ESCO Technologies dokončila akvizici Megger Group Limited od TBG AG. Megger posílí segment Utility Solutions Group a rozšíří nabídku pro elektrické utility.
St. Louis, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Megger Group Limited (Megger) business of TBG AG (TBG). Under the terms of the transaction, TBG has agreed to certain lock-up provisions with respect to its equity ownership in ESCO common stock and has nomination rights for one seat on ESCO’s Board of Directors.
The acquisition of Megger supports ESCO’s long-term objective of expanding our leadership positions in high-growth end-markets. Megger is a leading global provider of testing, monitoring, and data-driven solutions for utilities and critical electric infrastructure and will become a part of our Utility Solutions Group segment. Megger adds a well-respected and differentiated product portfolio, with highly complementary capabilities, deep technical expertise, and strong customer and supplier relationships. The addition of Megger expands the scale and international reach of ESCO’s utility product offerings, further strengthening our position as a valued partner to utilities worldwide.
The Company’s FY 2027 financial guidance and outlook, inclusive of impacts from the Megger acquisition, will be announced in November when Q4 2026 earnings are released.
ESCO is a global provider of highly engineered products and solutions serving diverse end-markets. It manufactures filtration and fluid control products, advanced composites, as well as signature and power management solutions for aviation, Navy, space, and industrial customers. ESCO is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing RF test and measurement products and systems; and provides diagnostic instruments, software and services to industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ESCO and its subsidiaries have offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. For more information on ESCO and its subsidiaries, visit ESCO’s website at www.escotechnologies.com.
SOURCE ESCO Technologies Inc.
Kate Lowrey, Vice President of Investor Relations, (314) 213-7277
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) (Inspire), a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative, minimally invasive solutions for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), today announced that the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT® Editorial Panel has approved the establishment of a new set of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes that accurately describe and include the Inspire V system. The new Category I codes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2028.
“This new CPT code language addresses the implantation of a single lead and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) including our recently launched Inspire V system,” said Tim Herbert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Medical Systems. “We appreciate the AMA creating dedicated codes that will create a clearer, more consistent path for coding and reimbursement, which we expect will reduce administrative burden for hospitals and physicians and support continued growth in patient access to Inspire therapy. The application received broad society support with special thanks to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and the Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the International Surgical Sleep Society (ISSS) for their support addressing the need to act now to provide a permanent coding solution for the Inspire V system and other single lead hypoglossal nerve stimulation IPG therapies.”
With the new codes created, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct its standard process to determine the value for each new CPT code, which determines the payments for that service under Medicare. CMS typically requests the AMA Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to review specific codes and evaluate whether physician time, work and expenses for related services have changed over time.
Specialty societies, such as the AAO-HNS, may survey their members and make recommendations to the RUC based on the output from the rigorous methodology for these surveys. These surveys would collect information regarding physician work including both time and complexity, practice expenses including clinical staff and any required supplies and equipment, and liability insurance. Sufficient physicians are surveyed to ensure accuracy of data collected.
After collecting and reviewing the data, the RUC recommendation is provided to CMS who we expect would publish their proposed valuation in July 2027 with final valuations published in November 2027.
The new Category I CPT codes reflect a growing body of clinical evidence supporting therapies like Inspire’s closed-loop implantable device, Inspire V, which is designed to work with a patient’s natural breathing to help keep the airway open during sleep. With more than 140,000 patients treated and over a decade of clinical experience, Inspire is a well-established leader in the treatment of OSA.
About Inspire Medical Systems
Inspire Medical Systems is a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative, minimally invasive solutions for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Inspire’s proprietary Inspire therapy is the first FDA, EU MDR, and PDMA-approved neurostimulation technology that provides safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
For additional information about Inspire, please visit www.inspiresleep.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated implementation and effective date of the newly approved CPT® codes and the potential impact of such codes on coding, reimbursement, patient access, and adoption of Inspire therapy. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "will," and similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.'s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Inspire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared its quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share. Payment of the October dividend will be made on October 28, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2026.
About Alamo Group
Alamo Group is a leader in the manufacture and sale of high-quality, purpose-built industrial and vegetation management equipment. We serve end-markets such as infrastructure building and maintenance, industrial construction, public works, land maintenance, agriculture and tree care. Our products are sold to independent equipment dealers and directly to contractors and municipalities. Product categories include vocational products (vacuum trucks, street sweepers, roadside safety equipment, excavators, and snow removal equipment) and light machinery (tractor mounted mowing equipment, land maintenance and recycling equipment) as well as related after-market parts and services. The Company operates two divisions: the Industrial Equipment Division and the Vegetation Management Division. Founded in 1969, the Company has approximately 3,800 employees and operates 27 manufacturing facilities in North America, Canada, Europe, Brazil and Australia. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: adverse economic conditions which could lead to a reduction in overall market demand, supply chain disruptions, labor constraints, increasing costs due to inflation, disease outbreaks, geopolitical risks, including tariffs, trade wars, and the effects of the war in the Ukraine and the Middle East, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.
Gentherm dokončil spojení s divizí Performance Technologies společnosti Modine a vytvořil globálního lídra v technologiích tepelného a přesného řízení průtoku. Do představenstva zároveň nastoupil Paul Mascarenas.
Combination Creates Global Market Leader of Thermal and Precision Flow Management Technologies
Announces Appointment of Paul Mascarenas to its Board of Directors
NOVI, Mich., Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gentherm (NASDAQ:THRM) (the “Company” or “Gentherm”), a global market leader of thermal and precision flow management technologies, today announced it has completed the previously announced combination with Modine’s Performance Technologies business (the “Business”). The transaction was first announced on January 29, 2026.
"Today marks the start of the next phase for Gentherm. Together, we have created a global leader in thermal and precision flow management solutions serving multiple end markets, combining complementary technologies, deep expertise and strong customer relationships,” said Bill Presley, the Company's President and CEO. "We are proud to continue the Modine legacy of innovation as part of Gentherm while building an even stronger future for our employees, customers and shareholders and welcome the Modine Performance Technologies team to Gentherm."
As part of the transaction, Gentherm acquired the Modine brand, domains, and trademarks and will continue to go to market as Modine. Modine (NYSE: MOD) intends to operate as Modexus Solutions (following shareholder approval of the proposed name change) and will continue using the Modine brand in certain businesses (the Heat Transfer Solutions and HVAC Technologies businesses in its Commercial HVAC segment) under a license with Gentherm. The arrangement preserves customer continuity after the separation and allows customers to continue to access Modine products, solutions, and resources through Modine-branded channels.
Transaction information
The transaction was structured as a Reverse Morris Trust transaction (the “Transaction”), pursuant to which the Business was spun off as a separate subsidiary entity of Modine (“SpinCo”) and then merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of Gentherm. The Transaction is intended to be tax-free to Modine and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that Modine shareholders will generally recognize gain or loss on any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Gentherm common stock.
In the Transaction, Modine shareholders received 0.44619 shares of Gentherm common stock for each share of Modine common stock they held as of the close of business on September 28, 2026, the record date for the spin-off, with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Gentherm common stock. As of the closing of the Transaction, Modine’s shareholders owned shares of Gentherm common stock representing approximately 43.62% of the outstanding shares of the combined company, and Gentherm shareholders prior to the closing of the Transaction owned shares of Gentherm common stock representing approximately 56.38% of the outstanding shares of the combined company, without taking into account any overlapping shareholder ownership. In addition to their shares of Gentherm common stock, Modine shareholders continue to hold the same number of shares of Modine common stock they held prior to the transaction.
Modine received a cash distribution from SpinCo of approximately $156 million in the Transaction that was used to repay outstanding indebtedness. In addition, following adjustment to the exchange ratio, the Gentherm Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $2.07 per share to be paid on October 7, 2026 to Gentherm shareholders as of September 28, 2026, the record date for the special dividend, in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
Leadership Update
Bill Presley and Jon Douyard will continue leading the combined Company as CEO and CFO, respectively. Katrin Schatz will serve as the Interim President of Modine Performance Technologies, which will operate as a division of Gentherm. Ms. Schatz has more than 25 years' experience spanning finance, engineering, and operations at Modine, most recently serving as the Vice President and General Manager of the Global Automotive Business.
"Since we first began discussions with Modine, I have been impressed with the team's strategic vision and operational discipline. They are highly skilled and bring a relentless focus on quality and execution,” said Bill Presley, the Company's President and CEO. "I look forward to spending more time with Performance Technologies' highly capable and long-tenured segment leaders."
Board of Directors
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Paul Mascarenas has been appointed to the Gentherm Board of Directors effective upon the closing of the Transaction. The result is an increase in the size of the Gentherm Board to a total of 10 members.
Mr. Mascarenas is the former Chief Technical Officer of Ford Motor Company, where he led worldwide research and advanced engineering activities and oversaw the development and implementation of Ford’s technology strategy. During his tenure with Ford, which began in 1982, Mr. Mascarenas held various development and engineering positions both in the U.S. and Europe. He is currently a Venture Partner with Fontinalis Partners and serves on the Board of Directors of ON Semiconductor Corporation (Nasdaq: ON) and Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO). He has previously served on the Board of Directors at several public companies including Mentor Graphics (n/k/a Siemens EDA), BorgWarner, United States Steel Corporation, and Aebi Schmidt Group (formerly Shyft Group and Spartan Motors). He also served as President and Chair of the board of SAE International. Mr. Mascarenas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of London, King’s College and an honorary doctorate degree from Chongqing University.
“We are pleased to welcome Paul to Gentherm’s Board of Directors,” said Ronald Hundzinski, Chair of the Board of Gentherm. “Paul is an accomplished executive with many years of deep board experience. He has served across a wide range of committees for companies in various industries that will be a valuable asset as we execute Gentherm's strategy and deliver shareholder value.”
About Gentherm
Gentherm (NASDAQ: THRM) is a global leader of innovative thermal and precision flow management technologies. The Company brings together industry leading products from Gentherm’s climate, comfort and valves businesses serving the light vehicle, medical, and home and office markets, with Modine’s highly engineered, mission-critical thermal solutions serving commercial vehicle, off-highway equipment, light vehicle and power generation markets. Gentherm has more than 18,000 employees in facilities across 17 countries. For more information, go to www.gentherm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Gentherm Incorporated's goals, beliefs, plans and expectations about its prospects for the future and other future events. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof or as of the date specified herein and are based on management's reasonable expectations and beliefs. In making these statements we rely on assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, third party information and projections from sources that management believes to be reputable, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of important assumptions, significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and other factors that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from that described in or indicated by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to:
uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined company following completion of the acquisition of the Modine Performance Technologies business (the “Transaction”);failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, including as a result of delay in or integrating the businesses of Gentherm and Modine’s Performance Technologies on the expected timeframe or at all;the ability of the combined company to implement its business strategy;difficulties and delays in the combined company achieving revenue and cost synergies;inability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel;evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes;changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions or any volatility resulting from the imposition of and changing policies, including those policies with respect to tariffs;actions by third parties, including government agencies;the risk of greater than expected difficulty in separating the business of the Performance Technologies business from the other businesses of Modine; andrisks related to the effects of the pendency of the Transaction on the relationship of any of the parties to the Transaction with their employees, customers, suppliers, or other counterparties.macroeconomic, geopolitical and similar global factors in the cyclical Automotive industry;the impact of, and our ability to mitigate the effects of, global economic and trade policies, including increases in duties, tariffs and taxation on the import or export of our products related to U.S. trade disputes;increasing U.S. and global competition, including with non-traditional entrants;our ability to effectively manage new product launches and research and development, and the market acceptance of such products and technologies;the evolution and challenges of the automotive industry towards electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and mobility on demand services, and related consumer behaviors and preferences;our ability to convert automotive new business awards into product revenues;the constraints in the supply chain environment, and inflationary and other cost pressures;the production levels of our major customers and OEMs in our relevant markets and sudden fluctuations in such production levels;our business in China, which is subject to unique operational, competitive, geopolitical, regulatory and economic risks;the impact of our global operations, including our cost structure and global manufacturing footprint, operations within Ukraine, and foreign currency and exchange risk;our product quality and safety and impact of product safety recalls and alleged defects in products;our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees and wage inflation;a tightening labor market, labor shortages or work stoppages impacting us, our customers or our suppliers, such as recent labor strikes among certain OEMs and suppliers;our achievement of product cost reductions to offset customer-imposed price reductions or other pricing pressures;our ability to execute efforts to optimize our global supply chain and manufacturing footprint, including opening new facilities and transferring production;our ability to source, consummate, integrate and achieve planned benefits of strategic acquisitions, investments and, as applicable, exits;any security breaches and other disruptions to our information technology networks and systems, as well as privacy, data security and data protection risks, including risks associated with use of artificial intelligence capabilities in our business operations;any loss or insolvency of our key customers and OEMs, or key suppliers;our ability to project future sales volume based on third-party information, based on which we manage our business;the protection of our intellectual property in certain jurisdictions;our compliance with global anti-corruption laws and regulations;legal and regulatory proceedings and claims involving us or one of our major customers;the extensive regulation of our patient temperature management business;risks associated with our manufacturing processes;the effects of climate change and regulatory and stakeholder-imposed requirements to address climate change and other sustainability issues;our product quality and safety;our borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility, as well as the ability to access the capital markets, to support our planned growth; andour indebtedness and compliance with our debt covenants. The foregoing risks should be read in conjunction with the Company's reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors,” in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. In addition, with reasonable frequency, we have entered into business combinations, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments and other significant transactions. Such forward-looking statements do not include the potential impact of any such transactions that may be completed after the date hereof (except the Proposed Transaction to the extent specified), each of which may present material risks to the Company’s future business and financial results. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time.
Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its strategies or expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Quaker Houghton uzavřela nové sedmileté termínové úvěrové financování B za 550 milionů USD, které refinancuje stávající dluh a prodlužuje splatnost do října 2033.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR), the global leader in industrial process fluids, announced today that it has successfully closed on a new 7-year U.S. dollar-denominated Term Loan B facility with an aggregate principal amount of $550 million. The Term Loan B amends the Company's existing Credit Agreement, and proceeds will be used to repay in full the U.S. Term Loans outstanding under that agreement.
The Term Loan B matures in October 2033 and is priced at SOFR +175 basis points. Quarterly amortization payments will equal 0.25% of the initial aggregate principal amount of the loan, with the balance due at maturity.
Commenting on the transaction, Joseph Berquist, Chief Executive Officer, said, "The completion of this Term Loan B provides greater flexibility in our capital structure by extending our debt maturity profile and reducing required annual debt payments. This transaction positions us to continue investing in strategic growth initiatives while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation and value creation. We are pleased with the strong support from the lending community, which reflects confidence in Quaker Houghton's market leadership, cash flow generation, and long-term growth strategy."
