Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

© Golden Dayz / Shutterstock.com

Artificial intelligence is creating a new kind of infrastructure race. While investors often focus on Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) chips or the latest AI models, the real bottleneck is increasingly becoming physical capacity — power, land, and data centers. 

The latest global data center report from CBRE shows that demand continues to outpace supply across nearly every major market in the world. Vacancy rates have fallen to historic lows, pricing continues to rise, and new facilities are being leased before construction is complete. For investors, that creates a powerful backdrop for companies that already control large-scale AI infrastructure. 

Few companies are positioned more directly at the center of that trend than Nebius Group (NASDAQ: NBIS).

The AI Infrastructure Crunch Is Getting Worse According to CBRE’s Q1 2026 Global Data Center Trends Report, North America remains the tightest data center market in the world, with overall vacancy rates falling to just 0.9%.

The largest markets are effectively sold out:

Market Vacancy Rate Northern Virginia 0.3% Atlanta 1.0% Dallas-Fort Worth 1.8% Chicago 2.2% Those numbers are key because vacancy is the industry’s inventory. When available capacity approaches zero, customers have fewer options and providers gain pricing power.

CBRE reported that the four largest North American markets absorbed 2.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity over the last year, a 34% increase from the prior period. Dallas-Fort Worth offers perhaps the clearest example of the imbalance. Of the 716.7 megawatts currently under construction, 88% has already been pre-leased. Customers are reserving space before the buildings are finished because they cannot risk waiting.

The same trend is appearing globally. CBRE found average monthly colocation pricing reached approximately $403 per kilowatt in Singapore and roughly $340 to $350 in Tokyo. Capacity is becoming a premium asset.

Data centers are officially sold out as vacancy rates hit historic lows. The AI revolution has a new bottleneck, and the fight for power and land is just beginning. © 24/7 Wall St. Nebius Owns What Everyone Else Is Looking For This is why Nebius’s story is compelling. The company has evolved into one of the largest independent AI cloud providers serving enterprises that need access to advanced AI computing infrastructure. While many competitors are still trying to secure power and GPUs, Nebius has already locked down substantial resources.

According to the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings release:

Revenue reached $399 million, up 684% year over year. AI cloud revenue expanded 841%. Contracted backlog exceeded $50 billion. Total power capacity surpassed 3.5 GW. Those backlog figures are particularly important because they represent long-term customer commitments rather than speculative forecasts.

Among the largest agreements are a reported $17.4 billion commitment from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) through 2031 and a $27 billion five-year contract with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META). Together, those deals alone represent infrastructure demand that stretches years into the future.

Power has become the limiting factor in AI expansion, and Nebius already controls capacity that many rivals are still attempting to secure.

Nvidia’s Backing Creates Another Advantage The second pillar of the bull case is access to GPUs. Nvidia holds an equity stake in Nebius. Because AI infrastructure growth depends on obtaining enough advanced processors to meet customer demand, Nebius benefits from a direct relationship with the company supplying much of the world’s AI computing hardware. Many cloud providers are left competing for limited GPU allocations,

Nebius stock has gained 239% year-to-date and 492% over the last 12 months. Yet even after that rally, shares trade at roughly five times management’s projected exit annual recurring revenue.

Granted, high-growth AI stocks carry risk. Execution, customer concentration, and valuation all matter. That said, the CBRE data suggests the underlying market conditions remain exceptionally favorable.

Key Takeaway In short, CBRE’s latest report confirms that the global shortage of AI-ready data center capacity is intensifying rather than easing. Vacancy rates remain near zero, demand continues to exceed new supply, and pricing is moving higher across major markets.

Nebius sits at the intersection of all three trends: AI demand, power availability, and GPU access. With revenue growing 684%, a $50 billion backlog already in place, and more than 3.5 GW of contracted power capacity, the company possesses assets that are becoming harder to find each quarter.

Ultimately, if the global AI infrastructure shortage persists through 2027 as CBRE’s data suggests, a further 40% gain for Nebius stock by the end of the year looks less like an aggressive target and more like a plausible outcome.

Shares of Redwire (RDW 4.79%) have surged 80% so far in 2026. The company is benefiting from increased interest in the space sector, especially amid SpaceX's much-awaited initial public offering (IPO) this month. Besides the excitement surrounding the space economy, the Pentagon's recent announcement of a $1.1 billion drone program has been another tailwind for Redwire's stock.

With the stock surging this year, investors may be wondering: Is it too late to buy? Here's what they should know about Redwire and its long-term outlook.

Redwire's space and drone businesses are growing Redwire has historically produced hardware, including sensors, solar arrays, and on-orbit manufacturing, for customers in the space industry. During NASA's recent Artemis II mission, the company's advanced optical imaging and solar sensors were used on the Orion spacecraft. It has also developed the first commercial greenhouse for space, and its facility on the International Space Station supports orbital agricultural research.

Last year, Redwire expanded its capabilities by acquiring Edge Autonomy for $925 million, transforming it from a space infrastructure company into a defense technology business. This acquisition provides it with Edge Autonomy's uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), such as the Penguin, which has been extensively used in Ukraine's war with Russia.

Today's Change

(

-4.79

%) $

-0.58

Current Price

$

11.63

SpaceX's public debut this month has put a spotlight on the space economy and its vast potential, and Redwire has benefited from these strong tailwinds. The company is viewed as a pick-and-shovel stock for orbital infrastructure. It has also been exploring its ability to supply solar energy generation systems for space-based artificial intelligence data centers to help support the growing global demand for compute.

First-quarter results were boosted by its Edge Automony acquisition In its defense segment, Redwire is already reaping the benefits of this acquisition. In the first quarter, the company saw over $20 million in purchase orders from the Marine Corps. It also saw a $15 million follow-on order from the U.S. Army and a major tactical drone modernization contract with a NATO ally. This strong growth comes as the Pentagon spends $1.1 billion on the Drone Dominance Program.

Image source: Getty Images.

In the first quarter, revenue grew 58% to $97 million, and its contracted backlog surged to $498.1 million, up from $411.2 million at the end of last year. Of this, $359.7 million, or about 72% of its backlog, is attributed to its space segment. Its defense technology segment revenue surged to $44.3 million, driven by the acquisition of Edge Autonomy.

An early stage growth stock Redwire is seeing strong revenue and backlog growth, which bodes well for earnings. The company did lose $76.5 million in the first quarter, and its free cash flow was negative $12.7 million. And it recently announced a $500 million at-the-market equity offering to raise capital, which helps support long-term growth, but the resulting shareholder dilution could keep pressure on the stock price in the near term.

The shares are still up 80% but are also down 48% from their most recent peak from late May. Investors bullish on the space economy and expanded drone spending may find Redwire attractive here. With that in mind, the company is still early in its scaling-up growth phase, and its recent at-the-money equity offering illustrates the risks for investors buying the stock today.

Last month, the Department of Commerce announced plans to invest up to $2 billion across nine quantum computing businesses over the next three years. Among these companies is Rigetti Computing (RGTI 7.10%), which is set to receive $100 million in CHIPS Act funding tied to certain research and development (R&D) milestones for its superconducting quantum systems.

This gives a level of credibility to Rigetti's technology and is a strategic alignment with national priorities related to artificial intelligence (AI).

Smart investors are asking whether this news alone makes the stock an immediate buy. A closer examination of the funding's purpose, its potential applications, and Rigetti's current valuation reveals a more nuanced picture.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why is the government investing in quantum computing stocks? The Commerce Department's $100 million commitment to Rigetti is notable because it forms part of a broader effort to secure leadership in quantum AI technologies amid global competition. Unlike traditional grants, the underlying structure ties the funding to specific R&D milestones while giving the U.S. government an equity stake in Rigetti.

Today's Change

(

-7.10

%) $

-1.51

Current Price

$

19.77

For the company, the capital arrives at an important moment since scaling up quantum processors increasingly demands hefty investment in hardware, error mitigation, and integration with classic computing systems. The CHIPS Act funding should help reduce reliance on dilutive equity raises from public markets.

Moreover, specifically choosing Rigetti among such a small cohort of recipients signals confidence from policymakers who view quantum computing as essential for economic competitiveness and security applications.

How will CHIPS Act funding help Rigetti? Additional government funding could accelerate Rigetti's progress toward building fault-tolerant quantum architectures at scale. A successful outcome could enable hybrid quantum-classic solutions for crucial applications in drug discovery, financial services, energy modeling, and cryptography.

Beyond research, partnering with the government could strengthen the company's position in public sector and enterprise contracts, fostering ecosystem development around its full-stack approach. With that said, quantum computing remains in a pre-commercial phase where meaningful revenue growth is still years away.

Rigetti's financial profile paints a high-risk, high-reward picture. Currently, the company has a market capitalization of roughly $7 billion with trailing-12-month sales of only $10 million. Under these parameters, the stock trades at a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of nearly 700. Simply put, this multiple surpasses standard benchmarks even for high-growth technology companies in disruptive markets.

RGTI PS Ratio data by YCharts.

While financial support from the government adds a non-dilutive element to Rigetti's balance sheet, it does not alter the reality of the company's ongoing operating losses amid a modest sales base and a business model with heavy capital expenditures.

All told, the $100 million commitment from the federal government provides important strategic support and capital for the company's road map. At best, this funding potentially accelerates breakthroughs in scalable quantum hardware.

However, Rigetti's abnormally high valuation and early-stage fundamentals indicate that the funding alone does not justify buying the stock right now.

Key Takeaways QBTS signs $100M LOI under CHIPS Act, signaling U.S. Commerce Department interest in its quantum tech.The funding would back D-Wave's R&D facility in Florida, Connecticut and Canada to scale quantum systems.QBTS aims for 100,000-qubit annealing and 10,000-qubit gate-model systems for AI and chemistry. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) , or D-Wave, received a major boost last month that could advance its superconducting annealing and gate-model technology development. The company signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) for $100 million in proposed funding under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. The LOI signals federal interest in D-Wave’s annealing and gate-model quantum computing technologies and their potential economic impact. If the award is finalized, the company would issue $100 million in shares of its common stock to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The funding is set to support D-Wave’s work at its forthcoming research and development (R&D) facility in Boca Raton, FL, as well as its R&D centers in New Haven, Connecticut and Burnaby, BC, Canada. Specifically, it aims to help speed up the delivery of advanced superconducting quantum computers, including a 100,000-qubit annealing system and a 10,000-qubit gate-model system.

While D-Wave’s annealing quantum computers are already commercial, its gate-model system is expected to reach commercial viability with 10,000 physical qubits, enabling 100 logical qubits.

With the larger-scale and higher coherence annealing quantum computing systems, the company expects stronger performance gains for solving computational problems in optimization, materials simulation, blockchain and artificial intelligence applications. The larger-scale dual-rail gate-model quantum computer will allow dozens of logical qubits, providing a robust application development platform for a broad range of quantum chemistry and quantum artificial intelligence use cases.

Taken together, these efforts are aimed at building a more resilient, end-to-end quantum computing ecosystem, in line with the CHIPS and Science Act objectives to build domestic capacity in critical technologies and establish a robust and reliable pipeline for the components required to bring state-of-the-art quantum computing systems into the market.

Latest Development From QBTS’ PeersIBM (IBM - Free Report) has announced an expanded collaboration with ServiceNow to address two of the biggest barriers blocking enterprise AI at scale: the AI-ready data problem and the legacy application layer. The partnership aims to combine IBM’s AI, data and automation capabilities with the ServiceNow AI Platform to help enterprises break through outdated systems and put their data to work for AI.

IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) announced Clavis XG Multiplex, a new addition to its Clavis XG Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) portfolio to make quantum security more practical and deployable across metropolitan fiber networks. The system enables high-performance, physics-based key distribution on a customer’s existing network infrastructure without requiring operators to redesign, isolate or dedicate optical networks for quantum security. IONQ also opened a new laboratory suite in Boulder, CO, which will house Quantum Computing R&D and semiconductor chip testing facilities.

QBTS’ Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesYear to date, QBTS shares have plunged 11.5%, underperforming the industry’s 11.6% fall.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

D-Wave is trading at a forward, two-year, price/sales (P/S) of 132.67X, higher than its median and industry average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Here’s how estimates for D-Wave’s 2026 and 2027 loss per share are shaping up.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Even with a recent pullback, Micron Technology's (MU +0.32%) stock remains sizzling hot. Shares of the memory chipmaker have soared roughly 750% over the past 12 months. Micron is up more than 250% year to date, ranking it No. 4 among top performers in the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.44%).

Can this high-flying stock's momentum continue? Probably. I predict that Micron's stock will skyrocket after the company reports its third-quarter earnings on June 24.

Image source: Micron Technology.

