Market Signal Briefing

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Philip Morris (PM - Free Report) Philip Morris International is progressing well with its business transformation in the face of consumers rising health consciousness and stern regulations to dissuade smoking. To this end, the tobacco giant has been expanding in the reduced risk products (RRPs) or smoke-free products category, evident from the success of IQOS (a heating tobacco device) that counts amongst one of the leading RRPs in the industry.

PM is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. PM has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 14.2% for the current fiscal year.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $7.50 per share. PM boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.8%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, PM should be on investors' short list.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) Wilmington, DE-based Marvell Technology is a fabless designer, developer and marketer of analog, mixed-signal and digital signal processing integrated circuits. The company operates in Bermuda, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

MRVL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. MRVL has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 78.3% for the current fiscal year.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $2.80 per share. MRVL boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.7%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, MRVL should be on investors' short list.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: CBOE Global (CBOE - Free Report) Based in Chicago, IL, and founded in 1973, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (effective Oct 17, 2017, CBOE Holdings, Inc. came to be known as Cboe Global Markets, Inc.) is one of the largest stock exchange operators by volume in the United States and a leading market globally for ETP trading.

CBOE is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CBOE has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 12.3% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.07 to $9.67 per share. CBOE boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.9%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CBOE should be on investors' short list.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Becton Dickinson (BDX - Free Report) Based in Franklin Lakes, NJ, Becton, Dickinson and Company, commonly known as BD, is a medical technology company engaged principally in the development, manufacture and sale of medical devices, instrument systems and reagents.

BDX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BDX has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 9.1% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2025, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.09 to $14.34 per share. BDX boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BDX should be on investors' short list.

There's a small portion of my portfolio I allocate toward companies I'd put in the “higher risk” bucket.

The logo of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is seen on the facade of the bank’s headquarters in Madrid, Spain, May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ana Beltran/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesZurich calls BBVA offer unattractiveBBVA, Sabadell woo investors before October 10 tender deadlineMADRID, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Sabadell's

(SABE.MC), opens new tab second-largest investor, Zurich Insurance, said on Tuesday it would not back a hostile bid for the Spanish bank from bigger rival BBVA

(BBVA.MC), opens new tab, as the two sides stepped up a war of words over whether BBVA's offer might prevail.

Following Zurich's

(ZURN.S), opens new tab announcement, the CEO of Sabadell predicted that BBVA would fall short of gaining enough support for its takeover offer. However, BBVA said initial evidence showed it would easily push past the 50% threshold.

Sign up here.

BBVA's hostile pursuit, dating back to April 2024, has turned into one of the most bitter M&A battles in Spain in recent years. Sabadell investors have until October 10 to decide on the offer.

Aiming to create one of Europe's largest lenders, BBVA last month upped its offer to 16.8 billion euros ($19.6 billion), despite widespread government opposition and restrictions that would prevent it from merging the two entities for three years.

ZURICH SAYS BBVA OFFER IS NOT ATTRACTIVEZurich Insurance, with an around 5% stake in Sabadell, said that it did not intend to tender its shares, calling BBVA's offer unattractive.

The other large investor to come out publicly is Sabadell board member David Martinez, who owns about 3.8% and said last week he would accept BBVA's offer.

BBVA needs to secure support from owners of at least 50.01% of Sabadell shares, though it can lower the threshold to 30%.

If BBVA removes the 50.01% condition and secures between 30% and 50%, it would be required to submit a second mandatory cash offer for the remaining shares at a price set by Spain's stock market supervisor.

Sabadell CEO Cesar Gonzalez-Bueno told Reuters that, based on partial data from acceptance levels, the take-up could be in the region of the low 30%s.

"The risk of a second takeover bid is extremely high as they (BBVA) won't reach reach 50%," Gonzalez-Bueno said.

In contrast, BBVA's CEO Onur Genc on Tuesday reiterated that the lender was "very comfortable" it would reach 50%.

Analysts are divided on the likely outcome, and shareholders often wait until the final days to tender.

Both sides are also briefing about whether BBVA would need to raise fresh capital to complete a mandatory cash offer. Genc told Reuters on Friday it had 8 billion euros in spare cash - an amount BBVA thinks will be enough.

