June 25, 2026 11:30 ET | Source: Canadian National Railway Company
MONTREAL, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today released its 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement, including progress against its key sustainability priorities. Over the past year, the Company was recognized by several leading organizations for its sustainability practices.
“Sustainability is fundamental to CN’s strategy and to how we create long-term value. By advancing safety, improving operational efficiency, and reducing our environmental impact, we are strengthening our business while supporting our customers and the communities where we operate. Our progress is a testament to the consistent execution and dedication of our railroaders.”
- Tracy Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer at CN
The 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement outlines CN’s performance across environment, safety, people, community, and governance. It maintains a focus on transparent, comparable, and decision-useful reporting aligned with recognized industry standards. Highlights include progress toward CN’s 2030 emissions reduction targets, safety performance, and efforts toward its representation objectives.
Recognition for Sustainability Practices
CN’s sustainability performance has recently been recognized by leading industry and rating organizations, reflecting its focus on responsible operations and long-term performance. As of June 15, 2026, the Company was:
Selected for the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index for the 14th consecutive year, the Dow Jones Best-in-Class North America Index for the 17th straight year and named as a Sustainability Yearbook Member.Selected as one of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights for the 18th year in a row.Recognized by MSCI ESG through a ‘AA’ rating for its approach to managing sustainability risks and opportunities.Earned a notable score of ‘B’ from the 2025 CDP Climate Change Questionnaire for its commitment to corporate transparency and consistent efforts to take action on climate change.Received a Silver medal from EcoVadis for placing in the Top 15% of all rated companies.
For more than two decades, CN has advanced initiatives aligned with its objective to create long-term shareholder value and support sustainable business growth. The Company remains focused on operating a safe and efficient railroad, delivering reliable service, and improving performance over time.
To learn more about CN’s sustainability performance, visit:
https://www.cn.ca/en/delivering-responsibly
About CN
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Coupang currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.97, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 15 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.97 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 15 recommendations that derive the current ABR, eight are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 53.3% and 6.7% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for CPNG
Check price target & stock forecast for Coupang here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Coupang, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is CPNG Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Coupang, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$0.17.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Coupang. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Coupang.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) Align Technology, based in California, manufactures and markets a system of clear aligner therapy, intra-oral scanners and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) digital services used in dentistry, orthodontics, and dental records storage. The clear aligner system corrects malocclusion using nearly invisible and removable appliances that gently move the tooth to a desired final position.
ALGN is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 15.04; value investors should take notice.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.11 to $11.36 per share. ALGN boasts an average earnings surprise of +7.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ALGN should be on investors' short list.
Investors interested in Medical - Dental Supplies stocks are likely familiar with Align Technology (ALGN) and Straumann Holding AG (SAUHY). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) .
Riot Platforms, Inc. currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.33, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.33 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 15 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 15% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for RIOT
Check price target & stock forecast for Riot Platforms, Inc. here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Riot Platforms, Inc., but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is RIOT Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Riot Platforms, Inc., the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$2.08.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Riot Platforms, Inc. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Riot Platforms, Inc.
Investors interested in stocks from the Internet - Software and Services sector have probably already heard of NetEase (NTES - Free Report) and Tyler Technologies (TYL - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Right now, NetEase is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Tyler Technologies has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that NTES has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.
Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
NTES currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.43, while TYL has a forward P/E of 22.39. We also note that NTES has a PEG ratio of 1.42. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. TYL currently has a PEG ratio of 1.49.
Another notable valuation metric for NTES is its P/B ratio of 3.06. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, TYL has a P/B of 3.39.
These metrics, and several others, help NTES earn a Value grade of B, while TYL has been given a Value grade of D.
NTES is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that NTES is likely the superior value option right now.
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Affirm Holdings (AFRM) fell 1.78% in premarket after Morgan Stanley downgraded the buy-now-pay-later company from Overweight to Equalweight, setting a $79 price
SPARTANBURG, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #WeAreAFL--AFL held its tenth annual Imagine That! fundraising campaign, supporting communities around the world where AFL operates. This year's campaign, themed "Impact the Pack: Refuel the Future," concluded with a $2,224,061 donation to organizations around the world including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. All AFL locations participated in the campaign by encouraging associates to consider contributing financially to their comm.
For the quarter ended May 2026, McCormick (MKC - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.94 billion, up 16.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.80, compared to $0.69 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.9 billion, representing a surprise of +1.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +15.29%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.69.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how McCormick performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Sales- Flavor Solutions: $794 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $771.11 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +8.9%.Net Sales- Consumer: $1.14 billion compared to the $1.13 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +22.8% year over year.Operating income, excluding special charges- Flavor Solutions: $120 million compared to the $101.86 million average estimate based on two analysts.Operating income, excluding special charges- Consumer: $217 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $194.66 million.View all Key Company Metrics for McCormick here>>>
Shares of McCormick have returned +0.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
McCormick & Company Inc (NYSE:MKC) shares climbed more than 5% after the spice and seasoning maker reported fiscal second quarter 2026 results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and reaffirmed its full-year guidance.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.80 per share for the quarter ended May 31, ahead of analyst estimates of $0.70 per share.
Revenue totaled $1.94 billion, surpassing consensus expectations of approximately $1.9 billion.
Net sales increased 16.7% year-over-year, benefiting from a 2.7% favorable currency impact and contributions from the McCormick de Mexico acquisition. Organic sales rose 1.7%.
Adjusted operating income climbed 30.1% to $336 million, while operating income increased to $276 million from $246 million a year earlier. Gross profit margin expanded by 270 basis points to 40.2%.
McCormick said it benefited from pricing actions, cost savings initiatives and contributions from McCormick de Mexico, though these gains were partly offset by higher commodity costs and expenses related to the conflict in the Middle East.
Consumer segment sales rose 22.8% to $1.14 billion, including a 20% contribution from McCormick de Mexico, while Flavor Solutions sales increased 8.9% to $794 million. Organic sales in the Flavor Solutions business advanced 2.9%, supported by gains in both pricing and volume.
The company also noted progress in planning for its proposed combination with Unilever Foods, which it said is expected to provide strategic and financial benefits, including earnings accretion.
McCormick reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting reported net sales growth of 13% to 17% and adjusted earnings per share of $3.05 to $3.13.
The company expects organic sales growth of 1% to 3% and adjusted operating income growth of 16% to 20%.
McCormick CEO Brendan Foley said the company continued to see momentum in its Flavor Solutions business and plans to increase investments aimed at improving consumer volume trends during the remainder of the year. "Our fundamentals remain strong, supported by our advantaged categories and disciplined execution, giving us confidence in our ability to deliver on our 2026 outlook."
Key Takeaways McCormick's Q2 adjusted EPS rose 15.9% to 80 cents as net sales climbed 16.7% to $1.94 billion.MKC's gross margin expanded 270 basis points on de Mexico gains, tariff refund, pricing and CCI savings.McCormick still expects fiscal 2026 net sales growth of 13-17% and adjusted EPS of $3.05-$3.13. McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased year over year.
Adjusted earnings rose 15.9% to 80 cents per share from 69 cents in the year-ago quarter. The metric beats the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents per share. The increase was driven by elevated adjusted operating income and a reduced adjusted effective tax rate, partially offset by weaker unconsolidated income and increased interest expense.
The global flavor leader generated net sales of $1,936.6 million, up 16.7% year over year, including a 2.7% positive currency impact and a 12% contribution from McCormick de Mexico. The top line beats the consensus mark of $1,899 million. Organic sales edged up 1.7%.
MKC’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsThe gross margin expanded 270 basis points, driven by contributions from the McCormick de Mexico acquisition, the IEEPA tariff refund, pricing actions and productivity savings generated through the company's Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (“CCI”) program. These benefits were partially offset by higher commodity costs and costs associated with the Middle East conflict.
Adjusted operating income increased to $336 million from $259 million, reflecting a 30% year-over-year rise, including a 3% favorable currency impact. On a constant currency basis, adjusted operating income grew 27%, supported by elevated gross profit and CCI-driven cost savings, including SG&A efficiencies. These gains were partially offset by higher SG&A expenses, primarily due to acquisition-related costs, elevated brand marketing investments and technology spending.
Decoding MKC’s Segmental PerformanceConsumer: The segment’s sales surged 23% year over year to $1,143 million, supported by a 20% contribution from McCormick de Mexico and a 2% positive currency impact. Organic sales rose 1%, as a 3% increase in pricing more than offset a 2% decline in volume and mix. Adjusted operating income rose 33% year over year to $217 million or 31% in constant currency, driven by elevated gross profit, partially offset by higher SG&A investments in marketing and technology.
Flavor Solutions: Sales grew 9% year over year to $794 million, including a 3% favorable currency impact and a 3% contribution from McCormick de Mexico. Organic sales in the segment edged up 3%, driven by pricing, volume and product mix. Adjusted operating income increased 26% to $120 million or 22% in constant currency, supported by elevated gross profit but partly offset by higher SG&A expenses, including continued investments in technology.
MKC’s Financial Health SnapshotMcCormick ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $331.2 million, long-term debt of $3,597.4 million and total shareholders’ equity of $7,573.3 million.
In the six months ended May 31, 2026, net cash provided by operating activities was $430.7 million. The company continues to expect robust cash generation for fiscal 2026, supported by profit and working capital initiatives, and aims to return a significant portion to its shareholders via dividends.
What to Expect From MKC in Fiscal 2026?The company still expects net sales growth of 13-17% (while 12-16% in constant currency) in fiscal 2026, including an 11-13% contribution from the McCormick de Mexico acquisition in both reported and constant currency terms. Organic sales are projected to increase 1-3% on a constant currency basis.
Adjusted gross margin is expected to expand 100-120 basis points, with favorable impacts from organic sales growth, accretion from the McCormick de Mexico acquisition, and productivity gains from the company's CCI program. The benefit from the IEEPA tariff refund is expected to be largely offset by higher inflationary pressures, including costs related to the Middle East conflict, as well as ongoing investments to support growth initiatives.
Adjusted operating income is projected to rise 16-20% (up 15-19% at constant currency).
The company expects adjusted EPS between $3.05 and $3.13, indicating 2-5% year-over-year growth and a 1-4% rise at constant currency.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company has lost 9.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 1.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderThe Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. At present, CHEF sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Chefs' Warehouse’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 8.3% and 24.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Chefs' Warehouse delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.9%, on average.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. Darling Ingredients delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 12.3% and 588.2%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.
Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Key Takeaways Lucid will cut about 18% of its U.S. workforce to lower costs and save an estimated $158M annually.LCID aims to align production with demand, reduce inventory and end a second shift at its Arizona plant.Lucid plans to unveil the Cosmos SUV this summer, with launch expected in 2027 at under $50,000. Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID - Free Report) is reducing its U.S. workforce by roughly 18% as part of a restructuring initiative to lower costs. The company estimates that the move will generate annualized savings of about $158 million.
The layoffs will affect full-time employees, contractors and hourly manufacturing workers. As of Dec. 31, Lucid employed approximately 9,000 people worldwide. The workforce reduction is intended to better align production with customer demand, lower inventory levels, address challenging market conditions, streamline operations and enhance competitiveness.
