Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the #1 AI CRM, today announced it has granted equity awards under its 2014 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to new employees who joined Salesforce in connection with the acquisition of Qualified and MeshMesh. The Plan was adopted by the Salesforce Board of Directors in July 2014, in accordance with New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.08. Under the Plan, Salesforce granted a total of 209,429 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to 158.

US stocks ended mixed on Friday as gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average were offset by weakness in semiconductor stocks, while investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on global markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 235 points, or 0.5%, supported by a 3% gain in Apple shares.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.05% to finish near flat, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.6% as chipmakers came under pressure.

Markets had traded higher earlier in the session after Reuters reported, citing three Pakistani sources, that Pakistan is considering a path toward new peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, with China initiating the effort.

However, the report also noted that significant obstacles remain before talks with Washington can begin.

Oil prices retreated from recent highs during the session, offering some support to equities, although investors remained cautious heading into the weekend amid continued military tensions in the Middle East.

Semiconductor stocks led the market's decline as investors continued to reassess the outlook for artificial intelligence spending following recent earnings reports from major technology companies.

Intel shares dropped 8%, reversing earlier gains despite reporting second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and forecasting quarterly profit and revenue above analyst estimates.

The company also outlined plans to increase spending over the next two years.

The weakness spread across the semiconductor sector. Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices each fell about 3%, while Micron Technology lost 7%.

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) also declined 3%.

Investor caution has increased after Alphabet raised its capital expenditure guidance despite reporting negative free cash flow, prompting broader concerns about the scale of AI infrastructure spending ahead of earnings from Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms and Apple.

The technology sector became the biggest drag on the S&P 500 as investors questioned how quickly higher AI investments would translate into stronger profitability. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index also moved lower during the session.

Middle East tensions, tariffs and economic data remain in focusGeopolitical developments continued to shape investor sentiment.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he was considering a larger military response against Iran following attacks by Yemen's Houthi forces on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

On Friday, The New York Times reported that Trump met with senior advisers and cabinet officials to discuss whether to escalate US military action against Iran.

Although Brent crude fell nearly 4% to settle at $96.78 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 3% to $89.31, investors remained wary that further escalation could disrupt global energy supplies and reignite inflation concerns.

Markets also digested the Trump administration's new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners after a temporary 10% global tariff expired.

Economic data released Friday showed US services sector activity accelerated in July, supported partly by spending related to the FIFA World Cup and Independence Day holiday, while manufacturing activity expanded at its slowest pace since March.

Among individual stocks, Digital Realty Trust gained after raising its full-year funds-from-operations forecast, helping the real estate sector outperform.

Oilfield services company SLB also advanced after reporting second-quarter profit above expectations.

For the week, the Dow and S&P 500 both finished lower, extending recent weakness, while the Nasdaq recorded a weekly decline of more than 2% as technology shares remained under pressure.

Key Takeaways NextEra Energy's adjusted EPS rose 9.5% to $1.15, beating estimates, while revenues missed. FPL added nearly 90,000 customers and has 21 GW of large-load interest, including 12 GW advanced.NextEra Energy Resources added 3.6 GW of renewables and storage, lifting backlog to 35.1 GW. NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 results with adjusted earnings per share of $1.15, up 9.5% from $1.05 a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09 by 5.5%. Strong contributions from both Florida Power & Light (“FPL”) and NextEra Energy Resources allowed the company to surpass expectations.

GAAP earnings per share were $1.50 compared with 98 cents in the year-ago quarter.

RevenuesTotal operating revenues were $7.53 billion, up 12.4% year over year but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.99 billion by 5.8%. A key highlight was NextEra Energy Resources’ record renewables and storage origination, which added 3.6 gigawatts (“GW”) to backlog. 

NEE’s Revenue Mix Reflected Strength in Both EnginesOperating revenues increased from $6.7 billion in the second quarter of 2025 to $7.53 billion, supported by gains across both major operating platforms. By segment, FPL generated $4.89 billion of operating revenues in the quarter, while NextEra Energy Resources produced $2.53 billion, with Corporate and Other adding $106 million.

Highlights of NextEra Energy's ReleaseFPL’s growth in the reported quarter was largely fueled by ongoing business investments. Operationally, FPL’s regulatory capital employed increased about 9.3% year over year, while the customer base expanded nearly 90,000 in the quarter.

 FPL continues to witness strong demand from hyperscalers and other large customers seeking reliable, competitively priced power with quick deployment. The utility has nearly 21 GW of large-load interest, including 12 GW in advanced discussions, with some projects potentially coming online as early as 2028. FPL expects to announce at least one large-load deal under its tariff by year-end.

NextEra Energy Resources had a strong quarter for new renewables and storage origination, adding to its backlog. With the new additions, NextEra Energy Resources' backlog now totals 35.1 GW after taking into account more than 1.1 GW of new projects placed into service as of July 24, 2026.

  Total operating expenses in the second quarter were $5.28 billion, up 10%, due to higher operational and maintenance expenses and higher fuel, purchased power and interchange expenses.

Financial HighlightsOn the balance sheet at June 30, 2026, NextEra Energy reported cash and cash equivalents of nearly $2.86 billion and total assets of $232.8 billion.

 Long-term debt stood at $98.79 billion, while total equity was $68.1 billion.

