Generální ředitel Applu John Ternus prodal 2. října 2026 25 412 akcií za přibližně 8,46 milionu USD v rámci předem stanoveného obchodního plánu podle pravidla 10b5-1.
Apple's new CEO just unloaded a significant block of shares days after taking the top job, but the real story is buried in the Form 4 filing and what it reveals about executive pay, trading plans, and whether the stock…
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Chief executive John Ternus sold 25,412 shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) on October 2, 2026, for about $8.46 million, at prices between $331.38 and $334.05. The Form 4 filed October 5 shows his first reported open-market sale since the former head of hardware engineering replaced Tim Cook, now Executive Chair, on September 1, 2026.
The sale followed a routine annual vest under a pre-set trading plan and left Ternus with more Apple stock than before. Shares closed at $333.63 on October 6, up 0.22%.
Vest, Withhold, Sell: How the Sequence Worked A restricted stock unit (RSU) vests into actual stock on a set date. On October 1, 99,878 units from a 2023 performance award vested on a schedule fixed years earlier.
Vesting counts as taxable income whether or not anything is sold. Apple withheld 49,054 shares, which the filing describes as “Shares withheld by Apple to satisfy tax withholding requirements on vesting of RSUs.”
Withholding is a tax payment made in shares, so those shares are excluded from the $8.46 million figure. Adding them in would overstate the size of the sale. Ternus then sold 25,412 shares, half of what remained.
The filing says the trades ran under a plan Ternus adopted on May 21, 2026, under SEC Rule 10b5-1. That rule lets insiders fix future trades ahead of time, so the sale follows the plan and the executive does not decide it based on what he knows that day. Because insiders who adopt these plans may know material information at the time, the adoption date matters more than the execution date, and Cook adopted this plan months before the sale.
Cook and O’Brien Sold More on the Same Day Under a plan he adopted May 28, 2026, Cook sold 191,753 shares for about $63.8 million after 374,541 units vested, and he still holds 3,237,843 shares. Senior vice president Deirdre O’Brien sold 46,389 shares for about $15.5 million.
Multiple executives selling after one company-wide vest shows a shared pay calendar. The awards paid above target because Apple’s three-year total shareholder return was 90.67%, ranking in the 76th percentile of the S&P 500 Index.
On any Form 4, start with the transaction code: S is an open-market sale, F is tax withholding, M is a unit conversion. Look for a Rule 10b5-1 plan footnote and adoption date, then check shares owned after the transaction.
Should You Buy or Sell AAPL Stock The sale says little about the business, because fiscal third-quarter revenue rose 16.4% to $109.42 billion, and EPS of $2.02 beat the $1.89 estimate.
Apple trades at 43 times trailing earnings. About $0.11 of that quarter’s EPS came from tariff refunds that will not repeat.
Still, net income grew 27.1% and Services brought in $30.74 billion. Growth like that is rare for a company worth about $4.87 trillion, and it strengthens the long-term case.
The test is the next earnings report, expected in late October. If revenue keeps growing by double digits without help from tariff refunds, the case holds. Closing above the $345.34 52-week high would confirm it.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
The market sees a phone company that missed the AI revolution, but one investor keeps buying shares and believes Wall Street has the story exactly backwards.
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I added to my Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) position this month and expect to add more after the October 29 earnings report. The market has misunderstood Apple’s AI strategy.
Why I Keep Coming Back Apple owns the device in your pocket and the relationship with it. The company counts more than 2.5 billion active devices, with iPhone install base at an all-time high in the June quarter. Apple delivers AI to a customer base it already owns, and that base is where the boom comes from.
Three Reasons the Data Backs Me Up First, Apple can monetize AI without heavy data center spending. Tim Cook described Siri AI as “a completely reimagined version of Siri that is profoundly capable, deeply personal, and integrated seamlessly across our platforms.” It runs on-device and via Private Cloud Compute. Cook called on-device AI “very strategic and sort of a competitive weapon.” Paid iCloud+ upgrades sit atop Services revenue of $30.74B last quarter, up from $27.42B a year earlier, with 1.5 billion paid subscriptions.
Second, hardware demand is strong. iPhone revenue reached $54.25B versus $44.58B a year ago. Mac revenue grew 29%. Apple posted EPS of $2.02 against $1.8914 consensus, its 9th consecutive EPS beat.
Third, Apple keeps sending cash back to shareholders. The board authorized an additional $100B buyback, Apple repurchased $62.094B of stock in the nine months through June 27, 2026, and it raised the dividend 4% to $0.27 per quarter. Return on invested capital stands at 53.35%.
Why My Money Goes Here Instead of Microsoft Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) offers a different path to AI exposure. Microsoft’s P/E of 29 looks cheaper than Apple’s 43, but it is spending heavily on AI infrastructure. Fiscal 2026 capital spending hit $115.948B, up 79.62%, while free cash flow fell 6.46% to $66.987B. Microsoft trades at 59x free cash flow versus 49x for Apple. I prefer the company whose customers pay for AI hardware themselves.
Risks I Refuse to Ignore Memory costs worry me. Cook called it “a 100-year flood on the memory pricing with exponential increases in memory prices,” with further rises expected. The June quarter’s 50.1% gross margin included about two points from tariff refunds worth $0.11 of EPS. Guidance calls for 47% to 48%. Greater China revenue fell to $14.49B from $15.03B.
Apple guided September-quarter revenue growth of 9% to 11%, with supply constraints from demand exceeding forecasts. Analysts expect EPS of $9.5758 for fiscal 2027, up from $8.8202 for fiscal 2026. Cook said: “We look at all three dimensions and think about it over the long term instead of a 90-day clock.”
Catalysts That Could Drive Apple Higher Siri AI awaits regulatory approval in the EU and China. iCloud+ upgrades have yet to launch. Apple’s $30 billion-plus Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) silicon deal strengthens chip control, the kind of infrastructure strategy we mapped out in a free report on the AI buildout beyond the chipmakers. Over ten years, shares returned 1179.19%. The market prices Apple as a phone maker that missed AI. I see a company putting AI on 2.5 billion devices.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Meta Platforms spustila Meta Enterprise Platform, kterou Mark Zuckerberg označil za „další hlavní pilíř“ podnikání. Platforma má firmám nabídnout agenty AI, API a nástroje Muse Code.
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$520.26▼
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Since releasing its Muse personal AI agent, Meta Platform’s NASDAQ: META stock has moved up steeply and tested its all-time highs reached last year.
Muse is the clearest example of Meta packaging AI into a standalone, accessible product that can drive revenue beyond its massive advertising business. However, the company isn’t stopping there when it comes to providing AI solutions.
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CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the recently announced Meta Enterprise Platform, “the next major pillar of our business."
Given the market’s positive response to Muse, the Meta Enterprise Platform represents another step in Meta’s push to turn AI into a meaningful revenue stream beyond its core advertising business.
The Meta Enterprise Platform: Extending Business Demand to New AreasMeta notes, “Meta Enterprise Platform will use our strengths that few other companies have: advanced models, leading agents, large-scale infrastructure, and years of working closely with many businesses.” The platform focuses on bringing the Muse agent, the Meta Business Agent, the Muse Application Programming Interface (API), and Muse Code to more businesses and developers.
This initiative lies at what has been the heart of Meta’s entire business model: helping other businesses grow. Using Meta’s apps as an advertising surface has been the primary way it has done this so far. With the firm expected to overtake Alphabet NASDAQ: GOOG in advertising sales this year, the company has been extraordinarily successful in this regard. The goal of the Meta Enterprise Platform is to provide businesses with other tools that help them grow and increase efficiency. In other words, Meta is looking to become a one-stop shop for business AI usage.
It wants firms to advertise on Meta, use Meta AI agents, use the Muse API as a general-purpose AI and chatbot, and use Muse Code to build new applications. This goal is further emphasized by a related announcement: Muse for Small Business. Like the Muse personal agent automates personal tasks, Muse for Small Businesses does the same for business tasks.
Meta notes that Muse can communicate with customers, create growth plans, handle emails and scheduling, monitor financial performance, and create new ad campaigns. Additionally, it can connect to many programs that businesses may already use to manage operations, including QuickBooks, Shopify, Slack, Stripe, Zoom, Canva, and Dropbox. Meta expects to add more connectors and skills over the coming months.
Meta’s Overall AI Strategy Becomes ClearerThe combination of Meta’s advertising business, the Muse personal agent, and the Meta Enterprise Platform helps put into perspective why the company is spending so fervently on AI infrastructure. The firm has 3.6 billion daily active users on its apps. Serving these users with AI-optimized ads clearly requires massive infrastructure. Additionally, Meta is working to extend people’s interactions with AI beyond their social media feeds and into the automation of their daily tasks through Muse—another major driver of infrastructure demand.
All those AI-optimized ads will support what experts expect to be the world's largest digital advertising business by the end of 2026. Now, the company is working to extend that relationship with businesses into other use cases, using AI, through the Meta Enterprise Platform and Muse for Small Businesses. To serve all these interests, building a huge portfolio of AI infrastructure assets is essential.
It's worth noting that Meta is bringing in big guns to lead this program. Chirantan “CJ” Desai will join Meta as Chief Enterprise Platform Officer. Desai has an extensive track record in the tech sector. Just prior to joining Meta, he was the CEO of MongoDB NASDAQ: MDB, an over $25 billion software company. Before that, he led product and engineering at Cloudflare NYSE: NET, which currently has a market capitalization of around $125 billion. Desai was also once the COO of ServiceNow NYSE: NOW, helping scale the company from $1.5 billion to more than $10 billion in annualized revenue.
The point is that Meta has the gravitas to simply poach the CEO of a huge firm like MongoDB to run a subset of its business. Bringing in this highly experienced tech executive reflects favorably on its ability to scale the Meta Enterprise platform successfully.
Meta’s Shares Are Booming Today—But Financial Impact Still Requires PatienceAfter a rather long period of confusion regarding Meta’s overarching AI strategy, the picture is now coming into focus. The company is working to build a highly integrated AI stack that caters to both personal and business use cases. AI advertising, the Muse personal agent, and the Meta Enterprise Platform are key pillars of this.
Today, outside of advertising, the monetization of these pillars has yet to have much impact on Meta’s financials. Given the recent release of these programs, it may take several more quarters before they do. However, updates on Muse personal agent, Meta Enterprise Platform, and Muse for Small Business adoption will be critical to monitor in coming press releases and earnings calls.
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Tesla ve 2. čtvrtletí 2022 prodala přibližně 75 % svých bitcoinů za 936 milionů USD při ceně kolem 29 000 USD za bitcoin; při ceně 84 000 USD by nyní měly hodnotu zhruba 2,7 miliardy USD.
Tesla liquidated the bulk of its crypto holdings at a price that looked reasonable in 2022, but the years since have turned that call into one of the most scrutinized treasury decisions in recent memory. Was it reckless, or just…
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In the second quarter of 2022, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) sold approximately 75% of its Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) for $936 million, when Bitcoin was trading around $29,000. Fast forward to October 7, 2026, and Bitcoin is priced near $84,000—nearly three times its previous value. This substantial increase makes Tesla’s Bitcoin sale one of the decade’s most significant financial missteps.
However, investors judging Tesla’s decision today have the benefit of hindsight—an insight the company didn’t have in 2022. So, did Tesla make an error, or was their decision a prudent move that simply didn’t age well?
Why Did Tesla Sell Its Bitcoin in 2022?
Tesla originally purchased $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in early 2021. A year later, in 2022, COVID lockdowns in China significantly affected its Shanghai factory, which remained shut for several weeks. Elon Musk told investors Tesla was uncertain when the lockdowns would ease.
To ensure financial stability during this unpredictable period, the company decided to sell most of its Bitcoin to “maximize our cash position,” emphasizing that the sale was not a negative assessment of Bitcoin itself.
A corporate treasury is crucial for managing a company’s financial needs, covering expenses like payroll, suppliers, and new investments. Cash is stable and maintains its value week to week, while Bitcoin is known for its volatility, which can swing by 20% in a month. By converting a volatile asset into cash, Tesla ensured it had the funds necessary to navigate the uncertainties brought on by the lockdowns.
Tesla continues to manage its treasury with an eye on spending. In its July 22, 2026, earnings call, Musk indicated that Tesla was willing to be “a little less capital efficient” if it meant advancing projects more quickly.
How Much Is the Bitcoin Tesla Sold Worth Today?
Since Tesla sold its Bitcoin near $29,000, the cryptocurrency has surged by about 190%. At today’s price, the Bitcoins Tesla converted into $936 million would now be worth approximately $2.7 billion—an increase of roughly $1.8 billion.
However, this figure is speculative and assumes Tesla could have held onto its Bitcoin through all fluctuations. Just months after the sale, Bitcoin fell below $16,000 in November 2022. If Tesla had retained billions in Bitcoin during that downturn, it would have faced significant losses, especially while its factories were still trying to recover.
So the estimated $1.8 billion gap represents the opportunity cost rather than a reflection of Tesla’s foresight in making the sale. If Bitcoin had continued to decline after 2022, this decision could very well have been viewed as a careful risk-management strategy—a challenge any company holding Bitcoin on its balance sheet faces.
Tesla Still Holds 11,509 Bitcoin From Its 2021 Purchase
Despite the sale, Tesla retained a significant portion of its crypto assets. As of March 31, 2026, the company’s filings showed that it still held 11,509 Bitcoin, which it initially acquired for $386 million. Notably, Tesla recorded no further Bitcoin sales in the second quarter of 2026.
The value of Tesla’s remaining Bitcoin has also grown. As of June 30, 2026, these digital assets were valued at $674 million, even after a $112 million paper loss that quarter. At $84,000 per coin, Tesla’s remaining Bitcoin is now worth around $970 million, about 2.5 times its initial purchase price.
Even after selling 75% of its Bitcoin, Tesla’s holdings still place it among the top public companies with substantial Bitcoin investments.
Was the Tesla Bitcoin Sale a Mistake? In summary, Tesla’s decision to sell a significant portion of Bitcoin in 2022 was a reasonable strategy given the circumstances—though it cost the company about $1.8 billion in hindsight. The need for cash amid factory shutdowns warranted their choice, and by retaining 11,509 Bitcoin valued at around $970 million, Tesla still benefits from the robust Bitcoin rally.
Looking ahead, Tesla’s next quarterly filing will show whether the company remains committed to holding Bitcoin. A decrease in its Bitcoin count would indicate sales, whereas an increase might suggest renewed purchasing in the crypto market.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
UBS just raised its Tesla price target and called the risk/reward tactically favorable, but the same stock lost 32% in 30 days after one bad earnings report. Here is what the bull case actually rests on.
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UBS analyst Joseph Spak raised his price target on Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) to $391, according to UBS from $385, according to UBS and kept his Buy rating. The argument behind the modest bump carries the weight. Tesla shares trade at $378.02, down 16.6% over the past year and 15.94% year to date. They are also up 7.14% over the past week and 6.76% over the past month. Spak is making a tactical call on a stock that has started moving again after a weak year.
Ticker Company Firm Action Old Rating New Rating Old Target New Target TSLA Tesla UBS (Joseph Spak) Price Target Raised Buy Buy $385 $391 Why Tesla Stock Follows Sentiment More Than Earnings Spak’s core claim is direct: “Tesla remains more sentiment- than results-driven, and at current levels, the risk/reward looks tactically favorable.” Put simply, the share price moves on what investors expect from robotaxis, robots and AI. Quarterly profits play a smaller role.
The record supports him. In Q2 2026, Tesla earned $0.33 per share, missing the $0.5367 estimate. The stock fell 14.52% on the day of the report, then gained 9.15% over the next 30 days. The S&P 500 ETF rose 3.43% over the same period. At roughly 396x earnings, the price rests on expectations about the future: Robotaxi service in seven U.S. metros and 1.48M active FSD subscriptions. Investors who value Tesla on fundamentals will find current profits explain little of the stock’s behavior.
What Tactically Favorable Means for Your Timeline The call is about near-term positioning. Spak’s move from $385 to $391 tells you the underlying model barely changed. Spak’s message is that conditions currently favor the bulls. Third-quarter deliveries came in ahead of consensus estimates, and options traders lean bullish, with a full-chain put/call ratio of 0.59. That means call contracts outnumber puts.
Sentiment Can Reverse Without Warning A stock that rises on mood can fall on mood too, even when the business hasn’t changed. Today Tesla is down 0.7% in premarket trading after European self-driving approvals were delayed. After the Q4 2024 report, shares lost 32.04% over 30 days.
The fundamentals give little support if the mood turns. Operating margin fell to 1.4% in Q2. Free cash flow came in at -$1.09B, and management expects 2026 capex above $25 billion. Automotive margins excluding credits slipped from 19.2% to 16.3%.
Is the UBS Call Worth Acting On? The call works as a timing signal and gives little guidance on value. Remember that this is one firm’s view, and a price target forecasts nothing with certainty. For retirement-focused investors, the call functions as a short-term read on momentum.
The test comes with the Q3 earnings report. If automotive margins hold at or above 16.3% and free cash flow becomes positive, the fundamentals start to support the sentiment. If both slip while the stock keeps rising, the rally rests only on optimism, and that is when it is most likely to reverse.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Google Labs spustily Playground, AI platformu pro tvorbu her v prohlížeči pomocí textových pokynů bez programování. Zpočátku je dostupná uživatelům starším 18 let v USA.
The barriers to entry for game creation are rapidly diminishing as AI makes game development more accessible to people without traditional programming, design, or illustration skills. The latest example is an experiment from Google Labs.
On Wednesday, the tech giant’s public incubator and experimental platform launched a new AI-powered game-creation platform called Playground, which allows users to build browser-based games using simple text prompts, eliminating the need for coding expertise.
With Playground, creators can select a genre, such as trivia or racing, or start a project from scratch. They can specify whether they want a 2D or 3D game and choose between single-player and multiplayer experiences before describing the desired mechanics, gameplay, and visual style. Playground also allows users to upload visuals that its AI can transform into game assets tailored to the game’s overall art style.
Once created, games can be played on both mobile devices and computers. Projects can remain private, be shared through a link, or be published to Playground’s Explore gallery. Published games can support features such as leaderboards, while creators can continue modifying their projects even after they have been released.
Image Credits:Google Google also indicated that it plans to add Unity Spark integration in a future update. The integration could give Playground users access to additional 3D capabilities and “professional-level” game mechanics through Unity’s technology, further expanding what can be created through the platform.
Playground is initially available to users aged 18 and older in the U.S., with Google planning to expand availability to additional countries. Browsing and playing games in the catalog is free, while game generation relies on a weekly token system. The free tier provides a limited number of tokens, while Google One AI subscribers receive higher usage limits.
Google’s launch places Playground within a growing market of AI-assisted game-development tools. Roblox, for example, announced its own Build feature in July, enabling users to create games through natural-language prompts.
The initiative also builds on Google’s broader interest in gaming. The company previously explored cloud gaming through Stadia back in 2022, and later on continued incorporating games into other platforms, including YouTube Playables, a dedicated hub offering a selection of instantly playable web-based games.
