Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The $230 target implies roughly 16% upside as Palantir's revenue growth already approaches 100%. Summary

Goldman sees a wider market; Palantir must defend its premium.

Palantir Technologies PLTR, the data-platform and AI software provider, rose approximately 3.8% to $201.37 on Oct. 8 after Goldman Sachs upgraded the shares to Buy from Neutral, according to Barron's. Its $230 target implies another 14.2% upside. That gives buyers a fresh reason to chase the stock—but an analyst target still needs earnings to back it up.

The business has been delivering plenty of those. Palantir reported second-quarter revenue of $1.94 billion, up 93% year over year, while U.S. commercial sales surged 149% to $764 million. Its GAAP operating margin reached 47%. The punchline: rapid growth is translating into substantial operating profit, strengthening the case for AI software that customers put to work across their operations.

The valuation picture adds some friction: shares sit 8.97% above the $184.79 GF Value estimate, suggesting buyers are already paying a premium. Customized deployments and customers' demand for control over their data could expand Palantir's opportunity. The next test is turning early projects into larger, recurring commitments. Strong numbers support the rally; sustaining that pace will determine whether the premium holds.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Micron (MU -4.79%) stock tumbled in Thursday trading, closing the day down 4.8% -- but the news wasn't as bad as you might think.

Bond yields declined Thursday, suggesting the cost Micron customers bear when financing their purchases of memory chips won't climb forever. Furthermore, minutes released from the last meeting of the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee indicate the Fed may not keep raising interest rates to combat inflation -- also good news for debtors.

Unfortunately for Micron investors, that wasn't all the news that came out Thursday. As CNBC reports, OpenAI just confirmed that its annual recurring revenue as of the end of September was only $50 billion -- not the $68 billion previously posited.

Image source: Micron.

What that means for Micron stockIf OpenAI's not making as much money as it thought it was, then Micron's customers might actually need to take on more loans to buy the company's memory chips. Because if they're anything like OpenAI, their revenues may not be generating enough cash to pay for those chips out of cash flow alone!

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What's next for Micron stockSo is it time for Micron shareholders to panic? Not necessarily.

Although OpenAI fell short of the mark in September, the company still grew its revenue run rate 77% in the September quarter. And a new report out of Lynx Equity Strategies today confirms that the AI revolution is alive and well.

Tight supply of memory chips has driven up the prices Micron can charge for its wares, and according to Lynx analyst KC Rajkumar, memory supply in 2027 and 2028 will be "significantly tighter than in fiscal 2026."

Tight supply is just what Micron needs to keep its profits growing. Trading at 7x next year's earnings, Micron stock still looks like a buy to me.

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

RTX logo is seen in this illustration taken July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

Oct 8 (Reuters) - RTX's Raytheon said on Thursday it won a multi-year US military contract worth up to $6.3 ​billion to produce and sustain Standard Missile-3 ‌Block IB interceptors, as the Pentagon seeks to rebuild missile-defence inventories and boost munitions production.

The award comes as ​the Pentagon looks to replenish stockpiles depleted ​by conflicts in the Middle East and meet ⁠growing demand for air and missile defence ​systems.

Sign up here.

The Standard Missile-3 Block IB is a ballistic missile-defence ​interceptor used by the U.S. Navy against short- and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

The deal follows a series of large ​Pentagon missile contracts. In October, Raytheon secured a ​contract worth up to $24.4 billion to produce Standard Missile-6 interceptors ‌for ⁠the U.S. Navy, while Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab won a $58.6 billion Patriot missile contract in July.

The agreements are part of the Trump administration's push to expand ​U.S. weapons production ​by encouraging ⁠contractors to increase manufacturing capacity. Industry executives, however, have warned that a ​lack of congressional funding could delay investment ​in ⁠facilities and supply chains.

Raytheon said it has invested in expanding production capacity for the Standard Missile ⁠family. Work ​under the contract will be ​performed primarily at its facilities in Tucson, Arizona, and Huntsville, ​Alabama.

Reporting by Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Shares of Broadcom (AVGO -4.35%) turned lower on Thursday, falling as much as 5.1%. The stock was still down 4.4% by the time the market closed.

The catalyst that sent the semiconductor and networking specialist lower was news that OpenAI's revenue was substantially lower than had been previously reported.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Accounting disclosureArtificial intelligence (AI) start-up OpenAI revealed that its annualized revenue was roughly $50 billion as of the end of September, significantly lower than the $68 billion that had been widely reported by the financial media late last month.

In an updated presentation shown to potential investors, OpenAI clarified the figure, noting that the $68 billion included gross revenue from the company's partners and was meant to provide an apples-to-apples comparison to its most direct competitor, start-up Anthropic.

So what does this have to do with Broadcom?Many AI stocks tend to move together, so the news alone may have been enough to send Broadcom lower. However, the company has a more direct connection to OpenAI. Reports emerged yesterday that Broadcom was working to line up roughly $50 billion in financing for OpenAI to fund the purchase of AI-centric chips.

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Broadcom and OpenAI have been collaborating on a custom AI processor, dubbed "Jalapeno," which is expected to be deployed later this year. Given the close ties between the two, it makes sense that the company would help OpenAI arrange financing to buy Broadcom's custom chips.

Taking a step back, if OpenAI's revenue isn't all it was cracked up to be, it may have fewer resources and less need for Broadcom's chips. Add in fears about circular financing deals in the space, and it's easy to see why investors might be nervous, though this appears to be nothing more than an accounting disclosure.

At 31 times forward earnings and 18 times next year's expected earnings, Broadcom is attractively priced relative to the size of the opportunity. Moves like this provide astute investors with the opportunity to pick up shares at a discount.

Danny Vena, CPA has positions in Broadcom. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clover Health Investments, Corp. (Nasdaq: CLOV) (“Clover,” “Clover Health” or the “Company”), today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has awarded its PPO Medicare Advantage (“MA”) plans a rating of 5 Stars and its HMO MA plan a rating of 4.5 Stars for 2027, which will affect payment year 2028. Through the first half of 2026, Clover Health grew Medicare Advantage membership ~48% year-over-year to more than 157,000 members, with ~98% enrolled in its wide-network PPO plans. At 5 Stars, Clover’s PPO plans will be able to enroll beneficiaries year round.

Each year, CMS assigns Star ratings to Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on its healthcare quality and drug plan, and issues a Star rating on a scale of 1 to 5 Stars. These ratings affect payments to Medicare Advantage plans. For the 2027 Star Ratings, Clover’s overall Star rating was driven by improvements across Stars domains.

In light of the decision in Clover Insurance Company v. Department of Health & Human Services, Civ. A. No. 25-142 (S.D. Ga.) issued on May 27, 2026, which is on appeal, CMS calculated Clover’s rating for its PPO plans removing the 20 measures included in the court decision, awarding Clover’s PPO plans 5 Stars. With the 20 measures included, Clover’s PPO plans would have received 4.5 Stars.

Additionally, for the third year in a row, Clover has continued its market-leading performance on core Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (“HEDIS®”1) measures with a score of 4.82 out of 5 Stars2, again ranking #1 among non-SNP PPO plans with over 2,000 members. HEDIS is a set of performance measures used to assess aspects of care quality, including preventive screenings and management of health issues such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Clover’s HEDIS score remains consistent at 4.82 out of 5 Stars regardless of the CMS methodology used for 2027, demonstrating the strength of a care model powered by Counterpart Assistant that surfaces relevant information for physicians to identify care needs and support better-informed clinical decisions.

