy USD a digitální prodeje tvořily 34 % tržeb. Firma hlásí příznivou odezvu na AI asistenta Ask Macy’s.
Key Takeaways Macy's grew Q1 2026 net sales by 1.8% to $4.7 billion alongside stronger digital performance.M said early customer response to its Ask Macy's AI shopping assistant has been favorable.Macy's continues investing in digital, its Reimagine 200 stores and luxury banners to support growth. Macy’s Inc. (M - Free Report) is strengthening its digital business as part of its Bold New Chapter strategy, using artificial intelligence, platform enhancements and faster fulfillment to improve customer engagement. The digital channel is becoming increasingly important to the retailer, with digital sales accounting for 34% of first-quarter 2026 net sales, up from 33% a year ago, underscoring consumers’ growing preference for online shopping.
The company’s digital investments are translating into stronger business performance. During the first quarter, digital contributed to positive comparable sales, helping Macy’s deliver 3% comparable sales growth, its strongest first-quarter result in four years, while go-forward comparable sales increased 3.1%. Macy’s reported 1.8% net sales growth to $4.7 billion, reflecting broad-based momentum across its omnichannel operations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key differentiator. Macy’s introduced Ask Macy’s, an AI-powered conversational shopping assistant designed using insights from thousands of store associates. The tool helps customers discover products across stores and digital channels, while the company continues improving its digital platform and expanding its curated online marketplace to enhance assortment, personalization and product discovery. Management said early customer response to Ask Macy’s has been favorable.
Technology is also improving operational efficiency. Macy’s reported a 4.2% increase in units processed per hour across its direct-to-consumer and store replenishment network, while order-to-ship times improved 5.7% year over year. The company believes ongoing AI initiatives will further streamline operations, enabling it to better serve customers and support employees while strengthening its omnichannel capabilities.
Macy’s continues investing in digital across its go-forward business, alongside Reimagine 200 stores and its luxury banners. These efforts, coupled with stronger customer engagement and AI-driven personalization, reinforce management’s confidence in sustained omnichannel growth and support its decision to raise full-year fiscal 2026 guidance.
Macy’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Macy’s have risen 44.4% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 21.6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Macy’s is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.31X, down from the industry average of 0.50X. M has a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Macy’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 6.9%, while the same for fiscal 2027 indicates an uptick of 5.2%. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward by 5 cents and 4 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Macy’s currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Key PicksWe have highlighted three top-ranked stocks in the retail space, namely, Genesco Inc. (GCO - Free Report) , Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) and Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) .
Genesco is a specialty retail and branded company that sells footwear and accessories in retail stores. The company flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Genesco’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 55.2% from the year-ago actual. GCO delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 3.8%.
Tapestry offers lifestyle products, which include handbags, women’s and men’s accessories, footwear, jewelry, seasonal apparel collections, sun wear, travel bags, fragrance and watches. It currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tapestry’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 36.3% and 13.8%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. TPR delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 15.6%.
Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 17.1% and 9.1%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.2%.
Salesforce v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 13,3 % na 11,13 miliardy USD a zvedl celoroční výhled tržeb na 45,9–46,2 miliardy USD. Agentforce ARR navíc překonal 1 miliardu USD.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Salesforce (CRM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 14.8% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Salesforce due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
CRM Q1 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y on ARR MilestoneSalesforce delivered a solid first-quarter fiscal 2027 non-GAAP earnings of $3.88 per share, up 50.4% year over year. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.4%.
Revenues rose 13.3% year over year to $11.13 billion and exceeded the consensus mark by 0.68%. Results reflected continued customer demand for Salesforce’s agentic offerings, with Agentforce ARR surpassing the $1 billion milestone.
Salesforce’s Q1 Performance in DetailSubscription and support revenues (95.1% of total revenues) increased 13.9% year over year to $10.59 billion, accounting for the bulk of total revenues. Professional services and other revenues (4.9% of total revenues) totaled $540 million, indicating relatively stable services activity during the quarter.
Within the updated revenue disclosure framework, Agentforce Apps revenue was $6.91 billion, while Data 360, Headless Platform and Other contributed $3.68 billion. Regionally, the Americas (65% of total revenues) generated revenues of $7.23 billion and grew 11.8% year over year. Europe (24.7% of total revenues) delivered revenues of $2.75 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 17.8%, while Asia Pacific (10.25 of total revenues) contributed revenues of $1.15 billion, up 12% year over year.
Profitability also improved. Non-GAAP operating income totaled $3.87 billion, up 22% from the year-ago quarter’s $3.17 billion. Moreover, the non-GAAP operating margin expanded 250 basis points to 34.8%, supported by operating leverage and disciplined spending. Management emphasized productivity gains from the internal adoption of AI tooling, even as it continued to invest in go-to-market capacity.
Salesforce’s Balance Sheet & Other DetailsSalesforce exited the first quarter with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $11.83 billion, up from $9.57 billion at the end of the previous quarter. CRM generated an operating cash flow of $6.70 billion and a free cash flow of $6.56 billion in the first quarter.
As of April 30, the current remaining performance obligation (CRPO) was $33.6 billion, up 13.5% year over year. The company returned $27.5 billion to shareholders during the quarter, including $27.1 billion in share repurchases and $365 million in dividends. CRM also launched a $25 billion accelerated share repurchase program, with an upfront delivery of 103 million shares, which management said boosted both GAAP and non-GAAP per-share results in the quarter.
Salesforce Lifts FY27 Revenue OutlookLooking ahead, Salesforce raised the midpoint of its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to $45.9-$46.2 billion. The company reiterated non-GAAP operating margin guidance of 34.3%, reflecting higher restructuring.
For the second quarter, Salesforce expects revenues of $11.27-$11.35 billion and non-GAAP earnings of $3.25-$3.27 per share.
Management expects momentum in Agentforce, Data 360 and Slack to continue, while noting that Marketing and Commerce weakness, along with softer Tableau bookings and renewals, remains a key item to watch.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Salesforce has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a score of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Salesforce has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Boom v oblasti AI datacenter zvyšuje poptávku po energetické infrastruktuře a sítích. ETF jako PAVE a RBLD nabízejí diverzifikovanou expozici na tento trend.
Key Takeaways AI data center expansion is boosting demand for power infrastructure, utilities and grid equipment providers.AI infrastructure spending is projected to rise as data center demand grows.ETFs like PAVE and RBLS offer diversified exposure to firms supporting the AI infrastructure build-out. While hyperscalers building next-generation cloud platforms and semiconductor giants producing HBM chips are stealing the spotlight in most instances, the physical structure of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry relies on a less glamorous but equally critical pillar — power infrastructure. This includes utilities like NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) and grid-to-chip infrastructure providers like Eaton Corp. (ETN - Free Report) that generate and manage the electricity which feeds power-hungry AI data centers, thereby enabling the smooth operation of high-capacity large-language model (LLM) workloads.
Amid the ongoing AI data center boom, these firms are thus profiting immensely by providing the essential "picks and shovels" for the AI era.
For investors who are increasingly wary of overconcentrated exposure or high valuations in mega-cap technology and hyperscale cloud platforms, shifting focus toward exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holding these physical enablers provides an excellent way to diversify portfolios while staying tethered to the AI secular tailwind.
Below, we discuss how these power infrastructure and utility companies are benefiting from the unprecedented AI data center expansion, using specific examples to provide the insights investors may need before making investment decisions.
The Physical Backbones of the AI Build-OutThe rapid transformation of data centers into dense, high-performance computing "AI factories" is driving massive order backlogs and thereby strong revenue growth visibility for electrical equipment manufacturers, utility players, as well as grid management and data center cooling solutions providers like those mentioned below:
Quanta Services (PWR - Free Report) : It is the largest electrical contractor in the United States by revenues, specializing in the construction of high-voltage transmission lines, electrical substations, and comprehensive power grid infrastructure. It ended the first quarter of 2026 with a record backlog of approximately $48.5 billion, with management highlighting data centers as a major growth engine.
Eaton: It provides essential switchgear, circuit breakers, transformers, and power distribution equipment for data centers and the grid. ETN’s 12-month rolling average order for its Electrical Americas segment went up 42% in the first quarter, driven by data center momentum.
Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) : It offers solid oxide fuel cells for on-site power generation, reducing dependence of data centers on the grid and minimizing exposure to power interruptions. The company has signed multiple agreements with hyperscalers, the latest of which is with Oracle to deploy 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of Bloom’s fuel cell systems to support the rapid buildout of Oracle’s AI and cloud computing infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the massive 1.8 GW Wyoming data center facility is expected to include 900 megawatts (MW) of Bloom’s fuel cells, representing about $3 billion in revenues for BE in the coming years, according to an analysis by Morgan Stanley’s David Arcaro. (as cited in CNBC).
Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) : It supplies on-site power generation and cooling equipment for data-intensive facilities. The company registered a solid 22% year-over-year improvement in its Power & Energy segment’s sales during the first quarter, thanks to rapid deployment of large reciprocating engines and turbines, primarily in data center applications.
NextEra Energy: It is the world's largest publicly traded utility by market cap, which currently expects to build between 15 and 30 GW of new generation capacity for U.S. data centers by 2035. In March 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce selected NEE to build 9.5 GW of new gas-fired generation to serve large load from data centers in Texas and Pennsylvania.
AI Infrastructure Spending Outlook & ETFs to BuySince AI-related facilities require enormous amounts of power, global investments in transmission networks, substations, grid modernization, and power generation projects are rising rapidly. To this end, Gartner projects building AI foundations to alone drive a 49% increase in spending on AI-optimized servers in 2026, while AI infrastructure is expected to add $401 billion in spending this year as technology providers build out AI foundations.
Amid this backdrop, investors looking to capture this physical spending wave through diversified baskets rather than picking individual stocks may consider adding the following ETFs, focused directly on fueling the physical AI build-out, to their portfolios:
Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE - Free Report)
This fund, with net assets worth $14.76 billion, offers exposure to 100 companies that stand to benefit from a potential increase in infrastructure activity in the United States, including those involved in the production of raw materials, heavy equipment, engineering, and construction. PWR holds the top spot in this fund, with 3.97% weightage, while ETN holds the fourth spot with 3.25% weightage.
PAVE has soared 25.5% year to date and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy). The fund charges 47 basis points (bps) as fees and traded at a good volume of 2.29 million shares in the last trading session.
This fund, with net assets worth $11.96 billion, offers exposure to 120 companies that are primarily engaged and involved in electric grid, electric meters and devices, networks, energy storage and management, and enabling software used by the smart grid infrastructure sector. ETN holds the top spot in this fund, with 8.24% weightage, while PWR holds the fourth spot with 8.04% weightage.
GRID has surged 24.3% year to date and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2. The fund charges 56 as fees and traded at a volume of 0.52 million shares in the last trading session.
iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA - Free Report)
This fund, with net assets worth $4.69 billion, comprises 161 U.S. companies with infrastructure exposure by balancing across both infrastructure enablers and infrastructure asset owners. CAT holds the top spot in this fund, with 4.27% weightage, while NEE holds the second spot with 3.97% weightage. PWR holds the fourth position in this fund with 3.68% weightage.
IFRA has rallied 21.8% year to date and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2. The fund charges 30 as fees and traded at a volume of 0.30 million shares in the last trading session.
First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF (RBLD - Free Report)
This fund, with net assets worth $40.8 million, comprises 101 U.S. infrastructure companies. BE holds the top spot in this fund, with 1.94% weightage, while CAT holds the ninth spot with 1.20% weightage.
RBLD has rallied 21.4% year to date and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2. The fund charges 30 as fees and traded at a volume of 0.003 million shares in the last trading session.
Oracle zvýšila kapitálové výdaje ve fiskálním roce 2026 o 162 % na 55,7 mld. USD a volný cash flow klesl na -23,7 mld. USD. Cloudové tržby přitom ve 4. čtvrtletí vzrostly o 47 %.
Key Takeaways Oracles fiscal 2026 capex jumped 162% to $55.7B, while free cash flow fell to negative $23.7B.Oracle's cloud revenues rose 47% in fiscal Q4, with IaaS up 93% and RPO reaching $638B.ORCL forecasts $90B fiscal 2027 revenues, 18% non-GAAP EPS growth and 58-64% Q1 cloud growth. Oracle's (ORCL - Free Report) aggressive AI infrastructure build-out is once again testing investor patience, even as the underlying cloud business keeps printing record numbers. The tension came into sharp focus following the company's fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2026 results, released on June 10, which showed capital expenditures climbing 162% year over year to $55.7 billion for the fiscal year, far outpacing the growth in cloud revenues meant to justify that spending.
The scale of the buildout is straining Oracle's balance sheet. Free cash flow for fiscal 2026 came in at negative $23.7 billion, even as operating cash flow hit a record $32 billion, reflecting how much of the company's cash generation is being plowed straight back into datacenter capacity. Oracle has already raised $43 billion in debt and $5 billion in equity during fiscal 2026, and management has signaled plans to raise roughly $40 billion more in fiscal 2027, including a previously announced $20 billion at-the-market equity issuance.
Set against this spending is a cloud business that is genuinely accelerating. Total cloud revenues rose 47% in the fourth quarter to $9.9 billion, with Cloud Infrastructure (IaaS) revenues nearly doubling, up 93%. Remaining Performance Obligations, Oracle's forward bookings metric, surged 363% year over year to $638 billion, partly cushioned by $75 billion in prepaid or customer-supplied AI hardware that reduces Oracle's own funding burden.
Oracle has also used recent weeks to point to where the infrastructure spend is showing up in product terms. Earlier this month, Oracle disclosed that its Multicloud AI Database grew 404% in the fiscal fourth quarter, calling it the company's fastest-growing business ever. Oracle recently introduced the OPERA Cloud Assistant, embedding AI-driven automation into hotel operations workflows, part of a broader push to fold AI capabilities directly into existing application suites.
Looking ahead, Oracle guided fiscal 2027 total revenues to $90 billion and non-GAAP EPS growth of 18%, with first-quarter cloud revenue growth projected between 58% and 64%. The company also said it does not expect to issue additional debt in 2026. Whether bookings convert into cash flow fast enough to offset the financing load will likely remain the central question shaping sentiment around the stock in the quarters ahead.
How Microsoft and Google Compare on AI SpendingOracle is not alone in facing scrutiny over AI-related capital intensity. Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) has guided capital expenditures toward roughly $190 billion for 2026, even as Azure growth runs near 40%, prompting investors to question the pace of Microsoft's spending relative to cloud conversion. Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) raised its own 2026 capital expenditure outlook to $180-$190 billion, though Google Cloud revenues grew 63% in its most recent quarter, among the fastest rates across major cloud providers. Both Microsoft and Google, like Oracle, continue defending heavy AI infrastructure outlays as necessary to meet demand that currently exceeds available capacity.
Looking ahead, Oracle guided fiscal 2027 total revenues to $90 billion and non-GAAP EPS growth of 18%, with first-quarter cloud revenue growth projected between 58% and 64%. The company also said it does not expect to issue additional debt in calendar 2026. Whether bookings convert into cash flow fast enough to offset the financing load will likely remain the central question shaping sentiment around the stock in the quarters ahead.
ORCL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Oracle have lost 21.9% in the past six-month period, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s appreciation of 12.9%.
ORCL’s 6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ORCL stock is currently trading at a premium with a trailing 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 23.93x, which is higher than the Zacks Computer - Software industry average of 21.89x. Oracle carries a Value Score of C.
ORCL’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ORCL’s fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $8.03, which suggests 5.24% growth over the figure reported in fiscal 2026.
ORCL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Snowflake ve 1. čtvrtletí zvýšily tržby o 33 % na 1,39 miliardy USD a zvedly celoroční výhled produktových tržeb na 5,84 miliardy USD. Akcie ale za měsíc po zveřejnění výsledků klesly asi o 5,1 %.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Snowflake Inc. (SNOW - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 5.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Snowflake due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Snowflake Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Snowflake Q1 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Increase Y/YSnowflake reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 non-GAAP earnings of 39 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21.88%. The company reported earnings of 24 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues were $1.39 billion, up 33% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.23%.
SNOW Top-line DetailsSNOW’s fiscal first quarter was driven by consumption across its core platform, with product revenue representing the majority of results. Product revenues totaled $1.33 billion, which accounted for 96% of total revenues. Professional Services and other revenues were $56.6 million, which contributed 4% of total revenues, representing a 25.1% year-over-year increase.
Geographically, results remained concentrated in the Americas, which represented 78% of revenue, with EMEA and APJ contributing 16% and 6%, respectively. The steady regional mix suggests Snowflake is scaling internationally without materially changing its revenue concentration.
Snowflake’s AI-Led Momentum and PartnershipsSnowflake framed the quarter as an inflection point in its AI roadmap, citing accelerating adoption of first-party AI products alongside core platform demand. Management pointed to strong sequential product revenue dollar growth and emphasized the role of offerings such as Cortex Code and Snowflake Intelligence in broadening usage across the installed base.
The company also underscored ecosystem moves aimed at extending distribution and deepening enterprise relevance. It expanded collaboration with AWS through a new $6 billion multi-year agreement, highlighted ongoing work with OpenAI, and noted that capabilities from its SAP partnership reached general availability. Snowflake also signed a definitive agreement to acquire Natoma in May 2026 to strengthen secure connections for AI agents across tools and workflows.
