Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

Bank of New York Mellon Corp lowered its stake in shares of Valmont Industries, Inc. (NYSE:VMI – Free Report) by 1.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 153,379 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 2,871 shares during the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned approximately 0.79% of Valmont Industries worth $61,286,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VMI. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Valmont Industries by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 422,997 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $164,009,000 after acquiring an additional 32,382 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Valmont Industries by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 369,059 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $148,509,000 after purchasing an additional 12,480 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Valmont Industries by 3.1% during the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 290,948 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $112,809,000 after purchasing an additional 8,715 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Valmont Industries by 118.8% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 282,610 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $108,884,000 after purchasing an additional 153,418 shares during the period. Finally, Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. increased its position in Valmont Industries by 3.7% in the first quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 252,605 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $100,933,000 after buying an additional 9,130 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.84% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Valmont Industries from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 18th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Valmont Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Valmont Industries from $645.00 to $678.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Valmont Industries from $600.00 to $620.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Oppenheimer set a $600.00 price target on shares of Valmont Industries and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valmont Industries has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $587.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on VMI

Valmont Industries Trading Down 3.4% Valmont Industries stock opened at $487.94 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 2.35. Valmont Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $352.60 and a fifty-two week high of $585.71. The stock has a market cap of $9.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.00, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.33. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $539.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $477.68.

Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The industrial products company reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.80 by $0.34. Valmont Industries had a return on equity of 25.57% and a net margin of 11.70%.The business had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.88 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Valmont Industries, Inc. will post 22.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valmont Industries Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 26th were paid a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 26th. Valmont Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.10%.

Insider Transactions at Valmont Industries In other Valmont Industries news, Director Mogens C. Bay sold 17,500 shares of Valmont Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $492.34, for a total transaction of $8,615,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 112,309 shares in the company, valued at $55,294,213.06. The trade was a 13.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Valmont Industries Here are the key news stories impacting Valmont Industries this week:

Positive Sentiment: Valmont posted stronger-than-expected Q2 results, with EPS of $6.14 versus the consensus near $5.80 and revenue of $1.12 billion above estimates. Article: Valmont Industries (VMI) Tops Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates Positive Sentiment: Management raised its full-year 2026 sales and earnings outlook, helped by strength in utilities and coatings, which supports the longer-term investment case. Article: VMI Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Utility Strength, FY26 View Raised Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains constructive overall, with JPMorgan raising its price target to $620 and keeping an overweight rating, suggesting Wall Street still sees upside from current levels. Article: JPMorgan Raises Valmont Industries Price Target Neutral Sentiment: However, Zacks Research downgraded Valmont to hold, reflecting a more cautious stance after the earnings move. Article: Zacks Research Downgrades Valmont Industries Negative Sentiment: Investors are still weighing weakness in agriculture and softer telecom demand, which may be tempering enthusiasm despite the earnings beat and guidance increase. Article: Valmont Industries slips as investors weigh a modest guidance raise against lingering weak spots Valmont Industries Profile (Free Report)

Valmont Industries, Inc (NYSE: VMI) is a diversified industrial manufacturer specializing in infrastructure and agricultural products. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company engages in the design, production and distribution of engineered products that support water management, power transmission, lighting and traffic infrastructure. Valmont’s solutions range from center-pivot and lateral-move irrigation systems to utility poles, transmission towers, lighting structures and highway traffic signal support structures.

The company operates through several core business segments.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Valmont Industries Could Truth API Become Trump Media’s First Meaningful Revenue Driver? Small Caps Are Crushing the S&P 500—3 Stocks Still Worth Buying Moog Is More Than a Missile Maker, and Wall Street Is Noticing A Boring Dividend Growth Strategy Becomes a Solid Defensive Play Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valmont Industries, Inc. (NYSE:VMI – Free Report).

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Guardant Health (GH - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis provider of oncology testing services is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.40 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +9.1%.

Revenues are expected to be $316 million, up 36.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.52% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Guardant Health?For Guardant Health, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -4.48%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Guardant Health will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Guardant Health would post a loss of$0.47 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$0.45, delivering a surprise of +4.26%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

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

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

Guardant Health doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

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

Key Takeaways Microchip offers faster growth, higher margins and a lower valuation, strengthening its investment case.MCHP's fiscal 2027 and 2028 revenue estimates call for 32.3% and 18.2% year-over-year growth.Vishay faces higher material costs and limited pricing tailwinds that could restrain margin expansion. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (VSH - Free Report) and Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP - Free Report) are established U.S. semiconductor companies serving industrial, automotive and embedded electronics markets, but they operate in different areas of the chip industry.

Vishay is known for its discrete semiconductors and passive components, while Microchip focuses on microcontrollers, analog chips and embedded control solutions. Both companies are benefiting from improving demand across industrial automation, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

However, differences in their profitability, growth outlook and valuation make one stock stand out as the stronger investment opportunity today. Let’s delve deeper.

Vishay: Growth Momentum Is ImprovingThe company's multi-year Vishay 3.0 transformation is now translating into stronger operating performance. The strategy focuses on expanding manufacturing capacity, broadening the product portfolio, improving customer engagement and increasing technical support, enabling Vishay to capture more business across growing markets.

The benefits became visible in the first quarter of 2026. Revenues increased 17.3% year over year to $839.2 million, exceeding management's guidance. Growth was broad-based across every end market, every sales channel and all three major geographic regions. Volume increased 5.8%, supported by stronger customer demand, inventory replenishment and continued market-share gains.