“Success in the Star ratings system means an enhanced ability to support our members and to continue to provide them market leading plans. We also continue to support reforms to the Stars program that more closely align these ratings with meaningful improvements in members’ health and value for the Medicare program,” said Andrew Toy, CEO of Clover Health. “We are particularly proud of our core HEDIS measures performance, which assess important aspects of preventive care and chronic disease management. Our focus remains on giving physicians the tools to deliver proactive care across our wide PPO network, supported by our Counterpart Assistant platform.”

“Our teams have worked incredibly hard over the last several years, and we’re excited about what this year’s Star rating means for our ability to keep delivering the benefits, affordability, and wide choice of providers that our members count on and trust,” said Jamie Reynoso, CEO of Medicare Advantage, Clover Health. “With a higher Star rating, we are able to further reinvest in even more competitive benefits. This milestone allows us to scale our impact to more people on Medicare without compromising our financial strength or commitment to care quality.”

“We founded Clover with the conviction that improving healthcare requires both the ambition to reimagine it coupled with the willingness to solve hard problems, on a first principles basis,” added Vivek Garipalli, Founder and Executive Chairman of Clover Health. “I’m proud to work closely with our teams on critical aspects of these efforts, and I have a ton of fun doing so as well. This Star rating reflects many, many years of persistence and disciplined execution and provides a strong opportunity to build on that foundation moving forward as we continue to seek much-needed reforms.”

To learn more about Clover Health and its Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.cloverhealth.com. For providers, health systems and plans interested in learning about how they can use Clover’s proprietary technology stack to succeed in value-based care, visit www.counterparthealth.com.

Federal Contracting Disclaimer: Clover Health is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Clover Health depends on contract renewal.

The statements contained in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CMS. The authors assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this document.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding future events and Clover Health’s future results of operations, financial position, business strategy and future plans. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “going to,” “can,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “objective,” “plan,” “seek,” “grow,” “target,” “if,” “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern Clover’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, its anticipated financial results associated with CMS’ 2027 Stars ratings of 5.0 for Clover’s PPO MA plans and its 2027 Stars rating of 4.5 for Clover’s HMO plan, future financial outlook, future membership growth and retention, Clover assistant usage and investment, and cost efficiency initiatives, as well as our expectations related to Clover’s GAAP and Adjusted EBITDA profitability, liquidity, future performance, future operations and future results. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Clover Health’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in Clover Health’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2026, and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, in each case where relevant, including the Risk Factors sections therein, and in its other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Clover Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.

About Clover Health:

Clover Health (Nasdaq: CLOV) is a physician enablement technology company committed to bringing access to great healthcare to everyone on Medicare. This includes a focus on seniors who have historically lacked access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Our strategy is powered by our software platform, Clover Assistant, which is designed to aggregate patient data from across the healthcare ecosystem to support clinical decision-making and improve health outcomes through the early identification and management of chronic disease. For our members, we provide PPO and HMO Medicare Advantage plans in several states, with a differentiated focus on our flagship wide-network, high-choice PPO plans. For healthcare providers outside Clover Health's Medicare Advantage plan, we extend the benefits of our data-driven technology platform to a wider audience via our subsidiary, Counterpart Health, and aim to enable enhanced patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs on a nationwide scale. Clover Health has published data demonstrating the technology’s impact on Medication Adherence, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and in Underserved Populations as well as the earlier identification and management of Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Investor Relations:

Ryan Schmidt
[email protected]

Press Inquiries:
[email protected]

Y0129_26EX091D_C

1 HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
2 This analysis focuses on performance by non-SNP PPO plans with over 2,000 lives as of September 1, 2024, 2025, and 2026 on HEDIS measures applicable to non-SNPs that were used for CMS’s MY 2023, MY 2024, and MY 2025 Star ratings, applying the measure ranges used by CMS.

A Southwest Airlines plane approaches Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesSouthwest has discussed launching long-haul service within roughly three years, sources sayJets from lessors or the secondary market could accelerate a launch despite tight Dreamliner availabilityNew aircraft type could require added regulatory, labor and operational workCHICAGO/MONTREAL, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab is leaning toward Boeing's (BA.N), opens new tab 787 ​Dreamliner as its first widebody jet as it weighs launching long-haul international flights, according to three people familiar with the carrier's fleet ‌planning.

The people, who declined to be named because the deliberations are private, cautioned that no final aircraft decision has been made. The choice would ultimately rest with Southwest's board, which last year formed a Fleet Oversight Committee to help oversee the company's aircraft fleet acquisition strategy.

Sign up here.

Southwest has not publicly named an aircraft for long-haul flying. In September, Chief Financial Officer ​Tom Doxey said long-haul international service was among a range of options under consideration but that no decision had been made.

One of the people ​said Southwest has contemplated a fleet of dozens of 787s.

Southwest has also examined how quickly it could obtain aircraft, ⁠including through lessors or the secondary market, according to two of the people. Reuters could not determine which 787 variant it is considering or whether any ​leasing arrangements have been made.

Southwest did not directly address questions about the 787, saying in a statement, "We do not have any news forthcoming related to our fleet ​plans." Boeing referred questions about the fleet plans to the carrier. Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.

The deliberations would take Southwest's overhaul into a new phase. The airline has added assigned seating and extra-legroom seats and announced airport lounges and plans for a premium credit card as it seeks to attract higher-spending travelers.

A widebody fleet would ​take Southwest into long-haul international flying and more direct competition with larger US rivals. Southwest has publicly discussed long-haul expansion as part of a broader ​effort to give customers fewer reasons to book with competitors while strengthening its Rapid Rewards loyalty program and co-branded credit-card business.

CEO Bob Jordan has said Southwest does not need a ‌long-haul network ⁠comparable with those of Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab, United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab or American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab. In May, he said 8 to 12 long-haul destinations could cover much of where Southwest customers want to travel.

BOEING VERSUS AIRBUSSouthwest currently operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, but Airbus has been aggressively courting the airline as it evaluates future fleet needs, according to people familiar with the discussions. They said the A321XLR and A330neo could serve its long-haul needs, while the smaller A220 has been pitched for ​other parts of its network.

Choosing Airbus would ​require Southwest to diversify its fleet. ⁠Those people said the 787 has appeared to hold the stronger position in the discussions.

Southwest's pilot union has publicly indicated that more than one path is being examined. Jody Reven, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said in ​a recent union podcast that the company had discussed both a "large aircraft" and a "narrow-body long-haul aircraft" as part of ​its future plans.

AVAILABILITY ⁠COULD SHAPE TIMINGThe long-haul plan has been discussed on a roughly three-year timetable, one of the people said. But aircraft availability could shape the timing.

Boeing has said the 787 is sold out through the end of the decade.

One of the people said Southwest has explored obtaining some Dreamliners through lessors, potentially allowing an earlier launch. Another ⁠said aircraft ​from the secondary market had been considered for the initial fleet.

Adding a 787 widebody would be ​a bigger undertaking than expanding Southwest's current 737 operation. Southwest has said adding a new aircraft type could require new maintenance and training programs, regulatory approvals and union negotiations over pay and ​work rules.

Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Joe Brock and Matthew Lewis

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE: DKS) between September 8, 2025 and August 24, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important November 3, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased DICK'S Sporting Goods common stock you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the DICK'S Sporting Goods class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/dicks-sporting-goods/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 3, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Dick's cleanup efforts concerning Foot Locker's inventory were not complete, and, in fact, Foot Locker remained saddled with unproductive and stagnant legacy footwear; (2) Foot Locker heavily relied on legacy footwear products that were particularly vulnerable to intensifying promotional pressures across the athletic footwear industry; (3) in turn, Dick's was significantly exposed to an industry-wide environment of excess inventory and resulting promotional activity; (4) accordingly, Dick's was unable to achieve the sales growth, margins, and profits it touted to investors; and (5) as a result of the above, defendants' positive statements about Dick's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the DICK'S Sporting Goods class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/dicks-sporting-goods/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318162

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Notes due 2029 Initially Assigned Ratings of Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service and BBB- by Fitch Ratings, Inc.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) (“Hercules,” “Hercules Capital,” or the “Company”), today announced that it has closed an upsized underwritten public offering of $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.700% notes due October 2029 (the “Notes”).

The Notes are unsecured and bear interest at a rate of 6.700% per year, payable semiannually, will mature on October 8, 2029 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company’s option at par, plus a “make whole” premium, if applicable.

The Company expects to use the net proceeds from this offering to (i) repay outstanding unsecured indebtedness and/or secured indebtedness under its existing financing arrangements, (ii) fund investments in accordance with its investment objectives, and (iii) for other general corporate purposes.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. and MUFG Securities Americas Inc. acted as joint book-running managers of this offering. Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, DZ Financial Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC, Synovus Securities, Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc. and Zions Direct, Inc. acted as co-managers.

The offering was made solely by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, or email: [email protected], or telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention: Debt Capital Markets – Transaction Management, or email: [email protected], or telephone: 1-888-868-6856.

About Hercules Capital, Inc.

Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) is the leading and largest specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured venture growth loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a broad variety of technology and life sciences industries. Since inception (December 2003), Hercules has committed more than $28 billion to over 700 companies and is the lender of choice for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms seeking growth capital financing.

Hercules, through its wholly owned subsidiary business, Hercules Adviser LLC (the “Adviser Subsidiary”), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties (“Adviser Funds”). The Adviser Subsidiary is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Hercules’ common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “HTGC.” In addition, Hercules has one retail bond issuance of 6.25% Notes due 2033 (NYSE: HCXY).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be relied upon in making any investment decision. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations. While we cannot identify all such risks and uncertainties, we urge you to read the risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other materials that we publicly file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Hercules assumes no obligation to update any such statements in the future.

More News From Hercules Capital, Inc.

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Shares of the semiconductor company Marvell Technology (MRVL -3.52%) jumped 24.8% in September, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as investors grew optimistic about the broader AI infrastructure industry.

Marvell stock has made huge strides over the past year, and comments made by CEO Matt Murphy during the month convinced investors that the good times aren't anywhere near over.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The semiconductor industry continues risingMarvell stock jumped early in September on news that Nvidia was purchasing the open-source AI model development platform Hugging Face. Marvell didn't have anything to do with the deal specifically, but it is a partner with Nvidia, which took a $2 billion stake in Marvell back in March.

The semiconductor industry is highly intertwined, so major announcements about new deals, partnerships, or acquisitions can easily move other companies' share prices.

Marvell's shares continued their upward trajectory just a few days later after that announcement, when CEO Matt Murphy appeared on CNBC's Mad Money and said his company has earned a lot of trust from its customers.

Murphy said competition in the semiconductor industry was rising, but added that Marvell is the "Switzerland" of the semiconductor industry because it works with everybody.

And Marvell's stock got yet another boost toward the end of the month when the company said in a press release that it would demo an "industry-first 2mn" optical technology for AI data centers.

Management said in a statement that the new tech would "highlight how Marvell continually pushes the envelope of what is possible in optical technology" and achieve new levels of performance and efficiency. Investors latched onto that news and pushed the semiconductor stock higher.

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Marvell stock marches higherMarvell stock is up about 4.5% in the first week of October, continuing its upward trajectory that has led to a 218% rise over the past 12 months.

Marvell continues to benefit from the rapid acceleration of AI infrastructure spending, which is estimated to exceed $1.3 trillion next year -- up from about $750 billion this year.

The boooming AI infrastructure market prompted the company's management to recently raise its fiscal 2031 revenue estimates to $80 billion and its non-GAAP earnings per share estimate to $30, both at the midpoint of guidance. That was especially notable because both estimates are about 50% higher than Wall Street's consensus estimates.

If the company continues on its current path, Marvell shareholders appear to have much more to look forward to.

 | Source: Weatherford International, LLC

HOUSTON, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) ("Weatherford" or the "Company") today announced it has been awarded a two-year extension across several strategic frame agreements with Equinor, one of the world's leading energy companies.

Weatherford has also been selected as the primary provider of completion systems for the Statfjord and Oseberg licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, significantly expanding the Company's role in supporting Equinor's offshore development and production operations.

Under the extended agreements, Weatherford will provide its integrated completions portfolio to improve operational efficiency, enhance well performance, and maximize production throughout the life of the well. The award builds on a long-standing collaboration between the two companies and further strengthens Weatherford's leadership position in offshore completions across the North Sea.

Girish Saligram, Weatherford’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to continue expanding our collaboration with Equinor through these agreement extensions and the award of this important completions scope. The award reflects the strength of Weatherford’s differentiated completions portfolio, proven execution in the North Sea, and commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality operations. By combining innovative technologies with deep technical expertise, we look forward to helping Equinor drive greater efficiency, optimize production, and maximize value across its offshore assets.”

The contract extension and expanded completions scope reinforce Weatherford's commitment to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and reflect the Company's continued investment in innovative technologies that improve well performance, increase operational efficiency, and support safe, reliable offshore operations.

About Weatherford
Weatherford is a global energy services company that helps customers drill smarter, complete wells more effectively, and maximize production across the entire well lifecycle. With a differentiated portfolio of market-leading solutions, integrated technologies, and a broad global customer footprint across six continents, we blend advanced engineering, digital intelligence, and world-class field expertise to reduce risk, improve performance, and maximize the value of customer assets. Together, we elevate every operation, delivering stronger wells, sharper decisions, and better energy for the world. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

For Investors:
Luke Lemoine
Weatherford Investor Relations
+1 713-836-7777
[email protected]

For Media:
Kelley Hughes
Weatherford Corporate Communications, Marketing & Sustainability
[email protected]

Crescent Energy Company (CRGY) Discusses Acquisition of Eagle Ford Assets and Strategic Operational Expansion October 8, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Reid Gallagher - Investor Relations Executive
David Rockecharlie - CEO & Director
Jerome Hall - Chief Operating Officer
Brandi Kendall - CFO, Investor Relations & Director
John Rynd - Executive Vice President of Investments

Conference Call Participants

Neal Dingmann - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Noah Hungness - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
John Abbott - Wolfe Research, LLC
Phillip Jungwirth - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Timothy Rezvan - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
Gabe Daoud - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Hsu-Lei Huang - TPH Research
Charles Meade - Johnson Rice & Company, L.L.C., Research Division
Gregg Brody - BofA Securities, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the Crescent Energy Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

I will now hand the conference over to Reid Gallagher, Investor Relations. Reid, please go ahead.

Reid Gallagher
Investor Relations Executive

Thank you, operator, and good morning, everyone. We appreciate you joining us to discuss Crescent's announced acquisition. With me today are our CEO, David Rockecharlie; our COO, Joey Hall; and our CFO, Brandi Kendall. Our Executive Vice President of Investments, Clay Rynd, will also be available during Q&A. A replay of today's call will be available by webcast and accessible from our website.