With both banks launching last-ditch efforts to succeed, Sabadell on Tuesday urged Spain's market supervisor to demand detailed disclosures from investors backing BBVA's bid, accusing some of trying to influence the outcome by going public.

The supervisor declined to comment.

BBVA has accused Sabadell staff at branches of making it difficult for the bank's small shareholders to tender their shares, something Sabadell says is not true.

($1 = 0.8579 euros)

Reporting by Jesús Aguado. Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt and Emma Pinedo. Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Mark Potter

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

Dell Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:DELL) shares gained more than 3% in early trading on Tuesday after the computer maker lifted its long-term revenue and profit growth forecasts during its Securities Analyst Meeting. 

Dell said it now expects annual revenue to grow between 7% and 9%, up from its previous forecast of 3% to 4%, driven by robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.  

The company noted that it also expects its full year diluted earnings per share to improve by at least 15%, compared with its previous expectations for growth of 8% or more. 

“Customers are hungry for AI and the compute, storage and networking we provide to deploy intelligence at scale,” Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell said in a statement.   

“We’re successfully translating that demand into growth and strong cash flow that we’ve largely returned to shareholders.”  

Dell called the opportunity ahead for AI as being “massive”.  

In August, the company said it plans to ship $20 billion of AI servers in its fiscal 2026, double what it sold last year. 

Dell stock has climbed 27% year to date to its current price of $148.41.   

SharkNinja (NYSE:SN) and Primo Brands (NYSE:PRMB) are two stocks Dan Loeb of Third Point, who is one of my favorite professional money managers to follow closely, recently purchased.

A Wall Street analyst is projecting upside potential for Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) stock, citing the company's advancements in artificial intelligence.

04 September 2025, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: The Iqos lettering and brand logo can be seen on the facade above the entrance to a branch of the company in the city center of Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg) on 04.09.2025. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

In the last decade, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) has returned a notable $74 billion back to its shareholders via dividends and buybacks. This shareholder-focused approach has delivered exceptional results in 2025, with the stock posting an impressive 30% year-to-date return, significantly outperforming the broader market despite recent volatility and establishing PM as one of the year's standout consumer staples performers. Philip Morris's unwavering commitment to income generation reached a new milestone in September 2025 when the company announced an 8.9% dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend to $1.47 per share from $1.35, marking the 18th consecutive year of dividend increases since becoming a public company in 2008 and bringing the annualized dividend rate to $5.88 per share.

The tobacco giant’s transformation strategy was further validated through robust financial performance in the first half of 2025, with revenue and earnings exceeding expectations, driven by accelerating growth in its smoke-free products portfolio, which now accounts for 42% of total net revenues.

Philip Morris has strategically paused share repurchases in 2025 to focus capital allocation on strategic investments and dividend growth, while maintaining its disciplined approach to returning cash to shareholders through its industry-leading dividend yield of approximately 3.84%. Let's look at some numbers and compare how this payout power stacks up against the market's biggest capital-return machines.

That being said, if you seek an upside with less volatility than holding an individual stock like PM, consider the High Quality Portfolio. It has comfortably outperformed its benchmark—a combination of the S&P 500, Russell, and S&P MidCap indexes—and has achieved returns exceeding 91% since its inception. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.

Interestingly, PM has given back the 31st largest sum to shareholders in history.

PM Stock Shareholder Returns

Trefis

MORE FOR YOU

Why should you care? Because dividends and share repurchases deliver direct, tangible returns of capital to shareholders. They also reflect management’s confidence in the company’s financial stability and ability to yield consistent cash flows. Moreover, there are more firms that exhibit similar traits. Here’s a list of the top 10 companies arranged by total capital returned to shareholders via dividends and stock buybacks.

Top 10 Companies By Total Shareholder ReturnTop 10 Companies By Total Shareholder Return

Trefis

For the complete ranking, visit Buybacks & Dividends Ranking

What do you notice here? The total capital returned to shareholders as a percentage of the current market cap seems inversely proportional to growth prospects for reinvestments. Companies like META and MSFT are growing significantly faster and in a more predictable manner than others, yet they have returned a smaller portion of their market cap to shareholders.