SNOW's Customer Scale Supports Durable ExpansionSNOW ended the quarter with 13,912 total customers and added 616 net new customers, including 13 new Forbes Global 2000 customers. Large-customer depth continued to improve, with 779 customers above the $1 million trailing product revenue threshold, representing 29% year-over-year growth in that cohort.
Retention remained a key support for the consumption model. Net revenue retention rate was 126%, reflecting continued expansion from existing customers, even as usage patterns can vary quarter to quarter. Contracted demand also stayed healthy, with remaining performance obligations of $9.21 billion, up 38% from the year-ago period.
Snowflake’s Operating DetailsThe non-GAAP gross margin contracted 40 basis points (bps) year over year to 71.8%. Product gross margin was 75.1% in the reported quarter.
Research & development expenses, as a percentage of revenues, decreased 250 bps on a year-over-year basis to 20.4%. General & administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenues, were 5.5%, down 60 bps year over year. Sales and marketing expenses, as a percentage of revenues, contracted 40 bps on a year-over-year basis to 33.9%.
Operating margin expanded 300 bps on a year-over-year basis to 11.9%.
SNOW’s Balance Sheet & Cash Flow DetailsThe balance sheet remained liquid. As of April 30, 2026, Snowflake reported $2.08 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $870.3 million in short-term investments.
SNOW produced $243.2 million of net cash from operating activities in the quarter. Free cash flow was $232.8 million, and adjusted free cash flow was $265.5 million.
Snowflake Raises Full-Year Product Revenue OutlookSnowflake expects second-quarter fiscal 2027 product revenues in the range of $1.415-$1.420 billion, implying 30% year-over-year growth, with a non-GAAP operating margin expected to be 12.5%.
For fiscal 2027, the company raised its product revenue outlook to $5.84 billion, representing 31% growth. Snowflake also lifted its full-year non-GAAP operating margin target to 13.5% and reiterated a 75% non-GAAP product gross margin assumption alongside a 23% non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow margin.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted 5.83% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Snowflake has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a B. However, the stock has a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the lowest quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Snowflake has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Palantir uzavřel sedmileté strategické partnerství se Zeta Global a získal přístup k potenciálním zákazníkům s více než 100 miliony USD ročních tržeb. Zároveň jeho Foundry tvoří základ nové architektury pro modernizaci americké armády.
It’s been a rough first half of the year for Palantir Technologies NASDAQ: PLTR shareholders. The stock is down nearly 40% in 2026, with shares recently sliding again to test the $107 level.
Palantir Technologies Today
PLTR
Palantir Technologies
$113.27 +6.00 (+5.59%)
As of 12:54 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$106.37▼
$207.52P/E Ratio127.16
Price Target$192.76
Short interest, while still low on a percentage basis, is rising. Technology stocks, and software stocks in particular, are being met with suspicion due to the rapid, but perhaps misunderstood, adoption of agentic AI.
Get Palantir Technologies alerts:
That pressure feeds the tried-and-true critique that PLTR is simply overvalued. Even after the sell-off, the stock still trades at a steep forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple, well above the S&P 500 average and most software-stock benchmarks.
However, Palantir has consistently shown that its stock may be worth the premium. Two announcements in the past week reinforce that view and suggest the sell-off is creating a buying opportunity rather than confirming the bear thesis.
Zeta Global Partnership Expands the Commercial PipelinePalantir and Zeta Global NYSE: ZETA have entered into a seven-year strategic partnership in which Zeta's Data Cloud will be rearchitected on Palantir's Foundry infrastructure, with Athena by Zeta remaining as the application layer. Foundry provides the ontology, governance, and operational backbone; Athena (Zeta's AI intelligence layer) sits on top to drive real-time, agentic marketing decisions for enterprise clients.
What does that mean for Palantir’s finances? The partnership gives Palantir access to a new batch of potential customers representing more than $100 million in annual revenue. It also includes the development of a joint forward-deployed engineering team. CEO David Steinberg framed that $100M+ as an annual run-rate target "in the coming years," not a contract value.
ZETA shares climbed 5% on Tuesday, June 23, following the announcement. Wedbush and DA Davidson have flagged it as further enterprise AI validation for Palantir.
Another Government Win Builds on a Core StrengthNext Generation Command and Control (NGC2) is the Army's top modernization priority and its contribution to Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). That's the Pentagon's effort to fuse data across land, air, sea, space, and cyber. The Army has now established the foundational data architecture for NGC2, built on Palantir's Foundry as the cloud data layer and Anduril's Lattice as the tactical data layer. Raft handles data registries, transformation tools, and federation.
The financial implications are substantial, even though no contract value was disclosed. The award falls under Anduril's 10-year enterprise licensing agreement with the Army, which carries a $20 billion ceiling. Palantir's role is foundational rather than peripheral. Every future NGC2 application, AI model, and battlefield system built on this architecture will run on Foundry.
Overall MarketRank™92nd Percentile
Analyst RatingModerate Buy
Upside/Downside79.7% Upside
Short Interest LevelHealthy
Dividend StrengthN/A
News Sentiment0.74 Insider TradingSelling Shares
Proj. Earnings Growth42.37%
See Full Analysis
That matters because Palantir's government segment remains the company's largest revenue base. NGC2 is just beginning to scale beyond the 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division pilots. As the Army rolls the architecture out to additional formations, Foundry captures recurring revenue at the platform level. The win also complements existing government franchises, such as TITAN and the Maven Smart System.
The takeaway for investors is that new contracts lead to higher revenue and earnings. That’s the signal. The rest is noise.
There's nothing wrong with taking profits on a stock that was ahead of itself at over $200 per share. There’s also nothing wrong with having been early on PLTR. It’s a one-of-one company, and those don’t come around often.
Chart Shows Weak Hands Exiting, Not CapitulationPLTR has broken through a support level of around $128. The $115 level has now given way as well, and shares are sitting roughly $30 below the 50-day simple moving average at $137. Palantir bears smell blood, which could lead to more selling.
But a fair read of the chart shows that the recent sell-off is taking place on, at best, average volume. That’s not a sign of capitulation, but rather a sign of the weak hands exiting the trade. The relative strength index (RSI) has also dipped below 30, a sign that selling may run out of steam sooner than expected.
The MACD is deeply negative but extended; a setup that often precedes a counter-trend bounce. The next logical catalyst for a sustained rally will be the company’s upcoming earnings report, expected on Aug 3, 2026. Palantir is likely to report strong results...and history suggests the stock is likely not to reflect that strength.
The question for investors is, what role does PLTR play in a portfolio? As a short-term investment or trade, it’s a poor choice. There are many headwinds against software stocks in general and Palantir in particular. But the two deals announced this week reinforce why Palantir still merits a place in a long-term portfolio. The sell-off is uncomfortable, but for now seems like normal portfolio rebalancing driven by valuation normalization rather than a thesis breaker.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies Right Now?Before you consider Palantir Technologies, 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 Palantir Technologies wasn't on the list.
While Palantir Technologies currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Discover the next wave of investment opportunities with our report, 7 Stocks That Will Be Magnificent in 2026. Explore companies poised to replicate the growth, innovation, and value creation of the tech giants dominating today's markets.
Broadcom a OpenAI představily Jalapeño, první vlastní AI inference čip pro velké jazykové modely. Nasazení v datových centrech má začít koncem roku 2026.
Key Takeaways Broadcom and OpenAI unveiled Jalapeno, a custom AI inference chip for large language models. Jalapeno is set for gigawatt-scale data centers starting in late 2026 to improve AI efficiency. AVGO expects AI semiconductor revenues to top $100B in 2027, backed by hyperscale demand. Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) and OpenAI unveiled Jalapeño, the latter’s first custom AI inference processor, designed specifically for large language models (LLMs). Developed in just nine months, the chip is optimized for AI inference by balancing compute, memory and networking, with early tests indicating industry-leading performance per watt. Broadcom contributed silicon implementation, Tomahawk networking and system integration to enable large-scale production.
Jalapeño is the first in a multi-generation compute platform that will be deployed in gigawatt-scale data centers beginning in late 2026, supporting OpenAI’s broader strategy to build a full-stack AI infrastructure. The companies said the accelerator is designed to support current and future LLMs across the industry while lowering AI compute costs and improving efficiency. Broadcom expects the collaboration to extend over multiple generations and help power large AI clusters for OpenAI, Microsoft and other partners
The announcement reinforces Broadcom’s long-term AI growth outlook by validating its custom AI accelerator and networking strategy. On its second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, management disclosed that silicon for OpenAI had already been delivered and remained on track for production in late 2026, with a contractual commitment to deploy 1.3 gigawatts of compute in 2027 as part of a broader 10-gigawatt agreement through 2029.