AI-related demand remains one of the strongest growth engines. VSH continues receiving orders for high-voltage MOSFETs, polymer capacitors, current-sense resistors and magnetics used in AI servers, networking equipment and power management systems. Management expects AI-related revenues in 2026 to be well above last year's level, helped by expanding customer relationships and additional design wins.

Vishay also reported a healthy book-to-bill ratio of 1.34, including 1.47 for semiconductors, while the backlog expanded 21% to $1.6 billion, representing 5.7 months of sales visibility. These numbers indicate that demand continues to outpace shipments, providing a favorable setup for future revenue growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vishay’s 2026 and 2027 revenues indicates year-over-year growth of 16.7% and 10.4%, respectively.

Vishay Revenue Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

However, Vishay still faces challenges. It continues to face higher metals and materials costs, which management cited as a headwind that must be offset by volume and manufacturing efficiencies. Average selling prices, including tariff adders, declined 1.1% versus the prior quarter, showing limited pricing tailwind in the early stages of the upcycle. Inventory write-offs for obsolescence were $11.1 million in the first quarter, and inventories rose to $791 million as raw materials and work in process increased with higher metal prices and buffer stock builds. If costs stay elevated while pricing remains competitive, margin expansion can lag revenue growth.

Microchip: Stronger Fundamentals Support Long-Term GrowthMicrochip has entered a stronger recovery phase. The company’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues increased 35.1% year over year to $1.31 billion, beating expectations. Non-GAAP gross margin reached 61.6% from 52% in the year-ago quarter, while non-GAAP earnings jumped more than fivefold to 57 cents per share. Management is expecting another quarter of double-digit sequential revenue growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2027.

Microchip is also benefiting from growing AI and data center demand. Its expanding portfolio of PCIe Gen 6 switches, retimers, storage controllers and memory controllers is generating new design wins that should support future growth.

Microchip continues to lean on long-cycle aerospace and defense programs and a broad FPGA roadmap. During the last earnings call, management highlighted that the strongest sales performance in the fourth quarter was aerospace and defense, while FPGA products were the strongest business unit performer.

Microchip’s radiation-tolerant FPGA solutions are positioned for power-sensitive platforms, and the company has also introduced cost-optimized FPGA offerings aimed at lowering system cost without sacrificing security. The PolarFire 2 device is expected to launch later in 2026, with initial sample runs already allocated and demand extending beyond aerospace and defense. Security controllers and post-quantum-ready capabilities further support adoption in regulated and high-reliability applications.

Microchip’s strong financial performance is likely to continue as depicted for the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its fiscal 2027 and 2028 revenues. The consensus mark for the company’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 revenues indicates a year-over-year rise of 32.3% and 18.2%, respectively. The expected top-line growth rates are significantly higher than Vishay’s.

Microchip Revenue Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

VSH vs. MCHP: Earnings Estimate Revision TrendBoth companies are benefiting from an improving demand scenario across the industrial, automotive and embedded electronics markets, but analysts appear more optimistic about Microchip's earnings outlook.

Over the past 60 days, analysts have raised the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Microchip's fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings by 1.62% and 1.78%, respectively. These meaningful upward revisions reflect growing confidence that MCHP’s growing AI opportunities will continue to support earnings growth.

Microchip Earnings Estimates Revision
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

On the contrary, estimates for Vishay’s 2026 and 2027 earnings have remained unchanged over the past 60 days. Estimate revision trends for both companies suggest that analysts currently see stronger earnings momentum at Microchip.

Vishay Earnings Estimates Revision
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation: Microchip Has the Edge Over VishayVishay has been the stronger stock performer this year, with shares soaring 175.3% year to date compared with Microchip's 33.2% gain. However, that rally has pushed VSH's valuation higher.

Vishay currently trades at a forward P/E of 33.5X, while Microchip trades at a more attractive 25X. Given Microchip's healthier earnings momentum and growing AI opportunities, its lower valuation makes it the more appealing choice.

Conclusion: MCHP Seems a Better BetBoth companies are well-positioned to benefit from the semiconductor industry's recovery, but Microchip offers the stronger overall investment case. Vishay's turnaround is encouraging, but higher metal and materials costs along with limited pricing tailwinds could limit profitability gains.

Microchip combines stronger earnings momentum, higher margins, expanding AI exposure and a cheaper valuation. These advantages make Microchip the better semiconductor stock to buy right now.

Microchip currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making it a better investment bet than Vishay, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today announced that Sharon McCollam, the company's President and Chief Financial Officer plans to retire later this ye

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (the "Company") today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended June 20, 2026. First Quarte

MAMA Says a Fresh High Could Come Before Mid-YearAlbertsons Companies NYSE: ACI reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2026 results and lowered its full-year outlook, citing continued grocery unit pressure, softness among lower-income shoppers and planned investments to improve its customer value proposition.

On the company’s earnings call, CEO Susan Morris said identical sales declined 0.8% in the quarter, while adjusted EBITDA totaled $1.013 billion and adjusted earnings per share were $0.42. Morris said pharmacy and digital remained areas of strength but were not enough to offset broader pressure in the core grocery business.

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Albertsons—Is It the Best Buy in the Grocery Aisle?“These results were below our expectations, and we're taking decisive action to improve future performance,” Morris said. She said Albertsons is accelerating execution and making targeted investments in value, fresh, personalization and convenience, even though those actions are expected to weigh on near-term earnings.