That’s the flip side of high capital returns. While they are appealing, one must ponder the question: Am I sacrificing growth and sound fundamentals? With that in mind, let’s examine some figures for PM. (see Buy or Sell PM Stock for further details)

PM Stock FundamentalsRevenue Growth: 7.2% LTM and 7.1% last 3-year average.Cash Generation: Almost 23.0% free cash flow margin and 36.4% operating margin LTM.Recent Revenue Shocks: The lowest annual revenue growth over the past 3 years for PM was 4.3%.Valuation: PM has a P/E multiple of 29.0Opportunity vs S&P: Relative to S&P, PM provides higher valuation, greater revenue growth, and improved marginsPM Stock Fundamentals

Trefis

PM Historical RiskIt’s important to note that this stock isn’t immune to significant declines. It plunged about 41% during both the Global Financial Crisis and the 2018 correction. The COVID-19 crash was not as severe, but it still erased around 32%. Even the recent inflation shock caused it to decrease by over 22%. Therefore, despite solid fundamentals, such pullbacks are part of the market dynamics when there is a downturn.

However, the risk extends beyond major market crashes. Stocks also drop during favorable market conditions — consider occurrences like earnings reports, business updates, and changes in outlook. Check out PM Dip Buyer Analyses to understand how the stock has bounced back from sharp declines in the past.

Also, investing in a single stock without comprehensive analysis can be risky. Consider the Trefis Reinforced Value (RV) Portfolio, which has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (combination of the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 benchmark indices) to produce strong returns for investors. Why is that? The quarterly rebalanced mix of large-, mid-, and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks provided a responsive way to make the most of upbeat market conditions while limiting losses when markets head south, as detailed in RV Portfolio performance metrics.

Dow Jones 30 Technical Analysis
The Dow Jones 30 is likely to remain somewhat neutral during the trading session as well, as we are going sideways just above a major trend line. If we do break down the trend line, it should offer support, but if we break below that, then I’d be looking somewhere around the 46,000 level for potential support. It does look like the 47,000 level is offering resistance just above, so that might be something worth paying attention to as well. This is a market that is probably more sideways than anything else in the short term, but longer term, most certainly an uptrend.

SP 500 Technical Analysis
The S&P 500 continues to do very little over the course of Asian and European electronic trading, as we are just grinding higher. It’s not really a very strong market at the moment, but it is in an uptrend. All things being equal, it’s just quietly drifting to the upside and that might be the way this goes. It’s more of a zombie rally, if you will, as we’re just grinding higher. Short-term dips get bought into as I think we’re going to try to get to the 6800 level the next day or two. We’ll just have to wait and see. Even if we do fall from here, the 6600 level should offer support right along with the uptrend line and the 50-day EMA that is now following that uptrend line.

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc (NYSE:ICE) announced plans to invest as much as $2 billion in cash in Polymarket, a crypto-based betting platform. 

The owner of the New York Stock Exchange said its capital infusion values Polymarket at about $8 billion.   

Based in New York, Polymarket is a cryptocurrency-based prediction market, where individuals can place bets on various future events, including economic indicators, weather patterns, awards, as well as political and legislative outcomes. 

The investment will allow Intercontinental Exchange to become a global distributor of Polymarket’s event-driven data. 

The two companies have also agreed to partner on future tokenization initiatives.  

"Our partnership with Intercontinental Exchange marks a major step in bringing prediction markets into the financial mainstream," Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan said in a statement.  

“Realizing the potential of new technologies, such as tokenization, will require collaboration between established market leaders and next-generation innovators.”  

In August, CME Group Inc, the largest US derivatives exchange, announced a partnership with online gambling platform FanDuel Inc, to provide bets on stocks, commodity prices and inflation later this year. 

Key Takeaways Thermo Fisher partners with AstraZeneca at BioVentureHub to drive collaborative R&D in life sciences.Thermo Fisher's new Gothenburg lab at BioVentureHub will support global pharma and biotech R&D by 2026.The AZN partnership advances drug and analytical development, reinforcing Thermo Fisher's mission globally.
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s (TMO - Free Report) clinical research business, PPD, announced a new research and development (R&D) partnership with AstraZeneca’s (AZN - Free Report) BioVentureHub in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is a unique open innovation platform, offering an inside track to AstraZeneca's scientific expertise, world-class infrastructure and facilities.

