Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Disney's games business topped $4 billion in consumer spending in the latest fiscal year.Nine Disney titles have each generated more than $1 billion at retail, spanning Marvel and other franchises.Disney's Epic Games partnership aims to unite Fortnite, Disney storytelling and creator-made content. Disney (DIS - Free Report) is sharpening its case for gaming as a genuine growth engine. Disney said its games business, largely run through licensing partners, has driven an estimated $3.5 billion in annual consumer spending over the past four years and crossed $4 billion in consumer spending in the most recent fiscal year.

The company disclosed that nine titles in its portfolio have each generated more than $1 billion at retail, spanning franchises such as Kingdom Hearts and Marvel Strike Force, with newer releases including Marvel T??kon: Fighting Souls and the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine, slated for a September launch. Lucasfilm Games contributes titles across more than 20 genres, while Disney and Pixar mobile games, including Disney Solitaire, Disney Tsum Tsum and Disney Magic Kingdoms, have together surpassed one billion installs since 2014.

Layered onto this licensing base is Disney's collaboration with Epic Games, backed by a roughly $1.5 billion investment, aimed at building an entertainment universe combining Fortnite, Disney storytelling and creator-made content. Past activations point to reach: a Simpsons-themed Fortnite event in November 2025 logged 780 million hours played across more than 80 million unique players, while an earlier Marvel-themed in-game event drew over 15 million concurrent players.

These gaming disclosures follow fiscal third-quarter 2026 results, reported Aug. 5, in which total revenues rose 7% to $25.2 billion, and adjusted earnings per share grew 28% to $2.06, both ahead of prior guidance. Streaming revenues increased 11% with a 13% operating margin, and management reiterated full-year adjusted EPS growth guidance near 12%, excluding an extra fiscal week.

Even so, gaming's direct financial contribution remains modest relative to Experiences and streaming, and much of the newly disclosed spending flows through third-party licensees rather than Disney's own books, meaning the segment's promotion to a major growth catalyst is still more aspiration than established fact.

How DIS' Gaming Push Stacks Up Against Sony and Warner BrosUnlike Disney, which largely licenses its IP to partners, Sony (SONY - Free Report) develops and publishes titles directly through PlayStation Studios, giving Sony tighter control over release timing and revenue capture. Sony's 2026–2027 slate includes God of War Laufey, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Ghost of Y??tei-style single-player exclusives, alongside live-service bets like Marathon. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD - Free Report) , meanwhile, is emerging from a self-described "rebuilding" phase after cancelling Wonder Woman and shuttering Monolith Productions; Warner Bros. has narrowed its pipeline to four franchises—Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones and DC/Batman—with 2026 releases limited to Lego Batman and a Game of Thrones mobile title, while Warner Bros. has signaled its "biggest" franchise returns will land only in 2027–2028.

DIS’ Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesDisney shares have lost 7.9% year to date, underperforming the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's 6.2% decline.

DIS’ YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, DIS stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings ratio of 14.18X compared with the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry's 15.86X, and the stock carries a Value Score of B.

Disney’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimates for DisneyThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Disney’s earnings for fiscal 2026 is pegged at $6.88, suggesting year-over-year growth of 16.02%.

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

Key Takeaways Home Depot's Q2 revenues are expected to rise 4.9% y/y to $47.5B, with EPS projected to increase 0.6%.HD's Pro ecosystem, GMS and SRS contributions, and digital growth are expected to support Q2 sales.Home Depot faces housing weakness and margin pressure, with the gross margin modeled to fall 60 bps to 32.8%.
The Home Depot, Inc. (HD - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 18, before market open. The company’s top line is expected to have increased year over year in the to-be-reported quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $47.5 billion, indicating growth of 4.9% from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $4.71 indicates growth of 0.6% from the year-ago period’s reported figure. The consensus estimate for EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days.

The Atlanta, GA-based leading home improvement retailer delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 1.6%. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 0.9%.

HD’s Q2 Earnings WhispersOur proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for Home Depot this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Home Depot has an Earnings ESP of +1.35% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Trends to Monitor Before HD’s Q2 EarningsHome Depot’s fiscal second-quarter results will likely hinge on spring demand, weather, Pro momentum, housing-market pressures and gross-margin trends, with several company-specific initiatives offering potential upside. Management entered second-quarter fiscal 2026, encouraged by customer engagement, noting that favorable weather in early May restored spring-project activity to levels seen in February and March. With some of the company’s largest selling weeks falling in the fiscal second quarter, categories such as live goods, patio, grills and outdoor power equipment should support sales.

Another positive is continued progress under the “One Home Depot” interconnected strategy. Digital sales rose more than 10% in the fiscal first quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, helped by faster delivery, better search and recommendations, and improved fulfillment. Management also cited lower cancellations, faster fulfillment and stronger customer satisfaction, suggesting these investments are translating into greater engagement. These trends are expected to have boosted the company’s sales in the to-be-reported quarter.

Second-quarter fiscal 2026 performance is also expected to have gained from contributions from the GMS acquisition and expansion of the SRS business, which continue to support the company’s Pro ecosystem and market-share growth initiatives.

The expanding Pro ecosystem is another key upside driver. Home Depot is integrating SRS, GMS, HD Supply and Construction Resources while expanding trade credit, jobsite delivery, digital tools and cross-selling. Management expects roughly a $400-million cross-sell run rate this year, with an ambition to double that next year, while complex Pro purchases continue to outgrow overall Pro sales. These benefits are expected to have boosted the performance in the fiscal second quarter.

However, underlying demand remains constrained by elevated mortgage rates, weak housing turnover and consumer uncertainty, which continue to pressure larger discretionary remodeling projects. Margins will be another key focus. On its last reported quarter’s earnings call, management expected year-over-year gross-margin pressure to continue in the fiscal second quarter, although at a smaller magnitude than the first quarter’s 75-basis-point decline, largely reflecting the GMS acquisition and SRS pricing investments. Higher fuel, commodity and tariff-related costs are likely to have added pressure.

Our model predicts a gross margin of 32.8% for the fiscal second quarter, contracting 60 bps year over year. We expect adjusted operating income to decline 0.2% in the fiscal second quarter, with a 70-bps fall in the operating margin to 14.1%.

HD’s Price Performance & ValuationHome Depot’s shares have gained 14.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 12.2% growth. The stock also outpaced the S&P 500 and the Retail-Wholesale sector’s growth of 3.2% and 0.8%, respectively, in the same period.

HD’s 3-Month Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Home Depot’s current valuation appears quite pricey. The company trades at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 21.83X, exceeding the industry average of 19.9X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some other companies, which, according to our model, also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +7.57% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is likely to register growth in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $26.1 billion, which indicates a rise of 3.4% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TGT’s quarterly earnings per share of $2.25 implies growth of 9.8% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus mark has moved up 1.8% in the past seven days. TGT has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 8.2%, on average.

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.61% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is likely to register growth in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $6.12 billion, which indicates growth of 10.7% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ quarterly earnings per share of $1.92 implies a rise of 23.1% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus mark has moved up 1.1% in the past 30 days. ROST has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average.

Five Below Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.67% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is likely to register growth in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIVE’s quarterly EPS is pegged at $1.28, suggesting 58% growth from the year-ago period’s actual. The consensus mark has moved up 3.2% in the past 30 days.

The consensus estimate for FIVE’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, which implies growth of 17.9% from the prior-year quarter’s actual. Five Below has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.

Key Takeaways Albemarle shares fell 27.7% in three months as weaker lithium prices pressured the stock.ALB is expanding lithium capacity, improving productivity and cutting costs to support growth.Albemarle expects lithium demand to witness a 10-20% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, led by storage.
Albemarle Corporation’s (ALB - Free Report) shares have tumbled 27.7% in the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry decline of 8.3% and the S&P 500’s 3.2% increase.

Falling lithium market prices have been weighing on ALB stock. Lithium prices have pulled back amid slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, elevated inventories and expectations for higher supply from mine restarts and capacity expansions. EV orders have moderated in China, the world’s largest lithium consumer, while demand from the energy storage market remains resilient.

ALB’s 3-month Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Reflecting the retreat in lithium prices, ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It also slipped below its 200-day SMA on June 23, 2026. The 50-day SMA is reading lower than the 200-day SMA, following a death crossover on July 21, 2026, signaling a bearish trend.      

Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Given the pullback in Albemarle’s shares, investors might be tempted to snap up the stock. But is this the right time to buy ALB? Let’s find out.

Growing Lithium Demand and Productivity Aid AlbemarleAlbemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.

ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year, with growth already trending near the higher end of the range.

The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes.

The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50-60% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. Albemarle, in March 2026, submitted the environmental assessment permit for a commercial direct lithium extraction (DLE) project at Salar de Atacama. The DLE pilot plant supports future growth at Salar de Atacama and has demonstrated lithium recoveries of more than 90%. The CGP3 expansion at the Greenbushes spodumene mine in Australia is underway and is expected to reach full production in first-quarter 2027.

Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $100 million already delivered.

ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.

ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital AllocationAlbemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior year. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, it had liquidity of around $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.6 billion. The company generated an operating cash flow of $710 million and free cash flow of $638 million in the second quarter. Operating cash flow for the first half nearly doubled year over year to roughly $1.1 billion.

The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year. ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.3% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM - Free Report) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) , have a dividend yield of 3.7% and 5%, respectively.

Volume and Margin Pressure Weigh on ALB StockALB’s Energy Storage unit faces volume pressure in 2026, which may affect the segment’s sales. The company’s guidance reflects flat to 4% lower year-over-year Energy Storage sales volumes in 2026. Albemarle expects Energy Storage sales volumes of 225-235 kilotons (kt), compared with 235kt in 2025, as higher Wodgina output partly offsets a delay in the CGP3 ramp-up following the June 9, 2026 fire. Lower sales volumes are expected to result in a decline in Energy Storage sales in the third quarter.

Some impacts of the lithium price retreat are also expected to reflect on the company’s performance in the third quarter. ALB expects sequentially lower prices and volumes to result in a decline in Energy Storage sales and margins compared with the second quarter.

ALB’s Earnings Estimates SouthboundThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised downward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for third-quarter 2026 has been going down over the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

A Look at ALB’s ValuationALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.38, above the industry’s 0.93. It is trading at a premium to Rio Tinto and in line with Sociedad Quimica. Albemarle has a Value Score of B. Rio Tinto and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of A and C, respectively.

ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Final Thoughts: Hold Onto ALB SharesAlbemarle is poised to benefit from project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to gain from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market. Near-term headwinds include lower Energy Storage volumes, weaker lithium prices and margin pressure. With shares below key moving averages and trading at a premium to the industry, immediate upside appears limited. Also, declining earnings estimates cast a pall on the company's prospects. Considering these factors, holding onto this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock will be prudent for investors who already own it. 

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

Micron Technology MU shares climbed on Friday after New Street upgraded the memory-chip maker to 'Buy', arguing that artificial intelligence could transform the company into a $2 trillion to $3 trillion business by the end of the decade.

New Street raised its rating from Neutral to Buy and set a price target of $1,250, implying roughly 29% upside from current levels. Micron stock was up 1.3% in trading, giving the company a market capitalization of around $1 trillion.

The bullish outlook comes as analysts increasingly expect AI-driven demand for memory chips to reshape the industry's long-term growth trajectory while making earnings less cyclical than in previous decades.

New Street said Micron remains attractively valued despite its recent rally, citing the company's price-to-cost-of-goods-sold ratio as evidence that the shares still offer value.

The stock has already gained more than 10% over the past five trading sessions.

The brokerage expects AI to become the dominant driver of memory demand in the coming years.

According to its forecasts, AI applications will account for roughly two-thirds of total memory demand, with annual memory demand growth reaching 15% beyond 2030, compared with the historical average of about 10% over the past two decades.

The firm also argued that the memory business is becoming structurally stronger.

It said high-bandwidth memory "deserves a premium to commodity DRAM" because demand is increasingly supported by long-term AI infrastructure spending rather than traditional cyclical factors.

Looking further ahead, New Street projects Micron could generate more than $150 billion in annual free cash flow by 2030 while accumulating over $600 billion in cash, describing both figures as peak levels.

Micron's rally has also been supported by improving sentiment across the broader memory sector.

Investors have returned to memory-chip stocks following Sandisk's optimistic long-term outlook presented at its investor day earlier this week.

Shares of South Korean memory producer SK Hynix also moved higher in trading.

Analysts expect memory pricing to remain strong throughout the year.

KeyBanc forecasts dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) prices will increase by 15% to 20% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter, followed by another 15% increase in the fourth quarter.

For NAND flash memory, the firm expects prices to rise by 30% to 40% in the third quarter before advancing another 15% in the final quarter of the year.

Despite Micron's strong performance, analysts argue the stock still trades at a discount to many semiconductor peers.

According to FactSet data, Micron trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 6.3 times, though analysts note traditional valuation metrics can be misleading because memory earnings have historically been cyclical.

UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri recently reiterated a $1,625 price target, valuing the company at 11 times his projected 2029 earnings.

Arcuri said he is using 2029 earnings because they "best reflect Micron's through-cycle earnings power under LTAs", adding that his model assumes "a moderate memory downcycle" by then.

