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Nike says David Denton, formerly Pfizer’s chief financial officer, will join the retailer as CFO starting Aug. 17. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Nike’s latest hire isn’t a retail veteran or a company insider like CEO Elliott Hill. Rather, he comes from the pharmaceutical industry.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 17, 2026) - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (OTCQX: WHTCF) (the "Company" or "WELL"), a digital health company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare practitioners and their patients globally, is pleased to announce that at its annual general and special meeting held June 16, 2026 (the "Meeting"), all of the nominees for election as directors of the Company referred to in its notice of meeting and information circular dated May 8, 2026 for the Meeting were elected.

A total of 90,692,992 common shares representing 35.50% of the outstanding common shares of the Company were voted by proxy at the Meeting. Voting results for the election of directors at the Meeting were as follows:

ResolutionVote TypeTotal Votes% VotedKenneth CawkellFor
Withheld86,423,506
2,024,93097.71%
2.29%John KimFor
Withheld86,416,298
2,032,13897.70%
2.30%Sybil E Jen LauFor
Withheld87,483,574
964,86298.91%
1.09%Thomas ListonFor
Withheld86,974,569
1,473,86798.33%
1.67%Tara McCarvilleFor
Withheld86,114,137
2,334,29997.36%
2.64%Hamed ShahbaziFor
Withheld86,526,111
1,922,32597.83%
2.17%In addition, shareholders approved all other matters considered at the Meeting, the results of which are reported in the Report of Voting Results as filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on June 16, 2026.

WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Per: "Hamed Shahbazi"

Hamed Shahbazi

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director

About WELL Health Technologies Corp.

WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) is Canada's largest outpatient healthcare company and a leading provider of technology-enabled healthcare solutions. WELL is building the infrastructure for a healthier Canada, where every patient gets better care, every provider is empowered by AI, and every piece of health data is protected. WELL owns and operates approximately270 clinics in Canada, supporting more than 5 million annual patient visits. Through its subsidiary WELLSTAR, WELL provides electronic medical records, AI-powered clinical tools, patient engagement platforms and IT management services. WELL provides cybersecurity services through its CYBERWELL subsidiary. WELL is publicly-traded on the TSX under the symbol "WELL" and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol "WHTCF". To learn more, please visit: www.well.company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/301840

Source: WELL Health Technologies Corp.

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Welltower® Inc. (NYSE: WELL) today announced it will release second quarter 2026 financial results after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, July 27, 2026. The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss these results. The Company's earnings release will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

Investors and other interested parties may access the conference call in the following ways:

At the Company's website: www.welltower.com. Via webcast: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/434603250. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call and will be available for 90 days. Joining via webcast is recommended for those who will not be asking questions. By telephone: The participant toll-free dial-in number is (888) 340-5024. The international dial-in is (646) 960-0135. The conference ID number is 8230248. All phone participants are asked to dial in 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure connectivity. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on July 28, 2026 and ending on August 4, 2026. The dial-in number for United States participants is (800) 770-2030. For international participants, the replay dial-in number is (609) 800-9909. The replay conference ID number is 8230248.

About Welltower

Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL), an S&P 500 company, is positioned at the center of the silver economy, focusing on rental housing for aging seniors across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Our portfolio of 2,500+ seniors and wellness housing communities are positioned at the intersection of housing and hospitality, creating vibrant communities for mature renters and older adults. We believe our real estate portfolio is unmatched, located in highly attractive micromarkets with stunning built environments. Yet, we are an unusual real estate organization as we view ourselves as an operating company in a real estate wrapper, driven by highly-aligned partnerships and an unconventional culture. Through our disciplined approach to capital allocation powered by our Data Science platform and superior operating results driven by the Welltower Business System - our end-to-end operating platform - we aspire to deliver long-term compounding of per share growth for our existing investors, our North Star. More information is available at www.welltower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When Welltower uses words such as "will", "expect" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, Welltower is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Welltower's actual results to differ materially from Welltower's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. Welltower undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Welltower Inc.

The Computer and Technology group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Cisco Systems (CSCO - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Cisco Systems is one of 592 individual stocks in the Computer and Technology sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #2 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Cisco Systems is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSCO's full-year earnings has moved 3.9% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

Our latest available data shows that CSCO has returned about 55.2% since the start of the calendar year. At the same time, Computer and Technology stocks have gained an average of 18.2%. This means that Cisco Systems is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another stock in the Computer and Technology sector, Arteris, Inc. (AIP - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 168.1%.

Over the past three months, Arteris, Inc.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 20.6%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, Cisco Systems is a member of the Computer - Networking industry, which includes 7 individual companies and currently sits at #42 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 55.1% so far this year, so CSCO is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Arteris, Inc. falls under the Internet - Software industry. Currently, this industry has 170 stocks and is ranked #86. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved -11.6%.

Cisco Systems and Arteris, Inc. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

Cisco Systems (CSCO - Free Report) closed at $119.44 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.8% move from the prior day. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.09%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.14%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 1.91%.

Shares of the seller of routers, switches, software and services have appreciated by 2.61% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.22%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.29%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Cisco Systems in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.17, up 18.18% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $16.85 billion, up 14.86% from the year-ago period.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $4.28 per share and revenue of $62.95 billion, indicating changes of +12.34% and +11.11%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Cisco Systems. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.45% upward. Cisco Systems is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Investors should also note Cisco Systems's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 27.41. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 27.29, which means Cisco Systems is trading at a premium to the group.