The partnership aims to leverage the combined expertise of Thermo Fisher and AstraZeneca to drive innovation and strengthen the life science ecosystem. A specialized team from Thermo Fisher will co-locate with AstraZeneca scientists to work on collaborative R&D projects with an initial focus on chromatography, molecular genomics and proteomics.

TMO Stock Outlook Following the NewsSince the Oct. 1 announcement, TMO shares have risen 2.5%, closing at $543.95 yesterday.  Given the company seizing the opportunity to co-locate with AstraZeneca scientists, driving collaborative innovation, strengthening the science ecosystem and boosting value generation for all collaborators, giving easy access to cutting-edge technologies for emerging life sciences and biotech companies as well as academic groups, we expect the upward trend in the Thermo Fisher stock to continue.

Thermo Fisher is currently valued at $205.16 billion. The company’s earnings yield of 4.1% is well ahead of the industry’s -4.1% yield. It surpassed earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an earnings surprise of 1.8%. 

More on Thermo Fisher’s New CollaborationThe AstraZeneca BioVentureHub is part of a growing innovation ecosystem in Gothenburg, which includes the GoCo Health Innovation City, the future home of Thermo Fisher's bioanalytical laboratory, which is under construction and expected to begin operations in March 2026. The state-of-the-art facility will serve pharmaceutical and biotech customers in Europe and across the globe, providing leading-edge bioanalytical laboratory capabilities to support all phases of pharmaceutical development to help customers deliver life-changing medicines to patients worldwide.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In addition to the new lab coming online in Sweden, the business operates a global network of good manufacturing practices (GMP), central, bioanalytical and vaccine science laboratories with operations based in Middleton, WI; Highland Heights, KY; Richmond, VA; Athlone, Ireland; Brussels, Belgium; Singapore; and Suzhou, China.

According to key leadership at Thermo Fisher, the AZN collaboration will drive advancements in areas such as drug and analytical development, reinforcing the company’s mission to enable customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

Industry Prospects Favor Thermo FisherPer a Grand View Research report, the global life science tools market was valued at $167.82 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.21% through 2033. Some of the key factors driving growth are the increasing use of genomic technologies, higher investments in pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D and the growing demand for sophisticated research instruments.

Other Developments at Thermo FisherThe company recently introduced the Thermo Scientific Hypulse Surface Analysis System. This innovative surface analysis instrument represents a significant advancement in accurate X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling, which is critical for materials scientists worldwide.

Thermo Fisher also expanded its neurodegeneration research capabilities with the launch of the Olink Target 48 Neurodegeneration Panel. It delivers simultaneous measurement of 41 key and emerging proteins for neurodegeneration research with absolute quantification and is optimized for plasma measurement from as little as 1µL of sample.

TMO Stock Price PerformanceIn the past three months, TMO shares have risen 27.6% against the industry’s 3.6% decline.

TMO’s Zacks Rank and Key PicksThermo Fisher currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space include Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) and Masimo (MASI - Free Report) . While Phibro Animal Health sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Masimo carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Estimates for Phibro Animal Health’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share have increased 3.3% to $2.53 in the past 30 days. Shares of the company have surged 71.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s 1.1% growth. PAHC’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 9.6%.

Masimo shares have jumped 5.8% in the past year. Estimates for the company’s 2025 earnings per share have remained constant at $5.30 in the past 30 days. MASI’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 13.8%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 8.1%.

Dividend stocks are a favorite among investors, especially Baby Boomers, for good reason.

Key Takeaways Shell agrees to sell a 27% non-working interest in the North Cleopatra block to QatarEnergy.SHEL keeps a 36% stake and operatorship, with Chevron and Tharwa Petroleum as other partners.The offshore block, located at the frontier Herodotus basin, spans 3,400 sq km.
Shell plc (SHEL - Free Report) , the British oil and gas giant, has signed an agreement with QatarEnergy to sell a 27% non-working interest in the North Cleopatra block in Egypt. QatarEnergy has mentioned that the deal is contingent upon approvals from the Egyptian government. Per the terms of the agreement, Shell will retain a 36% participating interest and the operatorship of the block. The other partners in the block are Chevron Corporation and Tharwa Petroleum Company, holding 27% and 10% participating interests, respectively.