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., acted as the administrative agent for the transaction.
About Quaker Houghton
Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,700 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that fall under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We have based these forward-looking statements on assumptions, projections and expectations about future events that we believe are reasonable based on currently available information, including statements regarding the potential effects of economic downturns; tariffs, including retaliatory tariffs, "trade wars" and uncertainty surrounding changes in tariffs; inflation and global supply chain constraints on the Company's business, results of operations, and financial condition; our expectation that we will maintain sufficient liquidity and remain in compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facility; expectations about future demand and raw material costs; and statements regarding the impact of increased raw material costs and pricing initiatives. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business, which may differ materially from our actual results, including but not limited to the potential benefits of acquisitions and divestitures, the impacts on our business as a result of global supply chain constraints and other macroeconomic stresses and uncertainties, including political and geopolitical events, civil disturbances and endemics/pandemics or extreme weather events and other natural disasters that may adversely affect regional economic conditions, and our current and future results and plans and statements that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "outlook," "target," "possible," "potential," "plan" or similar expressions. Such statements include information relating to current and future business activities, operational matters, capital spending, and financing sources. A major risk is that demand for the Company's products and services is largely derived from the demand for its customers' products, which subjects the Company to uncertainties related to downturns in a customer's business and unanticipated customer production slowdowns and shutdowns. Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, inflationary pressures, including increases in raw material costs; supply chain constraints and the impacts of economic downturns; customer financial instability; high interest rates and their impact on our and our customers' business operations; the impacts from acts of war, terrorism and military conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as economic, political and governmental actions taken by various governments and government organizations in response; economic and political disruptions particularly in light of numerous elections globally and the possibility of regime changes; the possibility of economic recession; legislative and regulatory developments including changes to existing laws and regulations, or the way they are interpreted, applied or enforced; tariffs, trade restrictions, and the economic and other sanctions imposed by other nations on Russia and Belarus and/or other government organizations; suspensions of activities in Russia by many multinational companies; foreign currency fluctuations; significant changes in applicable tax rates and regulations and the potential impacts therefrom, including those arising from H.R.1, commonly known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"; terrorist attacks and other acts of violence; the impacts of consolidation in our industry, including loss or consolidation of a major customer, the effects of climate change, fires, or other natural disasters; and the potential occurrence of cyber-security breaches, cyber-security attacks and other technology outages and security incidents. Furthermore, the Company is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by our customers in the steel, automobile, aircraft, industrial equipment, aluminum and durable goods industries. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company and its operations that are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. All forward-looking statements included in this press release, including expectations about future periods, are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, which may change. Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as certain additional risks that we face, refer to the Risk Factors section, which appears in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to, and we disclaim any duty or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or for any other reason.
NVIDIA vykázala růst tržeb o 106 % a pro fiskální třetí čtvrtletí očekává tržby ve výši zhruba 108 miliard USD. Quanta Services zvýšila tržby o 41,1 % a upravený EPS o 71 % na 4,24 USD.
Key Takeaways NVIDIA posted 106% revenue growth and expects fiscal third-quarter revenues of about $108 billion.Quanta Services' revenues rose 41.1%, while adjusted EPS jumped 71% in the second quarter.Both companies have favorable earnings trends, with Quanta Services backed by a $53.4 billion backlog. The month of October kicks off the fourth quarter with a mixed backdrop for investors. The U.S. economy remains stable, with the Commerce Department’s latest estimate showing real GDP expanded at a 2.2% annualized rate in the second quarter, while consumer spending rose 3.8%. At the same time, elevated inflation is making it difficult for the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy aggressively, while higher interest rates continue to put pressure on stock valuations. The Federal Reserve’s September projections put 2026 PCE inflation at 3.7% and the federal funds rate at 4.1% at year-end, underscoring the possibility of higher rates for longer.
Against this backdrop, investors entering October may want to emphasize companies capable of delivering above-market revenue and earnings growth rather than relying solely on multiple expansion. This approach is particularly relevant as the market moves into the third-quarter earnings reporting cycle shortly.
Here, we suggest investors buy NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) and Quanta Services (PWR - Free Report) in October to boost portfolio growth, as both companies combine strong earnings growth prospects with favorable estimate trends and long-term business drivers.
Rising Earnings Estimates Support Growth OutlookEarnings estimate trends also remain supportive heading into October. As shown in the chart below, the December 2026 EPS estimate for the S&P 500 has climbed to $8.45 as of September 2026 from $6.92 a year earlier, representing a 22.1% increase. Estimates have moved steadily higher through much of 2026, indicating improving earnings expectations.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Against this backdrop, companies with strong fundamental growth and positive estimate revisions could remain particularly attractive as investors become increasingly selective heading into the third-quarter earnings season.
The opportunity, however, calls for selectivity rather than simply chasing stocks that have already rallied. September's sharp rise in Treasury yields and higher energy prices have increased concerns about inflation and borrowing costs, while the S&P 500 still posted a gain for the third quarter. Higher yields can create valuation pressure for rate-sensitive growth stocks, making earnings delivery increasingly important.
For investors looking to strengthen portfolios in October, growth stocks with visible earnings drivers, strong fundamentals and favorable estimate revision trends could therefore offer a way to participate in corporate profit expansion while maintaining greater focus on underlying business performance.
2 Growth Stocks to Buy in OctoberNVIDIA: It stands out as a growth candidate heading into October, supported by exceptionally strong demand for accelerated computing and AI infrastructure. The company reported fiscal 2027 second-quarter revenues of $96.2 billion, up 106% year over year, while guiding for fiscal third-quarter revenues of about $108 billion.
For growth investors, the Zacks Consensus Estimate as of late September called for fiscal 2027 revenues of $406.05 billion, up 88.04% year over year, while EPS was projected to increase 93.92%. The fiscal third-quarter consensus called for revenues of $109.02 billion and EPS of $2.47, implying year-over-year growth of 91.24% and 90%, respectively. NVDA carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with an impressive five-year historical growth rate of 77.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Quanta Services: Beyond technology, Quanta Services offers exposure to growing investment in electricity transmission, grid modernization, power generation and other critical infrastructure. The company reported second-quarter 2026 revenues of $9.56 billion, up 41.1% year over year, while adjusted EPS jumped 71% to $4.24. Its backlog reached $53.4 billion at the end of the second quarter, up about 49% year over year, providing visibility into future project activity.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for 55.3% EPS growth in 2026, well above the 19.4% industry average. Meanwhile, PWR's current year-over-year cash-flow growth stands at 21.2%, compared with 10.3% for the industry, according to Zacks. PWR carried a Zacks Rank #1 and has a Growth Score of A. Our research shows that stocks with a Growth Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1, 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), offer the best upside potential. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Authentic Brands Group podle Reuters oslovila Mattel s nabídkou na převzetí, která by mohla ocenit výrobce Barbie na zhruba 6 miliard USD nebo více. Akcie Mattel po zprávě uzavřely o 18 % výše.
Mattel (MAT.O) has been approached by Authentic Brands Group for a takeover that could value the Barbie maker at around $6 billion or more, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
Authentic Brands was discussing a more than $20-a-share takeover interest, according to the source. Shares of Mattel, which has a market capitalization of about $3.62 billion, closed up about 18% at $15.04 following the news, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier in the day.
There is no guarantee that Mattel will be open to Authentic Brands' offer, and there is no formal sale process ongoing for the company, the source said.
Mattel declined to comment, while Authentic Brands did not immediately respond to a Reuters request.
Mattel shares closed down about 4% on Wednesday, after the company said its top boss Ynon Kreiz would leave to take on the role of co-CEO at Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) and run its combined business with Warner Bros (WBD.O).
At Mattel, Kreiz will be succeeded by Roger Lynch, the former CEO of the New Yorker-owner Conde Nast, on or before November 2026.
Lynch's transition, according to the WSJ report, could complicate any deal for Mattel as he works on his strategy.
Consumer goods companies and retailers are battling weak spending as households face higher fuel costs and interest rates in the US.
This year, Mattel has struggled with tariff-related costs, even as it continued its push to build an entertainment portfolio around its brands, following the success of the 2023 "Barbie" movie. Its shares have dropped 33% so far this year.
In May, Mattel investor Southeastern Asset Management called on Kreiz to explore options for the company, including going private, or being acquired by rival Hasbro (HAS.O) or a large media company that would value Mattel's IP assets better than the public market.
Authentic Brands bought Dockers from Levi Strauss (LEVI.N) earlier this year, adding to its portfolio that includes Guess and Van Heusen.
The company licenses intellectual property of its brands to partners, and has been focusing its M&A strategy to include kids entertainment brands and hospitality.
Matador Resources dokončila akvizici Paloma Permian za 1,255 miliardy USD v hotovosti. Přidává přes 156 čistých lokalit a zhruba 16 500 čistých akrů v Novém Mexiku.
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Matador Resources Company (NYSE: MTDR) (“Matador” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition of Paloma Permian LLC (“Paloma”), a portfolio company of EnCap Investments L.P. (“EnCap”), for cash consideration of $1.255 billion, which amount is subject to customary post-closing adjustments (the “Paloma Acquisition”). Highlights of the Paloma Acquisition include:
Adds over 156 net locations (normalized to two-mile laterals) across nine or more potential targeted benches; 59 approved drilling permits on Paloma acreage; Matador expects to commence drilling operations on up to 25 wells associated with Paloma acreage by year-end 2027; and Adds approximately 16,500 net primarily undeveloped acres in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, the majority of which is held by production. Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, commented, “On behalf of the Board and executive committee, I would like to acknowledge the extra effort and assistance of everyone at Paloma, EnCap and Matador to close this important transaction as agreed. We believe the Paloma assets hold some of the highest hydrocarbon resources per acre in the Lower 48. This acreage also provides Matador with great value creation opportunities for upstream capital efficiencies, for its wholly-owned midstream system and for its 51%-owned San Mateo Midstream system.
“While most of the acquisition’s current value stems from its undeveloped drilling locations, we are encouraged by the continued strong performance of the acquired producing wells. Largely attributable to Paloma’s newest wells in Eddy County, New Mexico, since June 1, 2026, production associated with the acquisition has outperformed Matador’s underwriting estimates by approximately 10%.
“With the addition of the Paloma Acquisition closed today, and the expected acreage additions from the recently announced Ridge Runner Resources II, LLC (“Ridge Runner”) acquisition (expected to close later this month), Matador will have approximately 240,000 net acres in the core of the Delaware Basin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Together with the May 2026 Federal lease sale, these acquisitions increase Matador’s net acreage position by almost 20% above its October 2025 position of 203,000 net acres.”
Mr. Foran continued, “We are excited about Matador’s positive outlook for the remainder of 2026 and as we look ahead to 2027. We look forward to further discussion of the Paloma assets, including our plans for the fourth quarter of 2026, in our third quarter 2026 earnings release and conference call in early November. We especially want to express our respect and appreciation for Paloma’s and EnCap’s professionalism and cooperation during the transition process from Paloma’s management team and field and office staff.
“Similar to previous successful transactions between Matador and EnCap, and its portfolio companies, we anticipate this acquisition will be integrated efficiently into Matador’s operating plans and contribute to Matador’s free cash flow generation and to its planned debt repayments. In that regard, Matador expects to pay down its reserves-based lending credit facility led by PNC Bank by approximately $350-400 million following the closings in the fourth quarter, depending on commodity prices.”
Advisors
Baker Botts L.L.P. served as legal advisor to Matador for the Paloma Acquisition. Vinson & Elkins LLP served as legal advisor and RBC Richardson Barr served as financial advisor to Paloma and EnCap.
About Matador Resources Company
Matador is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. Its current operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Matador also operates in the Haynesville shale and Cotton Valley plays in Northwest Louisiana. Additionally, Matador conducts midstream operations in support of its exploration, development and production operations and provides natural gas processing, oil transportation services, natural gas, oil and produced water gathering services and produced water disposal services to third parties.
For more information, visit Matador Resources Company at www.matadorresources.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. “Forward-looking statements” are statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “could,” “believe,” “would,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “continue,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “hypothetical,” “forecasted” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Paloma Acquisition and the consummation and timing of the acquisition of primarily undeveloped acreage from Ridge Runner (the “Ridge Runner Acquisition” and collectively with the Paloma Acquisition, the “Acquisitions”), the anticipated benefits, opportunities and results with respect to the Acquisitions, including the expected value creation, reserves additions, inventory additions, midstream opportunities and other anticipated impacts from the Acquisitions, guidance, projected or forecasted financial and operating results, future liquidity, the repayment of debt, the payment of dividends, results in certain basins, objectives, project timing, expectations and intentions, regulatory and governmental actions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, and such forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability of the parties to consummate the Ridge Runner Acquisition in the anticipated timeframe or at all; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to closing the Ridge Runner Acquisition in the anticipated timeframe or at all; risks related to obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals; disruption from the Acquisitions making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; significant transaction costs associated with the Acquisitions; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the Acquisitions, as well as the following risks related to financial and operational performance: general economic conditions including the effects of inflation; interest rates; tariffs and trade tensions; the Company’s ability to execute its business plan, including whether its drilling program is successful; changes in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices and the demand for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; its ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop current reserves; the operating results of the Company’s midstream oil, natural gas and water gathering and transportation systems, pipelines and facilities, the acquiring of third-party business and the drilling of any additional salt water disposal wells; costs of operations; delays and other difficulties related to producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids or the construction, expansion or operation of the Company’s midstream assets; delays and other difficulties related to regulatory and governmental approvals and restrictions; impact on the Company’s operations due to seismic events; its ability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; its ability to integrate acquisitions; disruption from the Company’s acquisitions making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; significant transaction costs associated with the Company’s acquisitions; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the Company’s acquisitions; availability of sufficient capital to execute its business plan, including from future cash flows, capital markets, available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facilities and otherwise; the operating results of and the availability of any potential distributions from our joint ventures; weather conditions, environmental conditions and natural disasters; evolving cybersecurity risks; and the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. For further discussions of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Matador’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of Matador’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Matador undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
onsemi a Synaptics upravily smlouvu o fúzi: onsemi koupí Synaptics za 123 USD za akcii v hotovosti, celkem asi za 5,7 miliardy USD. Transakce má být okamžitě zvyšující pro non-GAAP EPS onsemi.
Revised Terms to Deliver Higher onsemi Shareholder Value through Immediate EPS Accretion
Amended Agreement Follows Thorough Review of Unsolicited Competing Proposal
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- onsemi (NASDAQ: ON) and Synaptics Incorporated (NASDAQ: SYNA) ("Synaptics") today announced they have amended their June 25, 2026 merger agreement. The amendment follows an unsolicited competing proposal received from a third party.
