Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

ONEOK, Inc. delivered a 30% total return since I rated it a strong buy in December. Energy prices have soared, and the company is posting strong results, leading it to upgrade its 2026 guidance. I detail why I recently exited my position despite the strong momentum.

ONEOK has outperformed peers YTD, up 24%, and offers a 4.6% dividend yield with further upside potential. OKE's diversified asset base, post-Magellan acquisition, drives mid-teens revenue growth and supports guidance raises for both revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Valuation remains attractive at 11.1x EV/EBITDA, with a price target of $109, implying 19% upside, and a competitive yield versus peers.

Most income investors default to broad dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for steady payout exposure. The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA: SCHD) ended 2025 with $71.6 billion in net assets and a 0.06% expense ratio, but its yield, like that of many of its peers, is in the low-single-digit range. With the 10-year Treasury at 4.57%, many traditional dividend baskets barely clear the risk-free line.

Natural gas equities offer a different story. Though the upstream side is volatile, the midstream operators and select producers consistently outyield the dividend ETFs. Here is how the five payers rank, counted down to the highest sustainable yield.

Yield Benchmark Ticker Type Yield EQT Gas Producer 1.1% WMB Midstream 2.7% KMI Midstream 3.5% OKE Midstream 4.6% ET Midstream (MLP) 6.7% 5. EQT EQT (NYSE: EQT | EQT Price Prediction) is the largest U.S. natural gas producer, with a $36.2 billion market cap and shares at $57.92. The yield is modest at 1.1%, but EQT raised the quarterly payout to $0.165 in November 2025 and generated $1.83 billion of free cash flow in Q1, repaying $1.73 billion in debt. With a PE of 11, EQT is a deleveraging growth story more than an income vehicle.

4. Williams Companies Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) yields 2.7%, light compared to peers but anchored by 52 consecutive years of dividend payments. The board raised the annualized payout 5% to $2.10. FY26 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $8.05 billion to $8.35 billion and a 40.3% one-year return reflect Transco’s data-center pull. Williams trades at 34x earnings, the richest multiple in the group, so income buyers pay for that durability.

3. Kinder Morgan Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) yields 3.51% at $33.79 per share, with the quarterly payout lifted to $0.2975 in May. The $10 billion project backlog is roughly 90% natural gas, and 70% of future data center power demand lies within Kinder Morgan’s footprint. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA of 3.8x and the S&P upgrade to BBB+ support coverage, even as the stock has run 22.9% year to date.

2. ONEOK ONEOK (NYSE: OKE) pays a 4.6% yield after a 4% raise to $1.07 per share quarterly. The model is roughly 90% fee-based, insulating cash flow from commodity swings. FY26 guidance calls for adjusted EBITDA of $8.0 billion to $8.5 billion and diluted EPS of $5.06 to $5.99. ONEOK extinguished $3.1 billion of long-term debt in 2025, and at 17x earnings the payout looks well covered.

1. Energy Transfer Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) tops the yield table at 6.7%, the only name here paying multiples of what the major dividend ETFs offer. The distribution has climbed $0.0025 per quarter for four consecutive quarters, reaching $0.3375 in May 2026. FY26 adjusted EBITDA guidance was raised to between $18.2 billion and $18.6 billion, and the Oracle data center supply contract of roughly 900 million cubic feet per day adds visibility. Forward P/E of 13x is the cheapest in the group.

The trade-off matters: Energy Transfer’s Q4 earnings of $0.25 per unit missed estimates by 31.9% on impairments and interest expense, the master limited partnership (MLP) structure issues a K-1, and the partnership previously cut its distribution in 2020. The income still beats a Treasury or any major dividend ETF by a wide margin, but the structure is not bond-equivalent.

What Income Buyers Should Watch These five natural gas names deliver yields that most diversified dividend ETFs cannot replicate. Henry Hub spot prices spiked to $30.72 per million Btu in late January 2026 before normalizing near $3, a reminder that yield premiums compensate for commodity, leverage, and concentration risk. For investors comfortable with that profile, the natural gas value chain currently pays better than the broad dividend indexes. More yield, however, is not the same as better total return, and Williams’ run already shows how quickly multiples can stretch when the income story gets crowded.