The numbers behind the prediction Micron has set new quarterly revenue records for four consecutive quarters. It will almost certainly do so again with its Q3 results. The company projects Q3 revenue of $33.5 billion, roughly 3.6 times its revenue in the prior-year period and a 40% increase from the previous quarter.

Analysts are even more optimistic. The consensus Wall Street Q3 revenue estimate is $34.5 billion, roughly 270% higher than Micron's revenue in the same period in 2025.

Micron's Q3 earnings should also be spectacular. The company expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $19.15 at the midpoint of its guidance range. Wall Street looks for adjusted EPS of $19.72. To put those numbers in context, Micron posted adjusted EPS of only $1.91 for the third quarter of 2025.

Today's Change

(

0.32

%) $

3.36

Current Price

$

1055.13

Will Micron be able to top these lofty estimates? I think so. The company has beaten consensus earnings expectations in eight of the past nine quarters. Its business is in the strongest position it has ever been in. Micron's 2026 high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply is entirely sold out. Management says that demand is so great that the company can "fulfill only 50% to two-thirds" of memory orders for key customers.

There's one other key indicator that boosts my confidence that Micron's stock will take off after its Q3 update: Analysts are raising their price targets on the stock. As a case in point, TD Cowen (TD 0.39%) increased its 12-month price target for Micron last week from $660 to $1500.

What could go wrong Admittedly, my prediction could be a bust. Several things could go wrong and prevent Micron's shares from skyrocketing after June 24. If the company delivered disappointing Q3 results, its stock will almost certainly sink. If management gives any reason to suspect that demand will soften in the near term, expect a sell-off.

Micron remains a cyclical stock, as it always has been. However, I think the current exceptionally strong up cycle still has plenty of room to run. And so does Micron's stock.

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

One of the first large-scale commercial high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) supply agreements that could include prepayments from Oklo. Centrus to provide Oklo with enough HALEU to support multiple years of Oklo reactor cores, covering up to five Aurora powerhouses as part of Oklo's planned 1.2 GW Clean Energy Campus. Oklo and Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co. ("Kiewit") have entered into an MOU intended to support engineering, procurement, and construction planning for the initial planned Aurora powerhouse deployments in southern Ohio. Work expected to bring multi-billion-dollar private clean energy investment and hundreds of jobs to southern Ohio. PIKETON, Ohio, /PRNewswire/ -- Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) ("Oklo"), an advanced nuclear technology company, and Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE: LEU) ("Centrus"), a uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel services provider, announced today a Letter of Intent under which Centrus agrees to supply enough domestic high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to power up to five Aurora powerhouses for multiple years, with deliveries to Oklo scheduled to begin in 2029. Centrus will supply HALEU from its American Centrifuge Plant in Pike County, Ohio to support Oklo's planned 1.2 GW power campus in the region.

The agreement, which anticipates a further definitive contract, brings together domestic fuel supply, planned advanced nuclear power generation, customer demand, and project execution in southern Ohio while strengthening fuel certainty for Oklo's planned Aurora powerhouse deployments at a time when access to domestically sourced HALEU remains one of the central constraints facing the advanced nuclear sector.

The Letter of Intent could include prepayments from Oklo to Centrus to support fuel supply for Oklo's planned campus buildout and will be further negotiated in a future definitive agreement. It follows Oklo's January 2026 announcement with Meta, which included prepayment to advance project certainty for Oklo's planned Aurora powerhouse campus. Centrus plans to leverage billions in private capital along with the previously announced $900 million HALEU task order from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The development advances Oklo's broader southern Ohio deployment strategy by aligning Centrus' enrichment capabilities at Piketon, Oklo's planned Aurora powerhouse campus, established customer demand, and engineering and construction experience from Kiewit, one of North America's largest construction and engineering organizations.

"This agreement aligns core elements of advanced nuclear deployment: power generation, fuel, and customer demand," said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. "Southern Ohio brings together decades of nuclear experience and a highly qualified workforce that can move advanced nuclear from planning to deployment."

"Today's announcement is an important step toward ensuring reliable HALEU supply for next generation reactors and represents a crucial milestone as we work to restore America's ability to enrich uranium at scale," said Centrus President and CEO Amir Vexler. "By connecting advanced nuclear power generation and customer demand with domestic HALEU production in southern Ohio, this agreement helps establish a foundation for a new U.S. advanced nuclear energy hub."

The work to establish a commercial supply chain for advanced nuclear fuel and build a campus of Aurora powerhouses will require over 700 full-time construction employees for multiple years across the deployment of sequential units. Oklo also expects each planned powerhouse to support approximately 40 to 50 permanent, well-paying jobs, including technical support, engineering, administration, warehouse and logistics, routine maintenance, and periodic refueling activities. For every eight Aurora powerhouses, an additional 80 to 120 permanent roles will be created to support site-wide operations.

Centrus' expansion, which launched late last year, is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs and 300 new operating jobs in Ohio alone, while retaining the 150 jobs that existed at the Piketon plant when the expansion began.

Oklo's fast fission Aurora powerhouses are designed to provide reliable clean power under a build-own-operate model, using liquid-metal cooling with low-water requirements, low emissions, and inherent safety characteristics that make the technology well suited to support new industrial growth in southern Ohio.

About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, affordable energy at global scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical isotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert used nuclear fuel into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.

About Centrus: Centrus Energy is a trusted American supplier of nuclear fuel and services for the nuclear power industry, helping meet the growing need for clean, affordable, carbon-free energy. Since 1998, the Company has provided its utility customers with more than 1,850 reactor years of fuel, which is equivalent to more than 7 billion tons of coal. With world-class technical and engineering capabilities, Centrus is pioneering production of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium and is leading the effort to restore America's uranium enrichment capabilities at scale so that we can meet our clean energy, energy security, and national security needs. Find out more at www.centrusenergy.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which in this context means statements that express Oklo's and Centrus' opinions, expectations, objectives, beliefs, plans, intentions, strategies, assumptions, forecasts or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." The words "may," "will," "could," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continue," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "goal," "would," "commit," or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this press release and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the markets in which Oklo and/or Centrus operates. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties.

As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the actual results or performance of Oklo may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important risk factors could affect Oklo's future results and cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements: risks related to the development and deployment of Oklo's powerhouses, fuel fabrication and fuel recycling facilities, and radioisotope production activities; the risk that Oklo is pursuing an emerging market with no commercial project operating and regulatory uncertainties; risks related to acquisitions, divestitures, or joint ventures we may engage in; the need for financing to construct plants, which remain subject to market, financial, political, and legal conditions; risks related to an inability to raise additional capital to support our business and sustain our growth on favorable terms; the effects of competition; risks related to accessing high-assay low-enriched uranium, plutonium, and other fuels (including recycled fuels) at acceptable costs and under acceptable timelines; risks related to our supply chain; risks related to power purchase agreements; risks related to human capital; risks related to our intellectual property; risks related to cybersecurity and data privacy; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including tariffs; the outcome of any government and regulatory proceedings and investigations and inquiries; and the other factors set forth in our documents we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties of the other documents filed by Oklo from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Oklo. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Oklo will be those that Oklo has anticipated. Oklo undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation, except as may be required by law.

For Centrus Energy Corp., particular factors that involve uncertainty and could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements and which are, and may be, exacerbated by any worsening of the global business and economic environment include but are not limited to the following: our ability to conclude negotiations with our customers, including with Oklo, Inc. regarding the Letter of Intent; the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical conflicts; our government contracts, including related to changes to the U.S. government's appropriated funding levels for HALEU and the government's inability to satisfy its obligations, our lease to our facility in Piketon, Ohio; whether or when government demand for HALEU or LEU for government or commercial uses will materialize and at what level; the impact and potential extended duration of a supply/demand imbalance in the market for LEU; significant competition from major LEU producers, including foreign competitors, who may be less cost sensitive then we are; limitations on our ability to compete in foreign markets; pricing trends and demand in the uranium and enrichment markets, especially in light of the potential of limited supply and our dependence on others for deliveries of LEU; and our ability to successfully implement our planned expansion projects in Piketon, Ohio and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this news release and in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, under Part II, Item 1A – "Risk Factors" in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in our other filings with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

Centrus:
Media -- Dan Leistikow [email protected] 

Investors -- Neal Nagarajan [email protected] 

Media Contact for Oklo:
Bonita Chester, Head of Communications and Media at [email protected] 

Investor Contact:
Sam Doane, Senior Director of Investor Relations at [email protected] 

SOURCE Centrus Energy Corp.

Key Takeaways OKLO is using flexible regulatory pathways to support fast fission reactor deployments at scale.Aurora-INL has completed key DOE milestones tied to reactor safety and project design agreements.NRC approval of OKLO's design criteria report supports future licensing and repeatable reactor approvals. Regulatory execution is becoming a key factor in bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market. For Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) , progress with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) and the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) is central to its plan to deploy fast fission reactors at scale. By engaging early with regulators and using pathways suited to each asset, the company aims to reduce uncertainty, improve timeline visibility and support a more repeatable deployment model.

OKLO is taking a flexible approach to regulatory approvals rather than relying on a single process. For its Aurora-INL project, the company has already completed several important DOE milestones, including agreements related to reactor safety and project design. The next major steps involve final safety reviews, readiness assessments and approval to begin operations. Progress under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program is important because it could help OKLO gain practical operating experience before expanding into broader commercial deployments.

OKLO is also making progress with the NRC. The agency recently approved the company's Principal Design Criteria topical report, an important step that supports future licensing work. OKLO has indicated that some of the technical and regulatory work completed for Aurora can be reused for future projects, which could help shorten approval timelines. At the same time, the company's Aurora-Ohio project is moving toward the combined license application stage. Together, these efforts suggest that OKLO is building a repeatable process for licensing future reactors while continuing to advance development, procurement and commercialization activities.

How Nuclear Peers Are Managing Licensing and Fuel Risk

NuScale Power (SMR - Free Report) stands out for having one of the most advanced regulatory positions in small modular nuclear power. NuScale Power says its design received U.S. NRC standard design approval in 2020, design certification in 2023 and a second standard design approval in 2025. NuScale Power also highlights an NRC-approved safety case, including passive safety features and a site-boundary emergency planning zone. This regulatory head start supports NuScale Power as projects such as RoPower and TVA/ENTRA1 move ahead.

NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) is at an earlier but active regulatory stage. NANO Nuclear expects to begin the Part 50 NRC licensing process after formal acceptance of the construction permit application for its KRONOS MMR deployment at the University of Illinois, with about 12 months of review expected. NANO Nuclear also lists regulatory progress in the United States and Canada as a key catalyst. For NANO Nuclear, early licensing work is important to reduce project risk and support future deployment.

The Zacks Rundown on OKLO

From a valuation standpoint, OKLO trades at a price-to-book ratio of 3.77, below the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

OKLO currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.96 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 23 brokerage firms. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Higher interest rates for a longer time and easing lending standards are brightening the outlook for the Zacks Consumer Loans industry. The Federal Reserve has paused rate cuts and signaled a hike amid signs of higher inflation. Yet, decent economic growth is expected to continue and even boost loan demand, supporting top-line growth.

While looser lending criteria and increased usage of technology are expanding the borrower base, subdued consumer confidence is a headwind. Nonetheless, industry players like Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC - Free Report) , Enova International, Inc. (ENVA - Free Report) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Free Report) are worth considering.

About the Industry The Zacks Consumer Loans industry comprises companies that provide mortgages, refinancing, home equity lines of credit, credit card loans, automobile loans, education/student loans and personal loans, among others. These help the industry players generate net interest income (NII), which forms the most important part of total revenues. The prospects of the companies in this industry are highly sensitive to the nation’s overall economic condition and consumer sentiments. In addition to offering the above-mentioned products and services, many consumer loan providers are involved in businesses like commercial lending, insurance, loan servicing and asset recovery. These support the companies in generating fee revenues. Furthermore, this helps the firms diversify revenue sources and be less dependent on the vagaries of the economy.

3 Themes Driving the Consumer Loan Industry's Future Interest Rates & Loan Demand: After lowering interest rates by 175 basis points since 2024, the Federal Reserve has paused its easing cycle and adopted a more hawkish stance. This shift reflects inflation remaining well above the central bank’s 2% target, exacerbated by the recent oil price shock stemming from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Additionally, consumer sentiment has remained weak since late 2025, with the Expectations Index staying below 80 for 16 consecutive months through May, a threshold that has historically signaled an elevated risk of recession. Despite these headwinds, demand for consumer loans is expected to remain resilient and gradually improve, supported by solid economic growth and a still-low unemployment rate. Consequently, industry participants are likely to benefit from continued expansion in net interest margins (NIM) and NII in the coming quarters.