Broadcom also reiterated expectations for AI semiconductor revenues to exceed $100 billion in 2027, supported by sustained demand from OpenAI and other hyperscale customers. The Jalapeño launch provides tangible evidence that Broadcom’s custom silicon roadmap is progressing as planned and strengthens revenue visibility across multiple years.
AVGO Faces Tough Competition in the Semiconductor MarketBroadcom is facing stiff competition from NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) in the semiconductor space.
NVIDIA is at the center of AI computing, with its products widely used across data centers, gaming and autonomous vehicles. The company’s newer Hopper 200 and Blackwell GPU platforms are being adopted quickly as customers work to grow their AI infrastructure. Data Center revenues reached $75.2 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, up 92% from a year ago and up 21% sequentially, driven by the ramp-up of Blackwell 300 products and demand for InfiniBand, Spectrum-X Ethernet and NVLink solutions.
AMD’s prospects are benefiting from strong demand for EPYC processors that power cloud and enterprise workloads. AMD believes EPYC’s expanding portfolio — including the upcoming sixth-generation Venice family and AI-optimized Verano processors — positions AMD to capture substantial market share gains as hyperscalers deploy broader AI compute architectures. Management indicated that server CPU revenues are expected to grow more than 70% year over year in the second quarter, with strong growth continuing into 2027 as new EPYC products ramp.
AVGO’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesBroadcom shares have appreciated 9.5% year to date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 14.2%.
AVGO Stock Lags Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The AVGO stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price/sales of 12.44X compared with the broader sector’s 6.41X. Broadcom has a Value Score of D.
AVGO Stock Has a Stretched Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVGO’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $11.73 per share, up 2.8% over the past 60 days, suggesting 72% growth from the figure reported in fiscal 2025.
Broadcom currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
General Dynamics posiluje C5ISR prostřednictvím integrace systémů a technologií pro americké námořnictvo. GDIT zajišťuje modernizaci včetně inženýringu, nákupu, logistiky a instalace.
Key Takeaways General Dynamics is expanding its C5ISR presence through advanced defense tech and systems integration.GDIT supports U.S. Navy C5ISR upgrades with integration, engineering, logistics and installation.GD shares are up 18.6% in the past year and trade below the industry on forward 12-month Price/Sales. General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) market through its advanced defense technology and systems integration capabilities. The company's General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) business develops mission-critical solutions that help military customers enhance situational awareness, improve decision-making and support multi-domain operations across increasingly complex battlefield environments.
A key example is GDIT's role in modernizing and integrating advanced C5ISR systems for the U.S. Navy. The company provides end-to-end support services, including systems integration, engineering, procurement, logistics and installation, to enhance secure communications, information sharing and mission effectiveness across naval operations.
GDIT's C5ISR capabilities support a wide range of platforms, including guided missile destroyers, aircraft carriers, Coast Guard vessels, manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as shore-based facilities. These integrated solutions help improve operational readiness, strengthen command and control capabilities and enable seamless upgrades to existing defense platforms without disrupting ongoing missions.
With defense agencies worldwide increasingly investing in integrated, network-centric warfare capabilities, demand for advanced C5ISR solutions is expected to remain strong. General Dynamics' continued investments in systems integration, cybersecurity and mission-critical technologies position it well to benefit from long-term defense modernization trends and the growing need for resilient, connected military networks
Other Stocks to Keep on the WatchlistOther aerospace and defense companies expanding their C5ISR capabilities are discussed below:
BAE Systems (BAESY - Free Report) : The company provides C5ISR solutions, including systems engineering, integration, sustainment services and enterprise IT. Its technologies support military operations across land, air, sea and cyber domains, improving mission effectiveness.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS - Free Report) : The company delivers advanced C5ISR solutions, specializing in the integration of mission-critical electronic systems. Its technologies enhance secure communications, intelligence gathering and battlefield connectivity for defense customers.
The Zacks Rundown for GDShares of GD have risen 18.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s 1.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 1.66X compared with its industry’s average of 2.59X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.
Plug Power dokončil instalaci a uvedení do provozu 5MW elektrolyzéru v Dánsku, čímž závod přešel do aktivní výroby vodíku. Při plné kapacitě má ročně vyrábět asi 550 tun zeleného vodíku.
Plug Power stock is holding steady today. What’s the outlook for PLUG shares? What Is Plug Power’s Latest Catalyst in Denmark?Plug Power said it completed installation, commissioning, site acceptance testing and handover of a 5 MW GenEco PEM electrolyzer system at the Måde Power-to-X facility in Esbjerg, Denmark, moving the site into active hydrogen production. At full capacity, the company expects about 550 metric tons of green hydrogen annually (roughly 1,500 truckloads), with output certified as Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin under the ISCC scheme.
Plug is leaning on the "repeatable execution" angle after CEO José Luis Crespo described a shift from one-off deployments to repeatable execution as the company targets more disciplined growth. The company also emphasized a fully containerized design aimed at reducing on-site complexity and accelerating production readiness.
Critical Price Levels for PLUG Stock to WatchThe chart is still in a corrective posture: the stock is trading 17.2% below its 20-day SMA ($3.06) and 22.2% below its 50-day SMA ($3.26), which tends to make rallies feel like they’re running into supply. It’s also 7.2% below the 100-day SMA ($2.73) but only 2.5% below the 200-day SMA ($2.60), putting the longer-term trend line right in the "hold or fail" zone.
For momentum, MACD is the cleaner read right now: it’s below its signal line and the histogram is negative, which points to upside pressure fading versus the prior upswing unless buyers can reassert control. Structurally, the 20-day SMA sitting below the 50-day SMA is bearish near-term, even though the 50-day SMA remains above the 200-day SMA (the golden cross from September 2025) and keeps the bigger picture from fully breaking down.
The stock is working inside a wide recovery range between the $4.58 52-week high (October 2025) and the $1.09 52-week low (June 2025), with a recent swing high in June and a swing low in April framing the latest pullback.
Key Resistance: $2.50 — a nearby pivot/round-number area where rebounds can stall, given how close price is to the 200-day moving average zone. What Is Plug Power’s Green Hydrogen Ecosystem?Plug Power is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production, storage, and delivery to energy generation. The company plans to build and operate green hydrogen highways across North America and Europe.
That’s why the Denmark handover matters: it’s an example of Plug moving projects from build-out into active hydrogen production, which is the step that can turn announcements into repeatable execution. The 5 MW Måde system is also positioned as one of Denmark’s early operational Power-to-X projects, giving Plug a live reference site as it pursues additional deployments.
Management also highlighted a fully containerized design to reduce on-site complexity, aiming to make deployments faster and more repeatable as it targets disciplined growth.
PLUG Stock Price Movement on FridayPLUG Stock Price Activity: Plug Power shares were down 1.17% at $2.54 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
FuelCell Energy získala od Jefferies zvýšení doporučení z Hold na Buy a cílovou cenu z 16 USD na 24 USD. Akcie FCEL zároveň rostly po dohodě s Fit Energy až o 25,50 % na 24,66 USD.
FuelCell Energy stock is charging ahead with explosive momentum. Why are FCEL shares rallying? Thursday’s Deal With Fit Energy Set The StageIn the prior session, FuelCell Energy revealed a new commercial arrangement with Fit Energy that covers as much as 380 megawatts of clean on-site power for data center customers. The plan uses the company’s large-scale fuel cell systems to supply baseload power directly at the facilities.
The agreement includes an upfront deposit tied to an initial 30 megawatts that are expected to begin delivery later this year. Fit Energy can also earn warrants based on future deployment milestones up to the full 380 megawatts, which ties long term value creation to successful project progress.
Friday’s Move Comes From A Fresh Analyst UpgradeOn top of yesterday’s arrangement, Jefferies analyst Dushyant Ailani upgraded FuelCell Energy from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $16 to $24. The upgrade arrives immediately after the Fit Energy announcement, reinforcing the idea that the agreement could play a meaningful role in the company’s growth outlook.
Critical Levels To Watch For FCEL StockMomentum indicators support the move. MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which signals that buying pressure is improving compared with the previous downswing. When MACD stays above its signal line, it often means buyers are absorbing pullbacks quickly and maintaining control of the trend.
Key Resistance: $27.50 — This level sits near the 52-week high zone and can act as a ceiling where rallies may slow. FCEL Shares Are FlyingFCEL Price Action: FuelCell shares were up 25.50% at $24.66 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro.