Albertsons Launches ACI Edge Operating Model A central theme of the call was the rollout of “ACI Edge,” a new operating model designed to simplify Albertsons’ structure and improve execution. Morris said the company is moving from 11 divisions to four regions: California, West, South and East. Albertsons is also centralizing Center Store merchandising.

3 Contrarian "Buy the Dip" Picks—and One Area to AvoidMorris said the changes are intended to help the company “move faster, make better decisions, scale successful ideas more consistently, and deploy resources” toward banners and capabilities with the greatest opportunity. The new model is intended to combine national scale in areas such as merchandising, sourcing, supply chain, technology and talent with regional accountability in fresh, service, store standards, local merchandising and community connection.

Each region will be led by an Albertsons executive with end-to-end responsibility for performance, while one enterprise merchandising organization will manage category strategy and supplier partnerships. Morris said leadership appointments are complete, Center Store centralization has begun and work streams across merchandising, sourcing, supply chain and overhead are underway.

Albertsons expects ACI Edge to generate approximately $200 million of incremental annual run-rate benefits, with savings building through fiscal 2026 and the majority realized in fiscal 2027. The company expects about $50 million of transition costs across fiscal 2026 and 2027. Morris said the savings are intended to fund reinvestment in value, fresh execution, personalization, digital convenience and unit growth.

Updated Outlook Reflects Softer Demand and Value Investments President and CFO Sharon McCollam said first-quarter performance fell short of expectations and that the company moved quickly to address the issues. Identical sales decreased 0.8%, reflecting ongoing industry unit declines and macroeconomic pressures. McCollam said the decline was most pronounced among lower-income customer segments, where Albertsons saw softness in both units and baskets.

Reported identical sales were also pressured by approximately 100 basis points from the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on pharmacy and 50 basis points from egg deflation. Excluding those headwinds, McCollam said identical sales increased approximately 0.7%, driven by pharmacy scripts and digital growth.

Albertsons updated its fiscal 2026 outlook to reflect a more cautious view of the consumer environment and increased investment in customer value. The company now expects:

Identical sales of negative 0.5% to negative 1.5%, or 0% to 1% excluding an expected 150-basis-point full-year headwind from the pharmacy Inflation Reduction Act impact. Adjusted EBITDA of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.85, including approximately $600 million of share repurchases during fiscal 2026. An effective tax rate of 24% to 25%. Capital expenditures of $1.9 billion to $2 billion. McCollam said Albertsons expects only gradual improvement in industry units and modest improvement from its own actions through the balance of the year. She said improvement is expected to come primarily from the grocery side of the business, while pharmacy will face tougher comparisons from prior-year script buys.

Digital, Loyalty and Pharmacy Remain Growth Areas Morris said digital sales grew 13% during the quarter, with penetration increasing to nearly 10.5%. She said the company’s loyalty ecosystem continues to scale personalization, with engaged members shopping more frequently and with higher average baskets than non-members.

Flash delivery remained the fastest-growing part of Albertsons’ digital offering. Morris also said e-commerce, including first-party and third-party businesses, was profitable in the first quarter. In response to an analyst question, McCollam said e-commerce still creates negative gross margin mix pressure because its gross margin rate is lower than traditional grocery, even though the business has “tipped over into profitability.”

Pharmacy also remained a key growth platform. Morris said reported pharmacy sales continued to be pressured by the Inflation Reduction Act and brand-to-generic mix, but Albertsons continued to see outsized script, immunization and clinical service growth. She said the pharmacy business is profitable on a standalone basis and continues to improve.

Albertsons’ retail media business also grew in the quarter, with on-site revenue up significantly year over year. Morris cited increased monetization of new and existing display placements, the launch of a branded entertainment offering called Shopper Informed Content and the integration of sponsored product discovery into AI-powered conversational search.

Company Emphasizes AI, Productivity and Targeted Pricing Morris said technology and AI are foundational to ACI Edge. Albertsons is focusing enterprise AI efforts on digital customer experience, merchandising intelligence, labor optimization and supply chain optimization. Initiatives include conversational search and planning tools, AI-assisted category planning and promotion tools, an AI-powered workforce management platform expected to roll out enterprise-wide in early 2027, and machine learning tools for forecasting, inventory and replenishment.

Albertsons also reiterated its broader productivity target. Morris said the company remains on track to realize more than one-third of its three-year, $2 billion productivity target in fiscal 2026, and said the simplified operating model is uncovering additional opportunities.

During the Q&A session, Morris said pricing investments are “very surgically and selectively” targeted and are not broad-based discounting. She said investments are being made in specific markets and categories where customers are making purchase decisions, including around price perception, fresh, personalization and convenience. Morris said Albertsons is not making a major change to its high-low promotional pricing strategy or moving to an everyday-low-price model.

Morris said lower-income customers are shifting to private label, value packaging and cheaper proteins, while higher-end customers appear more resilient. She also said the company’s largest leakage among lower-income shoppers is to major competitors including Walmart, Amazon and, to some degree, Aldi.

CFO Sharon McCollam to Retire The call also addressed McCollam’s planned retirement. Morris credited McCollam, who joined Albertsons in 2021, with helping shape the company’s financial, operational and strategic priorities. Morris said Albertsons is conducting a comprehensive search process that includes both internal and external candidates.

McCollam said it had been “a privilege to serve Albertsons” and that she would retire with confidence in the company’s future. She thanked Morris, the board, shareholders and Albertsons associates for their support.

Morris closed the call by saying Albertsons’ priorities are clear and that the company is focused on improving the trajectory of the business through ACI Edge, targeted customer investments and continued focus on digital, loyalty, media, AI and data-driven personalization.

About Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI)Albertsons Companies, Inc NYSE: ACI is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, operating a diversified portfolio of grocery store banners. Founded in 1939 by Joe Albertson in Boise, Idaho, the company has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Its core business activities encompass the sale of fresh produce, meat, bakery items, deli offerings, pharmacy services, and general merchandise. The company's retail operations are complemented by an in-house private-label program, featuring brands such as O Organics, Open Nature, and Lucerne, which cater to a range of customer preferences and price points.

Throughout its history, Albertsons Companies has pursued growth via mergers and partnerships.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Albertsons Companies Right Now?Before you consider Albertsons Companies, you'll want to hear this.

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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 given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

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Stock to Watch: Par Petroleum (PARR - Free Report) Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. is a growth-oriented energy company supplying conventional and renewable fuels across the western U.S., headquartered in Houston, TX. Its integrated platform sources crude, refines transportation fuels, and distributes products through wholesale, retail, and logistics channels. As of Dec. 31, 2025, Par Pacific owned four refineries with a combined crude throughput capacity of 219 thousand barrels per day (Mbpd) in Kapolei, Hawaii; Newcastle, Wyoming; Tacoma, Washington; and Billings, Montana. These facilities produce gasoline, distillates, asphalt, and other refined products for Hawaii and markets from Washington through the Dakotas and Wyoming.

PARR is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Oils-Energy stock. PARR has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 54.9% over the past four weeks.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $4.13 to $17.85 per share. PARR boasts an average earnings surprise of +69.9%.

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

Key Takeaways FFIV expects Q3 revenues of $820-$840M, with consensus at $832M and projected 6.63% year-over-year growth.F5 is seeing demand for hybrid multicloud, AI infrastructure and unified app delivery and security platforms.FFIV expects software and systems growth as BIG-IP, AI offerings and refresh cycles support demand. F5 Inc. (FFIV - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 27, 2026, after market close.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, F5 projects non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $3.91 to $4.03. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $3.98, suggesting a year-over-year decrease of 4.33%. The figure has remained unchanged for the past 60 days.

FFIV’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 16.18%.

FFIV projects its third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP revenues between $820 million and $840 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $832 million, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 6.63%.

Factors Likely to Influence FFIV’s Q3 ResultsF5 is benefiting from robust demand for hybrid multicloud solutions as enterprises are ramping up their infrastructure modernization to improve resiliency, comply with digital sovereignty regulations and prepare for AI-driven workloads. Hybrid multicloud has become the standard enterprise architecture, with FFIV noting that more than 90% of enterprises now operate across hybrid environments. This trend is expected to have converted into strong product demand, particularly across systems and software in the to-be-reported quarter.

The ongoing AI infrastructure build-out is emerging as another major catalyst. Enterprises increasingly require high-performance traffic management, AI data delivery, runtime security and AI factory load balancing as AI inference moves into production. F5 has secured several AI-related customer wins, including deployments supporting AI data delivery, AI runtime security and GPU-based AI infrastructure and is likely to have gained more of such deals in the to-be-reported quarter.

Since AI is driving greater demand for compute, secure data movement and application delivery, F5's application delivery and security platform is positioning it at the center of enterprise AI infrastructure. Demand for unified application delivery and security platforms remained another important growth driver as customers are consolidating multiple point products into integrated platforms that simplify operations while strengthening performance and security across on-premises, cloud and edge environments. These factors are likely to have driven F5’s top line in the to-be-reported quarter.

F5 also introduced several AI-enabled security innovations in the past quarters, including AI-powered Distributed Cloud WAF capabilities and Agentic Bot Defense, further strengthening its application security portfolio for AI-powered applications. These products are expected to have gained traction in the to-be-reported quarter. The ongoing systems refresh cycle provided another meaningful tailwind. Our estimate for Systems revenues is pegged at $212.7 million.

F5 is benefiting from strong software momentum as well. Accelerating adoption of BIG-IP subscriptions, Distributed Cloud Services and AI-related software offerings are expected to have supported software revenue growth and benefited F5 in the to-be-reported quarter. BIG-IP has been continuously winning large enterprise deployments owing to its traffic management capabilities, automation features and lower total cost of ownership. Our estimate for Software revenues is pegged at $219.1 million.

Although F5 experienced a cybersecurity incident earlier this year, management indicated that the company responded rapidly by identifying, containing and remediating the issue. The investigation concluded that only limited non-sensitive data might have been exposed, with customers reporting minimal operational impact and no compromise of production environments. The swift response helped preserve customer confidence while allowing the company to maintain business momentum throughout the quarter.

What Our Model Says for F5 StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for F5 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.

Though F5 currently carries a Zacks Rank #3, it has an Earnings ESP of -0.83%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some stocks worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

Amphenol (APH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.

Amphenol shares have gained 16.8% year to date. Amphenol is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.

ASE Technology (ASX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +21.21% and a Zacks Rank #2.

ASE Technology shares have surged 148.5% year to date. ASE Technology is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Fortive (FTV - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.82% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

Fortive shares have gained 9.9% in the year-to-date period. Fortive is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a shareholder has filed a securities class action lawsuit on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired the common stock of Verra Mobility Corporation (“Verra” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VRRM) between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026, inclusive.