Automation to Improve Operating Efficiency: Consumer loan providers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation and digital platforms to streamline loan origination, underwriting, servicing and customer onboarding. AI-driven credit assessment models analyze vast amounts of customer data in real time, enabling faster and more accurate lending decisions while reducing manual intervention, while digital onboarding tools lower acquisition costs and enhance customer experience. Meanwhile, AI-powered servicing and collections platforms improve operational efficiency and risk monitoring. These initiatives are expected to reduce processing expenses, support scalable growth and ultimately boost profitability through higher operating leverage and stronger returns.

Asset Quality: While lower interest rates have helped borrowers stay current on loan and interest repayments, persistent macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds have kept inflation elevated. This has prompted the central bank to signal a potential rate hike later this year, which could somewhat weaken borrowers’ repayment capacity. As a result, consumer loan providers are likely to set aside substantial reserves for potential delinquencies. Moreover, several credit quality metrics are already trending above pre-pandemic levels.

Zacks Industry Rank Reflects an Optimistic Stance The Zacks Consumer Loans industry is a 12-stock group within the broader Zacks Finance sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #30, which places it in the top 12% of more than 245 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates outperformance in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are confident in this group’s earnings growth potential. Over the past year, the industry’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward by 2.9% and 9.6%, respectively.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to add to your portfolio, let's take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry vs. Broader Market The Zacks Consumer Loans industry has impressively outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and its sector over the past two years.

The stocks in this industry have collectively soared 67.6% over this period, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite and the Zacks Finance sector have risen 42.4% and 37.2%, respectively.

Two-Year Price Performance

 

Industry Valuation One might get a good sense of the industry’s relative valuation by looking at its price-to-book ratio (P/B), commonly used for valuing consumer loan stocks because of significant variations in their financial performance from one quarter to the next.

The industry currently has a trailing 12-month P/B of 0.74X, below the median level of 0.76X over the past five years. This compares with the highest level of 1.04X and the lowest level of 0.55X over this period. The industry is trading at a considerable discount compared with the market at large, as the trailing 12-month P/B for the S&P 500 is 8.11X and the median level is 8.01X.

Price-to-Book Ratio (TTM)

As finance stocks typically have a lower P/B, comparing consumer loan providers with the S&P 500 may not make sense to many investors. However, comparing the group’s P/B ratio with that of its broader sector ensures that the group is trading at a decent discount. The Zacks Finance sector’s trailing 12-month P/B of 4.53X for the same period is way above the Zacks Consumer Loan industry’s ratio, as the chart below shows.

Price-to-Book Ratio (TTM)

 

3 Consumer Loan Stocks to Bet on Credit Acceptance Corporation: Headquartered in Southfield, MI, CACC offers financing programs and related products and services to automobile dealers across the United States, enabling them to sell vehicles to consumers irrespective of their credit history. Further, it is engaged in the business of reinsuring coverage under vehicle service contracts sold to consumers by dealers on vehicles financed by the company.

Revenue growth remains a major positive for Credit Acceptance, with the same witnessing a five-year (2020-2025) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. Growth is primarily attributable to a steady rise in finance charges, which is also the main revenue component (accounting for almost 93% of total revenues in the first quarter of 2026). While finance charges are likely to witness headwinds from macroeconomic factors in the near term, solid dealer engagement will offer much-needed support. A steady rise in dealer enrolments and active dealers is expected to support the company’s top-line growth.

CACC continues to execute on a product roadmap aimed at reducing friction for dealers and scaling underwriting and servicing capacity without a proportional increase in expenses. The company is witnessing a steady rise in inbound customer service and account solutions calls routed to the AI-enabled agent, with plans to expand its usage going forward. Additionally, dealer-facing digitization is gaining traction. Over time, these are expected to support higher dealer engagement and improve operating efficiency.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2026 and 2027 suggests growth of 20.1% and 13.7%, respectively. Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have jumped 25.8% over the past six months. It has a market cap of $6.1 billion. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price and Consensus: CACC

Enova International: Based in Chicago, IL, Enova is a leading financial technology company focused on providing online financial services. The company caters to small businesses and capitalizes on its proprietary technology, analytics and customer service capabilities to underwrite and fund loans.

Being an early entrant into online lending, the company has completed almost 65 million customer transactions and collected approximately 66 terabytes of consumer behavior data since its launch in 2004. This has enabled Enova to better analyze its specific customer base and expand small and medium businesses (SMB) lending. This Zacks Rank #2 company’s proprietary underwriting systems leverage advanced risk analytics, including ML and AI.

Moreover, the company has been diversifying its operations, which will support its long-term growth. In December 2025, Enova agreed to acquire Grasshopper Bancorp, which will boost its earnings over time. This will also expand the company’s ability to deliver a more comprehensive suite of financial products through a national bank charter, expanding access to credit to those who were traditionally underserved by banks.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2026 and 2027 indicates an increase of 26.8% and 23.7%, respectively. ENVA’s shares have gained 24.1% over the past six months. It has a market cap of $5 billion.

Price and Consensus: ENVA

Encore Capital: Based in San Diego, CA, ECPG provides debt recovery and related financial services worldwide. Through its global subsidiaries, the company acquires portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables from leading banks, credit unions and utility providers, leveraging data-driven strategies to optimize collections and portfolio performance.

Encore Capital plans to leverage its leadership position in portfolio purchasing and recovery as well as credit management services to bolster its market share worldwide. Over the years, the company’s portfolio purchases and collections have increased, which supported its top-line expansion.

With rising delinquency/charge-off rates in the United States due to higher rates, there is more supply of non-performing loans. This offers Encore Capital an additional opportunity to purchase portfolios and apply its analytics and collections capabilities for higher returns. With scale, funding access and demonstrated execution, the company is expected to continue capturing high-return supply, extending collections growth beyond tax seasonality into subsequent quarters.

The company’s operating engine is delivering consistent overperformance that is now beginning to embed into forward estimates. Encore Capital is witnessing steadily higher collections than the forecasts, as technology, digital and operational innovations lift early-stage collections. Over the next few quarters, management expects the mix to transition from cash overs to higher portfolio revenue as ERC curves adjust upward.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #1 company has soared 52.4% over the past six months. ECPG’s earnings are expected to rise 19.3% in 2026 and 6.5% in 2027. The company has a market cap of $1.8 billion.

Price and Consensus: ECPG

 

-

$335M Strategic Agreement Aligns to Strong AI Demand and Establishes Backblaze as a Key Storage Provider

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Backblaze, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLZE), the cloud storage platform for the AI era, today announced an agreement with CoreWeave, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRWV), The Essential Cloud for AI™.

Under the multi-exabyte, $335 million agreement, Backblaze will provide cost-efficient storage capacity that supports portions of CoreWeave’s managed storage infrastructure, helping optimize placement of data across performance tiers while preserving high-performance storage resources for the demands of AI workloads. The Backblaze technology supports HDD-based storage tiers in CoreWeave AI Object Storage. Customers already utilizing CoreWeave AI Object Storage with its patented LOTA distributed cache will immediately have access to new service tiers without any code modifications.

Every stage of the AI lifecycle depends on the ability to store and move massive volumes of data efficiently. Training, inference, checkpointing, data preparation, model outputs, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) all require storage that performs at the speed and scale modern AI demands.

"Storage is the foundation every AI workflow is built on — without it, even the world's most powerful compute sits idle,” said Gleb Budman, co-founder and CEO, Backblaze. “We're pleased to work with CoreWeave on elements of their storage environment. This collaboration demonstrates how our platform can help organizations meet growing infrastructure demands."

Backblaze serves more than 100,000 customers worldwide and has extensive experience operating large-scale storage infrastructure. Its cloud platform is designed to deliver reliable, cost-efficient storage services across a range of enterprise and data-intensive use cases.

“Backblaze has built a reputation for making complex, HDD-based storage infrastructure reliable and easy-to-consume at scale. We’re pleased to work with them as we continue expanding our platform and managed service offerings to support AI workloads at scale,” said Nick Hoover, Vice President at CoreWeave.

CoreWeave’s AI cloud platform spans infrastructure, technology, tools, and services. The company serves leading AI model developers, enterprises, and research organizations, including 9 of the top 10 AI model providers.

To learn more, click here.

About Backblaze

Backblaze (NASDAQ: BLZE) gives businesses the freedom to innovate without limits by removing the barriers of lock-in, complexity, and cost. Our high-performance cloud object storage accelerates AI workflows, powers data-heavy applications, streamlines media management, and protects critical data. As an award-winning independent cloud, we provide unparalleled levels of interoperability that enable over 500,000 of our customers to reach and serve hundreds of millions of end users in 175 countries around the world. For more information, please go to www.backblaze.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are frequently identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or other similar terms or expressions that relate to future performance, expectations, strategy, plans or intentions.

Actual results could differ materially from those stated in or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the impact of Backblaze’s go-to-market transformation and ability to attract and retain customers, including increasingly larger customers; the continued growth of data stored by Backblaze’s customers; continued growth of AI related business; rapidly evolving technological developments in the market, including advancement in AI; realizing the anticipated benefits relating to cost savings initiatives and the re-investment of savings in additional sales capacity; market competition, including competitors that may have greater size, offerings and resources; effectively managing growth and scaling of Backblaze’s platform; ability to offer new features and other offerings on a timely basis, including new enterprise features, B2 Overdrive offering and geographic expansion in Canada or other jurisdictions, and achieve desired market adoption; disruption in Backblaze’s service or loss of availability of customers’ data; cyberattacks; ability to continue to scale the business; the impact of pricing and other product offering changes, including the May 1, 2026 pay-as-you-go storage pricing increase; material defects or errors in Backblaze’s software, such as problems with Backblaze’s internal systems, network, or data, including actual or perceived breaches or failures; supply chain disruption; ability to maintain existing relationships with partners and to enter into new partnerships; hiring and retention of key employees; the impact of changes to global trade and tariff policies, on Backblaze or Backblaze’s vendors, partners and customers; war or hostilities, and other significant world or regional events on Backblaze’s business and the business of Backblaze’s customers, vendors, supply chain and partners; litigation and other disputes; availability of additional capital; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions. Further information on these and additional risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this release are included under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Backblaze’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings and reports Backblaze makes with the SEC from time to time.

The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect Backblaze’s views as of the date of this press release. Backblaze undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

More News From Backblaze, Inc.

Back to Newsroom

The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry is bearing the brunt of mortgage rate volatility, fueled by persistent inflation and broader economic uncertainty. With mortgage rates averaging in the mid-6% in recent weeks, industry players are likely to face continued earnings pressure in the near term.

Ongoing affordability challenges in the housing market are weighing on purchase originations and refinancing activity.  However, companies like Ellington Financial LLC (EFC - Free Report) , Redwood Trust Inc. (RWT - Free Report) and TPG Mortgage Investment Trust Inc. (MITT - Free Report) are well-poised to navigate industry challenges.

About the Industry The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry comprises mortgage REITs, also known as mREITs. Industry participants invest in and originate mortgages and mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), and provide mortgage credit for homeowners and businesses. Typically, these companies focus on either the residential or commercial mortgage markets. Some invest in both markets through asset-backed securities. Agency securities are backed by the federal government, making them safer bets and limiting credit risks. Such REITs raise funds in the debt and equity markets through common and preferred equity, repurchase agreements, structured financing, convertible and long-term debt, and other credit facilities. The net interest margin, the spread between interest income on mortgage assets and securities held, as well as funding costs, is a key revenue metric for mREITs.

What's Shaping the Future of the mREIT Industry? Volatility in Mortgage Rates Keeps Buyers on Sidelines: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed in recent weeks to the mid-6% from low-6% range in the start of the 2026.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged so far in 2026 as policymakers continue to balance rising inflation with a resilient labor market. Against this backdrop, mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated in the near term.

Higher borrowing costs, combined with affordability pressures and economic uncertainty, have discouraged many potential homebuyers from entering the market.

As a result, mortgage origination and refinancing activity are under pressure. This trend is expected to heighten operational and financial challenges for mREIT industry players, while weighing on gain-on-sale margins and limiting investment activity.
 

Industry Resorts to Dividend Cuts as Book Values Erode: Elevated interest rates, persistent mortgage market volatility, and the widening spread between 30-year Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields have reduced the value of Agency MBS portfolios.

As such, agency mREITs are witnessing a decline in tangible book value as spreads on benchmark indices have widened. This will increase earnings pressure for highly leveraged mREITs.

To preserve capital and align payouts with sustainable earnings, many ndustry players are reducing dividends. Dividend cuts may trigger investor outflows from income-focused funds, further weighing on share prices and book values, creating near-term headwinds for the mREITs.
 

Conservative Approach to Aid Long-Term Returns: In the current volatile mortgage market environment, mREITs are adopting a more conservative approach, which could strengthen their long-term positioning.

By becoming more selective in their investments, these companies are focusing on higher-quality assets, thereby enhancing the overall resilience and stability of their portfolios.