This marks Lucid’s second major round of job cuts in recent months, following a reduction of about 12% of its U.S. workforce in February as part of efforts to move closer to profitability.
The company expects to record around $32 million in cash charges related to severance payments, employee benefits and transition support. Lucid also plans to discontinue the second production shift at its AMP-1 manufacturing facility in Arizona.
Leadership changes have continued as well. Former CEO Peter Rawlinson stepped down in February. More recently, former COO and interim CEO Marc Winterhoff departed the company, leading Lucid to eliminate the COO role. Silvio Napoli assumed the CEO position on June 1, 2026. The automaker has also seen the departure of several senior engineering leaders, including Emad Dlala and Zach Walker.
Despite these changes, Lucid remains on track to unveil its upcoming Cosmos SUV this summer. Expected to be priced below $50,000, the vehicle is being engineered with a targeted drag coefficient of 0.22 and an estimated driving range exceeding 300 miles. The Cosmos is anticipated to launch in 2027, followed by the Earth SUV and another more rugged, off-road-oriented model based on the same vehicle platform.
LCID’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksLucid currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (GELHY - Free Report) , Douglas Dynamics, Inc. (PLOW - Free Report) and Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GELHY’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 77.1% and 40.3%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 18 cents and 7 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLOW’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 16.7% and 31.4%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 39 cents and 29 cents, respectively, over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTX’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 5.6% and 20.4%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 has improved 12 cents over the past 60 days, while the EPS estimate for 2027 has improved a penny over the past 30 days.
Key Takeaways Upstart shares rose after a renewed Neuberger deal to invest up to $600M in platform-originated loans.Committed loan demand can help Upstart fund growth without relying heavily on its own balance sheet.Upstart's Q1 originations rose 61% to $3.4B, while revenues increased 44% to $308M. Shares of Upstart Holdings (UPST - Free Report) were up more than 3% yesterday as the fintech company added another funding win at a key time for its lending marketplace. The company announced a renewed forward-flow agreement with Neuberger Specialty Finance, under which Neuberger-managed funds are expected to invest in up to $600 million of consumer loans originated through Upstart’s platform.
This is encouraging as more committed loan demand can help Upstart fund growth without leaning heavily on its own balance sheet. That matters because Upstart’s model works best when banks, credit unions and institutional investors buy the loans while the company earns platform and servicing fees. A deeper funding base can also support more competitive borrower rates and a smoother customer experience.
This deal fits with Upstart’s broader push to expand both lending partners and capital partners. Earlier, Community Choice Credit Union and USF Credit Union selected Upstart for personal lending, giving qualified applicants access to credit union-branded digital loan offers through Upstart’s platform. These additions show that Upstart is finding demand among traditional financial institutions that want faster, AI-powered lending tools.
The company also has momentum in its latest results. In first-quarter 2026, originations rose 61% year over year to about $3.4 billion, while revenues increased 44% to $308 million. Upstart also reiterated its 2026 outlook for about $1.4 billion in revenue and $294 million in adjusted EBITDA. Its platform now connects consumers with more than 100 banks and credit unions, and more than 90% of loans are fully automated.
For investors, the Neuberger renewal is a positive signal for funding confidence, and recent credit union wins support platform growth. Still, Upstart remains sensitive to consumer credit conditions, capital market appetite and margin pressure. UPST looks better positioned than it did during tougher funding periods, but a Neutral view still makes sense until growth translates into steadier profits.
Over the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 25.1% compared with the industry's 8.6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the Zacks-Financial Miscellaneous Services sector are Alerus Financial, Inc. (ALRS - Free Report) and Chime Financial (CHYM - Free Report) . While Alerus Financial sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Chime Financial carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alerus Financial’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $2.95, indicating a 6.12% increase from the prior-year period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHYM’s 2026 EPS has been revised from 16 cents to 30 cents over the past two months.
Kosmos Energy (KOS - Free Report) has been beaten down lately with too much selling pressure. While the stock has lost 20.6% over the past four weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel as it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts expect the company to report better earnings than they predicted earlier.
We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.
RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.
Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.
So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.
However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.
Here's Why KOS Could Experience a TurnaroundThe RSI reading of 28.42 for KOS is an indication that the heavy selling could be in the process of exhausting itself, so the stock could bounce back in a quest for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.
The RSI value is not the only factor that indicates a potential turnaround for the stock in the near term. On the fundamental side, there has been strong agreement among the sell-side analysts covering the stock in raising earnings estimates for the current year. Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for KOS has increased 20.8%. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.
Moreover, KOS currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Kosmos Energy (KOS - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
Kosmos Energy is one of 238 companies in the Oils-Energy group. The Oils-Energy group currently sits at #7 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Kosmos Energy is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KOS' full-year earnings has moved 20.8% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
Our latest available data shows that KOS has returned about 133.6% since the start of the calendar year. In comparison, Oils-Energy companies have returned an average of 18.7%. This means that Kosmos Energy is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.
Valvoline (VVV - Free Report) is another Oils-Energy stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 36.3%.
For Valvoline, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, Kosmos Energy belongs to the Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - International industry, a group that includes 6 individual stocks and currently sits at #104 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 33.5% so far this year, so KOS is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
Valvoline, however, belongs to the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry. Currently, this 17-stock industry is ranked #47. The industry has moved +31.8% so far this year.
Going forward, investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should continue to pay close attention to Kosmos Energy and Valvoline as they could maintain their solid performance.
Key Takeaways FuelCell Energy is gaining attention as AI data centers drive demand for reliable on-site baseload power.FCEL's fiscal second-quarter pipeline reached 4 GW, with 89% of proposals tied to data centers.Contracted backlog fell 9.9% year over year, keeping revenue timing and order conversion in focus. FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) is increasingly trading around a larger market theme: AI infrastructure needs reliable on-site power faster than the grid can often deliver.
That gives FCEL a clearer growth story, but investors still need to separate theme exposure from execution. The opportunity is real, yet the company must convert proposals into contracts and revenue.
FuelCell Energy Taps the AI Power CrunchAI and high-density data centers are creating demand for continuous behind-the-meter baseload power. FCEL’s fiscal second-quarter pipeline reached 4 GW, up 267% sequentially, with about 89% of proposals tied to data centers.
Image Source: FuelCell Energy
The company is positioning its platform around time-to-power, modular scaling, direct current output and integrated cooling. Its technology is meant to help customers reduce dependence on constrained transmission infrastructure and address permitting friction in power-tight markets.
Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) is also tied to this emerging theme, with on-site fuel-cell power marketed for data centers and mission-critical infrastructure. Its role in the same market reinforces how AI power demand is broadening investor attention beyond traditional utilities.
FCEL Joins the Shift to Standardized PowerFCEL’s standardized 12.5-MW FuelCell Energy Block is central to its data center push. The product combines 10 of the company’s 1.25-MW modules and is designed to reduce repeat engineering and permitting work.
That matters because large AI infrastructure buyers need repeatable deployment models. A standardized design may make bigger projects easier to plan and phase, improving the commercial appeal of FCEL’s systems in grid-constrained markets.
FuelCell Energy Extends Beyond Baseload PowerFCEL’s trend story is not limited to data centers. Its carbonate platform can support distributed generation, cooling, biogas use, hydrogen production and carbon capture, giving the company optionality in industrial decarbonization.
The company’s carbon capture modules headed to Rotterdam for ExxonMobil expand that optionality. The Rotterdam pilot is expected to test technology that captures carbon while producing power and hydrogen, potentially opening another industrial market if the demonstration succeeds.
Image Source: FuelCell Energy
Plug Power (PLUG - Free Report) offers another example of how hydrogen and fuel-cell companies are pursuing data center and critical-power applications. Plug markets fuel-cell backup power for data centers as a scalable, zero-emission alternative to traditional combustion generators.
FCEL Must Prove Demand Can Become RevenueThe biggest issue is conversion. FCEL’s pipeline is heavily weighted toward proposals and commercial discussions rather than signed contracts, which keeps revenue timing difficult to predict.
Backlog also sends a cautionary signal. Contracted backlog fell 9.9% year over year to $1.14 billion as of April 30, 2026, and product backlog declined sharply as revenue burn-off was not fully offset by new orders.
Large infrastructure deals can take time to close, especially in data centers. Strong exposure to AI power demand does not remove the risk that orders arrive later than expected or fail to convert.
FuelCell Energy Scores Fit a Trend TradeThe bottom line is that FCEL fits the profile of a trend-driven idea. AI power demand, modular on-site generation and carbon capture optionality give the stock a compelling narrative, but the company still needs stronger proof in backlog, revenue and profitability.
FCEL carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which points to a favorable near-term earnings-estimate backdrop. Its Growth Score of B also fits a company exposed to a developing demand theme.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
However, the Style Scores are mixed, with a Value Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of D. That combination suggests FCEL may appeal to patient, risk-tolerant investors, but it is not screening as a broadly strong stock across value, momentum and blended style factors.
Key Takeaways FuelCell Energy and Fit Energy agreed to provide up to 380 MW for AI data centers.Initial 30 MW deployment is set to begin delivery later this year.FuelCell Energy said the deal supports its expanded 500 MW operational capacity. FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL - Free Report) and Fit Energy have entered into a strategic agreement to provide up to 380 megawatts (MW) of clean, baseload power for data centers, addressing the rapidly growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and advanced digital services. The collaboration underscores the increasing importance of innovative energy solutions in supporting next-generation digital infrastructure while ensuring reliable and sustainable power for expanding AI-driven operations.
A Strategic Partnership for Growing Data Center DemandFuelCell Energy, a leading provider of utility-scale fuel cell technology, has partnered with Fit Energy, an energy infrastructure developer focused on supporting advanced computing and AI applications. The agreement is designed to provide clean, on-site power solutions that can help data centers meet rising energy requirements while maintaining reliability and operational efficiency.
As part of the arrangement, FuelCell Energy will supply its utility-scale fuel cell systems to support Fit Energy’s expanding portfolio of power projects. The collaboration begins with an initial 30 MW deployment scheduled to start delivery later this year, marking the first step toward the broader 380 MW target.
Meeting the Energy Needs of AI InfrastructureAI workloads require enormous computing power, which in turn demands a significant and continuous electricity supply. Traditional grid infrastructure often faces challenges in keeping pace with this rapidly growing demand.
By utilizing FuelCell Energy’s technology, the partnership aims to provide dependable baseload power directly at data center locations. This behind-the-meter approach can help reduce dependence on grid constraints while ensuring consistent energy availability for mission-critical operations.
According to FuelCell Energy’s leadership, the agreement reflects increasing interest from customers across the digital infrastructure sector seeking cleaner and more resilient energy solutions.
Supporting Long-Term Growth Through Scalable SolutionsThe agreement also reinforces FuelCell Energy’s decision to expand its operational capacity to 500 MW. The company believes scaling its manufacturing and deployment capabilities will enable it to meet growing customer demand across multiple industries, including data centers and AI infrastructure.