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Nearly every analyst covering a $3 trillion company agrees it belongs higher, yet the stock still trades below its 52-week high. The real question is how much higher, and the answer depends on a few risks that bulls are quietly…
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Analysts rarely agree this much on a $3 trillion company. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction) has 14 Strong Buy and 39 Buy ratings against just 2 Holds and no Sells. That works out to 96% bullish.
The 24/7 Wall St. price target for Microsoft is $629.99 over the next 12 months, which means 21.73% upside from $517.53.
Metric Value Current Price $517.53 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $629.99 Upside/Downside 21.73% Model Rating BUY Confidence Level 90% Our target sits well above the consensus analyst target of $578.82, which means 11.8% upside. Azure growth is accelerating, and analysts have made 21 upward revisions for fiscal 2027 EPS in the past 30 days against 8 cuts.
Azure’s Blowout Quarter Fueled a Historic Rebound Microsoft is up 8.4% year to date and on track for its biggest quarterly gain in 28 years. Shares trade 5.8% below their 52-week high of $549.20. On Monday, Barron’s reported a fresh upgrade to Buy that calls Microsoft the “adult in charge” on AI security.
The rally started with fiscal Q4. Revenue came in at $90.01 billion, ahead of the $87.63 billion estimate. EPS of $4.74 exceeded the $4.2394 consensus. Azure grew 43%, and commercial RPO rose 84% to $678 billion.
Why Bulls See $731 Within Reach The bull case values Microsoft at $731.61. Management guided Azure growth to approximately 45% in constant currency for fiscal Q1. CFO Amy Hood said “demand continues to exceed available supply.” Microsoft 365 Copilot has passed 30 million paid seats, and net seat additions more than doubled from the prior quarter.
GitHub Copilot revenue grew more than 60% quarter over quarter after the switch to usage-based billing. The most bullish analyst puts fiscal 2028 EPS at $26.
Capex and OpenAI Exposure Are the Risks to Watch The bear case lands at $535.10. Fiscal 2026 capex rose 79.62% to $115.95 billion, and free cash flow fell 6.46%. Excluding OpenAI, RPO grew only 25%.
Q4 EPS included a $3.2 billion gain on the Anthropic investment. Operating cash flow rose 34.35% for the year. Adjusted for the OpenAI impact, EPS still grew 23%.
Microsoft Carries a Premium Over Alphabet, Amazon and Oracle Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) compete directly with Azure through Google Cloud and AWS. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) is in the same software-infrastructure industry and chasing the same AI capacity contracts.
Company Forward P/E Operating Margin (TTM) Microsoft 25x 45.1% Alphabet 23x 34% Amazon 24x 13.7% Oracle 18x 35.6% Alphabet grew quarterly revenue faster at 24.2% and trades at a lower multiple. Amazon’s retail-heavy mix keeps margins far below Microsoft’s. Oracle grew revenue 29.6% but trades at a discount due to higher beta. Our target means about 30x earnings, reasonable for the highest margins among the four.
Signed Demand Makes the Case for Upside The 24/7 Wall St. price target is $629.99, with a buy rating and 90% confidence. The $678 billion in signed commercial backlog supports the case.
Upside speeds up if Azure delivers near 45% growth and Copilot monetization compounds. I’d turn conservative if capex keeps rising while free cash flow contracts.
Microsoft’s estimated trading range in coming years comes from the 24/7 Wall St. price target model, if current growth and market conditions hold.
Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 $542.92 2027 $629.99 2028 $695.64 2029 $768.13 2030 $848.18 The projections depend on Microsoft executing on its AI infrastructure strategy. Faster Copilot adoption could push results above this path. A decline in AI spending could pull them below it. All that capex has to be powered, cooled, and networked by somebody, and we featured seven of those suppliers in a free AI infrastructure report.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
AMD has turned a few thousand dollars into life-changing wealth over the past decade, but the same run from a trillion-dollar market cap would dwarf every chip giant alive today. Here is what stands between AMD and that outcome.
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Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD | AMD Price Prediction) trades at $626.97 this morning. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for AMD is $605.04 over the next 12 months. That means -3.5% downside and a hold rating, and our model has high confidence in it.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $626.97 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $605.04 Upside/Downside -3.5% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 90% Since October 2016, AMD has gained 8895.27%, rising from $6.97 on an adjusted basis. That works out to roughly 90x. Doing it again from a $1.025 trillion market cap would make AMD many times larger than NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is today. My model suggests the stock already prices in much of its AI ramp.
Why We Could Be Wrong Our 24/7 Wall St. price target sits slightly below where AMD trades today.
Two catalysts could drive the stock higher: the Helios rack-scale platform, where management said customer demand is “tracking ahead of our initial forecasts,” and gigawatt-scale deployments for OpenAI, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and Anthropic.
A 192% Year-to-Date Surge Powered by Data Center Demand AMD is up 192.76% year to date and 37.17% over the past month. It slipped 0.58% over the past week. Shares sit about 4% below the 52-week high of $645.46 and far above the low of $188.22.
Second-quarter revenue rose 50.1% to $11.54 billion, ahead of the $11.31 billion consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.66 beat the $1.61 estimate. Data Center revenue jumped 107% to $6.72 billion. Management forecast third-quarter revenue to about $13 billion.
Why Bulls See $689 and Beyond Management expects Data Center revenue to more than double in 2027. They also said they “expect to significantly exceed our $20 annual EPS target.” AMD projects that the AI accelerator market will reach about $1.4 trillion by 2030.
Wall Street is largely on board, with 44 Buy or Strong Buy ratings, 11 Holds and no Sells. The consensus target is $619.51. If the bull case plays out, our model points to $689.01.
Valuation and Volatility Are the Risks Worth Watching AMD trades at 239x trailing earnings. Gaming revenue fell 31%, and export controls on China remain a risk. In our bear case, the stock falls to $474.35.
Bulls would point out that the GAAP multiple understates profitability. Non-GAAP operating margin was 27%, and AMD has net cash.
How AMD Compares to NVIDIA and Broadcom NVIDIA is AMD’s most direct competitor in AI accelerators. It trades at just 47x trailing earnings while growing revenue 105.85%.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) competes for the same hyperscaler budgets with custom AI chips. Its AI semiconductor revenue grew 221%. Both rivals are growing faster at lower or comparable valuations, which makes our target look reasonable.
Company Market Cap Latest Quarter Revenue Growth AMD $1.025T 50.1% NVIDIA $5.72T 105.85% Broadcom $1.70T 85.5% AMD Price Prediction 2026-2030 My 24/7 Wall St. price target is $605.04, with a hold rating and high confidence. The stock has already priced in a strong Helios ramp.
I would turn more constructive if Helios shipments and 2027 Data Center growth beat guidance. A repeat of the last decade’s run is unlikely, but steady compounding is realistic.
Looking further ahead, here is where our model projects AMD could trade, assuming current growth trends and market conditions has.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $650.41 2027 $618.12 2028 $623.57 2029 $586.24 2030 $636.40 These projections assume AMD keeps executing on its current strategy. Faster MI450 and MI500 adoption could drive the stock toward our bull path of $844.29 by 2031.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Buy NVDA. Catalysts (SpaceX chip purchases, hyperscaler capex, Gartner’s +50% AI spend) support upside to earnings, and the $150B buyback plus conservative guidance history strengthens the “results beat” case. Technicals also back it: breakout above $235 and holding above the 50-day moving average.
Key Risk: AI spending slows sharply or guidance disappoints, making the buyback insufficient to offset weaker demand.
AI capex beneficiaries buy
Buy ASML. If AI capex keeps accelerating, leading-edge chipmaking equipment demand rises next, and ASML is a key bottleneck supplier. This is the “picks-and-shovels” second layer behind GPU demand.
Key Risk: A bond-yield shock or recession hits semiconductor capex plans, cutting orders for new lithography systems.
Nvidia stock has stayed in an upward trend this year and is now hovering near its all-time high as several catalysts emerge. It peaked at $243 on Tuesday before paring back some of those gains to trade at $239. Still, a crucial bearish chart pattern is forming ahead of the third-quarter earnings report.
There are signs that Nvidia’s demand is soaring. As we wrote earlier, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is in the process of raising $40 billion from Apollo Global to buy its chips.
Other companies in the tech industry are also raising funds to do this. In Australia, Firmus is about to raise over $5 billion in an initial public offering. It plans to use some of these funds to buy Nvidia chips.
Nscale, a British neocloud company, is also in the process of raising $3 billion at a $35 billion valuation. Lambda, a company that Nvidia backs, is also raising funds to scale its data centers.
Most importantly, top hyperscalers plan to continue spending this year. In a recent note, Gartner predicted that AI spending will jump by 50% this year to $2.7 trillion. All this will benefit Nvidia, the biggest GPU provider in the world.
This trend suggests that Nvidia's revenue growth will likely exceed expectations. Analysts had forecast about 40% revenue growth for 2027, but when the company released its numbers, it guided for growth of about 70%. Nvidia has also historically set conservative guidance, which means its actual results often come in above its own forecasts.
Nvidia’s strong growth explains why the management has accelerated the share buyback plan. It announced a $150 billion buyback last week on top of the continuing $80 billion that it is executing. Data shows that its outstanding shares have dropped to 24.15 billion, down from a 2025 high of 25 billion.
The repurchase is also a sign that the management believes that the company is highly undervalued. It has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25, which is much lower than the five-year average of 42.
Still, the risk is that some analysts believe that the AI bubble is about to burst. In a statement this week, billionaire Ray Dalio warned that the burst will be caused by the rising US bond yields.
Analysts remains optimistic about Nvidia shares. BNP Paribas analysts reiterated their outperform rating and a target of $345. Cantor Fitzgerald analysts have a target of $350, while Rosenblatt hiked to $390.
NVDA stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that Nvidia shares have been in an upward trend this month. It jumped to a high of $243 as the rally gained steam.
The stock has already jumped above the crucial resistance level of $235, its highest swing in May this year. Moving above that level confirmed a bullish breakout. It has remained above the 50-day moving average and the Supertrend indicator.
The risk, however, is that the stock has formed a rising wedge pattern, which is made up of two rising and converging trendlines. This pattern often leads to a bearish breakout, especially when the two lines are nearing their confluence.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) could be poised for another leg higher after breaking above a key technical resistance level, according to market analyst Ali Martinez.
In an X post on October 6, Martinez noted that NVDA shares are breaking out of a multi-month consolidation pattern that had capped gains for much of the second half of 2026.
The analyst identified the $238 area as a critical resistance zone. With the stock now trading at $239, Martinez projected a move toward approximately $280, implying upside of about 19% from the breakout point.
NVDA stock price analysis. Source: Ali Martinez The setup suggests Nvidia may be entering a new bullish phase, with the former resistance zone potentially turning into support.
Nvidia stock backed by fundamentals The technical breakout comes as Nvidia continues to benefit from strong demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Much of the optimism stems from the technology company’s August earnings report, which reinforced its dominance in the AI sector.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2027, reported in August, Nvidia posted revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% year-over-year and 18% sequentially, beating Wall Street expectations by about 4%.
Data Center revenue, Nvidia’s main growth driver, surged 117% year-over-year to $89 billion, accounting for about 92% of total sales, driven by continued AI infrastructure spending from hyperscalers, enterprises, and AI cloud providers.
The company reported GAAP earnings per share of $2.46, maintained a 75% gross margin, and generated approximately $21.3 billion in quarterly free cash flow.
Management said AI has reached an inflection point, with computing power increasingly translating into revenue-generating applications, while Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin are expected to support future growth.
At the same time, the semiconductor giant forecast third-quarter revenue of about $108 billion, above Wall Street estimates, despite assuming no Data Center compute revenue from China. It also projected roughly 70% revenue growth for fiscal 2028, well ahead of pre-earnings expectations.
NVDA buyback plan Adding to the bullish sentiment, Nvidia expanded its share repurchase authorization by a record $150 billion in September, raising total remaining buyback capacity to about $235 billion through fiscal 2028. The move was widely viewed as a strong signal of management’s confidence in the company’s long-term growth prospects.
Analysts remain bullish on Nvidia, citing its leadership across GPUs, networking, systems, and CUDA software, alongside strong AI demand from hyperscalers and enterprises. Expectations for sustained growth are also supported by ongoing supply constraints in advanced AI hardware.
Recent reports suggest SpaceX is exploring a roughly $40 billion financing package to purchase Nvidia chips, underscoring the scale of AI infrastructure demand.
Despite the bullish outlook, investors continue to monitor risks including rising memory costs, margin pressure, competition from AMD and custom AI chips, and the possibility of slower AI spending growth as customers seek greater returns on their investments.
The next big threat to Nvidia Corp’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) dominance may not come from another GPU maker. It could come from the companies buying Nvidia’s technology and deciding they want more control over what runs inside their AI data centers — a shift that has put Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) on a path toward a potentially $30 billion custom-chip business.
Hyperscalers Want More ControlThe AI infrastructure race is increasingly moving beyond the question of who makes the fastest accelerator. The biggest cloud companies are also trying to determine which parts of their AI systems should be built specifically for their own workloads, particularly as inference — running trained AI models — becomes a larger share of computing demand.
That is where Marvell sees an opening.
At its Investor Day, Marvell said it is already shipping custom silicon to all four major U.S. hyperscalers. Its custom business generated about $1.5 billion last year, but the company now expects revenue from the business to exceed $12 billion in fiscal 2029, up from its previous target of more than $10 billion.
CEO Matt Murphy described the opportunity as a progression: hyperscalers can start with Marvell’s standard products, move toward customized systems and eventually commission fully custom silicon incorporating their own intellectual property.
That matters because Marvell is not asking customers to abandon their existing AI infrastructure. It is becoming the company that helps them tailor it.
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The $30 Billion OpportunityMarvell now expects its custom business to reach approximately $30 billion in fiscal 2031, with the opportunity becoming more balanced between its XPU products and what it calls "XPU attach" — networking, memory, storage and other components that connect to AI accelerators.
Management says the forecast is based largely on programs and customer positions already in place rather than a need for a wave of entirely new wins. Marvell’s custom chief Will Chu said the company has momentum across all tier-one hyperscalers and expects higher attach rates as AI systems become more complex.
The Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG)/Google relationship shows why this market is becoming strategically important. In August, Marvell disclosed a broad agreement covering custom products tied to Google’s TPU ecosystem, including inference accelerators, storage and networking controllers and memory interfaces.
The agreement could generate up to roughly $120 billion in revenue through fiscal 2033 if performance targets are met.
Nvidia Isn’t Necessarily LosingThere is an important twist to the Nvidia angle: Marvell’s rise does not automatically mean Nvidia loses.
In fact, the companies announced a strategic partnership in March under Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion platform. Marvell can provide custom XPUs and networking compatible with Nvidia’s architecture, allowing customers to customize parts of their systems while retaining Nvidia technology elsewhere. Nvidia also invested $2 billion in Marvell.
That makes Marvell’s opportunity more interesting than a simple Nvidia-versus-Marvell contest. The company can benefit from hyperscalers wanting proprietary silicon while remaining connected to the broader Nvidia ecosystem.
For Marvell investors, the key question is no longer whether AI spending will grow. It is whether the shift toward customized AI infrastructure can turn today’s design wins into the company’s projected $30 billion custom business.
For Nvidia investors, the more important signal may be how much of future AI spending remains concentrated in GPUs — and how much migrates toward the custom silicon and connectivity layer around them.
NVIDIA ve druhém fiskálním čtvrtletí dosáhla tržeb ve výši 96,22 mld. USD a ve třetím čtvrtletí očekává tržby ve výši 108 mld. USD; tržby divize datových center vzrostly o 117 %.
Morgan Stanley just raised its NVIDIA target as the stock closes in on all-time highs, but margin compression and a $50 billion financing controversy raise real questions about how much runway this rally has left.
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Shares of NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) closed Friday at $233.95. That is within 1.7% of its 52-week high of $237.88, and the stock was indicated at $235.28 before the open.
The 24/7 Wall St. price target stands at $272.75 over the next 12 months, which implies 16.59% upside. The stock earns a buy rating with high confidence from our model.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $233.95 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $272.75 Upside/Downside 16.59% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% Shares traded near their 52-week high last week. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) analyst Joseph Moore holds an Overweight rating. The key question now is how long supply limits support the cycle.
Record Highs Follow a $96 Billion Quarter NVIDIA is up 4.54% over the past week, 4.97% over the past month and 26.45% year to date. The stock sits 42.7% above its 52-week low.
In the fiscal second quarter, revenue reached $96.22 billion against estimates of $92.07 billion. Non-GAAP EPS of $2.22 beat the $2.09 consensus. Data Center revenue rose 117% to $89.02 billion, and third-quarter guidance calls for $108 billion.
Why Bulls See $318 and Beyond Management expects fiscal 2028 revenue to grow about 70% even with supply constraints. On the call, the company said “Our demand is much higher than that.” NVIDIA earns about $40 billion per gigawatt on Vera Rubin, compared with $25 billion on Blackwell.
The top five hyperscalers are expected to spend $1.3 trillion on capex in 2027. The consensus fiscal 2028 EPS estimate of $15.6951 has drawn 42 upward revisions and no cuts in 30 days. The average analyst target is $327.70, and our bull case points to $318.39.
Margin Compression and Vendor Financing Could Cap Gains Management expects gross margins to bottom at 71% to 72% in the fourth quarter as memory costs rise. Days sales outstanding rose to 60 days from 45.
NVIDIA has invested nearly $50 billion in leading AI labs, and management admitted “some will call this circular financing.” Guidance also assumes no China data center compute revenue.
Bulls have a response: price increases should raised fiscal 2028 margins to 72% to 73%, and NVIDIA computing capacity can be moved to other customers. The bear case sits at $235.18.
NVIDIA Trades Between Broadcom and AMD on Forward Earnings Company Forward P/E Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY) NVIDIA 25x 105.9% AMD 40x 50.1% Broadcom 19x 85.5% TSMC 21x 36% Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) competes directly with NVIDIA in GPUs but trades at a much higher forward multiple while growing revenue at less than half NVIDIA’s pace.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) builds custom chips for the same hyperscalers at a cheaper multiple, reflecting market skepticism of AI silicon outside NVIDIA’s ecosystem.
Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) makes Blackwell and Rubin wafers. Compared with this group, NVIDIA’s premium appears justified, and our 18x forward input looks conservative.
Our Model Still Sees Room to Run The 24/7 Wall St. price target sits at $272.75 with a buy rating and high confidence. Supply-limited demand keeps driving earnings estimates higher.
The setup improves if Vera Rubin supply expands on schedule and weakens if memory costs push margins below guidance. Keep an eye on the November earnings report.
Looking further out, here is our model projects NVIDIA could trade, assuming current growth rates and market conditions hold.
Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 (12-month) $272.75 2027 $287.46 2028 $307.06 2029 $327.99 2030 $357.65 The projections rest on NVIDIA executing its annual architecture cycle. Faster AI capex buildout could driving results above this path; a consolidation phase could pull them below. All of that hyperscaler spending has to be powered, cooled, and connected by somebody other than the chipmakers, and we rounded up seven of those suppliers in a free report here.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Johnson & Johnson zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu o 3,1 % na 1,34 USD na akcii, a to již 64. rok v řadě; celoroční volný peněžní tok má dosáhnout téměř 21 mld. USD.