With analysts seeing high target prices for Micron, investors weighing an entry point can use investment apps to access research tools and execute trades at the right time.

With AI infrastructure spending continuing to accelerate and analysts forecasting sustained strength in memory pricing, investors are increasingly viewing Micron as a long-term beneficiary of the expanding AI ecosystem.

Key Takeaways BUD's Q2 beer volumes rose 1.1%, while total volumes increased 0.9% amid global market share gains.Michelob Ultra expanded across the Americas, with 40% of Q2 volume growth coming from outside the U.S.BUD's non-alcoholic beer revenues climbed 27%, led by Corona Cero and Michelob Ultra Zero.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD - Free Report) , popularly known as AB InBev, delivered encouraging volume performance in the second quarter of 2026, signaling improving momentum across its global business. The company benefited from market share gains, continued investment in its megabrands and growth across emerging markets. Management believes its more diversified portfolio, spanning core and premium beer, non-alcoholic offerings and Beyond Beer, has positioned BUD to capture demand across more consumer occasions.

Beer volumes increased 1.1% year over year in the second quarter, while total volumes rose 0.9%. Revenues advanced 5.6%, supported by 4.2% growth in revenue per hectoliter, reflecting positive mix and revenue management initiatives. BUD also reported market share gains globally, with record second-quarter volumes in markets including Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador.

Several growth initiatives could help sustain the volume recovery. Michelob Ultra is expanding across the Americas, with 40% of the brand's second-quarter volume growth coming from outside the United States. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic beer revenues climbed 27%, led by Corona Cero and Michelob Ultra Zero. BUD is also expanding its Beyond Beer portfolio, giving the company additional avenues to attract consumers and increase participation across growing beverage segments.

Still, the recovery remains uneven across markets. China continues to be a notable pressure point, with revenues declining 8.8% amid adverse weather, a constrained consumer environment and weakness in the on-premise channel. BUD is investing in its brands, innovation and off-trade execution to improve performance there. With stronger volume trends elsewhere and management shifting its focus from resetting the business toward accelerating its growth levers, sustained execution across key markets will be crucial to determining whether the recent volume improvement develops into a broader recovery.

BUD’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAB InBev’s shares have lost 0.2% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 3.1% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, BUD trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.07X compared with the industry’s average of 15.13X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BUD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 17.2% and 12.3%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have moved upward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AB InBev currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.7% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) is a leading beverage company with a portfolio of 32 billion-dollar brands spanning sparkling beverages, water, sports drinks, dairy and value-added beverages. KO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

    The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coca-Cola’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.03% and 9.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Coca-Cola delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.6%, on average.

Primo Brands Corporation (PRMB - Free Report) is a leading North American branded beverage company focused on healthy hydration. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Primo Brands’ current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of 2.5% from the prior year’s reported levels. PRMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.7%, on average.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 14th, 2026

Aspiriant LLC raised its holdings in Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) by 19.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,395 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,975 shares during the quarter. Aspiriant LLC’s holdings in Broadcom were worth $4,682,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AVGO. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC grew its holdings in shares of Broadcom by 1,320.0% in the fourth quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 71 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. SWAN Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Broadcom by 261.9% during the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 76 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Networth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Broadcom by 546.2% during the 1st quarter. Networth Advisors LLC now owns 84 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Nvest Wealth Strategies Inc. purchased a new stake in Broadcom in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Family CFO Inc purchased a new stake in Broadcom in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.43% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have recently commented on AVGO shares. Jefferies Financial Group set a $550.00 target price on shares of Broadcom and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Dbs Bank upgraded Broadcom to a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Bank of America increased their price objective on Broadcom from $450.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Susquehanna restated a “positive” rating and set a $490.00 price objective (up from $450.00) on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday, May 28th. Finally, KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $575.00 target price (up from $500.00) on shares of Broadcom in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Twenty-eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $493.24.

View Our Latest Analysis on AVGO

Broadcom News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Broadcom and NVIDIA’s efforts to raise debt and private capital to fund AI infrastructure underscore the scale of expected demand for computing capacity, potentially supporting Broadcom’s custom-chip and networking businesses. Nvidia and Broadcom Deepen AI Financing Push — But Wolfe Sees Long-Term Risks Positive Sentiment: Recent earnings commentary highlights optics and high-speed networking as increasingly important parts of the AI buildout, areas where Broadcom is positioned to benefit from hyperscale customer spending. Lumentum and Broadcom: Both Have Seen the Light in AI But How Should Investors Play Them? Positive Sentiment: Analysts and investors continue to focus on surging AI-networking demand, Broadcom’s accelerator programs and its ability to benefit regardless of which AI chip architecture ultimately becomes dominant. Is Broadcom in Focus as AI Networking Demand Surges? Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying provided an additional confidence signal: GAMCO Investors added 6,223 shares, while Bowie Capital previously increased its position by 112,599 shares. Cathie Wood also reportedly purchased approximately $16.2 million of AVGO. GAMCO Investors Boosts Broadcom Stake Neutral Sentiment: Broadcom remains a major beneficiary of the broader AI investment theme, with investors increasingly seeking exposure to the ecosystem and supply chain rather than concentrating only in individual chip stocks. The Future of AI Investing: Harbor Debuts 5 New Ecosystem ETFs Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a key concern. Broadcom has delivered roughly an 8.7-fold five-year return, while current earnings multiples are viewed as expensive and a discounted-cash-flow estimate is near the market value, leaving less room for execution disappointments. Broadcom Stock Trades Near Fair Value but at a Premium on Earnings Negative Sentiment: Wolfe Research sees longer-term risks from intensifying competition in custom AI silicon, while other market observers warn that semiconductor flows and enthusiasm could be approaching a cyclical peak. Semiconductor Flows Stay Sticky Despite Cycle-Peak Warning Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Justine Page sold 1,602 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.86, for a total value of $598,923.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 17,426 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,514,884.36. The trade was a 8.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gayla J. Delly sold 1,890 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $385.38, for a total value of $728,368.20. Following the sale, the director owned 31,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,072,413.88. This trade represents a 5.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 61,644 shares of company stock worth $24,016,214 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Broadcom Trading Up 0.4% NASDAQ:AVGO opened at $417.82 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $389.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $373.16. Broadcom Inc. has a one year low of $281.87 and a one year high of $495.00. The firm has a market cap of $1.99 trillion, a P/E ratio of 69.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.24.

Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 3rd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $22.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.13 billion. Broadcom had a net margin of 38.85% and a return on equity of 41.61%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 47.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.58 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Broadcom Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 22nd. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Broadcom’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.33%.

Broadcom Company Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

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Key Takeaways CVS is building Health100 and Haio to simplify health care and improve consumer engagement.Technology has helped CVS approve over 95% of eligible prior authorizations within 24 hours.CVS' AI claims tool aims to cut processing time by more than 20% on hundreds of millions of claims. CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) sees its technology investments as an inflection point as it works to become a more consumer-based health care technology company. Last year, the company committed to invest $20 billion over the next decade in emerging technologies to simplify the health care experience and improve customer engagement. The investment includes developing an open platform that can provide seamless access to payers, providers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), pharmacies and digital health tools.

CVS recently began the targeted launch of its Health100 platform, including Haio, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant designed to simplify the consumer experience and help people better engage in their care journey. The company expects to expand access later this year following encouraging early feedback.

CVS is also using technology to simplify the health care experience for providers, focusing on some of the highest priorities, such as prior authorizations, claims processing and access to real-time patient information. Aetna has the fewest medical services subject to prior authorization in the industry. CVS’ focus on embedding technology within each of its businesses has enabled it to approve more than 95% of the eligible prior authorizations within 24 hours, with more than 80% being approved in real time.

The company also launched an AI-enabled claims assist manager, which is expected to reduce processing time by more than 20% and accelerate payments for providers on hundreds of millions of claims annually. CVS is also scaling its Aetna clinical collaboration program, which brings Aetna nurses together with hospital staff to support Medicare Advantage members during care transitions.

Technology infrastructure changes are helping modernize platforms and accelerate data sharing and connectivity with providers and payer partners. CVS Specialty’s focus on technology, automation and AI has helped it maintain adherence above 90% compared with the 80% industry standard.

Updates From CVS Health’s PeersCardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) generated $63.7 billion in fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 revenues, up 6% year over year. Growth was led by strong demand in the company’s Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment with contributions from three growth businesses within Other - at-Home Solutions, Nuclear and Precision Health Solutions and OptiFreight Logistics. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) increased 40% to $2.91, reflecting the jump in non-GAAP earnings, including the recognition of a one-time net operating profit impact of International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff refunds of $100 million in CAH’s Global Medical Products and Distribution segment, a lower effective tax rate and a lower share count.

UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 revenues of $112 billion were largely consistent with the prior year. Operating earnings of $8 billion grew 55% year over year, reflecting product and portfolio actions taken over the past 12 months, along with targeted management disciplines. UNH attributed the lower-than-expected medical cost trends in Medicare so far this year largely to its initiatives, including benefit design, care management models and network curation.

CVS’ Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesYear to date, CVS Health shares have risen 19.6% compared with the industry’s 1.2% growth. 

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CVS shares are trading at a forward five-year price-to-sales ratio of 0.29, lower than the 0.52 industry average. The stock has a Value Score of A.

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The consensus estimate for the company’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has been showing a bullish trend. 

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

Key Takeaways Aflac's Japan and U.S. businesses are benefiting from solid product demand and premium persistency.Japan sales rose 7%, while U.S. sales increased 2.8% in the first half of 2026.Disciplined expenses and improved benefit trends are supporting growth across Aflac's core markets. Aflac Incorporated (AFL - Free Report) is well-poised to grow, driven by strong product demand and high premium persistency across its key markets, stronger underwriting discipline and effective cost management.

Aflac — with a market capitalization of $60.7 billion — offers supplemental health and life insurance products in Japan and the United States. Its shares climbed 9.8% in the year-to-date period compared with 12.4% growth of the industry.

Courtesy of solid prospects, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.

AFL’s Growth DriversAflac Japan remains an important growth engine, with product innovation helping the company reach new customer segments. The refreshed Tsumitasu savings-type life insurance and Anshin Palette medical insurance continued to generate strong year-over-year sales growth. Japan sales increased 7% year over year in the first half of 2026, while Tsumitasu accounted for about 20% of total sales and is helping attract younger customers and support cross-selling of cancer and medical coverage.

In the United States, Aflac is benefiting from continued demand for group voluntary benefits, dental and vision products. In the first half of 2026, sales increased 2.8% year over year, while net earned premiums grew 2.9%. The company is maintaining a focus on profitable growth, supported by strong premium persistency of 79.4% and continued momentum in its group business.

Aflac is also benefiting from disciplined expense management and favorable benefit trends across its core markets. In the second quarter, Aflac Japan’s expense ratio was 20.2%, near the low end of its 20%-23% outlook for 2026, while its benefit ratio stood at 64%, which improved 250 basis points year over year. In the U.S. segment, the expense ratio was 36.1%, which improved 20 basis points year over year. It expects the unit’s expense ratio to be within the range of 36%-39% in 2026. The benefit ratio came in at 49.5%, within the company’s 48%-52% target range for 2026.

AFL maintains a strong financial position and concluded second-quarter 2026 with $6.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents and maintains a strong times-interest-earned ratio of 24.91X versus the industry’s 21.73X. Shareholder rewards remain a priority for the company. In the first six months of 2026, Aflac repurchased 17.5 million shares worth $2 billion.

Where Do Estimates for AFL Stand?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFL’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $7.04 per share. Furthermore, the consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $17 billion for 2026. AFL missed earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters and beat once, with an average surprise of 6.6%.

AFL’s Key RisksThere are some factors, however, that investors should keep a careful eye on.

Operating cash flow has remained under pressure, declining 17.8% in 2023, 15.1% in 2024 and 5.6% in 2025. While the metric rebounded in first-half 2026, rising 9.3% year over year, the company will need to sustain this momentum for a meaningful turnaround.

Aflac’s shares trade at a forward P/E of 16.3X, above both its five-year median of 13.13X and the industry average of 13.7X. The elevated multiple suggests limited upside in the near term as investors may hesitate to extend further premium valuations amid an uneven earnings recovery.

Better-Ranked PlayersSome better-ranked stocks in the insurance space are Hippo Holdings Inc. (HIPO - Free Report) , Slide Insurance Holdings, Inc. (SLDE - Free Report) and The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (THG - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hippo Holdings’ current-year earnings is pinned at $2.46 per share and has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. HIPO beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 521.8%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $581.9 million, implying 24.2% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Slide Insurance Holdings’ current-year earnings is pinned at $3.91 per share and has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 30 days against one movement in the opposite direction. SLDE beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 36.9%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $1.5 billion, implying 33% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hanover Insurance Group’s current-year earnings is pinned at $20.15 per share and has witnessed five upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. THG beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 27.3%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $7 billion, implying 4.6% year-over-year growth.

Junior miners spend most of their existence chasing grade. Nine Mile Metals Ltd. (CSE:NINE, OTCQB:VMSXF, FRA:KQ9) has the opposite problem at parts of its Bathurst Mining Camp land package: ore so rich that the region's processing infrastructure isn't built to handle it.