For Fit Energy, the partnership aligns with its vision of providing “energy as a service” solutions that support both economic growth and environmental responsibility. The company focuses on developing large-scale power infrastructure capable of serving the digital economy’s rapidly evolving requirements.
FCEL Is Aligning Success Through Performance-Based IncentivesA notable aspect of the agreement is a warrant structure tied to future deployment milestones. Fit Energy may become eligible to receive warrants based on successful project execution and deployment progress toward the 380 MW target.
This performance-based framework is designed to align the interests of both companies and encourage long-term value creation as projects move from development to operation.
Why Fuel Cell Technology MattersFuel cell systems generate electricity directly at the point of use, offering several advantages for data center operators. These systems provide continuous power generation, reduced emissions and scalability that can support expanding digital infrastructure needs.
As organizations seek reliable alternatives to traditional power sources, fuel cell technology is emerging as a viable solution for facilities that require uninterrupted electricity, including AI data centers, industrial operations and utility applications.
Driving the Future of Clean Data Center PowerThe agreement between FuelCell Energy and Fit Energy represents a significant step toward addressing one of the biggest challenges facing the AI era: securing reliable and sustainable power. By combining advanced fuel cell technology with large-scale energy infrastructure development, the two companies aim to create a foundation capable of supporting future growth in data centers and digital services.
As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, partnerships like this demonstrate how energy innovators are working to ensure that the digital economy has the power resources needed to continue expanding.
FCEL’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksFuelCell Energy is a clean energy company that develops and provides stationary fuel cell systems for on-site, continuous power generation. Currently, FCEL carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Investors interested in the energy sector may consider some other top-ranked stocks like Global Partners LP (GLP - Free Report) , Crescent Energy Company (CRGY - Free Report) and CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Global Partners is a Delaware limited partnership formed by affiliates of the Slifka family. It owns, controls or has access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products in New England. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GLP’s 2026 earnings indicates 113.1% year-over-year growth.
Crescent Energy is a U.S. onshore oil and gas producer focused on three major basins: the Eagle Ford in Texas, the Permian in Texas and New Mexico and the Uinta in Utah. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRGY’s 2026 earnings indicates 39.4% year-over-year growth.
CrossAmerica Partners engages in the wholesale distribution of motor fuels, consisting of gasoline and diesel fuel, and owns and leases real estate used in the retail distribution of motor fuels. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAPL’s 2026 earnings indicates 4% year-over-year growth.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) Based in Dallas, TX, Southwest Airlines is a passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States and 'ten near-international' markets. The company was incorporated in Texas in 1967 and commenced operations in 1971 with three Boeing 737 jets serving the cities of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
LUV is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.38; value investors should take notice.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $2.93 per share. LUV also boasts an average earnings surprise of +247%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, LUV should be on investors' short list.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Butler National Corporation (OTCQX: BUKS), a leader in the global market for aircraft modification, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and a recognized provider of gaming management services, announces the launch of its newly redesigned corporate website (www.butlernational.com).
Designed to serve as a central resource for the investment community and other key audiences, the new Butler National Website features a refreshed interface, improved navigation, enhanced investor relations section, and expanded information across the company's business segments. The website offers users a new email subscription feature that provides investors, customers, and other interested parties the opportunity to receive press releases, SEC filings, earnings announcements, and other company updates.
Executive Chairman Jeff Yowell said, "This new platform reflects Butler National's commitment to improving transparency and strengthening communication with our shareholders."
Readers are invited to explore the newly redesigned website to experience its enhanced features and improved accessibility.
About Butler National Corporation
Butler National Corporation operates in the Aerospace and Professional Services business segments. The Aerospace Products segment includes the design, manufacture, sale and service of structural modifications, design, integration and installation of electronic equipment, systems and technologies that enhance aircraft operations, and the design, manufacture and sale of defense related articles. Additionally, we operate FAA Repair Stations. Companies in Aerospace Products concentrate on products and services for Learjet, Textron Beechcraft, King Air, and Textron Cessna turboprop aircraft.
Butler National-Tempe designs and manufactures robust electronic controls and cabling. The Professional Services segment includes the management of a gaming, dining and entertainment facility in Dodge City, Kansas. Boot Hill Casino and Resort features approximately 500 slot machines, 15 table games and a DraftKings branded sportsbook.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding future opportunities, growth, and performance. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Media Contact:
Mackenzie Giller
Director of Executive Operations & Corporate Administration [email protected]
+1 (913) 780-9595
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/butler-national-corporation-launches-redesigned-website-to-enhance-investor-engagement-302810933.html
Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) stock fell more than 6% on Thursday, underperforming a stronger broader market, after a brokerage downgrade raised concerns about its valuation.
GF Securities downgraded Dell to Hold from Buy on Wednesday, citing valuation concerns following the stock’s sharp rally. The downgrade came as Piper Sandler analyst James Fish reiterated an Overweight rating and maintained a $497 price forecast.
AI Market Trends and Analyst CommentaryFish said Micron’s latest earnings and supply-demand commentary point to continued strength in AI infrastructure spending. The analyst noted that persistent memory supply constraints, accelerating AI server demand, and higher server shipment expectations support Dell’s outlook, along with other AI infrastructure names.
The pullback also comes after a strong run. Dell shares have gained more than 235% over the past 12 months, prompting some investors to lock in profits.
The broader market remained supportive. The Nasdaq gained 0.45%, while the S&P 500 added 0.19%. The Technology sector also traded modestly higher, suggesting Dell’s decline was driven by company-specific factors rather than broader market weakness.
Technical AnalysisDell is trading just below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) of $407.12, indicating that near-term momentum has weakened after months of strong gains.
However, the longer-term trend remains intact. The stock is still 34.5% above its 50-day SMA, 80.7% above its 100-day SMA and 125.8% above its 200-day SMA.
Momentum indicators have cooled. The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) remains below its signal line, with a negative histogram, suggesting buying pressure has eased in the short term.
The stock continues to trade above its longer-term moving averages, and the “golden cross” formed in March remains in place. However, after reaching a fresh 52-week high in June, Dell could face additional profit-taking if buyers fail to defend current levels.
Key resistance stands near $469.50, while initial support is around $357.00.
Earnings and Analyst OutlookDell is expected to report fiscal second-quarter results on Aug. 27, 2026.
Wall Street expects earnings of $4.83 per share, up from $2.32 a year earlier, on revenue of $44.47 billion, compared with $29.78 billion in the prior-year quarter.
The stock trades at about 34.6 times forward earnings, reflecting a premium valuation.
Analysts maintain an overall Buy consensus with an average price forecast of $472.06. Recent analyst actions include:
Piper Sandler: Overweight, maintained $497 price forecast (June 24) GF Securities: Downgraded to Hold from Buy (June 24) Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight, raised price forecast to $477 (June 23) Goldman Sachs: Buy, raised price forecast to $500 (June 1) Mizuho: Outperform, raised price forecast to $500 (June 1) Benzinga Edge RankingsDell continues to score highly on momentum despite Thursday’s decline.
Its Momentum score stands at 98.77, reflecting the stock’s strong long-term uptrend. Growth is rated 61.43, while Value scores 25.42, indicating investors continue to assign a premium valuation to the shares.
ETF ExposureDell remains a significant holding in several exchange-traded funds, including:
Large inflows or outflows in these funds can influence trading activity in Dell shares.
Price ActionDELL Stock Price Activity: Dell Technologies shares were down 6.35% at $406.50 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways Cigna is broadening its business with pharmacy services, specialty care and AI-driven solutions.CI raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook and is reshaping its portfolio toward higher-growth areas.Evernorth is fueling growth with pharmacy benefits, specialty pharmacy and care services. If you still think of The Cigna Group (CI - Free Report) as just a traditional health insurer, it may be time for a second look. The company is steadily expanding beyond insurance, building a broader healthcare platform centered on pharmacy services, specialty care and AI-powered solutions. The strategy is beginning to deliver results.
Evernorth, Cigna's health services business, is driving much of the company's transformation. Its pharmacy benefits, specialty pharmacy and care services businesses are helping deliver more affordable, personalized care. In the first quarter of 2026, Evernorth's adjusted revenues grew 9% year over year to $58.4 billion.
Technology is becoming another key growth driver. Cigna is using AI and advanced analytics to streamline prescriptions, identify high-risk patients earlier and improve customer engagement. Its rebate-free Signature pharmacy model aims to lower out-of-pocket drug costs, while AI helps simplify the pharmacy experience.
Cigna is also reshaping its portfolio. Investments in CarepathRx and Shields Health Solutions have strengthened its specialty pharmacy business. It also plans to exit the individual exchange business and is reviewing strategic alternatives for eviCore. These moves should help management direct more resources toward its higher-growth businesses.
Management's confidence in the strategy is growing. Following a strong first quarter, Cigna raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook by 10 cents to at least $30.35 per share. Cigna's push beyond traditional health insurance is still unfolding, but its growing focus on AI, specialty pharmacy and healthcare services is opening new avenues for long-term growth.
How Are Cigna's Peers Positioned?Cigna isn't alone in this shift. Peers in the Medical space, like UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) and CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) are also investing in technology-enabled healthcare services, making innovation a key differentiator across the industry.
UnitedHealth is pursuing a similar strategy through Optum, which combines pharmacy services, care delivery and technology. Growth in Optum Rx and commercial fee-based membership supported previous quarter’s results. UNH is also expanding its AI and analytics capabilities while rolling out a transparent, fee-based pharmacy care model.
CVS Health is also broadening its healthcare platform through pharmacy services, digital innovation and care delivery. CVS continues to expand AI-powered member engagement and digital onboarding at Aetna while strengthening CVS Caremark and its Health Care Delivery business.
Cigna’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Cigna have risen 1.6% year to date compared with the industry’s 22.8%. growth
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Cigna trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.78X compared with the industry average of 17.75X. CI carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $30.39 per share, implying a 1.8% increase from the year-ago period’s level.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Cigna currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
NEW YORK, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zoetis securities between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ZTS.
Zoetis Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the growth, competitive positioning, market share, and veterinarian adoption of key products within the Companion Animal segment while failing to disclose that:
(1)veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis’ Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; (2)Zoetis’ Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower-priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and (3)Zoetis’ dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment. What's Next for Zoetis Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ZTS. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Zoetis you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Zoetis Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Zoetis Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
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Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zoetis securities between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ZTS.
Zoetis Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the growth, competitive positioning, market share, and veterinarian adoption of key products within the Companion Animal segment while failing to disclose that:
veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis’ Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs;Zoetis’ Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower-priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; andZoetis’ dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment.
What's Next for Zoetis Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ZTS. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Zoetis you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Zoetis Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Zoetis Securities Class Action?
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Key Takeaways ROST shares rose 79.6% in the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 and discount-store industry.Ross Stores is gaining from traffic growth, customer acquisition and stronger branded assortments.ROST raised FY26 guidance, with comparable sales growth of 6-7% and EPS of $7.50-$7.74. Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) has emerged as one of the strongest performers within its industry over the past year. Shares of ROST have surged 79.6% in the past year, significantly outperforming the broader market and most industry peers. Over the same period, the S&P 500 advanced 24.4%, the Retail - Discount Stores industry gained 14.1% and the broader Retail-Wholesale sector rose 2.9%.
