Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways GTES posted 4.9% core sales growth and a 22.5% adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter.Gates expects stronger data-center demand and the Timken deal to support Power Transmission growth.GTES faces weak South American agriculture, lean inventories and higher oil-based material costs. Gates Industrial Corporation Ltd. (GTES - Free Report) entered the second half of 2026 with better operating momentum. The company's second-quarter core sales rose 4.9% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA margin reached 22.5%. GTES also raised its full-year 2026 outlook.

The improvement is broad, but not risk-free. Weak South American agriculture end market and higher oil-based material costs temper the recovery and keep the investment case balanced.

Gates Growth Improves Across Both SegmentsPower Transmission segment's core sales increased 5.3% year over year in the second quarter. Industrial OEM sales rose at a low-teens rate, industrial aftermarket expanded at a mid-single-digit pace and personal mobility and commercial on-highway sales grew more than 25%.

Fluid Power segment's core sales advanced 4.2% in the second quarter. Double-digit sales growth in industrial OEM, high-teens commercial on-highway expansion and mid-single-digit sales gains in construction and diversified industrial markets helped offset pockets of weakness. Gates also expects its data-center business to contribute more in the second half of the year as projects ramp up.

The Timken Company (TKR - Free Report) is relevant to Gates' growth strategy following GTES' agreement to acquire Timken's industrial belts business, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. The transaction is expected to broaden the company's offerings and strengthen the presence of its Power Transmission segment in North America.

GTES Valuation Looks Discounted vs. Key BenchmarksGTES trades at 16.53X forward 12-month earnings, below 23.02X for its Zacks sub-industry, 21.95X for the Zacks Industrial Products sector and 20.80X for the S&P 500. That discount offers a cheaper valuation relative to those benchmarks.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The valuation is less compelling against Gates' own history. Its forward multiple has ranged from 8.9X to 18.1X during the past five years, with a median of 12.31X. GTES therefore trades above its longer-term midpoint.

Gates Faces Agriculture and Cost PressuresCore sales in South America declined 10.6% year over year in the second quarter, primarily reflecting weak agricultural demand. Distributors continued to maintain lean inventories, with meaningful restocking expected only in late 2026 or early 2027.

The company's cost of sales increased 6.1% and selling, general and administrative expenses rose 8.4% year over year. GTES is implementing pricing to offset oil-based material inflation, but macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and supply-chain risks could still pressure demand or profitability.

Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH - Free Report) , a global motion and control technology company, provides a relevant industrial peer reference. Its diversified industrial operations overlap with several markets that Gates serves.

GTES Cash Flow Supports Flexible Capital AllocationGates' net leverage improved to 1.8X in the second quarter, down about 0.4X year over year. Last-12-month free cash flow conversion reached 94%, while the company continues to target more than 90% conversion for 2026.

GTES repurchased about $22 million of shares during the quarter. As of June 27, 2026, approximately $155.8 million remained under its $300 million authorization, leaving room for further repurchases while Gates funds growth initiatives.

Gates Signals Leave Room for CautionImproving core sales, increasing margins, cash conversion and a discounted peer valuation support the case for GTES. Still, weakness in the agricultural market, limited distributor restocking, input-cost pressure and a valuation above its five-year median argue against treating the recovery as fully de-risked.

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

Its Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C add a mixed backdrop. The Hold rank suggests a neutral near-term signal, while the mostly C Style Scores and weaker Growth Score do not provide the A or B grade confirmation associated with more favorable style characteristics. The combination supports patience as investors watch whether the industrial recovery broadens and margins continue to improve.

Key Takeaways Sterling's E-Infrastructure revenues jumped 192%, driven by data centers and mission-critical projects.STRL's E-Infrastructure backlog rose 165%, with mission-critical work making up 92% of signed backlog.Sterling expects E-Infrastructure revenues to grow more than 100% in 2026 as projects expand geographically. Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.’s (STRL - Free Report) E-Infrastructure Solutions segment delivered a standout second-quarter 2026, raising the question of whether its 192% revenue growth is merely the beginning of a longer growth cycle. The segment’s performance was supported by robust demand across data centers, semiconductor facilities, manufacturing and other mission-critical projects.

Revenues from the E-Infrastructure segment surged 192% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, while adjusted operating income jumped 148%. The legacy site development business alone posted 111% revenue growth, with gains across regions and improving operating margins. Meanwhile, CEC’s electrical services revenues increased 140% compared with the pre-acquisition second quarter, with margins improving sequentially and year over year. The growth runway also appears substantial. E-Infrastructure signed backlog increased 165% year over year, with mission-critical projects accounting for 92% of the segment’s backlog.

STRL noted that data center projects are becoming larger, lasting longer and expanding into additional markets. Several existing projects are also expanding beyond their original scopes, creating opportunities not yet reflected in backlog or future-phase estimates. Geographic expansion adds another growth lever. Rocky Mountain revenues increased nearly 700%, while the Northeast benefited from a large semiconductor campus. Sterling also secured initial work on an electric vehicle plant in Atlanta.

Management now expects the E-Infrastructure segment revenues to grow more than 100% in 2026, including contributions from CEC and Stone Ridge, while legacy site development is expected to grow roughly 70% or more. This combination of strong demand, expanding backlog and geographic diversification suggests the segment’s growth story may have considerable runway ahead.

Sterling vs. MasTec vs. Quanta: Who Can Ride the AI Infra Wave?Sterling is positioned to benefit from sustained investment in data centers, semiconductor facilities, advanced manufacturing and other mission-critical infrastructure, alongside its market peers including MasTec, Inc. (MTZ - Free Report) and Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR - Free Report) .

Sterling stands out for its rapidly expanding E-Infrastructure Solutions business, where second-quarter revenues surged 192% and mission-critical projects represented 92% of signed backlog. Its integrated site-development and electrical capabilities, strengthened by CEC and Stone Ridge, provide exposure to large, multi-year projects.

MasTec offers diversified exposure across communications, energy and infrastructure markets, while Quanta maintains a broad footprint in electric infrastructure, industrial and energy-related projects. STRL’s sharper focus on data centers, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing gives it particularly strong exposure to the current mission-critical construction cycle. With projects becoming larger and expanding into new markets, Sterling appears well-positioned to capitalize on the next leg of infrastructure spending.

STRL Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this Texas-based infrastructure services provider climbed 26.1% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry, the broader Construction sector and the S&P 500 Index.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

STRL stock is currently trading at a discount compared with its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.19, as shown in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Estimate Revision for STRLSTRL’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have moved upward in the past seven days to $19.79 and $26.04 per share, respectively. The estimated figures for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 81.9% and 31.6%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2026) - Block & Leviton is investigating HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) for potential securities law violations. Investors who have lost money in their HubSpot investment should contact the firm to learn more about how they might recover those losses. For more details, visit https://blockleviton.com/cases/hubs.

What is this all about?

Block & Leviton is investigating whether HubSpot, Inc. and certain of its executives violated federal securities laws. On May 7, 2026, when discussing its first-quarter results, HubSpot's management attributed a slow start in April largely to the company's own product, pricing, and go-to-market changes, and guided investors to expect roughly 9,000 to 10,000 net customer additions per quarter and net revenue retention to expand by 1 to 2 points. On August 5, 2026, HubSpot reported second-quarter results that beat revenue and earnings expectations but cut forward guidance and sharply reset those key metrics - lowering the net-adds outlook to 5,000 to 6,000 and net revenue retention to "roughly flat" - while management pointed to increased budget sensitivity, longer sales cycles, and softening customer demand. The investigation concerns whether the company's earlier statements adequately disclosed the demand weakness that was already emerging. HubSpot shares fell approximately 20% following the August announcement.

Who is eligible?

Anyone who purchased HubSpot common stock and has seen their shares fall may be eligible, whether or not they have sold their investment. Investors should contact Block & Leviton to learn more.

What is Block & Leviton doing?

Block & Leviton is investigating whether the Company committed securities law violations and may file an action to attempt to recover losses on behalf of investors who have lost money.

What should you do next?

If you've lost money on your investment, you should contact Block & Leviton to learn more via our case website, by email at [email protected], or by phone at (888) 256-2510.

Whistleblower?

If you have non-public information about HubSpot, you should consider assisting in our investigation or working with our attorneys to file a report with the Securities Exchange Commission under their whistleblower program. Whistleblowers who provide original information to the SEC may receive rewards of up to 30% of any successful recovery. For more information, contact Block & Leviton at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 256-2510.

Why should you contact Block & Leviton?

Block & Leviton is widely regarded as one of the leading securities class action firms in the country. Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for defrauded investors and are dedicated to obtaining significant recoveries on behalf of our clients through active litigation in the federal courts across the country. Many of the nation's top institutional investors hire us to represent their interests. You can learn more about us at our website, www.blockleviton.com, call (888) 256-2510 or email [email protected] with any questions.

This notice may constitute attorney advertising.

CONTACT:
BLOCK & LEVITON LLP
260 Franklin St., Suite 1860
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (888) 256-2510
Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/308895

Source: Block & Leviton LLP

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is investigating potential securities violations against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers" or the "Company") (NYSE: HIMS).

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION

If you are a Hims & Hers investor and have suffered losses, or if you have information that could assist in the Hims & Hers investigation, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.

