Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Analysis

TRC-8004 is Final on TRON and still a draft on Ethereum, and the team that finished it sells the bundle built on top. The spec says payments are out of scope; the schema says otherwise.

The same agent-identity standard is a finished document on TRON and a draft on Ethereum. ERC-8004 on Ethereum has sat in Draft since Aug. 13, 2025, with authors from MetaMask, ethereum.org, Google and Coinbase. TIP-8004, the TRON port, is Final: created Dec. 1, 2025, Standards Track, authored by bankofai.io. That is B.AI’s team. The company now selling an agent-commerce stack on TRON wrote the identity layer the stack runs on.

The two documents are nearly word for word, down to the registration schema. Both declare payments out of scope: “Payments are orthogonal to this protocol and not covered here. However, examples are provided showing how x402 payments can enrich feedback signals.” Both then carry a boolean x402Support field in the agent registration file and a proofOfPayment object in the feedback file, with fromAddress, toAddress, chainId and txHash. The text says the money is not in scope. The schema is built to hold it. That is the identity-first, money-later pattern written into a single file. Agent identity here means three registries: a TRC-721 handle, a feedback ledger and hooks for validators.

What B.AI has shipped is the bundle: identity plus x402 payments plus USDT settlement on TRON. Its own description, in a paid partner story on CryptoSlate (published Sept. 16, disclosed as partner content), calls the protocol layer “B.AI’s most strategically profound move”: “By natively integrating the x402 payment protocol and the 8004 identity authentication protocol, the platform paves a standardized path for mutual trust, identity verification, and high-frequency automated settlement between agents.” The same story says B.AI is co-incubated by TRON and YZi Labs and keeps WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay and Visa alongside on-chain settlement.

Two things need bounding. First, “first major x402 on TRON” describes the bundle, not the rail: x402 has been live on TRON and BNB Chain since February. Second, the numbers are the vendor’s. B.AI’s partner story claims TRC-20 USDT supply passed 94.2 billion as of Sept. 10, and there is no independent volume data for its agent payments. The currency point stands regardless: the x402 lane this beat has covered settles in USDC on Base and Polygon, and this one settles in USDT on TRON. Same protocol, different currency gravity.

The standard’s own security section is where the hype goes to die. Sybil attacks are possible, “inflating the reputation of fake agents,” and the protocol “cannot cryptographically guarantee that advertised capabilities are functional and non-malicious.” Trust is tiered to the value at risk, “from low-stake tasks like ordering pizza to high-stake tasks like medical diagnosis,” built from reputation, stake-secured re-execution, zkML proofs or TEE oracles. Those are real designs for real problems. None of them is a guarantee that the agent does what its registration file says.

TRON’s standards track is not stopping at identity: TIP-8001 Agent Coordination Framework, TIP-8126 AI Agent Verification and TIP-7857 AI Agents NFT with Private Metadata are all Final alongside TIP-8004. A finished standard is not a finished market. What the B.AI bundle proves is narrower than the pitch and more useful: the trust layer can ship before the payments story is settled, and the party with the most to gain from the standard can be the one that writes it. The standard is public, the schema is honest about the money, and the marketing is paid placement. All three are on the record.

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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when MSCI (MSCI - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 20, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis maker of software tools to help portfolio managers make investment decisions is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.00 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +11.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $879.98 million, up 10.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.53% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for MSCI?For MSCI, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.26%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that MSCI will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that MSCI would post earnings of $4.9 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.94, delivering a surprise of +0.82%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

MSCI appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Stellar, a blockchain network focused on facilitating cross-border payments and asset tokenization, has become a leading platform for tokenized real-world assets. The total reported value of tokenized assets on Stellar has reached approximately $3.5 billion. Despite this growth, XRP maintains a market capitalization almost 13 times greater than Stellar’s native XLM token, underlining a persistent imbalance between tokenization adoption and crypto valuations.

Stellar’s rising tokenization volumesAs of October 13, market data from CoinCodex showed XRP’s market capitalization at around $84.65 billion, while XLM trailed significantly at about $6.67 billion. This 12.7-fold difference persists even as Stellar’s institutional tokenization offerings continue to expand.

Recent estimates place the value of tokenized assets on Stellar near $3.5 billion, and, depending on the reporting methodology, this figure can be even higher—up to $4 billion according to Stellar’s own records in early September. Comparatively, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is estimated to host approximately $2.5 billion in tokenized real-world and financial assets under one broad reporting standard. However, specific rankings may vary based on whether they include certain stablecoins or financial products.

Stellar’s asset tokenization growth is largely supported by institutional products such as Franklin Templeton’s BENJI fund and other financial instruments. The BENJI fund, tokenized and issued on Stellar, held about $605 million as of October 6. Another project, Spiko, accounts for $1.7 billion through tokenized money-market products.

These assets are structured as investment products, granting investors digital shares backed by underlying securities such as government bonds or money-market funds. Blockchain technology powers the issuance, recordkeeping, and settlement of these tokenized shares, delivering efficiency gains for institutional investors and fund managers.

Mini dictionary: Franklin Templeton is a global asset management firm that has issued tokenized money-market funds on blockchain platforms such as Stellar, allowing for digital shares in regulated investment products.

Tokenization versus native token valuationThe growth of tokenized assets does not necessarily translate into increased demand for a blockchain’s native cryptocurrency. When institutions invest in tokenized Treasury funds on Stellar, their money is allocated directly into underlying traditional assets, such as US Treasury securities. While the process requires a minimal amount of XLM for transaction fees and account reserves, these costs are relatively low and do not result in major demand for XLM itself.

A similar dynamic is present on the XRP Ledger. Even as institutional usage and tokenization of securities or stablecoins has increased, these activities do not automatically require counterparties to accumulate large holdings of XRP. Most institutional flows are directed toward the underlying assets, bypassing the need for substantial native coin exposure.

During the past year, Treasury tokenization volumes on the XRP Ledger grew significantly, rising from $50 million to approximately $418.5 million. However, this notable growth in tokenized assets has only a limited direct impact on XRP’s price, since institutional demand is insulated from speculative or retail-driven trading of the token.

XRP’s unique demand sourcesUnlike Stellar’s tokenized products, some institutional vehicles specifically aim to give investors direct exposure to XRP as an asset. For example, Evernorth recently secured a Nasdaq listing for a public treasury product holding 473 million XRP. Furthermore, U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs increasingly provide additional channels for institutional or retail investors to gain direct exposure to the cryptocurrency.

These investment products differ fundamentally from tokenized Treasury funds or money-market products because their value proposition centers on XRP itself, rather than stablecoins or external securities. As a result, they contribute to market demand for XRP more directly than the tokenization models adopted by Stellar partners.

MetricStellar (XLM)XRP Ledger (XRP)Market capitalization$6.67 billion$84.65 billionTokenized assets value$3.5–$4 billion~$2.5 billionMain tokenization productsMoney market, Treasury fundsTreasury, ETFs, public treasury XRP holdingsXRP’s valuation remains significantly higher than Stellar’s XLM, despite the fact that Stellar now leads in total value of tokenized real-world assets. The disconnect between native token prices and blockchain adoption continues as both networks pursue different strategies to attract institutional flows.

A prominent UK-based crypto trader known as @rrealist on X reported a violent home invasion late Monday, resulting in the theft of approximately $800,000 in digital assets. The trader recounted being restrained and threatened at knifepoint, highlighting a growing trend of attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders in Britain.

Details of the armed robberyAccording to @rrealist, masked intruders entered his home on Monday night and restrained him with tape. He said the attackers brandished three knives in front of his face, threatened his life, and demanded access to his cryptocurrency holdings.

