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Universal has announced the expansion of its dollar-backed USDU stablecoin to Solana, extending its UAE-regulated issuance framework and 1:1 reserve backing to another blockchain for institutional settlement.

Summary

USDU’s Solana integration will support transfers, digital asset settlement, and institutional treasury management.
Universal says dollar reserves back USDU 1:1, with independent attestations published each month.
Aquanow will provide distribution and institutional access across supported markets.
USDU’s UAE registration permits digital asset payments but excludes general mainland domestic payments.

Universal said in its announcement that eligible participants will be able to hold and transfer USDU on Solana, using the network for dollar-denominated transactions around the clock. The issuer identified digital asset settlement and treasury management among the intended uses, alongside other on-chain financial activities.

Under the terms described by Universal, access remains focused on professional and institutional participants in the UAE and permitted international markets. The company said Aquanow, its global distributor, will connect eligible participants with the stablecoin through its institutional distribution infrastructure.

USDU’s Solana expansion targets institutional settlement
Through the integration, Universal said USDU will become available across additional wallets, platforms and financial applications that support Solana. The company described the network’s transaction speed, low costs, and continuous operation as reasons for extending the stablecoin to the blockchain.

Juha Viitala, Universal’s senior executive officer, tied the expansion to institutional access to digital dollars.

“Expanding USDU to Solana brings the reach of regulated, USD-denominated liquidity to one of the most active environments for on-chain payments and financial applications.”

In the same statement, Viitala said the combination of USDU’s UAE regulatory framework and Solana’s infrastructure would give eligible institutions flexibility in how they “access, move and deploy digital dollars on-chain.”

For distribution, Universal said Aquanow will handle connections with institutions and professional participants across supported markets. Aquanow describes its customers and partners as banks, neobanks, brokerages and payment companies, with regional teams operating across North America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

According to the announcement, Aquanow’s UAE business operates through Aquanow ME FZE, which is regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Its licensed activities include broker-dealer services, lending and borrowing, and management and investment services.

UAE authorization limits USDU to specified payment uses
Universal said USDU is the first dollar-backed stablecoin registered with the Central Bank of the UAE as a Foreign Payment Token. The company identifies that registration as the basis for its permitted use in digital asset-related payments within the country.

For UAE transactions, Universal’s disclosures state that USDU may be used to purchase digital assets and digital asset derivatives. The issuer expressly excludes general payment purposes in mainland UAE, including domestic payments.

Within Abu Dhabi Global Market, Universal Digital Intl Limited is separately regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority to issue a Fiat-Referenced Token to Professional Clients only, according to the company’s regulatory disclosures.

On reserve backing, Universal said it holds one dollar in reserves for each USDU token. The issuer also said independent attestations are published monthly, allowing participants to review reports covering the reserves.

USDU already has a connection to dirham-denominated settlement. In a May 7 report, crypto.news covered a regulated stablecoin conversion framework linking USDU with the dirham-backed AE Coin, supported by Al Maryah Community Bank. The companies described the arrangement as infrastructure for institutional settlement, liquidity management, treasury operations, and cross-border transactions.

For that conversion service, the companies identified Aquanow and Changer.ae as the initial access providers. They also said future integrations could support trade finance and multi-currency settlement, presenting those services as potential extensions rather than completed launches.

Bitcoin.com previously added an Ethereum access route
Before the Solana announcement, Bitcoin.com outlined plans to add USDU wallet support on Aug. 19. The agreement covered its web and mobile self-custodial wallet, with USDU supported as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum.

According to Bitcoin.com, users would be able to hold, send, and receive the token while retaining control of their private keys. The company said availability would depend on local rules, with additional services relying on integrations from outside providers.

Beyond storage and transfers, Bitcoin.com said it planned to accept USDU for designated services and work toward payments between users and merchants across its products. Swaps and fiat purchase and sale functions were expected to follow when third-party providers supported the stablecoin.

The wallet announcement also included educational material explaining fiat-backed stablecoins, reserve attestations and regulated issuance. Bitcoin.com said users would receive that information through its Learn-to-Earn content and a dedicated stablecoin education series.

Solana payment products already serve business and remittance users
For U.S. business payments, Ramp described a separate Solana-based service in July that lets companies fund overseas stablecoin transfers from dollar bank accounts. Its Solana-powered stablecoin accounts, reported on July 22, support USDC and USDT rather than USDU.

Through Ramp Bill Pay, the company said customers could fund payments from a U.S. dollar bank account or Ramp Checking, with the money converted into USDC or USDT before delivery to a recipient’s wallet. Stablecoin balances sit alongside cash accounts and use existing approval policies and accounting integrations, according to Ramp.

The company said its service supported vendor payments in more than 140 countries and fiat payouts in over 40 local currencies. Ramp also reported that more than 1,000 businesses used stablecoins for vendor payments, with over 70% of their payment volume occurring outside traditional banking hours.

In consumer remittances, Western Union and Rain launched the Stablecard wallet on Aug. 4 across 37 markets, according to an Aug. 5 report. The product uses Western Union’s USDPT stablecoin, issued on Solana by Anchorage Digital Bank and redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars.

According to Western Union, customers can receive eligible remittances into Stablecard, transfer USDPT from compatible wallets or exchanges, and spend through Visa merchants or withdraw through ATMs. Rain built the application, embedded wallet, and card infrastructure, while the product’s disclosures state that ATM charges, foreign exchange costs, and other fees may apply.

Key Takeaways MFC's Global WAM net inflows fell to C$0.4 billion in Q2 2026 from C$0.9 billion a year earlier. Retail net outflows narrowed to C$1.4 billion, while retirement net outflows reached C$4.9 billion. Core earnings rose 9%, and the core EBITDA margin expanded 110 basis points to 31.2%, boosting profitability. Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC - Free Report) has opportunities to improve Global Wealth and Asset Management (Global WAM) growth and sustain positive net flows. Global WAM benefits from recurring fee income, a diversified investment platform and acquisitions that expand its capabilities.

In the second quarter of 2026, Global WAM generated net inflows of C$0.4 billion, down from C$0.9 billion in the year-earlier quarter. Institutional asset management benefited from contributions from CQS and Comvest and record gross flows, supporting its ability to attract assets from institutional clients.

Retail wealth remains another important area to watch. Retail net outflows narrowed to C$1.4 billion in the second quarter from C$3.2 billion a year earlier, reflecting improved flows in mainland China, the United States and Canada. Expanding ETF-based investment solutions and strengthening digital wealth capabilities could help Manulife attract new clients and retain existing assets.

Retirement flows represent a more significant challenge. The business recorded C$4.9 billion in net outflows in the second quarter compared with C$2 billion in net inflows in the prior-year quarter, reflecting higher plan redemptions and member withdrawals. These outflows can offset gains elsewhere in Global WAM and constrain the growth of assets generating recurring management fees. Better retention would help stabilize the asset base and make fee income more predictable.

Profitability, meanwhile, offers a source of support. Global WAM's core earnings increased 9% year over year, while its core EBITDA margin expanded 110 basis points to 31.2%, aided by higher average assets under management and administration (AUMA) and contributions from acquisitions.

Overall, MFC has several avenues to improve Global WAM growth, but sustaining positive net flows will require more consistent performance across institutional, retail and retirement businesses.

What About Its Peers?Sun Life Financial Inc.'s (SLF - Free Report) diversified asset-management businesses, including MFS Investment Management and SLC Management, provide opportunities to attract institutional and retail assets and generate recurring fee income. However, market fluctuations may affect investment performance and the value of client assets, while competitive pricing pressures could constrain margins. Sun Life's ability to sustain positive net flows will depend on investment performance, distribution strength, client retention and its capacity to attract new institutional mandates.

Prudential Financial, Inc.’s (PRU - Free Report) asset-management arm, PGIM, can support growth through demand for fixed-income strategies, alternative investments and institutional investment solutions, while recurring management fees provide a source of relatively stable revenue. However, outflows from certain investment strategies, shifts in client asset allocations and competition from lower-cost passive products could constrain assets under management and fee income. To sustain growth, Prudential will need to strengthen institutional and retail distribution, deliver competitive investment returns and attract new client assets to offset withdrawals.