TULSA, Okla., May 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) will participate in an investor conference this week and in a fireside chat session at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Central Time) on Wednesday, May 27.

The session will be webcast live on ONEOK’s website at www.oneok.com. The webcast will also be available for replay. ONEOK’s latest investor materials are available at www.oneok.com.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At ONEOK (NYSE: OKE), we deliver energy products and services vital to an advancing world. We are a leading midstream operator that provides gathering, processing, fractionation, transportation, storage and marine export services. Through our approximately 60,000-mile pipeline network, we transport the natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), refined products and crude oil that help meet domestic and international energy demand, contribute to energy security and provide safe, reliable and responsible energy solutions needed today and into the future. As one of the largest integrated energy infrastructure companies in North America, ONEOK is delivering energy that makes a difference in the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.

ONEOK is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

For information about ONEOK, visit the website: www.oneok.com. For the latest news about ONEOK, find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Megan Patterson

918-561-5325

[email protected]

Media Relations:

Charlsey Phillips

918-510-1664

[email protected]

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Oneok Inc. (OKE - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Oneok due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for ONEOK, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

OKEOK Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Volume Growth, Guidance Up

ONEOK Inc. delivered a mixed quarter relative to expectations, with earnings coming in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues fell slightly short. The company posted operating earnings of $1.30 per share for the first quarter of 2026, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26 by 3.2%.

 On a reported basis, first-quarter net income rose 12.3% year over year to $776 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 18.3% to $1.23 from $1.04 in the year-ago quarter.

OKE’s Total RevenuesRevenues totaled $9.62 billion, missing the consensus mark of $9.68 billion by 0.6%. Total revenues were up 19.6% year over year from $8.04 billion.

OKE’s Operational HighlightsA key operating highlight was a 5% increase in total natural gas volumes processed to 5,490 million cubic feet per day, reflecting continued throughput resilience across the system. Management attributed the quarter’s improvement to volume growth and ongoing operational execution across its integrated asset footprint.

 Operational momentum was visible in NGL raw feed throughput, which increased 15.4% year over year to 1,493 thousand barrels per day (“MBbl/d”). The company highlighted particularly strong growth in the Gulf Coast/Permian region, reinforcing the value of its market-connected assets and integrated NGL value chain.

 Beyond optimization, the Pipeline segment also saw higher firm transportation revenues and improved earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, including Northern Border Pipeline.

Capacity utilization metrics remained supportive, with transportation capacity contracted at 93%, underscoring the fee-based nature of this part of the business.

 Cost trends offered some relief. The company noted lower operating costs, including the absence of methane fees in 2026 due to regulatory changes, helping cushion the impact from pricing.

ONEOK’s Financial HighlightsBalance sheet positioning shifted modestly in the quarter. Cash and cash equivalents ended the period at $172 million, up from $78 million at the end of 2025, while short-term borrowings increased as the company funded investment needs and shareholder distributions.

Cash flow reflected the capital intensity of the portfolio. Operating activities generated $934 million during the quarter, while capital expenditures totaled $864 million. Dividends paid were $674 million, and the funding mix included higher net short-term borrowings, consistent with an active approach to managing liquidity while executing on the 2026 investment program.

Capital expenditure in the first quarter was $864 million compared with $629 million at the end of 2025.

OKE Raises 2026 Targets as Outlook StrengthensFollowing the quarter, ONEOK increased its full-year 2026 financial guidance. Net income is now expected in a range of $3.21 billion to $3.79 billion, resulting in a diluted earnings per common share range of $5.06-$5.99. The company also lifted earnings per diluted share outlook, citing stronger segment performance and broader opportunities across its system. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $5.65.

Capital allocation priorities remained intact. Total 2026 capital expenditure guidance was maintained at $2.7 billion to $3.2 billion, supporting a slate of organic projects and infrastructure investments.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Oneok has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Oneok has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

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I would allocate $10,000 across cyclical value stocks and AI infrastructure bottleneck plays for optimal risk-reward. Union Pacific and Carlisle Companies offer exposure to cyclical recovery, economic reshoring, and robust dividend growth. The Williams Companies and Freehold Royalties provide high-income and strategic leverage to AI-driven energy demand.

