Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Advance Auto Parts (AAP - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts industry.
This auto parts retailer has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 103.60%.
For the most recent quarter, Advance Auto Parts was expected to post earnings of $0.39 per share, but it reported $0.77 per share instead, representing a surprise of 97.44%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.41 per share, while it actually produced $0.86 per share, a surprise of 109.76%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Advance Auto Parts, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Advance Auto Parts currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.04%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Key Takeaways Acute Care and Behavioral Health growth to support UHS' Q2 revenues and admissions.Universal Health faces higher labor, benefits and supply costs that could pressure quarterly margins.Acute Care revenues are projected to rise 6.1%, with operating income expected to increase 17.5%. Hospital operator Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 27, 2026, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $5.66 per shareon revenues of $4.52 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate witnessed no movement over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 5.8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 5.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For the full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Universal Health’s revenues is pegged at $18.54 billion, implying a rise of 6.8% year over year. Meanwhile, the consensus mark for full-year EPS is pegged at $23.44, implying growth of 7.8% on a year-over-year basis.
Universal Health beat the consensus estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 9.5%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Q2 Earnings Whispers for UHSOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
UHS currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping UHS’ Q2 Results?Universal Health's performance is likely to have been boosted by higher patient days and admissions in both its Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net revenues in the Acute Care Hospital Services segment is pegged at almost $2.55 billion, indicating 6.1% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for the unit’s same-facility adjusted admissions indicates 2.8% growth from the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net revenues in the Behavioral Health Care Services segment is pegged at $1.98 billion, indicating a 5.6% increase from the prior-year quarter. The consensus estimate for the unit’s admissions indicates a year-over-year increase of 2.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for operating income from Acute Care Hospital Services indicates 17.5% year-over-year growth, while the same for Behavioral Health Care Services suggests a 0.9% decrease.
The positives are likely to have been partially offset by rising total operating expenses by nearly 6%, due to higher salaries, wages and benefits, as well as increased costs for supplies in the second quarter, making an earnings beat uncertain. We anticipate salaries, wages and benefits to increase nearly 4% year over year, while other operating costs are expected to escalate 9.3%.
Stocks That Warrant a LookWhile an earnings beat looks uncertain for Universal Health, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (PMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +13.30% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ProMIS’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of a loss of $1.45 indicates an 80% year-over-year improvement. It has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 60 days.
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cardinal Health’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter suggests 16.4% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.3%. CAH’s revenues for the to-be-reported quarter are pegged at $65.61 billion, a 9.1% increase from the year-ago period.
Alcon Inc. (ALC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alcon’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter indicates a 1.3% increase from a year ago. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 3.7%. The consensus estimate for ALC’s revenues is pegged at $2.77 billion, signaling a 7.3% increase.
First American Financial Corporation (FAF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 23, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Craig J. Barberio - Vice President of Investor Relations
Mark Seaton - CEO & Director
Matthew Wajner - Executive VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Terry Ma - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Oscar Nieves Santana - Stephens Inc., Research Division
Bose George - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division
Mark DeVries - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Greetings, and welcome to the First American Financial Corporation Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]
A copy of today's press release is available on First American's website at www.firstam.com/investor. Please note that the call is being recorded and will be available for replay from the company's Investor website and for a short time by dialing (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 and enter the conference ID 13761705.
We will now turn the call over to Craig Barberio, Vice President, Investor Relations, to make an introductory statement.
Craig J. Barberio
Vice President of Investor Relations
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to First American's Earnings Conference Call for the second quarter of 2026. Joining us today on the call will be our Chief Executive Officer, Mark Seaton; and Matt Wajner, Chief Financial Officer. Some of the statements made today may contain forward-looking statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current fact. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.
Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. For more information on these risks and uncertainties, please refer to yesterday's earnings release and the risk factors discussed in
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Enpro (NPO - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Technology Services industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This industrial products maker has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.54%.
For the last reported quarter, Enpro came out with earnings of $2.14 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.08 per share, representing a surprise of 2.88%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.91 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.99 per share, delivering a surprise of 4.19%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Enpro, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Enpro currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.87%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 4, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Hamilton Lane (HLNE - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this private-market investment firm a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Hamilton Lane is 8.7%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 6%.
Impressive Asset Utilization RatioAsset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Hamilton Lane has an S/TA ratio of 0.37, which means that the company gets $0.37 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.24, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Hamilton Lane looks attractive from a sales growth perspective as well. The company's sales are expected to grow 18.6% this year versus the industry average of 4.5%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The current-year earnings estimates for Hamilton Lane have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.5% over the past month.
Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Hamilton Lane a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Hamilton Lane well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
Medpace Holdings, Inc. (MEDP) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 23, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
David Ruhe
August Troendle - CEO, President & Chairman
Kevin Brady - CFO & Treasurer
Conference Call Participants
Charles Rhyee - TD Cowen, Research Division
Michael Cherny - Leerink Partners LLC, Research Division
Ann Hynes - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division
Jailendra Singh - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Christine Rains - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
David Windley - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Ryan Halsted - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Eric Coldwell - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Justin Bowers - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Medpace Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this call is being recorded. I would now like to introduce your host for today's conference call, David Ruhe, Medpace's Director of Investor Relations. You may begin.
David Ruhe
Good morning, and thank you for joining Medpace's second quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Also on the call today is our CEO, August Troendle; and our CFO, Kevin Brady. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that our remarks and responses to your questions during this teleconference may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve inherent assumptions with known and unknown risks and uncertainties as well as other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. These factors are discussed in our Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. Please note that we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements even if estimates change. Accordingly, you should not rely on any of today's forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date after today.
Medpace Holdings remains a "Buy" as Q2 2026 showed broad metric improvement and an inflection point in growth trajectory. The company's net book-to-Bill ratio rebounded to 1.13x, and backlog conversion rate rose to 24.1%, signaling strong future revenue visibility. Revenue grew 17.2% YoY to $707.3M, with EPS of $4.25 beating expectations; full-year 2026 guidance was raised to $2.805B–$2.885B.
Shares of North America's largest pest control provider Rollins (ROL -10.44%) are down 10% as of noon ET on Thursday after the company reported second-quarter earnings yesterday. While sales grew 8% and beat analysts' expectations on the topline, its 7% adjusted earnings-per-share growth came up short. Organic sales rose by 6% in Q2, and management expects a 6% rise in this organic revenue across the full year, with another two or three percentage points added from acquisitions.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Ultimately, these results are perfectly fine. However, Rollins was previously trading at 33 times free cash flow (FCF) yesterday -- and 45 times FCF in January -- so the market has had the stock priced for perfection, and it hasn't met these lofty expectations so far this year, sending the stock down 34% in 2026.
Today's Change
(
-10.44
%) $
-4.54
Current Price
$
38.93
Making matters worse, a Bank of America analyst lowered their price target on Rollins from $55 to $35 following the results, saying the stock no longer deserves a premium valuation given ongoing pressure on the consumer unit. Wall Street expected Rollins residential organic growth to be 5.4%, and it was only 3.6%. Rollins continues to wrestle with the new world of online search in an era where AI is reimagining how things are found online, temporarily (hopefully) harming Rollins' "top of funnel." While certainly concerning, I think investors would be wise to step back and not panic over these results just yet.
Roughly 75% of Rollins' business comes from recurring service agreements rather than strictly residential sales, which often result from a quick online search after discovering an infestation in their attic. That said, it's important for Rollins to solve its search problems, especially after it recently lost a non-compete case before the Federal Trade Commission.
I still believe in Rollins over the long haul, but the market is probably right in taking away its premium valuation for now. However, this is an elite compounder that has grown sales for 99 straight quarters, operates in a must-have niche, and has a long history of dividend growth. I'll be looking to buy the dip.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Rollins. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rollins. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Key Takeaways KMI topped Q2 2026 earnings and revenue estimates as natural gas transport and gathering volumes increased.Kinder Morgan raised its 2026 adjusted EBITDA and earnings outlook following broad-based segment strength.Kinder Morgan increased its quarterly dividend to 29.75 cents per share and improved leverage to 3.6X. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 37 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents by 19.35%. Earnings increased 32.1% from 28 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues increased 10.8% year over year to $4.48 billion from the prior year’s figure of $4.04 billion. Revenues surpassed the consensus estimate of $4.29 billion by 4.43%.
Strong quarterly results benefited from broad-based segment growth, led by higher natural gas transportation and gathering volumes. Natural gas transport volumes rose 7%, while gathering volumes increased 26%.
KMI's Natural Gas Business Leads GrowthNatural Gas Pipelines adjusted segment earnings before depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBDA) expenses increased to $1.46 billion from $1.35 billion a year earlier. Higher contributions from the Texas Intrastate system and gathering assets supported the improvement.
Transportation volumes averaged 47,886 billion British thermal unit per day (BBtu/d) compared with 44,818 BBtu/d in the prior-year quarter. Growth reflected higher LNG deliveries on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, stronger Texas Intrastate demand, higher export volumes to Mexico and increased power-generation demand in Arizona.
Gathering volumes advanced to 4,637 BBtu/d from 3,692 BBtu/d. KinderHawk volumes rose 54%, supported by increased Haynesville activity. Management noted that the system is effectively full and is adding 1 billion cubic feet per day of treating capacity.
Kinder Morgan's Other Segments AdvanceProducts Pipelines adjusted segment EBDA increased to $339 million from $289 million. Higher commodity prices and stronger butane blending volumes and rates more than offset weaker transportation activity.
Due to a temporary disruption of the West Coast supply and higher commodity prices, total refined product volumes declined 5% to 1.62 million barrels per day (MMBbl/d) from the year-ago figure of 1.71 MMBbl/d. Crude and condensate volumes fell 16% to 421,000 barrels per day (Bbl/d), largely because the Double H system was converted from crude oil to natural gas liquids service.
Terminals adjusted segment EBDA rose to $309 million from $300 million. Higher liquids terminal rates, ancillary fees and favorable commodity pricing supported results. Liquids utilization was 93%, while the Jones Act tanker fleet remained fully contracted for 2026.
CO2 adjusted segment EBDA increased to $207 million from $145 million. Total net oil production increased 10% to 28,040 Bbl/d, driven by a 15% rise in SACROC production. The realized weighted average oil price increased to $73.78 per barrel from $67.60, while the realized weighted average NGL price was $33.38 per barrel, higher than the $32.08 per barrel recorded a year earlier.
KMI's Cost Profile Supports Profit GrowthTotal operating costs, expenses and other expenditures increased 8.3% year over year to $3.13 billion. Costs of sales rose to $1.41 billion from $1.21 billion, while operations and maintenance expenses increased to $806 million from $773 million.
Operating income increased 16.8% to $1.35 billion. The operating margin expanded to 30.1% from 28.5%, reflecting revenue growth that outpaced increases in operating expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA reached a second-quarter record of $2.20 billion, up 12% year over year. Net income attributable to KMI increased 21% to $867 million, while reported earnings rose to 39 cents per share from 32 cents.
Kinder Morgan Expands Project PipelineThe project backlog stood at $9.6 billion at the end of the quarter, down from $10.1 billion sequentially after approximately $660 million of expansion projects entered service. Natural gas projects represented about 92% of the backlog.
The board also granted contingent approval to nearly $400 million of projects that will enter the backlog after contract execution. Management expects to sanction significant additional projects from an opportunity set exceeding $10 billion during the second half of 2026.