Image: T. Schneider/Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Applied Materials snížila provozní cash flow na 845 mil. USD z 1,686 mld. USD a volné cash flow na 210 mil. USD z 1,04 mld. USD ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 kvůli investicím do kapacit a dodavatelského řetězce. Firma přitom očekává, že růst poptávky po AI zvedne její byznys s polovodičovým vybavením v roce 2026 o více než 30 %.
Key Takeaways AMAT's lower cash flow reflected investments to expand manufacturing and strengthen supply chains.Applied Materials expects AI-led demand to drive semiconductor equipment growth above 30% in 2026.AMAT returned $765 million via buybacks and dividends while funding capacity expansion. Applied Materials' (AMAT - Free Report) operating cash flow declined to $845 million from $1.686 billion in the prior quarter, and free cash flow declined to $210 million from $1.04 billion in the prior quarter in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. AMAT’s expanding manufacturing capacity and strengthening supply chain readiness can be a probable reason.
AMAT is investing in building plans, inventory positions and logistics capacity to ensure it can meet accelerating customer demand. Customers are providing longer-term demand forecasts, allowing Applied Materials to prepare manufacturing resources well in advance and support expected industry growth through 2027 and beyond.
Applied Materials is seeing AI adoption broaden and diversify, which is pushing wafer fab equipment spending toward leading-edge foundry-logic, DRAM and advanced packaging. Management expects these three areas to drive more than 80% of year-over-year total WFE growth in calendar 2026, with a similar profile in 2027.
The company also expects its semiconductor equipment business to grow more than 30% in 2026 as customers expand cleanroom capacity and accelerate equipment pull-ins. This demand mix aligns with Applied Materials’ stated leadership positions and supports a more durable multi-year spending cycle than prior compute-driven upturns, suggesting future cash flow strength.
Beyond all these, Applied Materials’ ability to generate sufficient cash to return capital to shareholders is a green flag. During the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Applied Materials distributed $765 million through $400 million of share repurchases and $365 million in dividends while simultaneously funding investments in production capacity and supply chain capabilities.
How Competitors Fare Against AMATApplied Materials has an unmatched breadth across semiconductor manufacturing. Applied Materials offers solutions across deposition, materials engineering, etch, metrology, inspection, packaging and process integration, allowing customers to optimize manufacturing flows using a single vendor across multiple stages of production. This broad portfolio positions the company to capture a larger share of customer spending as semiconductor manufacturing becomes increasingly materials-intensive, while also keeping its competitors like KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) and Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) .
KLA Corporation remains a dominant player in process control, wafer inspection and yield management solutions, while Lam Research competes with Applied Materials across deposition and etch technologies, including advanced atomic layer deposition systems used in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing. Lam Research secured multiple critical etch wins at a major DRAM manufacturer with its new Akara etch system, which supports 3D DRAM architectures. This was supported by LRCX’s customer investments in DDR5, LPDDR5 and high-bandwidth memory.
AMAT’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Applied Materials have surged 159.9% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s growth of 56.1%.
AMAT YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Applied Materials trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.67X, higher than the industry’s average of 10.13X.
AMAT Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Applied Materials’ fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 28% and 32%, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Applied Materials currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
BTIG uvedla, že Robinhood se mění v širší finanční platformu a může dlouhodobě růst díky mladé klientele a rozšiřování produktů. Analytici stanovili cílovou cenu na 125 USD.
BTIG analysts Andrew Harte and Brendan Greaney said Robinhood has evolved beyond its roots as a commission-free trading app into a broader financial platform spanning brokerage, crypto, prediction markets and wealth management.
Robinhood Growth Strategy And Customer ExpansionThe firm expects the company to deliver more than 20% annual platform asset growth over the next decade, driven by a young customer base entering peak earning years, deeper engagement, new customer additions and international expansion.
BTIG acknowledged Robinhood trades at a premium valuation of about 46 times next-12-month GAAP earnings, compared with roughly 15 times for traditional brokerage peers. However, the analysts argued the premium is justified by the company’s stronger growth profile and expanding product portfolio.
The brokerage said Robinhood’s average customer is about 36 years old with an average account balance of roughly $13,000, compared with older customers and significantly larger account balances at legacy brokers. BTIG believes that positions the company to benefit from an estimated $124 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer over time.
Product Expansion Supports Long-Term OutlookThe analysts also highlighted Robinhood’s growing suite of products, including retirement accounts, banking, prediction markets and international offerings, saying these services should increase customer retention and wallet share. Management’s renewed investment in customer acquisition is also expected to support faster funded-account growth.
Key Catalysts And Price ForecastBTIG sees several potential catalysts ahead, including second-quarter earnings, international expansion, prediction markets, the July launch of Trump Accounts, a stronger IPO pipeline and the removal of pattern day trading restrictions.
The firm’s $125 price forecast is based on 40 times its fiscal 2028 earnings estimate, while it outlined a bullish scenario of $150 per share if crypto activity rebounds and customer growth accelerates. Its downside scenario values the stock at $60 if trading activity weakens and competitive pressures slow customer growth.
Robinhood Stock Performance And Technical AnalysisRobinhood stock climbed about 5% on Friday, outperforming the broader market. The Nasdaq fell 0.65%, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.03%.
The stock continues to trade above its 20-day, 50-day and 100-day simple moving averages of $93.65, $85.20 and $80.27, respectively. That signals the intermediate trend remains positive.
However, shares remain about 4.8% below the 200-day moving average of $102.57, leaving a key long-term resistance level intact.
Momentum indicators have weakened. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains below its signal line, suggesting upside momentum has slowed even as the stock continues to rise.
The 20-day moving average remains above the 50-day average, supporting the near-term trend. However, the 50-day average is still below the 200-day average following February’s death cross, indicating longer-term caution.
Technical traders are watching resistance near $113.50 and support around $79.
Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $106.25. Recent analyst moves include:
BTIG: Initiated with Buy (Forecast $125.00) (June 26) Argus Research: Buy (Raises forecast to $110.00) (June 17) Needham: Buy (Raises forecast to $97.00) (June 11) HOOD Price Action: Robinhood Markets shares were up 4.64% at $97.80 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo via Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
UiPath spustil Maestro Case pro řízení složitých workflow s lidmi, systémy i AI. Tím se více přibližuje konkurenci ServiceNow a Pegasystems v oblasti workflow a case managementu.
Key Takeaways PATH introduced Maestro Case to manage long-running, exception-heavy workflows across people, systems and AI.UiPath is targeting fragmented processes like approvals, investigations and service issues.PATH's launch positions it more directly against ServiceNow and Pegasystems in workflow and case management. UiPath (PATH - Free Report) is expanding its automation portfolio with Maestro Case, a new capability designed to help enterprises manage more complex workflows that don’t move in a straight line. The launch reflects a broader shift in enterprise software, where businesses increasingly need tools that can handle not just repetitive tasks, but also long-running, exception-heavy processes involving people, systems and AI.
The opportunity here is meaningful because many organizations still manage customer requests, investigations, approvals, and service issues through fragmented tools such as emails, spreadsheets and point solutions. That creates delays, weak visibility, and inconsistent outcomes. Maestro Case is intended to address that problem by allowing businesses to treat each case as an evolving workflow, carrying its data, participants and execution context from one stage to another while combining automation with human oversight when needed.
The launch also places UiPath more directly alongside peers such as ServiceNow (NOW - Free Report) and Pegasystems (PEGA - Free Report) , both of which have built strong positions in workflow and case-oriented enterprise software. ServiceNow has long focused on digital workflows across IT and business functions, while Pegasystems has built its reputation around process automation and case management for large enterprises. By pushing deeper into this category, UiPath is signaling that it wants to compete more aggressively with ServiceNow in workflow orchestration and with Pegasystems in complex case handling. At the same time, PATH’s AI-led positioning could help it differentiate its offering from ServiceNow and Pegasystems if customers increasingly prioritize agent-driven automation layered on top of traditional workflow tools.
Overall, Maestro Case looks like a strategic extension of UiPath’s platform rather than a routine product add-on, reinforcing its effort to become a broader enterprise orchestration player.
PATH’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
The stock has declined 39% year to date compared with the industry’s 18% loss.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, PATH trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.91, which is well below the industry average of 24.48. It carries a Value Score of C.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PATH’s fiscal 2027 earnings has been on the rise over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PATH currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
ICE oznámila rekordní tržby segmentu Fixed Income and Data Services ve výši 322 mil. USD, meziročně o 7 % vyšší. Akcie jsou za rok níže o 31,1 % a obchodují se s nižším forward P/E než odvětví.
