Marathon Petroleum ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 vykázala upravené EBITDA z rafinace a marketingu ve výši 6,7 mld. USD při 94% využití rafinerií. Dva nové projekty mají přinést návratnost nad investiční hranicí 25 %.
Key Takeaways Marathon Petroleum generated $6.7B in R&M adjusted EBITDA on 94% refinery utilization.Its 112% refining capture rate reflected advantaged crude sourcing and coordinated operations.Two high-return projects are expected to generate returns above MPC's 25% investment hurdle. Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) delivered one of its strongest refining quarters in recent years, but the real story extends beyond a favorable refining environment. Management attributed the record performance to disciplined value-chain optimization — integrating crude sourcing, refinery operations, logistics and commercial execution to maximize profitability across every barrel processed.
This strategy helped the company generate $6.7 billion in Refining & Marketing (R&M) adjusted EBITDA during the second quarter of 2026, while the metric reached $ 8.5 billion in total. More importantly, MPC achieved the lowest level of unplanned refinery downtime this decade, highlighting the role of operational reliability in sustaining strong earnings.
The integrated model produced tangible operating benefits. MPC processed nearly 3 million barrels per day during the quarter, with systemwide refinery utilization reaching 94% and Gulf Coast utilization touching 100%. R&M EBITDA reached $24.84 per barrel, supported by crude optimization, improved jet fuel yields and strong domestic and export demand.
The company's refining capture rate climbed to 112%, reflecting its ability to source advantaged crude, optimize feedstocks and align planning, commercial and operational activities across the refining network. Extensive pipeline and logistics infrastructure also limited exposure to higher-priced Brent-linked crude during the Middle East disruptions, preserving margins while competitors faced greater feedstock cost pressure.
Marathon Petroleum also strengthened its competitive position through targeted investments rather than large-scale capacity additions. During the quarter, the company completed two high-return refining projects. The Robinson refinery investment adds roughly 10,000 barrels per day of incremental jet fuel production, while the El Paso project enhances specialty gasoline yields for attractive regional markets. Management expects both projects to generate returns exceeding its 25% investment hurdle, demonstrating how incremental operational improvements can enhance profitability without materially increasing capital intensity.
How Does MPC Compare With Peers?Among independent refiners, San Antonio, TX-based Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) continues to emphasize operational excellence through its highly complex refinery system and disciplined cost management. Like Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy benefits from processing discounted crude grades and maximizing product yields across its integrated refining network. However, Marathon Petroleum's extensive logistics footprint and coordinated value-chain optimization strategy increasingly differentiate its ability to capture additional margin opportunities.
Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) is pursuing a similar strategy through refinery optimization and commercial integration while expanding its Midstream and Marketing businesses to improve earnings resilience. Although Phillips 66 has invested heavily in operational efficiency and portfolio optimization, Marathon Petroleum's second-quarter performance suggests its integrated planning, logistics and commercial execution delivered particularly strong margin capture during a volatile refining environment.
Rather than relying solely on supportive refining margins, Marathon Petroleum demonstrated that disciplined execution across its integrated value chain can materially enhance profitability. While refining conditions will inevitably fluctuate, the company's focus on operational reliability, advantaged crude sourcing and high-return refinery improvements may provide a durable competitive advantage through future market cycles.
MPC’s Stock Performance, Valuation and Earnings ProspectsOver the past year, Marathon Petroleum’s stock gained 102%, outperforming the Oil Refining & Marketing sub-industry’s 71.7% increase. However, Valero Energy led the group with a 139% gain, while Phillips 66 advanced 82.4% over the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marathon Petroleum’s trailing P/E ratio stands at approximately 7.54, below its sub-industry average of 8.61, indicating that the stock appears relatively undervalued from a valuation perspective.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MPC has seen significant upward revisions to its earnings estimates, with the consensus estimates for 2026 and 2027 rising 55.27% and 31.86%, respectively, over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MPC currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
I've been hearing whispers on social media that quantum computing is "the new artificial intelligence," and IonQ (IONQ -0.12%) is one of the names they're considering. Where the stock will be in five years depends less on this summer's rally and more on whether the company can turn today's momentum into a durable, scaled business while the quantum computing hype cycle plays out.
IonQ's August numbers are undeniably impressive. For Q2 2026, the company reported record GAAP revenue of $80.1 million, up 287% year over year and roughly 20% above the midpoint of its own guidance. That made it the strongest quarter in IonQ's history and its fifth straight period of record results, driven by global deployments of its Tempo quantum computers, strong cloud utilization, and broader platform usage. Remaining performance obligations jumped to about $485 million, up nearly 300% from a year ago, and management raised full‑year revenue guidance to $280 million to $290 million, with a goal of 100% organic growth in 2026.
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IonQ is just getting started At the same time, this is still an early‑stage business under the hood. IonQ posted a GAAP net loss of $1.87 billion in Q2, largely due to a non‑cash charge tied to remeasuring earn‑outs and contingent consideration from the SkyWater acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA stood at negative $120 million, even though cash, equivalents, and investments were a hefty $3.0 billion before the deal and roughly $2.0 billion pro forma. That mix -- rapid revenue growth, big backlog, but large losses and heavy investment -- is exactly what you'd expect from a company trying to build a new computing stack, but it also makes the stock inherently volatile.
What makes IonQ interesting in the "quantum is the new AI" narrative is how directly it ties the two together. CEO Niccolo de Masi has been explicit that the next race is not AI versus quantum, but AI plus quantum working together to accelerate discovery. IonQ's own research on "quantum fine‑tuning" shows that trapped‑ion hardware acting as an energy‑efficient layer on top of classical AI models, with a projected energy break‑even around 34 qubits, speaks directly to AI's power and cost problem.
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On the applications side, IonQ is pushing into quantum security, communications, and sensing -- from ClavisXG multiplexed key distribution to an on‑orbit optical communications network and a TN quantum memory testbed -- while DARPA is tapping it for next‑generation atomic clocks.
Five-year considerations The five‑year question is whether all this turns into a business that looks more like today's AI leaders or more like a perpetual "science project." In my view, the most realistic expectation is somewhere in the middle. If IonQ keeps doubling revenue and expanding its platform, it could be a much larger, more diverse quantum services company by 2031, with production workloads in optimization, materials, and security.
But the stock will likely remain sensitive to delays in fault‑tolerant hardware, competition from larger players, and the inevitable shake‑out when some "quantum is the new AI" promises prove premature.
3 Stocks to Gain From Trump’s Return-to-Office MandateAramark NYSE: ARMK reported fiscal third-quarter organic revenue growth of 9% to $5 billion, while highlighting record client retention, rising new-business wins and early progress in its Aramark Nexus data-center hospitality initiative.
Chief Executive Officer John Zillmer said client retention reached approximately 98%, while fiscal year-to-date new client wins exceeded $1.6 billion, up 51% from the comparable prior-year period. He said growth was broad-based across the company’s U.S. and international operations, with every U.S. sector growing organically aside from an education-related calendar shift.
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3 Compelling Reasons to Keep Aramark Stock on Your RadarThe calendar shift reduced company organic revenue growth by approximately 2 percentage points during the quarter, management said. Aramark expects the education-related impact to be fully recaptured in the fourth quarter.
Revenue Growth Across U.S. and International Segments Food and Support Services U.S. organic revenue rose 8% to $3.5 billion, or more than 10% excluding the calendar shift, according to Zillmer. Education would have posted growth of more than 7% without the timing impact, aided by increased residential meal-plan enrollment, record retention and what management described as its strongest collegiate selling season in recent history.
Sports, Leisure & Corrections also contributed to U.S. growth, supported by Major League Baseball activity and an expanded client portfolio in Major League Soccer and collegiate athletics. The company served 15 FIFA World Cup matches at stadiums it operates during the quarter, with four additional matches occurring after quarter-end. Zillmer said those events produced unprecedented attendance and record per-capita spending.
Aramark also cited higher NHL and NBA playoff activity, including the San Antonio Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals. Recent sports-related client wins included Florida State University Athletics and Texas State Athletics.
In Healthcare+, Aramark continued the rollout of services at Penn Medicine and began mobilizing multiple service lines across RWJBarnabas Health’s 18 locations. Workplace Experience and Refreshments delivered double-digit compounded growth for the 19th consecutive quarter, according to the company.
International organic revenue increased 11% to $1.5 billion, led by Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Concert and festival activity was particularly strong in Europe, while the company served more than 300,000 fans at the Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona through nearly 100 food and beverage locations.
Aramark International won nearly 200 client-location accounts during the quarter, including remote hospitality work for Discovery Silver Mine in Canada and Codelco’s Chuquicamata and Antofagasta’s Los Pelambres copper mines in Chile.
Profit, Earnings and Cash Flow Operating income increased 18% from the prior-year period to $216 million. Adjusted operating income, or AOI, rose 13% to $261 million, with margins expanding nearly 20 basis points. Chief Financial Officer Jim Tarangelo said the calendar shift reduced AOI by an estimated $20 million; excluding that impact, AOI growth would have been approximately 21%, with nearly 50 basis points of constant-currency margin expansion.
FSS U.S. AOI increased 11%, with margins improving more than 20 basis points. Excluding the calendar shift, management said AOI growth would have been about 22% and margin improvement would have approached 65 basis points. International AOI grew 24%, while constant-currency margins expanded nearly 60 basis points.
GAAP earnings per share were $0.36, and adjusted EPS was $0.52, up nearly 30% year over year. Tarangelo said adjusted EPS growth would have been almost 45% excluding the calendar effect.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $41 million, while free cash flow reached $42 million. Subsequent to the quarter’s end, the company repaid $100 million of term loans. Aramark had more than $1.4 billion in cash availability at quarter-end and reiterated its goal of reducing leverage below three times by fiscal year-end.
Nexus Expansion Targets Data-Center Workforce Communities Aramark began operating its first Texas site for a top global hyperscaler late in the third quarter. Zillmer said the scope of the first site increased approximately 40% from original estimates, with expected annual revenue of roughly $140 million. A second site for the same client is being mobilized and is expected to be larger, at approximately $160 million of annual revenue.
The first hyperscaler site was originally expected to support about 3,500 employees, while the second is estimated at 4,000 beds. The company also has an agreement with an AI data-center colocation provider covering five additional sites in varying stages of development. One co-location site, expected to have approximately 4,500 beds, is scheduled to begin mobilizing in the first half of Aramark’s next fiscal year.
Management said the three sites under active mobilization and development could represent $400 million to $500 million of annualized revenue as they ramp through fiscal 2027 and into fiscal 2028. Nexus contributed only a small amount of revenue in the third quarter, while Tarangelo said it is expected to account for roughly 1% of fourth-quarter revenue growth.
Zillmer said Nexus contracts are intended to provide food, retail, housekeeping, facilities management and other hospitality amenities for workers living at remote construction and data-center communities. Tarangelo said the contracts are primarily cost-reimbursable, capital-light and carry margins above the company average.
Outlook Raised for Revenue Growth Aramark raised its fiscal 2026 organic revenue growth outlook to 9% to 10%, citing broad-based momentum and early contributions from the hyperscaler contract. The company reaffirmed projected AOI growth of 12% to 17% and adjusted EPS growth of 20% to 25%.
Management expects accelerated AOI growth and margin expansion in the fourth quarter, though it also noted that record new-business mobilizations will bring startup costs. Tarangelo said newly won accounts in higher education, destinations and healthcare are expected to ramp further in fiscal 2027.
Looking beyond the current year, management said it expects continued margin expansion in the core business of roughly 30 to 40 basis points, with Nexus providing an additional tailwind as the business scales.
About Aramark (NYSE:ARMK)Aramark NYSE: ARMK is a global provider of food services, facilities management and uniform solutions, serving clients across a wide array of industries including education, healthcare, business and government. The company operates through three primary segments: Food and Support Services, Uniform and Career Apparel, and Facility Services, delivering integrated solutions designed to enhance guest experiences, improve operational efficiencies and maintain safe, clean environments. Aramark's offerings include corporate dining, patient and senior nutrition, campus dining, sports and entertainment concessions, custodial services, technical maintenance and industrial laundry.
Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Aramark has expanded its footprint to more than 20 countries, with a strong presence in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
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].
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The AI boom is creating opportunities across semiconductors, cloud computing, enterprise software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation.
Inside this report, you’ll find 10 companies positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment and becomes a core growth driver for corporate America.
Ulta Beauty v 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 zvýšila srovnatelné tržby o 5,3 % díky růstu napříč všemi kanály a klíčovými kategoriemi. Firma dál posiluje omnichannel, věrnostní program i digitální služby včetně TikTok Shop, AI a doručení ve stejný den.
Key Takeaways ULTA delivered 5.3% comparable sales growth as all channels and major categories contributed positively.ULTA's loyalty program had nearly 47 million members, supporting personalization and customer insights.TikTok Shop, AI and same-day delivery are expanding Ulta Beauty's digital reach and guest engagement. Ulta Beauty, Inc.’s (ULTA - Free Report) omnichannel model remains an important part of its customer proposition, supported by the company’s diverse assortment, digital convenience and loyalty program. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company delivered 5.3% comparable sales growth, with broad-based performance as all channels and major categories contributed positively to results.
The company highlighted the convenience of its buy anywhere, fill anywhere capabilities, including Buy Online Pickup In Store, as a key driver of e-commerce growth and guest satisfaction. Ulta Beauty is also enhancing digital convenience through expanded same-day delivery via Uber Eats and new Buy Now, Pay Later options through Klarna.
Ulta Beauty’s digital strategy also includes TikTok Shop, which gives the company another way to reach younger consumers and attract new guests. The company sees the platform as complementary to its e-commerce business and a way to bring customers into its broader ecosystem. Meanwhile, its loyalty program grew to nearly 47 million members, up 4% year over year. Ulta Beauty is using this first-party data to improve personalization, understand customer behavior, predict repeat purchases and drive cart conversion.
Additionally, Ulta Beauty is leveraging AI to optimize its business and enhance the guest shopping experience. The company introduced Ulta AI, an online shopping agent focused on discovery, personalization and shopping experiences, with promising initial results. The company is also integrating with leading AI platforms like Google’s Gemini to enable agentic commerce, while remaining focused on leveraging the strengths of its partners to maximize the AI opportunity.
Overall, Ulta Beauty continues to lean on its differentiated omnichannel experience, loyalty program and diverse assortment as it pursues long-term profitable growth.
The Zacks Rundown for ULTAThis Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company’s shares have gained 6.3% in the past year against the industry’s 7.9% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ULTA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.02, higher than the industry’s average of 16.27.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ULTA’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 12.3% and 11.1%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) operates as a specialty value retailer in the United States. At present, Five Below carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIVE’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 23.9% and 36.1%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. FIVE delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.
DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS - Free Report) operates as an omni-channel sporting goods retailer primarily in the United States. At present, DKS holds a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DKS’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 50.4% and 7.9%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. DKS delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 1%, on average.
Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (SBH - Free Report) operates as a specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies. The company operates through two segments, Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group. At present, SBH carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBH’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 0.8% and 9%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. SBH delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.4%, on average.
Shares of AXT (NASDAQ:AXTI) are drifting lower midday Tuesday, changing hands near $74 and roughly flat on the session. The relatively calm day follows a whip saw previous week that saw shares spike and then drop nearly 17% yesterday. Overall, AXT has rebounded from trading down to $36.97 on July 29th’s close.
Looking further back, shares have surged 351% year to date. Traders across the optical complex appear to be de-risking ahead of Lumentum (NASDAQ:LITE | LITE Price Prediction) earnings after the close.
Optical Complex Pauses Ahead of Lumentum AXT’s move so far this week appears to be a sentiment tell rather than a reaction to its own results. AXT supplies indium phosphide (InP) substrates that feed directly into the silicon photonics and high-speed transceiver supply chain that Lumentum and Coherent (NYSE:COHR) sell into. When Lumentum reports tonight, its commentary on 800G modules, optical circuit switches, and co-packaged optics will set the tone for anyone tied to AI datacenter optical connectivity, and that includes AXT’s core InP business.
The setup into tonight is loaded. Lumentum guided fiscal Q4 revenue to $960 million to $1.01 billion with non-GAAP EPS of $2.85 to $3.05 and operating margin of 35.0% to 36.0%. CEO Michael Hurlston flagged an OCS backlog above $400 million and an incremental multi-hundred-million-dollar co-packaged optics order.
Reaction risk cuts both ways. Lumentum has beaten EPS estimates four consecutive quarters, yet last quarter shares still closed down 5% on the day of the print despite the beat, with an intraday range of $902 to $1,014. Over the last five reports, beats have delivered an average day-of move of +7% and a one-week average gain of +15%. That is the whipsaw AXT holders are staring down midday.
Peers Trade Mixed, Coherent Reports Tomorrow Coherent shares also fell 14% yesterday. Wall Street commentary yesterday threw cold water on the potential transceiver ban out of China. Reuters reported on August 5th that the Trump Administration was looking to limit future optical transceivers from the country. That would be good news for domestic companies like Coherent, Lumentum, and Applied Optoelectronics. So, any Wall Street commentary that media reports of the ban are more the Trump Administration negotiating in public before a September summit with President Xi would lead to selling pressure on these names.
A ban is far more complicated for AXT, so those same reports would seem to be positive for the company. Yet, AXT shares fell 17% yesterday. A transceiver ban would provide complications for AXT because the company relies on export licenses from China for its InP sales. If the U.S. were to ban Chinese optical transceivers, China could retaliate by limiting InP exports from the country.
All major optical stocks have been on a tear this year. Coherent is up 76% year to date, and Lumentum is up 121%. Against those runs, AXT’s 351% YTD move stands out, and small pullbacks around sector catalysts are unsurprising after that kind of parabolic rally.
Coherent’s own fiscal Q4 earnings lands tomorrow after the close, per confirmed company timing. Its guidance calls for revenue of $1.91 billion to $2.05 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $1.52 to $1.72. Notably, Coherent flagged plans to double internal InP wafer output by year-end 2026 and more than double it again by 2027. That is a direct read-through to AXT’s substrate demand.
AXT’s Own Numbers Are the Backdrop AXT delivered its own step-function last quarter. Q2 revenue landed at $47.59 million, up 164.8% year over year and beating consensus by 40%, while non-GAAP EPS of $0.19 topped the $0.07 estimate. CEO Morris Young cited “strong customer demand for data center optical connectivity” and a “step-function increase in our revenue.” That narrative rises or falls with what Lumentum and Coherent signal about forward optical demand.
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Vertiv ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil čisté tržby o 24 % meziročně a pro 3. čtvrtletí vyhlíží tržby 3,65 mld. až 3,85 mld. USD. Růst táhne poptávka po AI datových centrech.
Key Takeaways Vertiv's Q2 2026 net sales rose 24%, with Americas and APAC sales each climbing 29%. Vertiv expanded global capacity while advancing AC, 800V DC, cooling, and fluid management solutions. Vertiv expects Q3 2026 net sales of $3.65B-$3.85B as AI data center demand supports its growth. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) is benefiting from the explosive growth in AI-driven data centers, which is fueling robust demand for its power, thermal and infrastructure solutions. The company is benefiting from robust demand across its core markets, particularly in the Americas and APAC regions. In the second quarter of 2026, net sales increased 24% year over year, with the Americas and APAC both growing 29%. EMEA also returned to positive net sales growth.
This broad-based demand is driven by accelerating digital transformation and the expansion of data centers, both of which require Vertiv’s advanced power and thermal management solutions. The company’s strong pipeline and accelerating sales cycles, especially among hyperscalers, enterprise and colocation customers, have underpinned this growth.
The company has rapidly expanded its global manufacturing footprint by adding new capacity in Malaysia, expanding five large plants in the Americas and increasing chiller capacity in EMEA. These investments have enabled Vertiv to deliver increasingly complex data center infrastructure solutions at scale, positioning the company as a leader in supporting next-generation AI data centers.
Vertiv’s differentiated technology portfolio is another pillar of its growth. The company is at the forefront of power architecture evolution, supporting both AC and emerging 800V DC solutions. Collaborations with industry leaders like NVIDIA and Foxconn’s VisionBay AI have resulted in landmark projects, such as Taiwan’s first AI data center featuring NVIDIA GB300 and the world’s first AI data center adopting 800V DC architectures. Vertiv’s advanced cooling and fluid management technologies, including closed-loop systems and PurgeRite NearZero, further set it apart by enabling nearly zero water consumption, a critical advantage for sustainable, high-density AI data centers.
Vertiv’s expanding AI data center footprint and manufacturing capacity signal further upside potential. For the third quarter of 2026, Vertiv expects net sales of $3.65 billion to $3.85 billion.
VRT Suffers From Stiff CompetitionVertiv’s AI infrastructure solutions are facing increasing competition from Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) . Both companies are expanding their offerings to support high-density, AI-driven data center deployments.
Super Micro Computer expanded its Data Center Building Block Solutions portfolio with 10 precision-engineered rack models designed for high-density AI data centers. Available in 44OU, 48U, 48OU, and 52U configurations, the racks feature factory pre-assembly and modular designs to accelerate deployment and reduce time-to-online. They support advanced liquid-cooling technologies and are certified for static loads exceeding 5,500 pounds. Super Micro Computer highlighted that its global manufacturing operations can produce up to 3,000 advanced racks per month, including 2,000 liquid-cooled units, thereby supporting faster deployment of scalable AI infrastructure worldwide.