It's also important to note that CSCO currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.47. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The average PEG ratio for the Computer - Networking industry stood at 1.98 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Computer - Networking industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 45, placing it within the top 19% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

Key Takeaways DDOG is expanding its platform and AI observability capabilities, supporting customer adoption.CSCO strengthened observability through Splunk, growing ARR and subscription revenue.DDOG trades at a valuation premium to Cisco despite both benefiting from observability demand. Datadog (DDOG - Free Report) and Cisco Systems (CSCO - Free Report) are key players in the growing observability market, helping enterprises monitor and optimize complex IT environments. As cloud adoption, AI workloads and digital transformation initiatives accelerate, organizations are generating larger volumes of infrastructure, application and security data, driving demand for real-time monitoring and analytics solutions.

Observability platforms have become essential for maintaining performance, reliability and security across modern technology stacks. While Datadog offers a cloud-native observability platform, Cisco has strengthened its position through the Splunk acquisition, expanding its reach across observability, security and AI operations. Both companies are well-positioned to capitalize on the expanding observability opportunity.

Let's examine the fundamentals and growth drivers of both companies to determine which stock offers a better long-term investment opportunity.

The Case for DDOGDatadog continues to strengthen its position in observability through a platform expansion strategy that is driving higher customer adoption and spending. DDOG offers 26 products spanning infrastructure monitoring, application performance monitoring, log management, security and AI observability. This breadth has supported cross-selling momentum, with five products generating more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and three additional products contributing between $50 million and $100 million in ARR. Total ARR surpassed $4 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, highlighting the increasing scale of the platform.

DDOG has been benefiting from strong enterprise demand. Revenues for first-quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 32% year over year, while free cash flow margin remained at 29%. Growth has been broad-based, with the non-AI customer cohort accelerating to the mid-20% range, indicating that demand extends beyond AI-native customers.

AI observability is emerging as a key catalyst. Datadog has expanded its capabilities through GPU Monitoring, LLM Observability and Bits AI offerings, enabling customers to manage complex AI environments. Adoption trends remain encouraging, with Datadog MCP Server tool calls quadrupling sequentially during the fiscal first quarter. DDOG is expanding security observability capabilities to address AI-specific threats while introducing deployment options that help customers meet data residency and compliance requirements.

Further growth is expected to be supported by FedRAMP High certification and a planned U.K. data center expansion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $4.31 billion, indicating 25.7% year-over-year growth.

The Case for CSCOCisco has been strengthening its observability position through the integration of Splunk, enabling it to offer a broader platform spanning observability and security analytics. Unlike Datadog, Cisco benefits from a large installed base across networking, data center and security infrastructure, creating opportunities to embed observability capabilities deeper within enterprise environments. This integrated approach is expected to support cross-selling and customer retention as organizations increasingly seek unified visibility across their IT operations.

CSCO has also been benefiting from strong enterprise technology spending trends. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, revenues increased 12% year over year to $15.8 billion, while product orders grew 35% year over year, reflecting broad-based demand across enterprise, public sector and cloud customers. Cisco's recurring revenue profile continues to strengthen, with ARR reaching $31.2 billion and subscription revenues accounting for 49% of total revenues.

Agentic security observability is emerging as a key catalyst. Cisco has been expanding capabilities that combine observability, threat detection and automated response across enterprise environments. Hypershield and AI Defense extend visibility across AI deployments, while the pending acquisitions of Galileo and Astrix are expected to add agentic identity, access management and behavior monitoring capabilities, strengthening the company's observability and security portfolio.

Further growth is likely to be supported by Cisco's expanding software mix, strong cash generation and deep enterprise relationships. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $62.95 billion, indicating 11.11% year-over-year growth.

DDOG vs. CSCO: Price Performance and ValuationYear to date, shares of CSCO have jumped 55.2%, trailing DDOG's 64% return. Both stocks have benefited from strong AI-related demand, with Datadog's gain led by its AI observability catalysts and Cisco's supported by its broader networking, security and AI infrastructure base.

DDOG Outperforms CSCO YTD
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DDOG currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 16.86X, well above CSCO’s 7.01X. Datadog's premium to Cisco appears difficult to justify given Cisco's expanding observability footprint through Splunk, larger recurring revenue base, broader enterprise reach and growing software subscription business.

DDOG Vs CSCO : Forward 12-Month P/S Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionBoth Datadog and Cisco are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing observability opportunity. While Datadog continues to deliver robust growth, Cisco has significantly strengthened its position through the integration of Splunk. Given its larger recurring revenue base, broader enterprise footprint and more attractive valuation, CSCO appears to offer a more compelling investment opportunity than DDOG.

DDOG and CSCO carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The U.S. Supreme Court further limited the reach of a federal law used to hold corporations liable for human rights ​abuses committed abroad, as it issued a ruling on Tuesday ending a lawsuit by members of the Falun Gong ‌movement accusing Cisco Systems of facilitating religious persecution in China.

W.P. Carey (WPC - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for W.P. Carey basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for W.P. Carey imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for W.P. CareyFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this real estate investment trust is expected to earn $5.28 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for W.P. Carey. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 1.1%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of W.P. Carey to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Lowe's (LOW - Free Report) . Shares have added about 2.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Lowe's due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Lowe's Companies, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Lowe’s Q1 Earnings Beat on Pro Momentum & Strong Spring ExecutionLowe’s reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both earnings and sales surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The home improvement retailer delivered another quarter of positive comparable sales growth, driven by strong spring execution, continued momentum in the Pro and online businesses, and solid demand across appliances and home services.

Management has highlighted that Lowe’s Total Home strategy continues to resonate with both Pro and DIY customers despite a challenging housing backdrop. The company has also reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook, reflecting confidence in strategic initiatives, productivity improvements and ongoing market-share gains.