Please note that the information reported on this call speaks only as of today, October 8, 2026, and therefore, time-sensitive information may no longer be accurate as of the time of the replay listening or transcript reading. In addition, the comments made by management during this conference call may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Crescent's management. However, various risks, uncertainties and contingencies could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to

, /PRNewswire/ --FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK) ("FSK" or the "Company") announced today that its board of directors has declared (i) a fourth quarter 2026 distribution on shares of the Company's common stock of $0.44 per share and (ii) a special distribution on shares of the Company's common stock of $0.20 per share, which represents a portion of the Company's estimated undistributed taxable income. FSK also announced that it will host its third quarter 2026 results conference call via live webcast on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) and that the Company plans to release its third quarter 2026 results before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Declaration of Fourth Quarter 2026 Common Stock Distribution

On October 7, 2026, FSK's board of directors declared a distribution for the fourth quarter of $0.44 per share of common stock, which will be paid on or about December 24, 2026 to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2026.

The Company's regular quarterly distribution is based on management's current estimates and expectations regarding the Company's financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The Company's actual GAAP net investment income for the quarter remains subject to the completion of customary quarter-end closing procedures and the finalization of its financial statements and, as a result, actual GAAP net investment income may differ from current expectations. Accordingly, the declared distribution should not be viewed as a projection, forecast or guarantee of the Company's financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Declaration of Special Common Stock Distribution

On October 7, 2026, FSK's board of directors declared a special distribution of $0.20 per share of common stock, which will be paid on or about December 15, 2026 to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 1, 2026.

The special distribution amount represents a portion of the Company's estimated accumulated spillback income and is intended to distribute additional taxable income to shareholders in connection with the Company's maintenance of its treatment as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Conference Call Information

FSK will host its third quarter 2026 results conference call via live webcast on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). All interested parties are welcome to participate and can access the live webcast from the For Investors section of FSK's website at www.fskkrcapitalcorp.com under Events & Presentations or through the following URL: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/upuop9i6.

Research analysts who wish to participate in the conference call are requested to register a day in advance or at a minimum 15 minutes before the start of the call using the following URL: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI0d946f0340f2498081d26dfdacd11fc1. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that can be used to access the call.

An investor presentation of financial information will be available by visiting the For Investors section of FSK's website, under Events & Presentations before the market open on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

A replay of the call will be available beginning shortly after the end of the call by visiting the For Investors section of FSK's website, under Events & Presentations.

About FS KKR Capital Corp.

FSK is a leading publicly traded business development company (BDC) focused on providing customized credit solutions to private middle market U.S. companies. FSK seeks to invest primarily in the senior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, subordinated loans and certain asset-based financing loans of private U.S. companies. FSK is advised by FS/KKR Advisor, LLC. For more information, please visit www.fskkrcapitalcorp.com.

About FS/KKR Advisor, LLC 

FS/KKR Advisor, LLC (FS/KKR) is a partnership between Future Standard and KKR Credit that serves as the investment adviser to FSK and other business development companies.

Future Standard is a global alternative asset manager serving institutional and private wealth clients, investing across private equity, credit and real estate. With a 30+ year track record of value creation and over $94 billion in assets under management, we back the business owners and financial sponsors that drive growth and innovation across the middle market, transforming untapped potential into durable value.1

KKR Credit is a subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc., a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group's website at www.globalatlantic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Important Disclosure Notice

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements with regard to future events or our future performance or financial condition, distribution levels and frequency, expectations for net investment income levels in future quarters, and the financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for FSK's future operations. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "project," and "future" or similar expressions indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including those factors set forth in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially include, without limitation, changes in the economy, geo-political risks, risks associated with possible disruption in FSK's operations or the economy generally due to terrorism, natural disasters or pandemics, future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in FSK's operating area and the price at which shares of FSK's common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Some of these factors are enumerated in the filings FSK makes with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are based on information available as of the date hereof and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Except as required by the federal securities laws, FSK undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Certain Information About Distributions

The determination of the tax attributes of FSK's distributions is made annually as of the end of its fiscal year based upon its taxable income and distributions paid, in each case, for the full year. Therefore, a determination as to the tax attributes of the distributions made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes for a full year. FSK intends to update stockholders quarterly with an estimated percentage of its distributions that resulted from taxable ordinary income. The actual tax characteristics of distributions to stockholders will be reported to stockholders annually on Form 1099-DIV.

The timing and amount of any future distributions on FSK's shares of common stock are subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of its board of directors. There can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of any such future distributions.

FSK may fund its distributions to stockholders from any sources of funds legally available to it, including net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, dividends or other distributions paid to it on account of preferred and common equity investments in portfolio companies, proceeds from the sale of shares of FSK's common stock and borrowings. FSK has not established limits on the amount of funds it may use from available sources to make distributions. In addition, portions of our distributions may be funded indirectly through the waiver of certain investment advisory fees by our investment adviser. Any distributions funded through waivers of investment advisory fees will not be based on our investment performance and can only be sustained if we achieve positive investment performance in future periods and/or our investment adviser and its affiliates continue to make such reimbursements or waivers of such fees. There can be no assurance that FSK will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.

Endnotes

1.

Total AUM estimated as of June 30, 2026. References to "assets under management" or "AUM" represent the assets managed by Future Standard or its strategic partners as to which Future Standard is entitled to receive a fee or carried interest (either currently or upon deployment of capital) and general partner capital. Future Standard calculates the amount of AUM as of any date as the sum of: (i) the fair value of the investments of Future Standard's investment funds; (ii) uncalled investor capital commitments to these funds, including uncalled investor capital commitments from which Future Standard is currently not earning management fees or carried interest; (iii) the value of outstanding CLOs; (iv) the fair value of FS KKR Capital Corp. joint venture (JV) assets and (v) the fair value of other assets managed by Future Standard. Future Standard's calculation of AUM may differ from the calculations of other asset managers and, as a result, Future Standard's measurements of its AUM may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other asset managers. Future Standard's definition of AUM is not based on any definition of AUM that may be set forth in agreements governing the investment funds, vehicles or accounts that it manages and is not calculated pursuant to any regulatory definitions.

Contact Information:

Investor Relations
Anna Kleinhenn
[email protected]

Future Standard Media Team
Marc Hazelton
[email protected]

SOURCE Future Standard

Nearly 2,000 Mortgage Lenders Implementing Modern, Alternative Data-Driven Scoring Model; Equifax Extends $1 VantageScore 4.0 Pricing through the End of 2028 to Drive Industry Adoption, Homeownership Affordability, and Cost Savings

Nearly 2,000 mortgage lenders and resellers are taking advantage of the Equifax offer of free VantageScore® 4.0 credit scores with paid legacy scores, and more than 165 lenders are exclusively using VantageScore 4.0 at the $1 price for certain types of loans. Equifax maintains $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028 to expand industry adoption, reduce loan acquisition costs, and drive potential $1 billion in industry cost savings. Equifax continues to enhance the value of mortgage solutions by delivering The Work Number® Report Indicator and additional alternative data including telco, pay TV and utilities attributes alongside the Equifax mortgage credit report at no additional cost. , /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) today announced a significant milestone in mortgage scoring modernization, with nearly 2,000 lenders taking advantage of free VantageScore® 4.0 credit scores with paid legacy scores from April 2026 through September 2026, including a 230% increase in VantageScore 4.0 credit scores pulled between April 2026 and August 2026 for mortgages. This accelerated mortgage lender adoption follows Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) approval of VantageScore 4.0 for use in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Mortgage lenders are rapidly embracing this modern scoring model and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governed alternative data not included in traditional credit reports to expand access to credit and drive housing affordability for millions of Americans.

"Our AI technology helps borrowers see their best loan options in minutes. With lenders now able to choose their credit score model, we added VantageScore 4.0 as one of the scoring models we use, giving us more flexibility in how we evaluate applicants, while keeping the experience quick and easy," said Magesh Sarma, Chief Operating Officer, AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation.