This disciplined strategy helps reduce exposure to risky credit conditions and limits potential losses during periods of uncertainty.

Additionally, the use of higher hedge ratios to manage interest rate risks reflects prudent financial management. While this approach may restrict near-term upside, it improves earnings visibility and protects capital from sudden market fluctuations.

By prioritizing liquidity, asset quality and risk management, mREITs are better-equipped to navigate market volatility and capitalize on attractive opportunities once conditions stabilize.

Overall, this cautious stance supports sustainable performance and creates a stronger foundation for consistent long-term returns.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry is housed within the broader Zacks Finance sector. The industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank #211, which places it in the bottom 15% of more than 244 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates underperformance in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is an outcome of the discouraging earnings outlook for the constituent companies.

Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this group's earnings growth potential. The industry’s current-year earnings estimate moved 9.3% down over the last year.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to buy despite near-term challenges, let us take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Lags the Sector & the S&P 500 The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500 composite in the past year.

The industry has gained 1.4% in the above-mentioned period compared with the broader sector’s rise of 15.6%. Further, the S&P Index has grown 27.7% over the past year.

Price Performance

 

Industry's Current Valuation Based on the trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B), which is a commonly used multiple for valuing mREITs, the industry is trading at 0.93X compared with the S&P 500’s 8.02X. In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 1.05X, as low as 0.70X and at the median of 0.91X.

Price-to-Book TTM

As finance stocks typically have a low P/B ratio, comparing REIT and Equity Trust with the S&P 500 may not make sense to many investors. A comparison of the group’s P/B ratio with that of the broader sector ensures that the group is trading at a solid discount. The Zacks Finance sector’s trailing 12-month P/B came in at 4.53X. This is above the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry’s ratio, as the chart below shows.

Price-to-Book TTM

3 mREIT Stocks to Bet On -- EFC, RWT & MITT
Ellington Financial invests in a diverse array of financial assets. These include residential and commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, consumer loans, and asset-backed securities.

The assets are supported by consumer loans, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, equity investments in loan origination companies, and other strategic investments.

EFC is well-positioned to weather volatility in the mortgage market, supported by its diversified exposure across residential and commercial mortgage loan portfolios, and strong momentum in its securitization platform.

The company’s loan originations, especially in commercial mortgage bridge loans, proprietary reverse mortgages and closed-end second lien loans, continue to contribute to stable growth and income.

Its first-quarter 2026 growth was driven by strong performance across its diversified mortgage and credit platforms. Its subsidiary, Longbridge Financial, remained a major earnings contributor in the first quarter of 2026, benefiting from higher loan originations, securitizations, and servicing income.

To navigate market uncertainty, Ellington Financial is actively leveraging dynamic hedging strategies, maintaining a broad and balanced portfolio, securing multiple sources of financing and operating with low leverage.

These measures reflect a disciplined approach to risk management and a commitment to preserving book value while adapting to shifting market conditions.

The company’s 2026 earnings estimates have been unchanged at $1.95 per share over the past month, indicating year-over-year growth of 7.1%.

Price and Consensus: EFC

Redwood Trust is a self-advised and self-managed real estate investment trust.

RWT specializes in acquiring and managing real estate mortgage assets, which may be acquired as whole loans or as mortgage securities representing interests in or obligations, backed by pools of mortgage loans.

The company has been witnessing exceptional growth in its mortgage banking platforms over the recent quarters despite a volatile interest-rate environment.

Mortgage banking production reached a record $8.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking the third consecutive quarterly record, supported by strong demand for Sequoia and Aspire products, increased securitization activity and higher whole-loan sales.

In recent months, RWT undertook targeted actions to simplify its operating structure and sharpen its focus on businesses generating strong and sustainable returns. This positions the platform to realize cost savings in the future.

Redwood Trust’s 2026 earnings have been unchanged at $1.28 over the past month. It indicates a year-over-year jump of 45.5%.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy) and a market capitalization of $659.9 million.
 

Price and Consensus: RWT

TPG Mortgage is a residential mREIT with a focus on investing in a diversified risk-adjusted portfolio of residential mortgage-related assets principally in the U.S. mortgage market.

Over the past few quarters, MITT’s growth has been driven by a resilient residential mortgage portfolio and disciplined capital management despite market volatility.

The company maintained an $8.1-billion investment portfolio in the first quarter of 2026, supported by $7.7 billion of financing, primarily through non-recourse borrowings, while keeping economic leverage at a conservative 1.7X. The company is also benefiting from stable net interest income and continued strength in its investment in Arc Home.

In February 2026, TPG Mortgage announced a long-term strategic investment management partnership with Jackson Financial Inc., which is expected to unlock additional avenues for growth over time.

TPG Mortgage’s 2026 earnings have been unchanged at $1.09 per share over the past month. It indicates a year-over-year rally of 26.7%.

At present, MITT has a Zacks Rank #2 and a market capitalization of $252.5 million.

Price and Consensus: MITT

Key Takeaways QUBT posted record $3.7M first-quarter 2026 revenues, driven by Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt buyouts.Quantum Computing ended the quarter with a $16M contract backlog and about $1.4B in cash and investments.QUBT regained its 50-day moving average, while analysts' average price target implies 73.9% upside. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi has delivered a modest 6.2% gain over the past two months, trailing the broader Computer & Technology sector's 11.8% advance and the company’s direct peer IonQ’s (IONQ - Free Report) 23.2% growth. The relative underperformance stands in contrast to the company's improving fundamentals, raising an important question for investors: Is it time to book profits, or does the stock still have room to run? Let’s find out.

QUBT: 60-day Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The fundamental picture for QCi has strengthened meaningfully in recent months. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 and the current year has risen over the past 60 days, reflecting growing confidence in the company's execution.

Estimates for first-quarter loss per share have narrowed by 1 cent to a loss of 5 cents per share in the past 60 days. The same for the current year has narrowed by 10 cents to a loss of 14 cents per share in the said time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The upward estimate revisions follow a solid first-quarter 2026 report, in which QUBT posted record revenues of $3.7 million, driven primarily by the Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt acquisitions. The company ended the quarter with a $16 million contract backlog and approximately $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments.

QUBT management also reiterated its strategy of transitioning from a technology innovator to a volume manufacturer through Fab 2, expanding commercial deployments, advancing next-generation quantum hardware and strengthening its integrated photonics platform.

QUBT 50-and-200-Day SMAs
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

While the fundamental outlook has improved, the technical setup also suggests the rally may not be fully mature yet. QUBT has regained its 50-day simple moving average, reflecting improving short-term momentum, but the shares continue to trade below the 200-day moving average, a closely watched long-term resistance level. Any significant move above that threshold could support bullish sentiment.

Upbeat Target Price TooBased on short-term price targets from six analysts, the average price target for Quantum Computing represents a 73.9% increase over the last closing price of $10.54.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Our TakeQUBT appears well-positioned for additional upside. Rising earnings estimates, a strong balance sheet, expanding commercialization efforts and favorable quantum computing tailwinds support its long-term growth story. The stock's recent underperformance relative to the broader technology sector also suggests that much of its improving fundamental outlook may not yet be fully reflected in the share price. Backing this optimism, QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making the stock worth considering for investors seeking exposure to the fast-growing quantum computing space. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

June 23, 2026 10:22 ET  | Source: Brookfield Asset Management Ltd

BROOKFIELD, News, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) (“Brookfield”) is pleased to share that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Office of Energy Dominance Financing (“EDF”) has conditionally committed funding for $17.5 billion in loan facilities (the “American Supply Chain Loans” or “the Loans”) to support investment in U.S. nuclear reactors. The Loans intend to finance the long-lead equipment necessary to construct up to 10 Westinghouse Electric Company (“Westinghouse”) AP1000 nuclear reactors in the United States. Westinghouse is a leading global nuclear services business jointly owned by Brookfield and its institutional partners (51%) and Cameco Corporation (49%).

Connor Teskey, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Asset Management, said: “Westinghouse continues to be at the forefront of major public and private partnerships that will materially accelerate the build-out of large-scale nuclear power generation, help meet growing energy demand, and support energy security in the U.S.  The loan facilities help advance President Trump’s Executive Order and serves as a catalyst for nuclear, providing the certainty needed to enhance the domestic nuclear supply chain and accelerate construction of nuclear projects that will deliver reliable baseload power around the country for decades to come.”

The conditional financing package will enable eligible utility and energy company partners, the anticipated owners of the projects, to purchase long-lead items and help accelerate construction and commercial operations of Westinghouse reactors by up to three years, with the aim of having 10 reactors under construction by 2030. It is expected that DOE may make up to five Loans, with each loan supporting two reactors.

While this conditional commitment indicates DOE’s intent to provide loans to finance the projects, Westinghouse, its owners, and its partners must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions before DOE enters into definitive financing documents and funds the Loans.

About Brookfield

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX, BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com

Contact information:

Media:Investors:Simon Maine Alex JacksonManaging Director – CorporateVice President – InvestorCommunicationsRelations  (332) 298-0447 (416) [email protected]@brookfield.com   Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of other relevant securities legislation, including applicable securities laws in Canada, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs and assumptions and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of BAM are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “intend”, expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “foresee”, “could”, “estimate”, “goal”, “plan”, “seek”, “strive”, “will”, “may” and “should” and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the expectation of the DOE to make the Loans and satisfaction of certain conditions prior to entering into definitive financing documents.

Although BAM believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in the United States and Canada, not presently known to BAM, or that BAM currently believes are not material, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements. Reference should be made to “Item 1A - Risk Factors” and “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements” in BAM’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, BAM undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Key Takeaways Kohl's proprietary brands posted a 6% comparable sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Kohl's gross margin expanded 4 basis points to 39.9%, helped by higher proprietary brand penetration. FLX, Tek Gear and So showed strength, with Juniors up 10% and FLX expanding to Kids by June. Kohl’s Corporation (KSS - Free Report) is sharpening its focus on proprietary brands as a core element of its value proposition, with the category supporting merchandise margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

Proprietary brands delivered a 6% comparable sales increase in the quarter, supported by customer demand for value-oriented offerings across categories. Kohl’s positions these brands as quality products offered at affordable opening price points, making them an important part of its merchandise mix.

The strength was visible across several businesses. Women’s, Kids, Home and Accessories posted flat to slightly positive comparable sales trends, while key proprietary labels such as FLX and Tek Gear showed strength across categories. Juniors was a standout, rising 10%, led by the So brand. Kohl’s is also expanding its proprietary brand presence, including the rollout of FLX to Kids in all stores by June.

The higher contribution from these brands showed up in profitability metrics. Gross margin expanded 4 basis points year over year to 39.9% in the first quarter, driven by higher proprietary brand penetration. However, the benefit was largely offset by increased shipping costs tied to higher digital penetration.

The key takeaway is that proprietary brands are giving Kohl’s a clearer margin-supporting lever while reinforcing its value and quality positioning. The first-quarter gain was limited by shipping pressure, but the 6% comparable sales increase shows that these brands are gaining traction where Kohl’s is leaning hardest.

How Are Target and Walmart Driving Margin Expansion?Target Corporation (TGT) is benefiting from a favorable sales and revenue mix. In first-quarter 2026, TGT’s gross margin rate expanded 80 basis points year over year to 29%, driven by supply-chain productivity improvements, growth in higher-margin revenue streams such as Roundel and Target Plus, and lower markdown rates, partly offset by higher product costs.

Walmart Inc. (WMT) is pursuing margin expansion through business and merchandise mix improvements. WMT’s gross profit rate rose 6 basis points to 24.3% in first-quarter fiscal 2027, led by Walmart U.S. Within Walmart U.S., the gross profit increased 29 basis points, supported by improved business mix and merchandise mix, partly offset by higher fuel costs. Walmart also continues to scale higher-margin areas such as advertising, marketplace and membership.

KSS Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Kohl’s have surged 114.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 69%.

KSS Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, KSS trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13, lower than the industry’s average of 13.32.

KSS’ Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Cava Group (CAVA - Free Report) . Shares have added about 9.3% 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 Cava due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for CAVA Group, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

CAVA's Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat EstimatesCAVA delivered first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $0.20 per share, down 9.1% from the year-ago quarter, but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.17 by 17.65%. Total revenues rose 32.1% year over year to $0.44 billion and topped the consensus mark of $0.42 billion by 4.49%.

Results reflected a combination of unit growth and healthy demand trends. Same Restaurant Sales increased 9.7% in the quarter, including Guest Traffic growth of 6.8%, supporting a step-up in restaurant volumes.

CAVA Q1 Unit Growth Drives Restaurant Sales ExpansionOn the top line, CAVA revenues grew 32.2% year over year to $434.4 million, primarily reflecting contributions from 92 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The company ended the quarter with 459 CAVA restaurants, up from 382 a year earlier.

