On June 17, 2026, Commercial Metals Co CMC shares fell 4.5%, closing at $73.22. The stock has experienced a 52-week range of $47.06 to $84.87, illustrating a volatile year with significant price swings. Despite today's decline, CMC has shown a robust annual gain of 51.4%.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $73.22 is 24.2% above the GF Value™ of $58.97, indicating overvaluation.GF Score™ of 84/100 suggests a strong overall performance in key financial metrics.Notable signal: The momentum rank is 8/10, indicating strong price performance trends. Is CMC Overvalued or Undervalued? With the current price of Commercial Metals Co CMC at $73.22 being significantly above the GF Value™ of $58.97, the stock is deemed to be overvalued by approximately 24.2%. This overvaluation presents a margin of safety concern for potential investors looking for value opportunities. The GF Valuation label categorizes CMC as "Modestly Overvalued," which suggests that while the company has demonstrated strong growth and profitability metrics, its current market price may not reflect its intrinsic value accurately.
Investors should be cautious, as an overvalued stock often carries risks such as price corrections, especially if market conditions change or if the company's growth does not meet expectations. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates.
How Does CMC's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 16.3x 9.6x Forward P/E 10.8x N/A The current P/E (TTM) of 16.3x is significantly above its 5-year median P/E of 9.6x, suggesting that CMC is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation. This analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of being overvalued, indicating that the stock may be priced too high based on its earnings relative to historical performance.
What Does CMC's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 84 Financial Strength 6/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 7/10 Valuation 5/10 Momentum 8/10 The GF Score™ of 84/100 indicates a strong performance across various metrics, particularly in profitability (8/10) and momentum (8/10). However, the valuation score of 5/10 suggests that while the company has solid fundamentals, its current market price may not be justified. The financial strength rating of 6/10 reflects moderate stability, which is an area for potential improvement.
What Are Insiders Doing with CMC Stock? In the last three months, there have been no insider transactions reported for Commercial Metals Co CMC . This lack of activity might suggest that insiders are not currently buying or selling shares, which can sometimes indicate a neutral outlook on the stock's future performance. Insider buying could typically signal confidence in the company's prospects, while selling might suggest concerns; however, in this case, the absence of activity leaves investors with limited insights into insider sentiment.
What This Means for Investors Based on the current analysis, Commercial Metals Co CMC is deemed overvalued with a GF Value™ of $58.97 compared to its current price of $73.22. Given the current valuation metrics and the lack of insider buying activity, potential investors may want to proceed with caution.
For the complete analysis, visit the Commercial Metals Co CMC 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 CMC's GF Score™?
CMC's GF Score™ is 84/100, indicating a strong overall performance in key financial metrics and suggesting the potential for higher long-term returns.
Is CMC overvalued or undervalued?
CMC is considered overvalued, with a GF Value™ of $58.97 indicating a 24.2% downside from the current price of $73.22.
What is CMC's P/E ratio?
CMC's P/E (TTM) is 16.3x, which is significantly above its 5-year median P/E of 9.6x, reflecting a premium valuation compared to its historical 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].
Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) will release its third quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Thursday, June 25.
Analysts expect the Irving, Texas-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, up from 74 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for CMC's quarterly revenue is $2.41 billion. It reported $2.02 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On March 25, CMC announced an 11% increase in its quarterly dividend.
Commercial Metals shares fell 4.5% to close at $73.22 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying CMC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) will release its third quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Thursday, June 25.
Analysts expect the Irving, Texas-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, up from 74 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for CMC's quarterly revenue is $2.41 billion. It reported $2.02 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On March 25, CMC announced an 11% increase in its quarterly dividend.
Commercial Metals shares fell 4.5% to close at $73.22 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying CMC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
The market expects Commercial Metals (CMC - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended May 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on June 25. 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 manufacturer and recycler of steel and metal products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.63 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +120.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.38 billion, up 17.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.09% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
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. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
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 Commercial Metals?For Commercial Metals, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.38%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Commercial Metals will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Commercial Metals would post earnings of $1.28 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.16, delivering a surprise of -9.38%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Commercial Metals doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
The upcoming report from Commercial Metals (CMC - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.63 per share, indicating an increase of 120.3% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $2.38 billion, representing an increase of 17.8% year over year.
Over the last 30 days, there has been an upward revision of 1.1% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Commercial Metals metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.
Analysts forecast 'Net Sales-- Construction Solutions Group- Net sales from external customers' to reach $378.29 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +91.6%.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Net Sales- Construction Solutions Group- Ground stabilization products' of $61.24 million. The estimate suggests a change of -10.7% year over year.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Net sales from external customers- North America' will likely reach $1.71 billion. The estimate points to a change of +9.5% from the year-ago quarter.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net sales from external customers- Europe' should come in at $267.11 million. The estimate points to a change of +7.9% from the year-ago quarter.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Net sales from external customers- Corporate and Other' at $11.52 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -8.9%.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Major product- North America- Other' should arrive at $63.16 million. The estimate points to a change of +8.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Raw materials' reaching $981.80 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $809.00 .
Analysts predict that the 'Europe - Steel products metal margin per ton' will reach $313.48 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $293.00 in the same quarter of the previous year.
The consensus estimate for 'North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Downstream products' stands at $1242.79 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $1212.00 .
Analysts expect 'North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Cost of raw materials per ton' to come in at $738.14 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $617.00 in the same quarter last year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Cost of ferrous scrap utilized per ton' will reach $353.51 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $360.00 in the same quarter of the previous year.
The consensus among analysts is that 'North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Steel products metal margin per ton' will reach $602.30 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $499.00 .
View all Key Company Metrics for Commercial Metals here>>>
Shares of Commercial Metals have demonstrated returns of +2.4% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CMC is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
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Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: First American Financial (FAF - Free Report) Headquartered in Santa Ana, CA., First American Financial serves homebuyers and sellers, real estate professionals, loan originators and servicers, commercial property professionals, homebuilders and others involved in residential and commercial property transactions with products and services specific to their needs. The company was founded in the state of Delaware in January 2008. On Jun 1, 2010, the company’s common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
FAF is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 10.08; value investors should take notice.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.44 to $6.81 per share. FAF also boasts an average earnings surprise of +22%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, FAF should be on investors' short list.
Enpro (NPO) saw its shares surge in the last session with trading volume being higher than average. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions may not translate into further price increase in the near term.
Alamo Group (ALG) witnessed a jump in share price last session on above-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions for the stock doesn't suggest further strength down the road.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTN) ("Canton Strategic Holdings" or the "Company"), the first publicly traded company to leverage Canton Coin (CC) to support the Canton Network's ability to digitize traditional financial markets, today announced it is expected to join the broad-market Russell 3000® Index and the small-cap Russell 2000® Index following the semi-annual reconstitution, effective after market close on June 26, 2026, according to a preliminary list of additions published by FTSE Russell.
"As the only company providing active equity exposure to the Canton Network ecosystem, we are proud to be considered for inclusion in the Russell 3000® and Russell 2000®, including their respective value and growth indices," said Mark Wendland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canton Strategic Holdings. "This distinction reflects the strength of our Canton-aligned strategy and our ability to deliver on behalf of a broader set of investors while supporting the Canton Network's modernization of financial rails."
The semi-annual reconstitution of the Russell indices evaluates companies by market cap as well as style. The current reconstitution was conducted with data as of April 30, 2026.
About Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc.
Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTN) is the first publicly traded company to leverage Canton Coin and support the Canton Network to advance institutional blockchain adoption and the digitization of financial markets. In addition to driving value through activities on the Canton Network, the Company also operates clinical-stage biotech research and development. For more information, visit www.cantonstrategic.com.
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and include, without limitation, those regarding management expectations, strategy execution, market conditions, and the Company's involvement with the Canton Network. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Further information regarding factors that may affect the Company's prospects is included in its annual and quarterly reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law.
Canton is a registered trademark of Digital Asset (Switzerland) GmbH. Digital Asset is not affiliated with, and has not sponsored or endorsed, the operations of Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc.