Should You Join The Verra Mobility Class Action Lawsuit:

Do you, or did you, own shares of Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM)?Did you purchase your shares between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Verra Mobility Corporation? What To Do Next:

Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Verra Mobility Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by August 4, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About The Lawsuit:

The lawsuit alleges that defendants made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s business operations, growth prospects, and financial stability. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Verra common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. When the truth was disclosed, investors allegedly suffered significant losses.

About Bernstein Liebhard:

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2026 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

Alert: Claims Focus on Alleged Misrepresentations About the Durability of Verra Mobility's Largest Customer Contract and the $35 Million Revenue Hole Left by Avis Budget Group's Termination

, /PRNewswire/ -- SueWallSt reminds purchasers of Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) securities of a pending securities class action.

THE CASE: A class action seeks to recover damages for investors who purchased VRRM securities between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026.

YOUR OPTIONS: You may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

See if you could be eligible to recover or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (888) SueWallSt.

Verra's stock collapsed $9.23 per share, falling 71% from $13.08 to $3.85 in a single trading session after the Company disclosed that Avis Budget Group had issued a termination notice on a contract representing over 10% of total revenue. Investors have until August 4, 2026 to seek lead plaintiff status.

How a Single Customer Relationship Allegedly Propped Up the Entire Outlook

A toll and violation management company cannot sustain mid-single-digit revenue growth projections when its largest commercial customer, accounting for more than 10% of consolidated revenue, is actively considering alternatives. The lawsuit contends that Verra's Commercial Services segment, which generated approximately $435.8 million in 2025 revenue or roughly 45% of the total enterprise, depended heavily on three rental car relationships. The loss of Avis alone forced a $35 million cut to the midpoint of full-year revenue guidance, from $1,025 million down to $990 million.

The filing states that Verra's executives characterized contract renewal discussions as "ongoing and constructive" just 20 days before receiving the termination notice, and repeatedly assured investors that in-sourcing by rental car companies was not a meaningful threat given the complexity of managing relationships with 54 different toll authorities.

Alleged Revenue Concentration Impact by the Numbers

Avis Budget Group represented over 10% of Verra's total revenue, yet the Company's guidance assumed continued service without interruption Full-year 2026 revenue guidance was slashed by approximately $35 million at the midpoint following the termination notice Adjusted EBITDA guidance fell from $405-$415 million to $380-$385 million, a reduction of $27.5 million at midpoint Adjusted EPS guidance dropped from $1.32-$1.38 to $1.19-$1.25, representing a $0.13 per share reduction at midpoint Free cash flow guidance declined from $150-$160 million to $140-$150 million The FMC business within Commercial Services had already declined 19% or $3.6 million year-over-year in Q1 2026, signaling broader segment weakness Calculate your potential recovery or call (888) SueWallSt.

Contract Termination and Operational Fallout

The complaint recounts that Verra operated under a short-term contract extension with Avis while negotiating a long-term renewal. As detailed in the action, the Company publicly framed these talks as routine, pointing to what it called a "pretty impeccable track record" of retaining customers. The termination, effective September 2026, not only eliminated a material revenue stream but also raised questions about the viability of Verra's remaining two large rental car relationships with Enterprise Mobility and The Hertz Corporation, each estimated at 10-12% of total revenue.

Baird Equity Research responded by cutting its price target 60%, warning that "the loss of either of the other two large RAC clients could put the viability of the business in question."

"The complaint raises serious questions about whether investors received accurate information regarding the stability of a customer relationship that underpinned nearly half of the Company's revenue base," stated Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

WHY SUEWALLST: SueWallSt is powered by Levi & Korsinsky LLP. Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the VRRM Lawsuit

Q: Who is eligible to join the VRRM investor lawsuit? A: Investors who purchased VRRM stock or securities between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026 and suffered financial losses may be eligible. Eligibility is based on purchase date and documented losses, not on whether you still hold the shares.

Q: How much did VRRM stock drop? A: Shares fell approximately 71%, a decline of $9.23 per share, after the Company disclosed the Avis Budget Group termination notice and slashed its full-year financial outlook. Investors who purchased shares during the class period at artificially inflated prices may be entitled to compensation.

Q: What do VRRM investors need to do right now? A:  Investors may gather brokerage records showing purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Contact SueWallSt, a brand of Levi & Korsinsky LLP, for a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as an absent class member.

Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: Nothing. Securities class actions are handled on a pure contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, no out-of-pocket costs.

Q: What if I already sold my VRRM shares -- can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold them. Investors who bought during the class period and sold at a loss may still participate.

Q: What specific misstatements does the VRRM lawsuit allege? A: The complaint alleges Verra Mobility made materially false or misleading statements regarding the stability of its Avis Budget Group contract, the likelihood of renewal, and the risk that major rental car customers could replace Verra with in-house or alternative solutions. When the true state was revealed, the stock price declined sharply.

Q: What if I missed the lead plaintiff deadline? A: The deadline applies only to investors seeking lead plaintiff appointment. Class members who miss it can still participate in any settlement or recovery.

CONTACT: 

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP 

Joseph E. Levi, Esq. 

33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor 

New York, NY 10004 

[email protected] 

Tel: (888) SueWallSt 

Fax: (212) 363-7171 

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.        

SOURCE SueWallSt.com

Key Takeaways CRDO expects fiscal 2027 revenue growth above 80%, led by its expanding optical networking business.Broadcom is gaining from AI networking demand, with next-generation Ethernet switch plans advancing in 2026.MRVL and Astera Labs are seeing AI-driven demand lift networking, interconnect and connectivity products. The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution has transformed the data center from a traditional computing facility into a high-performance AI factory. While graphics processing units have captured much of investors' attention, an equally important investment theme has emerged in AI data center networking. Semiconductor companies supplying Ethernet switches, optical interconnects, digital signal processors (DSPs), custom networking ASICs, retimers, and electro-optical components are witnessing unprecedented demand as hyperscalers race to build larger and more powerful AI clusters.