LOW’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsAdjusted earnings were $3.03 per share, rising 3.8% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.96 by 2.4%. On a reported basis, earnings per share came in at $2.90 compared with earnings of $2.92 in the prior-year quarter. Results included $96 million in pre-tax expenses tied to the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group.

Net sales came in at $23.1 billion, rallying 10.3% from the year-ago quarter and surpassing the consensus mark of $22.9 billion by 0.6%. The upside was fueled by a 0.6% increase in comparable sales and was supported by strong spring demand, continued strength in Pro sales and a robust 15.5% increase in online sales. Appliances and home services also remained key growth contributors during the quarter.

Lowe’s Sees Margin Pressure Despite Higher SalesGross profit increased 8% to $7.54 billion from $6.99 billion in the prior-year quarter. The gross margin for the quarter was 32.7%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 9.3% to $4.42 billion from $4.05 billion in the prior-year period. However, SG&A expenses, as a percentage of sales, improved 10 basis points year over year to 19.2%. Depreciation and amortization expenses rose to $566 million from $446 million a year ago.

Consequently, operating income increased 2.4% to $2.55 billion from $2.49 billion in the prior-year quarter. However, the operating margin contracted 80 basis points year over year to 11.1%.

Lowe’s Cash Flow & Capital Returns Stay in FocusThe company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $786 million compared with $3.05 billion in the year-ago period. Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, was $36.75 billion. Merchandise inventory stood at $18.5 billion.

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $3.35 billion during the quarter compared with $3.38 billion in the prior-year period. Capital expenditure was $521 million. During the quarter, Lowe’s paid out $674 million in dividends and repurchased $363 million worth of common stock.

LOW Reaffirms FY26 OutlookLowe’s reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance and expects total sales between $92 billion and $94 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 7-9%. Comparable sales are anticipated to be flat to up 2%.

The company projects the operating margin between 11.2% and 11.4%, while the adjusted operating margin is expected to be 11.6-11.8%. Lowe’s expects earnings per share of $11.75-$12.25 and adjusted earnings per share of $12.25-$12.75. Capital expenditure is expected to rise to $2.5 billion.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Lowe's has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock has a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Lowe's has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerLowe's belongs to the Zacks Retail - Home Furnishings industry. Another stock from the same industry, Home Depot (HD - Free Report) , has gained 6.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended April 2026.

Home Depot reported revenues of $41.77 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +4.8%. EPS of $3.43 for the same period compares with $3.56 a year ago.

For the current quarter, Home Depot is expected to post earnings of $4.71 per share, indicating a change of +0.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.2% over the last 30 days.

Home Depot has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.

Lennar (LEN +5.54%) saw fiscal second-quarter home deliveries increase 2% to 20,519. However, the homebuilder reported a lower average sales price of $371,000, including nearly 13% in incentives and base-price "adjustments" designed to boost demand amid affordability issues. It's the lowest price reported in several years. The results were for the period ended March 31.

However, while that suggests a tough economy, making homes more affordable should carry over to existing homes and boost unit sales across the board. In May, the National Association of Realtors' Housing Affordability Index registered 105.6, an improvement from 97.5 in the year-ago period (higher numbers indicate greater affordability). The index measures the affordability of existing home sales.

While it may play out over time, reduced home prices will benefit the home improvement sector, and its leading retailer, Home Depot (HD +2.63%).

Image source: Getty Images.

Spurring home sales Lower prices should boost existing home sales, although no one can predict the exact timing. That's good for Home Depot.

When people buy homes, they tend to take on projects, including major renovations. After all, they want the house to suit their tastes.

Sluggish home sales and the lack of big projects have hurt Home Depot's sales. The company's fiscal first-quarter same-store sales increased by a tepid 0.4% and were flat globally after removing foreign-currency translation effects. The results were for the period that ended on May 3. Management expects just flat to 2% comps growth for the year.

CEO Ted Decker cited consumer uncertainty and housing affordability as factors influencing home improvements. Management noted that homeowners took on smaller projects rather than major renovations.

Borrowing costs High interest rates have also tempered homebuying and home improvement demand. In the wake of the Iran war and spike in oil prices, long-term interest rates increased, affecting mortgage rates.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.47% for the week ending on June 18, according to Freddie Mac data. At the end of February, before hostilities broke out, the average mortgage rate was 5.9%.

All else equal, and assuming home prices don't increase, this trend should boost homebuying demand. That's because lower mortgage rates translate into a lower monthly payment. That's another component that would make buying a house more affordable.

Patient investing approach Of course, lower home prices won't immediately boost homebuying demand. It takes time to work through the process. But it remains basic economics: lower prices equate to higher demand. In turn, people take on major home improvement projects, as they've always done.

Why will that benefit Home Depot? After all, people who do their own work or hire professional contractors have many choices.

Home Depot remains the largest home-improvement retailer, providing shoppers with attractive prices, a wide range of products and services, and convenience. Its $165 billion in annual sales dwarf those of its nearest competitor, Lowe's (LOW +2.29%).

Management has also taken steps to broaden its reach among professional contractors. This includes acquiring SRS Distribution for $18.3 billion in 2024 and subsequently purchasing GMS for $5.5 billion.

Meanwhile, investors have sent the share price down, but this has been due to short-term economic concerns. Home Depot's stock dropped 2.9% this year through June 18 compared to the S&P 500 index's 9.6% gain.

Today's Change

(

2.63

%) $

8.55

Current Price

$

333.00

This presents a buying opportunity for those patient enough to wait out the economic situation, which shows positive initial signs for Home Depot. The shares trade at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24 compared to 28 earlier this year. Large-cap stocks, measured by the S&P 500, have a P/E ratio of 32.