 In the first six months of 2026, net cash provided by operating activities was $7.27 billion, net cash used in investing activities was $19.11 billion and net cash provided by financing activities was $12.05 billion.

The utility’s full-year growth narrative continued to center on capital deployment, with nearly $5.78 billion of capital expenditures in the first six months of the year.

NEE Guidance and Financial Position Stayed in FocusNextEra Energy maintained the 2026 adjusted earnings per share expectation of $3.92 to $4.02 and said it is targeting the high end of that range. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share is currently pegged at $4.01, which is near the top of the guidance.

In the long term, the company continues to target adjusted earnings per share growth of more than 8% annually through 2032 to 2035, using 2025 adjusted earnings of $3.71 as the base.

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

Upcoming ReleasesXcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at 79 cents.

XEL’s long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate is 9.36%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 5.33%.

Dominion Energy (D - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 31. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at 78 cents.

The consensus estimate for second-quarter earnings per share indicates growth of 4% from the prior-year actual.

Exelon Corporation (EXC - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 44 cents per share.

Exelon’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 6.03%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share indicates growth of 12.82% from the year-earlier level.

Central Pacific Financial Corp. CPB NYSE: CPF reported second-quarter 2026 net income of $20.8 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, as the Hawaii-based bank benefited from higher earning-asset balances and yields, stable funding costs and a modest expansion in net interest margin.

Diluted earnings per share increased 19% from the year-earlier quarter. Return on average assets was 1.12%, while return on average equity was 13.94%, according to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dayna Matsumoto.

Get CPB alerts:

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Arnold Martines said the company maintained profitability while managing its balance sheet with discipline. He said the bank expanded average earning assets, preserved a stable core funding base and continued investing in talent, technology, automation and data capabilities while managing expenses.

Margin Expansion and Full-Year Outlook Net interest income totaled $62.8 million during the second quarter, while net interest margin increased four basis points from the prior quarter to 3.57%. Matsumoto attributed the result to growth in average loans and securities, higher earning-asset yields and stable funding costs.

The company expects net interest margin to remain relatively steady or rise slightly in the second half of 2026. While the benefit from repricing existing assets remains favorable, Matsumoto said that benefit has moderated. CPB expects deposit costs to remain fairly steady if the Federal Reserve keeps rates unchanged.

Management reaffirmed guidance for full-year net interest income growth of 4% to 6% over the prior year. Matsumoto said the balance sheet is relatively neutral to slightly asset sensitive and is positioned to benefit from a potential Federal Reserve rate increase, although management does not expect such an increase to have a significant impact this year.

During the question-and-answer session, Matsumoto said loan pricing remains competitive in Hawaii, with some spread compression, while deposit pricing has remained rational. She said the company expects its margin to remain in the “high 350s” as it balances profitability with growth opportunities.

Loans, Deposits and Capital Returns Total loans ended the quarter relatively unchanged at $5.3 billion, although average loan balances rose $33 million from the first quarter. Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer David Morimoto said second-quarter loan growth was affected by several closings shifting into the third quarter and expected commercial real estate loan payoffs.

Average loan yield increased to 4.96% from 4.93% in the prior quarter, primarily reflecting higher yields on new loan production relative to runoff loans. Morimoto said the bank originated nearly $70 million of new construction loans during the quarter, mainly multifamily construction loans on the mainland, with floating rates at Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus spreads in the low 200-basis-point range.

Management expects stronger loan growth in the second half than in the first half, supported by commercial construction funding activity, a commercial lending pipeline and initiatives intended to slow runoff in its Hawaii retail portfolio. CPB continues to expect both loan and deposit growth in the low-single-digit range for the full year.

Total deposits were largely unchanged at $6.7 billion, with core deposits representing more than 90% of the total. Morimoto said noninterest-bearing and relationship-based accounts continued to grow. Total deposit costs held steady at 90 basis points, and the company reported deposit growth of nearly $90 million year to date.

Morimoto said deposit competition in Hawaii has remained consistent and more rational than on the mainland, where banks face a larger number of competitors. Matsumoto said the company’s 79% loan-to-deposit ratio at June 30 was at the low end of its typical 80% to 85% target range, leaving room to support expected lending growth.

CPB paid a $0.29-per-share second-quarter dividend, and its board declared a $0.30-per-share third-quarter dividend, representing a 3.4% increase. The company also repurchased about 322,000 shares for $11.3 million during the quarter, leaving $33.2 million available under its repurchase authorization at quarter-end.

Matsumoto said management generally expects capital returns through dividends and repurchases to continue at a similar pace, though repurchase levels will remain dependent on loan growth, market conditions, risk and valuation.

Credit Trends and Expenses Vice Chair Ralph Mesick said asset quality remained strong. Nonperforming assets totaled $16.5 million, or 22 basis points of total assets, and net charge-offs were 20 basis points of average loans. Past-due trends were stable, and management said it was not seeing broad-based weakness across the loan portfolio.

Criticized loans increased to 234 basis points of total loans, driven primarily by a small number of Hawaii-based credits. Mesick said the credits are well collateralized and actively managed. He discussed the largest downgraded credit, a $20 million Hawaii real estate loan involving an ownership dispute and financial difficulties for the principal guarantor. The loan had debt-service coverage of about 1.27 times and a loan-to-value ratio of 57%, and Mesick said management does not see loss content in the loan.