The losses from the robbery included around $40,000 transferred from primary crypto wallets and about $720,000 drained from a Ledger hardware wallet. The intruders also took the trader’s Rolex watch and damaged his phone during the incident.

Total confirmed losses in cryptocurrency amounted to approximately $760,000, based on both the trader’s publicly shared blockchain records and his account. The theft of the Rolex was not included in this figure.

The trader described the severity of the incident, stating that he was taped up, held at knifepoint, and robbed for $800,000. He warned other crypto holders in the UK about the growing threat, urging them to take extra precautions.

Police are currently investigating the crime, treating the property as a crime scene. As of now, law enforcement authorities have not released an official statement verifying the attack or providing additional details on the suspects.

Tracing the stolen fundsShortly after the incident, @rrealist published a Solana address linked to the stolen funds. The address reportedly received an initial deposit of 346.13 SOL, followed by a transfer of 718,735.8 USDC, combining to a total value of $755,730 at prevailing market rates.

Blockchain data indicates the assets remained idle at the disclosed Solana address for more than two hours. Within 32 minutes of the trader publicly revealing the address, the funds were quickly drained, suggesting the perpetrators were monitoring social channels or blockchain tracking services for exposure of their activity.

USDC is a widely used stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, while Solana is a high-performance blockchain network known for its speed and low transaction costs.

Mini dictionary: Ledger hardware wallet, a physical device used to store and protect cryptocurrency private keys offline, often considered a safer alternative to storing funds on exchanges or online wallets.

AssetAmountValue (approx.)SOL346.13$36,999USDC718,735.8$718,732Total–$755,731Rising trend of crypto-targeted attacks in the UK and EuropeViolent robberies targeting crypto holders have become increasingly common in the UK, with several high-profile incidents reported in the past year. In December 2025, a gang in the Smith’s Wood area of Solihull forced their way into a couple’s home, physically assaulted the husband, and threatened his pregnant wife. Crimestoppers later offered a £10,000 reward for information regarding that case.

In August, a UK court convicted five men for holding two French crypto investors captive in a London apartment for 52 hours, forcing them to transfer $30,000 before being released. More recently, three teenagers from Sheffield were sentenced for posing as delivery drivers and stealing $4.3 million in crypto during another knife-point home invasion in Hoxton.

Analytics firm Chainalysis documented 46 reported “wrench attack” cases worldwide in the first half of 2026, with 20 home invasions so far this year compared to just one in 2025. Global losses in such attacks exceeded $30 million in the first half of 2026 and could surpass 2025’s full-year total of $58 million if the trend continues.

France has emerged as a significant hotspot for these incidents. By mid-2026, Chainalysis reported 30 publicly known cases in France, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited 77 first-half cases of crypto-related kidnappings, extortions, or attempted extortions involving wealthy digital asset holders.

USDC moved $81.2 billion through decentralized exchanges in the 30 days ending around October 12, 2026.

Uniswap’s v3 and v4 deployments handled $26.4 billion of that total, or roughly a third.

Breaking down the numbers
Across 35 trading venues, all stablecoins combined generated $161.4 billion in DEX volume over the same 30-day window. USDC accounted for roughly half of all stablecoin trading on decentralized exchanges.

Uniswap’s v3 and v4 platforms captured 47.2% of total stablecoin DEX activity, amounting to $76.2 billion. Thirty-four other venues split what was left.

USDC’s circulating supply sat at approximately $74.6 billion at the end of September 2026. So the 30-day trading volume exceeded the entire stock of USDC in existence.

Weekends are a big deal on-chain
USDC generated $40.2 billion in weekend DEX trading volume during the third quarter of 2026.

What is driving the activity
About 69% of USDC’s on-chain activity is linked to DEX liquidity provision.

There is a caveat worth noting. Some DEX volume gets inflated by flash loans, which are uncollateralized loans borrowed and repaid within a single transaction. These can create large headline numbers without reflecting sustained trading demand.

Why Uniswap keeps winning
Uniswap’s v4 release introduced lower fees and enhanced routing options. For stablecoin pairs, those features matter a great deal. When you are swapping one dollar-pegged token for another, the price barely moves. The main cost is the fee itself, so shaving it down makes a real difference for high-volume traders.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Duolingo To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Duolingo between May 2, 2025 and February 26, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 13, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Duolingo, Inc. (""Duolingo" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DUOL) and reminds investors of the December 7, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (i) Daily Active User ("DAU") growth rates were being leveraged against deliberately added user friction in the form of significant increases in ad volume, subscription tier upsells, and worsened product quality, and defendants understood that any amount of user friction would cause users to leave the app and, ultimately, negatively impact DAU growth rates; (ii) Duolingo's rigorous A/B testing demonstrated to defendants that increased friction in the free user experience was having negative impacts on DAU growth rates; (iii) Duolingo's quickly generated AI content was worsening the quality of Duolingo's product offerings, negatively impacting the user experience and user trends, and threatening the sustainability of Duolingo's financial performance; and (iv) far from driving sustained growth and strong user momentum through content and "product improvements" that "get improved retention," Duolingo's constant A/B testing informed Duolingo that its monetization push and lower-quality, rapidly generated AI content were degrading the Duolingo product experience and the value proposition of its subscription tiers.

On November 5, 2025, the Company reported its third quarter ("3Q") financial results, revealing another sequential decline in DAU growth to 36%, a substantial drop from 49% in 1Q 2025 and 40% during 2Q 2025, and announced a long-term strategy change to pivot away from monetization and towards improving quality of teaching and prioritizing long-term DAU growth. On this news, Duolingo's stock price fell $66.28, or 25%, to close at $193.74 per share on November 6, 2025.

On January 12, 2026, Duolingo announced that its Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Matthew Skaruppa ("Skaruppa"), had resigned, and provided limited, preliminary fourth quarter ("4Q") 2025 operating metrics revealing DAU growth of only 30% - nearly six points of additional deceleration from 3Q 2025. On this news, Duolingo's stock price fell $14.92, or 8.5%, to close at $161.74 per share on January 12, 2026.

On February 26, 2026, after the market closed, Duolingo announced its 4Q 2025 financial results, confirmed the slowdown in DAU growth, and revealed material negative impacts on 2026 bookings, DAU growth rates, revenue, and adjusted EBITDA, with 2026 DAU growth guidance of only 20% accompanied by lower bookings and less profitability. On this news, Duolingo's stock price fell $16.45, or 14%, to close at $101 per share on February 27, 2026.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Duolingo's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Duolingo class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/DUOL or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Duolingo Securities Class Action Lawsuit:

What is the Duolingo securities fraud lawsuit about?

The lawsuit alleges that Duolingo, Inc. made materially false and misleading statements during the Class Period regarding the company's daily active user ("DAU") growth and the drivers of its business performance. Specifically, the complaint alleges that defendants knew that deliberate increases in ad volume, subscription upsells, and other friction in the free user experience were negatively impacting DAU growth rates, a dynamic that Duolingo's own rigorous A/B testing allegedly confirmed. The lawsuit further alleges that rapidly generated AI content was worsening product quality and undermining the sustainability of Duolingo's financial performance, contrary to defendants' public statements touting content and product improvements as drivers of sustained growth and strong user retention. Investors allegedly were not told that Duolingo's internal testing had demonstrated these adverse trends until a series of corrective disclosures caused the company's stock price to decline significantly.

Who may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit?

Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ: DUOL) securities between May 2, 2025 and February 26, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit. Participation in the litigation is not limited to those who apply to serve as lead plaintiff; any eligible class member may share in any recovery that may be obtained on behalf of the class. Investors who believe they purchased Duolingo securities during the Class Period and suffered a loss are encouraged to review the complaint and consult with counsel to understand their rights and options.