MFC’s Price PerformanceShares of MFC have gained 33.5% in the past year, outperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MFC’s OvervaluationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 12.94, higher than the industry average of 10.53. It carries a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for MFCThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for MFC’s third-quarter and fourth-quarter 2026 EPS has moved up 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively, in the past 60 days. The same for full-year 2026 EPS has moved down 0.9%, and 2027 EPS has moved up 4.3% in the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Takeaways OKLO's Groves-1 reactor got DOE startup authorization in July 2026 and achieved first criticality in August.OKLO completed substantial construction in 229 days, gaining experience to streamline future isotope projects.OKLO secured ytterbium-176 for cancer-treatment isotopes, while its Idaho lab may generate earlier revenues.
Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) is advancing its plans to establish a domestic isotope supply chain through its Groves-1 Isotope Test Reactor in Texas. The facility is designed to support the development of isotopes used in cancer treatments, manufacturing, scientific research and national security. The project has already cleared important regulatory and operational milestones, including startup authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) on July 23, 2026, and first criticality on Aug. 5, 2026.

OKLO developed Groves on privately owned land using private funding and commercially sourced equipment, alongside components manufactured by the company. The facility reached first criticality in just over 11 months from groundbreaking, with substantial construction completed in 229 days. The project provided experience in reactor construction, equipment installation, regulatory reviews and nuclear operations. Management plans to apply these lessons to future isotope facilities, potentially improving project execution and shortening development timelines.

OKLO is also strengthening its isotope supply chain. In September 2026, the company received two grams of enriched ytterbium-176, which can be converted into lutetium-177 through reactor irradiation. Lutetium-177 is used in targeted cancer treatments. Securing this material supports the company's efforts to develop domestic production capabilities and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.

From an investment perspective, Groves gives OKLO practical operating experience to support its isotope business expansion. Management expects research-scale isotope production after further commissioning, while its NRC-licensed Idaho laboratory may generate earlier commercial revenues. Although commercial-scale production remains under development, these initiatives provide opportunities to expand OKLO's business beyond nuclear power generation.

The growing demand for reliable, carbon-free electricity is encouraging greater investment in advanced nuclear technologies. Alongside isotope production, the development of smaller nuclear reactors is creating opportunities to serve utilities, industrial customers and data centers.

Advanced Nuclear Reactor Developers Eye Growth OpportunitiesNuScale Power (SMR - Free Report) is among the leading developers of small modular reactor technology and is the first company to receive U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for a design. NuScale Power is working with partners on projects in the United States and overseas, including Romania, while advancing plans to support large-scale power deployment. NuScale Power believes its modular reactors can deliver reliable, carbon-free electricity for utilities, industries and AI-driven data centers, keeping NuScale Power at the forefront of the commercial small modular reactor market.

NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) is focused on smaller microreactors through its KRONOS MMR design. The company is preparing to begin the NRC licensing process for its first deployment at the University of Illinois after its construction permit application is formally accepted. At the same time, NANO Nuclear is pursuing opportunities in AI data centers, industrial facilities and defense applications while expanding partnerships that could support future commercialization.

The Zacks Rundown on OKLOShares of Oklo have lost more than 80% over the past year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

OKLO currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.92 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 24 brokerage firms. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

3 min read

Stacks token rally. (CoinDesk)Summary

This is an excerpt from CoinDesk newsletter 'Daybook.' Sign up here, if you haven't already.

While major cryptocurrencies remain choppy, STX, the native token of the Bitcoin layer-2 project Stacks, is rallying. The cryptocurrency has surged nearly 10% in 24 hours, 14% over the past week and more than 50% in four weeks, outperforming bitcoin BTC$83,473.49, ether ETH$2,515.18, XRP (XRP) and other cryptocurrencies.

The outperformance likely reflects investor interest in Stacks’ non-custodial bitcoin staking architecture. This framework lets BTC holders stake and earn yield directly on the main Bitcoin blockchain while retaining strict control of their private keys. In contrast, traditional frameworks require users to wrap their assets into synthetic tokens (like wBTC) or move funds over cross-chain bridges to earn additional yield.

Stacks’ framework relies on a mechanism called "bonding," which requires participants to lock up assets to secure the network. The "Bonding Period 3,” due in November, requires participants holding native STX to lock a specific ratio of STX alongside their BTC — equivalent to roughly 5% of the total value of their BTC — to successfully secure protocol stacking capacity.

This creates a positive feedback loop for STX: As more BTC moves into the Stacks ecosystem, a larger portion of STX is systematically locked up and removed from the active market. By tying bitcoin liquidity directly to STX scarcity, the architecture skews demand-supply dynamics heavily in favor of long-term price appreciation.

Period 3 follows Periods 1 and 2, which served as preparatory phases to safely transition signers and bootstrap initial liquidity.

STX is not the only coin to have surged over 24 hours. BDX, REDNER, and PYTH are other major gainers, adding 6% each. It’s a sign of liquidity increasingly pivoting to coins other than the major cryptocurrencies.

Still, the broader context remains tightly bound to macroeconomic indicators. Analysts are getting ready for Wednesday’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which could heavily influence expectations for upcoming Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today's activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today . For a comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead."

What’s trendingLedger says 'spy' chip inside CryptoBilis Ledger devices transmitted wallet keys over mobile network (CoinDesk): Covert hardware implanted in some Ledger crypto wallet devices read users’ 24-word recovery phrases and sent them to an attacker over a mobile phone network.Global semiconductor stocks sell-off over AI boom worries pulls Asian shares lower (AP): Global shares were mixed, but a selloff in chipmaker shares pulled Asian shares lower, with South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index falling more than 5%. U.S. futures edged higher, and oil prices fell.Bitcoin whale that sat through the March 2020 crash moves $378 million (CoinDesk): A bitcoin whale who received their coins days before the Covid crash of March 2020 and sat through it has moved $377.6 million worth of BTC.U.S. Treasury yields fall as energy prices pull back (CNB): Bond yields fell after energy prices dropped in early trading as investors looked ahead to key economic data releases this week.Today’s signalEther's daily chart. (TradingView)The chart shows ether’s daily price swings in candlestick format.

The second-largest crypto by market value has fallen back into its established yellow consolidation rectangle. It is currently clinging tightly to that range.

If prices break past the upper end of the consolidation, the market may revisit the recent high of $2,800. If the dual support of $2,400 — the lower end of the consolidation and the bullish channel — gives way, then it would mean an end to the rally from the July lows.

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The late September surge for Quant [QNT] has been followed by an ongoing battle between decreasing purchasing power and aggressive seller activity.

The price rose from under $100, reaching a high of $373.66 before it was sharply rejected due to traders locking in profits.

After reaching $325, buyers were unable to recover their peak high, creating a new low high. This simply indicated diminishing demand. Since the 2nd of October, selling activity has slowly forced the price down into the $215-$220 area of support.

As of writing, the token had declined by 6% in the last 24 hours, trading at $219.34. This was an over 72% decline from the September high.

QNT’s current downward trend is becoming increasingly concerning. Each time the market rebounds, volume appears to decrease. Hence, if the price repeatedly touches its support areas, it will exhaust all potential buy order levels.

Source: TradingView
A four-hour close below $215 could trigger stop-loss selling toward $160–$180, threatening to erase much of the breakout’s remaining gains. However, a strong recovery above $225 after briefly dipping below support would suggest buyers are absorbing supply.

That could open a relief rally toward $250–$255. Until then, QNT remains vulnerable to a deeper correction.

QNT Open Interest falls as leverage unwinds
QNT’s rally was fueled by a surge in derivatives exposure. However, falling Open Interest (OI) now signals an ongoing market reset. From July through September 23, open interest remained near $11–$15 million as the price traded around the $60–$70 zone.

Source: CoinGlass
However, after the price broke out of this range and rose towards $373.66, the OI also moved up to $190 million.

Despite the downward trend, price and derivatives exposure remained high near $180-$190 million through mid-October, causing liquidation risk due to the trader’s position size.

Since the 2nd of October, OI has declined toward $120 million as QNT fell toward $225.81. This indicates that there are no massive additions to OI but rather liquidation of existing long positions.

Furthermore, the Funding Rates have shown a trend of repeated dips below zero and even reached a record low of -0.27% on the 4th of October prior to returning to neutral.

Source: CoinGlass
This combination suggests traders are closing positions rather than adding fresh exposure, weakening the case for an immediate recovery.

These movements indicate increased aggressive short selling activity within the futures contracts. However, funding  rates cannot be used independently to determine market direction.

Looking forward, should QNT fail to hold above $215, additional closes may drive prices down to $196 or lower.

Conversely, rising prices alongside expanding open interest would provide stronger evidence of renewed conviction and a potential recovery.

Final Summary

Quant [QNT] faces further downside if selling pressure breaks $215 support.

QNT open interest drops from $190 million to $120 million as leverage unwinds.

Memecoins and Web3 have often been considered two separate worlds.