Provision expense was $4.4 million, including $3.3 million added to the allowance for credit losses and $1.1 million added to the reserve for unfunded commitments. Management said the increase primarily reflected more conservative economic assumptions and commitment growth rather than portfolio deterioration. The allowance rose to $60.6 million, or 1.14% of loans, from 1.13% in the first quarter.

Other operating income increased $3 million sequentially to $14.6 million, largely due to bank-owned life insurance income tied to market performance. Other operating expense rose $2.5 million to $46.2 million, primarily because of higher deferred compensation expense also associated with market performance.

The company maintained its forecast for 2.5% to 3.5% full-year growth in other operating expenses, though Matsumoto said its latest forecast was near the lower end of that range. She said second-half expenses will include costs associated with a customer relationship management system, a new branch system and data platforms. Management expects deferred compensation expense to normalize in the second half.

Martines said Hawaii’s economy remains resilient, citing steady visitor activity, increases in visitors from the U.S. East Coast and Japan, 2.5% unemployment, increased construction employment and rising government contract awards. He added that the company continues to monitor geopolitical conflict, oil prices and inflation, but has not observed significant impacts on customers.

About CPB (NYSE:CPF)Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited NYSE: CPF is a Thailand‐based integrated agro‐industrial and food conglomerate. Headquartered in Bangkok, the company is a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand Group and has grown into one of the world's leading producers of livestock feed, meat and seafood products. CPF's businesses span animal feed milling, animal breeding and hatchery operations, meat and seafood processing, and the distribution of fresh, frozen and value‐added food products.

CPF's product portfolio includes poultry, swine and aquaculture feed; fresh and frozen chicken and pork; shrimp and other seafood; as well as ready‐to‐eat and ready‐to‐cook food items.

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 CPB Right Now?Before you consider CPB, 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 CPB wasn't on the list.

While CPB currently has a Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

The space race is growing fast, and you don’t have to have gotten in early on SpaceX to profit. This report shows seven space stocks you can buy today that may grow as rockets, satellites, defense, space internet, and new space technology become more important.

Get This Free Report

FSLR Deadline: FSLR Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead First Solar, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

When dividend yields start to creep up, it's worth taking a closer look for any potential warning signs. Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY +0.94%) is a leading pharmaceutical company and has been a high-yield dividend stock for some time. Shares have averaged a dividend yield of 3.4% over the past decade.

However, that yield has been abnormally high for most of the past two years. The stock yields 4.1% today, and it's been as high as 6% over the past 24 months. Is the dividend simply too good to be true at this point?

My take is that the dividend is fine right now, but that you'll also need to watch out for potential hurdles as key drugs lose patent exclusivity over the next few years.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The financials back up Bristol Myers Squibb's juicy dividend for now There's a famous expression that money talks. Examining the financials is the best way to check whether a company can actually afford its dividend. Bristol Myers Squibb pays a quarterly dividend totaling $2.52 per share for the year. Wall Street analysts estimate that it will earn $6.34 per share this year, enough to cover the dividend 2.5 times over.

If you're not satisfied, you can double-check this by looking at free cash flow, since dividends are technically a cash expense. Bristol Myers Squibb has generated $5.83 per share in free cash flow over the past year, covering the dividend more than twice over. From a numbers standpoint, the company can genuinely afford its dividend, and quite easily. The near-term risk of a cut seems pretty low.

Today's Change

(

0.94

%) $

0.58

Current Price

$

62.09

Keep an eye on how the drugmaker navigates a looming patent cliff The coast isn't quite clear, though. Patents for some of Bristol Myers Squibb's top-selling drugs will expire over the next few years. As those patents expire, generics will flood the market at low prices, and sales for those branded drugs will crater. It's a normal part of a drug's lifecycle and happens all the time in the pharmaceutical business.

This situation is called a patent cliff, and Bristol Myers Squibb faces a pretty steep one. Eliquis and Opdivo could both face generic competition by 2028 -- and the two drugs combined for over $6.1 billion in sales last year, roughly half of the company's total revenue. Not all is lost, though: Even after the patents expire, branded sales won't go to zero overnight. Additionally, the company has a strong pipeline, and its growth portfolio of newer drugs is steadily taking the baton.

The market perceives Bristol Myers Squibb as a riskier stock these days, and that's not necessarily wrong. Fortunately, the dividend has lots of breathing room, and there's growth from newer drugs on the way. I could see management scaling back dividend growth, perhaps issuing smaller raises to conserve cash while the company navigates these sensitive years. But barring catastrophic failure, I think you can reasonably trust the stock's 4.1% yield now and in the future.

watch now

Oil tankers are increasingly coming under fire on several fronts as economic warfare is deployed as a weapon in the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

Iran has stepped up its attacks on tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz this month as it tries to impose its control over the crucial oil corridor. Tehran's Houthi allies in Yemen opened a second front this week, firing on two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea after declaring a maritime embargo against Riyadh.

Ukraine, meanwhile, says it has attacked more than 150 tankers, cargo ships, and other vessels associated with Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, according to the Kyiv Post.

The oil market is now dealing with wars on multiple fronts, Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy, told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Thursday. Oil prices have surged more than 30% in July with Brent crude breaking $100 per barrel on Thursday for the first time since May, as the security situation has rapidly deteriorated in the southern Red Sea and Hormuz.

Ship traffic through Hormuz has plunged after rebounding in the weeks following the memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran on June 17 to reopen the strait.