On June 18, 2026, Acushnet Holdings Corp GOLF shares rose 7.2%, bringing the current price to $107.73. The stock has shown strong performance recently, with a 52-week range of $70.28 to $108.66.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price is $107.73, which is 36.0% above the GF Value™ of $79.22, indicating it is overvalued.GF Score™ is 83/100, which suggests a strong overall performance relative to its peers.Notable signal: Insiders sold $1.4 million worth of shares in the last three months, indicating a lack of buying interest from those with the most intimate knowledge of the company. Is GOLF Overvalued or Undervalued? The current share price of Acushnet Holdings Corp GOLF at $107.73 is significantly above the GF Value™ estimate of $79.22, which suggests that the stock is overvalued by approximately 36.0%. This valuation implies a lack of margin of safety for potential investors, as the current price does not offer a compelling entry point based on intrinsic value calculations. The GF Valuation label categorizes GOLF as "Significantly Overvalued," highlighting the risks associated with investing at this price level.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. Given the substantial premium of the current price over the GF Value™, investors may face heightened risks if the market corrects itself or if the company's performance does not meet the elevated expectations reflected in the stock price.
How Does GOLF's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 37.9x 19.9x Forward P/E 28.6x N/A With a current P/E (TTM) of 37.9x, Acushnet is trading at a level 91% above its 5-year median P/E of 19.9x. This significant disparity suggests that GOLF is currently overvalued relative to its historical valuation metrics. The forward P/E of 28.6x also indicates that the stock is trading above its historical levels, which aligns with the GF Value™ verdict that GOLF is overvalued.
What Does GOLF's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 83/100 Financial Strength 5/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 7/10 Valuation 5/10 Momentum 8/10 The GF Score™ of 83/100 indicates that Acushnet Holdings Corp has a strong overall rating, particularly in terms of profitability (8/10) and momentum (8/10). However, the score for financial strength (5/10) and valuation (5/10) reflects areas of concern, particularly considering the stock's current overvaluation status. The company’s growth rank of 7/10 suggests that while it has potential, the current high price relative to its historical valuation may not offer a secure investment opportunity.
What Are Insiders Doing with GOLF Stock? Recent insider activity shows that insiders have sold $1.4 million worth of shares over the past three months, with no reported purchases. This trend may indicate a lack of confidence among those closest to the company regarding its future performance, which could be a concerning signal for potential investors. The absence of insider buying could suggest that insiders do not view the current stock price as favorable for investment.
What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis of GF Value™, Acushnet Holdings Corp GOLF appears to be overvalued at its current price of $107.73. The significant premium over the intrinsic value estimate and the concerning insider selling activity suggest a cautious approach for potential investors.
For the complete analysis, visit the Acushnet Holdings Corp GOLF 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 GOLF's GF Score™?
The GF Score™ for Acushnet Holdings Corp is 83/100, indicating a strong overall performance relative to its peers, particularly in profitability and momentum.
Is GOLF overvalued or undervalued?
GOLF is deemed overvalued based on GF Value™, with the current price of $107.73 being 36.0% above the intrinsic value estimate of $79.22.
What is GOLF's P/E ratio?
The current P/E (TTM) for GOLF is 37.9x, which is significantly higher than its 5-year median P/E of 19.9x, suggesting overvaluation in relation to historical levels.
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].
Acushnet (GOLF) was a big mover last session on higher-than-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions might help the stock continue moving higher in the near term.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Verisk Analytics (VRSK - Free Report) Headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., Verisk Analytics is one of the leading data analytics providers serving customers in the insurance, energy, financial services and specialized markets. Using advanced technologies to collect and analyze data, Verisk draws on unique data assets and deep domain expertise to provide innovations that are integrated into customer workflows. The company offers predictive analytics and decision support solutions to customers in rating, underwriting, claims, catastrophe and weather risk, natural resources intelligence, economic forecasting and many other fields. The company operates in 30 countries.
VRSK is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. VRSK has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 6.6% for the current fiscal year.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $7.63 per share. VRSK boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, VRSK should be on investors' short list.
Barrick Mining is initiated at a buy rating following a significant pullback, despite a ~100% rally over the past year. The company crushed Q1 gold production guidance and posted 67% YoY revenue growth, with margin and EPS sharply improved by strong realized gold prices. Despite recent operational disruptions and regional uncertainty, Barrick's fundamentals remain robust, with IPOs planned for its North American and African businesses.
Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq: COLM), a leading innovator in active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, today announced that Joe Vernachio will be the next President of SOREL. Founded in 1962, SOREL is a leader in functional and lifestyle footwear that can be worn anywhere from the tundra to the streets of New York City.
“We’re excited to welcome Joe Vernachio back to the Columbia Sportswear family,” said Tim Boyle, CEO and Chair of the Board. “Joe is a terrific leader who can build on the great work, talent and momentum in place at SOREL.”
Mr. Vernachio led the Mountain Hardwear brand for several years, until he left to become the COO and ultimately, the CEO of Allbirds. His background also includes time as Global Vice President for Product and Operations at The North Face, and key roles at Nike, Spyder, Roots, Calvin Klein and Patagonia.
“Joe is a consumer‑focused, collaborative leader with a deep passion for product and brand storytelling. His energy, expertise, and proven leadership will help fuel scalable growth and meaningful brand expansion for SOREL,” said Craig Zanon, EVP, Europe Direct, Asia Direct and Emerging Brands.
Mr. Vernachio will begin on June 22, 2026.
About Columbia Sportswear Company:
Columbia Sportswear Company has assembled a portfolio of brands for active lives, making it a leader in the global active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment industry. Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, the company's brands are today sold in approximately 90 countries. In addition to the Columbia® brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also owns the Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL®, and prAna® brands. To learn more, please visit the company's websites at www.columbia.com, www.mountainhardwear.com, www.SOREL.com, and www.prana.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations, anticipations or beliefs about the growth of the Columbia brand and the Company. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or reference future dates. The Company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis; however, each forward-looking statement involves a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in this document, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors," and those that have been or may be described in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this document to conform them to actual results or to reflect changes in events, circumstances or its expectations. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the effects of all such factors or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260617501473/en/
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq: COLM), a leading innovator in active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, today announced that Joe Vernachio will be the next President of SOREL. Founded in 1962, SOREL is a leader in functional and lifestyle footwear that can be worn anywhere from the tundra to the streets of New York City.
“We’re excited to welcome Joe Vernachio back to the Columbia Sportswear family,” said Tim Boyle, CEO and Chair of the Board. “Joe is a terrific leader who can build on the great work, talent and momentum in place at SOREL.”
Mr. Vernachio led the Mountain Hardwear brand for several years, until he left to become the COO and ultimately, the CEO of Allbirds. His background also includes time as Global Vice President for Product and Operations at The North Face, and key roles at Nike, Spyder, Roots, Calvin Klein and Patagonia.
“Joe is a consumer‑focused, collaborative leader with a deep passion for product and brand storytelling. His energy, expertise, and proven leadership will help fuel scalable growth and meaningful brand expansion for SOREL,” said Craig Zanon, EVP, Europe Direct, Asia Direct and Emerging Brands.
Mr. Vernachio will begin on June 22, 2026.
About Columbia Sportswear Company:
Columbia Sportswear Company has assembled a portfolio of brands for active lives, making it a leader in the global active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment industry. Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, the company's brands are today sold in approximately 90 countries. In addition to the Columbia® brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also owns the Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL®, and prAna® brands. To learn more, please visit the company's websites at www.columbia.com, www.mountainhardwear.com, www.SOREL.com, and www.prana.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations, anticipations or beliefs about the growth of the Columbia brand and the Company. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or reference future dates. The Company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis; however, each forward-looking statement involves a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in this document, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors," and those that have been or may be described in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this document to conform them to actual results or to reflect changes in events, circumstances or its expectations. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the effects of all such factors or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
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It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
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That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) San Antonio, TX-based Valero Energy Corporation is the largest independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products in the United States. The company was founded in 1980. It has a refining capacity of 3 million barrels per day across 14 refineries located throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
VLO is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. VLO has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 156.3% for the current fiscal year.
Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $9.45 to $27.19 per share. VLO boasts an average earnings surprise of +28%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, VLO should be on investors' short list.
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Valero Energy currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.90, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 21 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.90 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 21 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 12 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 57.1% and 4.8% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for VLO
Check price target & stock forecast for Valero Energy here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying Valero Energy, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Should You Invest in VLO?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Valero Energy, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 3.5% over the past month to $27.45.
Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Valero Energy. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Valero Energy may serve as a useful guide for investors.
Key Takeaways Valero Energy stands to benefit as falling crude prices lower input costs and lift refining margins.Tight global refining capacity and low fuel inventories are keeping margins strong for VLO.VLO shares have jumped 72% over the past year, outpacing the industry's 38% improvement. The United States and Iran have inked an interim deal to end the war and eventually reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for the passage of significant oil volumes that are consumed across the globe. So, once the oil starts flowing, there will be more supply, leading to declining commodity prices. The price of West Texas Intermediate crude is hovering around the $75-per-barrel benchmark, reflecting a sharp decline from the more than $100 per barrel a month ago.