Johnson & Johnson just logged its 64th straight year of dividend growth, but biosimilar threats, a MedTech slowdown, and lingering talc litigation raise a real question about whether that streak justifies buying the stock right now.
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Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) raised its quarterly dividend 3.1% to $1.34 per share this year, marking its 64th consecutive year of dividend growth. The quarterly rate rose from $1.13 to $1.19 in 2023, then $1.24, $1.30 and $1.34. At $253.88 the stock yields just 2.05%.
Growth Is Outrunning the Stelara Cliff Biosimilar competition cut Stelara sales by 55.7% in the second quarter. Worldwide sales reached $25.3 billion, with J&J growing double digits excluding Stelara. Tremfya, set to replace it, brought in $2 billion, up 71%. Darzalex sales passed $4 billion, up 17.6%.
“We are not dependent on one or two products. We have a broad, durable portfolio that has 28 platforms, each generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue.”
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) is replacing Humira similarly. Its Skyrizi grew 24.4% to $5.505 billion, while Humira fell 35.9%. J&J’s replacement franchise is growing faster and includes Icotyde, an oral psoriasis drug that collected more than 18,000 prescriptions in a launch ahead of projections.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) shows what happens when the replacement pipeline falls behind. It yields 6.25% but guides 2026 revenue to $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion with roughly $1.5 billion in generic and biosimilar pressures. That high yield pays investors for a flat top line.
MedTech Is Where the Weakness Shows Since the consumer-health split, J&J reports two divisions. Innovative Medicine posted $16.4 billion in sales, and MedTech posted $8.9 billion with only 3.6% operational growth. Abiomed fell 2%, and inventory issues in China cut electrophysiology growth by about 400 basis points. Shockwave grew 14.7%. Management remains confident about Abiomed’s heart pump:
“We remain confident in the long-term potential for Impella.”
The company also plans to spin off DePuy Synthes, its orthopaedics business, by mid-2027. That will leave a smaller device unit weighted more toward faster-growing products.
Litigation Costs Are Now Visible In July, J&J agreed to a talc settlement that could resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits. Litigation charges totaled $854 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $330 million in the first quarter of 2026. Second-quarter net other expense reached $331 million. In August, Reuters reported that three scientists defeated J&J’s defamation suit over talc research, with J&J saying it would appeal.
Valuation Has Reset After the Pullback The stock fell 7.76% over the past month after a one-year gain of 37.61%. It trades at a forward P/E of 21, with the analyst target at $279.50. Analysts rate it 5 strong buys and 11 buys against one sell. Management expects full-year free cash flow to approach $21 billion and raised adjusted operational EPS guidance to $11.50 to $11.65. CFO Joe Wolk repeated the payout commitment:
“We also remain committed to returning capital directly to shareholders, primarily through our dividend.”
Verdict: The business fundamentals make J&J worth a closer look at today’s price. Oncology and immunology growth offset the Stelara decline, free cash flow guidance supports the dividend, and litigation risk now has a number attached. MedTech is the weak link. Watch Abiomed’s recovery and the Enterprise Business Review on December 8, 2026.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Výnosy amerických pokladničních poukázek se pohybovaly mezi 3,95 % a 4,46 %, ve srovnání s dividendovým výnosem ExxonMobil ve výši 2,55 %. Dividenda však roste již 43 let v řadě.
T-bill yields are running higher than Exxon's dividend right now, but that gap shrinks fast once taxes, reinvestment risk, and a 43-year streak of dividend growth enter the picture.
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Treasury bills paid yield averages from 3.95% on the 4-week bill to 4.46% on the 52-week bill as of October 6, 2026, the latest Treasury record date. This edition’s dividend stock is Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM | XOM Price Prediction). Its dividend yield was about 2.55% as of October 7, 2026. Every bill maturity shows a higher posted yield than the stock. For a retiree, though, posted yield is only the first question. How safe the payment is, how long the rate lasts and how much the tax bill takes all come next.
How a Treasury Bill Pays You and When Its Rate Resets A Treasury bill acts as short-term loan to the U.S. government. The Treasury sells bills at auction with maturities of 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26 and 52 weeks. Bills pay no coupon. You buy a bill for less than its face value, and at maturity the Treasury pays you the full face value. The gap between those two totals is your interest.
Because of that discount structure, bills are quoted two ways. The discount rate is figured against face value. The investment yield is figured against what you actually paid, and it is the number to compare with a dividend yield. On October 6, 2026, the 13-week bill showed a discount-based close average of 4.05 and a yield average of 4.15.
Maturity Close Average (Oct. 6, 2026) Yield Average (Oct. 6, 2026) 4-week 3.88 3.95 8-week 3.97 4.05 13-week 4.05 4.15 26-week 4.16 4.31 52-week 4.26 4.46 A bill’s rate holds only until that bill matures. The next bill gets whatever the next auction sets. Rates went even within a single week: the 13-week yield average was 4.1 on October 1, 2026 and 4.15 on October 6. Federal Reserve policy drives much of this.
The upper bound of the fed funds target was 4.00% as of October 7, 2026. It had dropped to a low of 3.75% on September 16, 2026, and a year earlier it stood at 4.25%. A retiree who rolls bills over gets whatever rate exists on each rollover date. That is reinvestment risk: if rates fall, your income goes down with them.
At maturity, the face value lands in your TreasuryDirect or brokerage account, and you can reinvest it or spend it. If you sell a bill before it matures, you get the market price that day. That price falls when rates rise, so an early sale can return less than you expected. On short bills the swing is small, but it exists.
Treasuries have no FDIC insurance. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and that backing has limits. It covers payment of face value at maturity. It does not protect the bill’s market price before maturity, the rate on your next bill or your buying power against inflation. Fights over the federal debt ceiling have also raised concerns at times about whether maturing bills would be paid on time.
Exxon Mobil’s Dividend Against a T-Bill: Safety Comes First A higher yield means little if the payment is at risk, so start with how safe Exxon Mobil’s dividend is. The company pays $1.03 per share each quarter, or $4.12 annualized, and its most recent payment went out on September 10, 2026. The balance sheet backs the payout:
Interest coverage: 56.3x. Debt: debt-to-equity of 0.168 and net debt of 0.55 times EBITDA. Cash flow: 2025 free cash flow of $26.131 billion on operating cash flow of $51.97 billion. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported more than $17 billion of free cash flow. It returned more than $9 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks combined. Chief executive Darren Woods said on the July 31, 2026 call, “That strength allows us to keep investing in advantaged opportunities, return surplus cash to shareholders, and maintain one of the strongest balance sheets in industry.”
Cash flow can still swing hard. Free cash flow in the first quarter of 2026 was $2.699 billion, down 61.74% from a year earlier. The drop came from a $3.88 billion unfavorable timing effect on derivatives and $706 million in losses from Middle East supply disruptions. Management lists commodity price volatility, Middle East geopolitics, weak chemical margins and currency went as risks. The 2026 plan includes $20 billion in buybacks. That gives the board a large expense to trim before it would have to touch the dividend.
First half of the trade-off: a dividend can be cut. Exxon Mobil’s board declares each dividend quarter by quarter, and no contract requires it to pay. A T-bill’s payment at maturity is a legal obligation of the Treasury. Once you own the bill, the totals you will receive is set and cannot be reduced.
Second half: a dividend can grow. The bill’s rate stays the same for its whole term. Exxon Mobil has raised its annual dividend per share for 43 consecutive years, most recently by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarterly payment was $0.87 in early 2021 and is $1.03 today. Management points to Guyana as the next source of cash. Chief financial officer Neil Hansen called it “very much an inflection into free cash flow” and projected “two times the level of free cash flow in 2030 than we saw in 2025” from that region. That is a forecast, and nothing guarantees it.
A dividend yield is also different from a return. The stock traded at $165.93 on the morning of October 7, 2026, up 40.63% year to date. Over the past 52 weeks it has traded between $107.28 and $174.09. When the share price rises, the yield on new purchases shrinks. A retiree who has to sell shares on a bad day takes market risk that a bill held to maturity avoids.
Tax Treatment Can Flip the Answer T-bill interest is taxed as ordinary income at the federal level and is exempt from state and local income tax. Because bills are bought at a discount, the interest is generally taxed in the year the bill matures. For 2026, federal ordinary rates run from 10% up to 37%. A single filer went into the 22% bracket on income over $50,400, and a married couple filing jointly crosses that line at $100,800. The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for joint filers.
Exxon Mobil’s dividends usually count as qualified if you meet the minimum holding period. Qualified dividends are taxed federally at long-term capital-gains rates, which are below ordinary rates for most brackets and include a zero tier for lower-income filers. Your state, however, taxes the dividend in full.
That split often decides the question. A retiree in a high-tax state gets real value from the bill’s state exemption. A retiree in a state with no income tax gets nothing from it, which gives the dividend’s lower federal rate as the deciding factor. Inside a traditional IRA or 401(k), both advantages disappear, because withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income no matter what produced them.
Who Each Option Suits Treasury bills suit retirees who need a known totals of money on a known date within the next year, such as next year’s withdrawals or an emergency reserve. They fit especially well in a high-income-tax state, for savers who accept that the rate resets at every rollover. Exxon Mobil’s dividend suits retirees with a horizon of many years who will not have to sell shares during a downturn. It also fits those who want income with a 43-year record of increases and who can use the federal qualified-dividend rate. Retirees who would be forced to sell stock in a slump to cover living costs face market risk on that part of their money that a bill held to maturity avoids (that is the whole point of a dividend ladder built so you never have to sell a share, which we laid out step by step in a free guide here).
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
McDonald’s do roku 2036 investuje 8,5 mld. USD do modernizace restaurací, včetně objednávání s využitím AI; cílem je zvýšit efektivitu a získat zpět zákazníky.
McDonald's (MCD -0.48%) shares are down roughly 32% from the $341.75 all-time high they hit in February, recently trading near $232, close to a four-year low. That's a steep drop for a company this size, but it isn't the first time McDonald's stock has fallen this hard. It's happened twice before, and both times, the stock eventually came back stronger than it went in.
Image source: Getty Images.
The 2003 crisis: McDonald's fell 70% before its biggest turnaround In early 2003, McDonald's posted its first quarterly loss since going public in 1965, and the stock had fallen 70% from its 1999 peak, hitting an all-time low near $12, according to NPR. The cause was years of overexpansion and inconsistent restaurant quality -- growth for growth's sake rather than a focus on the customer experience.
The company's response -- a plan called "Plan to Win" -- shifted the focus to existing restaurants instead of opening new ones, cut capital spending, and introduced the "I'm lovin' it" brand campaign. It worked. Between March 2003 and October 2004, McDonald's stock rose 105%, more than triple the S&P 500's 35% gain over that same stretch.
The 2015 slump: a stale menu and a modern fix A decade later, McDonald's hit trouble again. U.S. market share slipped from 17.4% in 2012 to 15.4% by 2016, and the company reported its first negative global same-store sales in more than a decade, according to Entrepreneur. The menu had grown cluttered, and the brand felt dated.
Then-CEO Steve Easterbrook repositioned McDonald's as a "modern, progressive burger company," moved toward a nearly fully franchised model, and launched all-day breakfast in October 2015 after years of customer requests. The stock nearly doubled over the following two years.
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This time looks different in one important way McDonald's current slump shares real similarities with those earlier ones: There is declining traffic, a menu and value perception that's lost its edge, and new competition. But there is a big new investment plan coming as the fix.
In September, the company unveiled an $8.5 billion restaurant modernization plan running through 2036, including an AI-powered ordering system, hand-breaded chicken, protein-forward menu items aimed partly at GLP-1 drug users, and efficiency upgrades the company says could add roughly $100,000 in annual cash flow per average U.S. restaurant, according to ABC.
But there's a key difference. In 2003 and 2015, McDonald's framed its problems as things it had broken and could fix. This time, CEO Chris Kempczinski has described persistently high food costs, with beef prices nearly doubling over five years, and softer traffic as simply "the environment" going forward, not a temporary rough patch to wait out, according to comments spoken to CNBC. McDonald's is also testing third-party ads on its drive-thru digital order boards, which could eventually bring in about $1 billion in additional revenue.
That's a more honest and creative read of the macro backdrop we are seeing these days. Still, it also means this turnaround has to win customers back in a tougher economic climate than the ones that powered the 2004 and 2016 recoveries.
Is it a buy now? History leans in McDonald's favor here: The company has twice turned a steep, double-digit drawdown into a multi-year stock that more than doubled by actually reinvesting in the core restaurant experience rather than cutting its way to profitability. Add to this the fact that McDonald's has increased its dividend every year since 1976 and just became a Dividend King in 2026 after reaching 50 consecutive years of dividend growth.
I'd treat this less like a quick trade and more like a multi-year bet that McDonald's $8.5 billion plan and AI-driven efficiency push can win back customers, even if the broader economic backdrop doesn't improve.
McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD, XETRA:MDO) is facing a federal lawsuit alleging its artificial intelligence (AI) pricing tool illegally coordinates prices among franchisees and has raised menu costs for customers.
The proposed nationwide class action was filed Friday in Illinois by Michael Thomas, who alleges McDonald’s shares nonpublic store-level sales data among franchisees that can compete in the same markets.
The complaint alleges that McDonald’s uses millions of daily transactions to generate price recommendations across thousands of restaurants, effectively facilitating algorithmic price-fixing.
McDonald’s has responded by saying that the lawsuit contains inaccuracies and that it would defend itself, arguing that franchisees independently decide menu prices and can choose whether to use its pricing tools.
The company said its system has provided pricing recommendations for more than a decade, using factors including restaurant sales, location and competitor prices to help franchisees make decisions.
About 95% of McDonald’s 14,000 US restaurants are operated by franchisees, making the relationship between the company’s recommendations and individual pricing decisions central to the case.
The lawsuit alleges McDonald’s has significant leverage over franchisees and can pressure them to follow pricing recommendations, despite its position that the tools do not automate, coordinate or fix prices.
The case comes as McDonald’s faces pressure to make its restaurants more affordable for lower-income customers after years of price increases and weaker visits from budget-conscious consumers.
McDonald’s has acknowledged that US menu prices increased 40% between 2019 and 2024.
Its chief executive, Chris Kempczinski, said in August that only 60% of US restaurants had adopted the company’s proposed 10-item menu priced below $3.
Thomas is seeking class-action status, damages for affected consumers and an order preventing McDonald’s from enforcing agreements that allegedly restrict competition.
PepsiCo sits near a 52-week low while its dividend check keeps climbing, and one specific combination of warning signs would make this buyer walk away entirely.
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I added to my PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP | PEP Price Prediction) position again this month, and I keep adding every time the price slips. The stock trades at $125.71, down 9.75% year to date and close to its 52-week low of $124.22. Meanwhile, the dividend check keeps getting bigger.
PepsiCo sells Lay’s, Doritos, Gatorade and Pepsi to people who buy them every week, in good economies and bad ones. Its international business alone “is going to cross $40 billion in this year,” according to the chief executive. I can hold that kind of habit-driven demand for decades.
Three Reasons I Keep Adding 1. The business keeps producing cash. Second-quarter revenue reached $24.18B, up 6.4% YoY, and the quarter marked the company’s 4th consecutive EPS beat. On the July call, management said, “We’ve grown global volumes, 3% in foods and 2% in beverages. That’s the fastest growth in volumes since 2022.” In 2025, PepsiCo generated $12.087 billion in operating cash flow.
2. The dividend grows and remains covered. The company raised its annualized payout 4% from $5.69 to $5.92. That marked its 54th consecutive annual dividend per share increase. The quarterly payment was $0.13 in March 1999. Today it is $1.48. In 2025, PepsiCo paid $7.638 billion in dividends. It funded that from operating cash flow of $12.087 billion after $4.415 billion in capital spending. Management expects free cash flow conversion of at least 80% of core net income this year, and interest coverage stands at 12.03x.
3. The valuation sits below its peers. PepsiCo trades at 15x forward earnings with a 4.57% dividend yield. For an income investor, that means a well-funded payout at a lower multiple than its peers.
Why My Money Skips Its Two Biggest Rivals Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) runs a higher-margin model, with a 34.9% operating margin. Still, it yields 2.43% and trades at 25x forward earnings. Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) yields 3.44% at 18x forward earnings. PepsiCo gives me more income per dollar invested at a cheaper multiple than either one. That gap is why I keep putting new money into PepsiCo.
One Risk That Could Change My Mind North American snacks are the weak spot. PepsiCo Foods North America revenue fell 2% in the second quarter, and core operating margin narrowed 40 bps. The chief financial officer warned that full-year EPS “may be towards the low end of the EPS range.” Leverage adds pressure, with debt/equity at 2.45 and net debt/EBITDA at 2.31.
A 54-year streak shows how committed management is to the dividend. It guarantees nothing. I would stop buying if cash conversion fell well short of the 80% target while North American snacks kept shrinking. That combination would mean the dividend was growing faster than the business behind it. So far, international growth is making up the difference. Management also says “a category that was negative in volume now is positive in volume.” Fifty-plus years of raises puts PepsiCo in the Dividend Kings club, and we ranked our ten favorites at today’s valuations in a free report here.
What Keeps Me Buying From Here PepsiCo plans about $8.9B in total cash returns to shareholders in 2026. It also has a new $10B buyback authorization that runs through February 28, 2030. A falling share price and a rising dividend let me buy more income with each dollar. I plan to keep reinvesting those quarterly checks for years to come.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Elon Musk potvrdil, že Terafab budou jeho firmy stavět a samostatně provozovat; Intel zůstává partnerem projektu. TSMC si může případně pronajmout pouze část areálu.
Intel INTC shares showed signs of an early recovery in premarket trading Wednesday, rising 0.3% before the opening bell after falling 2% Monday and 3% Friday.
The move followed Elon Musk's clarification that his business empire plans to build and operate the Terafab chipmaking project independently.
The statement eases pressure on Intel amid speculation that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) could take an operational role in the venture.
Intel also confirmed that the partnership with Musk remains intact.
Based in Texas, Terafab is Musk’s effort to enter the semiconductor manufacturing business to supply chips for his companies Tesla Inc. and SpaceXAI.
Musk had recently said he was in discussions with TSMC, prompting speculation that the Taiwanese chipmaker could become involved in running the planned facilities.
Musk, who recently turned trillionaire again, clarified Wednesday that discussions with TSMC were limited to the possibility of the company leasing part of the planned Terafab site.
No, we will build and run the fab. Let there be ZERO doubt about that. Maybe TSMC subleases part of the Terafab if they want, but nothing more than that.
“Maybe TSMC subleases part of the Terafab if they want, but nothing more than that,” Musk said in a response to a video posted on his social network, X.
US chipmaker Intel Corp. is helping Musk’s companies develop the technology that will go inside the Terafab facility.
The project is expected to supply advanced semiconductors for Musk’s business empire, including Tesla’s carmaking and robotics operations and the consolidated SpaceXAI, which includes spacefaring technology and the xAI group developing Grok.
Musk stressed Wednesday that his companies would “build and run the fab.”
His clarification followed earlier comments confirming that TSMC was in discussions about participating in Terafab.
Musk had responded on Saturday to a report from the Asian technology Substack Culpium that TSMC was exploring ways to help operate the planned factories.
