Coastwise Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 9.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 15,783 shares of the software giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,313 shares during the quarter. Microsoft accounts for approximately 3.4% of Coastwise Capital Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Coastwise Capital Group LLC’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $5,887,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MSFT. WFA Asset Management Corp grew its stake in Microsoft by 27.0% in the 1st quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp now owns 1,016 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its stake in shares of Microsoft by 0.3% during the second quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 12,658 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $5,658,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 410.4% in the third quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 2,659 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $1,144,000 after purchasing an additional 2,138 shares during the period. Wealth Group Ltd. grew its stake in Microsoft by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. now owns 2,374 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Microsoft by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 23,097 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $9,735,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total value of $4,878,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 100,447 shares in the company, valued at $49,007,086.83. This trade represents a 9.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 4,810 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $496.48, for a total value of $2,388,068.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 42,677 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,188,276.96. The trade was a 10.13% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 101,335 shares of company stock worth $50,655,795 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.
Microsoft Stock Performance Shares of Microsoft stock opened at $493.95 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $449.56 and a 200 day moving average price of $417.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.67 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.50, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. Microsoft Corporation has a 52 week low of $349.20 and a 52 week high of $553.72. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. The business had revenue of $90.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $87.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.65 EPS. Microsoft’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.59 EPS for the current year.
Analysts Set New Price Targets MSFT has been the subject of several research reports. Phillip Securities downgraded Microsoft from a “strong-buy” rating to a “moderate buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Microsoft from $502.00 to $522.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Microsoft from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $640.00 target price on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Forty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $564.27.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MSFT
Key Stories Impacting Microsoft Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:
Positive Sentiment: Microsoft disclosed that Azure is generating more than a $100 billion annualized revenue run rate and reorganized reporting around AI infrastructure and agents. Greater Azure transparency and accelerating demand could support revenue visibility and investor confidence. Microsoft Breaks Out Azure Sales at $100 Billion Annualized Pace, Reorganizes AI Segments Positive Sentiment: Microsoft is positioned at the center of a projected multitrillion-dollar AI infrastructure buildout, with Azure demand, large customer commitments, and its partnership with NVIDIA potentially creating a long-term growth opportunity. Nvidia, Microsoft at Center of $7 Trillion AI Boom Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly constructive, with recent buy or overweight ratings and a reported median price target of $540. However, the stock’s sharp advance and proximity to its prior high make continued gains dependent on cash-flow conversion and the payoff from heavy AI investment. Microsoft Stock Opinions on Recent Earnings and Business Reorganization Negative Sentiment: Two additional lawsuits from news organizations over the use of news content in AI training increase legal uncertainty around Microsoft’s OpenAI relationship and could create financial, reputational, or operational costs. Microsoft’s OpenAI Partnership Draws Fresh Legal Fire Negative Sentiment: Microsoft’s effort to measure the “useful yield” produced by each AI infrastructure dollar and watt highlights investor concerns about whether massive data-center spending will generate adequate returns. The scrutiny could pressure sentiment toward Microsoft and key supplier NVIDIA. Microsoft’s Useful Yield Test Raises the Stakes for NVIDIA’s AI Economics Negative Sentiment: Recent reports also cite insider selling, including sales by Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, while separate reports of Outlook and Microsoft 365 service disruptions add modest execution and reliability concerns. Microsoft’s OpenAI Partnership Draws Fresh Legal Fire About Microsoft (Free Report)
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices and digital solutions for consumers, businesses and public-sector organizations. Its products and services include the Windows operating system, Microsoft 365 productivity applications, Teams collaboration software, Dynamics business applications and Azure cloud computing services.
The company also operates LinkedIn, GitHub and Xbox, which includes gaming consoles, video games and related online services.
Read More Five stocks we like better than Microsoft Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSFT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report).
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Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 473,877 shares of the software giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,673 shares during the period. Microsoft accounts for about 2.3% of Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $176,766,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC grew its holdings in Microsoft by 51.3% in the 2nd quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 59 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Shepherd Kaplan Krochuk LLC boosted its position in shares of Microsoft by 4.9% in the third quarter. Shepherd Kaplan Krochuk LLC now owns 431 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $223,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Fischer Investment Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Microsoft by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Fischer Investment Strategies LLC now owns 697 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $337,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Pollock Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Microsoft by 0.8% in the third quarter. Pollock Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,805 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $1,453,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Better Money Decisions LLC increased its position in Microsoft by 0.6% during the second quarter. Better Money Decisions LLC now owns 3,498 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,740,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.13% of the company’s stock.
Insider Activity In other news, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 4,810 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $496.48, for a total transaction of $2,388,068.80. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 42,677 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,188,276.96. The trade was a 10.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $501.46, for a total transaction of $43,388,826.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 486,763 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $244,092,173.98. This trade represents a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 101,335 shares of company stock worth $50,655,795 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Friday, July 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $640.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Microsoft from $540.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $550.00 target price on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Forty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $564.27. View Our Latest Report on MSFT
Microsoft Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ MSFT opened at $493.95 on Wednesday. Microsoft Corporation has a 1-year low of $349.20 and a 1-year high of $553.72. The business has a 50-day moving average of $449.56 and a 200-day moving average of $417.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The company has a market capitalization of $3.67 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.50, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.11.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.50. The business had revenue of $90.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.98% and a net margin of 40.31%.The company’s revenue was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.65 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Key Microsoft News Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:
Positive Sentiment: Microsoft disclosed that Azure is generating more than a $100 billion annualized revenue run rate and reorganized reporting around AI infrastructure and agents. Greater Azure transparency and accelerating demand could support revenue visibility and investor confidence. Microsoft Breaks Out Azure Sales at $100 Billion Annualized Pace, Reorganizes AI Segments Positive Sentiment: Microsoft is positioned at the center of a projected multitrillion-dollar AI infrastructure buildout, with Azure demand, large customer commitments, and its partnership with NVIDIA potentially creating a long-term growth opportunity. Nvidia, Microsoft at Center of $7 Trillion AI Boom Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly constructive, with recent buy or overweight ratings and a reported median price target of $540. However, the stock’s sharp advance and proximity to its prior high make continued gains dependent on cash-flow conversion and the payoff from heavy AI investment. Microsoft Stock Opinions on Recent Earnings and Business Reorganization Negative Sentiment: Two additional lawsuits from news organizations over the use of news content in AI training increase legal uncertainty around Microsoft’s OpenAI relationship and could create financial, reputational, or operational costs. Microsoft’s OpenAI Partnership Draws Fresh Legal Fire Negative Sentiment: Microsoft’s effort to measure the “useful yield” produced by each AI infrastructure dollar and watt highlights investor concerns about whether massive data-center spending will generate adequate returns. The scrutiny could pressure sentiment toward Microsoft and key supplier NVIDIA. Microsoft’s Useful Yield Test Raises the Stakes for NVIDIA’s AI Economics Negative Sentiment: Recent reports also cite insider selling, including sales by Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, while separate reports of Outlook and Microsoft 365 service disruptions add modest execution and reliability concerns. Microsoft’s OpenAI Partnership Draws Fresh Legal Fire About Microsoft (Free Report)
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices and digital solutions for consumers, businesses and public-sector organizations. Its products and services include the Windows operating system, Microsoft 365 productivity applications, Teams collaboration software, Dynamics business applications and Azure cloud computing services.
The company also operates LinkedIn, GitHub and Xbox, which includes gaming consoles, video games and related online services.
Read More Five stocks we like better than Microsoft Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For
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A handful of stocks have quietly turned ordinary investors into millionaires over the past decade, and the specific pattern behind each one suggests the compounding window is still open rather than closing.
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Real wealth in equities rarely comes from trading. It comes from owning the same handful of durable businesses for decades and letting the math work. The pattern is consistent: a category-defining moat, decades of compounding revenue and earnings, expanding margins, aggressive shareholder returns through buybacks and dividends, and a credible engine to power the next decade. Miss any one of those and you get a good stock. Get all of them and you get a millionaire-maker.
Three names still fit every part of the framework. Their long-run price records are already extraordinary, and each has a specific next-leg thesis that keeps the compounding story alive rather than closing it out (we studied a batch of recent runners most investors walked past and pulled out the pattern in a free report here). Future compounding is never guaranteed, yet the setups here are unusually clean.
#3. Visa: Toll Booth on Global Commerce Over the past 10 years, Visa shares returned more than 350%, with a 64% gain over the past five. Visa (NYSE:V | V Price Prediction) prints money the old-fashioned way: taking a small slice of every swipe, tap, and cross-border transaction on the world’s largest payments rail.
Fiscal Q3 2026 net revenue rose 14% year-over-year to $11.6 billion, and payments volume crossed $4 trillion for the first time in Visa’s history. Cross-border volume ex intra-Europe grew 12% constant-dollar, and value-added services revenue expanded 34% year-over-year in constant dollars. Visa returned $6.2 billion to shareholders in the quarter and has $28.4 billion remaining in buyback authorization. The quarterly dividend has stepped up from 0.45 in 2023 to 0.67 in 2026.
The forward engine comes in the form of agentic commerce, stablecoin rails and Visa Direct. CEO Ryan McInerney told investors “Agentic Commerce is a when, not an if,” and Visa has already partnered with OpenAI on secure agent-initiated payments.
Risk: local payment schemes, regulators pushing account-to-account rails, and stablecoin disintermediation all target the same interchange stream. Visa is building on both sides of that transition, but the risk to network economics is real and measurable.
#2. Microsoft: Enterprise AI With a Balance Sheet Fortress Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has compounded shareholders at a staggering pace: around 760% over 10 years and more than 66% over five. The stock trades at roughly 27x earnings, and the business now looks less like a software company and more like the world’s most important AI infrastructure operator.
Fiscal Q4 2026 revenue hit $90 billion, up 18%, and Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion in full-year revenue, growing 41%. Commercial RPO surged to $678 billion, up 84%, and Microsoft 365 Copilot passed 30 million paid seats. Full-year FY26 operating income exceeded $155 billion, and Microsoft returned over $43 billion to shareholders. The quarterly dividend has climbed from 0.68 in 2023 to 0.91 in 2026.
Satya Nadella said “Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats.” Demand still exceeds supply, and Azure Q1 FY27 guidance is approximately 45% constant-currency growth.
Risk: FY27 capex is guided to roughly $175 billion. If AI demand ever softens, that spending becomes a heavy anchor on returns on capital.
#1. Apple: The Compounding Machine That Refuses to Slow Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the top of this list because no other mega-cap combines Apple’s installed base, cash generation, and buyback discipline. The 1o-year return is more than 1,100%, the five-year return over 112% and shares are up nearly 34% over the last year alone. Four forward splits since 2000, including the 4-for-1 split in 2020, tell the compounding story visually.
Fiscal Q3 2026 revenue hit $109.42 billion, up 16.4% year-over-year, with EPS of $2.02 versus $1.89 consensus, marking a ninth consecutive EPS beat. iPhone revenue reached $54.3 billion, up 22%, Mac grew 29%, and Services set another record at $30.74 billion. Apple returned $33 billion to shareholders in the quarter, and the board authorized an additional $100B buyback. The dividend has stepped from 0.23 in 2022 to 0.27 in 2026.
Tim Cook told investors “I truly have never been more confident that the best is yet to come.” The forward engine is a reimagined Siri AI unveiled at WWDC26, riding a two and a half billion device install base.
Risk: supply constraints are widening. Apple expects supply constraints to increase significantly next quarter, with Cook citing “a 100-year flood on the memory pricing”. Regulatory pressure on Services in the EU and U.S. is a separate overhang.
Why the Pattern Still Has Room to Run The premise was simple: durable moats, decades of compounding, margin expansion, giant capital returns, and a credible next-decade engine. Visa dominates payments and is building the rails for agentic commerce. Microsoft owns enterprise AI infrastructure and is monetizing it faster than any peer. Apple sits at the top because it combines the largest installed base in consumer technology with a Services engine growing 12% year-over-year, a fresh Siri AI platform layered on $62.09 billion in nine-month buybacks, and management guiding to 9% to 11% revenue growth into the next quarter. Future compounding is never a certainty. Yet when the same business keeps setting records at a $4.7 trillion market cap, betting against the pattern has historically been the expensive trade.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Azure and Google Cloud are posting jaw-dropping growth numbers just as Treasury yields hit levels that have historically crushed high-multiple tech stocks. Whether Microsoft's fortress balance sheet or Alphabet's cheaper valuation wins this rate-scare showdown could determine which mega-cap compounds…
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Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) both posted blowout AI-fueled quarters just as the 10-year Treasury yield pushed to 4.78%, its 98.8th percentile reading over the past year. With rate-hike anxiety squeezing growth multiples, these two mega-caps stand out because their balance sheets absorb the shock other hyperscalers have to borrow through. Huge cash reserves make borrowing-cost worries less prominent for both.
Azure Crosses $100 Billion, Google Cloud Accelerates to 82% Microsoft’s fiscal Q4 delivered revenue of $90.01 billion, up 17.8%, with Intelligent Cloud jumping 32% and Azure growing 43%. Satya Nadella called out that “Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats.” Commercial RPO ballooned to $678 billion, up 84%, a booking backlog that dwarfs peers.
Alphabet’s Q2 was arguably louder. Revenue hit $119.80 billion, up 24.2%, marking its 12th straight quarter of double-digit growth. Google Cloud accelerated to 82% growth at $24.77 billion, a stunning jump. Sundar Pichai noted “nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 using” Gemini Enterprise, and Search still cranked out $63.27 billion, up 17%.
Business Driver Microsoft Alphabet Cloud growth Azure +43% Google Cloud +82% FY CapEx $115.95B $91.45B (FY25) Main AI wedge Copilot + OpenAI Full-stack Gemini + TPUs Cash Fortress vs. Debt-Funded Sprint Microsoft generated $182.94 billion in operating cash flow for FY26 and still returned over $43 billion to shareholders. Amy Hood emphasized flexibility: “You have a big book of business that’s flexible… It does allow us to have a lot more flexibility to manage through those.” Free cash flow was pinched to $19.64 billion, but the war chest keeps rate sensitivity muted.