While Web3 projects are usually focused on building the utility blockchain ecosystem around a particular idea, memecoins like FLOKI rarely get this kind of attention. FLOKI’s sister project TokenFi, however, seems to be challenging this narrative with the release of Shield AI, an AI tool designed to scan smart contracts for potential bugs and security risks prior to launch.

In a X post, FLOKI’s developers described the project as part of “building the future of Web3.” The development of it is a sign that memecoin projects are beginning to look past their role as speculative assets and move into the realm of actual applications, like the use of AI for smart contract security.

Source: X
That said, how does AI integration exactly work in memecoin space? TokenFi unveiled that on X, describing how the adoption of Shield AI would bring the FLOKI ecosystem one step closer to its broader Web3 vision.

Smart contract bugs can be expensive to fix if not discovered before launch. TokenFi Shield helps developers with its AI-based vulnerability discovery tool that identifies potential issues so they can be fixed before launch. This increases the security of a project but should not be considered an alternative to a professional smart contract audit.

In short, the projects within the FLOKI ecosystem can utilize the power of AI for smart contract vulnerabilities to prevent such issues in the future, thus ensuring the safety of their users and potentially saving millions in losses. Naturally, the question becomes: Could this put FLOKI at the forefront of AI-driven Web3 innovation?

Can AI-integration strengthen FLOKI’s Web3 ambitions?
Floki [FLOKI] is rapidly transforming from a memecoin to a comprehensive crypto ecosystem. 

For context, the main projects of the token are Valhalla, the blockchain-based NFT game, FlokiFi, the DeFi platform, and TokenFi, the tokenization utility. Apart from NFTs and DeFi, FLOKI also provides crypto trading services, staking, and Web3 technology to build an entire crypto experience around the token.

That makes Shield AI the latest addition to this line-up. But what does that mean for this ecosystem? As can be seen in the graph below, FLOKI’s smart contract transaction count fell from 80.4k in Q4 2024 to 26k in Q3 2026. This metric shows the number of transactions made with FLOKI’s smart contracts to perform on-chain operations. Thus, the drop in the transaction count indicates a decrease in the activity of these contracts.

Source: Token Terminal
Against this backdrop, Shield AI could be a key step for FLOKI.

With Shield AI, TokenFi seeks to improve smart contract safety by identifying possible vulnerabilities ahead of time. But whether it will gain much traction is another matter. If it does take off and developers adopt it to build within the FLOKI ecosystem, it will likely propel the token to greater adoption on-chain and expand its capabilities beyond just a memecoin.

Still, the move suggests that FLOKI is expanding its Web3 ecosystem. So, if it drives increased developer activity and on-chain engagement, it could help FLOKI gain a stronger foothold in the Web3 space.

Final Summary

Shield AI helps detect smart contract risks before launch.

More developer adoption could boost the memecoin’s on-chain activity.

Apple (AAPL +1.07%)'s stock has been surging more than 30% in the past six months. It's been on a tear, as there's plenty of optimism of late surrounding the company and its new CEO, John Ternus.

However, with a heightened valuation also come high expectations. And that could potentially be problematic for Apple, as according to a recent report, it may be reducing production of its latest iPhone models due to low demand. Could the tech stock be due for a pullback before the end of 2026?

Image source: Getty Images.

Demand for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max doesn’t appear to be strongAccording to Nikkei Asia, demand hasn't been strong out of the gate for Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, to the point that the company is telling its suppliers to reduce production of components related to them. Higher prices may be impacting demand, although customers may also be holding off on making a purchase until Apple's foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, comes out later this month.

There may inevitably be multiple factors that are at play here, and this doesn't guarantee that Apple's iPhone sales will be weak across all of its models. But at the same time, investors shouldn't ignore the risk that perhaps higher prices may be impacting demand this time around. Apple has had to raise prices to offset higher memory costs. And while a foldable phone may be new and exciting for Apple customers, with it starting at $1,999, it's certainly not cheap, and it'll be a big test to see how strong the demand is at such a price point.

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Apple's stock may be vulnerable to a correctionNext month, Apple will report its latest quarterly earnings numbers, and investors will have much more clarity on how strong demand is for the company's latest iPhones. It may not be easy to please Wall Street, however, as the stock is trading at more than 39 times its trailing earnings, which is a significant premium for a company that hasn't always been growing at a fast pace in recent years.

If iPhone sales come in light or there are even hints that demand may not be robust, the stock could experience a significant decline, given how expensive it is right now. While investing in the tech company is normally a good move for the long term, investors shouldn't ignore its valuation, as buying Apple stock at its current inflated levels could make it difficult to generate a strong return.

Amazon's (AMZN +0.45%) fall sales event came and went last week. There could be one lingering Prime Big Deal Days opportunity worth exploring: Amazon stock itself.

Shares of the leading online retailer have declined 10% since peaking two months ago. Concerns about Amazon's surging capital expenditures in support of AI and a rotation out of consumer tech stocks have weighed on the bellwether's momentum. The downticks aren't a problem. They're an opportunity.

Image source: Getty Images.

It's time to go shopping
Amazon stock is slightly lagging the market in 2026, somewhat surprising given where it's at right now. The 20% in net sales it reported for its latest quarter was its strongest year-over-year jump since 2021. Amazon Web Services (AWS) -- its web-hosting business that is now accounting for a fifth of Amazon's revenue but three-fifths of its operating profit -- has been the key driver. That segment's revenue surged 37% in the second quarter, fueled by the AI boom.

It's not the only business that's accelerating at Amazon. The e-commerce business that put Amazon on the map three decades ago saw its North American sales rise 16% in its latest quarter. The bottom line is growing faster.

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It's hard not to like Amazon after its recent pullback. Yes, it's spending a lot of money on AI. It also happens to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the revolution, given AWS' growth. The early success of its own AI-powered conversational shopping assistant -- Rufus -- is also helping on the e-commerce end in a win-win way.

Paying less than 25 times next year's earnings isn't cheap for most stocks, but it's a bargain for Amazon. It has a strong moat in online retailing. AWS is a fast-growing cash cow. Amazon deserves a market premium. Today, you can ironically buy that premium at a discount. That's a sale. That's a Prime Big Deal Days sale that may not last long.

Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Boeing (BA.N) said on Tuesday that it delivered 57 jets in September, up from 51 in August and ​55 a year earlier as it works to ramp ‌up production of its best-selling 737 MAX narrow-body. It was the planemaker's highest monthly total so far this year.

Turkish Airlines' order for 100 737 MAX ​jets boosted Boeing's September total of new orders to 165.

The ​US planemaker still trailed European rival Airbus' 72 deliveries in ⁠September, but Boeing far outsold its rival, which booked only ​17 new orders from two customers last month.

Boeing's September deliveries included ​43 737 MAX jets, eight 787s, two 777 freighters and four 767s, including three for Boeing's defense unit for completion as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers.

The ​higher deliveries come as Boeing works to consistently increase 737 MAX ​output to 47 jets a month, which has taken longer than expected, Boeing CEO ‌Kelly ⁠Ortberg said during an investor conference in September.

Through September, Boeing has delivered 475 jets this year, up 8% from a year earlier. That includes 363 737 MAX jets, the most the MAX ​program has ever ​delivered in the ⁠first nine months of a year.

In addition to Turkish Airlines' order, Boeing booked orders for 20 ​737 MAX jets for Lufthansa, six 737 MAX ​and five ⁠787 jets for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and eight 777-8 freighters and two 777 freighters for Ethiopian Airlines. Another six 737 MAX and ⁠18 ​787 orders came from unidentified customers.

Boeing ended ​September with an official backlog of 6,371 jets, up from 6,156 at the end ​of August.

Key Takeaways NVIDIA has begun Vera Rubin production, targeting 10 times Grace Blackwell's agent throughput at scale.NVDA expects Vera Rubin to contribute about 20% of Data Center revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2027.Major cloud providers are preparing deployments, but supply bottlenecks may persist through fiscal 2028.
NVIDIA Corporation’s (NVDA - Free Report) Vera Rubin platform could extend its lead in the artificial intelligence (AI) market by delivering greater computing performance and efficiency for increasingly complex AI workloads. Production of this next-generation platform has started, giving NVIDIA another opportunity to strengthen its position as businesses expand AI infrastructure.

The platform combines Rubin GPUs (graphics processing units), Vera CPUs (Central Processing Units), networking, storage and other components into integrated systems designed for large-scale AI factories. NVIDIA claims Vera Rubin can deliver 10 times the agent throughput of its previous Grace Blackwell platform at scale. Its production network spans more than 350 factories across 30 countries.