Kinder Morgan's Cash Flow & Balance SheetCash flow from operations was $1.96 billion in the quarter. Meanwhile, free cash flow was $978 million and free cash flow after dividends reached $313 million.
As of June 30, 2026, KMI reported $89 million in cash and cash equivalents. Net debt stood at $32.03 billion at quarter-end. The net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 3.6X from 3.8X at the end of 2025.
KMI Raises 2026 OutlookKinder Morgan expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA) to exceed its original $8.6 billion budget by more than 5%. The company also expects adjusted earnings to surpass its initial $1.36-per-share budget by more than 12%.
The revised guidance reflects strong first-half performance across all business segments.
KMI’s Dividend GrowthThe quarterly dividend was raised 2% to 29.75 cents per share, equivalent to $1.19 per share annually. The dividend is payable Aug. 17, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 3.
KMI’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderKinder Morgan currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector that have yet to release their second-quarter 2026 earnings are Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG - Free Report) , Venture Global, Inc. (VG - Free Report) and NOV Inc. (NOV - Free Report) . LNG sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while NOV and VG carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each, at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
Houston, TX-based Cheniere Energy is primarily engaged in the liquefied natural gas business. LNG owns and operates major liquefaction and export facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals.The company is involved in liquefied natural gas and natural gas marketing. With growing demand for cleaner energy, LNG is well-positioned to meet this need through its liquefaction and export facilities. Cheniere Energy is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6, 2026.
Venture Global is one of the largest cost-efficient liquefied natural gas exporters in the United States, operating major production facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast. VG distinguishes itself through a highly efficient, modular construction approach, which enables faster project delivery and massive volumes of reliable natural gas. This innovative strategy allows the company to rapidly scale and meet the world's rising demand for cleaner energy. Venture Global is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 11, 2026.
Houston, TX-based NOV is a global leader in the design, manufacture and sale of advanced equipment and components used in the oil and gas drilling, production, and renewable energy sectors. By leveraging its extensive proprietary technology portfolio, the company is well-positioned to reduce marginal costs and capitalize on the growing demand for oil and gas in the coming years. NOV is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 28, 2026.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE: MTG) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share, an increase of 13% from the last quarterly dividend paid of $0.15 per share. This quarter's dividend will be payable on August 20, 2026, to shareholders of record as of August 5, 2026.
About MGIC
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) (mgic.com), the principal subsidiary of MGIC Investment Corporation, provides mortgage insurance solutions that support responsible credit risk management for mortgage lenders and investors and enable borrowers to qualify for mortgages with lower down payments. As the founder and longstanding leader of today's private mortgage insurance industry, MGIC continues to guide the industry's evolution while serving as a trusted partner to lenders across the country.
From time-to-time MGIC Investment Corporation releases important information via postings on its corporate website, and via postings on MGIC's website, and it intends to continue to do so in the future. Such postings include corrections of previous disclosures and may be made without any other disclosure. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information for MGIC Investment Corporation alerts can be found at https://mtg.mgic.com/shareholder-services/email-alerts. For information about our underwriting and rates, see https://www.mgic.com/underwriting.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA, XETRA:CTP2) reported stronger-than-expected second quarter 2026 results on Thursday, with adjusted earnings per share and revenue topping Wall Street expectations, while the company highlighted growth across its connectivity businesses and the first quarterly profit for streaming service Peacock.
The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.04 on revenue of $29.94 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $0.97 per share and $29.27 billion in revenue. Adjusted EPS declined 16.7% from $1.25 in the year-ago quarter, while revenue increased 4.7% on a pro forma basis.
“Second quarter results show continued progress against our strategic priorities,” Comcast co-CEOs Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh said in a statement. “In Connectivity & Platforms, our strategic pivot in broadband is gaining traction, and we are seeing that progress extend across the broader connectivity portfolio.”
Comcast highlighted its wireless business as a key growth area, reporting its strongest quarter on record with 448,000 domestic wireless customer net additions. Total wireless lines increased to 10.2 million, with penetration remaining below 7% of addressable wireless lines within its footprint.
Within Content & Experiences, Comcast reported that Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time, generating $189 million in EBITDA compared with a loss in the prior-year period. Paid subscribers increased by 2 million during the quarter to 48 million, supported by programming including the NBA playoffs, FIFA World Cup and “Love Island USA.”
Media operations delivered mid-single-digit EBITDA growth, while Comcast’s studios business reported higher EBITDA driven by theatrical releases and international distribution. The company highlighted the performance of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and “Obsession,” which contributed to year-over-year studio EBITDA growth of $141 million.
Comcast also noted that FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage drove record engagement across Telemundo and Peacock, with the top 10 most-watched matches in Spanish-language history.
Additionally, the company announced during the quarter its intention to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off. Comcast said the separation is intended to create two focused companies with greater financial flexibility to pursue their respective growth strategies.
Shares of Comcast fell 2% to about $23 following the report.
Key Takeaways Comcast beat Q2 earnings estimates as reported revenues fell 1.2% year over year. CMCSA posted a record wireless quarter, while Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time.Comcast plans to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings of $1.04 per share in the second quarter of 2026, down 16.7% from the year-ago period but ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents by 7.2%.
Consolidated revenues decreased 1.2% year over year to $29.94 billion but topped the consensus mark of $29.18 billion by 2.6%. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation completed on Jan. 2, 2026, and the sale of Sky operations in Germany completed on May 31, 2026, revenues increased 4.7% year over year.
The quarter was shaped by continued traction in the company's go-to-market reset in Connectivity & Platforms, highlighted by the best wireless quarter on record alongside Peacock reaching quarterly profitability for the first time. Comcast also announced its intention to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off.
CMCSA Connectivity Pivot Shows Early TractionConnectivity & Platforms revenues (66.1% of revenues) decreased 3% year over year to $19.8 billion in the reported quarter as pressure in Residential Connectivity & Platforms outweighed continued gains in Business Services Connectivity.
Under the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms revenues decreased 4% year over year to $17.12 billion. Business Services Connectivity revenues increased 3.7% year over year to $2.67 billion.
Total Residential Connectivity & Platforms customer relationships decreased 230,000 to 47.7 million, reflecting decreases in both domestic and international customer relationships. Total domestic broadband residential customer net losses were 167,000. Total domestic wireless line net additions were 448,000, marking the company's best quarterly result on record, with total wireless lines rising to 10.2 million. Total domestic video customer net losses were 280,000.
Content & Experiences revenues (35.8% of revenues) increased 22.9% year over year to $10.73 billion, driven primarily by Media and Studios.
Under the segment, Media revenues increased 25.3% year over year to $5.69 billion, including $440 million of incremental revenues from the FIFA World Cup. Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time with EBITDA of $189 million, increasing $290 million year over year, while paid subscribers rose by 2 million net additions in the quarter to 48 million, driven by the NBA Playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA.
Studios revenues increased 25% year over year to $3.04 billion, driven by higher theatrical revenues from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael. Theme Parks revenues increased 2.7% year over year to $2.41 billion, reflecting higher revenues at Orlando theme parks, partially offset by lower revenues at international parks.
CMCSA’s Operating DetailsCosts and expenses in the second quarter of 2026 increased 1.9% year over year to $24.78 billion.
Programming and production costs increased 10.7% from the year-ago quarter to $8.39 billion. Marketing and promotion expenses increased 4.2% year over year to $2.26 billion while other operating and administrative expenses rose 0.2% to $10.45 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA decreased 13.4% year over year to $8.9 billion. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation and the Sky Germany sale, adjusted EBITDA declined 5.3% year over year.
Total Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA declined 5.7% year over year to $7.96 billion. Residential Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA decreased 8% year over year to $6.45 billion, reflecting investment in the new go-to-market strategy. Business Services Connectivity adjusted EBITDA increased 5% year over year to $1.52 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 56.7%.
Content & Experiences adjusted EBITDA increased 7.1% year over year to $1.33 billion. Media adjusted EBITDA increased 3.7% year over year to $708 million. Studios adjusted EBITDA increased to $202 million from $61 million, driven by strong theatrical performance. Theme Parks’ adjusted EBITDA decreased 5.1% year over year to $609 million.
CMCSA's Cash Flow & LiquidityAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.66 billion, which decreased from $9.47 billion as of March 31, 2026.
As of June 30, 2026, consolidated total debt was $90.38 billion, which decreased from $94.61 billion as of March 31, 2026.
Free cash flow was $4.6 billion in the reported quarter, which increased from $4.5 billion in the prior year quarter.
In the second quarter of 2026, Comcast generated $8.09 billion in cash from operations, which increased from $7.82 billion reported in the prior year quarter.
Comcast paid dividends totaling $1.2 billion and repurchased 33.8 million of its shares for $900 million, resulting in a total return of capital to shareholders of $2.1 billion. On June 29 2026, the company announced it would pause its share repurchase program as it works through the separation of its businesses into two independent publicly traded companies.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderCMCSA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Shares of Cimpress have returned 45.6% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.
Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.5% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.
Shares of News Corporation have returned 2.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 5.
Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 23, 2026 8:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Marci Ryvicker - Executive Vice President of Investor Relations
Brian Roberts - Chief Executive Officer, President, Director and Director of Comcast Cable Communications Inc
Michael Cavanagh - Co-CEO & Director
Jason Armstrong - Chief Financial Officer
Steven Croney - Chief Executive Officer of Connectivity & Platforms Division
Presentation
Operator
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Comcast's Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this conference call is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to Executive Vice President, Investor Relations, Ms. Marci Ryvicker. Please go ahead, Ms. Ryvicker.
Marci Ryvicker
Executive Vice President of Investor Relations
Thank you, operator, and welcome, everyone. Joining us on today's call are Brian Roberts, Mike Cavanagh, Jason Armstrong and Steve Croney. I will now refer you to Slide 2 of the presentation accompanying this call, which can also be found on our Investor Relations website and which contains our safe harbor disclaimer. This conference call may include forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. In addition, during this call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures. Please see our 8-K and trending schedule issued earlier this morning for the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP.
With that, I'll turn the call over to Brian.
Brian Roberts
Chief Executive Officer, President, Director and Director of Comcast Cable Communications Inc
Good morning, and thanks, Marci. Before Mike and Jason take you through the quarter, I'd like to spend a few minutes on the separation we announced 3 weeks ago. Since then, we've talked with our key constituencies, employees at every level and most of our key partners, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. I feel more positive and energized today than I was on the day we announced it. What's come through most
Investors interested in Beverages - Soft drinks stocks are likely familiar with Primo Brands (PRMB) and Monster Beverage (MNST). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
Key Takeaways Core commissions and fees are expected to rise on new business, renewals and foreign currency benefits. BRO is likely to see higher profit-sharing commissions from stronger underwriting and higher premium volume. Higher compensation, operating, amortization, depreciation and interest costs are expected to lift expenses. Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) is expected to register an improvement in both top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2026 results on July 27, after the closing bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRO’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.72 billion, indicating 34% growth from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus estimate for the bottom line is pegged at $1.08 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRO’s second-quarter earnings has moved south by 0.9% in the past 30 days. The estimate suggests a year-over-year increase of 4.8%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for BROOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Brown & Brown this time. This is because the stock has the right combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), which increases the chances of an earnings beat.
Earnings ESP: Brown & Brown has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% at present. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of $1.09 is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Brown & Brown currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Factors Likely to Shape Q2 Results of BROCore commissions and fees are likely to have benefited from net new and renewal business, acquisitions and an increase from the impact of Foreign Currency Translation.