"After the collapse of the MOU, we have entered the worst phase of this conflict for merchant shipping," said Dimitris Maniatis, CEO of the maritime risk service Marisks, headquartered in Athens, Greece.

"The primary reason is the fact that the Iranians want to assert more authority and control over what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz," Maniatis said.

Some 61 commercial ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since March 1, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 seafarers and dozens of injuries, according to the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency.

At least a dozen tankers have been struck this month in and around Hormuz, killing at least two seafarers, as fighting sharply escalates between the U.S. and Iran, according to the IMO data.

The Red Sea attacks now threaten millions of barrels per day of oil that the Saudis redirected through a pipeline to its western coast amid to the security situation in Hormuz. The Saudi exports transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

"The Iranians and the Houthis together now are implementing a very significant blow to American national interests, the American oil companies and of course Saudi Arabia," Maniatis said. "But they're not managing to entirely choke exports."

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea from 2023 to 2025 in response to Israel's war in Gaza dramatically reduced traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb. Shipping through the strait had still not fully recovered.

The Saudis can redirect some oil through a pipeline that stretches from a port on the Red Sea across Egypt to the Mediterranean but the logistics are complex, said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at Kpler.

Supertankers cannot transit the Suez Canal fully loaded because the channel is too shallow, Smith said. The Saudis would have to unload half the cargo at the port of Ain Sokhna, pipe it through to the port of Sidi Kerir, send the supertanker through Suez and retrieve the oil on the other side, he said.

The supertanker would then face a much longer journey around Africa to destinations in Asia, and would have to return on the same route through the Suez due to Houthi threats at the Bab el-Mandeb, Smith said. The roundtrip journey would take around eight weeks, he said.

Oil shipments by sea from the Middle East are increasingly facing a "no-way out" scenario due to the disruptions in the Red Sea, Croft said.

In the Black Sea, meanwhile, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium has stopped loading tankers at the Russian port of Novorossiysk due to attacks on vessels. Kazakhstan exports about 80% of its crude oil through that pipeline, Croft said in a note to clients this week.

The Kazakhs have limited alternatives to the pipeline, which means their production of around 1.7 million bpd in June, could face shut-ins, Croft said. The Ukrainians have also pounded Russian refineries, resulting in more than 50% of the country's capacity coming offline, the analyst said.

"Russia has now put a export ban on products and their refineries have been hit so massively by Ukraine," Croft told CNBC. "Russia is one of the largest product exporters, one the largest diesel exporters. It's really tightening the products market as well as the crude market."

The dangerous escalation in the Middle East could potentially spike Brent oil prices beyond the 2022 high of $128 per barrel after Russia invaded Ukraine, Croft said in the note. In a worst-case scenario, where the region descends into full-scale war, Brent could surpass the 2008 peak of $148 per barrel, she said.

During the second-quarter earnings call, CEO Christopher Calio said Pratt & Whitney’s commercial OEM sales fell because the company is ensuring it has “strong material flow into our MRO shops,” allowing repair facilities to process more engines and reduce turnaround times.

CFO Neil Mitchill later reinforced that the shift is “really about the material allocation” between new engine deliveries and aftermarket repairs.

The strategy appears to be working.

RTX said grounded PW1100-powered aircraft are down 25% year to date, maintenance output has increased 43%, and turnaround times have improved 23% despite heavier repair workloads.

At the same time, Pratt & Whitney still expects to deliver a record number of GTF engines this year, suggesting the company is balancing new production with a greater emphasis on restoring aircraft already in service.

Photo: Shutterstock

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Intuit Inc. ("Intuit" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: INTU).

IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN INTUIT INC. (INTU), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.

Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between August 22, 2025 and May 20, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) they had overstated Intuit's competitive advantages and growth, as well as the overall strength and sustainability of its business model and operations; (2) in reality, Intuit was losing significant business in its tax-related business, particularly in its Turbo Tax business, as a result of, inter alia, increasing competitive and pricing pressures; (3) accordingly, Intuit's previously issued FY 2026 TurboTax revenue growth guidance was unreliable and/or unrealistic; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.

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

Contact Us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com

SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

Intuit Inc. (INTU) Shareholders Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit PR Newswire BEN

Charles Schwab delivered strong fiscal 2026 second quarter earnings, with revenue up 20.9% and adjusted EPS up 42% year-over-year. Core net new assets ramped up 49% to $119.8 billion, with total client assets reaching $13.1 trillion and record trading volumes. SCHW raised 2026 revenue growth guidance to 17.5% to 18.5% as the company looks set to launch a prediction market product.

, /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX) between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Roblox common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Roblox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/roblox-corporation-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 7, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Details of the case: According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Roblox's organic growth potential; notably, that Roblox would see a significant slowdown in its growth rates as enrollment in the age verification rollout would quickly taper, compounding the resulting slowdown in on-platform communication, resulting in app store rating reductions and a swift reduction in organic growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

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

To join the Roblox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/roblox-corporation-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
[email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $PNR #Infrastructure--Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP is investigating Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR) to determine whether certain Pentair plc officers and directors violated securities laws and breached fiduciary duties to shareholders. Pentair plc provides various water solutions in the United States, Western Europe, China, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Canada.On April 28, 2026, Pentair projected that second-quarter sales would increase approximately 1%.