ROST Stock’s Past Year Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
As of the latest trading session, Ross Stores closed at $228.6, just 5.9% below its 52-week high of $242.81 reached on June 12, 2026. The stock is trading above both its 50- and 200-day moving averages, signaling bullish sentiment.
ROST Trades Above 50 and 200-Day Moving Average
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What’s Fueling Ross Stores’ Rally?Ross Stores continues to gain from strong customer acquisition and traffic growth, which have been key drivers of its comparable-store sales performance. Transaction growth has accelerated for three straight quarters, supported by double-digit customer count gains across income groups, age demographics and ethnicities. Younger shoppers, in particular, are responding well to refreshed marketing efforts, improved store presentation and compelling branded assortments.
The company’s merchandising strength is another major catalyst. Ross Stores is benefiting from healthy closeout availability in the marketplace, deeper vendor relationships and improved access to branded deals. Its ability to quickly secure seasonally relevant merchandise has helped the company chase demand effectively while maintaining its value proposition.
Operational execution also remains solid. Ross Stores delivered merchandise margin gains and operating margin expansion in the first quarter, aided by occupancy leverage and lower distribution costs. The company’s disciplined cost structure, combined with strong sales productivity, continues to support earnings growth even as it invests in stores, marketing and customer experience.
Store expansion adds another layer of growth. Ross Stores plans to open about 110 stores this year, including Ross and dd’s DISCOUNTS locations, while recent openings are performing well across new and existing markets. Continued expansion in underpenetrated regions, including the Northeast, should help broaden the company’s customer reach and reinforce its long-term growth runway.
Upward Earnings Estimate Revisions Signal Confidence in ROSTRoss Stores remains optimistic about its growth prospects, backed by solid sales momentum and improving execution. Management expects second-quarter comparable sales growth of 6-7% and raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting comparable sales growth of 6-7% and earnings per share of $7.50-$7.74.
While acknowledging potential macroeconomic uncertainties, including higher fuel costs and consumer spending pressures, the company believes its value-focused business model, strong customer acquisition trends, merchandising initiatives and expanding store base position it well to sustain healthy sales and earnings growth over the remainder of the year.
Reflecting optimism around ROST, analysts have revised their EPS estimates upward. In the past 30 days, analysts have increased their fiscal 2026 and 2027 estimates by 1.3% to $7.74 and 1.3% to $8.48 per share, respectively. These estimates indicate expected year-over-year growth rates of around 17.1% and 9.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ROST Stock’s ValuationRoss Stores is currently trading at a discount relative to its industry peers. ROST stock trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.47, lower than the industry’s average of 31.39.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Here’s Why ROST Can Be an Attractive PlayRoss Stores continues to execute well across key growth drivers, including customer acquisition, merchandising, operational efficiency and store expansion. Strong comparable sales, margin expansion and raised earnings guidance reflect the strength of its value-focused business model, while positive estimate revisions underscore growing analyst confidence.
Although macroeconomic uncertainties such as higher fuel costs and consumer spending pressures remain, ROST's resilient off-price model and attractive valuation relative to the industry support a favorable long-term investment case. Currently, this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock appears well positioned for investors seeking exposure to the renewable fuels market and long-term growth opportunities.
Other Stocks to ConsiderFive Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) , which operates as a specialty value retailer, currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Five Below’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 14.7% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. FIVE delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.
Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) provides accessories and lifestyle brand products in North America, Greater China, the rest of Asia and internationally. At present, TPR sports a Zacks Rank of 1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 13.8% and 36.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. TPR has delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.6%, on average.
Victoria’s Secret & Co. (VSXY - Free Report) operates as a specialty retailer of women's intimate apparel and other apparel and beauty products worldwide. At present, VSXY flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 8.8% and 53.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. VSXY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 55.1%, on average.
Shares of Western Digital (WDC - Free Report) have been struggling lately and have lost 9.6% over the past week. However, a hammer chart pattern was formed in its last trading session, which could mean that the stock found support with bulls being able to counteract the bears. So, it could witness a trend reversal down the road.
While the formation of a hammer pattern is a technical indication of nearing a bottom with potential exhaustion of selling pressure, rising optimism among Wall Street analysts about the future earnings of this maker of hard drives for businesses and personal computers is a solid fundamental factor that enhances the prospects of a trend reversal for the stock.
Understanding Hammer Chart and the Technique to Trade ItThis is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'
In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.
When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.
Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.
Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.
Here's What Increases the Odds of a Turnaround for WDCThere has been an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions for WDC lately, which can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.
The consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.2% over the last 30 days. This means that the Wall Street analysts covering WDC are majorly in agreement about the company's potential to report better earnings than what they predicted earlier.
If this is not enough, you should note that WDC currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Moreover, the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator, helping investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve. So, for the shares of Western Digital, a Zacks Rank of 1 is a more conclusive fundamental indication of a potential turnaround.
Yum! Brands was seeing an improvement in sales even before announcing this sale. Meanwhile, McDonald's is closing in on 50 straight years of dividend increases.
Key Takeaways McDonald's posted 3.8% global comparable sales growth and gained share in nearly all top 10 markets.Yum! Brands grew system sales 6%, topped 1,000 new restaurant openings and boosted digital sales.Both companies are expanding globally while investing in digital tools and value-focused offerings. The quick-service restaurant industry continues to navigate a challenging consumer environment, with value offerings, digital engagement and international expansion playing increasingly important roles in driving growth.
Against this backdrop, both McDonald's Corporation (MCD - Free Report) and Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM - Free Report) remains the sector's most influential players, backed by globally recognized brands and predominantly franchised business models. While McDonald's leverages its unmatched scale, operational efficiency and strong value proposition, Yum! Brands is capitalizing on the expansion of KFC and Taco Bell while accelerating digital innovation and AI-driven capabilities. With both companies pursuing distinct growth strategies, investors may be wondering which restaurant stock offers the stronger long-term opportunity.
The Case for MCDMcDonald's continues to demonstrate the resilience of its business model despite a challenging consumer environment. In the first quarter of 2026, the company posted 3.8% global comparable sales growth and gained market share in nearly all of its top 10 markets. Management attributed the performance to its focus on value offerings, impactful marketing campaigns and menu innovation, reinforcing the effectiveness of the "three-for-three" strategy.
The company is also well-positioned for long-term growth through its global scale and digital initiatives. McDonald's is rolling out new beverage platforms across key markets, expanding its value menu in the United States and remains on track to open about 1,000 restaurants in China this year while reaffirming the broader 2026 financial targets. These initiatives should support customer traffic and strengthen its competitive position.
However, McDonald's continues to face several headwinds. Management acknowledged that the macroeconomic backdrop remains difficult, with lower-income consumers still under pressure from inflation and elevated fuel prices. The company also expects second-quarter comparable sales growth to slow due to difficult comparisons and an uncertain demand environment.
Profitability also remains an area of concern. McDonald's admitted that margins at its U.S. company-operated restaurants were below expectations, while franchisees continue to grapple with higher labor, commodity and supply-chain costs. Rising construction expenses could also affect future restaurant development if projected returns become less attractive.
The Case for YUMYum! Brands delivered another solid quarter, driven by broad-based growth across its core businesses. System sales increased 6%, global same-store sales rose 3% and the company opened more than 1,000 new restaurants during the quarter. Strong contributions from KFC and Taco Bell, coupled with disciplined cost management, fueled double-digit core operating profit growth.
Taco Bell remains Yum! Brands' biggest growth engine. The brand posted strong U.S. same-store sales growth, outperforming the broader quick-service restaurant industry for the eighth straight quarter. Management credited the performance to its value platform, menu innovation, digital engagement and operational improvements, while also raising the full-year restaurant margin outlook.
Yum! Brands is also strengthening its long-term competitive position through technology and global expansion. Digital sales approached $11 billion during the quarter, with the digital mix reaching a record 63%. The company continues to expand the Byte technology platform, deploy AI-powered tools across its brands and accelerate restaurant development at KFC and Taco Bell, creating multiple avenues for sustained growth.
On the downside, Yum! Brands still face external risks. Geopolitical tensions in certain international markets and persistent inflationary pressures could weigh on consumer demand and restaurant development in some regions. While management expects only a limited impact, these factors remain worth monitoring.
How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for MCD & YUM?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McDonald’s 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 5.7% and 6%, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2026 have witnessed downward revisions of 2.1% in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Yum! Brands’ 2026 sales and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 11% and 11.6%, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2026 have witnessed upward revisions of 1% in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance & ValuationMCD stock has lost 12.5% in the past six months, compared with the industry's 3.3% decrease. Conversely, YUM’s shares have declined 0.2% in the same time frame.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MCD is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 20.29X, below its median of 23.19X over the last year. YUM’s forward earnings multiple is 21.64X, below its median of 23.04X over the same time frame.
P/E (F12M)
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Wrapping UpWhile both companies trade below their historical valuation averages, Yum! Brands appears better positioned for growth. The company is benefiting from stronger earnings and revenue expectations, improving analyst sentiment and sustained momentum at Taco Bell, supported by international expansion and digital innovation.
In contrast, McDonald's is facing softer earnings estimate revisions, pressure on company-operated restaurant margins and a more challenging consumer backdrop. Yum! Brands also continues to streamline its portfolio following the announced divestiture of Pizza Hut, allowing management to sharpen focus on the faster-growing KFC and Taco Bell businesses.
Yum! Brands currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while McDonald's has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Best Buy (BBY - Free Report) Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Richfield, MN, Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY - Free Report) is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of consumer electronics, computing products, appliances, entertainment products, mobile phones and technology-related services. The company operates as an omnichannel retailer, combining its extensive store network with e-commerce capabilities to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience across physical and digital channels.
BBY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 11.84; value investors should take notice.
Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $6.56 per share. BBY boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, BBY should be on investors' short list.
Key Takeaways WDC is focusing on enterprise HDDs, with AI-driven data growth supporting long-term demand.NTAP is expanding AI and cloud opportunities through data management, Keystone and partners.WDC earnings estimates rose 11% for fiscal 2026 as shares surged 913.7% in a year. The rapid expansion of AI, cloud computing and enterprise digital transformation has created unprecedented demand for data storage and management solutions. As organizations generate and process massive volumes of data, companies that enable efficient storage infrastructure are positioned to benefit from this long-term trend.
A couple of key players in this space are Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) and NetApp, Inc. (NTAP - Free Report) . Western Digital focuses primarily on storage hardware, including HDDs, whereas NetApp specializes in enterprise data management software and hybrid cloud storage solutions.
While both operate in the broader data center ecosystem, their business models differ significantly. For investors seeking exposure to the data center industry, which stock offers the better opportunity? Let’s delve deeper.