Midstream energy company Oneok (OKE +2.22%) has had a strong start to 2026 in terms of stock performance. The company has risen more than 19% as of this writing. Oneok's dividend yield is still around 4.9%, but with the price increase, investors may be starting to question whether it's no longer a good time to buy.

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Oneok, which owns and operates more than 60,000 miles of pipelines, processing plants, and storage facilities, raised its 2026 guidance after a strong first quarter. Net income and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 12% and 13%, respectively. The annual dividend is now $4.28 per share. The company offers investors stability and growth through its diversified asset base.

A 31% increase in natural gas liquids throughput volumes in the Permian and Gulf Coast segments was a large factor in the successful quarter.

Image source: Getty Images.

Of course, with strong earnings, the stock has risen, making valuation metrics less attractive to investors looking to buy in. However, one advantage for investors is that Oneok operates primarily on a fee-based business model, which provides revenue visibility and some stability across macroeconomic climates and volatile commodity prices. Approximately 90% of earnings were fee-based last year.

The stock's forward and trailing P/E ratios are both reasonable at just under 16. The PEG ratio has risen above 2, suggesting the stock may be overpriced, particularly compared to competitors such as Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners. However, the valuation metrics don't support the notion that the company is no longer worth buying, especially considering the recent increase in guidance.

While the stock may not be a bargain at the moment, the energy company's longer-term outlook is good, and it offers a reasonable dividend for those seeking income.

Catie Hogan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners and Oneok. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

ArtiCure Chief Science Officer sold 5,000 shares for a transaction value of approximately $149,000 at around $29.83 per share on March 12, 2026. The sale represented 4.91% of Vinayak's direct holdings, reducing direct ownership from 101,875 to 96,875 shares.

MASON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRC), a leading innovator in surgical treatments and therapies for atrial fibrillation (Afib), left atrial appendage (LAA) management, and post-operative pain management, today announced that the company will be participating in the upcoming 2026 Bank of America Securities Health Care Conference. AtriCure's management is scheduled to participate in a fireside chat on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Interested par.

AtriCure (ATRC - Free Report) reported break-even quarterly earnings per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.07. This compares to a loss of $0.14 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +100.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this medical device maker would post a loss of $0.02 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.06, delivering a surprise of +400%.

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

AtriCure, which belongs to the Zacks Medical - Products industry, posted revenues of $141.25 million for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.43%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $123.62 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

AtriCure shares have lost about 27.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 5.2%.

What's Next for AtriCure?While AtriCure has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for AtriCure was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.03 on $153.63 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.10 on $604.33 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical - Products is currently in the bottom 36% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Exagen Inc. (XGN - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 11.

This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.24 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -20%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Exagen Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $16.55 million, up 6.8% from the year-ago quarter.

AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC) Presents at Bank of America Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript

[url="]AtriCure, Inc.[/url] ([url="]Nasdaq: ATRC[/url]), a leading innovator in surgical treatments and therapies for atrial fibrillation (Afib), left atrial a

Investors in AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the July 17, 2026 $17.50 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for AtriCure shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, AtriCure is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Medical - Products industry that ranks in the Bottom 34% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 6 cents per share to 3 cents in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about AtriCure right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

For the quarter ended March 2026, Edwards Lifesciences (EW - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.65 billion, up 16.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.78, compared to $0.64 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents no surprise over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.67, the EPS surprise was +16.42%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Edwards Lifesciences performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Net Sales by Product Group- Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies: $175.1 million versus $161 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +52% change.Net Sales by Product Group- Surgical Structural Heart: $276.2 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $267.25 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.1%.Net Sales by Product Group- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: $1.2 billion compared to the $1.17 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.4% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Edwards Lifesciences here>>>

Shares of Edwards Lifesciences have returned -1.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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Key Takeaways EW beat Q1 EPS by 16.4% with 21.9% growth; revenues rose 17% to $1.65B, matching estimates. Edwards Lifesciences saw TAVR sales rise 14.4% and TMTT jump 51.9% on strong therapy adoption.EW raised 2026 sales growth guidance to 9-11% and EPS view to $2.95-$3.05, signaling confidence ahead. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 78 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.4%. The figure increased 21.9% on a year-over-year basis. 