On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the People of the State of California through Los Angeles County Counsel and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection sued Hims & Hers in the Northern District of California. According to the FTC, the action alleges that Hims & Hers fails to clearly disclose that it charges consumers for prescriptions almost immediately after they submit an intake form, despite telling consumers that they will be able to consult with a medical provider to find a treatment that is "right for them." The FTC also alleges that the company has made it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions and misled consumers about keeping their health information private. The FTC alleges that Hims shared consumers' health information with Meta, Snap and other third parties.

Following this news, the price of Hims & Hers stock fell $4.32 per share, or 14.73%, to close at $25.00 per share on July 29, 2026.

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.

Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.

For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

If you have any questions about this investigation, please contact:

Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.

https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/hims-hers-health-inc-class-action-investigation-learn-more-now/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/308021

Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

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On paper, NuScale Power (SMR -4.48%) failed to meet expectations when it reported quarterly earnings on Aug. 5. The nuclear power stock reported a quarterly loss of $0.13 per share, in line with expectations. Revenue, however, came in at just $80,000 for the quarter, missing estimates by 93%. Sales were down 99% versus the quarter prior.

These are poor figures for a company that supposedly has massive long-term growth potential. Yet shares traded mostly flat following earnings, with the stock price roughly where it was before the earnings announcement.

The reality is that very little was expected of the company this quarter anyway. No major catalysts were expected to be revealed, and the company has no commercial projects underway, despite an impressive pipeline of interested customers. Revenue and profits, therefore, were always expected to be minimal and, in some ways, irrelevant to the company's long-term future.

When might a meaningful growth catalyst arrive? Good news could be on the way later this year regarding NuScale's biggest project.

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NuScale Power stock could receive a massive boost later this year Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance. Some of that is due to climate concerns and a rising global need for low-carbon energy sources. Most of it, however, is due to rising energy demand across the board, driven by the rapid adoption of energy-intensive AI technologies. The Energy Information Administration observes:

[W]e forecast U.S. annual electricity consumption will increase in 2025 and 2026, surpassing the all-time high reached in 2024. This growth contrasts with the trend of relatively flat electricity demand between the mid-2000s and early 2020s. Much of the recent and forecasted growth in electricity consumption is coming from the commercial sector, which includes data centers.

Still, a resurgence in electricity demand translates to just a few percentage points of annual growth, and getting new energy sources online can often take years. In short, this is a massive opportunity, but it will take decades to fully play out.

Image source: Getty Images.

Investors, therefore, shouldn't expect major revelations during every NuScale earnings release. That's especially true since the company has yet to break ground on any of its SMR deals.

Why hasn't NuScale begun construction? None of its customers have committed to payments. NuScale will only start construction once funds are legally obligated to pay for the construction. NuScale's inability to reach this milestone is a big reason why its valuation remains under $4 billion despite operating in a long-term growth market.

However, NuScale's CFO believes that a power purchase agreement could be signed by its utility customer in the U.S. by the end of 2026, committing it to buying power from the future facility, perhaps for decades to come. If a PPA is secured, construction can finally begin.

A signed PPA would likely be a huge boost to NuScale's stock price. It would provide serious social validation of the company's technology and adoption potential. It would also clear up some of NuScale's financing concerns.

To be sure, NuScale's management team has missed self-imposed deadlines before. But if you're looking for high-upside-potential stocks and are willing to take on extra risk, NuScale could be positioned for a stellar second half of 2026.

Key Takeaways Revenues reached $1.2 million, primarily from Oklo's 2026 acquisitions and their service businesses.R&D expenses surged 244.2% as greater engineering activity and employee headcount drove spending higher.Groves achieved first criticality Aug. 5, with initial isotope revenues expected from Idaho in early 2027. Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) reported a second-quarter 2026 loss of 28 cents per share, wider than the year-ago loss of 18 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 17 cents. The bottom line represented a negative earnings surprise of 64.7%. Revenues came in at $1.2 million.

Higher research and development and administrative spending weighed on earnings as OKLO accelerated project execution. Operationally, the company reached first criticality at its Groves isotope facility shortly after quarter-end.

OKLO Revenues Emerge From AcquisitionsSecond-quarter revenues included $800,000 from engineering and consulting services, $168,000 from manufacturing and fabrication services and $242,000 from other activities. OKLO generated no revenues in the year-ago quarter.

The company said revenues primarily resulted from its 2026 acquisitions. In June, it acquired ARMEC and Creative Engineers, adding precision manufacturing, mechanical engineering and chemical process engineering capabilities. The acquired businesses continue serving established third-party customers.

OKLO Costs Climb on Project ExecutionResearch and development expenses jumped 244.2% year over year to $39.5 million. The increase included $14.7 million of higher professional-services costs and $7.1 million of increased employee compensation, reflecting greater engineering activity and an average headcount increase of roughly 109 employees.

General and administrative expenses rose 106.7% to $34.2 million. Higher employee compensation contributed $6.6 million, while professional services added $6.2 million. Interest and dividend income increased 517.1% to $23.21 million, supported by larger cash and marketable-security balances following equity issuances.

The spending increase also comes as competition across advanced nuclear intensifies. NuScale Power (SMR - Free Report) emphasized in its latest quarter that it has spent years building commercial readiness through NRC approvals, conventional low-enriched uranium and a network of more than 60 specialized suppliers. NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) , meanwhile, is investing in the development and licensing of its KRONOS MMR while pursuing vertical integration across the nuclear fuel cycle.

OKLO Advances Aurora DeploymentAt Aurora-INL, the Department of Energy approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis, establishing the preliminary safety basis needed to advance final design and construction. Site mobilization is underway, while excavation for the reactor area was nearing completion at the time of the earnings call.

OKLO is also advancing its planned 1.2-gigawatt Ohio power campus. An MOU with Kiewit covers engineering, procurement, construction and execution planning for the initial phase. The Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company is progressing PJM interconnection applications, transmission planning and related technical studies for the site.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The push toward larger power opportunities reflects a broader industry focus on serving data centers and other energy-intensive customers. NuScale Power said it remains in discussions with hyperscalers and is supporting potential large-scale deployments through its commercial partner ENTRA1 Energy. NANO Nuclear has similarly highlighted data-center demand, completing a feasibility study for its KRONOS MMR to provide up to 1 gigawatt of power for BaRupOn's planned AI data-center and manufacturing campus in Texas.

OKLO Expands Its Fuel Supply StrategyOKLO is taking several steps to secure the fuel needed for its future reactors. The company signed a letter of intent with Centrus for enough high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to support the initial reactor cores and reloads for up to five Aurora powerhouses over several years. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2029. OKLO is also exploring government-supplied materials and fuel recycling to diversify its fuel sources.

Equipment for the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility is now being produced, with installation and start-up activities planned for 2027. OKLO is also advancing engineering and preparations for a license application for its Advanced Fuel Center in Tennessee. In addition, the company is in advanced discussions with the Department of Energy about potentially using surplus plutonium as reactor fuel.

OKLO’s Groves Facility Reaches CriticalityOKLO reached another important milestone when its Groves isotope facility achieved first criticality on Aug. 5, less than a year after construction began. The company said major construction work was completed in just 229 days. The project was built on private land using private funding and commercial suppliers, with safety oversight from the Department of Energy.

OKLO sees Groves as an example of how it could develop future nuclear projects more quickly. The project gave the company experience in areas ranging from purchasing and construction to regulatory approval, testing and operations. OKLO expects Groves to begin producing research and development quantities of isotopes in about 12 months, while its Idaho laboratory is expected to generate initial isotope revenues in early 2027.

OKLO Raises 2026 Cash-Use OutlookOklo ended June with $3 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities. Cash used in operating activities totaled $65.5 million during the first six months, while purchases of property, plant and equipment reached $126.9 million.

Management raised its 2026 operating cash-use forecast to $120-$150 million from $80-$100 million. The company also lifted its expected property, plant and equipment spending to $400-$500 million from $350-$450 million, reflecting accelerated Aurora-INL procurement and construction activity and an opportunistic fuel purchase for future isotope projects.

Peer liquidity is also sizable: NuScale Power ended the second quarter with approximately $1.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments, while NANO Nuclear reported approximately $569 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Against that backdrop, OKLO's $3 billion liquidity position provides substantial capacity to support its accelerated deployment and fuel strategy.

Key Takeaways SIMO's Q2 revenue jumped 127% year over year to $451 million, topping prior guidance.SIMO expects Q3 revenue of $519-$541 million, implying 15-20% sequential and 114-124% annual growth.MonTitan, Gen 5 SSD controllers and embedded storage are expanding SIMO's reach into enterprise and AI. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO - Free Report) is benefiting from strong momentum across its storage-controller portfolio, driven by market-share gains, new product ramps and growing exposure to enterprise and artificial intelligence (AI)-related storage applications.

The company’s rapidly expanding embedded storage business, strength in SSD controllers and increasing contribution from enterprise and automotive storage solutions are driving robust top-line growth. These factors position Silicon Motion well to sustain its growth trajectory through the remainder of 2026.

Robust Revenue Growth Bodes Well for SIMOSilicon Motion delivered an impressive second quarter, with revenues surging 127% year over year and 32% sequentially to $451 million. The performance also exceeded the company’s earlier guidance of $393-$411 million, highlighting stronger-than-anticipated demand across its portfolio.

The momentum was broad-based. SSD controller sales increased 50-55% year over year and 5-10% sequentially. eMMC+UFS controller sales jumped 95-100% from the year-ago quarter and 15-20% sequentially. Sales from Ferri and Boot Drive solutions soared 1,690-1,695% year over year and 110-115% sequentially.