Elon Musk
@elonmusk
Just discussions, but something may come of it
“In discussions, but something may come of it,” Musk posted on X on Saturday in response to the report.
Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan's reassurance on Wednesday also helped as he told Bloomberg that the chipmaker would remain involved in Terafab.
The possibility of TSMC taking a larger role had raised questions over whether Intel would remain the sole or primary manufacturing partner for a project that has become an important part of the investment case for the company’s stock.
Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer said one possibility would be “TSMC owning and running a fab that serves only Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, while SpaceX invests or commits to volume,” according to a note to clients published Monday.
Musk later indicated that any chips produced by TSMC would likely supplement rather than replace chips supplied by Intel.
The prospect of another major chipmaker becoming involved in Terafab had complicated expectations around Intel’s role in the project.
D.A. Davidson managing director Gil Luria said enthusiasm around Terafab has been a major catalyst behind the “dramatic ascent” of Intel’s stock this year.
The stock has surged about 200% so far this year.
“If it turns out Intel does not participate, or is only one fab technology provider, investors may reconsider the credit they gave Intel,” Luria told MarketWatch.
Luria also said the possibility of working with another manufacturer could be viewed “as a lack of confidence in trusting the future of his important endeavor to Intel alone.”
Musk’s latest comments and reassurance from Intel indicate that TSMC could potentially have a limited presence at the Terafab site.
Shares of Intel Corporation (INTC +0.98%) rallied 34.3% in September, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Though Intel stock is up significantly for the year, it entered September well below its all-time high set in June. After exceeding $140 per share that month, Intel's stock fell to the mid-$80 range by the end of August.
Due for a rally, Intel stock was propelled higher by several news items. These mainly centered on the growing importance of server CPUs for agentic AI applications. A potential collaboration with memory giant SK Hynix (SKHY -1.40%) also contributed.
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Intel to hike prices as Meta Muse boosts CPUs Early in September, DigiTimes reported that Intel will raise PC CPU prices by 10% this month. Intel has been transitioning its capacity toward server CPUs this year, and away from PC chips. With agentic AI taking off, demand for server CPUs has skyrocketed because it is much more CPU-intensive than initial chatbot-style generative AI. With Intel reducing its supply of PC chips, it appears Intel still feels it can raise prices due to the shortage. That's a good sign that demand for Intel chips remains strong.
The focus on CPUs only grew with the introduction of Meta Platforms' (META -2.01%) Muse personal AI agent on Sept. 8. Muse was very well-received when it was unveiled, and investors became excited about its growth prospects. Each Muse agent has its own dedicated virtual machine, security parameters, and browser, so each agent requires its own CPU.
While it appears that Muse primarily uses Advanced Micro Devices CPUs for now, Muse should still boost overall demand for server CPUs, which are in short supply. Furthermore, Muse likely won't be the only AI agent on the market, and it served as a proof point for CPU-intensive AI tasks.
Further cementing this demand story, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan was interviewed shortly after Muse's introduction last month, and told the interviewer that Intel could only support about half of what its customers were requesting for server CPUs.
In addition to the outsize demand for its bread-and-butter CPU products, Reuters reported toward the end of the month that Intel was collaborating with Korean memory giant SK Hynix, potentially at Intel's new Ohio campus. SK Hynix is the leader in HBM, a crucial technology for AI.
While the talks were deemed "exploratory," the report augmented rumors that first circulated in August that Intel had been chosen to produce "base dies" for SK Hynix's high bandwidth memory (HBM).
Intel had already hired former SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee back in June to head Intel Foundry's advanced packaging and system integration division. Thus, the September report seemed to confirm that something more concrete is happening between the two companies .
Image source: Getty Images.
Get ready for earnings Intel remains a controversial stock. While the company still has its skeptics, it has also blown away its revenue and earnings estimates each of the last couple of quarters.
Will the turnaround continue? Investors will find out when the company reports third-quarter earnings on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have positions in Intel, Meta Platforms, and SK Hynix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Intel has already left the S&P 500 in the dust, and Jim Cramer is doubling down on its CPU business just as analysts debate whether the market has gotten ahead of the facts.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) trades at $112.50. Jim Cramer’s view that its CPU business is coming back now has hard numbers behind it, after a 204.88% year-to-date run.
Intel designs the x86 processors inside most PCs and many data center servers. It also runs its own chip factories (a foundry network). Cramer has argued that Wall Street is rotating toward companies that supply AI tools, and he named Intel as one that benefits from the spending cycle (Cramer comments). Intel’s own results support that view. AI-driven businesses grew greater than 70% and made up approximately 70% of revenue last quarter.
Server CPU Shortage Hands Intel Its Best Growth in 15 Years Q2 revenue rose 25.4% to $16.13 billion, beating the $14.45 billion estimate. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42 against a $0.22 consensus. Data Center and AI revenue climbed 59% to $6.26 billion. Management said “strong demand for our products continues to outpace our growing supply.”
Optimists argue that AI agents need general-purpose CPUs. Intel put the CPU-to-GPU ratio at “almost in parity”. The factories are performing too: 18A output ran approximately 25% above target. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) invested $5.0 billion and SoftBank invested $2.0 billion. The PEG ratio stands at 0.501.
Foundry Losses and a 63x Multiple Raise the Stakes Bears point to a GAAP loss of $2.16 per share, driven by a $12.53 billion CHIPS Act escrow charge. Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion while bringing in just $293 million from outside customers. The stock commands a forward earnings multiple of 63.
Spending is also rising fast. Capex will top $20 billion this year and climb significantly in 2027. Intel expects the PC market to fall low double digits percent in 2026. With a beta of 2.23, any stumble would hit the stock hard.
Why Most Analysts Are Waiting on 14A Customers The market may have already priced in the return. Q3 EPS guidance of $0.38 trails Q2. No external 18A or 14A customers have been named yet. Risk production on 14A is set for the second half of 2027. If named foundry customers sign on, the optimistic story strengthens. If Foundry losses grow, the pessimistic story strengthens.
Intel Has Left the S&P 500 Far Behind Intel currently trades at $112.50. The consensus target stands at $116.37, suggesting 3.44% of upside. Targets are estimates. Of 49 analysts:
Strong Buy: 1 Buy: 14 Hold: 32 Sell: 1 Strong Sell: 1 Over the past year, Intel climbed 207.46% as the S&P 500 rose 16.01%. Last week, Intel slipped 2.96% as the index added 1.95%. CNBC’s Josh Brown said Intel “never gave you a reason to doubt.”
Supply Growth Is the Key Test for Cramer’s CPU Call At $112.50, the optimistic thesis rests on supply growth.
Intel expects supply to rise toward the end of Q3 and into Q4, especially for servers. The main limit on growth is capacity, and customer demand remains strong. Each new wafer that goes to data center CPUs has about a 40% operating margin. Intel also expects its ASIC business to grow from a $2 billion run rate to $4 billion, which adds a second engine.
The next earnings report needs to show margins near the 42.0% guide. After that, a named 14A customer would be the biggest driver. The argument falls apart if Intel delays 14A, if Foundry losses grow again, or if memory shortages cut into server shipments.
The beta of 2.23 points to sharp drops along the way. Even so, Intel is selling every server CPU it can make, and that is strong support for Cramer’s CPU return call.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
American Express vyplatí 10. listopadu dividendu 0,95 USD na akcii akcionářům evidovaným k 9. říjnu; vedení očekává ve fiskálním roce 2026 růst tržeb o 10 %.
American Express (AXP -0.83%) has been a staple of Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKA -0.02%) (BRKB -0.12%) portfolio for decades -- with Warren Buffett essentially completing purchases of the stock by 1995. Buffett's hand-picked successor -- Greg Abel -- expects American Express to remain a long-term compounder and a core Berkshire holding because it's a business Berkshire understands well and trusts its management team.
American Express also features a growing dividend. It doesn't raise it every year, but even during the 2008 financial crisis, when many banks and financial services companies were slashing their payouts, American Express held its quarterly dividend steady at $0.18 per share.
American Express has substantially increased its dividend since then. The next payment of $0.95 per share is payable on Nov. 10 to shareholders on record as of Oct. 9.
Here's how many shares of American Express you'd need to generate $1,000 in yearly dividends, and the three levers American Express pulls to reward long-term shareholders.
Image source: Getty Images.
American Express is down 18.2% in 2026 Buying and holding a stock for decades takes steadfast dedication, patience, and the ability to endure drawdowns. American Express is currently in a fairly steep sell-off -- down 18.2% year-to-date compared to a 2.4% decline in the financial sector and a 12.8% increase in the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.65%).
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The sell-off has pushed American Express's dividend yield up to 1.3% -- which isn't high-yield territory, but it is greater than the S&P 500 dividend yield of 1.1%.
With a quarterly dividend of $0.95 per share, investors would need to own about 263 American Express shares to generate $1,000 in annual dividends. That's no small feat, as American Express is $302.78 per share at the time of this writing -- making a 263-share position worth a whopping $79,631.
The good news is that investors can expect the yield on that initial investment to increase substantially over time, thanks to American Express's loyal customer base and excellent business model.
American Express has greater growth potential than Visa and Mastercard American Express operates a closed-loop network in which it issues cards and bears the credit risk, unlike open-loop networks operated by Visa (V +0.33%) and Mastercard (MA +0.69%), which partner with financial institutions to issue cards. Visa and Mastercard tend to have higher margins than American Express, but they also have fewer opportunities for growth.
American Express has a closer relationship with its customers, which can reduce switching costs. American Express caters to an affluent customer base, and its cards charge relatively high annual fees. But American Express also rewards customers with generous perks and points, which incentivize customers to use their American Express cards for as many purchases as possible – thereby boosting American Express's swipe fees.
American Express has a track record for managing risk, with very low net write-off rates and delinquencies. And because it issues cards and other products, such as personal banking and loans, it collects revenue from interest on outstanding balances.
American Express's sales and earnings have grown in lockstep with its expanding customer base and services. However, its margins have been declining due to higher operating costs, particularly those associated with its cardholder benefits.
AXP Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
Aside from falling margins, another reason American Express has been under pressure is concerns about declining consumer spending. American Express's affluent customer base tends to be more resistant to inflationary pressures on expenses like gas and food. But if artificial intelligence (AI) disrupts the high-paying job market in a big way, that could have ripple effects on American Express.
American Express's payout ratio is just 21.5% The good news is that American Express's fundamentals show no signs of deteriorating. Management is guiding for a 10% increase in fiscal 2026 revenue and even faster earnings growth.
American Express's payout ratio is just 21.5% becasue it consistently grows its earnings and makes affordable dividend raises. For a company of its caliber, a payout ratio between 50% and 75% would be healthy. The payout ratio is the dividend per share divided by earnings per share (EPS), which provides a yardstick for measuring dividend affordability.
AXP data by YCharts
As you can see in the chart, American Express has drastically reduced its share count through buybacks, raised its dividend, and seen its stock price compound significantly over time. Through multiple recessions, American Express's dividend has remained affordable -- even during the financial crisis.
In sum, American Express rewards investors in three ways -- with growing earnings that can justify a rising stock price if the investment thesis remains intact, through stock buybacks that reduce the share count and accelerate EPS growth, and through a growing quarterly dividend that provides a passive income stream for shareholders.
An unassuming passive income powerhouse American Express may not have a high current yield, but investors who buy the stock can expect their yield on cost to rise over time, driven by American Express's dividend increases. Berkshire Hathaway's American Express position showcases this concept well. As of Dec. 31, 2025, Berkshire's cost basis was just $1.287 billion, its market value was $56.09 billion, and it generated $479 million in dividends for Berkshire Hathaway in 2025 -- a yield on cost of 37.2%.
Given that American Express is a more mature company today than in the 1990s, investors shouldn't expect it to be a 40-bagger as it has been for Berkshire. But its affordable dividend and long-term runway for earnings growth make American Express an excellent buy for investors looking to anchor their portfolios with a high-quality blue chip dividend stock.
The Pfizer logo in New York City, U.S., August 25, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesROME, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Pfizer (PFE.N), opens new tab will cut around 330 jobs in Italy at its Sicily plant, labour unions said on Wednesday, making the US drugmaker the latest international company downsizing its Italian operations.
Talks in Rome between Pfizer and Italy's industry ministry late on Tuesday did not yield results, the CGIL, CISL and UIL unions said in a statement.
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Pfizer's Sicily plant currently has 550 employees, unions said.
Pfizer was not immediately available for comment.
Italy's industry ministry said "the points raised during the meeting serve as a starting point for strengthening the dialogue," adding that industry minister Adolfo Urso would visit the plant on October 23.
Further talks between Pfizer and the ministry are scheduled for November 10, the ministry added.
Earlier this week, appliance maker Electrolux (ELUXb.ST), opens new tab presented a scaled-down restructuring plan for its Italian operations, with around 1,250 jobs now expected to be made redundant.
Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson (ERICb.ST), opens new tab also said on Monday that, following talks with the ministry, a collective layoff of 131 workers in Genoa would be dropped in favour of a voluntary restructuring plan.
Reporting by Anna Uras; Editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Joe Bavier
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Cisco představilo pro Webex funkce AI agentů, včetně Claude Managed Agents, a platformu Dialog, která má AI agentům umožnit řešit zákaznické požadavky i po skončení konverzace.
New updates bring people, digital teammates, and enterprise context together across work, workplaces and customer experience
News Summary
Cisco evolves Webex to empower digital teammates and people to work seamlessly across collaboration to understand what matters and move work forward. Teams will benefit from Claude in Webex to analyze data, generate content, and execute work using shared enterprise context, all without leaving Webex, built with Claude Managed Agents. Intelligent Workplace Experiences unify secure networking, collaboration technology, and physical spaces to create more engaging and inclusive experiences for people in the workplace. Dialog, an all-new agentic harness for the Webex AI Agent platform, turns fragmented interactions into continuous customer relationships and works on their behalf until issues are resolved. , /PRNewswire/ -- WebexOne 2026 -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today introduced agentic collaboration innovations that transform how people and agents work together. This approach addresses three connected dimensions of work for the AI era: how people work, how the workplace adapts, and how businesses engage with customers.
Organizations face a critical challenge: as the workforce evolves, teams need a way to unlock the potential of digital teammates, while maximizing the impact of work that requires the human touch. Cisco is uniting conversations, physical workspaces, and customer touchpoints into shared context. This transforms AI from reactive chatbots into digital teammates that drive complex work forward.
"The next era of work isn't about bolting chatbots onto yesterday's tools," said Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. "It's about AI agents working alongside people and teams, being deeply embedded in their workspaces, and collaborating on a secure, trusted foundation. When people and agents share the same context, work keeps moving and every customer relationship gets stronger."
The New Webex: Built for People and AI Agents Working Together
Cisco is moving enterprise AI beyond reactive, prompt-based assistants into proactive digital teammates that participate directly in the flow of work. New capabilities include:
Claude Managed Agents | intelligent teammates and multi-step actions in Webex: Soon, turn shared team context into deeper analysis, strategic recommendations, and coordinated action across approved agents. New AI agents that work alongside teams: Collaborative AI agents can be invited directly into spaces, meetings, and calls to execute complex, multi-step work across Webex and third-party applications. For example, a team member can @mention an analytics agent in a Webex space to pull usage statistics, then ask a presentation agent to update a PowerPoint deck to reflect those numbers. OpenAI dots | rich context and personal intelligence: The Webex Suite Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration brings Webex context directly into dots. In the future, dots will also be available within Webex as an always-on personal agent. Built for enterprise trust: Cisco brings identity, security, governance and visibility together so organizations can control what AI can access, what it can do and how it acts. A New Workplace for the AI Era
To support the vital moments of the agentic era that require the human touch—critical judgment, strategic alignment, and relationship-building—today's workplace must become an intelligent ecosystem that senses, reasons, and acts. Through Intelligent Workplace Experiences, Cisco is unifying secure networking, collaboration devices, digital experience assurance and physical spaces into a single architecture. Managed through Cisco Cloud Control, this foundation enables organizations to create flawless in-office environments, streamline IT operations, and unlock actionable insights to drive efficiency across physical spaces and technology. New innovations include:
Visual planning for IT and facilities: Workplace Designer extends Cisco's visual planning experience from individual rooms to the entire workplace, spanning networking, collaboration and workplace intelligence. It can, for example, turn a street address into a tailored blueprint to help teams align decisions and prepare for deployment, resulting in a simpler and better employee experience. Pinpoint and resolve workplace disruptions faster: Extending Experience Metrics into the workplace helps IT move beyond simple connectivity alerts to reveal exactly where issues occur and how they affect employees. By correlating network and device assurance with floor plans, Wi-Fi coverage, and occupancy, IT teams can prioritize and troubleshoot issues based on business impact, remediate problems faster, and ensure reliable workplace experiences. Optimize space and capacity planning: Workplace Insights in Cisco Cloud Control delivers a clear, unified view of how physical offices are utilized across locations and floors. By tracking activity patterns over time and comparing booked spaces against real-world occupancy, it empowers workplace leaders to move beyond isolated snapshots, right-size real estate investments, and adapt environments to how people collaborate every day. Cisco is also introducing RoomOS 27, the operating system for Collaboration Devices. Built for a new era of AI in physical spaces, RoomOS 27 advances the workplace experience across AI, platform choice, and intelligent management—helping spaces understand context, adapt to what's happening and increasingly take action, including:
Comprehensive interoperability: Through a new partnership with Google, Cisco devices now offer support for fully featured Google Meet natively, joining Webex, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom — making Cisco the most open collaboration hardware on the market. This gives customers complete freedom to choose their preferred meeting and AI environments, while retaining Cisco device intelligence and management. Advanced AI at the edge: The new Cisco AI Assistant on Collaboration Devices brings natural-language interaction to the room. With greater intelligence, AI Assistant can now engage in 32 languages. A prompt that the room is too warm, for example, automatically results in adjusting the temperature and lowering the blinds. Intelligent workplace management: Optimize workspaces with new intelligence in RoomOS 27 and Cisco Cloud Control. Workspace Advisor, Smart Room Assurance, Divisible Rooms, Splunk and agent integrations give IT greater visibility into how spaces are used with new ways to investigate, operate and continuously improve them at scale. Available in November, RoomOS 27 brings intelligence to where work happens—making the workplace more natural for people and easier for IT to secure, manage and improve.
Cisco Ceiling Speaker Pro completes Cisco's vision for fully integrated, IP-connected meeting spaces, ensuring every voice is heard clearly and naturally no matter where people join from. It integrates into the same intelligent system as Cisco cameras, microphones, and room devices, using AI to adapt audio across the space so even quiet voices carry naturally. Connected directly from the network to central management, Ceiling Speaker Pro replaces complex, multi-vendor audio setups with a single Ethernet cable that is simple to deploy and scale.