Under the revised agreement, onsemi will acquire Synaptics for $123 per share in cash for an aggregate value of approximately $5.7 billion as compared to approximately $7 billion for the prior agreement. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to onsemi’s non-GAAP earnings per share and provides value certainty for Synaptics’ shareholders.
“As was the case when we initially announced the acquisition, Synaptics addresses an important aspect of our strategic direction, and we believe the revised merger agreement represents a more financially attractive transaction for our shareholders,” said Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO of onsemi. “The all-cash transaction delivers higher value to our shareholders through lower total cost consideration, and we now expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to non-GAAP EPS upon closing. In addition, we have identified incremental opportunities to create shareholder value beyond the previously announced $200 million of annual run-rate synergies. These additional benefits from revenue synergies and insourcing of a portion of Synaptics’ production are expected to be realized after the initial 18 months post-close, further strengthening the long-term earnings and cash flow profile of the combined company.”
El-Khoury continued, “Synaptics is accretive to our long-term model, with a strong growth outlook and attractive gross margin profile that will help accelerate onsemi’s evolution. Additionally, Synaptics complements growth in our AI data center business, and brings to onsemi its highly profitable human-machine interface, and sensing products businesses that generate strong and predictable cash flows, providing the combined company with a durable funding engine to accelerate its connected compute capabilities.”
After careful review with its financial and legal advisors, the Synaptics Board unanimously determined that the onsemi transaction, as amended, continues to be in the best interests of Synaptics and its shareholders.
"Our Board has been singularly focused on delivering the best outcome for our shareholders, and today's amended agreement reflects that commitment," said Rahul Patel, Synaptics President and CEO. “By transitioning to an all-cash structure, we are providing value certainty at a meaningful premium as compared to current value. We are confident this path is the right choice for our shareholders."
The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and committed financing. onsemi has obtained fully committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley. The amended merger agreement does not include a closing condition related to onsemi’s financing.
The transaction is still expected to close by mid-2027, subject to approval by Synaptics shareholders, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction has been approved by the United States Federal Trade Commission, and regulators in other jurisdictions are reviewing the transaction.
More Information:
Investor Presentation: onsemi & Synaptics Revised Merger Terms About onsemi
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) delivers intelligent power and sensing technologies that enable electrification, energy efficiency, safety, and automation across automotive, industrial, and AI data center end-markets. With a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, onsemi helps customers solve complex challenges to achieve higher efficiency, improved performance, and lower system cost, while supporting a safer, cleaner, and more energy-efficient world. The company is part of the S&P 500® index. Learn more at www.onsemi.com.
About Synaptics Incorporated
Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is driving innovation in AI at the Edge, bringing AI closer to end users and transforming how we engage with intelligent connected devices, whether at home, at work, or on the move. As a go-to partner for forward-thinking product innovators, Synaptics powers the future with its cutting-edge Synaptics Astra™ AI-Native embedded compute, wireless connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions. We’re making the digital experience smarter, faster, more intuitive, secure, and seamless. From touch, display, and biometrics to AI-driven wireless connectivity, video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing, Synaptics is a force behind the next generation of technology enhancing how we live, work, and play.
Contact Information
onsemi
Parag Agarwal
Vice President - Investor Relations & Corporate Development
onsemi
(602) 244-3437 [email protected]
Krystal Heaton
Director, Head of Public Relations
onsemi
(480) 242-6943 [email protected]
Synaptics
Munjal Shah
Vice President – Investor Relations
Synaptics
(408) 518-7639 [email protected]
¹ The presentation available on onsemi’s website does not constitute a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this press release.
This press release relates to onsemi’s proposed acquisition of Synaptics and includes “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this press release could be deemed forward-looking statements, particularly statements about the future financial performance of onsemi. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “strategy,” “targets,” “will,” or “would,” or similar expressions or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations, projections or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this document are made based on onsemi’s and Synaptics’ current expectations, forecasts, estimates and assumptions, all of which are subject to change, and involve risks and uncertainties, which, along with other factors, could cause results and events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from regulators or the stockholders of Synaptics for the transaction are not obtained; litigation relating to the transaction; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the transaction; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts the current plans and operations of onsemi or Synpatics, including restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the ability of onsemi or Synaptics to retain and hire key personnel; competitive responses to the proposed transaction; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; legislative, regulatory and economic developments; and unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as onsemi’s or Synaptics response to any of the aforementioned factors. Certain additional factors that could affect onsemi’s future results or events are described under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 9, 2026 (the “2025 Form 10-K”) and from time to time in onsemi’s other SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither onsemi nor Synaptics assumes any obligation to update such information, which speaks only as of the date made, except as may be required by law.
Investing in onsemi’s or Synaptics’ securities involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty, and you should carefully consider the trends, risks and uncertainties described in this press release, onsemi’s 2025 Form 10-K, Synaptics' 2026 Form 10-K and other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC before making any investment decision with respect to onsemi’s or Synaptics' securities. If any of these trends, risks or uncertainties actually occurs or continues, onsemi’s or Synaptics' business, financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected, the trading price of onsemi’s securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. All forward-looking statements attributable to onsemi, Synaptics or persons acting on onsemi’s or Synaptics' behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Important Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It
The proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of Synaptics for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, Synaptics will file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A. Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Synaptics will send the definitive proxy statement to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the transaction. Synaptics also plans to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document which Synaptics may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). In addition, investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement, preliminary proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Synaptics on the Synaptics Investor Relations website at https://investor.synaptics.com/.
Participants in the Solicitation
Synaptics, onsemi, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction, and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more detailed information about Synaptics’ executive officers and directors under the headings “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors,” “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Named Executive Officer Compensation Tables,” “CEO Pay-Ratio Disclosure,” “Pay Versus Performance Disclosure” and “Beneficial Ownership of Certain Stockholders” in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 15, 2026. To the extent holdings of Synaptics common stock by the directors and executive officers of Synaptics have changed from the amounts of Synaptics common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=817720&owner=exclude under the tab “Ownership Disclosures”. You can find more detailed information about onsemi’s executive officers and directors under the headings “The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance,” “Compensation of Executive Officers” and “Stock Ownership” in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 2, 2026. To the extent holdings of onsemi common stock by the directors and executive officers of onsemi have changed from the amounts of onsemi common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1097864&owner=exclude under the tab “Ownership Disclosures”. Additional information about Synaptics’ executive officers and directors and onsemi’s executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced proxy statement when it becomes available.
FactSet oznámil za 4. čtvrtletí upravený zisk 4,52 USD na akcii a tržby 634,7 milionu USD, obojí nad odhady. Výhled na fiskální rok 2027 ale zůstal slabší než čekal trh.
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) on Wednesday posted upbeat earnings for the fourth quarter and issued weaker-than-expected fiscal 2027 guidance.
FactSet reported adjusted earnings of $4.52 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.33. Revenue rose 6.3% year over year to $634.7 million, beating the consensus estimate of $629.8 million.
FactSet expects fiscal 2027 revenue of $2.60 billion to $2.625 billion. The midpoint of the range is below the $2.616 billion analyst estimate.
The company expects organic ASV growth of 5% to 6.5%. FactSet forecast a GAAP operating margin of 31% to 32% and an adjusted operating margin of 34.75% to 35.25%.
GAAP earnings are expected to range from $17 to $17.50 per share, below the $17.85 analyst estimate. Adjusted earnings are forecast at $19.25 to $19.65 per share, compared with the $19.68 consensus estimate.
“FactSet delivered strong results, highlighted by a record increase in organic ASV for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year with continued momentum across our AI and data solutions. During the year, we accelerated innovation, strengthened commercial execution, and improved productivity across the organization,” said Sanoke Viswanathan, CEO
FDS shares gained 3.5% to trade at $279.27 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on FDS following earnings announcement.
Stifel analyst Shlomo Rosenbaum maintained the stock with a Hold and raised the price target from $254 to $292. Wells Fargo analyst Jason Haas maintained the stock with an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $210 to $250. Considering buying FDS stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Plains All American Pipeline a Plains GP Holdings oznámily čtvrtletní distribuce ve výši 0,4175 USD na jednotku/akcii, beze změny oproti srpnu. Výsledky za třetí čtvrtletí 2026 zveřejní před otevřením trhu v pátek 6. listopadu 2026.
HOUSTON, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (Nasdaq: PAA) and Plains GP Holdings (Nasdaq: PAGP) announced today their quarterly distributions with respect to the third quarter of 2026 and also announced timing of third quarter 2026 earnings.
Third Quarter Distribution Declaration
PAA and PAGP announced the following quarterly cash distributions, each of which will be payable on November 13, 2026, to holders of the respective securities at the close of business on October 30, 2026:
PAA Common Units – $0.4175 per Common Unit ($1.67 per unit on an annualized basis), which is unchanged from the distribution paid in August 2026.PAGP Class A Shares – $0.4175 per Class A Share ($1.67 per Class A Share on an annualized basis), which is unchanged from the distribution paid in August 2026. Although equity holders should consult their own tax advisor regarding their particular circumstances, following the close of the NGL asset sale, it is possible that PAGP will report positive current earnings and profits for the Tax Year 2026, making part of its Class A Share cash distribution taxable as a dividend. The transaction is not estimated to result in a material change in the previous forecast regarding when routine PAGP distributions will shift from being a return of capital to being taxed as dividends or when PAGP will become a taxpaying entity. Following payment of quarterly distributions, Plains will publish Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities to clarify the expected portion of the quarterly distribution that will be taxed as a dividend. In addition, to the extent any cash distribution exceeds a Class A Shareholder’s tax basis, it should be taxable as a capital gain. A Qualified Notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446 with respect to the PAA Common Unit distribution will be posted on the Plains website under “Investor Relations – Unit Information.”
Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Timing
PAA and PAGP also announced that they will release third quarter 2026 earnings before market open on Friday, November 6, 2026. Following the announcement, PAA and PAGP will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) with analysts and investors to discuss earnings. The call will be webcast live on the internet and may be accessed through the "Investors Relations” section of the website at www.plains.com. An audio replay will be available on the website after the call.
About Plains
PAA is a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services primarily for crude oil. PAA owns an extensive network of pipeline gathering and transportation systems, in addition to terminalling, storage, and other infrastructure assets serving key producing basins, transportation corridors and major market hubs and export outlets in the United States and Canada.
PAGP is a publicly traded entity that owns an indirect, non-economic controlling general partner interest in PAA and an indirect limited partner interest in PAA, one of the largest energy infrastructure and logistics companies in North America.
PAA and PAGP are headquartered in Houston, Texas. More information is available at www.plains.com.
Cleveland-Cliffs oznámí výsledky za 3. čtvrtletí 2026 před otevřením trhu 19. října. Téhož dne v 8:30 ET uspořádá konferenční hovor s analytiky a investory.
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) will announce third-quarter 2026 earnings results before the U.S. market open on Monday, October 19, 2026.
The Company invites interested parties to listen to a live broadcast of a conference call with securities analysts and institutional investors to discuss the results on the same morning, October 19, 2026, at 8:30 am ET. The call can be accessed at www.clevelandcliffs.com and will also be archived and available for replay at that address.
About Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Cleveland-Cliffs is a leading North America-based steel producer with focus on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry. The Company is vertically integrated from the mining of iron ore, production of pellets and direct reduced iron, and processing of ferrous scrap through primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 25,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada.
Levi Strauss má podle Jefferies za 3. čtvrtletí vykázat solidní výsledky díky silné poptávce po denimu. Celoroční výhled zisku by se mohl mírně zlepšit, zatímco výhled tržeb zřejmě zůstane beze změny.
Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) is expected to deliver a solid third quarter on healthy denim demand, Jefferies said.
The brokerage said the full-year profit guide could move modestly higher, while the revenue outlook is likely largely reiterated amid stubborn inflation.
Jefferies forecasts third-quarter earnings of $0.36 per share and fourth-quarter earnings of $0.49, bringing fiscal 2026 EPS to $1.55.
Jefferies is biased toward slight upside in Q3. Its US alternative data was mixed, but it sees enough cushion in the conservative guide to beat its 2.6% Americas estimate, compared with roughly 7% in the first half. Management was bullish on Europe on its July call, and Jefferies' web traffic data suggests direct-to-consumer growth there remains intact.
Asia growth has been in the double digits, and China's return to growth is encouraging. If sales outperformance continues, organic growth could reach 5% to 6% or more year over year, versus the 4% to 5% guide and about 4.8% expected by the Street.
Investor focus will likely fall on Q4. With management guiding third-quarter operating margin up just 10 basis points to 11.9%, the roughly 12% full-year guide implies a step-up to about 14% in the fourth quarter, up 190 basis points year over year.
Jefferies said gross margin benefits from lapping last year's tariff hit, pricing and easing foreign exchange. Most of the lift comes from SG&A as advertising spending normalizes and the Hebron distribution center closure removes duplicative costs. Tariff refunds could also provide a one-time EPS lift.
For fiscal 2027, Jefferies models revenue growth of 4.7% in constant currency and operating margin up 60 basis points to 12.6%. Its EPS estimate of $1.70 sits in line with the Street at $1.71. The firm is biased to upside given seven consecutive quarters of mid-single-digit-plus growth and margin expansion.
Jefferies also noted that Levi's has named a new CFO, which it said signals a continued focus on global growth.
GE Vernova ve čtvrtek posílila o 4,58 % poté, co investoři ocenili urovnání sporu kolem Vineyard Wind, novou servisní zakázku v Egyptě a regulační průlom pro malý modulární reaktor BWRX-300.
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) shares are trading higher Thursday afternoon as investors assess several major commercial and regulatory developments announced during September.
Here’s what investors need to know.
GE Vernova stock is surging to new heights today. Why is GEV stock up today? Offshore Settlement and International Services ExpansionOn September 16, GE Vernova resolved outstanding commercial litigation regarding the Vineyard Wind offshore project through an amicable settlement. The agreement removes a significant legal and operational overhang surrounding the company’s wind segment following turbine blade failures in July 2024, paving the way for stabilized segment margins as installation activity resumes on the 800-megawatt offshore facility.
Building on its international services footprint, on September 23, the energy giant secured a key services contract with the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to provide Rotor Life Extension solutions across five utility gas turbines in Egypt.
The long-term agreement extends the operational lifespan and reliability of North Africa’s power grid while expanding GE Vernova’s high-margin services backlog, which provides predictable recurring cash flows alongside core equipment sales.
Regulatory Breakthrough for Advanced Nuclear PowerOperational momentum accelerated late in the month with a major regulatory milestone. On September 29, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its first domestic construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor to the Tennessee Valley Authority at its Clinch River site in Tennessee.
“Fleet deployment is essential to scaling nuclear energy in the United States,” said Jason Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “A standard design, combined with a predictable and efficient regulatory environment, allows us to apply common technology, licensing experience, supply chain capabilities and lessons learned from one project to the next. Clinch River brings us another step closer to making that fleet model a reality,” Cooper added.