The Case for WDC StockWestern Digital has transformed itself into a top storage manufacturer. Following its separation of the flash memory business into Sandisk (SNDK - Free Report) , the company has sharpened its focus on HDD technology, particularly high-capacity enterprise drives used by hyperscale cloud providers. Major cloud providers continue expanding their storage infrastructure, benefiting WDC's enterprise HDD business. Management highlighted AI-driven data growth, particularly from inference and agentic AI, as a long-term catalyst for HDD demand, alongside rising UltraSMR adoption and customer agreements extending through 2028–2029.
At the Computex Event, held in June, WDC showcased its next-generation storage portfolio, underscoring the critical role of scalable, cost-efficient storage in AI infrastructure. Management highlighted its Ultrastar HDD lineup, featuring UltraSMR, ePMR and HAMR technologies, alongside platform solutions such as Ultrastar Data Series JBOD systems, OpenFlex EBOF and RapidFlex NVMe-oF controllers. These offerings help cloud providers, AI companies and HPC operators enhance capacity, boost performance and streamline infrastructure deployment. With AI fueling rapid data growth, WD has unveiled a storage roadmap focused on higher capacity, performance and efficiency while maintaining HDD cost advantages.
WD highlighted its 40TB UltraSMR ePMR HDD, targeted for volume production in fiscal 2026, and HAMR drives expected to ramp in 2027. WD aims to extend ePMR to 60TB and scale HAMR to 100TB by 2029, using a common architecture that simplifies customer upgrades and improves manufacturing efficiency. It highlighted continued areal-density gains and progress in high-bandwidth drives, which are being sampled by two hyperscale customers, with a third expected to begin evaluations this quarter. Designed for emerging AI workloads, its dual-pivot technology and open-API approach aim to simplify large-scale deployment. Management also noted improving demand across cloud, client, consumer and enterprise markets.
The company’s stronger balance sheet remains a major positive. During the fiscal third quarter, WDC significantly improved its balance sheet by selling 5.8 million SanDisk shares, using the proceeds to reduce debt by $3.1 billion. This move left just $1.6 billion in convertible debt outstanding. With $2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, WDC ended the quarter with a net cash position of $450 million, reflecting a notably stronger financial footing. In February 2026, its board authorized an additional $4 billion for share repurchases, with about $484 million remaining under the previous authorization. Since launching the capital return program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, it has returned a total of $2.2 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Nonetheless, risks remain. HDD markets are cyclical, and increased production could lead to oversupply and pricing pressure, causing earnings volatility. The company also faces customer concentration risk, macroeconomic and trade uncertainties, and execution challenges as it transitions to higher-capacity drives to meet growing AI-driven storage demand.
The Case for NTAP StockRather than manufacturing storage devices, NetApp provides enterprise storage systems, cloud data management software and intelligent storage infrastructure. Its solutions help organizations manage data across on-premises environments and public cloud platforms. NetApp's fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results demonstrate that its strategy of building an intelligent data infrastructure platform is paying off.
Strategic collaborations with Google Cloud and neo-cloud providers are further expanding its opportunities in AI and sovereign cloud markets. By enabling secure, high-performance data management and activation, NetApp is helping enterprises accelerate AI adoption, modernization and automation initiatives. Its storage-as-a-service offering, Keystone, continues to gain traction as customers adopt more flexible consumption models for on-prem data. Keystone revenue grew about 65% from fiscal 2025 as more customers sought a cloud-like experience with predictable costs and simpler operations.
Strong cash generation also enables continued shareholder returns. The company returned $1.36 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2026 through dividends and repurchases, and it increased its share buyback authorization by $1 billion. Management expects to return up to 100% of free cash flow to shareholders in fiscal 2027 and to reduce share count by a low single-digit percentage year over year. NetApp ended fiscal 2026 with $3.58 billion in cash and investments and $2.49 billion of gross debt, leaving it with net cash flexibility to support these priorities.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, NTAP remains exposed to broader enterprise technology spending trends. Fiscal 2027 guidance assumes a lower gross margin than fiscal 2026 as memory and component costs increase. Management expects pricing actions to offset costs over time, but product margins can trough early in the year and recover gradually. Additionally, NetApp’s acquisition history has resulted in a sizable base of goodwill and purchased intangible assets. As of April 24, 2026, goodwill and purchased intangible assets totaled $2.79 billion, or about 26% of total assets. This structure can increase integration and impairment risks if acquired assets do not deliver expected returns.
NetApp also faces intense competition from larger infrastructure and storage vendors, including Dell, HPE, IBM, Oracle and Everpure, which can pressure pricing and lengthen sales cycles. Sustaining market share gains will require consistent execution across its product and partner ecosystem. The company also faces demand-timing risks, as shifts in enterprise spending patterns or accelerated purchasing activity could lead to quarterly revenue volatility despite a solid underlying demand environment.
Price Performance for NTAP & WDCOver the past year, WDC has soared 913.7% while NTAP gained 48.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation PerspectiveIn terms of the forward 12-month price/earnings ratio, NTAP and WDC are trading at 21.35 and 35.95, respectively, compared with the industry’s multiple of 15.07.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for NTAP & WDC?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NTAP’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised up by 3.2% to $8.88 over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WDC’s estimate revisions are on an upward trajectory currently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised north 11% to $10.03 over the past 60 days, while the same for fiscal 2027 has gone up 25.8% to $18.04.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NTAP or WDC: Which Stock Has Better Long-Term Potential?Both Western Digital and NetApp stand to benefit from the explosive growth in AI, cloud computing and enterprise data creation, but they represent two distinct investment styles.
Western Digital offers greater upside potential as hyperscale cloud providers continue investing in high-capacity storage infrastructure. Its earnings can grow rapidly during favorable storage cycles, making it attractive for investors willing to accept higher volatility. NetApp, meanwhile, provides a more balanced investment opportunity. For investors seeking higher growth, WDC appears to offer greater upside, especially if AI-driven storage demand remains robust over the coming years.
WDC at present flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while NTAP has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Consequently, in terms of Zacks Rank, WDC seems to be a better choice at the moment. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Zscaler (ZS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 0.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Zscaler due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Zscaler, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Zscaler Q3 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Increase Y/YZscaler posted third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1.08 per share, up 28.6% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.00 by 8%.
Zscaler’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.4%.
Revenues rose 25% year over year to $850.4 million, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $834 million by 1.88% and exceeding management’s guidance of $834-$836 million. The quarter reflected continued demand for the company’s Zero Trust platform, supported by expanding customer commitments.
Zscaler’s Q3 in DetailZscaler’s third-quarter momentum was broad-based geographically. The Americas represented 56% of revenues in the quarter, up approximately 31% year over year, and delivered the strongest growth rate among regions. EMEA accounted for 28% of revenues, up approximately 16%, while Asia Pacific and Japan contributed 16%, rising about 23%.
The company also noted that roughly 46% of its remaining performance obligation was classified as current, underscoring near-term visibility tied to committed, non-cancelable future revenues.
Remaining Performance Obligations (“RPO”), representing Zscaler’s committed non-cancelable future revenues, were $6.5 billion as of April 30, which increased 30% year over year. Current RPO accounted for 46% of the total revenues.
Enterprise traction continued to reflect in the customer mix. Zscaler ended the quarter with 748 customers generating more than $1 million of ARR, an 18% year-over-year increase. Customers generating more than $100,000 of ARR reached 4,003, up 19% from the prior-year period. Total ARR increased 25% year over year to $3.5 billion.
The company mentioned that newer offerings delivered just over 30% of new ACV in the quarter, and the ARR tied to those offerings more than doubled from the year-ago period, supporting broader platform adoption. Management highlighted record $1 million-plus new ACV deals in the quarter, pointing to continued success in securing larger, multi-year engagements and expanding relationships across its Zero Trust Exchange offerings.
Profitability improved as operating discipline offset investment needs. Non-GAAP gross margin was 80.7% compared with 80.3% a year ago, reflecting the company’s high-margin subscription model.
Non-GAAP operating income increased 34% year over year to $195.8 million. The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 140 basis points to 23%, with management citing leverage in sales and marketing as a key contributor.
Zscaler’s Balance Sheet & Cash FlowAs of April 30, 2026, Zscaler had $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $3.5 billion as of Jan. 31, 2026, and $1.7 billion of debt. Management also pointed to higher capital expenditures as a factor in its updated cash flow outlook.
The company generated operating and free cash flows of $198 million and $136 million, respectively, during the fiscal third quarter.
Zscaler's Guidance for FY26For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Zscaler expects revenues of $875-$878 million.
Non-GAAP earnings per share are projected between $1.08 and $1.09.
For fiscal 2026, management forecasts its revenue outlook in the range of $3.3295 billion to $3.3325 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 24.6% to 24.7%.
Non-GAAP earnings per share for fiscal 2026 are expected in the band of $4.10-$4.11.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted 531.25% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Zscaler has a average Growth Score of C, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Zscaler has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Key Takeaways JEF posted net revenues of $2.21B in 2Q26, up 35% y/y.Jefferies posted record levels of investment banking advisory and underwriting net revenues in the quarter.JEF repurchased 4 million shares for $197 million, at an average price of $49.83 per share. Jefferies Financial Group’s (JEF - Free Report) second-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended May 31) adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.03 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. However, the bottom line increased significantly from the prior-year quarter.
Results were primarily aided by record investment banking advisory and underwriting net revenues, as well as record equities net revenues. However, a rise in expenses hurt the results to an extent.
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders (GAAP) increased year over year significantly from $88 million to $226.2 million.
Jefferies’ Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseQuarterly net revenues were $2.21 billion, up 35% from the prior-year quarter. The top line marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.22 billion.
Total non-interest expenses were $1.89 billion, up 26.1% from the year-ago quarter. The rise was due to an increase in almost all cost components, except for depreciation and amortization costs, cost of sales, and other expenses.
As of May 31, 2026, book value per common share was $51.95, up from $49.96 as of May 31, 2025. Furthermore, adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share increased from $32.84 to $34.55.
JEF’s Balance Sheet SolidAs of May 31, 2026, total assets were $79.54 billion, up from $74.38 billion as of Feb. 28, 2026, while total shareholders’ equity was $10.57 billion, down modestly from $10.61 billion.
The leverage ratio was 7.5 compared with 6.5 in the prior-year quarter, and the tangible gross leverage ratio was 9.0 compared with 7.9.
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders’ equity was 12.8%, up from 5.5% in the prior-year quarter.
JEF’s Quarterly Segment PerformanceInvestment Banking & Capital Markets: Total Net revenues were $2.01 billion, rising 36.4% from the prior-year quarter. Investment Banking net revenues were $1.21 billion, up 57.5% year over year, driven by higher advisory and equity underwriting revenues, while debt underwriting remained solid but was lower year over year. Capital Markets net revenues were $799.3 million, up 13.5%, driven by increases in both Equities and Fixed Income net revenues.
Asset Management: Net revenues were $187.7 million, up 21.4% from the year-ago quarter. Asset management fees and revenues, as well as investment return, declined year over year, but other investments, inclusive of net interest, increased.
JEF’s Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, Jefferies repurchased 4 million common shares for $197 million, at an average price of $49.83 per share.
Its board also increased the share buyback authorization back to $250 million.