What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment?

A lead plaintiff is a court-appointed representative who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation, including decisions about litigation strategy and any settlement. The lead plaintiff is typically the class member with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who also meets certain adequacy and typicality requirements under the federal securities laws. Any investor who purchased Duolingo securities during the Class Period and wishes to seek appointment as lead plaintiff must file a motion with the court no later than the lead plaintiff deadline specified in the notice. Importantly, investors are not required to serve as lead plaintiff in order to be a member of the class or to share in any recovery that may result from the litigation.

Why should investors contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP?

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP has represented investors in securities litigation for decades and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders. Investors who purchased Duolingo securities during the Class Period may contact the firm to discuss their legal rights, potential claims, and the lead plaintiff process at no cost or obligation.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318732

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Key Takeaways MP Materials' first-half 2026 Materials revenues surged 80% to $167.8 million on higher volumes and pricing.NdPr production rose 51% year over year to 1,757 MT, while sales volumes jumped 122% to 2,012 MT.MP expects to produce terbium and dysprosium later this year, with samarium production targeted for 2028. The Materials segment of MP Materials (MP - Free Report) is emerging as a key growth driver as it scales up its rare earth separation capabilities and shifts toward higher-value products. Rising neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) production, growing sales volumes and favorable pricing have strengthened segment revenues and profitability. The expansion of heavy rare earth processing capabilities further positions the segment for sustained growth.

The Materials segment represents the upstream and midstream operations of the company. It operates Mountain Pass, a fully integrated mining and refining facility producing refined rare earth oxides and related products. Historically, rare earth concentrate sales accounted for the bulk of segment revenues. Following the cessation of sales to China in July 2025, the company has focused on processing concentrate into higher-value materials or retaining it for future processing. The segment currently derives its revenues mainly from NdPr oxide and metal sales, which has strengthened its business model.

NdPr production was a record 917 metric tons (MT) in the first quarter of 2026, followed by 840 MT in the second quarter. First-half production totaled 1,757 MT, representing a 51% year-over-year increase. NdPr sales volumes surged 122% to 2,012 MT. The company also produced 24,055 MT of rare earth oxides (REO) in concentrate in the first half of 2026.

The segment’s first-half revenues increased 80% year over year to $167.8 million, supported by higher sales volumes and stronger market pricing. Adjusted EBITDA was $69.2 million in the first half of 2026, a turnaround from the loss of $8.9 million reported in the first half of 2025. This was attributed to higher revenues and Price Protection Agreement (PPA) income of $59.8 million related to the agreement with the Department of War (DoW), despite higher cost of sales.

Management expected third-quarter 2026 NdPr production to have exceeded 1,000 metric tons as throughput and plant reliability improved, which is expected to have supported the company’s third-quarter 2026 performance. Meanwhile, MP remains on track to begin producing terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) later this year. Its first samarium (Sm) production is targeted for 2028. The company recently entered into a multiyear agreement to supply gadolinium oxide to a leading U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturer. 

Australia-based peer Lynas Rare Earths Limited (LYSDY - Free Report) reported NdPr production of 7,260 tons in fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026), up 11% year over year. Total REO production reached 13,089 tons, up 25% from the prior year. It achieved its first Sm production in March 2026, Lynas’ third HRE product, alongside Dy and Ty.

Lynas’ revenues jumped 76% year over year to a record AUD 977.9 million ($680.5 million) in fiscal 2026 on higher prices and volumes. Adjusted EBITDA surged 281% year over year to AUD 386 million ($268.6 million) in fiscal 2026. Lynas Rare Earths recently entered into an agreement to acquire Meteoric Resources. The deal, on closure, will combine Meteoric Resources’ flagship Caldeira deposit, which is the largest known ionic clay rare earth Mineral Resource outside China, with Lynas’ high-grade Mt Weld deposit and leading rare earth operations. 

MP’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesMP Materials’ shares have declined 54.4% in a year compared with the industry’s 19.6% growth. Peers Lynas Rare Earths and Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU - Free Report) have declined 44.5% and 59.4%, respectively. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MP is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 11.92X, a significant premium to the industry’s 1.65X. Energy Fuels and Lynas Rare Earths are trading at 12.84X and 7.62X, respectively. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ 2026 earnings stands at 4 cents per share against a loss of 24 cents in 2025. The 2027 earnings estimate is currently pegged at 78 cents per share, implying growth of 1,845.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials for both 2026 and 2027 has moved down, as shown below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). 

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

Terra Nova Asset Management LLC bought a new position in C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW – Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 6,322 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $935,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Burkett Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in C.H. Robinson Worldwide during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC grew its position in C.H. Robinson Worldwide by 79.8% in the first quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 160 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC acquired a new position in C.H. Robinson Worldwide in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. NBH Bank acquired a new position in C.H. Robinson Worldwide in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of C.H. Robinson Worldwide by 57.3% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 184 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. 93.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on CHRW shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of C.H. Robinson Worldwide in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $209.00 target price on C.H. Robinson Worldwide in a report on Thursday. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on C.H. Robinson Worldwide in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $235.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $203.00 target price on shares of C.H. Robinson Worldwide in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on C.H. Robinson Worldwide from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $192.08.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on CHRW
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Stock Performance
C.H. Robinson Worldwide stock opened at $139.75 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $148.07 and its 200-day simple moving average is $168.60. The company has a market cap of $16.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.58. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $123.64 and a fifty-two week high of $210.33.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ:CHRW – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $4.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.35 billion. C.H. Robinson Worldwide had a net margin of 3.73% and a return on equity of 38.36%. The firm’s revenue was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.29 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current year.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 4th were given a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 4th. C.H. Robinson Worldwide’s payout ratio is presently 48.09%.

(Free Report)

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc is a global third-party logistics provider that connects shippers with transportation carriers and other supply-chain service providers. The company helps businesses plan, manage and execute the movement of freight across domestic and international markets.

Its services include truckload and less-than-truckload freight brokerage, intermodal transportation, ocean and air freight forwarding, customs services, and transportation management. C.H. Robinson also provides technology and data-driven tools designed to improve shipment planning, visibility, routing and logistics performance.

Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, C.H.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CHRW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW – Free Report).

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The market expects Pegasystems (PEGA - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 20. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis business software company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +50%.

Revenues are expected to be $442.6 million, up 16.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 4.01% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Pegasystems?For Pegasystems, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.68%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Pegasystems will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Pegasystems would post earnings of $0.43 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.35, delivering a surprise of -18.60%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Pegasystems doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

The market expects East West Bancorp (EWBC - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 20. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.69 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.7%.

Revenues are expected to be $810.89 million, up 4.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.94% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. 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.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for East West Bancorp?For East West Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.26%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that East West Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that East West Bancorp would post earnings of $2.61 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.63, delivering a surprise of +0.77%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

East West Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmong the stocks in the Zacks Banks - West industry, Zions (ZION - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.64 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +6.5%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $894.32 million, up 2.6% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Zions has been revised 0.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.18%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Zions will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Hancock Whitney (HWC - Free Report) is headquartered in Gulfport, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of 14.07% since the start of the year. The holding company of Whitney Bank and Hancock Bank is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.50 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.75%. This compares to the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 1.94% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.4%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.00 is up 11.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Hancock Whitney has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 11.55%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Hancock Whitney's current payout ratio is 33%, meaning it paid out 33% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Earnings growth looks solid for HWC for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $6.45 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 12.76%.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that HWC is not only an attractive dividend play, but also represents a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The construction take-out financing is secured by 2,412 Class A units spanning 7 high growth markets nationwide

Key Takeaways

JLL's Capital Markets group arranged $463 million in bridge financing for an eight-property, 2,412-unit Class A multifamily portfolio developed by Thompson Thrift
Barings provided the floating-rate construction take-out loan for the newly delivered properties across Florida, Georgia and Arizona
The portfolio spans seven MSAs: Orlando, Pensacola, North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Vero Beach, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Atlanta and Phoenix, providing meaningful geographic diversification
, /PRNewswire/ -- JLL's Capital Markets group announced today that it has arranged $463 million in bridge financing for Thompson Thrift's eight-property multifamily portfolio comprising 2,412 Class A apartment units across Florida, Georgia and Arizona.