Alphabet leaned harder on financing. Q2 free cash flow turned negative $5.86 billion, long-term debt jumped from $46.5 billion to $98.2 billion, and buybacks were suspended. Alphabet raised roughly $70 billion in combined equity and debt. Rising yields matter more here, though Google’s P/E of 17 gives it valuation cushion versus Microsoft’s P/E of 28.
What Decides the Next Leg I will be watching whether Microsoft can convert that $678 billion RPO into revenue without margin slippage as capacity finally catches demand. For Alphabet, the key metric to watch is when free cash flow turns positive again and whether Google Cloud’s 82% pace holds. If yields keep climbing from 4.78%, the debt-funded builder will feel it first (the power, cooling, and networking names taking the other side of that capex are in our free AI infrastructure report).
Why I Lean Toward Alphabet on Valuation Right Now Personally, I find Alphabet more interesting at these levels. A forward P/E of 23 for a business compounding 24% with an 82% cloud growth rate looks mispriced against Microsoft’s premium multiple. Microsoft is the safer AI compounder, and if you want the cleanest balance sheet and a 0.71% yield with buybacks intact, it fits defensive portfolios well. For a growth investor willing to absorb capex volatility, Alphabet’s ad moat plus Gemini traction stands out through this rate scare.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Microsoft's stock has gone nowhere for a year while its fundamentals quietly broke out, and one AI-driven business unit may have just handed it a credible shot at joining the most exclusive club in markets.
Microsoft has quietly become the most interesting name in the race to the $5 trillion club. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction) sits at a market cap of roughly $3.67 trillion, well behind NVIDIA’s $5.45 trillion, but Azure’s momentum and the Copilot monetization curve give it a credible path higher.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Microsoft is $608.72, implying 23.24% upside from the current $493.95. Our model output is a buy signal, with high confidence at 90%.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $493.95 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $608.72 Upside 23.24% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% A Sideways Year Masking a Fundamental Breakout MSFT has gone almost nowhere over the past 12 months, essentially flat at -0.03% on a year-over-year basis and down 1.02% on the month, even as the fundamentals accelerated.
Fiscal Q4 2026 delivered revenue of $90.01 billion (+17.8% YoY) and non-GAAP EPS of $4.74, beating consensus by 11.81%. Intelligent Cloud grew 32% to $39.31 billion, Azure and other cloud services jumped 43% YoY, and Azure crossed $100 billion in full-year revenue. Commercial RPO surged 84% to $678 billion, a booked-demand signal that dwarfs almost any peer.
The Case for $700+ Bulls have plenty to work with. Microsoft 365 Copilot passed 30 million paid seats with net additions more than doubling sequentially, and Satya Nadella called out the AI opportunity: “I’ve never been more confident in Microsoft’s opportunity to drive durable long-term growth.”
Azure guidance of approximately 45% constant-currency growth for Q1 FY27 signals demand still exceeds supply. GitHub Copilot revenue accelerated over 60% quarter over quarter with 50 million users. Our bull-case scenario points to $704.82, a 42.69% return that would push Microsoft’s market cap through $5 trillion.
What Could Go Wrong The bear case starts with capital intensity. FY26 CapEx exploded 79.62% to $115.95 billion, and free cash flow fell 6.46% to $66.99 billion. Amy Hood conceded FY27 operating margins will decline, though by less than a point.
Bulls counter that CapEx is pivoting to short-lived assets like CPUs and GPUs, which can be throttled if demand cools. Our bear-case scenario lands at $520.21, still a 5.32% positive return, reflecting how defensible the installed base is even in a downside scenario.
How Microsoft Compares to NVIDIA and Alphabet NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the reference point for the $5T club, already at $5.45 trillion with Data Center revenue of $89.02 billion growing 117%. NVIDIA trades at a P/E of 45 versus Microsoft’s 27, which makes our MSFT target look conservative on a growth-adjusted basis.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is the direct cloud comp, with Google Cloud accelerating 82% to $24.77 billion. Alphabet trades at just 15 P/E, a discount tied to a $70B financing raise and negative Q2 free cash flow. That contrast argues Microsoft has earned its premium.
Company P/E Market Cap Microsoft 27 $3.67T NVIDIA 45 $5.45T Alphabet 15 $4.14T Microsoft Price Prediction 2026-2030 The bull thesis at $493.95 hinges on Azure sustaining 40%+ growth into FY27 and Copilot per-seat-plus-consumption billing continuing to ramp.
The thesis weakens if CapEx creeps toward $150B without a matching acceleration in cloud revenue. Analyst consensus at $572.92 across 52 buys and 3 holds lines up with our buy view. The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $608.72 stands.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $527.54 2027 $608.72 2028 $706.02 2029 $795 2030 $860 These projections assume Azure sustains its current trajectory and Copilot monetization scales. Significant upside or downside could come from AI capacity constraints or a hyperscaler capex reset. All that Azure buildout has to be powered, cooled, and networked by somebody, and we profiled seven of those suppliers in a free report on the AI infrastructure names that aren’t chipmakers.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
A securities class action alleges Alibaba's own filings described its MIIT licensing and AI "distillation" risks in ways that omitted its status as a designated Chinese military company and an ongoing campaign against a U.S. AI developer's model, as investors watched BABA slide from $173.68 to $95.07.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP reminds purchasers of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) securities of a pending securities class action on behalf of investors who acquired shares between June 26, 2025 and June 24, 2026. See if you could be eligible to recover. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
BABA declined from a Class Period high of $173.68 on October 9, 2025 to $95.07 on June 25, 2026, a drop of $78.61 per share, or approximately 45.26%. Investors have until October 5, 2026 to seek lead plaintiff status.
Chronology of Material Events
June 26, 2025: the 2025 Form 20-F, with SOX certifications, incorporated a Hong Kong annual report stating that the Company's online and mobile commerce businesses require an operating license from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It is alleged that the same filing warned about U.S. restrictions on Chinese military companies while omitting that the MIIT affiliation placed Alibaba within the FY2025 NDAA definition.
May 20, 2026: the 2026 Form 20-F described "unauthorized distillation of third-party models" as a perceived or inadvertent risk. As set forth in the complaint, a large-scale distillation campaign was already underway.
Timeline of Alleged Disclosure Failures
June 26, 2025: Class Period opens with the 2025 annual report and accompanying SOX certifications. May 20, 2026: AI distillation described in hypothetical, forward-looking terms. June 8, 2026: the U.S. Department of Defense publishes an updated Chinese military company list naming Alibaba; shares fall $4.69, or 3.9%, over two trading days to close at $115.38 on June 10, 2026. June 24, 2026: Bloomberg reports Anthropic PBC accused Alibaba of "illicitly" accessing its Claude model through 28.8 million exchanges and roughly 25,000 fraudulent accounts; shares close at $99.80, down $2.80, or 2.7%. June 25, 2026: shares fall a further $4.73, or 4.7%, to close at $95.07. "The sequence here matters: this complaint alleges that risk language filed in May 2026 characterized third-party model distillation as hypothetical while the conduct described weeks later was already ongoing. Shareholders are entitled to have annual report disclosures reflect what is actually happening inside a company." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Calculate your potential recovery or call (212) 363-7500.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR REPRESENTATION — Levi & Korsinsky, LLP provides sophisticated counsel to institutional investors evaluating lead plaintiff opportunities. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. Ranked among ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the BABA Lawsuit
Q: What specific misstatements does the BABA lawsuit allege? A: The complaint alleges Alibaba made materially false or misleading statements regarding its MIIT affiliation and resulting classification as a Chinese military company under the FY2025 NDAA, and regarding the characterization of unauthorized distillation of third-party AI models as merely hypothetical. When the Department of Defense listing and the Anthropic allegations were reported, the stock price declined.
Q: When did Alibaba Group Holding Limited allegedly mislead investors? A: The Class Period runs from June 26, 2025 to June 24, 2026. The complaint alleges that corrective disclosures in June 2026 revealed information that caused significant stock declines.
Q: What court was the BABA class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, governed by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Q: What do BABA investors need to do right now? A: Gather brokerage records including purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Contact Levi & Korsinsky for a free, no-obligation evaluation at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as an absent class member.
Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the entire class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with the largest documented losses. Being appointed does not increase individual recovery but gives direct oversight of how the case is run.
Q: What if I already sold my BABA shares -- can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold the shares. Investors who bought during the Class Period and sold at a loss may still be eligible to participate.
Q: What if I live outside the United States? A: U.S. securities class actions generally cover purchases on U.S. exchanges regardless of the investor's country of residence.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to contact the firm. Securities class actions are generally handled on a pure contingency basis, with no retainer and no out-of-pocket costs. Any attorneys' fees and expenses awarded to class counsel are subject to court approval.
CONTACT:\
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP\
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.\
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.\
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor\
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[email protected]\
Tel: (212) 363-7500\
Fax: (212) 363-7171
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Berkshire Hathaway B (BRK.B - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this company have returned -2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, to which Berkshire Hathaway B belongs, has lost 2.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
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.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Berkshire Hathaway B is expected to post earnings of $5.66 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -9.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +4.5%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $21.67 points to a change of +5.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +3%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $22.07 indicates a change of +1.9% from what Berkshire Hathaway B is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.7%.
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, Berkshire Hathaway B 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
Projected Revenue GrowthEven 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.
For Berkshire Hathaway B, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $97.3 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +2.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $392.1 billion and $409.7 billion estimates indicate +5.6% and +4.5% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBerkshire Hathaway B reported revenues of $101.81 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10%. EPS of $6.02 for the same period compares with $5.17 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $95.3 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +6.83%. The EPS surprise was +14.89%.
Over the last four quarters, Berkshire Hathaway B surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway B is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe 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 Berkshire Hathaway B. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The last 10 days proved an exceptionally busy period for the biggest Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock insider trader, as he, across two sales, dumped nearly $650 million worth of the semiconductor giant’s equity.
Indeed, on September 8, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing revealed that Director Mark Stevens sold slightly more than 1 million NVDA shares at an average price of $230.51.
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This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This stock market maneuver – which was executed five days earlier on September 3 – raised a total of $235.6 million.
Notably, Stevens executed the biggest Nvidia stock insider sale of the decade just days earlier when he dumped nearly $411 million worth of NVDA. Lastly, the prolific trader is responsible for 81.91% – $1.09 billion – of the $1.33 billion total raised in 2026 by the blue-chip chipmaker’s executives and other senior personnel.
Big tech stocks see elevated insider trading since August Meanwhile, the Nvidia stock insider selling is notable primarily because it is part of a wider trend in big tech.
Specifically, as recent weeks saw significant recovery from the sector-wide downturn that started in June following temporary highs, they also ushered in a period of extensive equity dumping.
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This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Along with Nvidia, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), and SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) all saw major sales since early August, with AMZN and MSFT arguably being the most significant due to scale.
Why are big tech insiders selling stocks en masse? Overall, the insider activity is worth keeping in mind due to its generally heightened level amidst a market rebound, but also due to the continuous instability of the pivotal artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
Recent months have brought a relentless marketing campaign about the capabilities of new models and apparent breakthroughs across various fields, but also little in terms of measurable financial benefits and corporate experiments that ended in what appears, at best, akin to felony hacking.
Furthermore, the narratives have also been somewhat confusing, with Jensen Huang of Nvidia declaring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) has been achieved despite the significant divergence in the current definitions of AGI and, indeed, no known model fitting the general notion of AGI.
Lastly, the latest flood of insider selling comes ahead of a significant political risk for the AI ‘boom.’
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This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Opposition to data center construction – one of the most profitable parts of the overall industry, even if for a small handful of companies – in the U.S. has been mounting ahead of the Midterms, meaning the results of the fight for Congress could significantly impact valuations.
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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mindgard, the leader in AI security, announced today an expanded technology ecosystem spanning Anthropic, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Together, these relationships place Mindgard closer to the frontier models and infrastructure shaping the future of enterprise AI. Mindgard's expanded ecosystem includes: Anthropic, through its Cyber Verification Program NVIDIA, through NVIDIA Inception Microsoft, through the Microsoft Founders Hub Googl.
NVIDIA has minted fortunes once before, and its latest earnings suggest the AI hardware machine is still accelerating. But ballooning supply commitments, margin pressure, and a China-shaped hole in its revenue raise a real question about what the next decade…
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NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) has been the defining trade of the AI era. Over the past decade, the stock has returned a staggering 14,460.09%, turning a $10,000 stake into roughly $1.45 million.
The question every shareholder is asking now: can the next 10 years even come close? Our proprietary model says the next 12 months, at least, still point higher.
NVIDIA trades near $226.18 as of September 8, 2026. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for NVIDIA is $308.85 over the next 12 months, implying 36.55% upside. Our recommendation is buy with high confidence.
Metric Value Current Price $226.18 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $308.85 Upside 36.55% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% What Has Actually Happened This Year NVDA is up 21.23% year to date and 31.73% over the past year.
Fiscal Q2 FY27, reported August 26, 2026, delivered revenue of $96.22 billion (+105.85% YoY) and non-GAAP EPS of $2.22, the fifth consecutive beat. Data Center hit $89.02 billion (+117% YoY). Q3 guidance calls for revenue of $108 billion at 74% gross margins.
Meanwhile, supplier Wistron announced a $1.5 billion global stock sale this week, a reminder of how much capital is being raised across the NVIDIA ecosystem.
Why Bulls See a Path Well Above $350 CEO Jensen Huang told investors “AI is now doing productive and useful work” and that “our demand is much higher” than the 70% supply NVIDIA can currently deliver. Management guided fiscal 2028 revenue growth of approximately 70%, describing it as supply-constrained.
Vera Rubin, now in full production, generates a $40 billion revenue opportunity per gigawatt versus $25 billion for Blackwell. Top-5 hyperscaler capex is projected at nearly $800 billion in 2026 and $1.3 trillion in 2027. Our bull scenario points to $352.95, roughly in line with the Street-high target of $327.13.
What Could Go Wrong Guidance excludes any China Data Center compute revenue. Supply commitments swelled to $279 billion, largely memory for Vera Rubin, tying up cash. DSO extended from 45 to 60 days, and NVIDIA has extended $108.5 billion in guarantee obligations to AI cloud partners.