Management also highlighted that new restaurant openings continue to exceed expectations in both top-line and margin performance, with first-quarter new restaurant productivity trending above 100%. That early performance can support continued reinvestment in new markets as the chain scales.

CAVA’s Q1 Restaurant-Level MarginCAVA’s restaurant-level profit margin was 25.1% in the first quarter, flat year over year, even as the business absorbed incremental wage investments and a higher mix of third-party delivery. The company said leverage from higher sales helped offset those pressures, keeping profitability at the restaurant level stable.

Cost structure details underscore that balance. Food, beverage and packaging costs were 29.1% of CAVA revenues, down 20 basis points versus the prior-year quarter, largely due to a favorable mix. Labor and related costs were 25.7% of revenues, approximately flat year over year, as sales leverage was offset by a 2% investment in team member wages, including the expansion of an Assistant General Manager role.

CAVA Generates Strong Cash Flow in Q1CAVA paired growth with improved cash generation. Net cash provided by operating activities was $64.1 million for the quarter, up from $38.6 million a year ago. Capital spending remained elevated as the company built out its footprint, with purchases of property and equipment of $48.6 million, resulting in free cash flow of $15.5 million.

Liquidity also remained ample. The company ended the quarter with $295.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $107.2 million of investments, and it reported access to a $150 million revolving credit facility. Management said this base is expected to support near-term expansion and operating needs.

CAVA Raises FY26 OutlookReflecting first-quarter momentum, CAVA raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook. The company now expects 75-77 net new restaurant openings, compared with prior guidance of 74-76. Same Restaurant Sales growth is now expected to be 4.5%-6.5%, up from 3.0%-5.0% previously.

Profitability and investment assumptions moved as well. CAVA lifted its CAVA restaurant-level profit margin outlook to 23.7%-24.3% (from 23.7%-24.2%) and raised its pre-opening cost outlook to $22.0-$22.5 million (from $19.5-$20.0 million). Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be $181-$191 million, up from $176-$184 million.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.

The consensus estimate has shifted 7.71% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Cava has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the bottom 20% 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 broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Cava has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerCava belongs to the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry. Another stock from the same industry, Jack In The Box (JACK - Free Report) , has gained 11% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended March 2026.

Jack In The Box reported revenues of $254.26 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -24.5%. EPS of $0.76 for the same period compares with $1.20 a year ago.

Jack In The Box is expected to post earnings of $0.90 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -11.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.4%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Jack In The Box. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

Primary Health Properties PLC (LSE:PHP, OTC:PHPRF) shares rose 2.9% to 94.44p after the healthcare property investor confirmed it is in advanced discussions to create a joint venture backed by its private hospital portfolio.

The FTSE 250 group issued a statement in response to recent media speculation, saying it is in talks with an investor about contributing the portfolio to seed a new vehicle.

Primary Health Properties, which owns healthcare real estate across the UK and Ireland, said it has been exploring a range of options to enhance the long-term value of its private hospital assets, including potential joint venture arrangements with third-party investors.

The update appears to provide the clearest indication yet that the company is moving towards a partnership structure for the portfolio, although it stressed that discussions remain ongoing.

The company said any transaction would be subject to the necessary approvals and warned there could be no certainty that a deal will be agreed or on what terms.

Primary Health Properties added that it continues to evaluate all strategic options for the assets and will update the market when appropriate.

Investors welcomed the announcement, with the shares among the stronger performers in London trading after the statement. A joint venture could provide an alternative route to crystallising value from the portfolio while retaining exposure to the underlying assets.

No financial details or valuation metrics were disclosed.

Key Takeaways Equinor plans to increase production to 2.3 MMBoe/d by 2030, driven by NCS and international growth.Equinor expects more than $40 billion in free cash flow after capex and lease payments during 2026-2030.Equinor plans a $3B 2026 share buyback program and targets annual dividend growth above 5%. Equinor ASA (EQNR - Free Report) presents an updated strategy focused on delivering higher production, stronger cash flows and enhanced shareholder returns through 2030. Equinor plans to increase total production to 2.3 million barrels of oil-equivalent per day (MMBoe/d) by 2030, driven by growth on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), and a 30% increase in international oil and gas output. EQNR also expects power generation to exceed 20 terawatt-hours by 2030, supported by projects under execution.

The Norwegian integrated giant is balancing disciplined spending with targeted investments and has outlined an $11-$13 billion capital expenditure (capex) plan for 2027. Equinor will direct roughly 60% of these funds to the NCS, 30% to international oil and gas projects and 10% to power. Management expects cash flow from operations (CFFO), after tax to increase 30% between 2025 and 2030, and forecasts more than $40 billion of free cash flow after capex and lease payments during 2026-2030.

Equinor's NCS portfolio remains a key value driver, supported by low-cost subsea developments with break-even prices below $35 per barrel and payback periods of less than 2.5 years. EQNR has upgraded its NCS production forecast by 100,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day (Boe/d), with targets set at 1.35 MMBoe/d for 2030 and 1.3 MMBoe/d for 2035.

The Norwegian integrated giant is also expanding its international portfolio in key basins such as the United States, Brazil, Angola, the U.K. and Canada. International production is expected to reach 950,000 Boe/d by 2030, generating $20 billion in free cash flow after capital spending and lease payments over the next five years. EQNR expects CFFO to increase 80% to $9 billion in 2030, while trading and market optimization earnings are projected to rise 25% to $500 million per quarter through increased deployment of digital tools and artificial intelligence.

Equinor is expected to strengthen its shareholder return framework by doubling its 2026 share buyback program to $3 billion and introducing the annual buyback guidance of $2-$4 billion from 2027 onward. EQNR aims increasing its quarterly cash dividend per share by more than 5% per year. Combined with a targeted return on average capital employed above 15%, these initiatives reinforce Equinor's commitment to long-term value creation and capital returns.

Equinor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the energy sector that have a presence in the upstream operations are W&T Offshore, Inc. (WTI - Free Report) , YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF - Free Report) and Ecopetrol S.A. (EC - Free Report) .

As W&T Offshore, YPF and Ecopetrol have upstream presence like Equinor, their business models are highly sensitive to oil and gas price fluctuations. WTI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), and YPF and EC sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

W&T Offshore leverages a diverse portfolio of offshore assets in the Gulf of America to produce oil and natural gas. Holding approximately 605,000 acres, WTI maintains substantial 1P and 2P reserves, supporting a production lifespan of nearly 20 years.

YPF is an integrated energy company that leverages its strong foothold in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation to drive production growth. Increased field activity in the coming quarters is expected to boost YPF's oil and gas volumes in the second half of 2026.

Operating across the hydrocarbon value chain, Ecopetrol serves as Colombia’s leading integrated energy company. EC anticipates achieving production of 730,000-740,000 Boe/d in 2026, and plans to maintain this output between 700,000 and 750,000 Boe/d through 2040.

, /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE : BMNR ; BMNP) Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (« Bitmine » ou la « société ») annonce aujourd'hui que son conseil d'administration a déclaré un dividende en espèces de 0,1056 $ sur les actions privilégiées perpétuelles de série A à 9,50 % de la société (les « actions privilégiées de série A »), cotées à la Bourse de New York sous le mnémo « BMNP ».

Le dividende sera versé en espèces conformément aux dispositions du certificat de désignation régissant les actions privilégiées de série A. Le dividende sera versé le 10 juillet 2026 aux détenteurs des actions privilégiées de série A inscrits au registre des actionnaires à la clôture des marchés le 30 juin 2026.

À propos de Bitmine

Bitmine (NYSE : BMNR) est une société de minage de Bitcoin opérant aux États-Unis. L'entreprise déploie son capital excédentaire pour devenir la première société de trésorerie Ethereum au monde, mettant en œuvre une stratégie d'actifs numériques innovante pour les investisseurs institutionnels et les acteurs du marché public. Guidée par sa philosophie de « l'Alchimie des 5 % », l'entreprise s'est engagée à faire de l'ETH son principal actif de réserve de trésorerie, s'appuyant sur des activités natives au niveau du protocole, y compris le staking et des mécanismes de financement décentralisés. L'entreprise a lancé MAVAN (Made-in America VAlidator Network), une infrastructure de staking dédiée aux actifs de Bitmine, en 2026.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur X :

https://x.com/bitmnr
https://x.com/fundstrat

Déclarations prospectives

Le présent communiqué de presse contient des déclarations qui constituent des déclarations prospectives au sens du Private Securities Litigation Reform Act de 1995. Les déclarations contenues dans le présent communiqué de presse qui ne sont pas purement historiques sont des déclarations prospectives qui impliquent des risques et des incertitudes. Ces déclarations prospectives peuvent être identifiées par des termes tels que « s'attendre à », « projeter », « avoir l'intention de », « croire », « anticiper », « estimer » et d'autres expressions similaires. Le présent document contient notamment des déclarations prospectives concernant le versement par la société de dividendes sur les actions privilégiées de série A. Pour évaluer ces déclarations prospectives, vous devez tenir compte de divers facteurs, notamment : la capacité de Bitmine à financer ses activités actuelles, ses opérations de trésorerie liées à l'Ethereum et ses projets d'activités futures ; les conditions de marché influant sur le cours des actions ordinaires et des actions privilégiées de série A de la société ; les évolutions réglementaires concernant les actifs numériques, y compris l'adoption et la mise en œuvre définitives des projets de loi en cours et des initiatives de la SEC ; la volatilité et l'imprévisibilité des prix des actifs numériques ; les performances, la fiabilité et la sécurité des opérations de staking de la société ; et la valeur future du Bitcoin et de l'Ethereum. Les performances et résultats réels futurs peuvent différer de manière significative de ceux exprimés dans les déclarations prospectives. Les déclarations prospectives sont soumises à de nombreuses conditions, dont beaucoup sont hors du contrôle de Bitmine, y compris celles énoncées dans la section « Risk Factors » du formulaire 10-K déposé par Bitmine auprès de la SEC le 21 novembre 2025, ainsi que dans tous les autres documents déposés auprès de la SEC, tels que modifiés ou mis à jour de temps à autre. Des copies des documents déposés par Bitmine auprès de la SEC sont disponibles sur son site web à l'adresse suivante : www.sec.gov. Bitmine ne s'engage pas à mettre à jour ces déclarations pour tenir compte des révisions ou changements intervenus après la date de ce communiqué, sauf si la loi l'exige.

Key Takeaways USAR remains unprofitable as expansion, acquisitions and workforce growth lift operating costs.Q1 2026 SG&A rose to $21.2M and R&D increased to $14.2M, contributing to a 34-cent per-share loss.USA Rare Earth commissioned Phase 1a magnet production, enabling Q2 2026 customer orders. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) is still in the early phases of commercialization and continues to incur losses as it scales its operations. Though the company started generating revenues following the acquisition of Less Common Metals, higher operating expenses related to expansion, acquisitions and workforce growth are pressuring its profitability.

USAR’s cost of product revenues was $5.59 million in the first quarter of 2026. The figure was 98.1% of total revenues. In the same period, its selling, general and administrative expenses surged to $21.2 million from $7 million in the year-ago quarter owing to increasing legal & consulting costs, higher headcount & recruiting fees and other costs.

USAR’s research and development expenses climbed to $14.2 million compared with $1.7 million reported in the year-ago quarter due to higher employee-related and development costs. Consequently, the company posted a loss of 34 cents per share for the quarter.

However, USAR recently reached a significant milestone by commissioning Phase 1a of its commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility. This enables USAR to start fulfilling customer orders for sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets in the second quarter of 2026.

While USA Rare Earth is making steady progress in expanding its operations, continued losses and cost pressures remain challenges. The company’s ability to balance growth investments with improving revenues and cost discipline is expected to benefit it in the quarters ahead.

USAR’s Peer PerformanceAmong its major peers, NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) is experiencing rising cost pressures. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Niocorp reported a significant year-over-year increase in operating expenses, primarily driven by spending related to the advancement of the Elk Creek Project. If these elevated costs persist, they could weigh on NioCorp’s margins and profitability.

Its another peer, Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) , is gaining from rising copper production, driven by strong operational performance across its assets. However, weather-related disruptions in 2025 affected Rio Tinto’s iron ore volumes. Planned maintenance activities at some copper mining projects temporarily reduced Rio Tinto’s output in 2025, while cost pressures from inflation and higher sustaining capital spending impacted margins.