Our Take on JefferiesInvestment banking share gains, global partnerships, a strong balance sheet position and active capital distribution activities are expected to keep supporting Jefferies’ earnings through cycles. However, mounting costs (due to higher compensation and digital upgrades) and episodic credit losses might weigh on profitability.
At present, Jefferies carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Dates of JEF’s PeersJPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 14.
Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPMorgan’s quarterly earnings has been revised upward to $5.44. The estimated figure indicates 9.7% growth from the prior-year quarter.
Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) is also slated to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 14.
Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC’s quarterly earnings has been revised lower to $1.09. This implies a 22.5% rise from the prior-year quarter.
The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) .
Rocket Lab Corporation currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.50, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 18 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.50 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 18 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 13 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 72.2% and 5.6% of all recommendations.
The ABR suggests buying Rocket Lab Corporation, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is RKLB a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Rocket Lab Corporation, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$0.12.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Rocket Lab Corporation. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Rocket Lab Corporation.
Key Takeaways RKLB is growing its role in national security space programs with launch and mission support services.Rocket Lab provides launch platforms, spacecraft technologies and systems for defense applications.RKLB benefits from rising government demand for resilient space capabilities and secure access to space. Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the national security space market by supporting government customers with launch services, spacecraft technologies and mission-related systems. As defense and intelligence agencies increase investments in resilient space capabilities, the company is expanding its participation in programs that support national security objectives and space-based operations.
Government and defense customers increasingly require reliable access to space, responsive launch capabilities and specialized spacecraft solutions. Rocket Lab supports these requirements through its launch platforms and space technologies, allowing customers to deploy and operate assets for a variety of mission needs. The company's growing involvement in government programs reflects its ability to support increasingly complex space missions while broadening its customer base.
National security opportunities also complement Rocket Lab's broader business model. In addition to launch services, the company provides spacecraft components, satellite technologies and mission systems that support government and defense-related applications. This enables Rocket Lab to participate across multiple stages of a mission while creating opportunities for recurring business and deeper customer relationships.
As governments continue prioritizing space-based capabilities, the demand for launch, satellite and mission-support technologies is expected to remain strong. Rocket Lab's expanding presence in national security programs positions the company to benefit from these long-term trends, while strengthening its role in the evolving space sector.
Companies Supporting National Security Space MissionsGrowing investments in defense and intelligence space programs continue to create opportunities for companies with specialized space capabilities. Companies like L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX - Free Report) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) are also active in this market.
L3Harris Technologies supports national security space programs through satellite payloads, missile-tracking technologies and mission systems that support government and defense customers.
Northrop Grumman develops satellites, strategic space systems and mission technologies that support national security, missile warning and space-domain awareness missions.
Earnings Estimates for RKLB StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 55.56% and 75%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RKLB Stock Trading at a PremiumRocket Lab is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 45.37X compared with the industry average of 12.34X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RKLB Stock Price PerformanceOver the past six months, RKLB shares have jumped 22.1% compared with the industry’s 9.6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RKLB’s Zacks RankRocket Lab currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
RKLB stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. June Price Damage: Who Fell How FarBased on late‑June trading ranges and 1‑month performance data from Benzinga Pro, many liquid space names have seen double‑digit pullbacks since the calendar flipped to June.
Below is an approximate June drawdown snapshot for key space stocks and proxies, using month‑to‑date ranges on June 25, 2026:
These moves come after a powerful run‑up: many of the same names were up several hundred percent from 2024 lows, and the Procure Space ETF had gained more than 30% year‑to‑date by early April before reversing.
Why the Space Sector is in a SlumpThe immediate catalyst is the so‑called SpaceX Effect. SpaceX priced its IPO at $135 per share and finished its first day up 19%.
That strength coincided with steep, synchronized sell‑offs in Planet Labs, Rocket Lab, Intuitive Machines, AST SpaceMobile and Virgin Galactic as investors freed up capital to chase the newly listed giant.
Macro has amplified the pain. Space names are highly sensitive to rising Treasury yields and hawkish Federal Reserve rhetoric, which both pressure long‑duration cash‑flow stories and compress valuation multiples.
As broader tech leadership narrows around AI infrastructure winners like semiconductor giants, more speculative niches such as commercial space have become a funding source, not a destination, during risk‑off days.
Valuation is the third headwind. Dashboards tracking the sector show ratios at nosebleed levels for several names: AST SpaceMobile screens above 130 times forward sales, Rocket Lab trades around 60 times, and even mid‑tier players like Satellogic and Planet Labs command 20 to 22 times.
After a year of enormous price appreciation, skepticism has grown over whether such high multiples are sustainable given that most of the companies remain years away from consistent profitability.
In other words, June’s gloom is not the start of a space story; it is the hangover after a speculative party that ran hard into the SpaceX IPO.
Photo: TIMS13 / Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
[url="]Motorola Solutions[/url] (NYSE: MSI) today announced the expansion of its [url="]Assist AI[/url] agents and features for the 911 workflow, designed to a
Key Takeaways NOC's aerospace presence, solid liquidity and low debt make it a strong Aerospace investment pick.NOC has a $95.61B backlog, with 35% expected to convert into sales over the next 12 months.NOC is positioned to benefit from higher U.S. defense funding and global demand for defense solutions. Northrop Grumman’s (NOC - Free Report) robust presence in the aerospace market, solid liquidity and low debt are strong positives. Given its growth prospects, NOC makes for a solid investment option in the Aerospace sector.
Let’s focus on the factors that make this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company a strong investment pick at the moment.
Growth Projections & Surprise History of NOCThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $27.95, which indicates year-over-year growth of 6.1%.
The consensus estimate for 2026 sales is $43.97 billion, which indicates year-over-year growth of 4.8%.
NOC’s long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate is pegged at 5.3%.
It delivered an average earnings surprise of 7.11% in the last four quarters.
NOC Stock’s Debt PositionCurrently, the company’s total debt-to-capital is 45.71%, better than the industry’s average of 47.13%.
NOC’s times interest earned (TIE) ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2026 was 9.23. A TIE ratio of more than one indicates that the company will be able to meet its interest payment obligations in the near term without any problems.
NOC’s LiquidityNOC’s current ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2026 was 1.15. A current ratio greater than one indicates the company’s ability to meet its future short-term liabilities without difficulties.
NOC’s Strong Defense Position Supports Long-Term GrowthNorthrop Grumman is well-positioned to capitalize on rising global defense spending and growing demand for advanced military capabilities. The company ended the first quarter of 2026 with a robust backlog of $95.61 billion, providing strong revenue visibility, with approximately 35% expected to convert into sales over the next 12 months and nearly 60% over the next two years. Continued contract wins across high-priority areas, including missile defense, unmanned aircraft, defense electronics, space systems and cyber security, should support steady organic growth in the years ahead.
The company is also expected to benefit from increasing U.S. defense investments and expanding international opportunities. Higher Pentagon funding is likely to drive demand for Northrop Grumman's advanced missile warning satellites, air and missile defense systems and other critical defense technologies, particularly as the U.S. government remains focused on strengthening national security. At the same time, allied nations are increasing investments in integrated air and missile defense, ground-based radars and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. With defense products serving customers in 25 countries and growing opportunities across Europe and the Middle East, Northrop Grumman remains well-positioned to capitalize on rising global demand for advanced defense solutions.
NOC Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of NOC have gained 3.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s 4.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the same sector are Heico (HEI - Free Report) , Woodward (WWD - Free Report) and Archer Aviation (ACHR - Free Report) . HEI currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). WWD and ACHR carry a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Heico delivered an average earnings surprise of 13.82% in the last four quarters. The consensus estimate for HEI’s fiscal 2026 earnings stands at $5.78 per share, which suggests year-over-year growth of 18%.
Woodward delivered an average earnings surprise of 16.97% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WWD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pinned at $9.34 per share, which indicates year-over-year growth of 35.6%.
Archer Aviation delivered an average earnings surprise of 7.89% in the last four quarters. The consensus estimate for ACHR’s 2026 loss is pegged at $1.02 per share.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Targa Resources, Inc. (TRGP - Free Report) Targa Resources Corp. is a premier energy infrastructure company. A leading provider of integrated midstream services in North America, the Houston, TX based operator primarily derives its revenues from gathering, compressing, treating, processing and selling natural gas. Targa Resources also provides services associated with natural gas liquids (“NGL”), including those to liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) exporters - and crude oil.
TRGP is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Oils-Energy stock. TRGP has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 1% over the past four weeks.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.40 to $10.75 per share. TRGP boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, TRGP should be on investors' short list.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Zions (ZION - Free Report) Zions Bancorporation, National Association, founded in 1873 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, is a diversified financial services firm with a network of more than 400 branches. The company operates across 11 western states: Utah, California, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming.
ZION is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 10.61; value investors should take notice.
Five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $6.44 per share. ZION boasts an average earnings surprise of +17.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ZION should be on investors' short list.
NEW YORK and DENVER, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total Wireless, a leading provider of premium, affordable wireless plans on Verizon's 5G network, today announced a landmark partnership with Western Union to bring a first-of-its-kind benefit to wireless customers. Starting today, customers on the Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G and ALL ACCESS plans will receive one money transfer per month on us. With the ability to send funds to more than 200 countries and territories through Western Union’s global network, customers can stay connected in more ways than one.
The partnership delivers a first for the industry. Total Wireless is now the only U.S. wireless carrier to include a monthly money transfer perk in a wireless plan. The benefit provides real value to our joint customer base by covering their money transfer transaction fee and represents a meaningful new frontier for telecom, built around the financial realities of the communities wireless carriers have long underserved.
Built For How Customers Stay Connected
Millions of people in the U.S. send money overseas each year with the average sender sending 12+ transactions annually. With Total Wireless, families can save on transaction fees, keeping more of the money they earn for what matters most.
To millions of families across the world, sending money home is one of the most consistent acts of care in their communities. Total Wireless was built to pair premium connectivity with meaningful benefits that reflect how customers live and support one another.
“Total Wireless was built around the idea that a great wireless plan should do more for the people who rely on it most,” said David Kim, president of Verizon Value. “Embedding a Western Union money transfer into our plans reflects something we genuinely believe. No one should have to choose between staying connected and taking care of the people they love, and we are proud to be the first carrier to build for that.”
How It Works
For customers on the Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G, and ALL ACCESS plans, the ability to send money home is built right into their plan. These plans range from $25/month (MAX 5G BYO for bring your own device customers) to $60/month (ALL ACCESS) with auto pay. Each comes packed with premium features including unlimited 5G data, unlimited hotspot & international talk and text to 200+ countries, all with a 5-year price guarantee with taxes and fees included.
The Western Union benefit adds one more reason to choose a plan built around staying connected to the people who matter most:
One monthly fee free money transfer, on us: No money transfer transaction fee, seamlessly available as part of select premium plansEasy to access: Redeem online at westernunion.com or through the Western Union appGlobal reach: Send to family and friends in 200+ countries and territoriesTrusted network: Western Union's +360,000 payout locations and delivery to bank accounts, digital wallets and cards, ensure fast, reliable delivery to recipients worldwide. “We know how much it means to send money home. We built this plan to make sure that, at least once a month, it’s on us,” said Kim.