Gross margins are expected to bottom in Q4 at 71% to 72% on memory pricing. Our bear scenario lands at $260.50. Bulls would counter that the margin dip reflects the Vera Rubin ramp, which should re-expand margins as volumes normalize.
How NVIDIA Compares to AMD and Broadcom Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is the closest US-listed head-to-head competitor in AI accelerators. AMD posted Q2 2026 revenue of $11.54 billion (+50.11% YoY) with Data Center up 107%, but trades at a trailing P/E of 180 versus NVDA’s 46. On growth-adjusted valuation, NVDA looks cheaper, which supports our target.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) is the custom-accelerator alternative. AVGO’s Q3 AI semiconductor revenue reached $16.70 billion (+221% YoY), with Q4 guided to $21.7 billion. Growth is comparable, but Broadcom’s opportunity is narrower and customer-specific. That relative concentration makes NVDA’s platform breadth look more defensible for our $308.85 target.
Company P/E Latest Revenue Growth NVIDIA 46 +105.85% AMD 180 +50.11% Broadcom n/a +85.5% NVIDIA Price Prediction 2026-2030 My verdict: Buy, with a 24/7 Wall St. price target of $308.85 and 90% confidence. The tipping factor is Huang’s own admission that supply covers only 70% of demand into fiscal 2028.
The thesis strengthens if Vera Rubin ramps into 20% of Data Center revenue in Q3 as guided. The thesis weakens if China restrictions widen or hyperscaler capex slips meaningfully below the $1.3 trillion 2027 mark.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $226.18 2027 $308.85 2028 $371.01 2029 $472.93 2030 $510.76 These projections assume NVIDIA continues executing on the Vera Rubin ramp and hyperscaler capex holds. Meaningful upside or downside could come from China policy shifts or a stalled AI infrastructure cycle.
The harder question, whether another NVIDIA is already forming somewhere in the AI stack, is the one we tried to answer by reverse-engineering what past monster winners looked like early in a free playbook you can grab here.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Key Takeaways NVIDIA's Hugging Face deal deepens its exposure to open-source AI. Open-weight models could become increasingly important for cybersecurity. NVIDIA-heavy ETFs may benefit from the company's expanding AI strategy. NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) has confirmed its plan to acquire Hugging Face, a New York-based startup known for its open-source artificial intelligence (AI) model repository. The deal, valued at $12.9 billion, represents NVIDIA’s second-largest acquisition after its $20 billion purchase of chipmaker Groq’s assets, as quoted on CNBC.
The acquisition price underscores the strategic value of Hugging Face as the AI industry continues to expand.
Why Hugging Face MattersHugging Face has emerged as a major platform for developing, sharing and running AI models, particularly open-weight models that developers can modify and host themselves.
According to Huang, roughly half of NVIDIA’s business is driven by open models. NVIDIA is also a major developer of open AI models, making Hugging Face a natural fit with its broader AI strategy.
Beyond open-source AI, Hugging Face provides infrastructure and collaboration tools for organizations developing proprietary AI systems. The platform has more than 18 million users, hosts over 3 million models and 500,000 datasets, and is used by more than 200,000 companies, according to NVIDIA, as quoted on CNBC.
NVIDIA Gains Greater AI VisibilityThe acquisition could also give NVIDIA deeper insight into how AI developers and customers are using the technology.
Forrester analyst Naveen Chhabra said NVIDIA could gain visibility into which AI models are gaining popularity, what datasets developers are accessing and which architectures are attracting interest before broader market trends emerge, per the same CNBC article.
NVIDIA has lately positioned itself beyond its traditional role as a chipmaker by investing in companies across the AI value chain and helping fund GPU purchases through increasingly sophisticated arrangements.
AI Supply Chain Faces New RisksHugging Face CEO Clément Delangue told CNBC recently that China is winning the AI race with open-weight models. He expects Chinese tools to catch up to the U.S. frontier labs by the end of 2026 or in 2027.
Meanwhile, the accelerating U.S.-China AI race is drawing greater attention to America's dependence on China for certain components used in AI data centers.
Growing scrutiny of these supply chains could raise costs, creating further challenges for the massive infrastructure buildout needed to support AI growth. Hence, focusing on open-source AI models and their acquisition could prove to be a lucrative investment opportunity.
Are Open-Source Models Better for Cybersecurity?Delangue, a strong advocate of open-source AI, sees open models playing a key role in the growing AI cybersecurity market, as quoted on CNBC. Their flexibility, transparency and ability to run within private environments make them useful for detecting evolving threats while keeping sensitive data under organizational control.
Against this backdrop, NVIDIA's recent investment in Hugging Face appears well aligned with the growing demand for open-source models.
ETFs to WinBelow we highlight a few NVIDIA-heavy ETFs that should be in focus now.
It seems all but confirmed that 2026 will be a year given over to AI, with chipmakers like NVIDIA Corp. NASDAQ: NVDA always at the forefront of discussions of the potential for further growth. Companies tied to data center infrastructure buildout have thrived as industries pour billions of dollars into creating more AI computing capacity.
The success of the Zulu language film "The Polygamist", which stunned its creators and cast by becoming a global hit, has put momentum behind a slate of new Netflix series and films coming soon from South Africa, company officials said on Wednesday.
At an event marking a decade of the streaming service's presence in South Africa, Netflix executives announced sequels to the popular series "Blood Legacy", "Seriously Single Too" and "Another Disaster Holiday", all launching before year-end.
South Africa's, and the world's, appetite for reality TV will also be satisfied with new shows "Love is Blind: South Africa" and wedding docu-soap "Stars & Vows".
Ben Amadasun, Netflix's Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, told attendees that more than 300 South African titles had been aired since the service's launch in the country in 2016, supporting 8,000 jobs with some 30 local production companies.
'THE POLYGAMIST' SMASHES NETFLIX TOP 10
The main cause for celebration was the success of "The Polygamist". Amadasun said it was in Netflix's top 10 titles in 62 countries for seven consecutive weeks. Released in June, it has since had nearly 28 million views.
The plot centres around Jonasi Gomora, who rises from a poor township background to become a powerful and charismatic banking executive, and his wife, Joyce, on whom he constantly cheats while fathering children with several younger women -- and from whom he also hides a previous but ongoing marriage.
"I never wanted people to like this character one bit," South African actor S'dumo Mtshali told Reuters in an interview. He said that in order to embody the character, "I had to really be honest about myself as a person, as a male." He also examined numerous sex abuse scandals involving public figures.
The telenovela, based on a 2012 novel by Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi, explores African themes including complex family dynamics, patriarchy, polygamy and the ways in which Western colonial norms warped and eroded traditional values.
But Gomora also embodies a blend of ruthlessness, toxic masculinity and entitlement toward women that is recognisable across cultures and eras, from ancient Greek heroes and medieval kings to some contemporary politicians and celebrities.
"This character is our leaders, our politicians, our bosses, our uncle, our fathers. He's ... the dark mirror," Mtshali said.
Perhaps that's why the series resonated around the world.
"Seeing the engagement from everyone, everywhere. It was a wild, wild experience ... I'm still pinching myself," executive producer and co-director Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube told Reuters in an interview.
"The ... story was specific and culturally authentic ... but the wider themes I think anybody could relate to," she said.
(This story has been corrected to clarify that the film had no award nomination in paragraph 5.)
Visa (NYSE: V) today announced the Visa Trust Index for agentic commerce, providing new insight into how consumers are navigating the next evolution of AI shopping and payments. While consumers are increasingly using AI across the shopping journey, only 23% of U.S. consumers trust GenAI to handle payment transactions on their behalf. However, confidence in agentic commerce shifts when payments brands come into consideration. Visa emerged as the most trusted brand for AI-powered payments with 61% of respondents saying they would trust Visa to handle agentic transactions. The findings suggest that while consumers are intrigued by agentic commerce, trust remains the key factor determining whether adoption moves from possibility to reality.
"AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape how people discover, buy and pay for goods and services, much like e-commerce and mobile commerce did before it," said Oliver Jenkyn, Group President, Visa. "While we're still in the early days, trust will be foundational to driving agentic commerce adoption. Consumers will increasingly look to trusted payment experiences and brands as they deploy AI agents to shop on their behalf.”
Trust Will Unlock the Promise of Agentic Commerce
The Visa Trust Index found that consumer adoption of AI is already widespread, with 72% of consumers having used an AI assistant. Yet when it comes to agentic commerce, trust becomes increasingly important in the path to adoption. As AI continues to change the way people discover and shop, trust will shape how they pay.
Visa’s research looked across multiple sectors, including payments, technology and social media, and found that Visa was the most trusted brand for AI-powered payments among respondents surveyed. Visa maintained this leadership across key demographic groups, rising to 68% among consumers ages 18 to 34 and 71% among frequent AI users.
The findings suggest that consumers distinguish between the AI tools they use and the payment brands they trust. While consumers may engage with a range of AI assistants and platforms, trusted payments remain central to their willingness to complete transactions in agentic environments.
"Throughout every major shift in commerce, from the growth of e-commerce to the rise of mobile payments, trust provides stability and certainty to consumers as the world changes around them," Jenkyn said.
Building the Foundation for AI-Powered Commerce
For more than 60 years, Visa has helped enable new forms of commerce by delivering the security and reliability consumers expect when making payments. As agentic commerce continues to evolve, Visa is working with partners across the ecosystem to help establish the capabilities, standards and infrastructure needed to support secure, permissioned agent-initiated transactions.
Through Visa Intelligent Commerce and related initiatives, Visa is helping prepare the payments ecosystem for the next generation of digital commerce through technologies that support secure transactions, identity verification, authentication, and consumer controls.
According to the Visa's Trust Index, consumers are beginning to define what they expect from the companies that will help power the next era of commerce. As AI transforms how people discover, shop, and transact, Visa will continue to track consumer sentiment and help build the trusted foundation for the future of commerce.
Learn more about Visa's leadership in building the trusted infrastructure for agentic commerce at Visa Payments Frontier and on the Visa Newsroom.
Methodology
This survey was conducted on behalf of Visa by the Harris Poll using its Omnibus survey platform - a recurring bi-weekly survey tool that can accommodate ad hoc questions at a moment’s notice for quick turnaround.
The survey was fielded May 26 - 28, 2026, in the United States. Respondents are matched to the US General Adult population based on the US Census. The total sample size was 2,065 US consumers. The payment transaction question sample was 1,028 – 1,034 per brand tested.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909232260/en/
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Mastercard and Visa have joined a new World Bank initiative to promote digital payments in emerging markets. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that concentrates on the private sector, announced the project Wednesday (Sept.
Bridgewater Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 48,665 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,324 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for 0.9% of Bridgewater Advisors Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Bridgewater Advisors Inc.’s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $17,161,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 66,385,268 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $21,390,662,000 after acquiring an additional 939,421 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 65,660,460 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $19,314,681,000 after acquiring an additional 8,941,351 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $11,396,496,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 23,424,482 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $7,547,837,000 after purchasing an additional 1,194,583 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 19,019,564 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,128,484,000 after purchasing an additional 110,586 shares during the last quarter. 71.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance Shares of JPM stock opened at $353.38 on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12-month low of $279.10 and a 12-month high of $366.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $939.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $350.99 and a 200-day moving average of $321.24.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $6.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.59 by $0.55. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 18.23% and a net margin of 21.86%.The firm had revenue of $58.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $50.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.96 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 24.28 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have issued reports on JPM. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $370.00 to $384.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. UBS Group raised their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $384.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $350.00 price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $408.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $391.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $359.96.
Check Out Our Latest Report on JPM
Key JPMorgan Chase & Co. News Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week:
Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan expects approximately $138 billion of buyout debt to come to market, highlighting potential fee opportunities for its leveraged-finance and investment-banking businesses. Buyout Debt Is Surging to Levels Not Seen Since Before the Financial Crisis Positive Sentiment: The bank appointed its APAC and EMEA technology investment-banking chiefs as international co-heads, reinforcing its global technology franchise and succession depth. JPMorgan names APAC, EMEA tech investment banking chiefs as international co-heads Positive Sentiment: Heavy Treasury and corporate-bond issuance could support JPMorgan’s underwriting and trading businesses, although the benefit depends on sustained issuer and investor demand. Why Corporate Bonds Are Giving Treasuries a Tough Time Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan was named broker for CSL’s on-market share buyback and ceased substantial-holder status in Peet Limited. These mandates and portfolio changes demonstrate client activity but are unlikely to materially affect JPM’s earnings. CSL Appoints J.P. Morgan as Broker for On-Market Share Buy-Back Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan’s research points to a possible rebound in healthcare ETF flows, while its analysts remain constructive on selected sectors and stocks. This may generate research-related attention but has limited direct impact on JPM’s financial results. Healthcare ETFs Were Left Behind. JPMorgan Sees the Money Coming Back Negative Sentiment: Analysts warn that fading capital-markets momentum could produce uneven third-quarter results for JPMorgan and other large banks, particularly if deal activity and trading revenue soften. Capital Markets Momentum Fades: What it Means for Big Banks in Q3 Negative Sentiment: One valuation-focused analysis recommends holding JPM’s common shares rather than aggressively buying them at roughly 3.2 times book value, signaling limited upside after the stock’s strong run. JPMorgan: Start Accumulating The Preferred For Income, Hold The Common At 3.2x Book Insider Buying and Selling In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, insider Robin Leopold sold 2,500 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $361.41, for a total value of $903,525.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 73,547 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,580,621.27. The trade was a 3.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 5,467 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $330.73, for a total transaction of $1,808,100.91. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel owned 40,961 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,547,031.53. This trade represents a 11.78% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
(Free Report)
JPMorgan Chase & Co is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City. Through its businesses, the company provides banking, lending, payments, investment banking, asset management and wealth management services to consumers, businesses, institutional clients and governments.
The company operates through four primary business areas: Consumer & Community Banking; Commercial & Investment Banking; Asset & Wealth Management; and Corporate. Its offerings include deposit accounts, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, business banking, commercial lending, treasury services, investment banking, securities trading, investment management and private banking.
JPMorgan Chase serves customers in the United States and maintains operations and client relationships across numerous international markets.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM – Free Report).