USAR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of USAR have gained 85.8% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 58.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, USAR is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 70.07X against the industry’s average of 15.85X. USA Rare Earth has a Value Score of F.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 earnings has decreased over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Takeaways USAR commissioned a Colorado facility targeting separated rare earth oxide output in Q3 2026.USAR's Stillwater magnet line targets 600 metric tons annually by end-2026, doubling by Q1 2027.TECK plans major copper growth through Anglo Teck and advancing Zafranal and San Nicolas projects. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) and Teck Resources Limited (TECK - Free Report) are key participants in the Zacks Mining - Miscellaneous industry. Both companies are engaged in the extraction, processing and development of minerals that are essential to modern technologies and industrial applications. USAR and TECK are well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for critical materials used in electrification, clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Both companies operate in capital-intensive mining industries that require extensive investments in infrastructure, advanced technologies and project development, while also navigating regulatory clearances and regulatory approval processes. At the same time, growing demand for minerals and metals critical to electric vehicles, renewable energy and other clean-energy technologies is creating favorable long-term growth opportunities for these companies.

The Case for USARUSA Rare Earth has commissioned its hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Wheat Ridge, CO, in June 2026, marking a key step in building an integrated rare earth supply chain outside China. The company expects to begin producing commercial-quality separated rare earth oxides, including NdPr, dysprosium and terbium, in the third quarter of 2026.

The facility will process material from multiple sources, including the Round Top facility, third-party feedstocks and recycled magnet swarf, while supporting feasibility studies and future commercial-scale operations.

Also, the successful commissioning of Phase 1a of USAR’s commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility marks an important milestone in USAR’s growth strategy. The development enables the company to begin supplying sintered NdFeB permanent magnets to customers starting in the second quarter of 2026.

The commissioning demonstrates USA Rare Earth’s capability to operate a complex rare earth magnet manufacturing process at a commercial scale. At its Stillwater facility, USAR transforms rare earth materials into high-performance NdFeB permanent magnets through a series of production steps used in end markets such as defense, aerospace and automotive.

The Phase 1a is expected to achieve an annual production run rate of 600 metric tons by the end of 2026, while the planned Phase 1b expansion is projected to double total capacity to 1,200 metric tons annually by the first quarter of 2027. Once fully operational, the Stillwater facility is expected to be among the first large-scale NdFeB magnet manufacturing facilities in the United States, supporting a more resilient domestic rare earth supply chain.

USAR has strengthened its growth strategy through a combination of financing and acquisitions. In June 2026, the company secured access to up to $1.6 billion in government-backed funding under the CHIPS Program from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The package includes up to $277 million in federal funding and up to $1.3 billion in loan support as the company advances key development milestones.

In May 2026, USA Rare Earth secured a $14.2 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to boost the development of its Round Top Mountain rare earth project in West Texas, aimed at supporting domestic supply chains for critical minerals used in defense, semiconductors, AI and advanced technologies.

Also, in March 2026, USAR agreed to acquire Texas Mineral Resources Corp. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $73 million, giving it full ownership of the Round Top Project. The company expects commercial production at Round Top to begin in 2028, with a long-term goal of processing nearly 40,000 metric tons of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock per day by 2030. The November 2025 acquisition of Less Common Metals is expected to provide critical metal and alloy feedstock for the Stillwater plant.

While USAR is making progress with its growth initiatives, it is still in the early stages of commercialization and continues to report losses as it scales its operations. While the acquisition of Less Common Metals has started contributing to revenues, profitability remains under pressure from higher operating expenses associated with expansion efforts, acquisitions and workforce additions.

In the first quarter of 2026, selling, general and administrative expenses surged to $21.2 million from $7 million in the prior-year period, driven by higher legal, consulting and personnel-related costs. Research and development expenses also rose to $14.2 million from $1.7 million a year ago, reflecting increased investment in product development and growth initiatives.

The Case for TECKAs part of its long-term growth strategy, Teck Resources is increasing its focus on copper and other critical minerals that are essential for electrification and clean energy technologies. The company has agreed to merge with Anglo American plc to form the Anglo Teck group, creating one of the world's largest copper-focused mining companies. It will have more than 70% exposure to copper and is set to be among the top five global copper producers. The new company will consist of six world-class copper assets and premium iron ore and zinc operations with a combined annual copper production of 1.2 million tons. It is projected to grow 10% to 1.35 million tons by 2027, strengthening its position in the global copper market.

Teck Resources is further strengthening its copper growth pipeline by advancing several development projects toward sanction readiness. The company is progressing with permitting activities, securing land access and refining the business cases for its Zafranal and San Nicolás projects.

Zafranal is expected to have a mine life of 19 years and produce copper-gold concentrates through open-pit mining and conventional processing. The project is anticipated to generate an average of 126,000 tons of contained copper annually during its first five years of operation. Meanwhile, the San Nicolás project is advancing through the feasibility study stage and is expected to produce approximately 63,000 tons of copper and 147,000 tons of zinc annually during its first five years, on a 100% ownership basis.

Also, the Highland Valley Mine Life Extension is expected to extend the mine’s life from 2028 to 2046. Expected average annual copper production will likely be 132,000 tons over the life of the mine. The company expects to increase copper production to around 800,000 tons before the end of this decade.

However, the company’s zinc in concentrate production declined to 120 thousand tons in the first quarter of 2026 from 137 thousand tons a year earlier, reflecting lower grades at Red Dog in line with the mine plan. TECK expects zinc production to trend lower over the next three years as the mine approaches the end of its life. Full-year 2026 zinc production guidance is 410-460 thousand tons compared with 565 thousand tons produced in 2025.

Operating costs at several assets increased year over year due to higher contractor, energy and maintenance expenses. The company highlighted exposure to fuel price volatility and higher freight and explosives costs linked to geopolitical developments. Even though there is currently no significant risk of fuel supply disruption, the company expects an impact on costs at its Chilean operations due to the requirement for diesel imports.

How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for USAR & TECK?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 35 cents per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for the 2027 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 32 cents per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TECK’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at $3.35 per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for 2027 bottom line is pegged at $2.89 per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance and Valuation of USAR & TECKIn the past year, USAR’s shares have surged 103%, while TECK stock has gained 71.9%. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

USA Rare Earth is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of negative 73.33X while Teck Resources’ forward earnings multiple sits at 21.39X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Final TakeUSAR is benefiting from the ramp-up of its commercial magnet production line, along with strategic acquisitions and investments designed to build a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain. The acquisitions of Less Common Metals and Texas Mineral Resources are expected to enhance the company’s operational capabilities and support its long-term growth strategy. However, USAR remains in the early stages of commercialization and continues to incur losses as it invests in capacity expansion, technology development and other growth initiatives.

In contrast, Teck Resources’ strong performance in the coming quarters is supported by its scale of operation, asset diversity and strategic transformation. The planned merger with Anglo American will create a global copper and critical minerals leader, with more than 70% exposure to copper. Though near-term zinc in concentrate production at Red Dog has been impacted by operational issues, TECK’s long-life assets and growth projects are expected to lower execution risk.

Given these factors, TECK seems a better pick for investors than USAR currently. While TECK Materials carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present, USA Rare Earth has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Key Takeaways USAR commissioned its Wheat Ridge demo facility to advance domestic rare earth processing.USAR began testing ore, third-party feedstock and recycled magnet swarf processing.USAR expects campaign data to support the Round Top feasibility study due by Q1 2027. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) is advancing its growth strategy with the successful commissioning of its hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Wheat Ridge, CO. This milestone marks a key step in the company's efforts to establish a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain and positions it to begin producing separated heavy rare earth oxides in the third quarter of 2026.

Over the past year, USAR expanded its integrated platform of proprietary technologies and capabilities spanning mining, processing and separation, metals, alloys and magnets. The company also prepared the Wheat Ridge facility for demonstration-scale operations to support future commercial processing activities.

The facility has started initial campaigns to test and optimize three processing methods simultaneously: processing ore from the Round Top project, processing third-party mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) feedstock, including material from Serra Verde's Pela Ema mine, and recycling rare earth magnet swarf. The resulting oxides are expected to support downstream metal, alloy and magnet production through Less Common Metals, one of the few commercial-scale metal, alloy and strip cast producers outside China. Heavy rare earth oxides such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium are critical materials used in defense, energy, electric vehicle and other advanced technology applications.

The demonstration campaigns are expected to generate operational data that will support the Round Top Definitive Feasibility Study, which remains on track for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026 and publication in the first quarter of 2027. As operations advance, the Wheat Ridge facility is expected to play an important role in strengthening the U.S. rare earth supply chain.

Snapshot of USA Rare Earth’s PeersAmong its major peers, NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) is working to move its Elk Creek Project in Nebraska closer to production. In August 2025, NioCorp completed its first drilling program at the Elk Creek Project on schedule and within budget. In February 2026, NioCorp started construction of the main underground access for its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska.

USAR’s other peer, Trilogy Metals Inc. (TMQ - Free Report) , continues to make steady progress at the Ambler mining district. Although Trilogy is not yet in production, it is taking a step ahead with Ambler Metals LLC, which is a joint venture with South32 Limited. In July 2025, Trilogy began a multi-year core re-boxing program to protect drill core for long-term future use.

USAR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of USAR have gained 90% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 50.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, USAR is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 71.85X against the industry’s average of 14.92X. USA Rare Earth carries a Value Score of F.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 earnings has decreased over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The bank software and payments company Fiserv (FISV +1.84%) recently stunned investors by announcing that its chief executive officer, Michael Lyons, had resigned. The move is not due to a disagreement at the company, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, but rather that Lyons is set to become the next CEO of Truist, a super-regional bank with roughly $549 billion in assets.

The move caught investors off guard not only because Lyons joined the company at the beginning of 2025, but also because Lyons and the rest of the team at Fiserv have been trying to engineer a major turnaround after the company reported surprisingly poor earnings last year, sending the stock plummeting.

Is Lyons' departure a major red flag?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why the change comes at a bad time Any major leadership change needs careful evaluation, but Lyons' departure comes at a particularly unsettling time, given the challenges Fiserv has faced.

The company has been one of the dominant players in providing core banking processing technology that powers many banks' daily back-end operations. Fiserv also owns the Clover point-of-sale payments platform, which many small businesses use.

In its third-quarter earnings results reported last October, Fiserv missed earnings estimates by about 23% and then cut its full-year forecast by about 16% in an earnings surprise that BTIG analyst Andrew Harte called "shockingly bad" at the time.

The stock fell by more than 40% after the report and is down by more than 70% during the past year.

It turns out that past management had been over-inflating growth numbers at Clover and charging excessive fees. There were also issues in the core processing business, an area typically considered woefully outdated at a time when banks must embrace technology.

Revenue in Fiserv's banking segment declined 7% year over year.

Although things were bad after that dismal earnings report, the silver lining was that investors believed most of the mismanagement had occurred under former CEO Frank Bisignano, who is now commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Bullish investors believed a new management team, with Lyons at the helm, recognized the mistakes made and could correct them. After all, Fiserv still holds significant market share and has long-term customer contracts, making the stock a potentially compelling turnaround story.

Lyons' departure is certainly not a good sign Although Lyons' departure isn't necessarily a dealbreaker for the stock, it's certainly not a good sign.

I obviously don't know what is going through Lyons' head, but the biggest red flag I see is that Fiserv highly incentivized Lyons with a $70 million pay package that included some $56 million in equity awards spread out over several years.

However, based on Fiserv's proxy statement, a significant part of Lyons' total pay package is based on performance stock units (PSUs) tied to metrics such as total shareholder return, organic revenue growth, and adjusted earnings per share.

At Truist, Lyons will receive a base salary of $1.3 million per year, similar to the one he received at Fiserv. Lyons will also receive a long-term incentive award of $12 million for 2026, 40% of which is performance-based.

Lyons will also receive replacement awards to compensate for the money he is leaving on the table at Fiserv, so it seems as if the banking veteran will be made whole. But this raises the question of whether Lyons believed he would have an easier time getting his performance-based incentives at Truist than at Fiserv.

Truist has not exactly had an easy time either. Since the SunTrust and BB&T merger that created Truist in 2019, the stock has been deemed a disaster by most bank investors.

TFC data by YCharts

In fact, many investors believed Truist might be acquired by another bank before Lyons was hired.

The silver lining Looking at the situation from an optimistic perspective, it's possible Lyons simply wanted to be the CEO of a super-regional bank, given that he's spent most of his career climbing the ranks at PNC Financial Services Group, a direct peer of Truist.

The other good news for Fiserv investors is that the company named Takis Georgakopoulos as its new CEO. Georgakopoulos had served in various senior roles since joining the company in 2024, notably as chief operating officer.

While investors liked Lyons, they might have been more excited about Georgakopoulos, who is somewhat of a legend in the world of payments.

Before to Fiserv, Georgakopoulos spent 17 years at JPMorgan Chase, where he played a pivotal role in building JPMorgan's global payments business, which now processes more than $10 trillion in daily volume. He also ran the unit for seven years.

Investors have a lot of confidence in Georgakopoulos's abilities and knowledge of payments. Ultimately, although the Fiserv story is not dead, I see Lyons' departure as a major red flag and recommend that investors reevaluate their thesis before doing anything else.