Profit-sharing contingent commissions are likely to have increased owing to improved underwriting results, increased premium volume and the qualification for certain profit-sharing contingent commissions that did not qualify in the prior year and recent acquisitions.
Net investment income is expected to have benefited from interest income earned from the proceeds of the company’s follow-on common stock offering. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $24.7 million.
Net new business written during the preceding 12 months and growth on renewals of existing customers are likely to have aided organic revenues in the Retail segment.
Net new business and exposure unit increases are expected to have aided organic revenues in the Wholesale Brokerage segment.
Expenses are expected to have increased because of higher employee compensation and benefits, other operating expenses, amortization, depreciation and interest expenses.
Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are three other insurance stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.22% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.82, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 7.6%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CINF’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
The Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.59% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.61, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 5.5%.
ALL’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.82% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.23, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 1.8%.
AXS’ earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
Parsons’ expanding portfolio of mission-focused products – underpinned by artificial intelligence – complements and enhances the company's broader global solutions offerings across national security and critical infrastructure markets.Products including Cyber Fly-Away Kits, AresNXT™, Javelin®, DroneArmor™, TReX®, Peanut™, iNET®, BlueFly®, GOCaaS™, and OrbitXchange™ demonstrate the company's ability to innovate, commercialize, and scale technologies that support customer missions.Parsons continues to invest in product development and commercialization to deliver repeatable, high-value offerings that drive mission outcomes, long-term growth, and margin expansion.
CHANTILLY, Va., July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN), a leading global solutions provider in the defense, intelligence, and infrastructure markets, today highlighted its growing portfolio of mission-focused products – underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI) – that complement and enhance the company's global solutions and help customers address evolving challenges.
Built on decades of operational experience and customer collaboration, Parsons' product portfolio strengthens the company's ability to deliver integrated solutions across complex mission environments. These technologies provide customers with agile, scalable capabilities that enhance decision-making, improve resilience, and support mission success while creating flexible offerings.
“Our innovation is rooted in continuous advancement and a relentless focus on customer outcomes,” said Ricardo Lorenzo, chief technology officer at Parsons. “Parsons is uniquely positioned to combine deep mission expertise, AI-powered solutions, and scalable technologies to solve complex customer challenges. Through our One Parsons approach, we are extending the strength of our existing solutions portfolio by connecting experts across transportation, cyber and electronic warfare, space and missile defense, water and environment, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection.”
The company’s One Parsons approach leverages global expertise to accelerate innovation, strengthen product development, and deliver greater value for customers. Technologies developed in support of one customer mission can be adapted, integrated, and scaled across multiple markets.
“As the global threat landscape and demands on critical infrastructure continue to evolve, Parsons is expanding a product portfolio built around two urgent missions: securing the infrastructure that communities and economies depend on, and delivering AI-enabled, mission-ready technologies that help protect lives,” said Aaron Wajsgras, vice president of product strategy and commercialization at Parsons. “Every offering is rooted in customer outcomes, turning proven innovation into repeatable solutions that help customers operate with faster decision-making, greater resilience, and a mission-critical advantage.”
Parsons' portfolio spans cyber operations, biometrics and identity management, electronic warfare, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS), space operations, critical infrastructure protection, border security, and transportation. These offerings are sold directly to customers or integrated into larger company solutions.
Domain Superiority: Cyber Fly-Away Kits, TReX®, and Peanut™
Parsons' national security portfolio includes AI-enabled technologies designed to help customers maintain an operational advantage across cyber, electronic warfare, and contested environments.
Cyber Fly-Away Kits provide rapidly deployable defensive cyber capabilities that support cyber hunt and mission assurance activities.TReX® delivers high-fidelity threat emulation and electronic warfare testing capabilities that help customers prepare for evolving threat environments.Peanut™ provides resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities that support operations when traditional GPS signals are degraded, denied, or unavailable.
Securing Critical Infrastructure: DroneArmor™, AresNXT™, Javelin®, BlueFly® and TAKaaS
Parsons helps customers protect global critical infrastructure, public venues, transportation systems, and high-consequence assets through a growing portfolio of security and identity management technologies.
AresNXT™ provides next-generation biometric identity management capabilities that improve security, interoperability, and operational efficiency across mobile and enterprise environments.Javelin® delivers secure identity enrollment and verification capabilities that support law enforcement, public safety, national security, and event security missions.Complementing these offerings, DroneArmor™ provides counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities that help customers detect, identify, and respond to emerging aerial threats, supporting force protection and critical infrastructure security requirements around the world.BlueFly® search-and-rescue system helps first responders and search teams rapidly locate individuals in a difficult environment.TAKaaS offers comprehensive TAK (Tactical Assault Kit/Team Awareness Kit) development, hosting, integration, fielding, and training services unlocking the full potential of the TAK ecosystem and ensuring mission success and effective operations for militaries, security forces, first responders, and event personnel.
Space Solutions: GOCaaS™ and OrbitXchange™
Parsons expansive portfolio of space-focused technologies support resilient satellite operations.
OrbitXchange™ orchestrates automated access to global antenna networks enabling satellite communications, telemetry, tracking, and command services.GOCaaS™ delivers 24/7 operational satellite operations as a service for any satellite delivering automated telemetry, tracking, commanding, mission management, and data delivery within a secure environment, helping government and commercial customers improve efficiency, resiliency, and mission assurance across increasingly complex space environments. Infrastructure Solutions: iNET®
iNET® is a globally deployed platform that helps transportation agencies around the world connect vehicles, infrastructure, and operational systems to improve mobility, safety, and efficiency. Built on Parsons' deep transportation expertise, iNET® demonstrates how the company's One Parsons approach combines digital innovation, infrastructure delivery, and operational experience to help customers build and secure critical infrastructure worldwide.
Parsons’ smart-mobility and traffic-management expertise extend beyond North America into the Middle East, where the company has delivered major ITS, traffic management centers, and smart-city mobility programs across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. These programs include integrated corridor management, centralized traffic operations centers, real-time monitoring and analytics, connected ITS devices, and multimodal coordination.
Parsons’ products trace their origins to customer missions around the world and are deployed across government, commercial, and critical infrastructure environments. From transportation agencies operating statewide mobility networks to security professionals conducting identity operations, cyber teams defending critical assets, and space operators supporting national security missions, the company’s solutions help customers solve complex challenges while preparing for future operational demands.
To learn more about Parsons' products and technology solutions, visit Parsons.com/products.
About Parsons:
Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and electronic warfare, space and missile defense, transportation, water and environment, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn how we’re making an impact.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the government’s budgetary approval process; the size of our addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. federal government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors’ protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings, including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in materially adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors included under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in this press release that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so by law.
What do an HVAC company and a power-and-cooling equipment supplier have in common? Comfort Systems USA (FIX +3.06%) and Vertiv Holdings (VRT +0.77%) are both riding the artificial intelligence (AI) boom thanks to the data center build-out happening behind the scenes.
The market has noticed. Over the past year, Comfort Systems' stock has risen 214%, while Vertiv's has risen 131%. They're tied to AI infrastructure in very different ways, which matters when you're trying to figure out what's really driving the gains.
Two under-the-radar infrastructure plays have already more than doubled. The question now is whether the fundamentals still support the story. Let's find out.
Image source: Getty Images.
What Comfort Systems and Vertiv actually do for AI data centers Comfort Systems is a specialized construction and building services company focused on the systems that make large facilities function. That includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping, controls, modular construction, monitoring, and fire-protection services.
Vertiv, on the other hand, sells critical digital infrastructure for data centers. Its products and services help data centers, communication networks, and industrial facilities stay powered, cooled, connected, and running reliably. That includes power-management equipment, thermal-management systems, racks, enclosures, monitoring software, and services that support the full life cycle of a data center.
Today's Change
(
3.06
%) $
54.79
Current Price
$
1,845.85
Why the AI data center boom needs cooling, power, and building systems Vertiv is the more obvious AI infrastructure pick at first glance. It supplies much of the equipment a data center needs to operate, especially around power and cooling. Comfort Systems takes a step back from the server floor, but it's still in the flow of the same trend.
Data centers generate enormous amounts of heat, and they need effective cooling and building systems to keep uptime high. As hyperscalers build and expand, they turn to companies that can design, install, and service those systems at scale. Comfort Systems has long been a leader in commercial HVAC, and it appears to be one of the biggest players in that market.
Q1 2026 results: The AI build-out is already showing up in earnings The latest results from both companies suggest the AI data center build-out is showing up in financial performance, not just stock charts.
Comfort Systems reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of about $2.9 billion, up 57% year over year. Net income rose 119% to about $370 million. In its Q1 investor presentation, the company pointed to data centers and chip manufacturing as its strongest end markets, followed by life sciences and pharmaceuticals. It also reported a $12.4 billion backlog, up 81% from $6.9 billion last year.
Vertiv also posted strong growth. Q1 2026 revenue increased 30% to about $2.65 billion, and net income climbed 137% to around $390 million. CEO Giordano Albertazzi said the company's ability to meet evolving AI-related demands is driving the growth.
Taken together, these results suggest AI infrastructure spending is already translating into real business momentum for both companies.
Today's Change
(
0.77
%) $
2.32
Current Price
$
303.48
Comfort Systems vs. Vertiv: Which AI infrastructure stock looks better now? So which stock looks more compelling today? At the moment, Comfort Systems appears cheaper, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 49 compared to Vertiv's multiple of about 73. Those are still high multiples, and it's fair to ask whether enthusiasm for AI infrastructure is pushing prices ahead of fundamentals.
The counterpoint is that this has been a common pattern across many AI-adjacent stocks. The bigger question is whether earnings can keep growing fast enough to catch up. If the AI infrastructure build-out stays strong for years, today's valuations may not look so extreme in hindsight.
Wall Street clearly likes both names. Each carries a "strong buy" consensus rating, and both sets of price targets imply roughly 45% to 50% upside over the next year. If I had to choose, Comfort Systems has the edge. It trades at a lower valuation while posting faster revenue and earnings growth than Vertiv, and that record backlog suggests data center-related demand could stay healthy for a while.
After all, when two "hidden" AI infrastructure stocks are already up triple digits in a year, the next move depends less on hype and more on whether the build-out keeps translating into backlog, revenue, and earnings.
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.
By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.
However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this company is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:
Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Vertiv is 64%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 51.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 8%.
Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Vertiv is 41%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 10.2%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 31.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 7.1%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The current-year earnings estimates for Vertiv have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.3% over the past month.
Bottom LineVertiv has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Vertiv well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
Berkshire Sells Visa, Domino's, and Pool Corp: Should You Follow?Pool NASDAQ: POOL reported a modest increase in second-quarter 2026 sales while maintaining its adjusted earnings outlook, as recurring maintenance demand and gains in building materials helped offset continued weakness in new pool construction and discretionary spending.
President and CEO John Watwood, speaking on his first earnings call in the role, said the company’s distribution model remains supported by a large installed base of pools, recurring maintenance revenue and a broad branch network that is “difficult to replicate.” He said PoolCorp’s strategy remains focused on growing customer share, increasing network density and improving execution across markets.
Get Pool alerts:
Consumer-Driven Stocks Boost Buybacks, Including Visa's $20B Plan“With our eyes set on crisp execution, I believe we can continue to generate above-market growth and control how we respond to any type of industry backdrop,” Watwood said.
Sales Rise 2% as Maintenance Demand Holds Up PoolCorp reported second-quarter net sales of $1.8 billion, up 2% from a year earlier. CFO Melanie Hart said pricing contributed 3% to sales growth as the company lapped prior-year mid-season vendor price increases.