With an attractive valuation and a more favorable economic outlook, Home Depot shares should rebound, rewarding patient investors.

On June 22, 2026, Lowe's Companies Inc LOW shares fell 3.5% today to a current price of $214.40. Over the last week, the stock has decreased by 2.6%, and it has dropped 10.3% year-to-date. The shares have experienced significant volatility over the past 52 weeks, with a high of $293.06 and a low of $203.40.

GF Value™ verdict: The current price of $214.40 is 14.0% below the GF Value™ estimate of $249.28, indicating that the stock is undervalued.GF Score™: With a score of 84/100, Lowe's demonstrates strong overall performance and potential for long-term returns.Most notable signal: Insider selling activity has been noted, with insiders selling $5.2 million in the last three months. Is LOW Overvalued or Undervalued? Based on the current price of $214.40 compared to the GF Value™ estimate of $249.28, Lowe's appears to be undervalued by 14.0%. This margin of safety presents an opportunity for potential investors, as the stock is trading below its estimated intrinsic value. The GF Valuation label categorizes Lowe's as modestly undervalued, suggesting that there is room for price appreciation in the future if the company's fundamentals remain strong.

However, it is important to consider the risks associated with investing in a stock that has seen a decline in price year-to-date and recent insider selling activity. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates, which reinforces the notion that the current valuation may not fully reflect the company's potential.

How Does LOW's Valuation Compare to Its History? MetricCurrentHistorical P/E (TTM)18.1x19.8x Forward P/E17.1xN/A The current P/E (TTM) of 18.1x is 8% below its 5-year median P/E of 19.8x, indicating that the stock is trading below its historical valuation multiples. This P/E analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict, further substantiating the claim that Lowe's is undervalued at its current price. The forward P/E of 17.1x also suggests a more favorable valuation outlook for the upcoming period.

What Does LOW's GF Score™ Tell Us? MetricRating GF Score™84 Financial Strength4/10 Profitability9/10 Growth7/10 Valuation10/10 Momentum5/10 Lowe's GF Score™ of 84/100 indicates strong potential for long-term returns. The strongest area is its profitability rank of 9/10, suggesting efficient operations and high margins. Conversely, the financial strength score of 4/10 highlights some weaknesses in the company's balance sheet, which may warrant further scrutiny. The valuation rank of 10/10 supports the notion of the stock being undervalued, while a momentum rank of 5/10 suggests that the stock's price performance could improve.

What Are Insiders Doing with LOW Stock? In the past three months, insiders have sold $5.2 million worth of Lowe's stock, with no reported insider buying. This trend of insider selling may raise concerns about the company's near-term prospects, as insiders typically possess valuable insights into the business's health. The absence of insider purchases could also suggest a lack of confidence among executives regarding the company's stock performance in the immediate future.

What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis of GF Value™, Lowe's Companies Inc LOW is currently considered undervalued, presenting a potential opportunity for investors. However, caution is warranted due to the recent insider selling and overall price decline.

For the complete analysis, visit the Lowe's Companies Inc LOW stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is LOW's GF Score™?

The GF Score™ for Lowe's is 84/100, indicating strong overall performance and the potential for higher long-term returns based on historical backtests.

Is LOW overvalued or undervalued?

Lowe's is currently undervalued, with a GF Value™ estimate of $249.28 compared to its current price of $214.40.

What is LOW's P/E ratio?

Lowe's current P/E (TTM) is 18.1x, which is 8% below its historical 5-year median P/E of 19.8x, suggesting it is trading at a favorable valuation compared to its past performance.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Key Takeaways Home Depot leads in scale, Pro strength, market share gains and an addressable market near $1.2T.Lowe's is gaining share through Total Home, Pro initiatives, home services and digital investments.Home Depot has more stable EPS estimates, while Lowe's trades at a lower forward P/E valuation. The rivalry between The Home Depot Inc. (HD - Free Report) and Lowe’s Companies Inc. (LOW - Free Report) defines the U.S. home improvement retail market. As the industry’s two largest players, both companies serve do-it-yourself shoppers, professional contractors and homeowners seeking tools, building materials, appliances, décor and renovation solutions. Yet their market positions are not identical.

Home Depot remains the clear leader, supported by greater scale, a stronger professional customer base and higher sales productivity. Lowe’s, while the second-largest player, continues to strengthen its operations, improve customer experience and pursue growth opportunities to narrow the gap.

Although HD and LOW operate similar businesses, differences in market share, execution, customer mix and strategic focus shape their investment appeal. With housing trends, repair demand and consumer spending influencing performance, this face-off examines which home improvement giant is better-positioned in today’s competitive landscape.

The Case for HDHome Depot remains the undisputed leader in the North American home improvement market, leveraging its scale, brand strength and extensive distribution network to capture incremental market share even amid a challenging housing backdrop. Management highlighted that the company continues to gain share across the industry, supported by a vast footprint of more than 2,360 stores, 325 customer-facing warehouses and above 1,300 SRS distribution branches.

The recent acquisition of Mingledorff’s expands Home Depot’s reach into the $100-billion HVAC distribution market, increasing its total addressable market to $1.2 trillion. Meanwhile, the company sees a $700-billion opportunity within the professional contractor segment, reinforcing its leadership position in a highly fragmented industry.

The investment case is strengthened by Home Depot’s sharp focus on the Pro customer, a $700-billion opportunity. Management is expanding trade credit, jobsite delivery, AI-powered material list tools, project planning capabilities and a unified Pro digital workspace. Digital sales increased more than 10% year over year, marking the fourth straight quarter of double-digit growth.