One-time adjustments primarily include certain litigation and restructuring expenses. GAAP EPS from continuing operations was 66 cents compared with 62 cents in the year-ago period.  

Edwards’ Q1 RevenuesSales totaled $1.65 billion, up 17% year over year. The metric was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. 

Following the earnings announcement, EW stock rose 2.3% in the aftermarket trading yesterday.

EW’s Q1 Sales by SegmentsTranscatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (“TAVR”)

Global sales in the product group amounted to $1.20 billion, up 14.4% year over year or 11% at constant currency (CER). The performance reflected clinicians’ heightened focus on SAPIEN therapy and proactive disease management of patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis.

Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”)

Sales totaled $175.1 million, up 51.9% from the prior-year figure on a reported basis. The global adoption of PASCAL and EVOQUE contributed to the overall growth.

Surgical Structural Heart

Global Surgical sales from continuing operations amounted to $276.2 million, up 10.1% year over year or 5.9% at CER. Growth was driven by continued adoption of RESILIA therapies that offer extended durability.

Edwards’ Q1 Margin PerformanceThe gross profit was $1.29 billion, up 15.7% year over year. The gross margin contracted 64 basis points (bps) to 78% due to a 20.2% increase in the cost of sales.

SG&A expenses rose 12.1% year over year to $522.2 million. R&D expenditures amounted to $263.3 million, up 3.4% year over year.

The operating income increased 28.1% year over year to $500.5 million. The operating margin expanded 269 bps to 30.4%.

EW’s Cash PositionThe company exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $2.40 billion compared with $3.00 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. Total debt was roughly $600 million, in line with the 2025 figure.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseEdwards’ 2026 GuidanceFor 2026, the company has guided sales growth rate between 9% and 11% (up from 8% and 10%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $6.66 billion, suggesting a 9.8% increase from the 2025 level.

Adjusted EPS is now projected to be in the $2.95-$3.05 range (previously $2.90-$3.05). The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.96.

For the second quarter of 2026, EW projects total sales in the band of $1.66-$1.74 billion and adjusted EPS in the 70-76 cents range. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter sales and EPS is pinned at $1.68 billion and 75 cents, respectively.

Our TakeEdwards Lifesciences’ first-quarter earnings beat estimates but revenues matched the same. Within TAVR, the company saw intentional and urgent treatment of severe aortic stenosis patients, fueled by a large and growing body of evidence on the SAPIEN platform and the increased adoption of SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA. 

Within TMTT, strong and increasing utilization of Edwards’ differentiated therapies, combined with double-digit mitral and tricuspid procedure volumes globally, positions Edwards for continued growth. Surgical performance continues to benefit from the ongoing adoption of RESILIA therapies that offer extended durability of Edwards’ therapies, including INSPIRIS, KONECT and MITRIS. Supported by the strong quarterly performance and multiple catalysts, management raised its 2026 outlook.

The contraction in gross margins is a concern, but the expansion in operating margins during the quarter is a positive sign.

EW’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksEdwards Lifesciences currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (TCMD - Free Report) and Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) .

Globus Medical, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of $1.28, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.8%. Revenues of $826.4 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.9%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

GMED has an earnings yield of 4.7% compared to the industry’s negative 1.4% yield. The company beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 18.79%.

Tactile Systems Technology, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, posted a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of 46 cents, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.77%. Revenues of $103.6 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.52%.

TCMD has an earnings yield of 4.4% compared to the industry’s negative 1.4% yield. The company’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 24.85%.

Phibro Animal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, posted a second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of 87 cents, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 27.01%. Revenues of $373.9 million outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.72%.

PAHC has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 21.5% compared with the industry’s 12.1%. The company’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20.15%.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 27th, 2026

LENSAR (NASDAQ:LNSR – Get Free Report) and Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW – Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability and valuation.