Although oil prices are still high, the significant decline is definitely having a much bigger impact on the energy business landscape. For refiners like Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) , the considerable decline in oil prices will likely increase refining margins, as input costs have fallen remarkably.
Apart from this, investors should note that the global refining capacity is constrained, and fuel inventories are low. On the demand side, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel remain resilient. This means people are still driving and flying quite often, while diesel demand suggests transportation, freight, agriculture and industrial activity are still holding up. As a result, with higher refinery activities and constrained fuel supply, refining margins for refiners like VLO are quite strong.
Will MPC & PSX Also Gain?Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC - Free Report) and Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) are two other leading refining companies that are well poised to gain from falling crude prices and the tight refining capacities across the globe.
MPC runs refining systems that are the largest in the United States. With high utilization of refineries, Marathon Petroleum is well-positioned to capture almost all of the available profitable opportunities.
Phillips 66’s refineries have excellent processing capacity and can handle different grades of crude, and hence can earn a handsome margin after processing low-cost heavy crude. Importantly, PSX expects its refining operations to be responsible for contributing almost 33% of its total adjusted EBITDA by 2027.
VLO’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of VLO have jumped 72% over the past year compared with the 38% improvement of the composite stocks belonging to the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, VLO trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 7.25X. This is above the broader industry average of 5.55X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VLO’s 2026 earnings has seen upward estimate revisions over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VLO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $236.30, demonstrating a -1.45% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's change was less 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%.
Heading into today, shares of the oil refiner had lost 5.52% over the past month, outpacing the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 7.57% and lagging the S&P 500's gain of 0.29%.
The upcoming earnings release of Valero Energy will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on July 30, 2026. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $7.45, indicating a 226.75% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $36.19 billion, up 21.08% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $27.45 per share and revenue of $133.66 billion, which would represent changes of +158.72% and +8.94%, respectively, from the prior year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Valero Energy should also be noted by investors. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.53% higher. Valero Energy is holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) right now.
In the context of valuation, Valero Energy is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 8.74. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 8.4.
One should further note that VLO currently holds a PEG ratio of 0.34. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry held an average PEG ratio of 0.34.
The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 23, positioning it in the top 10% 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.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Many investors and drivers breathed a sigh of relief after the 2024 election. President Trump campaigned hard on bringing down energy costs, and the first year of his second term saw gas prices fall sharply from the year before.
Then the outbreak of the Iran conflict briefly sent oil above $100 a barrel and pushed average gasoline prices past $5 per gallon. Although chances for a peace deal brought oil prices down again and pulled the national average gas price toward $3.95 today, negotiations have hit roadblocks. The price of a barrel of oil is climbing again. Yet a much larger threat to gas prices may be emerging — and it has nothing to do with Iran.
The Coming Crisis The culprit is a set of aggressive federal rules that require oil refiners to use far more biofuels — fuels made from corn, soybeans, used cooking oil, and animal fats — in the gasoline and diesel Americans buy every day.
When refiners cannot blend enough biofuel, they must buy compliance credits (called renewable identification numbers, or RINs) on the open market. Those RIN prices have soared because the government’s targets now exceed what the country comfortably produces. The mechanics are straightforward.
Every year the EPA sets a growing quota for biofuels that must enter the domestic fuel supply. Refiners can meet the quota by actually mixing in ethanol or renewable diesel, or they can buy RINs generated by biofuel producers. When there aren’t enough RINs to go around, their prices jump. Refiners then pass much of that extra cost along the chain, ultimately hitting the pump.
In late March, the EPA finalized record-high targets of roughly 25.82 billion RINs required for 2026 and 25.98 billion for 2027. These are the largest mandates in the program’s history. The rules also put about 70% of exemptions previously granted to small refineries back into the general pool, raising the burden on larger players.
The Current Squeeze Biofuel production continues to expand, but not quickly enough to create a comfortable cushion against the EPA’s increasingly aggressive targets. The buffer of unused RINs built up in prior years is running low.
EPA data released June 18 showed 2.02 billion credits generated in May — up 4% from last year — but the overall cushion continues to shrink. Bloomberg analysts expect it will hit zero at the end of this year and go into deficit in 2027.
This shortage has already driven RIN prices to all-time highs, from around $1 at the start of the year to almost $2.25 today. Refiners without their own biofuel production face the full hit when they buy on the open market. The growing pressure has already sparked a legal challenge.
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers trade group argues the mandates are unrealistic, could cost more than $100 billion over two years, and may force refiners to limit domestic fuel sales to remain compliant. They estimate the impact could mean gas prices rise by $0.26 to $0.45 per gallon — on top of the elevated prices that are already likely to remain.
Similarly, ethanol producer Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM) reported a 48% increase in operating profit for its carbohydrate solutions segment, while operating profit for its Vantage Corn Processors unit — which includes ADM’s dry mill ethanol plants — nearly quadrupled. It expects the improved margin environment for ethanol to continue in Q2.
In contrast, pure merchant refiners like PBF Energy (NYSE:PBF) lack big biofuel arms and must purchase most credits externally, which squeezes margins when prices rise.
Key Takeaway Investors should view the coming RIN squeeze as a reminder that energy markets are often shaped as much by regulation as by geopolitics. While headlines remain focused on Iran and oil prices, refiners are increasingly focused on compliance costs that could ripple through the entire fuel supply chain.
Companies with meaningful renewable diesel and ethanol operations, such as Valero, may be positioned to benefit as credit prices rise, while refiners that must purchase credits on the open market could face margin pressure. As earnings season approaches, investors should pay close attention to management commentary on RIN costs, renewable fuel profitability, and the outlook for EPA mandates.
The next major move in gasoline prices may have less to do with events overseas than with decisions being made in Washington.
If you are reading the news and thinking the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ends today’s oil problems, think again. Shipping has started to resume, but normal flows may take weeks or months to recover as markets work through disrupted logistics, damaged infrastructure and depleted inventories.
The Iran conflict disrupted a meaningful share of global oil flows, including production, refining and shipping activity. Even with the Strait moving back toward normal operations, oil markets may remain tight through the summer as traders watch weekly storage data and the pace of supply recovery.
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Oil Prices Won't Stay Down LongWTI’s pullback looks encouraging for oil bears, with prices sharply below their 2026 highs as of mid-June. The caveat for oil bears is that the June price drop found support above $75, suggesting the market may not be ready to price in a full return to normal supply conditions. Catalysts will be dwindling storage levels, as reported weekly throughout the summer. Don’t forget, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the most heavily populated half of the Earth and the most active oil-burning period.
The takeaway for investors is that energy companies, specifically producers and refiners, are well-positioned. Not only is demand high for their product, but high prices mean high margins. Add in the fact that the sector has invested heavily in efficiency and quality over the past few years, and the odds are high that windfall profits are on the way.
Energy-sector earnings estimates have moved sharply higher, but they may still leave room for upside if crude prices rebound and demand remains firm. Estimates, which have more than doubled over the trailing-90-day period, forecast more than 120% earnings per share (EPS) growth in the current quarter and 65% for the year. The likely outcome is that economic strength underpins sector outperformance in Q2, and the upcoming WTI price rebound underpins it in the longer term.
ExxonMobil: Highly Efficient Cash Flow and Capital Return MachineExxonMobil Today
$137.84 +0.04 (+0.03%)
As of 06/18/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$105.53▼
$176.41Dividend Yield2.99%
P/E Ratio23.25
Price Target$165.70
ExxonMobil NYSE: XOM is among the leading plays on high oil prices because it is the world’s largest integrated oil company, excluding China and Saudi Arabia, with major assets in critical energy-producing regions such as Guyana and the Permian Basin. Details that interest investors include its low break-even cost, which sets the stage for industry-leading free cash flow and capital returns. With oil prices high and expected to rise, it is well-positioned to benefit and offers investors the added benefit of diversification. The downstream and chemical segments provide some insulation from commodity price changes.
ExxonMobil’s dividend is not the highest among energy companies, but it is substantial, yielding nearly 3% as of mid-June. The payout is reliable, having been increased annually for more than 40 years, and the payout ratio remains manageable at around 69% of earnings. Looking ahead, the payout is likely to continue increasing at a modest single-digit rate; buybacks will catalyze share price gains.
Unlike most other energy companies, Exxon’s operational quality enabled it to sustain aggressive buybacks despite lower oil prices. The story today is that it can accelerate repurchases, while many of them will need to divert some of the windfall cash flow toward debt payments and reduction.