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Demand for income-focused real estate strategies drives investor demand for net lease assets
, /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Morgan Asset Management today announced the final close of J.P. Morgan Net Lease Real Estate Fund II ("the fund"), with $1.1 billion in total capital commitments. The successful close marks a significant milestone in the continued growth of J.P. Morgan's U.S. net lease platform as the first fund raised by the firm following its 2023 acquisition of Trio Investment Group, and builds on the strong foundation established by Trio Net Lease Fund I.
The fund closed above its initial $500 million target, attracting strong support from a diversified global institutional and private wealth investor base spanning the United States, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, with commitments anchored by leading pension, endowment, and insurance institutions. Over half of the investors are new to J.P. Morgan Asset Management Real Estate Americas, reflecting the breadth of the platform and its growing global reach.
"Investors continue to recognize the important role private markets can play in building resilient portfolios," said Jed Laskowitz, Global Head of Private Markets and Customized Solutions for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "We saw strong demand for this offering and were able to close an oversubscribed fund quickly, an outcome that underscores investor conviction in our expertise and capabilities, particularly given today's real estate fundraising backdrop."
Net Lease Real Estate Fund II is focused on acquiring single-tenant properties with long-term, triple-net leases, targeting supply chain-critical industrial and industrial outdoor storage across the United States. The fund seeks to capitalize on secular tailwinds, including U.S. manufacturing growth and onshoring trends that are increasing demand for industrial space, as well as the growing need for private credit that is driving sale-leaseback activity. The strategy will look to provide stable, consistent cash flow for investors while helping tenants find capital and strengthen their balance sheets. The fund has an active acquisition pipeline diversified across property types and strategic logistics markets, supported by J.P. Morgan's longstanding corporate and banking relationships.
"Net lease will continue to be a focus for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and this is just the beginning of providing our clients with greater access to this segment of the real estate market," said Chad Tredway, Global Head of Real Estate, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "We believe net lease is particularly compelling right now because it can offer durable, long-term income and it is an area where we are seeing strong investor appetite and continued growth."
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has a 60-year history in global real estate investing and oversees $80 billion in assets under management globally.
About J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $4.6 trillion as of June 30, 2026, is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information, visit: www.jpmorgan.com/am.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $5.0 trillion in assets and $375 billion in stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2026. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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Target Corporation (TGT) has surged 73% since my last bullish call, outperforming the benchmark and providing a solid hedge. At a 16x forward P/E, TGT now trades at a 6% premium to the sector median, suggesting fair valuation. I see Target as a steady dividend payer with sector-like fundamentals, but upside appears muted after the recent rally.
As Target enters a new chapter of growth, the public design presentation celebrates the retailer's long-standing belief in the democratization of design, from fashion and beauty to home and beyond
The presentation will feature reinterpretations of the Target bag by leading and emerging creative voices like Public School New York design duo Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Venus Williams and Chloë Sevigny
, /PRNewswire/ -- Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced Target by Design, a two-day presentation taking place as a New Museum Retail Experience in New York City celebrating Target's commitment to accessible design and the creative talent shaping the future of style and design. Open Sept. 10-11, the immersive experience brings Target's design approach to life through everyday objects like the Target cart or a lipstick elevated to the status of art; reinterpretations of the Target bag by leading and emerging creative voices; and past iconic collaborations with Michael Graves, Missoni, Marimekko and more.
Designed by Public School New York for Target
Designed by Daniel Arsham for Target
Designed by Chloë Sevigny for Target "Target by Design celebrates our long-standing commitment to making great design accessible, while showcasing the creative talent and ideas shaping what's next," said Michelle Mesenburg, chief brand officer, Target. "Across every aspect of our business and brand experience, our belief in the power of great design for all guides how we deliver what our guests have come to expect from Target: amazing style, thoughtful design and incredible value."
Bringing Target's design story to life
Target by Design invites visitors to take in design through a distinctly Target lens. Familiar Target objects and experiences are reimagined to spark discovery, invite participation and demonstrate how great design can be part of everyday life.
It is a pop-art playzone that unfolds across three immersive environments:
The Store: Designed for Discovery – An experiential area exploring how everyday shopping at Target becomes a journey of discovery. The Magic Mobile reimagines the Target run with everyday products that become an immersive installation. Bullseye the Oracle, a Target twist on the classic Fortune Teller game, presents visitors with their shopping fortunes. Doors of Discovery features seven doors revealing hidden worlds, reflecting Style, Beauty, Home, Food, Wellness, Kids and Culture and celebrating the unexpected moments and inspiration that define the Target shopping experience. The Bag: Designed by You – The story of design at Target doesn't end at checkout. It continues in the hands of the guests who shop there. The iconic Target bag becomes the season's "it" accessory, a symbol of how great design can inspire creativity and invite everyone to participate. Visitors can explore original artist interpretations of the iconic Target bag, then make one their own. Original one-of-a-kind reinterpretations by creative leaders and emerging talent demonstrate how a familiar object, the Target bag, can be transformed through individual expression. Featured contributors include Public School New York design duo Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Max Alexander, Laila Gohar, Kahlana Barfield Brown, Daniel Arsham, Chloë Sevigny and Venus Williams, alongside emerging designers from Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design. Visitors can customize a bag using heat-pressed graphics, scarves, keychains and pins to create a piece that's uniquely their own ... while becoming part of Target's evolving design story. On Sept. 12, the celebration will extend to Target's SoHo store, where guests can participate in an interactive customization experience featuring exclusive Target bags from the design presentation and new-for-fall denim. On @Target Instagram, visitors can enter for a chance to win one of 10 reinterpreted Public School New York Target bags. The Archive – An exploration of Target's design history featuring iconic collaborations and innovations, including pieces from Michael Graves, Marimekko and Missoni, alongside the evolution of the Target shopping cart and the award-winning ClearRx prescription bottle redesign. Investing in what's next
Beyond the presentation itself, Target by Design reflects Target's continued investment in helping emerging talent access opportunities within the fashion and design industries. Through partnerships with organizations like Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design and the Youth Design Center, Target is creating pathways for students and emerging creatives to gain industry exposure and real-world experience. These efforts include professional development opportunities, case challenges and mentorship from Target leaders.
Target by Design is free and takes place September 10-11 at 235 Bowery, New York, NY, as a New Museum Retail Experience. Guests can register for timed entry at targetbydesign.rsvp/.
About Target
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.
While the debate over how high interest rates will go rages on, the FOMC almost certainly won't cut rates anytime soon. The takeaway for investors is that the “new normal” of higher-for-longer, which took effect two or three years ago, is now normal and unlikely to change. For investors, this means refocusing on high-quality, rate-resistant stocks that deliver value.
Rate-resistant stocks share a few qualities that drive positive stock price performance over time, whether the FOMC is hiking or cutting rates, including healthy balance sheets, pricing power, and reliable cash flow. Low- or fixed-rate debt insulates companies from rising borrowing costs, while strong cash positions provide yield on deposits. Pricing power comes from brand strength and market position, which typically entails essential goods and services—dailies and necessities people and businesses can’t live without. This enables the ability to pass through higher costs and maintain margins, which is critical.
Reliable cash is what matters. Rate-resistant stocks can drive cash flow in all cycles and, more importantly, free cash flow for reinvestment and capital returns. Capital returns often include dividends and share buybacks, both of which can drive investment. In this light, many Dividend Champions and Dividend Kings would qualify as inflation-resistant, having proven their ability to sustain cash flow and capital returns through business cycles.
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JPMorgan Chase & Co: Benefiting From Structural TailwindsWhile higher rates may impair JPMorgan’s NYSE: JPM business traffic, they are good news for its cash flow and balance sheet. Higher rates mean higher margins, improved cash flow from investments and net interest income (NII) growth. NII growth underpins its ability to sustain top-tier financial health and substantial capital returns.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Today
JPM
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$355.39 +1.88 (+0.53%)
As of 10:42 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$279.10▼
$366.501.69%
15.24
$359.96
JPM yields approximately 1.7% annually as of early September, paying out less than 30% of its annualized earnings and on track to sustain annual distribution increases.
As it stands, JPM's dividend has increased for 15 consecutive years, making it a Dividend Achiever on track for Champion status.
JPMorgan’s growth outlook isn’t robust but remains positive, expected to sustain a mid- to low-single-digit pace over the next five to 10 years while maintaining margins.
The 10-year forecast suggests the stock trades at a deep value, approximately half the current-year valuation, setting the stage for a triple-digit stock price increase over time.
Analysts and institutions express confidence in the outlook, with 28 analysts rating it a consensus Moderate Buy, a Buy-side bias to the data, an uptrend in price targets, and institutions accumulating in 2026.
Exxon Mobil: Well Positioned, and Higher Oil Prices, Too!Exxon Mobil NYSE: XOM is a rate-resistant stock because its foresightful management takes a prudent, cash-conserving approach to the business.
ExxonMobil Today
$163.76 +3.11 (+1.93%)
As of 10:42 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$110.39▼
$176.412.52%
20.99
$167.45
While it could deliver windfall capital returns as oil prices drive margin strength, it doesn’t, choosing instead to preserve financial health and prepare for when oil prices aren’t as favorable.
As a result, Exxon Mobil maintains a healthy balance sheet and capital-return capacity, including reliable dividends and share buybacks.
The dividend, yielding about 2.6% in early September, isn’t the highest in the energy sector, but it is incredibly consistent, and the distribution grows annually.
Exxon Mobil has increased its payment for over 40 consecutive years, putting it on track to be crowned a Dividend King before 2035 (a catalyst for ownership, attracting institutional and retail buy-and-hold investors).
Analysts rate XOM a consensus Hold, with a 45% Buy-side bias among 22 tracked analysts. The price-target trend is bullish, and the institutional group is accumulating.
Alphabet: Defying Logic in an AI-Driven WorldAlphabet NASDAQ: GOOGL is not unique, but unlike most other mega-cap tech companies, it has a fortress balance sheet, a massive cash pile, and a nearly unmatched capacity to self-fund growth.
Alphabet Today
$330.36 -8.00 (-2.37%)
As of 10:42 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$235.84▼
$408.610.27%
16.56
$420.19
Its dominance in search—an estimated 90% market share—anchors a highly profitable advertising business that throws off enormous cash.
Self-funding growth is a key detail in 2026, as Alphabet is a top-3 hyperscaler central to the data center buildout, and is accelerating capital expenditure (CapEx) plans quarterly. While risks remain, its surging backlog helps to mitigate them, pointing to sustained, high-level growth and margins over time.
Alphabet’s dividend is not robust, only a token meant to enable broader investment among institutional groups, but buybacks are more substantial.
The caveat for 2026 is that buybacks are effectively halted while the AI buildout is underway, but they are expected to resume as the front-loaded CapEx converts to revenue and cash flow.
Until then, analyst trends are bullish, with 54 analysts rating GOOGL a consensus Buy, sentiment firming, and price targets trending higher. Consensus forecasts more than 20% upside from early Q3 support levels, with revisions pushing toward the high end, implying another high-teens advance.
Should You Invest $1,000 in JPMorgan Chase & Co. Right Now?Before you consider JPMorgan Chase & Co., you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and JPMorgan Chase & Co. wasn't on the list.
While JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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The AI wave will soon hit public markets with Anthropic and OpenAI set to go public later this year. However, you don't have to wait to invest. This report shows seven AI stocks that you can buy today while the big model providers get ready to go public.
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3 Stocks to Buy and Hold for Higher Interest RatesExxonMobil NYSE: XOM Chief Financial Officer Neil Hansen said the company is relying on technology, project execution and operational performance to support long-term shareholder returns as energy markets navigate supply disruptions and higher refining margins.
Speaking at the Barclays Energy-Power Conference, Hansen said the company’s strategy is designed to operate across commodity-price cycles and changing energy systems. He cited ExxonMobil’s ability to execute major projects at lower cost and faster speed than competitors, as well as its efforts to centralize operating organizations across the enterprise.
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Striking Oil: How the U.S. Play for Venezuela Fuels Supermajors“We want to be defined by what we do well, not necessarily by the products that we produce,” Hansen said.
Supply disruption shifts pressure toward refining Addressing the Middle East supply disruption and conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Hansen said the situation underscored the importance of affordable and reliable energy. He said market mechanisms have largely responded as expected, including releases from commercial and strategic inventories, higher supply from countries including the United States and Brazil, and demand destruction in chemicals and refining.
The 2026 Blueprint: 6 Stocks for a Brand New PortfolioFor the most part, oil prices have settled into a relatively range-bound environment, he said. However, ExxonMobil sees refining as the current pinch point in the energy system.
Hansen attributed higher refining margins partly to products not leaving the Middle East and reduced availability of crude needed by Asian refineries. He also cited developments involving Ukraine and Russia, as well as lower Chinese product exports.
He said ExxonMobil’s integrated model helps the company capture value as it moves among stages of the value chain. The company has organized itself around value chains spanning feedstocks, manufacturing, logistics and end consumers, while centralizing functions including supply chain, trading, technology, operations and project execution.
Hansen pointed to the company’s ability to qualify alternative crude supplies for Asian refining and chemical facilities during disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz as an example of how those capabilities can support operations.
Permian synergies exceed initial expectations Hansen said ExxonMobil’s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources has performed better than anticipated. The company initially expected to generate about $2 billion annually in synergies from the transaction, but has doubled that amount, according to Hansen.
He described the integration as a “best of both” approach, combining ExxonMobil’s technology and operating capabilities with practices it adopted from Pioneer. The company remains focused on raising recovery rates in the Permian Basin, where Hansen said only a relatively small portion of the resource in the ground is currently recovered.
ExxonMobil is advancing 40 complementary technologies intended to improve primary and secondary recovery and enhance capital efficiency, he said. Some of the technologies could produce equivalent volumes with fewer wells. Hansen reiterated the company’s objective of doubling recovery in the Permian and said its outlook for the asset remains optimistic.
On future acquisitions, Hansen said ExxonMobil can remain selective. The company will seek transactions where it can apply its capabilities to create substantially more value than the current owner, rather than pursuing deals simply to add volumes or assets.