A New Approach to Customer Relationships
Customer experience today is constrained by treating engagements as isolated, atomic interactions. Advances in agentic AI now make it possible to connect interactions across customer journeys, systems and time into a single, continuous relationship. To help organizations evolve from an interaction-based approach to a relationship-based approach, Cisco is introducing Dialog, an agentic harness that enables personalized, long lasting customer relationships. New capabilities in Dialog include:
Long-horizon execution: Agents keep working on the customer's behalf after a conversation ends, coordinating across people, agents, and backend systems until the desired outcome is achieved. Persistent relationship context: Unifies customer history with enterprise data to maintain continuous context across all channels and time, powering absolute personalization at scale. Self-learning with every interaction: Continuously refines agent performance with every interaction, learning from customer journeys and human agent judgment while adhering to enterprise policy. Rapid onboarding: Enables organizations to onboard AI agents like new teammates, indexing existing employee handbooks, knowledge bases, and operating procedures. To ensure enterprise trust and scale, Webex AI Agents operate within active safety guardrails from Cisco AI Defense, with live telemetry and operational observability powered by Splunk.
Bringing It All Together
Cisco brings together collaboration, networking, workplace intelligence, customer experience, security, and observability on one integrated foundation. Together with Connected Intelligence, this foundation turns fragmented context into coordinated action across work, workplaces, and customer experiences.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based on limited information currently available to Cisco, which is subject to change, and Cisco will not necessarily update the information.
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry-leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.
IBM zavedl možnost lokálního nasazení platformy IBM Bob v on-premises, privátních, suverénních i izolovaných prostředích, aby podnikům umožnil vývoj s AI při lepší kontrole nad citlivými daty.
Key Takeaways IBM adds self-hosted Bob deployments for on-premises, private-cloud, sovereign-cloud and air-gapped systems.IBM's AI and hybrid cloud strategy targets rising demand for secure modernization and governed AI adoption.IBM faces margin pressure, cloud competition and a threat from Anthropic. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM - Free Report) introduced a self-hosted deployment option for IBM Bob, its agentic software development platform. The strategic move is aimed at helping enterprises adopt AI-powered software development and modernization tools while retaining greater control over sensitive data, source code and development environments. The offering can be deployed across on-premises, private-cloud, sovereign-cloud and air-gapped infrastructure, making it particularly relevant for organizations with stringent security, regulatory and data-residency requirements.
The expanded deployment flexibility should strengthen IBM’s position in the enterprise AI market, particularly across highly regulated industries where governance and data sovereignty remain key considerations. By enabling customers to run supported AI models within controlled environments or connect to external models through hybrid configurations, IBM is seeking to address growing enterprise demand for secure and governed AI adoption.
The latest enhancement complements IBM’s broader hybrid cloud and AI strategy. Rising demand for AI-driven application modernization, coupled with enterprises’ increasing focus on security and compliance, could drive the adoption of IBM Bob and support the company’s software growth prospects.
AI Propels IBMIBM’s watsonx platform is likely to be the core technology platform for its AI capabilities. watsonx delivers the value of foundational models to the enterprise, enabling them to be more productive. This enterprise-ready AI and data platform comprises three products to help organizations accelerate and scale AI: the watsonx.ai studio for new foundation models, generative AI and machine learning, the watsonx.data fit-for-purpose data store built on an open lakehouse architecture and the watsonx.governance toolkit to help enable AI workflows to be built with responsibility and transparency.
Healthy Hybrid Cloud Growth DynamicsIn addition to AI, IBM is likely to benefit from solid demand trends for hybrid cloud. With a surge in traditional cloud-native workloads and associated applications, along with a rise in generative AI deployment, there is a radical expansion in the number of cloud workloads that enterprises are currently managing. This has resulted in heterogeneous, dynamic and complex infrastructure strategies, which have led firms to undertake a cloud-agnostic and interoperable approach to highly secure multi-cloud management, translating into a healthy demand for IBM hybrid cloud solutions.
The buyout of HashiCorp has significantly augmented IBM’s capabilities to assist enterprises in managing complex cloud environments. HashiCorp’s toolsets complement IBM RedHat’s portfolio, bringing additional functionalities for cloud infrastructure management and bolstering its hybrid multi-cloud approach.
Price PerformanceIBM has plummeted 23.6% over the past year against the industry’s growth of whopping 155.8%, lagging peers like Microsoft Corporation (MSFT - Free Report) and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) . Amazon has risen 13.8% and Microsoft has inched up 0.9% over this period.
One-Year IBM Stock Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Revision TrendIBM is currently witnessing an uptrend in estimate revisions. Earnings estimates for IBM for 2026 have moved up 2.5% to $12.33 over the past year, while the same for 2027 has increased 3% to $13.19. The positive estimate revision portrays bullish sentiment about the stock’s growth potential.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stiff Competition, Price Wars Hurt IBMDespite solid hybrid cloud and AI traction, IBM is facing stiff competition from Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Increasing pricing pressure is eroding margins, and profitability has trended down over the years, barring occasional spikes. Weaknesses in its traditional business and foreign exchange volatility remain a significant concern.
The company faces a potent threat from AI firm Anthropic as the latter’s Claude Code tool can modernize legacy COBOL systems — a foundational programming language deeply embedded in IBM’s mainframe ecosystem. With Claude Code proposing to substantially automate code exploration, documentation, refactoring and security analysis, it threatens to reduce enterprises’ reliance on specialized legacy service providers like IBM, putting its sustenance at stake.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteWith solid fundamentals and healthy revenue-generating potential, IBM is likely to benefit from increasing client demands to modernize core systems, redesign workflows and extract more value from huge troves of data. A strong emphasis on hybrid cloud and an AI focus is driving value for customers. The stock is witnessing a positive investor perception on improving earnings estimates.
However, IBM’s growth is dented by high operating costs and stiff competition that reduce its profitability. The company faces a potent threat from Anthropic and needs to fine-tune its business model to remain competitive.
IBM currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Consequently, new investors can be better off if they trade with caution.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned Wednesday it would be “unwise” of the US to impose a ban on diesel exports, saying such a policy could actually make the global energy crisis worse.
The comments came after President Trump recently ruled out such a ban, though he threatened one last month. The commander-in-chief said the measure was not necessary after European countries heeded his demands to release fuel from their reserves.
“Export bans, be they in the US or in other countries, actually take supply off the global market and they run the risk of making the situation worse,” Wirth told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe.”
“The US has been a reliable supplier to the world at a time when it needs it,” he said. “And I think it would be unwise for the US to create questions in the minds of our allies and our partners as to whether or not we will be there with reliable supply when times are difficult.”
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth (above) on Wednesday called President Trump’s proposed diesel export ban “unwise.” Bloomberg via Getty Images Trump previously said he was “very seriously” considering a ban on diesel exports from the US — the world’s biggest supplier of the substance — in a bid to lower prices ahead of the November midterm elections.
Such a ban could immediately reduce US prices by 30 or 40 cents a gallon, but the relief would be short-lived, according to Joe Adamski, managing director of ProcureAbility, a supply chain consultancy. As the US market becomes flooded with supply, producers would start losing money and move their distillate refineries elsewhere, he said.
Trump took the ban off the table on Friday, after Europe agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil. The president also signed an executive order this week allowing a more widespread use of tax-exempt diesel.
“Europe has a lot of diesel, and they’re going to be making a major world contribution, and so are we,” Trump was quoted as saying by Politico. “And we’re not going to be doing the export ban.”
Brent crude oil rose 2% to $102.55 a barrel Wednesday as traders grew concerned about dwindling reserves amid fresh Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and storm-related production shutdowns off the US Gulf Coast.
Asked whether global crude inventories are fragile ahead of the winter season, Wirth described it as a “very serious” situation.
“We came into this year with high inventories. High inventories in commercial stocks held by companies, high inventories in strategic stocks held by governments around the world and actually significant inventories on the water, particularly barrels that were sanctioned by the US or the EU,” the exec said.
President Trump (above) previously said he was “very seriously” considering a ban on US diesel exports. Bonnie Cash / Pool via CNP / SplashNews.com “Over the last several months, we’ve seen commercial inventories draw down, strategic stocks be released and those sanctioned barrels have been relieved and allowed to be delivered, as well.
“Those are all buffers in the system that have bought us time, but they’ve been drained. And so, we’re at much lower levels of inventory right now and it makes the system more vulnerable to disruption.”
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve now stands at roughly 283 million barrels, its lowest level since the 1980s, after a coordinated global release of 400 million barrels earlier this year.
Wirth also said Venezuela will play a key role in the oil giant’s long-term strategy.
Gasoline and diesel prices have soared amid the war in Iran. ZUMAPRESS.com Last month, Chevron vowed to more than double its production in the country over the next five years, a major win for the Trump administration after its capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January.
A $7 billion investment in Venezuela will allow the company to increase production to 600,000 barrels a day by 2031, up from roughly 280,000 barrels per day.
“Longer term, I think Venezuela can be part of a more secure energy system. Venezuela is coming off a relatively low starting point – there has not been much investment in the country,” Wirth said.
“We have a good position there that we intend to grow, but that takes time and the amount of production that Venezuela can add over the next short period of time is dwarfed by the amount that is at risk in the Middle East.”
Shares in Chevron are up 33% so far this year. In July, the energy giant reported its highest quarterly profits in six years, beating Wall Street estimates on soaring crude oil prices.
Key Takeaways Phillips 66's 2026 and 2027 earnings estimates rose 36.5% and 50.4%, respectively.PSX's adjusted refining earnings reached $3.29B in the first half, while utilization remained high at 96%.Phillips 66 cut net debt to $16.5B and returned $1.67B to shareholders in the first half. Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) operates across Refining, Midstream, Chemicals, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels, giving the company exposure to multiple parts of the downstream energy value chain. The company’s refining business processes crude oil and other feedstocks into transportation fuels and related products, while Midstream transports, stores and processes crude oil, refined products, natural gas and natural gas liquids.
PSX also markets gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and lubricants through branded and unbranded channels, including Phillips 66, Conoco, 76 and JET. The downstream commercial organization ties these businesses together by sourcing feedstocks and moving crude oil, fuels, NGLs, chemicals and renewable feedstocks through pipeline, rail, truck and marine networks.
Estimate Revisions Signal a Stronger Earnings OutlookAnalyst earnings expectations for Phillips 66 have increased sharply over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has increased to $29.01 per share from $22.63 per share, while the 2027 estimate has risen to $29.79 per share from $20.60 per share. These revisions represent increases of 28.2% and 44.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The upward trend reflects greater confidence in PSX’s earnings potential over the next two years. For the refining and marketing sector, such revisions typically imply expectations for a supportive operating backdrop, including favorable refining margins, high utilization, resilient fuel demand and steady marketing performance. The scale of the revisions also suggests that analysts increasingly expect PSX’s recent operating improvement to extend beyond a single quarter.
Factors That Bode Well for PSXEarnings & Cash Flow Accelerate: Phillips 66 delivered a substantial improvement in first-half 2026 results. Net income attributable to PSX increased to $4.05 billion from $1.36 billion a year earlier, while diluted EPS climbed to $10.05 from $3.32. Operating cash flow rose to $5.0 billion from $1.0 billion. This stronger cash generation gives the company greater flexibility to fund growth projects, reduce leverage and return capital to shareholders.
Refining Momentum Remains Strong: Refining was the largest contributor to the first-half earnings recovery. Adjusted refining earnings reached $3.29 billion, up from a $545 million loss a year earlier. In the second quarter, realized refining margin increased to $24.08 per barrel from $10.11 in the first quarter, while crude capacity utilization remained high at 96%. The segment captured 98% of its market share, reflecting better operating performance, yields and commercial execution.
Midstream Adds Stability & Growth: Midstream earnings reached $1.38 billion in the first six months of 2026, supported by higher margins and volumes. Second-quarter NGL fractionation volumes increased to a record 1,020 thousand barrels per day (MBD) from 980 MBD in the first quarter, while NGL pipeline throughput reached 943 MBD. Fractionation capacity exceeds 1 million barrels per day, with average utilization above 100%, strengthening the segment’s contribution to more stable cash flows.
Deleveraging Improves Financial Flexibility: PSX made notable progress on its balance sheet. Total debt fell to $20.6 billion from $27.1 billion at the end of the first quarter, while net debt declined to $16.5 billion from $22.0 billion. The net debt-to-capital ratio improved to 33% from 43%. Lower leverage gives the company more room to balance debt reduction with growth spending and shareholder distributions.
Shareholder Returns Remain Well Supported: During the first six months of 2026, PSX returned $1.67 billion to shareholders through $1.02 billion of dividends and $648 million of share repurchases. Management remains committed to returning more than 50% of operating cash flow, excluding working-capital movements, through dividends and buybacks. Higher cash generation and lower leverage strengthen the company’s capacity to maintain this approach.
Diversification Broadens the Earnings Base: The recovery was not limited to Refining. Adjusted Chemicals earnings reached $489 million, Midstream generated $1.38 billion, Marketing and Specialties delivered $373 million, and Renewable Fuels generated $503 million in the first half. Renewable Fuels moved from a first-quarter loss to second-quarter profitability, underscoring the benefit of PSX’s broader portfolio.
Growth Projects Extend the Runway: PSX continues to invest in future earnings capacity. Dos Picos II reached full production, while the company announced the 300 million cubic feet per day Zeus Gas Plant and a 100 MBD Coastal Bend NGL fractionator. CPChem is also advancing the Golden Triangle Polymers and Ras Laffan Polymers projects, with full operations expected in 2027.
Verdict for PSX StockPhillips 66 is well-positioned to benefit from favorable refining economics, high utilization and broader earnings contributions across Midstream, Chemicals and Renewable Fuels in the near term. At the same time, stronger cash flow and rapid debt reduction improve financial flexibility and support continued shareholder returns. With estimate revisions moving sharply higher and growth projects adding future capacity, this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock has several operating and financial catalysts that are likely to sustain earnings momentum over the coming quarters.
Other Key PicksOther top-ranked stocks in the energy sector include Baker Hughes Company (BKR - Free Report) , Venture Global, Inc. (VG - Free Report) and TechnipFMC plc (FTI - Free Report) . BKR, VG and FTI currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
Baker Hughes provides technologies and services across the energy and industrial value chain, supporting onshore and offshore activities spanning drilling, completions, production and decommissioning. Its portfolio also includes gas technologies, LNG solutions, industrial equipment, digital offerings and aftermarket services. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BKR’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.59 per share, suggesting 7.9% year-over-year growth. The company has delivered an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.4%.
Venture Global develops and operates LNG export facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast, supplying low-cost LNG to global markets through long-term sales agreements. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VG’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.70 per share, suggesting 11.8% year-over-year growth. Venture Global currently has a Growth Score of B and a Value Score of A.
TechnipFMC provides integrated technologies, equipment and services for subsea, offshore and surface energy projects, helping oil and gas producers improve project execution, lower development costs and enhance production. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FTI’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.20 per share, suggesting 1.9% year-over-year growth. TechnipFMC currently has a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B.
Dow uzavřel druhé čtvrtletí s likviditou kolem 14 mld. USD a provozním peněžním tokem ve výši 1,3 mld. USD; významné splatnosti dlouhodobého dluhu ho nečekají až do roku 2029.
Key Takeaways Dow held around $14B in liquidity and generated $1.3B in operating cash in the second quarter.Dow returned $253M through dividends in Q2 with a long-term target of roughly 65% of operating net income.DOW has no substantial long-term debt maturities until 2029, supporting financial flexibility for growth. Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) exited the second quarter with solid liquidity of about $14 billion, including roughly $4 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Dow generated $1.3 billion of cash from operating activities in the quarter.
DOW’s strong balance sheet and substantial cash flows support capital allocation, enabling it to finance its growth investments in higher-value businesses and regions and drive shareholder value while navigating a challenging macroeconomic environment. It remains focused on growth actions in attractive end markets and executing high-return incremental growth projects in cost-advantaged regions, leveraging strong financial health.
Dow returned $1.5 billion to its shareholders through dividends in 2025. In the second quarter of 2026, the company returned $253 million to its shareholders through dividends. Dow has a long-term strategy of returning roughly 65% of its operating net income through dividends and buybacks. It has no substantial long-term debt maturities until 2029.
Looking across the competitive landscape, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB - Free Report) ended the second quarter with $2.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $7.1 billion of available liquidity, providing solid financial flexibility. The company returned $224 million to its shareholders through dividends in the second quarter. As of the second quarter, LyondellBasell generated $3 billion of cash from operating activities over the last 12 months, while cash conversion was 80%, in line with its through-cycle target.
Eastman Chemical Company (EMN - Free Report) ended the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $691 million. Eastman Chemical operating cash flow was $224 million in the second quarter. EMN returned $96 million to its stockholders through dividends in the quarter.
The Zacks Rundown for DOWShares of Dow have gained 24.6% in the past year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s decline of 2.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DOW is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.48, below the industry. It carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOW’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 355.3% and a decline of 32.8%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been trending lower over the past 60 days.
Key Takeaways PKX signs a KRW 1.1 trillion LFP cathode supply deal with SK On through 2029. POSCO is expanding LFP production as demand grows in energy storage systems and AI data centers.PKX is investing in graphite capacity and new processes to strengthen its battery materials business. POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX - Free Report) , through its subsidiary POSCO Future M, has signed a KRW 1.1 trillion contract with SK On to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials from 2027 through 2029. The agreement, signed on Oct. 22, can be extended by two years upon mutual agreement and marks POSCO’s first cathode material supply deal with SK On.
POSCO Expands LFP Cathode BusinessUnder the agreement, POSCO Future M will supply LFP cathode materials to SK On for three years, with the contract extendable by an additional two years upon mutual agreement. The deal follows last month’s long-term agreement to supply 190,000 tons of LFP cathode materials to another Korean battery maker, highlighting the company’s accelerating entry into the LFP market.
POSCO has historically supplied anode materials to SK On. With the latest agreement, it will now provide both cathode and anode materials to SK On. The company also supplies cathode and anode materials to all three major Korean battery makers, broadening its customer base and supporting its long-term growth prospects.
PKX Targets Growing LFP DemandLFP batteries offer lower power output than nickel-based chemistries such as nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) but benefit from lower costs and longer lifespans. Demand for LFP batteries is increasing in energy storage systems (ESS), particularly as electricity requirements rise with the expansion of AI data centers.
To address this growing demand, POSCO is expanding its product portfolio beyond its existing NCM and NCA cathode materials. The company recently completed the conversion of part of its high-nickel cathode production lines at its Pohang plant to manufacture LFP cathode materials. Mass production and supply are expected to begin by the end of 2026.
POSCO has also planned to improve the cost competitiveness and quality of its LFP cathode materials by adopting a new production process using lithium sourced from salt lakes in Argentina.
POSCO Expands Battery Material CapacityBeyond LFP cathode materials, POSCO is pursuing additional investments to strengthen its cathode and anode material businesses. The company signed a KRW 1 trillion long-term supply agreement for synthetic graphite anode materials with a global automaker in March 2026 and plans to invest approximately KRW 357 billion in a new synthetic graphite anode material plant in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, a spherical graphite processing plant is under construction at the Saemangeum National Industrial Complex in Jeonbuk. The facility is expected to begin trial operations in early 2027, followed by completion and full-scale mass production in the second half of 2027.
Per PKX, the initiatives align with POSCO Group’s “Triple-Core” growth strategy, which focuses on industrial resources, strategic resources such as lithium and battery materials, and energy resources. The company aims to leverage its technology, supply-chain capabilities and diversified product portfolio to strengthen its competitiveness.