Home Depot delivered resilient results despite macroeconomic pressures. First-quarter fiscal 2026 sales increased 4.8% year over year to $41.8 billion, while Pro sales outperformed DIY demand and big-ticket transactions returned to positive growth. The company generated a strong 25.4% return on invested capital, with $845 million of investment in growth initiatives and reaffirmed its expectation for continued market share gains in fiscal 2026. Management’s commitment to strategic acquisitions, digital innovation and customer-centric execution positions Home Depot to strengthen its competitive moat and drive long-term shareholder value.

The Case for LOWLowe’s has strengthened its position as the second-largest home improvement retailer in North America by consistently gaining market share despite a challenging housing environment. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, sales increased 10.3% year over year to $23.1 billion, while comparable sales rose 0.6%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of positive comps.

Management noted that Lowe’s continues to take share through its Total Home strategy, which targets growth across Pro customers, online channels, home services and new construction markets. The acquisitions of FBM and ADG further expand Lowe’s reach into the estimated $250-billion new-home and multi-family construction market, creating a meaningful growth runway beyond its traditional retail business.

Lowe’s competitive advantage lies in its balanced portfolio and customer-centric strategy. Roughly two-thirds of revenues come from repair and maintenance categories, while one-third is tied to discretionary projects. The company continues to deepen relationships with small and medium-sized Pros through its MyLowe’s Pro Rewards program, Pro Extended Aisle initiative and enhanced fulfillment capabilities.

Digital innovation is another major differentiator, with online sales rising 15.5% and the AI-powered Mylow assistant now handling more than one million customer inquiries monthly, significantly boosting online conversion rates.

Lowe’s financials remain highly resilient. Adjusted EPS increased 3.8% to $3.03, the free cash flow reached $2.8 billion and return on invested capital stood at an impressive 26.8%. Continued investments in AI, home services, loyalty programs and productivity initiatives position Lowe’s to capture additional market share while enhancing profitability. As housing conditions normalize, the company appears well-placed to leverage its strong brand, omnichannel capabilities and expanding Pro ecosystem to drive long-term shareholder value.

HD vs. LOW: How Do Estimates Stack Up?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Home Depot’s fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 4.2% and 2.2%, respectively. For fiscal 2027, the consensus estimate indicates a 4% rise in sales and 8% growth in EPS. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 moved down 0.2% in the same period. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lowe’s fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies growth of 7.9% and 1.6%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s actuals. For fiscal 2027, the consensus estimate indicates a 3.3% rise in sales and 7.9% growth in EPS. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS has moved down 0.6% and 0.9%, respectively, in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Home Depot appears better-positioned on estimate revisions, with projections largely stable despite a softer macro backdrop. While both companies are expected to deliver growth, Lowe’s has seen broader downward EPS revisions across the forecast period. This gives HD an edge, signaling greater confidence in its earnings visibility and execution.

HD vs. LOW: A Look at Stock Performance & ValuationLowe’s shares have plunged 8.6% in the past three months, trailing Home Depot’s loss of 1.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Home Depot is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21.1X, below its five-year median of 22.27X. Meanwhile, Lowe’s forward P/E ratio stands at 16.66X, below its five-year median of 17.55X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Lowe’s has underperformed Home Depot recently, reflecting weaker investor sentiment. However, both stocks trade below their historical valuation norms, suggesting some discount is already priced in. While Lowe’s appears cheaper on valuation, Home Depot’s stronger relative share performance points to better market confidence and perceived resilience.

HD vs. LOW: Which Is a Better Bet?Both Home Depot and Lowe’s remain strong home improvement leaders with solid brands, broad store networks, expanding digital capabilities and meaningful upside when housing and renovation demand improves. Lowe’s continues to execute well through its Total Home strategy, Pro initiatives, home services expansion and technology investments. Its lower valuation may appeal to value-focused investors.

However, Home Depot wins this face-off. Its larger scale, stronger Pro ecosystem, leadership position and expanding addressable market provide a stronger foundation for long-term growth. HD also stands out for better estimate revision trends and stronger recent stock performance, reflecting greater investor confidence in its execution and earnings visibility.

Although Home Depot trades at a richer valuation than Lowe’s, that premium appears justified by its superior market position, resilient business model and stronger growth prospects. The valuation gap ultimately signals confidence in HD’s ability to keep gaining share and delivering durable shareholder returns.

Both Home Depot and Lowe’s carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Lowe's all-new Creator: Into the Blue program provides a forum for creators to pitch, develop and launch product ideas

, /PRNewswire/ -- As Lowe's Creator Network hits its one-year milestone, today the company announced the next evolution of growing with creators. Now, creators in the network, and even those new to joining, will have an opportunity to evolve from content creation to product creation. Through the new program, Lowe's Creator: Into the Blue, creators can pitch innovative product ideas to Lowe's for potential future retail distribution, with the full support of Lowe's product design and development teams to help bring their vision to life. Designed to help creators grow their businesses through product creation, Lowe's Creator: Into the Blue expands Lowe's existing focus on creator partnerships and product innovation.

This includes:

Lowe's Creator Network, launched in 2025 as the first creator network in the home improvement industry, which helps creators grow through content and curation by connecting creators with Lowe's to share DIY projects, home improvement inspiration and product recommendations, alongside personalized Lowes.com storefronts that allow creators to curate product selections for their audiences.Lowe's Into the Blue launched in 2022 to help entrepreneurs bring innovative products to Lowe's customers.Lowe's recent collaboration with global creator MrBeast, whose collectible toy kit demonstrated how creator partnerships can evolve beyond content and curation into creation through products that connect with customers in new ways.As more creators look to expand their businesses through product development, this new program expands creation opportunities to creators of all sizes, even if they are not yet part of Lowe's Creator Network. By joining Lowe's Creator and leveraging the company's credibility in bringing products to market, selected creators may have the opportunity to develop ideas inspired by their audiences with support from Lowe's product development, product design, sourcing and merchandising teams.