Volatility & Risk LENSAR has a beta of 0.99, suggesting that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Edwards Lifesciences has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its share price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership 40.2% of LENSAR shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 79.5% of Edwards Lifesciences shares are held by institutional investors. 66.0% of LENSAR shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Edwards Lifesciences shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings This table compares LENSAR and Edwards Lifesciences”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio LENSAR $58.44 million 1.05 -$34.28 million ($2.90) -1.76 Edwards Lifesciences $6.07 billion 8.00 $1.07 billion $1.83 46.01 Edwards Lifesciences has higher revenue and earnings than LENSAR. LENSAR is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Edwards Lifesciences, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability This table compares LENSAR and Edwards Lifesciences’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets LENSAR -58.66% N/A -48.11% Edwards Lifesciences 17.39% 14.45% 11.12% Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for LENSAR and Edwards Lifesciences, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score LENSAR 1 0 2 0 2.33 Edwards Lifesciences 0 9 16 3 2.79 LENSAR presently has a consensus target price of $10.00, suggesting a potential upside of 96.46%. Edwards Lifesciences has a consensus target price of $95.39, suggesting a potential upside of 13.29%. Given LENSAR’s higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe LENSAR is more favorable than Edwards Lifesciences.

Summary Edwards Lifesciences beats LENSAR on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About LENSAR (Get Free Report)

LENSAR, Inc., a commercial-stage medical device company, focuses on designing, developing, and marketing a femtosecond laser system for the treatment of cataracts and the management of pre-existing or surgically induced corneal astigmatism. It offers LENSAR Laser System that incorporates a range of proprietary technologies designed to assist the surgeon in obtaining visual outcomes, efficiency, and reproducibility by providing imaging, procedure planning, design, and precision. The company also offers ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System, a platform design to femtosecond laser technology features that enhanced laser capabilities into a single small unit that allows surgeons to perform a femtosecond laser assisted cataract procedure in a single operating room. LENSAR, Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

About Edwards Lifesciences (Get Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. The company also provides surgical structural heart solutions, such as aortic surgical valve under the INSPIRIS name; INSPIRIS RESILLA aortic valve, which offers RESILIA tissue and VFit technology; KONECT RESILIA, a pre-assembled tissue valves conduit for complex combined procedures; and MITRIS RESILIA valve. In addition, it offers critical care solutions, including hemodynamic monitoring systems to measure a patient’s heart function and fluid status in surgical and intensive care settings under the FloTrac, Acumen IQ sensors, ClearSight, Acumen IQ cuffs, and ForeSight names; HemoSphere, a monitoring platform that displays physiological information; and Acumen Hypotension Prediction Index software that alerts clinicians in advance of a patient developing dangerously low blood pressure. The company distributes its products through a direct sales force and independent distributors. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

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On April 29, 2026, we delve into the DCF analysis for Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW), a company that has shown mixed price performance recently. Over the past w

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) today announced 10-year results from the COMMENCE aortic trial, reinforcing the long-term durability and sustained performance of its proprietary RESILIA tissue. The data were presented at the 106th American Association for Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting. As evidence increasingly supports treating patients earlier in the valve disease pathway, the need for durable valve solutions continues to grow. The COMMENCE trial provides prospectiv.

Healthcare is regaining momentum as innovation—especially AI‑driven drug discovery—creates new growth opportunities, according to Shivani Vohra. She points to obesity treatments from Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO), advances in diagnostics from Natera (NTRA), and continued strength in med tech leaders like Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) as key areas of expansion.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW) Presents at Bank of America Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript

On May 22, 2026, Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW) shares rose 3.1% to a current price of $85.78. The stock has fluctuated between $72.30 and $87.89 over the past

Key Takeaways Edwards' TMTT sales rose about 42% in Q1 2026, driven by the adoption of PASCAL, EVOQUE and SAPIEN M3.Edwards' TAVR sales topped $1B for a sixth straight quarter, growing 11% year over year in Q1 2026.Edwards faces inflation, supply constraints, staffing shortages and foreign exchange headwinds. Edwards Lifesciences (EW - Free Report) appears well-positioned to continue benefiting from the expanding adoption of its premium surgical technologies worldwide. The Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”) business has seen consistent growth over the past few quarters, which is highly encouraging. The company’s TAVR platform represents another significant growth opportunity, supported by patient activation and advanced new technologies. However, ongoing macroeconomic pressures and currency swings could weigh on Edwards’ financial results.

Over the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 13% against the 5.5% fall of the industry and the S&P 500 composite’s 23.8% growth.