SLB N.V. (SLB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:30 AM EDT

Company Participants

James McDonald - Senior Vice President of Investor Relations & Industry Affairs
Olivier Le Peuch - CEO & Director
Stephane Biguet - Executive VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Scott Gruber - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
James West - Melius Research LLC
John Anderson - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Neil Mehta - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Arun Jayaram - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Derek Podhaizer - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Keith MacKey - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Saurabh Pant - BofA Securities, Research Division
Marc Bianchi - TD Cowen, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning. My name is Sarah, and I will be your conference operator today. I would like to welcome everyone to the Second Quarter SLB Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this call is being recorded.

I will now turn the call over to James R. McDonald, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Industry Affairs. Please go ahead.

James McDonald
Senior Vice President of Investor Relations & Industry Affairs

Thank you, Sarah. Good morning, and welcome to the SLB Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Today's call is being hosted from London, following our Board meeting held earlier this week. Joining us on the call are Olivier Le Peuch, Chief Executive Officer; and Stephane Biguet, Chief Financial Officer.

Before we begin, I would like to remind all participants that some of the statements we will be making today are forward-looking. These matters involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those projected in these statements. For more information, please refer to our latest 10-K filing and other SEC filings, which can be found on our website. Our comments today also include non-GAAP financial measures. Additional details and reconciliations to the most directly

, /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, today announced the election of Neil Barua, President and Chief Executive Officer of PTC Inc., to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. He will serve on the Board's Technology and Innovation and Compensation Committees.

"Neil brings to Carrier a track record of successfully leading scale enterprises while applying AI to drive digital transformations across industrial companies," said David Gitlin, Chairman & CEO, Carrier. "His experience will strengthen our Board as we continue advancing intelligent climate and energy solutions and delivering greater value for our customers. We are excited to welcome Neil to our Board."

Mr. Barua has been President and Chief Executive Officer of PTC Inc. since 2024. Previously, he led PTC's Service Lifecycle Management business following the company's acquisition of ServiceMax in 2023. Before joining PTC, he was Chief Executive Officer of ServiceMax from 2019 to 2023 and Chief Executive Officer of IPC Systems from 2014 to 2018. He also was an Operating Partner at Silver Lake from 2018 to 2019. Mr. Barua holds a B.S. in Finance & Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business.

About Carrier
Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating innovations that bring comfort, safety and sustainability to life. Through cutting-edge advancements in climate solutions such as temperature control, air quality and transportation, we improve lives, empower critical industries and ensure the safe transport of food, life-saving medicines and more. Since inventing modern air conditioning in 1902, we lead with purpose: enhancing the lives we live and the world we share. We continue to lead because of our world-class, inclusive workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit carrier.com or follow Carrier on social media at @Carrier.

Carrier. For the World We Share.

CARR-IR

Contact:      

Media Inquiries 

Rob Six 

561-281-2362 

[email protected] 

Investor Relations 

Michael Rednor 

561-365-2020 

[email protected]  

SOURCE Carrier Global Corporation

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Lucid Group, Inc. ("Lucid" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LCID).

IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN LUCID GROUP, INC. (LCID), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE JULY 28, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.

Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (3) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid's manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.

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

Contact Us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com

SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has reported that Phoenix Children's Foundation, the fundraising arm of one of the most acclaimed pediatric hospitals in the world, halved its average prospecting time and won net-new donations from brand-new partners within two quarters of adopting ZoomInfo, according to the foundation. Phoenix Children's opened in 1983 with 124 beds and now provides care across more than 75 pediatric subspecialties at m.

, /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2026 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.

The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.

About TransDigm Group

TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment, electronic components used in the generation, amplification, transmission and reception of microwave signals, and complex testing and instrumentation solutions.

Contact:    Investor Relations
                   (216) 706-2945
                   [email protected]

SOURCE TransDigm Group Inc.

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.  Litigation Partners  Brandon Walker  and Melissa Fortunato Encourage Investors Who Suffered Losses In Zoetis (ZTS) To Contact Them Directly To Discuss Their Options

Zoetis Inc. (ZTS) Shareholders Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit PR Newswire LOS

The Warner Bros. Water Tower is pictured at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank on the day it was announced that California and 11 states are suing to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more

CompaniesJuly 24 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), opens new tab ​on Friday agreed to pause its acquisition of Warner ‌Bros. Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab until after a ruling on a challenge by states to the deal, plunging the $110 billion deal into further uncertainty.

The agreement pausing ​the deal until next June, at the latest, trims ​a few weeks off the case schedule. But it also comes ⁠with a price.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Paramount could owe as much as $1.7 billion ​in ticking fees to Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal is ​delayed until then. The fee costs $7 million a day if the merger does not close by September 30.

"We look forward to proving our case ​at trial," Paramount's spokesperson said.

California and 11 states sued on ​July 13, arguing the deal would create a media behemoth with the power ‌to ⁠raise prices in film and television.

"Halting this merger while our case proceeds is a critical victory in our efforts to uphold the law and protect the film and television industries," ​said New York ​Attorney General ⁠Letitia James, who is suing to block the deal.

Similar merger challenges have taken an average of ​eight months for a judge to rule, ​a Reuters ⁠review of recent cases found.

The lawsuit, filed in Oakland federal court, threatens to derail Paramount CEO David Ellison's bid to transform ⁠his ​company into a major rival of ​Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab and Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab.