Semiconductor stocks operating in the AI data center space are experiencing strong demand due to the ramp-up of AI cluster sizes. The number of networking ports, optical transceivers, Ethernet switches and high-speed cables grows exponentially rather than linearly, creating an enormous opportunity for semiconductor suppliers. The transition toward higher networking speeds is further accelerating semiconductor demand. AI clusters are rapidly migrating from 400G networking to 800G Ethernet, while the industry is already preparing for 1.6-terabit (1.6T) networking beginning in 2027.

As the leading AI companies, hyperscalers, AI fabs and sovereign spending increase for ramping up the AI infrastructure, the semiconductor companies serving the compute, scale-out networking, storage, scale-up interconnect, custom AI application-specific integrated circuit chips, optical communication and power delivery chips for these AI players are also on the rise. The global semiconductor sales reached a record $120.6 billion in May 2026, rising 9.2% sequentially and 104.1% year over year, marking the 15th consecutive month. This is an ideal time to hunt for the most potent and silent winner of the semiconductor arena for August.

Investors looking to benefit from the networking chip companies benefiting from the AI boom in August 2026 should watch these stocks. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO - Free Report) , Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) , Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL - Free Report) and Astera Labs, Inc. (ALAB - Free Report) are four such networking chip stocks that investors should be following in August.

Stocks to WatchCredo Technology is increasingly driven by its networking portfolio, with management forecasting more than 80% revenue growth in fiscal 2027. A key catalyst is its expanding optical networking business, which is expected to generate more than $600 million in revenues during fiscal 2027. This growth will be supported by ZeroFlap optics, silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits and optical digital signal processors (DSPs), each projected to contribute more than $100 million.

Credo’s revenues surged 157% year over year to $437 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. CRDO reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.16, which grew 12.6% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 EPS suggests a year-over-year increase of approximately 73%. The consensus mark for fiscal 2027 earnings has been revised upward over the past 30 days. Currently, CRDO sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has a Growth Score of B. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Broadcom is benefiting from rising AI semiconductor demand, led by custom XPUs and AI networking. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, networking represented almost 40% of AI revenues compared with one-third of AI revenues in the first quarter. For scale-up within racks, Broadcom enables direct-attached copper based on 200G and 400G SerDes, along with co-packaged copper with Ethernet and PCI Express switches. For scale-out between racks, the company has been shipping the 100-terabit Ethernet switch, Tomahawk 6, for more than a year. Broadcom expects to tape out its next-generation 200-terabit switch in fiscal 2026.

Broadcom’s revenues rose 48% year over year to $22.19 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Broadcom reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $2.44 per share, which rose 54% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS suggests a year-over-year increase of approximately 72%. The consensus mark for fiscal 2026 earnings has been revised upward over the past seven days. Currently, AVGO carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a Growth Score of B.

Marvell Technology is benefiting from AI-led demand across the data center end market, with custom silicon, interconnect, switching and optics driving record revenues and a higher multi-year outlook. Marvell now expects its interconnect business to grow more than 70% year over year in fiscal 2027, supported by scale-out PAM ramp-ups and growing contributions from scale-up and scale-across networking. Within optics, the company expects TIAs and drivers to exceed a $1 billion annualized run rate in the next few quarters.

MRVL’s revenues rose 28% year over year to $2.42 billion, with data center up 27% to $1.83 billion and representing 76% of sales. Non-GAAP EPS was 80 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 EPS suggests a year-over-year increase of approximately 42.3%. The consensus mark for fiscal 2026 earnings has been revised upward over the past 60 days. Currently, MRVL has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Astera Labs is benefiting from rising demand for PCIe 6 signal conditioning and AI fabric switching as hyperscalers expand rack-scale AI deployments. The growing speed requirements and system complexity of AI infrastructure continue to support Astera Labs’ connectivity roadmap. In the first quarter of 2026, ALAB’s results showed demand broadening across Astera’s PCIe Gen 6 portfolio, with Gen 6 revenue across AI fabric and signal conditioning contributing more than one-third of the company's revenue.

ALAB’s revenues totaled $308 million, up 93.4% from the year-ago quarter, while non-GAAP earnings of 61 cents per share were up 84.8% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS suggests a year-over-year increase of approximately 61%. The consensus mark for fiscal 2026 earnings has been revised upward over the past 30 days. Currently, ALAB carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Ingersoll Rand (IR - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis maker of flow control and compression equipment is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.83 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +3.8%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.96 billion, up 3.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.57% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Ingersoll?For Ingersoll, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.61%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that Ingersoll will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Ingersoll would post earnings of $0.74 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.77, delivering a surprise of +4.05%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

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

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

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmong the stocks in the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, Watsco (WSO - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $4.38 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -3.1%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $2.17 billion, up 5.3% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Watsco has been revised 0.9% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +1.32%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.

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

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

LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Calix, Inc. (“Calix” or “the Company”) (NYSE: CALX) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between January 28, 2026 and April 21, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before July 27, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Calix’s Q1 margins benefited from the advanced purchasing of memory components. The Company’s supply of these memory components was rapidly decreasing due to these advanced orders. The Company’s margin faced negative pressure based on the purchase of memory at increasing market prices. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Calix, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

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

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

5.59K Followers

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.