The North Cleopatra block, offshore Egypt, spans an area of more than 3,400 square kilometers. It is located in the frontier Herodotus basin at water depths of nearly 8,530 feet. In recent years, QatarEnergy has pursued a strategy aimed at expanding its global footprint by acquiring stakes in oil and gas blocks across several countries, including Guyana, Lebanon and South Africa, among others. This also includes certain offshore blocks acquired by QatarEnergy in Egypt.

SHEL’s Zacks Rank and Key PicksSHEL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG - Free Report) , Oceaneering International (OII - Free Report) and Galp Energia SGPS SA (GLPEY - Free Report) . While Cheniere Energy sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, Oceaneering International and Galp Energia carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Cheniere Energy is involved in LNG-related businesses, which include LNG terminals and natural gas marketing. The company has achieved a milestone with the first production from the first LNG train of its Corpus Christi Stage 3 Liquefaction Project. The project, which includes seven midscale LNG trains, aims to expand the production capacity of the Corpus Christi Liquefaction facility. This expansion is expected to enhance Cheniere's position in the rapidly growing global LNG market, enabling it to meet the rising demand for LNG both in the United States and internationally.

Oceaneering International delivers integrated technology solutions across all stages of the offshore oilfield lifecycle. The company is a leading provider of offshore equipment and technology solutions to the energy industry. OII’s proven ability to deliver innovative, integrated solutions supports ongoing client retention and new business opportunities, ensuring steady revenue growth.

Galp Energia is a Portuguese energy company engaged in exploration and production activities. The company’s oil exploration efforts have yielded positive results, particularly with the Mopane discovery in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. After the initial exploration phase, Galp had estimated that the Mopane prospect could hold nearly 10 billion barrels of oil. This discovery allows Galp to diversify its global presence with the potential to become a significant oil producer in the region.

Key Takeaways Zillow collaborates with ChatGPT to offer AI-driven insights for home buyers and sellers.The Zillow app in ChatGPT shares photos, maps and pricing, linking users to Zillow for tours and financing.The move reinforces Zillow's focus on AI adoption to enhance user experience and brand appeal.
Zillow Group (Z - Free Report) recently announced that it has collaborated with ChatGPT to empower its customers with AI-driven insights to enhance their home-buying experience. The move will aid in faster decision-making and conversions for buyers and reduce the gestation period for sellers and agents, steadily increasing Zillow’s traffic position.

The Zillow app in ChatGPT will provide details like photos, maps, and pricing for listings and navigate users to Zillow to schedule a tour, connect with an agent and explore financing options. Supporting most listings on Zillow, including rentals and homes for sale by agents or owners, the company plans to include new-construction listings and 3D tours on the platform as well.

This strategic move by Zillow highlights its focus on adopting the ever-expanding AI technology, synergizing the same for the benefit of its users.

Zillow in a NutshellZillow has a high brand appeal and has emerged as the leading brand with the largest and most engaged audience in the residential real estate market. The housing app provides several marketing software and technology solutions for the real estate industry.

Each of these products and solutions is designed to yield an incremental revenue opportunity per transaction. At the same time, these are focused on improving the company’s consumer funnel by capturing consumer demand and connecting the same to its partner network.

The above integration with ChatGPT shows how Zillow easily incorporates different technologies to provide its users with a seamless home-buying experience, contributing to its brand appeal and visibility.

However, high competition and rising sales and marketing spending will keep its margins under pressure.

Over the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company have risen 1.9%, underperforming the industry's growth of 8.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the real estate operations sector are Cushman & Wakefield (CWK - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and CBRE Group (CBRE - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CWK’s 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has moved northward by 5.1% to $1.17 over the past two months.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CBRE’s 2025 EPS has moved up by 1.3% to $6.18 over the past two months.

Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.

We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.

Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.

Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.

When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider T. Rowe Price?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. T. Rowe Price (TROW - Free Report) holds a #2 (Buy) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $2.55 a share 24 days away from its upcoming earnings release on October 31, 2025.

T. Rowe Price's Earnings ESP sits at +5.12%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.55 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43. TROW is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

TROW is part of a big group of Finance stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Progressive (PGR - Free Report) as well.

Slated to report earnings on October 21, 2025, Progressive holds a #2 (Buy) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $5.10 a share 14 days from its next quarterly update.

For Progressive, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.89 is +4.33%.

TROW and PGR's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.

With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.

When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Western Midstream?The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Western Midstream (WES - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) 29 days from its next quarterly earnings release on November 5, 2025, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.94 a share.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.94 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.87 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Western Midstream has an Earnings ESP of +8.05%. Investors should also know that WES is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

WES is part of a big group of Oils and Energy stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Enphase Energy (ENPH - Free Report) as well.

Enphase Energy, which is readying to report earnings on October 28, 2025, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. Its Most Accurate Estimate is currently $0.64 a share, and ENPH is 21 days out from its next earnings report.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Enphase Energy is $0.60, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +6.37%.

WES and ENPH's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Quarterly financial reports play a vital role on Wall Street, as they help investors see how a company has performed and what might be coming down the road in the near-term. And out of all of the metrics and results to consider, earnings is one of the most important.

We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.

Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.

The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction. The Zacks Rank is also factored into the ESP metric to better help find companies that appear poised to top their next bottom-line consensus estimate, which will hopefully help lift the stock price.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Monster Beverage?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Monster Beverage (MNST - Free Report) holds a #3 (Hold) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.49 a share 30 days away from its upcoming earnings release on November 6, 2025.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.49 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.48 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Monster Beverage has an Earnings ESP of +2.09%. Investors should also know that MNST is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

MNST is just one of a large group of Consumer Staples stocks with a positive ESP figure. PepsiCo (PEP - Free Report) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.

PepsiCo is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on October 9, 2025. PEP's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.29 a share two days from its next earnings release.

PepsiCo's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +1.27% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, MNST and PEP could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Momentum investors typically don't time the market or "buy low and sell high." In other words, they avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.

Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times.

A safer approach could be investing in bargain stocks with recent price momentum. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system) helps identify great momentum stocks by paying close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.

Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL - Free Report) is one of the several great candidates that made it through the screen. While there are numerous reasons why this stock is a great choice, here are the most vital ones:

Investors' growing interest in a stock is reflected in its recent price increase. A price change of 1.9% over the past four weeks positions the stock of this company well in this regard.

While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. SKIL meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 2% over the past 12 weeks.

Moreover, the momentum for SKIL is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.6. This indicates that the stock moves 60% higher than the market in either direction.

Given this price performance, it is no surprise that SKIL has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.

In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped SKIL earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, SKIL is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. SKIL is currently trading at 0.25 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 25 cents for each dollar of sales.

So, SKIL appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.

In addition to SKIL, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.

This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market.

However, keep in mind that the key to a successful stock-picking strategy is to ensure that it produced profitable results in the past. You could easily do that with the help of the Zacks Research Wizard. In addition to allowing you to backtest the effectiveness of your strategy, the program comes loaded with some of our most successful stock-picking strategies.

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Key Takeaways HELE's Q2 revenues are projected at $418.8M, down 11.7% from the year-ago period.Earnings are estimated at $0.54 per share, a 55.4% decline from last year's quarter.Tariffs, weak demand and higher SG&A weigh on results, partly offset by Project Pegasus savings.
Helen of Troy Limited ((HELE - Free Report) ) is likely to register a decline in both top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Oct. 9. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $418.8 million, implying a 11.7% decrease from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HELE’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at 54 cents per share, indicating a 55.4% decline from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of almost 10.3%, on average.