The growth opportunity is substantial. In the second quarter of fiscal 2027, NVIDIA’s revenues increased 106% year over year to $96.2 billion, while Data Center revenues climbed 117% to $89 billion. Management expects third-quarter revenues of $108 billion, plus or minus 2%, and anticipates Vera Rubin will contribute about 20% of Data Center revenues in the quarter.

Major cloud providers, including CoreWeave, Alphabet, Microsoft, Oracle and Nebius, are preparing to deploy the platform. These partnerships could help NVIDIA capture demand for AI agents that perform multi-step tasks, increasing the need for computing power.

Vera Rubin strengthens NVIDIA’s growth outlook. However, supply constraints could limit its ability to meet demand, while rising memory costs could pressure margins. Management expects supply to remain a bottleneck through at least fiscal 2028.

NVIDIA’s Rivals Advance Their AI Chip PlatformsAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) is challenging NVIDIA with its Instinct GPUs and Helios rack-scale systems. AMD’s second-quarter 2026 revenues rose 50% year over year to $11.54 billion, while Data Center sales jumped 107% to $6.72 billion.

Advanced Micro Devices also plans to supply up to 2 gigawatts of MI450 GPUs to Anthropic, with the first deployment expected in the first half of 2027. This could make AMD a stronger alternative as customers seek more AI computing capacity.

Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is also expanding its data-center business. Its second-quarter 2026 revenues rose 25% year over year to $16.13 billion, supported by demand for its processor products.

Intel is investing in its CPU, advanced packaging and manufacturing capabilities to capture more AI infrastructure spending. However, NVIDIA’s integrated GPU systems, networking and software ecosystem remain important advantages.

Advanced Micro Devices’ upcoming MI450 platform and Intel’s processor business offer customers more choices. Still, NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin ramp could help it maintain its lead if it delivers the promised performance and scales production smoothly.

NVIDIA’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of NVIDIA have risen around 21.3% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s gain of 23.4%.

NVIDIA YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, NVDA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 16.60, below the sector’s average of 20.93.

NVIDIA Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVIDIA’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 93.9% and 68%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2027 and 2028 have been revised upward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Amazon is reportedly closing in on a $7 billion deal for a startup with barely 100 employees and no disclosed revenue, and the real prize has nothing to do with the flashy video models everyone is talking about.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction) is reported to be in talks to pay around $7 billion for Decart, a company with about 100 employees and no disclosed revenue. The talks were reported on October 11, 2026, and no deal had been announced as of October 12, 2026. Amazon and Decart both declined to comment, and the deal could still fall apart or draw another bidder.

Amazon shares closed at $259.53 on October 12, a session move of -1.11%, so the market did not treat the reported talks as an obvious win. The price only makes sense if you value Decart as a way to move AI developers off Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) software, which is worth far more to Amazon than its video models.

Two Businesses Inside One Small Startup Decart’s visible business is real-time generative video. Its Oasis model generates interactive worlds, and Lucy edits live video as it plays.

The second business is the Decart Optimization Stack. It is software that makes AI models run faster and cheaper on Nvidia GPUs, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) TPUs, and Amazon’s Trainium chips without rebuilding the model for each chip. That’s what Amazon would most likely pay for if the talks lead to a deal.

Nvidia’s CUDA software, the programming layer most AI models are written and tuned for, is the main reason developers stay on Nvidia hardware, and Amazon has built Trainium for years, but getting customers to port their models has proven harder than building the chip.

Amazon became a Decart strategic customer in May 2026. Chief executive Dean Leitersdorf has said Trainium3 runs Decart’s models at half the cost of GPUs, a claim the company made about its own results.

A Small Price for a $2.80 Trillion Company Against Amazon’s $2.80 trillion market value, the reported price is small. Amazon spent $54.2 billion on capital expenditures (data centers and equipment) in the second quarter of 2026 alone.

Its chips business passed a $25 billion annualized revenue run rate that quarter. If Decart’s software could shift even a small share of AI workloads onto Trainium, the saved Nvidia margin could cover the reported price.

A Rival Looked at Decart and Walked Away Anthropic reportedly considered a Decart deal at about $6 billion in August and walked away after due diligence in September. A sophisticated buyer passed at a lower price than the one now being discussed, for reasons that went unreported.

Decart has not disclosed revenue, and the only outside estimate puts it at several tens of millions of dollars. That would make the reported price a very high multiple of Decart’s sales.

The reported figure is about 75% higher than the May 2026 round, which raised $300 million led by Radical Ventures. An earlier round valued Decart at $3.1 billion.

Nvidia is also a Decart investor, which complicates the idea that a deal would be a move against Nvidia, and nothing reported explains how the price splits between video and optimization, as there has been no announcement, no disclosed terms, and no regulatory filing.

What the Decart Talks Mean for Amazon’s Investment Case The Decart talks change little about Amazon’s investment case. That case rests on AWS revenue of $42.2 billion, up 36.7% year over year in the second quarter, plus a backlog of $496 billion.

The stock trades at a forward P/E of 24x. The average analyst target of $331.53 stands well above the October 12 close, which suggests analysts expect AWS growth to have the shares regardless of Decart.

If the talks produce a deal, Decart would give Trainium useful software support. If they collapse, Amazon would still have its existing customer relationship with Decart, so the downside for shareholders looks limited.

Watch whether Amazon announces a signed agreement before its next earnings report and whether it discloses Trainium adoption figures on that call. No deal and no new Trainium customers would weaken the case that Trainium can compete with Nvidia.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Does Lemonade’s Growth Signal Profits Ahead?Procter & Gamble NYSE: PG shareholders elected all 12 director nominees and approved the company’s auditor appointment and executive compensation plan at the company’s 2026 annual meeting, while rejecting three shareholder proposals.

Shailesh Jejurikar, P&G’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said the company delivered organic sales and core earnings-per-share growth within its initial guidance ranges despite what he described as a volatile geopolitical, macroeconomic and consumer environment.

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The September Scramble: Find Sanctuary in These 3 Defensive Dividend StocksFor the fiscal year, P&G reported organic sales growth of more than 1% and 1% growth in core earnings per share. On a currency-neutral basis, core EPS was in line with the prior year. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 100%, Jejurikar said.

The company said top-line performance improved sequentially, with organic sales growth moving from one point in the first half of the year to two points in the second half. Nine of 10 product categories and all geographic regions held or increased organic sales during the year, while aggregate global value and volume share trends improved in the second half and exited the year roughly flat.

These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross PatternP&G returned more than $15 billion to shareholders during the fiscal year, including more than $10 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases, Jejurikar said. The company increased its dividend 3%, marking its 70th consecutive annual dividend increase and its 136th consecutive year of dividend payments.

Dividend Declaration and Voting Results The board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.0885 per share, payable on or after Nov. 16, 2026, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 23, 2026. Preferred shareholders of record at the start of business on Oct. 23 will also receive the dividend.

Shareholders approved the election of directors, ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as P&G’s independent registered public accounting firm, and approved the company’s advisory “Say on Pay” vote on executive compensation.

Three shareholder proposals failed:

A proposal from The Accountability Board seeking to lower the ownership threshold for shareholders to call a special meeting to 15% from 25%. A National Legal and Policy Center proposal seeking a policy to maintain existing eligibility thresholds for shareholders submitting proposals, regardless of potential regulatory changes. A Bahnsen Family Trust proposal requesting annual reporting on charitable contributions. P&G’s board had recommended votes against each shareholder proposal. Susan Whaley, P&G’s chief legal officer and secretary, said final voting results would be reported in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Strategy, Innovation and Portfolio Expansion Jejurikar said P&G does not view its recent relative performance as requiring a change in its core strategy. Instead, he said the company is adapting its execution to respond to media fragmentation, changes in the retail landscape and the cumulative impact of inflation.

The company identified four execution interventions: building a deeper consumer-first mindset, transforming brand-building to reduce the path from awareness to purchase, developing holistic retailer partnerships, and pursuing a “stronger core and bigger more” approach to brands and innovation.

Jejurikar cited North American laundry as an example, saying P&G upgraded Tide product lines while launching Tide evo detergent tiles and continuing innovation on Downy Unstopables beads. He said the company is also using connected consumer data to generate insights and accelerate technology development.

Chief Financial Officer Andre Schulten said P&G does not currently foresee a stock split. He said fractional-share investing has made P&G shares accessible at a range of prices, while a stock split would not change the company’s fundamental value and could add administrative costs.

Jejurikar also discussed P&G’s recent acquisition of Thorne, describing the performance and wellness brand as a strategic opportunity in beauty and health. He said Thorne has a loyal consumer base, a portfolio of vitamins, minerals and supplements, healthcare-professional endorsements, attractive margins and a strong top-line growth profile.