The strong performance follows an equally encouraging first quarter, when revenues surged 105% year over year and 23% sequentially to $342.1 million. The sustained acceleration underscores Silicon Motion’s success in expanding its addressable market beyond its traditional consumer NAND flash controller business.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SIMO's Growth Momentum Set to ContinueManagement expects the strong top-line trajectory to continue in the third quarter of 2026. Silicon Motion projects revenues between $519 million and $541 million, indicating sequential growth of 15-20% and year-over-year growth of 114-124%.

At the midpoint of $530 million, the guidance represents another significant step up from second-quarter revenues of $451 million and first-quarter revenues of $342.1 million. The trend suggests that Silicon Motion is not merely benefiting from a favorable comparison with the prior year but is generating substantial sequential expansion as new products and customer programs ramp.

Growth is being supported by several catalysts. The company is expanding its presence in embedded eMMC and UFS controllers, while its 6nm PCIe Gen 5 SSD controller portfolio strengthens its position in higher-performance storage applications. Silicon Motion is also targeting enterprise and AI infrastructure opportunities through its MonTitan enterprise SSD controllers and Enterprise Boot Drive solutions.

The MonTitan platform, in particular, expands Silicon Motion’s addressable market beyond its historically consumer-focused business. Earlier this year, management observed that two customers were already in production and five additional major cloud-service-provider customers were expected to ramp in the latter half.

Price PerformanceSilicon Motion has gained a stellar 241.3% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 190.5%. It has also outperformed peers like Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM - Free Report) . Advanced Micro has gained 180.6% and IBM is up 0.4% over this period. 

One-Year SIMO Stock Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Revision TrendEarnings estimates for Silicon Motion for 2026 have moved up 134.9% to $11.16 over the past year, while the same for 2027 has increased 187.2% to $16.34. The positive estimate revision depicts optimism about the stock’s growth potential.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

End NoteWith solid fundamentals and healthy revenue-generating potential, driven by robust demand trends, Silicon Motion appears to be a solid investment proposition. Further, a strong emphasis on quality, diligent execution of operational plans and continuous portfolio enhancements are driving more value for customers. An asset-light fabless semiconductor model, solid growth exposure to AI, cloud and automotive markets, with increasing market share in SSD and mobile controllers and continuous innovation in storage technologies are key growth drivers for the company.

The stock has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 53.6% and delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 14%. Silicon Motion sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Riding on a robust earnings surprise history and favorable Zacks Rank, Silicon Motion appears primed for further stock price appreciation. Consequently, investors are likely to profit if they bet on this high-flying stock now.

Silence Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:SLN) stock is trading higher on Monday after the company reported positive topline outcomes from its Phase 2 SANRECO study assessing divesiran for polycythemia vera. It is a rare, slow-growing blood cancer where the bone marrow makes too many red blood cells.

The extra production thickens the blood, slows down blood flow, and raises the risk of dangerous blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.

The mid-stage trial successfully met both its primary and key secondary metrics, demonstrating strong efficacy alongside a favorable safety profile in phlebotomy-dependent trial participants.

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“The SANRECO Phase 2 trial delivered our best-case outcome, confirming the impressive results observed in Phase 1 with dosing every six weeks and demonstrating equally robust and durable effects with quarterly dosing,” said Curtis Rambaran, Chief Medical Officer at Silence.

SANRECO Study Meets Primary Efficacy EndpointsThe 36-week trial evaluated divesiran, a first-in-class short interfering RNA therapy, across 48 patients receiving a 6 mg/kg subcutaneous dose every six or twelve weeks.

Overall, 88% of divesiran-treated patients achieved the primary endpoint—defined as the absence of phlebotomies while maintaining hematocrit levels below 45% between weeks 18 and 36—compared to just 19% of placebo recipients.

Dosing schedules administered every six weeks and every twelve weeks demonstrated response rates of 93.8% and 81.3%, respectively, yielding a placebo-adjusted response rate of 69%.

Secondary Outcomes And Tolerability ProfileThe clinical trial also achieved key secondary endpoints during the 36-week timeframe.

Divesiran significantly decreased phlebotomy (vein puncturing) requirements, with treated subjects averaging 0.2 phlebotomies compared to 2.1 procedures in the placebo arm.

Participants receiving divesiran also showed enhancements in hematocrit management, iron ferritin markers, and symptom reductions recorded through the MPN-SAF Total Symptom Score.

Divesiran was well tolerated throughout the study, showing safety results consistent with earlier clinical evaluations.

No new safety concerns emerged, and reported injection site reactions were infrequent and self-limiting.

Two investigator-reported grade 1 anemia adverse events occurred. Based on these results, a Phase 3 trial comparing twelve-week divesiran administration to placebo is expected to launch in the first half of 2027.

The company reported a cash balance of $72.1 million as of June 30, 2026.

SLN Price Action: Silence Therapeutics shares were up 36.82% at $16.35 at the time of publication on Monday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Key Takeaways SpaceX shares jumped 26% last week despite heavy AI spending concerns. Retail investors remain bullish on SpaceX's long-term AI growth prospects. ETFs offer diversified exposure to SpaceX while reducing company-specific risks. SpaceX (SPCX - Free Report) closed a key week in the green, with shares climbing about 26%, after the company reported its first earnings as a public company and completed the largest share unlock in its brief trading history (read: SpaceX Stock Loved by Retail Investors: ETFs in Focus).

The two events created back-to-back tests for the stock, either of which could have triggered a sharp selloff. While the stock fell after reporting earnings, the insider share-lockup expiration has boosted the stock. SpaceX stock surged 15.8% on Friday, marking its strongest daily gain, and finished at its highest level since July 15, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.

Earnings Beat Fails To Impress InitiallySpaceX's eventful week began with its second-quarter results on Tuesday. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations, but the strong results initially failed to reassure investors concerned about soaring AI spending.

The company’s AI capital expenditures jumped to $15.8 billion in the quarter from $7.7 billion in the first quarter. SpaceX shares subsequently plunged 13.6% on Wednesday, marking a new all-time closing low (read: SpaceX Beats Q2 Estimates, Shares Fall: ETFs in Focus).

Biggest Share Unlock Tests Investor ConfidenceThe next major test came Thursday, when 911.5 million shares became eligible for trading for the first time. That represented about 43% more shares than the 638.9 million shares offered in the company's June IPO.

The unlock more than doubled SpaceX’s public float, increasing the freely tradable portion of shares outstanding to 11.8% from 4.9%. With the stock already trading below its IPO price, investors had expected the additional supply to create further selling pressure.

But SpaceX shares rose 6.1% on Thursday, defying expectations that the influx of new shares would weigh on the stock.

Staggered Unlock Structure Limits Immediate PressureSpaceX's share-unlock structure is unusual because the company is not releasing all locked shares at once. Instead, the expiration is staggered across nine tranches over several months. Thursday's tranche was the first and largest.

Morningstar analyst Nicolas Owens said much of the selling pressure may have already been reflected in the stock price, as investors had anticipated the unlock, as quoted on the same Yahoo Finance source.

Retail Enthusiasm Cools But Holds FirmSpaceX surged from its $135 IPO price to an intraday peak of $225.64 on June 16. Since then, the stock has fallen significantly. The stock closed last week at $133.11.

Retail demand has also moderated since the IPO, but investors have remained net buyers. Retail investors purchased about $405 million worth of SpaceX shares during the first five trading sessions, compared with $103 million over the five sessions leading up to the company's earnings report.

AI Story Drives Long-Term OptimismVanda Research believes retail investors are looking beyond SpaceX's near-term financial results and focusing instead on its long-term AI ambitions, as mentioned on Yahoo Finance.

SpaceX is prioritizing long-term growth over near-term cash flow. Despite several risks, CEO Elon Musk projects that SpaceX could generate $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2030, a year earlier than its pre-IPO forecast.

Although the enormous investment raised concerns about the cost of SpaceX's expansion, retail investors appeared to view the spending as an investment in future growth. Notably, SpaceX's AI business posted an operating loss of $1.26 billion in Q2, narrower than analysts' estimate of $2.39 billion.

Revenues from the AI segment came in at $2.56 billion, better than the $2.18 billion expected, according to StreetAccount, as quoted on CNBC.

Upbeat Estimate RevisionsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for a loss of 23 cents per share in 2026 (which was revised up from a loss of 53 cents a week ago), followed by EPS of $1.45 in 2027 (which was raised from 65 cents over the past week).

Three of nine analysts have raised the company's earnings estimate for the ongoing quarter over the past week. Six analysts have raised the earnings estimate for the full fiscal year 2026, and five analysts have raised their estimates for the next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues calls for $42.96 billion in 2026 (up 130% year over year), followed by $98.63 billion in 2027 (up 129.6%).

Any Wall of Worry?Despite the strong weekly performance, SpaceX still faces eight additional share-unlock tranches over the coming months. The first and largest hurdle has now passed, but the stock's ability to sustain its recovery will depend on whether the company can continue delivering strong financial results while absorbing the additional share supply.

ETFs in FocusInvestors who have faith in SpaceX’s fundamentals but are in two minds due to the upcoming share-unlock events may tap SpaceX stock through a basket of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The ETF approach minimizes company-specific concentration risks.

Baron First Principles ETF (RONB - Free Report) , Roundhill Space & Technology ETF (MARS - Free Report) , VanEck Space ETF (WARP - Free Report) , VanEck Space ETF (ORBX - Free Report) , VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF (XSPC - Free Report) and WisdomTree Space Economy Fund (WSPC - Free Report) are ETFs that invest in SpaceX to a significant extent.