Willing and Abel: Berkshire's New CEO Makes Huge Portfolio Changes in Q1Watwood said the company benefited from “healthy recurring maintenance demand” tied to its installed base of pools. Building materials sales increased 4%, which he attributed to the company’s national pool trend showrooms, product breadth and support for builders. Equipment sales rose 3% on price and repair-related demand, while chemicals declined 2% because of lower pricing.
Geographically, Europe was a bright spot, with sales up 11% on strong demand and improving sentiment. Watwood said warmer weather and greater consumer investment in backyards contributed to the strength. Seasonal markets grew 6%.
However, PoolCorp continued to face softness in year-round markets. Watwood said sales in California, Texas and Arizona declined by mid-single digits, while Florida was down 1%. He said much of the drag came from the company’s Horizon irrigation and landscape business, which is concentrated in those markets and pressured by slowing residential projects. U.S. pool permits were tracking down low single digits year to date, and discretionary demand remained measured.
Sales to retail customers declined 1%, while Pinch A Penny franchise sales were flat. The company said POOL360, its digital platform, reached 18% of sales, a record level of adoption.
Margins Pressured by Freight and Customer Mix Gross profit increased 1% to $541 million, while gross margin declined 30 basis points year over year to 29.7%. Hart said product mix was neutral, but higher inbound freight costs and an unfavorable customer mix weighed on margins. She said the company saw a higher portion of sales from larger customers, which generally carry lower margins.
“The decline was driven primarily by inbound freight costs, which we were not able to fully recoup in selling price this quarter, and by unfavorable customer mix,” Hart said.
Supply chain gains partially offset those pressures. Hart pointed to progress in private label, exclusive products and expanded building materials offerings. In response to analyst questions, she said inbound freight was “by far the most significant component” of the gross margin pressure.
The company now expects full-year gross margin to be approximately 30 basis points below the prior year, compared with its previous expectation for margins to be in line. Hart said the revised outlook reflects the second quarter’s weight in the full-year results and the continued impact of higher freight and customer mix.
Expense Discipline Supports Earnings PoolCorp reported operating expenses of $273 million, up 4% from a year earlier. Adjusted operating expenses increased 1%, excluding an $8.3 million one-time charge primarily tied to the non-cash acceleration of unvested equity grants related to the CEO transition.
Adjusted operating income increased 1% to $276 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 15.1%. Reported operating income fell 2% to $268 million. Adjusted net income rose 1% to $196 million, while reported net income declined 3% to $188 million.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $5.38, up from $5.17 a year earlier. Reported diluted EPS was $5.17 in both periods.
Hart said the company made progress on expense discipline during the quarter, reducing adjusted operating expense growth from 5% in the first quarter to 1% in the second quarter. She said capacity absorption helped keep compensation and outbound freight costs well managed.
Guidance Maintained on Adjusted Basis PoolCorp maintained its underlying adjusted earnings guidance range of $10.87 to $11.17 per share. Including the $0.21 impact from CEO transition expenses, the company updated its diluted EPS range to $10.66 to $10.96.
For the full year, the company expects low single-digit top-line growth, with approximately 2% to 3% from pricing. Hart said pricing benefits are expected to moderate in the second half as the company laps last year’s mid-season price increases. Demand expectations include slight growth in maintenance, some incremental remodel activity and pool builds that remain soft but stable.
Adjusted operating expenses are expected to increase approximately 2% to 3% for the full year, including some incentive compensation recovery from the prior year. Interest expense is still estimated at $49 million to $51 million, and the full-year tax rate is forecast at approximately 25%.
Hart said the company expects cash from operations to come in around 100% of net income for the year. PoolCorp returned capital to shareholders through $93 million in dividends and approximately $86 million in share repurchases year to date. The company has $580 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.
CEO Outlines Strategic Priorities Watwood outlined four priorities for the company: sales excellence, pricing and supply chain discipline, operational execution, and disciplined mergers and acquisitions. He said the company is focused on equipping sales teams with talent, training and tools, improving chemical and building materials execution, growing private label and proprietary brands, and getting recently opened greenfield locations to their full potential.
On mergers and acquisitions, Watwood said PoolCorp remains focused on tuck-in deals and opportunities that fit the core business, including product-category-specific opportunities, provided they meet strategic, cultural and financial criteria.
Watwood said the company has opened fewer new sales centers this year as it focuses on profitability at locations opened over the past several years. During the quarter, PoolCorp added one location in a key U.S. pool market and closed one Horizon location.
In response to analyst questions about market share, Watwood said PoolCorp has opportunities in building materials, chemicals and other categories by improving customer and supplier connectivity. “We listen to what the market’s telling us, we adjust, we execute on that,” he said. “I think our ability to go gain share is substantial.”
Watwood said the company is operating in a market that appears to be stabilizing, though he noted that a return to stronger long-term growth would require more help from the broader market. PoolCorp plans to provide its next update when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 22.
About Pool (NASDAQ:POOL)Pool Corporation is a leading wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related outdoor living products. Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, the company serves a diverse customer base that includes service professionals, independent retailers, high-volume builders, and national retail chains. Pool Corporation's extensive branch network enables it to maintain strong local customer relationships while leveraging its scale to source products efficiently from manufacturers around the world.
The company's product portfolio spans pool and spa chemicals, water treatment equipment, pumps, filters, heaters, automation and control systems, liners, safety covers, and cleaning accessories.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Pool Right Now?Before you consider Pool, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Pool wasn't on the list.
While Pool currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
The AI boom is creating opportunities across semiconductors, cloud computing, enterprise software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation.
Inside this report, you’ll find 10 companies positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment and becomes a core growth driver for corporate America.
Procore Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: PCOR), the leading global provider of construction management software, today announced three new Digital Coworker packages t
Key Takeaways Dave looks more attractive to add now, while Toast suits investors willing to wait for new initiatives.Dave's revenues rose 47%, as member growth, higher spending and disciplined acquisition fueled momentum.Toast reached 171,000 locations, with rising profitability and growth paths in AI and enterprise markets. Toast, Inc. (TOST - Free Report) and Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) deal with different parts of fintech, but both use software and data to replace older, more expensive systems. Toast has built a broad operating platform for restaurants, combining payments, software, hardware, lending and now AI tools. Dave focuses on consumers who need low-cost banking and short-term liquidity, using its CashAI underwriting system to manage risk and personalize credit access.
Toast offers greater scale, a large merchant network and several paths into enterprise, international and retail markets. Dave is smaller and more concentrated, yet it is growing faster, producing strong margins and expanding beyond ExtraCash into a wider credit relationship.
The key question is not simply which company has the better product. Investors must weigh Toast’s durable platform and wider reach against Dave’s faster operating momentum, sharper unit economics and higher exposure to credit, funding and regulatory risks for diversified long-term portfolios.
The Case for TOSTToast’s advantage is the breadth of its restaurant platform. Its software, payments, hardware and fintech products are deeply tied to daily operations, making the service difficult to replace. The company ended the first quarter with about 171,000 live locations, up 22% year over year, while annualized recurring run-rate rose 26% to $2.2 billion. That scale gives Toast more data and chances to add products.
Toast IQ could deepen that advantage. The assistant uses restaurant-specific sales, labor, menu and guest data, and Toast said operators at more than 125,000 locations used it during the first quarter. Early usage centered on revenue, inventory and marketing questions. While the opportunity is clear, investors still need evidence that engagement becomes sustained revenues rather than simply a useful feature.
Expansion beyond independent restaurants also matters. Hungry Howie’s selected Toast for roughly 500 locations, showing the platform can handle complex enterprise operations. Toast is also building in international markets and supporting hospitality brands operating across the United Kingdom and United States. These moves widen the addressable market, but they bring heavier product, support and sales requirements than the core business.
Financially, Toast is balancing growth with improving profitability. Recurring gross profit increased 27%, adjusted EBITDA reached $179 million, and management raised full-year guidance. Still, GPV per location declined 1%, hardware and services remain a drag, and new markets require continued investment. Compared with Dave, Toast offers diversification and lower credit concentration, but its larger base may make rapid growth harder to sustain.
The Case for DAVEDave’s appeal starts with its growth engine. First-quarter revenues increased 47% to $158.4 million, supported by 18% growth in monthly transacting members and 24% growth in average revenue per user. New-member additions rose 22% to 695,000, while customer acquisition cost stayed at $18. This combination suggests Dave can scale without giving up marketing discipline.
Credit performance makes the story compelling. ExtraCash originations climbed 37% to $2.1 billion, yet the 28-day past-due rate improved to 1.69%, its lowest first-quarter level on record. CashAI appears to be expanding access while keeping losses controlled. Unlike Toast, whose fintech exposure is tied mainly to merchant payments, Dave benefits when underwriting improves, and members use more liquidity products.
The next leg comes from deeper member relationships. Dave Flex, a pay-in-four card product, is being tested as an alternative to traditional credit cards and buy-now-pay-later offers. It uses CashAI and can work across merchants without repeated applications. Revenue contribution is not expected this year, but the product gives Dave a credible route to higher engagement and a larger share of member spending.
The Coastal Community Bank funding arrangement strengthens that route. Moving ExtraCash originations to an off-balance-sheet structure should unlock liquidity and reduce funding costs while allowing Dave to keep investing in growth and repurchases. Adjusted EBITDA rose 57% to $69.3 million, with a 44% margin, and guidance increased. Regulatory, partner and credit risks remain meaningful, but Dave’s faster growth, improving loss trends and expanding product set create the stronger upside case.
How Do Estimates Compare for TOST & DAVE?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Toast’s 2026 and 2027 sales implies year-over-year growth of 19.95% and 17.84%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 EPS suggests a year-over-year increase of 51.69% and 27.04%, respectively. Over the past 60 days, estimates for TOST’s 2026 and 2027 EPS have been revised in opposite directions, giving us a mixed view.
For Toast:
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dave’s 2026 and 2027 sales calls for year-over-year growth of 28.85% and 19.93%, respectively. The consensus estimates for both 2026 and 2027 EPS have been revised upward over the past week. The figures suggest a year-over-year increase of 27.47% and 28.63%, respectively.
For Dave:
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance and Valuation of TOST & DAVEOver the past three months, Dave shares have rallied 54.3%, while Toast shares have risen 0.6%. In comparison, the S&P 500 composite has advanced 4.2% in the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TOST is trading at a forward price-to-sales of 1.86X, which is below its one-year median of 2.65X.
Meanwhile, following the share rally, DAVE is presently trading at a forward price-to-sales of 6.82X, which is above its one-year median of 4.53X. Dave’s premium requires rapid growth and clean credit execution.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionToast remains a fintech platform with strong restaurant reach, rising profitability and credible growth paths in AI, enterprise and international markets. Its broad ecosystem lowers dependence on any single product, but the company’s size and expansion spending may limit near-term upside. Dave carries greater credit, regulatory and bank-partner risk, yet its growth, acquisition efficiency, improving past-due rates and widening product lineup provide a more powerful earnings path.
For investors choosing between the two, Dave looks like the more attractive position to add now, while Toast appears better suited for existing shareholders who are comfortable waiting for newer initiatives to mature.
While TOST carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), DAVE sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The U.S. energy sector has outperformed in 2026, driven primarily by geopolitical-related supply fears, elevated oil prices, and rising demand from the AI infrastructure buildout. While broad energy funds have also surged, investors can potentially enhance exposure by targeting specific segments of the energy market.