It's a strange complaint for a resource company to have. At Nine Mile Brook, drilling has returned intervals grading as high as 15% copper alongside significant lead, zinc, silver and gold. That grade is high enough that the company has entered an agreement with commodities giant Glencore to test whether some of the material could bypass conventional milling altogether and go straight to a smelter.

As Nine Mile CEO Patrick Cruickshank explains, a mill is optimized around a specific type of ore, so it would need to make adjustments for different material.

"The biggest concern is impurities, because the milling process typically helps separate and remove those elements," Cruickshank told Proactive.

Whole drill core has already been shipped to Glencore for direct-to-smelter testing, while two additional bulk samples are undergoing metallurgical and gravity separation testing, a roughly three-month process. Depending on the outcome, the lead-zinc component could ultimately be routed to a Glencore facility in Quebec, with copper-gold material potentially destined for the Horne Smelter.

Even logistics become a variable at this scale. A 3,000-tonne bulk sample carries an estimated contained metal value of roughly $4,000 per tonne, by Cruickshank's estimate, but shipping that tonnage to a facility like Kidd Creek in northern Ontario could cost close to $1 million on its own, and most mills want closer to 10,000 tonnes to justify dedicating a processing shift to unfamiliar ore. "Bulk sampling is not intended to be a revenue-generating activity, so it's a sensitive topic from a regulatory standpoint," Cruickshank noted. "The purpose is to test and validate the metallurgy and processing options."

The grade problem is really a symptom of a broader thesis Cruickshank has been building for two and a half years: that the Bathurst Mining Camp's most efficient path to new production doesn't run through greenfield discovery alone, it runs through mines that were shut down decades ago for reasons that no longer apply.

The Wedge Mine is the clearest example. Operated by Cominco through the 1950s and into the early 1960s before Teck took it over, Wedge produced an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 million tonnes of ore, almost entirely valued for lead and zinc. Silver was trading near $1 an ounce at the time, copper wasn't especially valuable, and gold assays weren't routinely run. "If miners couldn't see the gold, they generally ignored it," Cruickshank said.

Operations ended not because the deposit was exhausted, but because a support pillar collapsed after roughly a third of the vertical deposit had been mined. Repairing it wasn't economical at the commodity prices of the era, so the mine was abandoned with an estimated two-thirds of the system still in the ground.

Six decades later, Nine Mile is revisiting that resource with tools the original operators never had. Drone surveys and geophysical work over the past two years have effectively produced what Cruickshank calls a treasure map of the property. Drilling on the mine's undrilled eastern side added several million tonnes of mineralization, and last year's drilling on the southern portion of the deposit returned copper grades up to 8%. Borehole electromagnetic crews will soon be on site to survey seven holes, generating three-dimensional imagery that extends 300 to 400 metres in every direction from each hole and can distinguish new mineralization from old workings and voids.

The company has already identified three mineralized lenses at Wedge where historically only one was recognized. Cruickshank's stated goal is to demonstrate five to 10 million tonnes remaining, at grades strong enough, when combined with the silver and gold values showing up in recent drilling, to support a return to production.

The same logic underpins the company's approach at Nine Mile Brook, home to what Cruickshank describes as the highest-grade VMS lens ever discovered in the Bathurst camp, and at Canoe Landing, where Nine Mile's ground abuts a 32-million-tonne deposit owned by Wolfden Resources. "Whoever ultimately develops that deposit will almost certainly have to work with us, or vice versa, because together we control the full mineralized system," Cruickshank said, adding that a joint venture or acquisition are both options the company is watching.

It's a strategy built on a simple mining adage Cruickshank likes to repeat: the best place to find a new deposit is in the shadow of an existing one. With 45 known deposits already mapped across the Bathurst camp, he sees more value in applying modern geophysics and AI-assisted target modeling to old, well-understood ground than in searching blind.

Underlying all of it is a change in Nine Mile's financial position that Cruickshank argues is as important as any drill result.

Having raised just over $5.6 million recently, Cruickshank says the company doesn't expect to need additional financing for more than two years, freeing it to run a multi-target drill program across Wedge, Nine Mile Brook, California Lake and Canoe Landing Lake without the dilution pressure that has historically capped its share price rallies. A second drill rig is being mobilized directly to the West Wedge and Tribag targets, part of six priority drill targets identified since January.

That funding also changes the company's appetite for risk. "Previously, we didn't want to start drilling every target because our funding was limited," Cruickshank said. "Now we're fully funded, and we have access to better technology and more advanced algorithms, which gives us the confidence to be much more aggressive."

The bigger picture
Nine Mile's approach is unfolding against a favourable backdrop in New Brunswick, where the provincial government has stated its ambition to become Canada's leading jurisdiction for critical minerals and has pointed to the planned restart of the Lake George antimony project as evidence of that commitment. Cruickshank also points to the arrival of Kinross in the district, growing interest from companies like Rio Tinto and Glencore, and roughly 15 public companies now active in the camp as signs that capital is returning to a region long defined as a lead-zinc district but increasingly valued for its copper, silver and gold.

Whether that momentum translates into a producing mine at Wedge, a fifth lens at Nine Mile Brook, or a resolution to the Canoe Landing overlap with Wolfden, Cruickshank frames the company's task in straightforward terms: "At this point, it's about execution: drilling the programs, delivering results, and creating value."

Key Takeaways Rocket Lab uses HASTE to provide suborbital test capabilities for hypersonic technology development.HASTE leverages Electron's launch expertise and infrastructure for specialized defense and testing missions.HASTE broadens Rocket Lab's launch applications across national security and hypersonic testing programs. Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) is expanding beyond conventional orbital missions through its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (“HASTE”) program. Built around the Electron platform, HASTE provides a dedicated suborbital test capability that can support the development and evaluation of hypersonic technologies. The program gives Rocket Lab an opportunity to leverage its established launch expertise in a specialized defense and testing market.

HASTE adds another dimension to Rocket Lab's launch-services portfolio by addressing missions that require suborbital flight rather than deployment into orbit. This allows the company to utilize its launch infrastructure, vehicle expertise and operational experience for a broader range of government and defense applications. Expanding into such specialized missions can also diversify the types of launch opportunities available to Rocket Lab.

The program benefits from Electron's established capabilities and launch heritage. Rocket Lab can leverage technologies and infrastructure developed for its orbital launch business while adapting the platform for hypersonic testing requirements. This creates an opportunity to generate additional value from an existing launch system while expanding participation in national security-related missions.

As government agencies continue developing and testing hypersonic systems, demand for responsive and repeatable test opportunities could create a growing market for specialized suborbital launch services. HASTE provides Rocket Lab with another potential avenue for expanding its addressable market while broadening the applications of its Electron platform.

Companies Expanding Hypersonic Test CapabilitiesThe growing focus on hypersonic technologies is encouraging defense companies to expand testing and flight capabilities. Companies like Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS - Free Report) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT - Free Report) are also developing technologies supporting hypersonic testing and advanced flight missions.

Kratos produces hypersonic flight vehicles and rocket systems for national security missions, including its Erinyes hypersonic flight system.

Lockheed Martin develops hypersonic flight vehicles and related technologies for defense applications, supporting the development and testing of next-generation high-speed systems.

Earnings Estimates for RKLB StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 62.96% and 35%, respectively.

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RKLB Stock Is Trading at a PremiumRocket Lab is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 41.23X compared with the industry average of 8.68X.

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RKLB Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, RKLB shares have surged 80.9% compared with the industry’s 15.1% growth.

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RKLB’s Zacks RankRocket Lab currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Crocs shares gained 26.9% in three months as stronger brand trends supported the recent rally.Crocs Brand DTC revenue rose 12.9%, while international sales climbed 7.8% in the second quarter. HEYDUDE revenue fell 5.7%, while tariffs helped push adjusted gross margin down 170 basis points. Shares of Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) have gained 26.9% in the past three months, putting the focus on whether improving brand trends can support further progress. The rally has coincided with firmer direct-to-consumer demand, international expansion and a broader product mix.

The operating picture is not uniformly positive. HEYDUDE remains under pressure and tariff-related costs have weighed on margins, leaving execution and profitability as key tests after the stock’s recent advance.

Crocs’ Three-Month Rally Meets Stronger Brand MomentumThe Crocs Brand has built momentum through product newness, collaborations and wider demand across footwear categories. Partnerships with BAPE and F1 Red Bull Racing supported engagement in the second quarter, while the BAPE collaboration featuring the Echo RO sold out within minutes globally.

Demand also broadened across Crocband, Echo and Crafted clog franchises and key sandal lines. These developments strengthen the business backdrop that has coincided with the share-price gain, but they should not be read as proof that any single operating initiative caused the stock move.

CROX Gets Support From DTC and International GrowthSecond-quarter Crocs Brand direct-to-consumer revenues increased 12.9% year over year. That performance came alongside reduced promotional activity, supporting the case that consumers are responding to the brand’s newer products and direct channels.

International revenues rose 7.8%, with China, India and Japan posting double-digit growth. Those markets give Crocs additional avenues for expansion as North America remains less consistent and wholesale trends continue to limit growth at home.

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Crocs Broadens Demand Beyond the Classic ClogCrocs is extending demand beyond its core Classic Clog. Crocband, Echo and Crafted performed well in the second quarter, while the Miami, Getaway and Brooklyn sandal franchises continued to gain consumer adoption. The Classic Ballet Flat also recorded notable global sellouts, particularly in Asia.

The broader footwear market offers useful context. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) competes through brands including HOKA, UGG and Teva. Birkenstock Holding plc (BIRK - Free Report) has built a broad unisex portfolio around its footbed-based products. For Crocs, adding successful silhouettes can reduce dependence on any single category.

CROX Still Faces HEYDUDE and Margin PressureHEYDUDE remains the clearest operating drag. Second-quarter revenues declined 5.7% to $179 million, while wholesale revenues fell 17.2%. Direct-to-consumer revenues increased 7.2%, but the brand still needs to rebuild broader channel momentum.

Profitability also warrants attention. Adjusted gross margin fell 170 basis points to 60%, primarily because of tariff impacts, while adjusted operating margin declined 180 basis points to 25.1%. Cost actions can help, but continued tariff exposure leaves less room for execution missteps.

Crocs’ Short-Term Signal Supports a Measured ViewThe recent 26.9% gain has been accompanied by better Crocs Brand trends, yet HEYDUDE weakness and margin pressure keep the investment case balanced. Investors still need evidence that international growth and product diversification can translate into durable enterprise-level improvement.

CROX currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), a favorable short-term signal. It also has a VGM Score of B and Value Score of B, while its Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of F make the setup less uniform. The combination favors a measured view rather than assuming the recent rally guarantees further upside. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways WM uses AI and machine learning to optimize routes, cut costs and support margin expansion.Stericycle added $653M to WM's net cash and boosted 2025 operating income by $245M.WM's debt reached $23.3B as of June 30, 2026, while cash stood at $557M and its current ratio was 0.91. WM (WM - Free Report) shares have moved up 2.4% in the past three months. Meanwhile, the industry and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite have returned 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively.

3-Month Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is pinned at $26.4 billion, suggesting 4.6% year-over-year growth. For 2027, the consensus estimate is $27.8 billion, implying a 5.4% increase from the preceding year’s actual.

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For EPS, the consensus mark for 2026 is pegged at $8.14, indicating 8.5% year-over-year growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2027 EPS is pegged at $9.06. The figure suggests 11.3% year-over-year growth.

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Factors That Augur Well for WM’s SuccessTech-Driven Efficiencies Bolster Margins: WM strengthens its margin profile utilizing tech-backed efficiencies. The SmartTruck platform, a combination of AI and machine learning, generates more than $300 million in annual run-rate EBITDA via route optimization, service upgrades, and lower operating expenses.

These innovations kept operating expenses below 60% of the top line for the sixth consecutive quarter despite headwinds. The company is expanding its tech pipeline to incorporate AI tools, autonomous long-haul vehicles and remotely operated heavy equipment to lower operating costs, improve the top line, and act as the catalyst for margin expansion.

Stericycle Buyout Boosts Cash Position: WM’s recent acquisition of Stericycle complements its business platform in medical waste, a sector with robust growth dynamics. In 2025, the company recorded a $653-million increase in net cash, driven by the recent buyout. Stericycle was responsible for a $245-million rise in income from operations during 2025.

Dividends Attract Income-Seeking Investors: WM has paid out dividends to its shareholders since 1998. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, the company paid out dividends totaling $1.1 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. This consistency has persisted despite fluctuations in the company’s cash position, underscoring its dedication to creating long-term value for investors. Consistent dividend payments give a green light to income-seeking investors.

Risks Faced by WMHeightened Debt Load: Stericycle buyout and ongoing investments in renewable energy have significantly increased its debt load. The company has issued billions in senior notes, affecting financial flexibility and increasing the potential impacts on shareholder returns if cash flow does not grow as expected.

If WM fails to achieve the anticipated growth in cash flow, it could face challenges in maintaining its operational efficiency and meeting these financial obligations. As of June 30, 2026, the company had current debt of $1.1 billion and long-term debt of $22.2 billion against a cash and equivalent balance of $557 million.

Weak Liquidity Profile: WM's high short-term debt against its cash reserves weakens its liquidity position. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, the company reported a current ratio of 0.91, a sequential dip from 0.93. A current ratio below 1 often suggests that a company may not be well-positioned to meet its short-term obligations, which is a waving red flag for investors.