Equifax is maintaining $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028 to expand adoption, reduce loan acquisition costs, and drive a potential $1 billion in cost savings for the industry and consumers from the cost difference among score providers.

"The landmark decision by FHFA Director William Pulte and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to open VantageScore 4.0 for use across both conventional and FHA-insured loans has advanced homebuying into a new era of credit scoring competition that drives greater performance and cost savings for both lenders and consumers," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "We are seeing strong momentum across the mortgage sector as lenders rapidly adopt VantageScore 4.0 to drive better decisioning and expand access to credit."

More data drives better decisions
VantageScore 4.0 utilizes up to 24 months of trended data and incorporates alternative data, such as rental, utility, and telco payment histories, providing lenders with a more comprehensive view of borrower creditworthiness without adding additional risk. The model provides deeper financial insights that can deliver a 20% lift in originations and generate credit scores for consumers with thin credit files.

"The strong industry adoption has been driven by years of preparation by our teams to ensure that VantageScore 4.0 could be accessible to all lenders, allowing them to effectively test and evaluate the score through their processes," said Joel Rickman, General Manager and SVP of U.S. Mortgage and Verification Services at Equifax. "Equifax is deeply committed to supporting the mortgage industry and the consumers we serve, especially as we navigate the most difficult mortgage market in decades. We view our role in expanding homeownership as a vital responsibility while delivering significant savings to consumers and the mortgage industry."

Equifax remains the only Nationwide Consumer Reporting Agency to provide alternative data insights - such as payment histories for telco, pay TV, and utilities - alongside tri-merge consumer credit reports for the mortgage market at no additional cost to lenders. Equifax also empowers lenders with early access to an employment indicator through its suite of The Work Number® Report Indicator solutions at no additional cost including:

The Work Number® Report Indicator for Mortgage: Streamlines underwriting workflows by providing an indicator of whether data from The Work Number is available on the applicant For more information about Equifax mortgage solutions and VantageScore 4.0, please visit our website.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tiffany Smith for Equifax 
[email protected] 

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is investigating potential securities violations against Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. ("Fulcrum Therapeutics" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FULC).

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION

If you are a Fulcrum Therapeutics investor and have suffered losses, or if you have information that could assist in the Fulcrum Therapeutics investigation, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (212) 329-8571.

Fulcrum Therapeutics is a "clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with rare hematological disorders[.]"

On June 1, 2026, after market close, Fulcrum Therapeutics announced in a press release "the discontinuation of its pociredir program for the treatment of SCD [(sickle cell disease).]" The Company stated that the "meeting minutes from recent end-of-phase interactions with the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA")]" "reflected heightened FDA concerns regarding pociredir's benefit-risk profile in SCD, stemming from an unexpectedly high rate of secondary hematologic malignancies observed with Tazverik® (tazemetostat), another PRC2 inhibitor, which was withdrawn from the global market in March 2026." After submitting further information, the FDA "concluded that any pharmacological intervention targeting the PRC2 complex carries equivalent malignancy risk regardless of the specific subunit engaged." As a result, the Company has "no viable regulatory path forward for further clinical development of pociredir."

Following this news, the price of Fulcrum Therapeutics stock declined from a closing price on June 1, 2026 of $6.42 per share to close at $3.14 per share on June 2, 2026, a decline of $3.28 per share, or by 51.09%.

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.

Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.

For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

If you have any questions about this investigation, please contact:

Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.

https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/fulcrum-therapeutics-inc-investigation-learn-more-now/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317788

Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

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Dan Ives sees AI driving a new iPhone upgrade cycle while creating another source of growth for Apple's services business. Summary

He sees AI eventually contributing more than 15% of Services revenue.

Apple Inc. (AAPL, Financials), the consumer technology company, could get much more from artificial intelligence than a collection of new software features if Dan Ives is right.

The analyst estimates Apple's AI strategy could eventually add about $75 per share to the company's valuation as the technology encourages customers to upgrade devices and spend more on services.

Ives, who has an Outperform rating and $400 price target on Apple, believes AI can connect the company's hardware, software and services more closely. He estimates AI-related revenue could eventually represent more than 15% of Services revenue.

The installed base makes that argument particularly important.

Ives estimates roughly 375 million iPhones have not been upgraded in more than four years. He expects the iPhone 18 cycle to help unlock some of that pent-up demand over the coming quarters.

A foldable iPhone could provide another catalyst. Ives expects the rumored iPhone Duo to sell about 10 million units over its first few quarters.

The bigger question for investors is whether Apple can turn its enormous device base into an AI distribution advantage. Privacy and on-device processing could differentiate its approach, while new applications in health, fitness, finance and gaming could expand monetization.

Apple shares were up about 0.6% Thursday.

The next catalyst comes with Apple's expected Oct. 13 smart-home event, which could offer another look at how the company plans to extend its ecosystem.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

The maintained target offers about 8% upside while fourth-quarter results must validate the iPhone 18 cycle. Summary

A bullish rating did not meaningfully reset expectations.

Apple AAPL, the consumer-device and services giant, stay flat at $336.61 as of approximately 10:39 a.m. ET on October 8. Citi reiterated its Buy rating and $365 price target ahead of fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, according to StreetInsider. That leaves roughly 8.4% upside. A vote of confidence, but no higher target to lift the bar.

The earnings test comes down to how much growth Apple can sustain. The company reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $109.4 billion, a 16% increase from a year earlier. Gross margin reached 50.1%, with tariff refunds adding about two percentage points. Strip out that benefit, and the margin was approximately 48.1%. Investors need to separate repeatable operating strength from a temporary boost.

The valuation picture shows shares trading 16.87% above the $288.02 GF Value estimate, leaving less room for earnings disappointment. Apple also trades near 39 times trailing earnings, a demanding multiple even for this business. Citi's unchanged target supports the bullish case. Now iPhone demand, Services growth and margins must deliver the numbers to back it up.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Microsoft's containment technology expands Muse beyond mobile devices, but no Windows release date was disclosed. Summary

Windows expands Muse distribution before Meta proves monetization or user trust.

Meta Platforms META, the social-media and personal-AI company, secured another route to users through a planned native Windows app for its Muse personal agent. Shares were roughly flat, at $721.475 at 11.04am EST on October 8. The opportunity is straightforward: put Muse on the desktop, where users already spend time working. Getting them to keep using it is the harder part.

Microsoft's Windows announcement says Muse will integrate with Microsoft Execution Containers, which enforce limits on the files and networks agents can access. That gives Meta a framework for offering an agent that can act while keeping its permissions bounded. But “coming soon” leaves plenty unanswered. The announcement provides no firm launch date, pricing or expected user count. A distribution channel is taking shape; the commercial payoff remains unproven.

The valuation snapshot puts Meta 16.39% below its $862.86 GF Value estimate, suggesting a valuation cushion rather than guaranteed upside. Muse could broaden Meta's reach beyond its social apps, but desktop availability alone will not establish a profitable business. Investors need repeat usage, reliably completed tasks and a credible route to revenue. Permission controls can help build trust. Whether users return—and whether Meta earns money when they do—will determine how much this expansion matters.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Nearly 80% of Google Cloud customers use its AI products, but pricing and incremental revenue remain undisclosed. Summary

Google is turning Gemini into an enterprise operating layer.

Alphabet GOOGL, the search, cloud and AI company, introduced a universal Gemini agent for tackling knowledge work, producing content, running code and directing other agents. Shares edge higher $347.77 at 10.05am EST on Oct. 8. The pitch is straightforward: move Gemini beyond answering questions and into getting work done.