Amphenol is benefiting from the surge in demand for AI infrastructure, which has become a transformative force for the company’s growth and market positioning. In the second quarter of 2026, IT datacom represented about 43% of sales and grew 63% organically year over year. This robust performance was driven by accelerating investments in AI data centers and Amphenol’s ability to capture a significant share of this unique interconnect opportunity.
Vertiv’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesVRT’s shares have surged 66.8% year to date compared with the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 18.1% rise. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 15.6% over the same period.
VRT Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv stock is trading at a premium, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book of 21.86X compared with the Computer and Technology sector’s 10.76X. VRT has a Value Score of F.
VRT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.64 per share, which has increased 3.58% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 58.10% increase from the year-ago quarter.
Vertiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Quanta Services zvýšila výhled tržeb na 39,3–39,7 miliardy USD a upraveného EPS na 16,45–16,95 USD díky rekordnímu backlogu ve výši 53,4 miliardy USD. Akcie PWR za poslední tři měsíce klesly o 13,7 %.
Key Takeaways Quanta's record $53.4 billion backlog reflects strong demand across utility, power and technology.PWR raised 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance on strong results and contributions from acquisitions.Quanta faces inflation, rate uncertainty and project risks despite solid cash flow and liquidity. Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR - Free Report) fell 13.7% in the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry, the Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 Index.
The near-term prospects of the company are facing hurdles in the form of rising inflation, interest rate uncertainty and potential recessionary conditions, which could affect customer spending and project starts. Management has also maintained a prudent approach to second-half guidance, factoring in potential project slippage and weather-related disruptions.
However, despite these near-term constraints, the mid and long-term growth trajectory of PWR remains solid amid favorable infrastructure project demand trends. Besides a growing backlog, efficient execution capabilities, buyout strategies and the tendency to return to its shareholders are encouraging for investors to make investment decisions for PWR stock.
Moreover, the strong second-quarter 2026 results add fuel to the growing flames of Quanta, reflecting its position of leveraging the multi-year growth opportunities. PWR’s second-quarter 2026 earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 28.9% and 12.1%, and grew year over year by 71% and 41.1%, respectively. Revenue growth and margin performance remained robust across the business, supported by the company’s solutions-based model and “execution certainty” from its self-perform capabilities and craft-skilled workforce. (read more: PWR Q2 Earnings Beat on Electric Strength, 2026 View Raised, Stock Up)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s dive deep into understanding the factors boosting PWR stock’s prospects in the upcoming period.
Favorable Market Trends Supporting Backlog GrowthQuanta is well-positioned to capitalize on robust infrastructure spending across utility, power generation, technology and load center markets. The ongoing expansion of data centers, grid modernization, renewable generation and advanced manufacturing is driving customers to undertake larger, multiyear infrastructure programs. These favorable trends helped drive total backlog to a record $53.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, up 49% year over year from $35.8 billion in June 2025. The increase was broad-based, with Electric Infrastructure Solutions backlog rising year over year to $43.8 billion from $30.3 billion, while Underground and Infrastructure Solutions backlog climbed to $9.7 billion from $5.6 billion.
Management believes the company is still in the early stages of the current demand cycle, with larger utility-generation and technology/load center programs expected to build over the coming years. Strong end-market demand and improved visibility also supported a significant increase in 2026 guidance, with revenues now expected to be $39.3-$39.7 billion compared with the prior expectations of $34.7-$35.2 billion.
Project Execution Abilities & Long-Term ProspectsPWR’s strong project execution capabilities remain a key competitive advantage, supporting both customer retention and long-term growth. It self-performs approximately 80-85% of its work, allowing it to maintain greater control over project execution, schedules and costs. More than 85,000 employees and a deep, craft-skilled workforce provide the expertise required to execute increasingly complex utility, power, technology and load center projects safely, on time and on budget.
Management emphasized that this execution certainty, developed over decades, has helped produce record adjusted EPS for nine consecutive years while encouraging customers to award Quanta additional work. Strong first-half results, improved visibility and rising demand prompted management to increase its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $16.45-$16.95 (from the earlier projection of $13.55-$14.25), reinforcing confidence in the company’s long-term earnings trajectory.
Strategic Acquisitions Supporting Organic GrowthQuanta’s acquisition strategy is creating another growth avenue while complementing organic opportunities. Acquisitions of Phalcon, Enerfab, Percheron and PSD expand its electrical, mechanical, fabrication, engineering and front-end capabilities while broadening exposure to data centers, power generation, advanced manufacturing, utilities and other critical infrastructure. The deals also enable Quanta to engage earlier in customer programs and offer more comprehensive solutions.
Management expects the four acquisitions to contribute $1.2-$1.4 billion in revenues and $120-$140 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2026, with their contribution reflected in the raised full-year outlook. Quanta’s focus on strategic and cultural fit should further support sustained growth across its expanding end-market portfolio.
Shareholder Approach & Liquidity PositionQuanta continues to balance growth investments with shareholder returns and financial discipline. In May 2026, its board authorized a new $1 billion stock repurchase program, while the company maintained its quarterly cash dividend at 11 cents per share, demonstrating its commitment to returning capital alongside funding strategic opportunities. At the same time, PWR’s financial position strengthened despite substantial acquisition spending. Its debt-to-EBITDA ratio improved to 1.7 from 1.95 at the end of 2025, while total liquidity stood at approximately $2.8 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Strong cash generation provides additional flexibility, with management raising 2026 free cash flow guidance to $2-$2.5 billion. This combination of liquidity, improving leverage, cash generation and disciplined capital allocation gives Quanta capacity to pursue acquisitions, invest in growth and continue returning capital to shareholders.
Earnings Estimate Revision of PWRPWR’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 trended upward in the past seven days to $16.11 per share and $18.66 per share, respectively. The revised estimates for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 49.9% and 15.8%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Competitive Position: Quanta vs. EMCOR, Dycom & SterlingQuanta appears to hold a competitive edge over EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME - Free Report) , Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY - Free Report) and Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) through its combination of utility, power-generation, communications and mission-critical infrastructure exposure.
EMCOR delivered record second-quarter 2026 revenues of $5.15 billion, up 19.8%, supported by electrical and mechanical construction demand, including data centers. Its strength is concentrated in building and energy-related infrastructure. Dycom offers a stronger direct communications-infrastructure comparison. Its latest first-quarter fiscal 2027 results showed revenues rising 56.1% to $1.97 billion, while backlog increased 46.5% to $11.9 billion, supported by robust communications demand. Sterling posted exceptional second-quarter 2026 growth, with revenues increasing 90% to $1.17 billion, driven by a 192% surge in E-Infrastructure revenues.
Overall, Quanta’s edge is its larger scale, diversified utility exposure, 80-85% self-perform model and ability to participate across the broader electrification and communications infrastructure cycle, giving it greater end-market breadth than EMCOR, Dycom and Sterling.
PWR Stock’s Premium ValuationPWR stock is currently trading at a premium compared with the industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.41, as evidenced by the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Can PWR Stock Maintain Its Growth Streak?Quanta appears well-positioned to regain its momentum despite a recent stock performance decline in the past three months. Robust execution capabilities and growing public demand trends, with a backlog of $53.4 billion, provide substantial revenue visibility. Besides, its raised 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance reflects management’s confidence in sustained infrastructure spending.
Quanta’s skilled workforce and strategic acquisitions further strengthen its competitive position across utility, power generation, data centers and advanced manufacturing. Improving liquidity, lower leverage, higher free cash flow guidance and a new $1 billion repurchase authorization also support shareholder value.
Although inflation, interest-rate uncertainty, potential project delays and its premium valuation warrant caution, upward earnings estimate revisions reinforce the bullish case. Thus, with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), PWR stock appears attractive for investors seeking long-term infrastructure growth, and its strong backlog and execution capabilities should support an outperformance in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Delek US ve 2. čtvrtletí vykázal upravený zisk 5,48 USD na akcii, výrazně nad odhadem 2,21 USD, díky silným rafinérským maržím. Čisté tržby vzrostly meziročně o 47,8 % na 4,1 miliardy USD.
Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $5.48 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 by 148%. The bottom line also improved from the year-ago adjusted loss of 56 cents, supported by stronger year-over-year performance across both segments.
Brentwood, TN-based oil and gas refining and marketing company’s net revenues increased 47.8% year over year to $4.1 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3 billion by 34.8%. This was due to better-than-expected performance from the refining and logistics segments, which exceeded our consensus marks by 37.24% and 29.57%, respectively.
Delek US Holdings, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Delek US Holdings, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Delek US Holdings, Inc. Quote
The strong quarterly performance was primarily supported by higher refining margins amid increased crack spreads. Total refining throughput averaged 315,555 barrels per day. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $638.7 million from $177.9 million a year earlier. Moreover, the reported figure beat our estimate of $72 million.
DK’s Refining Performance ImprovesRefining segment net revenues, excluding intercompany fees and revenues, increased to $3.9 billion from $2.6 billion in the prior-year quarter. The segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $566.2 million compared with $114.8 million a year ago. Moreover, the reported figure beat our estimate of $287.8 million.
The significant year-over-year improvement was driven by stronger refining margins, supported by higher crack spreads. Delek US’ benchmark crack spreads increased an average of 136% from the prior-year level. Total refining production margin rose to $569.6 million from $231.1 million.
Delek US’ Refining Metrics Remain StrongProduction margin per throughput barrel increased to $19.84 from $8.03 a year earlier. Adjusted refining margin totaled $569.1 million compared with $256.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Crude utilization was 100.2% compared with 100.9% a year ago.
Management highlighted improved performance at the Big Spring refinery following the first-quarter turnaround. The company also has no planned refinery turnarounds for the remainder of 2026, positioning its refining system to capture the current margin environment.
DK’s Logistics Unit Posts Record ResultsThis unit represents Delek US’ majority interest in Delek Logistics Partners (DKL - Free Report) , a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates, develops and acquires pipelines and other midstream assets.
The logistics segment generated net revenues, excluding intercompany fees and revenues, of $179.9 million compared with $132.3 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA increased 12.6% year over year to a record $143.5 million. However, the reported figure missed our estimate of $149.4 million.
This improvement reflected higher margins in the wholesale business and increased interest income related to sales-type leases. Delaware Gathering natural gas gathering and processing volumes rose to 80,715 Mcf per day from 60,940 Mcf, while crude gathering volumes increased to 157,156 barrels per day from 137,167 barrels.
Delek US’ Costs Increase in Q2Total operating costs and expenses increased 35.3% year over year to $3.8 billion. Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $220.1 million compared with $209.8 million a year earlier.
General and administrative expenses declined to $56.7 million from $76.6 million. Delek US recorded restructuring costs of $10.9 million during the quarter.
DK’s Cash Flow and Financial PositionCash provided by operating activities was $262.9 million in the second quarter compared with $51.4 million a year ago. The quarter included $137.9 million of unfavorable working-capital changes. Investing activities used $176.2 million, while financing activities resulted in an $82.2 million outflow.
As of June 30, 2026, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $628.6 million and consolidated long-term debt of $3.2 billion, with a debt-to-total capital of about 88.3%. Excluding Delek Logistics, Delek US had $614.9 million in cash and $817 million of long-term debt. During the quarter, DK repurchased $20 million of common stock and paid $15.6 million in dividends.
Delek US Provides Q3 GuidanceFor the third quarter of 2026, Delek US expects throughput of 72,000-77,000 barrels per day at Tyler, 78,000-83,000 barrels at El Dorado, 68,000-73,000 barrels at Big Spring and 78,000-83,000 barrels at Krotz Springs. The implied system throughput target is 296,000-316,000 barrels per day.
On the cost side, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company expects operating expenses of $220-$230 million, general and administrative expenses of $50-$55 million, depreciation and amortization of $110-$120 million and net interest expense of $75-$85 million for the third quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
DK’s Optimization Plan Supports Cash GenerationDelek US’ Enterprise Optimization Plan continues to focus on improving free cash flow. The company expects the program to generate at least $220 million of annual free cash flow improvement, with the majority coming from margin enhancement across refining, logistics and wholesale operations.
Management estimated that the program contributed approximately $60 million to second-quarter results. Delek Logistics also reaffirmed the 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $520-$560 million as it continues advancing the midstream growth and economic separation initiatives.
Important Earnings at a GlanceWhile we have discussed DK’s second-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at two other key reports in this space.
Houston, TX-based oil and gas equipment and services provider Halliburton (HAL - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted net income per share of 55 cents, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents. The outperformance was backed by year-over-year revenue growth. However, the bottom line was flat compared with the prior-year level.
As of June 30, 2026, Halliburton had approximately $2 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $7.1 billion in long-term debt, representing a debt-to-capitalization of 39%.
Fort Worth, TX-based oil and gas exploration and production company Range Resources Corporation (RRC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 79 cents per share, up 19.7% from 66 cents a year ago. Range Resources’ bottom line topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 41.1%. Strong quarterly results are driven by higher production and improved price realization.
The company’s net debt was $880.8 million at June 30, 2026, down 28% from $1.22 billion at year-end 2025. Range Resources repurchased $78 million of shares and paid $24 million in dividends during the quarter.
Viper Energy po uzavření akvizice Riverbend zvýšila výhled produkce na rok 2026 na 132 500–135 000 barelů ropného ekvivalentu denně. Riverbend rozšířil její permskou royalty stopu na 90 212 čistých royalty akrů.
Key Takeaways Viper's Riverbend deal lifts its Permian footprint to 90,212 net royalty acres.Viper raises 2026 production guidance as Riverbend adds volumes and organic growth remains strong.Viper's royalty model limits drilling costs, but higher expenses and commodity exposure remain key offsets. Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM - Free Report) closed the Riverbend acquisition on July 1, expanding its Permian Basin royalty footprint and lifting its 2026 production outlook. The added acreage arrives as development activity across Viper's asset base remains elevated.
The central question is whether that larger inventory can keep volumes rising without weakening the capital-light economics that distinguish the royalty model. Current guidance and visible well activity support the growth case, although a larger expense base and commodity exposure remain important offsets.
Viper's Riverbend Deal Expands Its Growth BaseAfter giving effect to Riverbend, Viper owned about 90,212 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin. The company also had 1,798 gross horizontal wells in active development and 1,589 additional line-of-sight wells as of July 1.
That inventory gives VNOM visibility beyond wells already producing. Active-development wells are expected to be turned to production within roughly six to eight months, while line-of-sight wells may reach production over approximately 15 to 18 months. Diamondback Energy (FANG - Free Report) , Viper's parent, remains a key operator, but third parties accounted for 545 of the 691 gross wells turned to production in the second quarter.
VNOM's Production Outlook Moves HigherViper raised full-year 2026 production guidance to 132,500-135,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, including oil production of 66,000-67,250 barrels per day. Third-quarter guidance calls for 133,500-135,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day and 67,500-68,500 barrels of oil per day.
Management said the third-quarter outlook includes about 2,000 barrels per day from Riverbend while still implying roughly 1,000 barrels per day of sequential organic growth. It also indicated that activity supports continued organic gains in the second half and modest growth off the 2026 exit rate into 2027.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Viper's Royalty Model Supports Cash ConversionViper does not fund the drilling and completion costs on its royalty acreage. Those expenses are borne by working-interest operators, allowing the company to participate in production growth without the capital spending required of a traditional exploration and production company.
The cost structure remains lean in key cash categories, with 2026 cash general and administrative expense guidance of 70-90 cents per barrel of oil equivalent. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL - Free Report) , another Permian-focused land and royalty owner, reported second-quarter 2026 oil and gas royalty production of 39.7 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, offering another example of capital-light exposure to regional development.
VNOM's Bigger Scale Also Raises CostsThe larger producing base carries higher accounting and operating costs. Second-quarter total costs and expenses rose 53.7% to $249 million, while depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $195 million from $124 million.
Viper expects 2026 depreciation, depletion and amortization of $14.75-$17.25 per barrel of oil equivalent. The key test is whether higher volumes and the low-cash-cost royalty structure can offset that larger expense base, especially if commodity prices weaken.
VNOM’s Earnings Estimates Support the 2026 Growth CaseThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for Viper to earn 50 cents per share in the September quarter, up 25% year over year, followed by 51 cents in the December quarter, representing growth of 64.5%. For full-year 2026, the consensus estimate stands at $2.54 per share, implying an 80.1% increase from $1.41 in 2025. These projections complement the company’s higher production guidance following the Riverbend acquisition and suggest that rising volumes could support earnings through the remainder of 2026. However, the 2027 consensus estimate of $2.20 per share points to a 13.3% year-over-year decline, indicating that the current growth pace may be difficult to sustain. The estimate trend therefore supports the near-term production story while keeping the longer-term earnings outlook more measured.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Viper's Signals Keep the Event in PerspectiveRiverbend broadens Viper's development runway and supports higher 2026 guidance, while the active-development and line-of-sight inventory provides additional visibility. The acquisition therefore strengthens the case for continued production growth through 2026, but operator timing, commodity prices and rising costs will influence how effectively that growth converts into earnings and cash flow.
VNOM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It has a Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of A, Value Score of D and VGM Score of B. The A grades point to favorable growth and momentum characteristics, while the D Value Score signals weaker valuation characteristics. The B VGM Score is constructive, but the #3 Rank means the stock does not carry one of Zacks' top near-term rankings.
AECOM (ACM) Q3 2026 Earnings Call August 11, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Will Gabrielski - Senior Vice President of Finance & Investor Relations
W. Rudd - Chairman & CEO
Lara Maria Poloni - President
Gaurav Kapoor - Chief Financial & Operations Officer
Conference Call Participants
Sabahat Khan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Andrew Kaplowitz - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Andrew J. Wittmann - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Steven Fisher - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Sangita Jain - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
Jamie Cook - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Adam Bubes - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Michael Dudas - Vertical Research Partners, LLC
Presentation
Operator
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to AECOM's Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] I will now hand the conference over to Will Gabrielski, Senior Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations. You may begin.
Will Gabrielski
Senior Vice President of Finance & Investor Relations
Thank you, operator. I would like to direct your attention to the safe harbor statement on Page 1 of today's presentation. Today's discussion contains forward-looking statements about future business and financial expectations. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected in today's forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.
We use certain non-GAAP financial measures in our presentation. The appropriate GAAP reconciliations are incorporated into our materials, which are posted to our website. Growth rates are presented on a year-over-year basis unless otherwise noted. Any references to segment margins or segment adjusted operating margins will reflect the performance for the Americas and International segments. When discussing revenue and revenue growth, we will refer to net service revenue, or NSR, which is defined
Aecom ve fiskálním 3. čtvrtletí 2026 oznámil ztrátu 0,50 USD na akcii místo očekávaného zisku 1,51 USD, což poslalo akcie dolů o 5,5 % během úterního dopoledne. Tržby sice dosáhly 3,6 miliardy USD, ale firma uvedla 337 milionů USD předzdaněných nákladů souvisejících s projektem.
Engineering firm Aecom (ACM -7.35%) stock tumbled 5.5% through 10:25 a.m. ET Tuesday after missing badly on earnings last night.
Heading into the report, analysts forecast Aecom would earn $1.51 per share in its fiscal Q3 2026. Instead, Aecom reported a $0.50 per share loss. Crazily, this came in a quarter when Aecom's revenue -- $3.6 billion -- was 80% more than the $2 billion Wall Street expected!
Image source: Getty Images.
Even $3.6 billion represented a 14% decline in revenue for Aecom year over year. Worse, the work Aecom did was unprofitable. Operating earnings ran negative, non-GAAP earnings were the $0.50 loss noted above, and GAAP results showed an even bigger net loss: $0.65 per share.
Even the good news at Aecom was kind of bad. Aecom generated positive free cash flow of $55 million in the quarter. However, this was 79% less free cash flow than the company generated a year ago.
Today's Change
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What this means for Aecom stock Aecom management blamed these results on "a $337 million pre-tax charge resulting from a higher projected cost to complete a Construction Management project."
Now, the good news is that the charge related to a contract signed in 2019 "under terms and conditions that would not be acceptable after the substantial changes the Company implemented to its risk policies several years ago." So it's not likely to repeat. The bad news is the damage is done -- and it was bad enough to turn what should have been a profitable quarter into a loss.
Going forward, management will try to recover from that seven-year-old mistake, and thinks $300 million in free cash flow this year is achievable. That still values the stock at a rich 32x price-to-free cash flow ratio, though.
For now, Aecom stock looks expensive to me.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Aecom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Group 1 Automotive ve 2. čtvrtletí nesplnila odhady: upravený zisk na akcii klesl na 9,61 USD a tržby na 5,39 miliardy USD. Firma zároveň oznámila koupi 10 prodejen Hennessy, které mají přidat asi 1,7 miliardy USD ročních tržeb.
Key Takeaways Group 1 Automotive's Q2 earnings and revenues missed estimates as new and used vehicle volumes fell.U.S. operations saw sharper declines, while parts and service same-store revenues rose 2.1%.Group 1 plans to acquire 10 Hennessy dealerships, adding about $1.7 billion in annual revenues. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $9.61 per share, which declined 16.6% year over year and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.79 by 10.9%. Revenues declined 5.6% to $5.39 billion and missed the consensus mark of $5.65 billion by 4.7%.