Key Takeaways Geopolitical supply concerns, elevated crude oil prices, and AI infrastructure energy demand have driven the U.S. energy sector’s strong 2026 performance. While broad market ETFs like the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) provide core exposure, investors can potentially capture higher returns by specifically targeting different segments of the oil and gas value chain. Upstream firms capitalize on rising crude prices, while midstream companies generate steady income through fee-based models. Downstream refiners capture gains when widening crack spreads boost refining margins. Broad Market Energy Funds The State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) covers the broader oil and gas value chain by tracking the S&P Energy Select Sector Index (IXE). Integrated majors ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron Corporation (CVX) make up over 35% of portfolio allocations. The fund has generated a year-to-date total return of 32.63% through July 21, with inflows of $3.5 billion.
The Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) takes a similar broad market approach, tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index. ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation also collectively make up roughly 35% of the portfolio. VDE has risen 33.09% so far this year, receiving inflows of $720.25 million.
Capitalizing on Elevated Crude Oil Prices Exploration & production (E&P) firms have benefited significantly from elevated crude oil prices. These upstream firms focus on finding, extracting, and selling the oil, making their performance heavily dependent on crude oil prices. The U.S. crude oil benchmark (WTI) is up 47.88% year to date through July 21, allowing E&P firms to sell the same crude oil at higher prices, directly boosting cash flows.
Funds such as the State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) provide exposure to these upstream firms. XOP tracks the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index, which provides equal-weighted exposure across over 50 U.S. E&P firms. XOP has climbed 38.90% in 2026 and has seen inflows of $889.62 million.
For targeted exposure to E&P producers in Texas, investors can turn to the Texas Capital Texas Oil Index ETF (OILT). This fund tracks the Alerian Texas Weighted Oil and Gas Index (ATXWO), using an economic-value weighted strategy. Individual holdings are weighted by the volume and value of oil and gas produced in Texas, with a cap of 10% for any single holding. OILT has gained 30.91% year to date as oil prices remain elevated.
The VanEck Oil Services ETF (OIH) targets the 25 most liquid companies involved in upstream oil and gas services. The fund tracks the MVIS US Listed Oil Services 25 Index (MVOIH), with heavy weighting towards the fund’s top holdings. Its top holding, SLB Limited (SLB), sits at a 19.00% portfolio weight as of July 21, while the second largest holding, Baker Hughes Company (BKR), maintains a 11.93% weight. OIH primarily invests in U.S. companies, with approximately a quarter allocated to U.S. listed foreign companies. The fund has returned 34.67% in 2026, seeing inflows of $193.89 million over the same period.
Midstream Income and Stability While upstream producers directly benefit from elevated oil prices, midstream firms maintain stable cash flows from their fee-based business models, largely insulated from commodity price volatility. The midstream sector has performed strongly in 2026, driven by stable income, power demand from AI infrastructure projects, and record liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
The Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) delivers midstream exposure through the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI), a composite of North American energy infrastructure companies. ENFR maintains a portfolio of roughly 30 holdings with larger firms holding higher portfolio weights. The fund has gained 29.38% with inflows of approximately $70 million year to date.
For investors seeking pure exposure to midstream MLPs, the Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) is composed of 100% MLPs. The fund tracks the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index (AMZI), which is a capped, float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted composite of energy infrastructure MLPs that earn most of their cash flow from midstream activities. AMLP has climbed 20.30% year to date with inflows of $604 million. MLPs have attracted significant investor interest due to their track record of providing generous quarterly distributions, which provide a stable stream of income.
Capturing Crack Spreads Downstream Looking downstream, oil refiners have performed strongly in 2026. Global supply constraints are widening the crack spread between crude oil and refined fuels, creating elevated profit margins for oil refiners. However, it’s important to note that if crude oil prices spike too quickly, refiners often can’t pass the full cost on to consumers, causing their margins to shrink.
The VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK) captures this elevated crack spread by tracking the MVIS Global Oil Refiners Index (MVCRAK). The index provides global pure-play exposure to roughly 30 to 35 oil refiners, excluding integrated majors.
For inclusion in the fund, firms must generate at least 50% of revenues from crude oil refining and production of petrochemicals. Holdings are weighted using a modified market capitalization weighting, limiting individual holdings to a maximum portfolio weight of 8%. CRAK has climbed 48.43% in 2026, with inflows of approximately $100 million.
For more news, information, and analysis visit the Thematic Investing Content Hub.
vettafi.com is owned by VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). VettaFi is the index provider for OILT, AMLP, and ENFR for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, OILT, AMLP, and ENFR are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi, and VettaFi has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of OILT, AMLP, or ENFR.
Key Takeaways Datadog ended Q1 2026 with about 4,550 customers generating more than $100,000 in ARR.56% of customers use four or more products, while 20% use eight or more, boosting lifetime value.More than 6,500 customers use AI integrations, representing roughly 80% of Datadog's ARR. Datadog’s (DDOG - Free Report) enterprise customer base is strengthening its long-term growth trajectory by driving higher recurring revenues and deeper platform adoption. The company ended the first quarter of 2026 with approximately 4,550 customers generating more than $100,000 in annual recurring revenues (ARR), up from 3,770 a year ago. These large customers now account for nearly 90% of total ARR, highlighting the growing contribution of enterprise clients to Datadog's business.
Management also noted several seven-figure and eight-figure customer wins across industries, with many organizations replacing multiple legacy monitoring tools and expanding deployments to 10-16 Datadog products. This trend is reflected in the company's strong cross-selling performance, as 56% of customers now use four or more products, while 20% use eight or more, supporting higher customer lifetime value and durable subscription revenues.
The rapid adoption of AI is creating another growth path, with more than 6,500 customers using one or more AI integrations, representing roughly 80% of ARR. Datadog further strengthened its enterprise proposition at DASH 2026 by introducing more than 100 new AI, observability and security capabilities, including expanded Bits AI functionality and Agent Observability, which should further deepen enterprise adoption and increase wallet share.
However, the company remains dependent on continued enterprise expansion and IT spending. A slowdown in customer spending, weaker macroeconomic conditions or intensifying competition could moderate ARR growth and limit future revenue expansion. Nevertheless, Datadog's expanding enterprise footprint, strong customer retention, continuous platform innovation and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 26.62% revenue growth in 2026 indicate that its enterprise-led growth story remains firmly intact.
How Are Competitors Faring?Dynatrace (DT - Free Report) and Elastic (ESTC - Free Report) compete with Datadog in enterprise observability, where platform breadth, enterprise expansion and customer retention drive long-term growth.
Dynatrace challenges Datadog through unified AI-powered observability, deterministic AI and its DPS licensing model that drives broader adoption and consumption. The company reported a fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 NRR of 110%, with more than 75% of ARR on its DPS licensing model and strong cross-sell potential. Dynatrace targets enterprise consolidation, autonomous operations and cloud expansion, while Datadog currently outpaces it in enterprise customer growth and retention.
Elastic competes with Datadog by combining observability, security and AI on a unified platform emphasizing consolidation and context-aware AI. The company is expanding enterprise relationships through larger multiyear commitments, $1 million-plus deals and AI-driven observability. Elastic leverages search expertise and platform consolidation to win upsell opportunities, though Datadog maintains stronger enterprise expansion and higher retention metrics.
DDOG’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of DDOG have rallied 79.9% over the past six-month period, outperforming the Zacks Internet - Software industry’s decline of 4.8% and the Zacks broader Computer and Technology sector's growth of 12%.
DDOG’s Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, DDOG stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 18.16X compared with the industry’s 3.96X. DDOG has a Value Score of F.
DDOG’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.41 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days and indicating a 17.56% year-over-year increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Datadog stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Partnership combines sovereign digital infrastructure, enterprise AI capabilities,
and industry expertise to help position Thailand as a leading AI economy in Southeast Asia
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leading AI builder and global technology services provider, and Gulf Edge Company Limited (Gulf Edge), the digital infrastructure arm of Gulf Group, today announced a landmark strategic partnership that aims to accelerate AI adoption across Thailand and support the country's transition toward an AI-native economy.
Cognizant and Gulf Edge Launch Strategic AI & Services Partnership to Accelerate Thailand’s AI Transformation. Cognizant is an AI Builder company www.cognizant.ai As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, economies and societies worldwide, the partnership aims to establish the foundational ecosystem needed to enable Thailand's next phase of digital transformation. By combining trusted sovereign digital infrastructure with world-class AI engineering and enterprise transformation capabilities, Gulf Edge and Cognizant intend to help organizations deploy AI securely, responsibly and at scale.
The collaboration brings together Gulf Edge's leadership in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and strategic relationships across Thailand's most important industries with Cognizant's global expertise in AI, digital engineering, cloud modernization, data, and intelligent operations. Together, the two companies aim to deliver end-to-end AI capabilities spanning infrastructure, AI platforms, enterprise solutions, systems integration and managed services.
The partnership will initially focus on accelerating AI adoption across key sectors including banking and financial services, energy and utilities, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing and the public sector. Through industry-specific AI solutions, organizations are expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, strengthen decision-making, automate complex business processes and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Beyond enterprise transformation, Gulf Edge and Cognizant share a broader ambition of strengthening Thailand's position as a regional AI hub. The partnership is expected to attract global technology expertise, stimulate investment in advanced digital capabilities and create high-value employment opportunities across AI engineering, data science, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital transformation. The two companies also plan to collaborate with universities, research institutions, technology partners and public-sector organizations to develop AI talent, promote responsible AI adoption and foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the country.
Mr. Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Development Public Company Limited, said, "Our partnership with Cognizant marks an important milestone in our vision of helping Thailand become an AI-native economy. By combining Gulf Edge's strengths in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and deep understanding of the Thai market with Cognizant's global expertise in enterprise AI, digital engineering, and transformation services, we are creating a comprehensive platform that enables organizations to adopt AI with confidence and generate measurable business outcomes. Together, we will develop secure, resilient, and future-ready sovereign digital infrastructure while delivering industry-specific AI solutions tailored to the needs of Thai enterprises and public institutions. We believe AI has the potential to transform every sector, creating new opportunities for productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth."
Mr. Ganesh Ayyar, President of Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ), Cognizant, said, "Cognizant and Gulf Edge share a clear ambition to accelerate AI adoption in Thailand, helping to position the country as a regional AI hub. As an AI Builder, Cognizant focuses on bridging the gap between AI investments and measurable business value by building AI into everyday workflows, utilizing specific business context, and embedding it directly into existing operations. Together with Gulf Edge, we intend to bring this approach to Thai organizations, helping them innovate and scale." Ayyar continued, "This joint effort has the potential to generate up to approximately 1,000 high-skilled jobs in advanced AI and digital transformation. We are excited to collaborate with Gulf Edge to develop homegrown talent and build the lasting technology capabilities required for Thailand's digital future."
About Gulf Edge
Gulf Edge Company Limited is the digital infrastructure arm of Gulf Development Public Company Limited, Thailand's leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate. Gulf Edge is building a robust digital ecosystem, spanning data centers, cloud services, satellite technology, and AI infrastructure, to accelerate Thailand's digital transformation and position the country as a regional hub for the AI economy.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for clients. Its deep industry, process, and engineering expertise enables it to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns, and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Old Dominion Freight Line currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if ODFL is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this trucking company holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For ODFL, shares are up 2.73% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry is up 2.92% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 6.28% compares favorably with the industry's 5.37% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Old Dominion Freight Line have risen 11.2%, and are up 40.25% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 5.37% and 20.16%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to ODFL's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. ODFL is currently averaging 1,479,281 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with ODFL.