GEV Stock Rises Thursday AfternoonGEV Price Action: GE Vernova shares were up 4.58% at $994.05 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Will invest to build championship-calibre teams
Will invest to deliver world-class experiences to fans and customers
Becomes global communications, sports and entertainment leader
TORONTO, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), increasing its ownership of MLSE to 100%. Rogers acquired the remaining 25% ownership stake in MLSE from Kilmer Sports Inc. for C$4.35 billion.
“We’re proud to bring these beloved teams together with the rest of Rogers to deliver more for fans, audiences, and customers,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. “We know how much these teams mean to fans and we are fully committed to investing to build championship-calibre teams, to enhancing the fan experience, and to delivering compelling experiences for our customers,” added Staffieri.
MLSE includes the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), the development teams affiliated with Toronto's NHL and NBA franchises, Scotiabank Arena, and its partnership with Live Nation. Rogers current sports and entertainment portfolio includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre, Sportsnet, along with over 30 television networks and over 40 radio stations.
“MLSE has some of the most iconic sports teams, they are part of the fabric of our communities and our country,” said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, Rogers. “Sports fans invest more than their money into their teams, they invest their time, passion and dreams. Their investment is personal and so is our responsibility.”
Rogers will create a new business unit, Rogers Sports, that brings Rogers sports, media and entertainment businesses together including MLSE and the Toronto Blue Jays. Now that we have completed the acquisition, Rogers will now build the best operating model for Rogers Sports.
During the interim, it remains business as usual. Keith Pelley will remain President and CEO of MLSE and Mark Shapiro will remain President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays. Pelley will take on additional accountability for Rogers Media effective immediately.
“Individually, these are extraordinary teams, brands and businesses. With communications, sports and entertainment together, it makes Rogers a truly world-class company that cannot be replicated,” added Staffieri.
About Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers is Canada’s communications, sports and entertainment company and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit rogers.com or about.rogers.com/investor-relations.
Bank of America vidí jadernou energii jako trh za 10 bilionů USD, ale u SMR bude růst kolem roku 2030. NuScale i Oklo zatím prodělávají a při poklesu trhu jim hrozí silné ředění akcionářů.
Experts increasingly agree that nuclear energy presents a compelling long-term opportunity for investors.
Research from Bank of America projects nuclear to be a $10 trillion global opportunity over the next couple of decades. The benefits won't be evenly spread throughout the nuclear sector, however.
The majority of the nuclear renaissance will be dominated by conventional nuclear power plants. Many big tech companies, for instance, are either restarting old nuclear reactors or constructing new facilities. Starting around 2030, however, Bank of America believes a relatively new kind of nuclear energy will begin scaling: small modular reactors, or SMRs. By 2050, up to 20% of the world's nuclear power would come from SMRs.
"Amid surging electricity demand, driven in part by the rise in AI/data centers, nuclear energy offers a potential solution," concludes Bank of America's research. "And new advancements in technology may now make the tipping point in sight for small modular reactors (SMRs) to reshape nuclear energy supply chains over the next decade."
From this perspective, SMR stocks including NuScale Power (SMR -0.57%) and Oklo (OKLO -2.03%) appear like promising investments, especially considering both companies have seen their valuations drop by roughly 50% this year. But as Bank of America's research suggests, mass SMR adoption could still be decades away. With how capital-intensive the industry is, both companies could face serious challenges during a bear market or economic weakness.
Can NuScale and Oklo survive a market crash? The answer is likely yes. But understanding how a sell-off could impact each company is critical before making an investment.
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Here's how NuScale and Oklo could suffer during a market crash SMR adoption is expected to rise globally over the coming decades. Importantly, only two SMR systems are currently in commercial operation. More than 80, however, are in development.
Given this, NuScale and Oklo have yet to successfully commercialize any of their SMR designs, despite both companies having impressive customer pipelines. NuScale may not get its first SMR project online until the 2030s. Oklo may get a system online sooner, but the company isn't even approved by U.S. regulators to begin deployment. Some of Oklo's bigger projects, meanwhile, have a start date of 2030 or later.
Building nuclear power plants, even miniature ones, is capital-intensive. So until Oklo and NuScale actually get a project up and running, investors should expect both companies to continue producing losses. Last quarter, NuScale posted a net loss of roughly $355 million, whereas Oklo lost around $105 million.
Image source: Getty Images.
This is where both Oklo and NuScale could get in trouble during a market downturn. Both companies have impressive technologies chasing lucrative long-term growth runways. But continued losses, coupled with distant revenue streams, force these nuclear developers to rely on capital markets to survive. This summer, NuScale unveiled a $750 million share sale. Weeks later, Oklo announced its own $1 billion share sale.
Share sales dilute shareholders. When equity prices are high, this dilution is less impactful. When stock market prices fall, however, dilution can be onerous.
Given each company's liquidity position, NuScale and Oklo won't be facing severe financial constraints anytime soon. If their share sales are executed as planned, insolvency risk drops even further. That should prove true even during a market correction.
What could happen during a market crash, however, is a heavy amount of shareholder dilution at rock-bottom prices. This is what investors should be worried about during a bear market.
Tesla se obchoduje jako technologická akcie hlavně kvůli sázce na robotaxi a humanoidní roboty Optimus, ne kvůli dnešnímu byznysu s elektromobily. Trh čeká, že právě tyto projekty ospravedlní její vysoké ocenění.
Most investors understand that you typically have to pay a premium price to buy good growth stocks. But shares of electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla (TSLA +0.64%) are taking the premise to an extreme. The stock's currently priced at 200 times this year's projected earnings of $1.75 per share, and over 160 times next year's expected earnings of $2.16 per share. That's expensive by any standard, including in the technology sector.
The valuation (sort of) makes sense, though, when you understand what Tesla is in the process of becoming. Soon, it will no longer be an EV company that also makes and markets solar panels and energy-storage batteries. Instead, the plan is for it to be a robotics and robotaxi outfit that also manufactures electric vehicles. Investors are pricing the stock based on this hoped-for future rather than what the business is doing in the present. Here's what they need to know.
Comparing and contrasting Although the company is winding down its solar roof tile business, it still makes and markets its own solar panels, as well as the energy storage equipment that makes these panels practical power sources. Moreover, EVs remain Tesla's biggest business -- accounting for $20.5 billion of its $28.2 billion in Q2 revenue -- and Tesla is still the second-biggest name in the global EV market, right behind China's BYD. Moreover, last quarter's year-over-year top-line growth of 26% suggests the company still has a little bit of magic left.
Its stock's price, however, has left the organization's fiscal results in the rear-view mirror.
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Shares aren't expensive simply because Tesla is struggling to turn its revenues into profits, to be clear. The stock's also expensive by revenue standards, trading at 13 times trailing-12-month sales versus the S&P 500's trailing price-to-sales ratio of 3.7. For further comparison, the S&P 500 is currently trading at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 23.5 and a forward P/E of just under 20. Based on these numbers, Tesla trades at valuations between 4 and 10 times those of the average publicly traded company.
It's not like we've never seen something like this before, though. Sometimes, a company eventually grows into such steep valuations. Think Amazon, for example.
The market's pricing in growth that hasn't even started yet Getting straight to the point, investors are pricing in a large amount of the future growth they expect from Tesla, as opposed to pricing the stock based on the business's current results. And there are two key components to this highly anticipated future. One of them is robotaxis.
Tesla's robotaxi ride-hailing venture, which at this early stage still relies largely on its Model Y vehicles, is up and running in a handful of markets. Its purpose-built Cybercab, however, represents the next generation of this venture's tech. Although the company has only rolled out a small fleet of Cybercabs in one market so far-- Austin, Texas -- it's reportedly planning to launch Cybercab-supported robotaxi services in a dozen states before the end of this year.
Although the development of these autonomous taxis has been agonizingly slow, once they're ready for wider-spread commercialization, the deployment is apt to happen fast. This will plug Tesla into a robotaxi market that Goldman Sachs expects to grow from nearly nothing now to $415 billion globally by 2035, with $48 billion of that being generated within the United States alone.
Image source: Tesla.
The other factor pumping up Tesla stock's premium valuation is arguably even more exciting. That's Tesla's entry into the AI-enabled humanoid robotics space. CEO Elon Musk suggested early this year that the company would be commercially selling its humanoid Optimus robots at scale by the end of 2027, and he hasn't said anything since to suggest that the timeline will have to be pushed back.
The commercial debut of these robots could be game-changing for the company -- not to mention the world -- in light of Musk's assessment that "Optimus will be not just Tesla's biggest product ever, but probably the biggest product ever." Although that remains to be seen, Barclays believes the market for humanoid work robots will grow to $200 billion annually by 2035. While even Musk concedes his company is facing stiff robotics competition from China, just capturing a healthy fraction of this potential business could be a boon for Tesla and its shareholders.
The growth Tesla needs from robots and robotaxis So how much optimism about the robotics and robotaxi businesses are investors pricing in here? It's difficult to say for sure. But we can come up with a rough idea.
As it stands right now, Tesla is on pace to do on the order of $106 billion worth of EV, solar panel, and battery-storage business this year, en route to a top line of over $120 billion next year. How much more revenue would the company need to generate with robotaxis and Optimus to make its current $1.4 trillion market cap make sense? Even allowing for the type of premium valuation that many technology stocks achieve, Tesla would need a top line on the order of $300 billion to $400 billion for its current stock price to reflect a valuation in line with its peers. That's about 3 times its current sales, and most of that growth will need to come from robots and robotaxis rather than EVs and solar, as both of those businesses are now running into competitive headwinds.
Or if you want to look at the matter through the lens of earnings, Tesla's earnings per share would arguably need to quintuple -- at a minimum -- to justify the stock's current price. That would put its annual bottom line in the ballpark of $10 per share (or hopefully more) to bring the stock to a valuation that's closer to that of a typical technology company. It's likely that to deliver that type of earnings growth will take improving contributions from all of the businesses it's going to be in for the foreseeable future.
And that's just to justify the stock's price today. For Tesla shares to validly grow in value, the company will need even more top- and bottom-line growth than that.
The thing is, if the outlooks for the worldwide robotaxi and humanoid AI robot businesses are anywhere near on target, Tesla may well reach these lofty sales and earnings numbers -- eventually.
The difficult part for current shareholders and interested investors will be the waiting and the volatility stemming from the uncertainty. While Cybercab is reportedly almost ready for widespread commercialization and Tesla's Optimus robots are supposed to go into scaled-up commercial production before the end of 2027, don't forget that Musk has something of a penchant for underestimating time frames. That could leave things very unpredictable for this stock in the meantime.
The truth is, in the long run, you'd probably be just fine with any of them. If you've only got room in your portfolio right now for one new position among "Magnificent Seven" members Alphabet (GOOG -1.50%)(GOOGL -1.44%), Amazon (AMZN -0.14%), and Microsoft (MSFT +0.60%), however, it should arguably be Google parent Alphabet. Here's why.
Why not Microsoft or Amazon? If you already hold stakes in Amazon or Microsoft, you're hardly doomed. Microsoft remains the centerpiece of the personal and professional computing business, and Amazon is still the king of e-commerce as well as the leader in the cloud computing market.
In a valuation environment that leaves no room for error or weakness, however, those two bring company-specific concerns to the table that could turn into stumbling blocks.
Image source: Getty Images.
For Microsoft, the key concern is its waning relevancy within the workplace, or for that matter, at home. Although its productivity software titles like Word and Excel are still popular enough, Microsoft Office's dominance in the basic enterprise software arena continues to wane. It's ceding ground to Google Workspace, which is increasingly seen as less restrictive to use.
The company's also losing ground on the chat-based AI assistant front. Sure, Microsoft recently touted the fact that its Copilot app serves 30 million paying Microsoft 365 Copilot customers.
Yet take a look at the details. While this professional version of Copilot integrates nicely into the cloud-based/subscription-based version of Microsoft Office 365, the AI tool isn't necessarily being sought out by users. Rather, many of these subscribers are being added to existing Office 365 subscriptions, whether those subscribers asked for it or not (very likely at nominal additional costs). And it's still tethered to productivity software that's slowly losing market share. Meanwhile, the free-to-use consumer-facing version of Copilot only accounts for about 3% of the AI chatbot market while ChatGPT boasts a commanding share of 79%, according to data from Statcounter.
Statcounter adds that Microsoft's flagship operating system, Windows, is also losing ground. It slid to a record low market share of 63% in August thanks to soaring use of Apple's OS and even open-source Linux, both of which reached record market shares that month. In this vein, Microsoft has now reported two consecutive quarterly declines in Windows' revenue.
Connect the dots. It's not doing anything "wrong," per se. Microsoft's cloud business appears to be thriving, in fact, with revenues up 27% year over year a quarter ago, thanks to AI-driven demand. The company's just running into headwinds on too many other fronts -- even its video gaming arm, which suffered a 10% slump in revenue for the quarter ending in June.
As for Amazon, the worry is simpler and far more straightforward. It's planning on spending an enormous sum on capital investments this year -- mostly on AI infrastructure -- with no assurance that this capex will curb the deterioration in its share of the cloud computing market. Though it's on pace to shell out $220 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, numbers from Synergy Research Group indicate Amazon Web Services' market share has continued shrinking from 2020's peak of 34% to 28% as of Q2 of this year. Microsoft Azure has also been sliding, by the way. Meanwhile, third-place Google Cloud has been gaining share.
Data source: Synergy Research Group. Chart by author.
Sure, there's more to both companies than their cloud businesses. But it's difficult to deny that every technology company is prioritizing the cloud opportunities being driven by AI's growth. These two names aren't knocking it out of the park on this front.
Why Alphabet Google parent Alphabet is knocking it out of the park on the cloud computing front, of course, reporting 82% year-over-year revenue growth for this arm during the second quarter. Whatever it's doing (particularly as it pertains to AI) is clearly working.
Moreover, unlike Microsoft and Amazon, everything else Alphabet is doing is also working well.
Take its search business as an example. Google's advertising revenue -- including YouTube -- grew by more than 14% during the second quarter, with search-based advertising revenue specifically improving 15%. Subscription-based revenue and device revenue (Google makes its own smartphones and owns the Android mobile operating system, which funnels people to the Play Store) grew by more than 15% year over year.
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The company is demonstrating strength in ways that don't appear directly on its income statement, too. Statcounter's numbers suggest that Android is at least maintaining its leading share of 67% of the worldwide mobile operating system market. And within the United States, TV ratings agency Nielsen reports YouTube is the most-watched streaming platform in terms of total viewing time, and is growing its share largely at the expense of venerable Netflix.
This leadership doesn't directly generate revenue. It does, however, confirm that Alphabet is doing the things that generate revenue, and doing them well.