Key Takeaways ICE generated record Fixed Income and Data Services revenue of $322M, up 7% year over year.Intercontinental Exchange is investing in private credit, digital assets and tokenized securities initiatives.ICE is embedding AI across mortgage and data platforms while managing higher operating expenses. Shares of Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE - Free Report) have lost 31.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 20.3%. ???The company’s share price closed at $124.49 on Thursday and reached a 52-week low of $124.33.
ICE shares have declined from their August 2025 peak due to valuation compression, slower growth from the Black Knight acquisition, and elevated debt. Sentiment was further pressured by competitive threats following the approval of perpetual futures products on platforms like Kalshi.
Shares of some of its peers, like CBOE Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE - Free Report) , have increased 8.4%, whereas CME Group Inc. (CME - Free Report) and Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) have declined 17.5% and 12.1%, respectively, in the past year. The S&P 500 Index has gained 23.3% during this time.
1-Year Price Performance: ICE, CME, CBOE, NDAQ, Industry & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ICE’s Average Target Price Suggests UpsideBased on short-term price targets offered by 16 analysts, the Zacks average price target is $195.13 per share. The average suggests a potential 56.7% upside from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ICE’s ValuationIntercontinental Exchange’s shares are trading at a discount compared with the industry. ICE’s shares are trading at a forward price-to-earnings of 14.6X, lower than the industry average of 17.5X. Meanwhile, CME, Cboe Global and Nasdaq are trading at 17.95X, 17.88X and 18.39X, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ICE’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Intercontinental Exchange’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 20.4%. The estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $10.99 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 10.6%.
The consensus estimates for 2027 EPS and revenues indicate an increase of 5.5% and 4.2%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
The expected five-year earnings growth is pegged at 12.8%, better than the industry average of 12.2%.
Optimistic Analyst Sentiment on ICESix of the seven analysts have raised the estimates for 2026, whereas five of the eight analysts have increased estimates for 2027 over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 has moved 3.8% and 1% north, respectively, over the same period.
Factors Favoring ICE StockICE’s top line is poised to improve, driven by global data services and index business, the ICE Global Network offering, as well as solid desktop, feeds, and derivatives analytics. The company has been achieving expense synergies from strategic acquisitions, which have strengthened its portfolio and expanded its presence. As the operator of the largest mortgage network in the United States, ICE remains well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing digitization of the residential mortgage industry. The company is also benefiting from strength in its Exchange business, driven by elevated market volatility, robust risk-management demand and growing market participation.
ICE's Fixed Income and Data Services business remains a key growth driver. In the first quarter of 2026, revenues reached a record $322 million, up 7% year over year, fueled by strong net new business trends in its pricing and reference data offerings. Growing demand for proprietary data, analytics, pricing and index products continues to support recurring revenues and earnings stability. For 2026, management anticipates recurring revenue growth in the mid single-digit range, with results expected to trend toward the higher end.
ICE is investing in several emerging growth areas that could support long-term expansion. The launch of ICE Private Credit Intelligence, development of a tokenized securities platform at the NYSE and partnerships with Polymarket and OKX are expected to strengthen its position in private credit, digital assets and next-generation market infrastructure. These initiatives expand the company's addressable market and provide additional long-term growth avenues.
ICE is increasingly embedding artificial intelligence across its mortgage, data, pricing, and workflow automation platforms. Management believes AI-driven capabilities will increase platform adoption, strengthen customer relationships and create incremental monetization opportunities over time.
Risks for ICETotal operating expenses have increased over the last several years, reflecting higher compensation and benefits, technology and communication costs, and acquisition-related integration activity. ICE guided for the second quarter of 2026, adjusted operating expenses in the range of of $1.030 billion to $1.040 billion.
ICE faces competitive and regulatory challenges that could pressure pricing, increase compliance costs, and shift trading volumes, making future growth and profitability more unpredictable.
ConclusionICE is poised for growth, banking on the strength of its compelling portfolio and expansive risk-management services, which ensure revenue flow, as well as strategic buyouts, a solid balance sheet, and effective capital deployment. However, rising operating expenses and volatile industry trends raise concerns.
Nevertheless, favorable growth estimates, optimistic analyst sentiment, and cheaper valuations are noteworthy. It is, therefore, wise to retain this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Veeva launched EHS within Quality Cloud to help sites manage operational and environmental risks.VEEV shares fell 2% after the news, with the stock down 29.2% year to date.Veeva EHS automates incident reporting, investigations and compliance workflows on one platform. Veeva Systems (VEEV - Free Report) recently announced the launch of Veeva EHS, a new environmental, health and safety application within its Veeva Quality Cloud. The solution is designed to help manufacturing and testing sites proactively identify, manage and mitigate operational and environmental risks while strengthening global compliance readiness.
Management stated that Veeva EHS delivers an advanced and automated approach to environmental, health and safety processes. It enables EHS teams to free up time and ensures quick and accurate execution. The company believes organizations replacing legacy EHS systems with a unified platform will gain real-time transparency into leading indicators of risk for more informed decisions and a proactive approach to prevention.
Veeva EHS is expected to be available to early adopters in August 2026.
Likely Trend of VEEV Stock Following the NewsFollowing the announcement, VEEV shares lost 2% at yesterday’s closing. Year to date, the stock has declined 29.2%, underperforming the industry’s 15.2% fall and the S&P 500’s 7.3% rise.
The launch of Veeva EHS is expected to strengthen Veeva’s position in the EHS software market by expanding its Quality Cloud portfolio. The unified platform can drive higher customer adoption, improve cross-selling opportunities and increase recurring revenues. Its automation, real-time risk visibility and integrated compliance capabilities also enhance Veeva's competitive advantage over legacy EHS solution providers, supporting long-term business growth.
VEEV currently has a market capitalization of $26.21 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on Veeva EHSVeeva EHS enables organizations to report safety incidents in real time, manage investigations from start to finish and automate compliance workflows within a single platform. The solution integrates with Veeva QMS and Veeva Training, allowing safety events to automatically create quality deviations and assign relevant training. This eliminates duplicate data entry, streamlines workflows and helps organizations maintain compliance.
According to Bobbie Grant, Global Senior EHS Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a modern EHS platform with unified data and a seamless user experience across the entire EHS workflow can significantly improve site efficiency. Grant added that Veeva provides an advanced solution that can maintain data integrity and provide the foundation for AI-driven capabilities to reduce risk over time.
Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Research and Markets, the environmental health and safety (EHS) software market is valued at $8.9 billion in 2026 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 8.1% through 2030.
Factors like the stringent regulatory requirements that healthcare and life science organizations must navigate, digital transformation initiatives in healthcare and life sciences, a growing focus on workplace safety and risk reduction, and the integration of AI and machine learning are boosting the market’s growth.
Other NewsVeeva recently acquired Copli, a pioneer in agentic medical, legal and regulatory (MLR) solutions for the life sciences industry. Copli is available as Veeva Falcon MLR, an agentic MLR solution that significantly accelerates content review with the potential to eliminate 70% or more of manual MLR labor within five years.
VEEV’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, VEEV has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are BrightSpring Health (BTSG - Free Report) , Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) .
BrightSpring Health, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 39 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.5%. Revenues of $3.61 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.35%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
BrightSpring Health has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 46.5%. BTSG’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 14.6%.
Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.12, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.1%. Revenues of $759.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.0%.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.2%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%.
Intuitive Surgical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.50, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.2%. Revenues of $2.77 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.2%.
Intuitive Surgical has a long-term estimated growth rate of 14.3%. ISRG’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Agilent Technologies (A - Free Report) . Shares have added about 0.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Agilent due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Agilent Technologies Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Up Y/YAgilent Technologies reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.49 per share, up 13.7% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.21%.
Quarterly revenues came in at $1.84 billion, which represented 10% reported growth year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.12%. Strength in instruments and solid execution also supported a favorable mix, with 66% of fiscal second-quarter revenue coming from recurring streams such as consumables, services and informatics.
A Posts Strong Q2 Growth Across Operating SegmentsA’s top-line expansion was broad-based across its three reporting groups. The Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets Group generated $732 million of revenues, up 12% year over year on a reported basis and 9% on a core basis.
Agilent CrossLab delivered $759 million, reflecting 6% reported growth and 2% core growth, while Applied Markets recorded $344 million, increasing 14% reported and 11% core. Segment profitability remained solid, with operating margins of 22.0% in LDG, 32.0% in CrossLab and 23.3% in Applied Markets.
Agilent’s Q2 Operating ResultsFor the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the LDG segment’s gross margin expanded 130 basis points (bps) year over year to 54.1%. ACG’s gross margin was flat year over year to 55.5%, while AMG’s gross margin expanded 230 bps year over year to 55.8%.
Research and development (R&D) expenses on a non-GAAP basis were $116 million, up 6.4% from the prior-year quarter. Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses on a non-GAAP basis rose to $409 million, marking a 9.4% increase from the prior-year quarter.