Working exclusively on behalf of Thompson Thrift, JLL secured the floating-rate construction take-out loan through Barings, with Daniel Hedgepeth leading the financing. The proceeds retired existing construction loans across all eight properties, which were delivered on a phased basis throughout 2025 and 2026.

The Junction at Rockledge

The portfolio consists of brand-new Class A communities strategically located across seven MSAs:

Standard441 in Orlando (300 units)
The Quinn in Pensacola (324 units)
The Pullman in Atlanta (276 units)
Stella in Phoenix (308 units)
The Stadler in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton (280 units)
Verity in Vero Beach (276 units)
The Junction at Rockledge in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (380 units)
The Hadley in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton (268 units)
Properties range from 268 to 380 units with an average unit size of 1,023 square feet.

Each property features luxury amenities and premium finishes synonymous with the Thompson Thrift brand, such as 24-hour fitness centers, resort-style swimming pools, resident social hubs with coffee bars, pickleball courts, dog parks with pet spas, business centers and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. Unit interiors feature gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances, quartz or granite countertops, smart home technology, full-size washers and dryers, and private balconies or patios. Thompson Thrift built differentiated product to fit the demand profile of each micro location, with properties strategically positioned near retail corridors, major employers, military and aerospace facilities and major transportation arteries.

JLL's Capital Markets Debt Advisory team representing the borrower was led by Senior Managing Director Danny Kaufman, Director Medina Spiodic, CEO and Executive Managing Director Mark Gibson and Executive Managing Director Matthew Lawton.

JLL's Capital Markets group is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The group's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients, including investment sales and advisory, debt advisory, M&A and corporate finance, loan sales, equity & fund placement, net lease, derivative advisory and energy & infrastructure advisory. JLL's Capital Markets group has more than 3,000 specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL's newsroom. 

About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 112,000 as of June 30, 2026. For over 200 years, clients have trusted JLL, a Fortune 500® company, to help them confidently buy, build, occupy, manage and invest across a variety of industries and property types, including office, industrial, hotel, multi-family, retail and data center properties. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAY. Powered by rich global datasets and leading technology capabilities, we provide coordinated, end-to-end delivery of real estate services for a broad range of global clients who represent a wide variety of industries. Through LaSalle Investment Management, we invest for clients on a global basis in both private assets and publicly traded real estate securities. For further information, visit jll.com.

About Thompson Thrift
Founded in 1986, Thompson Thrift has grown from a locally focused development and construction company into a full-service, integrated real estate company with a national footprint. With offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana; Denver; Houston; and Phoenix, the company develops, constructs, leases and manages high-quality multifamily communities. Thompson Thrift employs more than 675 team members and has developed more than $7.9 billion in ground-up real estate projects across 25 states. The company has been recognized by the National Multifamily Housing Council as one of the nation's Top Apartment Developers and Top Builders and earned its fourth consecutive Top Workplaces USA award in 2026, reflecting its commitment to excellence in the workplace and the communities it serves. To learn more, visit thompsonthrift.com.

About Barings
Barings is a $502 billion* global alternative asset manager that partners with institutional, insurance and wealth clients and supports leading businesses with flexible financing solutions. The firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual with a minority investment from MS&AD, seeks to deliver excess returns by leveraging its global scale and capabilities across credit, real assets, capital solutions and emerging markets.

*As of June 30, 2026

Contact: Kristen Murphy, JLL Director, PR
Phone: 617 543 4873
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL

Key Takeaways SoundHound's LivePerson deal expands its enterprise AI reach to 25 Fortune 100 brands.SoundHound sees over $500M in future revenue potential from cross-selling and enterprise adoption.SOUN faces integration risks and cash burn despite 45% revenue growth and a debt-free balance sheet. SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN - Free Report) is expanding its enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) footprint following the completion of its LivePerson acquisition in September 2026. The deal gives the combined company access to a customer base that includes 25 Fortune 100 brands, strengthening its ability to scale conversational and agentic AI solutions across industries.

LivePerson Expands SoundHound's Enterprise ReachThe acquisition combines LivePerson's digital messaging infrastructure with SoundHound's proprietary voice AI capabilities. Integrating LivePerson into SoundHound's OASYS platform will enable unified customer interactions across voice, web, mobile, SMS and social channels.

The combined company also holds more than 750 patents, strengthening its competitive positioning. Management sees an opportunity to generate more than $500 million in future revenues from the existing customer base alone, supported by cross-selling and broader enterprise adoption.

SoundHound's second-quarter 2026 revenues increased 45% year over year to $61.9 million, reflecting growing demand for OASYS. Its adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 33% to $9.6 million, indicating improving operating efficiency.

Can SoundHound Convert Scale Into Profitability?Despite significant expansion opportunities, integration challenges, customer retention risks and implementation costs could pressure near-term profitability.

SoundHound used approximately $60 million in operating cash during the first half of 2026. However, its debt-free balance sheet provides financial flexibility.

The LivePerson acquisition could accelerate SoundHound's transition into a larger enterprise AI provider. Nevertheless, realizing the anticipated revenue opportunities while controlling costs and improving cash generation will be critical to achieving sustainable growth.

SoundHound Faces Rising Competition in Enterprise AISoundHound faces growing competition from Five9 (FIVN - Free Report) and NICE Ltd. (NICE - Free Report) , which are strengthening their AI-powered customer engagement platforms to capture rising enterprise demand.

Five9 provides cloud-based contact center solutions, integrating conversational AI, intelligent automation and virtual agents to improve customer interactions. Five9's established enterprise relationships and cloud infrastructure support large-scale AI deployments. Its expanding AI capabilities could intensify competition with SoundHound as businesses seek unified customer engagement solutions. Five9's focus on automation and customer experience also positions it to capture enterprise spending.

NICE offers AI-powered customer experience solutions through its CXone platform, combining digital engagement, automation and workforce optimization. NICE's extensive enterprise customer base, established market presence and comprehensive product portfolio provide competitive advantages. NICE continues investing in AI-driven automation and omnichannel capabilities to strengthen its position.

While Five9 and NICE benefit from established enterprise platforms, SoundHound's LivePerson acquisition expands its customer reach and cross-selling opportunities. However, successful integration remains essential to competing effectively at scale.

SOUN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesSoundHound’s shares have lost 50.2% year to date (YTD), underperforming the industry, as shown below.

SOUN’s YTD Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SOUN trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 7.83, slightly lower than the industry’s average.

SOUN’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for SoundHound’s 2026 and 2027 loss per share has remained unchanged at 19 cents and 14 cents, respectively, as shown below. The expected loss for 2026 remains wider than the previous year’s loss of 13 cents per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SOUN currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

After two weeks of consistent losses, Uniswap’s [UNI] retail traders are starting to flock to the network. At the same time, outflows from the exchanges have tripled to 6.5K UNI over the last 24 hours.

All the above positive development comes at a crucial time, occurring while the token is testing an area of demand at around $6.80. The bullish pressure from the increasing retail traders is already starting to show on the daily chart.

The token’s price action is positively reacting to the demand. As a result, Uniswap’s prices are gaining some bullish momentum.