Now, and for a while This won't always be the case, of course. There was a time when Microsoft could do nothing wrong. Ditto for Amazon. Those times may come again for those two, just as a time may come when macro conditions don't favor Alphabet's strengths as much.
The environment right now and for the foreseeable future, however, is one that favors Google's parent far more than it does the iconic software and e-commerce giants.
The personal computing space has been democratized, for instance, not just by more hardware choices (mobile devices are now viable alternatives to traditional desktops and laptops), but also by the wider adoption of options other than Windows or Microsoft's productivity software. Amazon's early lack of in-house technological development capabilities, meanwhile, is still a key reason its cloud business is losing share to Alphabet.
Alphabet, conversely, entered this era of connected computing ideally positioned. Not only is Google Search a perfect jumping-off point for Alphabet's AI-powered chat assistant, Gemini, but the demand for more mobile computing has turned Android into a critical platform. Recently rising streaming subscription prices have also made YouTube more attractive as a free-to-use alternative.
This backdrop and these conditions will eventually change. They aren't apt to change for a while, though, which means they should provide sustained tailwinds for Alphabet. Yes, the stock has essentially drifted since May, but this dynamic is much bigger than a few tepid months.
Goldman Sachs přidal na svůj Conviction List Amazon, Burlington Stores, Occidental Petroleum, Johnson Controls International a Huntington Ingalls Industries. HII je letos zatím nejhorší z pětice, když klesl o více než 20 %.
Goldman Sachs has eyes on five new stocks. On Thursday, the Wall Street bank updated its monthly Director's Cut list, better known as the Conviction List, to include Amazon (AMZN), Burlington Stores (BURL), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Johnson Controls International (JCI), and the shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).
The Director's Cut is a list of 20 to 25 stocks Goldman Sachs recommends to investors every month from among the stocks it rates a buy.
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Huntington Ingalls Industries
Of the five new additions, Huntington Ingalls is by far the worst performer, having fallen more than 20% year to date. Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. Late last year, HII stock broke out from a buy point of 330 when the U.S. Navy announced plans to build a new class of battleship. The new warships raised the prospect of hefty orders for Huntington Ingalls.
Best IBD 50 Stocks To Buy
The stock rose as much as 40% from that mid-December breakout, MarketSurge charts show. It then turned and dropped 40% from its February high. Huntington Ingalls rose about 1.5% on Thursday.
Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak now rates the stock a buy. A White House release in August effectively aims to restructure and streamline the U.S. military shipbuilding industry.
The order stabilizes design directives in order to cut costs and delays, enables limited foreign competition under strict guidelines and initiates plans for a fifth U.S. Naval shipyard. Newport News, Va.-based Huntington Ingalls, the largest builder of U.S. military ships and the sole builder of U.S. aircraft carriers, is generally seen as a direct beneficiary.
Poponak raised his price target on HII stock to 439, from 431, in August, which implies a 63% gain from Thursday's opening price of 269.09.
Amazon To Put Slump Behind
Among the other additions to Goldman Sachs' list, Amazon is also having a lackluster year. Amazon's 7% gain in 2026 lags the S&P 500's more than 11% increase. Goldman Sachs has a 375 price target on Amazon stock, which points to a 52% increase from Thursday's open. The stock is forming a flat base with a 287.20 buy point.
Stocks To Buy And Watch: Top IPOs, Big And Small Caps, Growth Stocks
Amazon's bullish outlook is due to a strong forecast for revenue growth and margin expansion because of rising demand for the computing space it sells to AI developers, according to analyst Eric Sheridan. Like other hyperscalers, Amazon's stock suffered when investors got spooked that huge capital spending on AI might not yield commensurate returns.
Among analysts, Amazon has a consensus buy rating with a mean price target of 331.35, according to FactSet.
Burlington, Occidental Petroleum and Johnson Controls
Burlington Stores joins Amazon and Huntington Ingalls in making the list as a turnaround story.
The retailer is down about 6% in 2026. The stock had been on a solid win streak before tanking in August when investors fled as weak near-term guidance raised concerns that the rising cost of living was finally catching up to its budget-conscious shoppers.
Goldman Sachs was undeterred. The dip is a buying opportunity because Burlington still deliver revenue growth above 10% through 2028, according to Goldman analyst Brooke Roach.
The last two additions to Goldman Sachs' list — Johnson Controls International and Occidental Petroleum — have had excellent years so far. Johnson Controls, which designs HVAC and fire sprinkler systems for commercial buildings, is up 25% this year. Meanwhile, Occidental Petroleum, which counts Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) as a major investor, rose close to 40%. Both stocks benefited from macroeconomic trends: Johnson Controls from the data center buildout, and Occidental Petroleum from rising energy prices.
OXY has been consolidating since March, showing consistent support at its 40-week moving average. Aggressive investors could plot an early entry at 63.77. Meanwhile, JCI is less than 5% below a cup-base buy point of 157.06, according to MarketSurge.
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Amazon se dohodl na urovnání sporu o pomalejší doručování v chudších čtvrtích Washingtonu, D.C. Vrátí 7,25 milionu USD na poplatcích za Prime a zaplatí pokutu 1 milion USD.
Amazon on Thursday settled a lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia over claims it made slower deliveries in the city’s low-income neighborhoods, as the e-commerce giant faces pressure from government officials over how it runs its vast logistics network.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024 by Attorney General Brian Schwalb in Superior Court of the District of Columbia, argued Amazon had excluded two ZIP codes from its in-house Prime delivery services. Those ZIP codes covered historically low-income areas, the lawsuit said. The company failed to inform customers about the slower deliveries and violated the District of Columbia’s consumer protection laws, according to the lawsuit.
Under the terms of the settlement, Amazon will refund $7.25 million in Prime membership fees to affected customers, according to a news release. The company will also pay a $1 million penalty to the district and agreed to notify Amazon customers there of future restrictions on its delivery service. The attorney general’s office said roughly 69,000 members of Amazon’s Prime service experienced slower deliveries as a result of Amazon’s practices.
“Amazon deceived thousands of its customers,” Mr. Schwalb said in a news release. “Now, we’re putting more than $7 million back in the pockets of people who were taken advantage of.”
An Amazon spokesman, Steve Kelly, said the company had never deceived anyone about the deliveries and in “no way is this settlement an admission of wrongdoing.”
“Rather than engage in prolonged litigation, we chose to resolve this matter so we can stay focused on what we do best: delivering great service to every customer across Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Amazon faces new pressure over the way it operates its sprawling web of warehouses, trucks and drivers that ferry goods to its customers. Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York earlier this year endorsed local legislation that would require Amazon and other delivery companies to directly employ drivers, rather than treating them as contractors. Chicago is considering similar legislation, which is supported by unions.
Administrativní pracovníci Boeingu schválili novou čtyřletou smlouvu, čímž odvrátili hrozbu stávky. Dohoda přináší zaručené 10% zvýšení mezd po ratifikaci.
Boeing's (BA.N) largest white-collar union said on Thursday its members approved a sweetened contract offer, easing fears of a strike that could have stalled work on two long-delayed jetliners and slowed the pace of aircraft deliveries.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which represents about 17,000 Boeing workers, said both its bargaining units voted to approve the new four-year offer.
The proposal included a guaranteed 10% wage increase upon ratification, along with annual raises of 4% and the possibility of an additional 2% hike based on performance.
About 68% of the professional unit, which represents roughly 13,000 engineers and scientists, voted in favor of the deal, as did over 53% of the technical unit, representing about 4,000 designers, analysts and technicians. The two units bargain together but vote separately.
The ratification provides much-needed relief for Boeing, easing concerns over a potential strike as early as October 7, the day after current contracts expire.
A work stoppage could have delayed critical certification efforts for the 737 MAX 10 narrowbody and 777X widebody, while also disrupting the company's plans to increase production and accelerate deliveries.
Members of both the professional and technical units had previously rejected Boeing's initial offer, which linked guaranteed raises to inflation, capped at 3%, with up to an additional 2.5% based on performance.
SPEEA's last strike against Boeing was in 2000, when engineers and technical workers walked out for 40 days in a dispute over pay and benefits.
The stoppage, which affected commercial-aircraft production and deliveries, was one of the largest white-collar strikes in US history.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) shares are dropping Thursday. The latest pressure on Disney appears tied to recently reported layoffs, which can signal ongoing cost-cutting and restructuring efforts.
Walt Disney shares are sliding. What’s weighing on DIS shares? Disney Is Cutting Several Hundred Jobs in HR and TechnologyReuters reported Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter, that Disney plans to cut a few hundred jobs spanning its human resources and technology teams. The news lands during a stretch of notable turnover in Disney’s executive ranks under CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took the role in March.
These cuts aren’t isolated. Disney eliminated around 1,000 roles in April, several hundred more last year, and 7,000 positions in 2023 under then-CEO Bob Iger as part of a $5.5 billion cost-cutting push. The company’s global headcount stood near 231,000 heading into fiscal 2026.
BofA Sees “Underlying Positive Trends” Ahead of November EarningsDisney is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter results on November 12. BofA Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich maintained a Buy rating and $125 price target this week, expecting a solid quarter helped by theme park attendance strength and two new cruise ships, though she sees the Entertainment segment staying weak given soft box office showings from Moana and The Dog Stars.
Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, Ehrlich described the year as having a “lot of moving parts,” with a lighter content slate creating a tougher setup in Entertainment, while Sports should benefit from the NFL Network deal and Super Bowl. She kept her revenue estimate at $105 billion and earnings at $7.52 per share, while raising her operating income projection to $20.8 billion from $20.7 billion.
Disney carries an overall Buy rating, with an average price target of $126 across 24 analysts. Guggenheim maintained Buy with a $120 target on Sept. 28, Wells Fargo raised its target to $132 on Aug. 6 and Argus Research maintained Buy with a $134 target the same day.
Disney’s Chart Shows a Stock Testing its Moving AveragesTechnically, Disney trades below its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day and 200-day averages, keeping recent rallies capped. Momentum remains soft, with MACD below its signal line.
Still, the 20-day average sits above the 50-day, and the 50-day remains above the 200-day following a golden cross in September, a mixed setup overall. Traders are watching $109.50 as resistance and $98 as support.
DIS Shares Are FallingDIS Price Action: Walt Disney shares were down 3.00% at $101.75 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro.
United Airlines spustila status match pro držitele elitního statusu u Delta Air Lines a American Airlines a nabízí jim 90 dní statusu u United. Pro udržení do 31. ledna 2028 musí během těchto 90 dnů absolvovat let a utratit stanovenou částku na letech United mainline nebo regionálních.
United Airlines wants you to defect from your airline.
The carrier is in the middle of an unusually pointed status-match campaign to woo travelers who have earned a spot in elite frequent flyer tiers with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines by offering similar treatment at United.
Here's how it works: Travelers with any tier of elite status on Delta or American will be granted United status for 90 days.
To keep it through Jan. 31, 2028, they'll have to take a flight and spend a certain amount on United mainline or regional flights within those 90 days.
For example, if a traveler has the lowest level Delta Medallion status, silver, or the same on American, which is gold, they would have to spend $1,500 on United in the roughly three months.
To get a status match of United's 1K, its highest level before invitation-only Global Services, the person would have to spend $7,000.
Delta and American have their own status matches for a host of other airlines, but United's call-out of rivals and social media campaign shows how heated the battle for big-spending customers has become, said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group.
"This is war, airline style," he said. "It's very rare for an airline to be as blatant as United is being" with Delta and American.
Airlines have been adding new lounges, extra premium seats and more international routes to lure those high-spenders.
Read more about United, Delta and AmericanAmerican Airlines to add seatback screens, bigger first class in race to catch up to Delta and UnitedCompanies spurn airlines’ cheapest business class tickets‘Bring ‘em on’: Delta wants United’s crown over the Pacific, tooUnited CEO brushes off airline mergers after American rejection: ‘There’s nothing’How Delta made itself America's luxury airline — and what United wants to do about itIn this push, United is using its new Starlink Wi-Fi from SpaceX as a hook for customers looking to potentially defect from their airlines.
The carrier is in the process of outfitting its aircraft with the satellite Wi-Fi, which is free for frequent flyer program members, though it is not available across the fleet yet, and customers still have to pay at least $8 per flight with current providers. American Airlines also signed with Starlink for hundreds of its narrow-body jets, while Delta is planning to change the provider of its free, in-flight Wi-Fi to Amazon's Leo.
"Our long-term strategic partnership with Amazon Leo will provide high-bandwidth connectivity while creating opportunities to bring their broad ecosystem of entertainment and digital services to the skies," Delta said in a statement.
American, where United's CEO Scott Kirby worked until a decade ago, didn't immediately comment.
ExxonMobil rozšiřuje těžbu v Guyaně a Permské pánvi, aby podpořila dlouhodobé cash flow. V Permské pánvi využívá nové vrtné techniky a v Guyaně chystá pátou plovoucí jednotku, která má zahájit provoz do konce roku 2026.
Key Takeaways ExxonMobil is expanding production from advantaged Guyana and Permian Basin assets.New drilling techniques are helping XOM enhance well recovery and optimize Permian production.ExxonMobil targets durable cash flows through production growth and structural cost reductions. ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (XOM - Free Report) is a leading oil and gas company with a global presence and a portfolio of high-quality assets that support its earnings and profitability. The company’s low-cost, high-return upstream assets, particularly those in Guyana and the Permian Basin, are expected to aid its earnings and cash flows, especially in the current oil price environment. The West Texas Intermediate crude price is currently trading at approximately $90 per barrel, which is extremely favorable to XOM’s exploration and production activities.
The company is actively working to increase oil and gas production from its advantaged assets. In the Permian Basin, the company is leveraging technology and newer drilling techniques to enhance well recovery and optimize overall production. In Guyana, a fifth floating production, storage and offloading vessel is on track to start operations by the end of 2026, while a final investment decision on the Longtail development is expected soon.
ExxonMobil’s upstream business, which accounts for a large portion of its earnings, is poised to deliver sustainable cash flows in the long run through production growth from its advantaged assets and structural cost reductions. The company prioritizes allocating its capital toward competitive, high-return projects and maintaining a strong balance sheet, which provides operational flexibility and enables it to return shareholder value through consistent share buybacks and a growing dividend across market cycles.
Other Industry Majors With a Low-Cost Production Profile
ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) and EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG - Free Report) are two other energy firms that boast a low-cost resource base in the shale basins of the United States.
ConocoPhillips is involved in the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), bitumen and natural gas. The company boasts a strong asset base in the shale basins of the United States, including the Delaware Basin, Midland Basin, Eagle Ford and Bakken shale. These assets support low-cost production, which enables ConocoPhillips to maintain its profitability and generate free cash flow across various commodity pricing environments.