Price Performance of PKXShares of PKX have risen 20.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s 24.7% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PKX’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksPKX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.
Some better-ranked stocks in the Conglomerates space are Grupo Cibest S.A. (CIB - Free Report) , ITT Inc. (ITT - Free Report) and Griffon Corporation (GFF - Free Report) . CIB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, while both ITT and GFF 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 CIB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $10.87 per share, indicating a 48.7% year-over-year decrease. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 12.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITT’s current-year earnings is pegged at $8.25 per share, indicating a 22.8% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.4%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GFF’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at $5.41 per share. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 6.6%.
Výnos desetiletých amerických státních dluhopisů překročil 5,3 %, což je maximum od roku 2002. Akcie Realty Income klesly od letošních maxim zhruba o 20 %.
The 10-year Treasury yield just hit its highest level since 2002 at over 5.3%. Most investors would assume that rising rates are bad news for REITs like Realty Income (O -0.44%). However, up until more recently, REITs have historically delivered positive returns during periods of rising rates.
Here's a look back at how an investment in Realty Income has historically performed as rates have risen, and what that means for investors today.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The surging 10-year Treasury yieldThe 10-year Treasury yield was below 4% in late February, right before the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. That conflict has caused energy and shipping prices to spike, driving a resurgence in inflation. Add in massive deficit spending and a gigantic debt-funded AI infrastructure investment boom, and the 10-year Treasury rate has risen above 5.3%, its highest level since early April 2002. That's higher than it was during the 2008 financial crisis.
What history says about rates, REITs, and Realty IncomeNareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) reviewed historical REIT return data from 1992 in both rising- and falling-interest rate environments. Contrary to popular belief, REITs have historically posted gains when rates rose (78% of the time). They also gained when they fell (78.1% of the time). The average return for REITs over four quarters during periods of rising interest rates was 19.7%. That was the highest result of the scenarios it studied.
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We saw a similar result from Realty Income the last time the 10-year was this high. From April 2002 through April 2003, Realty Income's stock price rose 10.8%. That compares to a 22.1% decline in the S&P 500.
However, since 2022, REIT performance has generally had an inverse relationship with Treasury yields. As yields rise, REIT stock prices have declined. We saw this in 2022 when the 10-year yield spiked from less than 2% to more than 4% at one point, which put downward pressure on REIT prices, including Realty Income stock:
O data by YCharts
The 2022 pattern seems to be repeatingWhile REITs, including Realty Income, have historically risen as the 10-year Treasury yield has risen, that historical correlation broke down in 2022 because the underlying cause of the rate spike changed. Most of those positive periods included strong economic growth, which drove demand for real estate. As a result, REITs benefited from higher occupancy rates, stronger rent growth, and rising income.
Today, as in 2022, inflation is a major factor. Furthermore, while the economy is growing today, the growth isn't widespread. The biggest driver of economic growth is investment in AI infrastructure, such as data centers. While robust demand for data centers is driving strong occupancy rates and rental growth for these properties, other real estate sectors -- including apartments, offices, and some warehouse markets -- are seeing sluggish growth. That's partly due to inflation -- the same headwind that impacted real estate in 2022. It's likely why Realty Income's stock has followed a similar pattern to that period, with its stock price moving in the opposite direction as the 10-year:
O data by YCharts
A historically attractive investment opportunityShares of Realty Income are currently down about 20% from their highs earlier this year. As a result, the REIT's dividend yield has surged to around 6%. That's a historically attractive level, above its sub-5% long-term average yield over the past decade.
Realty Income's valuation has also become more attractive. It currently expects to generate at least $4.44 per share of adjusted funds from operations. At its recent $54 share price, the REIT trades at just over 12 times free cash flow, implying a free cash flow yield of more than 8%. That's low in today's historically overvalued market.
With the more recent historical pattern repeating, Realty Income is growing more attractiveREITs' stock prices have historically risen when the 10-year yield rises. However, that pattern broke down in 2022 and appears to be repeating this time around. As a result, Realty Income's valuation is falling while its yield is rising. The silver lining here is that investors have an opportunity to buy one of the highest-quality REITs at one of its best values in over a decade. With a fortress-like financial profile and growing private capital funding sources, Realty Income can continue to grow even as rates rise.
Akcie společnosti Realty Income za poslední měsíc klesly o 11,1 %, zatímco index S&P 500 vzrostl o 1,4 %. Zacks jí ponechal hodnocení Zacks Rank #3 (držet).
Realty Income Corp. (O - 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 real estate investment trust have returned -11.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry, to which Realty Income Corp. belongs, has lost 4.5% 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.
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, Realty Income Corp. is expected to post earnings of $1.11 per share, indicating a change of +2.8% 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 $4.42 points to a change of +3.3% 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 $4.59 indicates a change of +3.7% from what Realty Income Corp. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.
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, Realty Income Corp. 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 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 Realty Income Corp., the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.58 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +7.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $6.3 billion and $6.84 billion estimates indicate +9.6% and +8.4% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryRealty Income Corp. reported revenues of $1.55 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +9.7%. EPS of $0.37 for the same period compares with $1.05 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.54 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.69%. The EPS surprise was 0%.
Over the last four quarters, Realty Income Corp. surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time 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.
Realty Income Corp. is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 Realty Income Corp.. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Akcie Duke Energy za poslední měsíc klesly o 4,6 %; konsenzus analytiků pro aktuální čtvrtletí očekává zisk 1,85 USD na akcii, což představuje meziroční nárůst o 2,2 %.
Duke Energy (DUK - 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.
Over the past month, shares of this electric utility have returned -4.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which Duke Energy falls in, has lost 4.2%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
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.
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.
Duke Energy is expected to post earnings of $1.85 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2.2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.1%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.72 points to a change of +6.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $7.16 indicates a change of +6.5% from what Duke Energy 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 Duke Energy.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile 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.
In the case of Duke Energy, the consensus sales estimate of $8.86 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +3.7%. The $33.79 billion and $35.59 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +4.8% and +5.3%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryDuke Energy reported revenues of $7.59 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +1.1%. EPS of $1.43 for the same period compares with $1.25 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.71 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.59%. The EPS surprise was +10.85%.
Over the last four quarters, Duke Energy surpassed consensus EPS estimates three 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.
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.
Duke Energy is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 Duke Energy. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR -0.67%) is one of the most exciting growth stories in artificial intelligence (AI). And despite what looks like a hefty valuation, the stock could have considerable upside over the next five years.
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The company has become one of the premier software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies when it comes to AI. The combination of its Foundry solution with its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) layered on top has turned it into an important AI orchestration layer that is akin to an AI operating system. Palantir's Foundry solution comes from the company's roots as a data gathering and analytics company; it collects data from a wide variety of sources and puts it all into an ontology that connects to an organization's assets and operational workflows. AIP then acts as an important execution layer for third-party AI models with strict guardrails and audit trails. In essence, it helps make AI more useful in the real world by significantly reducing the possibility of costly AI hallucinations.
The success of AIP can be seen in Palantir's numbers. The company's revenue growth has accelerated every quarter for three straight years, led by its strength with U.S. commercial customers. Last quarter, its overall revenue climbed by 93% to $1.94 billion, while its U.S. commercial revenue surged 149% to $764 million. Meanwhile, its U.S. commercial remaining deal value climbed 124% to $6.24 billion. The U.S. government remains Palantir's largest customer, and that business segment's growth has also been rapidly increasing, climbing 90% year over year in Q2 to $809 million.
How strong Palantir's solution is, though, is evident in its performance with existing customers. The company's net revenue retention over the past 12 months for customers that have been with the company for a year or more was an astonishing 157%. This means that among that cohort of established customers, the average client increased its spending on Palantir's services by 57%. A number that high is rare.
Palantir is also good at attracting new customers. Potential clients are brought in to "AI boot camps" where it demonstrates within a week's time how its services can solve actual problems those organizations are facing. This has greatly sped up Palantir sales cycles. Last quarter, it grew its U.S. commercial customer count by a solid 35% year over year and 6% sequentially. Deals are also getting bigger, with a 1.7x increase in U.S. commercial deals over $1 million and a 1.6x increase in deals over $5 million.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Where could Palantir trade in five years? High-gross-margin SaaS companies in growth mode are typically valued using a forward price-to-sales (P/S) metric. The reason for this is that their profits can often be artificially depressed because the costs of acquiring customers are recognized immediately, while the revenues those customers provide are spread out over years.
Analysts currently project that Palantir will generate $53.4 billion in revenue in 2032. However, that's probably at least $1 billion to $2 billion too low, given its pattern of consistently beating expectations, so I will base my calculations on revenue of $55 billion that year. If it's delivering revenue growth in the 25% to 30% range, Palantir's stock could still easily command a 20 times forward P/S multiple at that time. Notably, CrowdStrike is expected to grow its revenue in the mid-20% range and trades at a forward P/S multiple of around 40 times, so this assumption is relatively modest.
A 20 times forward P/S multiple on revenues of $55 billion would give Palantir a market cap of around $1.1 trillion, or a share price of $460. That's about 138% upside from current levels, and assumes some pretty significant multiple compression (down from a 55 times forward P/S multiple today based on 2026 estimates). That would turn a $1000 investment made today into a position worth about $2,380.
If the stock were to trade at a 30 times forward P/S multiple, Palantir would have a $1.65 trillion market cap, or a $688 stock price, good for a 256% gain. That $1000 initial investment would then be worth about $3,560.
So while Palantir may look pricey today, the stock could still have a lot of upside from here.
Pinterest (PINS - 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 digital pinboard and shopping tool company have returned -0.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Pinterest falls in, has gained 9%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
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.
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.
Pinterest is expected to post earnings of $0.50 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +31.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $2.06 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +28.8%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.35 indicates a change of +14.2% from what Pinterest is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.4%.
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, Pinterest is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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 Pinterest, the consensus sales estimate of $1.2 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +14.4%. The $4.89 billion and $5.54 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +15.9% and +13.2%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPinterest reported revenues of $1.18 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +18.2%. EPS of $0.43 for the same period compares with $0.33 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.39%. The EPS surprise was +19.44%.
Over the last four quarters, Pinterest surpassed consensus EPS estimates three 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.
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.
Pinterest is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 Pinterest. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
Micron zaplatí Netlistu 600 milionů USD během pěti let, čímž urovná patentový spor a získá pětiletou licenci na globální patentové portfolio společnosti Netlist.
A jury handed Netlist a $445 million win against Micron, but collecting that money was another battle entirely. What Netlist ultimately accepted, and why Micron agreed to pay even more, reveals how high the stakes had quietly become.
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Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) agreed on October 5, 2026, to pay Netlist (OTC:NLST) $600 million over five years. That is more than the $445 million jury verdict at the center of their patent fight.
Micron never paid the verdict and was still appealing, so the settlement gives Netlist cash it couldn’t collect.
Why Micron Paid More Than the Verdict A Texas jury found in May 2024 that Micron’s memory modules infringed two Netlist patents, awarding $425 million on one and $20 million on the other. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board later ruled the asserted claims of both unpatentable, and Micron filed notice of appeal in July 2025.
The settlement, announced October 6, releases all pending proceedings and voids the verdict. Micron also gets a five-year license to Netlist’s worldwide portfolio, covering patents an appeal could never reach.
This matters because Netlist asked the International Trade Commission in late September to block imports of Micron chips used in AI systems. An import ban stops product from reaching customers, whereas damages only cost money.
Small Payments for Micron Mean Big Revenue for Netlist In fiscal fourth quarter 2026, Micron posted revenue of $54.23 billion, net income of $37.70 billion, and free cash flow of $33.20 billion. Each $30 million quarterly fee equals about 0.06% of that quarter’s revenue.
Measure Micron Netlist Settlement payments $30 million paid per quarter $120 million received per year Share move on announcement Down 1.73% to $1,045.56 Up 17.88% to $6.66 Netlist’s gain reflects $120 million each year, on trailing revenue of $332.69 million.
Netlist Collects From Two Memory Giants Netlist struck a similar deal with Samsung in August 2026, with $239 million upfront and quarterly fees of up to $32.9 million. Chief executive C.K. Hong said, “The agreement with Micron further validates the value of our AI memory technologies.”
With two licensees paying, Netlist’s income depends less on future verdicts. However, Micron fees stop in 2031, patents age, and fewer unlicensed targets remain.
Why Micron Matters More Micron is capital-intensive and cyclical. Its 87.0% gross margin depends on tight supply, and memory cycles have turned before. Netlist’s revenue comes largely from reselling other makers’ DRAM at thin margins, so most of its value depends on licensing.
Micron has the stronger outlook of the two companies. It guided fiscal first quarter 2027 revenue to $61.5 billion, plus or minus $1.5 billion, with more than 75% of 2027 output already committed. Micron has 26 strategic customer agreements with take-or-pay volumes and $32 billion in customer commitments, which should cushion the next downturn. The main risk is oversupply once new fabs ramp in 2027 and 2028.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Akcie společnosti Micron za uplynulý rok vzrostly o 481,18 % díky poptávce po pamětech pro AI; model pro rok 2031 odhaduje hodnotu investice 5 000 USD na 5 661,50 USD.
Micron just posted 481% gains on AI memory demand, but the real debate is whether new money buys into a cyclical peak or the early innings of a multiyear supercycle. Three scenarios tell very different stories about where a $5,000…
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A $5,000 stake in Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) buys about 4.65 shares at the model’s starting price of $1,074.89. Early Monday the stock traded at $1,066.18. Over the past year the stock gained 481.18% on AI memory demand. So the real question for new money is how much upside remains through 2031.
Base Case: Your $5,000 Could Grow to $5,661.50 by 2031 A $5,000 investment could be worth about $5,661.50 by 2031 under the base case, a total return of 13.23%. That rests on a projected five-year share price of $1,217.05 on October 4, 2031, which works out to 2.52% a year.
Confidence in the model is rated high (0.9). The model’s one-year target is $1,071.04, which it describes as near fair value (-0.4%).
Bull, Base and Bear: Where Your $5,000 Could Land Scenario 2031 Target Price Total Return Annualized Return Value of $5,000 Bull $1,911.44 77.83% 12.2% $8,891.50 Base $1,217.05 13.23% 2.52% $5,661.50 Bear $741.27 -31.04% -7.16% $3,448 Analysts on Wall Street are more upbeat than the model. The consensus analyst target is $1,520.02, and 92% of covering analysts are bullish: 9 Strong Buy, 36 Buy, 3 Hold and 1 Strong Sell. That target has only a 0.3 weight in the model.
It leans heaviest on forward earnings, and it applies a brake because Micron is now a mega-cap stock. At about 6x forward earnings, the market is viewing today’s profits as a cyclical peak. That doubt explains why the expected outcome looks modest.
Three Forces That Could Push Your Stake Higher Contracted Revenue Through 2030 Micron has signed 26 strategic customer agreements. It expects them to account for over 35% of revenue through 2030. Every agreement includes take-or-pay volumes.
Customer financial commitments total $32 billion, and remaining performance obligations are about $150 billion. Contracts like these could help smooth the boom-and-bust swings that have long held down memory stock valuations.
Memory Supply Can’t Keep Up Management expects supply and demand to be “much tighter in calendar 2027 and 2028 than they were in 2026”. It also said Micron does “not have line of sight to when supply and demand will return to balance.” More than 75% of calendar 2027 output is already committed.
Micron is also working with NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) on a custom HBM4E implementation. Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue came in at $54.229B, up 379.27% year over year, with an 87.0% non-GAAP gross margin.
Earnings Estimates Keep Rising and Cash Is Coming Back to Shareholders Consensus EPS for fiscal 2028 is $205.2990, up from $163.3470 90 days ago. Fiscal first-quarter guidance calls for revenue of $61.5B ± $1.5B and EPS of $38.15 ± $1.
Starting December 9, 2026, Micron plans to step up capital returns, and over time it intends to return 100% of excess cash to shareholders, mostly through buybacks. Its net cash stands at $68.3 billion. Chief Executive Sanjay Mehrotra said the agreements “provide added confidence in the durability of Micron’s financial performance.”
Risks That Could Shrink Your $5,000 Memory has always been cyclical. On Monday, Barron’s reported that Micron shares were slipping on fears of a memory-price peak. Analysts disagree sharply about how big earnings will get: fiscal 2028 EPS estimates run from $136.0000 to $335.5000. If AI infrastructure spending cools off, or if new industry capacity comes online faster than expected, pricing could reverse quickly.
Spending is also climbing. Capex hit $30.712B in fiscal 2026, up 93.68%, and management expects higher outlays in fiscal 2027. New fabs take years to ramp, so any delay would push back revenue.
With a beta of 2.22, Micron moves far more than the broader market, so even a stake that ends up near the expected value could take a rough path to get there. The model’s own quarterly base-case path sinks as low as $1,032.52 along the way.
What $5,000 in Micron Could Look Like by 2031 Across the three scenarios, a $5,000 Micron stake ranges from $3,448 in the bear case to $8,891.50 in the bull case, landing at $5,661.50 as the base case.
Contract length and tight supply favor the upside, while the memory cycle is the main threat. Watch HBM pricing and capex discipline in coming earnings reports. The projections here are not investment advice or a guarantee.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
New powder combines 30 grams of high‑quality protein to help build muscle tissue,† 5 grams of creatine monohydrate to support muscle recovery‡* and 3 grams of calcium HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) to help preserve muscle Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 formula provides muscle support in a single daily serving to support muscle health goals—and is available in chocolate and vanilla at major U.S. retailers Muscle-supporting ingredients like creatine and HMB are moving beyond the gym and into mainstream wellness routines as more adults prioritize strength and fitness , /PRNewswire/ -- Muscle support just got simpler. Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the launch of Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support, a protein powder that combines three key ingredients in one product: protein to help build muscle tissue,† creatine to support exercise recovery‡* and HMB to help preserve muscle.
Abbott introduces Ensure® Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support, bringing the benefits of a supplement stack into one scoop Once associated primarily with athletes and bodybuilders, muscle health is gaining wider appeal as a cornerstone of longevity. As more consumers embrace strength training and seek nutritional support to stay active, many find themselves piecing together multiple products to support their muscle health goals. Abbott helps to simplify the supplement "stack" with Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support, bringing three science-backed ingredients together in one convenient powder.
"People are thinking about muscle health differently. It's not just about lifting weights—it's about having the strength to embrace an active lifestyle, achieve personal goals and make the most of everyday moments," said Bridget Cassady, PhD, RDN, LD, dietitian with Abbott. "That's why we're going beyond protein to add creatine and HMB to our new Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support, which brings these science-backed ingredients together in one simple solution."
Meeting the growing interest in muscle health
The growing interest in muscle health and overall strength has fueled awareness of ingredients such as creatine, which are breaking out of the gym and into some unexpected spaces. According to estimates, the global creatine market is projected to reach $4.2 billion by 2030. Researchers are also expanding their focus on creatine beyond athletic performance, investigating its potential role in areas including women's health, cognition and muscle mass and strength in older adults.