Could the positive technical paired with the developing on-chain initiate a reversal ahead of the CME plan to add Futures trading on Uniswap on October 19? Or will sellers have their say this time round?

Source: TradingView Is retail demand returning to UNI? The growing activity on Uniswap implies that the participants might be seeing the dips in UNI’s price as a buying chance. But it must also be remembered that it does not necessarily mean that the bulls have taken the charge.

The most important thing is if this interest will lead to the demand on the Spot level that will be strong enough to offset the selling pressure in the $6.80 zone of demand.

Source: CryptoQuant Can rising exchange outflows ease selling pressure? On the derivative data, UNI’s average outflows from exchange have tripled to 6,500 tokens over the past 24 hours. Uniswap’s skyrocketing exchange outflows suggests that holders are moving tokens away from trading platforms.

This potentially reduces the amount immediately available for sale. So,the reducing supply could amplify the current bullish momentum.

Source: CryptoQuant Will the CME listing support a reversal? CME Group will launch standard and Micro UNI Futures on the 19th of October, pending regulatory approval. The contracts would provide new tools for traders to hedge against the price changes of UNI.

The upcoming listing can contribute to positive sentiment due to UNI getting listed in regulated derivative markets. However, the news will not ensure any new Spot interest, as traders can modify their positions ahead of it.

At the moment, $6.80 is the crucial level to pay attention to. If the demand zone is defended, coupled with the outflows from the exchange and higher buy interest, the price can recover.

In case of the breakdown by sellers, the recent developments in on-chain activity might not be enough to avoid more losses.

Final Summary UNI is testing the $6.80 demand zone after two weeks of losses, while rising retail participation hints at renewed interest from traders. Exchange outflows have tripled to 6,500 UNI in 24 hours ahead of CME’s planned Futures launch.

Cover image via depositphotos.com

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The US Federal Reserve's hawkish rhetoric triggered a large-scale capital outflow from the digital asset industry, but the artificial intelligence (AI) sector managed to turn the general panic into a local rally. According to a fresh report from market maker Wintermute, the main beneficiary of the shift in market sentiment was the Near Protocol (NEAR), which effectively took the AI-segment leadership crown amid falling key tokens.

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The published minutes of the Fed meeting confirmed that most officials expect another rate hike before the end of the year, pushing the yield on 10-year US government bonds to a multi-year high of 5.24%. Market reactions were polarized: the S&P 500 index hit a record high (+1.2% for the week), as growth in expected corporate earnings (+29% y/y) fully offset the high borrowing rate.

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Cross-asset performance ranking matrix showing digital assets underperforming traditional markets during Week 41, Source: WintermuteThe crypto market, lacking similar fundamental support, saw weekly outflows of $679 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs (the highest since June) and $542 million from Ethereum ETFs, while CoinGlass recorded forced liquidations of $1.19 billion ($1.06 billion of them longs). Bitcoin dropped 3.2% (to $83k), while Ethereum plunged 7.0% due to a reputational shock: an Ethereum Foundation researcher publicly urged users to migrate to new addresses immediately. 

But the largest damage was done elsewhere.

The market's new favorite. How NEAR ignored the general stormThe main blow fell on the altcoin sector, where the median decline was 3.7% and the recent leader UNI collapsed by 15.8%. Of the 66 largest projects, only 11 closed in the green.

However, this crisis exposed an important trend: investors did not flee to fiat but changed narratives. Capital leaving classic DeFi platforms began actively flowing into tokens tied to artificial intelligence technologies. 

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Near became the absolute leader of the movement. Historically positioned as an AI-oriented blockchain, the project effectively ignored the market storm and, after a symbolic dip, claimed leadership in the sector, continuing its aggressive growth.

Wintermute highlights two key drivers of this momentum: a technological news event (the network introduced support for post-quantum digital signatures to strengthen security) and market mechanics. Bears tried to short NEAR out of inertia along with the rest of the market, which triggered a powerful short squeeze: the forced buyback of short positions only accelerated the token's surge.

Why now is not the time to take risksUntil US government bond yields stabilize and net inflows return to Bitcoin ETFs, Wintermute considers buying altcoins on rebounds an unjustified risk. Attention is shifting to fresh US inflation (CPI) data and the financial reports of tech giants, which will determine whether the global AI trend continues to provide the industry with liquidity.

Axiym’s stablecoin payment volume on Avalanche has grown 4.4 times over the past year, climbing to more than $2 billion.

What Axiym actually does
Axiym is a Dubai-based liquidity-as-a-service platform. Its customers are licensed money services businesses, or MSBs, the companies that move remittances and business payments across borders.

Those firms have long lived with something called pre-funding. Picture a remittance company that wants to pay out in a dozen countries. It typically has to park cash in local accounts in each one ahead of time, just in case customers send money there.

Axiym’s model removes that requirement. Running on Avalanche’s C-Chain and using stablecoins as settlement rails, the platform lets MSBs operate with far less working capital tied up. According to the research findings, that means 70-90% less capital lockup.

CEO Khibar Rassul has framed the value in those terms: Axiym unlocks capital that was previously trapped in pre-funding.

The growth curve so far
By April 2025, Axiym had processed $132 million in cumulative volume on Avalanche.

A year later the picture looked very different. The platform had crossed $1.2 billion in volume in under a year by April 2026.

By August 2026, processed volume exceeded $1.6 billion. A September 2026 case study then reported more than $1.43 billion processed during Axiym’s first year on the network.

The latest figure puts stablecoin payment volume above $2 billion, reflecting the 4.4x jump over the past year.

Monthly activity has also held up. Stablecoin payment volumes have stayed above $130 million every month since January 2026, with some months topping $170 million and peaks reported as high as $180 million.

The network behind it
Axiym integrates with established payment networks, and its partners process over $25 billion annually across more than 150 countries. Those partners handle somewhere between 60 and 96 currencies, depending on the figure cited.

Why stablecoins fit this problem
Stablecoins are tokens pegged to a currency like the US dollar, and they can settle on a blockchain within minutes at any hour. For an MSB, faster settlement means less money needs to sit in limbo. If settlement is quick and predictable, the need to pre-stock accounts around the world shrinks dramatically.

What this means
For the payments industry, Axiym is a test case for whether liquidity-as-a-service can meaningfully change how MSBs manage cash. Cutting capital lockup by 70-90% would let firms enter more corridors without raising more money.

There are open questions worth watching. The first is whether the growth rate holds as the base gets larger, since 4.4x is easier from a few hundred million than from several billion.

The second is regulatory. MSBs are heavily supervised, and any shift in how authorities treat stablecoin settlement across jurisdictions could speed up or slow down adoption of models like Axiym’s.

The third is concentration. Much of the pitch depends on stablecoins staying stable and liquid, so the reliability of those underlying tokens is effectively part of Axiym’s product.

For now, the trajectory is clear enough. A platform that measured its cumulative volume at $132 million in April 2025 is now reporting stablecoin payments above $2 billion, built on the unglamorous but valuable task of freeing up trapped cash.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Kaye Quema. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Solana logo, official brand asset from solana.com/branding. Alpenglow is a Solana consensus upgrade.

Alpenglow, Solana’s most significant consensus upgrade, is scheduled to launch on the mainnet on October 21, aiming for a substantial reduction in transaction finality time to 150 milliseconds. This upgrade, announced via social media, seeks to replace the existing TowerBFT voting layer with direct validator votes and aggregate certificates. Although this announcement marks a major milestone for Solana, official documentation has yet to confirm the October 21 activation date. The anticipated upgrade is expected to enhance network performance significantly, potentially impacting Solana’s competitive position.