Ucore announces:

Ucore has produced 99.5%+ neodymium-praseodymium oxide generated at its 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant in Kingston, OntarioInitial NdPr oxide qualification samples were shipped to major rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers serving North American and European supply chainsTesting of the samples begin the process of confirming purity, phase composition, consistency, and compatibility with customer-compliant NdFeB permanent magnet manufacturing processesThe qualification work is intended to support the development of structured definitive supply agreements aligned with Ucore's planned Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex and its Commercialization and Demonstration Facility in Kingston, OntarioHalifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 22, 2026) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has produced commercial-grade neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") oxide and shipped initial qualification samples to major rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers for technical evaluation.

The sample shipments mark an important step in Ucore's strategy to connect its RapidSX™ rare earth separation platform directly with downstream magnet, metal, alloy, and advanced materials supply chains. NdPr oxide is a critical midstream material that is converted into metal and alloy feedstock for neodymium-iron-boron ("NdFeB") permanent magnets, which are used across high-performance motors, robotics, electric vehicles, industrial automation, renewable energy systems, and defense applications.

The NdPr oxide qualification samples were produced as part of Ucore's ongoing demonstration and commercialization work. During this work, the Company's 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant at its Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, processed a heavy mixed rare earth oxide ("MREO") feedstock derived from an ionic clay source and produced 99.5%+ NdPr chloride. Ucore subsequently converted a portion of this chloride solution into 99.5%+ NdPr oxide.

Strategic Alignment with Western Supply Chain Development

Ucore has previously announced strategic relationships with major rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers that are working to expand Western magnet production capacity. These relationships are intended to position Ucore as a midstream rare earth oxide supplier for strategically important downstream manufacturers focused on rebuilding North American and allied rare earth magnet supply chains. In addition to utilizing dysprosium ("Dy") and terbium ("Tb"), which Ucore plans to produce in Louisiana, these magnet manufacturers also utilize NdPr oxide, which is expected to be an important part of Ucore's product suite at its prospective Louisiana SMC.

"Sample qualification is a critical step toward developing potential offtake arrangements," stated Pat Ryan, P.Eng., Ucore's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The NdPr oxide shipped to major rare earth magnet manufacturers was not produced in a concept study. It was produced through Ucore's RapidSX™ demonstration platform, from real mixed rare earth feedstock, and is now in the hands of companies working to develop Western magnet manufacturing capacity."

Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, commented: "For downstream customers, oxide quality matters. Purity, impurity control, physical form, consistency, conversion performance, and traceability all have to be understood before commercial supply can begin. These samples give potential customers the material they need to evaluate Ucore's rare earth oxides against their own technical and manufacturing requirements."

Schrider added: "This work also gives Ucore direct feedback from downstream customers as we continue to translate the learnings from our Kingston CDF into the design, construction, commissioning, and operational plans of the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex."

Customer Qualification: Turning Separated Oxides into Supply Chain Inputs

The evaluation work by major downstream customers focuses on confirming that Ucore's rare earth oxides meet the technical, quality, and traceability requirements for use in Western magnet and advanced materials supply chains.

The qualification process is expected to include:

independent chemical assay work to confirm rare earth oxide purity and key impurity levels;confirmation of oxide characteristics, including phase composition, handling, moisture, and consistency;assessment of compatibility with magnet manufacturing requirements, including alloy formulation, process qualification, and finished magnet compliance expectations; anddevelopment of product specifications, quality assurance protocols, logistics requirements, and commercial terms to support definitive long-term supply agreements.This qualification process is a key step toward elevating strategic relationships currently at the MOU level and could contribute toward potential commercial offtake arrangements. It allows downstream manufacturers and advanced materials customers to certify that Ucore's separated rare earth oxide products meet their required technical specifications before larger-volume supply commitments are finalized.

# # #

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, Ucore aims to support the development of a more diversified and resilient North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA ("Bokan").

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, products to be produced at the Louisiana SMC, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, its business activities, its ability to qualify for and receive any additional funding from any U.S. or Canadian government, the CDF and the aforementioned projects (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q1-2026 (filed on SEDAR+ on May 29, 2026) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future SMCs. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to continue and complete the ongoing research and development work required at the CDF and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 technical report that demonstrates that Bokan is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction and eventual commissioning and operations.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including, without limitation: the successful completion and accuracy of baseline, front-end-engineering design and detailed engineering studies; the ability to complete further engineering, procurement, and construction activities as currently contemplated; the availability, cost, and timely delivery of equipment, materials, utilities, labour and construction services; the Company's ability to secure sufficient financing on acceptable terms; the receipt and timing of all required permits and approvals; the successful scale-up and commercial deployment of RapidSX™ technology from demonstration to commercial operation; the availability of qualified feedstock from third-party suppliers; successful customer qualification and offtake discussions; continued support from governmental partners; and general economic, market, and industry conditions, including assumptions regarding rare earth oxide prices, which are subject to significant volatility..

Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate or that the anticipated results, performance, or achievements will be realized. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: risks associated with the development, scale-up, and commercialization of new or unproven technologies; the risk that RapidSX™ may not perform at commercial scale as expected; engineering design changes; inaccuracies in capital or operating cost estimates; cost escalation due to inflation, supply chain disruption, or market conditions; delays or failures in procurement, construction, or commissioning; the inability to obtain or maintain required permits, approvals, or regulatory authorizations; challenges in securing adequate financing; adverse capital market conditions; variability in feedstock supply, quality, or pricing; failure to secure or maintain commercial relationships, customer qualification, or offtake arrangements; fluctuations and uncertainty in rare earth oxide prices and demand; the risk that indicative or quoted market prices, including for ex-China markets, may not be realized; operational risks once in production, including equipment failures or lower-than-expected recoveries; geopolitical risk; changes in applicable laws or regulations; environmental or permitting challenges; loss of key personnel; and general economic, business, or competitive conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/302334

Source: Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty”) (Nasdaq: FWONA, FWONK) announced today that MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, S.L. (“MotoGP”) closed the repricing of its first lien Term Loan B, first lien Term Loan A and first lien revolving credit facility on June 17, 2026. MotoGP is a subsidiary of Liberty and is the exclusive commercial rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship.

MotoGP repriced the previous €800 million Term Loan B with a maturity of August 18, 2032 with a new €720 million Term Loan B due August 18, 2032, the previous $231 million Term Loan A with a maturity of August 18, 2030 with a new $209 million Term Loan A with a maturity of August 18, 2030 and the previous €100 million multicurrency revolving credit facility with a maturity of August 18, 2030 with a new €100 million multicurrency revolving credit facility due August 18, 2030. The net reduction of approximately $114 million equivalent under the debt facilities was funded with cash from MotoGP’s balance sheet.

Based on MotoGP’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2026 and assuming exchange rates as of that date, pro forma for the repricing transactions, MotoGP has approximately $72 million of cash and liquid investments and principal amount of debt of $1,037 million. MotoGP’s net senior secured leverage ratio as of March 31, 2026 as defined in its credit facility and pro forma for the repricing transaction is 4.6x.

The current margin for the Term Loan B has been reduced from 2.50% to 2.25% (with a new range of 2.00% to 2.25% based on MotoGP’s consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio; the prior range was 2.25% to 2.75%) with a reference rate of EURIBOR. The current margin for the Term Loan A is unchanged at 1.50% (with a new range of 1.25% to 1.50% based on MotoGP’s consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio; the prior range was 1.50% to 2.00%) with a reference rate of Term SOFR. The current margin for the revolving credit facility is unchanged at 2.00% (with a new range of 1.50% to 2.00% based on MotoGP’s consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio; the prior range was 2.00 to 2.50%) with a reference rate of one of Term SOFR, SONIA or EURIBOR based on the currency of the applicable borrowing. The Term Loan B, the Term Loan A and the revolving credit facility remain non-recourse to Liberty.

About Liberty Media Corporation

Liberty Media Corporation (Nasdaq: FWONA, FWONK) operates and owns interests in media, sports and entertainment businesses. The portfolio of assets includes Liberty Media’s subsidiaries Formula 1, MotoGP and other minority investments.

About MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, S.L.

MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, S.L (“MotoGP”) became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991 and is based in Madrid, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome. MotoGP holds exclusive rights to MotoGP feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, electric series MotoE™, the FIM Superbike World Championship and the FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship.

More News From Liberty Media Corporation and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, S.L.

Key Takeaways Ondas plans a $125M Cyberhawk acquisition, expected to close in Q3 2026 pending approvals.Cyberhawk adds drone inspections, digital twins, cloud software and AI asset analytics capabilities.ONDS gains a business with 95% recurring revenue and a $95M backlog supporting future growth. The convergence of AI, autonomous drones, cloud software and critical infrastructure management is reshaping industries worldwide. In a strategic move, Ondas Inc. (ONDS - Free Report) recently announced its planned $125 million acquisition of Cyberhawk, a top provider of drone-based infrastructure inspection and AI-powered asset intelligence. Management indicated that approximately 95% of the consideration will be in stock, reducing immediate cash needs while aligning Cyberhawk shareholders with Ondas' long-term performance. The acquisition also requires regulatory approvals before the expected closing in the third quarter of 2026.

The strategic value of the Cyberhawk acquisition lies in its complementary capabilities. Cyberhawk brings drone inspections, digital twins, cloud-based infrastructure management and AI analytics, while Ondas contributes autonomous aerial systems, mission automation and advanced sensing technologies. Together, they create an end-to-end infrastructure intelligence platform spanning data collection, cloud visualization, AI-driven analysis and predictive maintenance. This integrated ecosystem enhances customer value and opens multiple recurring revenue opportunities.

Cyberhawk enhances Ondas both financially and strategically. The company is projected to generate more than $45 million in revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2027, starting with high-single-digit EBITDA margins and aiming for EBITDA margins exceeding 25% by 2030. About 95% of Cyberhawk's revenue comes from recurring sources, including multi-year contracts, software subscriptions and long-term infrastructure inspection agreements. Recurring revenue improves predictability, reduces earnings volatility and often attracts higher valuation multiples than project-based businesses. Cyberhawk also has a $95 million backlog, offering visibility into future growth.

ONDS is on an acquisition spree. Last month, it agreed to acquire Omnisys, adding AI-powered battlefield orchestration software to its defense portfolio. This is followed by prior buyouts of Rotron Aerospace, Mistral Inc., Bird Aero, Indo-Earth and World View, strengthening its capabilities across loitering munitions, counter-missile defense systems, military engineering equipment and stratospheric surveillance solutions.

Are ONDS’ Rivals Also Betting on Acquisitions?Draganfly (DPRO - Free Report) recently completed the acquisition of Skip Dynamix, strengthening its defense drone portfolio and expanding its presence in the low-cost autonomous aerial systems market. The deal adds fixed-wing drone technology and enhances Draganfly’s AI, autonomy and military systems capabilities, while improving its positioning in U.S., NATO and Indo-Pacific defense programs. The acquisition adds the Orca fixed-wing drone to Draganfly’s portfolio, expanding its capabilities in long-range autonomous systems. It also broadens the company’s reach across defense and government markets, creates revenue growth opportunities and retains key fixed-wing drone expertise through the continued involvement of Skip Dynamix’s founders.

Last month, Unusual Machines (UMAC - Free Report) agreed to acquire Upgrade Energy for approximately $52 million, adding battery and power system expertise to its drone components business. The deal expands the company’s product portfolio, strengthens domestic manufacturing capabilities, and supports future production growth through additional U.S. facilities. In 2025, UMAC completed the acquisition of Rotor Lab, adding high-performance drone motor and propulsion technologies to its portfolio. The deal strengthens its commercial and defense offerings, supports U.S. manufacturing expansion and enhances motor design and engineering capabilities. It also agreed to acquire Aloft Technologies for $14.5 million, adding leading drone fleet and airspace management capabilities to its portfolio.

ONDS’ Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of ONDS have gained a whopping 486.7% in the past year against the Zacks Wireless-National industry’s decline of 14.5%

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ONDS seems overvalued, as suggested by the Value Score of F. In terms of the forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio, ONDS is trading at 8.63, considerably higher than the industry’s multiple of 1.6.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For ONDS, earnings estimates for the current year have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Creates the largest consolidated mining claim package in the Comstock District's 167-year history, expanding Mackay's land position by 70% to 4,343 hectares (43 km²)

Unites the district's three major vein systems, the Silver City Lode, Occidental-Brunswick Lode and Comstock Lode, under single ownership for the first time

Adds two oxide gold-silver deposits supported by recent S-K 1300 historical estimates, plus numerous historical past-producing gold-silver mines

Includes a permitted heap-leach and Merrill-Crowe processing facility providing future development optionality

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 22, 2026) - Mackay Gold & Silver Corp. (TSXV: MACK) (OTCQB: MKGSF) ("Mackay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Comstock Inc. ("Comstock") for the purchase of 100% of Comstock's mining assets in Storey County and Lyon County Nevada, referred to herein as the Silver City Lode properties ("SCL Properties"). The acquisition expands Mackay's total land holdings by 70% to 4,343 ha (43 km2), consolidating the largest property package held by one company in Comstock District history.