Investors should note that heavy AI spending is common among major AI companies, as seen in Big Tech’s massive investments. Hence, concerns over SPCX’s high AI spending are unlikely to weigh on the stock for long.

Key Takeaways In Q2, Serve cut 2026 revenue guidance to $9M-$10M from $26M after removing an expected Uber volume ramp.DoorDash partnership revenues grew nearly 50% sequentially, while recurring revenues topped 50% of total.Serve is building direct merchant access with Beacon and plans another product this fall to broaden demand. Serve Robotics Inc. (SERV - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to explain a sharp reset in its Uber relationship and 2026 revenue outlook after delivery volume declined for the first time in 17 quarters.

CEO Ali Kashani and CFO Brian Read framed the shift as reallocating fleet capacity and capital toward stronger utilization, recurring revenue and operating alignment.

SERV Recasts the Uber RelationshipCo-Founder and CEO Ali Kashani said lower-than-expected robot utilization through Uber reflected differences over fleet coordination, merchant integration and the operating model, rather than weaker customer or merchant demand.

Kashani said Serve does not currently expect to renew the Uber agreement when it expires in early 2027 unless the operating model improves meaningfully. Discussions with Uber are continuing.

Prior guidance assumed a substantial second-half Uber volume ramp, which Serve removed from the 2026 outlook.

Serve Resets 2026 Outlook and SpendingSERV’s second-quarter revenues were $3.24 million, up 404% year over year and 9% sequentially, but missed the $3.54 million Zacks Consensus Estimate. Non-GAAP net loss was $47.1 million, or 59 cents per share. The reported loss of 80 cents per share was wider than the 69-cent Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Serve cut full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $9 million-$10 million from $26 million.

The company’s 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance fell to $140 million-$150 million from $160 million-$170 million. Planned capital expenditures were reduced to about $15 million-$17 million from roughly $25 million.

SERV Leans on Diversified Revenue ChannelsCo-Founder and CEO Ali Kashani highlighted DoorDash as a counterpoint to Uber, saying partnership revenues grew nearly 50% sequentially in the second quarter. He also said another major delivery marketplace partnership was set to be announced.

Kashani said advertising represented nearly half of robotic food-delivery revenues. CFO Brian Read added that campaigns span local and national customers, with robot wraps still the primary format.

The CFO said recurring revenues exceeded 50% of total revenues, supported by hospital robotics. Serve signed seven multiyear hospital contract extensions and added two new hospitals in the first half of 2026.

Serve Builds More Direct Merchant AccessAli Kashani said Serve is developing direct distribution to reduce dependence on any single delivery platform. Beacon, a cellular countertop device, is designed to connect restaurants directly with Serve.

The CEO said almost two-thirds of delivery orders in Serve's operating areas cannot use robotic last-mile delivery because of back-of-house integration barriers. Beacon is intended to work without restaurant internet or point-of-sale integration.

Kashani also said Serve plans another product later this fall aimed at generating direct customer demand and broadening the goods its network can move beyond food.

SERV Q&A Presses Utilization and AutonomyA Northland Capital Markets analyst pressed management on the second-quarter utilization decline. Co-Founder and CEO Ali Kashani said Serve and Uber were not fully aligned on order allocation, fleet organization and operating responsibility.

An Oppenheimer analyst asked how investors should track autonomy efficiency. Kashani said key measures are whether robots become faster, safer and more reliable while supporting revenue growth and margin improvement.

A Ladenburg Thalmann analyst asked about advertising. Both the CEO and CFO said Serve is seeing local and national campaigns plus growing experiential use, but management did not provide separate advertising guidance.

Serve Narrows Priorities After the ResetCFO Brian Read said spending will increasingly focus on autonomy performance, utilization, recurring revenues and gross-margin improvement. He also said Serve is reviewing overlapping G&A and shared services while integrating Diligent Robotics.

Read emphasized that core autonomy and software remain investment areas.

The CFO framed the updated plan around tighter prioritization, with capital focused on robot productivity and operating leverage.

SERV’s Zacks Rank & Style Scores Stay CautiousSERV currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Its Value Score is F, Growth Score is F, Momentum Score is C and VGM Score is F, leaving it without the A or B Style Scores that provide stronger complementary signals to top Zacks Ranks.

The rank does not carry the same positive signal as Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks, while the Style Score hierarchy places C above F but below A and B. The Zacks Rank can change as estimates are revised after the just-reported results.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ToplineGeico, Berkshire Hathaway's largest insurance business, saw earnings decline nearly 45% last quarter as American drivers filed more auto claims and injury costs sharply spiked, delivering a hit to the conglomerate’s most profitable sector.

A Geico insurance office on July 20, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Getty Images

Key FactsGeico's pre-tax underwriting earnings fell to $994 million in the second quarter of 2026, down from $1.82 billion a year earlier—for a decline of nearly 45%, according to Berkshire's quarterly Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Geico's loss ratio—the share of premiums paid out in claims—rose to 76.6% in the second quarter and 75.3% for the first half of 2026, up nearly five percentage points from the same periods a year earlier.

The filing says the number of bodily injury claims rose 5% in the first half of 2026 and injury claim costs on average jumped 10%, both measures worsening when compared to 2025.

Berkshire's filing reflects a broader trend in the insurance industry where bodily injury claims have surpassed auto physical damage payouts for the first time in history.

WHY HAVE BODILY INJURY CLAIMS INCREASED? CCC Intelligent Solutions, an auto insurance software company, reports bodily insurance claim frequency is up 11% over the past two years and the cost of those claims has jumped 10.3% over the last year and 32% over the last four years. CCC says the increase is not because car crashes are becoming more frequent or more severe, instead pointing to changes in the social environment surrounding injury claims. General affordability, higher medical costs and more aggressive legal strategies have all made alleging injuries and filing lawsuits more attractive, according to industry analyst Erik Bahnsen. In other words, people are more likely to win lawsuits and, in doing so, can avoid shouldering the burden of medical costs on their own. For insurance companies, those bodily injury claims are becoming more expensive due to higher rates of attorney involvement, longer negotiations, higher legal fees and rising health care expenses.

SURPRISING FACTWhile the number of bad car accidents hasn’t substantially changed, the number of minor ones has. What are known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, like automatic emergency braking, have successfully cut down on the number of minor, low-speed fender benders. And because there are fewer of those lower-severity collisions, the remaining claims pool is disproportionately weighted toward more intense crashes that may result in physical injuries.

Key backgroundGeico was one of Berkshire Hathaway’s strongest performers heading into 2026, recovering from a period of underwriting losses that prompted significant cost cuts and premium increases in previous years. That turnaround made this year’s second-quarter reversal even more striking when underwriting expenses at Geico surged about 28% in the first half of 2026 versus a year earlier. The filing discloses no significant catastrophe losses in the first half of 2026, meaning the Geico deterioration is purely operational rather than weather-driven. Berkshire’s broader operations held $359.2 billion in cash and Treasury bills as of June 30 and generated about $177.5 billion in insurance float—a financial cushion that masks how sharply Geico's underwriting performance has deteriorated.

FORBES VALUATIONWarren Buffett, the investor known as the "Oracle of Omaha," is worth an estimated $151.4 billion as of Monday, making him the 10th-richest person in the world. Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 and turned the struggling textile company into a giant holding company, of which he was CEO until stepping down in December at age 95. He remains chairman of the board.

further readingForbesBerkshire Hathaway Earnings Beat As Abel Deploys Buffett’s Cash HoardBy Bill StoneForbesBerkshire Hathaway Stock’s 2026 Outlook And What It Means For Your PortfolioBy Catherine Brock

Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. sales rose 4.5%, while operating expenses increased 7%, driving expense deleverage. Higher depreciation and healthcare costs pushed Walmart U.S.'s operating expense rate up 56 basis points. Labor productivity partly offset cost pressure, while Walmart U.S. operating income increased 3.5%. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) posted solid sales growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, but operating expenses rose faster in its U.S. business. The resulting expense deleverage reflected higher depreciation and healthcare costs, even as labor productivity provided a partial offset.

Walmart U.S. net sales increased 4.5% year over year to $117.2 billion. Operating expenses rose 7% to $27.6 billion, while the operating expense rate jumped 56 basis points to 23.5%. The expense pressure primarily reflected higher depreciation tied to capital expenditures and higher healthcare costs from increased associate enrollment and medical cost inflation.

Business reorganization expenses also created an 11-basis-point headwind to the operating expense rate. Higher labor productivity helped offset some pressure, but overall expenses still grew faster than sales during the quarter. The expense dynamic was also visible at the consolidated level, where adjusted operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 23 basis points to 21.1%.

Walmart U.S. operating income jumped 3.5% to $5.9 billion compared with the 4.5% increase in net sales. The reported operating income rate declined 5 basis points to 5%. On an adjusted basis, operating income rose 5.7% to $6 billion, and the adjusted operating income rate improved 6 basis points to 5.1%.

The first-quarter figures show that Walmart U.S. generated sales growth while absorbing higher depreciation and healthcare expenses. The 56-basis-point increase in the operating expense rate captures the core issue, with cost growth outpacing revenue growth despite productivity-related relief.