To meet this evolving consumer need, Abbott developed Ensure Max Protein 3‑in‑1 Muscle Support, combining three key ingredients with distinct muscle-supporting benefits:
30 grams of protein: The high-quality protein in Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support delivers all the essential amino acids to help build muscle tissue when combined with resistance training* 5 grams of creatine monohydrate: Creatine is a compound that is naturally found in foods like meat and fish and produced by the body. Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 contains creatine monohydrate, one of the most studied forms of the ingredient, to help support muscle strength and power† as well as exercise recovery from and during high-intensity exercise* 3 grams of calcium HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate): HMB is derived from an amino acid, but it is difficult to obtain meaningful amounts through diet alone. Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support contains the studied amount of calcium HMB shown to help preserve muscle tissue by slowing protein breakdown1, 2* Available in chocolate and vanilla, Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support is sold at Walmart and Amazon. This product comes in a 28-ounce powder format with a suggested serving of two scoops mixed with 12 fluid ounces of liquid once daily or added to smoothies, yogurt and oatmeal.
Advancing nutrition for muscle health
The launch reflects both the evolving needs of consumers and Abbott's vision for the future of muscle health: nutrition solutions designed to support both short-term performance goals and long-term health.
Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support combines protein, creatine and HMB in amounts supported by research and is third-party NSF Contents Certified, providing added assurance around quality, purity and label transparency. By bringing these ingredients together in one convenient daily serving, Abbott is making effective muscle health nutrition easier to incorporate into everyday life.
To learn more, visit Ensure.com and follow @Ensure on Instagram and Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Ensure Max 3-in-1 Muscle Support?
Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support is a protein powder that combines three key ingredients in one product: 30 grams of protein to help build muscle tissue,† 5 grams of creatine monohydrate to support exercise recovery‡* and 3 grams of calcium HMB to help preserve muscle. This product comes in a 28-ounce powder format with a suggested serving of two scoops mixed with 12 fluid ounces of liquid once daily.
What does creatine do for exercise performance?
In the context of exercise, creatine helps support performance during activities like lifting, sprinting or other high-intensity training. By helping your muscles maintain energy, it can support the quality of your workouts and help with exercise recovery, both between sets and after more intense sessions, so your muscles are better prepared for your next workout.*
Is creatine safe for adults?
Yes, creatine monohydrate is one of the most studied sports nutrition ingredients and is safe for active adults when used as directed, including long-term. As with any dietary supplement, individuals with underlying medical conditions or who are pregnant or nursing should consult a healthcare professional before use.
Can people taking GLP-1 medications use Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support?
Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support provides 30 grams of high-quality protein to help support muscle health, and research shows that adequate protein intake can help preserve muscle mass during intentional weight loss3. Individuals taking GLP-1 medications should consult a healthcare professional before using the product to determine whether it is appropriate for their individual nutritional needs, medication regimen, and medical history.
Why is Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support only available in a powdered format?
Creatine works best in a dry powder format. When pre-mixed in liquids for extended periods, it can break down into creatinine, a natural byproduct that the body eliminates, and it may also clump over time. Because consumers are already accustomed to using protein and creatine powders, Abbott developed Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support in a convenient powder format.
About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
1 Wilkinson DJ, et al. J Physiol. 2013;591(11):2911-2923.
2 Wilkinson DJ, et al. Clin Nutr. 2018;37(6 Pt A):2068-2075.
3 Kokura Y, et al. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2024;63:417-426. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.06.030. PMID:39002131.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
† When combined with resistance training.
‡ From and during high-intensity exercise.
Thermo Fisher očekává v roce 2026 organický růst tržeb na horní hranici pásma 3–4 %; akvizice mají přispět k tržbám částkou 1,6 miliardy USD a k upravenému EPS 0,32 USD.
Key Takeaways Thermo Fisher is seeing broad-based end-market growth and expects organic revenue growth at 3%-4% in 2026.TMO's acquisitions are expected to add $1.6 billion in revenues and 32 cents to adjusted EPS in 2026.Currency volatility, inflation and geopolitical risks could weigh on Thermo Fisher's results and margins. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO - Free Report) is strengthening growth through innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) investments, customer partnerships and a broad commercial engine. Targeted acquisitions are further broadening its capabilities across attractive scientific and biopharma markets while deepening customer relationships. The company is seeing broad-based end-market growth, supporting stronger organic revenue growth expectations for 2026. Yet Thermo Fisher’s growth faces risks from macroeconomic uncertainty, inflation, geopolitical disruption and unfavorable currency movements.
Over the past year, shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have rallied 21.8% compared with the 6.6% growth of the industry and the S&P 500 composite’s gain of 16.8%.
The renowned medical and laboratory equipment provider has a market capitalization of $250.23 billion. It has an earnings yield of 3.7% compared to the industry’s negative 1.9% yield. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 4.4%.
Let’s take a closer look.
Upsides for TMOGrowth Strategy Looks Promising: Thermo Fisher’s growth strategy is centered on high-impact innovation, trusted customer partnerships and its commercial engine. The company invested $364 million in research and development during the second quarter of 2026, equal to 6.9% of manufacturing revenues. New launches included the Orbitrap Tribrid Apex and Orbitrap Excedion mass spectrometers, the Vanquish Amplify UHPLC system and the PowerFlex Thermal Cycler. Together, these offerings expand analytical capabilities, improve workflow flexibility and enhance reproducibility across research and drug development applications.
Thermo Fisher is also expanding AI capabilities across its software portfolio and using AI within its PPI Business System to improve productivity, quality and customer responsiveness. The company is strengthening customer collaboration through its new U.S. Bioprocess Design Center and a precision health partnership in Singapore that combines Olink proteomics with the Orbitrap Astral platform. The commercial engine supports adoption by linking new technologies with a broad customer base and integrated service offering.
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Strategic Acquisitions to Boost Growth: Thermo Fisher’s acquisition strategy is expanding its capabilities across scientific and biopharma markets while strengthening customer relationships. The Clario acquisition added digital endpoint data solutions for clinical development, exceeded management’s second-quarter expectations and remained on track for integration. The filtration and separation business acquired from Solventum also performed well, broadening Thermo Fisher’s bioproduction offering and expected to generate $125 million of adjusted operating income from revenue and cost synergies by the fifth year after closing.
The company also added U.S. sterile fill-finish capacity through Sanofi’s New Jersey site and strengthened its next-generation proteomics portfolio through Olink. Acquisitions are expected to contribute $1.6 billion of revenues and adjusted EPS of 32 cents in 2026.
Strength in End Markets: Thermo Fisher continues to gain share as customer activity improves across its end markets. In the second quarter of 2026, pharma and biotech delivered mid-single-digit growth, led by bioproduction, clinical research and the research and safety market channel. Academic and government grew in the low single digits, while industrial and applied and diagnostics and healthcare each posted mid-single-digit growth. The improvement was broad-based, with North America growing in the low single digits, and Europe and Asia Pacific advancing in the high single digits. Management now expects organic revenue growth at the upper end of its 3%-4% range for 2026, reflecting better activity and continued execution.
What’s Weighing on TMO Stock?Macroeconomic Risks Persist: Thermo Fisher remains exposed to changes in customer funding, capital spending and global economic conditions. Although second-quarter 2026 activity improved, North America and China grew only in the low single digits, highlighting uneven regional demand and continued sensitivity to academic, government and biotechnology spending. Tariffs, inflation and geopolitical disruption could also raise costs. Management expects 80 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion in 2026, but weaker demand or renewed cost inflation could limit the volume leverage and productivity needed to achieve this target.
Exposure to Foreign Currency: Thermo Fisher’s global operations expose it to currency-related volatility in revenues and earnings. While foreign exchange provided a slight second-quarter revenue benefit, management lowered its expected 2026 revenue benefit to $200 million, $100 million below its prior assumption. Recent rate changes also created a 5-cent second-half adjusted EPS headwind. Continued currency volatility could weigh on reported results as the company expands in Europe and Asia Pacific.
TMO Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has remained constant at $25.13 in the last 30 days.
The consensus estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $47.80 billion, implying 7.3% year-over-year growth.
Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) , Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) and Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) .
Veracyte has an earnings yield of 4.7% against the industry’s negative 1.4% yield. Shares of the company have risen 29% compared with the industry’s 6.6% growth. VCYT’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 41.8%.
VCYT sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Phibro Animal Health, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an earnings yield of 10.2% compared with the industry’s 2.5% yield. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 18.4%. PAHC shares have fallen 2.7% compared with the industry’s 28.7% decline over the past year.
Globus Medical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 6.8% against the industry’s negative 1.7% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 27.9%. GMED shares have rallied 28.9% compared with the industry’s 6.6% growth over the past year.
Key Takeaways RTX outperformed its industry over three months despite a 6% stock decline.Major SM-6 and AMRAAM contracts are supporting RTX's defense production growth.RTX's healthy liquidity supports growth, while its premium valuation may limit near-term upside. RTX Corporation (RTX - Free Report) stock has lost 6% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry’s decline of 13.2%. It also outperformed the broader Zacks Aerospace sector’s decline of 14.5%. However, it underperformed the S&P 500’s return of 3.1% in the same time frame.
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Other industry players, such as Virgin Galactic (SPCE - Free Report) and Embraer (EMBJ - Free Report) , have delivered a similar performance in the past three months. Shares of SPCE and EMBJ have gained 16.2% and 18.9%, respectively, in the said period.
RTX’s stronger performance compared with the broader aerospace and defense industry, along with gains among key peers, could make the stock appealing to investors. However, investors should assess whether RTX’s solid fundamentals and growth prospects can sustain long-term gains. Evaluating its growth drivers, earnings outlook and key risks will be crucial in determining the stock’s potential for further upside.
Tailwinds for RTXRTX continues to strengthen its aerospace and defense operations through large defense contracts, higher missile production and expanded manufacturing capacity. In October 2026, Raytheon secured a five-year contract, with two additional option years, valued at up to $24.4 billion for Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors. The agreement is expected to increase the availability of the critical missile, which supports both offensive strike and missile defense missions for the U.S. Navy.
RTX is also ramping up production of AMRAAM missiles under a five-year contract with two option years, valued at up to $20.7 billion. The agreement supports plans to produce at least 1,900 AMRAAM missiles annually, allowing Raytheon to meet rising demand from the U.S. military and its allies.
Meanwhile, Collins Aerospace is expanding its West Des Moines, IA, manufacturing facility by 14,000 square feet through a multi-million-dollar investment. The expansion will increase production capacity for advanced fuel distribution systems, including components and spare parts, while supporting maintenance, repair and overhaul services. The facility currently ships more than 25,000 engine nozzles each month and serves both commercial and military platforms.
These developments underscore RTX’s focus on expanding production capacity, securing major defense programs and strengthening its manufacturing footprint. Growing demand for SM-6 and AMRAAM missiles, along with increased capacity at Collins Aerospace, could provide meaningful support to RTX’s long-term growth and reinforce its position in the global aerospace and defense market.
Estimates for RTX’s 2026 Sales and EarningsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for RTX’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 8.4%. The consensus estimate for its 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year increase of 14.8%.
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The stock’s annual bottom-line estimates have remained the same over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RTX’s ValuationIn terms of valuation, RTX’s forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) is 2.45X, a premium to the industry average of 2.11X. This suggests that investors will be paying a higher price for the company's expected sales growth compared with its industry average.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Virgin Galactic and Embraer are trading at a discount in comparison with RTX. SPCE’s forward 12-month price-to-sales is 2.09X, while EMBJ’s forward 12-month price-to-sales is 1.47X.
Liquidity Position of RTXRTX has a current ratio of 1.01. The ratio, being more than one, indicates that RTX possesses sufficient capital to pay off its short-term debt obligations.
Its industry peers, Virgin Galactic and Embraer, also maintain current ratios above one. SPCE has a current ratio of 1.62, while EMBJ also holds 1.44.
What Should an Investor Do Now?RTX’s strong defense demand and healthy liquidity position provide a solid foundation for long-term growth. However, the stock’s premium valuation relative to the industry and key peers may limit its near-term upside potential.
Considering these strengths alongside valuation concerns, existing shareholders may consider holding the stock, while prospective investors could wait for a more attractive entry point. Tracking RTX’s earnings growth, valuation and execution will remain important when evaluating a new investment.
RTX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
General Dynamics vyplatí 13. listopadu čtvrtletní dividendu ve výši 1,59 USD na akcii akcionářům evidovaným k 9. říjnu; v tentýž den se akcie začne obchodovat bez nároku na dividendu.
General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD – Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, August 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $1.59 per share by the aerospace company on Friday, November 13th. This represents a $6.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th.
General Dynamics has increased its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 34 years. General Dynamics has a dividend payout ratio of 38.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect General Dynamics to earn $18.61 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $6.36 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 34.2%.
General Dynamics Price Performance Shares of GD stock opened at $331.53 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $89.70 billion, a PE ratio of 20.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $366.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $355.90. General Dynamics has a 12 month low of $306.77 and a 12 month high of $400.00.
General Dynamics (NYSE:GD – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.24 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.96 by $0.28. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.43% and a net margin of 8.18%.The firm had revenue of $14.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $13.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.74 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. General Dynamics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.800-16.900 EPS. Analysts predict that General Dynamics will post 16.99 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Free Report)
General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is an aerospace and defense company that develops and delivers products and services for government and commercial customers. The company operates through four primary business segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies.
Its Aerospace segment designs and manufactures Gulfstream business jets and provides aircraft support services. Marine Systems builds nuclear-powered submarines and surface ships for the U.S. Navy, while Combat Systems produces armored vehicles, combat systems, weapons, and munitions.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than General Dynamics Constellation Energy’s Google Deal Shows Why Nuclear Uprates Matter for AI Lamb Weston’s Turnaround Is Starting to Look Real These 3 Stocks Got the Most Love From Analysts in September Record French Debt Could Create Opportunities for U.S. Market Operators
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Společnost Palo Alto Networks ve fiskálním roce 2026 zvýšila tržby o 24,5 % na 11,48 mld. USD, zatímco ARR bezpečnostních produktů nové generace vzrostlo o 63 % na 9,10 mld. USD.
Palo Alto Networks turned a humble firewall appliance into a sprawling AI security platform, and investors who held through three brutal drawdowns since 2020 found out just how much patience can pay off. But at today's valuation, the next decade…
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From Firewall Boxes to an AI Security Platform Ten years ago, Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW | PANW Price Prediction) was mostly known for one product: the next-generation firewall, a hardware appliance that carried it to an IPO in July 2012.
The turn came after Nikesh Arora became CEO in June 2018. He pushed “platformization,” pulling network security, cloud security (Prisma) and security operations (Cortex) into integrated suites. Acquisitions fed the plan: CyberArk in identity security, Chronosphere in observability and Console in agentic AI. Subscription and support revenue now dominates, at $2.67B of $3.41B in fiscal Q4 2026.
Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $11.48B, up 24.5%, and next-generation security ARR (annual recurring revenue) hit $9.10B, up 63%. Arora said AI is “elevating cybersecurity to the top of the CIO priority list.”
Your $1,000 Became Roughly $15,700 Palo Alto pays no dividend, so these figures come entirely from share price gains. Also, they are adjusted for the 3-for-1 split in 2022 and 2-for-1 split in 2024.
1-Year Return
Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $2,016.70 Total Return: 101.67% S&P 500 (same period): $1,166.60 (16.66%) 5-Year Return
Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $5,157.10 Total Return: 415.71% Annualized Return: 38.83% S&P 500 (same period): $1,795.10 (79.51%) 10-Year Return
Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $15,676.80 Total Return: 1,467.68% Annualized Return: 31.68% S&P 500 (same period): $3,630.30 (263.03%) Palo Alto beat the index over all three periods, but holding it was rough. Shares fell 30% from January to March 2020, 33% from March to December 2022, and 23% between November 2024 and February 2026, when they reached $139.57.
The stock opened 2026 at $184.20 and is up 126.84% year to date. The biggest jump followed the June report, in which the acquisitions contributed $388M. Investors who sold during February’s low missed that run (we studied a lot of these ignored winners and pulled out the pattern in a free report here).
What Has to Go Right From Here The bull case rests on platformization turning into durable ARR growth and management reaching its $20B NGS ARR target by FY30 and 40% FCF margin by FY28. A $21.2B backlog and FY27 revenue guidance of $14.10B to $14.20B support that path.
The bear case plays out if the CyberArk, Chronosphere and Console integrations slip up, or if Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) and Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) pressure pricing. Shares trade at 1,084x trailing GAAP earnings, 94x forward earnings and 81x free cash flow. The price also stands above the consensus analyst target of $396.92.
Today’s setup differs from 2016. Back then, a firewall company priced at $26.65 split-adjusted had room to surprise. Today, a $341.8B platform carries 10 Strong Buy and 32 Buy ratings. The business is stronger, but the price assumes things go right. This stock has delivered a 20%-plus decline three times since 2020.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Spotify má hodnocení Zacks Rank č. 4 („prodat“), protože konsenzuální odhad EPS pro letošní rok se za posledních 30 dní snížil o 2,6 %; akcie za poslední měsíc ztratily 7,7 %.
Spotify (SPOT - 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.
Over the past month, shares of this music-streaming service operator have returned -7.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Spotify falls in, has gained 9%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere 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, Spotify is expected to post earnings of $3.12 per share, indicating a change of -18.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -4.6% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $13.85 points to a change of +16.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -2.6%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $17.48 indicates a change of +26.2% from what Spotify is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.3%.
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, Spotify is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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.
In the case of Spotify, the consensus sales estimate of $5.76 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +15.3%. The $22.61 billion and $25.75 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +16.4% and +13.9%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistorySpotify reported revenues of $5.55 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.7%. EPS of $3.03 for the same period compares with -$0.48 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.55 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of 0%. The EPS surprise was -7.34%.
Over the last four quarters, Spotify surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two 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.
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.
Spotify 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 Spotify. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
AGNC drží měsíční dividendu na úrovni 0,12 USD už od dubna 2020, přestože v 1. čtvrtletí vykázala záporný ekonomický výnos ve výši 1,6 %. Udržitelnost výplaty prověří výsledky společnosti za 3. čtvrtletí.
AGNC has paid the same monthly dividend for five straight years, but the leverage and rate bets holding that streak together just produced a quarter where economic return went negative. Whether the payout survives the next earnings report depends on…
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AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) is a mortgage REIT that borrows short-term money in the repo market, buys agency mortgage-backed securities, and keeps the spread between bond yields and borrowing costs. Leverage of 7.4 times tangible equity magnifies both gains and losses.
The payout has held at $0.12 a month, or $1.44 annualized. Over the past month, shares fell 17.62% to $8.66. Is that income durable, or does it depend on leverage and rate positions that can reverse?
Spread Income Still Covers the Payout Net interest spread ran 1.78% in Q3 2025, 1.81% in Q4, 2.06% in Q1 2026 and 2.00% in Q2. In Q2, net spread and dollar roll income was 40 cents per share, against 36 cents of dividends declared. CEO Peter Federico linked returns on new investments directly to the payout on the July 21 call:
“You’re getting ROEs, when you’re leveraging them the way we leverage them at seven or seven and a half times, probably in the 15 to 17% range. So that aligns really well with the economics of our dividend.”