Tariffs, Manufacturing and Sustainability Jejurikar said the net impact of tariffs in fiscal 2026 was a $250 million pretax cost, included within a $1.2 billion commodity, foreign-exchange and interest headwind. He said the situation involving Canadian tariffs continued to evolve and that the company would provide more detail during its earnings call later in the month.

The CEO said more than 85% of products P&G sells in the U.S. are made in the U.S. Manufacturing locations are selected based on proximity to consumers and customers, raw-material availability, capacity and cost, he said.

On packaging, Jejurikar said 80% of P&G consumer packaging is designed to be recyclable or reusable, compared with 55% in 2018. The company has reduced virgin petroleum plastic use in consumer packaging by 24% versus 2018, he said, while noting that further progress depends partly on broader supply-chain and recycling infrastructure.

Jejurikar said P&G is applying artificial intelligence in consumer insights, brand building, innovation, supply-chain operations and everyday work. He characterized AI as an “amplifier of human potential” and said the company is focused on helping employees develop skills for an AI-enabled future.

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)The Procter & Gamble Company NYSE: PG is a consumer products company that develops, manufactures and markets branded products used in households and personal care routines. Its portfolio includes products in categories such as beauty, grooming, health care, fabric and home care, and family care.

Major brands associated with Procter & Gamble include Pampers, Tide, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Oral-B, Crest, Olay, Old Spice, Febreze, Mr. Clean, Swiffer and Bounty. The company sells its products through retailers, e-commerce platforms and other distribution channels.

Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, the company has grown into a global consumer goods business serving customers in markets around the world.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

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

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis airline is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.68 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $17.84 billion, up 17.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 44.35% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for United?For United, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.17%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that United would post earnings of $1.92 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.99, delivering a surprise of +3.65%.

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

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

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

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

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

General Motors (GM - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

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

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis an automotive manufacturer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +25.7%.

Revenues are expected to be $47.59 billion, down 2.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.21% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for General Motors?For General Motors, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.22%.

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

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that General Motors would post earnings of $3.13 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.57, delivering a surprise of +14.06%.

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

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

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

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

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

Goldman Sachs (GS.N) CEO David Solomon said on Tuesday ​it would be interesting to watch for political volatility around AI centers ahead ‌of midterm elections.

Speaking at an analysts' call for quarterly earnings, he also said as the financing needs for AI projects grow and there is pressure on rates, it could affect the returns and the ​viability of certain projects.

"Localized political volatility around data centers. You know, we've got ​an election coming up. It'll be interesting to see," Solomon said.

"Obviously there's ⁠a lot of political discussion coming into an election, but then you also have ​to see how states and localities act coming out of elections. All these things can ​create you know volatility, and there's uncertainty around them."

Data centers, which provide the computing power needed to train and run AI models, have faced growing opposition from communities across the United States.

Residents have raised ​concerns about their rising electricity demand, the potential for higher utility bills and other ​environmental impacts on local communities.

The artificial intelligence buildout is on track to require a larger share of ‌U.S. ⁠output than the rollout of electricity, railroads, interstate highways or the internet, with an increasingly complicated financial structure that poses potentially systemic risks, according to a new study.

The expansion will consume around 3.6% of gross domestic product annually through 2032, or more than $10 trillion, ​and is using ever ​more intricate financing ⁠arrangements, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, a finance and real estate professor at Columbia Business School, wrote in a paper prepared for a Brookings Institution ​conference last month.

"There's going to be infrastructure built around it that's ​going to ⁠be quite significant," Goldman's Solomon.

"But we feel very well positioned to bring the full range of services and participate actively, and we still see an enormous amount of activity."

Goldman is ⁠a financial ​partner with Nvidia (NVDA.O), which in August announced it has partnered ​with six major financial institutions to launch compute platforms aimed at raising over $500 billion in third-party capital for ​AI infrastructure.

Vertrix Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX – Free Report) by 27.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 32,404 shares of the coffee company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,017 shares during the quarter. Vertrix Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $3,045,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SBUX. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Starbucks during the second quarter worth about $8,504,509,000. State Street Corp increased its stake in Starbucks by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 49,260,268 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $5,033,907,000 after buying an additional 1,530,497 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Starbucks by 65.9% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 19,447,854 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $1,637,704,000 after buying an additional 7,725,547 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,581,287,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 7.5% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 14,607,392 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $1,230,088,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016,898 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Starbucks Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

Positive Sentiment: Starbucks ruled out a Chipotle acquisition. A company spokesperson said, “We are not buying Chipotle,” ending several days of takeover speculation. Investors viewed the decision as favorable because Starbucks can remain focused on improving its core coffee business rather than funding and integrating a large restaurant acquisition. Starbucks says it is not buying Chipotle after takeover speculation Positive Sentiment: Dividend growth supports the shareholder-return story. Coverage reported that Starbucks raised its dividend while continuing its turnaround. The increase may appeal to income-focused investors, although the company’s ability to sustain dividend growth will depend on improving earnings and cash flow. 3 Stocks Raise Dividends, But Which Has Room to Keep Growing? Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of Starbucks stock in a transaction on Friday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.60, for a total transaction of $235,382.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 73,149 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,724,534.40. The trade was a 2.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 6,099 shares of company stock valued at $627,135. 0.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. Starbucks Trading Up 1.7% SBUX stock opened at $92.29 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $101.02 and a 200-day moving average of $100.96. Starbucks Corporation has a 12 month low of $77.99 and a 12 month high of $110.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $105.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.98.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The coffee company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.19. Starbucks had a net margin of 5.17% and a negative return on equity of 34.10%. The firm had revenue of $9.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.50 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.550-2.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.59 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. This is a boost from Starbucks’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio is presently 142.53%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SBUX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $105.00 price target (down from $112.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday. Gordon Haskett lifted their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Starbucks from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Argus increased their target price on shares of Starbucks from $112.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Starbucks currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.80.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on SBUX

Starbucks Company Profile (Free Report)

Starbucks Corporation is a global specialty coffee company that operates coffeehouses and sells coffee, tea and other beverages, along with food products and merchandise. Its menu includes brewed coffee, espresso-based drinks, cold beverages, teas, bakery items and ready-to-eat food. Starbucks also markets packaged coffee, ready-to-drink beverages and related products through retail and grocery channels, often through licensing and other business partnerships.

Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks expanded from a local coffee retailer into an international brand.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Starbucks Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment

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Key Takeaways INTC is introducing Xeon-based rack designs with over 46,000 cores per rack to support agentic AI.Intel's Crescent Island GPU delivers up to 480GB of memory and 1.3 petaflops of FP8 computing performance.INTC is combining CPUs, GPUs and open software to make AI easier to deploy.

Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure portfolio with new GPU technology, advanced Xeon processor systems and open software innovations to meet the growing demand for agentic AI. Its latest offerings aim to improve computing performance, power efficiency and scalability for enterprise AI workloads.

Intel introduced the latest Xeon-based rack designs to support the computing demands of agentic AI applications. Select Xeon 6+ configurations can deliver more than 46,000 cores per rack, enabling efficient data processing, workload management and task execution. Developed with ecosystem partners, these systems use open infrastructure standards to simplify deployment and help customers scale AI operations.

The company provided new details about its Intel GPU D-series, code-named Crescent Island. Built on Intel’s Xe3P architecture, the accelerator offers up to 480GB of LPDDR5X memory, 1.5TB/s of memory bandwidth and 1.3 petaflops of FP8 computing performance within a 350-watt power envelope. Designed for large language models and memory-intensive inference workloads, it supports models with up to 300 billion parameters on a single card and more than one trillion parameters in an eight-GPU system.

Intel is also advancing software integration across CPUs and GPUs to simplify AI application development and deployment. Its software ecosystem supports established AI frameworks, inference runtimes and emerging open models, while the AI for Enterprise Agent Toolkit provides orchestration capabilities for production AI applications.

Additionally, Intel is collaborating with industry partners to develop standardized accelerator designs that improve compatibility and simplify integration across systems. By combining Xeon processors, specialized GPUs and open software, the company is building a flexible and cost-effective foundation for deploying AI applications at scale.

How Are Competitors Performing in the AI Space?Intel faces competition from Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) . Qualcomm is strengthening its AI business with data center processors and AI accelerators. The company is collaborating with Amazon to develop custom chips for AI data centers. Qualcomm is developing energy-efficient technologies to enable faster AI processing while reducing power consumption.

AMD introduced its Helios rack-scale platform to support agentic AI workloads by combining EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs. The company is working with industry partners to provide flexible, scalable AI infrastructure for data centers. AMD is expanding its Instinct GPU portfolio to handle demanding AI training and inference workloads while improving computing performance and energy efficiency.