WM’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderThe company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Coursera (COUR - Free Report) and Gartner (IT - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Coursera has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 49.6%. COUR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.9%, on average.

Gartner has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 21%. IT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.5%, on average.

Key Takeaways Ciena's backlog rose over $600M sequentially to $7.7B, boosting visibility into 2027 revenue.About $6.4B of the backlog is hardware, with roughly 80% due for delivery over the next 12 months.CIEN raised fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $6.3B plus minus $100M, implying about 32% growth at the midpoint. Ciena Corporation (CIEN - Free Report) is witnessing strong demand and a growing backlog, which is providing increased visibility into future revenue. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Ciena’s backlog increased by more than $600 million sequentially to $7.7 billion, and the company expects it to exit fiscal 2026 at an even higher level. On the last earnings call, management highlighted that the combination of robust order flows, customer collaboration, a growing services business and high-quality backlog provides an excellent view for fiscal 2027. Importantly, about $6.4 billion of the backlog is hardware, with roughly 80% expected to be delivered over the next 12 months, supporting confidence in how the backlog can translate into revenue.

Looking ahead, Ciena expects demand to remain strong as hyperscalers continue expanding capital expenditures into fiscal 2027 and beyond, with a larger share of spending expected to be directed toward network infrastructure. Service providers are also reinvesting in optical infrastructure, while managed optical fiber networks are creating additional opportunities. Ciena expects these service-provider opportunities to be multiyear and durable.
At the same time, AI-driven requirements for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity are supporting demand across traditional WAN markets and data center-related applications.

New product deployments could further support revenue growth. Ciena’s RLS Hyper-Rail platform has secured its first multi-rail order from a leading hyperscaler, with the deployment expected to begin in fiscal 2027. Management said similar engagements with major hyperscalers and service providers are progressing well, with opportunities expected to provide linear growth over the next few years. Hyper-Rail is also expected to generate a meaningful revenue increase in fiscal 2027.

Ciena expects DCOM to remain a multiyear application, while its Nubis portfolio and other interconnect opportunities are positioned for growth in the coming years. With backlog expected to continue increasing, ongoing customer deployments and multiple product opportunities moving toward broader adoption, Ciena’s current order momentum provides a stronger foundation for revenue visibility into fiscal 2027.

For third-quarter fiscal 2026, management expects revenues of $1.625 billion (+/- $50 million). The company also raised its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to $6.3 billion (+/-$100 million), representing roughly 32% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.

Taking a Look at CIEN’s CompetitorsArista Networks (ANET - Free Report) is well-positioned as cloud, AI and enterprise customers upgrade high-speed Ethernet networks. Demand spans AI fabrics, core data centers, campus and routing, aided by a stronger supply chain and deeper software automation. New AI fabric platforms, including liquid-cooling options and scale-across capabilities, support next-generation AI clusters, while campus recognition shows traction beyond hyperscale cloud. For the third quarter of 2026, management expects revenues to be approximately $3.3 billion, driven by healthy growth momentum and solid demand trends.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) is seeing broad-based demand, with third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $15.8 billion up 12% year over year. Total product orders rose 35% and networking product orders grew more than 50%, helped by a campus refresh and data center switching orders up more than 40%. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company expects revenues of $16.7 billion to $16.9 billion. For fiscal 2026, management raised its outlook to revenue of $62.8 billion to $63.0 billion. Cisco also announced a restructuring plan to reallocate resources toward silicon, optics, security and AI, and expects up to $1 billion of pretax charges, including roughly $450 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with the remainder in fiscal 2027.

CIEN Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CIEN have surged 387.2% in the past year compared with the Communications - Components industry’s growth of 222.1%.

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CIEN trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 56.63, above the industry’s 41.51.

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CIEN’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has remained unchanged over the past 60 days.

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

Key Takeaways Phillips 66 moves ahead with a $5B pipeline project linking refining and marketing operations.Western Gateway will span 1,300 miles with daily capacity of 230,000 barrels.Primarily 10-year take-or-pay contracts are expected to enhance cash-flow visibility for Phillips 66. Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) is taking a significant step to strengthen its integrated business model by moving forward with the proposed Western Gateway Pipeline alongside Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI - Free Report) and HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO - Free Report) . The partners have made a final investment decision on the approximately $5 billion Western Gateway Pipeline project, with PSX, KMI, DINO holding a 49.9%, 35.1% and 15% stakes, respectively.

For Phillips 66, the project is strategically important because it will create a new refined-products supply route linking the company's Central Corridor and Gulf Coast refining assets with its marketing operations on the West Coast and in the Southwest.

Western Gateway Expands PSX's Market ReachWestern Gateway is expected to span approximately 1,300 miles and have an initial design capacity of 230,000 barrels per day. About 900 miles of new pipeline will connect Borger, TX, with Phoenix, AZ, while KMI will contribute its existing SFPP East and West Line assets. PSX will construct and operate the new-build pipeline, giving PSX a greater role in the infrastructure supporting the movement of its refined products.

The project is also designed for future expansion with limited additional capital and without requiring new pipe, allowing PSX to benefit from rising fuel demand without committing substantial additional investment. This flexibility could improve the company's ability to serve growing markets while strengthening its refining-to-marketing value chain.

Long-Term Contracts Support Phillips 66's Cash FlowA key investment benefit is the project's primarily 10-year, take-or-pay contracts, which should provide greater visibility into future volumes and cash flows once the system enters service. PSX expects to contribute approximately $2.5 billion in cash, while DINO will invest $750 million and KMI approximately $250 million, in addition to KMI’s contribution to existing assets valued at about $1.5 billion.

Sharing the capital burden with KMI and DINO allows PSX to pursue a large-scale infrastructure opportunity while diversifying its investment exposure. The pipeline is expected to improve supply reliability and potentially reduce transportation costs for customers across the Western United States, strengthening PSX's competitive position.

Pipeline Project Enhances PSX's Competitive PositionFor PSX, Western Gateway could provide benefits beyond the direct earnings contribution from the pipeline. The project is expected to enhance market access for PSX's refineries, improve logistics flexibility and create a more efficient connection between its refining and marketing assets.

The long-term contracted structure is expected to support stable cash generation, while scalable capacity could create further growth opportunities. KMI and DINO bring established infrastructure and refining expertise to the venture, helping distribute project execution responsibilities and risk.

Western Gateway Offers Long-Term Value for Phillips 66Targeted for completion in 2029, Western Gateway is a long-term growth investment rather than an immediate earnings catalyst. However, its combination of contracted volumes, strategic market access, scalable capacity and PSX's integrated operating model could strengthen the company's business model and boost cash-flow generation.

The project represents another opportunity for PSX to leverage its refining and marketing footprint, enhance investor appeal and build durable infrastructure-linked earnings, while potentially enhancing long-term shareholder value.

PSX’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksPhillips 66 currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Another better-ranked refiner in the energy sector is Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) .Valero and Kinder Morgan currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each and HF Sinclair sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

Valero operates 14 global refineries with a daily refinery throughput capacity of 3 million barrels. The refiner’s ethanol operations are spread across 12 U.S. ethanol plants. During the second quarter of 2026, VLO recorded strong gains in its ethanol sector. Margins expanded to $1.15 per gallon from 52 cents per gallon and operating income rose to 75 cents per gallon compared with 13 cents per gallon a year earlier.

Drone stocks rallied on Friday after President Donald Trump announced import tariffs in an effort to boost U.S. manufacturing and protect national security.

Unusual Machines popped 15%, while Red Cat rallied about 7%. Aerovironment and Kratos also climbed.

"U.S. drone production needs to be expanded rapidly to ensure U.S. national and economic security," the White House wrote in a release, adding that outsourcing parts poses major security and cybersecurity concerns.

The White House said the tariffs will create new jobs, while protecting U.S. national security and the defense industrial base.

The directive subjects large drones with "sensitive" military capabilities like thermal imaging to a 100% tariff and smaller drones lacking capabilities to a 25% levy. Trump slapped a 15% tariff on drones and parts from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan, and 10% on those from the U.K.

Unusual Machines, which makes drones and drone components, added the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., to its advisory board in November 2024. Trump Jr. held 331,580 shares in the company as of Nov. 27, 2024.

Read more CNBC tech newsAnthropic CFO Krishna Rao is leading early IPO meetings with investors and has not discussed valuation, sources sayAn inside look at SK Hynix $720 billion AI-fueled buildout that's taking over South KoreaDatabricks wraps $5 billion funding round at $190 billion valuationMeta and Nvidia plant 'very firm flag' in open-weight AI race led by Chinese LabsThe U.S. is seeking to scale drone production on U.S. soil and reduce its reliance on outsourcing parts, especially from China, which has long dominated the drone market.

The efforts come as part of Trump's broader plans to reindustrialize the U.S. military and scale defense capabilities.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched the more than $1 billion drone dominance program aimed at scaling U.S. manufacturing of small, low-cost drones. The second stage of that project is slated to begin this month.

Geopolitical risks abroad and the war in Iran have highlighted the need for lower-cost weapons to combat. For 2027, the Trump administration is asking for a record  $1.5 trillion defense budget. As part of that budget, the Department of Defense is looking for a historic $75 billion for drones.

The tariffs will go into effect within 21 days. For drones and parts that are not "particularly sensitive," the duties will happen in 180 days. The order also allows the Department of Commerce to launch an onshoring program to help companies looking to invest in drones in the U.S.

watch now

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 14th, 2026

Banco Santander S.A. bought a new stake in Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE:D – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 28,680 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,959,000.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Blueline Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Costello Asset Management INC boosted its stake in shares of Dominion Energy by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Costello Asset Management INC now owns 500 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advocate Investing Services LLC purchased a new stake in Dominion Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.04% of the company’s stock.

Dominion Energy Stock Up 0.7% D stock opened at $68.55 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $69.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $65.33. The company has a market capitalization of $60.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.88 and a beta of 0.65. Dominion Energy Inc. has a twelve month low of $55.85 and a twelve month high of $72.99.

Dominion Energy (NYSE:D – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $4.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.04 billion. Dominion Energy had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 9.62%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.75 EPS. Dominion Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.450-3.690 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Dominion Energy Inc. will post 3.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dominion Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, September 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.6675 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 4th. This represents a $2.67 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. Dominion Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 93.03%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on D shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Dominion Energy from $69.00 to $68.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Dominion Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $65.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Dominion Energy from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, May 22nd. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Dominion Energy from $68.00 to $66.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Dominion Energy from $70.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $68.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on D

Dominion Energy News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Dominion Energy this week:

Positive Sentiment: Data-center demand supports long-term growth. Virginia’s expanding data-center sector is increasing electricity demand and could provide Dominion with additional load growth and investment opportunities. The Virginia State Corporation Commission also ordered certain transmission costs to be assigned directly to data centers, potentially limiting the burden on other customers and Dominion’s broader rate base. Why Is Dominion Energy in Focus as Data Center Demand Grows Today? Dominion ordered to directly assign some transmission costs to data centers Positive Sentiment: Lake Murray dam restoration is complete. Dominion completed tower upgrades and restoration work at the Saluda Hydroelectric Project, a favorable infrastructure milestone that may improve asset reliability and reduce execution uncertainty. Temporary boating restrictions remain around the dam as final safety measures are completed. Dominion Energy completes Lake Murray Dam restoration project Neutral Sentiment: Dominion rejected claims regarding Ashburn power lines. The company denied allegations that it ignored an alternative plan, keeping attention on its Virginia transmission development and stakeholder disputes without an immediate financial impact. Dominion denies Congressman’s claims about Ashburn power lines Negative Sentiment: Fuel-cost requests could increase customer bills. Dominion is seeking approval in North Carolina to recover higher fuel costs, potentially adding roughly $23 per month for some customers. Although recovery could protect cash flow, higher bills may create political and regulatory resistance. Dominion seeks increase for fuel costs Negative Sentiment: Truist cut its price target and maintained a Hold rating. The target was reduced from $68 to $66, signaling limited near-term upside and adding pressure to the shares. Truist lowers Dominion Energy price target Negative Sentiment: Merger oversight remains contentious. Questions about potential conflicts involving the Virginia SCC chair’s review of the NextEra-Dominion merger could prolong regulatory scrutiny and increase uncertainty around the transaction. Concerns over Virginia SCC chair and NextEra-Dominion merger About Dominion Energy (Free Report)

Dominion Energy, Inc, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a diversified energy company that primarily operates regulated electricity and natural gas utilities and develops energy infrastructure. The company’s core activities include the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as the purchase, storage and delivery of natural gas. Dominion combines traditional utility operations with energy infrastructure businesses to provide essential services across its service territories.