LNG growth and Guyana cash flow Hansen said ExxonMobil continues to view the long-term fundamentals for liquefied natural gas as sound. While the company had expected near-term market length entering the year, he said Middle East developments have pushed that expectation out.
The company’s priority in LNG is to bring on advantaged, low-cost supply that can generate high returns, rather than to pursue geographic diversification for its own sake, he said. ExxonMobil’s portfolio includes operations and projects in the Middle East, Papua New Guinea, Mozambique and the U.S. Gulf Coast through Golden Pass.
Hansen also said ExxonMobil recently announced plans with Total in Papua New Guinea under which ExxonMobil will take operatorship and increase its equity interest.
In Guyana, Hansen said the company reached the “desaturation” of its cost bank faster than expected—about two years earlier, even after accounting for oil-price effects. He said the milestone reflects project execution and the performance of existing floating production, storage and offloading vessels.
ExxonMobil has recovered approximately $55 billion of costs in Guyana, Hansen said. While the development is expected to result in slightly lower entitled volumes—estimated at about 100,000 barrels per day beginning in the third quarter—he said it is expected to double free cash flow between 2025 and 2030.
The company’s fifth Guyana FPSO is already in the water, and ExxonMobil is working to advance a ninth vessel, he said. Hansen added that quicker cost recovery will increase receipts for the Guyanese government.
Focus extends beyond 2030 Hansen said ExxonMobil has growing confidence in its plan to add $25 billion in earnings and $35 billion in cash flow through 2030, with earnings growth moving closer to $30 billion. He said the company is also pursuing opportunities beyond that period, including LNG projects, frontier exploration, undeveloped discovered resources, Proxxima resins and graphite for batteries.
In Proxxima, Hansen said the company has demonstrated value in uses such as lighter rebar and coatings requiring fewer applications. ExxonMobil has made a final investment decision on a blend plant intended to produce up to 120,000 KTA of resins, he said. In graphite, the company is working with original equipment manufacturers to demonstrate faster battery charging, more capacity and longer duration.
Hansen said future structural savings are expected to come increasingly from ExxonMobil’s centralized organizational model and a new enterprise-wide system, rather than primarily from divestments.
About ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM)Exxon Mobil Corporation, doing business as ExxonMobil, is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. Its upstream operations support oil and natural gas production in multiple regions worldwide, while its downstream businesses refine crude oil into fuels and other petroleum products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets.
Through its product solutions businesses, ExxonMobil manufactures and markets lubricants, specialty fluids, petroleum-derived products and chemical products, including commodity and performance chemicals used in packaging, automotive components, construction materials and other industrial applications.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in ExxonMobil Right Now?Before you consider ExxonMobil, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and ExxonMobil wasn't on the list.
While ExxonMobil currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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The AI boom extends far beyond the biggest tech names. Discover 10 companies supplying the memory, storage, networking, semiconductor manufacturing, and power infrastructure that make AI possible. Learn where the next wave of AI investment opportunities may emerge—and the key risks investors should watch as the global AI buildout accelerates.
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Ford (F) is rated Buy, with improving earnings quality and potential for upward estimate revisions driven by premium product mix and operational enhancements. Premium and off-road variants, sharing 80%+ parts with base models, are boosting margins and attracting a younger, wealthier customer base. Normalization of aluminum supply and additional Super Duty capacity are set to lift profitability, with lean dealer inventory supporting sales growth.
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Ford's multibillion-dollar EV ambitions collapsed faster than almost anyone predicted, and the company's bold plan to rebuild from scratch raises more questions than it answers.
Ford’s (NYSE: F | F Price Prediction) first attempt to conquer the EV world was supposed to cost $30 billion. By the end of the decade, a huge share of its new-car sales would be EVs. They would sell hundreds of thousands a year. They even used two of their iconic brands for EV launches. The F-150 Lightning was named after America’s best-selling vehicle for decades. The Mustang Mach-E was named after one of the best-selling cars in Ford history.
Ford has finally run out of EVs just as it tries to enter the sector again
In July, Ford sold only 141 Lightning units, down 95% from the year before. That is less than five a day across the entire US. Ford sold 1,863 Mach-Es, down 64.9%. Inventory for both must be near zero.
Ford has made an odd decision about re-entering the EV segment. It will build and sell just one vehicle. It will cost a fortune to get it off the assembly line, and Ford has not said what it will introduce behind it. The Fathom is a small EV pickup, which will sell for under $30,000. Its feature list is close to what you would get on a Tesla. But Tesla had them years ago.
Ford will build the Fathom using the Universal EV Production System. It is, says Ford, the largest advance in assembly lines since the one Henry Ford created to make the Model T. Here is the most astonishing thing. Of all the huge car companies in the world, all the new Chinese EV companies, and the EV segment led by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), no other car company has been able to create a similar, wildly advanced assembly line. Ford, and only Ford, has figured this out. Impossible? No. Very improbable? Yes
The sun has finally set on what was to be the worst decision in Ford’s history. It is rising on one that is meager, with one small vehicle to be sold into a US market that does not want EVs.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Starbucks (SBUX - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this coffee chain have returned -4.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, to which Starbucks belongs, has lost 2.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
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.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Starbucks is expected to post earnings of $0.71 per share, indicating a change of +36.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.4% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.59 points to a change of +21.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.1%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.13 indicates a change of +21.1% from what Starbucks is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.6%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. 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 Starbucks.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Starbucks, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $9.32 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -2.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $38.03 billion and $39.64 billion estimates indicate +2.3% and +4.2% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryStarbucks reported revenues of $9.32 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -1.4%. EPS of $0.85 for the same period compares with $0.5 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.44 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.22%. The EPS surprise was +28.79%.
Over the last four quarters, Starbucks surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Starbucks is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium 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 Starbucks. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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Kevin Carter/Getty Images Forget the Jets and the Sharks, the Yankees and the Red Sox, or Arsenal v. Spurs (on my side of the pond). Few rivalries run as deep as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
That explains why Madison Avenue was so stunned by last week's news: Publicis Groupe had won PepsiCo's $1.7 billion global media, data, and tech account without a traditional pitch. (Omnicom was Pepsi's global media partner for more than 25 years, though Publicis media agencies did already work with the beverage and snacks giant in some markets in Asia.)
The context: Publicis handles Coca-Cola's media in North America — and was competing against incumbent WPP for Coke's global business.
"I was gobsmacked and shellshocked all week," one marketing consultant told me. Another sent me an unprintable expletive.
Two people familiar with the matter told me Publicis has withdrawn from Coke's global pitch and is set to resign the North America account — a business it had won from WPP last year. The Coke North America business is estimated to be worth $805 million, while the global business amounts to $1.8 billion in spending, per the research company COMvergence.
PepsiCo marketing leader Jane Wakely talks sports partnerships as a growth opportunity
AdAge reported on Tuesday that Coke is now planning to put its North American media business back under review.
Publicis' coup is widely viewed as a masterstroke by Arthur Sadoun's company, which similarly clinched Microsoft's media business in April without a formal pitch. It also shows how consolidation of the agency landscape is reshaping CMOs' options — particularly for marketers who demand category exclusivity.
Madison Avenue's review cultureWhen Coca-Cola confirmed its global media review in June, Pepsi's marketing team quickly seized the opportunity to strike before it was too late.
If Publicis had won Coke, Pepsi would have had few obvious alternatives to retaining Omnicom as its global media partner. WPP and Publicis' relationship with Coke would have made those agencies off-limits, and Omnicom's acquisition of IPG, as well as Dentsu's international struggles, left few other scaled global media operations in the market for a company of PepsiCo's size.
"Top-to-top dealmaking is getting more prevalent vis-a-vis running a process with guarantees on people, remuneration, and media cost," said Ruben Schreurs, CEO of the marketing consultancy Ebiquity. "Is this a sign of the times to come?"
It's an embarrassing blow for Coke, which had been expecting to convene leaders from Publicis and WPP in Mexico City this week in the latest stage of the global media pitch. Only WPP made it.
Reviews are costly and time-consuming for both agencies and clients: WPP and Publicis execs had already flown to Shanghai and London as part of the process.
Some major global advertisers deem these lengthy processes necessary as they make major decisions over which agencies are best equipped to handle their billions of dollars in ad spending. It's not just about which agency has the most persuasive "pitch" and charismatic leaders in the presentation room. Advertisers and their procurement teams can spend months, and even years, haggling on pricing, the top people who will be assigned to their accounts, and stress-testing agencies' capabilities in areas such as data, tech, commerce media, and increasingly AI. Volkswagen's global media review memorably stretched over three years before it reappointed Omnicom's PHD in 2024.
Given all the complexity involved in such reviews, industry insiders said they were surprised that Publicis' move came as the Coke review was well underway.
"It couldn't have been more shocking in a more shocking category with two more shocking brands at a more shocking point in the process," an agency head told me.
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Lara O'Reilly You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Lara O'Reilly is the anchor of the CMO Insider newsletter.She is a chief correspondent who has covered the digital advertising, marketing, and media industries since 2010. Her current beat includes big tech companies like Alphabet and Meta, adtech firms, agencies, publishers, the creator economy, and CMOs.Lara has previously worked as a reporter and executive producer at titles including The Wall Street Journal, Digiday, Yahoo Finance, and Marketing Week. She was previously Business Insider's senior global advertising editor from 2014 to 2017.Lara is a regular guest on TV and radio and has appeared on outlets such as the BBC, NPR, SiriusXM's Wharton Business Daily, and CTV Television Network. She also frequently speaks on stage at major events such as Web Summit, IFA, VivaTech, Advertising Week, and Cannes Lions.To get in touch with Lara O'Reilly, email [email protected] or contact her on Signal at @loreilly.71
Pepsi's stock has barely moved in five years while Coca-Cola surged over 80%, yet Jim Cramer says that very underperformance makes one of them the smarter buy right now.
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PepsiCo kicked off its 26th NFL season campaign, “Tailgating Deserves Pepsi,” featuring Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis as the “Pepsi gameday ref” alongside Justin Jefferson, complete with a free Pepsi Zero Sugar 12-pack offer running September 9 through September 14, or until 5,000 redemptions are reached. The gameday marketing machine is humming. The stock, less so.
Cramer’s Accidentally High Yield Thesis PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP | PEP Price Prediction) trades at $138.44, down 0.6% year to date and up just 4.51% over five years. Over that same five-year stretch, Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is up 83.42%, with a 28.09% year-to-date gain and a 34.77% one-year advance to $88.40.
Jim Cramer’s pitch for Pepsi rests on the very math that underperformance creates. On a July episode of Mad Money, he noted that “PepsiCo dropped nearly a buck sinking to a level where it sports a dividend yield north of 4%.” He has since framed the setup around a lower valuation, cheaper oil, and that accidental income. When Cramer earlier compared the two names, he reminded viewers that “the share price tells you nothing about a stock’s valuation vis a vis another stock. To make any kind of apples to apples comparison, you take a step back.”
Dividend Machine Keeps Grinding Pepsi raised its quarterly payout to $1.48 per share, up from $1.4225, with the latest ex-dividend date September 4 and payment date September 30. That marks the 54th consecutive annual increase, backed by a $10 billion buyback authorization through February 28, 2030. The yield sits at 4.04%, versus 2.32% at Coca-Cola.
Two Different Growth Stories Pepsi’s Q2 2026 revenue rose 6.4% year over year to $24.181B, with core EPS of $2.20. CEO Ramon Laguarta told analysts that “a category that was negative in volume now is positive in volume. We were losing share in volume. Now we’re gaining share in volume.” Still, the company signaled results could land at the low end of its EPS range, hampered by softer U.S. impulse channels.
Coca-Cola, by contrast, is compounding. Q2 delivered adjusted EPS of $0.97 and revenue of $13.380B, up 6.74% YoY, with 5% unit case volume growth and raised full-year guidance calling for comparable EPS growth of 9 to 10%. CEO Henrique Braun said, “We delivered a strong quarter with broad-based momentum across our business.”
Scoreboard Investors Actually Watch Pepsi trades at a P/E of 23 against Coke at 29, and Cramer’s view is that the discount plus the 4% yield offers protection. But the yield is elevated because the shares have stalled.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Paypal (PYPL - 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.
Shares of this technology platform and digital payments company have returned -9.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, to which Paypal belongs, has lost 2.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
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.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather 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, Paypal is expected to post earnings of $1.32 per share, indicating a change of -1.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.2% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.38 points to a change of +1.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.8 indicates a change of +7.8% from what Paypal is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. 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 Paypal.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven 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.
For Paypal, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $8.7 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +3.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $34.66 billion and $36.1 billion estimates indicate +4.5% and +4.1% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPaypal reported revenues of $8.68 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +4.8%. EPS of $1.38 for the same period compares with $1.4 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.51 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.02%. The EPS surprise was +7.81%.
Over the last four quarters, Paypal 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.
Paypal is graded A 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.
Bottom LineThe 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 Paypal. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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Intel shares have surged over 300% in the past year, yet Wall Street remains skeptical and the stock sits nearly 20% off its peak. A specific set of milestones could push INTC to a price most analysts refuse to say…
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) has become the most improbable comeback story in semiconductors. CEO Lip-Bu Tan told investors on the July call that Q2 delivered “the strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years,” and the market has responded.
Shares are up 183.12% year to date and 326.76% over the last year. At $104.47, the natural next question is whether Intel can double again to $200. I think it is possible, and here is what has to happen.
Why Intel Shares Have Stalled After a Historic Run The rally has cooled. INTC sits 19% below its 52-week high of $142.35, and the one-month return of just 2.77% masks a choppy period that included prints in the $88 to $90 range before the recent 17.42% one-week rebound. With a beta of 2.231, this is a violent stock.
The skepticism is real: Intel Foundry still posted a $2.1 billion quarterly operating loss, and GAAP results included an $11 billion net loss driven by a $12.53 billion non-cash CHIPS Act escrow charge. Composite sentiment reads neutral at 47.01, down 12.25 in a week. Investors are asking a fair question: how much good news is already priced in?