Shares in Paramount fell 3.3% Friday and are down 37% this ​year.

Reporting by Jody Godoy; Editing by Nia Williams and Deepa Babington

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

Jody Godoy reports on tech policy and antitrust enforcement, including how regulators are responding to the rise of AI. Reach her at [email protected]

, /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ: PSKY) ("Paramount") today announced the extension of the Expiration Dates in connection with the previously announced (i) offers to purchase (the "Tender Offers" and each, a "Tender Offer") for cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the related offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase"), any and all of the identified notes in each series of the Existing Tender Offer Notes (defined by reference to the table set forth below) issued by Discovery Global Holdings, Inc. (formerly WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.) (the "DGH Issuer") and Discovery Communications, LLC (the "DCL Issuer" and together with the DGH Issuer, each a "WBD Issuer" and collectively the "WBD Issuers"), as applicable, and (ii) offers to exchange (the "Exchange Offers" and each, an "Exchange Offer" and, together with the Tender Offers, the "Offers" and each, an "Offer"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the related exchange offer memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum"), any and all of the identified notes in each series of the Existing Exchange Offer Notes (defined by reference to the table set forth below) (together with the Existing Tender Offer Notes, the "Offer Notes") issued by the applicable WBD Issuer for notes to be newly issued by Paramount.

The Expiration Dates for the Tender Offers and Exchange Offers (as defined in each of the Offer to Purchase and Offering Memorandum, respectively) have been extended to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 7, 2026, unless further extended. The Settlement Dates for the Tender Offers and Exchange Offers (as defined in each of the Offer to Purchase and Offering Memorandum, respectively) will occur promptly after the Expiration Date and are currently anticipated to occur in the third quarter of 2026. Paramount anticipates extending the Expiration Date for such Tender Offers and Exchange Offers until such time that would result in the Settlement Dates occurring on or promptly following the closing date of the proposed acquisition (the "Acquisition") by Paramount of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ("WBD"). Tenders of the Offer Notes in the Offers may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. The aforementioned extensions further extend the Expiration Dates previously extended by Paramount on June 12, 2026, June 26, 2026, July 13, 2026, and July 17, 2026.

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 23, 2026, approximately 66.17% and 76.38% of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Tender Offer Notes and Existing Exchange Offer Notes, respectively, have been validly tendered in the applicable Offers. As Paramount previously announced that it anticipates extending the Offers to align with the closing date of the Acquisition, Paramount does not view these figures to be representative of the final results of the applicable Offers.

Information about each series of Offer Notes eligible to participate in the Offers is summarized below.

Type of Offer

Offer Notes to be Tendered
or Exchanged, as
Applicable

Issuer of Offer Notes

CUSIP No. / Common Code 
/ ISIN Eligible to
Participate in the Offers (1)

Aggregate Principal
Amount of Offer Notes
Eligible to Participate in the
Offers (2)

Tender Offer

3.950% Senior Notes due 2028

DCL Issuer

25470D CP2

US25470DCP24

$1,234,458,000

Exchange Offer

4.125% Senior Notes due 2029

DCL Issuer

25470D CQ0

US25470DCQ07

$655,825,000

Exchange Offer

3.625% Senior Notes due 2030

DCL Issuer

25470D CR8

US25470DCR89

$914,183,000

Exchange Offer

5.000% Senior Notes due 2037

DCL Issuer

25470D CS6

US25470DCS62

$453,281,000

Exchange Offer

6.350% Senior Notes due 2040

DCL Issuer

25470D CT4

US25470DCT46

$438,102,000

Exchange Offer

4.950% Senior Notes due 2042

DCL Issuer

25470D CU1

US25470DCU19

$130,366,000

Exchange Offer

4.875% Senior Notes due 2043

DCL Issuer

25470D V91 CV9US25470DC

$141,584,000

Exchange Offer

5.200% Senior Notes due 2047

DCL Issuer

25470D W74 CW7US25470DC

$3,161,000

Exchange Offer

5.300% Senior Notes due 2049

DCL Issuer

25470D X57 CX5US25470DC

$247,860,000

Tender Offer

3.755% Senior Notes due 2027

DGH Issuer

254948 AH5

US254948AH58

254948 AN2

US254948AN27

U25483 AA3

USU25483AA38

$1,189,336,000

Exchange Offer

4.054% Senior Notes due 2029

DGH Issuer

254948 AJ1

US254948AJ15

254948 AP7

US254948AP74

U25483 AB1

USU25483AB11

$1,353,828,000

Exchange Offer

4.279% Senior Notes due 2032

DGH Issuer

254948 AK8

US254948AK87

254948 AQ5

US254948AQ57

$2,691,764,000

Exchange Offer

5.050% Senior Notes due 2042

DGH Issuer

254948 AL6

US254948AL60

254948 AR3

US254948AR31

U25483 AD7

USU25483AD76

$4,104,687,000

Exchange Offer

5.141% Senior Notes due 2052

DGH Issuer

254948 AM4

US254948AM44

254948 AS1

US254948AS14

$949,883,000

Exchange Offer

4.302% Senior Notes due 2030

DGH Issuer

XS3393993285

339399328

€234,382,000

Exchange Offer

4.693% Senior Notes due 2033

DGH Issuer

XS3393994507

339399450

€316,641,000

1

No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the identifiers listed in this press release or printed on the Offer Notes. Such identifiers are provided solely for the convenience of the holders.