How Kroger and Costco Compare on Expense LeverageThe Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) also faced expense pressure in the first quarter of 2026. KR’s operating, general and administrative rate, excluding fuel and adjustment items, increased 16 basis points year over year, mainly due to planned investments in associate wages, additional store hours, training and new uniforms, partly offset by lower multi-employer pension contributions and productivity initiatives. Kroger’s total sales increased to $46.1 billion from $45.1 billion.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) showed a comparatively better expense trend in third-quarter fiscal 2026. The company’s SG&A rate improved 20 basis points to 8.96% from 9.16%. Excluding gas inflation, COST’s SG&A rate improved 2 basis points, with productivity improvements partly offset by higher healthcare costs. Costco’s net sales increased 11.6% to $69.15 billion, while operating income rose to $2.82 billion from $2.53 billion.

WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 7.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 5.6%.

WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.27, higher than the industry’s average of 33.08.

WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Takeaways Pfizer raised the lower end of the 2026 revenue guidance as new and acquired products gained traction.Pfizer's COVID sales continue to fall, while patent expirations are expected to weigh on revenues.Pfizer is advancing oncology and obesity pipelines to drive growth, with newer products posting strong gains. Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) stock has risen 6.9% since it announced second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4. Pfizer delivered a solid second quarter, beating estimates for both earnings and revenues. While earnings growth was flat year over year, revenues rose 1% on an operational basis. Strength in non-COVID products continued to offset declining sales of its COVID products, Comirnaty (COVID-19 vaccine - in partnership with BioNTech [(BNTX - Free Report) ]) and Paxlovid (oral antiviral). Excluding sales from BioNTech-partnered Comirnaty and Paxlovid, revenues increased 5% operationally.

Pfizer also raised the lower end of its 2026 revenue guidance, backed by continued strong performance of its new and acquired products. The company now expects revenues between $60.5 billion and $62.5 billion, compared with the previous range of $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion. The adjusted earnings guidance was reaffirmed at $2.80-$3.00 per share. However, the guidance now absorbs a 10 cents per share charge related to its licensing deal with Chinese biotech Innovent Biologics that will be recorded in the third quarter of 2026.

However, a single quarter’s results are not so important for long-term investors. To make an informed decision on whether to buy, sell or hold the stock, it is important to evaluate the company’s fundamentals by examining its key strengths and weaknesses.

First, let’s understand the negatives.

Declining Sales of PFE’s COVID ProductsDuring the pandemic, Pfizer generated extraordinary COVID-related sales from Comirnaty and Paxlovid. Those revenues have fallen sharply as the pandemic faded.

Sales of Pfizer’s COVID products, Comirnaty and Paxlovid, came down to around $11 billion in 2024 and $6.7 billion in 2025 from $56.7 billion in 2022. Sales of Comirnaty are declining due to a narrow recommendation for COVID vaccines in the United States, while Paxlovid is experiencing reduced demand from lower infection rates.

In 2026, Pfizer expects COVID-related revenues of approximately $4 billion, down from its previous forecast of $5 billion and below $6.7 billion generated in 2025. The decline reflects the continued normalization of COVID-19 infection rates and lower demand for COVID products. Consistent with this trend, sales of both Comirnaty and Paxlovid declined significantly during the first half of 2026.

PFE’s LOE HeadwindsPfizer faces a significant patent cliff later this decade. Pfizer expects a significant negative impact on revenues from the loss of exclusivity (“LOE”) cliff in the 2026-2030 period as several of its key products, including Eliquis, Ibrance, Xeljanz and Xtandi, face patent expirations. The LOE cliff is expected to hurt sales by approximately $1.1 billion in 2026, which is slightly lower than the prior expectation of $1.5 billion.

PFE’s 2026 Financial Outlook DullPfizer’s revenue and earnings guidance for 2026 indicates mostly flat to slightly negative year-over-year growth.

Pfizer expects total revenues for 2026 to be between $60.5 billion and $62.5 billion. The range represents a slight decline from 2025 revenues of $62.6 billion due to lower revenues from COVID products, Comirnaty and Paxlovid, and loss of revenues from the upcoming patent cliff.

In 2026, Pfizer expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.80-$3.00, which represents a decline from the 2025 EPS of $3.22 due to the dilutive impact of 3SBio and Metsera deals, lower COVID revenues and higher taxes.

However, not everything is going wrong at Pfizer. Let’s see the positives.

PFE’s Non-COVID Portfolio Driving Its Next Phase of GrowthPfizer's business mix has changed significantly over the past few years. During the pandemic, the company became heavily dependent on COVID-19 products.  However, the company is gradually diversifying its portfolio through a combination of internal product launches like Abrysvo, Zavzpret, Elrexfio, Hympavzi, Litfulo and others, strategic acquisitions like Seagen, Metsera and Biohaven and the continued growth of several established brands like Vyndaqel, Padcev and Eliquis.

Pfizer expects its recently launched and acquired products to record continued double-digit growth. Reflecting this trend, sales from these products increased 22% operationally in the first quarter of 2026 and 18% in the second quarter.

PFE Enjoys a Strong Position in OncologyPfizer is one of the world’s leading oncology drugmakers with a broad portfolio of marketed cancer therapies as well as a deep oncology pipeline spanning multiple treatment modalities, including small molecules, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immuno-oncology biologics.

Oncology sales comprise around 27% of its total revenues. Its oncology revenues grew 5% in the first half of 2026, driven by drugs like Xtandi, Lorbrena, the Braftovi-Mektovi combination and Padcev. Pfizer considers Padcev to be a potential growth driver in the oncology segment and plans to invest in this asset.

Pfizer has ventured into the oncology biosimilars space and markets six biosimilars for cancer. It is also advancing its oncology clinical pipeline across areas such as breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal and blood cancers. Several oncology candidates have entered late-stage development, such as atirmociclib and sigvotatug vedotin. A regulatory application seeking approval of sasanlimab is also under review in the EU.

A key candidate in its oncology pipeline is PF-08634404, a dual PD-1/VEGF inhibitor in-licensed from Chinese biotech 3SBio in 2025. Pfizer has initiated nine studies, including two pivotal phase III studies for PF-08634404 in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer and first-line NSCLC. Pfizer aims to establish PF-08634404 as a potential backbone therapy across multiple tumor types. By 2030, Pfizer expects to have eight or more blockbuster oncology medicines in its portfolio.

Pfizer’s Fast Progressing Obesity PipelineThe company is rebuilding its pipeline in oncology and obesity, which it believes can drive growth in 2028 and beyond. Pfizer plans an extensive phase III program for berobenatide, its monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist added from last year’s Metsera acquisition, in 2026. Pfizer plans to start more than 20 obesity studies in 2026, including 10 phase III studies for berobenatide for obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, including knee osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea. Three phase III studies on berobenatide have already begun. Pfizer is targeting the first of a series of potential approvals for berobenatide in 2028. Pfizer is also evaluating berobenatide in combination with an amylin-based therapy, PF'3945, in phase II studies. However, in the obesity space, Pfizer lags far behind leaders like Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) and Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) .

PFE Stock’s Price, Estimates & ValuationPfizer’s stock has risen 7.5% so far this year compared with an increase of 11.4% for the industry.

PFE Stock Underperforms IndustryImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Pfizer appears attractive relative to the industry and is trading below its five-year mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, Pfizer’s shares currently trade at 9.08 forward earnings, significantly lower than 18.53 for the industry and slightly lower than the stock’s five-year mean of 9.28. The stock is also trading below most large drugmakers like Lilly, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, J&J and others.

PFE Stock ValuationImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is stable at $2.97 per share, while that for 2027 has risen from $2.86 per share to $2.93 per share over the past 30 days.

PFE Estimate Movement                     Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stay Invested in PFE StockPfizer is navigating a difficult transition following the sharp decline in COVID-related sales from Comirnaty and Paxlovid. The market is concerned about Pfizer’s ability to replace declining COVID-related revenues and offset upcoming patent expirations through new product launches, pipeline development and contributions from acquisitions.

Although Pfizer’s 2026 sales guidance indicates minimal growth, the company expects a high single-digit revenue CAGR for five years, starting from year-end 2028. Pfizer expects its recently launched and acquired products, along with a strong pipeline, to help it return to growth from 2029 onward.

Pfizer's valuation is relatively inexpensive compared with many large pharmaceutical peers, and the stock offers one of the highest dividend yields in the sector. Pfizer’s dividend yield stands at around 6.4%

Pfizer’s significant cost reduction and efforts to improve R&D productivity measures are also driving profit growth. Pfizer expects approximately $9.7 billion in total net savings from its productivity enhancement initiative through 2029.

Long-term investors may consider retaining this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock and can wait and see if Pfizer can successfully execute on its strategy and generate meaningful growth from its newer assets and restore revenue growth. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

War. Huh? What is it good for? Well, apparently it's good for oil prices and oil stocks -- Chevron (CVX +3.33%) in particular.

Global demand for oil amid Mideast turmoil spurred Chevron to raise its production forecast to between 4 million and 4.1 million barrels per day for this year, as TheFly.com reported late Friday. At the same time, Chevron advised that its capital spending will be closer to $18 billion than $19 billion.

Investors liked the news, and Chevron stock is up 3.2% through 10:15 a.m. ET this morning.

Image source: Getty Images.

More oil, less spending, more profit! More oil production at higher prices, and less capital spending? That's a recipe for higher profits and a near-term gusher of cash. Accordingly, Chevron told investors it anticipates growing its free cash flow by about $12.5 billion this year.