The renowned global medical device company has a market capitalization of $49.51 billion. EW’s earnings yield of 3.5% favorably compares with the industry’s negative 3.4% yield. In the trailing four quarters, Edwards delivered an average earnings surprise of 4.8%.

Let’s delve deeper.

Upsides for EW StockSurgical Structural Heart, A Promising Business: The business pioneered the innovative RESILIA tissue, which is backed by more than 40 years of the company’s tissue technology leadership. In first-quarter 2026, the segment grew 6% from the prior-year level, driven by strong global adoption of Edwards’ premium resilient technologies, including INSPIRIS, MITRIS and KONECT. The company continues to see positive procedure growth globally for the many patients treated surgically, including those undergoing complex procedures.

Edwards has been continuously generating evidence to expand the RESILIA portfolio, including positive one-year results from MOMENTIS, supporting the long-term durability of MITRIS systems for surgical mitral valve replacement. It also unveiled favorable eight-year data showing the strong durability of RESILIA tissue bioprosthetic valves.

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TMTT Portfolio Holds Potential: To transform care and unlock the significant long-term growth opportunity for mitral and tricuspid patients, Edwards focuses on three key value drivers — a portfolio of differentiated therapies for complex mitral and tricuspid anatomies, positive clinical trial results to support approvals and adoption, and favorable real-world clinical outcomes. In the first quarter of 2026, the segment witnessed an approximately 42% increase in sales compared with the prior year, driven by the continued global adoption of PASCAL, EVOQUE and SAPIEN M3 systems.

Edwards is making strides with the EVOQUE commercial rollout, activating new sites in both the United States and Europe (other than initial trial centers). At the recent ACC session, two-year TRISCEND II data showed EVOQUE significantly reduced all-cause mortality versus medical therapy while delivering sustained TR elimination, improved health and quality of life and no added device-related risk. Owing to a strong global uptake of differentiated therapies, the company now expects to achieve $2.00 billion of sales in 2030. 

Solid TAVR Opportunities: Edwards expects TAVR platform growth to be propelled by greater awareness, patient activation, advances in new technologies such as RESILIA, as well as indication expansion and increased global adoption. In the first quarter of 2026, TAVR sales exceeded $1 billion for the sixth consecutive quarter, with 11% year-over-year growth. The performance reflects clinicians' elevated focus on SAPIEN therapy and proactive disease management of patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis. Edwards' strong competitive position and average selling prices remained stable globally.

Europe’s sales benefited from healthy underlying TAVR procedure growth. The updated guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery are also reinforcing the role of TAVR for a broader patient population. Outside Europe, sales grew strongly across several regions, including Japan, driven by rising procedure volumes and increased adoption of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA platform.

What Ails Edwards?Macro Concerns Put Pressure on the Bottom Line: Edwards’ extensive global operations and overseas manufacturing facilities and suppliers bring certain financial, economic, political and other risks. The global economy continues to experience volatility and disruptions, including conditions impacting inflation, credit and capital markets, interest rates and factors influencing overall economic stability and the political environment relating to health care. Persistent inflationary pressure, supply constraints stemming from geopolitical complications and regulatory changes are weighing heavily on the company’s operating results. Hospital staffing shortages remain another bottleneck.  

Foreign Exchange Headwinds: Foreign exchange is a major headwind for Edwards due to a considerable percentage of its revenues coming from outside the United States (in 2025, 41.6% of the company’s net sales were derived from international regions). We remain worried about the significant challenges Edwards had to face owing to the unfavorable foreign currency impact that has been adversely affecting the company’s gross margin over the past few quarters.

EW Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Edwards’ 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has remained constant at $3.00 in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 revenues is pegged at $6.74 billion, suggesting an 11.1% improvement from the year-ago reported number.

Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .

Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.9% compared to the industry’s negative 3.2% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 26.3%. GMED shares have rallied 33.8% against the industry’s 5.5% fall over the past year.

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

Align Technology, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 9.6% growth. Shares of the company have dropped 2.9% against the industry’s 6.9% rise. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.

Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has an earnings yield of 14.2% against the industry’s negative 3.2% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 37.9% against the industry’s 5.5% decline over the past year.