Dominion’s electricity portfolio spans multiple technologies and fuel sources, including nuclear, natural gas-fired generation and renewable resources such as utility-scale solar and wind.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Dominion Energy Asian Market Circuit Breakers Hit Stocks, Not AI Demand Riot Platforms Re-Wires the Ledger for a $9B AI Power Play Nebius Just Exploded 34% on Blowout Earnings—Is It Time to Buy? Joby’s Defense Pivot Accelerates With $500M Resonant Sciences Deal Want to see what other hedge funds are holding D? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE:D – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 14th, 2026

Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR – Free Report) by 13.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 250,112 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 29,595 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE owned about 0.74% of Landstar System worth $40,095,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. grew its stake in Landstar System by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 4,710 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $755,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Petros Family Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Landstar System by 4.9% in the first quarter. Petros Family Wealth LLC now owns 1,548 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $248,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in shares of Landstar System by 29.5% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 342 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Landstar System by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,388 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $918,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its position in Landstar System by 1.3% during the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 6,987 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,120,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the period. 97.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CFO James P. Todd sold 1,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.17, for a total value of $261,804.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 15,122 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,299,166.74. The trade was a 7.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Diana M. Murphy sold 11,246 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $221.28, for a total value of $2,488,514.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 18,853 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,171,791.84. This represents a 37.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

Landstar System Trading Up 1.5% Shares of LSTR opened at $188.64 on Friday. Landstar System, Inc. has a 12 month low of $119.32 and a 12 month high of $228.46. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $202.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $179.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.82. The stock has a market cap of $6.40 billion, a PE ratio of 48.87 and a beta of 0.90.

Landstar System (NASDAQ:LSTR – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The transportation company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.49 by ($0.05). Landstar System had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 20.84%. The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.34 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.20 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 18.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Landstar System, Inc. will post 5.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Landstar System announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, April 28th that authorizes the company to repurchase 1,115,195,000,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the transportation company to purchase up to 3.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Landstar System Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th will be issued a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 18th. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. This is an increase from Landstar System’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Landstar System’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.45%.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on LSTR shares. Stephens upgraded shares of Landstar System to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Landstar System from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 4th. Evercore set a $181.00 price target on shares of Landstar System in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Landstar System from $225.00 to $215.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Landstar System from $147.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $196.00.

Get Our Latest Research Report on LSTR

Key Stories Impacting Landstar System Here are the key news stories impacting Landstar System this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised earnings estimates across multiple periods, including FY2026 EPS to $5.61 from $5.45, FY2027 EPS to $7.22 from $6.88, and FY2028 EPS to $8.03 from $7.69. Quarterly forecasts were also increased, and Zacks maintained a “Strong-Buy” rating, signaling improved confidence in Landstar’s future profitability. Zacks Research estimate revisions Positive Sentiment: Landstar’s latest dividend increase reinforces its shareholder-return strategy. The company’s history of raising dividends is being viewed as evidence of financial strength and could appeal to income-focused investors. Should Investors Buy Landstar Stock Post Latest Dividend Hike? Neutral Sentiment: Landstar reported strong revenue growth in its most recent quarter, but earnings slightly missed estimates. Revenue rose 18.2% year over year to $1.43 billion, while EPS of $1.44 fell short of the $1.49 consensus. This mixed performance may limit the immediate upside from the bullish long-term forecasts. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory uncertainty remains a risk. A Seeking Alpha analysis argued that the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate certain federal protections could expose Landstar to greater legal, operating or cost pressures, leading the author to assign the stock a “Hold” view rather than a more bullish rating. Landstar System: Why the Supreme Court’s Decision Makes It a Hold Landstar System Profile (Free Report)

Landstar System, Inc provides integrated transportation management solutions through a network of independent agents and third-party capacity providers. The company specializes in truckload brokerage, intermodal, air and ocean freight, expedited and heavy-haul services, along with value-added offerings such as cargo insurance, customs brokerage and supply chain management. Landstar’s proprietary technology platform enables real-time load matching, shipment tracking and data analytics to optimize fleet utilization and improve customer service.

Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Landstar pioneered an asset-light brokerage model that has evolved into a global logistics operation.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Landstar System Asian Market Circuit Breakers Hit Stocks, Not AI Demand Riot Platforms Re-Wires the Ledger for a $9B AI Power Play Nebius Just Exploded 34% on Blowout Earnings—Is It Time to Buy? Joby’s Defense Pivot Accelerates With $500M Resonant Sciences Deal

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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reddit, Inc. (NYSE: RDDT) will join the S&P 500 index, effective prior to market open on Tuesday, August 18th. Its addition to the S&P 500 underscores Reddit’s value, sustained performance as a public company, and its 1-of-1 financial model, highlighted by a rare combination of growth and best-in-class profit and cash flow margins.

“We’re proud to be added to the S&P 500, recognizing the growth, momentum, and consistency we’ve established as a public company,” said Drew Vollero, Reddit’s Chief Financial Officer. “Reddit’s raw materials are special, and there is so much potential to continue building great products and scaling profitably. Our focus remains on executing against the many opportunities ahead.”

Reddit’s differentiated model is powered by deeply engaged communities and authentic human conversation. As one of the most visited websites in the U.S. and the world, Reddit plays an increasingly important role in the AI ecosystem as more people seek real information and human perspectives. Its platform is an ever-growing corpus of 26+ billion posts and comments that capture human experiences across nearly every topic.

Reddit’s inclusion in the S&P 500 is an off-cycle index change prompted by the acquisition of a current S&P 500 constituent. With this change, Reddit will be recognized as one of the ~500 largest and most influential public companies in the U.S., and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the S&P 500.

For more information on the S&P 500 Index and index reconstitution, please visit www.spdji.com.

About Reddit

Reddit is a community of communities. Built on shared interests and passions, it is home to the most open and authentic conversations online. Every day, millions of people post, vote, comment, and search for answers across nearly every topic imaginable, and brands build trusted relationships with their audiences. With 26+ billion posts and comments and more than 130 million daily active uniques, Reddit is one of the internet’s largest sources of information. Learn more at www.redditinc.com. The Reddit app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spdji.com.

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Praha 14. 8. 2026 

POZVÁNKA (rovněž dostupná na webu společnosti: https://www.sab.cz/pro-investory)

představenstvo akciové společnosti

SAB Finance a.s.

se sídlem Praha 1, Staré Město, Na Příkopě 969/33, PSČ 110 00

zapsané v obchodním rejstříku vedeném Městským soudem v Praze, odd. B, vložka 16383

(dále jen „Společnost“)

svolává

v souladu s příslušnými ustanoveními zák. č. 90/2012 Sb., o obchodních společnostech a družstvech (zákon o obchodních korporacích), ve znění pozdějších předpisů (dále též „ZOK“),

a v souladu se stanovami

řádnou valnou hromadu Společnosti,

která se bude konat dne 18. 9. 2026 v 10:00 hodin

v sídle Společnosti, na adrese Na Příkopě 969/33, Staré Město, Praha 1, PSČ 110 00, vchod A

A. POŘAD JEDNÁNÍ VALNÉ HROMADY

1. Pověření představenstva ke zvýšení základního kapitálu úpisem nových akcií

2. Schválení významné transakce se spřízněnou stranou – úpis akcií

3. Schválení nabytí vlastních akcií

4. Změna stanov

5. Schválení významné transakce se spřízněnou stranou – úpis dluhopisů

B. NÁVRHY USNESENÍ VALNÉ HROMADY A JEJICH ZDŮVODNĚNÍ

1. Pověření představenstva ke zvýšení základního kapitálu úpisem nových akcií

Zdůvodnění: Valná hromada může dle § 511 odst. 1 ZOK, pověřit představenstvo ke zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti upisováním nových akcií, nejvýše však o jednu polovinu dosavadní výše základního kapitálu v době pověření. Navrhuje se zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti o částku 366 038 036,- Kč (tři sta šedesát šest milionů třicet osm tisíc třicet šest korun českých), která odpovídá souhrnu jmenovitých hodnot všech nově upisovaných akcií, tj. 943 397 kusů akcií. Při emisním kurzu 1 060 Kč/akcie tato emise představuje navýšení vlastního kapitálu o 1 000 000 820 Kč.

Navýšení kapitálu dle tohoto bodu umožní Společnosti další růst a plnění cílů zisku v souladu s finančním plánem a při plnění všech regulatorních kapitálových požadavků kladených na Společnost evropskou i českou regulací.

Získaný kapitál je určen především k rozvoji hlavních výdělečných činností Společnosti a k financování investičních příležitostí, které by Společnost bez posílení kapitálové základny nemohla využít. Cílem navýšení kapitálu je růst čistého zisku Společnosti, a tím i růst objemu prostředků, které mohou být v budoucnu rozděleny mezi akcionáře. Přednostní právo na upsání nových akcií zůstává tímto pověřením plně zachováno všem akcionářům Společnosti bez rozdílu. Každý akcionář tak bude mít možnost podílet se na zvýšení základního kapitálu v poměru odpovídajícím jeho dosavadní účasti a udržet si svůj podíl na základním kapitálu i hlasovacích právech Společnosti beze změny.

Emisní kurs jedné nově upisované akcie bude určen představenstvem Společnosti na základě tohoto pověření. Nejnižší možná výše, v jaké může být emisní kurs představenstvem určen, činí 1 060 Kč (jeden tisíc šedesát korun českých) na 1 kus akcie, přičemž rozdíl mezi jmenovitou hodnotou akcie (388 Kč) a emisním kursem bude tvořit emisní ážio (§ 248 odst. 1 ZOK), které bude vykázáno jako samostatná položka vlastního kapitálu Společnosti a bude také sloužit pro rozvoj jejich podnikatelských aktivit.

Valná hromada dle § 511 odst. 2 písm. b) ZOK musí v rámci tohoto bodu povinně rozhodnout i o tom, který orgán Společnosti rozhodne o ocenění nepeněžitého vkladu na základě posudku znalce. Navrhuje se, aby tímto orgánem bylo při případném splnění povinnosti splatit emisní kurs vnesením nepeněžitého vkladu představenstvo Společnosti. Společnost však pro úplnost uvádí a činí tento závazek, že nemá v úmyslu umožnit splacení emisního kursu vnesením nepeněžitého vkladu. Této možnosti tak nevyužije a textace je součástí usnesení pouze z regulatorních důvodů, aby usnesení naplňovalo všechny zákonné náležitosti.

Představenstvo může v rámci tohoto pověření zvýšit základní kapitál i vícekrát, nepřekročí-li celková navýšená částka stanovený limit. Doba, na kterou se pověření navrhuje udělit, je 5 (pět) let, tj. v souladu se zákonnou hranicí.

Návrh usnesení: a) Valná hromada pověřuje představenstvo ke zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti upisováním nových akcií na majitele v zaknihované podobě za podmínek stanovených v bodu b) tohoto usnesení valné hromady, nejvýše však o částku 366 038 036 Kč (tři sta šedesát šest milionů třicet osm tisíc třicet šest korun českých). Toto pověření se uděluje na dobu 5 let ode dne konání valné hromady.

b) Valná hromada současně pověřuje představenstvo, aby akcie byly upisovány za následujících podmínek:

(i) maximální počet akcií, které může Společnost vydat: 943 397 kusů akcií;

(ii) jmenovitá hodnota jedné akcie: 388 Kč (tři sta osmdesát osm korun českých);

(iii) emisní kurs se stanovuje ve výši 1 060 Kč (jeden tisíc šedesát korun českých) na 1 kus akcie;

c) Pro případ, že bude při zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti povinnost splatit emisní kurs splněna vnesením nepeněžitého vkladu, valná hromada současně pověřuje představenstvo, aby bylo orgánem, který rozhodne o ocenění nepeněžitého vkladu na základě posudku znalce.

d) Představenstvo Společnosti může v rámci pověření zvýšit základní kapitál i vícekrát, nepřekročí-li celková částka zvýšení stanovený limit.

2. Schválení významné transakce se spřízněnou stranou – úpis akcií

Zdůvodnění: Pro případ, že se úpisu nových akcií Společnosti na základě zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti dle bodu 1 pořadu této valné hromady rozhodne účastnit mateřská společnost TRINITY Banking Group a.s., IČO: 036 71 518, se sídlem Na Příkopě 969/33, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 1, zapsaná v obchodním rejstříku vedeném Městským soudem v Praze pod sp. zn. B 20342 (dále také jako „Upisovatel“), zamýšlí Společnost uzavřít s Upisovatelem jednu či více smluv o upsání akcií (dále společně jen „Smlouva o úpisu“), na jejímž či jejichž základě bude Upisovatel oprávněn upsat akcie Společnosti na majitele v zaknihované podobě, vydávané v souvislosti s tímto zvýšením základního kapitálu Společnosti.

Upisovatel je většinovým akcionářem Společnosti s podílem přesahujícím 50 % na jejím základním kapitálu a hlasovacích právech; tento podíl drží dlouhodobě, čímž potvrzuje svůj závazek k rozvoji Společnosti a důvěru v její podnikatelský záměr. Společnost proto, vycházejíc z dlouhodobého konzistentního postoje svého majoritního akcionáře ke Společnosti, předpokládá jeho zájem na další účasti na rozvoji Společnosti úpisem nových akcií a na udržení, případně navýšení jeho majetkové účasti.

Valné hromadě se předkládá ke schválení souhlas s touto transakcí až do celkové výše odpovídající celé emisi nově vydávaných akcií, tedy v maximálním rozsahu všech akcií vydávaných v rámci zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti dle pověření představenstva ke zvýšení základního kapitálu, tedy až celkový emisní kurz 1 000 000 820 Kč. Souhlas v tomto rozsahu se navrhuje proto, aby bylo možné realizovat zvýšení základního kapitálu v plném zamýšleném objemu. Skutečný rozsah úpisu Upisovatelem bude záviset na jeho zájmu a zájmu ostatních akcionářů Společnosti a průběhu upisování; schválený limit představuje pouze jeho horní hranici.