Things to Know About HELE’s Q2 EarningsHelen of Troy has been facing continued pressure from tariff-related disruptions and global trade uncertainty. On its last earnings call, management highlighted that HELE has been experiencing order cancellations and lower direct imports from China as retailers adjust to higher costs and evolving tariff policies. These headwinds are likely to have weighed on fiscal second-quarter sales and margins. To mitigate the impact, Helen of Troy has been diversifying its sourcing outside China and expects to reduce tariff exposure by the end of fiscal 2026. While supplier cost reductions and selective price increases are helping offset part of the pressure, earnings are likely to have remained constrained until trade conditions stabilize.

Helen of Troy has been navigating a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by weaker consumer and retailer demand. Consumers are facing financial constraints and prioritizing essential purchases over discretionary items. This has been impacting the company’s sales. Our model expects a 17.3% drop in organic volumes for the fiscal second quarter.

Helen of Troy has also been grappling with rising SG&A expenses. In the fiscal first quarter, the rise in the consolidated SG&A ratio was mainly due to elevated marketing expenses, increased outbound freight costs and unfavorable operating leverage. The persistence of any of these factors is a concern. We expect a 310-basis point expansion in adjusted SG&A (as a percentage of sales) to 38.9% in the fiscal second quarter.

Yet, the strength of the company’s Leadership Brands remains a cornerstone amid broader challenges. HELE’s strategic focus on operational excellence and portfolio optimization has helped stabilize performance. Its data-driven approach continues to strengthen brand fundamentals, while international expansion and distribution optimization enhance reach and efficiency. In addition, the global restructuring initiative, Project Pegasus, has been delivering cost savings. These factors are likely to have offered some respite in the to-be-reported quarter.

Earnings Whispers for HELE StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Helen of Troy this time. 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, which is not the case here.

Helen of Troy currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Some Stocks With a Favorable CombinationHere are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

The Hershey Company ((HSY - Free Report) ) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.61% and a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is likely to register a jump in the top line when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $3.11 billion, which indicates an increase of 4.1% from the prior-year quarter. However, Hershey’s bottom line is estimated to decline year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $1.06, implying a 54.7% decrease from the year-ago period. HSY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.5%, on average.

Kraft Heinz Company ((KHC - Free Report) ) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register a top and bottom-line decrease when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kraft Heinz’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $6.27 billion, which implies a drop of 1.7% from the prior-year quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kraft Heinz’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at 58 cents, indicating a 22.7% plunge from the year-ago period. KHC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.1%, on average.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation ((KMB - Free Report) ) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.37% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register top and bottom-line declines when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.11 billion, which implies a 17.1% decrease from the prior-year quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $1.63, indicating a 10.9% fall from the year-ago period figure. KMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.2%, on average.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SMCI, NVDA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

MURRAY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NYSE: BBBY) (the “Company”), owner of Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, buybuy BABY, and a blockchain asset portfolio, today announced plans to launch a national franchise system, empowering local entrepreneurs to own and operate one of America's most trusted home retail brands. “Our goal is to grow Bed Bath and Beyond in the most capital efficient manner,” said Marcus Lemonis, Executive Chairman of Bed Bath & Beyond. “This system.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / Dogwood Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DWTX) (the "Company"), a development-stage biotechnology company developing new medicines to treat pain, today announced that its Chief Medical Officer will present an overview of the Halneuron®(tetrodotoxin) pain management research program at the 19th Annual Pain Therapeutics Summit on October 14, 2025. Dogwood Therapeutics is developing Halneuron®, a highly purified version of tetrodotoxin, to treat Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathic Pain ("CINP"), or peripheral neuropathic pain that occurs after chemotherapy with certain agents.

SummaryConstellation Brands (STZ) faces declining beer volumes, margin pressure, and challenging input costs, leading to a negative outlook for sales and earnings.STZ's Q2 results were better than feared, but both beer and wine segments showed year-over-year declines, with tariffs and divestitures further impacting performance.Despite aggressive share buybacks and a 3% dividend yield, STZ's earnings pressure and lack of growth limit upside, especially versus higher-yielding Treasuries.I maintain a sell rating on STZ, as a rebound in beer consumption is unlikely in the near term and capital is better deployed elsewhere. bluebeat76/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Introduction One of my favorite pastimes in investing is looking at Berkshire's investments and trying to reverse-engineer their rationale. This is how I developed my understanding of Class 1 railroads and rating agencies

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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