Added to the $16.6 billion the company generated last year, this implies 2026 FCF could surpass $29 billion, growing 75% year over year!

Today's Change

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How to value Chevron stock With $16.5 billion in FCF already produced this year, a $29.1 billion by year-end looks entirely achievable. Indeed, at its current pace, Chevron could potentially bury its own forecast and generate as much as $33 billion this year.

But let's work off the company's own, more conservative forecast.

Chevron has a $366 billion market capitalization. Dividing $29.1 billion into that gives us a 12.6x price-to-free cash flow ratio for Chevron stock. Factoring in a 3.8% dividend yield, I'd say any long-term growth rate of 9% or better would be good enough to make this stock a buy -- and analysts are forecasting more than a 16% long-term growth rate.

That's good enough for me. Chevron stock looks cheap enough to buy.

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Chord's Q2 2026 revenues rose 57.2% as oil output and oil and NGL realizations strengthened.Chord's oil production increased 5.6% to 165.4 MBbl/d, lifting oil's share of output.Chord's adjusted free cash flow surged to $413.4 million, supporting $147.4 million in share repurchases. Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $6.44 per share, up 259.8% from $1.79 a year ago. The bottom line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.68 by 3.6%.

Total quarterly revenues rose 57.2% to $1.5 billion from $950.3 million. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.4 billion by 4.2%.

The strong quarterly revenues were driven by higher oil output, and stronger oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) realizations.

Total production reached 286.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d).

CHRD's Oil Output Moves HigherCHRD's oil production was 165.4 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d), up 5.6% from 156.7 MBbl/d in the year-ago quarter. Oil represented 57.8% of total production, compared with 55.6% a year earlier.

Natural gas liquids production fell 2.0% to 53 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d) from 54.1 MBbl/d recorded in the prior-year quarter. Natural gas production declined 4.2% to 408 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) from 425.9 MMcf/d in the second quarter of 2025. The company had 66 gross and 47 net operated wells turned in line during the quarter.

Chord Benefits From Stronger RealizationsChord's average oil sales price, excluding realized derivatives, increased 52.5% to $93.99 per barrel from $61.62 per barrel a year earlier. The average NGL sales price, excluding realized derivatives, increased 59.5% to $9.25 per barrel from $5.80 per barrel in the year-ago quarter.

Crude oil revenues rose to $1.42 billion, while NGL revenues increased to $44.6 million and natural gas revenues fell to $34.7 million.

CHRD's Cost Picture Shows Mixed TrendsLease operating expense (LOE) increased to $267.8 million from $257.0 million a year ago, while LOE per barrel of oil equivalent rose to $10.28 from $10.02. Production taxes rose to $125.9 million from $69.0 million.

Gathering, processing and transportation expense declined to $62.8 million from $74.1 million. Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $409.2 million from $377.0 million. Total select operating expenses were $865.7 million, up from $777.1 million.

CHRD's Cash Flow Supports Higher Capital ReturnsNet cash provided by operating activities reached $1.12 billion, up from $419.8 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose to $923.5 million from $547.2 million, while adjusted free cash flow increased to $413.4 million from $140.8 million.

CHRD returned 54% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders in the quarter. It repurchased 1,104,346 shares for $147.4 million and declared a base dividend of $1.30 per share.

Chord’s Balance SheetAs of June 30, 2026, Chord had cash and cash equivalents of $611.6 million, while total debt was $1.50 billion and liquidity was $2.58 billion.

CHRD Keeps 2026 Capital Plan SteadyChord maintained its full-year 2026 oil-volume midpoint at 161 MBbl/d, with guidance to be in the range of 160.2-161.8 MBbl/d. Total production is projected to be in the range of 278.2-281.8 MBoe/d, while capital expenditures are expected to be between $1.36 billion and $1.44 billion.

For the third quarter, oil volumes are expected to be in the range of 161.5-164.5 Mbo/d and capital spending between $360 million and $390 million. Chord raised the full-year LOE midpoint to $10.30 per barrel of oil equivalent (Boe), reflecting additional production-enhancement initiatives, higher workover costs and higher non-operated LOE. The company expects about $3.0 billion of adjusted EBITDA and $1.3 billion of adjusted free cash flow for 2026, assuming $75 WTI and $3 Henry Hub in the second half.

CHRD’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksChord currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are PBF Energy Inc. (PBF - Free Report) , Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) and Cactus, Inc. (WHD - Free Report) . PBF sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while VLO and WHD carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each, at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

PBF reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $6.22 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.05 per share.

As of June 30, 2026, PBF had total debt of $1.75 billion, and cash and cash equivalents of $894.1 million.

Valero reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $12.54 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.87 per share.

As of June 30, 2026, VLO had total debt of $9.10 billion, and cash and cash equivalents of $7.87 billion.

Cactus reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 93 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents per share.

As of June 30, 2026, WHD had cash and cash equivalents of $365 million.

Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX, NYSE:GOLD) shares fell 8% on Monday after the company reported second quarter results that showed strong year-over-year growth but came in below Wall Street estimates.

The company reported adjusted earnings of $0.82 per share for the quarter, below the $0.84 consensus estimate.

Revenue rose 44% year over year to $5.29 billion, although that was below forecasts of about $5.67 billion.

Barrick’s second-quarter gold production increased 11% from the first quarter to 796,000 ounces, exceeding its guidance range of 730,000 to 770,000 ounces. The company attributed the increase to an ahead-of-schedule ramp-up at Loulo-Gounkoto, a faster-than-expected recovery at Pueblo Viejo following planned maintenance and record underground tonnes at Cortez as Goldrush continued to ramp up.

Gold cost of sales was $1,993 per ounce, compared with $1,654 a year earlier, while all-in sustaining costs rose 11% year over year to $1,866 per ounce. Barrick attributed the higher costs in part to lower grades processed at several operations, higher fuel prices and increased royalties associated with higher realized gold prices.

Copper production fell 5% year over year to 56,000 tonnes. Copper cost of sales, C1 cash costs and all-in sustaining costs all increased from the prior-year period, with Barrick citing higher royalties and fuel prices.

For 2026, Barrick said it remains on track to meet its existing production and cost guidance. The company continues to expect gold production of 2.90 million to 3.25 million ounces for the year.

Gold cost of sales is forecast at $1,870 to $2,070 per ounce, while total cash costs are expected to range from $1,330 to $1,470 per ounce. All-in sustaining costs are projected at $1,760 to $1,950 per ounce. The guidance is based on an assumed gold price of $4,500 per ounce.

Barrick maintained its copper production guidance of 190,000 to 220,000 tonnes for the year. Copper cost of sales is expected at $3.05 to $3.35 per pound, with C1 cash costs of $2.20 to $2.45 per pound and all-in sustaining costs of $3.45 to $3.75 per pound. The copper guidance assumes a price of $5.50 per pound.

Barrick also reduced its 2026 total attributable capital expenditure guidance to $3.8 billion to $4.2 billion, from its previous range of $4 billion to $4.45 billion. The company said the reduction primarily reflects lower expected spending at the Reko Diq project.

“We delivered our third quarter in a row with excellent operational and financial performance,” Barrick CEO Mark Hill said in a statement. “We beat the top end of our gold production guidance and generated much higher earnings and cash flow than a year ago. We also advanced our growth pipeline, with good progress at Lumwana and Fourmile.”

Newmont deal The company also announced an agreement with Newmont that expands the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture and resolves outstanding disputes between the two companies. Under the agreement, Barrick will contribute Fourmile while Newmont will contribute the Mike and Fiberline properties, creating a Nevada complex with nearly 100 million ounces of gold, according to Barrick. Newmont will also make a $1.95 billion cash payment to Barrick.

The agreement includes Newmont's consent to Barrick's planned initial public offering of its North American gold assets. Barrick said the IPO remains on track for completion by the end of the year, with Hill set to lead the new company as CEO following the separation.

“We achieved an historic agreement with Newmont. Newmont has consented to the IPO and the parties have agreed to expand NGM with the early vend-in of our excluded properties, as well as settling all disputes,” Hill said.

“Through this agreement with our joint venture partner, we have substantially extended the asset base, and provided greater flexibility and value.”

Key Takeaways Take-Two kept FY27 Net Bookings at $8B-$8.2B, about 20% growth at the midpoint.GTA VI preorders are unprecedented, but Take-Two declined unit forecasts and held guidance.NBA 2K26 sold over 12M units as recurrent spending rose 7% and daily active users climbed 15%. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO - Free Report) entered fiscal 2027 with first-quarter Net Bookings slightly above guidance, while management kept its full-year outlook unchanged ahead of the Nov. 19 launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.

Chief executive officer Strauss Zelnick framed the year as an inflection point, but the call also showed restraint around translating record GTA VI preorders into higher guidance before launch.

Goldstein reiterated fiscal 2027 Net Bookings guidance of $8 billion to $8.2 billion, representing about 20% growth at the midpoint. The company still expects recurrent consumer spending to be in line with fiscal 2026 and accounts for 64% of Net Bookings.

Take-Two reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of 36 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. Revenues of $1.39 billion beat the estimate of $1.35 billion.

Take-Two Keeps GTA VI Launch at CenterCEO Strauss Zelnick said confidence in the Nov. 19 release of Grand Theft Auto VI remains high, supported by what management described as an exceptional start to preorders.

Zelnick said the preorder level is unprecedented for Take-Two and the industry, but he declined to translate that demand into unit expectations. He stressed that preorders can be canceled and that no units have yet been sold.