Market participants are closely monitoring the unfolding developments, as the Solana (SOL) token was near $107 on October 13, down approximately 4% on the day. The prospect of faster transaction finality and reduced on-chain voting overhead suggests that the network’s performance could improve substantially if the upgrade proceeds as planned. This has implications for Solana’s pricing in prediction markets, where the likelihood of reaching higher price thresholds in October is being actively assessed.

Key Takeaways

Activity suggests anticipation of Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade, which aims to significantly enhance network speed and efficiency.
Pricing in prediction markets appears consistent with expectations of increased investor confidence following a successful upgrade.
Current Solana pricing reflects a cautious approach, with potential for upward adjustments as the upgrade date approaches.

What to Watch
Observers are focused on Solana’s official confirmation of the Alpenglow upgrade activation date. A successful mainnet launch on October 21 could alter market dynamics significantly, possibly leading to price increases. Conversely, any delays or technical issues could dampen investor sentiment. Key actors in the Solana ecosystem, including co-founders Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal, may provide further insights as the launch date nears. Market participants will also be watching for regulatory developments and broader cryptocurrency market trends that could influence Solana’s pricing trajectory.

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GE Vernova (GEV -0.16%) has been an extremely successful spinoff. The company's stock has surged about sevenfold since separating from General Electric (GE) in April 2024. The spinoff enabled management to focus intently on the energy segments without distraction from other legacy GE businesses.

The resulting strong stock performance came from a surging backlog of orders, while management expanded profit margins, generating massive free cash flow. With the stock recently trading above $1,000 per share after a more than 50% gain this year, now may be the time for GE Vernova to split its stock, which would lower the share price, increase the number of shares, and have no effect on the value of an individual's shares.

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Do stock splits matter? Several large companies, including energy drink maker Monster Beverage and online auto dealer Carvana, have executed stock splits this year. Travel technology company Booking Holdings even executed a 25-for-1 forward stock split in April, dropping the share price from over $4,000 to about $170 per share.

Although a stock split does not alter the company's overall value, it can indicate management's confidence in the business's fundamentals. Executives are usually reluctant to split a stock unless they are optimistic about the stock's future performance. Since it doesn't change the company's actual value at the time, it might not be surprising that stock splits don't always mean shares will rise over the long term.

But momentum in the underlying business can also be reinforced by a stock split announcement, as it signals management's confidence in the business. Data show that short-term momentum in the stock price coincides with stock split announcements, as shown in the chart below.

Image source: Statista.

The business justifies it GE Vernova's business certainly qualifies as strong. The company generated $5.1 billion in free cash flow in the second quarter. That compares to just $3.7 billion in all of 2025. GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik summarized the state of the business with these comments in the Q2 report:

We delivered strong financial results in the second quarter as global demand for our products and solutions continues to grow. With a backlog of $176 billion, continued revenue growth and margin expansion, and significant free cash flow generation, GE Vernova's momentum is building, and we are raising our 2026 financial guidance.

So the business is strong and shares are nominally pricy, making some investors wonder whether GE Vernova will split its stock soon, which could make shares more attractive and more actively traded. When a stock splits, it can enhance liquidity by rendering shares (with a lower price tag) more accessible to a broader range of investors. Although many brokerages now offer fractional shares, most people likely underutilize this less-advertised option. Consequently, a reduced share price can attract more buyers by creating a sense of increased affordability. Remember, though, price is not value. 

Investors don't know whether GE Vernova stock will be the next to split. The company has made no announcements. Whether one waits for a potential split or not, though, owning GE Vernova stock looks to be a good investment right now.

Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Booking Holdings, GE Vernova, and Monster Beverage. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways RDW's SabreSat supports DARPA's Otter program to demonstrate air-breathing satellite technology in VLEO.RDW's Phantom spacecraft is supporting the European Space Agency's Skimsat VLEO program.RDW's SabreSat and Phantom platforms broaden its opportunities in specialized low-orbit space missions.
Redwire Corporation (RDW - Free Report) is expanding its spacecraft capabilities for Very Low Earth Orbit (“VLEO”), an orbital region that offers opportunities for imaging and lower-latency operations because of its proximity to Earth. The company’s VLEO portfolio includes its U.S.-built SabreSat and European-built Phantom spacecraft. These platforms broaden Redwire’s ability to support specialized space missions and address requirements that differ from those of spacecraft operating in higher orbits.

A key development is Redwire’s role in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (“DARPA”) Otter program. The company serves as the prime mission integrator, with the program using the SabreSat platform to develop an air-breathing satellite system. The effort is designed to demonstrate the use of novel electric propulsion in VLEO, giving Redwire a role in advancing spacecraft technology for this orbital environment.

Redwire’s Phantom spacecraft is also being used in the European Space Agency’s Skimsat VLEO program. Having two spacecraft platforms designed for this orbital region provides the company with multiple avenues to address mission requirements. VLEO’s potential imaging and latency advantages could make it relevant to specialized applications where proximity to Earth is important.

Redwire reported a $44 million Phase 2 contract award in 2025 to advance DARPA’s Otter mission, strengthening its position in VLEO development. Progress on the program could help demonstrate the capabilities of the SabreSat platform and support further opportunities in specialized spacecraft missions. However, future growth will depend on program execution, technical progress and customer demand.

Companies Developing Advanced Spacecraft CapabilitiesThe development of specialized spacecraft is encouraging defense companies to advance satellite platforms for demanding space missions. Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT - Free Report) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) also develop spacecraft and space systems for government and national security applications.

Lockheed Martin develops satellites and space systems designed to support national security, communications and other government missions.

Northrop Grumman develops spacecraft and satellite systems for national security, scientific and other space-based missions, including platforms designed to support complex operational requirements.

Earnings Estimates for RDW StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 57.32% and 40%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RDW Stock Is Trading at a PremiumRedwire is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 4.27X compared with the industry average of 2.1X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RDW Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, RDW shares have fallen 3.4% compared with the industry’s 19% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Imagine a tiny power plant, about the size of a house, that can run nonstop for years and make lots of electricity without any smoke or pollution. If you can picture that, then you can see what Oklo (OKLO -1.15%) is trying to build: essentially, a mini nuclear reactor that can take nuclear waste or special fuel and turn it into clean power.

It doesn't have the regulatory approval to build these reactors commercially, but if it gets it, sales could increase significantly. Would it be enough to turn Oklo investors into new millionaires? Let's take a look at the opportunity.

Image source: Oklo.

Why companies are interested in Oklo Again, the idea behind Oklo is pretty radical. Shrink a nuclear power plant into a reactor so small it can be mass-produced in a factory. Sell the power those reactors generate, and you could have a profitable business. With these reactors, Oklo is trying to do two things at once: create a new source of clean power, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and give companies a way to get the electricity they need without waiting years to connect to a local utility.

That last part is the bigger long-term opportunity right now. For one reason: artificial intelligence (AI). With nuclear power, AI companies and data centers can get round-the-clock electricity without competing with everyone else for power from a local grid. Ideally, they also wouldn't have to wait as long, since Oklo's small reactors theoretically take less time to build than a conventional power plant.

Oklo is currently working through the regulatory process to make these reactors a reality. In the meantime, it has secured support from several big tech companies, including Meta Platforms, which has further agreed to help fund a planned nuclear power campus in Ohio. Could Oklo make you a millionaire?

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For Oklo to turn today's investors into millionaires, the stock would have to gain many times its value -- possibly 100 or more. Growing by 100-fold would make it one of the most valuable energy companies in the world by today's standards. It would be an incredible run for Oklo to become the next 100-bagger, yet also probably not one investors will see.

Constellation Energy, for example, operates the largest nuclear fleet in the U.S. It currently has a strong $106 billion market value, making it one of the country's largest utility companies. If Oklo increased 100-fold, the company would be worth $640 billion -- roughly six times as large as Constellation.