Consideration will consist of US$20 million in cash and 2,000,000 common shares of Mackay ("Mackay Shares") on closing, followed by a further US$7 million payable within 18 months in a combination of cash and shares, plus contingent future consideration as detailed later in this press release. With a balance sheet of over US$60M, Mackay is fully financed to make all cash payments while retaining a very strong treasury to fund the Company's ongoing exploration objectives.

The SCL Properties are contiguous with the southern boundary of Mackay's existing land package, covering the entire, multi-kilometer strike length of the Silver City Lode and its southern projection into Spring Valley (Figure 1). The SCL Properties include numerous historical past-producing gold-silver mines and two established oxide gold-silver deposits with historical resource estimates dating to 2022, completed pursuant to the US S-K 1300 standards, as detailed below. The SCL Properties also include a permitted mine and processing infrastructure at American Flats.

"Land consolidation has been central to unlocking modern exploration of the Comstock District. By removing the property boundaries that have long fragmented this camp, we can test targets and structural continuations that previous operators could never pursue. This is a district that historically produced a large amount of gold and silver at very high grades, and that has seen remarkably little modern exploration, a rare combination that offers an attractive opportunity for significant new discoveries," stated Darwin Green, CEO and Director of Mackay. "In this one transaction, we are simultaneously unifying the main lodes (veins) in the Comstock District under single ownership for the first time, adding significant ounces and infrastructure, and de-risking the future of the project by securing development site optionality. As we integrate this new highly prospective land package into our medium to long-range exploration planning, the near-term focus for Mackay remains squarely on our initial 20,000-meter drilling program at the Occidental-Brunswick Lode that is just now getting underway."

Figure 1. Claim map of Mackay Gold & Silver Corp's mineral tenures in the historic Comstock District, Nevada, highlighting newly acquired ground from Comstock Inc.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12351/302311_af53637cc4513b24_001full.jpg

Historical Resources

The SCL Properties host two oxide gold-silver deposits with historical resource estimates prepared by previous owners in 2022. These include the Lucerne Deposit located on the Silver City Lode and the Dayton Deposit located approximately one mile south of the Lucerne Deposit along the interpreted southern projection of the Silver City Lode.

Lucerne Historical Resource

CategoryTonsAu GradeAg GradeContained 
AuContained 
Ag(oz/ton)(gpt)(oz/ton)(gpt)(ounces)(ounces)Indicated14,118,0000.0220.750.279.25312,0003,760,000Inferred9,489,0000.0220.750.227.53207,0002,092,000Dayton Historical Resource

CategoryTonsAu GradeAg GradeContained 
AuContained 
Ag(oz/ton)(gpt)(oz/ton)(gpt)(ounces)(ounces)Measured2,650,0000.031.030.2528.6380,000670,000Indicated7,620,0000.0280.960.196.51213,0001,450,000Inferred3,740,0000.0240.820.1294.4290,000480,000Total Lucerne and Dayton Consolidated

CategoryTonsAu GradeAg GradeContained 
AuContained 
Ag(oz/ton)(gpt)(oz/ton)(gpt)(ounces)(ounces)Total M & I24,388,0000.0250.850.248.32605,0005,880,000Total Inferred13,229,0000.0230.770.196.65297,0002,572,000Tons = US short tons
oz/ton = ounce per US short ton
gpt = gram per metric tonne

The Lucerne and Dayton Deposit resource estimates disclosed above are historical in nature and are treated as historical estimates under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Estimates ("NI 43-101"). A Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Mackay is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources, and the historical estimate should not be relied upon. It is being shared strictly for informational purposes. The Company believes that the historical estimate is relevant to an appraisal of the merits of the SCL Properties and forms a basis upon which to develop future exploration programs. While the historical estimate has not been independently verified by the Company, the public disclosure of the data and its preparation in accordance with S-K 1300 indicates that the historical estimate was prepared to a reasonably high standard.

The Lucerne estimate was prepared by Mine Development Associates ("MDA"), a division of RESPEC, in a technical report summary dated March 16, 2022. The estimated resource for the Lucerne Deposit is constrained within an open pit and reported at a cutoff grade of 0.005 ounces ("oz") gold ("Au") per ton. Pit design and cutoff grade are based on a gold price of $1,750/oz. The resource is based on data that includes 88,786 gold assays and 89,236 silver assays from a total of 477,099 feet of drilling (1,045 reverse circulation holes, 407 core holes, and 402 air track holes). Interpolation dominantly utilized inverse distance to the power of four (ID4).

The Dayton Deposit resource estimate was prepared by Behre Dolbear in a technical report summary dated November 1, 2022. The estimated mineral resource is constrained within an open pit economic shell based on a gold price of $1,800 per ounce and reported at a cutoff grade of 0.007 oz gold per ton.

The estimates and technical reports for the Lucerne and Dayton deposits were prepared in accordance with the disclosure and reporting requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's mining rules under subpart 1300 and item 601 (96)(iii) of Regulation S-K. While S-K 1300 and CIM standards utilized under NI43-101 are similar, including use of the same resource classification labels, potential differences exist.

In order to verify the historical estimate to a current mineral resource estimate, the Company will need to retain a Qualified Person to verify historical drilling and assaying methods and validate historical results, revise for current metal prices, add any drilling and assaying or other pertinent geological information generated since the last estimation, and complete a mineral resource estimate and a new technical report. There can be no assurance that any of the historical estimates, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable.

American Flats Facilities

The fully permitted process facilities located at American Flats include a two-stage crushing circuit, including agglomeration drum and stacker, a heap leach facility, and a Merrill Crowe processing facility (~4,500 tpd). These facilities operated between 2012 and 2016, and since this time have been on care and maintenance.

A reclamation surety bond totalling approximately US$8.75M, including US$4M in cash collateral, is in place for the American Flats processing facility and Lucerne Mine. Upon closing of the acquisition, the approximately US$4M existing cash collateral for the surety bond, currently held within a dedicated interest-bearing account, will be assigned to Mackay or its subsidiary.

Terms of the Purchase Agreement

The Company and its wholly owned US subsidiary Mackay Precious Metals Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Buyer") have entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of June 21, 2026 (the Effective Date") with Comstock whereby the Buyer will acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in Comstock Mining LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; Comstock Processing LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; and Comstock Exploration and Development LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (each, an "Acquired LLC" and collectively, the "Acquired LLCs"), and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Comstock Real Estate Inc., a Nevada corporation ("CRE" and, together with the Acquired LLCs, the "Acquired Entities") (such membership interests in the Acquired LLCs and shares of capital stock of CRE, collectively, the "Acquired Interests").

The Acquired Entities own or control properties in Storey County and Lyon County, Nevada (the "Acquired Properties"), including patented and unpatented mining claims, town lots, processing facilities, operating permits and water rights, representing effectively all of Comstock's property interests and assets within the historic Comstock Mining District. The Acquired Properties are directly contiguous with Mackay's existing land package.

The Agreement and the acquisition of the Acquired Interests is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Closing of the transaction will take place on the fifth business day following Exchange approval and after satisfaction or wavier of the conditions set out in the Agreement, or such other date as Comstock and Mackay may mutually agree in writing (the "Closing Date").

Aggregate Purchase Price for the Acquired Interests

On closing, the Buyer will deliver to Comstock US$20,000,000 (the "Initial Payment") and issue 2,000,000 Mackay Shares (the "First Tranche Shares") subject to certain re-sale restrictions as outlined below.

Within 18 months following the Effective Date, the Buyer shall pay to Comstock US$7,000,000 (the "Second Tranche Payment"), with up to US$2,000,000 of the Second Tranche Payment payable in Mackay Shares (the "Second Tranche Shares"):

If the volume-weighted average trading price (the "VWAP") of the Mackay Shares on the Exchange for the twenty trading days ending three trading days prior to the date that the Buyer makes the Second Tranche Payment (the "VWAP Price") is between US$0.50 and US$1.00, the Buyer may, at its election, pay up to US$1,000,000 of the Second Tranche Payment by delivering to Comstock Second Tranche Shares at a deemed value per Second Tranche Share of the VWAP Price.

If the VWAP Price is above US$1.00, the Buyer may, at its election, pay up to US$2,000,000 of the Second Tranche Payment by delivering to the Comstock Second Tranche Shares at a deemed value per Second Tranche Share of the VWAP Price.

The Buyer shall pay the portion of the Second Tranche Payment which is not satisfied by the delivery of Second Tranche Shares to Comstock in cash.

If, at any time on or prior to the date that is seven years after the Closing Date, (i) the Buyer makes a construction decision in respect of a mine on any of the Acquired Properties, or (ii) a change of control of the Buyer or Mackay occurs, then the Buyer shall pay to Comstock US$10,000,000 in cash (the "Contingent Payment") no later than 90 days following the occurrence of such triggering event. The Contingent Payment shall be payable only once.

Share Trading Restrictions

The First Tranche Shares shall be subject to contractual transfer restrictions, to be implemented by restrictive legend and/or stop-transfer instructions, such that 25% of the First Tranche Shares shall become freely transferable on the date that is 18 months after the date of issuance, an additional 25% shall become freely transferable on the date that is 22 months after the date of issuance, an additional 25% shall become freely transferable on the date that is 26 months after the date of issuance, and the remaining 25% shall become freely transferable on the date that is 30 months after the date of issuance.

The Second Tranche Shares, if any, shall be subject to contractual transfer restrictions, to be implemented by restrictive legend and/or stop-transfer instructions, such that all of the Second Tranche Shares shall become freely transferable on the date that is 18 months after the date of issuance.

The First Tranche Shares and the Second Tranche Shares will also be subject to a hold period expiring four-months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NSR Royalty

Comstock to retain a net smelter returns royalty (the "NSR Royalty") upon the Acquired Properties. The royalty rate of the NSR Royalty with respect to each part of the Acquired Properties (the "Royalty Rate") shall be 1.5% less the existing royalty burden on such part of the Acquired Properties as of the Effective Date; provided, that, with respect to any part of the Acquired Properties situated in Lyon County, Nevada (a "Lyon County Parcel"), the Royalty Rate shall not be less than 0.5% unless the existing royalty burden on such Lyon County Parcel as of the Effective Date is greater than 2.25%, in which case the total royalty burden on such Lyon County Parcel including the NSR Royalty shall not exceed 2.75%. For the avoidance of doubt, if the existing royalty burden on a Lyon County Parcel as of the effective date is 2.75% or greater, the Royalty Rate applicable to such Lyon County Parcel would be 0%.

The Buyer shall have the right at any time to repurchase 100% of the NSR Royalty for a payment of US$3,500,000, provided that if the seven-year period for the payment of the Contingent Payment has lapsed without the payment of the Contingent Payment, the royalty buyout payment shall be increased to US$7,000,000.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Darwin Green, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Green is not independent of the Company. Mr. Green has not verified the historical data pertaining to the Acquired Properties disclosed in this press release, including the historical estimate, as such data is historical in nature and the original data is not readily available to the Company.

Mackay Gold & Silver Corp.

Mackay Gold & Silver Corp. is a Nevada-focused gold and silver exploration company with 100% control of a large, consolidated land package in one of America's richest, productive and oldest mining districts. With an estimated 8.2 million ounces of historical gold production and 192 million ounces of silver produced between 1859 and 1926 from so called 'bonanza lodes' that averaged 35 g/t gold and 726 g/t silver, the Comstock district is recognized as one of America's highest grade epithermal systems and an attractive setting for modern discovery. Led by an experienced team with a strong track record of discovery, development, and value creation, Mackay is well funded and committed to delivering shareholder value through disciplined exploration and responsible resource development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Darwin Green,
Chief Executive Officer and Director

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

Mackay Gold & Silver Corp.
Suite 405, 375 Water Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5C6
Canada

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes, among other things, information regarding: the ability of the Company to carry out its exploration and land consolidation strategies and the timeline thereof, the discovery potential for the Comstock District, the ability of the Company to verify the historical estimates, the satisfaction of the conditions precedent under the Agreement and the closing of the acquisition of the Acquired Interests.

Readers are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect management of the Company's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are, among other things, the following: the ability of the Company to obtain regulatory approval, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; stock market volatility that may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities; the ability of the Company to carry out its exploration and land consolidation activities as currently contemplated; and compliance with extensive government regulation. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and market conditions.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/302311

Source: Mackay Gold & Silver

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us