Wall Street Sees 11% Upside. I Think the Ceiling Is Higher The Street is cautious. The consensus target sits at $115.88, implying roughly 10.92% upside. Ratings break down as 1 strong buy, 13 buy, 32 hold, 1 sell, and 1 strong sell. Our own model is even more conservative near term at $92.39 with a hold rating and high confidence, largely because a mega-cap dampener and negative trailing earnings pull the blend down.
But only 29% of analysts are bullish, and the earnings growth contribution is scored at -0.03 using trailing data that predates the DCAI acceleration. In my view, both the Street and the model are anchored to a past that no longer describes the business. Data Center and AI revenue grew 59% year over year. That is a growth curve well beyond hold-quality.
Charting a Realistic Path to $200 Per Share Reaching $200 from today’s price of $104.47 would require a gain of 91.4%. With forward EPS of $1.14, a price of $200 implies a forward P/E of 175x. Our base case of $92.39 already implies 96x, meaning the bold target requires roughly 80x of additional multiple expansion at today’s depressed EPS.
That sounds absurd until you realize the compression story runs the other way: earnings power has to do the work. Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 beat by 93.1%, DCAI operating margin hit 40%, and the ASIC business is “approaching a $2 billion run rate” heading to $4 billion.
Tan sees CPU demand accelerating as “the next wave of AI will bring intelligence closer to the end user, moving from foundational models to inference to agentic.”
Add the NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) $5B equity stake and Xeon 6 being “one of the fastest ramping products in Intel history,” and the earnings ramp becomes plausible. The primary risk is that Intel 14A slips or loses an anchor customer.
Where Intel Trades Today vs Its Earnings Power At $104.47 against forward EPS of $1.14, Intel trades near 92x forward earnings. That looks expensive in isolation, but the number is distorted by foundry losses that are already narrowing.
Shares sit near the upper band between the 52-week low of $24.05 and high of $142.35, and the 10-year return of 263.69% still lags the broader semi complex. If DCAI and ASIC scale the way management guides, the P/E resets naturally as EPS climbs into the mid-single digits, and $200 stops looking like a fantasy multiple.
$200 Is a Stretch, But Here’s Why It’s Possible Reaching $200 requires a 91.4% gain from here. Realistic? Ambitious but achievable.
Three things have to go right: DCAI has to sustain 40%+ operating margins as Xeon 6 and Clearwater Forest ramp, Intel Foundry has to narrow its $2.1 billion quarterly loss with external customer wins on 18A-P and 14A, and the ASIC business has to hit its $4 billion run rate.
A missed 14A milestone or a PC demand collapse would derail it. Returns at this level shouldn’t be expected every year, but we’ve outlined the blueprint for how Intel could reach $200 in 2028.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Market impact focus: The complaint alleges HTZ investors suffered a sharp repricing after Hertz announced a dilutive financing, reduced EBITDA guidance, and unexpected used-car market softness just weeks after liquidity assurances.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP alerts investors in Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTZ) that a class action has been filed on behalf of shareholders who purchased securities between May 7, 2026 and June 23, 2026. Find out if you may qualify to recover losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
HTZ closed at $3.00 on June 24, 2026 after declining more than 40% following Hertz's announcement of a $300 million Exchangeable Senior First-Lien Secured PIK Notes offering, a share-lending transaction involving more than 37 million shares, and second-quarter Adjusted Corporate EBITDA guidance of $50 million to $80 million. The lead plaintiff deadline is September 22, 2026.
The Alleged Market Impact on HTZ Shares
The action claims the June 24, 2026 announcement rapidly changed how investors valued Hertz. As alleged, the market had previously received statements that Hertz expected liquidity to improve and that used-car market weakness was manageable.
The complaint contends that the financing announcement and EBITDA guidance cut caused investors to reassess the Company's liquidity needs, dilution risk, fleet economics, and exposure to used-car residual values.
Dilution and Guidance Shock Alleged by the Filing
According to the filing, Hertz announced a financing structure that included PIK notes due 2030 and a concurrent share-lending offering from which Hertz would receive no proceeds. The next day, the offering allegedly priced on more dilutive terms, including an upsizing to $350 million, potential expansion to $400 million, a 6.75% coupon, an exchange price of approximately $3.58, and borrowed common stock sold at $2.70 per share.
Market Impact Facts for HTZ Investors
Hertz reported approximately $837 million of liquidity at the end of the first quarter. The Company later announced a $300 million PIK note financing and more than 37 million borrowed shares. Second-quarter Adjusted Corporate EBITDA guidance was reduced to a range of $50 million to $80 million. HTZ closed at $3.00 on June 24, 2026, after a decline of more than 40%. Joseph Levi on the Alleged HTZ Repricing
"When a stock declines more than 40% after a financing and guidance reset, investors deserve a careful review of what the market had been told beforehand. The complaint alleges that Hertz shareholders were exposed to dilution and liquidity risks that were not adequately disclosed before the June 24 announcement." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Submit your information here or call (212) 363-7500.
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights firm. Over the past 20 years, the firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Ranked in ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the HTZ Lawsuit
Q: What court was the HTZ class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ft. Myers Division, and asserts claims under the federal securities laws.
Q: Who are the defendants named in the HTZ lawsuit? A: The complaint names Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. and senior executives West and Haralson who allegedly signed SEC filings, made public statements, or certified financial disclosures during the Class Period.
Q: What specific misstatements does the HTZ lawsuit allege? A: The complaint alleges Hertz made materially false or misleading statements regarding liquidity sufficiency, used-car market softness, fleet depreciation, and the Company's ability to manage residual-value pressure through its Back-to-Basics strategy.
Q: How much did HTZ stock drop? A: Shares fell more than 40% to close at $3.00 on June 24, 2026 after Hertz announced a dilutive financing, unexpected used-car market softness, and reduced Adjusted Corporate EBITDA guidance.
Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the entire class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with the largest documented losses. Being appointed does not increase individual recovery but gives direct oversight of how the case is run.
Q: What documents do I need to submit my information? A: Brokerage statements or trade confirmations showing purchase dates, share quantities, prices paid, and any subsequent sale dates and prices.
Q: What if I already sold my HTZ shares, can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold the shares. Investors who bought during the Class Period and sold at a loss may still be eligible to participate.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to contact the firm. Securities class actions are generally handled on a contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, and no out-of-pocket costs. Any attorneys' fees and expenses awarded to class counsel are subject to court approval.
CONTACT:\
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP\
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.\
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.\
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor\
New York, NY 10004\
[email protected]\
Tel: (212) 363-7500\
Fax: (212) 363-7171
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Collecting $8,900 a month in retirement without selling shares sounds clean until you see what the biggest position in this seven-ticker setup actually pays when markets go quiet.
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A 74-year-old collecting $8,900 a month, or $106,800 a year, needs roughly $1.5 million invested at a blended yield near 7% without selling shares. The design uses seven US-listed positions that push cash into the account almost every week of the month, including two diversified equity funds for ballast, two mature large-caps bought for their payouts, a covered-call fund as the yield engine, a REIT and a business development company for credit-like income, and a utility closed-end fund for defensive monthly cash. This is an illustration only.
How the Sleeves Fit Together Ballast comes from iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:HDV), a quality dividend fund with a 0.08% expense ratio, and Reaves Utility Income Fund (NYSE:UTG), a closed-end fund holding utility and infrastructure equities. The mature large-caps are Verizon (NYSE:VZ | VZ Price Prediction), near $50 and yielding 5.5%, and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), around $28 and yielding 6%. The yield engine is Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (NYSEARCA:XYLD), which sells index calls for a monthly premium. The credit sleeve pairs W. P. Carey (NYSE:WPC), a net-lease REIT paying $3.76 annualized, with Capital Southwest (NASDAQ:CSWC), a middle-market business development company earning a 10.8% weighted yield on floating-rate senior secured loans.
What This Income Is Actually Doing Blended yield moves and different sleeves pull in different directions, and the largest weight is shrinking. XYLD’s forward annualized distribution of $3.73 sits well below its trailing twelve-month total of $4.33, and the latest monthly payment of $0.31 came in below the prior $0.41. That cash is an option premium, compensation for volatility. Calm markets pay less. The biggest position is the least reliable payer.
W. P. Carey cut its dividend a few years back, resetting from $1.07 quarterly to $0.86 after exiting office. It has since climbed sequentially back to $0.94, a real recovery, and a retiree deserves both facts. Capital Southwest restructured its payout partway through the trailing window, moving from a quarterly check to a $0.1934 monthly base plus a periodic $0.2534 supplemental. As a result, its forward annualized $3.04 runs above the trailing $2.56. The base is the commitment; the supplemental depends on earnings. Management flags that a 75-basis-point drop in base rates would trim annual NII by roughly $0.19 per share.
UTG is the best-behaved holding: a monthly payment stepped up from $0.20 to $0.21, with a forward rate above the trailing rate. Closed-end funds do carry quirks. They trade at premiums or discounts to the value of what they hold, so entry price matters separately from the quoted yield, and part of a distribution can be a return of capital, meaning your own money coming back rather than investment income.
The two individual companies concentrate risk. Verizon has run 30% year-to-date, compressing the income a new buyer receives. Pfizer is down 21% over five years while paying above market, the classic case of a yield flattered by a falling share price. A rising yield can mean the dividend grew or the price fell; those are opposite situations.
Where the No-Selling Promise Breaks This holder is past the age at which required minimum distributions begin. The nuance matters: distributions from a traditional IRA do not, by themselves, satisfy the RMD unless the holder actually withdraws the cash. If dividend income falls short in a given year, the holder has to sell something to make up the difference. That is one scenario where the no-selling promise breaks. Starting age depends on year of birth.
Income at this level can also lift Medicare premiums through the income-related surcharge, assessed on income from two years prior. Tax character matters too. Covered-call premium, BDC income, and REIT distributions are largely ordinary income taxed at regular rates rather than qualified-dividend rates, so those sleeves belong in tax-advantaged space when possible; the equity funds and blue-chip payers are fine in a taxable account. Seven tickers also share heavy overlap. HDV, XYLD, VZ, and PFE all draw from large-cap US equity, and in a broad sell-off most of this falls together.
One Change Worth Making The one change worth making is right-sizing XYLD. Trimming it lowers exposure to the sleeve most sensitive to market volatility. Shifting the freed capital into UTG and HDV would lower the headline yield slightly and raise the odds that the monthly checks keep arriving. That is the whole point of a portfolio built to spin off income without touching the share price: the structure we walked through step by step in a free dividend ladder guide.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
MUMBAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $LTM #AI--LTM today announced that it has collaborated with IBM and Red Hat on Lightwell to advance AI-driven open-source software remediation.
Key Takeaways Oil prices hit three-month highs as Middle East tensions and disrupted Gulf crude flows tighten supply.Dividend-paying energy stocks can provide recurring income while reducing reliance on oil-price gains.Kinder Morgan, Chevron and Canadian Natural Resources offer 3%-plus yields and diversified cash flows. Energy stocks have traditionally appealed to investors looking for income, especially when uncertainty makes dependable cash returns more valuable. That argument looks particularly relevant now as geopolitical tensions and disruptions to major energy routes are once again creating sharp swings in crude prices.
For investors who want exposure to energy without depending entirely on rising oil prices, Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) , Chevron (CVX - Free Report) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ - Free Report) remain worth considering. Their large operating footprints, established businesses and focus on shareholder returns can provide a more balanced way to participate in the sector.
Geopolitical Risks Put Oil Back in FocusOil prices have climbed to their highest levels in more than three months following fresh attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. U.S. benchmark crude recently moved to roughly $95 per barrel, while Brent approached the $100 level, as investors reacted to escalating tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen's Houthi forces and the broader U.S.-Iran conflict.
Supply concerns have also intensified around the Strait of Hormuz. Oil flows through the important shipping route have fallen sharply since fighting resumed, while overall Gulf crude exports remain well below their pre-conflict level. That has tightened the physical oil market and kept traders focused on the possibility of further disruptions.
Still, crude could move in either direction. Improving shipping conditions or easing political tensions could reduce the supply premium, while additional restrictions or attacks could tighten the market further. As a result, geopolitical developments are likely to remain an important driver of oil prices.
Why Dividend-Paying Energy Stocks Stand OutThis uncertain backdrop strengthens the case for looking beyond companies whose fortunes depend mainly on the daily movement in crude prices.
Large energy companies with diversified businesses and disciplined capital-allocation policies may be better equipped to keep generating cash and rewarding shareholders through different commodity cycles. Regular dividends can also provide investors with a continuing source of return when stock prices turn volatile.
Dividend-paying energy stocks can therefore offer a useful middle ground. Investors still gain exposure to the energy sector and can benefit from supportive commodity markets, but part of the investment case rests on recurring shareholder distributions rather than oil-price appreciation alone.
A More Balanced Way to Approach EnergyOil prices could remain volatile as the market weighs supply disruptions against the possibility of softer demand and eventual geopolitical easing. That makes it difficult for investors to build an energy strategy around a single view of where crude prices will head next.
Established dividend payers can offer a more balanced approach. Their size, financial resources and ability to generate cash from different operations can help them navigate commodity-market swings while continuing to return capital to investors.
Against this backdrop, Kinder Morgan, Chevron and Canadian Natural Resources – each carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) - offer three different ways to participate in the energy market while maintaining an income focus. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Dividend Yield Comparison
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
3 Dividend Energy Stocks to ConsiderKinder Morgan: Kinder Morgan operates one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure networks, with 78,000 miles of pipelines and extensive storage assets. Its take-or-pay contracts across natural gas, refined products, crude oil and terminals generate relatively stable, fee-based cash flows, helping reduce sensitivity to short-term commodity-price swings and offering more defensive energy exposure during volatile market conditions.
The company expects a dividend increase in 2026, which would mark its ninth consecutive annual raise. Its current payout of 29.75 cents per quarter results in a 3.7% yield. With demand for natural gas and LNG infrastructure rising, Kinder Morgan’s asset base positions it well for continued cash flow durability.
Chevron: Chevron’s integrated business spans oil and gas exploration, production, refining and chemicals, providing multiple sources of cash flow across market cycles. Its broad geographic presence across the United States, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America, together with its scale and financial strength, supports free cash flow generation and continued shareholder returns.