Western Union Partnership
The partnership extends beyond the plan benefit, bringing together two brands that serve communities who rely on affordable connectivity with loved ones across borders. Western Union will co-promote Total Wireless across its own customer touchpoints, including the Western Union app, email communications, social channels and in-store digital screens.
“For generations, Western Union has helped people move money across borders because we understand what every transfer represents – not just dollars, but our mission of making financial services accessible to people everywhere,” said Jesse Mory, Western Union’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. “By partnering with Total Wireless, we’re making it easier for customers to support the people who count on them, turning an everyday wireless plan into a more meaningful way to stay connected, care for loved ones and move money with confidence.”
About Total Wireless
Total Wireless is a fast-growing, no-contract wireless provider covered by the Verizon 5G network, with 2,000 exclusive stores across the country. On a mission to raise the bar in prepaid wireless, Total Wireless offers more value than any other no-contract provider, with plans featuring unlimited data and access to Verizon's 5G Ultra-Wideband network, prices guaranteed for five years (taxes and fees included), select free 5G phones with qualifying purchase plans, and more. A community-centric brand, Total Wireless is proud to support neighborhoods across the country through its Total Spark program, empowering local nonprofits with grants to support working students. Total Wireless is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Straight Talk, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile, and Verizon Prepaid.
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and nearly 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d06fdb7b-5b04-4d42-bdc5-d107e17c006b
Total Wireless to Include Western Union Money Transfers in Wireless Plans Total Wireless Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Include Western Union Money Transfers in Select Wireles...
NUEVA YORK Y DENVER, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total Wireless, proveedor de servicios inalámbricos de rápido crecimiento y sin contrato, impulsado por la red 5G de Verizon. Hoy, anunció una asociación oficial con Western Union para ofrecer, por primera vez en la industria, un beneficio de transferencias de dinero para sus clientes moviles. A partir de hoy, los clientes con los planes Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G y ALL ACCESS recibirán una transferencia de dinero mensual sin costo. Con la posibilidad de enviar fondos a más de 200 países y territorios a través de la red global de Western Union, los clientes pueden mantenerse conectados de más de una manera.
Esta asociación establece un hito en la industria. Total Wireless es hoy el único proveedor inalámbrico en Estados Unidos que ofrece una transferencia de dinero mensual como parte de sus planes. El beneficio cubre la tarifa de la transacción, brindando valor real a la base de clientes de ambas marcas. Es también un nuevo capítulo para las telecomunicaciones, construido en torno a las realidades financieras de las comunidades que históricamente han sido desatendidas.
Diseñado para la manera en que los clientes se mantienen conectados
Millones de personas en los Estados Unidos envían dinero al exterior cada año, con un promedio de más de 12 transacciones anuales. Con Total Wireless, las familias ahorran en comisiones de transferencia para que cada dólar llegue más lejos.
Para millones de familias, enviar dinero a casa es una de las formas más profundas de cuidar a los suyos. Total Wireless fue creado para ofrecer conectividad de primer nivel con beneficios que reflejan cómo sus clientes viven y se apoyan entre sí.
"Total Wireless fue creado con la convicción de que un buen plan inalámbrico debe hacer más por sus clientes", dijo David Kim, presidente de Verizon Value. "Incorporar una transferencia de dinero de Western Union en nuestros planes refleja algo en lo que creemos profundamente: nadie debería tener que elegir entre estar conectado y cuidar a los suyos. Estamos orgullosos de ser los primeros en construir pensando en eso".
Cómo funciona
Para los clientes con los planes Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G y ALL ACCESS, la posibilidad de enviar dinero a casa está integrada directamente en su plan. Estos planes van desde $25 al mes (MAX 5G BYO para clientes que traen su propio dispositivo) hasta $60 al mes (ALL ACCESS) con pago automático. Cada uno incluye funciones de primer nivel como datos 5G ilimitados, hotspot ilimitado y llamadas y mensajes de texto internacionales ilimitados a más de 200 países. Todo esto con una garantía de precio de cinco años que incluye impuestos y cargos.
El beneficio de Western Union ofrece una razón más para elegir un plan diseñado para mantenerse conectado con las personas que más importan:
Una transferencia de dinero mensual gratuita, sin cargo: sin comisión de transacción disponible de forma integrada como parte de los planes premium seleccionados.Fácil acceso: disponible en línea en westernunion.com o a través de la aplicación de Western Union.Alcance global: envía dinero a familiares y amigos en más de 200 países y territorios.Red de confianza: más de 360,000 ubicaciones de pago de Western Union, con entrega a cuentas bancarias, billeteras digitales y tarjetas, garantizan una entrega rápida y confiable a destinatarios en todo el mundo. "Sabemos lo mucho que significa enviar dinero a casa. Diseñamos estos planes para asegurarnos de que, al menos una vez al mes, corra por nuestra cuenta", dijo Kim.
Alianza con Western Union
La alianza va más allá del beneficio del plan, uniendo a dos marcas que sirven a comunidades que dependen de una conectividad asequible con sus seres queridos a través de las fronteras. Western Union co-promocionará Total Wireless a través de sus propios canales de comunicación con los clientes, incluyendo la aplicación de Western Union, comunicaciones por correo electrónico, redes sociales y pantallas digitales en tiendas.
"Durante generaciones, Western Union ha ayudado a las personas a mover dinero a través de las fronteras porque entendemos lo que representa cada transferencia: no solo dólares, sino nuestra misión de hacer que los servicios financieros sean accesibles para todos", dijo Jesse Mory, vicepresidente sénior de Alianzas Estratégicas de Western Union. "Al asociarnos con Total Wireless, facilitamos que los clientes apoyen a quienes dependen de ellos, convirtiendo un plan inalámbrico de todos los días en una forma más significativa de mantenerse conectados, cuidar a sus seres queridos y mover dinero con confianza".
Acerca de Total Wireless
Total Wireless es un proveedor inalámbrico de rápido crecimiento, sin contrato, respaldado por la red 5G de Verizon, con 2,000 tiendas exclusivas en todo el país. Con la misión de elevar el estándar en telefonía prepagada, Total Wireless ofrece más valor que cualquier otro proveedor sin contrato, con planes que incluyen datos ilimitados y acceso a la red Verizon 5G Ultra-Wideband, precios garantizados por cinco años (impuestos y cargos incluidos), teléfonos 5G gratuitos seleccionados con planes de compra calificados, y más. Una marca comprometida con la comunidad, Total Wireless se enorgullece de apoyar vecindarios en todo el país a través de su programa Total Spark, que otorga subvenciones a organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales para apoyar a estudiantes trabajadores. Total Wireless es parte del portafolio de marcas prepagadas de Verizon Value, que incluye Straight Talk, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile y Verizon Prepaid.
Acerca de Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) está comprometida a ayudar a personas en todo el mundo que aspiran a construir un futuro financiero para sí mismas, sus seres queridos y sus comunidades. Nuestros servicios líderes de transferencia de dinero transfronteriza y entre divisas, pagos y servicios financieros digitales empoderan a consumidores, empresas, instituciones financieras y gobiernos en más de 200 países y territorios y en casi 130 monedas, para conectarse con miles de millones de cuentas bancarias, millones de billeteras digitales y tarjetas, y una red global de cientos de miles de puntos de venta minoristas. Nuestro objetivo es ofrecer servicios financieros accesibles que ayuden a las personas y comunidades a prosperar. Para más información, visita www.westernunion.com.
Una foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d06fdb7b-5b04-4d42-bdc5-d107e17c006b/es
Total Wireless se convierte en el primer operador de EE. UU. en incluir transferencias de dinero de ... Total Wireless se convierte en el primer operador de EE. UU. en incluir transferencias de dinero de ...
The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.
Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.
Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.
One company value investors might notice is YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF - Free Report) . YPF is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with P/E ratio of 8.15 right now. For comparison, its industry sports an average P/E of 9.24. YPF's Forward P/E has been as high as 12.74 and as low as 4.36, with a median of 8.07, all within the past year.
Another notable valuation metric for YPF is its P/B ratio of 0.79. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. YPF's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.73. Within the past 52 weeks, YPF's P/B has been as high as 1.53 and as low as 0.69, with a median of 1.11.
Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. YPF has a P/S ratio of 0.96. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.01.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that YPF Sociedad Anonima is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, YPF feels like a great value stock at the moment.
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT), a provider of advanced wastewater treatment solutions, today announced a commercial partnership with Xylem, a global leader in water technology. The agreement positions GWT to accelerate expansion into the industrial wastewater sector, where tightening nutrient regulations and sustainability demands are driving adoption of integrated treatment solutions. As part of the partnership, Xylem and GWT have entered into a commercial agre.
Nuclear power is undergoing a renaissance. As global energy demands rise, choosing between Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE 8.31%) and NuScale Power (SMR 0.15%) means weighing early-stage microreactor innovation against a more established small modular reactor leader.
Nano Nuclear Energy targets the portable microreactor niche, while NuScale Power focuses on larger-scale modular designs for utilities. Both companies represent high-risk plays in the nuclear renaissance, seeking to revolutionize carbon-free baseload power through different technical pathways.
The case for Nano Nuclear EnergyNano Nuclear Energy develops portable microreactor technologies, including the KRONOS and ZEUS systems, designed for remote industrial and military use. The company also manages nuclear fuel fabrication and transportation services through collaborations with the University of Illinois and LIS Technologies. Because the firm currently has no definitive commercial customer agreements for its reactor lines, it faces significant customer concentration risks as it seeks its first major contracts.
In FY 2025, Nano Nuclear did not generate any revenue as the company remained in the pre-commercial development phase. This lack of sales resulted in a net loss of nearly $43.5 million for the year. This loss represents a significant increase from the $17.6 million net loss reported in the prior fiscal year, reflecting increased research and development spending.
The business’s debt-to-equity ratio is 0.96x, meaning the company carries some debt relative to shareholder equity, while free cash flow is roughly negative $33.4 million.
The case for NuScale PowerNuScale Power provides small modular reactor (SMR) technology to utilities and data centers, positioning itself as a leader among electric utility stocks. The company relies on its exclusive partnership with ENTRA1 for global commercialization and is currently negotiating a potential 6-gigawatt deployment with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Its NuScale Power Module design remains its primary product, though it has yet to enter into a binding contract for delivery.
In FY 2025, revenue was approximately $31.5 million, a decline of about 15% from the previous year. This revenue drop contributed to a net loss of approximately $355.8 million. The widening loss is largely due to the capital-intensive nature of finalizing reactor designs and preparing for manufacturing at scale.
The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.5x, indicating that total liabilities do not exceed shareholder equity. Free cash flow is negative $460.1 million, which reflects the high cash burn required to sustain operations before any nuclear units are manufactured or deployed.
Risk profile comparisonNano Nuclear Energy faces substantial regulatory hurdles, as its business depends on obtaining complex licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Developing microreactor prototypes is estimated to cost between $300 million and $350 million, creating a high need for future financing. Additionally, the company must successfully integrate recent acquisitions, such as Secured Transportation Services LLC, to maintain its commercialization timeline.