President Karl Slatoff also pointed to continued GTA Online engagement, saying recent content has reactivated players while the company maintains a stable update cadence and significant support for the service.

TTWO Leans on NBA 2K and Recurrent SpendingCEO Strauss Zelnick said NBA 2K26 sold more than 12 million units, up 9% from NBA 2K25. Recurrent consumer spending for the franchise grew 7%, while average daily active users increased 15%.

CFO Lainie Goldstein said companywide recurrent consumer spending declined 1%, better than guidance for a 3% decline, and represented 84% of first-quarter Net Bookings.

For the fiscal second quarter, Goldstein guided Net Bookings to $1.62 billion to $1.67 billion and expects recurrent consumer spending to decline about 5%, with mobile down and NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto growing.

Take-Two Addresses Mobile and PricingA TD Cowen analyst asked about signs of weaker mobile demand. CEO Strauss Zelnick said Take-Two is not seeing consumer pullback, though user acquisition costs face some pressure and Color Block Jam has a tougher year-over-year comparison.

A BMO Capital Markets analyst questioned the decision to price GTA VI at $80 while keeping NBA 2K27 at $70. Zelnick said the company’s objective is to deliver more consumer value rather than maximize price.

Zelnick also said direct-to-consumer distribution remains a growth area in mobile and has had a material positive effect on margins.

TTWO Q&A Tempers Preorder ExpectationsA Wells Fargo analyst asked whether strong GTA VI preorders could pull demand forward. CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged that outcome while reiterating that management is not raising guidance before the title launches.

A Citi analyst also pressed for a framework linking preorders to eventual sales. Zelnick again declined to provide unit expectations, emphasizing that the unprecedented preorder levels make historical comparisons less useful.

The repeated caution contrasted with management’s strong confidence in the title and reinforced the decision to keep the fiscal 2027 Net Bookings range unchanged.

Take-Two Focuses on Sustaining New ScaleCEO Strauss Zelnick said major releases have historically influenced Take-Two beyond a single quarter, while the company’s pipeline, live services and catalog provide additional growth avenues.

Management also highlighted international expansion, selective accretive M&A and live-service enhancements as priorities for sustaining a higher scale after fiscal 2027.

TTWO Zacks Signals Favorable Rank, Mixed StylesTTWO carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its Value Score is F, while Growth and Momentum Scores are C and the VGM Score is D. Under the Zacks framework, the #2 rank is favorable, while A and B are the stronger Style Score grades. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The combination therefore provides a positive earnings-estimate-revision signal but weaker support from the Style Scores. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the just-reported results.

Key Takeaways Costco reported July comparable sales growth of 8.9% across regions.COST's digital comparable sales rose 17.7%, extending strong online momentum.Costco's net sales climbed to $23.12 billion, supported by warehouse and digital growth. Costco Wholesale Corporation’s (COST - Free Report) July sales results reflected resilient consumer demand, with comparable sales advancing across regions and digitally enabled sales maintaining strong momentum. The company continues to benefit from its value-driven pricing, quality merchandise and broad warehouse footprint, which are helping attract shoppers in a cautious consumer environment.

Breaking Down Costco’s July Sales NumbersFor the four weeks ended Aug. 2, 2026, Costco reported an 8.9% year-over-year increase in total comparable sales. Regionally, comparable sales rose 10.3% in the United States, 4.2% in Canada and 6% in Other International markets. This compares with total comparable sales growth of 8.8% in June and 12.5% in May.

Excluding the impacts of gasoline prices and foreign exchange, comparable sales increased 6.9% in the United States, 4.9% in Canada and 6.6% in Other International markets. Overall, total comparable sales, excluding these factors, rose 6.6% in July compared with increases of 7% in June and 8% in May.

Digitally enabled comparable sales remained a key growth driver, rising 17.7% in July, or 18.2% after adjusting for gasoline and foreign exchange impacts. Although growth moderated from 20.9% in June and 21.1% in May, the double-digit increase underscores sustained momentum in Costco’s digital channel.

Costco’s July net sales increased 10.7% year over year to $23.12 billion from $20.89 billion. This compares with net sales growth of 10.6% in June and 14.5% in May.

Costco appears to have several factors supporting continued sales growth, including its value proposition, steady warehouse traffic and rapidly expanding digital business. July's broad-based comparable sales gains also suggest that growth is not dependent on a single market.

How Costco Compares With Walmart and BJ’s WholesaleWalmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) also displayed steady sales momentum in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Walmart U.S. comparable sales, excluding fuel, increased 4.1%, supported by a 3% rise in transactions and strong e-commerce activity. E-commerce contributed roughly 530 basis points to comps, while U.S. e-commerce sales advanced 26%. Walmart noted broad-based share gains as increased customer transactions and digital growth supported sales performance.

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ - Free Report) posted a 6.3% increase in total comparable club sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while comps, excluding gasoline, rose 1.5%. Digital remained a notable sales driver for BJ’s Wholesale, with digitally enabled comparable sales jumping 28% and two-year stacked growth reaching 63%. BJ’s Wholesale also recorded positive traffic and continued share gains, while grocery, perishables and sundries supported its core consumables business.

What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco has seen its shares tumble 5.2% over the past three months against the industry’s rise of 4.5%. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 42.33, higher than the industry’s ratio of 31.58. However, it is trading below its 12-month median level of 45.87, indicating some moderation in valuation despite sustained investor confidence in the stock.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.7% and 13.5%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.8% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Did you analyze how Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB - Free Report) fared in its international operations for the quarter ending June 2026? Given the widespread global presence of this company, scrutinizing the trends in international revenues becomes imperative to assess its financial strength and future growth possibilities.

In the current global economy, which is more interconnected than ever, a company's success in penetrating international markets is crucial for its financial health and growth journey. Investors must understand a company's dependence on overseas markets, as this offers a window into the company's earnings stability, its ability to benefit from varied economic cycles and its potential for long-term growth.

Being present in foreign markets serves as protection against local economic declines and helps benefit from more rapidly expanding economies. Yet, such expansion also introduces challenges related to currency fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainties and varied market behaviors.

Upon examining ABNB's recent quarterly performance, we noticed several interesting patterns in the revenue generated from its international segments, which are commonly analyzed and observed by Wall Street experts.

The company's total revenue for the quarter amounted to $3.61 billion, marking an increase of 16.5% from the year-ago quarter. We will next turn our attention to dissecting ABNB's international revenue to get a clearer picture of how significant its operations are outside its main base.

A Look into ABNB's International Revenue StreamsLatin America generated $291 million in revenues for the company in the last quarter, constituting 8.1% of the total. This represented a surprise of -34.9% compared to the $447 million projected by Wall Street analysts. Comparatively, in the previous quarter, Latin America accounted for $451 million (16.8%), and in the year-ago quarter, it contributed $231 million (7.5%) to the total revenue.

Asia Pacific accounted for 8.3% of the company's total revenue during the quarter, translating to $298 million. Revenues from this region represented a surprise of -0.67%, with Wall Street analysts collectively expecting $300 million. When compared to the preceding quarter and the same quarter in the previous year, Asia Pacific contributed $342 million (12.8%) and $255 million (8.2%) to the total revenue, respectively.

During the quarter, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa contributed $1.43 billion in revenue, making up 39.5% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion, this meant a surprise of +1.35%. Looking back, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa contributed $747 million, or 27.9%, in the previous quarter, and $1.23 billion, or 39.8%, in the same quarter of the previous year.

International Market Revenue ProjectionsThe current fiscal quarter's total revenue for Airbnb, as projected by Wall Street analysts, is expected to reach $4.54 billion, reflecting an increase of 10.9% from the same quarter last year. The breakdown of this revenue by foreign region is as follows: Latin America is anticipated to contribute 7.6% or $343 million, Asia Pacific 7% or $320 million and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa 50.4% or $2.29 billion.

Analysts expect the company to report a total annual revenue of $14.06 billion for the full year, marking an increase of 14.8% compared to last year. The expected revenue contributions from Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are projected to be 13.1% ($1.84 billion), 9.7% ($1.36 billion) and 38.8% ($5.45 billion) of the total revenue, in that order.

Wrapping UpAirbnb's leaning on foreign markets for its revenue stream presents a mix of chances and challenges. Therefore, a vigilant watch on its international revenue movements can greatly aid in projecting the company's future direction.

In an era of growing international ties and escalating geopolitical disputes, financial analysts on Wall Street pay keen attention to these developments to fine-tune their earnings estimations for businesses operating across borders. It's important to note, however, that a range of additional variables, like a company's local market status, also play a crucial role in shaping these forecasts.

Emphasizing a company's shifting earnings prospects is a key aspect of our approach at Zacks, especially since research has proven its substantial influence on a stock's price in the short run. This correlation is positively aligned, meaning that improved earnings projections tend to boost the stock's price.

Boasting a remarkable track record that's been externally verified, the Zacks Rank, our unique stock rating system, leverages changes in earnings projections to function as a reliable gauge for predicting short-term stock price movements.

Currently, Airbnb holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), signifying its potential to match the overall market's performance in the forthcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Airbnb, Inc.'s Recent Stock Market PerformanceThe stock has increased by 19.8% over the past month compared to the 3.4% increase of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector, which includes Airbnb,has increased 1.1% during this time frame. Over the past three months, the company's shares have experienced a gain of 34% relative to the S&P 500's 6% increase. Throughout this period, the sector overall has witnessed a 0.5% decrease.