That doesn't mean Oklo can't grow into a company worth half a trillion dollars. But given where the company is today -- it hasn't deployed a single reactor for commercial revenue -- it's very difficult to imagine a future in which Oklo is generating enough revenue to support a market value of that caliber.

So no: I wouldn't invest in Oklo expecting to earn a million off this nuclear stock alone. Given the remaining risks, I would only invest if you can stomach the losses and volatility. Oklo might have big ideas, but for now, a small speculative position within a diversified portfolio seems like the safest way to invest in this nuclear hopeful.

Key Takeaways IREN advances Texas and Oklahoma projects, with three more 50-MW Microsoft deployments planned at Childress.IREN advances its 800-MW Bundey project in Australia and a 300-MW data center development in Spain.IREN's Nostrum acquisition boosts European expansion, while Mirantis strengthens cloud orchestration.
IREN Limited (IREN - Free Report) is expanding its global AI data center infrastructure to capitalize on rising demand for artificial intelligence computing. The company has announced a development pipeline exceeding 5 gigawatts (GW) across North America, Europe and Australia. It targets approximately 300 megawatts (MW) of commissioned IT capacity by year-end 2026 and 800 MW by year-end 2027, creating opportunities to scale its AI Cloud Services business.

In the United States, IREN is advancing projects in Texas and Oklahoma. At Childress, TX, it delivered Horizon 1, the first of four planned 50-MW liquid-cooled IT deployments for Microsoft. The remaining three deployments are targeted for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, Sweetwater in Texas and Kiowa in Oklahoma represent significant longer-term expansion opportunities.

IREN is also broadening its international footprint. Its 800-MW Bundey project in South Australia is progressing through permitting and procurement, while the 300-MW Badajoz development provides a foothold in Europe. The acquisition of Nostrum Group strengthens its European development capabilities, while Mirantis adds software and cloud orchestration capabilities that could support broader enterprise offerings.

IREN reported $4 billion in contracted annualized run-rate revenues (ARR) associated with its 2026 capacity, of which $1 billion was operational as of Aug. 26, 2026.

IREN expects fiscal 2027 capital expenditures of $25 billion to $30 billion, requiring substantial funding. IREN’s global expansion offers considerable growth potential, but disciplined capital allocation and successful capacity delivery will determine whether it translates into sustainable financial growth.

How Are IREN’s Competitors Expanding?CoreWeave (CRWV - Free Report) is expanding its AI cloud infrastructure across multiple U.S. regions to meet growing demand from hyperscalers and AI developers. In the second quarter of 2026, active power capacity rose nearly 500 MW to 1.5 GW, while contracted power reached 3.7 GW. The company is expanding its powered-land footprint and developing additional facilities to strengthen its geographic reach and computing capacity.

Applied Digital (APLD - Free Report) is expanding geographically across North Dakota, Louisiana and Alabama, with approximately 1.41 GW of leased IT capacity across five campuses. It has also entered Finland, securing an agreement for up to 1 GW of potential power capacity, marking its first international expansion.

IREN’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of IREN have declined 9.8% over the past three months, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 composite. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S), IREN is currently trading at 3.19X, which is at a premium to the industry average of 2.68X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimates for IREN’s fiscal 2027 earnings have been revised downward in the past month.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, IREN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Seagate shares cratered 15% in a single week even as analysts refused to cut a single earnings estimate and the stock still sits nearly 52% below where the average price target says it should be. Something in that gap is…

Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX | STX Price Prediction) trades at $753.25 after a sharp decline left the AI storage leader trading far below analyst targets. Shares fell 15.09% in one week even as earnings estimates kept climbing.

Seagate is a leading supplier of mass-capacity hard drives for cloud data centers. Its Mozaic platform uses heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to fit more data onto each disk. Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 34.06% to $12.195 billion, and free cash flow reached a record $3.1 billion.

That growth lifted shares 174.44% this year and carried them to a 52-week high of $1,143.27. The stock now sits about 34% below that peak after Barron’s flagged a Toshiba problem for hard drive makers.

Sold-Out Capacity and Rising Estimates Power the Bull Case
Seagate’s forward earnings multiple is 26, while its trailing multiple is 56, a gap that shows how fast profits are growing. The fiscal 2027 EPS consensus is $36.2661, up from $27.7398 90 days ago. Analysts made zero downward revisions over the past 30 days.

Management said nearline capacity is almost fully allocated through calendar 2027, and pricing on fiscal 2027 contracts is already set. Seagate has beaten EPS estimates five straight quarters. Last quarter it posted $5.71 against a $5.0932 consensus, and it guided fiscal Q1 EPS to $7.30.

Cyclical Scars and a Beta Above 2 Keep Bears Circling
Hard drive demand has always moved in cycles. In fiscal 2023, Seagate lost $529 million. Data center sales now make up 80% of revenue, and that business leans on a few of hyperscalers whose spending could slow quickly.

Shares trade at 14.6 times sales and carry a beta of 2.081. Toshiba, Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC), and flash storage all compete for the same customers, and exchangeable notes due 2028 could dilute shareholders. One analyst rates the stock a Strong Sell.

Mozaic 4 Ramp Will Decide Whether Patience Pays
The stock fell 9.19% over the past month and trades below its 50-day moving average of $855.24. It still holds above its 200-day average of $663.81.

Execution will decide the next move. Mozaic 4 should cross over with Mozaic 3 toward the end of calendar 2026, and HAMR drives take longer to produce than the older technology. Fiscal Q1 results against $4.10 billion revenue guidance will tip the scale. A miss would favor sellers. A beat coupled with stronger fiscal 2027 commentary would favor buyers.

Analysts See 51.6% Upside While Short-Term Momentum Lags
Seagate trades at $753.25, and the average analyst target is $1,142.17, meaning 51.6% upside. The 25 covering analysts rate the stock as follows:

Strong Buy: 4
Buy: 18
Hold: 2
Strong Sell: 1

Seagate is up 174.44% this year, while the S&P 500 is up 14.1%. Over one year the gap is 253.46% against 19.15%. The past week went the other way: Seagate dropped 15.09% while the index rose 0.42%. Price targets are estimates, and analysts can cut them as quickly as the stock falls.

Earnings Momentum Keeps Seagate’s AI Growth Story in Focus
At $753.25, Seagate trades well below the average analyst target.

Earnings are the path higher. Revenue grew 48.49% year over year last quarter, and GAAP gross margin expanded to 52.3% from 37.4%. Locked-in capacity means those gains rest on signed contracts.

The fiscal Q1 report is the next big catalyst. If Seagate meets its $7.30 EPS guide and confirms 2027 pricing, view could recover from the Toshiba shock. Over the next year, the shift to Mozaic 4 should push margins higher still.

Three things would break the thesis: hyperscaler order cuts, falling revenue per terabyte, or a HAMR yield setback. The same data-center expansion driving Seagate’s sold-out nearline capacity also powers a wider group of non-chip suppliers we profiled in a free report on seven AI infrastructure stocks that aren’t chipmakers. With a beta above 2, expect big moves in both directions along the way.

Analysts made no down estimate revisions during this double-digit weekly sell-off, a sign that analyst conviction in one of the market’s clearest AI storage stories held firm.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Cerebras Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRS) faces more potential selling when up to 19.4 million more shares become eligible for sale on Wednesday under the AI chipmaker’s staggered IPO lock-up.

The stock is on watch after sliding 10.7% to $146.62 on Monday, its lowest close yet, according to Benzinga Pro market data. Shares are down about 58% from their $350 opening price in May and trade roughly 21% below the $185 IPO price.