INTC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Intel have skyrocketed 184.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 32.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/book ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 4.96 times book value, lower than the industry average of 23.36.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

INTC’s earnings estimates for 2026 have increased 2% to $1.50 per share, while those for 2027 have increased 2.1% to $1.97 over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its stake in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP – Free Report) by 171.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 41,413 shares of the payment services company’s stock after acquiring an additional 26,158 shares during the quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC’s holdings in American Express were worth $12,594,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in American Express by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,599 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $5,048,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Baldwin Wealth Partners LLC MA raised its stake in American Express by 1,178.3% during the third quarter. Baldwin Wealth Partners LLC MA now owns 8,488 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $2,581,000 after buying an additional 7,824 shares during the last quarter. Woodstock Corp lifted its holdings in American Express by 24.5% in the third quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 5,425 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $1,650,000 after buying an additional 1,069 shares during the period. Marquette Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Express by 35.4% in the third quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 172 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. lifted its holdings in American Express by 4.4% in the third quarter. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. now owns 8,282 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $2,519,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the period. 84.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Express News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week:

Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan maintained an “overweight” rating while lowering its price target from $400 to $360, implying approximately 15.5% potential upside from the recent trading level. JPMorgan price target report Positive Sentiment: American Express is reportedly expanding its Gen Z customer base about 40%, substantially faster than its Boomer customer base. Stronger younger-customer adoption could support long-term spending volumes and card growth. American Express Gen Z growth article Positive Sentiment: American Express was named title sponsor of the inaugural Hong Kong Sail Grand Prix, expanding its global marketing and premium-card brand exposure. The event is more strategically supportive than financially material in the near term. Hong Kong Sail Grand Prix sponsorship announcement Neutral Sentiment: American Express is scheduled to participate in upcoming investor conferences, potentially giving management an opportunity to discuss growth plans, regulatory remediation and its financial outlook. Investor conference announcement Negative Sentiment: American Express National Bank was fined $350 million by the OCC and received a cease-and-desist order over weaknesses in its anti-money-laundering controls and suspicious-activity reporting. Although the company says the action does not change near-term guidance, remediation expenses, oversight requirements and reputational risks could pressure margins and management focus. OCC AML enforcement article Negative Sentiment: A law firm is investigating potential shareholder claims related to the company, adding a governance and litigation overhang, although such investigations do not necessarily lead to financial recovery or formal litigation. Shareholder investigation announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on AXP. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of American Express from $375.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. BTIG Research dropped their price objective on American Express from $315.00 to $230.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 7th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on American Express in a research report on Thursday. They set an “outperform” rating and a $380.00 target price on the stock. Evercore set a $320.00 target price on American Express in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on American Express from $387.00 to $391.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $365.63. Get Our Latest Report on American Express

Shares of NYSE AXP opened at $311.57 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The firm has a market cap of $210.41 billion, a PE ratio of 18.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.08. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $323.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $325.10. American Express Company has a 12-month low of $290.97 and a 12-month high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The payment services company reported $4.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.41 by $0.12. American Express had a net margin of 15.07% and a return on equity of 34.12%. The firm had revenue of $14.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.08 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that American Express Company will post 17.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Express Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. American Express’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.06%.

American Express Company Profile (Free Report)

American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) is a global financial services company that provides payment, lending, travel and related products to consumers, small businesses and corporate customers. Its offerings include consumer and business charge and credit cards, payment solutions, commercial financing, deposit products and rewards programs.

American Express also operates a worldwide merchant network and provides businesses with payment acceptance services, transaction-processing capabilities and data-driven marketing solutions.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than American Express Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment

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SummaryMGM Resorts (MGM) trades at a deep discount after a failed $48.30/share takeover, with shares now near $29 despite stable fundamentals.
MGM's lease-heavy structure, robust buybacks, and diversified assets underpin a fair value estimate of $45/share, with downside risk to $27.
Operating trends have softened, but MGM remains the cheapest among peers on lease-adjusted EBITDAR and free cash flow yield metrics.
Key risks include fixed rent in a weak Strip market, Macau softness, BetMGM underperformance, and capital commitments to Osaka.
Alina555/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Four Months Of A Takeover If you are feeling a bit out of sync with this stock market, you are not alone. A narrow group of large AI-related companies is trouncing the rest of the market, while

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MGM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Scott Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX – Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 3,099 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $636,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Blue Capital Inc. bought a new stake in Chevron during the second quarter valued at $786,000. OneAscent Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Chevron during the second quarter worth about $973,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in Chevron during the 2nd quarter valued at about $14,276,000. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Chevron by 0.6% in the third quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 911,718 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $186,182,000 after purchasing an additional 5,787 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its holdings in Chevron by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 1,251,102 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $258,853,000 after buying an additional 79,439 shares in the last quarter. 72.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Chevron News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Positive Sentiment: Chevron was added to Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) income-stocks list, reinforcing the appeal of its dividend and operating outlook. Best Income Stocks to Buy for October 13th Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its Chevron price target from $215 to $225 while maintaining a Hold rating. The higher target reflects potential upside supported by production growth, cost savings and cash flow. Chevron Stock Gets Price Target Increase from TD Cowen Positive Sentiment: Chevron and Egypt are advancing discussions surrounding Cyprus’ Aphrodite gas field and pipeline, including commercial agreements, long-lead procurement and a potential final investment decision. Progress could create a longer-term international gas-growth catalyst. Chevron and Egypt Discuss Next Steps for Aphrodite Gas Pipeline Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to cite Chevron’s strong cash flow, expanding production, cost reductions, Hess integration and upbeat 2026 earnings expectations. The stock has outperformed the broader energy industry over recent months. CVX Outpaces Industry in Past 6 Months Neutral Sentiment: Chevron’s planned January 2027 leadership changes will make Jeff Gustavson CFO and move current CFO Eimear Bonner to lead Oil, Products & Gas. The restructuring ties New Energies more closely to the core business, but execution risks remain. Chevron CFO Shake-Up Negative Sentiment: Hurricane-related shutdowns temporarily disrupted U.S. Gulf oil production, although Chevron and other major producers are restoring output. The interruption could weigh on near-term volumes and earnings. U.S. Gulf Oil Production Restored After Hurricane Negative Sentiment: Chevron’s CEO warned that restrictions on diesel and fuel exports could backfire, potentially tightening regional supply and creating unfavorable market distortions. Separately, the average reported price target of $213.08 is slightly below the stock’s opening price, suggesting limited consensus upside. Chevron CEO Warns Against Diesel and Fuel Export Decision Insider Buying and Selling In other Chevron news, Director John Hess sold 710,665 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.10, for a total transaction of $137,940,076.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 363,711 shares in the company, valued at $70,596,305.10. This trade represents a 66.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael Wirth sold 317,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.46, for a total transaction of $63,565,866.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 26,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,273,701.68. The trade was a 92.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,152,582 shares of company stock worth $225,853,661. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently commented on CVX. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Chevron to a “moderate buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Chevron from $190.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Chevron from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Mizuho set a $234.00 target price on Chevron in a report on Monday. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Chevron from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $213.08.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Chevron

Chevron Price Performance NYSE CVX opened at $214.89 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $424.57 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $204.94 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $193.04. Chevron Corporation has a 12-month low of $146.49 and a 12-month high of $217.78.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $6.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.55 by $0.51. The business had revenue of $67.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $62.72 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 9.57% and a return on equity of 11.09%. Chevron’s revenue for the quarter was up 57.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.77 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Chevron Corporation will post 17.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a $1.78 dividend. This represents a $7.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Chevron’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.26%.

About Chevron (Free Report)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production, transportation and sale of crude oil and natural gas. Its upstream operations include oil and gas exploration and production, while its downstream business includes refining crude oil, marketing fuels and manufacturing and distributing lubricants, petrochemicals and fuel additives.

The company also invests in lower-carbon businesses and technologies, including renewable fuels, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and other opportunities intended to reduce emissions from its operations and energy products.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Chevron Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment

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An audit can reduce risk, but it can never guarantee that a DeFi protocol is safe. 1inch spoke to Vik from BailSec about what smart contract audits actually tell us, the risks that exist beyond the code and what stood out when BailSec audited 1inch Aqua.

Smart contract audits have become a standard part of DeFi security. But hacks still happen to audited protocols. And increasingly, the weak point may not be the smart contract at all.

So what does an audit really prove? And how should you assess the security of a new architecture such as 1inch Aqua?

1inch spoke to Vik from BailSec, one of the security firms that audited Aqua, about the limits of audits and the security implications of Aqua’s approach to liquidity.