"Creators today are evolving their ideas and audiences into businesses, brands and products," said Jen Wilson, Lowe's senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "Through Lowe's Creator Network, we've helped creators grow through content and curation, and we took it a step further with MrBeast by expanding the collaboration into creation with the launch of new products and workshops. Lowe's Creator: Into the Blue is the next evolution of that strategy, allowing us to help more creators move into creation and turn their ideas into products and scalable businesses."

Creators may submit a range of ideas, including:

Existing products seeking distribution, scale and retail exposureProduct ideas needing development and sourcing supportCollaborations tied to an existing Lowe's product lineApplications are now open* through Sept. 1, 2026 at Lowes.com/CreateWithLowes. Lowe's will review submissions following the application period and announce selected creators at a later date.

*Visit Lowes.com/CreateWithLowes for full terms and conditions.

About Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company with total fiscal 2025 sales of more than $86 billion. Lowe's employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Contact:
Taylor Bolden
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lowes-is-calling-on-creators-to-help-design-and-launch-new-products-302806764.html

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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PGA TOUR Signature Event features all but one of the eligible top 50 players in the world

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today announced the start of the 2026 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut – a PGA TOUR Signature Event and the 20th consecutive tournament with the company serving as title sponsor.

The year’s field features all but one of the eligible top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including: Scottie Scheffler (No. 1); Cameron Young (No. 3); Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 4); Russell Henley (No. 5); Justin Rose (No. 6); Tommy Fleetwood (No. 7); Wyndham Clark (No. 8); Collin Morikawa (No. 9); and defending champion Keegan Bradley.

“The Travelers Championship is a world-class golf tournament with a powerful local impact,” said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers. “From our dedicated hometown volunteers and legendary Connecticut crowd, to the significant contribution to worthy causes throughout the Northeast and the state’s economy, it’s the community spirit that sets this event apart.”

Since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007, the tournament has generated tens of millions of dollars for more than 1,000 local and regional charities. Last year, the Travelers Championship distributed more than $4 million to nearly 250 charities, setting new tournament records.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, based in Ashford, Connecticut, is this year’s primary beneficiary. The organization provides a traditional summer camp experience for children with serious illnesses. Many other nonprofits – spanning arts and culture, education, food insecurity, healthcare, housing, human services, mental health, and science and technology – will benefit through the Travelers Championship’s Birdies for Charity program.

“There is an energy at the Travelers Championship that you cannot find anywhere else,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers. “This tournament has become part of the fabric of Connecticut, and the more it grows, the more money we can generate for important causes across the region. Giving back to the community that has embraced us for so many years is what drives us to make every year better than the last.”

The 2026 Travelers Championship will offer a $20 million purse and feature 72 players competing for all four rounds, beginning Thursday, June 25. Ticketed spectators will be allowed on-site starting Wednesday, June 24.

NBC will be this year’s weekend broadcast network, with live tournament coverage Saturday, 3 to 6 p.m. ET, and Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m. ET. Golf Channel will provide coverage Thursday and Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. ET, and Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. ET. PGA TOUR Live on ESPN+ will offer live access to marquee and featured groups, as well as certain holes, Thursday through Sunday. The event can also be streamed on Peacock and the Golf Channel app.

For more information about the Travelers Championship, visit TravelersChampionship.com. Fans can also follow the tournament’s social media channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for news and information.

About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of more than $49 billion in 2025. For more information, visit Travelers.com.

More News From The Travelers Companies, Inc.

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In the latest trading session, IBM (IBM - Free Report) closed at $252.22, marking a +1.25% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.37%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.29%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.33%.

Coming into today, shares of the technology and consulting company had lost 1.87% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 4.52%, while the S&P 500 gained 2.02%.

The upcoming earnings release of IBM will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on July 22, 2026. In that report, analysts expect IBM to post earnings of $2.95 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 5.36%. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $17.86 billion, showing a 5.2% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $12.38 per share and a revenue of $71.53 billion, signifying shifts of +6.82% and +5.92%, respectively, from the last year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for IBM. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 0.11% decrease. IBM is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, IBM is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 20.12. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 28.47 for its industry.

We can also see that IBM currently has a PEG ratio of 2.58. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. IBM's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.03 as of yesterday's close.

The Computer - Integrated Systems industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 16, which puts it in the top 7% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

Quantum computing stocks gained renewed attention this week after President Donald Trump signed executive orders targeting a powerful U.S.-made quantum computer by 2028 and bolstering the infrastructure needed to advance the emerging technology.

Why IBM Stands OutThe White House’s latest push comes just weeks after the U.S. Commerce Department announced a $2 billion quantum initiative that includes investments and grants for several quantum-focused companies.

IBM emerged as the largest beneficiary, receiving roughly $1 billion to help launch Anderon, a new company expected to become America’s first dedicated quantum wafer foundry. IBM is also contributing approximately $1 billion of its own capital to the project. The foundry is expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain for quantum hardware—one of the same priorities highlighted in Trump’s executive orders.

In other words, Washington’s latest quantum strategy aligns closely with the infrastructure IBM is already helping build.

More Than A Quantum Research CompanyIBM’s advantage isn’t limited to government funding.

The company has spent years developing quantum hardware, software and cloud-based quantum services while building one of the industry’s largest quantum ecosystems. It has also outlined plans to develop a large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer before the end of the decade, putting its roadmap broadly in line with the administration’s accelerated timeline.