Key Takeaways AMC's European attendance jumped 17.9%, while adjusted EBITDA surged 337% to $35.8 million.Recliner seating, ODEON Luxe conversions and premium screens offer further European growth opportunities.A strong 2026 movie slate and disciplined investment could help sustain AMC's international momentum. AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC - Free Report) delivered a standout second-quarter 2026 performance, with its European operations emerging as a key growth driver.

Attendance across Europe jumped 17.9% year over year, outpacing the relevant industry’s 16.2% growth. More strikingly, European adjusted EBITDA surged 337% to $35.8 million, helping demonstrate the strong operating leverage in AMC’s international business.

The company appears well positioned to sustain this momentum. Management highlighted significant opportunities to upgrade European theaters, particularly through recliner seating and ODEON Luxe conversions. These initiatives have generated high returns, while AMC can also secure co-funding from landlords and technology partners, reducing the capital burden. Management noted that recliner penetration in Europe remains higher than in the United States, indicating further room for premiumization.

Premium large-format screens offer another avenue for growth. AMC plans to expand its premium and extra-large-format footprint across the United States and Europe, benefiting from higher ticket prices and strong demand for enhanced moviegoing experiences.

A strong movie slate should also support attendance. Management expects 2026 to be the strongest post-pandemic year for the global box office, providing a favorable backdrop for AMC’s European theaters.

However, currency movements can affect reported international results, with European currency appreciation contributing about 2% to second-quarter international revenue and EBITDA growth. Overall, continued attendance gains, premium upgrades and disciplined investment suggest Europe could remain an important growth engine for AMC.

AMC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of AMC have surged 104% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 5.1% growth. In the same time frame, AMC has outperformed industry players like Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (CNK - Free Report) and The Marcus Corporation (MCS - Free Report) .

AMC’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, AMC trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.41, below the industry’s average of 2.97. Cinemark and Marcus have P/S ratios of 0.97 and 0.82, respectively.

AMC’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMC’s 2026 loss per share indicates a 77.1% year-over-year improvement. Conversely, industry players like Cinemark and Marcus are likely to witness growth of 125% and 652.9%, respectively, year over year in 2026 earnings.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AMC’s Zacks RankAMC currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

I keep hitting the buy button on Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) for a simple reason: it is the rare AI story where the growth is already booked, the cash is already showing up, and I do not have to guess which hyperscaler wins the compute race. That last part is the whole thesis. My money keeps landing here because Broadcom holds a near-monopoly on high-speed AI Ethernet switching while acting as the primary beneficiary of hyperscalers moving away from general-purpose GPUs toward custom silicon. When Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic each commit to their own accelerators, Broadcom’s XPUs and switches sit on the bill of materials either way.

The Receipts Behind the Conviction Q2 FY2026 revenue landed at $22.187 billion, up 47.9% year over year, with AI semiconductor revenue of $10.80 billion growing 143%. Non-GAAP EPS of $2.44 extended the beat streak to 8 consecutive quarters. Free cash flow of $10.262 billion converted at 46% of revenue, and adjusted EBITDA margin hit 69%. Cash on the balance sheet more than doubled year over year to $19.628 billion.

Then there is the forward book. Q3 guidance calls for ~$29.40 billion in revenue, with AI semiconductor revenue guided to $16.00 billion, a 200%+ YoY jump. Q2 AI bookings came in at over $30 billion against $10.8 billion shipped. Hock Tan said “Our visibility now extends into 2028” and reiterated fiscal 2027 AI revenue in excess of $100 billion.

The income piece keeps me anchored. Broadcom has raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years since fiscal 2011, with the most recent 10% raise to $0.65 per quarter. The yield sits at 0.6%, so this is a dividend growth story, not an income story. Forward P/E of 23 against triple-digit AI growth is the valuation I keep coming back to.

Why Not NVIDIA or Marvell NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the reflexive AI pick. My money goes to Broadcom instead because the hyperscaler diversification trade is the whole point of my thesis. Networking alone made up almost 40% of Q2 AI revenue, and Tan called Broadcom “the de facto standard in the industry” in co-packaged optics. Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) plays in the same custom silicon lane, but it does not sit on partnerships covering 10 gigawatts in 2027 across Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is a compelling GPU alt, but it competes with the very customers Broadcom serves.

The Real Risk Customer concentration is real. A handful of hyperscalers drive the AI number, and if any one of them pulls back, the growth curve bends. I also see the insider tape: 59 disposal transactions against 3 acquisitions in the last three months, with co-founder Henry Samueli leading the selling. What keeps me buying anyway is the booking backlog. Orders placed today for 2027 and 2028 delivery are harder to unwind than a quarterly sentiment shift, and the $56 billion full-year 2026 AI target is already largely contracted.

Why the Buy Button Stays Active Analysts carry 44 Buy ratings against 0 Sells with a target of $527.88 versus the $427.76 close. That is the market’s math. Mine is simpler: Broadcom gets paid whether the winning AI chip is designed in Santa Clara, Mountain View, or Menlo Park, and it hands me a rising dividend while I wait for 2028 to arrive.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Aug. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) (NYSE: TSN) announced today that it is offering to purchase for cash each series (each, a “Series”) of the notes issued by the Company listed in the following table (the “Notes”) (i) in accordance with, and in the order of, the corresponding Acceptance Priority Levels (as defined below) and (ii) subject to the Maximum Tender Cap (as defined below), the 2027 Tender Sub-Cap (as defined below), the 5.400% 2029 Tender Sub-Cap (as defined below) and possible pro rata allocation, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase (as defined below), including the Financing Condition (as defined below). The offers to purchase with respect to each Series of Notes are referred to herein as the “Offers” and each, an “Offer.” Each Offer is made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated August 10, 2026 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this press release have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.

Shares of The Trade Desk (TTD -6.16%) were falling again on Monday as Wall Street reactions to last week's dismal earnings report rolled in.

As of 9:55 a.m. ET, the stock was down 4.7% on the news.

Image source: Getty Images.

In its second-quarter earnings report, The Trade Desk reported revenue growth that slowed to just 3%, its slowest growth rate in its history, except for the first quarter during the pandemic.

The company's guidance for the third quarter also implied a decline in revenue, showing the business is collapsing as walled gardens like Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet seem to be outcompeting it for ad dollars.

This morning, HSBC downgraded the stock from hold to reduce and gave it a $10 price target, implying the stock would fall another 30% over the next year due to weakening relationships with agency partners, competitive pressure, and struggles to capitalize on AI advertising.

Morgan Stanley also lowered its price target from $26 to $13 and maintained an equal weight rating on the stock.

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Can The Trade Desk bounce back? Trade Desk stock is now down roughly 90% from its peak at the end of 2024 as the company has reported a string of disappointing quarterly results, with revenue growth consistently slowing.

Despite the challenges, CEO Jeff Green seems more focused on spinning the results than on overhauling the business to better compete with the walled gardens.

With revenue and profit now on track to fall in the third quarter, it's hard to see a compelling case to buy the adtech stock right now.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends HSBC Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

monday.com (NASDAQ:MNDY) shares fell about 6% on Monday after the software company issued third quarter revenue guidance that came in slightly below Wall Street expectations, overshadowing a second quarter earnings and revenue beat.

For the third quarter, monday.com forecast revenue of $368 million to $370 million, representing year-over-year growth of 16% to 17%. The midpoint of the outlook is below the roughly $372.8 million analysts had expected, contributing to the negative reaction in the shares.

The company reported second-quarter revenue of $364.6 million, up 22% year over year and above analyst expectations of about $355.5 million. Adjusted diluted earnings per share came in at $1.48, ahead of consensus estimates of roughly $1.11 to $1.14.

The company also reported that annual recurring revenue from its AI products doubled from the first quarter and accounted for 17% of net new ARR in the second quarter. monday.com said it also recorded a record number of net new customers with more than $100,000 and $500,000 in ARR.

“Q2 reinforced our conviction that our strategy is working and that it was time to move faster. We made the difficult decision to restructure our organization, sharpen our product portfolio, and commit fully to the AI Work Platform in order to capture the largest opportunity we have ever seen in software,” monday.com co-founders and co-CEOs Roy Mann and Eran Zinman said in a statement.

“The early results reinforce our conviction. ARR from AI products doubled from Q1, representing 17% of net new ARR in Q2, and customer response to our new direction continues to exceed our expectations.”

For the full year, monday.com maintained revenue guidance of $1.466 billion to $1.474 billion, representing growth of 19% to 20%. The company expects full-year non-GAAP operating income of $230 million to $234 million, with an operating margin of about 16%.

monday.com also expects adjusted free cash flow of $280 million to $290 million for 2026, representing an adjusted free cash flow margin of 19% to 20%, with the outlook assuming a negative foreign exchange impact of 100 to 200 basis points.

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when XP Inc.A (XP - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.51 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +18.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $976.54 million, up 24.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for XP Inc.A?For XP Inc.A, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +5.20%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that XP Inc.A will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that XP Inc.A would post earnings of $0.48 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.47, delivering a surprise of -2.08%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

XP Inc.A appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsQfin Holdings Inc. - Sponsored ADR (QFIN - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.99 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -44.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $520.01 million, down 28.6% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Qfin Holdings Inc. - Sponsored ADR has been revised 0.5% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +5.58%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggests that Qfin Holdings Inc. - Sponsored ADR will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.