Z pohledu Společnosti může uzavření Smlouvy o úpisu nabýt podoby významné transakce ve smyslu ustanovení § 121s zákona č. 256/2004 Sb., o podnikání na kapitálovém trhu, ve znění pozdějších předpisů (dále jen „ZPKT“), neboť hodnota transakce odpovídající celkovému emisnímu kurzu akcií upsaných Upisovatelem na základě Smlouvy o úpisu může přesáhnout 10 % aktiv Společnosti dle její řádné individuální účetní závěrky za předcházející účetní období; proto Společnost předkládá tuto transakci valné hromadě k vyjádření souhlasu.

Upisovatel bude akcie upisovat za zcela shodných podmínek, jaké budou platit pro ostatní upisovatele a Upisovateli nebude z titulu jeho postavení většinového akcionáře poskytnuto jakékoliv zvýhodnění. Představenstvo důvodně předpokládá, že k uzavření Smlouvy o úpisu dojde do konce roku 2027.

Návrh usnesení: Valná hromada uděluje v souladu s § 121t zákona č. 256/2004 Sb., o podnikání na kapitálovém trhu, ve znění pozdějších předpisů, souhlas k uzavření významné transakce mezi Společností a její mateřskou společností TRINITY Banking Group a.s., IČO: 036 71 518, se sídlem Na Příkopě 969/33, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 1, zapsanou v obchodním rejstříku vedeném Městským soudem v Praze pod sp. zn. B 20342, spočívající v uzavření jedné či více smluv o upsání akcií, na jejímž či jejichž základě upíše společnost TRINITY Banking Group a.s. akcie Společnosti na majitele v zaknihované podobě vydávané v rámci zvýšení základního kapitálu Společnosti realizovaného představenstvem na základě pověření valné hromady ze dne 18. 9. 2026, a to až do rozsahu celé emise nově vydávaných akcií, tedy nejvýše 943 397 kusů akcií, s tím, že k uzavření smlouvy nebo jednotlivých smluv o upsání akcií dojde nejpozději do 31. 12. 2027.

3. Schválení nabytí vlastních akcií

Zdůvodnění: Představenstvo navrhuje schválení nabývání vlastních akcií Společností s cílem zlepšit podmínky, za nichž mohou stávající akcionáři realizovat svou investici jejich prodejem. Přestože jsou akcie Společnosti přijaty k obchodování na regulovaném trhu, objem obchodů realizovaných na regulovaném trhu je limitován podílem akcií skutečně dostupných k obchodování a strukturou akcionářské základny; prodávající akcionář proto nemusí v požadované době nalézt protistranu ochotnou akcie v požadovaném objemu odkoupit.

Účelem návrhu je umožnit, aby akcionář, který má zájem akcie Společnosti prodat, nebyl odkázán výlučně na náhodný souběh svého prodejního zájmu se zájmem jiného investora, ale aby měl možnost svou investici zpeněžit prodejem přímo do Společnosti, a to za stabilních a transparentních podmínek.

U akcionářů, kteří ve Společnosti setrvávají, se nesnižuje jejich poměrná účast na základním kapitálu, nedojde k ředění jejich podílů, a naopak dojde k navýšení jejich podílů na hlasovacích právech. Po dobu, po kterou Společnost vlastní akcie drží, totiž nelze vykonávat práva s nimi spojená, zejména právo hlasovací (§ 309 ZOK), a Společnosti ve vztahu k vlastním akciím nevzniká právo na podíl na zisku. Dále se vlastní akcie držené Společností nezapočítávají pro účely usnášeníschopnosti valné hromady.

Konkrétní způsob a podmínky nabývání vlastních akcií určí představenstvo v mezích tohoto usnesení. Nabyté vlastní akcie bude Společnost moci dále využít zákonem dovoleným způsobem, zejména je opětovně zcizit.

Návrh usnesení: Valná hromada schvaluje nabývání vlastních akcií Společnosti za těchto podmínek:

1. Společnost je oprávněna nabýt kmenové akcie na majitele v zaknihované podobě o jmenovité hodnotě 388 Kč za jednu akcii, vydané Společností až do celkového počtu 395 249 kusů akcií;

2. Nejnižší cena, za kterou může Společnost nabýt vlastní akcie, je 1 060 Kč za jednu akcii;

3. Nejvyšší cena, za kterou může Společnost nabýt vlastní akcie, je 1 060 Kč za jednu akcii;

4. Společnost je oprávněna nabývat vlastní akcie po dobu 5 let počínaje dnem přijetí tohoto usnesení valné hromady;

5. Nejvyšší úhrnná cena všech akcií, které Společnost na základě tohoto usnesení může nabýt: 418 963 940 Kč.

4. Změna stanov

Zdůvodnění: Navrhuje se změna stanov, jejímž cílem je uvést úpravu svolávání a průběhu valné hromady do souladu s běžnou tržní praxí akciových společností.

Ze stanov se vypouští z čl. 6.8 uveřejňování pozvánky na vývěsce v sídle Společnosti. Tento způsob uveřejnění zákon nevyžaduje, přitom pro Společnost představuje zbytečnou administrativní zátěž a zvyšuje riziko formálního pochybení při svolávání valné hromady. Pro akcionáře zároveň nemá žádný informační přínos, neboť informaci o konání valné hromady mají možnost získat dálkovým přístupem, a to jak z internetových stránek Společnosti, kde je pozvánka uveřejněna po celou dobu lhůty pro svolání valné hromady, tak z Obchodního věstníku. Pro úplnost se uvádí, že v případě zájmů akcionáře, bude i nadále možné se s pozvánkou v sídle Společnosti seznámit.

Dále se navrhuje v čl. 6.9 upravit účast členů představenstva a dozorčí rady na valné hromadě jako povinnost, nikoli jako pouhé oprávnění. Navrhovanou změnou se stanovy uvádějí do souladu se zákonnou úpravou, která jejich účast vyžaduje. Výbor pro audit se z tohoto výčtu vypouští, neboť zákon jeho členům povinnou účast na valné hromadě neukládá. Účast členů výboru pro audit i dalších osob, u nichž je účelné, aby se vyjádřily k jednotlivým bodům pořadu valné hromady, zůstává podle poslední věty příslušného článku stanov možná, zároveň je upravena již v čl. 9.7, ve kterém se navrhuje upřesnit, že člen výboru pro audit se účastní valné hromady, na jejímž pořadu je schválení účetní závěrky, a informuje ji o výsledcích činnosti výboru. Informace o činnosti výboru pro audit má význam právě ve vazbě na účetní závěrku.

Návrh usnesení:

1. Čl. 6.8. nově zní: „Orgán svolávající valnou hromadu je povinen zajistit uveřejnění pozvánky na valnou hromadu nejméně 30 dnů před jejím konáním na internetových stránkách společnosti. Oznámení o konání valné hromady a pořad valné hromady budou současně ve stejné lhůtě uveřejněny v Obchodním věstníku. Pozvánka na valnou hromadu není zasílána na adresy akcionářů. Uveřejněním oznámení o konání valné hromady a pořadu valné hromady v Obchodním věstníku je nahrazeno zasílání pozvánky na adresy akcionářů uvedené v seznamu akcionářů. Lhůta uvedená ve větě první se zkracuje na 15 dnů v případě konání náhradní valné hromady a na 21 dnů v případě konání valné hromady na žádost akcionářů uvedených v § 365 zákona o obchodních korporacích.“

2. Čl. 6.9. nově zní: „Právo účastnit se valné hromady má osoba vedená jako akcionář v zákonem stanovené evidenci investičních nástrojů (Centrální depozitář cenných papírů) k rozhodnému dni. Rozhodným dnem k účasti na valné hromadě je sedmý kalendářní den předcházející dni konání valné hromady. Valné hromady se účastní členové představenstva a dozorčí rady. Valné hromady se mohou účastnit rovněž osoby, u nichž je účelné, aby se vyjádřily k jednotlivým bodům pořadu valné hromady, např. auditoři či poradci společnosti, a osoby zabezpečující průběh valné hromady.“

3. Čl. 9.7 nově zní: „Nejméně jeden člen výboru pro audit se účastní valné hromady společnosti, na jejímž pořadu je schválení účetní závěrky, a informuje valnou hromadu o výsledcích činnosti výboru pro audit za uplynulé účetní období.“

5. Schválení významné transakce se spřízněnou stranou – úpis dluhopisů

Zdůvodnění: Představenstvo navrhuje valné hromadě schválit v souladu s § 121t zákona č. 256/2004 Sb., o podnikání na kapitálovém trhu, ve znění pozdějších předpisů (dále jen „ZPKT"), uzavření významné transakce mezi Společností a společností SAB EUROPE HOLDING LTD, se sídlem Suite 3, Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta, zapsanou podle práva Malty pod reg. č. C 70457 (dále jen „SAB EUROPE HOLDING“), a/nebo společností TRINITY B. G. a.s., se sídlem Na Příkopě 969/33, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 1, IČO: 106 99 091 (dále jen „TRINITY B. G.“), a/nebo společností SAB Financial Investments a.s., se sídlem Na Příkopě 969/33, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 1, IČO: 019 57 201 (dále jen „SAB Financial Investments“; SAB EUROPE HOLDING, TRINITY B. G. a SAB Financial Investments dále společně jen „Emitenti“), jakožto osobami ovládanými stejnou ovládající osobou jako Společnost a tedy jejími spřízněnými stranami, jejímž obsahem bude úpis nově emitovaných dluhopisů vydávaných kterýmkoli z Emitentů ze strany Společnosti, a to do maximální souhrnné výše 800 000 000 Kč za všechny Emitenty dohromady.

Schvalovaný limit představuje souhrnnou horní hranici objemu úpisu. Dluhopisy může Společnost upsat od jediného z Emitentů, nebo od více z nich, vždy však platí, že celkový emisní kurz všech dluhopisů upsaných Společností od všech Emitentů dohromady nesmí na základě tohoto souhlasu přesáhnout částku 800 000 000 Kč.

Souhlas se předkládá ve vztahu ke všem uvedeným Emitentům současně proto, že v tuto chvíli není postaveno najisto, který z nich bude emisi dluhopisů realizovat. Volba konkrétního emitenta bude učiněna s ohledem na aktuální podmínky na trhu, načasování emise a na to, jaké uspořádání emise se ukáže jako nejvhodnější. Předložení souhlasu ve vztahu ke všem Emitentům tak Společnosti umožní reagovat na vývoj bez nutnosti svolávat další valnou hromadu.

Představenstvo důvodně předpokládá, že k uzavření smlouvy či smluv o úpisu dojde do konce roku 2027.

Dluhopisy budou mít standardní parametry a půjde o dluhopisy nikoliv podřízené dluhopisy ani o nástroje s obdobným účinkem na pořadí uspokojení pohledávky Společnosti. Splatnost dluhopisů bude činit 8 let od data emise. Výnos dluhopisů bude pohyblivý, navázaný na referenční sazbu 3M PRIBOR zvýšenou o marži. Výše marže bude stanovena na základě znaleckého posudku.

Uzavření transakce je v zájmu Společnosti, neboť jí umožní zhodnotit dočasně volné peněžní prostředky, a to za podmínek odpovídajících podmínkám obvyklým v běžném obchodním styku, jejichž tržní charakter bude ověřen znaleckým posudkem. Ekonomickým přínosem transakce pro Společnost je výnos z upsaných dluhopisů.

Vzhledem k tomu, že hodnota transakce může přesáhnout 10 % aktiv Společnosti dle její řádné individuální účetní závěrky za předcházející účetní období, může transakce naplnit znaky významné transakce ve smyslu § 121s ZPKT; Společnost ji proto předkládá valné hromadě k vyjádření souhlasu.

Společnost není povinna dluhopisy upsat vůbec, ani vyčerpat schválený limit v plném rozsahu; skutečný rozsah úpisu i to, zda k němu vůbec dojde, bude záviset na uvážení představenstva s ohledem na aktuální situaci na trhu, potřeby řízení likvidity Společnosti a výhodnost nabízených podmínek.

Návrh usnesení: Valná hromada uděluje v souladu s § 121t zákona č. 256/2004 Sb., o podnikání na kapitálovém trhu, ve znění pozdějších předpisů, souhlas s uzavřením významné transakce mezi Společností a společností SAB EUROPE HOLDING a/nebo TRINITY B. G. a.s. a/nebo SAB Financial Investments a.s., spočívající v uzavření jedné či více smluv o úpisu nově emitovaných dluhopisů vydávaných společností SAB EUROPE HOLDING a/nebo TRINITY B. G. a.s. a/nebo SAB Financial Investments a.s. (společně „Emitenti“ a každý „Emitent“) Společností, a to tak, že úpis nově emitovaných dluhopisů vydaných kterýmkoli jednotlivým Emitentem může dosáhnout až celkového emisního kurzu 800 000 000 Kč, přičemž celkový emisní kurz všech takových dluhopisů upsaných Společností a vydaných všemi Emitenty dohromady nesmí přesáhnout 800 000 000 Kč. K úpisu dojde nejpozději do 31. 12. 2027.