Over the past two months, 10 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost ODFL's consensus estimate, increasing from $5.32 to $5.56 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 8 estimates have moved upwards while there have been 1 downward revision in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that ODFL is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Old Dominion Freight Line on your short list.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Steven Madden (SHOO - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Steven Madden currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for SHOO that show why this footwear and accessories retailer shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For SHOO, shares are up 3.36% over the past week while the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry is up 0.1% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 2.88% compares favorably with the industry's 0.05% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of Steven Madden have risen 17.69%, and are up 61.15% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 5.37% and 20.16%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to SHOO's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. SHOO is currently averaging 1,112,359 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with SHOO.
Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision helped boost SHOO's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.09 to $2.10 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that SHOO is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Steven Madden on your short list.
Steven Madden (SHOO - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Steven Madden basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Steven Madden, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Steven MaddenThis footwear and accessories retailer is expected to earn $2.10 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Steven Madden. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.6%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Steven Madden to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
MarketBeat Week in Review – 03/09 - 03/13Huntington Bancshares NASDAQ: HBAN executives said the bank delivered a strong second quarter of 2026, citing organic loan and deposit growth, higher revenue, improving profitability and completion of the Cadence systems conversion as key milestones.
Chairman, President and CEO Stephen Steinour called the quarter “exceptional,” saying Huntington is now at an “inflection point” after completing recent integrations and expanding its footprint. He said customer activity remains steady, commercial demand is broad-based and visibility on economic trends has improved since the prior quarter.
Get Huntington Bancshares alerts:
Huntington Bancshares Is Chasing a Bigger Growth Story“Our core businesses are performing at a high level, our conversions are complete, and we are positioned to capture the benefits of our investments, as well as the recent partnerships and expanded footprint,” Steinour said.
Cadence Conversion Completed as Management Shifts Focus to Growth Brant Standridge, Huntington’s President of Consumer and Regional Banking, said the bank completed the Cadence systems conversion 235 days after announcement. He said the process included training and transitioning 4,500 colleagues onto Huntington systems, onboarding hundreds of thousands of customers, converting ATM and ITM locations and changing more than 4,000 signs.
Regional Banking Sector Near a Critical Inflection PointStandridge said Huntington grew deposits during the conversion weekend and in the weeks that followed, a result he described as unusual for a bank conversion. He said the company is retaining about 80% of maturing CD balances in the Cadence footprint, reducing higher-cost wholesale funding and brokered deposits, and increasing checking account growth.
Management said Huntington remains on track to achieve $365 million in Cadence cost synergies in the fourth quarter. Chief Financial Officer Zach Wasserman said the combined Veritex and Cadence run-rate expense synergy target remains $435 million by the fourth quarter.
Standridge also highlighted early revenue opportunities from the Cadence combination, including nearly $1 billion of expanding client commitments across energy, commercial real estate and auto floorplan businesses. He said Huntington has completed more than 10 capital markets transactions with customers in the Cadence footprint since closing, generating approximately $12 million of fees.
Loan and Deposit Growth Remain Central to Results Wasserman said average loans increased $15 billion, or 8.6%, sequentially in the second quarter. Normalizing for the day-count effect of the Cadence balance sheet in the first quarter, average loans increased $2.2 billion, or 1.2%, which he described as strong organic expansion.
Loan growth was led by commercial and industrial categories, including corporate and specialty areas. Wasserman cited activity from the financial institutions group, industrials, diversified businesses, corporate mortgage finance and Native American financial services. Commercial real estate balances declined modestly as planned, while auto production was lower.
Average deposits increased $18.8 billion, or 9.2%, sequentially. On an organic basis adjusted for the Cadence day-count effect, deposits grew $4 billion, or 1.8%, outpacing loan growth. Wasserman said primary banking relationships increased across customer segments, with consumer relationships up 4%, business banking up 5% and commercial up 8% year-over-year.
Deposit costs increased six basis points during the quarter, including about one basis point from the full-quarter impact of Cadence and five basis points from the legacy Huntington franchise.
Revenue Momentum Includes Strong Fee Growth Net interest income was $2.1 billion, up 8.5% sequentially, supported by what management called strong core-funded asset growth. Huntington’s net interest margin increased 10 basis points year-over-year but declined three basis points sequentially. Wasserman said the second quarter should represent the trough for net interest margin, with expected improvement from fixed-asset repricing, liquidity optimization and Cadence deposit portfolio actions.
Value-added fee revenues rose more than 60% year-over-year. Excluding the impacts of Cadence, the Janney Capital Markets business acquisition and last year’s sale of the corporate trust business, Wasserman said value-added fee revenue increased about 30% organically year-over-year.
In specific fee categories, payments increased 10% year-over-year, wealth management rose 12%, capital markets increased 46% and loan and deposit fees grew 19%.
Wasserman said adjusted pre-provision net revenue increased 12% quarter-over-quarter, while value-added fee revenues increased 15%. He also said Huntington generated 210 basis points of positive operating leverage on a trailing 12-month basis.
Outlook Emphasizes NII Pressure, Fee Upside and 2027 Targets Management’s full-year outlook drew scrutiny during the question-and-answer portion of the call after UBS analyst Erika Najarian noted that the stock opened down about 5% and asked about the unchanged outlook despite a lower net interest income expectation.
Wasserman said overall revenue remains robust, but the spread outlook has shifted more toward volume-driven growth. He said Huntington expects net interest income to be at the bottom end of its range or perhaps modestly below it, largely because of deposit cost pressure. At the same time, he said fee income is tracking toward the high end of guidance or potentially above it.
Wasserman said the company expects net interest margin to rise modestly into the low 320-basis-point range in the third quarter and into the mid- to high-320s in the fourth quarter. He also said management expects loans and deposits to grow sequentially in the second half of the year.
Executives reiterated longer-term targets for 2027, including earnings per share of $1.90 to $1.93 and return on tangible common equity in the 18% to 19% range. Wasserman said Huntington expects EPS growth of approximately 30% from the 2025 level, supported by organic growth, fee income expansion, revenue synergies and expense discipline.
Credit and Capital Remain Areas of Management Confidence Wasserman said credit performance remains strong and consistent with expectations. Net charge-offs are trending near the low end of the company’s guided range, and Huntington now expects charge-offs to be in the lower half of its 25- to 35-basis-point range for the year. He said criticized assets declined during the quarter, while nonperforming assets remain elevated because of government-guaranteed loan categories with “virtually no loss content” and downgrades of select commercial credits.
Huntington completed $310 million of its planned $550 million share repurchase program for 2026 year-to-date. Wasserman said the company expects to repurchase an additional $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion in 2027.
Steinour closed the call by saying Huntington has become a “stronger, more diversified super regional bank” through new markets, broader business mix and added capabilities. He said the company remains on track for its 2027 financial targets, with the fourth quarter expected to provide a clearer view of the earnings power of the combined franchise.
About Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:HBAN)Huntington Bancshares Incorporated NASDAQ: HBAN is a bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that provides a broad range of banking and financial services through its principal subsidiary, Huntington National Bank. The company's operations are centered on retail and commercial banking, and it serves individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, and institutional customers.
Huntington's product offerings include traditional deposit and lending products, consumer and commercial loans, mortgage origination and servicing, auto financing, and business banking solutions.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Huntington Bancshares Right Now?Before you consider Huntington Bancshares, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Huntington Bancshares wasn't on the list.
While Huntington Bancshares currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Nuclear energy is entering a new growth cycle as rising power demand, expanding data centers, and renewed policy support bring the sector back into focus. After strong gains in recent years, the most impactful phase of nuclear investment may still be ahead. This report highlights seven nuclear energy stocks positioned across the value chain—combining near-term revenue with long-term upside as next-generation technologies scale. Click the link below to unlock the full list.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
QuantumScape (NYSE:QS | QS Price Prediction) shares are down 14% to $5.03 in Thursday morning trading, extending a rough stretch for the solid-state battery developer. The move follows the company’s Q2 2026 earnings release after the July 22 close.
The selling is spreading across the small solid-state battery cohort. Solid Power (NASDAQ:SLDP) stock is down 8% to $2.15, and SES AI (NYSE:SES) shares are down 10% to $0.53.
The broader tape isn’t helping. For QuantumScape and its peers SLDP and SES, the S&P 500 is down 1.5% and the NASDAQ 100 is down 2.4% on Thursday, a risk-off backdrop that tends to punish high-beta, speculative names the hardest.
Post-Earnings Reaction Drives QuantumScape Lower QuantumScape posted a Q2 2026 net loss of approximately $98 million, or $0.16 per share, narrower than the $0.1781 loss analysts expected. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250 million to $275 million while trimming capital-expenditure plans to $27 million to $37 million from a prior $40 million to $60 million range.
Beyond the numbers, QuantumScape broadened its focus beyond electric vehicles. Management highlighted a multi-year partnership with Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) for solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, updated milestones with Volkswagen‘s (OTC:VWAGY) PowerCo unit, and initial QSE-5 cell shipments to a major American defense prime alongside engagement with AI data center design partners.
QuantumScape’s operating expenses also improved, falling to $106 million from $124 million a year ago, with research and development at $83 million. Customer billings reached $10.8 million in the quarter, per the 8-K filing.
The reaction looks like a classic sell-the-news response. QuantumScape stock was down 44% year to date (YTD) heading into Thursday, and even a headline EPS beat paired with a marquee Honda deal wasn’t enough to lift a name where investors want to see actual revenue.
Solid Power and SES AI Slide in Sympathy Solid Power has no company-specific catalyst today. The Colorado developer, which counts SK On, Samsung SDI, and BMW as partners, last reported Q1 2026 results in May and is targeting year-end 2026 commissioning of its continuous sulfide electrolyte pilot line. Solid Power shares are down 48% YTD.
The same investor newsletter that told subscribers to buy Amazon in 2002, Netflix in 2004, and Nvidia in 2005 still publishes two new stock picks every month. Over 23 years, Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. New members get this month's picks, the Top 10 Rankings, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click here to unlock their next top stocks while new members are still being accepted.
SES AI is trading like a pure sympathy name. The sub-$1 speculative stock has fallen 70% YTD, and with a market cap of around $200 million, SES stock tends to move sharply on any shift in sentiment across the solid-state cohort.
Balancing the Bull and Bear Cases on QuantumScape The bear case on QuantumScape stock is straightforward: no near-term revenue, ongoing cash burn, and real execution risk on scaling the Eagle Line pilot facility and Cobra separator process. Liquidity of $859 million gives the company runway, but commercialization timelines in this industry have a habit of slipping.
The bull case rests on the technology itself and its widening addressable market. If QuantumScape’s anode-free lithium-metal architecture can be manufactured at scale, the pull from EVs, AI data centers approaching a megawatt of power per compute rack, and defense customers seeking supply chain independence from Chinese graphite could be substantial.
What to Watch Next The immediate technical level to watch on QuantumScape stock is whether it can hold the $5 level after breaking below $6 on Thursday. Follow-through selling in Solid Power and SES AI shares could signal that the sympathy trade has more room to run.
Analyst notes reacting to the Honda partnership and the lowered capex outlook may shape the next leg. The current sell-side setup on QuantumScape stock is cautious, with seven holds, two sells, and a $7.16 consensus price target.
Solid-state batteries remain a promising long-term technology, but these are speculative, unprofitable names dependent on manufacturing and commercialization milestones that keep slipping. Investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest given the volatility on display in QS, SLDP, and SES shares.