2

Represents the aggregate principal amount of Offer Notes outstanding that are eligible to participate in the Offers.

The Exchange Offers are being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") promulgated thereunder, and are also not being registered under any state or foreign securities laws. Any securities offered pursuant to the Exchange Offers may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons (as defined below) except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Exchange Offers will only be made, and the securities offered pursuant to the Exchange Offers are only being offered and issued, to holders of applicable Existing Exchange Offer Notes who are (a) reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (b) not "U.S. persons," as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the Securities Act (such holders, "Eligible Holders"), and only Eligible Holders who have completed and returned the eligibility certification are authorized to receive or review the Offering Memorandum or to participate in the Exchange Offers. The eligibility certification is available electronically at: https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/paramount.

General

Each Offer is a separate offer, and each may be individually consummated, amended, extended, terminated, or withdrawn, subject to certain conditions and applicable law, at any time in Paramount's sole discretion, and without also consummating, amending, extending, terminating, or withdrawing any other Offer with respect to any other series of Offer Notes. Paramount may terminate an Offer if any of the conditions of such Offer described in the Offer to Purchase or Offering Memorandum, as applicable, are not satisfied or waived by the applicable Expiration Date, subject to applicable law. In addition, Paramount may waive the conditions to an Offer without extending such Offer in accordance with applicable law.

The Offers are being made solely by Paramount and are not being made by WBD or the WBD Issuers. None of Paramount, WBD, the WBD Issuers, the Dealer Managers, the Exchange Agent (as defined below), the Information Agent (as defined below), the trustees under each of the indentures governing the Offer Notes, the trustee or collateral agent under the indenture that will govern the notes to be issued in the Exchange Offers, or any affiliate of any of them makes any recommendation as to whether any holder of Offer Notes should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of the principal amount of such holder's Offer Notes for cash or notes to be issued in the Exchange Offers. No one has been authorized by any of them to make such a recommendation. Holders must make their own decision whether to tender Offer Notes in any Offer and, if so, the amount of Offer Notes to tender.

Only Eligible Holders may receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum and participate in the Exchange Offers. Paramount has engaged Global Bondholder Services Corporation to act as the exchange agent (in such capacity, the "Exchange Agent") and information agent (in such capacity, the "Information Agent") for the Offers. Questions concerning the Offers, or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase or Offering Memorandum or other related documents, may be directed to Corporate Actions by telephone at (855) 654-2014 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers) or by email at [email protected]. Holders should also consult their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other institution for assistance concerning the Offers. The Exchange Offer documents and the Tender Offer documents can be accessed at the following link: https://gbsc-usa.com/paramount.

Paramount has engaged BofA Securities and Citigroup as dealer managers (in such capacity, the "Dealer Managers") for the Offers. Holders with questions regarding the Offers should contact BofA Securities, Inc. at +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or +1 (980) 388-3646 (collect) or [email protected] or Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 723-6106 or [email protected]. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Paramount and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Dealer Managers.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation

Paramount, a Skydance Corporation is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. PSKY's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Skydance Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Paramount Sports Entertainment.

PSKY-IR

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" regarding the Acquisition and the other transactions referred to herein. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Paramount. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that the closing conditions for the Acquisition will not be satisfied, including the risk that clearances under applicable antitrust or regulatory laws will not be obtained or will be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the possibility that the transactions described herein will not be completed in the expected timeframe or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Acquisition; potential adverse effects to the businesses of Paramount or WBD during the pendency of the Acquisition, such as employee departures or distraction of management from business operations; negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the Acquisition on the market price of WBD or Paramount stock; the risk of stockholder litigation relating to the Acquisition, including resulting expense or delay; the potential that the expected benefits and opportunities of the Acquisition, if completed, may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; risks related to the streaming business of the post-Acquisition combined business (the "Combined Company"); the adverse impact on the Combined Company's advertising revenues as a result of changes in consumer behavior, advertising market conditions, and deficiencies in audience measurement; risks related to operating in highly competitive and dynamic industries; the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies and distribution models; risks related to the Combined Company's decision to invest in new businesses, products, services, and technologies, and the evolution of the Combined Company's business strategy; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in, or the impact of negotiations for, the distribution of the Combined Company's content; damage to the Combined Company's reputation or brands; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, content and long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; increasing scrutiny of, and evolving expectations for, sustainability initiatives; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; challenges in protecting and maintaining the Combined Company's intellectual property rights; domestic and global political, economic and regulatory factors affecting the Combined Company's business generally or the Acquisition; the inability to hire or retain key employees or secure creative talent; disruptions to the Combined Company's operations as a result of labor disputes; risks and costs associated with the integration of, and Paramount's ability to integrate, the businesses of Paramount Global, Skydance Media, LLC, and WBD successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, including in the amounts or on the timelines anticipated to realize such synergies; litigation related to the Acquisition and other matters or transactions; risks associated with the Combined Company's holding company structure, including its dependence on distributions from its subsidiaries to meet tax obligations and other cash requirements; risks related to our indebtedness, including our substantial outstanding debt obligations, our ability to incur substantially more debt and our ability to meet the financial and other covenants contained in the agreements governing the indebtedness of Paramount, WBD, or the Combined Company. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors and the general risks associated with the respective businesses of Paramount and WBD can be found in Paramount's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," Paramount's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2026, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and Paramount's subsequent filings with the SEC, and in WBD's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026, including in the section captioned "Item 1A. Risk Factors," WBD's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2026, and WBD's subsequent filings with the SEC. Neither Paramount nor WBD undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

SOURCE Paramount Skydance Corporation

Paramount Skydance said Friday that it agreed to pause its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until next June at the latest while a judge considers a lawsuit from state attorneys general who sued to block the $110 billion deal. 