C. DŮLEŽITÉ INFORMACE K ÚČASTI NA VALNÉ HROMADĚ

1. Rozhodný den pro účast na valné hromadě

Rozhodným dnem pro účast na valné hromadě Společnosti je 11. 9. 2026, tzn., že pouze ti akcionáři, kteří jsou zapsáni v seznamu akcionářů – ve výpisu z evidence zaknihovaných akcií Společnosti vedeném Centrálním depozitářem cenných papírů, a.s. k tomuto dni, se mohou účastnit valné hromady.

2. Registrace

• Registrace akcionářů začíná v místě konání valné hromady v 9:00 hodin a bude ukončena v 9:45 hodin.

• Při registraci jsou akcionáři povinni prokázat svou totožnost platným průkazem totožnosti, tj. občanským průkazem či cestovním pasem.

• Osoba oprávněná jednat za právnickou osobu je povinna předložit originál či úředně ověřenou kopii výpisu z příslušného veřejného rejstříku osvědčujícího existenci právnické osoby a způsob jednání statutárního orgánu za právnickou osobu ne staršího 3 měsíců.

o Pokud jde o akcionáře z České republiky, bude tímto výpis z obchodního rejstříku.

o Pokud jde o akcionáře ze států EU, bude tímto registrace společnosti vydaná příslušným úřadem, např. soudem.

o Pokud jde o akcionáře z USA, Velké Británie či jiných států, bude tímto příslušný dokument opatřený doložkou – apostilou, jako např. Good Standing Certificate či Incumbency Certificate.

• Zmocněnci předloží originál či úředně ověřenou písemnou plnou moc s úředně ověřeným podpisem zapsaného akcionáře.

• Všichni účastníci jsou povinni podepsat seznam přítomných.

• Všechny dokumenty předložené v jiném než českém, slovenském či anglickém jazyce musí být opatřeny úředně ověřeným překladem těchto dokumentů do češtiny.

3. Hlasování

• Hlasování na této valné hromadě je možné pouze formou prezenčního hlasování, a to buď osobně, nebo na základě plné moci.

• Hlasování bude provedeno prostřednictvím elektronického hlasovacího zařízení, které obdrží akcionáři při registraci po podpisu do seznamu přítomných.

4. Plné moci

Zmocněnec musí při registraci doložit plnou moc, která bude písemná, podepsaná oprávněnou osobou a opatřena úředně ověřeným podpisem. Z plné moci musí být zřejmé, zda je udělena jen pro tuto jedinou či pro více valných hromad.

Akcionář může oznámit Společnosti udělení nebo odvolání plné moci také elektronickou formou na adresu [email protected], přičemž oznámení o zvolení zástupce musí obsahovat originál či úředně ověřenou kopii plné moci převedenou do elektronické podoby formou autorizované konverze (z důvodu formálních požadavků na úřední ověření podpisu zmocnitele) či opatřenou kvalifikovaným elektronickým podpisem zmocnitele.

Vzor plné moci je uveřejněn na internetových stránkách Společnosti www.sab.cz v sekci pro investory a v podsekci valná hromada 18. 9. 2026 a v sídle Společnosti v pracovních dnech od 9:00 do 17:00 hodin. Akcionář má právo vyžádat si zaslání formuláře plné moci na svůj náklad a na své nebezpečí v listinné podobě nebo elektronickým prostředkem – kontaktní adresou pro tyto účely je [email protected].

5. Práva akcionářů související s účastí na valné hromadě a způsob jejich uplatnění

Valná hromada je schopná usnášení, jsou-li přítomni akcionáři vlastnící akcie, jejichž jmenovitá hodnota přesahuje 30 % základního kapitálu Společnosti, tj. 354 905 812,- Kč.

a. Právo hlasovat

• Základní kapitál Společnosti činí 1 183 019 372,- Kč a je rozvržen na 3 049 019 ks kmenových akcií na majitele v zaknihované podobě ve jmenovité hodnotě 388,- Kč.

• Akcie Společnosti byly přijaty k obchodování na Burze cenných papírů Praha, a.s. na trhu Standard Market, ISIN: CZ0009009940.

• S každou akcií Společnosti je spojen jeden hlas. Celkový počet hlasů všech akcionářů Společnosti je tedy 3 049 019.

b. Právo na vysvětlení

• Každý akcionář má právo požadovat a obdržet na valné hromadě vysvětlení záležitostí týkajících se Společnosti nebo jí ovládaných osob, je-li takové vysvětlení potřebné pro posouzení obsahu záležitostí zařazených na valnou hromadu nebo pro výkon práv akcionáře na valné hromadě.

• Jakýkoli požadavek akcionáře na vysvětlení na valné hromadě musí být učiněn písemně korespondenčně na adresu sídla Společnosti či e-mailem na: [email protected] nebo ústně po vyzvání předsedou valné hromady.

• Vysvětlení může být poskytnuto formou souhrnné odpovědi na více otázek obdobného obsahu.

• Pokud požadované vysvětlení nemůže být poskytnuto z důvodu jeho složitosti přímo na valné hromadě, musí být akcionářům Společnosti poskytnuto do 15 dnů ode dne konání valné hromady. Znění vysvětlení bude dostupné pro akcionáře Společnosti na internetových stránkách Společnosti www.sab.cz.

c. Právo uplatňovat návrhy a protinávrhy

• Akcionář je oprávněn uplatňovat návrhy a protinávrhy k záležitostem zařazeným na pořad valné hromady.

• Valná hromada vždy nejprve projedná a rozhodne o návrzích předložených akcionáři, a to v pořadí, jak byly předloženy. Následně valná hromada projedná a rozhodne o návrhu předloženém představenstvem, resp. příslušným orgánem Společnosti (dozorčí radou apod.).

• Pokud je návrh schválen, valná hromada o zbývajících návrzích nehlasuje.

d. Právo podávat protesty

e. Právo kvalifikovaných akcionářů žádat zařazení určité záležitosti na pořad valné hromady

• Pokud o to požádá kvalifikovaný akcionář (tj. akcionář nebo akcionáři Společnosti, kteří mají akcie, jejichž souhrnná jmenovitá hodnota dosahuje alespoň 1 % základního kapitálu) a doručí tuto žádost nejpozději 10 dní před rozhodným dnem pro konání valné hromady, zařadí představenstvo na pořad valné hromady jimi určenou záležitost za předpokladu, že ke každé ze záležitostí je navrženo i usnesení nebo je její zařazení odůvodněno.

• V případě, že žádost kvalifikovaného akcionáře bude doručena po uveřejnění pozvánky na valnou hromadu, avšak nejpozději 10 dní před rozhodným dnem, uveřejní představenstvo doplnění pořadu valné hromady nejpozději 5 dní před rozhodným dnem k účasti na valné hromadě, a to v Obchodním věstníku a na internetových stránkách Společnosti.

f. Právo na získání dokumentů vztahujících se k valné hromadě

• Veškeré dokumenty vztahující se k valné hromadě jsou uveřejněny na internetových stánkách Společnosti na adrese: www.sab.cz v sekci „Pro investory“ v podsekci valné hromady, a to po dobu začínající nejméně 30 dnů před a končící 30 dnů po konání valné hromady. Ve stejné době jsou tyto dokumenty zdarma k nahlédnutí v sídle Společnosti, a to v pracovních dnech od 9:00 do 17:00 hodin.

6. Dotazy

Jakékoli dotazy týkající se účasti na valné hromadě mohou akcionáři zasílat e-mailem na adresu [email protected].

(komerční sdělení)

Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lowered its stake in shares of nVent Electric PLC (NYSE:NVT – Free Report) by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 23,052 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,270 shares during the period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG’s holdings in nVent Electric were worth $3,910,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in NVT. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of nVent Electric during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $245,955,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in nVent Electric by 361.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,577,555 shares of the company’s stock valued at $262,835,000 after buying an additional 2,019,483 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 3,467.1% during the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,326,100 shares of the company’s stock valued at $130,807,000 after buying an additional 1,288,924 shares during the period. Merewether Investment Management LP purchased a new position in shares of nVent Electric in the 2nd quarter worth $78,222,000. Finally, Amundi boosted its stake in shares of nVent Electric by 146.8% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 1,092,802 shares of the company’s stock worth $129,257,000 after buying an additional 649,992 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on NVT shares. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $210.00 price objective on shares of nVent Electric in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $195.00 target price on shares of nVent Electric in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Barclays raised their target price on nVent Electric from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of nVent Electric from $193.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of nVent Electric from $188.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $198.79.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NVT

nVent Electric Stock Performance NYSE NVT opened at $169.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. nVent Electric PLC has a twelve month low of $85.72 and a twelve month high of $184.64. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $161.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $142.62. The firm has a market cap of $27.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.37.

nVent Electric (NYSE:NVT – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.29. nVent Electric had a return on equity of 18.85% and a net margin of 12.38%.The company had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.86 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 52.8% on a year-over-year basis. nVent Electric has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.350-1.380 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.100 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that nVent Electric PLC will post 5.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

nVent Electric Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were given a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. nVent Electric’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.95%.

nVent Electric declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Saturday, May 16th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 1.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity In other news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 22,525 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.62, for a total value of $3,708,065.50. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 27,441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,517,337.42. The trade was a 45.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Der Kolk Robert J. Van sold 5,858 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.32, for a total transaction of $962,586.56. Following the transaction, the insider owned 27,387 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,500,231.84. This represents a 17.62% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 74,644 shares of company stock worth $12,276,886 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.70% of the company’s stock.

nVent Electric Profile (Free Report)

nVent Electric PLC is a global manufacturer of electrical connection, protection and thermal management solutions. The company designs, engineers and produces a broad portfolio of products aimed at enhancing safety, reliability and performance in electrical systems across a variety of industries. Its core offerings include electrical enclosures, heat tracing systems, grounding and bonding products, cable management, and fastening solutions. nVent serves markets such as commercial and industrial construction, oil and gas, telecommunications, data centers, utilities, and renewable energy.

The company’s electrical enclosures and housing solutions protect sensitive components from environmental hazards, while its Raychem brand heat tracing products provide freeze protection and temperature maintenance for critical piping and equipment.

See Also Five stocks we like better than nVent Electric Asian Market Circuit Breakers Hit Stocks, Not AI Demand Riot Platforms Re-Wires the Ledger for a $9B AI Power Play Nebius Just Exploded 34% on Blowout Earnings—Is It Time to Buy? Joby’s Defense Pivot Accelerates With $500M Resonant Sciences Deal

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been critical of unions in the past. Alex Wong/Getty Images Elon Musk's long battle with Tesla's striking workers in Sweden is finally coming to an end.

On Thursday, IF Metall said it is suspending its nearly three-year industrial action against Tesla, effective August 19, after the company bought out all of the Swedish union's striking workers.

The fractious dispute has disrupted Tesla's operations in the Scandinavian country, with dockworkers refusing to unload the company's EVs from ships and cleaners boycotting Tesla's showrooms and offices as other unions joined the fray.

The strike action, which lasted more than 1,000 days, has drawn Musk's attention, with the Tesla CEO previously calling it "insane." Musk has been sharply critical of unions in the past, and the automaker was accused of cracking down on unionization efforts in the US in 2023.

In a statement announcing the end of the industrial action, which was initially intended to force Tesla to agree to negotiations with the union over pay and working conditions, IF Metall accused the company of "systematic strikebreaking."

"We can conclude that Tesla is so strongly opposed to collective agreements that they would rather buy out employees who are members of the union than give them safe conditions," the union wrote, according to a translated announcement.

Such collective agreements are common in Sweden's heavily unionized workforce. The initial strike action, which began in 2023, covered around 120 Tesla workers.

It is unclear how many employees were bought out by Tesla or how much the company paid to resolve the strike. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

The Model Y maker has regularly clashed with unions in Europe. Tesla fended off an attempt by German union IG Metall to win control of a workers' body overseeing its Berlin Gigafactory earlier this year, in a fierce dispute that peaked when Tesla management accused union members of secretly recording an internal meeting.

Musk, the world's richest man, has in the past paid out large sums to draw a line under issues, either directly or through his companies. In 2018, Musk paid a $20 million SEC fine after falsely claiming to have secured funding to take Tesla private, and in 2025 reached a settlement with former top Twitter executives over unpaid severance.

Tesla's latest victory over union opposition in Sweden comes as the brand's sales in Europe recover after slumping in 2025 amid backlash over Musk's political interventions.

The automaker's European registrations surged 50% year-over-year in June, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and are up around 43% in Sweden so far this year.