EOG Resources is a leading independent exploration and production company with operations focused on prolific acres in the United States and several resource-rich international basins. EOG boasts a high-return, low-decline asset base and is among the low-cost producers in the United States. The company’s focus on maintaining a resilient balance sheet and lowering production costs should aid its profitability.
XOM’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of ExxonMobil have risen 50.4% over the past year compared with the 44.8% increase of the composite stocks belonging to the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, XOM trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 9.08X. This is above the broader industry average of 5.80X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XOM’s 2026 earnings has seen upward revisions over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XOM, COP and EOG currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
HPE po zveřejnění výsledků za fiskální 3. čtvrtletí vyskočila o 8,85 % na 66,93 USD a překonala své 52týdenní maximum. Výnosy vzrostly na 12,21 miliardy USD a EPS činil 1,11 USD.
HPE just shattered its 52-week high on a single session surge, yet its forward multiple still sits far below every major competitor building the same AI infrastructure boom. Something in the valuation math does not add up.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE | HPE Price Prediction) trades at $66.93 this morning. That is up 8.85% on the session as AI demand keeps raising its networking business. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for HPE is $73.07 over the next 12 months. The model rates it a buy with high confidence.
Metric Value Current Price $66.93 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $73.07 Upside 9.2% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% We ran the model off Tuesday’s close of $61.49, showing to 18.84% upside. Today’s jump cuts the remaining gap to 9.2%. Our confidence rests on five straight EPS beats, guidance raised through fiscal 2027, and zero Sell ratings on the Street.
Record Q3 Results Pushed HPE Past Its Prior 52-Week High HPE is up 9.67% over the past week, 28.25% over the past month and 181.79% year to date. Today’s price sits above its prior 52-week high of $65.65 and far above the $19.57 low.
Fiscal Q3 revenue hit $12.21B, up 32.7%, exceeding the $11.91B consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 cleared the $0.93 estimate. Networking revenue rose 74.9% to $2.89B, and routing went up 270%. HPE announced a $3.5 billion inferencing server deal with a hyperscaler and expanded work with Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) on gigawatt-scale AI networking.
The AI expansion keeps pulling in suppliers well beyond the chipmakers, and networking gear like HPE’s is a big part of the plumbing (we covered seven of these non-chip AI infrastructure names in a free report available here: 7 Stocks Powering the AI Boom).
Why Bulls See $83 and Beyond In the model’s bull case, HPE reaches $83.23. Management’s fiscal 2027 framework calls for EPS of $4.40 to $4.60 and free cash flow of at least $5 billion. That framework leaves out the AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) Helios opportunity, which the CEO sized at “tens of billions of dollars” across the market.
Networks for AI orders reached $700 million in the quarter. Juniper synergies are on track for $600 million in annual run-rate savings by FY28.
The Street is supportive, with 5 Strong Buy ratings, 10 Buys and 8 Holds. The stock already trades above the $68.08 consensus target, so analysts may raise their numbers.
Margin Normalization Is the Risk Worth Watching Under a downside scenario, HPE slips to $56.43. Management expects gross margin to normalize as AI systems grow. Operating margin guidance of 14-15% for FY27 trails Q3’s 16.2%. Stripping out Juniper, networking grew just 10%.
DDR5 and NAND shortages slow shipments. Orders outpace revenue: networking orders rose 36% with record backlog, suggesting supply delays revenue rather than kills demand.
HPE Trades at a Steep Discount to Dell and Arista Company Forward P/E Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY) HPE 14x 33.7% Dell 21x 57.7% Arista 39x 37.7% Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) competes directly for AI server spending. Dell grows faster, earning a higher forward multiple. HPE’s larger networking mix yields higher margins that its 14x forward P/E does not reflect.
Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET) competes head-on in data center switching. Arista’s operating margin is 45.4% versus 12.6% for HPE, explaining most of its premium. HPE’s networking margin is guided to the mid to high 20% range, so part of that gap should close. Our target of about 15x forward earnings looks conservative.
HPE’s Backlog Tips the Scale Toward Upside Our $73.07 target carries a buy rating with 90% confidence. A record backlog priced at a valuation well below peers tips the scale toward upside.
The case strengthens if supply eases and backlog turns to revenue in Q4. It weakens if gross margins contract faster than networking growth can offset. HPE’s valuation still falls behind its fundamentals.
Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 $63.11 2027 $77.21 2028 $85.24 2029 $93.56 2030 $102.38 These projections assume HPE keeps executing on its networking-led strategy. A strong Helios ramp could drove results higher, while long-running memory shortages could hold them back.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Florida podala žalobu na Pfizer a generálního ředitele Alberta Bourlu kvůli údajnému klamání o bezpečnosti a účinnosti vakcíny proti COVID-19. Stát tvrdí, že firma vydělala přes 80 miliard USD a v roce 2023 zvýšila cenu dávky z 30 USD na 110 až 130 USD.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Pfizer (PFE.N) and its CEO, Albert Bourla, accusing the drugmaker of misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine.
Here are more details:
Uthmeier filed the lawsuit in state court, alleging that Pfizer told consumers its COVID-19 vaccine was safe while failing to disclose potential risks, including heart inflammation and other adverse events.
Pfizer, according to the lawsuit, urged people to get the shot to protect others, even though the company never tested whether the vaccine stopped the virus from spreading.
Florida has also accused Pfizer of using unfair tactics to dominate the market.
It said the company made more than $80 billion from vaccine sales, then nearly quadrupled the price of the vaccine to $110 to $130 a dose in 2023 from $30.
The state, suing under its consumer protection law, wants a court order to stop the alleged conduct, fines of $10,000 per violation, or $15,000 when seniors or disabled people were harmed, and the return of profits.
Pfizer said in a statement the state's allegations have no merit and that it would respond to the suit in due course.
"The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based, and the company stands behind the safety and efficacy of its vaccine," the company said.
"The complaint and comments by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speak for themselves," the Florida Attorney General's Office said in response to a Reuters request for additional comment.
Clorox dokončil pětiletou digitální transformaci a očekává přínosy od druhé poloviny fiskálního roku 2027. Zároveň zvyšuje investice do inovací a po akvizici GOJO posílil portfolio v oblasti zdravotní hygieny.
Key Takeaways Clorox is expanding its health and hygiene portfolio through the GOJO acquisition.Clorox completed its digital transformation, with productivity benefits expected from fiscal 2027.Clorox is increasing innovation spending to improve brand relevance and regain market share. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) is strengthening its business through strategic portfolio actions, innovation, productivity initiatives and improved execution as it navigates a challenging consumer environment. The company’s strategy is increasingly focused on rebuilding market share, enhancing brand superiority and creating a stronger operating platform for sustainable growth. Portfolio expansion is also playing an important role, with the acquisition of GOJO Industries significantly broadening Clorox’s presence in the health and hygiene market.
Clorox has completed its five-year digital transformation program, including the rollout of its U.S. enterprise resource planning system. The company is now shifting its focus from implementation to optimization. Better demand planning, lower inventory, automation and improved order-to-cash processes are expected to generate productivity benefits beginning in the latter part of fiscal 2027 and building into fiscal 2028. The enhanced digital infrastructure should also support stronger e-commerce execution and improve collaboration with retail partners.
Innovation remains a key pillar of Clorox’s growth strategy. The company has increased innovation spending and plans further investment focusing on areas such as health and wellness, pet care, convenience and value. Clorox is also combining product innovation with packaging improvements, targeted promotions, stronger advertising and optimized price-pack architecture to improve brand relevance and regain market share.
The GOJO acquisition has further strengthened Clorox’s health and hygiene portfolio, which now accounts for more than half of net sales on a combined basis. GOJO is expected to contribute significantly to fiscal 2027 sales growth, while Clorox sees opportunities to generate revenue synergies over time. The company is taking a disciplined approach to integration while leveraging GOJO’s capabilities and market position to expand its presence in attractive health and hygiene categories.
Overall, Clorox is concentrating on strengthening its brands, accelerating innovation, expanding its health and hygiene portfolio, improving digital capabilities and driving productivity. These initiatives are designed to enhance consumer value, support market-share recovery and create a more efficient operating platform for long-term growth.
CLX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Clorox have lost 19.4% in the past six months against the industry’s growth of 3.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CLX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.62X compared with the industry’s average of 18.11X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLX’s fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 6% and 8.9%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 has been stable in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Clorox stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Staples Space The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) , which is a distributor of specialty food products in the United States, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chefs' Warehouse's current financial-year sales indicates growth of 10.8% from the prior-year level. CHEF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.4%, on average.
Lamb Weston (LW - Free Report) , which is a global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of value-added frozen potato products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The consensus estimate for Lamb Weston’s current financial-year sales is expected to drop 1.8% from the year-ago reported figure. LW delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.6%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED delivered an average earnings surprise of 58.2% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 27.3% from the year-ago number.
Key Takeaways S&P Global Ratings upgraded Wells Fargo's issuer credit rating to 'A-' from 'BBB ', with a stable outlook.WFC has terminated 14 consent orders since 2019, reflecting progress in risk management and oversight.Wells Fargo's ROTCE rose to 16.1% as of June 2026 from 14.4% a year earlier. S&P Global Ratings (S&P) upgraded the issuer credit rating of Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC - Free Report) to ‘A-’ from ‘BBB+’, while maintaining a stable outlook. S&P affirmed WFC’s short-term issuer credit rating at ‘A-2’ and the ‘A+/A-1’ issuer credit ratings on several core operating subsidiaries.
The upgrade reflects Wells Fargo’s significant progress in risk management, culture and oversight, along with improving profitability and deepening client relationships. Following an improvement in Wells Fargo’s group stand-alone credit profile to ‘a’ from ‘a-’, S&P now incorporates one notch of uplift for additional loss-absorbing capacity support.
What Led to the Upgrade in WFC’s Ratings?Improved Risk Management and Governance: A key factor behind the upgrade is Wells Fargo’s continued progress in strengthening its risk management framework, corporate culture and oversight. Since 2019, the bank has terminated 14 consent orders, highlighting the progress made in addressing regulatory concerns. In June 2025, the Federal Reserve removed the asset cap that had restricted WFC’s balance-sheet growth for nearly seven years. Regulators terminated another consent order in March 2026, further advancing the bank’s remediation efforts.
Wells Fargo currently has no outstanding consent orders, although a formal agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency related to financial crimes risk management and anti-money laundering controls remains in place. S&P believes the bank is on a path toward resolving this remaining matter.
Broader Client Relationships Support Growth: Since the asset cap was removed, WFC has expanded its businesses and deepened client relationships, particularly in credit cards, auto lending, commercial loans and capital markets. The broader customer base is supporting capital markets growth and adding revenue diversification, although WFC’s capital markets revenue remains below that of its global systemically important bank (GSIB) peers.
Improving Profitability Profile: The expansion of earning assets, higher net interest income (NII), increased fee income and disciplined expense management have improved profitability, driving growth in pre-provision net revenue and strengthening the bank’s earnings profile.
Reflecting this improvement, WFC raised its medium-term return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) target to 17%-18% in the third quarter of 2025 from its previous target of 15%. As of June 30, 2026, ROTCE had increased to 16.1% from 14.4% a year earlier, with S&P expecting further improvement as balance-sheet growth remains controlled.
Manageable Balance-Sheet Growth: Wells Fargo’s balance sheet has expanded faster than the banking industry since the asset cap was removed. Through the second quarter of 2026, its assets rose 15% year over year, while loans grew 12%, driven by lending and market-related businesses. S&P continues to view the expansion as manageable.
Nonbank lending was a key contributor, with balances rising 33% year over year to account for 22% of total loans. Auto lending also grew 33%, while trading assets increased 33% to roughly 11% of total assets. Despite the faster growth, credit quality remained solid, with net charge-offs better than those of most peers in recent years. S&P expects balance-sheet growth to moderate starting in 2027 and move broadly in line with industry levels.
Adequate Capital Position: The bank’s capital position continues to support its credit profile. Its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 10.3% as of June 30, 2026, down from 11.1% a year earlier, remaining within its 10.0%-10.5% target range and well above the 8.5% minimum requirement. Its risk-adjusted capital ratio was 8.5%, within S&P’s adequate 7%-10% range. While higher long-term rates could increase unrealized losses, most of its longer-duration securities are held to maturity and do not affect regulatory capital ratios.
Looking ahead, proposed changes to the U.S. risk-based capital framework and GSIB surcharge could influence capital levels across large banks. Management has indicated that, if finalized, the changes could reduce WFC’s risk-weighted assets by 7%, equivalent to an increase of nearly 80 basis points in its CET1 ratio. S&P expects WFC’s capital ratios to remain broadly in line with those of large regional bank peers.
Final Words on WFCThe stable outlook reflects S&P’s expectation that Wells Fargo will maintain controlled balance-sheet growth, prudent risk management, improving profitability and adequate capital. However, downward pressure could arise from weaker capital, aggressive growth, or weaker profitability and credit quality.
Other Financial Firms Receiving S&P Rating UpgradesIn September 2026, S&P upgraded the ratings of several other financial firms, including Rithm Capital Corp. (RITM - Free Report) and Capital One Financial Corp. (COF - Free Report) , citing stronger diversification, earnings stability and franchise strength.
Rithm Capital’s issuer credit rating was upgraded to ‘B+’ from ‘B’, with a stable outlook, reflecting greater earnings diversification through asset management, residential transitional lending and commercial real estate businesses. Rithm Capital’s stable Newrez earnings also support its mortgage finance operations.
Capital One’s long-term issuer credit rating was upgraded to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’, with a stable outlook, reflecting its stronger franchise and progress integrating Discover. Capital One is expected to benefit from higher card purchase volumes, fee income and revenue stability, while its auto lending and corporate finance businesses provide additional diversification.
WFC’s Zacks Rank & Price PerformanceShares of WFC have lost 2.4% over the past six months against the industry’s growth of 10.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks (Strong Buy) here.
Duke Energy vyhlásila čtvrtletní dividendu ve výši 1,085 USD na kmenovou akcii, splatnou 16. prosince 2026 akcionářům zapsaným k 13. listopadu 2026. Na kmenové akcii vyplácí dividendu už 100 po sobě jdoucích let.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $1.085 per share. This dividend is payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026.
The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Series A preferred stock of $359.375 per share payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026. This is equivalent to $0.359375 per depositary share.
Duke Energy has paid a cash dividend on its common stock for 100 consecutive years.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.
More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.
Media Contact: Gillian Moore
24-hour: 800.559.3853
Analyst Contact: Mike Switzer
Office: 704.382.6473
SanDisk vzrostl o více než 2 % poté, co Citi potvrdila doporučení Buy a cílovou cenu 2 100 USD, což znamená více než 20% potenciál růstu. Banka vidí podporu v napjatém trhu NAND a silné poptávce z AI datacenter.