Results reflected persistent consumer affordability pressure, used-vehicle sourcing challenges and short-term disruption from U.S. store rebranding. Retail new-vehicle units fell 4.4% year over year to 53,335, while used retail units declined 11.2%.
GPI’s Vehicle Sales and Margins Lose GroundNew-vehicle retail sales decreased 4.7% year over year to $2.61 billion. Units sold fell 4.4% year over year to 53,335. The average selling price rose 2.3% to $51,726, but new-vehicle gross profit per retail unit fell 8.5% to $3,254.
Used-vehicle retail sales declined 7% to $1.72 billion. Units sold fell 11.2% year over year to 53,469. Average selling price increased 4.8% to $32,195, while used retail gross profit per unit dropped 4.3% to $1,532.
Used-vehicle wholesale sales declined 7.5% year over year to $151.5 million. Units sold fell 10.1% year over year to 15,315. The unit incurred a gross loss of $47 million against the gross profit of $29 million reported in the same period last year.
Finance and insurance revenues fell 8.8% to $216.8 million, with F&I gross profit per retail unit down 1% to $2,030.
Group 1’s Aftersales Business Provides SupportParts and service sales declined 3.6% year over year to $692.4 million, while gross profit decreased 3.4% to $389 million. Still, the parts and service gross margin edged up 10 basis points to 56.2%.
On a same-store basis, parts and service revenues rose 2.1% to $673.3 million. U.S. same-store customer-pay revenues grew about 4%, and warranty revenues increased about 1%, helping offset weaker collision activity and lower internal reconditioning tied to reduced used-vehicle volumes.
GPI’s U.S. Operations Absorb the Larger DeclineU.S. revenues fell 5.8% year over year to $3.93 billion, while gross profit dropped 9.6% to $658.5 million. Retail new-vehicle unit sales declined 6.1% to 38,549, and used retail units decreased 13.6% to 34,261.
Adjusted U.S. SG&A expenses fell 6.5% to $437.5 million. Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit was 66.4%, improving more than 400 basis points sequentially as the company completed its $50 million annualized U.S. expense-reduction initiative. During the reported quarter, the retail new-vehicle, retail used-vehicle and wholesale used-vehicle units sold were 14,786, 19,208 and 6,303, respectively.
Group 1’s U.K. Business Shows Relative ResilienceU.K. revenues declined 4.9% year over year to $1.45 billion, while gross profit slipped 2.4% to $202.1 million. New-vehicle retail units increased 0.6% to 14,786, although used retail units declined 6.6% to 19,208.
U.K. parts and service gross margin held at 58.1%. F&I gross profit per retail unit rose 1.7% to $1,118, while total gross margin expanded 40 basis points to 13.9%. During the reported quarter, the retail new-vehicle, retail used-vehicle and wholesale used-vehicle units sold were 38,549, 34,261 and 9,012, respectively.
GPI Reshapes Its Portfolio Around Cluster MarketsDuring the quarter, Group 1 acquired four U.S. dealerships and retained Stone Mountain Toyota and Stone Mountain Honda, which are expected to generate about $205 million in annual revenues. The company also disposed of four Jaguar Land Rover dealerships in the United Kingdom, bringing year-to-date annualized revenues associated with dispositions to $900 million.
GPI separately agreed to acquire 10 Hennessy Automobile Companies dealerships in Atlanta. The transaction is expected to add about $1.7 billion in annual revenues and close by year-end 2026, subject to customary approvals. Management expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive to earnings upon closing.
Group 1’s Liquidity Supports Planned ExpansionAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $164.5 million, up from $32.5 million at year-end 2025. Total debt declined 9.1% to $3.36 billion, while floorplan notes payable, net, increased 13.9% to $2.18 billion.
Total liquidity was $684 million at quarter-end, and the rent-adjusted leverage ratio was 3.3x. During the first half, operating cash flow totaled $155 million, down from $410.3 million in the same period last year.
The Hennessy transaction is valued at about $1.3 billion and is expected to be financed with $1.25 billion of new debt. The company expects rent-adjusted leverage to remain below 4x at closing and plans to return to its target leverage level by mid- to late 2027. As of June 30, 2026, the company had $306.3 million available under its current repurchase authorization.
GPI currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Releases From Auto SpaceGeneral Motors Company (GM - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.57 per share, up 41.3% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 by 14.06%. Revenues increased 1.9% to $48.03 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $46.56 billion by 3.15%. Strong pricing, lower costs and disciplined incentives supported results. General Motors raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $14-$16 billion from $13.5-$15.5 billion. Adjusted earnings are now projected at $12-$14 per share, up from the prior range of $11.50-$13.50.
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share, which declined 17.5% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents by 34%. Revenues advanced 25.5% to $28.24 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $25.81 billion by 9.41%. Tesla expects 2026 capital expenditures to exceed $25 billion and rise further over the next two to three years.
Ford Motor Company (F - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 33 cents by 27.27%. Earnings rose 13.5% from 37 cents a year ago. Favorable mix and net pricing helped lift adjusted EBIT by 17% to $2.5 billion, while adjusted EBIT margin expanded to 5.2% from 4.3%. Automotive revenues of $44.89 billion fell 4.4% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $45.72 billion by 1.81%. The company’s consolidated second-quarter revenues came in at $48.3 billion, down 3.7% year over year.
Grocery Outlet čeká na výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí, přičemž výnosy mohou klesnout o 1,1 % a zisk na akcii na 12 centů. Tlak vytvářejí slabé komparabilní tržby a marže.
Key Takeaways Grocery Outlet's Q2 results face pressure from soft comparable-store sales and margin headwinds.GO expects promotional investments and inventory liquidation activity to weigh on margins.Grocery Outlet is strengthening branded opportunistic merchandise, value messaging and store execution. Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (GO - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings results on Aug. 12, after the closing bell. The key question for investors is whether the extreme-value retailer of name-brand consumables and fresh products can build on its recent earnings surprise while navigating soft comparable-store sales and margin pressure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues stands at $1,167 million, indicating a 1.1% decline from the prior-year reported figure. On the earnings front, the consensus estimate has remained stable at 12 cents a share over the past 30 days, implying a decrease of 47.8% from the year-ago period.
Grocery Outlet has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 46.6%, on average. In the last reported quarter, this Emeryville, CA-based company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 150%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What the Zacks Model Indicates for GO’s Q2 EarningsAs investors prepare for Grocery Outlet’s second-quarter results, the question looms regarding an earnings beat or miss. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Grocery Outlet 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. However, that’s not the case here. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Grocery Outlet has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped Grocery Outlet's Q2 OutcomeGrocery Outlet’s second-quarter top line is likely to have remained under pressure from soft comparable-store sales. We expect comparable-store sales to decline 1.5% during the quarter under review. Management entered the quarter expecting continued comp weakness, with the Easter calendar shift creating an additional headwind. Management had indicated that improving traffic had not yet fully translated into stronger spending per trip, as lower units per transaction continued to weigh on average transaction size. The company is also rebuilding its opportunistic merchandise mix, as a lower mix of these products had previously weighed on ticket size.
Continued promotional investments aimed at supporting traffic and rebuilding value perception, along with additional inventory liquidation activity related to store closures, are likely to have weighed on margins. We expect gross margin to decline 70 basis points in the second quarter.
Grocery Outlet entered the quarter with encouraging signs that its efforts to restore its core value proposition are gaining traction. Management had increased its focus on branded opportunistic merchandise, supported by broader supplier outreach, improved product visibility, faster delivery times and better systems and reporting. This merchandise is central to Grocery Outlet’s differentiated model because compelling branded deals reinforce its treasure-hunt shopping experience. The company has also been sharpening its extreme-value messaging through digital and awareness-based marketing and making savings more visible in stores. These initiatives had already generated a favorable customer response and improved traffic trends, providing a foundation for better sales productivity as the opportunistic assortment continued to strengthen.
The company continued to boost store-level execution and the quality of its portfolio. Its store-refresh efforts focused on better layouts, signage and merchandising, while enhanced analytical tools, benchmarking and the annual business review process are designed to help independent operators improve sales mix, shrink and operating efficiency. At the same time, the completion of closures involving underperforming locations should help improve overall fleet quality and allow management to concentrate resources on more productive stores.
GO Stock Price PerformanceGrocery Outlet, which competes with Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM - Free Report) and The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) , has seen its shares jump 23.5% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 5.3% rise. Shares of Sprouts Farmers and Kroger have fallen 1.8% and 12.6%, respectively, over the said period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Does GO’s Valuation Look Attractive?Grocery Outlet appears inexpensive relative to the broader industry and key peers. The stock currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.20, substantially below the industry average of 2.27.
GO also trades at a discount to Sprouts Farmers Market, which carries a forward 12-month P/S multiple of 0.80, and slightly below Kroger’s multiple of 0.23.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Final Words on Grocery OutletGrocery Outlet appears to be making meaningful progress in restoring its value proposition and improving execution, but the second quarter is still likely to have witnessed soft comparable-store sales, lingering basket pressure and margin headwinds from promotional support and closure-related activity. Encouraging traffic trends, a stronger opportunistic merchandise pipeline, sharper value messaging and portfolio optimization provide reasons for longer-term optimism, yet these positives may not be enough to drive a clear near-term earnings upside. With the Zacks model not signaling a convincing beat and the stock already having rallied meaningfully in recent months, investors may be better served by staying cautious ahead of the release.
ČEZ potvrdil, že transformace pokračuje podle plánu a převod aktiv a závazků do ČEZ Energy má proběhnout v 1Q 2027. Management zároveň nevidí náznaky znovuzavedení windfall tax.
Nic nového k transformaci ČEZu dnes v průběhu dne ani na konferenčním hovoru s managementem nezaznělo. Management sdělil, že proces je v běhu a vše jde dle plánu. De facto tak nyní probíhá převod jednotlivých firem ze zákaznického segmentu do nově vzniklé dceřiné společnosti ČEZ Energy, resp. probíhá příprava jejich oceňování a příprava optimalizace kapitálové struktury.
Aktuální informace tak nezazněly ani k transferu dluhu, nebo-li otázka jaká část dluhu připadne na ČEZ Energy zatím není zodpovězena. Dle managementu se toto téma nadále analyzuje a diskutuje. ČEZ aktuálně operuje s čistým dluhem kolem 200 mld. Kč.
Náš pohled: Modelově lze rozdělit čistý dluh mezi výrobní část a zákaznickou část (ČEZ Energy) rovnoměrně, když provozní ziskovost obou částí je ze střednědobého pohledu přibližně vyrovnaná. Na druhou stranu zákaznické byznysy generující relativně stabilní ziskovost (cash flow) obecně řečeno snesou větší míru zadlužení, resp. ratingové agentury právě v kontextu stability hospodaření tolerují tomuto typu společností větší míru čistého dluhu. Dokážeme si tedy představit, že ČEZ Energy může být zadlužen i v rozmezí 2,5 – 3x EBITDA, což by indikovalo čistý dluh přesahující 100 mld. Kč, resp. v intervalu 130 – 150 mld. Kč. Na skutečnost si budeme muset ještě počkat. Management potvrdil termín 1Q 2027 ohledně převodu aktiv a závazků do ČEZ Energy.
Již v době zveřejnění na začátku letošního června nás zaujala jedna akvizice v ESCO službách (segment prodej), konkrétně koupě německého dodavatele tepla a energetických služeb Techem Solutions. Díky této firmě spravující energetické zdroje o celkovém výkonu 539 MW a obsluhující více než 2600 zákazníků by se měl stát německý prodejní segment ČEZu robustnějším s potenciálem stabilnější profitability a cash flow. Management zatím na konferenčním hovoru nebyl konkrétní kolik tato akvizice přispěje do výsledků ČEZu. Akvizice ještě není vypořádána, její dokončení se předpokládá ve 2H 2026. Detailnější vhled do čísel tak zřejmě uvidíme až v březnu při zveřejnění výhledu na rok 2027. Každopádně tato akvizice má z našeho pohledu potenciál zase o něco zatraktivnit prodejní, resp. zákaznický segment a vylepšit jeho EBITDA.
Na hovoru nás zaujal dotaz týkající se rizika možného znovuzavedení „windfal tax“ s ohledem na blízkovýchodní krizi a růst cen komodit. Management sdělil, že nevidí žádné náznaky opětovného zavedení mimořádné daně. Aktuální situace je dle něho výrazně odlišná oproti roku 2022, kdy panovala bezprecedentní situace na komoditních trzích vlivem konfliktu na Ukrajině.
Na hovoru jsme se dotkli i dopadu sucha na evropské jaderné bloky. ČEZu konkrétně nehrozí žádné mimořádné odstávky jaderných reaktorů kvůli suchu. ČEZ disponuje dostatečnými vodními kapacitami pro chlazení svých bloků, v tomto směru je jeho produkce z jádra dostatečně robustní.
Akcie ČEZ (BAACEZ) dnes na pražské burze poklesly o 0,65 % na 1376 Kč, na RM-SYSTÉMu oslabily o 0,72 % na 1371 Kč.
Pendle spustil na XLayer svůj první výnosový trh pro USDG s expirací v říjnu 2026. Pro tento trh slibuje exkluzivní pobídky a chystanou integraci s Aave.
Pendle Finance has expanded to XLayer, OKX’s zkEVM Layer 2 network, with its first yield market for USDG. The market, which carries an October 2026 maturity date, lets users lock in fixed returns on a regulated dollar-pegged stablecoin.
The move marks another step in Pendle’s multi-chain expansion and its growing push into real-world asset and stablecoin yield markets throughout 2026. It also represents a meaningful moment for USDG, the Paxos-issued stablecoin that has been live on XLayer since September 2025, now gaining a dedicated venue for yield generation.
How the market works Pendle’s core product splits yield-bearing assets into two components: Principal Tokens (PT) and Yield Tokens (YT).
PT holders receive a fixed return at maturity. Buy a PT representing $100 of USDG at a discount today, redeem it for the full $100 worth in October. The difference is your yield, known upfront.
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YT holders take the opposite side of that trade. They’re speculating that the floating yield on USDG will exceed what the market currently prices in. If rates spike, YT holders win. If rates fall, they eat the loss.
Bringing the same mechanics to XLayer means users can access these strategies with lower transaction costs, courtesy of the Polygon-based zkEVM architecture that underpins OKX’s Layer 2.
Why USDG matters here USDG isn’t just another stablecoin. Issued by Paxos under the Global Dollar Network, it’s backed 1:1 by US dollars held in cash and short-term Treasury securities.
Paxos has built its reputation on regulatory compliance, having previously issued PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin. USDG’s presence on XLayer since September 2025 gave the stablecoin time to establish liquidity on the network before Pendle arrived to build yield infrastructure on top of it.
Incentives and Aave integration Pendle has signaled that exclusive incentives are coming for the USDG market on XLayer. The protocol has noted an anticipated Aave integration that would layer additional rewards on top of the base yield mechanics.
Pendle’s prior pools for USDG have demonstrated substantial TVL and user concentration on Ethereum, reflecting strong demand for yield-generation strategies.
What this means for DeFi fixed income XLayer, as OKX’s native Layer 2, brings direct access to OKX’s user base. Users already custodying assets on OKX can bridge to XLayer with minimal friction, potentially discovering yield strategies they wouldn’t have sought out on Ethereum mainnet where gas costs make small positions uneconomical.
The October 2026 maturity window is relatively short, which keeps duration risk minimal for PT buyers. It also means the market will need to roll over quickly, giving Pendle a near-term test of whether XLayer users will re-enter subsequent maturities.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
HighPeak Energy ve 2. čtvrtletí vyprodukovala více, než se čekalo, a zároveň měla nižší provozní náklady na pronajatých provozech (lease operating expense). Management také uvedl růst adjusted EBITDA a volného cash flow.
HighPeak Energy, Inc. Insiders Continue To Buy HighPeak Energy NASDAQ: HPK reported second-quarter results marked by production above its guidance range, lower-than-guided lease operating expenses and sequential growth in adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, according to management’s earnings call.
President and CEO Michael Hollis said production was essentially flat from the first quarter and again exceeded the high end of the company’s guidance. For the first six months of 2026, production averaged 45,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day, while unit lease operating expense averaged $7.56 per BOE, approximately 13% below the midpoint of full-year guidance.
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“Our team went out and executed,” Hollis said, citing production performance, cost control and capital discipline. The company generated approximately $281 million of EBITDAX in the first half, he said.
Completion Activity Accelerated, Second-Half Spending Expected to Fall HighPeak said it accelerated a portion of completion activity into the second quarter to take advantage of favorable frac pricing and continue work with a simul-frac crew that management said had delivered improved efficiencies, faster cycle times and lower costs.
The company drilled 17 of its planned 29 wells during the first half of the year and completed 24 of its planned 33 wells. It also turned 20 wells in line, putting it on track toward its full-year target of 37 wells turned in line.
Hollis said the acceleration caused first-half capital spending to reach the mid- to upper-60% range of the annual budget, compared with an original expectation that about 60% of annual capital would be spent during the first half. HighPeak invested $185.9 million during the first six months, according to management.
Management characterized the spending shift as a timing decision rather than an increase to the budget. With more development activity completed earlier in the year, HighPeak expects capital spending to decline materially in the second half while production remains strong.
During the question-and-answer session, Hollis said the company completed 69% of its planned completion work in the first half. He added that HighPeak expects fewer frac-related production impacts during the remainder of the year.
“We think volumes will stay strong throughout the last half of the year,” Hollis said, adding that the company expects to generate significant free cash flow at reasonable oil prices.
Workover Program Supported Production Management highlighted its workover program as a contributor to second-quarter production. Hollis said HighPeak evaluated wells across its asset base and deployed relatively modest capital to return production to service and improve well productivity.
The company said workovers can offer quick paybacks and capital-efficient returns compared with drilling new wells. Workover costs are generally recorded in lease operating expenses when they involve required well interventions, while mini-stimulation work intended to increase reserves is captured as capital spending, Hollis said.
Hollis told analysts that the company had addressed much of the inventory of wells that could be quickly brought forward for workovers during the first half. However, he said workover opportunities will continue as wells require maintenance and interventions over time.
The workover activity also affected the company’s production mix in the second quarter. HighPeak’s oil percentage declined to 64%, below its guided 67% to 68% range, as completion activity temporarily affected higher-oil-cut wells and workovers brought back older wells with higher gas content.
For the remainder of the year, Hollis said he expects the oil cut to move closer to 67%.
Hedging and Balance Sheet Approach Stronger realized oil prices and stable production supported sequential increases in adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, despite approximately $55 million of net cash hedge losses during the second quarter, Hollis said.
The company said a larger percentage of expected production is exposed to spot commodity prices. At the same time, it retains oil hedges primarily in the mid-$60-per-barrel range to provide downside protection.
HighPeak also added NYMEX WTI roll swaps to manage calendar-spread exposure and Waha basis swaps to reduce exposure to West Texas natural-gas pricing volatility, management said.
Hollis said the company had $146 million of cash at quarter-end and plans to make scheduled term-loan amortization payments of $30 million per quarter beginning at the end of the third quarter. While HighPeak expects to generate more than enough cash at current oil prices to meet that requirement, he said management will be cautious about accelerating repayments because prepayments cannot be reborrowed.
“We will definitely do the $30 million a quarter,” Hollis said. “We will have enough cash on hand to be able to weather any kind of variability over the next year or so.”
Gas Realizations Improve Following Weak Second Quarter HighPeak said it experienced a negative $1.50-per-Mcf gas realization in the second quarter amid weak Waha pricing, though Hollis described that result as comparatively favorable versus many public peers.
Looking ahead, he said the Gulf Coast Express expansion had helped narrow Waha differentials closer to negative $1 per Mcf, compared with negative $3 to negative $5 per Mcf previously. HighPeak expects better gas realizations during the rest of 2026 and at least through the first half of 2027.
Management said gas takeaway capacity has not constrained its operations. “We have not had one Mcf that we wasn’t able to put into a pipe,” Hollis said, though he noted the company had at times effectively paid for gas transportation because of depressed pricing.
For 2027, Hollis said the company’s setup should resemble 2026 in terms of capital requirements and production volumes. He said drilling efficiencies could result in two additional drilled-but-uncompleted wells moving into next year.
About HighPeak Energy (NASDAQ:HPK)HighPeak Energy, Inc NASDAQ: HPK is a Delaware‐incorporated independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The firm focuses on the acquisition, development and exploitation of onshore petroleum assets in the continental United States. Its operations encompass the full upstream value chain, including exploration, drilling, completion and production activities aimed at maximizing hydrocarbon recovery and operational efficiency.
The company’s primary business activities include identifying and acquiring conventional and unconventional oil and gas properties, applying advanced drilling and completion technologies, and managing midstream logistics to optimize product flow.
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].
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, /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Income Property Trust, an institutionally managed, daily NAV REIT (NASDAQ: ZIPTAX; ZIPTMX; ZIPIAX; ZIPIMX; ZIPIBX; ZIPSAX; ZIPZAX; ZIPDBX) with approximately $6.9 billion in portfolio equity and debt investments, announced that as of August 3, 2026, its Board of Directors declared a distribution for August 2026 of $0.0525 per share and unit. The fund switched from quarterly to monthly distributions in March 2026, which better serves investors by providing the same total distribution more frequently.