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 14th, 2026

Caerus Investment Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) by 33.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,415 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after selling 4,671 shares during the period. Amazon.com makes up about 0.8% of Caerus Investment Advisors LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Caerus Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $1,961,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in AMZN. MilWealth Group LLC increased its stake in Amazon.com by 79.0% during the 4th quarter. MilWealth Group LLC now owns 179 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in shares of Amazon.com during the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of Amazon.com by 900.0% during the 4th quarter. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership now owns 200 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the period. Fairway Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 95.6% during the 4th quarter. Fairway Wealth LLC now owns 221 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 87.7% during the 4th quarter. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. now owns 229 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Amazon.com Here are the key news stories impacting Amazon.com this week:

Positive Sentiment: Amazon is positioning Alexa as an AI-powered shopping assistant that can identify missing groceries from a refrigerator photo, create a shopping list and potentially direct purchases before customers visit competitors such as Walmart. The initiative could strengthen Amazon’s grocery and retail ecosystem. Amazon Wants Alexa to Own the Shopping List Before Walmart Ever Sees It Positive Sentiment: AWS remains a major bullish catalyst. Recent reports highlighted 36.7% year-over-year AWS growth, a roughly $496 billion backlog and substantial demand for AI infrastructure. Amazon has also made OpenAI cybersecurity models available through Amazon Bedrock, supporting cloud-service adoption. Amazon Stock Eyes AWS Growth as Amazon’s $220 Billion Spending Plan Expands Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains favorable, with one report citing a potential 32% upside and no sell ratings among 62 analysts. Investment activity also included Appaloosa nearly doubling its Amazon position earlier this year, signaling continued institutional confidence. Amazon’s Price Target Says Plus 32 Percent and Not a Single Analyst Says Sell Neutral Sentiment: Amazon is reportedly a leading bidder for Decart AI, which could add valuable AI talent and technology for AWS, retail operations and advertising. However, the financial terms and outcome remain uncertain. What Could Amazon Gain From Leading the Decart AI Bidding? Negative Sentiment: Twitch’s decision to enroll creators by default in sharing livestream content for Amazon AI training has triggered strong user backlash. The controversy could create reputational, regulatory and creator-retention risks. Amazon Will Train on Twitch Streamers’ Content by Default Unless They Opt Out Negative Sentiment: Amazon’s 2026 capital-expenditure forecast has risen to approximately $220 billion as it expands AI and cloud capacity. Investors are concerned that borrowing and heavy spending may reduce near-term free cash flow, particularly while Amazon does not pay a dividend. Amazon Raises 2026 AI Spending to 220 Billion Dollars Negative Sentiment: New York City labor activists and Teamsters are urging passage of legislation that could require delivery workers to be directly employed, potentially increasing Amazon’s labor costs and disrupting its last-mile delivery model. Amazon Teamsters and Allies Picket City Hall for the Delivery Protection Act Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AMZN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Benchmark boosted their price target on Amazon.com from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Amazon.com from $320.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Amazon.com from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. KeyCorp boosted their target price on shares of Amazon.com from $335.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $315.00 price target on shares of Amazon.com in a report on Friday, July 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifty-six have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $322.56.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Amazon.com

Insiders Place Their Bets In other Amazon.com news, CEO Andrew R. Jassy sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.42, for a total value of $5,268,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 2,205,766 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $581,042,879.72. This represents a 0.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Douglas J. Herrington sold 6,370 shares of Amazon.com stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $262.39, for a total value of $1,671,424.30. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 486,527 shares in the company, valued at $127,659,819.53. The trade was a 1.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 62,650 shares of company stock worth $16,535,457. Company insiders own 8.90% of the company’s stock.

Amazon.com Price Performance AMZN stock opened at $265.13 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $247.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $238.49. The stock has a market cap of $2.86 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.45. Amazon.com, Inc. has a 1 year low of $196.00 and a 1 year high of $287.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The e-commerce giant reported $5.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.82 by $3.93. The firm had revenue of $200.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $197.03 billion. Amazon.com had a net margin of 17.44% and a return on equity of 18.00%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 19.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.68 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Amazon.com, Inc. will post 8.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Amazon.com Profile (Free Report)

Amazon.com, Inc is a diversified technology and retail company best known for its e-commerce marketplace and broad portfolio of consumer and enterprise services. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company launched as an online bookseller and expanded into a global retail platform that sells products directly to consumers and provides a marketplace for third-party sellers. Over time Amazon has grown beyond retail into areas including cloud computing, digital media, devices and logistics.

Key businesses and offerings include Amazon’s online marketplace and fulfillment services, the Amazon Prime membership program (which bundles expedited shipping with streaming and other benefits), Amazon Web Services (AWS) which supplies on-demand cloud computing and storage to businesses and public-sector customers, and a range of content and advertising services such as Prime Video and Amazon Advertising.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Amazon.com Asian Market Circuit Breakers Hit Stocks, Not AI Demand Riot Platforms Re-Wires the Ledger for a $9B AI Power Play Nebius Just Exploded 34% on Blowout Earnings—Is It Time to Buy? Joby’s Defense Pivot Accelerates With $500M Resonant Sciences Deal Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report).

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Encore Global Management LP purchased a new position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 12,950 shares of the software giant’s stock, valued at approximately $4,794,000. Microsoft makes up about 3.3% of Encore Global Management LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Markel Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 537,630 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $199,014,000 after acquiring an additional 1,950 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its stake in Microsoft by 8.4% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 6,921,677 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $2,562,197,000 after acquiring an additional 537,634 shares during the last quarter. Taylor Securities Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Microsoft during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,616,000. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management raised its position in Microsoft by 15.7% during the fourth quarter. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management now owns 12,492 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $6,041,000 after purchasing an additional 1,698 shares during the period. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 138.8% in the 1st quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 1,356,359 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $502,077,000 after purchasing an additional 788,297 shares during the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Microsoft News Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

Positive Sentiment: Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman reaffirmed his bullish Azure thesis, arguing that continued capacity investment and Microsoft 365’s embedded customer base can support high-teens earnings growth. Microsoft Stock Rises as Ackman Reaffirms Azure Bet Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its Microsoft price target to $625, citing accelerating Copilot adoption and infrastructure growth. Wells Fargo also maintained an overweight rating and lifted its target to $700, reinforcing the view that the stock’s AI-driven recovery has further upside. JPMorgan Raises Microsoft Price Target Positive Sentiment: Microsoft began gradually combining its consumer and enterprise Copilot applications into a unified AI platform. The planned “super app” could improve user adoption, cross-selling and Microsoft’s competitive position against ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Microsoft Unifies Consumer and Enterprise Copilot Positive Sentiment: Microsoft accepted IREN’s first AI data-center deployment under a $9.7 billion cloud agreement. The milestone supports Azure’s ability to secure additional computing capacity as AI infrastructure demand remains strong. IREN Hands Microsoft Its First AI Cloud Deployment Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft is reportedly closing or restructuring numerous China offices and joint ventures, while retaining an Azure-linked presence. The move may reduce geopolitical exposure but could also limit access to the Chinese market. Microsoft Retreats in China Negative Sentiment: A report said Microsoft plans to cut carbon-removal purchases while AI-related emissions rise, creating potential reputational and environmental concerns. Microsoft Carbon Removal Purchases Report Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 4,810 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $496.48, for a total transaction of $2,388,068.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 42,677 shares in the company, valued at $21,188,276.96. The trade was a 10.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Judson Althoff sold 15,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $460.99, for a total transaction of $7,145,345.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 110,477 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $50,928,792.23. The trade was a 12.30% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 37,310 shares of company stock worth $17,256,219. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MSFT shares. HSBC cut their target price on Microsoft from $593.00 to $571.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Arete Research lifted their price objective on shares of Microsoft from $730.00 to $870.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, DZ Bank restated a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Forty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Microsoft presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $560.27.

Get Our Latest Analysis on MSFT

Microsoft Trading Up 0.9% MSFT opened at $496.88 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The firm has a market cap of $3.69 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.67, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.11. Microsoft Corporation has a 12 month low of $349.20 and a 12 month high of $553.72. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $409.70 and a 200-day moving average price of $407.88.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $90.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.98% and a net margin of 40.31%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.65 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 20th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Microsoft’s payout ratio is presently 20.27%.

Microsoft Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a broad range of software products, services and devices for consumers, enterprises and governments worldwide. Its operations span personal computing, productivity software, cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, developer tools and gaming.

Microsoft’s product portfolio includes the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools (Office apps, Outlook, Teams).

Read More Five stocks we like better than Microsoft Asian Market Circuit Breakers Hit Stocks, Not AI Demand Riot Platforms Re-Wires the Ledger for a $9B AI Power Play Nebius Just Exploded 34% on Blowout Earnings—Is It Time to Buy? Joby’s Defense Pivot Accelerates With $500M Resonant Sciences Deal Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSFT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 14th, 2026

Amundi lifted its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 30.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,675,076 shares of the software giant’s stock after buying an additional 9,814,598 shares during the quarter. Microsoft comprises approximately 4.2% of Amundi’s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Amundi owned approximately 0.56% of Microsoft worth $15,426,862,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC lifted its stake in Microsoft by 51.3% during the second quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 59 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Bernzott Capital Advisors bought a new position in Microsoft in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Timmons Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Microsoft during the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Fairway Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 287.0% in the 4th quarter. Fairway Wealth LLC now owns 89 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, University of Illinois Foundation bought a new stake in shares of Microsoft during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $50,000. 71.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Microsoft News Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

Positive Sentiment: Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman reaffirmed his bullish Azure thesis, arguing that continued capacity investment and Microsoft 365’s embedded customer base can support high-teens earnings growth. Microsoft Stock Rises as Ackman Reaffirms Azure Bet Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its Microsoft price target to $625, citing accelerating Copilot adoption and infrastructure growth. Wells Fargo also maintained an overweight rating and lifted its target to $700, reinforcing the view that the stock’s AI-driven recovery has further upside. JPMorgan Raises Microsoft Price Target Positive Sentiment: Microsoft began gradually combining its consumer and enterprise Copilot applications into a unified AI platform. The planned “super app” could improve user adoption, cross-selling and Microsoft’s competitive position against ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Microsoft Unifies Consumer and Enterprise Copilot Positive Sentiment: Microsoft accepted IREN’s first AI data-center deployment under a $9.7 billion cloud agreement. The milestone supports Azure’s ability to secure additional computing capacity as AI infrastructure demand remains strong. IREN Hands Microsoft Its First AI Cloud Deployment Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft is reportedly closing or restructuring numerous China offices and joint ventures, while retaining an Azure-linked presence. The move may reduce geopolitical exposure but could also limit access to the Chinese market. Microsoft Retreats in China Negative Sentiment: A report said Microsoft plans to cut carbon-removal purchases while AI-related emissions rise, creating potential reputational and environmental concerns. Microsoft Carbon Removal Purchases Report Insider Buying and Selling at Microsoft In related news, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total transaction of $4,878,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 100,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $49,007,086.83. This represents a 9.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 4,810 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $496.48, for a total transaction of $2,388,068.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 42,677 shares in the company, valued at $21,188,276.96. This represents a 10.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 37,310 shares of company stock worth $17,256,219. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Arete Research boosted their price objective on Microsoft from $730.00 to $870.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $575.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Microsoft from $500.00 to $515.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Evercore set a $528.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Argus reduced their target price on shares of Microsoft from $620.00 to $510.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. Forty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $560.27.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MSFT

Microsoft Stock Performance Shares of MSFT stock opened at $496.88 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $409.70 and a 200-day moving average of $407.88. The company has a market cap of $3.69 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. Microsoft Corporation has a 52 week low of $349.20 and a 52 week high of $553.72.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.98% and a net margin of 40.31%.The business had revenue of $90.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.65 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Microsoft Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given a $0.91 dividend. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 20th. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.27%.

Microsoft Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a broad range of software products, services and devices for consumers, enterprises and governments worldwide. Its operations span personal computing, productivity software, cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, developer tools and gaming.

Microsoft’s product portfolio includes the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools (Office apps, Outlook, Teams).

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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced dividends on six series of preferred stock.

A quarterly cash dividend of $18.75 per share was declared on its 7.50% noncumulative perpetual convertible class A preferred stock, Series L, liquidation preference $1,000 per share, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrL”. The Series L dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

A quarterly cash dividend of $351.56 per share was declared on its 5.625% noncumulative perpetual class A preferred stock, Series Y, liquidation preference $25,000 per share. This dividend equals $0.35156 per depositary share, each representing a 1/1,000 interest in a share of Series Y preferred stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrY”. The Series Y dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

A quarterly cash dividend of $296.88 per share was declared on its 4.75% noncumulative perpetual class A preferred stock, Series Z, liquidation preference $25,000 per share. This dividend equals $0.29688 per depositary share, each representing a 1/1,000 interest in a share of Series Z preferred stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrZ”. The Series Z dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

A quarterly cash dividend of $293.75 per share was declared on its 4.70% noncumulative perpetual class A preferred stock, Series AA, liquidation preference $25,000 per share. This dividend equals $0.29375 per depositary share, each representing a 1/1,000 interest in a share of Series AA preferred stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrA”. The Series AA dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

A quarterly cash dividend of $273.44 per share was declared on its 4.375% noncumulative perpetual class A preferred stock, Series CC, liquidation preference $25,000 per share. This dividend equals $0.27344 per depositary share, each representing a 1/1,000 interest in a share of Series CC preferred stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrC”. The Series CC dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

A quarterly cash dividend of $265.63 per share was declared on its 4.25% noncumulative perpetual class A preferred stock, Series DD, liquidation preference $25,000 per share. This dividend equals $0.26563 per depositary share, each representing a 1/1,000 interest in a share of Series DD preferred stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFCPrD”. The Series DD dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2026, to holders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2026.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $2.3 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 38 on Fortune’s 2026 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo

News Release Category: WF-CFH