ConocoPhillips: A Pure Play on Producer MarginsConocoPhillips Today
COP
ConocoPhillips
$107.92 +0.19 (+0.17%)
As of 06/18/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$85.57▼
$135.87Dividend Yield3.11%
P/E Ratio18.32
Price Target$134.48
ConocoPhillips NYSE: COP shares qualities with ExxonMobil, including low-cost operations and ample cash flow. Among the differences is the business model, which is a pure-play on production. This sets the company up for more pronounced upside as oil prices spike, but also to volatility once they peak. The critical factor is the capital return, which includes a 3% dividend yield and share buybacks, likely to be accelerated in upcoming quarters.
ConocoPhillips' capital return is unique in that it is tied to free cash flow. In this scenario, the company will pay larger dividends and buy back more shares as oil prices rise. The silver lining is that deceleration is already expected, as any downticks in oil prices, margins, and cash flow will also be reflected in the payments. The difference today is that COP is shifting away from a variable payout structure toward more regular payments; these changes in cash flow will be reflected in buyback activity.
Valero Energy Cracks Down on Oil ProfitsValero Energy Today
VLO
Valero Energy
$236.50 +0.20 (+0.08%)
As of 06/18/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$130.78▼
$265.61Dividend Yield2.03%
P/E Ratio17.19
Price Target$245.59
Valero Energy NYSE: VLO is a top play on higher prices because it is a pure-play, independent refiner exposed to crack spreads rather than oil prices. While higher oil prices raise costs, higher realized profits make them moot. The takeaway for investors is that cash flow is growing in 2026, sufficient to enable capital returns while building cash on the balance sheet. Capital return includes dividends yielding around 2% and share buybacks, which reduced the count by an average of 5.1% on a trailing-12-month basis as of Q1.
Analysts' trends are bullish for these stocks. MarketBeat data reveals sufficient coverage for conviction, with an average of 23 covering each. They are collectively rated as Moderate Buys with a bullish bias and uptrends in their share prices. Valero has the tamest outlook, with consensus forecasting only modest upside, but its trend is toward the high end of the range, adding double digits, putting this market at a fresh all-time high. Exxon and ConocoPhillips have modest double-digit upside relative to their consensus figures, with high-end ranges in fresh all-time-high territory.
Should You Invest $1,000 in ExxonMobil Right Now?Before you consider ExxonMobil, you'll want to hear this.
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While ExxonMobil currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, June 17:
DaVita Inc. (DVA - Free Report) : This kidney dialysis company has a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 6.4% over the last 60 days.
DaVita Inc. has a PEG ratio of 0.69 compared with 2.18 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) : This specialty retail company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.1% over the last 60 days.
Five Below has a PEG ratio of 1.06 compared with 2.01 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.
Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI - Free Report) : This shipping and mailing services company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 11% over the last 60 days.
Pitney Bowes has a PEG ratio of 0.77 compared with 0.84 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.
See the full list of top ranked stocks here.
Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.
Rodney Lastinger named Chief Retail Officer
Christos Yatrakis named Chief Legal Officer
PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE), the trend-right, high-quality, extreme-value retailer for the kid and the kid in all of us, today announced the appointments of Rodney Lastinger as Chief Retail Officer and Christos Yatrakis as Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Lastinger will be responsible for leading the operational performance of the Company’s growing network of nearly 2,000 stores and will join Five Below on June 22, 2026. Mr. Yatrakis will oversee the Company's legal function and joined on June 15, 2026. Both executives will report to Kenneth Bull, Chief Operating Officer.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rodney and Christos to the Five Below crew," said Winnie Park, Chief Executive Officer. "Rodney brings exceptional operational leadership and a proven track record of driving results and building high-performing teams across large, multi-unit organizations. His fresh perspective and customer-focused approach will be invaluable as we continue our store expansion and further enhance our store experience.”
Ms. Park continued, “Christos brings deep expertise in corporate governance and public company compliance, as well as broad business acumen and enterprise leadership experience. Both Rodney and Christos share our commitment to putting the customer at the center of everything we do, and I look forward to partnering with them as we continue to unlock our full potential."
Rodney Lastinger
Mr. Lastinger is a seasoned retail executive with extensive experience leading large-scale operations across national and international markets. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer at GNC, where he directed operations across more than 2,200 franchise and corporate stores nationwide, improving comparable sales trends and EBITDA through operational transformation and supply chain optimization. Prior to GNC, Mr. Lastinger served as President, Retail, at Conn's Home Plus, leading all company operations including stores, supply chain, merchandising, in-home sales and service, and real estate. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lastinger spent 18 years at Target Corporation, progressing through roles of increasing responsibility to Senior Vice President, Stores.
"I have long admired Five Below's unique ability to connect with its core customer through trend-right product at exceptional value in a fun store experience," said Mr. Lastinger. "I am excited to join the talented team at Five Below, and I look forward to partnering with the crew to drive operational excellence and deliver outstanding experiences for our customers."
Christos Yatrakis
Mr. Yatrakis is an accomplished legal executive with more than 20 years of experience leading legal functions for global public consumer companies. Most recently, he served as Chief People & Legal Officer at Allbirds, Inc., where he oversaw legal, corporate governance, SEC compliance and people functions for operations spanning more than 20 countries. Prior to Allbirds, Mr. Yatrakis held senior legal and operational roles at Gymshark USA Inc., including General Manager, North America, and at Arrow Electronics, Inc., where he served as Vice President, Legal Affairs.
"Five Below has established itself as a beloved brand with a clear mission and strong culture," said Mr. Yatrakis. "I am honored to join the team and support the company's continued growth by providing strategic legal counsel and building strong partnerships across the organization."
About Five Below:
Five Below is a leading growth retailer offering trend-right, extreme value, high-quality products loved by the kid and the kid in all of us. We believe life is better when customers are free to "let go & have fun" in an amazing experience filled with unlimited possibilities. With most items priced between $1 and $5 and some extreme value items priced beyond $5, Five Below makes it easy to say YES! to the newest, coolest stuff across awesome Five Below worlds: Candy, Style, Party, Room, Create, Tech, Sports and New & Now. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below today has over 1,900 stores in 46 states. For more information, please visit www.fivebelow.com or follow @fivebelow on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Investor Contact:
Five Below, Inc.
Christiane Pelz
Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected]
HENDERSON, Nev., June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is opening NSU Health, a regional campus in Henderson, Nev., initially to offer its nationally recognized Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) program to address a state and national shortage of anesthesia professionals.
Nova Southeastern University, the first university to offer an AA program in Nevada, will enroll its first cohort of 26 students in the 27-month program in its facilities at 876 Seven Hills Dr., this summer. NSU Health AA program graduates typically obtain a master’s degree in two years, after completing undergraduate studies, then taking graduation work under the direction of a physician anesthesiologist in surgical settings.
Nevada is among the states ranked lowest in the availability of primary care physicians and surgeons, as well as anesthesiologists. Nova Southeastern University, the nation’s largest educator of healthcare professionals, with its main campus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., intends to soon introduce a respiratory therapy degree program at its Henderson facility. The university plans to add more healthcare programs at that campus in the future.
“NSU Health at Nova Southeastern University brings together education, patient care, and groundbreaking research aimed at resolving some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges,” said NSU Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Chad Perlyn, M.D. “Nevada’s recent authorization of licensure of AAs during a significant shortage of the healthcare workforce in the state further underscores the need for these professionals in the local workforce. Training the next generation of AAs through NSU Health means our graduates can meet this growing need and contribute to a more resilient healthcare system for patients throughout the region.”
Students enrolled in the AA program at the NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus will also benefit from the U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP) Center for Anesthesia Education and Leadership at the university, which is a national hub for innovation, education, and leadership in anesthesia care. The Center prepares students for their careers as AAs, certified registered nurse anesthetists CRNAs), and physicians by leveraging NSU Health’s industry-leading program. USAP’s direct support and network of anesthesia clinicians will serve as mentors and proctors during clinical rotations.
"We are excited to have the campus in Henderson be a hub for the USAP Center for Anesthesia Education and Leadership at NSU Health,” said Mo Azam M.D., MBA, head of innovation at USAP. “The Center brings USAP and NSU Health together, making an even bigger impact in addressing the country’s need for more anesthesia clinicians. It brings together a nation-leading anesthesiologist assistant program, a new CRNA program, strong medical school affiliations, a division of clinical research, an innovation center, and a business school track for anesthesia practice management and leadership.”
The NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus will offer students the education and training to be practice-ready upon graduation. The program there will provide students with hands-on clinical experience mirroring work-world scenarios. It will use on-site simulation facilities featuring high-fidelity simulators and fully operational, state-of-the-art operating rooms.
AAs will be trained to monitor patients, develop anesthesia care plans, administer anesthesia, and provide pre- and post-operative care, among other responsibilities. This makes them highly coveted members of surgical care teams and explains why anesthesia providers are in high demand.
“The opening of our regional campus is another significant milestone in our mission to provide a world-class education to students across the country,” said NSU president and chief executive officer Harry K. Moon, M.D. “As the largest educator of healthcare professionals in the nation, we look forward to our role as a partner in advancing higher education, healthcare, and workforce development in Nevada and beyond.”
The NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus is the university’s 11th campus. Our others are in Centennial, Colo.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and throughout Florida in Fort Lauderdale (Main and Ocean campuses), Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa Bay. For more information on the NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus, visit https://www.nova.edu/campuses/nevada/index.html.
NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus
NSU Health Nevada Regional Campus The new Nova Southeastern University (NSU) regional campus location in Henderson, Nevada, marks NSU'...
(Oslo/Lista, Norway 18 June 2026) Statkraft and Alcoa have signed two new power agreements securing electricity supply to support continued operation of Alcoa’s aluminium plant at Lista, Norway. The agreements provide a solid and predictable energy foundation for the smelter and help maintain both production and further development at the site.
Production Line 2 at Lista recently completed a successful restart of 31,000 metric tonnes per annum to reach its nameplate capacity of 95,000 metric tonnes for the plant. This marked an important milestone for Alcoa in Norway, with restored capacity and a strengthened industrial presence. Building on this, access to reliable and competitively priced power is essential for continued operations.
The power agreements cover deliveries of approximately 4.8 TWh of electricity during the period 2028–2031.
“Restarting operations at Lista was an important milestone for us, and access to stable power is absolutely essential for taking the next step,” says Tor Arne Berg, Operations Manager at Alcoa Lista.
The agreement also highlights the importance of predictable regulatory frameworks and long-term access to power for Norwegian industry - particularly for power-intensive sectors such as aluminium production.
“We are pleased to contribute with predictable and competitive power prices for Alcoa at Lista and to continue our strong cooperation. For Statkraft, it is important to support continued activity and value creation in the region, both through this agreement and through other supply contracts and development plans in Southwest Norway (NO2),” says Hallvard Granheim, Executive Vice President Markets at Statkraft.
“Alcoa is the latest of several large industrial companies to enter into new long-term power agreements with Statkraft this year. The demand confirms that the power market is functioning well and that we deliver competitive terms and power supply in line with industry needs,” he adds.
The agreements form part of Alcoa’s long-term work to secure stable power prices on commercial terms for its operations in Norway.
For further information, please contact:
Lars Magnus Günther, media spokesperson Statkraft AS
Tel: +47 912 41 636
E-mail: [email protected]
or www.statkraft.no
About Statkraft
Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, and gas-fired power. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has around 6,200 employees in 20 countries.
About Alcoa Norway
Alcoa established its presence in Norway in 1962 through a partnership with Elkem ASA. Today, the company operates aluminum smelters at Lista and in Mosjøen, both wholly owned by Alcoa. Through modern casting technology and high-quality primary aluminum, Alcoa Norway supplies European rolling mills, extrusion plants, and casthouses with aluminum solutions. The company employs 1,001 people.
Potroom Lista smelter Lista smelter
Potroom Lista smelter Potroom at Alcoa's Lista smelter Lista smelter Aerial photo of Alcoa's Lista smelter
The Leidos Holdings Analyst: Analyst Mariana Perez Mora downgraded the rating from Buy to Neutral, while cutting the price target from $200 to $125.
The Leidos Holdings Thesis: Leidos is an American defense, aviation, information technology and biomedical research company.
The company booked awards worth $8 billion over the past 15 months, and management projected awards of $9 billion more in the next 12 months, but growth continues to "get deferred," Mora said in the downgrade note.
Check out other analyst stock ratings.
Headwinds from certain programs winding down could offset Leidos Holdings' overall growth for the next couple of years, the analyst stated. So, while the company's defense portfolio does present opportunities, investors are unlikely to price in their full value until results begin to materialize, she added.
Leidos Holdings' managed health care business had been a "standout performer," the analyst noted. She added, however, that there is downward pressure in the near term from:
DHMSM (Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization) is winding down and DHA (Defense Health Agency) is still trying to work directly with suppliers MDE (Medical Disability Exams) is up for recompete, weighing on the company's market share and pricing power "While we anticipate LDOS will be able to leverage its existing capabilities and network to win business in managed health (like recent Military OneSource), increasing competition in the health care sector limits future upside," Mora further wrote.
LDOS Price Action: Shares of Leidos Holdings had declined by 2.94% to $110.24 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
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After trading flat last week, Leidos (LDOS 1.43%) moved notably lower this week. With a firm downwardly revising its price target on the software stock, investors felt compelled to click the sell button.
According to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, shares of Leidos fell 11% from the end of trading last Friday through the close of today's market session.
Image source: Getty Images.
This company's healthcare business isn't as healthy as previously thought Downgrading it to neutral from buy, Bank of America cut the price target on Leidos stock to $125 from $200 on Wednesday. According to Thefly.com, Bank of America based its decision to lower expectations on Leidos stock on the belief that pressure is building on its "once blooming" healthcare portfolio.
Today's Change
(
-1.43
%) $
-1.55
Current Price
$
107.12
While Bank of America recognizes that the company's managed healthcare business has been a strong suit, the firm believes the Defense Health Agency, a combat support agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that integrates healthcare services for several military branches, is now focused on working directly with suppliers in the Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization program. As a result, Leidos's healthcare portfolio will now see increased pressure.
Based on Leidos shares closing at $113.58 on Tuesday, the Bank of America price target implies upside of 10%.
Is Leidos stock a buying opportunity after its recent drop? Highly profitable and debt-free, Leidos is in impressive financial health. While Bank of America's concerns are notable, the market's reaction this week seems excessive. With shares of Leidos trading at 10 times trailing earnings, a discount to their five-year average P/E of 20.6, now seems like a great time to consider a position in the tech stock.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Leidos. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The blockbuster initial public offering (IPO) for Space Exploration Technologies (a.k.a. SpaceX) has sent shockwaves through the market, turning it into a multitrillion-dollar giant. That historic debut triggered a temporary liquidity vacuum, with some investors selling off smaller aerospace positions to fund their SpaceX orders, but it ultimately validated the huge scale of the modern space economy.
With SpaceX having a premium valuation that leaves almost zero room for error, the smarter risk-reward plays often lie in the crucial infrastructure and defense partners supporting this boom. Here are three compelling reasons to buy Rocket Lab (RKLB 0.53%) and Leidos (LDOS 1.43%) in a post-SpaceX IPO world:
Image source: Getty Images.
The valuation arbitrage: Buying growth at a discount SpaceX has captured the world's attention, but at an astronomical multitrillion-dollar valuation, it has to execute flawlessly just to justify its share price. Doubling your money requires it to reach more than $5 trillion in market value, an incredibly high bar.
Rocket Lab is a space stock with huge potential at a fraction of its market capitalization. It's pulling in record revenue, with $200 million in the first quarter alone, up more than 63% year over year, and has a backlog of $2.2 billion.
The stock gives you an entry into an established, rapidly growing player where operational execution can still yield asymmetric, exponential returns.
Leidos is an even better value, trading at less than 11 times trailing earnings. It is growing revenue more slowly, though, with $4.4 billion in the first quarter, up 4% over the same period last year, but it has a huge backlog of $48.4 billion.
Today's Change
(
-1.43
%) $
-1.55
Current Price
$
107.12
Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket will lift the stock Until now, SpaceX has dominated the medium-to-heavy commercial launch market with the Falcon 9. But commercial operators, constellation builders, and government agencies desperately want a reliable backup to break that monopoly.
Rocket Lab's highly anticipated medium-lift reusable rocket, the Neutron, is slated for its debut late this year. It will immediately scale up Rocket Lab's payload capacity to 13,000 kilograms (just under 28,700 pounds or 14.3 tons), allowing it to compete directly for the high-margin national security and deep-space missions currently monopolized by SpaceX. The company has already locked in a five-launch deal for the Neutron before it even leaves the pad.