When you assess the security of a DeFi protocol today, what are the biggest risks you look for beyond obvious smart contract bugs?Many risks come from beyond the code. We look at the ecosystem itself, composability, design patterns, economic attacks and governance.

Ecosystem-level risks involve things like flash loans, liquidity manipulation, unusual token variations and potential breaks caused by future EVM hard forks.

Composability is a core value proposition of DeFi. But it also means a system may be used in ways its authors did not intend when they wrote it. Assessing that risk requires long experience with protocol security and a broad understanding of how people actually use smart contracts.

Design patterns matter as well. Established standards such as ERCs and well-understood techniques can lead to more robust interactions. A well-designed protocol uses established patterns to solve standard problems so developers can focus on the parts that are genuinely new.

Then there are economic attacks. These include second-order vulnerabilities that go beyond smart contract security and require familiarity with how DeFi products actually get used.

Finally, there is governance risk. The question is: what happens if a trusted part of the system is not so trusted? A well-designed system takes a defense-in-depth approach and limits even privileged roles to the minimum permissions they need.

How should teams think about the limits of an audit? What can a strong audit establish and what can it never guarantee?Auditors are skilled experts, but they are limited by the scope of the engagement. We are limited both by time and by which portions of the system are under review.

An audit is also time-bound. If the client introduces additional complexity in the middle of the engagement, it may no longer be possible to achieve the coverage that the original time estimate was intended to provide.

And auditors can make mistakes. At BailSec, we rigorously test the auditors we work with and hire some of the best auditors in the space to dramatically reduce the risk that an auditing team misses a substantial bug. But that risk is never zero.

If an audit report contains many medium- and high-severity findings, that density can suggest there may be more bugs remaining after the review. In that case, we recommend engaging another audit team for a second round.

The development team might also change the code after the audit. We cannot ensure that those changes do not introduce new bugs or violate invariants that were verified during our audit.

Even without any of those issues, an audit can never guarantee that a codebase is bug-free or cannot be hacked. It provides a high degree of assurance that the system behaves as designed. It is not proof.

Even formal verification cannot ensure that a codebase is entirely free of unexpected behavior. Formal verification establishes that reviewed code matches a formal specification, but the specification itself may be incomplete. It could miss an attack vector. And the code eventually deployed may not be the code that was reviewed.

Smart contract audits used to be mostly about the contracts themselves. How much does security now depend on protecting the whole stack?Infrastructure and key compromise have become a major root cause of losses across the ecosystem by dollar value.

Unless otherwise specified, a smart contract audit typically does not include those components. Some may also contain intellectual property or trade secrets that a project does not want to disclose to a third-party smart contract auditing firm.

That makes it difficult for us to ensure that the combination of APIs, the frontend, infrastructure and other off-chain components maintains the invariants intended by the team.

Good smart contract design can go a long way toward mitigating these risks. Where possible, logic can be moved from off-chain components on-chain, while the mutability of on-chain components can be minimized.

Immutability is a desirable quality in a robustly designed smart contract system because it reduces exceptions and assumptions and can provide a higher degree of assurance.

What do SOC 2 and ISO 27001 cover that a smart contract audit cannot?These security controls and certifications help cover a missing component: the combination of smart contracts, off-chain components and the larger organization operating them.

The frameworks address the organization that builds and operates the system, including access controls, key management, change management, vendor risk and incident response.

Supply-chain attacks have also become a greater risk in recent years. These standards provide evidence that an organization has taken steps to reduce that risk. Controls over endpoints and personnel can also help reduce the risk of insider attacks.

There is an important distinction within SOC 2 between a Type I attestation, which looks at controls at a point in time, and Type II, which covers how controls operate over a period of time.

But SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are not magic bullets. Just as a smart contract audit cannot completely prevent a hack, these frameworks cannot eliminate risk. They reduce the risk caused by weaknesses in other components of the system.

BailSec audited 1inch Aqua earlier this year. What was unusual or particularly interesting about Aqua from a security perspective?First of all, Aqua was something very fresh and new to the DeFi world, which was refreshing for us to review. It was not another fork of something else.

Aqua has a special design in two respects. It allows a high degree of customizability and flexibility in the strategies through which market makers deploy their capital. And it increases capital efficiency by allowing makers to deploy the same capital into multiple strategies.

That customizability puts more responsibility on the software components used to design strategies. They need to follow robust compositional rules and avoid invalid strategy configurations that could result in a loss of funds.

Deploying the same capital across multiple strategies also means that, while capital efficiency increases, the exposure of a maker’s capital to an economic vulnerability in a strategy can increase as well.

Another unusual feature is the requirement for takers to explicitly specify the maker strategies they interact with. That is an inversion of the typical AMM design, where multiple makers put capital into a single pool and interaction with it does not depend on the number of underlying makers.

Aqua lets liquidity remain in the maker’s wallet until a taker fills a position. Does that create additional risks?Aqua’s design eliminates certain classes of attacks that can drain capital held in liquidity pools. Eliminating that line of attack improves the security posture of the design.

It also gives makers an effective mechanism for cutting off their exposure to undesirable strategies by docking or revoking allowances.

Some risk is not fully eliminated but instead moves from balances held in pools to ERC-20 allowances. Still, the overall posture is an improvement.

What about double-spending? If the same balance backs multiple strategies, can the same liquidity be used twice?The smart contracts themselves ensure that liquidity cannot be used twice.

But shared capital does mean that one strategy may run out of available liquidity because a neighboring strategy has consumed it.

It is also important to keep this shared-capital model in mind when calculating aggregate market depth, TVL or available liquidity. Otherwise, off-chain components that do not understand how the system works could count the same liquidity twice.

So the liquidity cannot be spent twice by the smart contracts, but it can potentially be counted twice by off-chain systems.

Aqua gives takers more flexibility. Can that flexibility also increase risk?Yes. The order in which liquidity is consumed by the taker can affect the price at which future swaps take place.

Off-chain components that assess liquidity therefore need enough domain knowledge to sequence interactions appropriately.

For makers, a single economically risky strategy could potentially produce losses affecting the capital deployed across strategies. For takers, the main risk is that a particular maker may run out of capital during a swap because of collateral sharing. Systems deciding how to use the available liquidity need to account for that.

All swaps should also be protected by appropriate slippage limits to reduce exposure to risks such as MEV and front-running.

Aqua has been audited. Does that mean it is safe?An audit cannot ensure total safety. The fact that Aqua has undergone multiple audits is a strong indication that its authors take security seriously. It also provides evidence that the security of the system has been improved from its initial implementation.

But protocol security is a continuum. It is not a single state. Completing audits with multiple expert teams moves a protocol further along that continuum, but issues can still slip through an auditor’s review. That is why it is important to engage multiple teams and put as many expert eyes as possible on the contracts.

Users should also consider the risks of interacting with DeFi products and avoid exposing themselves to losses they cannot tolerate.

For sufficiently technical users and partners, the published audit reports themselves provide details about the potential pitfalls of the system and exactly what the auditing teams considered as part of their reviews.

At BailSec, we always recommend reading the reports. For non-technical users, AI tools can now also make it much easier to summarize audit findings and understand what a report actually says about a protocol’s security.

Security is never a finished job. Audits, careful protocol design and ongoing review can reduce risk, but none can turn DeFi into a risk-free environment.

For more on blockchain security, subscribe to our newsletter

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP

Perpetual Ltd increased its position in shares of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL – Free Report) by 1,178.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 220,331 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 203,099 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd’s holdings in Oracle were worth $30,251,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in shares of Oracle by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 14,680,278 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock valued at $2,151,395,000 after buying an additional 123,294 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its holdings in shares of Oracle by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 14,539,366 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock worth $2,815,242,000 after buying an additional 1,148,698 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Oracle by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,251,059 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock valued at $1,949,363,000 after buying an additional 384,984 shares during the period. Amundi raised its position in shares of Oracle by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 9,878,184 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock valued at $1,447,648,000 after buying an additional 144,087 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Oracle by 1.7% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 8,586,492 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock valued at $1,262,827,000 after acquiring an additional 147,048 shares during the last quarter. 42.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Stephen H. Rusckowski bought 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $139.35 per share, with a total value of $3,483,750.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 25,390 shares in the company, valued at $3,538,096.50. The trade was a 6,410.26% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Maria Smith sold 2,631 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.70, for a total transaction of $399,122.70. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 64,357 shares in the company, valued at $9,762,956.90. This trade represents a 3.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 36,075 shares of company stock valued at $5,342,123. Corporate insiders own 38.40% of the company’s stock.