Chevron has maintained or raised its dividend for 90 years, underscoring a long track record of resilience. Its 3.4% yield stands above both the sector and well ahead of the S&P 500’s 1% average. A steady near-term earnings outlook, disciplined capital spending and continued efficiency gains should support the company’s ability to sustain attractive shareholder payouts.
Canadian Natural Resources: Canadian Natural Resources owns a large portfolio of long-life, low-decline assets producing light and heavy oil, bitumen, synthetic crude and natural gas. Its operations across Western Canada, the North Sea and offshore West Africa provide geographic and product diversification, while disciplined spending and a consistent focus on shareholder returns strengthen its appeal to income-oriented investors.
The company has increased its dividend for 26 consecutive years, supported by operational efficiency and consistent earnings performance. Its current quarterly dividend of 62.50 Canadian cents equates to a 3.6% yield, comfortably ahead of the Zacks Oil/Energy sector average of 2.6%. A strong balance sheet and efficient capital deployment reinforce the sustainability of its shareholder returns.
Company launches new, comprehensive nutrition platform featuring powders, bars, beverages, and center-of-plate offerings | Source: Beyond Meat, Inc.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND), also known as Beyond the Plant Protein Company™, today announced the launch of the Phytosphere, a portfolio of products designed to make it easier to access the superpowers of plants. Available at the newly launched www.BeyondPlantProtein.com, the portfolio brings together powders, bars, beverages, and center-of-plate offerings in an integrated nutrition platform that allows consumers to stack nutrients—from plant protein and fiber to polyphenols and phytosterols—across the course of their day and week.
“The nutritive benefits of plants are extraordinary, yet we often fail to get meaningful amounts of these superpowers in our modern diet,” said Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. “The Phytosphere portfolio invites the consumer into a world where access to powerful phytonutrition is cutting edge, delicious, and convenient. As with our innovation more generally, we are building out the Phytosphere portfolio with our consumers, and for our consumers, and have been looking forward to this launch.”
Meet the Phytosphere Portfolio
Beyond Star Series, including: Beyond Starmatter™: A nutrient boosted protein powder that delivers plant protein, fiber, probiotics, extracts with polyphenols, plant sterols, biotin, adaptogens, vitamins, minerals, and more. Beyond Starmatter will be available in Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Banana, Golden Latte, and Plain.Beyond Starcut™: A savory plant-based jerky bar made with plant protein and mycelium, delivering 17g of protein and 3g of fiber with 0g added sugar,1 0mg of cholesterol, no added antibiotics or hormones,2 and no added nitrates or nitrites.3 Available in Asada Style, Spicy Southwest BBQ Style, and Classic Dill Flavored. Beyond Veggie™: A burger made with more than 10 fruits and vegetables, legumes, seeds, plant protein, extracts with polyphenols, and plant sterols,4 which, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.5 Each burger patty serving delivers 12g of protein and 6g of fiber, with 0mg of cholesterol. Available in Chipotle Black Bean and Spiced Chickpea, Beyond Veggie is a good source of protein, iron,6 potassium,7 and magnesium.8 Beyond Veggie joins a broad range of center-of-plate products available on the Phytosphere, including Beyond Steak® Filet and Beyond Ground™ Faba.Beyond Immerse™: A crisp, sparkling protein beverage that delivers 20g of plant protein, 5g of fiber, electrolytes, and antioxidants with just 110 calories per can. Beyond Immerse, which is made with organic agave, is available in Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, and Cherry Berry. Consumers can purchase products individually or select from curated bundles—On-the-Go, Essentials, Performance, and Elite—created to make it simple to stack complementary plant nutrients across their diets. Shoppers can also build custom bundles tailored to their individual tastes and routines.
To explore the Phytosphere and be among the first to try the new portfolio, visit www.BeyondPlantProtein.com.
About Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND), otherwise known as Beyond The Plant Protein Company™, is a plant protein company offering a portfolio of plant-based products made with non-GMO ingredients, no added hormones or antibiotics, and 0mg of cholesterol per serving. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat’s core products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet. The company’s brand promise, Eat What You Love®, represents a strong belief that there is a better way to feed our future and that the positive choices we all make, no matter how small, can have a great impact on our personal health and the health of our planet. By shifting from animal-based protein to plant-based protein, we can positively impact four growing global issues: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare. Visit www.BeyondMeat.com and follow @BeyondMeat on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
Beyond Meat Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements.” The statements are based on management’s current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. While Beyond Meat believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, most prominently, the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Beyond Meat’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 9, 2026, Beyond Meat’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 28, 2026 filed with the SEC on May 7, 2026, and Beyond Meat’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2026 filed with the SEC on August 6, 2026, as well as other factors described from time to time in Beyond Meat’s filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Beyond Meat undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If Beyond Meat does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that Beyond Meat will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
______________________
1 See nutrition information for sodium content.
2 Like all plant-based foods
3 Except for naturally occurring nitrates and/or nitrites
4 Made with 500mg of plant sterols and 500mg of grape seed extract with naturally occurring polyphenols.
5 A serving of Beyond Veggie supplies 0.5g of plant sterols. Foods containing at least 0.5g per serving of plant sterols eaten with meals or snacks for a daily total intake of 2g as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
6 Naturally occurring
7 Naturally occurring
8 Naturally occurring
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f7a2df1-cafd-41bc-88de-ea417a3a1f54
Beyond Meat Debuts Phytosphere Portfolio Company launches new, comprehensive nutrition platform featuring powders, bars, beverages, and cente...
Archer Investment Corp acquired a new stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 750 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $799,000.
Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of CAT. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Caterpillar by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC now owns 1,635 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,741,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 1.2% during the second quarter. Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 944 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $936,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the period. Bell Bank grew its position in shares of Caterpillar by 0.6% in the second quarter. Bell Bank now owns 1,865 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,986,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 0.7% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 1,818 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,288,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the period. Finally, Advisory Resource Group lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Advisory Resource Group now owns 1,632 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $935,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Caterpillar Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $821.25 on Wednesday. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1-year low of $416.44 and a 1-year high of $1,073.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $377.50 billion, a PE ratio of 35.34, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.60. The business’s 50 day moving average is $863.27 and its 200-day moving average is $839.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65.
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.22 by $1.95. The business had revenue of $20.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.34 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 55.53% and a net margin of 14.51%.Caterpillar’s revenue was up 23.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $4.72 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.34 earnings per share for the current year. Caterpillar News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:
Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar’s power-generation backlog reportedly reached $72 billion, reinforcing the view that demand from data centers and AI-related infrastructure could make the company less dependent on the traditional construction cycle. Caterpillar’s Power Generation Backlog Just Hit $72 Billion Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage points to Caterpillar’s record backlog, strong earnings and raised 2026 outlook as key reasons for its roughly 95% one-year gain. The company’s latest reported quarter also exceeded EPS and revenue expectations, supporting investor confidence in its operating momentum. Caterpillar Gains 95% in a Year: Time to Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock? Positive Sentiment: Chief Digital Officer Ogi Redzic described how AI is changing construction work, highlighting Caterpillar’s efforts to use digital tools and automation to improve equipment productivity and customer operations. This could strengthen the company’s longer-term technology and services opportunity. Caterpillar’s Digital Chief Ogi Redzic on How A.I. Is Redefining Construction Work Neutral Sentiment: Industry coverage continues to identify Caterpillar as a leading construction-equipment company, supported by its global dealer network and cash-generation capabilities. However, the equipment showcase itself does not provide a new financial catalyst. Caterpillar vs. Corning: Which Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026? Negative Sentiment: At approximately 34 times earnings, Caterpillar trades at a demanding valuation after its major rally. Analysts note that the premium leaves the stock vulnerable to profit-taking or disappointment if backlog conversion, margins or the 2026 outlook weaken. Caterpillar Gains 95% in a Year: Time to Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock? Insider Transactions at Caterpillar In other Caterpillar news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total transaction of $26,211,760.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 34,555 shares in the company, valued at $27,954,303.90. This trade represents a 48.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have issued reports on CAT. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Caterpillar from $877.00 to $897.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Truist Financial set a $980.00 price objective on Caterpillar in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $1,118.00 price objective on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $700.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $1,125.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Caterpillar presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $995.52.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on CAT
About Caterpillar (Free Report)
Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction, mining, and industrial equipment. The company’s products include excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated trucks, and off-highway trucks, as well as related attachments and work tools. Caterpillar also supplies replacement parts, equipment services, technology solutions, and rental support through its dealer network.
The company serves customers in construction, mining, quarrying, energy, transportation, forestry, agriculture, and government-related industries.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Caterpillar Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report).
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Salesforce bulls are pointing to an AI monetization curve that is bending sharply upward, but the bears have real ammunition too, and with Dreamforce and Investor Day arriving next week, the stock sits at a crossroads where the next few…
At $249.12, Salesforce (NYSE:CRM | CRM Price Prediction) screens attractively. The stock looks fully priced on trailing numbers, yet the AI monetization curve underneath it is bending sharply upward, and the setup into Dreamforce and the September 16, 2026 Investor Day gives bulls a near-term catalyst the market has not fully absorbed.
Salesforce is the world’s largest customer relationship management software company, and it has spent the past year retooling itself around agentic AI. Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $41.53 billion, and management is guiding fiscal 2027 to $46.10 billion to $46.40 billion, with a stated $63 billion FY30 target. The stock, however, has lagged. Shares are down 5.47% year to date even after a 29.25% one-month surge tied to the Q2 report.
Why the Agentforce Ramp Changes the Math The bull argument starts with AI traction that is no longer theoretical. Agentforce ARR crossed $1.5 billion, up over 240% year over year, and combined Agentforce plus Data 360 ARR reached roughly $3.9 billion, up more than 210%. Q2 delivered revenue of $11.35 billion, up 10.83%, and a sixth straight EPS beat.
Valuation looks reasonable against that growth. Shares trade at roughly 27x trailing earnings with a 7.02% free cash flow yield. The $25 billion accelerated buyback took diluted shares to 821 million from 962 million, and cRPO grew 14% to $33.5 billion, a leading indicator that the second-half reacceleration is real.
Where the Bear Thesis Has Real Teeth Skeptics can point to genuine cracks. Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $5.90 was flattered by $2.53 per share in strategic investment gains, and operating income fell 0.04% year over year despite double-digit revenue growth. Free cash flow guidance of only 4% to 5% growth undercuts the AI hyper-growth story.
The balance sheet has changed too. Noncurrent debt jumped to $39.3 billion from $10.4 billion to fund the ASR, total liabilities rose 96.56%, and shareholders’ equity fell 37.42%. Bears argue the buyback is manufacturing EPS while operating leverage stalls.
Why Some Investors Are Still Waiting The Hold case rests on ambiguity. Revenue growth is guided at just 11% to 12%, which is not obviously worth a premium multiple. Informatica integration, FX, and $94 million in Q2 restructuring charges add noise. Some investors may look to Q3 for confirmation that Agentforce is converting bookings into GAAP operating leverage.
What the Numbers Say Right Now Shares currently trade at $249.12 against an analyst consensus target of $272.13, implying roughly 9% upside. Sentiment is constructive: 6 Strong Buy, 34 Buy, 14 Hold, 0 Sell, and 2 Strong Sell across 56 analysts, with 36 upward EPS revisions for FY27 in the trailing 30 days and zero cuts.
Performance tells a mixed story. CRM is down 5.47% year to date and roughly flat over one year at -0.4%, while the S&P 500 has returned 12.32% YTD and 18.05% over one year. Targets are one input among many, and the gap between fundamentals and price action is unusually wide here.
Why $249 Screens Attractively At $249.12, the setup for Salesforce looks constructive. Here is why.
The path to appreciation is specific. Agentforce ARR has moved from $500 million to $800 million to $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion in four quarters, and management said ARR is about to cross $4 billion across AI and data. If the second-half reacceleration lands, FY28 EPS estimates near $16.00 understate the operating leverage that Contentful, Fin, and ClaudeForce can unlock.
The catalyst window is short. Dreamforce and Investor Day arrive next week, the ASR settles in October 2026, and Q3 guidance of $11.42 billion to $11.50 billion looks beatable given 14% cRPO growth.
What invalidates the thesis: a Q3 miss on subscription revenue, Agentforce ARR growth slowing below 100% year over year, or GAAP operating margin compressing further. Watch cRPO and net-new AOV quarter by quarter. Underperformance versus the S&P 500 has compressed the risk into an entry price where the AI ramp is nearly free.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Schedules December Investor Days to Highlight GPC and Motion Growth and Value Creation Initiatives
Separation Remains on Track for Completion in First Quarter 2027
, /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions, today announced future leadership teams and Board leadership for its Automotive and Industrial businesses as it advances its planned separation into two independent, publicly traded companies.
Upon completion of the separation, the company's Automotive business will operate as Genuine Parts Company ("GPC"), and its Industrial business will operate as Motion.
Court Carruthers, a current GPC Board member, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer-elect of GPC, effective immediately, and will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer upon completion of the separation, which is targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Jean-Jacques Lafont, a current GPC Board member and Co-founder of GPC's European operations, has been appointed Non-Executive Chairman of GPC upon completion of the separation, bringing deep automotive aftermarket and independent-owner experience, global business expertise and a proven track record of organic and inorganic growth. Will Stengel, current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GPC, will join Motion as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon completion of the separation. "The Board undertook a thoughtful and deliberate process to identify the right leaders for GPC and Motion's next chapters," said Russ Hardin, Lead Director of Genuine Parts Company. "We have great confidence in Will Stengel and Court Carruthers and believe their leadership and relevant expertise, supported by strong management teams and Board leadership, positions both companies to pursue their distinct strategies, accelerate growth and create long-term shareholder value."
Court Carruthers Appointed Chief Executive Officer-elect of Genuine Parts Company
Carruthers is a current member of the GPC Board of Directors and brings extensive operating and executive leadership experience in business-to-business distribution.