Leidos' single largest financial footprint in space operations is the contract for Advanced Enterprise Global Information Technology Solutions (AEGIS), a 10-year deal that it landed in 2021 with NASA. With the contract valued at up to $2.5 billion, Leidos manages the entire telecommunications, cloud, data center, and cybersecurity infrastructure that connects all NASA centers, enabling the data transmission necessary for deep-space exploration and tracking.
Today's Change
(
-0.53
%) $
-0.57
Current Price
$
107.41
Both space companies are crucial pick-and-shovel plays Launches grab the headlines, but the real recurring money in the trillion-dollar space economy comes from satellite manufacturing, software, payload integration, and cybersecurity.
More than half of Rocket Lab's revenue actually comes from its thriving Space Systems segment. It builds the solar arrays, flight software, and components that power other companies' satellites. It is also building 18 whole satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency.
As a premier defense tech contractor, Leidos handles complex data processing, ground control software, and cybersecurity networks that enable space assets to operate for the Pentagon and civil agencies.
As SpaceX dramatically lowers the cost of reaching orbit, the volume of satellites in space will explode. Investors should buy Rocket Lab and Leidos because they provide the essential infrastructure and data systems required to support that huge influx of hardware.
Don't chase the herd into a crowded, expensive megacap IPO. The secondary market sell-off has created a fantastic entry point to accumulate the nimble operators and defense staples that keep the space economy running.
Hamilton Lane trades at a deep discount, with shares at 60% of estimated fair value despite robust business performance. HLNE's non-GAAP EPS grew 23.1% year-over-year, and management hiked the dividend by 11%, signaling confidence in ongoing cash flow strength. The stock's forward P/E of 12.8 is well below its 9-year average, with a fair value estimate of $141 per share, implying an 81% potential total return by June 2027.
All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Based in Conshohocken, Hamilton Lane (HLNE - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -38.78%. The private-market investment firm is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.54 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.92%. This compares to the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 2.59% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.43%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.40 is up 11.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Hamilton Lane has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 11.96%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Hamilton Lane's current payout ratio is 37%, meaning it paid out 37% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
HLNE is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $6.33 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.29%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers its shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, HLNE is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
June 17, 2026 07:30 ET | Source: Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
- Up to $125 million in additional borrowing capacity provides further strategic flexibility -
- $50 million of additional capacity funded at amendment closing -
WALTHAM, Mass., June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: DYN), a clinical-stage company focused on delivering functional improvement for people living with genetically driven neuromuscular diseases, today announced that it has entered into an amendment to its non-dilutive senior secured term loan facility with Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC), a leader in customized debt financing for companies in the life sciences and technology-related markets. The transaction further strengthens the company’s balance sheet as it advances zeleciment rostudirsen (z-rostudirsen, also known as DYNE-251) for exon 51 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and zeleciment basivarsen (z-basivarsen, also known as DYNE-101) for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) through critical clinical and regulatory milestones.
“As we continue to focus on diligent execution against our clinical and regulatory objectives, we are pleased to deepen our partnership with Hercules,” said Erick Lucera, chief financial officer of Dyne. “This additional access to capital enhances our financial flexibility as we prepare for two potential U.S. launches in the next two years and continue on our mission to deliver functional improvement for individuals living with rare neuromuscular diseases.”
“Hercules is proud to be expanding our support of Dyne as they prepare for the potential approval and commercial launches of z-rostudirsen and z-basivarsen,” said R. Bryan Jadot, Senior Managing Director and Group Head at Hercules Capital. “Our increased commitment reflects our strong conviction in Dyne’s programs and our unique ability to support innovative life sciences companies at transformative stages of development.”
Under the terms of the amendment, $50 million was funded upon execution of the amendment, and an additional term loan tranche for $50 million that can be drawn at Dyne’s option subject to the achievement of certain milestones was added to the term loan facility. The final term loan tranche was also increased by $25 million to provide up to an additional $75 million, which may be funded upon request of Dyne and at the discretion of Hercules Capital. Including the $50 million funded upon execution of the amendment, Dyne has borrowed an aggregate of $200 million in loan proceeds in three tranches under the term loan facility and maintains access to up to $200 million in potential future funding under the facility.
About Dyne Therapeutics
Dyne Therapeutics is focused on delivering functional improvement for people living with genetically driven neuromuscular diseases. We are developing therapeutics that target muscle and the central nervous system (CNS) to address the root cause of disease. The company is advancing clinical programs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) as well as preclinical programs for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), Pompe disease and multiple DMD mutations. At Dyne, we are on a mission to deliver functional improvement for individuals, families and communities. Learn more at https://www.dyne-tx.com/, and follow us on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About Hercules Capital
Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) is the leading and largest specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured venture growth loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a broad variety of technology and life sciences industries. Since inception (December 2003), Hercules has committed more than $27 billion to over 700 companies and is the lender of choice for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms seeking growth capital financing.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding Dyne’s strategy, future operations, prospects and plans, objectives of management, the ability of Dyne to achieve any of the specified clinical, regulatory or commercial milestones under its loan agreement with Hercules Capital, as amended, the potential of the FORCE platform, the potential of zeleciment rostudirsen (z-rostudirsen, also known as DYNE-251) and zeleciment basivarsen (z-basivarsen, also known as DYNE-101), the anticipated timelines for potential commercial launch of z-rostudirsen and z-basivarsen, the availability of expedited approval pathways for z-rostudirsen and z-basivarsen, expectations regarding the outcome of interactions with regulatory authorities, and the sufficiency of Dyne’s cash resources for the period anticipated, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Dyne may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: Dyne’s ability to comply with the covenants and other obligations under its loan agreement with Hercules Capital; uncertainties inherent in the identification and development of product candidates, including the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; uncertainties as to the availability and timing of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing of and Dyne’s ability to enroll patients in clinical trials; whether results from preclinical studies and data from clinical trials will be predictive of the final results of the clinical trials or other trials; whether data from clinical trials will support submission for regulatory approvals; uncertainties as to the FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ interpretation of the data from Dyne's clinical trials and acceptance of Dyne's clinical programs and as to the regulatory approval process for Dyne's product candidates; whether Dyne’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund its foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; as well as the risks and uncertainties identified in Dyne’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the company’s most recent Form 10-Q and in subsequent filings Dyne may make with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Dyne’s views as of the date of this press release. Dyne anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Dyne may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Dyne’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
New Insight and Activation Agents link intelligence to execution, while open connectivity lets advertisers access DV’s platform on their terms, through their preferred AI tools June 17, 2026 09:00 ET | Source: DoubleVerify Inc.
NEW YORK, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DoubleVerify (“DV”) (NYSE: DV), the leading software platform to verify media quality, optimize advertising performance and prove campaign outcomes, today introduced DV Neura™, the cognitive engine powering artificial intelligence across DV MAP™, the DV Media AdVantage Platform. As DV continues to invest in AI to reshape the future of digital advertising, DV Neura brings that strength to life by enabling more seamless access to customer insights and performance data through open agentic protocols and specialized agents. DV Neura powers faster, more accurate content classification and creates new channels for verification data delivery in agentic buying and optimization systems.
As part of today’s announcement, DV is introducing new capabilities that enable advertisers to access their DV data using their preferred conversational AI tools, supported by the Model Context Protocol (MCP) open standard. Clients can use Anthropic Claude today to connect with the DV Neura Insight Agent, which analyzes DV’s media quality and performance data to surface campaign insights and recommendations through natural-language interactions. Additional integrations with Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and other leading AI assistants are expected to follow.
DV is also introducing the DV Neura Activation Agent, which will autonomously execute approved campaign changes within advertiser-defined guardrails and become available in Q3.
“Most of the innovation around agentic advertising remains trapped in silos, with AI-enabled features and point solutions disconnected from the broader advertiser opportunity and the core platform,” said Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify. “DV Neura changes that by connecting DV’s AI-powered capabilities across our platform, from verification and content classification to performance optimization and outcomes measurement, while also enabling flexible, dynamic agentic workflows that connect insight with execution across the campaign lifecycle. We are helping define what agentic advertising should become: faster, smarter and built on transparency, trust and tangible results.”
“Healthcare marketers operate in some of the most complex advertising environments, where every decision must balance performance, compliance, brand suitability and consumer trust,” said Gina Whelehan, Group Director of Strategic Partnerships at Butler/Till. “We’re excited to work with DV to bring verification earlier into agentic advertising workflows and help shape how AI-powered campaign execution can operate in practice. DV Neura is helping our teams move faster and drive stronger outcomes while maintaining governance and accountability.”