The market expects Baxter International (BAX - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis drug and medical device maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.36 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -39%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.79 billion, down 0.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.53% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Baxter?For Baxter, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.99%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Baxter will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Baxter would post earnings of $0.31 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.36, delivering a surprise of +16.13%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

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

Baxter doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Medical - Products industry, Tilray Brands, Inc. (TLRY - Free Report) , is soon expected to post loss of $0.02 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -110%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $258.13 million, up 15% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Tilray Brands has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -100.00%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Tilray Brands will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (LTH - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +21.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $843.67 million, up 10.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 4.42% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Life Time Group Holdings?For Life Time Group Holdings, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.12%.

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

So, this combination indicates that Life Time Group Holdings will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Life Time Group Holdings would post earnings of $0.39 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.42, delivering a surprise of +7.69%.

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

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

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

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

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry, Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (LTH - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.45 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +21.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $843.67 million, up 10.8% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Life Time Group Holdings has been revised 4.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.12%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP indicates that Life Time Group Holdings will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

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

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

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis manufacturer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.27 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +10.1%.

Revenues are expected to be $6.18 billion, up 7.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.09% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Trane Technologies?For Trane Technologies, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.64%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that Trane Technologies will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Trane Technologies would post earnings of $2.53 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.63, delivering a surprise of +3.95%.

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

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

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

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

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Primoris Services Corporation ("Primoris" or the "Company") (NYSE: PRIM). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. 

The class action concerns whether Primoris and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

You have until September 21, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Primoris securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 23, 2026, Primoris issued a press release reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results. In the press release, Primoris disclosed increased costs on certain renewable energy projects, more challenging-than-anticipated soil conditions, and margin compression within its Energy segment, acknowledging that these issues adversely affected fourth-quarter profitability despite higher revenue.

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $13.72 per share, or 8.28%, to close at $151.92 per share on February 24, 2026.

Then, on May 5, 2026, Primoris issued a press release reporting its financial results for the first quarter of 2026. In the press release, Primoris disclosed additional adverse developments affecting its renewable energy business, including revenue and margin pressure, delayed project starts, and weaker-than-expected first-quarter 2026 results. The Company also reduced its full-year 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance from $5.80-$6.00 to $4.80-$5.00 and lowered its Adjusted EBITDA guidance.

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $101.69 per share, or 50.11%, to close at $101.23 per share on May 6, 2026.

Then, on June 8, 2026, Primoris issued a press release announcing that Anthony Vorderbruggen, the Company's President of Renewables, was departing Primoris, effective immediately.

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $18.92 per share, or 15.4%, to close at $103.90 per share on June 9, 2026.

Finally, on June 22, 2026, Primoris issued a Business Update announcing that, following an internal review supported by an independent third-party industry expert, it had identified substantial challenges, cost overruns, and project delays affecting six renewable energy projects. The Company reduced its full-year 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance to $2.05-$2.60, lowered its Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $275 million-$325 million, projected that 2026 Renewables revenue would decline to approximately $2.1 billion, and announced the resignation of its Chief Operating Officer.

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $23.39 per share, or 21.59%, to close at $84.95 per share on June 23, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. 

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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 +23.94% 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.

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

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To 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.

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: Maximus (MMS - Free Report) Headquartered in Reston, VA, Maximus operates government health and human services programs globally. With more than 37,200 employees across the globe, Maximus has a presence in the United States, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

MMS is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. MMS has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 14.5% for the current fiscal year.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $8.43 per share. MMS also boasts an average earnings surprise of +15%.

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Elastic N.V. ("Elastic" or the "Company") (NYSE: ESTC). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Elastic and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On June 24, 2026, Elastic disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that, in connection with "a plan . . . intended to simplify team structures, reduce organizational complexity, improve decision-making speed, reallocate resources towards key growth areas, and invest in the skills and capabilities needed to support the Company's ongoing growth", Elastic "expects to reduce its workforce by approximately 7%."  The Company said that it "expects to incur total non-recurring cash charges of approximately $22 million to $25 million under the plan, which will primarily consist of employee-related costs, including severance and other termination benefits."  In the same press release, Elastic disclosed that "Ken Exner, the Company's Chief Product Officer, notified the Company of his decision to resign from his position as Chief Product Officer", effective July 17, 2026. 

On this news, Elastic's stock price fell $5.11 per share, or 8.7%, to close at $53.60 per share on June 25, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. 

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980 

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

SAN DIEGO, July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LPL Financial LLC announced today that the advisors of Williams Tax & Financial Services have joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) platform. They reported serving approximately $340 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets* and join LPL from Cetera.

Based in Los Alamitos, Calif., Williams Tax & Financial Services is led by Steve Williams, CFP®, Enrolled Agent (EA). Williams is a second-generation financial advisor with nearly four decades of experience helping clients navigate complex financial decisions. He is joined by team members Jobel Rentino, EA, and Kirk Hunter.

A defining aspect of Williams Tax & Financial Services is its fully integrated model. The firm offers a streamlined, one-stop experience designed to help simplify clients’ financial lives. The practice remains family-oriented, with deep roots in the community and a legacy that began with Williams’ father, who originally founded a tax business.

Williams takes a holistic approach to advice, combining multiple disciplines to deliver a more complete financial picture. His process emphasizes simplicity and clarity, helping clients understand their projected income in retirement through streamlined, personalized planning. He also prioritizes building strong relationships, often taking time to understand clients’ personal circumstances before discussing financial strategies.