The distribution is payable on or around August 26, 2026 to stockholders and unitholders of record as of August 21, 2026. On an annualized basis, this gross distribution is equivalent to $0.63 per share and represents a distribution rate of approximately 5.6% on a NAV per share of $11.27 as of the date of approval. All stockholders and unitholders will receive $0.0525 per share less applicable share class specific fees. The distribution rate will differ based on the share and unit class.
"Monthly distributions are now delivering cash and shares to our stockholders faster and more frequently, which is a meaningful benefit for investors," said JLL Income Property Trust President and CEO Allan Swaringen. "We strive to be a reliable source of growing income for our stockholders, with a track record of nine dividend increases over our 14-year history. Our monthly distributions enhance our long track record of providing reliable cash flow and tax efficient income to our investors."
Monthly distributions for July 2026 totaled $0.0525 per share and unit and were paid to stockholders and unitholders of record on July 24th, 2026. Any future distributions will be approved at the discretion of the Board of Directors. JLL Income Property Trust is an institutionally managed, daily NAV REIT that brings to investors a growing portfolio of core real estate investments selected by an institutional investment management team and sponsored by one of the world's leading real estate services firms.
For more information on JLL Income Property Trust, please visit our website at www.jllipt.com.
JLL INCOME PROPERTY TRUST, INC. (NASDAQ: ZIPTAX; ZIPTMX; ZIPIAX; ZIPIMX; ZIPIBX; ZIPSAX; ZIPZAX; ZIPDBX),
JLL Income Property Trust, Inc. is a daily NAV REIT that owns and manages a diversified portfolio of high quality, income-producing residential, industrial, grocery-anchored retail, healthcare and office properties located in the United States. JLL Income Property Trust expects to further diversify its real estate portfolio over time, including on a global basis. For more information, visit www.jllipt.com.
ABOUT LASALLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT | INVESTING TODAY. FOR TOMORROW.
LaSalle Investment Management, a subsidiary of JLL, is a globally integrated, diverse real estate investment manager. On a global basis, LaSalle manages US$86.8 billion of assets in private and public real estate equity and debt investments as of Q1 2026. LaSalle's client base includes public and private pension funds, insurance companies, governments, corporations, endowments and private individuals from across the globe. LaSalle sponsors a diverse range of investment vehicles, including separate accounts, open- and closed-end funds, public securities and entity-level investments.
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to JLL Income Property Trust. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not descriptions of historical facts and include statements regarding management's intentions, beliefs, expectations, research, market analysis, plans or predictions of the future. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results and there can be no assurance that future distributions will be paid.
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AST SpaceMobile míří k zhruba 45 satelitům BlueBird na oběžné dráze do začátku roku 2027 a ke škálovanému beta provozu později v roce 2026. Tři nedávné zakázky od americké vlády mají více než 100 milionů USD ve financovaných krátkodobých tržbách.
Key Takeaways ASTS targets about 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027 as production ramps toward six per month.Scaled beta is targeted for later in 2026, with roughly 25 satellites enabling about half-day U.S. coverage.Three U.S. government awards carry more than $100 million of funded near-term value expected in 2026 and 2027. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 call to sharpen the timeline for network deployment and beta service while expanding its government ambitions. CFO Andrew Johnson said the company targets about 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027.
ASTS reported second-quarter 2026 loss of 44 cents per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 28 cents. The company’s second-quarter revenues were $31.5 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34.1 million by 7.60%. Executive VP, CFO and chief legal officer Andrew Johnson nevertheless maintained full-year revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million.
ASTS Builds Toward the 45-Satellite ThresholdFounder, chairman and CEO Abel Avellan said ASTS has 13 spacecraft in orbit, with BlueBirds 14 through 16 nearing shipment and BlueBirds 17 through 46 in production or assembly.
CEO Abel Avellan said production is ramping toward six fully assembled satellites per month. CFO Andrew Johnson tied that cadence to the target of approximately 45 BlueBirds in orbit by early 2027.
President and chief strategy officer Scott Wisniewski said scaled beta capability is targeted for later in 2026. In Q&A, he said roughly 25 satellites would provide about half-day U.S. coverage.
AST SpaceMobile Expands Its Spectrum ReachCEO Abel Avellan said AST SpaceMobile is building toward roughly 100 MHz of spectrum access in the United States and more than 60 MHz globally, combining MNO partner and controlled MSS spectrum.
CEO Abel Avellan said the platform can tune about 1,150 MHz across low- and mid-band spectrum. Its ASIC is in full production and designed for up to 10 GHz of processing bandwidth per satellite.
CEO Abel Avellan said the ASIC should nearly double the 98.9 Mbps peak data speed demonstrated on Block 1 BlueBirds, with further user-experience gains targeted through AI-enabled spectrum management.
ASTS Retains Its Full-Year Revenue OutlookCFO Andrew Johnson said revenue should rise sequentially in each quarter of 2026, with the full year weighted toward the fourth quarter. Gateway deliveries and U.S. government milestones remain core drivers.
CFO Andrew Johnson kept the $150 million to $200 million full-year range and cited potential upside from initial commercial service revenues.
For the third quarter, CFO Andrew Johnson guided adjusted operating expenses excluding adjusted cost of revenues to $105 million to $115 million and capital expenditures to $350 million to $425 million.
AST SpaceMobile Broadens Government OpportunityPresident Scott Wisniewski said three recent U.S. government awards carry more than $100 million of funded near-term value expected during 2026 and 2027, extending work from development toward larger operational programs.
CEO Abel Avellan highlighted the preliminary J-LEO selection with Rakuten, valued at up to approximately $1 billion in non-dilutive, non-debt government capital, pending approvals and final agreements.
In investor Q&A, President Scott Wisniewski said the government opportunity could begin scaling in 2027 toward a recurring multibillion-dollar annual opportunity across communications, radar and other applications.
ASTS Q&A Tests the 2027 Revenue RampA William Blair analyst asked about 2027 revenues. President Scott Wisniewski reiterated the goal of approaching $1 billion in the first full year of commercial service and said government could contribute as much as half of next year’s revenues.
A Cantor Fitzgerald analyst pressed on the components. President Scott Wisniewski said gateway revenues should exceed $100 million, while commercial service revenues should begin when service starts and then ramp.
A BofA Securities analyst focused on launch capacity. President Scott Wisniewski said ASTS has 10 launches booked with two providers and is targeting an average cadence of every month or two.
AST SpaceMobile Keeps Execution at the CenterCEO Abel Avellan centered his message on converting manufacturing scale, spectrum access and MNO relationships into network availability. AST SpaceMobile now has more than 60 MNO partners covering over three billion subscribers.
CFO Andrew Johnson paired that rollout with elevated investment while holding the 2026 revenue target. The deployment schedule and fourth-quarter-weighted revenue ramp remain key second-half milestones.
President Scott Wisniewski emphasized government demand and commercial activation. Near-term execution centers on satellites, gateways, beta readiness and contracted program milestones.
ASTS Rank and Style Scores Stay MixedASTS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of F. Under the Zacks Style Score framework, A and B are stronger grades, and top-ranked stocks paired with A or B Style Scores are the preferred combinations. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
For potential near-term performance, this profile is less favorable than those preferred Rank-and-Style pairings. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results, so the signal should be viewed as current rather than fixed.
AST SpaceMobile vykázala za 2. čtvrtletí vyšší ztrátu na akcii ve výši 0,77 USD a tržby 31,5 mil. USD, obojí pod odhady. Zároveň potvrdila celoroční výhled tržeb na rok 2026 ve výši 150 až 200 mil. USD.
AST SpaceMobile Inc (NASDAQ:ASTS) reported a wider-than-expected adjusted loss and revenue below analyst estimates for the second quarter, while the company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 revenue guidance and continued to expand its satellite network.
The company reported an adjusted loss of $0.77 per share for the quarter ended June 30, compared with analyst estimates for a loss of about $0.26 to $0.32 per share.
Revenue rose to $31.5 million from about $15.8 million in the first quarter, but came in below expectations of roughly $35 million.
AST SpaceMobile attributed second-quarter revenue to gateway deliveries and milestones met under US government programs.
Total operating expenses were $329.1 million in the quarter, up $165 million from $164.1 million in the first quarter. The increase included a $125.9 million loss on involuntary conversion, along with higher general and administrative costs, cost of revenues, engineering services costs, depreciation and amortization, and research and development costs.
Adjusted operating expenses increased to $119.1 million from $91.2 million in the first quarter. Excluding adjusted cost of revenues, adjusted operating expenses were $95.9 million, compared with $79.8 million in the prior quarter.
AST SpaceMobile reaffirmed its full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million.
The company said it has signed partnerships with more than 60 mobile network operators globally, collectively covering more than 3 billion subscribers.
Its revenue backlog has increased to approximately $1.30 billion in aggregate contracted revenue with commercial partners and contract awards with the US government.
AST SpaceMobile also said it had 13 spacecraft in orbit following the recent launch of BlueBirds 11, 12 and 13. The company said BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 are being prepared for shipment, with production continuing through BlueBird 46.
The company said it is preparing to initiate beta services with select strategic partners as it expands its constellation.
Shares of AST SpaceMobile traded up 1.5% post-earnings.
Tempus AI zvýšila výhled na tržby pro rok 2026 na 1,595–1,605 mld. USD po růstu tržeb ve 2. čtvrtletí o 22 % na 382,5 mil. USD. Firma čeká, že schválení FDA xT CDx přidá od roku 2027 asi 85 mil. USD ročních tržeb.
Key Takeaways TEM raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.595B-$1.605B as Q2 sales rose 22% to $382.5M.TEM sees xT CDx pricing adding about $85M in annual revenues from 2027 after FDA approval.TEM's Data Licensing and Modeling revenues grew 36%, while MRD volume rose 38% sequentially to 9,000 tests. Tempus AI, Inc. (TEM - Free Report) used its second quarter of 2026 earnings call to frame growth around oncology testing, data demand and reimbursement-driven pricing while outlining a measured approach to molecular residual disease.
TEM’s second-quarter 2026 revenues of $382.49 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $380.95 million. The non-GAAP loss of 4 cents per share was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate loss of 13 cents.
CEO Eric Lefkofsky and CFO James Rogers focused on visibility, FDA-linked pricing gains and cash generation.
TEM Raises 2026 Revenue OutlookTEM raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.595 billion-$1.605 billion, representing about 25% growth, while maintaining adjusted EBITDA guidance at roughly $65 million. The forecast excludes the Personalis transaction.
TEM’s second-quarter Diagnostics revenues increased 20% to $289.3 million, while Data and Applications revenues climbed 28% to $93.2 million.
Lefkofsky cited accelerating comprehensive genomic profiling and data demand. Oncology volume grew 31% year over year, while hereditary revenues increased 5% against what he described as a strong comparison period.
Tempus Quantifies FDA Pricing UpsideThe CEO said FDA approval for tumor-only xT CDx should lift average selling prices by an estimated $200, translating to about $85 million of annual revenue uplift beginning in 2027.
Lefkofsky said approval of the liquid biopsy test xF — expected in the latter half of 2027 — could add another $550 million of ASP uplift. He anticipates about $400 million of combined xT CDx and xF revenue uplift in 2028.
A BTIG analyst asked about xF pricing. CFO James Rogers said TEM is assuming a $7,500 ADLT price, while CEO Eric Lefkofsky linked the higher expectation to pricing for comparable liquid biopsy products.
TEM Deepens Data and AI EngagementData Licensing and Modeling revenues grew 36% year over year, and TEM signed roughly $200 million of new Data and Applications licenses. The company delivered the first version of its oncology foundation model to AstraZeneca.
Lefkofsky said the model met AstraZeneca's acceptance criteria on response prediction tasks, including blinded clinical-trial data. He said it can now serve as a foundation for broader research and development work.
A Mizuho analyst asked about AstraZeneca beyond 2026. The CEO said projects already extend into 2027 and expects the company to remain a large client, with a similar amount of data and revenue next year.
Tempus Sets a Measured MRD RampMRD volume reached about 9,000 tests in the second quarter, up 38% from roughly 6,500 in the first quarter, although only about 10% of TEM's sales force sells the Personalis test.
A Morgan Stanley analyst asked about reimbursement economics. CFO James Rogers said additional covered indications should lift ASPs over time, while broader commercial access can expand volume.
CEO Eric Lefkofsky said TEM plans to accelerate selling once ASPs approach breakeven rather than maximize volume while margins are negative. He also said the company intends to use debt for a large portion of the Personalis consideration to limit dilution.
TEM Targets Cash Flow ImprovementTEM completed a $460 million offering of 0.0% convertible senior notes due 2032 and used proceeds to repay an Ares Capital loan. Lefkofsky said the refinancing should save more than $30 million in annual interest expense.
Adjusted EBITDA was $8 million, improving $13.6 million year over year, while operating cash use improved to negative $7.5 million. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities ended June at $820.7 million.
TEM's growing gross profit base gives it room to redirect variable spending toward commercial investment while maintaining progress toward positive EBITDA and free cash flow.
Tempus Keeps Focus on ExecutionCEO Eric Lefkofsky emphasized sustaining oncology and data growth, converting regulatory approvals into better pricing, broadening MRD as reimbursement supports the economics and continuing profitability improvement.
CFO James Rogers added specificity around the $7,500 xF pricing assumption and the path to better Personalis ASPs. Key operating milestones center on pricing implementation, xF approval, data-contract execution and MRD reimbursement.
TEM's Zacks Rank & Style ScoresTEM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Under the Zacks Style Scores framework, a #3-ranked stock can be held, but stronger A or B scores are preferable when evaluating value, growth or momentum characteristics. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
TEM has an F grade for Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score and VGM Score, the weakest grade in the Style Score hierarchy. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results.
Alto Ingredients ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 vykázala 45Z daňové kredity ve výši 5,1 milionu USD a za celý rok směřuje po jejich zpeněžení k nejméně 15 milionům USD.
Key Takeaways Alto Ingredients generated $5.1 million in 45Z tax credit earnings in the second quarter of 2026.Alto Ingredients is on track to qualify at least 90 million gallons for 45Z credits in 2026.ALTO added 5 million gallons of annual capacity, with the full benefit expected in the fourth quarter. Alto Ingredients, Inc.’s (ALTO - Free Report) 45Z tax credits are becoming a larger earnings contributor as it works to expand eligible production and lower carbon intensity. In the second quarter of 2026, Alto Ingredients generated $5.1 million in 45Z tax credit earnings, comprising $4 million of credits earned during the quarter and $1.1 million of final adjustments related to the sale of its 2025 credits. Year to date, it has accrued $7.9 million in net 2026 45Z credits that are expected to be monetized in the future.
For 2026, Alto Ingredients remains on track to qualify 90 million gallons or more of combined production for 45Z credits, supporting a minimum expectation of $15 million in income after monetization costs. Based on credits recognized through the first half, the company is currently tracking toward a $15-$16 million range.
The opportunity could expand through higher eligible volumes. Alto Ingredients completed a debottlenecking project at its Pekin dry mill that increased annual production capacity by about 8%, or 5 million gallons. The additional gallons are eligible for 45Z credits, with the full benefit of the added capacity expected in the fourth quarter.
Another opportunity is to lower the carbon intensity of corn sourced from farmer partners. Alto Ingredients is exploring how much corn and production volume could qualify under low-carbon-intensity corn. However, the company is not yet able to recognize this benefit for 2026. Practices such as cover crops implemented after the 2026 harvest could begin providing benefits in 2027.
ALTO's 45Z Tax Credit Developments Compare With PeersGreen Plains Inc. (GPRE - Free Report) generated significant value from 45Z credits in the second quarter of 2026. Green Plains reported $58.7 million in 45Z production tax credits, net of discounts and other costs, contributing to adjusted EBITDA of $93.3 million. For the first half, Green Plains recognized $113.9 million in 45Z credits on a net basis, highlighting the potential impact of the tax credit on ethanol economics.
Gevo, Inc. (GEVO - Free Report) is targeting more than $70 million in 45Z tax credit monetization in 2026, compared with $52 million last year. In its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, GEVO noted that the increase is supported by continued low-carbon ethanol and RNG production and improvements in carbon intensity. Gevo had already closed $20 million in 45Z credit sales after the second quarter, with the remaining approximately $50 million targeted for monetization by year-end.
ALTO Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Alto Ingredients have fallen 8.4% over the three months against the industry’s growth of 18%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ALTO trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.33, lower than the industry’s average of 3.41.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alto Ingredients’ 2026 and 2027 earnings per share has declined 27.8% and 66.3% to 39 cents and 28 cents, respectively, in the past seven days.
Pagaya Technologies Ltd. za týden vzrostla o 10,4 % po rekordních tržbách, silnější ziskovosti a lepších provozních trendech. Firma zároveň ve 2. čtvrtletí získala 3,7 miliardy USD v šesti ABS transakcích.
Key Takeaways Pagaya gained 10.4% in a week after record revenues, stronger earnings and improving operating trends.Pagaya raised $3.7 billion across six ABS transactions and added 11 investors to its funding network.Higher funding costs, investment losses and partner concentration could limit further gains. Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY - Free Report) shares gained 10.4% in the past week, putting the focus on whether the rebound can extend. The move comes after stronger second-quarter 2026 results and improving operating trends, but a one-week gain alone does not establish a specific catalyst.
The shares have also gained 18.3% in the past four weeks and 59.6% in the past 12 weeks. The broader advance raises a key question: Can improving profitability, deeper funding and partner momentum remain durable enough to support further gains?
3-Month Price Performance
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PGY’s Weekly Gain Raises the Sustainability QuestionPGY’s recent price performance is notable because it has occurred alongside firmer business trends. Still, the 10.4% one-week increase should be viewed as part of a larger rebound rather than proof that a particular event will drive the stock higher.
The key test is whether operating progress continues to support earnings. The investment case points to stronger profitability, partner momentum and improving funding depth as supports, while flagging macro, credit and concentration risks.
Pagaya’s Earnings Growth Supports the RallyPagaya reported record second-quarter revenue and other income of $387 million, up 19% year over year, while GAAP net income reached $45.3 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.07, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents.
The beat was not isolated. PGY topped earnings expectations in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 43.5%.
Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Analysts seem optimistic regarding PGY’s earnings growth prospects. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 and 2027 earnings increased by 15.2% and 11%, respectively over the past 30 days.
Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PGY’s Funding Depth Could Extend the UpsideFunding remains an important part of the sustainability argument. Pagaya raised a record $3.7 billion across six ABS transactions in the second quarter and added 11 investors, bringing its funding network to 174 investors.
The funding mix is also becoming more flexible, with 40% of funding coming through non-prefunded ABS products, alongside forward-flow and revolving structures. Amongst PGY’s key peers, Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) uses technology, proprietary underwriting and third-party capital to support its pay-over-time platform, while Enova International, Inc. (ENVA - Free Report) operates an online lending platform powered by analytics and machine learning. Both AFRM and ENVA provide context for technology-driven consumer finance.
Pagaya’s Risks Could Limit Further GainsHigher benchmark rates remain a key risk because they can raise funding costs and pressure securitization economics. Pagaya’s FRLPC as a percentage of network volume fell 61 basis points year over year to 4.2% in the second quarter, partly because of tighter ABS pricing tied to higher cost of capital.
Investment volatility and concentration also warrant attention. Pagaya recorded an $80.3 million year-to-date loss on investments in the first half of 2026, while reliance on a limited number of partners creates network volume and revenue concentration risk. If funding costs remain elevated or partner execution weakens, revenue per unit of network volume could face pressure.
PGY’s Strong Rank Meets Mixed Style SignalsThe sustainability case remains constructive but not one-sided. Strong earnings growth, funding depth and partner expansion provide support, while FRLPC pressure and credit, investment and concentration risks could temper the upside.
PGY currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with a Value Score of B, Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Rank is designed to help assess expected stock performance over the next one to three months, while the Style Scores complement it by measuring value, growth and momentum characteristics. These signals are supportive context, but they do not make continued gains certain.
D-Wave Quantum po zveřejnění výsledků za 2. čtvrtletí klesla, i když bookings vyskočily o 1 120 % na 35,5 milionu USD. Tržby byly jen 3 miliony USD a firma dál vykazuje ztrátu.
Investors hope that quantum computing could be the next big investing trend after artificial intelligence, and one of the most talked-about names among quantum computing stocks right now is D-Wave Quantum (QBTS -0.25%).
The company recently reported its second quarter results, and D-Wave stock immediately nosedived, even after a 1,120% increase in bookings.
So, is it time to pick up some of the company's shares after the recent decline? The data suggests you should avoid D-Wave stock for now.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
D-Wave shares are beyond expensive, and revenue is negligible D-Wave's Q2 sales were just $3 million, slightly below sales from the year-ago quarter and missing Wall Street's consensus estimate of over $4 million. The company's loss per share of $0.13 improved from a loss of $0.42 in the year-ago quarter but fell short of the consensus estimate of a loss of $0.09.
While narrowing losses are a positive sign, D-Wave's inconsistent revenue growth is part of the reason why it's difficult to invest in the company right now. Its sales are choppy, often coming in cycles as D-Wave gains a new customer. This makes it hard to gauge the company's growth.