According to Google's announcement, nearly 80% of Cloud customers use its AI products, almost 90% of Fortune 100 companies use Gemini Enterprise, and roughly 500 customers each processed more than one trillion tokens last year. The agent works across Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Slack while carrying context between tasks. That gives Google a route into customers' daily workflows without asking them to replace their existing software.

The valuation graphic puts shares 36.99% above the $253.86 GF Value estimate, leaving a sizable premium for the business to justify. Cross-platform reach could make Gemini stickier, but usage alone does not settle the investment case. The announcement provided no pricing or incremental contract value. Investors need to see those busy agents translate into stronger Cloud revenue and margins.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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The foundry's 50% quarterly growth confirms demand while AMD's accelerator share remains the harder test. Summary

Sector demand is booming; AMD still must capture it.

Advanced Micro Devices AMD, the CPU and AI-accelerator designer, slipped about 1.5% to $636.15 around 10:31 a.m. ET on Thursday, as chip shares retreated despite TSMC's record quarterly revenue. Strong demand for chip production helps the sector's growth story. It does not tell investors how much of that business AMD will capture.

AMD's own numbers give investors more to work with. The company reported second-quarter data-center revenue of $6.7 billion, up 107% from a year earlier and accounting for roughly 58% of total sales. Helios systems are starting to ramp, while the Anthropic agreement targets deployments of up to two gigawatts of MI450-series accelerators. The opportunity is big. Turning those plans into profitable shipments is the next test.

The valuation graphic shows shares trading 119.88% above the $289.32 GF Value estimate, leaving a demanding premium for future growth to justify. That estimate is a benchmark, not a price forecast. Investors need to watch accelerator revenue, customer adoption and cash generation—not simply rising chip demand. AMD must turn its deployment pipeline into earnings fast enough to support the expectations already baked into its shares.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Key Takeaways Citigroup is expected to report Q3'26 revenues of $23.66 billion, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 7.1%.C's NII is expected to rise 11.1% to $16.6 billion, supported by continued loan growth.C targets $2-$2.5 billion in annualized savings by year-end through simplification and productivity gains. Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) is slated to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 13, before market open.

In the first six months of 2026, Citigroup witnessed increases in net interest income (NII) and non-interest revenues. Building on this momentum, the globally diversified financial services holding company is expected to report year-over-year growth in both earnings and revenues for the third quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter revenues is pegged at $23.66 billion, indicating a 7.1% year-over-year increase.

The consensus estimate for earnings for the to-be-reported quarter has been revised downward to $2.66 over the past seven days. The figure indicates 18.8% growth from the prior-year quarter.

Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company also has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 14.68%.

Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Major Factors to Impact Citigroup’s Q3 ResultsNII: In mid-September 2026, the Federal Reserve raised its interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%, citing persistently elevated inflation. This is less likely to have much impact on the company’s NII and margin.

Meanwhile, lending activity remained impressive in the first two months of the third quarter, building on the momentum witnessed in the first half of 2026. Per the Fed’s latest data, commercial and industrial loan growth was healthy during the period, while consumer and real estate lending remained steady. Thus, continued loan growth is expected to have supported Citigroup’s NII by expanding the interest-earning asset base while funding and deposit costs stabilized.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pinned at $16.6 billion, suggesting an 11.1% year-over-year rise.

Fee Income: Following a record-setting first half, global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity slowed during the third quarter as geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties weighed on deal-making. Rising borrowing costs, persistent inflation and valuation gaps also remained headwinds. Despite these challenges, strategic acquirers continued to pursue transactions focused on expanding scale, enhancing operational resilience and strengthening competitive positioning.

The third quarter saw healthy initial public offering (IPO) and equity issuance activity, despite some moderation from strong second-quarter levels. Debt issuance also remained solid, supported by corporate refinancing and continued investor demand. These trends are expected to have supported C’s underwriting revenues, which accounted for nearly 69% of Investment Banking (IB) revenues in the first six months of 2026. Management guided for third-quarter 2026 IB revenues to increase in the low single digits year over year, with some upside depending on deals that closed toward the end of the quarter.

The company also expects third-quarter 2026 trading activity to be healthy, with continued momentum across key trading businesses, particularly in equities, derivatives, financing and foreign exchange. Strength across these businesses is expected to have further supported Citigroup's markets revenues during the quarter. Management expects third-quarter 2026 markets revenues to grow in the mid-single digits from the prior-year period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for markets revenues is $6.1 billion, implying a 9.1% year-over-year rise.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for income from commissions and fees is pinned at $2.9 billion, which indicates a 2.1% year-over-year rise. The consensus estimate for income from principal transactions is pegged at $3.1 billion, suggesting a 10.1% increase year over year. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for administration and other fiduciary fees is $1.2 billion, implying a rise of 5% year over year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total non-interest income for the third quarter of 2026 is pegged at $7.2 billion, suggesting a marginal year-over-year increase.

Expenses: Though Citigroup is focused on lowering expenses through organizational simplification, cost reductions and productivity savings, continued investments in business transformation efforts, technology and controls, along with higher business-related expenses, are likely to have kept the expense base elevated in the third quarter of 2026. In addition, management expects U.S. Consumer Cards expense growth to outpace revenues, limiting near-term margin expansion.

Asset Quality: After setting aside a decent amount for potential loan losses in the first half of 2026, Citigroup is likely to have increased reserve building in the to-be-reported quarter, as the recent Fed rate hike and expectations of another hike later this year could weigh on borrowers’ repayment capacity.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-accrual loans is pegged at $3.72 billion, indicating a rise of 1.1% from the prior-year quarter.

What Our Model Unveils for COur proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for Citigroup this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is exactly the case here, as you can see below.

Citigroup has an Earnings ESP of +0.36%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Citigroup’s Price Performance & ValuationIn the third quarter of 2026, C shares plunged 7.5% compared with the industry’s 2.9% decline. Among its peers, shares of Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) and Wells Fargo (WFC - Free Report) lost 4.5% and 3.2%, respectively, during the same period.

Third-Quarter Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Wells Fargo is scheduled to report its quarterly results on Oct. 13, the same day as Citigroup, while Bank of America is set to announce its results on Oct. 14.

Now, let us look at the value that Citigroup offers investors at the current levels. C is trading at 10.14X forward 12-month earnings, below the industry’s forward price/earnings (P/E) multiple of 12.76X. The company’s valuation looks inexpensive compared with the industry average.

Price-to-Earnings F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Citigroup’s stock is also trading at a discount compared with Bank of America’s P/E of 10.46X and Wells Fargo's P/E of 10.26X.

Investment Thesis for CitigroupCitigroup is making steady progress in streamlining its operations, with its multi-year exit from non-core international consumer banking nearing completion. The sale of its Polish consumer business in June 2026 marked the final international consumer divestiture, apart from the wind-down of its Korean operations and the ongoing Banamex divestiture. The company currently holds a 51% stake in Banamex and expects to complete its deconsolidation in early 2027, potentially followed by an IPO, which could release approximately $5 billion in capital. These efforts are expected to reduce operational complexity, free up capital and enable Citigroup to allocate more resources to its core businesses. As the remaining exits and wind-downs conclude, lower stranded costs and more focused capital allocation are likely to strengthen its ability to generate sustainable returns.

Alongside its business simplification efforts, C remains focused on expense discipline and operational efficiency. It is reducing management layers, expanding spans of control and optimizing its workforce, with headcount declining to 219,000 as of June 30, 2026, from 230,000 a year earlier. These measures resulted in more than $800 million in severance costs during the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, investments in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), combined with process simplification, platform consolidation and increased automation, are expected to enhance long-term productivity.