If You'd Bought Amazon When the Motley Fool Said To…In September 2002, Stock Advisor told subscribers to buy Amazon. In December 2004, Netflix. In April 2005, Nvidia. The newsletter still publishes two new stock picks every month — and over 23 years, has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. Here's how to get this month's picks:
- Join Stock Advisor for one year, with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Get this month's two new picks — plus the Top 10 Rankings and the full historical pick list
- Read the analysis, decide for yourself, and trade through your own brokerage
Five years from now, you'll probably wish you'd bought this month's picks. Don't miss them.
QuantumScape QS stock is under immense pressure on July 23 after the solid-state lithium metal batteries specialist posted earnings for its second financial quarter.
While the company technically beat bottomline estimates on paper, a deeper dive into the quarterly release reveals a few major negatives that are leading to bearish sentiment this morning.
The Q2 print add to pressure on QuantumScape shares that – heading into Thursday – were already down over 55% versus the start of 2026.
The biggest fundamental catalyst that’s driving QS shares down today is a revision of the terms of the company’s partnership with Volkswagen’s battery manufacturing arm – PowerCo.
In its press release, QuantumScape said the updated agreement “reduced” potential milestone cash payments from $131 million previously to $75 million now.
For a pre-revenue company reliant on non-dilutive partner cash to fund its long commercialization runway, losing roughly $56 million in prospective liquidity is a clear headwind.
Note that the sell-off in QuantumScape crashed its relative strength index (RSI) below 30 – which reinforces intense selling pressure.
Alongside earnings, QS management also unveiled a major “structural pivot” – splitting into three business verticals: QSEV (electric vehicles), QSDC (AI data centers), and QSAS (aerospace and defense).
While executives framed this as an expansion into high-margin markets (like in-rack power storage for artificial intelligence infrastructure), the market is reading early pivoting as a sign that broader EV adoption is taking longer than initially projected.
Even from a technical perspective, QuantumScape stock currently sits firmly below its key moving averages (MAs), indicating bears remain strongly in control across multiple timeframes.
QuantumScape narrowed its GAAP net loss in Q2 to just over $98 million, which translates to 16 cents a share (beating the 18-cent-a-share consensus), but the company reiterated its full-year guidance for adjusted EBITDA loss of at least $ 250 million.
Although the capital expenditures (capex) outlook was lowered to about $32 million only, QS remains a zero-product-revenue enterprise running high cash burn.
Without near-term sales generation, a modest earnings beat does little to offset investor impatience over the 2027–2029 commercial timeline.
And it’s not like QuantumScape pays a healthy dividend to incentivize ownership despite these risks either.
Finally, investors are bailing on QS stock also because market filings leading into the print revealed about $6 million in insider sales over the preceding quarter by key executives.
What’s also worth mentioning is that Wall Street analysts continue to caution against owning this EV battery stock in 2026.
The consensus rating on QuantumScape remains at Moderate Sell, with price targets going as low as $2.5, indicating potential downside of roughly 50% from current levels.
Old Republic International (ORI - Free Report) reported $2.33 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.2%. EPS of $0.76 for the same period compares to $0.83 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.85% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.38 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.77, the EPS surprise was -1.3%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
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 Old Republic performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Specialty Insurance Segment - Loss Ratio: 65.9% compared to the 64.7% average estimate based on two analysts.Specialty Insurance Segment - Expense Ratio: 29.6% compared to the 29.9% average estimate based on two analysts.Title Insurance Segment - Combined Ratio: 95.1% compared to the 98.9% average estimate based on two analysts.Title Insurance Segment - Loss Ratio: 3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2.9%.Operating Revenue- Specialty Insurance Segment- Net premiums earned: $1.32 billion compared to the $1.38 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.3% year over year.Operating Revenue- Specialty Insurance Segment- Net investment income: $159.5 million versus $158.34 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +6.4% change.Operating Revenue- Specialty Insurance Segment- Other income: $51.2 million compared to the $50.89 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +3.9% year over year.Operating Revenue- Corporate & Other: $5.4 million compared to the $5.9 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -18.2% year over year.Operating Revenue- Title Insurance Segment- Net investment income: $18.3 million compared to the $17.79 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.8% year over year.Operating Revenue- Specialty Insurance Segment: $1.53 billion versus $1.59 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.7% change.Operating Revenue- Title Insurance Segment: $717.8 million compared to the $782.15 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.4% year over year.Operating Revenue- Title Insurance Segment- Net premiums earned: $699.3 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $764.31 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.2%.View all Key Company Metrics for Old Republic here>>>
Shares of Old Republic have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Ryder (R - Free Report) reported $3.35 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 5%. EPS of $3.73 for the same period compares to $3.32 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.14% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.31 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $3.70, the EPS surprise was +0.81%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
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 Ryder performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Average fleet count - ChoiceLease: 141,200 compared to the 140,812 average estimate based on two analysts.Commercial rental - Rental Utilization - Power Units: 75% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 71%.Commercial rental - Average fleet count: 29,200 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 29,912.Operating Revenue- Fleet Management Solutions: $1.3 billion compared to the $1.29 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.2% year over year.Operating Revenue- Dedicated Transportation Solutions: $455 million versus $454.99 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -3.2% change.Operating Revenue- Supply Chain Solutions: $1.1 billion versus $1.08 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.5% change.Revenues- Fleet Management Solutions: $1.56 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.5 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.3%.Revenues- Supply Chain Solutions: $1.47 billion compared to the $1.47 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.8% year over year.Revenues- Fleet Management Solutions- SelectCare and other: $189 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $182.4 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.2%.Revenues- Eliminations: $-285 million versus $-268.11 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14% change.Revenues- Fleet Management Solutions- Commercial rental: $229 million versus $223.42 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -4.2% change.Revenues- Fleet Management Solutions- ChoiceLease: $885 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $888.58 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.6%.View all Key Company Metrics for Ryder here>>>
Shares of Ryder have returned +5.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
NEW ORLEANS, July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 27, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against AeroVironment, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AVAV) (“AeroVironment” or the “Company”), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities between 4:30 PM on June 24, 2025 and June 18, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and District of Delaware.
Get Help
AeroVironment investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-avav-1 or call toll-free (833) 538-3601. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
AeroVironment and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the U.S. Space Force’s Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Satellite Control Network; (ii) accordingly, defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and (iii) as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
The first-filed case is Norrell v. AeroVironment, Inc., et al, No. 26-cv-01429. A subsequent case, City Pension Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers in the City of Miami Beach v. AeroVironment, Inc. et al., No. 26-cv-00875, expanded the class period.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) 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 AeroVironment securities between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/AVAV.
AeroVironment Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the SCAR program and the U.S. Space Force's ongoing efforts to modernize the SCN; accordingly, Defendants overstated AeroVironment's business and financial prospects; and as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for AeroVironment 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/AVAV, 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 AeroVironment 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 AeroVironment 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 AeroVironment Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299092
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against AeroVironment, Inc. ("AeroVironment" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AVAV) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired AeroVironment securities between June 25, 2025 and June 18, 2026 (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE
If you are an investor in AeroVironment and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.
DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than July 27, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.
On January 20, 2026, before markets opened, the Company reported in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that "upon mutual agreement" of AeroVironment and the U.S. Government, "the U.S. Government issued a stop work order on the Company's Other Transaction Agreement for the delivery of BADGER phased array antenna systems to support the Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource ("SCAR") program." According to the filing, "[t]he stop work order allows for the parties to negotiate an amended agreement for the future of the SCAR program under new requirements for the program, which amendment is expected to be a firm-fixed price agreement. The Company expects to continue to deliver capabilities and products for the SCAR program."
Following this news, the price of AeroVironment stock declined $61.97 per share, or 15.77%, to close at $330.89 per share on January 20, 2026.
On March 10, 2026, after market, AeroVironment issued a press release, announcing third quarter 2026 financial results. The Company reported "operating loss of $179.0 million, compared to an operating loss of $3.1 million for the same period in fiscal year 2025." According to the complaint, "[t]hese financial results reflected the impact of a $151.3 million goodwill impairment in the Company's space division after the stop work order on the Company's BADGER systems built for the SCAR program." Additionally, according to the complaint "AeroVironment also reported that the U.S. Space Force had terminated the Company's contract concerning the SCAR program, and as a result, it would have to 'recompete' for the SCAR program."
Following this news, the price of AeroVironment stock fell $13.84 per share, or 6.24%, to close at $207.73 per share on March 11, 2026.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, "Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the SCAR program and the U.S. Space Force's ongoing efforts to modernize the SCN; (ii) accordingly, Defendants overstated AeroVironment's business and financial prospects; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times."
WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?
Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.
Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.
For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:
Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.
Key Takeaways PFG is expected to see higher revenues from Retirement, Asset Management and Benefits businesses. PFG is likely to gain from higher AUM, investment income and international pension earnings. PFG is expected to face higher expenses from increased benefits, claims and settlement costs. Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG - Free Report) is expected to register an improvement in its top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2026 results on July 27, after the closing bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PFG’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $4.11 billion, indicating an increase of 11.4% from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.32 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PFG’s second-quarter earnings has moved down 0.8% in the past 30 days. The estimate suggests a year-over-year increase of 7.4%.
What Our Quantitative Model PredictsOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Principal Financial this time around. This is because the stock has the right combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), which increases the chances of an earnings beat.
Earnings ESP: Principal Financial has an Earnings ESP of +0.29% at present. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of $2.33 is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.32. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Principal Financial currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Factors at PlayPrincipal Financial’s second-quarter results are likely to reflect favorable underwriting results and improved mortality within the benefits and protection business, as well as positive market conditions for fee-based businesses.
Operating revenues are likely to have increased owing to higher premiums & other considerations, as well as higher fees & other revenues in Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Asset Management, and Benefits and Protection.
Higher management fee revenues, as a result of increased average AUM, are likely to have benefited Investment Management.
Higher earnings from equity method investments in Brazil and foreign currency tailwinds are expected to have benefited International Pension operations.
Investment income is expected to have benefited from higher average invested assets in fixed maturities, derivatives in fair value hedges, and other investments for our U.S. operations. The lower inflation-based returns on average invested assets and cash in Latin America are likely to have offset the upside.
Assets under management are likely to have benefited from positive market performance and net cash flow, as well as foreign currency tailwinds.
Expenses are likely to have increased due to higher benefits, claims and settlement expenses.
Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are three other insurance stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.22% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.82, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 7.6%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CINF’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
The Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.59% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.61, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 5.5%.
ALL’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.82% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.23, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 1.8%.
AXS’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against GPGI, Inc. f/k/a CompoSecure, Inc. (NYSE: GPGI) (NYSE: CMPO) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired GPGI Class A common stock between November 3, 2025 and May 6, 2026 (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE
If you are an investor in GPGI and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.
DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than September 14, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.
According to the complaint, on November 3, 2025, the Company, then named CompoSecure, announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Husky Technologies Limited. The deal was later completed on January 12, 2026.
The complaint alleges, that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made materially false and misleading statements to investors "overvaluing Husky and misrepresenting the purported benefits of the Husky Acquisition in order to secure shareholder approval of the deal, secure PIPE funding, generate millions of dollars' worth of additional management fees, and advance defendants' fraudulent scheme to transform CompoSecure into a wealth transfer vehicle for Cote, the Cote Family, and Knott."
WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?
Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.
Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—-$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.
For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:
Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.