Most importantly, D-Wave's shares are very expensive at a time when the commercial viability of quantum computing is still in question. The stock has a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 496, which is beyond expensive and far higher than the average P/S ratio of about 8 for the technology sector. Typically, tech stocks trading at a high premium balance that out with fast-growing revenue. As I just mentioned, D-Wave doesn't have that.
All of the above means that D-Wave is an expensive stock, with uneven revenue, and significant losses. That's not exactly a recipe for success.
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Why it's worth keeping an eye on D-Wave All that said, it's probably worth keeping an eye on where D-Wave is headed. One highlight from the quarter was D-Wave's $35.5 million in bookings, up 1,120% from the year-ago quarter. D-Wave's bookings indicate future revenue potential, though they aren't guaranteed sales.
Still, the large increase shows that D-Wave can attract customers for its quantum computing technology. Those bookings came on the heels of AT&T agreeing to expand its use of D-Wave's tech and potentially deploy it for "complex optimization challenges across its network operations."
It's still the early innings for quantum computing. This means that investors shouldn't be paying a high premium to own D-Wave's stock -- but they should be keeping a close watch on whether the company can turn its bookings into steady and growing revenue in the coming years.
Aptiv snížil výhled pro rok 2026 na tržby 12,6–12,8 miliardy USD a EPS 5,60–5,80 USD, i když ve 2. čtvrtletí překonal odhady zisku na akcii. Důvodem jsou změny plánů v Číně, zpožděné starty a načasování softwarových tržeb.
Key Takeaways Aptiv cut 2026 sales and EPS guidance despite a Q2 earnings beat and stronger profitability.China schedule changes, launch delays and software timing drove a $300 million guidance reduction.Aptiv's non-automotive revenues rose 12%, while new commercial awards totaled about $5 billion. Aptiv PLC (APTV - Free Report) cleared second-quarter earnings expectations, but the quarter’s more consequential signal came from a reduced 2026 outlook. The change shifts attention from margin execution toward demand, customer mix and program timing.
The question for investors is how much of the second-half pressure proves temporary. China schedule cuts, delayed launches and software timing now sit against improving non-automotive growth and new commercial awards.
APTV’s Q2 Beat Came With a Revenue MissAdjusted earnings were $1.63 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.42 by 14.8% and increasing 24.4% year over year. Stronger operating profitability, lower interest expense and a reduced share count supported the gain.
Revenues rose 2.3% to $3.27 billion but missed the consensus mark of $3.32 billion by 1.4%. Adjusted revenue growth was 2%, while non-automotive revenues increased 12%, producing a mixed quarter despite stronger profitability.
Aptiv Cut 2026 Sales and Earnings GuidanceAptiv now expects 2026 revenues of $12.6-$12.8 billion, down from its prior range of $12.8-$13.2 billion. Adjusted earnings are projected at $5.60-$5.80 per share compared with the previous $5.70-$6.10 range.
The company also expects third-quarter revenues of $3.12-$3.22 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.25-$1.35 per share. The reduced full-year ranges place second-half demand, launch execution and revenue timing at the center of the 2026 outlook.
China and Timing Delays Pressure APTV’s OutlookThe $300 million reduction at the midpoint of full-year revenue guidance reflects three main items. About $150 million relates to customer production schedule changes tied primarily to China, $100 million to launch and ramp delays and $50 million to software revenue timing.
Second-quarter China adjusted revenues rose 5% even as regional vehicle production declined 3%. For the second half, Aptiv cited weaker domestic China schedules and lower European OEM exports to China as headwinds.
Aptiv’s Diversification Softens the BlowNon-automotive revenues grew 12% in the second quarter, and Aptiv secured about $5 billion of new commercial awards, including $2.4 billion in Intelligent Systems and $2.5 billion in Engineered Components. The company also reported progress in robotics, drones, energy storage, aerospace and defense.
Mobileye Global Inc. (MBLY - Free Report) offers a relevant industry comparison because its business centers on advanced driver-assistance and autonomous-driving technologies. BorgWarner Inc. (BWA - Free Report) provides another automotive technology reference point, with propulsion product leadership and an explicit focus on customer and geographic diversity.
APTV’s Signals Keep the Focus on ExecutionThe bottom line is that Aptiv’s earnings beat showed better profitability, but the lowered outlook and estimate revisions keep execution in focus. Over the past 60 days, earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised downward 10% and 4.9%, respectively, to $5.69 and $6.62.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Aptiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
APTV carries a Value Score of A, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B. The favorable Value, Momentum and VGM readings do not override the Rank, because Style Scores are designed to complement it. The Growth Score of D and negative estimate revisions keep earnings stabilization central to the near-term picture.
CleanSpark podepsal 20letý lease na HPC datové centrum v Georgii, který má přinést asi 6,6 miliardy USD smluvních tržeb. Zároveň firma ve 3. čtvrtletí vykázala čistou ztrátu 239,8 milionu USD při tržbách 138,0 milionu USD.
CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK) last week unveiled its first high‑performance computing data center lease and reported fiscal third‑quarter 2026 earnings, marking a busy stretch for the bitcoin miner.
CleanSpark Secures 20‑Yr HPC Lease in GeorgiaOn Wednesday, CleanSpark signed its first HPC data center lease, a 20-year triple-net agreement at its Sandersville, Georgia campus expected to generate approximately $6.6 billion in contracted revenue with an unnamed investment-grade global technology company. The 175 MW facility is expected to begin providing capacity in late 2027, marking the Bitcoin miner’s largest move yet into AI infrastructure.
CleanSpark said it has ordered and pre-paid all long-lead items needed to meet the project’s ready-for-service date, and the anticipated equity portion of the project has been fully funded.
“Our recently announced Sandersville lease offers an ideal combination of long-term, durable cash flows and de-risked economic returns for our shareholders,” said Matt Schultz, CEO and Chairman of CleanSpark.
CleanSpark Slips to Loss as Revenue DeclinesThe following day, CleanSpark reported fiscal third-quarter results, with quarterly revenue of $138.0 million, down 30.5% year-over-year from $198.6 million. The company posted a net loss of $239.8 million, or 89 cents per basic share, compared to net income of $257.4 million a year earlier.
Adjusted EBITDA fell to negative $113.0 million from $377.7 million in the same period last year. CleanSpark ended the quarter with $202.6 million in cash, $814.9 million in Bitcoin holdings, and total assets of $2.7 billion.
“Despite currently challenging bitcoin mining economics, we have a portfolio of scarce, grid-connected power assets and multiple pathways to commercialization,” said Gary Vecchiarelli, President and CFO of CleanSpark.
Read Next
CleanSpark Shares Edge HigherCLSK Price Action: At the time of publication, CleanSpark shares are trading 2.50% higher at $11.88, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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Akcie Oklo v červenci klesly o 25,8 % a smazaly zhruba 80 % hodnoty oproti říjnovému maximu z října 2025. Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční odhad cash burn a její první Aurora powerhouse má přijít nejdřív v roce 2028.
The momentum behind artificial intelligence (AI)-linked nuclear energy stocks hit a brick wall in July, sending high-flying names like Oklo (OKLO +4.34%) into a nose-dive.
Shares of the nuclear energy start-up tumbled 25.8% last month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. By the end of July, the drop had wiped about 80% of the stock's value from its October 2025 peak of $193.84.
For a company promising to fuel the AI build-out with fast-fission reactors, winning important approvals from the Department of Energy (DOE), and securing massive partnerships, the sudden mid-summer fallout left many investors asking where the power went.
Image source: Getty Images.
The Oklo stock sell-off Oklo is building fast-fission nuclear power plants called Aurora powerhouses and is still a pre-revenue company.
The nuclear energy stock didn't fall because the company is falling apart. It fell because investors are demanding proof of execution, especially after the company missed a July 4 deadline of achieving criticality (a nuclear reactor reaching a self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction) at its first reactor. That was a deadline set by the DOE.
Instead, on July 23, Oklo received start-up authorization for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor, clearing the way for fuel loading and testing.
The missed deadline coincided with a sell-off across the advanced nuclear space, hitting early stage small and modular reactor developers hardest.
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Shares of Nuscale Power, for instance, fell around 16% in July. In contrast, nuclear energy companies like Constellation Energy and Vistra, which are actually operating large fleetS of nuclear reactors and powering up data centers, logged smaller losses, with Vistra falling only 1% in July. That divergence proves the market wasn't questioning nuclear energy's potential amid the AI boom, but trimming stakes in companies that haven't built anything yet.
The only thing you should know before buying Oklo stock Oklo achieved first criticality at its Groves Isotope Test Reactor on Aug 6, making it the first reactor under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program to achieve criticality on private land built on a greenfield site from scratch.
Isotopes are chemical elements used for cancer treatment, medical imaging, industrial radiography, and space exploration. Oklo is among the few companies developing a domestic supply chain for isotopes.
Oklo shares rallied after the update, which coincided with its second-quarter earnings release, but seem to be struggling to sustain momentum.
Oklo's Q2 net loss doubled to $48.5 million, with earnings of $0.28 per share missing analysts' estimates by a wide margin. Oklo also raised its full-year cash-use guidance, now expecting to burn $120 million to $150 million in operating activities and $400 million to $500 million in capital spending, both well above prior targets.
Analysts are debating Oklo's costs and cash burn. Analysts from Truist Securities, for instance, just cut the stock's price target to $51 per share from $55 a share.
Oklo doesn't expect to deploy its first Aurora powerhouse before 2028, and is itself calling that target "ambitious", citing a range of "supply chain, construction, macroeconomic, and design complexities."
That's not analyst skepticism. It is the company's own risk estimate, and something anyone who wants to invest in Oklo stock should bear in mind.
ECPG za tři měsíce vzrostl o 16,3 % díky rekordním inkasům a vyššímu výhledu na zisk. Ve 2. čtvrtletí dosáhly globální inkasa rekordu 737 mil. USD a tržby stouply o 11 % na 491,9 mil. USD.
Key Takeaways ECPG rose 16.3% in three months as record collections and stronger earnings expectations supported momentum.EPG posted record Q2 global collections of $737 million, while U.S. collections climbed 17% to $572 million.ECPG trades below key peer benchmarks, but rising legal costs and $4.18 billion in borrowings pose risks. Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Free Report) has gained 16.3% over the past three months, sharpening the focus on whether operating momentum can keep supporting the advance.
ECPG shares have outperformed the industry over the same period. The stock has also performed better than Synchrony Financial (SYF - Free Report) but has lagged Capital One (COF - Free Report) over the past three months.
3-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Record collections, higher earnings expectations and a peer valuation discount strengthen ECPG’s case. The counterweight is a more demanding setup after the rally. Rising legal collection costs, substantial borrowings and heavy U.S. exposure leave less room for execution or credit-market conditions to weaken.
ECPG's Record Collections Strengthen the Bull CaseSecond-quarter global collections reached a record $737 million, up 13% year over year. Revenues increased 11% to $491.9 million, while U.S. collections rose 17% to a record $572 million.
The performance reflects continued portfolio investment and better collection execution. Management tied the U.S. gains to new technologies, enhanced digital capabilities and operational innovation that are helping reach more consumers and expand the payer base.
Driven by this momentum, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales reflects a year-over-year rise of 8.9% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027.
Sales Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Encore Capital's Earnings Outlook Keeps RisingEncore raised its 2026 GAAP earnings outlook to $13-$14 per share, even after absorbing $1 per share of refinancing costs in the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is $13.52 per share, up from $10.91 in 2025.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate revisions add to that momentum. The current year earnings estimate has increased 3.9% over the past four weeks, suggesting analysts have become more constructive as collections and portfolio revenues improve.
Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ECPG's Valuation Still Trails Key BenchmarksECPG trades at 6.68X forward 12-month earnings, below the 8.52X multiple for its Zacks sub-industry. That discount gives the stock a valuation cushion relative to peers despite the recent price advance.
The stock is not unusually cheap against its own history. Its five-year median forward multiple is 6.5X, below the current level, so the valuation case rests more on a peer discount than on a deep historical discount.
P/E F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Encore Capital is inexpensive compared with Capital One and Synchrony Financial. At present, AllianceBernstein has a forward 12-month P/E of 10.02, while Capital One and Synchrony Financial trade at forward 12-month P/E of 9.94X and 7.85X, respectively.
Encore Capital's Risks Could Test the RallyThe business remains highly dependent on U.S. credit conditions. Midland Credit Management accounted for 85.2% of global portfolio purchasing dollars in the first half of 2026, leaving fewer offsets if U.S. supply, pricing or consumer payment behavior turns less favorable.
For broader credit-cycle context, Capital One operates a large credit-card business, making its delinquency and charge-off trends relevant to debt-buying supply. Synchrony Financial also has substantial consumer-credit exposure, so its credit performance offers another read on the environment feeding charged-off receivables into the market.
Cost and leverage risks also matter. First-half legal collection costs rose 25.8% year over year, while borrowings reached $4.18 billion as of June 30, 2026. If collections slow, that combination could pressure margins and cash efficiency.
Can ECPG Sustain Its Recent Momentum?The next phase depends on whether higher collections, favorable U.S. portfolio supply and rising earnings can keep offsetting cost and funding pressure. Management expects 2026 portfolio purchases of $1.4-$1.5 billion and collections of $2.80-$2.85 billion.
Continued execution could support further gains as collection outperformance feeds into future portfolio revenues. A slowdown in collections or less favorable U.S. conditions, however, could challenge expectations after the stock's recent advance.
How ECPG's Ratings Frame the MomentumThe ratings picture supports the near-term case but is not uniformly favorable. ECPG currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while its Value Score of B indicates an attractive value profile relative to many other stocks. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of F are more cautious signals. Because the Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, the mix argues for balancing favorable estimate momentum and valuation against weaker growth and combined style characteristics after the rally.
Encore Capital zvýšila výhled zisku na akcii pro rok 2026 na 13–14 USD na akcii, včetně refinančního nákladu 1 USD na akcii, a globálních inkas na 2,80–2,85 miliardy USD. Refinancování má ročně ušetřit asi 15 milionů USD.
Key Takeaways Encore raised 2026 EPS guidance to $13-$14, including a $1-per-share refinancing cost.ECPG lifted 2026 global collections guidance to $2.80-$2.85 billion, implying 8%-10% growth.Encore expects refinancing to save about $15 million annually, though borrowings reached $4.18 billion. Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Free Report) raised key parts of its 2026 outlook after a strong first half, putting more weight on collections growth and operating execution. The revised guidance improves visibility into the earnings path.
The higher bar also increases the importance of delivery. Funding costs, leverage and rising legal collection expenses remain meaningful constraints as investors assess whether recent operating momentum can translate into sustained earnings growth.
Encore Capital Raises the Bar for 2026Encore now expects 2026 earnings of $13-$14 per share, up from its prior projection of about $13. The new range signals greater confidence in full-year performance after the first half.
The guidance includes $1 per share of refinancing costs absorbed in the second quarter. That makes the increase more notable because the higher range already incorporates the refinancing-related earnings drag.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate points to a clear earnings step-up. Earnings are projected to increase from $10.91 per share in 2025 to $13.52 in 2026 and $14.64 in 2027.
Earnings Estimates
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Estimate revisions add to that momentum. The current year earnings estimate has increased 3.9% over the past four weeks, suggesting analysts have become more constructive as collections and portfolio revenues improve.
Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ECPG's Collections Outlook Moves HigherManagement raised 2026 global collections guidance to $2.80-$2.85 billion, implying growth of 8%-10% year over year. The prior outlook called for about $2.8 billion, or 8% growth.
Second-quarter global collections rose 13% to a record $737 million. The result followed strong first-half execution and supports the view that recent portfolio purchases and collection improvements are translating into higher collections.
Driven by this momentum, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales reflects a year-over-year rise of 8.9% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027.
Sales Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Encore Capital's Refinancing Adds a Funding TailwindEncore's May refinancing is expected to save about $15 million in annual interest expense. Lower financing costs can provide earnings support as the company continues deploying capital into receivable portfolios.
The benefit comes with an important offset. Encore expects 2026 interest expense, including other income, of about $295 million, underscoring the funding sensitivity of a business that relies on borrowings to finance portfolio purchases.
ECPG's U.S. Supply Supports Portfolio DeploymentEncore maintained its 2026 portfolio purchase outlook of $1.4-$1.5 billion. Management continues to see favorable U.S. supply, supported by elevated revolving credit balances and charge-offs, while Midland Credit Management's scale, analytics and collection capabilities help it target attractive returns.
PRA Group, Inc. (PRAA - Free Report) , another buyer and collector of nonperforming loan portfolios, said second-quarter 2026 portfolio income increased 7% to $267.8 million, driven by strong recent purchases at improved returns. Capital One Financial Corporation (COF - Free Report) , a major U.S. card lender, reports delinquency and charge-off trends that provide another read on the consumer-credit backdrop influencing future debt-sale supply.
Encore Capital Still Faces Cost and Leverage RisksLegal collection expenses increased 25.8% year over year in the first half of 2026. If collections growth slows, that faster-growing cost line could pressure operating leverage and cash efficiency.
Borrowings reached $4.18 billion at June 30, 2026. The company also remains heavily dependent on U.S. conditions, with Midland Credit Management accounting for 85.2% of first-half global portfolio purchasing dollars. Higher funding costs or weaker U.S. collections could therefore make the raised outlook harder to achieve.
How ECPG's Ratings Fit the Raised OutlookThe bottom line is that the raised outlook strengthens near-term earnings visibility, but execution still matters. ECPG currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which is supportive of the stock's near-term earnings-revision picture. Like Encore Capital, PRA Group also sports a Zacks Rank #1, while Capital One carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Its Style Scores are mixed. ECPG has a Value Score of B, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of F. The favorable Value Score complements the top Zacks Rank, while the weaker Growth and VGM Scores argue for monitoring whether improved guidance translates into durable growth rather than assuming the outlook upgrade settles the investment case.
CoreWeave dnes večer oznámí výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí; Jefferies očekává výsledek v souladu s odhady a jako další katalyzátor sleduje spíše možné zrušení plánovaných prodejů ze strany zakladatelů.
CoreWeave Inc (NASDAQ:CRWV) reports second-quarter earnings tonight, with Jefferies maintaining a Buy rating and $150 price target even as it flags that a major profitability inflection is still months away.
CoreWeave shares have climbed roughly 45% since hyperscaler earnings reaffirmed insatiable demand for AI compute.
Jefferies sees the stock as attractively valued at a $48 billion market cap against more than $99 billion in remaining performance obligations, and believes the eventual cancellation of founders' 10b5-1 selling plans could drive a re-rating.
Analysts do not expect a major EBIT inflection until the fourth quarter of 2026. Jefferies forecasts an in-line second-quarter print, with about 70% of full-year guided EBIT arriving in the fourth quarter, translating to roughly 15% fourth-quarter margins.
Data center deliveries are tracking on schedule. Three providers have converted a combined 420 megawatts of contracted power into turnkey capacity since the first quarter: Galaxy Digital (TSX-V:GLXY) (133 MW), Applied Digital (75 MW) and Core Scientific (252 MW).
A recent 8-K disclosed a delayed draw term loan with a roughly five-year duration versus average customer contracts of about three years, a shift from prior financing matched to contract terms. Jefferies said this points to CoreWeave capturing higher revenue-per-gigawatt economics on shorter deals, citing data suggesting $30 billion to $50 billion of revenue per gigawatt for the latest deployments.
The firm sees backlog upside as well. CoreWeave's 3.86+ gigawatts of contracted power implies over $46 billion of annual revenue potential, and assuming roughly five-year contracts, backlog could exceed $230 billion.
Jefferies also noted co-founders have sold about $2.9 billion of stock via 10b5-1 plans since the IPO, led by CSO Brian Venturo ($1.18 billion, 30% of shares), CDO Brannin McBee ($999 million, 36%) and CEO Michael Intrator ($730 million, 12%). Venturo has slowed his pace, accounting for just 5% of the $375 million in stock sold by co-founders since June 23. Jefferies said it will watch for any plan cancellations at earnings.
Strong hyperscaler results also support demand, Jefferies said. Combined backlog at major hyperscalers and Oracle rose $320 billion quarter-over-quarter, and the firm raised its 2026/2027 capex estimates for Oracle, Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet to $811 billion and $1.1 trillion.
Shares of CoreWeave rose around 1% on Tuesday morning.
CoreWeave má backlog ve výši 99,4 miliardy USD a trh bude sledovat, zda dál poroste. Klíčová je schopnost proměnit kontrakty v kapacitu, protože zadlužení a úroky rychle rostou.
There’s a version of the CoreWeave story where everything is going right.
Revenue is more than doubling year over year. The contracted backlog stands near $100 billion. Fleet capacity is effectively sold out, pricing is holding, and the customer list reads like a directory of the frontier AI industry.
And yet the stock has fallen more than 30% over the past year and sits about 50% below its all-time high. When the operating story and the share price diverge this sharply, it usually means the market is asking a question the income statement hasn’t answered yet.
CoreWeave gets its next chance this evening after the closing bell. What does the report actually hinge on?
Image Source: StockCharts
What Tuesday Is Supposed to Look LikeThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for a second-quarter loss of $1.17 per share on revenues of $2.5 billion. That revenue figure implies growth of roughly 109% year over year — a genuinely extraordinary number for a company of this size — and sits comfortably within management’s own guidance band of $2.45 to $2.6 billion.