Key Oracle News Here are the key news stories impacting Oracle this week: Positive Sentiment: Director Stephen Rusckowski reportedly purchased approximately $3.48 million of Oracle shares. The transaction may signal confidence in Oracle’s long-term prospects after the stock’s substantial retreat from its peak. Monster insider trading alert for Oracle stock Positive Sentiment: Commentary highlights Oracle’s reported $664 billion backlog, including major AI infrastructure commitments. Supporters argue that this contracted demand could eventually translate into significant revenue growth and make the recent selloff excessive. Contrarian bet on Oracle Positive Sentiment: Oracle is reportedly transporting natural gas to keep certain AI data-center projects moving while pipeline and permitting delays are addressed. The workaround could help the company meet customer commitments and avoid penalties tied to large contracts. Oracle data centers and natural gas Neutral Sentiment: Oracle’s AI opportunity remains tied to OpenAI and other customers’ ability to expand computing demand. Analysts and commentators are debating whether the large backlog represents durable future revenue or depends on aggressive AI spending assumptions. Oracle has $664 billion lined up Negative Sentiment: Reports that OpenAI’s annualized revenue is near $50 billion, potentially below earlier expectations, have raised questions about its valuation, future infrastructure needs and the economics of Oracle’s reported approximately $300 billion contract. The news has pressured Oracle alongside other AI-related stocks. Why Oracle stock is falling Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on Oracle’s substantial borrowing and capital requirements for its AI buildout. Comparisons with Broadcom have intensified concerns that debt financing, construction costs and the timing of cash generation could limit the value of the backlog. Broadcom versus Oracle AI financing Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have issued reports on ORCL shares. Phillip Securities cut their target price on Oracle from $275.00 to $237.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Oracle from $190.00 to $165.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $275.00 price target (up from $235.00) on shares of Oracle in a report on Tuesday, September 8th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Oracle from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $290.00 price objective (down from $320.00) on shares of Oracle in a report on Thursday, September 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-six have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $251.72.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Oracle

Oracle Stock Down 2.8% NYSE:ORCL opened at $137.48 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $146.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $159.00. Oracle Corporation has a 52 week low of $114.50 and a 52 week high of $322.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $415.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.78.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 10th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.74 by $0.18. Oracle had a return on equity of 48.85% and a net margin of 26.36%. The business had revenue of $19.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.13 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.47 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 29.6% on a year-over-year basis. Oracle has set its Q2 2027 guidance at 1.850-1.930 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 8.100-8.100 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Oracle Corporation will post 6.69 EPS for the current year.

Oracle Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, October 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. Oracle’s dividend payout ratio is presently 31.35%.

About Oracle (Free Report)

Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) is a global technology company that develops enterprise software, cloud services and related hardware. Its offerings help businesses manage databases, applications, data, infrastructure and other core information-technology operations.

The company is best known for its Oracle Database, along with cloud-based infrastructure and platform services. Oracle also provides enterprise applications for functions such as finance, human resources, supply-chain management, customer experience and industry-specific operations.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Oracle Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL – Free Report).

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Key Takeaways COST's fiscal 2026 cash and short-term investments reached $21.3 billion, far exceeding its $6.2 billion debt.Operating cash flow rose to $15.8 billion, generating $9.4 billion in free cash flow after capex.Costco plans $7.5 billion in fiscal 2027 capital spending for new warehouses and supply-chain investments. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continues to demonstrate solid financial strength, supported by substantial cash reserves, manageable debt and robust operating cash flows that provide it with a competitive edge in the retail landscape characterized by evolving consumer spending patterns, inflationary pressures and rising operating costs. Its fiscal 2026 balance sheet highlights a healthy liquidity position and an expanding equity base, providing the warehouse retailer with considerable financial flexibility.

Costco ended fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $20,207 million, up from $14,161 million a year earlier. Including short-term investments of $1,094 million, its combined cash and short-term investments reached approximately $21,301 million. Current assets increased to $46,582 million from $38,380 million in the last fiscal year and exceeded current liabilities of $43,952 million.

Total debt stood at approximately $6,162 million, significantly below its cash holdings. While long-term debt, excluding current maturities, declined to $3,914 million from $5,713 million, the current portion of long-term debt increased to $2,248 million from $75 million. Nevertheless, Costco's substantial net cash position provides a cushion, enabling it to meet operating requirements and manage debt obligations.

The company's financial resilience is further reinforced by healthy cash generation. Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $15,825 million in fiscal 2026 from $13,335 million last year. With capital expenditures totaling $6,435 million, Costco generated approximately $9,390 million in free cash flow, demonstrating its ability to fund substantial investments through internally generated resources.

This financial capacity is particularly important as the company plans approximately $7.5 billion in capital expenditures for fiscal 2027, primarily to support new warehouse openings and supply-chain investments. Its strong cash generation provides the flexibility to pursue these growth initiatives while limiting dependence on external financing.

Costco's total assets also increased to $89,045 million from $77,099 million, while stockholders' equity climbed to $35,803 million from $29,164 million. Retained earnings rose to $28,591 million from $22,650 million, strengthening its capital base.

That said, Costco's sizable cash reserves, manageable debt, robust operating cash flows and expanding equity underscore its solid financial foundation. These strengths provide meaningful flexibility to withstand industry challenges, invest in operational improvements and support long-term expansion. While competitors must also balance growth investments with financial obligations, Costco's substantial liquidity and internally generated cash flow reinforce its ability to pursue strategic priorities without placing undue strain on its balance sheet.

Does Costco Have a Balance Sheet Edge Over TGT & BJ?Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) maintains substantial liquidity, although its debt obligations remain significant. Target ended second-quarter fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $5,411 million and total debt of approximately $15,357 million. Target generated $4,519 million in operating cash flow during the first six months, supporting capital investments and shareholder returns. With capital expenditures rising, Target continues to balance liquidity management, debt obligations and strategic investments to strengthen its competitive positioning.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ - Free Report) continues to demonstrate disciplined financial management, supported by healthy cash generation and manageable leverage. BJ’s Wholesale generated $265.5 million in adjusted free cash flow during second-quarter fiscal 2026, while its net leverage remained at 0.5 times. Although BJ’s Wholesale held approximately $30 million in cash against $629.2 million in debt, its improving cash generation supports club expansion and digital investments. BJ’s Wholesale remains focused on balancing growth investments with shareholder returns.

How Does Costco Stack Up Against Its Industry?Costco stock has climbed 11.3% year to date compared with the industry’s rise of 9.8%. 
 

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What Does Costco’s Current Valuation Suggest?Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 41.55, higher than the industry’s ratio of 27.76. However, it is trading below its 12-month median level of 44.79, indicating some moderation in valuation.
 

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What Do Earnings Estimates Signal for Costco?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 8.2% and 11.7%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.1% rise in sales and 9.1% growth in earnings.
 

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Costco’s Investment CaseCostco's strong balance sheet, substantial liquidity and robust cash generation reinforce its ability to navigate industry challenges while funding expansion and strategic investments. Its financial flexibility and resilient membership-driven business model support long-term growth prospects. However, inflationary pressures and lingering tariff-related uncertainties warrant caution. Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its stake in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) by 553.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 103,390 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 87,572 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC owned about 0.07% of CF Industries worth $12,950,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vertrix Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in CF Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,604,000. Balefire LLC increased its holdings in CF Industries by 36.8% in the third quarter. Balefire LLC now owns 8,197 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $976,000 after buying an additional 2,207 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its holdings in CF Industries by 409.2% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 15,654 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,962,000 after purchasing an additional 12,580 shares during the last quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of CF Industries by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 55,706 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $6,417,000 after buying an additional 874 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Douglas Lane & Associates LLC raised its position in CF Industries by 465.0% during the third quarter. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC now owns 609,443 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $76,313,000 after acquiring an additional 501,586 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.06% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CF. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 15th. set a $115.00 target price on shares of CF Industries and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 5th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on CF Industries in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $115.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of CF Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $121.11.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF CF Industries Trading Up 2.7% Shares of NYSE CF opened at $114.53 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $17.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.22 and a beta of 0.53. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.42 and a 12-month high of $141.96. The company has a current ratio of 4.86, a quick ratio of 4.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $123.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.59.

CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.63 by ($0.90). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%. The firm’s revenue was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.37 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 13.90 EPS for the current year.

CF Industries Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 30th. Investors of record on Monday, November 16th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.79%.

CF Industries Company Profile (Free Report)

CF Industries Holdings, Inc (NYSE: CF) is a major global producer of nitrogen fertilizer and other nitrogen-based products. The company manufactures ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonium nitrate and specialty nitrogen products used in agriculture, industrial applications and emissions-control systems.

CF Industries operates a network of production facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, serving agricultural and industrial customers in North America and international markets.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than CF Industries Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report).

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