Most recently, Carruthers served as Chief Executive Officer of TricorBraun, a global packaging distribution leader with 110 locations across North America, Europe and Australasia. During his tenure, revenue and EBITDA tripled while the company significantly expanded its global footprint. Previously, he spent 13 years at W.W. Grainger in various global leadership roles, most recently as Group President, Americas, where he led a $9 billion distribution business across North and South America. Over his career, Carruthers has completed more than 100 acquisitions and brings deep experience in commercial growth, supply chain optimization, digital transformation and international expansion.
Carruthers also brings earlier experience in the automotive aftermarket and independent-owner model through Grainger's former automotive joint venture in Canada. He has significant M&A, capital markets and public company governance expertise, including board service with US Foods, Ryerson Holding Corp., Foundation Building Materials and Dollarama. Carruthers holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Pepperdine University and is a CPA (Canada).
GPC Leadership Team and Board of Directors
The company also announced that Bert Nappier, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operating Officer of GPC, effective immediately.
The GPC leadership team, upon the separation, will include the following individuals:
Court Carruthers, Chief Executive Officer-elect Bert Nappier, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Operating Officer Jenn Hulett, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Chris Galla, Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Alain Masse, President, North America Automotive Franck Baduel, CEO European Automotive Rob Cameron, Managing Director and Group CEO, Australasia Upon the separation, the GPC Board leadership will include:
Jean-Jacques Lafont, Co-founder of GPC's European business, as Non-Executive Chairman Court Carruthers, Chief Executive Officer Will Stengel Appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Motion
Stengel currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genuine Parts Company and will join Motion as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as it establishes itself as a standalone public company. He has served as a member of the GPC Board of Directors and as the company's Chief Executive Officer since June 2024.
Stengel joined GPC in 2019 as Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, bringing nearly two decades of leadership and business-to-business distribution experience. He previously served as President of GPC from 2021 to 2023 and as President and Chief Operating Officer beginning in 2023. Prior to joining GPC, Stengel held numerous executive leadership roles at HD Supply, a diversified industrial distributor, including during its transition from a private to public company. Stengel also held strategy and M&A roles at The Home Depot and in investment banking.
James Howe Appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Motion
Howe will continue to lead Motion's day-to-day operations and strategy in an elevated role as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Prior to being named President of Motion in 2024, Howe served as Motion's Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Technology Officer. He has more than 30 years of experience at Motion, having held numerous field leadership roles before moving to the corporate office in 2019.
Howard Yu Appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Motion
Yu will join Motion as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive finance, capital markets and public company experience as Motion prepares to launch as an independent public company.
Yu most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ball Corporation. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Envista Holdings, a publicly traded global company and spin-off from Danaher Corporation, and helped lead its separation and initial public offering in 2019. Over his 22-year career with Danaher and Envista, Yu served as Chief Financial Officer for multiple global divisions across Asia, Europe and Latin America and led successful M&A, allocated capital and built operational finance processes to enable shareholder value creation.
Yu began his career as a Senior Auditor at Deloitte & Touche and later held finance leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Conexant and Beckman Coulter.
Motion Leadership Team and Board of Directors
Kevin Stone, currently Senior Vice President, IT and Procurement, will serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Billy Hamilton, currently Senior Vice President, People, will serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of Motion, effective immediately.
The Motion leadership team will include the following individuals:
Will Stengel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James Howe, President and Chief Operating Officer Howard Yu, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Stone, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Billy Hamilton, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer The GPC Board is in active discussions with Motion director candidates that will bring relevant and complementary experience and will be announced at the appropriate time, effective upon the separation.
Investor Days
GPC and Motion will host separate investor days in New York City, with GPC's Investor Day scheduled for December 8, 2026, and Motion's Investor Day scheduled for December 9, 2026.
Members of each company's leadership team will provide details on their respective businesses and outline their go-forward strategies for growth, focused investment and long-term value creation initiatives. Additional information, including webcast and registration details, will be provided in the coming weeks.
Advancing Toward Separation
As previously announced, the separation is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, subject to customary conditions, including final approval by GPC's Board of Directors and the effectiveness of a Form 10 registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Genuine Parts Company
Established in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Our Automotive Parts Group operates across North America, Europe and Australasia, while our Industrial Parts Group serves customers across North America and Australasia. We keep the world moving with a vast network of over 10,800 locations spanning 17 countries supported by more than 65,000 teammates. Learn more at genpt.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "target," "project," "continue," "positioned," "forecast," "outlook," and other similar expressions. While the Company believes expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as (a) uncertainties as to the timing of the separation and whether it will be completed; (b) the possibility that various closing conditions for the separation may not be satisfied; (c) failure of the separation to qualify for the expected tax treatment; (d) the risk that GPC and Motion will not be separated successfully or such separation may be more difficult, time-consuming and/or costly than expected; (e) the possibility that the strategic, operational and financial opportunities from the separation may not be achieved; and (f) the other risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under "Risk Factors" discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release that are "forward-looking" include, without limitation, statements regarding the planned separation of GPC's Global Automotive and Global Industrial businesses, including the expected timing and anticipated benefits of the separation, the planned leadership teams, management appointments and boards of directors of GPC and Motion following the separation, the expected appointment of additional directors to the boards of GPC and Motion, the planned investor days for GPC and Motion and the go-forward strategies and future performance of GPC and Motion if the separation is completed. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures on related subjects in the Company's subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Key Takeaways Agnico Eagle will sell its Delta and Helm Bay projects to Vizsla Copper, with closing expected in Q4 2026. Agnico Eagle will receive C$32M in shares, deferred shares and warrants, targeting a 19.99% stake. AEM retains NSR royalties and up to C$20M in Delta milestone payments, plus a C$5M financing commitment. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) has agreed to sell its Delta base and precious metals project and Helm Bay gold project to Vizsla Copper Corp. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions and TSX Venture Exchange approval.
Under the agreement, Agnico Eagle will receive roughly 22.5 million Vizsla Copper common shares at closing. AEM will also receive 2.9 million deferred shares, subject to shareholder approval. The shares will be issued at a deemed price of C$1.26 per share, representing an aggregate value of approximately C$32 million. AEM will also receive around 3.04 million warrants exercisable at C$1.95 per share. Following the transaction, Agnico Eagle is expected to hold approximately 19.99% of Vizsla Copper.
Agnico Eagle will retain a 2% net smelter return royalty on Delta and a 3% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on Helm Bay. In addition, Vizsla Copper will make C$20 million in contingent milestone payments related to Delta. These include C$5 million upon disclosure of a mineral resource estimate containing at least 300,000 copper-equivalent tons, C$5 million upon completion of a feasibility study and C$10 million upon achieving commercial production.
The payments may be made in cash or common shares at Vizsla Copper's election, subject to applicable limitations. For share-based payments, the number of shares will be based on Vizsla Copper's 20-day volume-weighted average trading price, subject to a minimum price of C$1.26 per share. Any payment that would cause Agnico Eagle's ownership to reach 20% or more, or cannot be issued in shares due to regulatory approval limitations, will be paid in cash.
Agnico Eagle has also committed to participate in Vizsla Copper's next qualifying equity financing for up to C$5 million, further aligning the two companies as Vizsla Copper advances the Delta project.
Agnico Eagle has committed to participate in Vizsla Copper’s first equity financing following the agreement, for up to C$5 million or 10% of the financing proceeds, whichever is lower. The commitment is subject to the financing raising at least C$30 million and being completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
Price Performance of AEMShares of AEM are up 32.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s 42.9% rise.
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) . WS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while CRS and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WS’ current-year earnings stands at $3.4 per share, implying a 52.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the negative average surprise being 13.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ fiscal current-year earnings is pegged at $13.28 per share, implying a 23.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 8.4%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pegged at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.4%.
U.S. stocks traded lower this morning, with the Dow Jones index falling around 350 points on Wednesday.
Following the market opening Wednesday, the Dow traded down 0.72% to 52,404.12 while the NASDAQ dipped 0.32% to 26,337.64. The S&P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.28% to 7,652.41.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Energy shares jumped by 1.8% on Wednesday.
In trading on Wednesday, consumer staples stocks fell by 1%.
Top Headline
Signet Jewelers Ltd (NYSE:SIG) shares jumped around 19% on Wednesday after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raised its FY27 adjusted EPS guidance.
Signet Jewelers reported quarterly earnings of $2.19 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.74 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.528 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.530 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Megan Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:MGN) shares shot up 607% to $0.71. Megan Holdings announced a 1-for-30 share consolidation effective Sept. 17, superseding prior 1-for-40 plan. Shares of Opus Genetics Inc (NASDAQ:IRD) got a boost, surging 48% to $6.44 after the company announced 3- and 6-month results from the low-dose Cohort 1 of BIRD-1, its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating OPGx-BEST1 in patients with BEST1-related retinal diseases, including Best vitelliform macular dystrophy and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy. Agroz Inc (NASDAQ:AGRZ) shares were also up, gaining 41% to $0.32 after the company announced it signed a multi-year Strategic Fresh Produce Supply and Offtake Agreement with Harvest Hive. Trending
Equities Trading DOWN
Green Circle Decarbonize Technology Ltd (NASDAQ:GCDT) shares dropped 32% to $0.64 after the company announced a strategic partnership agreement with SANVO Fine Chemicals Group Limited for the mass production of BocaPCM-TES Panels in China. Shares of U Power Ltd (NASDAQ:UCAR) were down 18% to $7.12. ServiceTitan Inc (NASDAQ:TTAN) was down, falling 26% to $60.73 after the company reported second-quarter financial results and issued third-quarter sales guidance with its midpoint below estimates. Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 3.1% to $95.87 while gold traded up 0.8% at $4,473.80.
Silver traded up 2% to $68.350 on Wednesday, while copper rose 0.1% to $6.8325.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 dipped 1.2%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 Index fell 1.8%, London’s FTSE 100 declined 1%, Germany’s DAX dipped 1.6%, while France’s CAC 40 tumbled 1.6%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mostly lower on Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 0.19%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index falling 0.17%, China’s Shanghai Composite gaining 0.28% and India’s BSE Sensex dipping 1.08%.
Economics
The volume of mortgage applications dipped by 2.7% during the first week of September.
Photo via Shutterstock
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Stocks fell Wednesday and Treasury yields ticked up after oil jumped above $100 a barrel, reheating concerns about inflation that could push the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 367 points, or 0.7%, by approximately 10:00 a.m. ET, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slumped 0.3% each.
Brent crude oil futures jumped 2.9% to $100.77 a barrel Wednesday morning – passing the $100 level for the first time since July – while West Texas Intermediate rose 2.9% to $95.73.
Stocks fell Wednesday and Treasury yields ticked up after oil jumped above $100 a barrel. Lev Radin/Zuma / SplashNews.com As investors feared a prolonged Middle East conflict could keep energy prices elevated and push inflation even higher, the US 10-year Treasury yield briefly ticked up to 4.806% – passing the closely-watched 4.8% level – and the 2-year Treasury yield jumped to 4.415%.
Lawrence Gillum, chief fixed income strategist for LPL Financial, said the rapid bond sell-off signals traders are preparing for an interest-rate hike at the Fed’s Sept. 16 meeting.
“A gap of roughly 60 to 85 basis points between the federal funds target range and the 2-year Treasury yield is the market telling you it expects the next move to be a hike, not a cut,” Gillum wrote in a note.
“We still think the bar for a hike is higher than a Fed on hold, but with probabilities hovering near 50%, the risk that the market will force Fed action is not off the table,” he added.
Renewed hostilities amid the war with Iran stoked concerns that energy supply disruptions could last months longer, as the Strait of Hormuz – a vital maritime route for 20% of the world’s oil – is caught between the warring nations.
US Central Command said late Tuesday that American forces had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island, Tehran’s energy hub, in the latest escalation as it attempts to squeeze the nation’s economy.
Investors feared a prolonged Middle East conflict could keep energy prices elevated. Google Finance In the meantime, national average gasoline prices at home have remained stubbornly high, climbing to $4.22 a gallon as of Wednesday, according to AAA.
Major stock indexes also fell Tuesday to start the shortened trading week after the Labor Day holiday as Treasury yields increased.
Investors and economists are anxiously awaiting fresh inflation data, with the Producer Price Index scheduled for release on Thursday and the Consumer Price Index due on Friday.
National average gasoline prices have remained stubbornly high. AFP via Getty Images It’s the last batch of economic data the Federal Reserve will get before it makes its interest rate decision next week – a crucial call that could impact the upcoming midterm elections as Americans grow increasingly frustrated with affordability issues.
The war with Iran recently hit the six-month mark and tensions between the two nations have only heated up.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright has warned Washington may not be able to reach a nuclear agreement with Tehran.
But Trump administration officials have insisted that oil and gasoline prices will quickly fall once overseas hostilities come to an end.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said oil could sink as low as $40 to $50 a barrel if the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, while President Trump said gas prices will drop to $3 and eventually $2 a gallon “when we WIN the war with Iran.”
NextEra Energy (NEE - 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 parent company of Florida Power & Light Co. have returned -2.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which NextEra falls in, has lost 2.8%. 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.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
NextEra is expected to post earnings of $1.17 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.4%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.01 points to a change of +8.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.1%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.36 indicates a change of +8.6% from what NextEra is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.1%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. 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 NextEra.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven 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 NextEra, the consensus sales estimate of $9.19 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +15.4%. The $31.7 billion and $35.1 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +15.6% and +10.8%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNextEra reported revenues of $7.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +12.4%. EPS of $1.15 for the same period compares with $1.05 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.99 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -5.76%. The EPS surprise was +5.5%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates 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.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
NextEra is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe 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 NextEra. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Shares of Fastly (NYSE:FSLY) are climbing hard on a session when both the cloud-computing group and large-cap indexes are red. Fastly stock is up 7% to $22.
OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model flipped the sentiment around this frontier AI lab. With roughly 47% of Oracle's RPO tied to OpenAI, I think that matters. I expected a tougher Q1 FY27 setup, then realized the Street is sitting almost exactly at management's midpoint. Oracle added 1.2GW of incremental capacity in FY26. Q1 alone could add about 1GW, which puts a lot of pressure on execution, given the broader local pushback against data centers.
The transaction involved 6,057 shares at $95.17 per share, representing a total value of ~$576,445. The shares traded were equal to 2% of the direct equity holdings held prior to the transaction.