SanDisk shares SNDK rose in afternoon trading Thursday after Citi reiterated its Buy rating on the memory and storage company following Micron Technology’s latest earnings report.
The stock was up over 2% after staying under pressure in morning trading.
Citi maintained a $2,100 price target for SanDisk, implying more than 20% upside from current levels.
The brokerage said Micron’s results offered a favorable read-through for NAND fundamentals, particularly as demand from artificial intelligence data centers continues to expand.
Micron reported a 42% sequential increase in NAND revenue, while NAND prices rose about 30%, well ahead of the roughly 20% increase expected by consensus estimates.
Micron management also indicated that its NAND supply is expected to grow more slowly than overall industry supply growth in calendar 2026, reinforcing expectations that the market will remain tight.
"Sequentially, NAND revenue +42%, B/S +10% as prices increased ~30% (vs. consensus +20% qq/Citi +34% qq) on tight NAND conditions," said Citi analyst Atif Malik in a Thursday investor note.
"Mgmt expects Micron NAND supply to grow less than industry supply growth in CY26. For CY27/CY28, expect industry NAND bit shipments to grow in the mid-20% range and the industry to remain supply constrained during both years."
Citi said the NAND market could remain supported by structural demand from AI infrastructure.
One key driver is the increasing use of solid-state drives to offload key-value cache, or KV cache, from more expensive and constrained high-bandwidth memory and other computing resources.
"We remain constructive on favorable NAND S/D fundamentals on durable AI-led datacenter demand (KV cache offloading to more cost-effective SSDs), and this read-through supports SanDisk's thesis of strong business fundamentals and increased visibility," Malik said.
Citi acknowledged that Micron’s expected NAND supply growth is higher than SanDisk’s expectation for industry compound annual growth of roughly the mid-teens.
However, the brokerage maintained its constructive view because of resilient demand and visibility provided by non-binding manufacturer agreements.
"We note while MU NAND B/S growth is higher than SanDisk's expectations for industry CAGR of mid-teens, we remain constructive given durable demand and visibility via NBMs," Citi said.
The favorable NAND backdrop has already translated into a dramatic rally for SanDisk shares.
The stock has gained more than 530% this year and more than 1,300% over the past 12 months, as investors have increasingly focused on AI-driven demand for memory and storage products.
Micron shares, however, were down more than 0.15% Thursday despite reporting better-than-expected quarterly results and providing an upbeat outlook.
One concern for investors is that Micron's earnings beat was smaller than those delivered in previous quarters.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore noted that Micron posted an earnings beat of about 5% in the latest quarter, compared with beats of roughly 20% to 40% in several preceding quarters.
The company's gross-margin guidance of about 86.25% also came in slightly below elevated expectations.
Micron attributed the sequential decline to temporary costs, including inventory absorption, higher fiscal 2027 bonus accruals and cleanroom startup expenses.
Management described the quarter as the cyclical floor for gross margins in fiscal 2027 and expects profitability to expand as revenue grows through the remainder of the year.
Analysts remain bullish on Micron Analysts nevertheless continued to see support from tight supply conditions.
"The report 'isn't an earnings surprise story anymore,'" said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"We're into the realm where earnings durability is driving shares higher, rather than any single set of blowout results."
Raymond James analyst Melissa Fairbanks highlighted Micron's comments that it has no clear visibility into when NAND supply will catch up with demand.
While the shortage could allow Micron to continue raising prices and expanding profitability, Fairbanks said the constrained supply environment could also limit near-term volume growth.
Goldman Sachs raised its price target for Micron to $1,250 from $1,100 while maintaining a Neutral rating.
Analyst James Schneider cited strong demand and a growing base of customer commitments.
Micron now has 26 long-term agreements covering about 35% of projected revenue through fiscal 2030, with roughly 75% of those agreements carrying structured pricing.
For SanDisk, the combination of AI-driven storage demand, limited NAND supply, and long-term customer commitments provides a supportive backdrop, even after the stock's extraordinary gains this year.
Honeywell Aerospace po spin-offu oznámil tržby ve výši 4,5 miliardy USD, což je meziročně o 5 % více, ale snížil celoroční výhled růstu tržeb na 4 % až 5 %.
The need to modernize commercial and defense aerospace fleets is expected to drive increased spending in the sector. One report estimates that global aerospace spending will rise from $434.17 billion this year to $846.30 billion by 2035, a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% -- and so the industry is transforming as a result.
In 2024, one key player -- then known as just plain-old Honeywell International-- announced it would split its three segments of advanced materials, automation, and aerospace into three companies. In October of 2025, it spun off its advanced materials business into Solstice Advanced Materials (SOLS +0.21%). Three months ago, on June 29, the company completed the spinoff of Honeywell Technologies (HON +1.79%) for its automation business and Honeywell Aerospace (HONA -0.34%) for its aerospace business.
Deciding which Honeywell company is the right one to buy for the aerospace boom may seem like a trick question. The answer is so obvious, it can't be right, can it?
Image source: Getty Images.
The choice isn't as simple as it seems The name makes Honeywell Aerospace seem like the obvious stock to play the aerospace boom. The company builds aircraft engines, avionics, auxiliary power units, and other aviation systems for commercial and defense aircraft. However, the other two Honeywell companies each benefit from aerospace spending.
Solstice makes low-global-warming-potential hydrofluoroolefin solvents, which are critical for precision cleaning of sensitive flight instruments, oxygen lines, hydraulic systems, and jet turbine components. The company also makes high-purity chemicals, specialized blowing agents, and fluoropolymers used in semiconductors, radomes, thermal insulation, and circuit boards integrated into modern aircraft avionics.
Honeywell Technologies, which is what remains of Honeywell International, is a pure-play industrial automation company, but its products are critical to how aerospace equipment is manufactured, tested, and housed, including its distributed control systems, robotics, assembly line controls, and test facilities and environmental chambers.
So, the answer isn't so easy. To figure out which of these companies should thrive the most from an aerospace boom, you have to look back at the third quarter of 2025, when all three segments were under the same roof. In that quarter, Honeywell Aerospace reported 15% year-over-year sales growth, well ahead of the other two segments.
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In the second quarter of this year, Honeywell Aerospace's first as an independent company, it reported sales of $4.5 billion, up 5% year over year. It also reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.87, down 32% from the same period last year, though that figure is somewhat skewed by short-term spinoff costs. It may take a while for the company to overcome those expenses, as its long-term debt increased to $15.85 billion from $4 million, reflecting financing moves related to its separation from Honeywell Technologies.
Investors have been lukewarm on the stock Since its spinoff, the stock is down more than 18%, worse than the roughly 11% drop for Honeywell Technologiesso far this year and less than the 32% decline for Solstice stock. One reason for Honeywell Aerospace's decline is that it trimmed its full-year sales growth guidance from 7%-9% to 4%-5%.
Of the three, Solstice is predicting the most growth, 6%, at the midpoint, with Honeywell Technologiesexpecting 3% to 4% revenue growth.
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The backlog is a big deal As of the second quarter, Honeywell Aerospace had a backlog of $18.1 billion, and it continues to add to its orders. Year to date, Honeywell Aerospace has built significant commercial and defense momentum, securing an estimated $15 billion in lifetime value across a series of major new contract wins. Headlining these accomplishments is a historic deal with Indian carrier IndiGo, which selected Honeywell's flagship avionics and power systems for its massive order of 810 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, marking the largest new-aircraft-selectable equipment win in the company's history.
In addition to major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) selections, Honeywell Aerospace continues to advance its retrofit, modification, and upgrade (RMU) growth strategy, highlighted by Aeromexico's intention to adopt its latest Surface Alerts (SURF-A) runway safety technology across its fleet of more than 100 Boeing 737NG and 737MAX aircraft. On the defense front, European OEMs have named Civitanavi Systems' ARGO 4000 inertial measurement unit as a preferred solution to integrate critical guidance capabilities into missile programs, unmanned platforms, maritime vessels, and land vehicles.
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These orders provide great transparency of the company's earnings over the next couple of years. That backlog is largely tied to defense modernization programs, military avionics upgrades, and next-generation propulsion systems. The increase in defense budgets worldwide should give the company steady cash flow visibility even during broader economic pullbacks.
One of its biggest concerns is supply chain issues, but as a stand-alone company, it can focus on that issue more directly than when it was a segment of Honeywell International.
Taking the long-term view Honeywell Aerospace, among the three Honeywell-related stocks, is best positioned to benefit from the aerospace boom. It has the most industry exposure of the three stocks, with Honeywell Technologies and Solstice having only tertiary exposure to aviation. Honeywell should also have more long-term growth, and its huge backlog of orders means it should have little difficulty paying down its debt.
Down the line, the stock could even offer a dividend or stock repurchases, making it more appetizing to investors. With more than $18.1 billion in revenue anticipated this year and a high-margin commercial aftermarket business, Honeywell Aerospace generates substantial free cash flow. This financial profile gives the board the flexibility to consider initiating a regular quarterly dividend once baseline operational and capital allocation priorities stabilize.
Intuit prodloužil partnerství s NFL do roku 2030 a rozšíří tak Intuit Intelligence na více než 400 milionů fanoušků po celém světě. Dohoda zároveň přidává práva v Kanadě, Británii, Austrálii a na Novém Zélandu.
Key Takeaways Intuit extends its NFL partnership through 2030, expanding rights across four international markets.Intuit Intelligence will showcase data, AI and human expertise across four key financial products.Intuit will feature Peyton Manning, the Kittles and small-business owners throughout the NFL season. Intuit (INTU - Free Report) is putting its latest AI push in front of a much bigger audience. The company has extended its National Football League (“NFL”) partnership for four years through 2030, with the expanded deal designed to showcase Intuit Intelligence to more than 400 million NFL fans worldwide. The agreement also expands Intuit’s official rights to Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
The campaign moves beyond advertising individual products. Intuit Intelligence brings together data, AI and human expertise across TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp. Credit Karma is also joining Intuit’s NFL portfolio, helping the company showcase more of its broader financial technology platform to NFL fans.
Intuit plans to keep the campaign visible throughout the season. Peyton Manning will introduce Intuit Intelligence, while QuickBooks will feature George and Claire Kittle and small-business owners. Credit Karma will run its latest financial-guidance campaign during the regular season, while TurboTax will be exclusively featured in the postseason as the sponsor of the AFC and NFC Divisional Round and Championship games.
The move builds on years of AI investment. In June 2023, Intuit introduced GenOS, its generative-AI operating system, followed by Intuit Assist in September 2023, which brought personalized AI-powered recommendations across its products. In 2025, Intuit added AI agents to QuickBooks to automate accounting, finance and other business workflows.
That technology now has considerable data behind it. Intuit's platform spans 82 million consumers, 10 million businesses and 650,000 accountants, while its AI agents can use more than 60 large language models and 100-plus AI skills.
ConclusionThe NFL deal could therefore serve as a large-scale brand-building channel for Intuit’s broader AI strategy. Fiscal 2026 revenues rose 14% to $21.4 billion, while its Big Bets grew 34% and represented 30% of revenues. Greater awareness of Intuit Intelligence could support platform adoption and customer growth if the campaign converts NFL visibility into greater engagement with Intuit’s products.
In the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 0.1% compared with the industry's growth of 23.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the Zacks-Computer Software sector are Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) and Synopsys (SNPS - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CDNS’ 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has moved 2 cents northward to $8.12 over the past two months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNPS’ fiscal 2026 EPS has moved 3 cents upward to $15.13 over the past month.
Accenture zveřejní výsledky za 4. čtvrtletí a celý fiskální rok 2026 na dnešním konferenčním hovoru k výsledkům. Na hovoru vystoupí CEO Julie Sweet a CFO Angie Park.
Accenture plc (ACN) Q4 2026 Earnings Call October 1, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Alexia Quadrani - Executive Director of Investor Relations
Julie T. Sweet - CEO & Chairman
Angie Park - Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
Tien-Tsin Huang - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Darrin Peller - Wolfe Research, LLC
Bryan Keane - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Jason Kupferberg - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Keith Bachman - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
James Schneider - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Bryan Bergin - TD Cowen, Research Division
David Koning - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and welcome to the Accenture Fourth Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note today's event is being recorded.
I'd now like to turn the conference over to Alexia Quadrani, Executive Director and Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Alexia Quadrani
Executive Director of Investor Relations
Thank you, operator, and thanks, everyone, for joining us today on our fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2026 earnings call. As the operator just mentioned, I'm Alexia Quadrani, Executive Director, Head of Investor Relations. On today's call, you will hear from Julie Sweet, our Chair and Chief Executive Officer; and Angie Park, our Chief Financial Officer. We hope you've had an opportunity to review both the earnings release and the accompanying presentation issued prior to this call.
Let me outline the agenda for today. Julie will begin with an overview of our Q4 results and step back to look at fiscal 2026 overall before following with a brief update on our market positioning. Angie will then take you through the detailed financial numbers, including the income statement and balance sheet, along with key operational metrics for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year before providing a business outlook for the first quarter
Kroger ve 2. fiskálním čtvrtletí zvýšil upravený zisk na akcii (EPS) o 4,8 % na 1,09 USD, ale identické tržby bez paliva vzrostly jen o 0,2 %. Firma zároveň snížila výhled identických tržeb pro fiskální rok 2026 na 0,2 % až 0,8 % z 1 % až 2 %.
Key Takeaways Kroger's fiscal Q2 adjusted EPS rose 4.8%, while identical sales excluding fuel increased just 0.2%.Kroger cut fiscal 2026 identical-sales guidance to 0.2%-0.8% but kept EPS guidance at $5.10-$5.30.Kroger's e-commerce sales rose 20%, while Private Selection sales increased more than 14%. The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) presents a valuation-versus-execution trade-off. Its discounted earnings multiple, improving digital economics and expanding private-label business support the case for value, while softer comparable-sales growth and persistent operating pressures keep the near-term picture mixed.
The question is whether the current discount sufficiently compensates for slower sales momentum. Kroger’s latest results show that earnings can hold up even when the top line is less supportive, but clearer sales acceleration would strengthen the case.
Kroger’s Valuation Leaves Room for DebateKroger trades at 10.78X forward 12-month earnings, below its five-year median of 12.08X. The multiple also sits below 30.68X for the Zacks sub-industry, 20.83X for the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and 19.66X for the S&P 500.
That discount is consistent with Kroger’s Value Score of A. Still, valuation does not eliminate execution risk. The stock’s lower multiple must be weighed against slower comparable-sales growth and the need for continued investment in pricing, stores and fulfillment.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KR’s Earnings Hold Up as Sales Momentum SlowsSecond-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings rose 4.8% year over year to $1.09 per share and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.05. Total sales increased 2% to $34.62 billion but missed the consensus mark of $34.69 billion.