The delay is the latest twist in the mega deal, which could reshape Hollywood by merging Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios.

In a legal filing, Paramount and a group of state attorneys general – who had sued the media giant over antitrust concerns – said they had reached an agreement to freeze the merger while the case winds its way through the courts, extending a shorter pause imposed this week by a federal judge in California.

The delay is the latest twist in the mega deal, which could reshape Hollywood by merging Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios. Getty Images The merger deal expires on June 4, 2027 if the deal hasn’t closed by that date.

“Today’s agreement is a significant win because the result is exactly what we have sought from the outset: a direct path to a trial based on the evidence,” said a Paramount spokesperson.

“This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached. Plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny. We look forward to proving our case at trial.”

The deal would not only unite movie studios Paramount and Warner Bros, but also bring together streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max, as well as networks CBS and CNN.

The standstill could be expensive for Paramount. The David Ellison-led company agreed to pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a fee of $650 million every quarter the deal doesn’t close beginning in October. 

The merger deal expires on June 4, 2027 if the deal hasn’t closed by that date. REUTERS The group of 12 states led by California, include New York, Connecticut, Oregon and Arizona. In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the halt a “crucial victory.”

“From the workers and artists who bring stories to life to the families who buy tickets at the box office, Paramount’s illegal takeover of Warner Bros. is a bad deal for all those who count on a competitive entertainment industry,” James said.

Shares of Paramount Skydance fell just over 3% on Friday. Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery slid just under 1%.

Ovintiv Inc. (OVV) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Jason Verhaest
Brendan McCracken - President, CEO & Director
Corey Code - Executive VP & CFO
Gregory Givens - Executive VP & COO

Conference Call Participants

Neil Mehta - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Greg Pardy - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Neal Dingmann - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Arun Jayaram - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Douglas George Blyth Leggate - Wolfe Research, LLC
Gabe Daoud - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Scott Gruber - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Christopher Baker - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
John Annis - Texas Capital Securities, Research Division
Kevin MacCurdy - Pickering Energy Partners Insights
Phillip Jungwirth - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research

Presentation

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to Ovintiv's 2026 Second Quarter Results Conference Call. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that this conference call may not be recorded or rebroadcast without the expressed consent of Ovintiv.

I would now like to turn the conference call over to Jason Verhaest from Investor Relations. Please go ahead, Mr. Verhaest.

Jason Verhaest

Thanks, Joanna, and welcome, everyone, to our second quarter '26 conference call. This call is being webcast, and the slides are available on our website at ovintiv.com. Please take note of the advisory regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of our slides and in our disclosure documents filed on EDGAR and SEDAR+. Following prepared remarks, we will be available to take your questions.

I will now turn the call over to our President and CEO, Brendan McCracken.

Brendan McCracken
President, CEO & Director

Thanks, Jason. Good morning, everybody, and thank you for joining us. Our second quarter results demonstrate the strength of our durable return strategy and the business

After falling more than 35% over the past month, Rocket Lab's (RKLB -8.70%) latest price action may seem troublesome. However, this sharp pullback looks like an opportunity to bottom-fish in this popular space stock.

Yes, the shift in sentiment does have substance. After an initial wave of enthusiasm, investors are now having second thoughts about the company's recent acquisition plans. While this pending deal has negatives, its long-term impact on Rocket Lab's future growth and valuation could offset the initial uncertainty.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why investors turned bearish on Rocket Lab On June 29, Rocket Lab, a satellite launch and manufacturing company, announced plans to acquire Iridium Communications (IRDM -3.90%) in an $8 billion cash-and-stock deal. As this transaction adds Iridium's satellite network and space telecom business to Rocket Lab's existing capabilities, post-acquisition, Rocket Lab could become a smaller version of Space Exploration Technologies, aka SpaceX.

In fact, it was these SpaceX stock comparisons that initially drove investors to respond positively to the deal announcement, rocketing the rocket stock from the mid $80s to just over $100 per share. Since then, however, shares have fallen back to Earth, and then some. Right now, the stock is hovering just around $70 per share. Initially intrigued by Rocket Lab becoming a possible "SpaceX in the making," the concern now is how this merger affects future growth.

Today's Change

(

-8.70

%) $

-6.09

Current Price

$

63.90

A slowdown today, a resurgence tomorrow? For now, weakness could persist with Rocket Lab shares. The market is still trying to figure out how to value a company that's diluting its growth rate by acquiring a more mature, already profitable business.

Yet while the initial growth dilution could weigh on shares, this deal could prove worthwhile in the long run. By acquiring a profitable business, Rocket Lab will have greater capacity to self-fund its organic growth efforts, including major projects such as its upcoming Neutron line of reusable rockets.

Also consider the deal's many likely cost and growth synergies. After a one-time slowdown could come a growth resurgence, driving a recovery in its shares. Given this, I'd consider going against the grain and doubling down on a position.