The bottom line is where the discomfort lives. That $1.17/share loss estimate has widened 14.71% over the past 60 days and represents a deterioration of more than 300% from the year-ago figure. Analysts, in other words, have spent the last two months marking their loss expectations lower, not higher.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The track record heading in is mixed. CoreWeave has missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while beating once, with an average surprise of 3.8%. Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat this time around, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
That combination isn’t a forecast of disaster — it simply means the statistical edge you’d want heading into a volatile print isn’t present. And volatile it should be: options markets are pricing in a post-earnings move of roughly 15.5% in either direction.
The Number That Actually MattersRevenue will grab the headline, but remaining performance obligations — the contracted revenue CoreWeave (CRWV - Free Report) has signed but not yet recognized — is the metric that will move the stock. As of the first quarter, that backlog stood at $99.4 billion, anchored by relationships with OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Anthropic, alongside newer engagements with firms like Cline and Perplexity.
The bull case rests entirely on conversion. Revenue only gets recognized once data center capacity is delivered and switched on, not when a contract is signed. CoreWeave has surpassed a gigawatt of active power with more than 3.5 gigawatts contracted, targeting 8 gigawatts by 2030, and its first self-build facility is expected online later this year.
If that capacity arrives on schedule, the backlog converts and the margin profile steepens dramatically. Watch for the updated backlog figure Tuesday; growth from $99.4 billion would signal demand is still outrunning capacity, while a flat or declining number would raise harder questions.
The Balance Sheet Has Become the StoryHere’s what changed this year. CoreWeave built its position by borrowing aggressively — against future revenue and against the GPUs themselves — and that worked beautifully while the narrative was pure growth.
But things become problematic once interest expense starts consuming the income statement. The company closed the first quarter with roughly $25 billion in debt after raising $8.5 billion in new debt during the quarter alone, and interest expense is expected to climb to as much as $730 million in the second quarter.
Management also raised full-year capital expenditure guidance to $31–$35 billion, citing higher component costs and the spending required to bring new capacity online. That component-cost pressure is the same memory and semiconductor inflation showing up across the AI infrastructure complex — CoreWeave is paying more for the same compute.
The market’s reaction to the first-quarter report in May was instructive: revenue beat, but light second-quarter guidance combined with a higher capex forecast sent shares down around 11%. Investors have made clear they now want to see spending convert to cash.
What’s Genuinely WorkingOn the positive side, CoreWeave demonstrated real technical leadership in the MLPerf Training v6.0 benchmark, training the DeepSeek-V3 671B model in just 2.02 minutes, and it became the first AI cloud provider to complete system-level validation of Nvidia’s Vera Rubin NVL72 architecture.
Nvidia itself increased its investment in the company to $2 billion earlier this year — meaningful validation from the supplier that knows this market best. Adding to the bullish narrative, S&P Global has upgraded the company’s credit rating.
Bottom LineThere’s no denying that the risks are real. Customer concentration remains significant, with a handful of large AI companies driving most of the revenue — and one of them, Meta, has signaled ambitions to expand into cloud infrastructure itself, which would turn a major customer into a competitor.
Profitability remains elusive while insider selling has continued. Tuesday’s report won’t settle the debate, but it will move the goalposts.
Key Takeaways Circle raised 2026 other-revenue guidance to $310M-$330M, with Arc driving the increase.Arc's $242M token presale is expected to contribute $180M in 2026 as product milestones are achieved.USDC circulation ended Q2 at $73.3B, while onchain transaction volume jumped 151% to $14.8T. Circle Internet Group, Inc. (CRCL - Free Report) used its second-quarter earnings call to put Arc at the center of its next growth phase, with management framing the blockchain network as a major platform opportunity ahead of its Sept. 16 mainnet launch.
The company also raised its 2026 other-revenue outlook sharply. Earnings of $0.18 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.16, while total revenues and reserve income of $701.3 million came in below the $741.8 million consensus estimate.
Circle Puts Arc at Center of Platform StrategyCo-founder, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Jeremy Allaire said Arc already has more than 100 ecosystem and institutional builders, with BlackRock and DTCC among the major partners preparing integrations around tokenized assets and settlement.
A Goldman Sachs analyst asked why Circle was prioritizing Arc over additional blockchain partnerships. Allaire said Arc represents one of the company’s largest opportunities and could become a broad operating-system layer for financial and economic activity.
Chief financial officer (CFO) Jeremy Fox-Geen said the shift carries near-term tradeoffs. Other revenues declined $8 million sequentially as blockchain revenue moderated and Circle deliberately directed resources toward Arc.
CRCL Lifts Arc-Driven Revenue OutlookFox-Geen raised 2026 other-revenue guidance to $310 million-$330 million from $150 million-$170 million, with Arc driving the increase.
The CFO said Circle completed a $242 million ARC Token presale in Q2 and expects to recognize $180 million in 2026 as product milestones are achieved. The remaining product portfolio is expected to contribute $130 million to $150 million.
CRCL also lifted its 2026 revenue-less-distribution-cost margin outlook to 41.7-43.7% from 38-40%. Adjusted operating-expense guidance remained $570 -$585 million, with management expecting spending near the high end.
Circle Defends USDC Distribution EconomicsUSDC ended Q2 with $73.3 billion in circulation, up 19% year over year, while average circulation reached $76.5 billion. Onchain transaction volume rose 151% to $14.8 trillion.
A Citi analyst pressed management on whether competing distribution models could pressure Circle’s economics. Allaire said Circle already has more than 150 distribution agreements and can structure additional arrangements alongside Coinbase where partners can materially expand USDC adoption.
Fox-Geen said the Hyperliquid arrangement had minimal Q2 impact because migration ramped late in the quarter, with the financial effect expected to begin in Q3. At quarter end, about 90% of Hyperliquid’s USDC was on Coinbase’s platform and 10% on Circle’s.
CRCL Moves CPN Toward MonetizationAllaire said Circle Payments Network reached $14.7 billion in annualized trailing-30-day payment volume at quarter end, up 76% sequentially, with 175 financial institutions enrolled.
By July 31, annualized payment volume had climbed to $23 billion. Allaire said the priority has been scaling the network, but Circle plans to begin monetizing CPN in the second half of 2026.
The CEO also said CPN and related payment products now reach more than 58 countries. Management positioned payments as one of three platform pillars alongside digital assets and Arc-based developer infrastructure.
Circle Builds Agentic Finance Around USDC and ArcAllaire said 99.3% of x402 agent-payment volume settles in USDC, while Circle’s Agent Stack marketplace has more than 900 paid services.
A Clear Street analyst asked when agentic commerce could become more meaningful financially. Allaire said the second-half roadmap centers on agent identity, automated discovery, reputation systems and tools that let agents earn from services.
A Needham analyst asked about Circle’s competitive position in x402. Allaire, who noted Circle was an early design partner, said growing agentic usage should support USDC transaction activity while also driving adoption of Arc infrastructure.
CRCL Ends Call With an Execution FocusManagement’s tone remained confident around Arc, USDC distribution and payments expansion, while acknowledging softer digital-asset markets and lower reserve yields as near-term constraints.
Fox-Geen maintained Circle’s multi-year 40% USDC circulation growth CAGR framework and said the company intends to keep investing in the platform. He also ruled out near-term quarterly dividends, favoring balance-sheet capacity for growth investments.
Zacks Signals Stay MixedCRCL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Its Growth Score of B is the strongest style reading, while the Value Score of D is weaker and the Momentum and VGM Score of C each sits in the middle of the grading scale.
The combination does not carry the stronger signal associated with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) stocks paired with an A or B Style Score. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised following the just-reported results.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Figma po prvním plném čtvrtletí monetizace AI kreditů zvýšila výhled tržeb na rok 2026. Více než 80 % platících zákazníků s ročním opakovaným výnosem (ARR) nad 10 000 USD týdně čerpalo AI kredity.
Key Takeaways Figma raised 2026 revenue guidance after its first full quarter of AI credit monetization.More than 80% of Figma paid customers above $10,000 ARR consumed AI credits weekly; NDR held at 136%.FIG guided Q3 revenues to $373M-$375M as unmonetized beta products continued to pressure gross margin. Figma, Inc. (FIG - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to frame AI consumption as the next expansion layer on top of seat growth, while noting that several new AI products still do not draw paid credits.
Management raised its 2026 revenue outlook after the first full quarter of AI credit monetization, but analysts focused on the modest sequential third-quarter guide and the gross-margin cost of funding beta products before monetization.
Figma Sees AI Monetization BroadeningCEO Dylan Field said the second quarter marked Figma’s first full quarter of AI monetization and described adoption as following a familiar pattern: concentrated usage among power users that broadens across organizations.
CFO Praveer Melwani said more than 80% of paid customers with over $10,000 in ARR were consuming AI credits weekly. Net dollar retention remained 136%, while roughly two-thirds of those customers added full seats at renewal.
Non-GAAP EPS of 8 cents topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 4 cents. Revenues of $370.10 million exceeded the consensus mark of $350.80 million and rose 48% year over year.
FIG Expands the Full-Stack Creation PushField positioned Code Layers, Figma Make and the MCP server as core pieces of Figma’s move toward a full-stack creation canvas. Write-to-Figma MCP usage rose 75% quarter over quarter.
Management also highlighted Motion, Shaders and Weave as tools extending the platform beyond interface design into animation, visual effects and AI-generated media.
More than 50% of paid customers above $10,000 in ARR were using the Figma agent weekly by July 31. More than 20% of weekly credit-consuming users on paid plans were exclusively using credits through the agent.
Figma Balances AI Costs With Margin DisciplineMelwani said non-GAAP gross profit rose 40% year over year to $314 million, while non-GAAP gross margin reached 85%, up 2.5 percentage points sequentially.
He emphasized model routing, provider optimization and first-party models as levers for lowering inference costs. Field said cost improvements would not come at the expense of quality or latency.
The agent, Make on local code, Motion, generative plugins and Code Layers do not yet consume paid credits while in beta or early access. Management said that can pressure gross margin before monetization begins.
FIG Guidance Faces Sequential Growth ScrutinyFigma guided third-quarter revenues to $373-$375 million, implying 36% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. Full-year guidance rose $40 million to $1.463-$1.467 billion, or 39% growth at the midpoint.
Goldman Sachs and Citigroup analysts pressed management on the limited sequential increase implied by third-quarter guidance. Melwani said the outlook reflects high-visibility trends and begins to lap the March 2025 pricing changes.
In response to JPMorgan, Melwani said the full-year outlook does not include revenues from products still in beta or early access that are not drawing paid credits. Figma will incorporate them only after observing monetization.
Figma Deepens Enterprise ExpansionMelwani said paid customers with more than $10,000 in ARR increased 34% year over year to 15,964, while customers above $100,000 in ARR rose 46% to 1,635. International revenues grew 50%.
He also cited enterprise customers increasing AI commitments after productivity gains and broader adoption. One technology infrastructure customer increased its purchased credit commitment fivefold from its first add-on within the quarter.
Asked by RBC whether new products drive new logos or expansion, Melwani said the larger opportunity currently centers on adding paid seats within existing enterprise plans, while the lower end has also seen stronger customer acquisition.
FIG Keeps Investment Ahead of Near-Term MarginManagement maintained full-year non-GAAP operating income guidance of $125-$135 million, equal to a 9% operating margin at the midpoint, despite raising revenue guidance.
Melwani said Figma will keep investing in product and go-to-market capacity where it can strengthen long-term advantage, even at a temporary margin cost. He also said AI tools have allowed the company to hire fewer people than originally planned.
Zacks Signals for FigmaFIG carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its Momentum Score of B is the strongest Style Score, while the Value Score is F, the Growth Score is D and the VGM Score is F.
Zacks Style Scores complement the rank, with A and B grades preferred alongside Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2. FIG’s profile therefore combines a favorable rank and Momentum reading with weak Value, Growth and VGM signals. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Silicon Motion uvedla MonTitan SSD RDK pro AI úlohy s vysokými nároky na úložiště. Platforma využívá PerformaShape a nové řadiče PCIe 5.0 a 6.0 pro předvídatelný výkon SSD.
Key Takeaways SIMO launched MonTitan SSD RDK to address demanding storage needs of Agentic AI workloads.PerformaShape enables precise workload management, predictable quality of service and persistent memory.SIMO integrates PerformaShape into PCIe 5.0 and 6.0 controllers to support scalable AI storage solutions. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO - Free Report) has strengthened its footprint in the evolving artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure market by introducing its MonTitan SSD Reference Design Kit (RDK). The new platform is designed to deliver high performance, predictable latency and sustained data processing to meet the demanding storage requirements of Agentic AI workloads.
Silicon Motion has incorporated its next-generation PerformaShape technology into the platform to enhance SSD quality of service by enabling more precise management of complex and rapidly changing workloads. The solution enables enterprise SSDs to serve as a persistent memory layer for applications such as KV cache offload and autonomous AI agents, while performance monitoring and NVMe TP4176 API support help maintain predictable quality of service under the complex and rapidly changing workloads of multi-agent and multi-tenant AI environments.
The company has integrated PerformaShape into its SM8366 PCIe 5.0 and SM8466 PCIe 6.0 enterprise SSD controllers, providing SSD manufacturers with a scalable foundation for developing AI-focused storage solutions. The MonTitan RDK can help simplify product development, shorten the time to market, and support the growing storage needs of AI servers and data centers.
The launch underscores Silicon Motion’s strategy to capitalize on the rising storage requirements of AI infrastructure. As AI workloads become increasingly data-intensive and latency-sensitive, the company’s controller technology and focus on predictable SSD performance could support greater adoption of its enterprise storage solutions.
How Are Competitors Advancing in the AI Space?Silicon Motion faces competition from Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) . Seagate is strengthening its position in AI infrastructure by advancing high-capacity storage solutions for data centers. The company introduced its next-generation Mozaic 4+ platform and continues to advance HAMR technology to address the massive data storage requirements of AI workloads. Seagate’s high-capacity HDD technology could benefit from rising demand for cost-efficient, large-scale storage.
Micron is expanding in AI infrastructure with advanced memory and storage solutions, including HBM4, high-capacity server memory and PCIe Gen6 SSDs. The company is enhancing its product portfolio to address the performance, bandwidth and capacity requirements of next-generation AI training and inference workloads. Micron’s agreement with Anthropic strengthens its position in the growing AI market by supporting advanced memory and storage needs.
SIMO’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesSilicon Motion shares have skyrocketed 198% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 181.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 16.1 forward earnings, higher than 11.36 for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for 2026 have increased 33.3% to $11.16 over the past 60 days, while those for 2027 have increased 56.4% to $16.34.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Silicon Motion stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Harrow ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby na 70,7 milionu USD, meziročně o 11 %, a potvrdil celoroční výhled tržeb 350 až 365 milionů USD. VEVYE i IHEEZO táhly růst, přičemž VEVYE přidal téměř 58 % na 29,4 milionu USD.
Harrow NASDAQ: HROW reported second-quarter revenue of $70.7 million, up 11% from a year earlier and about 60% sequentially, as the ophthalmic pharmaceutical company said it entered the second half of 2026 with stronger demand across several products, improved pricing and expanded commercial infrastructure.
First-half revenue totaled about $115 million, which Chief Executive Officer Mark L. Baum said was below the company’s expectations entering the year, primarily because of the net revenue impact from VEVYE. Harrow nevertheless reiterated its full-year guidance for revenue of $350 million to $365 million and adjusted EBITDA of $80 million to $100 million.
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The outlook implies second-half revenue of roughly $235 million to $250 million. President and Chief Financial Officer Andrew Boll said the company expects sequential revenue growth in both the third and fourth quarters, with the larger increase expected in the fourth quarter.
Second-Quarter Results and Margin Outlook VEVYE generated quarterly revenue of $29.4 million, up nearly 58% year over year. Baum said prescriptions increased 21% sequentially, while the prescriber base expanded 15%. The product ended June with a 14.6% share of the branded dry eye market, according to IQVIA data cited by Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Sullivan.
Harrow changed VEVYE business rules at the end of April, reducing co-pay card utilization and improving the product’s average selling price, according to management. Boll said the company expects additional pricing improvement in the second half as the updated rules apply for a full period, patients meet annual deductibles and expanded commercial coverage takes effect.
IHEEZO generated $15.6 million in second-quarter revenue, largely from wholesaler stocking orders for a new five-pack presentation. Revenue lagged underlying demand because distributors were selling through previously acquired inventory, Boll said. Unit demand reached a quarterly record of 65,477 units, up 44% sequentially and 34% year over year.
Management said IHEEZO channel inventory has normalized, and approximately 25% higher net pricing became effective July 1. Baum said the product’s gross margin exceeds 90% and should make a significant contribution to second-half revenue growth and profitability.
The specialty portfolio and TRIESENCE contributed approximately $11 million of revenue, while the compounded portfolio contributed $14.6 million. TRIESENCE demand rose 162% year over year to 14,529 units, with 54% of demand coming from ocular surgery, Sullivan said.
GAAP gross margin was 71% in the quarter. Harrow expects gross margins to return toward the high-70% range in the second half, supported by IHEEZO’s normalizing revenue cycle, rising revenue, VEVYE growth and product mix.
SG&A expense was $53.3 million, reflecting commercial investments made during the quarter. Excluding employees expected to join through the pending TYRVAYA transaction, Boll said base SG&A is expected to remain approximately flat for the rest of 2026. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.2 million, and Harrow ended the quarter with $83.9 million in cash and cash equivalents.
Commercial Expansion and Product Drivers Harrow formally launched BYOOVIZ on July 1, following modest stocking activity during the second quarter. Management said early physician engagement has been encouraging and that the biosimilar product fits within the company’s retinal commercial organization.
The company also cited the relaunch of VERKAZIA, a permanent J-code for IOPIDINE effective July 1, and an expanded Access Plus commercial organization as incremental growth drivers. Harrow tripled its surgical commercial organization during the second quarter to support TRIESENCE, though management said the new representatives remain early in their productivity ramp.
For IHEEZO, Baum said Harrow is concentrating on in-office retina and other procedures following the loss of pass-through reimbursement in cataract surgery on April 1. He said the company estimates it has less than 2% share of its overall addressable IHEEZO market and sees more than 10 million annual procedures across intravitreal injections and other in-office uses as opportunities.
Harrow also secured expanded commercial coverage for VEVYE through a top-three pharmacy benefit manager, effective Aug. 1. Baum said the agreement opens access to “many millions” of commercial lives that had previously been blocked, though he did not disclose formulary positioning. Management said the company expects the coverage agreement to improve unit revenue for VEVYE.
Pending TYRVAYA Acquisition Subject to closing, Harrow plans to acquire global rights to TYRVAYA, a dry eye treatment approved in the U.S. and China and under regulatory review in five additional countries. The company expects to use $30 million of cash on hand for the upfront consideration.
Management expects only a modest TYRVAYA revenue contribution in 2026 due to the anticipated timing of closing and integration. For 2027, Boll said Harrow expects TYRVAYA to generate more than $30 million in revenue and be financially accretive. The company anticipates that adding commercial personnel from Viatris Eye Care will increase annualized SG&A by about $20 million once fully integrated.
Sullivan said TYRVAYA would complement VEVYE by offering a drop-free treatment option, including for contact lens wearers. Harrow expects to integrate experienced dry eye sales representatives from Viatris during the fourth quarter, with the added team supporting both products.
Pipeline Updates Chief Scientific Officer Amir Shojaei said Harrow has secured a pre-new drug application meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for G-MELT, or MELT-300, scheduled for early in the fourth quarter. The company remains on track to submit a new drug application during the first half of 2027.
G-MELT is being developed as an IV-free, opioid-free procedural sedation option. Assuming a successful regulatory review, Harrow continues to target potential FDA approval in the first half of 2028 and a commercial launch later that year.
Harrow is also advancing YOCHIL, or MELT-210, an orally disintegrating midazolam tablet under development for pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. Shojaei said the company completed an end-of-phase II meeting with the FDA earlier this year and continues to target an NDA submission in 2027.
In addition, Harrow said its QUELL study of IHEEZO is enrolling and is expected to complete enrollment later in 2026, with results anticipated by year-end. The double-masked controlled trial is evaluating anesthetic effect and patient outcomes compared with subconjunctival lidocaine in intravitreal injection procedures.
About Harrow (NASDAQ:HROW)Harrow Health, Inc NASDAQ: HROW is a U.S.-based commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmic therapeutics and diagnostics. The company focuses on the development, manufacturing and distribution of proprietary, generic and branded eye care products designed to treat a range of ocular conditions, including glaucoma, ocular hypertension, dry eye disease and other anterior segment disorders.
Through its wholly owned affiliate ImprimisRx, Harrow Health offers a direct-to-physician model for customized formulations as well as low-cost generic alternatives.
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].
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Sandisk oznámil osm víceletých smluv se zákazníky z oblasti datových center a edge, které pokrývají více než 50 % bitů pro fiskální rok 2027. Firma zároveň zvýšila výhled tržeb na 1. fiskální čtvrtletí 2027 na 10,3–10,8 mld. USD.
Key Takeaways Sandisk has eight multiyear Datacenter and Edge deals covering over 50% of fiscal 2027 bits.Sandisk's Datacenter bit mix rose to 38% from about 12% as enterprise SSD adoption broadened.SNDK guides fiscal Q1 2027 revenues to $10.3B-$10.8B and non-GAAP EPS to $44-$46. Sandisk Corporation (SNDK - Free Report) used its fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize multiyear customer commitments, rising AI-related storage demand and a more predictable NAND business model.