Reports also indicated IBM CEO Arvind Krishna attended the Oval Office signing ceremony, highlighting the company’s growing role in the broader U.S. quantum effort.

That combination of government support, manufacturing infrastructure and existing technology development gives IBM a different profile than many of the pure-play quantum names attracting investor attention.

Why Investors Should Pay AttentionQuantum computing remains an emerging industry, and widespread commercial adoption is still years away.

But investors often look for signals that a technology is moving from research labs toward real-world deployment. Government support has historically played an important role in accelerating industries ranging from semiconductors to artificial intelligence.

The latest executive orders suggest quantum computing could be next.

For investors, the takeaway isn’t that IBM is the only potential winner from Washington’s quantum push. It’s that the company appears unusually well-positioned for a future that the government is actively trying to accelerate.

Image via Shutterstock

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Yesterday's tech selloff looks ready to spill over and accelerate into today, as the tech rout turns global. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are down over 200 points, while S&P 500 (SPX) futures are modestly lower too. The tech heavy Nasdaq-100 (NDX) index is bearing the brunt off the pitfall, off by over 800 points ahead of the open. Once-outperforming chip and memory stocks are getting crushed, with Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK) each down 9% premarket. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

Monitor these overhead resistance levels, says Senior V.P. of Research Todd Salamone. "Buy" signal shines even amid CAT record run. Plus, more on the chip stock selloff; and IBM receives lift from analyst.

5 Things You Need to Know Today The Cboe Options Exchange saw roughly 2.8 million call contracts and 1.7 million put contracts traded on Monday. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.60, while the 21-day moving average fell to 0.58.  Market cap leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is 3% lower before the open as part of the tech sector rout. Year-over-year, the stock sports a 45% lead heading into today.  Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is not exempt from the tech carnage today, already down 7.6% premarket and poised to snap its three-day win streak. Intel stock has enjoyed a profitable year though, having added 282% for 2026. International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) is up 2.7% ahead of the open after J.P. Morgan Securities issued an upgrade to "overweight" from "neutral," to go with a price-target hike to $291 from $270. Morgan Stanley chimed in with a price-target hike of its own to $267 from $225. IBM stock has shed 24% since tapping a record high of $332.41 earlier this month. This week will bring several key economic indicators. 

Tech Turmoil Turns Global as Samsung, SK Hynix Cool Off Asian markets experienced a massive selloff on Tuesday as global tech stocks tumbled. Thanks to sharp gaps lower from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the South Korean Kospi dropped 10%, triggering circuit breakers twice, while Japan’s Nikkei snapped an eight-day win streak with a 3.6% loss. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite shed 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively.

European markets are feeling the heat from tech weakness as well. London’s FTSE 100 is down 0.4%, after the U.K.’s manufacturing orders shrunk at the fastest rate since 2020, while the French CAC 40 was last seen down 0.7%, and the German DAX slides 0.9%.

IBM stock receives an upgrade to Buy at J.P. Morgan, with analysts citing growing confidence in its software business.

JPMorgan's upgrade for IBM Corp. (IBM) set the foundation for a rally Tuesday as the rest of the tech sector takes a beating from an AI memory sell-off in South Korea. Marley Kayden walks investors through the upgrade and outlines the bull case JPMorgan sees in Big Blue.

HomeIndustriesComputers/ElectronicsTech StocksTech StocksIBM looks like a focal point as the U.S. further backs domestic quantum-computing initiativesLast Updated: June 23, 2026 at 5:11 p.m. ET
First Published: June 23, 2026 at 1:04 p.m. ET

Shares of IBM rose 5% on Tuesday after President Donald Trump signed executive orders on quantum computing. Photo: AFP/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump sold IBM’s stock before taking office, which was “not a good move,” he acknowledged on Monday.

Lately, Trump has become a fan of IBM IBM once more, praising not just the company but also CEO Arvind Krishna. Trump called Krishna a “great man” as he announced two executive orders Monday meant to help U.S. quantum-computing players enhance their capabilities. The IBM CEO was standing behind him at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office for that moment.

This year, the company is laying the groundwork to turn quantum computing into a fully-fledged, scalable business from an expensive science project.

International Business Machines weathered Tuesday's tech pullback better than most, thanks to a fresh vote of confidence on Wall Street, and a boost from the federal government.

Collaboration combines vulnerability discovery, virtual patching and software remediation to help organizations reduce the time between vulnerability discovery and protection.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., ARMONK, N.Y. & RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Red Hat today announced a collaboration to help organizations identify vulnerabilities early and deploy protections fast across open source software, commercial applications, operational technology (OT) and healthcare technologies. By integrating Palo Alto Networks Virtual Patching capability with Project Lightwell from IBM and Red Hat, the collaboration combines rapid network-level protection with software remediation to help organizations reduce exposure to emerging threats.

The collaboration connects IBM and Red Hat’s $5 billion commitment to open source security via Project Lightwell with Palo Alto Networks’ security platform.

Share AI has supercharged vulnerability discovery, enabling flaws to be identified at unprecedented speed and scale. AI-driven threats can uncover security gaps across codebases far faster than defenders can patch them, exposing organizations to systemic supply-chain risks.

Nikesh Arora, CEO and Chairman of Palo Alto Networks

"AI has compressed the window between vulnerability discovery and exploit from weeks to minutes. Traditional patching cannot keep pace. By collaborating with IBM and Red Hat, we are shifting the advantage back to defenders. This powerful combination allows us to neutralize threats in the network while providing uninterrupted business continuity for our global clients."

Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM

"IBM established Project Lightwell to secure the open-source software foundation that enterprises rely on every day. By collaborating with Palo Alto Networks, we are extending that security from the source code directly to the network front lines. This joint solution gives our clients exactly what they need to thrive in the AI era: immediate, automated resilience against emerging threats, combined with the rigorous validation required to safely update their core systems."

A Seamless "Shield-and-Fix" Workflow

The collaboration connects IBM and Red Hat’s $5 billion commitment to open source security via Project Lightwell with Palo Alto Networks’ security platform. This creates a dual-action defense: Palo Alto Networks rapidly deploys a virtual patch at the network layer to block exploit attempts, while IBM and Red Hat’s Project Lightwell offers software remediation for open source software that customers can test and deploy in their environments.

The collaboration combines vulnerability intelligence, software remediation and network-based protections to help organizations respond quickly to newly discovered vulnerabilities. Key capabilities include:

Broader Vulnerability Coverage: Protection across open source software, commercial applications, operational technology (OT) environments and connected devices. Preemptive Coverage: Organizations can receive virtual patch protections before official software patches become available, helping reduce exposure while remediation is underway. Rapid Protection: When a new vulnerability is discovered, network-level protections can be deployed the same day, with a long-term goal of reducing the time from validated discovery to protection. The companies also plan to establish secure processes for sharing vulnerability information across participating software vendors, technology providers and security teams. This collaboration is expected to support coordinated vulnerability disclosure, accelerate protection development and provide anonymized telemetry on real-world exploitation attempts.

Expert Deployment via IBM Consulting

To help organizations respond more effectively to newly discovered vulnerabilities, IBM Security Services can also provide advisory and deployment services that help customers identify which vulnerabilities pose the greatest risk to their business and determine the best path to remediation. Working alongside Palo Alto Networks' virtual patching capabilities and Project Lightwell's software remediation capabilities, IBM Security Services can help customers prioritize, deploy and validate protections and fixes across complex environments.

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global AI cybersecurity leader, protects our digital way of life with a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions and platforms across Network, Cloud, Security Operations, AI and Identity. Trusted by 70,000+ customers and powered by Unit 42 threat intelligence, our AI-driven platforms eliminate complexity, empowering enterprises to modernize with confidence and securing the speed of innovation. Explore the future of security at www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks, Prisma, Prisma AIRS, Idira and the Palo Alto Networks logo are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names, or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. Any unreleased services or features (and any services or features not generally available to customers) referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available (or are not yet generally available to customers) and may not be delivered when expected or at all. Customers who purchase Palo Alto Networks applications should make their purchase decisions based on services and features currently generally available.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the open hybrid cloud technology leader, delivering a trusted, consistent and comprehensive foundation for transformative IT innovation and AI applications. Its portfolio of cloud, developer, AI, Linux, automation and application platform technologies enables any application, anywhere—from the datacenter to the edge. As the world's leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, Red Hat invests in open ecosystems and communities to solve tomorrow's IT challenges. Collaborating with partners and customers, Red Hat helps them build, connect, automate, secure and manage their IT environments, supported by consulting services and award-winning training and certification offerings.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Palo Alto Networks that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, statements regarding the benefits, impact, or performance or potential benefits, impact or performance of Palo Alto Networks products, technologies, and integrations or future products, technologies, and integrations. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and there are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this release. Palo Alto Networks identifies certain important risks and uncertainties that could affect its results and performance in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time-to-time, each of which are available on Palo Alto Networks' website at investors.paloaltonetworks.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements in this release regarding Palo Alto Networks are based on information available to Palo Alto Networks as of the date hereof, and Palo Alto Networks does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

More News From Red Hat Inc.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH - Free Report) closed at $399.53 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.99% move from the prior day. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.98%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.35%.

The stock of largest U.S. health insurer has risen by 4.73% in the past month, leading the Medical sector's gain of 4.11% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of UnitedHealth Group in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on July 16, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $4.84, signifying a 18.63% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $110.05 billion, indicating a 1.4% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $18.32 per share and revenue of $443.7 billion, which would represent changes of +12.05% and -0.86%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for UnitedHealth Group. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.15% higher. UnitedHealth Group presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, UnitedHealth Group is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 22.26. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 18.12.

Investors should also note that UNH has a PEG ratio of 1.64 right now. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Medical - HMOs industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.13.

The Medical - HMOs industry is part of the Medical sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 25, putting it in the top 11% of all 250+ industries.

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UnitedHealth says AI is driving 2-to-1 returns and could cut operating costs by almost $1 billion this year. Summary

AI is becoming central to UnitedHealth’s cost-cutting and efficiency push.

UnitedHealth Group UNH is putting artificial intelligence at the center of its turnaround strategy as the company looks to recover from last year's profit collapse. The largest US health insurer plans to invest $3 billion in AI across 2026 and 2027, with executives saying the technology is already generating a 2-to-1 return by automating manual work, improving efficiency, and potentially reducing friction for patients.

The company is using AI across a wide range of administrative tasks, from reading medical chart summaries to nurses on the road, to analyzing millions of customer calls, to testing AI agents that call doctors' offices to schedule appointments. UnitedHealth also expects AI to help reduce operating costs by almost $1 billion this year, while Optum Real, a coverage-checking system for medical providers, has processed about a billion transactions since launching last year.

Wall Street appears focused on the potential cost savings, with Morgan Stanley analysts noting that insurers and medical providers spend $80 billion a year on administrative transactions. Still, UnitedHealth may need to convince a skeptical public that AI will benefit patients, not just the bottom line, as the company faces lawsuits over insurer algorithms and scrutiny after a federal inspector general report linked a naviHealth algorithm to higher denial rates that were almost always overturned on appeal.