Book Value Decides Whether the Yield Is Real Tangible book value per share moved from $8.28 in Q3 2025 to $8.88, then $8.38, then $8.58 by Q2 2026. In Q1, book value fell 5.6%, and economic return (dividends plus book value change) was negative 1.6%. Federico explained:
“The associated increase in volatility and negative shift in investor sentiment caused Agency MBS spreads to benchmark rates to widen, and, as a result, AGNC’s economic return on tangible common equity in the first quarter was negative 1.6%.”
Q2 bounced back to 6.7% economic return, made up of 36 cents of dividends and a 20 cent gain in book value.
Peers Took the Same March Hit Dynex Capital (NYSE:DX) posted negative 2.5% economic return in Q1 as book value slipped from $13.45 to $12.60, then delivered 6.4% in Q2. Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) earned $0.79 per share available for distribution in Q2 and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.75 from $0.70. AGNC kept its payout flat.
Curve Shape Sets the Spread AGNC’s repo borrowings had a weighted average remaining term of just 13 days, so its funding costs reset quickly. On October 6, the 1-month Treasury yielded 4.06% and the 10-year yielded 5.27%. The gap between the 10-year and 2-year yields stood at 0.48%, up from 0.2% on September 21. A steeper curve widens the gap between AGNC’s funding costs and its asset yields. A flatter curve pressures it. Federico said that in Q2, market expectations shifted “from rate cuts to rate hikes.”
Dividend Record Includes Repeated Cuts The $0.12 monthly rate has held since April 2020, the 75th consecutive payment at that level. Before that, AGNC paid $0.20 a month from 2015 to mid-2017, $0.18 from 2018 to mid-2019 and $0.16 through March 2020. Each time leveraged MBS economics changed, the payout was reset lower.
Who This Suits and What Changes the View AGNC suits investors who reinvest dividends, measure results by economic return and can handle a 5.6% drop in book value in a single quarter. In 2025, that approach delivered a 22.7% economic return. It is a poor fit for retired people treating the $1.44 as a fixed bond coupon.
The upcoming Q3 report offers a fairly clear test. If net spread and dollar roll income falls below 36 cents per share and tangible book value drops below $8.38, shareholders’ own capital is paying for the dividend, and a cut becomes likely.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Freeport-McMoRan má rating Zacks Rank #3 (držet), který naznačuje, že akcie bude v krátkodobém horizontu dosahovat výkonnosti v souladu s širším trhem. Akcie za poslední měsíc klesly o 5,3 %.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX - 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 mining company have returned -5.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. The Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry, to which Freeport-McMoRan belongs, has gained 0.2% 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.
For the current quarter, Freeport-McMoRan is expected to post earnings of $0.75 per share, indicating a change of +50% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.7% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.84 points to a change of +60.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.8%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.76 indicates a change of +32.4% from what Freeport-McMoRan is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.3%.
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 Freeport-McMoRan.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Freeport-McMoRan, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $7.07 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +1.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $28.64 billion and $33.26 billion estimates indicate +10.5% and +16.1% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryFreeport-McMoRan reported revenues of $7.03 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -7.3%. EPS of $0.74 for the same period compares with $0.54 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.47 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +8.57%. The EPS surprise was +19.35%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time 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.
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.
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.
Freeport-McMoRan is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 Freeport-McMoRan. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Allstate (ALL) má hodnotové skóre A a forwardové P/E 6,24; devět analytiků během 60 dní zvýšilo odhad zisku na akcii pro rok 2026 o 3,60 USD na 35,93 USD.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.86% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Allstate (ALL - Free Report) Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Northbrook, IL, The Allstate Corporation is the third-largest property-casualty (P&C) insurer and the largest publicly-held personal lines carrier in the United States. The company also provides a range of life insurance and investment products to its diverse customer base. It provides insurance products to approximately 16 million households through more than 12,000 exclusive agencies and financial specialists in the United States and Canada. As of Dec. 31, 2025, total policies in force amounted to 210.9 million, up 3% year over year. The company generated $67.7 billion in revenues in 2025, in which Property and casualty insurance premiums witnessed continued growth. Net investment income is also on the rise.
ALL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 6.24; value investors should take notice.
Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.60 to $35.93 per share. ALL boasts an average earnings surprise of +45.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ALL should be on investors' short list.
Rivian beat delivery expectations and still watched its stock crater, leaving investors to wonder whether the EV startup's ambitious recovery plan was already unraveling before it even got started.
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Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN | RIVN Price Prediction) posted what should have been good news. It produced 19,751 vehicles and delivered 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter. This was above most expectations. The company’s stock dropped after the announcement. It is down 26% this year. The disappointment is that it did not raise its full-year delivery guidance, which is between 65,000 and 70,000. The new figures only looked good for a few moments.
Rivian’s recovery is supposed to be driven by its new R2 SUV. The base price will be just below $45,000. However, people cannot buy this model yet. Anyone who reads the fine print, which is hard to find on the Rivian website, sees that this low-price model will not be available for over a year. Today, the “R2 Launch Edition” costs $57,990. The sequence suggests management needs to get something out the door.
Rivian’s other two vehicles, which it clearly understands are too expensive, are the R1S SUV, which starts at $84,000 and goes up to $122,000, and the R1T pickup, which starts at $80,000 and goes up to $116,000.
Rivian made a poor decision early in its history. It assumed people wanted extremely expensive EV SUVs and pickups. It bet wrong and is now trying to fix the mistake. It’s too late to do that.
Rivian also faces the same problem as any car company selling EVs in the US. EV sales are down about 20% through the first half of this year. The expiration of the $7,500 tax credit at the end of last September did significant damage. And the public still doesn’t like an EV’s range on a single charge or the lack of public charging stations, especially because they can be crowded.
Rivian lost $833 million on $1.7 billion in revenue during the last quarter. It’s hard to imagine it selling enough vehicles to break even. That is why the stock won’t recover.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Akcie Williams-Sonoma za poslední měsíc vzrostly o 6,3 %; tržby v posledním čtvrtletí dosáhly 1,96 mld. USD, meziročně vzrostly o 6,7 % a překonaly očekávání o 2,45 %.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM - 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 seller of cookware and home furnishings have returned +6.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. The Zacks Retail - Home Furnishings industry, to which Williams-Sonoma belongs, has lost 9.8% 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.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere 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, Williams-Sonoma is expected to post earnings of $2.16 per share, indicating a change of +10.2% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.5% over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $9.51 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +7.6%. This estimate has changed +0.3% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.49 indicates a change of +10.3% from what Williams-Sonoma is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
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 Williams-Sonoma.
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 Williams-Sonoma, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.98 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +5.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $8.23 billion and $8.62 billion estimates indicate +5.5% and +4.8% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWilliams-Sonoma reported revenues of $1.96 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +6.7%. EPS of $2.1 for the same period compares with $2 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.45%. The EPS surprise was +2.44%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. 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.
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.
Williams-Sonoma 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 Williams-Sonoma. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Portfolio Surity společnosti Wellspect HealthCare může být u oprávněných příjemců v USA hrazeno z tradičního programu Medicare, pokud je to zdravotně nezbytné.
Traditional Medicare reimbursement supports broader access to non-invasive management options for eligible beneficiaries living with permanent urinary incontinence MÖLNDAL, Sweden, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellspect HealthCare today announced that the Surity™ portfolio, including the Surity™ Urinary Management System and Surity™ Female and Male External Catheters, may be covered by traditional Medicare for eligible beneficiaries when medically necessary. This milestone represents an important step in expanding access and reducing barriers to at-home management for people affected by severe urinary incontinence in the U.S.
The Surity™ portfolio provides non-invasive management solutions for individuals living with urinary incontinence and is designed to make everyday urine management more comfortable, discreet and reliable. Coding verification under Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes A6590 for the Surity™ Female and Male External Catheters and E2001 for the Surity™ Urinary Management System supports reimbursement access for beneficiaries who meet applicable coverage criteria.
“Medicare reimbursement for the Surity™ portfolio represents a significant milestone in our efforts to help individuals living with permanent urinary incontinence benefit from modern solutions that can support their day-to-day needs,” said Chris Schlenk, Group Vice President at Wellspect HealthCare. “For eligible beneficiaries with permanent urinary incontinence, newly established Medicare coding may help reduce barriers to care and expand choice in urinary management. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to helping individuals and their caregivers in managing important care needs with solutions designed to support comfort, confidence, and independence.”
For the more than 13 million people living with urinary incontinence in the U.S.,i access to management solutions that address care needs like comfort and rest can have meaningful impact. Traditional Medicare reimbursement access for the Surity™ portfolio helps provide eligible beneficiaries with a new choice, combining gentle suction technology with an intuitive design and features that support quiet operation and odor management, assisting in overnight care and bringing added reassurance to daily routines.
Following the introduction of the Surity™ Female and Male External Catheters earlier in 2026, Wellspect launched the Surity™ Urinary Management System in the United States on August 18, completing the full Surity portfolio. Since its introduction, Surity has become one of the most searched external catheter brands on Google.ii
For additional information* about Surity™, including traditional Medicare coverage requirements and eligibility, visit www.surity.care, where you can also connect with a Wellspect Reimbursement Specialist.
*Whether a product or service is covered by traditional Medicare depends on individual situations and Medicare’s requirements. Coverage, coding, and payment decisions are made by individual payers and may vary. Wellspect HealthCare does not guarantee coverage or reimbursement and is not responsible for payer determinations.
Marion Par-Weixlberger
Vice President, Public Relations, Corporate Communications & Brand [email protected]
About Wellspect HealthCare
Wellspect HealthCare, a subsidiary of Dentsply Sirona (NASDAQ: XRAY) is a leading global provider of innovative medical devices dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with bladder and bowel dysfunction.
With approximately 1,200 employees worldwide, Wellspect is committed to making a real difference for people managing continence care needs, empowering them to live each day to the fullest.
Wellspect delivers solutions that support safe bladder and bowel management, while continuously enhancing the experience, clinical performance, and service quality for both healthcare professionals and the people in their care.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of intermittent urinary catheters, Wellspect has been at the forefront of innovation since 1983 with its LoFric® brand, which introduced the first hydrophilic-coated catheter.
Wellspect has also pioneered the development of Navina™, an innovative transanal irrigation system designed to support individuals living with chronic bowel disorders.
With advanced Surity™, Wellspect provides reliable urinary incontinence care designed to restore comfort, rest, and confidence for people living with severe urinary incontinence and for their caregivers.
Every day, Wellspect strives to maintain the highest quality standards while minimizing the environmental impact of its products.
Headquartered in Mölndal, Sweden, Wellspect operates in more than 40 countries, offering life-enhancing solutions to people around the world. Dentsply Sirona, the world’s largest diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol XRAY.
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i Leslie SW, Tran LN, Puckett Y. Urinary Incontinence. [Updated 2024 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559095/
ii Google Trends. External Catheter Brands. USA; 2026.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/962344d1-fb85-481b-a8e9-201183fbd79a
U.S. Medicare Reimbursement Access for Surity™ Urinary Management Portfolio The Surity™ portfolio may be covered by traditional Medicare for eligible beneficiaries when medical...
McKesson má hodnocení Zacks Rank č. 2 („koupit“); konsenzus očekává celoroční zisk na akcii (EPS) ve výši 44,73 USD, což představuje meziroční nárůst o 14,4 %.
McKesson (MCK - 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 prescription drug distributor have returned +3.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Medical - Dental Supplies industry, which McKesson falls in, has lost 2.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
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.
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, McKesson is expected to post earnings of $10.80 per share, indicating a change of +9.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $44.73 points to a change of +14.4% 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 $49.93 indicates a change of +11.6% from what McKesson is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.2%.
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 #2 (Buy) for McKesson.
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 McKesson, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $110.14 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +6.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $429.01 billion and $459.17 billion estimates indicate +6.3% and +7% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMcKesson reported revenues of $105.38 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.7%. EPS of $9.93 for the same period compares with $8.26 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $104.39 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.95%. The EPS surprise was +5.19%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two 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.
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.
McKesson is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about McKesson. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
Capital One zaplatila v roce 2021 pokutu 390 milionů USD za nedostatky v boji proti praní peněz a nyní čelí žalobě kvůli uzavření 385 účtů spojených s Donaldem Trumpem.
Capital One paid $390 million for missing suspicious transactions, then got sued for closing accounts when its monitors caught something. The trap banks now face reveals a regulatory system working against itself.
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American banks are caught between two kinds of punishment. If they miss dirty money, regulators fine them. If they flag it and close the account, they get sued for debanking. Capital One (NYSE:COF | COF Price Prediction) has paid on both sides, and its record shows which way the pressure is moving.
Federal law requires banks to run anti-money-laundering programs that monitor for suspicious transactions. When flagged, banks file a suspicious activity report to the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Closing an account over that suspicion can trigger debanking lawsuits.
Cost of Missing It According to Moneywise, FinCEN hit Capital One with a $390,000,000 penalty on Jan. 15, 2021, for willfully failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program. Moneywise reports that the bank admitted it failed to file thousands of suspicious activity reports from 2008 through 2014 tied to its Check Cashing Group. The money involved was linked to organized crime, tax evasion and fraud.
Cost of Catching It Moneywise reports that Capital One closed 385 accounts associated with Donald Trump in 2021 after flagging activity characteristic of money laundering. The closures became public through a lawsuit filed by Trump’s trust, his companies and Eric Trump.
The suit says the bank acted for political reasons after the Jan. 6 backlash. The accounts covered a winery, a bottled-water company and a golf course developer. Moneywise says Capital One’s lawyers wrote in a July 31 filing that the closures “were the result of months of analysis and a careful review by Capital One’s AML team in accordance with bank policies and regulatory guidance.”
The filing also says the bank can close any account at any time, for any reason or none, without notice. Trump has also sued JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), which says it closes accounts that create legal or regulatory risk.
A bank already punished for missing too much has every reason to flag too much. The screening system regulators demand will sometimes catch someone powerful, and then the bank gets sued.
Debanking Data Most People Never See According to Moneywise, a Reuters review of 8,361 account closure complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over 13 years found that fewer than 1% alleged political or religious discrimination. A Cato Institute study found most debanking stems from government pressure. Moneywise reports the FDIC privately asked more than 20 institutions in 2022 and 2023 to pause crypto activity. Operation Choke Point in 2013 started with fraudulent businesses and spread to payday lenders, gun shops and licensed cannabis dispensaries, according to Moneywise.
Washington Just Changed Direction FinCEN filed notices Monday pulling two proposed crypto reporting rules. One reverses the agency’s 2023 finding that international crypto mixing is a primary money laundering concern, according to Unchained. The notices will be published in the Federal Register on Oct. 6, according to Unchained. FinCEN cited commenters’ warnings that the rules would chill legitimate activity and create heavy reporting loads.
What to Do If Your Bank Shows You the Door Automated systems flag patterns like structuring (splitting deposits to avoid the $10,000 reporting threshold). Banks cannot disclose whether they filed a suspicious activity report. The CFPB says companies typically cite suspicious account activity when closing accounts. If it happens to you, request written closure, get your balance by check, pull your ChexSystems report and file a CFPB complaint.
Where the Pressure Goes Next Policy is shifting toward more account access and less surveillance, but the 2021 penalty remains, so compliance teams will stay cautious, according to Moneywise. The key question is how courts rule on Capital One’s claim that it can close any account at will. If the Trump suit proceeds, banks face real costs from both directions. Capital One shares are down 20.53% year to date.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Workiva (WK -0.43%) developed a portfolio of software products to help organizations manage their reporting and regulatory compliance obligations. That isn't exactly a glamorous mission, which is why its stock tends to fly under the radar compared to many others in the software space.
However, Workiva recently started leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to make its products more powerful than ever, which is helping to attract high-spending enterprises at a rapid pace. In fact, its fastest growing customer cohorts are now the ones spending the most money.
Despite Workiva's progress, its stock is trading 55% below its all-time high, which was set during 2021 when the last tech boom drove its valuation to an unsustainable height. But that might be an opportunity for investors, because the majority of the analysts tracked by The Wall Street Journal have assigned the stock a buy rating, and none recommend selling. Read on.
Image source: Getty Images.
AI is transforming Workiva's product suite Managers inside large organizations are under growing pressure to accurately compile data from across dozens, or even hundreds of the digital applications that are necessary to run their day-to-day operations. This can be a time consuming and error-prone process when critical data is manually transferred to a central location for the purposes of crafting regulatory filings or executive reports.
Workiva's software streamlines that process by plugging into every major third-party system of record, productivity application, and storage platform, and autonomously aggregating all of their data onto one dashboard which effectively becomes the organization's single source of truth. Managers can then use Workiva's ready-made templates to rapidly compile filings and reports, saving them untold amounts of time while significantly reducing errors.
Workiva is now weaving AI into its platform in a few different ways to enhance its capabilities. The company designed an AI agent to assist with the tie-out process, which is when managers verify the accuracy of the numbers in their reports. The agent automates that process by autonomously flagging discrepancies and providing an AI-generated explanation for every instance. AI can read and compare data much faster than humans, so this is an extremely powerful tool.
Then there is the benchmarking agent. It will scan the publicly available regulatory filings of competing companies to identify key differences in how certain disclosures are handled. This allows managers to quickly determine if any critical information is missing from their own filings, or whether they can cover certain topics (like risk factors or financial disclosures) in a better way.
Steady revenue growth and improving profitability Workiva generated $502.6 million in total revenue during the first half of 2026 (to June 30), which was a 19% increase from the year-ago period. I believe the company could have delivered even faster growth, but management was more focused on improving the bottom line by keeping costs like marketing and research and development in check.
Workiva's total operating expenses increased by less than 2% in the first half of the year. Since revenue grew at a much faster pace, more money flowed to the bottom line as profit, resulting in a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net income of $32.4 million for the period. That was a big positive swing from the $40.7 million net loss the company produced in the first half of last year.
After excluding one-off and non-cash expenses like stock-based compensation, Workiva also generated an adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $99.6 million, a whopping 416% increase from the year-ago period.
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But Workiva continues to attract hordes of high-spending enterprises, despite moderating its marketing and other costs. The company had 6,750 total customers as of June 30, an increase of just 4% from the year-ago period. But the number of customers with annual contract values of at least $100,000 grew at a much faster pace of 20%, while those with annual contract values of at least $500,000 soared by 33%.
I think Wall Street's bullishness is justified The Wall Street Journal tracks 13 analysts who cover Workiva stock, and nine have assigned it a buy rating. Three others are in the overweight (bullish) camp, while one recommends holding. None recommend selling.
The analysts have an average price target of $89.80, pointing to a potential upside of 26% in Workiva stock over the next 12 months (based on its closing price of $71 last Friday, Oct. 2). But the Street-high target of $105 implies an even greater potential return of 48%.
Based on Workiva's valuation, I think both targets are achievable. Its stock is trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of just 4.2, a steep discount to its five-year average of 7.6. It's also much cheaper than the technology-heavy Nasdaq-100 index which has a P/S ratio of 6.5.
WK PS Ratio data by YCharts
Workiva stock would have to climb by a whopping 81% just to match its five-year average P/S ratio, and that doesn't account for any future revenue growth, so even more upside might be possible. In fact, the company believes it can deliver $2 billion in annualized revenue by 2030, almost double its current level.
As a result, I think this under-the-radar stock could be a great addition to any diversified portfolio.