The quarter’s non-GAAP EPS of $39.25 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34.24. Revenues of $8.97 billion beat the consensus mark of $8.30 billion.
SNDK Locks in Multiyear DemandExecutive VP and CFO Luis Visoso said Sandisk now has New Business Model agreements with eight Datacenter and Edge customers, with a weighted average duration above four years.
Those agreements are expected to cover more than 50% of fiscal 2027 bits and roughly two-thirds of fiscal 2028 bits. Minimum expected revenues at floor pricing total $93.9 billion.
Chairman and CEO David V. Goeckeler said customers are already returning to request more supply, reinforcing management's focus on selective, long-duration agreements with strategic buyers.
Sandisk Expands AI Storage ExposureGoeckeler said Datacenter exited fiscal 2026 at 38% of Sandisk's bit mix, up from roughly 12% a year earlier, as enterprise SSD adoption broadened.
He tied that shift to AI inference, where expanding models, longer context lengths and agentic workloads increase storage requirements. Sandisk also began revenue shipments of its QLC Stargate platform.
During Q&A, a Citi analyst asked about KV-cache demand. Goeckeler said customer discussions continue to deepen and management has become more optimistic about NAND requirements as AI architectures mature.
SNDK Guides for Another Step-UpVisoso guided fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenues to $10.3-$10.8 billion and non-GAAP EPS to $44-$46, with growth from both higher bits and modest price increases.
Non-GAAP gross margin is expected at 83-85%, while non-GAAP operating expenses are projected at $520-$540 million as Sandisk continues investing in R&D.
Visoso also said Sandisk expects the NAND market to exceed $300 billion in calendar 2026 and approach $500 billion in 2027, with customer demand growing faster than supply.
Sandisk Defends Margin DurabilityA Melius Research analyst pressed management on NBM economics. Visoso said the company continues to expect margins around 80% on those agreements, with upside when pricing rises.
A Cantor Fitzgerald analyst asked why gross-margin guidance did not rise despite modest pricing gains. Goeckeler said Sandisk is balancing returns with longer duration and greater business visibility.
Visoso added that NBMs should not be viewed as a margin drag. He cited mix, component-cost assumptions and the guidance range as the main factors shaping the near-term outlook.
SNDK Keeps Supply Growth DisciplinedVisoso said Sandisk remains committed to mid to high-teens long-term bit growth, primarily through technology transitions rather than major wafer additions.
For fiscal 2027, sellable bit growth is expected in the mid-teens as the company carries more inventory to support NBM commitments. Capital spending is projected near 6% of revenues.
A Morgan Stanley analyst asked whether Sandisk could accelerate spending. Visoso said the current plan remains appropriate, while Goeckeler said nodal transitions provide flexibility to track market demand.
Sandisk Accelerates Capital ReturnsSandisk repurchased $4.5 billion of stock during the quarter, and its board authorized another $14 billion, bringing remaining repurchase authorization to $15.5 billion.
Goeckeler said management expects consistent execution of the buyback program, supported by confidence in the portfolio's cash generation.
Visoso said investment in the business remains the first priority, followed by maintaining a strong cash position. He described share repurchases as the preferred current vehicle for returning excess cash.
SNDK Enters Fiscal 2027 With More VisibilityManagement's message centered on replacing quarterly transaction-driven planning with multiyear customer commitments, while keeping supply additions disciplined and tied to technology transitions.
Goeckeler emphasized deeper strategic engagement with major customers, while Visoso focused on attractive agreement economics, R&D investment and continued shareholder returns.
Zacks Signals for SNDKSNDK sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Its Growth Score and VGM Score are both A, complementing that top rank. SNDK’s Value Score and Momentum Score are both B.
Zacks Style Scores identify A and B grades as favorable, particularly alongside a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank can change as analyst estimates are revised following the newly reported results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Apple už zdražil iPhony až o 300 USD a podle TrendForce budou další zvýšení cen kvůli prudce rostoucím nákladům na paměti téměř nevyhnutelná. U iPhonu 18 Pro 256GB má BOM náklad vzrůst meziročně asi o 38 %.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) has already pushed iPhone prices higher by as much as $300 in response to what CEO Tim Cook described as a “100-year flood” in memory prices. According to a new TrendForce smartphone industry report published August 10, 2026, that squeeze is only beginning.
The Memory Math Is Getting Ugly TrendForce estimates memory’s share of the iPhone Pro bill of materials has climbed from roughly 10% a year ago on the iPhone 17 Pro to about 34% in Q3 2026, and is expected to exceed 40% in the first half of 2027. For the iPhone 18 Pro 256GB, TrendForce estimates the BOM cost will rise about 38% year over year. Contract memory prices have risen five to sevenfold since the start of 2025.
TrendForce’s conclusion: “escalating component costs, led by memory, are expected to significantly raise production expenses for Apple’s next iPhone 18 series… making higher retail prices unavoidable. Apple may offset some of these costs by reducing gross margins to prevent weakening consumer demand.”
How Exposed Is Apple? Every meaningful Apple product contains memory, and iPhone alone generated $54.25 billion in the June quarter, part of $109.42 billion in total revenue. Cook flagged the pressure on the March-quarter call: “For the June quarter, we expect significantly higher memory costs… beyond the June quarter, we believe memory costs will drive an increasing impact on our business.” June-quarter gross margin guidance was set at 47.5% to 48.5%. Jefferies downgraded Apple to Underperform with a $263.66 target, citing “rising memory costs and the cancellation of an ‘all-glass iPhone’ that would have helped increase average selling prices.” Apple shares trade at $306.32, up 13.7% year to date.
Who Benefits, Who Bleeds Memory suppliers are printing money. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) posted fiscal Q3 revenue of $41.456 billion, up 345.7% year over year, with GAAP gross margin of 84.6%. CFO Mark Murphy said Q2 DRAM prices rose in the mid-sixties percentage range and NAND prices in the high-seventies percentage range. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra warned Micron is only fulfilling “50% to two-thirds” of key customer demand. Shares are up 201.86% year to date. South Korea’s SK Hynix, the other major DRAM supplier to Apple, is capturing similar gains.
The pain sits with chip vendors whose volumes depend on smartphone units. Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) saw handset revenue drop to $5.086 billion, down 20% year over year, with operating income falling 41.13%. CEO Cristiano Amon acknowledged a “challenging memory and supply environment” and said Qualcomm is taking pricing actions to reflect higher input costs. Shares are down 4.21% year to date.
The Contrarian Long-Term Case Apple can absorb the hit by trimming gross margins where rivals cannot. Android vendors in entry-level and mid-range tiers face a harsher squeeze, and TrendForce expects global smartphone production to stay under pressure. If weaker competitors are forced into steeper hikes or discontinue lines running at negative gross margins, Apple could gain share. If memory pricing normalizes, the $300 already baked into iPhone shelf prices becomes pure margin recovery.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
AMD bylo sníženo z Buy na Hold kvůli ocenění a nejistému růstu marží, i když tržby dál rychle rostou. Výhled na 3. čtvrtletí počítá se stagnujícími maržemi.
SummaryAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. is downgraded from Buy to Hold due to valuation and uncertain margin expansion despite strong revenue growth.AMD's Data Center and Embedded segments drive profitability, but margin expansion depends heavily on the revenue mix, especially between CPUs and GPUs.Gross margin improvements have stalled sequentially, with Q3 guidance indicating flat margins despite continued revenue acceleration.High valuation multiples, execution risks with new products like Helios, and supply chain constraints increase the likelihood of price correction or stability in the near term. Olivier Le Moal/iStock via Getty Images
Investment Thesis In all my previous articles about Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), I mainly focused on its technological and market tailwinds, which will boost the company. Since my first article
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Nokia v úterý roste o 3,56 % díky silné poptávce po AI datových centrech a zvýšenému celoročnímu výhledu zisku. Ve druhém čtvrtletí tržby stouply o 8 % na 4,82 miliardy eur.
Nokia Corp (NYSE:NOK) stock is trading higher on Tuesday, driven by sustained artificial intelligence data center demand and a raised full-year profit outlook. Investors are actively re-evaluating the company beyond its traditional telecom focus and pricing it as a key beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom.
The Nasdaq is down 0.03% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.08%.
• Nokia stock is surging to new heights today. What’s fueling NOK momentum?
Q2 Earnings BeatIn late July, Nokia reported second-quarter results that topped consensus estimates. Net sales rose 8% year-over-year to 4.82 billion euros ($5.60 billion), while adjusted earnings reached eight cents per unit, beating the seven cent expectation. Network Infrastructure revenue grew 12%, propelled by Optical Networks (+19%) and IP Networks (+15%).
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AI Infrastructure GrowthCEO Justin Hotard highlighted Nokia’s expanding reach into AI infrastructure. AI and Cloud revenue doubled (+103%) to represent 9.3% of total sales, backed by 2.8 billion euros in new AI and cloud orders.
Supply Chain StrategyTo address memory shortages expected through 2027, Hotard outlined plans to secure long-term supply deals, adjust product designs, and pass higher costs to buyers.
Nokia Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchFrom a longer-term view, Nokia is still digesting a huge 12-month run (up 128.41%), but the more recent trend has been choppy: the stock is trading 2.9% below its 20-day SMA and 22.8% below its 50-day SMA, which indicates the intermediate trend remains pressured. At the same time, it’s sitting just 0.5% above its 200-day SMA, putting the stock right on a key "line in the sand" that often decides whether a pullback becomes a deeper trend break.
Key Resistance: $10 — Round-number area where rebounds can stall, especially with the stock still below key shorter-term averages. Key Support: $8 — Nearby level that lines up with a prior buyer-defense zone if the rebound fails. NOK Stock Price Activity: Nokia shares were up 3.56% at $9.46 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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NVIDIA uvádí CPU Vera pro agentní AI, který má být až 1,8× rychlejší než x86 procesory a míří na serverový trh. Platformu plánují přijmout Anthropic, OpenAI i SpaceX.
Key Takeaways NVIDIA's Vera CPU is up to 1.8 times faster than x86 processors on workloads and targets agentic AI.Vera integrates NVIDIA CPUs, GPUs, networking and software to support complete AI systems for customers.Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX plan to adopt Vera, while major hardware vendors prepare Vera-based systems. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) is taking a bigger step into the CPU (Central Processing Unit) market with its Vera processor, designed specifically for agentic artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The move could give NVIDIA another growth engine while increasing pressure on established server CPU leaders Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) .
NVIDIA’s Vera CPU is up to 1.8 times faster than x86 processors on workloads. The Vera CPU is designed to work closely with NVIDIA GPUs (graphics processing units), networking and software, allowing customers to build complete AI systems rather than relying on separate CPU and accelerator platforms. This integrated approach could be particularly attractive as AI agents require more computing power for reasoning, planning and data processing.
Vera CPU is also gaining support from major technology companies. Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX are among the AI organizations planning to adopt the platform, while Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Lenovo and Super Micro Computers are preparing Vera-based systems.
NVIDIA’s AI ecosystem gives Vera CPU an additional advantage and could help it gain meaningful server CPU share. The traction of Vera CPU will further boost NVIDIA’s data center end-market business. The company’s data center revenues reached a record $75.25 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, rising 92% year over year.
Analysts’ projections suggest that the growth momentum in the data center business will continue. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVIDIA’s data center revenues is pegged at $363.78 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of approximately 88%.
NVIDIA’s Rivals Have Deep CPU Expertise to Defend Their LeadNVIDIA’s Vera CPU enters a market where Advanced Micro Devices and Intel have established customer relationships and large server CPU businesses.
AMD is the more direct growth challenger. Its data center revenues surged 107% year over year to $6.72 billion in the second quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand for EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs. Advanced Micro Devices is also seeing rising demand from AI workloads, including agentic AI, which directly overlaps with Vera’s target market. Its broad CPU-and-GPU portfolio gives customers an alternative to NVIDIA’s integrated platform.
Intel remains a major force in server CPUs through its Xeon portfolio. Its data center and AI business generated $6.26 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 59% year over year. Intel’s latest Xeon processors are also designed to handle AI workloads, helping the company defend its position as AI increases demand for high-performance CPUs.
NVIDIA has an important advantage because Vera is designed to work closely with its GPUs, networking and software. However, AMD’s rapid growth and Intel’s large installed base mean NVIDIA will need to prove that Vera can deliver clear performance and efficiency benefits before it can seriously disrupt the CPU market.
NVIDIA’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of NVIDIA have risen around 16.6% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s gain of 18.1%.
NVIDIA YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NVDA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, below the sector’s average of 21.59.
NVIDIA Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVIDIA’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 90.6% and 38.3%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2027 and 2028 have been revised upward over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NVIDIA currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Nvidia vykázala ve 1. fiskálním čtvrtletí roku 2027 tržby 81,61 mld. USD, z toho 75,25 mld. USD v datových centrech. Apple oznámila tržby 109,4 mld. USD a nejlepší červnové čtvrtletí v historii.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) just delivered earnings that frame the two dominant bets in tech today.
Nvidia posted $81.61B in Q1 FY27 revenue with Data Center at $75.25B. Apple countered with $109.4 billion in Q3 FY26 revenue and its strongest June quarter ever. One sells the shovels. The other sells the finished product.
AI Factories Carry Nvidia. iPhone and Services Carry Apple. Nvidia’s quarter was almost entirely a Data Center story. Compute rose 77% and networking, powered by InfiniBand, NVLink and Spectrum-X, jumped 199%. Jensen Huang told investors “the buildout of AI factories, the largest infrastructure expansion in human history, is accelerating at extraordinary speed.”
Hyperscalers still represent roughly 50% of that segment, with sovereign AI programs and enterprise deployments filling in behind them. Non-GAAP gross margin hit 75%, and free cash flow reached $48.55B.
Apple’s engine looked different. iPhone revenue climbed to $54.252 billion, Services set a June quarter record at $30.7 billion, and paid subscriptions crossed 1.5 billion.
Tim Cook called it “our strongest June quarter ever, with double-digit revenue growth across iPhone, Mac and Services, and in every geographic segment.” A tariff refund added roughly 2 percentage points to gross margin and $0.11 to EPS, which is a one-time gift worth remembering.
Picks and Shovels vs. the Consumer Ecosystem Lens NVIDIA Apple Core Bet AI factories, agentic compute iPhone cycle, Services, on-device Siri AI Growth Rate +85.2% YoY revenue +16.36% YoY revenue Gross Margin ~75% non-GAAP ~50.1% Key Vulnerability China export controls, zero H20 revenue Memory cost inflation, tariff policy Nvidia is scaling Blackwell 300, Vera Rubin and BlueField-4 into every hyperscaler and sovereign AI cluster. Apple is monetizing an installed base above 2.5 billion active devices while rolling out Siri AI to WWDC26 developers.
Cook framed the differentiator as “the unique combination of massive unified memory bandwidth, industry-leading power-efficient performance, and deep on-device intelligence.”
Kevan Parekh flagged a “100-year flood on the memory pricing” that could pressure September quarter margins to 47%-48%. Nvidia has its own supply worry: $119B in purchase commitments tied to TSMC capacity.
The Next Test Is Guidance Nvidia guided Q2 FY27 to $91B in revenue, excluding any China Data Center compute. Prediction markets on Polymarket now imply a 97.2% probability that Data Center clears $80B, but only 19.5% for $90B. That is a narrow beat lane.
Apple guided September quarter growth of 9%-11%, constrained by advanced-node SoC supply that Cook attributed to “a demand forecast issue” rather than a shortage. I want to see whether Siri AI actually pulls subscribers up the iCloud+ stack, and whether Nvidia’s networking growth holds once Blackwell shipments normalize.
Why I Lean Nvidia for Growth, Apple for Ballast If I had to pick one, I would still tilt toward Nvidia for the growth sleeve. A P/E of 34 against +85% revenue growth and 75% margins looks rich, yet the earnings power is compounding faster than the multiple.
Apple, trading at a P/E of 36, fits the defensive investor better. The $62.094 billion in nine-month buybacks and the Services flywheel offer stability that Nvidia cannot match. If memory costs stay elevated into 2027, or China export rules loosen for H20, my ranking could flip fast.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Nvidia vyvíjí novou rodinu open-source AI modelů Nemotron 4 s cílem konkurovat nejlepším modelům na světě. Největší verze má mít alespoň 1 bilion parametrů.
The NVIDIA logo in this illustration taken June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab is developing a new AI model family, Nemotron 4, with the goal of rivaling top open-source models globally, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing people who work on the project.
The chip giant is among the few major U.S. firms to release open-source models, which have drawn more attention this year as AI bills balloon and cheap Chinese models near the capabilities of top systems from leading American labs Anthropic and OpenAI.
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A spate of recently disclosed hacks involving autonomous AI agents has added to the attention, especially because open models do not have curbs on cybersecurity use.
The largest Nemotron 4 model is expected to have at least 1 trillion parameters, according to multiple employees working on the project, The Information reported.
Nvidia has not set a release date for Nemotron 4 and has yet to complete final training, though employees said the model could be ready as early as late fall, according to the report.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.
Nvidia last month formed a coalition with other companies to develop and share tools for AI safety and cybersecurity. It also signed an open letter with tech heavyweights such as Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab backing open-weight models so that innovation does not drift overseas.
Separately on Tuesday, the chip firm unveiled Nemotron 3.5 Lightning, an addition to its offerings aimed at code review, tool use, security alert monitoring, answering billing questions and other tasks.
It also released NeMo Switchyard, an open-source model-routing library designed to automatically direct AI tasks to the most suitable models.
Late last year, the chip giant unveiled the third generation of its family of open-source models as offerings from Chinese AI labs proliferated.
Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Nvidia pomáhá Hippocratic AI provozovat více než 25 úloh specifických modelů na GPU H200 a zvyšovat efektivitu díky TensorRT-LLM. Cílem je získat více „inteligence za dolar“.
The next AI winner may not be the company with the biggest model. It could be the company that figures out how to get more useful AI for every dollar it spends. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) is helping shape that shift by powering more efficient, task-specific AI systems that aim to squeeze more performance out of every GPU cycle.
DigitalOcean Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) CEO Paddy Srinivasan told Benzinga in an exclusive email interview that AI builders are increasingly mixing different models for different jobs rather than relying exclusively on expensive frontier systems from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
"We believe in: right model, right cost, for every task," Srinivasan said.
He pointed to healthcare AI company Hippocratic AI as an example, saying AI builders like Hippocratic "get better intelligence per dollar" as they optimize across models.
Hippocratic’s connection to Nvidia makes that strategy particularly interesting. Nvidia says Hippocratic’s Polaris architecture runs more than 25 task-specific AI models on Nvidia H200 GPUs, while its TensorRT-LLM software makes those models faster, smaller and more efficient, lowering costs and allowing more conversations to run on the same hardware.
The AI Model Doesn’t Have to Be the Most ExpensiveSrinivasan said frontier models are typically needed for only about 25% of the job, mainly the hardest reasoning or specialized use cases. The remaining 75% can often be handled by open-weight models, which can offer lower-cost alternatives for less demanding tasks.
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That creates a different optimization problem for AI companies.
Instead of asking which model is the smartest, they can ask which model is smart enough for a particular task at the right price.
"Most AI Native companies today are already multi-model," Srinivasan said. "They all have a mixture of models and route specific prompts to the right model."
DigitalOcean’s Inference Engine is designed to route workloads based on factors including performance, latency, cost and customer preference.
Hippocratic Shows Why Nvidia’s Hardware MattersHippocratic is a useful example because its healthcare AI requires real-time responses while handling safety-sensitive conversations.
The company’s Polaris system runs on Nvidia H200 GPUs and uses more than a trillion parameters across its model constellation. The goal isn’t simply to use the most powerful hardware or model available. It is to make the entire system more efficient so Hippocratic can handle more interactions without proportionally increasing its computing costs.
That is the strategy behind Srinivasan’s "intelligence per dollar" argument.
‘Intelligence Per Dollar’ Could Become the New AI MetricNvidia itself has increasingly emphasized the economics of AI, often focusing on concepts like performance per dollar and the cost efficiency of AI compute to describe the value businesses can get from their computing investments.
That could change how investors view the AI race.
The industry’s first phase was dominated by model size, training costs and the race to build increasingly powerful systems. As AI moves into everyday business applications, however, the economics of actually running those models become harder to ignore.
If companies can use a mix of models and optimize the infrastructure underneath them, the winners may not necessarily be the companies with the biggest AI models.
They could be the companies that figure out how to get the most useful intelligence for every dollar of compute.
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Image courtesy of DigitalOcean Holdings Inc
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Disney zvýšila tržby o 7 % a upravený zisk o 15 %, přičemž nejlépe si vedl segment experiences. Společnost zároveň zrychluje zpětný odkup akcií na 9 miliard USD za toto fiskální rok.
Many consumer tech companies are spending billions, tens of billions, and -- in a handful of cases -- hundreds of billions on artificial intelligence (AI) this year. Disney (DIS +0.35%) isn't afraid of cutting big checks to bankroll its future, but AI isn't the top priority.