As a percentage of revenues, R&D expenses fell 20 bps year over year to 6.3%, while SG&A expenses fell 10 bps year over year to 22.3%.
Non-GAAP operating margin expanded 130 basis points year over year to 26.4% and improved 180 basis points sequentially.
A Sees Divergent Trends Across End MarketsDemand trends varied by end market, but the overall mix remained constructive. Pharma, which represented 36% of quarterly revenues, delivered 6% core growth and marked a fifth straight quarter of mid-single to low-double-digit growth, including low-double-digit growth in biotech.
Diagnostics and Clinical (16% of revenue) rose 11% on core growth, supported by expansion in Cancer Diagnostics offerings and traction for the Omnis family. Chemicals and Advanced Materials (23% of revenue) increased 8%, driven by semiconductor demand and chemicals capex investments in the Americas, while Environmental and Forensics (10% of revenue) grew 13% on competitive wins and a TSA airport security contract. Offsetting pockets of strength, Academia and Government (7% of revenue) declined 5% amid a muted research funding environment, and Food (8% of revenue) fell 3% on funding delays in China and India.
Agilent Details Geography and Business Mixeographically, results reflected strength in the Americas and Europe and a tougher year-over-year comparison in Asia-Pacific. Core revenue growth was 11% in the Americas and 8% in Europe, while APAC declined 1% on a core basis. In terms of mix, the Americas accounted for 42% of Agilent’s fiscal second-quarter revenue, Europe contributed 28% and APAC represented 30%.
Agilent also highlighted the durability of its model through the product-type mix. Consumables, services and informatics represented 66% of total revenues in the quarter, while instruments accounted for the remaining 34%. The company emphasized robust instrument growth in the quarter alongside an increasing recurring-revenue mix.
A’s Balance Sheet DetailsThe balance sheet remained steady. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.807 billion as of April 30, 2026, compared with $1.75 billion as of Jan. 31, 2025, while long-term debt stood at $3.051 billion.
Agilent generated $277 million in operating cash flow during the quarter and returned cash to shareholders through multiple channels. The company spent $65 million to repurchase 0.55 million shares and paid $72 million in dividends, along with $76 million of capex investment.
A Raises Full-Year Outlook and Issues Q3 TargetsA lifted its fiscal 2026 outlook, driven by increased confidence in business performance and execution. Full-year revenues are now expected to be in the range of $7.39-$7.49 billion, with core revenue growth projected to be between 4.5% and 6.0%. The company also expects 85 basis points of non-GAAP operating margin expansion at the midpoint of core growth guidance.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, A expects revenues in the range of $1.83-$1.85 billion, implying 5.0%-6.5% reported growth and 4.4%-5.9% core growth. Non-GAAP earnings for the quarter are expected to be in the range of $1.48-$1.50 per share, while full-year non-GAAP earnings were raised to $6.00-$6.10 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Agilent has a subpar Growth Score of D, a score with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Agilent has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Vyšší sazby mohou prospět společnosti Interactive Brokers, protože většinu jejích výnosů tvoří čistý úrokový výnos. Ten v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 dosáhl 904 milionů USD, asi 54 % čistých výnosů.
Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh held his first Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, making statements strongly suggesting a "higher for longer" interest rate policy, including possible rate hikes down the road.
For stock market investors, this could be concerning. Stocks, particularly speculative growth stocks, often trade inversely with interest rates. As rates go up, valuations could come down. Yet while Warsh's policy plans could create new headwinds for the broad market, these changes could be a potential boon for one major financial institution: Interactive Brokers (IBKR 2.06%).
Why? The discount broker, a pioneer in electronic trading, generates a majority of its overall revenue from interest. Hence, like with financial stocks and bank stocks, "higher for longer" bodes well for Interactive Brokers.
Image source: Getty Images.
Interactive Brokers and its not-so-secret revenue stream Like most brokerages, net interest income (NII) is a key revenue stream for Interactive Brokers. There are two ways brokerages generate NII. First, they collect interest on customer "float," or uninvested cash. They also earn interest income on margin loans made to customers.
For a major institution like Interactive Brokers, interest income can add up quickly. Each month, the company releases brokerage metrics and other financial information. According to the latest report, as of May 31, 2026, the company had client credit balances, or customer cash balances, totaling $180.1 billion, a 34% increase over the past year.
Client margin loan balances totaled $100.9 billion, a 65% increase over the past year. During the first quarter of 2026, NII totaled $904 million, making up around 54% of the company's total net revenue. With the company reporting pretax profits of around $1.3 billion, or 77% pretax margins, the lion's share of this NII flows straight to the bottom line.
Interactive Brokers also continues to benefit from customer growth. Last month, for instance, the company had nearly 5 million client accounts, a 32% increase compared to May 2025, and a 3% increase compared to the prior month.
Today's Change
(
-2.06
%) $
-1.90
Current Price
$
90.26
Interactive Brokers is a compounding machine Considering customer and NII growth, it's easy to see how this company has been a compounding machine in recent years. Since 2022, the company's revenue has surged from $4.2 billion to $10.6 billion, while earnings per share went from $0.94 to $2.34. The company's quarterly cash dividend has grown significantly during this time, from 2.5 cents to 8.8 cents per quarter, a more than 250% increase.
Currently, sell-side analysts forecast revenue growth of around 14.5% and 12.5%, respectively, with earnings expected to climb from $2.19 per share in 2025 to $2.51 per share in 2026 and to $2.88 per share by 2027, representing average annual growth of 14.7%.
Such earnings growth could translate into further strong dividend growth, especially as Interactive Brokers' payout ratio remains low, at around 13.7%. Shares may be pricey at nearly 40 times forward earnings, but if high growth persists, they may experience, at worst, moderate multiple compression.
Continued double-digit earnings growth could counter a drop in forward valuation to the low- to mid-30s. This, coupled with the 0.37% dividend, could yield steady, solid total returns. With this, consider Interactive Brokers one of the best growth stocks to buy and hold.
Wise Group PLC (LSE:WISE, NASDAQ:WSE) delivered stronger-than-expected annual profits, analysts said, although its growth guidance for the year ahead came in slightly below market expectations.
The shares were up 6.5% at 883p on Friday afternoon.
Jefferies said the payments group's results were "messy" because of its recent US listing and changes to accounting standards, but the underlying picture was one of strong cash generation and healthy customer growth.
The broker estimated that Wise generated around $700 million of underlying cash during the year, even after spending $470 million buying back shares to offset historic stock-based compensation dilution. The new programme, worth more than $500 million, is expected to reduce the share count by about 3%.
New active customers rose 20% to 7.1 million, taking Wise's total customer base to 35 million, while headcount increased 35% as the company continued to invest in servicing and product development.
For the 2027 financial year, Wise gave guidance for constant-currency revenue growth around the middle of its long-term 15-20% target range, implying growth of roughly 18%.
Jefferies said this was below its forecasts for 22% growth and the City consensus of 21%.
Despite the softer-than-expected outlook, the analysts said the combination of robust cash generation, continued customer growth and further price reductions should keep Wise's growth "flywheel" turning.
Xcel Energy zvýšila celoroční výhled zisku na 4,04 až 4,16 USD na akcii po silném prvním čtvrtletí. Opakující se zisk vzrostl meziročně o 17 % na 567 milionů USD.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$66.56▼
$84.23Dividend Yield2.88%
P/E Ratio23.70
Price Target$91.06
Xcel Energy NASDAQ: XEL is dependable, predictable, and steady. In other words, it’s generally boring—yet analysts rate it a solid Buy.
Xcel is the kind of stock that income-oriented investors often overlook because it does not make headlines, and growth investors skip because it sounds like a bond substitute. Both groups might be missing something. The Minneapolis-based company is posting solid earnings growth, predictable guidance, and a steady long-term outlook.
Get Xcel Energy alerts:
But with a well-valued price/earnings ratio, the stock is not for everyone. Investors should balance its dependable dividends and stability against its current valuation, execution risks, and limited near-term upside.
Xcel Thrives After Decades of InvestmentsXcel’s regional dominance has been built over decades. The current company was formed in 2000 through the merger of New Century Energies and Northern States Power, bringing together utility operations in the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain West. Before the merger, Xcel operated as a classic regulated utility. It had steady dividends, predictable low single-digit growth, and a stock moved mostly by interest rate changes.
That picture began to change when the industry shifted in approach, and electricity demand surged. Xcel had been an early mover in renewable energy, turning to wind and solar alternatives ahead of many peers. The investments positioned the company well in states such as Colorado and Minnesota, where regulators began mandating decarbonization of electricity supply.