“Throughout my career, I’ve believed that financial advice should be both personal and practical,” Williams said. “We aim to give clients a clearer understanding of where they stand today and what they can expect in the future.”

<h3> Why Williams Tax & Financial Services Chose LPL

Williams selected LPL for its scale, independence and enhanced technology capabilities, which he believes will improve the client experience.

“I wanted a platform that allows me to remain independent and make decisions in my clients’ best interests, without being tied to specific products,” Williams said. “LPL’s technology and client-facing tools provide a more robust and transparent experience, helping clients better understand and manage their financial lives.”

Marc Cohen, chief growth officer at LPL Financial, said, “We are pleased to welcome Steve to LPL. His commitment to delivering personalized financial guidance, combined with his client-focused approach, aligns with LPL’s purpose to support advisors with the flexibility and capabilities they need to provide personalized advice. We look forward to supporting Steve and his team as they continue to grow and serve their clients.”

Outside of the office, Williams enjoys staying active and engaged in his community. He is an avid surfer and soccer player, frequently coaches youth sports and is actively involved in his church. He lives in San Clemente, Calif., with his wife and four children.

Related

Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

About LPL Financial

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports more than 32,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,100 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $2.3 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 8 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC. Williams Tax & Financial Services and LPL Financial are separate entities.

Throughout this communication, the terms "financial advisors" and "advisors" are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the "Investor Relations" or "Press Releases" section of our website.

*Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2025.

Media Contact: 
[email protected] 

Tracking #1128161

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

AR Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES – Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 6,500 shares of the asset manager’s stock, valued at approximately $709,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of ARES. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ares Management by 20.2% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,050,425 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $4,210,530,000 after buying an additional 4,373,955 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Ares Management in the 4th quarter worth $396,165,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Ares Management by 55.7% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,489,004 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $883,716,000 after acquiring an additional 1,963,460 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Ares Management by 26.3% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,705,599 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $922,196,000 after acquiring an additional 1,187,174 shares during the period. Finally, River Road Asset Management LLC raised its position in Ares Management by 40,652.1% during the fourth quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 807,300 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $130,484,000 after acquiring an additional 805,319 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.03% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $160.00 target price on shares of Ares Management in a research report on Tuesday. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of Ares Management from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Ares Management in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Ares Management from $188.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Ares Management from $165.00 to $131.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $158.93.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ARES

Ares Management Stock Performance NYSE:ARES opened at $119.76 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $39.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.51. Ares Management Corporation has a twelve month low of $95.80 and a twelve month high of $195.26. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $123.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96.

Ares Management (NYSE:ARES – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 1st. The asset manager reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.08). Ares Management had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 22.14%. The business had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Ares Management Corporation will post 5.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ares Management Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th were issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 16th. Ares Management’s payout ratio is presently 251.16%.

About Ares Management (Free Report)

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a global alternative asset manager that provides investment solutions across credit, private equity and real estate. The firm originates and manages capital across a range of strategies including direct lending, syndicated and special situations credit, private equity buyouts and growth investments, and real estate equity and debt. Ares serves institutional investors, insurance companies, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and high‑net‑worth clients through both commingled funds and bespoke managed account structures.

Within credit, Ares offers strategies spanning leveraged loans, structured credit, opportunistic and distressed debt, and specialty finance, with an emphasis on underwriting, portfolio construction and active asset management.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Ares Management Could Truth API Become Trump Media’s First Meaningful Revenue Driver? Small Caps Are Crushing the S&P 500—3 Stocks Still Worth Buying Moog Is More Than a Missile Maker, and Wall Street Is Noticing A Boring Dividend Growth Strategy Becomes a Solid Defensive Play Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES – Free Report).

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NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a shareholder has filed a securities class action lawsuit on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired the common stock of Badger Meter, Inc. (“Badger Meter” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BMI) between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, inclusive.

Should You Join The Badger Meter Class Action Lawsuit:

Do you, or did you, own shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI)?Did you purchase your shares between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Badger Meter, Inc.? What To Do Next:

Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Badger Meter, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by August 3, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About The Lawsuit:

The lawsuit alleges that defendants made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s business operations, growth prospects, and financial stability. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Badger Meter common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. When the truth was disclosed, investors allegedly suffered significant losses.

About Bernstein Liebhard:

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2026 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. ("Badger Meter" or the "Company") (NYSE: BMI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. 

The class action concerns whether Badger Meter and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

You have until August 3, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.   

[Click here for information about joining the class action]  

On April 17, 2026, Badger Meter reported its first quarter 2026 financial results.  Among other items, Badger Meter reported earnings per share of $0.93, missing consensus estimates by $0.26, and revenue of $202.03 million, missing consensus estimates by $28.58 million.  Badger Meter disclosed that its utility water sales declined 10% year-over-year, reflecting project timing and softer short cycle municipal customer ordering. 

On this news, Badger Meter's stock price fell $36.75 per share, or 24.13%, to close at $115.54 per share on April 17, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. 

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.  

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980 

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

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

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis natural gas pipeline operator is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.14 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +9.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $338.24 million, up 9.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.22% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for DT Midstream?For DT Midstream, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -6.03%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that DT Midstream will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that DT Midstream would post earnings of $1.11 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.27, delivering a surprise of +14.41%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

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

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

DT Midstream doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerNational Fuel Gas (NFG - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.47 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -10.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $564.39 million, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for National Fuel Gas has been revised 0.8% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +2.15%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that National Fuel Gas will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

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