DV Neura also enhances DV’s AI-powered products and solutions through a hybrid architecture that combines large language models, specialized machine learning and deterministic rules. In content classification, this approach helps DV interpret emerging topics and nuanced meaning across text, images, video and audio with greater speed, scale and consistency.
DV has increased its content classification output by nearly 300x, demonstrating how AI is expanding the depth and breadth of DV’s analysis. DV’s AI-powered capabilities are also driving measurable impact across media quality and performance. Since the beginning of the year, DV has monitored or blocked more than 500 million impressions across AI slop sites and other low-quality GenAI open web environments, while DV Scibids AI optimizes 25 billion impressions each month, helping advertisers improve efficiency and maximize outcomes.
“AI is changing how advertising operates, but it does not change what advertisers need most: transparency, control and measurable performance. DV Neura gives advertisers the intelligence and infrastructure to operate with confidence in a more automated, agent-driven world,” added Zagorski.
DV Neura is organized around four core pillars:
Media Intelligence: Uses advanced AI to stop fraud, filter AI slop and strengthen content classification, helping advertisers protect brand equity and improve media quality.
Adaptive Performance: Optimizes media investment through AI-powered bidding and measures business impact using MTA and incrementality.
Open Connectivity: Enables secure access to DV’s data, insights and capabilities through conversational AI, APIs, MCP integrations and ADCP support, connecting DV MAP with advertiser and partner workflows.
Agentic Execution: Connects insight with action through the DV Neura Insight Agent, which generates campaign insights and recommendations, and the DV Neura Activation Agent, which executes approved changes within advertiser-defined guardrails.
DV Neura builds on nearly two decades of innovation in media quality, performance optimization and outcomes measurement. Powered by DV’s proprietary data and extensive integrations across the open web, social, streaming TV and retail media, it brings trusted intelligence into campaign decisioning and execution to help brands protect and maximize their media investments with greater confidence, control and performance.
About DoubleVerify
DoubleVerify (“DV”) (NYSE: DV) is the industry’s leading media effectiveness platform that leverages AI to drive superior outcomes for global brands. By powering media efficiency and performance, DV strengthens the online advertising ecosystem, preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com.
Dropbox (DBX - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $26.41, demonstrating a -3.26% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.98%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.35%.
Heading into today, shares of the online file-sharing company had lost 0.84% over the past month, lagging the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 1.19% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Dropbox in its upcoming earnings disclosure. On that day, Dropbox is projected to report earnings of $0.74 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 4.23%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $625.6 million, indicating a 0.02% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $3.08 per share and a revenue of $2.5 billion, representing changes of +8.45% and -0.65%, respectively, from the prior year.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Dropbox. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. Dropbox is holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) right now.
Investors should also note Dropbox's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 8.86. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 15.84.
It's also important to note that DBX currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.02. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Internet - Services industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.63 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Internet - Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 166, which puts it in the bottom 32% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Dropbox (DBX - Free Report) Dropbox offers a cloud-based platform that businesses and individuals can create, access and share digital content globally. It serves more than 700 million registered users across approximately 180 countries.
DBX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. DBX has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.5% for the current fiscal year.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $3.08 per share. DBX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +9.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, DBX should be on investors' short list.
The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.
Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One company to watch right now is Dropbox (DBX - Free Report) . DBX is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 10.6, while its industry has an average P/E of 24.58. Over the last 12 months, DBX's Forward P/E has been as high as 12.55 and as low as 9.40, with a median of 10.66.
Finally, we should also recognize that DBX has a P/CF ratio of 12.59. This figure highlights a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find firms that are undervalued when considering their impressive cash outlook. DBX's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 19.31. Over the past 52 weeks, DBX's P/CF has been as high as 16.34 and as low as 10.29, with a median of 12.49.
Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Dropbox is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, DBX sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.
In the latest close session, AppFolio (APPF - Free Report) was down 5.89% at $148.59. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.98%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.35%.
Shares of the property management software maker have depreciated by 1.21% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 1.19%, and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of AppFolio in its forthcoming earnings report. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.67, signifying a 21.01% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $276.98 million, reflecting a 17.58% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $6.75 per share and a revenue of $1.12 billion, signifying shifts of +27.6% and +17.47%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for AppFolio. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. 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 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. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. At present, AppFolio boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, AppFolio is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 23.39. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 18.64, so one might conclude that AppFolio is trading at a premium comparatively.
The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 86, placing it within the top 36% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about AppFolio (APPF - Free Report) .
AppFolio currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.33, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by nine brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.33 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the nine recommendations that derive the current ABR, seven are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 77.8% and 11.1% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for APPF
Check price target & stock forecast for AppFolio here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying AppFolio, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is APPF a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for AppFolio, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $6.75.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for AppFolio. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for AppFolio.
Progressive Corp (NYSE:PGR) reported a 36% surge in monthly net income and announced a leadership shake-up, as Personal Lines President Pat Callahan prepares to retire after nearly 24 years with the insurer.
The Cleveland-based auto insurer posted net income of $1.45 billion for the month ended May 31, up from $1.07 billion a year earlier, with earnings per share rising to $2.47 from $1.81.
Net premiums written grew 6% year-over-year to $7.037 billion, while net premiums earned rose 10% to $7.36 billion.
Total policies in force reached approximately 39.97 million, up 8% from the prior year. Direct auto policies climbed 11% to 16.715 million, while agency auto policies rose 8% to 11.172 million.
On the leadership front, Callahan will remain in his role until January 2027, then transition to a part-time advisory capacity.
To manage the transition, Lori Niederst, currently CRM president, will move into a newly created Chief Personal Lines Officer role overseeing both Personal Lines and CRM operations. Heather Day, currently general manager of Customer Experience Strategy within the CRM organization, will become CRM president in July.
Progressive said it will conduct an internal search for Callahan's permanent successor.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) (the “Company”) announced that Pat Callahan intends to retire from his role as the Company’s Personal Lines President after almost 24 years with the Company. Mr. Callahan will continue to serve in his current role until January 2027, and will continue to advise the Company on a part-time basis afterward. The Company will conduct an internal search for Mr. Callahan’s successor.
To support a smooth transition, Lori Niederst, currently CRM President, will move into a newly created role of Chief Personal Lines Officer, overseeing Personal Lines and CRM operations. Heather Day, currently General Manager, Customer Experience Strategy in the CRM organization, will move into the CRM President role in July.
“Pat has been a critical force behind our growth to an $80 billion company while consistently achieving our goal of a 96 combined ratio. He has been an incredible teacher, partner and mentor to me, and I appreciate that he will continue to advise me and my team after he retires from his current role,” said Tricia Griffith, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, “At the same time, I am excited about the future. Lori brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having been CRM President and Chief Human Resources Officer, and having held HR roles in Claims. Having time to learn from Pat will round out her experiences. Heather stepping into the CRM President role will provide consistency for that organization and an opportunity for her to continue to grow and develop. Progressive has focused for many years on employee growth and development, which helps create the strong and deep bench of talent that allows for orderly transitions in our senior leadership roles,” Mrs. Griffith added.
About Progressive
Progressive Insurance® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it’s most convenient for them — online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.
Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is a leading seller of personal auto, commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers in the United States.
Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) today reported the following results for the month ended May 31, 2026:
May (millions, except per share amounts and ratios; unaudited)2026
2025
Change Net premiums written$7,027 $6,634 6 % Net premiums earned$7,361 $6,715 10 % Net income$1,445 $1,065 36 % Per share available to common shareholders$2.47 $1.81 36 % Total pretax net realized gains (losses) on securities$215 $211 2 % Combined ratio 82.1 86.9 (4.8)pts. Average diluted equivalent common shares 584.2 587.7 (1)% May 31, (thousands; unaudited)
2026 2025 % Change Policies in Force Personal Lines Agency – auto11,172 10,341 8 Direct – auto16,715 15,089 11 Special lines7,234 6,787 7 Property3,632 3,601 1 Total Personal Lines38,753 35,818 8 Commercial Lines1,217 1,184 3 Total39,970 37,002 8 See Progressive’s complete monthly earnings release for additional information.
About Progressive
Progressive Insurance® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it’s most convenient for them — online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.
Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is a leading seller of personal auto, commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers in the United States.
Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.
Progressive Corp (NYSE:PGR) reported a 36% surge in monthly net income and announced a leadership shake-up, as Personal Lines President Pat Callahan prepares to retire after nearly 24 years with the insurer.
The Cleveland-based auto insurer posted net income of $1.45 billion for the month ended May 31, up from $1.07 billion a year earlier, with earnings per share rising to $2.47 from $1.81.