Key Takeaways Graco beat Q2 earnings estimates as higher margins offset revenues that missed expectations.GGG saw acquisitions and currency gains offset an organic sales decline, while order backlog climbed 28%.GGG reaffirmed its 2026 outlook, expecting low-single-digit organic sales growth. Graco Inc. (GGG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share, up 17% from 78 cents in the year-ago quarter. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents by 12.4%.
The company’s net sales rose 3% year over year to $590.6 million but lagged the consensus estimate of $609 million by 3%. Organic order backlog (excluding acquisitions) rose 28% from the end of 2025.
On a regional basis, quarterly sales generated from the Americas increased 5.5% year over year to $371.4 million. Sales from the Asia Pacific increased 1.6% year over year to $91.4 million. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, sales fell 1.6% year over year to $127.8 million.
Acquisitions Offset Organic SlideGraco’s acquired operations had a positive contribution of 3% to sales growth, while currency translation had a favorable impact of 1%. These tailwinds more than offset a 1% organic decline that management tied to softer timing of finishing system sales and certain project-related activities.
Management highlighted that incoming order rates increased as the quarter progressed, and the company exited the quarter with a solid order trend. This supported the increase in organic order backlog relative to 2025-end.
Graco Segment SalesContractor segment sales increased 4% year over year to $299.4 million, driven by strength in protective coating and spray foam product categories. While acquisitions and currency translation had a positive impact of 3% and 1%, respectively, on sales growth, organic sales were flat.
Industrial segment sales rose 3% to $249.2 million, supported by acquired businesses but were weighed down by powder finishing system completions and other projects. Acquisitions had a positive impact of 5% on sales growth. While currency translation had a favorable impact of 1% on sales, organic sales decreased 3%.
Expansion Markets sales increased 3% to $41.9 million, owing to an increase in semiconductor product application sales in the Americas. While organic sales improved 3% on a year-over-year basis, currency translation and acquisitions did not have any material impact on sales.
Margin Profile of GracoIn the second quarter, Graco’s cost of sales increased 0.5% year over year to $273.6 million. Gross profit increased 5.8% to $316.9 million, while the margin of 53.7% was up 130 basis points (bps) year over year. Margins were supported by the receipt of tariff refunds and disciplined operating expenses.
Adjusted operating income increased 11% year over year to $183.2 million. The operating margin increased 230 bps to 31% from the year-ago quarter. Interest expenses totaled $835 million compared with $655 million in the previous year’s quarter. The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.4% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 20.1%.
Graco’s Balance Sheet and Cash FlowGraco ended the quarter with $507.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $624.1 million at the end of 2025. It generated net cash of $298 million from operating activities in the first six months of 2026 compared with $308.1 million in the year-ago period. Capital used for purchasing property, plant and equipment totaled $28.6 million compared with $30.2 million in the year-ago period.
Graco paid out dividends worth $97.7 million to its shareholders in the first six months of the year, up 6% from the year-ago period. It repurchased shares worth $331.1 million in the same period.
2026 OutlookGraco continues to expect organic sales to increase in the low single digits on a constant-currency basis in 2026. Sales are anticipated to grow in mid-single digits, including acquisitions. For third-quarter 2026, it expects sales to be in the range of $580-$600 million (excluding the announced acquisition of Valco Melton).
Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are discussed below:
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT - Free Report) carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Applied Industrial’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 4.0%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Applied Industrial’s fiscal 2026 bottom line has inched up 0.1%.
Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Dover’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 2.1%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOV’s 2026 earnings has been stable.
Generac Holdings (GNRC - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Generac Holdings’ earnings topped the consensus estimate twice and missed on the other two occasions in the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 7.4%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GNRC’s 2026 earnings has been stable.
July 23, 2026, ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Water Tower Research (www.watertowerresearch.com) has published an Initiation of Coverage Report on WD-40 Company (NASDAQ: WDFC) titled, “Clear Growth Strategy, But Input Cost Spike to Affect Gross Margin”. The report can be accessed here. WD-40 is a best-in-class global organization that markets multi-purpose maintenance products under brands including WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE. The “juice” in the can has a trade secret formulation and the brand's blue-and-yellow “shield” represents a valuable brand equity. WD-40 is memorable, easily recognizable, and known for its superior quality and reliability.
Key Takeaways Albertsons posted a 0.8% identical sales decline as digital sales increased 13% in the first quarter.ACI launched ACI Edge, reorganizing operations to speed decisions and improve accountability.Albertsons cut its fiscal 2026 sales, EBITDA and earnings outlook amid softer demand and cautious consumers. Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein adjusted earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues surpassed the same. On a year-over-year basis, revenues increased marginally, whereas adjusted earnings declined. The company also lowered its fiscal 2026 outlook.
Digital and pharmacy businesses continued to deliver strong growth during the fiscal first quarter, while core grocery faced increasing pressure from softer industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer. In response, the company announced ACI Edge, an operating structure realignment designed to accelerate execution, increase accountability and better leverage its scale, technology and local market expertise.
As part of ACI Edge, Albertsons is transitioning from 11 divisions to four regions and centralizing center-store merchandising to strengthen accountability, accelerate decision-making and improve consistency across banners and regions. Management stated that these actions are intended to deliver sharper value, greater differentiation in fresh and an enhanced customer experience while creating long-term value for customers and shareholders.
Albertsons’ Quarterly Performance: Key InsightsACI posted adjusted quarterly earnings of 42 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. The bottom line declined from 55 cents reported in the prior-year quarter.
Net sales and other revenues increased 0.2% year over year to $24,941.6 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24,815 million. Growth was supported by higher fuel sales, while identical sales declined 0.8%. Pharmacy sales remained resilient despite headwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act and digital sales rose 13% in the fiscal first quarter.
Insight Into ACI's Q1 Margins & ExpensesGross profit declined 1.5% year over year to $6.64 billion. However, the gross margin for the quarter under review contracted 50 basis points (bps) year over year to 26.6% from 27.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
Excluding the impacts of fuel and LIFO expense, gross margin decreased 23 bps from the prior-year period. The decline was primarily caused by higher delivery and handling costs associated with continued digital sales growth, as well as higher fuel costs. These impacts were partially offset by improvements in pharmacy margins, primarily related to the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. The company continued to invest in its customer value proposition, supported by productivity initiatives.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, selling and administrative expenses increased 0.9% year over year to $6.38 billion. As a percentage of net sales and other revenues, these expenses rose 20 basis points to 25.6%.
Excluding the impact of fuel, selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales and other revenues rose 42 basis points year over year. The increase reflected higher rent and occupancy costs, merger-related litigation expenses, business transformation costs, and depreciation and amortization, partly offset by lower employee costs. Despite disciplined productivity and cost management efforts, the expense rate was affected by lower identical sales, including the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on pharmacy sales growth.
Adjusted EBITDA declined 8.8% year over year to $1.01 billion, while the adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 40 bps year over year to 4.1% of net sales and other revenues.
ACI’s Q1 Financial SnapshotAlbertsons ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $293.4 million. The company's long-term debt and finance lease obligations totaled $8.42 billion as of June 20, 2026, while total stockholders' equity amounted to $1.61 billion.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, capital expenditures totaled $522.1 million, primarily for the completion of 15 remodels, the opening of four new stores and continued investments in the company's digital and technology platforms.
ACI also continued returning capital to its shareholders. During the fiscal first quarter, the board increased the quarterly cash dividend by 13% from 15 cents to 17 cents per share. Albertsons paid a quarterly dividend of 17 cents per share on May 8, 2026, and repurchased 13.4 million shares of common stock for $226.5 million under its existing multi-year share repurchase authorization. The company declared its next quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share, payable on Aug. 7, 2026, to its shareholders of record as of July 24.
Sneak Peek Into Albertsons’ FY26 OutlookThe company updated its fiscal 2026 outlook to reflect continued softness in industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer, while accelerating investments and operational changes designed to strengthen its customer value proposition and improve its competitive position.
Albertsons now expects identical sales to decline between 1.5% and 0.5%, compared with its previous forecast of flat growth to a 1% increase.
Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $3.55 billion and $3.63 billion, down from the prior range of $3.85 billion to $3.93 billion. Adjusted earnings are expected to be between $1.75 and $1.85 per share versus the earlier outlook of $2.22-$2.32. Capital expenditures are projected in the range of $1.9-$2 billion compared with the prior expectation of $2-$2.2 billion.
Management noted that the outlook reflects an estimated 150-basis-point headwind from the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2026.
ACI Stock Past Three-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 12.2% over the past three months against the industry's 2.9% growth.
Three Picks You Can’t MissHere, we have highlighted three better-ranked stocks, namely, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) , Newell Brands Inc. (NWL - Free Report) and The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) .
United Natural is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
UNFI delivered an earnings surprise of 29.9% in the trailing four quarters, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates a decline of 2.1% and growth of 254.9%, respectively, from the year-ago reported quarter.
Newell Brands is a global manufacturer and marketer of consumer and commercial products. It has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. NWL delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 9.7%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Newell Brands’ current financial-year sales indicates growth of 1% from the year-ago reported numbers.
Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest consumer packaged food and beverage companies in North America. It manufactures and markets food and beverage products and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. KHC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kraft Heinz Company’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates a decline of 2% and 20.4%, respectively, from the year-earlier reported levels.
Investors interested in Security and Safety Services stocks are likely familiar with Alarm.com Holdings (ALRM) and Assa Abloy AB (ASAZY). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) 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 Verra securities between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/VRRM.
Verra Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
Defendants misrepresented the nature and stability of Verra's relationship with Avis Budget Group ("Avis"), including the likelihood of securing a contract extension; Defendants downplayed the risk that major rental car companies, including Avis, could replace Verra's services with in-house solutions or alternative third-party providers; and as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for Verra 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/VRRM, 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 Verra you have until August 4, 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 Verra 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 Verra Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/300551
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Investors looking for stocks in the Chemical - Specialty sector might want to consider either Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA - Free Report) or Hawkins (HWKN - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Currently, Axalta Coating Systems has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Hawkins has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that AXTA is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.
AXTA currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.64, while HWKN has a forward P/E of 33.55. We also note that AXTA has a PEG ratio of 1.60. 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. HWKN currently has a PEG ratio of 2.58.
Another notable valuation metric for AXTA is its P/B ratio of 2.85. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, HWKN has a P/B of 5.6.
These metrics, and several others, help AXTA earn a Value grade of B, while HWKN has been given a Value grade of D.
AXTA sticks out from HWKN in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that AXTA is the better option right now.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) 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 Calix securities between January 28, 2026 and April 21, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/CALX.
Calix Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to disclose to investors:
the Company's first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; that the Company's advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; that, as a result, the Company was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's margins, business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next for Calix 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/CALX, 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 Calix 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 Calix 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 Calix Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299466
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Calix, Inc. is reiterated as a buy, with platform adoption driving contracted revenue and a more attractive entry point post-Q2 2026. Q2 2026 revenue grew 21% y/y to $293.3M, with strong Calix One contract growth and current RPO up 21% y/y. Margin weakness is attributed to higher memory costs, but surcharges and software mix should support eventual margin recovery after Q3 2026.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (LTH - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 5.36%.
For the most recent quarter, Life Time Group Holdings was expected to post earnings of $0.39 per share, but it reported $0.42 per share instead, representing a surprise of 7.69%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.33 per share, while it actually produced $0.34 per share, a surprise of 3.03%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Life Time Group Holdings lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Life Time Group Holdings currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.12%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 30, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.