CBRS stock is moving. See the real-time price action here.  Lock-Up Clock TicksCerebras set up its lock-up to release insider stock in stages rather than all at once, similar to SpaceX. The releases were planned in several rounds running through the end of October, Axios reported at the time of the IPO.

The last tranche of this size arrived Sept. 30. Up to 19.4 million shares held by directors, officers, employees and other holders unlocked that day, equal to 8% of shares outstanding. The stock fell 8.9% that day.

Before that, up to 14.6 million shares had been freed every two weeks since Aug. 19.

Insiders have been selling. CEO Andrew Feldman and CTO Sean Lie sold more than $240 million of Class A shares between Aug. 20 and Sept. 25 under trading plans, according to Benzinga’s insider sale data. 

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OpenAI Doubts LingerThe unlock comes on top of questions about Cerebras’ biggest customer. On Sept. 30, research firm SemiAnalysis said OpenAI would run the “Ultrafast” mode of GPT-6.1 Sol on NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) GPUs rather than on Cerebras hardware. Cerebras fell nearly 20% that week and closed at $166.43 on Oct. 2.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pushed back late that Friday. 

“There is some speculation about our partnership with Cerebras. Cerebras is a close partner, and we have a deep engagement pushing on the frontiers of speed,” he wrote on X. The stock jumped 9% the following Monday. His post did not say which chips run the new tier.

Citi analysts said their 2026-2028 revenue outlook for Cerebras was “unchanged.” They called it “too early to read much into” the rollout, CNBC reported. 

The two companies are closely tied. Cerebras has a multiyear deal worth more than $20 billion to supply OpenAI with 750 megawatts of computing power. OpenAI also lent Cerebras $1 billion and holds warrants for up to 33.4 million shares.

Altman Bounce FadesCerebras’ Altman bounce didn’t hold. Shares have fallen about 19% since closing at $181.55 on Oct. 5.

Pressure across the sector added to the losses. AI stocks slid Oct. 8 after reports that OpenAI’s annualized revenue at the end of September was about $18 billion below earlier figures. 

On Monday, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) unveiled its Maia 300 chip and said it would become the main inference system for Microsoft’s own products. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped 2.7% the same day. 

Inference is the core of Cerebras’ pitch, and each new in-house chip from a big cloud company makes the competitive question harder to ignore.

Cerebras is now worth about $34.8 billion. It was valued near $95 billion after its first day of trading.

CBRS Stock Price Activity: Cerebras stock was up 0.49% at $147.34 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro.

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Photo: Courtesy Cerebras

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

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Google says it's back on the AI frontier, and now everyone can put that claim to the test.

The company announced on Tuesday that its new Gemini 4 model, dubbed "Argon," is rolling out to the public and will be available to Gemini app users and developers.

Google is positioning Argon as its new workhorse model, stating that it excels at coding, cybersecurity, and knowledge work in finance and law.

Tulsee Doshi, Gemini product lead at Google DeepMind, called Argon a "powerhouse" model and said it would be the first of a family of new Gemini models rolling out over time.

As is often the case with the most advanced AI models, Argon is available only to paying users. It's rolling out to Pro and Ultra Gemini app subscribers, meaning users will have to pay at least $19.99 per month to access it. Those subscribers will also see Argon in AI Mode while searching on Google. Developers will also need to pay for the new model.

Google first unveiled Argon last month, but it was only available to a set of trusted partners to proactively test it and address cyber vulnerabilities.

The new model arrives amid heated competition between the big AI companies. Meta said on Monday that its new Muse Wonder class of models would bring the company to the frontier, the industry term for the most advanced AI, while also powering its buzzy personal agent, Muse. Last month, OpenAI started rolling out its latest family of frontier models, GPT-6.

Argon gives Google an opportunity to reassert itself in the AI race after the company chose not to launch its previously-promised frontier model, Gemini 3.5 Pro.

Cornhole-playing robotGoogle has been testing its new Gemini 4 model internally with employees for several weeks and said it had helped engineers increase the production of AI-generated code by 35%, while helping improve other Google products such as Chrome.

"I actually think it's been one of the biggest game changers for us," Doshi told Business Insider, referring to the increased amount of internal testing for Gemini 4. "Getting that feedback from Googlers who are using the model every day, I think has been both helpful in terms of just better understanding the model and better understanding its strengths and weaknesses."

Doshi said Argon was helping to speed up robotics development inside Google, thanks to the model's improved multimodal and reasoning skills. Google said it trained a robot to play cornhole by having Argon watch a human player and calculate joint movements and spatial coordinates.

Google also said it has stepped up efforts to prevent the model from behaving in ways it shouldn't, employing a system that tracks the model's chain of thought to determine if it's behaving. "I think that's actually really important because then you can actually intervene. You can say, 'Okay, the model is actually veering off in a way that's concerning. Let's stop here,'" said Doshi.

"I think that gives us a much more robust set of protections in launching this model."

While Google employees are already testing better versions of Argon internally, Doshi said the model rolling out will be the one the company announced benchmarks for last month. However, Google is making clear that this is just the start of its next big push.

"People should expect to see continued improvements coming from us wholesale," Doshi said.

Have something to share? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at 628-228-1836. Use a personal email address and a non-work device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

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Hugh is a senior correspondent at Business Insider where he writes about Google, tech, and wealth. His work has been cited by The New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets.Get an alert whenever I publish a story.Got a tip? You can reach him using the secure messaging app Signal (hughlangley.01) or email ([email protected]). We can keep sources anonymous.

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Key Takeaways NOK's new 16-port line card supports GPON, 10G, 25G and 50G PON technologies on every port.Nokia's Quillion-based platform enables network upgrades without replacing infrastructure.The solution delivers up to four times lower upstream latency, quantum-safe security and enhanced resilience.
Nokia Corporation (NOK - Free Report) has introduced a new 50G/25G/10G/GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) line card to help telecom operators upgrade their fiber broadband networks with greater flexibility and lower investment risk. The innovation aims to prepare network infrastructure for the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and high-speed connectivity.

Built on Nokia’s Quillion chipset, the 16-port line card supports GPON, 10G, 25G and 50G PON technologies on every port, enabling fiber access speeds of up to 50Gbps. This allows operators to upgrade network speeds as demand grows without replacing existing infrastructure. Operators can also add higher-speed technologies when needed, helping them manage investments efficiently and create new revenue opportunities.

The company’s new platform offers up to four times lower upstream latency, enabling faster data transmission and improving performance for data-intensive applications. It also includes quantum-safe encryption and authentication to protect network and user data from emerging threats, while enhanced resilience helps ensure reliable connectivity for critical services.

With general availability planned for 2027, the launch strengthens Nokia’s position in fiber broadband infrastructure. The solution gives telecom operators greater flexibility to expand network capacity and meet the growing connectivity needs of AI-driven applications.

How Are Competitors Performing?Nokia faces stiff competition from Ericsson (ERIC - Free Report) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) . Ericsson is improving network performance through AI-powered 5G technology to increase data speeds, coverage and efficiency. The company is working with telecom operators to improve network capacity and reliability. Ericsson is advancing next-generation wireless technology to support automated network management and new digital services.

Cisco is developing advanced networking chips to handle growing AI workloads and improve data center performance. The company is using AI-powered tools to help businesses detect network issues and automate troubleshooting. Cisco is enhancing network management and traffic visibility to help organizations monitor performance and resolve connectivity problems more efficiently.

NOK’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesNokia shares have soared 81% over the past year against the industry’s decline of 0.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Nokia trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.25, below the industry tally of 4.67.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings estimates for 2026 have remained static at 39 cents over the past 60 days, while those for 2027 have decreased 4% to 48 cents.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Nokia currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.