NuScale Power is currently defending itself against multiple securities-fraud class-action lawsuits that could result in high legal costs. The company also lost a key strategic supporter when Fluor Corporation (FLR 0.30%) sold its entire stake in early 2026. Without binding orders for its power modules, the company remains highly susceptible to liquidity shortages and project delays that could impair its long-term viability.
Valuation comparisonDetermining which stock is cheaper is difficult because both companies are currently unprofitable, and one has no revenue, rendering traditional earnings-based metrics inapplicable. The price-to-book ratio, which measures the book value of shares, is about 2 for Nano Nuclear and 3 for NuScale. Stocks with a price-to-book ratio above 3 are usually considered growth stocks, while stocks trading below book value are considered value plays.
MetricNano Nuclear EnergyNuScale PowerSector BenchmarkForward P/En/an/a31.3xP/S ration/a116xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLI sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Nuclear energy in the U.S. is reviving as the threat of climate change and AI data center electricity demand are among finding a source of clean, new power a priority.
The emergence of small-scale nuclear reactors, such as those from Nano Nuclear and NuScale, shows promise of making the deployment of nuclear energy far faster and cheaper than it has been historically. The nuclear industry is also seeing strong federal government support, beginning under the Biden administration and continuing under the current administration.
Nano Nuclear’s plan to target the Defense Department as a major customer is a good one: the military has long been concerned about the disruptive nature of climate control and sees nuclear power as a way to harden military bases with a reliable energy source for when bases get cut off from local power grids during storms. The Pentagon also sees small deployable reactors as a better way to power isolated bases rather than managing a diesel fuel supply chain.
NuScale, meanwhile, has an approved reactor design that uses the nuclear fuel most commonly available today: low-enriched uranium (LEU). By contrast, Nano’s design uses high assay LEU, or HALEU. Not much HALEU is available today, but it is a much more efficient, higher-uranium-content fuel, which means reactors can go decades without refueling. (The U.S. Navy uses an even higher assay nuclear fuel that is not allowed in non-military applications.)
There are plenty of other design differences that set Nano’s and NuScale’s reactors apart from competing designs. The main thing for investors is: which one will make money?
Nano Nuclear is awaiting approval of its design to begin construction of a test reactor at the University of Illinois in 2027. Commercialization of the design is years away. Wall Street analysts don’t project the business making more than a handful of dollars until 2030, when about $110 million in sales are expected, if all goes well.
NuScale provides the most predictable path to commercialization sooner with its approved design. Long-term, however, HALEU-fueled reactors are seen as the future, whether from Nano or other companies developing designs. Betting on how the fuel market develops is more speculative, though. Analysts see NuScale as getting to market sooner and generating real revenue of about $175 million in 2027, with growth beyond.
Both businesses are long-term plays that will lose money for the foreseeable future. But clean nuclear power is on its way. NuScale is the best stock to play the trend in 2026.
LEXINGTON, Ky., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinetic, the leading residential and business insurgent fiber internet provider, announced today it teamed up with eero, an Amazon company, to deliver a new product for customers, Kinetic’s AlwaysOn Wi-Fi, powered by eero Signal.
AlwaysOn Wi-Fi offers seamless wireless backup connectivity to keep customers online in the event of an internet service disruption or outage. If needed, wireless service kicks in, allowing customers to stay online with unlimited data to work, surf, browse, stream, and more. It’s seamless, automatic and hassle-free.
“Internet reliability has never been more important than it is today; it’s essential to how people live, powering everything from remote work to online education,” said Stacie Vongvanith, Kinetic’s chief customer officer. “With Kinetic AlwaysOn Wi-Fi, we’re raising the bar even higher on our already reliable fiber internet so our customers can stay connected no matter what.”
The relationship with eero underscores Kinetic’s dedication to setting new standards for customer experience. The company is focused on positioning itself as a challenger to traditional cable internet by delivering better service and technology, at a better value, to its customers.
“Internet connectivity has become essential, and unexpected outages can disrupt daily life. With AlwaysOn Wi-Fi powered by eero Signal, internet outages become non-events,” said Gabe Kassel, executive vice president of product at eero. “In teaming up with Kinetic, we’re delivering a smarter, more resilient internet experience. We’re giving customers greater confidence and peace of mind when they need it most.”
Kinetic’s addition of eero Signal comes on the heels of its addition of eero Pro 7 last October, as well as its addition of the Kinetic Promise™ to its customers. The Kinetic Promise™ pledges that technicians will not leave a new fiber installation until Wi-Fi works in every area and on every device where needed. Backed by Whole-Home Wi-Fi certification, technicians use the RouteThis Certify app to optimize gateway placement, solve for any interference or congestion, and recommend Wi-Fi extenders to deliver connectivity in hard-to-reach spaces.
Real Impact for Customers
Kinetic’s AlwaysOn Wi-Fi gives customers a more reliable internet experience and uninterrupted connectivity. For small business owners, every second offline is a missed transaction, a dropped client call, or a frozen POS system. AlwaysOn Wi-Fi detects a disruption and gets them back online quickly with no manual intervention and no restarting the router.
Kinetic fiber internet customers who have Wi-Fi 7 via eero Pro 7 can add AlwaysOn Wi-Fi for just $20/month, with the first month free.*
AlwaysOn will be available to Kinetic’s entire 18-state footprint this summer; it was rolled out today to customers in Kentucky and North Carolina.
For those interested in Kinetic’s fiber internet, visit www.gokinetic.com or call 1- 877-90-FIBER (877-903-4237).
About Kinetic: Named the 2026 Telecommunications Company of the Year (Stevie GOLD/American Business Awards), Kinetic is a business unit of Uniti (NASDAQ: UNIT), and is a premier insurgent provider of multi-gigabit fiber internet, whole-home Wi-Fi, internet security, and voice services in 1,400 markets across 18 states in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and Northeastern U.S. Additional information is available at gokinetic.com.
About eero
eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and built for the future. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system, eero is known for award-winning hardware and software and continues to create connectivity solutions for individuals, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.
*Use of eero and eero-related products and services requires creation of an eero account and agreement to eero’s Terms of Service, found at http://eero.com/legal. You can review eero’s Privacy Notice at http://eero.com/legal/privacy. Use of eero subscriptions and subscription features is also subject to eero Subscription Terms of Service, found at https://eero.com/legal/eero-subscription.
Kinetic’s AlwaysOn Wi-fi requires use of Kinetic provided eero device (powered by eero LLC (“eero”), a third-party vendor). Subject to Service-Specific Terms and Conditions found on Kinetic’s Terms & Conditions page; https://www.gokinetic.com/about/legal/product-specific-terms; eero products subject to https://www.eero.com/legal. First month of AlwaysOn Wi-fi service appears as a $20 credit on Kinetic bill, then $20/mo. fee in addition to current eligible Kinetic Internet service plan; Taxes/fees/surcharges extra. Wireless/cellular data is provided by a third-party carrier, may only be used during a broadband outage at the customer service address. Typical device speeds 14-48/3-23 Mbps; failover performance, wireless/cellular coverage, uptime, and actual and average speeds will vary. Wireless/cellular speeds may reduce after 75 GB/mo. Not suitable for emergency/911, medical, and certain other uses. Will not work during power outage without a backup battery. $100 unreturned equipment fee may apply at termination. eero and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com c/o eero LLC, 660 3rd St. San Francisco, CA.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company plans to release its earnings for the second quarter of 2026 by 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Chairman, President and CEO Christopher C. Womack and CFO David P. Poroch will discuss earnings during a conference call for financial analysts at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 30.
Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call at https://investor.southerncompany.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx by clicking on the appropriate audio link. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same site for 12 months.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success, driven by nearly 30,000 employees dedicated to delivering exceptional service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
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Cavorting salesmen and a new 5K foot toy store. (0:00) Core inflation stays firm as GDP revised higher. (1:16) Amazon overtakes Walmart as the largest U.S. retailer. (2:39)
This is an abridged transcript of the podcast:
Our top story so far, Nordstrom is turning to one of the most storied names in toys to offer more for kids in its stores.
The retailer has announced a new partnership with FAO Schwarz to significantly expand its toy assortment across its stores and online platform.
Earlier this week, FAO Schwarz opened a 5,000-square-foot shop inside Nordstrom's New York flagship store at 57th Street and Broadway.
The companies will also roll out "Jewel Box" toy shops in eight Nordstrom locations across the U.S. next month.
The shops will feature toy demonstrations, storytelling and interactive experiences, with a curated selection of FAO Schwarz signature and specialty toys.
The partnership extends beyond merchandise, with Nordstrom hiring FAO Schwarz Toy Specialists in select stores to deliver guided play and interactive selling.
FAO Schwarz is one of America's oldest toy retailers, founded by German immigrant Frederick August Otto Schwarz around 1862.
Over the decades, the company became famous for its theatrical shopping experience, elaborate window displays, mail-order catalogs and iconic teddy bears.
Looking at the economy, bond traders got a mixed set of numbers, with inflation comparatively tame but the final reading of Q1 GDP coming in stronger than expected.
The core PCE price index, still the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge until a Kevin Warsh task force tells us differently, rose 0.3% in May, in line with expectations.
That pushed annual core inflation to 3.4%, still well above the Fed's 2% target.
Meanwhile, the final reading on Q1 GDP, usually a non-event, was revised up to 2.1% from the second estimate of 1.6%.
The increase mainly reflected a downward revision to imports, partly offset by a downward revision to consumer spending.
Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said consumer spending remains the backbone of the U.S. economy and that while the "anemic" 0.5% growth figure should rebound in Q2, "it's worth watching closely."
Among active stocks, Apple (AAPL) is lower after raising the starting price of many of its devices, including the MacBook Neo, because of the unprecedented memory shortage.
Sandisk (SNDK) is surging alongside the Micron-fueled (MU) rally.
Citi raised its price target on the storage maker to $2,500 and opened a 90-day upside catalyst watch.
And Wendy's (WEN) remains highly volatile as it continues its meme-stock ride.
Vanda Research said the setup has clear echoes of the retail-driven short squeezes that became a defining feature of markets in 2021.
And in other news of note, Amazon (AMZN) overtook Walmart (WMT) sometime last year to become the largest retailer in the U.S., according to the latest analysis from JPMorgan.
The last retailer to surpass Walmart in sales was Sears.
Analyst Doug Anmuth said Amazon could hold onto the top spot in gross merchandise value thanks to its vast selection, competitive pricing and fast delivery.
The company is estimated to account for 47% of the U.S. e-commerce market.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Avient (AVNT - Free Report) Avient Corporation is a global specialty-materials company focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites, and performance fibers, combining materials science, formulation expertise and manufacturing scale. Formed as PolyOne Corporation on Aug. 31, 2000, the company changed its name to Avient Corporation, effective June 30, 2020.
AVNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 11.96; value investors should take notice.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $3.08 per share. AVNT boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AVNT should be on investors' short list.