At the same time, the development of large-scale data centers in the company's service areas pushed new load growth to levels not seen in decades.
Today, the company serves 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers across eight states, including Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and the Dakotas. Importantly, that geographic breadth also helps reduce the risk that a single statewide rate case could materially hit the overall business.
Capital Spending Planned for Long-Term GrowthThe push for additional energy generation in the region continues to spur the company’s growth.
Xcel has announced plans to pursue a $60 billion capital investment program through 2030, driven by electrification demand, data center growth, and the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels. The company has said it is targeting, among other things, electric grid expansion, renewables expansion, new generation capacity, and transmission infrastructure.
If approved by regulators, the build-out could significantly expand Xcel’s rate base and provide a strong path for earnings growth well beyond the current year. The company has set an earnings-per-share growth objective of 6% to 8% or above annually, an aggressive level for a regulated utility. The company’s compound annual growth rate already sits at 6.2% for its ongoing earnings per share since 2005.
The company also expects its dividend, currently paying approximately 59 cents per share each quarter, to continue yielding about 3% going forward. Given its projected earnings growth, the company said it expects annual dividend increases of 4% to 6%, continuing a 22-year trend of dividend hikes.
Strong Financial Results Support OutlookThe financial results have been tracking that plan.
First-quarter 2026 ongoing earnings were $567 million, or 91 cents per share, up 17% from $483 million, or 84 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier. GAAP earnings came in at $556 million, or 89 cents per share. The quarterly increase was driven by higher electric revenue and continued recovery of electric infrastructure investment through rates, the company said.
The company also updated its full-year 2026 earnings guidance to a range of $4.04 to $4.16, compared with $3.80 in 2025.
Overall, with electric generation providing three-quarters of its revenue, Xcel reported $4 billion in operating revenue in the first quarter this year, compared with $3.9 billion a year earlier.
Analysts See Limited But Steady UpsideOverall MarketRank™75th Percentile
Analyst RatingBuy
Upside/Downside10.4% Upside
Short Interest LevelBearish
Dividend StrengthStrong
News Sentiment0.77 Insider TradingN/A
Proj. Earnings Growth9.25%
See Full Analysis
That combination of income stability and visible earnings growth has impressed most analysts. The company currently has a solid Buy rating. Of the 17 analysts tracking the stock, 16 rate Xcel as a Buy, while one labels the stock as a Sell.
The 12-month average price target is around $91 per share, within a range of targets from $96 to $84. With a current price of about $80, the predictability of the company is clearly baked into the price range.
In fact, the stock’s steady climb is also evident in its history. Shares are currently trading approximately 5% higher than three months ago, 10% higher than the start of the year, and more than 20% higher than one year ago.
Investors Should Weigh the RisksDespite the current predictability and steadiness of Xcel, utility companies are never without risk. In the market, the utility sector competes with bonds for many investors, and interest rate hikes can hit valuations as well as borrowing costs for major projects.
In addition, Xcel's capital program is ambitious by any measure, and large capital programs are never guaranteed. Cost overruns, supply chain delays, or adverse regulatory decisions can lead to less recovery than management expects.
Wildfire liability is also a risk, especially with exposure in Colorado and other western states. Xcel has recognized this risk and formed a partnership with the National Forest Foundation in May this year, specifically to support wildfire mitigation and forest restoration.
Stability Remains Xcel’s Biggest StrengthXcel has a lot to recommend it. It’s a well-positioned, regulated utility with a reliable dividend yielding 3%, projected annual earnings growth of 6-8%, and a roughly 12% upside target from current levels.
For conservative investors, it also delivers a business aligned with long-term trends in electricity demand and a clean energy buildout. But it is well-priced, and appreciation could be slow.
In many ways, the company might be boring. But with steady accumulation and a multi-year horizon, Xcel’s income, growth, and its delivery of an increasingly essential product might be exciting enough.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Xcel Energy Right Now?Before you consider Xcel Energy, 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 Xcel Energy wasn't on the list.
While Xcel Energy currently has a Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Learn the basics of options trading and how to use them to boost returns and manage risk with this free report from MarketBeat. Click the link below to get your free copy.
PPL přes své regulované utility LG&E a KU spolupracuje s X-energy na posouzení malých modulárních reaktorů Xe-100 v Kentucky. Zvažuje také projekt přečerpávací vodní elektrárny Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project o výkonu 266 MW.
Key Takeaways PPL is advancing clean energy through partnerships in carbon-free generation and energy storage. LG&E and KU partnered with X-energy to evaluate Xe-100 small modular reactors in Kentucky. PPL's shares rose 3.3% in the past month, topping the electric power industry's 2.2% gain. PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) is advancing its clean energy strategy through partnerships focused on carbon-free generation and energy storage. Collaborations involving advanced nuclear technology and pumped-storage hydropower support rising electricity demand, strengthen grid reliability and create long-term growth opportunities, while advancing decarbonization objectives.
Recently, PPL's regulated utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) Company, partnered with X-energy Inc. (XE) to evaluate the deployment of Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMR) in Kentucky to support rising electricity demand with reliable, long-term clean energy. Nuclear power could help PPL meet this demand while maintaining reliability and supporting decarbonization goals.
LG&E and KU are also collaborating with Rye Development to explore the 266 megawatt Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project. The project is still under evaluation and would not begin operating until around 2031. If approved, the project could enhance grid reliability, support renewable energy integration and create a future investment opportunity that expands PPL's regulated asset base.
For PPL, this collaboration represents a strategic step toward diversifying its generation portfolio with advanced nuclear technology, enhancing long-term energy reliability. If feasibility studies prove successful, SMRs could provide a reliable, carbon-free baseload power source, positioning the utility to capitalize on growing electricity demand, driven by industrial expansion and data-center development.
Diversified Generation Sources Strengthen Growth ProspectsA diversified generation portfolio strengthens long-term growth prospects by enhancing grid reliability and reducing dependence on any single source. It also supports rising electricity demand and provides greater operational flexibility amid evolving energy market dynamics.
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) benefits from a diversified electricity generation portfolio, with natural gas and fuel oil contributing 33.5% of output, followed by nuclear at 27.5%, coal at 14.5%, and hydroelectric and solar at 2%.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) derives nearly 54% of its electricity generation from renewable energy sources. The company maintains a diversified generation portfolio, with natural gas accounting for 34% of output, nuclear energy 8% and other sources 1%.
PPL’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 7.73% and 8.13%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Debt to CapitalPPL's debt-to-capital ratio currently stands at 57.40%, lower than the electric power industry’s 60.97%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PPL’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have risen 3.3% compared with the industry’s 2.2% growth.
Avient globálně představil PREPERM, nízkoztrátové dielektrické termoplasty pro radarové snímání v oblasti 5G/6G. Cílí na ADAS, inteligentní dopravu a humanoidní robotiku.
Key Takeaways Avient launched PREPERM thermoplastics globally for 5G/6G radar sensing applications.PREPERM targets ADAS, intelligent transportation, humanoid robotics and mmWave radome uses.The PPE portfolio helps address signal-loss, warpage and BSIS compliance barriers. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) has introduced its new PREPERM Low Loss Dielectric Thermoplastics, a modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) solution engineered to support the rapid growth of 5G/6G-enabled radar sensing. The new addition provides automotive advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), intelligent transportation and humanoid robotics. The new PPE-based portfolio helps overcome signal-loss, warpage and BSIS compliance barriers of conventional glass-fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate (PBT+GF) materials.
The PREPERM portfolio addresses these challenges with a dielectric constant (Dk) ranging from 2.53 to 2.94 and a loss tangent (Df) as low as 0.001 at 2.5 GHz. It is built to deliver at high frequencies. According to Avient’s in-house RF testing, the materials delivered improved gain, detection angles and elevation angle compared to traditional PBT+GF alternatives.
The portfolio includes four grades, offered in both unfilled and glass-filled PPE variants. These materials are optimized for the entire radome assembly, including high-impact and laser-weldable performance, structural requirements and laser absorption, while enabling a smooth upgrade for manufacturers currently using PBT+GF with dimensional stability.
Produced in Asia and available worldwide, PREPERM thermoplastics are expected to help automotive suppliers, traffic radar manufacturers, and robotics developers improve radar performance and manufacturing efficiency for mmWave radome applications.
AVNT shares have gained 12.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s 22.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AVNT’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAVNT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) , Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM - Free Report) .
While NUE and DOW sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, ASM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $17.08 per share, indicating a 121.53% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the remaining two, with an average surprise of 8.10%. NUE’s shares have jumped 89.4% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOW’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.61 per share, indicating a rise of 377.66% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters. DOW’sshares have gained 8.6% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASM’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at 34 cents per share, indicating a 17.24% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 125%.