It's been two years since Disney stunned the market by committing to $60 billion in capital expenditures for its experiences business, led by its theme parks and cruise line. Sure, this will be spread out over 10 years. It's still a substantial wager on a very important segment for the House of Mouse. It's a lot of money, and with Josh D'Amaro stepping up as CEO earlier this year, this should be a very exciting week on that front.
Image source: Disney.
A wish is a dream your heart makes Former CEO Bob Iger -- who led Disney from 2005 to 2020 before returning to the helm two years later -- handed the gig to D'Amaro in March. Iger never neglected the theme parks. International expansion and updated guest experiences served Disney's empire of gated attractions well.
However, Iger came from ABC. He served all of Disney well when he made it to the corner office, but there is no denying that the studio segment was his priority. The three biggest deals he orchestrated in his tenure -- Pixar, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox -- were all media businesses. For a business built on princesses, content always seemed to be king in the eyes of Iger.
Iger was CEO when Disney announced the $60 billion shopping spree. Half of it would go to improving its theme parks. Less than a third of it would go to improving the infrastructure of its experiences. The rest would go to building out its fleet of cruise ships. However, when it came time to announce details of the new experiences coming to Disney's theme parks -- two summers ago at the D23 fan expo in California -- it was D'Amaro taking center stage.
Disney stock is up just 4% since D'Amaro became CEO less than five months ago. It may not seem like much, but Disney shares rose a mere 8% in the 40 months that Iger was the Big Cheese in his second run at the top. In Iger's defense, Disney was a five-bagger in his first go-round as CEO.
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Carousel of progress D'Amaro had a strong first full quarter as CEO, as Disney announced last week. Revenue rose just 7%, but that was its strongest top-line jump in more than three years. Adjusted earnings more than doubled that clip, rising a better-than-expected 15%.
There are always plenty of moving parts when Disney is successful, but nothing is moving as well as its experiences segment these days. It accounted for 54% of Disney's segment operating profit in its latest quarter. New cruise ships are naturally helping, but even its theme park business delivered another pleasant surprise. Its global theme parks posted a 4% increase in guests, while its two domestic resorts delivered a 3% gain. Even more impressively, per capita revenue is up 4%. Unlike rival attractions operators that saw weak guest trends and relied on heavy promotional activity, Disney saw its traffic pick up and guest wallets open wider.
Outside of the well-received financial update, D'Amaro's first few months have been uneventful, aside from layoffs to streamline operations and last week's announcement to ramp up its share buyback initiatives to $9 billion in repurchases this fiscal year. If you're waiting for D'Amaro's first true signature move, you won't have to wait long.
D23 is back this weekend, and the experiences segment that D'Amaro is championing will again find him joined by Neil Patrick Harris on Saturday night to announce future plans for its theme parks and cruise ships. Between firming up the timeline of new attractions revealed two years ago and likely announcing some new projects, D'Amaro will be back in his element.
Disney stock has been cut nearly in half since peaking five years ago. It would have to double from here to establish new all-time highs. When that ultimately happens, you can be sure that D'Amaro's presentation this weekend will play a starring role.
Target jmenoval svého prvního šéfa pro AI, Chandhu Naira, a zároveň posiluje využití generativní AI v nákupu i řízení zásob. Firma tak dál sází na boom kolem AI.
Target announced it has appointed its first ever chief artificial intelligence officer on Tuesday in the retailer's latest bet to capitalize on the AI boom.
The company named Chandhu Nair as its chief AI officer and senior vice president and also announced Purvi Shah as the company's senior vice president of user experience.
"The most meaningful AI stories won't be about what happens in a lab," Nair said in a statement. "They'll be about what happens on the front line – how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster."
Nair previously worked at home improvement retailer Lowe's as the company's senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He has also held roles at Staples and Gap.
In his statement, Nair said he's focused on a "more coordinated approach" to AI for Target, including improving how the retailer manages inventory or enabling faster decisions.
As it looks to win back shoppers and investors, the company has been investing in generative AI, including a tool called Target Trend Brain, which helps the retailer get ahead of trends and identify the styles, colors and materials that customers will be searching for. And last holiday season, Target launched a new conversational AI program to help customers find the right gift for the people on their shopping lists.
The Tuesday announcement comes as many major retailers have been racing to keep up with the AI boom and integrate it into their business strategies.
Target's rival Walmart has been rolling out AI tools and agents across its stores and supply chains to enhance the customer experience and make its internal employee processes more efficient. Gap announced a partnership with Google's Gemini earlier this year, and Best Buy has collaborations in place with OpenAI and Google.
Retail company executives have been sizing up the AI transition and how it will evolve in the coming years. Former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in December that he decided to hand over the reins of the global retailer to someone "faster" who could tap into the ways AI could accelerate the business. John Furner took over the post from McMillon in February.
"About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping, and I started thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next few years, and it really caused me to think that now was the right time [to step down]," McMillon said at the time.
Nvidia spolu s Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs a KKR vytváří financovací platformy pro AI infrastrukturu, které mají mobilizovat více než 500 miliard USD soukromého kapitálu. Cílem je financovat datová centra, energii a další AI infrastrukturu mimo rozvahu Nvidie.
Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA, XETRA:NVD) is partnering with Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs and KKR to build financing platforms aimed at mobilizing more than $500 billion in third-party capital for AI infrastructure.
The agreements, structured as memorandums of understanding, are designed to let outside investors fund the buildout of data centers, power and other AI infrastructure without adding directly to Nvidia's balance sheet.
Under the arrangements, the six financial institutions would help channel capital to independent platforms building AI infrastructure based on Nvidia hardware, rather than Nvidia financing the projects itself.
Shares of Nvidia were up around 1% on Tuesday.
Analysts at BofA called the move a positive first step, noting it shifts the funding burden onto the consortium rather than Nvidia's own balance sheet and marks a pivot away from vendor-financing arrangements.
“For $500 billion of capital to treat compute as an "investable asset class," residual value must hold - and that is exactly what NVDA supplies,” analysts wrote.
“Compute that is fungible and transferable across operators, with CUDA continuously extending useful life, keeps resell/rental rates high and depreciation curves benign. NVDA guarantees asset quality, not the debt - turning the bear's depreciation worry into the enabling feature.”
Wedbush analysts described the financing pool as another mechanism likely to reinforce Nvidia's position.
“We see this fund as another mechanism that likely supports NVDA's leadership and growth away from hyperscalers (with NVDA having characterized this demand as comprising around 50% of its revenue),” Wedbush wrote.
“As such, while we would appreciate incremental details around the exact structure of this new financing vehicle, at first glance we see the news as another positive driver for NVDA sales and earnings momentum.”
McDonald’s posunul cíl 50 000 restaurací globálně na rok 2028 a upřednostňuje návratnost a kvalitu před rychlým růstem. V USA vzrostly srovnatelné tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí jen o 0,8 %.
Key Takeaways McDonald's delayed its 50,000-store target to 2028 while prioritizing returns and quality over unit growth.U.S. comparable sales rose just 0.8% as value execution and marketing challenges weighed on traffic.McDonald's still plans roughly 2,600 gross restaurant openings in 2026, its fastest growth period yet. McDonald's Corporation (MCD - Free Report) is taking a slightly more measured approach to restaurant expansion, pushing its goal of reaching 50,000 locations globally to 2028 from the end of 2027. The shift may raise concerns that growth is losing momentum, but management characterized the move as a disciplined adjustment rather than a change in its long-term expansion strategy.
Management said cumulative inflation in development costs and a more pressured consumer environment prompted a review of the restaurant pipeline. The company is prioritizing attractive returns and quality of new locations over simply adding units. Importantly, McDonald’s still expects to open roughly 2,600 gross restaurants in 2026, which management described as the fastest period of restaurant growth in its history.
The more notable growth concern currently lies in the U.S. business. Second-quarter U.S. comparable sales increased just 0.8%, as inconsistent execution of value offerings, reduced digital promotions and an overly crowded marketing calendar weighed on traffic. U.S. comparable sales were also slightly negative in July, indicating that the recovery could take time.
Still, management remains confident in the growth opportunity. New beverages are generating encouraging incremental traffic and higher checks, while the upcoming McDonald’s > NEXT strategy is designed to improve food quality, hospitality and restaurant productivity.
QSR and YUM Maintain Aggressive Restaurant GrowthMcDonald’s is moderating its expansion pace, but competitors continue to pursue substantial unit growth. The owner of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, Restaurant Brands International (QSR - Free Report) targets 5% or more net restaurant growth by 2028. Restaurant Brands International’s strategy combines new-store development with investments in existing locations, particularly Burger King’s U.S. turnaround program.
Through KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, Yum! Brands (YUM - Free Report) has an even larger global footprint, with more than 63,000 restaurants across 155 countries and territories. Yum! Brands’ franchise-heavy model continues to support international expansion and provides significant scope for adding units.
Against this backdrop, McDonald’s decision to move its 50,000-store milestone to 2028 reflects a more selective approach rather than an abandonment of growth. Management emphasized that inflation-driven development costs and softer consumer conditions require greater focus on returns. With about 2,600 gross openings still expected in 2026, MCD’s expansion engine remains active.
MCD’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesMcDonald’s shares have lost 17.6% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, the broader Retail and Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index.
Price Performance
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In terms of its forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio, MCD is trading at 20.23, down from the industry’s 21.65.
MCD P/E (F12M)
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MCD’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have trended downward in the past 30 days. The revised estimates for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 5.6% and 8.1%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MCD currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CEO IBM Arvind Krishna varuje, že AI infrastruktura může stát 6 až 8 bilionů USD, ale podle něj nepřinese dost nových výnosů. Odhaduje, že by chybělo 1 až 2 biliony USD ročních výnosů.
Big Tech is about to spend $725 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026 alone — Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) combined, up 77% from $410 billion just last year. That kind of spending has become the defining feature of this market cycle, and most bubble warnings focus on the usual suspects: stretched valuations, circular vendor financing, or a handful of chatbot apps carrying too much investor hope.
IBM (NYSE:IBM) CEO Arvind Krishna isn’t worried about any of that. He appeared on Nicolai Tangen’s In Good Company podcast in May and laid out a different argument — one built on kilowatts, dollars, and simple division. It’s worth considering, because Krishna isn’t a short-seller. He’s a 35-year IBM veteran with a direct stake in how this plays out, and his math points somewhere specific.
The Gigawatt Math That Doesn’t Add Up Krishna’s case starts with AI data center power. He estimates 1 gigawatt costs $60 billion to $80 billion in semiconductors to populate. Companies have already committed to roughly 100 gigawatts of AI buildout globally — pointing to a total of $6 trillion to $8 trillion in spending. Run that through a five-to-seven-year payback period, and Krishna’s math demands an extra $1 trillion to $2 trillion in annual revenue, even assuming high-margin AI services at 20% to 30% margins.
“That much incremental revenue I don’t believe is there,” he said. That’s the entire thesis in one sentence — not that AI lacks value, but that the buildout has outrun the revenue math required to justify it within a reasonable timeframe.
If capital spending had come in at half of today’s levels, Krishna believes it “completely makes sense.” At double that, however, some of those companies are not going to be able to generate sufficient returns.
Instead, Krishna believes distribution will determine the outcome. Companies with an existing consumer footprint aligned to AI — think search, cloud, or enterprise software already embedded in daily workflows — have, in his words, “a pretty good chance” of winning.
Where IBM Sits in Its Own Story The irony is that Krishna runs a company that’s largely sat out the infrastructure arms race he’s warning about. IBM carries a trailing P/E of 21 and a forward P/E of 18 — a discount to Nvidia‘s (NASDAQ:NVDA) forward multiple of roughly 22 and well below most of the capex-heavy hyperscalers funding that $725 billion buildout.
IBM’s dividend yield sits at 2.85%, backed by 31 consecutive years of increases, with free cash flow that rose to $2.5 billion sequentially in the second quarter, with management guiding to another $1 billion of full-year FCF growth. Revenue climbed 6% in the same quarter, with software guided above 10% for the year. IBM isn’t chasing gigawatts. It’s selling picks and shovels — consulting, hybrid cloud, and enterprise software — to companies deciding how much AI infrastructure they actually need. That’s a bet on Krishna’s own thesis being right.
Key Takeaway Krishna isn’t calling AI a fraud — he’s saying the infrastructure math ahead of the revenue that’s supposed to fund it. For investors, that argues against chasing the highest-capex names purely on AI enthusiasm and instead favors companies with real cash generation today: a 18x forward P/E, a 2.85% yield, and free cash flow already growing beats a promise that $2 trillion in new annual revenue shows up on schedule.
Granted, Krishna has an obvious incentive to talk his book — IBM benefits if enterprises get cautious about hyperscaler lock-in. But the underlying math is his own, verifiable, and worth checking against whatever AI capex updates come out of the second-half 2026 earnings season.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Beyond Meat oznámila reverzní split akcií v poměru 1 ku 30, aby splnila minimální cenový požadavek Nasdaq. Akcie BYND po zprávě klesají o 14,04 % na 44 centů.
Beyond Meat Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND) shares are trading lower after the company announced a 1-for-30 reverse stock split.
Beyond Meat stock is testing key support levels. Why did BYND hit a new low? Shares to Trade Split-Adjusted August 14 Under BYNDAt a special meeting on November 19, 2025, stockholders approved 30 potential amendments, from which the board selected a 1‑for‑30 reverse stock split. The move is intended to help the company regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Under the split, every 30 shares of common stock outstanding will be automatically reclassified and combined into one share. No fractional shares will be issued; instead, shares will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
The reverse stock split is expected to become effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 13, with shares expected to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis at market open on August 14 under the existing ticker “BYND” and a new CUSIP number. As part of the reverse split, the number of authorized shares of common stock will be reduced from 3 billion to 100 million.
“We believe the reverse stock split is an important step toward maintaining our Nasdaq listing and better positioning our stock for long-term investor participation,” said Ethan Brown, President and CEO of Beyond Meat.
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Beyond Meat Shares FallBYND Price Action: At the time of publication, Beyond Meat shares are trading 14.04% lower at 44 cents, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Barrick zachoval výhled produkce zlata i mědi na rok 2026 a snížil kapitálové výdaje na 3,8–4,2 mld. USD. Zároveň dál cílí na IPO severoamerického zlata do konce roku.
Key Takeaways Barrick's Q2 call centered on its $4B Newmont package and planned North American gold IPO.Barrick's Q2 gold output hit 796,000 ounces, while 2026 gold and copper guidance stayed unchanged.Barrick cut 2026 capex guidance to $3.8B-$4.2B while advancing Fourmile and its year-end IPO. Barrick Mining Corporation (B - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to frame the Newmont agreement as a reset for Nevada Gold Mines and a key step toward its planned North American gold IPO.
Management kept full-year production and cost guidance unchanged while outlining a higher second-half production cadence and lower capital spending range.
B Resets NGM With NewmontPresident and CEO Mark Hill said the Newmont package carries a total value of about $4 billion, including Fourmile, Newmont's Mike and Fiberline properties, dispute resolution and reduced IPO friction costs.
Newmont will pay Barrick $1.95 billion in cash, and the agreement brings the contributed properties into Nevada Gold Mines, creating a complex with nearly 100 million ounces of gold.
Hill said the reset lets the partners focus on processing capacity, ore movement and infrastructure. He wants the joint venture to reduce ore trucking and optimize future processing.
Barrick Holds IPO at 10%Hill said the North American IPO remains targeted for completion by year-end, with him selected to lead the new company as CEO after separation.
In Q&A, Hill said Barrick still plans to float a 10% minority interest and has no current plan to increase that stake. He also rejected a shareholder spinout.
Chief development officer George Joannou said the company will revisit structural options after Newmont's consent to identify friction-cost savings. Management confirmed that a marketing process will be part of the IPO.
B Keeps Guidance Despite Weather DisruptionsPresident and CEO Mark Hill kept 2026 gold production guidance at 2.90 million to 3.25 million ounces and copper guidance at 190,000 to 220,000 tons.
The company expects third-quarter gold output to exceed second-quarter and fourth-quarter production to rise again. Copper production is also expected to increase in the second half versus the first half.
Second-quarter gold production reached 796,000 ounces, above guidance of 730,000 to 770,000 ounces. Adjusted earnings of $0.82 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81. Revenues of $5.29 billion also surpassed the $4.49 billion estimate.
During Q&A, Hill said guidance is not conservative, citing weather-related downtime at Veladero and a water-related shutdown at Porgera. He remained confident in the full-year targets.
Barrick Pushes Fourmile and Trims CapexBarrick reduced 2026 total attributable capital expenditure guidance to $3.8 billion to $4.2 billion from $4.0 billion to $4.45 billion, mainly because of lower spending at Reko Diq.
The CEO said Fourmile's prefeasibility study remains targeted for completion by the end of 2028, while management intends to accelerate development and evaluate added Nevada processing capacity.
A CIBC analyst pressed management for more Fourmile disclosure to help investors model the project. Hill acknowledged the concern and said the company would work on improving the information available.
B Maintains Capital ReturnsSenior EVP and CFO Hongyu Cai said Barrick ended the quarter with $1.2 billion of net cash, an undrawn $3 billion revolver and no meaningful debt due until 2033.
Attributable free cash flow was $141 million in the second quarter, pressured by annual tax and interest timing and a one-time $400 million Loulo-Gounkoto payment. Cai said excluding that payment, attributable free cash flow would have been more than 60% higher year over year.
Barrick repurchased $1.209 billion of shares during the quarter and maintained its $0.175 quarterly base dividend. Its policy targets an annualized payout of 50% of attributable free cash flow.
Barrick's Priorities for the Second HalfPresident and CEO Mark Hill's closing message centered on safety, operational consistency, full-year guidance, growth projects and completion of the North American IPO.
The second-half agenda remains focused on those priorities while management continues efforts to improve safety and keep major growth projects on schedule and on budget.
B's Zacks Rank Tempers Strong Style ScoresB currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), reflecting an unfavorable earnings estimate revision trend under the Zacks methodology. Under the Style Score framework, that rank carries more weight than the favorable scores.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The stock has a Value Score of B, Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of A. Those grades indicate strong style characteristics, but Style Scores are designed to complement top Zacks Ranks rather than override a weak one. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the just-reported results.
Oracle v úterý klesla téměř o 4 %, protože obchodníci vybírali zisky po nedávném odrazu od rezistence. BNP Paribas ale vidí silnější vývoj cash flow díky AI infrastruktuře a čeká inflexi ve fiskálním roce 2029.
Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL) stock traded lower by almost 4% on Tuesday as traders fade the latest rebound into overhead resistance levels, even while the broader risk tone stays constructive. The Nasdaq is up 0.06% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.08%, and Technology is higher by 0.31%, leaving ORCL as a clear laggard versus its peer group.
BNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski said Oracle remains well positioned in a supplier-friendly AI infrastructure market, with attractive contract economics and a potential free-cash-flow inflection beginning in fiscal 2029.
BNP Paribas Sees Stronger Oracle Cash Flow PathSlowinski said BNP Paribas came away more positive on Oracle’s path toward a sharp free-cash-flow inflection in fiscal 2029 after speaking with the company’s investor relations team.
The analyst said Oracle continues to expect absolute capital spending to peak in fiscal 2027 or fiscal 2028 before potentially declining materially in fiscal 2029. That shift could help the company move past the most capital-intensive phase of its AI infrastructure buildout.
He said consensus fiscal 2027 operating cash flow of about $46 billion and S&P Global’s $48 billion to $53 billion estimate may be too low.
Slowinski said those estimates imply little underlying operating-cash-flow growth versus fiscal 2026 after adjusting for $20 billion to $25 billion of customer prepayments, even as Oracle adds more than $20 billion in incremental revenue in fiscal 2027 at likely 60% to 70% EBITDA margins.
AI Contract Economics Remain AttractiveThe analyst said Oracle’s cost-plus contracts help preserve targeted gross margins of 30% to 40% despite component inflation.
He also said Oracle’s bring-your-own-hardware contracts could offer better economics than traditional AI infrastructure deals.
Slowinski estimates those contracts could generate gross margins above 50%, require up to 75% less capital spending and produce roughly 70% internal rates of return in a best-case scenario.
Financing Plans Support BuildoutThe analyst said Oracle reiterated plans to raise $40 billion of capital in fiscal 2027, including a previously announced $20 billion equity ATM program and another $20 billion of capital that has not yet been defined as debt, equity or a mix.
He said Oracle’s nearly $90 billion of cumulative financing across fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 may be enough to fund the current investment cycle until the business becomes cash generative and self-sustaining from fiscal 2029 onward.
Earnings & Analyst OutlookLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the September 8, 2026 (estimated) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: $1.67 (Up from $1.47 YoY) Revenue Estimate: $19.13 Billion (Up from $14.93 Billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 25.9x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $258.50 (range: $145.00 to $400.00) across 50 analysts. Recent analyst moves include:
UBS: Buy (Lowers Forecast to $245.00) (August 6) CLSA: Initiated with Hold (Forecast $145.00) (July 20) Bernstein: Outperform (Raises Forecast to $325.00) (June 11) Top ETF Exposure iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV): 5.87% Weight First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:FDN): 4.30% Weight First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund (NASDAQ:TDIV): 5.21% Weight Significance: Because ORCL carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.
Price ActionORCL Stock Price Activity: Oracle shares were down 3.65% at $145.57 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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