Collectively, these initiatives are anticipated to generate $2-$2.5 billion in annualized savings by the end of 2026, supporting management's full-year efficiency ratio target. Improving operational efficiency, along with stronger business performance, is expected to support profitability, with management projecting full-year 2026 return on tangible common equity to exceed 11%, above its previous 10-11% target.

Beyond its efficiency initiatives, the company continues to strengthen its core businesses and deepen customer relationships. In August 2026, it agreed to acquire Kard Financial to enhance personalized rewards and merchant-funded offers. The September launch of Citi Commerce Media reinforces this strategy, helping C increase cardholder engagement and expand its commerce ecosystem.

Citigroup's liquidity position also provides room for continued shareholder distributions. Following its successful completion of the 2026 Fed stress test, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 12% to 67 cents per share and continues its $30-billion multiyear share repurchase program.

Parting Thoughts on Citigroup Ahead of Q3 EarningsCitigroup’s progress on business simplification and cost control, along with business expansion efforts, capital returns and an inexpensive valuation, is a positive catalyst. However, elevated restructuring and technology expenses could continue to pressure near-term results.

Therefore, investors may prefer to wait for C’s upcoming third-quarter results before initiating new positions, as the earnings release could provide clearer visibility into cost savings, business growth and profitability. Management’s commentary on credit trends, capital deployment and progress on the remaining divestitures will be particularly important. Still, existing shareholders may consider holding their positions, as continued progress on the transformation could support Citigroup’s long-term earnings and return potential.

Token Fabric uses Spectrum-X while letting data centers mix accelerators, expanding Nvidia's reach but loosening chip exclusivity. Summary

Nvidia can sell networking even when customers diversify processors.

Nvidia NVDA, the AI accelerator and networking giant, faced a fresh test of its ecosystem advantage as Reuters reported that Nvidia-backed Upscale AI launched Token Fabric for data centers running chips from multiple suppliers. Shares fell 0.72% to $234.10 at 9:43 a.m. ET on October 8. The investment question is straightforward: how much can Nvidia earn when customers mix rival processors into their AI infrastructure?

According to Reuters, Token Fabric brings together Upscale networking chips, Nvidia Spectrum-X equipment and software designed to identify bottlenecks across mixed accelerator fleets. The first component is scheduled for this quarter, followed by phased deployment through 2027. Upscale sees potential platform revenue in the low hundreds of millions of dollars next year. That is Upscale's projection, not Nvidia's sales guidance.

Nvidia could collect networking revenue even when another supplier wins the accelerator order. But making competing chips easier to connect could also reduce customers' dependence on an all-Nvidia setup. The GF Score of 95/100 shows strong profitability, growth and financial strength, while the weaker GF Value reading suggests valuation deserves closer scrutiny. The opportunity is real. So is the challenge: turn a more open ecosystem into additional revenue while protecting the GPU business that powers its profits.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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PepsiCo said Thursday it’s raising prices on some chips and drinks after a disappointing third quarter — pivoting from a recent effort to save consumers money — due to soft soda sales and struggles pulling off its turnaround plan. 

Doritos, Ruffles, SunChips and some soda brands will see prices jump in the single-digit percentage range, the company said. Prices on these items will still be lower than they were at the start of the year.

Pepsi said it needs to raise some prices to offset rising costs for fuel, aluminum and agricultural supplies, which have skyrocketed due to the Iran war and tariffs. 

Doritos, Ruffles, SunChips and some soda brands will see prices jump. REUTERS But it’s a notable strategy shift from February, when the company slashed prices on Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos by up to 15% just ahead of the Super Bowl in an attempt to win back inflation-battered consumers.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the lower prices helped bring back some customers, but third-quarter earnings in the North America division were weaker than expected – and its turnaround is taking longer than they had hoped.

Frito-Lay snack food volumes were flat compared to the same period last year, while beverage volumes slipped 2%.

“We don’t feel good about the beverage business,” Laguarta said during a conference call Thursday, admitting the company’s sodas – including its flagship Pepsi brand – had fizzled compared to competitors.

He added that PepsiCo will put “all of the urgency of the business and the focus on improving our performance in soft drinks.”

Pepsi noted challenges including increased competition and rising input costs. Experts have also pointed out that weight-loss drugs and more widely available soda alternatives are factors.

The company plans to cut costs and use the savings to ramp up investments in Poppi, the healthy probiotic soda brand it acquired last year, as well as Mountain Dew and Pepsi.

PepsiCo embarked on a turnaround process last fall after activist investor Elliott Investment Management took a $4 billion stake in the company and demanded it lower its prices. 

It had hiked prices by double-digit percentages for eight quarters in a row through 2022 and 2023, arguing it had to cover rising costs as inflation ran rampant in the wake of the pandemic.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta warned that the company’s drinks business is not doing well. Bloomberg via Getty Images Despite lowering prices this year, the company has been facing sluggish demand for sodas and snacks, as shoppers cut back on non-necessities and rising GLP-1 usage weighs on sales of junk food.

In the third quarter, the company’s best-performing products in North America included snacks with simpler ingredients, including Doritos without artificial colors or flavors, as well as hydration drinks like Gatorade and energy drinks like Celsius. It plans to expand its high-protein offerings to win over weight-loss drug users, since they need to be on high-protein, high-fiber diets.

PepsiCo reported better-than-expected revenue in the third quarter thanks to strength in its international business, which accounts for 41% of company revenue. Its global snack food volumes jumped 4%, helped by World Cup-related demand for Lay’s snacks.

It recorded adjusted earnings per share of $2.34, above Wall Street estimates of $2.29.

The company lowered its annual forecast, now expecting adjusted earnings per share to grow 2.5% to 3.5% – down from a previous estimate of 5% to 7% growth. However, it expects full-year revenue to grow 6%, at the high end of a previous 4% to 6% forecast range.

Shares in PepsiCo jumped 2.6% Thursday.

Identifying the next big AI winners has become increasingly challenging. The theme is maturing, and much of the extraordinary growth across the industry is already reflected in stock prices. However, I think I've identified one company that could be on the verge of a major move higher.

Synopsys ((SNPS - Free Report) ), a leading provider of semiconductor design software and intellectual property, has spent much of the last three years consolidating following an enormous multiyear rally. Concerns over slowing growth, the integration of its massive Ansys acquisition and the potential for AI to disrupt traditional software businesses have weighed on shares.

But the outlook appears to be improving rapidly. A series of major AI partnerships with Amazon and OpenAI, stronger-than-expected long-term financial targets and increasingly bullish analyst revisions have given investors several fresh reasons to reconsider the stock.

And with shares now approaching a major breakout on the quarterly chart, the timing looks particularly interesting.

Let's take a closer look at the recent developments, Synopsys' improving earnings outlook and the technical setup that suggests another substantial rally could be approaching.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AI Partnerships and Stronger Growth TargetsSynopsys has long occupied an important position in the semiconductor industry. Its electronic design automation software helps companies develop increasingly complex chips, while its semiconductor intellectual property allows customers to incorporate proven designs into their own processors.

That makes Synopsys a critical supplier to the AI infrastructure buildout, particularly as hyperscalers invest billions developing their own custom accelerators. And the company's recent Investor Day delivered several important catalysts.

First, Synopsys announced a major agreement with Amazon ((AMZN - Free Report) ), which will use its intellectual property across custom silicon programs including Trainium, Graviton and Nitro. Importantly, the agreement introduces a royalty-based component tied to chip production, potentially allowing Synopsys to participate more directly in its customers' growth.