Net premiums written grew 6% year-over-year to $7.037 billion, while net premiums earned rose 10% to $7.36 billion.
Total policies in force reached approximately 39.97 million, up 8% from the prior year. Direct auto policies climbed 11% to 16.715 million, while agency auto policies rose 8% to 11.172 million.
On the leadership front, Callahan will remain in his role until January 2027, then transition to a part-time advisory capacity.
To manage the transition, Lori Niederst, currently CRM president, will move into a newly created Chief Personal Lines Officer role overseeing both Personal Lines and CRM operations. Heather Day, currently general manager of Customer Experience Strategy within the CRM organization, will become CRM president in July.
Progressive said it will conduct an internal search for Callahan's permanent successor.
Progressive (PGR - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this insurer have returned +0.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, which Progressive falls in, has gained 1.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Progressive is expected to post earnings of $3.74 per share, indicating a change of -23.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.7% over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $16.35 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -10.4%. This estimate has changed -0.3% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $16.32 indicates a change of -0.2% from what Progressive is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.8%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Progressive is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Progressive, the consensus sales estimate of $22.89 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +5.9%. The $92.6 billion and $99.58 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +6.5% and +7.5%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryProgressive reported revenues of $22.31 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.2%. EPS of $4.96 for the same period compares with $4.65 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.03 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.27%. The EPS surprise was +2.48%.
Over the last four quarters, Progressive surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Progressive is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Progressive. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Key Takeaways PGR earned $2.47 per share in May 2026, with total revenues rising 9.4% year over year. Premium growth and a 13.2% increase in investment income helped offset higher expenses. The combined ratio improved to 82.1, while policies in force grew across vehicle and property lines. The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) reported earnings per share of $2.47 for May 2026, which jumped 36% year over year. The improvement stemmed from higher revenues and an increase in investment income, partially offset by a rise in expenses.
May Numbers in DetailProgressive recorded net premiums written of $7 billion, up 6% from $6.6 billion in the year-ago month. Net premiums earned were about $7.3 billion, up 10% from $6.7 billion reported in the year-ago month.
Net realized income on securities was $215 million, which increased 2% from the year-ago month.
Combined ratio — the percentage of premiums paid out as claims and expenses — improved 480 basis points (bps) year over year to 82.1.
PGR’s total revenues were $8 billion, up 9.4% year over year, owing to a 9.6% increase in premiums, a 13.2% jump in investment income, a 2% increase in fees and other revenues, and 11.3% higher service revenues.
Total expenses increased 3.6% to $6.2 billion, mainly due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs, other underwriting expenses, service expenses and interest expense.
In May 2026, policies in force (PIF) were impressive for both Vehicle and Property businesses. In the Vehicle business, the Personal Auto segment recorded an 8% year-over-year increase to 38.7 million policies. Special Lines policies increased 7% from the year-earlier month to 7.2 million.
In Progressive’s Personal Auto segment, Agency Auto PIF increased 8% to 11.1 million, while Direct Auto improved 11% to 16.7 million.
PGR’s Commercial Auto segment policies rose 3% year over year to 1.2 million.
The Property business had 3.6 million policies in force in the reported month, up 1% year over year.
The company’s book value per share was $58.11 as of May 30, 2026, up 10.1% from $52.77 on May 30, 2025.
In the trailing 12 months, the return on equity was 35.4%, having contracted 770 bps from 43.1% in May 2025. The debt-to-total-capital ratio deteriorated 170 bps year over year to 19.9 as of May 30, 2026.
Price PerformanceProgressive shares have lost 21.5% in the past year against the industry’s growth of 0.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks RankProgressive currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the insurance industry are First American Financial Corporation (FAF - Free Report) , Mercury General Corporation (MCY - Free Report) and The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (THG - Free Report) . While FAF and MCY sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, THG carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
First American’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 22.01%. Shares of FAF have jumped 17.3% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FAF’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 12.5% and 5.4%, respectively.
Mercury General’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 61.76%. Shares of MCY have jumped 61.4% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCY’s 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 44%.
The Hanover Insurance’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 28.54%. Shares of THG have jumped 19.6% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for THG’s 2026 and 2027 revenues implies year-over-year growth of 4.7% and 4.8%, respectively.
The Progressive Corporation has underperformed the S&P 500, but recent earnings reveal improving fundamentals and attractive long-term positioning. PGR delivered 6% YoY growth in premiums written, 10% in premiums earned, and a 36% surge in net income, signaling operational strength. While top-line growth is slowing and unit growth outpaces dollar growth, revenue growth still exceeds expense growth, driving margin expansion.
Freshpet (FRPT - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $55.66, demonstrating a -2.5% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.98%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.35%.
Heading into today, shares of the seller of refrigerated fresh pet food had gained 20.47% over the past month, outpacing the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.54% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Freshpet in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.22, showcasing a 33.33% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $292.7 million, indicating a 10.58% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
FRPT's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $1.63 per share and revenue of $1.21 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -38.26% and +9.52%, respectively.
Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Freshpet. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional 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 last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Freshpet presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, Freshpet currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 35.07. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 14.37, so one might conclude that Freshpet is trading at a premium comparatively.
The Food - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 203, placing it within the bottom 17% 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.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) shares jump over 108% in last six months on AI demand.
KLAC supplies process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related nano-electronics industries, which is vital for AI growth. The company’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report showed annual revenue of $3.415 billion (an 11% year-over-year jump), annual GAAP diluted per-share earnings of $9.12, along with quarterly revenue and GAAP EPS midpoint guidance of $3.575 billion and $9.66, respectively.
It’s no wonder KLAC shares are up 96% so far this year – and they could rise more. MoneyFlows data shows how Big Money investors are again betting heavily on the stock.
KLA Draws in Big Money Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, KLAC has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support.
Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in KLAC shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher:
Source: www.moneyflows.com Plenty of technology names are under accumulation right now. But there’s a powerful fundamental story happening with KLA.
KLA Fundamental Analysis Institutional support and a healthy fundamental backdrop make this company worth investigating. As you can see, KLAC has had strong sales and earnings growth:
Also, EPS is estimated to ramp higher this year by +37.7%.
Now it makes sense why the stock has been generating Big Money interest. KLAC has a track record of strong financial performance.
Marrying great fundamentals with MoneyFlows software has found some big winning stocks over the long term.
KLA has been a top-rated stock at MoneyFlows for years. That means the stock has unusual buy pressure and growing fundamentals. We have a ranking process that showcases stocks like this on a weekly basis.
It’s garnered eight outlier inflow signals in the last year and 119 since 1994. The blue bars below show when KLAC was a top pick on the Outlier 20 report in the last year…institutional support keeps driving gains:
Source: www.moneyflows.com Tracking unusual volumes reveals the power of money flows.
This is a trait that most outlier stocks exhibit…the best of the best. Big Money demand drives stocks upward.
KLA Price Prediction The KLAC action isn’t new at all. Big Money buying in the shares is signaling to take notice. Given the historical gains in share price and strong fundamentals, this stock could be worth a spot in a diversified portfolio.
Disclosure: the author holds no position in KLAC at the time of publication.
If you are a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) or are a serious investor, take your investing to the next level and follow our free weekly MoneyFlows insights.
KLA (KLAC) saw its shares surge in the last session with trading volume being higher than average. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions could translate into further price increase in the near term.
Momentum investing is essentially an exception to the idea of "buying low and selling high." Investors following this style of investing are usually not interested in betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.
Who doesn't like betting on fast-moving trending stocks? But determining the right entry point isn't easy. Often, these stocks lose momentum once their valuation moves ahead of their future growth potential. In such a situation, investors find themselves loaded up on expensive shares with limited to no upside or even a downside. So, going all-in on momentum could be risky at times.
It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing price momentum recently. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, is pretty useful in identifying great momentum stocks, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.
There are several stocks that currently pass through the screen and ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (CHPT - Free Report) is one of them. Here are the key reasons why this stock is a great candidate.
A dash of recent price momentum reflects growing interest of investors in a stock. With a four-week price change of 17.5%, the stock of this company is certainly well-positioned in this regard.
While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. CHPT meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 36.1% over the past 12 weeks.
Moreover, the momentum for CHPT is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.74. This indicates that the stock moves 74% higher than the market in either direction.
Given this price performance, it is no surprise that CHPT has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.
In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped CHPT earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, CHPT is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. CHPT is currently trading at 0.42 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 42 cents for each dollar of sales.
So, CHPT appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.
In addition to CHPT, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.
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