Separately, Synopsys announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop GPT-Synopsys, a specialized AI model for semiconductor design.

This is an especially interesting development considering the market's concern that AI could disrupt traditional software providers. Rather than being displaced by the technology, Synopsys may be positioned to become one of its beneficiaries.

Management also delivered a stronger-than-expected financial outlook.

Fiscal 2027 revenue is projected at $11.10–$11.20 billion, above the roughly $10.81 billion analysts had expected. Non-GAAP earnings guidance of $19.04–$19.12 per share was also comfortably ahead of the prior consensus near $17.81.

Looking further ahead, management now targets roughly 15% annual revenue growth through fiscal 2030, with operating margins approaching 50% and annual adjusted EPS growth in the mid-20% range.

The company also intends to repurchase approximately $1 billion in shares over the coming months, with a longer-term goal of returning up to 50% of free cash flow to shareholders.

That's a pretty compelling combination of new growth opportunities, improving profitability and shareholder returns.

Synopsys Earnings Estimates Are Moving HigherThe improving fundamental outlook is already showing up in analyst estimates. SNPS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), following a recent upgrade from #2 (Buy), with revisions accelerating after the company's Investor Day.

The most notable changes have come in fiscal 2027, with fresh upgrades hitting in the last week. Over the last 60 days, the consensus earnings estimate has increased 6.1% to $18.26 per share, with five upward revisions and one downward revisions during that period.

And there could be additional upside to those estimates. Management's new fiscal 2027 guidance calls for adjusted EPS of $19.04–$19.12, still comfortably above the current consensus.

The near-term earnings trend has also been encouraging. In its latest quarter, Synopsys reported revenue of $2.48 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.91, beating earnings expectations by approximately 6.5%.

Valuation remains a consideration, with shares trading near 33x current-year earnings and 27.5x next year's estimates. That's certainly not cheap, but with management targeting mid-20% annual earnings growth through fiscal 2030, the premium could be justified if execution remains strong.

And with estimates moving higher, sentiment improving and analysts increasingly bullish on the company's AI opportunities, the fundamental backdrop looks considerably more attractive than it did just a few months ago.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SNPS Stock Approaches a Major Technical BreakoutPerhaps the most compelling part of the setup is the quarterly chart.

Following a massive multiyear advance, Synopsys has spent the last several years consolidating, with shares trading in a broad descending channel since their 2024 peak.

Importantly, the long-term uptrend remains intact, and the recent rally has brought SNPS right back to the upper boundary of that consolidation, following a sharp gap up at the start of this quarter.

The stock is now testing resistance around $510–$520, a breakout above which could signal the beginning of another major leg higher.

These types of multiyear consolidations are particularly interesting when accompanied by improving fundamentals. The stock has spent years digesting its prior advance, while the latest developments suggest the underlying earnings story may be accelerating again.

Of course, the breakout hasn't been confirmed yet, and a rejection at resistance could keep shares trading within the existing range.

But with the Zacks Rank improving, estimates moving higher and several major catalysts now in place, I think the setup looks increasingly constructive.

Image Source: TradingView

Should Investors Buy Synopsys Stock?Synopsys is emerging as an increasingly interesting way to participate in the AI infrastructure boom, particularly as custom semiconductor design becomes more important to the industry's growth.

The Amazon and OpenAI agreements, stronger long-term guidance and accelerating earnings revisions suggest the company may be entering a new phase of growth.

Meanwhile, the quarterly chart offers one of the more compelling technical setups I've come across recently.

Valuation isn't especially cheap, and the Ansys integration remains an execution risk. But with improving fundamentals and shares approaching a major multiyear breakout, SNPS looks like a stock worth watching closely.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP ("SBS"), a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Baidu, Inc. ("Baidu" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: BIDU) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shareholders who purchased shares of BIDU during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointments. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.

CLASS PERIOD: November 18, 2025 to August 17, 2026

DEADLINE: November 13, 2026

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Baidu overstated the ability of its AI business to cover the rapid decline in its legacy marketing business. The Company was likely to suffer a decline in revenue. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Baidu, investors suffered damages.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall or David Schwartz of Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

Join the case to recover your losses

WHY SBS? Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. Bringing together the extensive experience and diverse skillsets of founding partners Brian Schall, Andrew Brown, and David Schwartz, SBS is dedicated to aggressively advocating for every investor.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.             

CONTACT:

Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP
Brian Schall, Esq.,
Andrew Brown, Esq.,
David Schwartz, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
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SOURCE Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP

Key Takeaways Wells Fargo shares fell 1.5% in yesterday's trading session after HUD launched a fair-lending review.Wells Fargo faces a HUD review over allegations that it offered different lending products based on race.WFC has terminated 14 consent orders since 2019, while the Fed lifted its asset cap in June 2025. Shares of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC - Free Report) lost 1.5% in yesterday’s trading session after it was revealed that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is planning to probe the bank’s compliance with fair-lending laws. Per a Yahoo Finance report citing The Wall Street Journal, HUD sent a letter to CEO Charlie Scharf stating that it would investigate the allegations that the company favored Black and other minority homeowners.

The scrutiny stems from a nearly decade-long effort by WFC to address the homeownership gap among Black Americans. In 2017, the bank committed $60 billion in loans to help add at least 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027. It expanded the initiative in 2022 by offering to refinance minority-owned homes using its own funds. According to the report, by late 2023, the bank had fulfilled about 40% of its original lending commitment and helped refinance roughly 5,100 customers.

The review centers on Wells Fargo’s lending practices, with HUD alleging that the bank adopted a strategy of “sorting” homeowners and offering different products or terms based on race. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said that the agency plans to conduct a full review of WFC’s statements and practices. The review also covers similar initiatives at other banks, reflecting the Trump administration’s broader focus on corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and lending practices.

The latest investigation comes after WFC made considerable progress in resolving its longstanding regulatory issues. Since 2019, the bank has terminated 14 consent orders, while the Federal Reserve lifted its nearly seven-year asset cap in June 2025 and closed its 2018 enforcement action related to governance and risk management in March 2026. Reflecting these improvements, last month, S&P Global Ratings upgraded the company’s long-term issuer credit rating to “A-” from “BBB+” with a stable outlook, citing stronger risk management, culture and oversight, improved profitability and deeper client relationships.

The HUD review adds regulatory scrutiny for Wells Fargo at a time when the bank is focusing on business growth and improving profitability. A finding of unlawful differences in lending products could lead to additional compliance requirements and reputational pressure. For investors, WFC’s response and continued progress in profitability, regulatory remediation and client relationships will remain key areas to watch.

Wells Fargo’s Price Performance & Zacks RankWFC shares have lost 6.6% in the past six months against the industry’s growth of 4.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Recent Regulatory Matters at Other FirmsUnlike WFC, which is facing a fresh HUD review over its lending initiatives, other firms, such as Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC - Free Report) and Franklin Templeton (BEN - Free Report) , have resolved regulatory and legal matters involving their lending and investment-management practices.

In September 2026, Credit Acceptance reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General and 40 other state attorneys general over its subprime auto-lending practices. Under the agreement, Credit Acceptance will provide more than $630 million in debt relief to over 55,000 consumers, contribute $60 million to a relief fund and pay $15.5 million to the states, without admitting wrongdoing.

In June 2026, Franklin agreed to pay a $100 million civil penalty to settle SEC charges against its subsidiary, Western Asset Management Company, related to alleged trade-allocation misconduct by its former co-chief investment officer. The settlement also concluded Franklin’s related investigations by the SEC and the Department of Justice.