Identical sales excluding fuel rose only 0.2%, down from 3.4% growth a year earlier. Kroger lowered fiscal 2026 identical-sales guidance excluding fuel to 0.2%-0.8% from 1%-2%, while maintaining adjusted earnings guidance of $5.10-$5.30 per share.
Kroger’s Growth Engines Still Have SupportAdjusted e-commerce sales increased 20% in the quarter, and Kroger delivered a second consecutive quarter of profitable e-commerce growth when combined with retail media. Kroger Precision Marketing profit climbed 24%, its best growth rate since 2021.
Our Brands also outpaced national brands by 250 basis points. Private Selection sales increased more than 14%, while Our Brands penetration rose about 50 basis points. These businesses give Kroger growth and profit levers that extend beyond core grocery comparable sales.
KR Faces Cost and Consumer Spending PressureHigher shrink, transportation costs, healthcare expenses and planned wage investments weighed on profitability, while management expects additional diesel and freight pressure through the rest of fiscal 2026. Customers are also buying more on need as household budgets remain pressured.
Competition adds another layer. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) reported 2.6% U.S. comparable-sales growth excluding fuel and 24% U.S. e-commerce growth in its latest quarter. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) posted 7.2% adjusted U.S. comparable-sales growth and 19.8% adjusted digitally enabled growth in its fiscal fourth quarter, underscoring a retail environment where value and convenience remain central.
Kroger’s Signals Favor Patience Over MomentumKroger’s valuation and higher-growth businesses provide support, but muted identical-sales growth and ongoing cost pressure keep the setup balanced. The operating model is still producing earnings growth, yet the next step in the case depends on stronger sales productivity and sustained margin execution.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a VGM Score of A, Value Score of A, Growth Score of B and Momentum Score of D. The favorable value and growth characteristics contrast with weaker near-term momentum. For investors weighing Kroger today, that combination supports a measured, wait-and-see view rather than a momentum-driven conclusion. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
NIO ve 3. čtvrtletí dodal 109 178 vozů, meziročně o 25,4 % více, a splnil svůj výhled na 108 000 až 111 000 kusů. Růst ale během čtvrtletí zpomalil a v září klesl na 7,7 % meziročně.
Key Takeaways NIO delivered 109,178 vehicles in Q3 2026, up 25.4% year over year and within its guidance range.NIO's vehicle margin climbed to 18.5% in Q2, helped by higher-margin products and lower costs.NIO faces slowing monthly delivery growth, rising input costs, high debt and weaker earnings estimates. China’s electric vehicle (EV) company NIO Inc. (NIO - Free Report) delivered 109,178 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, up 25.4% year over year and within its own guided range of 108,000-111,000 units. Third-quarter deliveries consisted of 62,500 units from the NIO brand, 27728 units from the ONVO brand and 18,950 from Firefly. Cumulative deliveries as of Sept. 30, 2026 totaled 1,297,893 units.
Meanwhile, growth at close peers XPeng (XPEV - Free Report) and Li Auto (LI - Free Report) was less impressive. XPeng’s third-quarter deliveries came in at 118,390 units, marking a 2% increase from year-ago quarter deliveries. In contrast, Li Auto reported 99,964 deliveries in the September quarter, up 7.2% from the corresponding quarter of 2025.
While NIO’s delivery growth stands out, let’s look beyond the headline numbers to assess whether the stock is truly a buy at current levels.
NIO's Product Lineup Driving GrowthNIO's growth is being buoyed by its newer and upgraded vehicle models, with two flagship SUVs leading the way.
The ES8 reached 150,000 cumulative deliveries on Sept. 20, exactly one year after its launch. During the year, it topped sales among large SUVs and among all vehicles priced above RMB 400,000. The ES9 began deliveries on May 28 and crossed 30,000 units on Sept. 23, 2026. It has also been the best-selling battery electric vehicle priced above RMB 500,000 for three months in a row. These models are strengthening NIO's standing in the premium electric SUV segment.
NIO also reaches a broader range of customers at different price levels through its three brands— NIO, ONVO and Firefly.
NIO’s Profitability ImprovingNIO's profitability has strengthened as it sells more vehicles and a larger share of them are higher-end models. Its vehicle margin rose to 18.5% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 10.3% in the same quarter last year. This gain came from selling more high-margin products and from lower costs.
Management plans to hold the vehicle margin close to the second-quarter 2026 level through the third and fourth quarters, even though material costs are expected to rise further. The company also expects both operating cash flow and free cash flow to be positive in each of these two quarters.
NIO's Battery Swapping Network ExpandsNIO and Geely Automobile (GELHY - Free Report) have agreed to combine their charging and battery-swapping networks, with each company taking a stake in the other. As part of the deal, Geely will launch more electric models that work with shared swapping standards, with NIO providing support.
NIO Power has set a target of running 10,000 battery-swapping stations worldwide by 2030. At that scale, its yearly electricity use is expected to go beyond 10 billion kWh.
The company is already building on a solid base. When it passed 100 million total swaps in February, it had 3,790 swapping stations, and it plans to open another 1,000 this year. Earlier in 2026, it also set a one-day record of 175,976 battery swaps.
NIO's Road Isn't All SmoothBeneath the strong headline deliveries, investors should note that delivery growth slowed sharply as the third quarter progressed. Year-over-year growth was 71% in July, then fell to 14.5% in August and 7.7% in September.
Additionally, rising input costs could squeeze margins. Management aims to keep the vehicle margin near the second-quarter level, but achieving that will depend on how well the company manages sourcing and its product mix.
NIO's debt also remains high, with long-term debt-to-capitalization at about 82%.
Earnings estimates are moving in the wrong direction as well. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIO's 2026 loss per share has widened by 3 cents to 13 cents. The 2027 estimate still points to a return to profit, but the consensus EPS figure has dropped from 9 cents to 5 cents over the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NIO’s Price Performance & ValuationYear to date, shares of NIO have fallen roughly 33%, wider than the industry’s decline of 18%. However, shares of Li Auto and XPeng have also underperformed the industry, sliding 33% and 53%, respectively, during the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, NIO currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.39, below the industry’s 0.57.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Our TakeNIO's third-quarter deliveries, new product momentum, improving margins and expanding swapping network make a strong case. But slowing monthly year-over-year growth over the third quarter, elevated debt, rising costs and falling earnings estimates keep the risks real.
The third-quarter earnings report will be the key test. It should show whether margins held near the second-quarter level. Management's commentary on fourth-quarter deliveries will indicate whether the slowdown seen in August and September is temporary or a sign of weaker demand ahead.
Until then, the risk-reward looks balanced at best. Existing shareholders can stay put, but new investors would be better off waiting for the results and clearer fourth-quarter guidance.
NIO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
15 amerických států a teritorium Guam zažalovaly Cortevu a Vylor kvůli údajnému podvodnému vyčlenění semenářského podnikání, které mělo obejít desítky miliard USD v závazcích spojených s PFAS.
A group of US states sued Corteva (CTVA.N) and Vylor (VYLR.N) on Thursday, alleging Corteva's spinoff of its seed business to Vylor was a fraudulent attempt to avoid tens of billions in legacy liabilities related to "forever chemicals" polluting the environment.
The lawsuit, filed in Indiana state court by 15 US states and the territory of Guam, alleges that Vylor received the "crown jewels" of Corteva's business without assuming its liabilities for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Corteva and Vylor are corporate successors to DuPont, which has been named in thousands of lawsuits alleging the company's chemicals have polluted the environment and exposed millions of Americans to potential health risks.
Corteva completed the spinoff of its seed and genetics business into a separate publicly traded company on Thursday.
Corteva was formed during the 2015 merger of Dow Chemical Company and DuPont, taking on the combined companies' agriculture business and becoming the corporate parent of the old DuPont companies, according to the complaint.
At the time Corteva contractually assumed DuPont's PFAS liabilities, but the new Vylor transaction attempts to spin off the profitable seed business without taking on any of the old company's PFAS debts. The states allege that the spinoff is an attempt to defraud PFAS creditors by placing assets out of reach of their lawsuits against former DuPont companies.
YPF získala od Ex-Im Bank USA nabídku financování až do výše 6 mld. USD pro projekt Argentina LNG. Projekt za 24 mld. USD má začít se dvěma plovoucími jednotkami s kapacitou 12 MTPA.
Key Takeaways YPF received an offer of up to $6B in U.S. Export-Import Bank financing for Argentina LNG.The $24B project is expected to start with two floating LNG units totaling 12 MTPA.YPF aims to secure two to three LNG sales deals before the planned November investment decision. YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF - Free Report) , an Argentinian energy company, recently mentioned that the U.S. Export-Import Bank has offered up to $6 billion in financing for the Argentina LNG project. The project is a major natural gas project aimed at extracting and monetizing the country’s significant shale gas resources. The Argentina LNG project is led by YPF alongside the Italian energy firm Eni and Abu Dhabi's ADNOC. The project is expected to become the largest infrastructure project in Argentina’s history.
The project is anticipated to require an investment of $24 billion to build the necessary infrastructure, which includes natural gas processing facilities, pipelines and liquefaction units. The YPF-led consortium is seeking financing to fund a part of the project's costs. The partners intend to make a final investment decision in November this year, but may proceed with only letters of intent from banks and export credit agencies to finalize the lending terms.
Earlier this month, YPF also announced that it was on track to sign two to three LNG sales agreements for the Argentina LNG export project. These contracts cover a combined capacity of 500 thousand to 1.5 million metric tons per year (MTPA) of LNG. The companies intend to secure these deals before the final investment decision in November, as the contracts can provide future earnings visibility and demonstrate demand for the project's output.
The project is initially expected to include two floating LNG facilities with a combined capacity of 12 MTPA, with the potential to increase its capacity to 18 MTPA. It will also include a 527-kilometre pipeline to transport natural gas from Vaca Muerta to Argentina's Atlantic coast in Rio Negro province. For Argentina, this project could help convert its large domestic gas resources into export revenues and further develop its energy sector. However, YPF’s stock has declined 6% since the announcement.
YPF’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksYPF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are PBF Energy (PBF - Free Report) , Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) and Galp Energia SGPS SA (GLPEY - Free Report) . While PBF Energy and Valero sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, Galp Energia carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
PBF Energy has a geographically diverse refining network with large-scale processing capacity and a highly complex refining system. It operates six refineries, including Delaware City Refinery, Paulsboro Refinery, Toledo Refinery, Chalmette Refinery, Torrance Refinery and Martinez Refinery, with a combined throughput capacity of 1 million barrels per day and the ability to process a wide range of feedstocks. The diversified refining footprint provides the company exposure to several regional refining markets, supporting higher margins.
Valero Energy is a leading refining player with a robust network of 14 refineries and a combined high-complexity throughput capacity of 3 million barrels per day, which distinguishes it from other independent refiners. VLO’s refineries have a combined Nelson Complexity Index of 11.5, which implies that the refineries can process a wide variety of feedstocks, convert them into higher-value products and shift product yields according to market conditions.
Galp Energia is a Portuguese energy company engaged in exploration and production activities. The company’s oil exploration efforts have yielded positive results, particularly with the Mopane discovery in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. This discovery allows Galp to diversify its global presence with the potential to become a significant oil producer in the region. It refines and markets oil products and gas, as well as engages in marketing and sales activities.
CNA Financial ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila čisté předepsané pojistné v P&C o 4 % díky 11% růstu nového obchodu na rekordních 718 milionů USD. Čistý investiční výnos vzrostl na 701 milionů USD.
Key Takeaways CNA Financial's P&C net written premiums rose 4% despite just a 2% renewal premium change. CNA Financial's new business grew 11% to a record $718 million, while retention remained 83%. CNA Financial's second-quarter net investment income rose to $701 million, supporting earnings growth. CNA Financial Corporation (CNA - Free Report) can potentially sustain growth even as insurance pricing softens, but the growth mix is likely to shift from rate-driven expansion toward new business, retention, specialization and disciplined underwriting.
In the second quarter of 2026, CNA’s P&C net written premiums increased 4% year over year, despite a renewal premium change of only 2% and flat renewal rate increases. Importantly, new business grew 11% to a record $718 million, while retention remained strong at 83%. This indicates that CNA is increasingly generating premium growth through customer acquisition and portfolio management rather than relying solely on higher renewal rates.
CNA’s Specialty and Commercial businesses provide additional avenues for growth. Specialty NWP increased 5% in the second quarter, while Commercial NWP also rose 5%. Management said it continues to identify opportunities to write accounts at appropriate prices, terms and conditions while pulling back from areas where risk-adjusted returns are less attractive. This selective approach could help CNA defend underwriting profitability as competition increases and pricing moderates.
However, investors will need to monitor whether CNA can maintain premium growth without sacrificing margins. CNA’s second-quarter P&C underlying combined ratio deteriorated to 94.2% from 91.7%, while the underlying loss ratio increased to 64.1%. The pressure was particularly evident in Commercial, where the underlying combined ratio rose to 92.8% from 90.6%.
CNA's growth story is becoming less dependent on pricing and more reliant on 11% new-business growth, strong retention, specialty-market opportunities and disciplined risk selection. Higher investment income also provides some earnings support, with second-quarter net investment income rising to $701 million.
What About Other Players? The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) faces the challenge of softer insurance pricing, particularly in its Business Insurance operations, where moderating renewal rates could reduce the contribution of pricing to premium growth. In the second quarter of 2026, Business Insurance net written premiums increased 5%, excluding the impact of the Canadian divestiture, while renewal premium change was 4.8%. This means Travelers increasingly needs to generate growth through new business, retention, and exposure growth rather than relying on higher renewal prices. At the same time, Travelers must maintain underwriting discipline, as slower pricing growth can make it harder to absorb claims inflation and other loss-cost pressures.
Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) is also facing softer insurance pricing, particularly in commercial property, but the impact is uneven across its portfolio. In the second quarter of 2026, Chubb said soft underwriting conditions persisted in large-account and E&S property, while softer conditions were also spreading to certain casualty and financial-lines businesses. This pressured North America Commercial P&C NWP, which declined 2.3% year over year, although NWP excluding large-account and E&S property increased 4.1%. Chubb is responding by maintaining underwriting discipline rather than pursuing volume at inadequate prices. Management noted that it would not knowingly underwrite business at a loss. Growth is increasingly coming from areas with better opportunities, including Middle Market and Small Commercial, which grew 8.9%, as well as international markets, where Overseas General NWP increased 10.2%.
CNA’s Price PerformanceShares of CNA have lost 2.7% in the past year compared with the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CNA’s UndervaluationThe stock is undervalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book value multiple of 1.09, lower than the industry average of 1.39. It carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Movement for CNAThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNA’s third-quarter 2026 EPS moved down 1.6% in the past 60 days. The same for full-year 2026 EPS has moved up 2.4% in the past 60 days.
AWK v první polovině roku 2026 přidala přibližně 52 700 zákazníků prostřednictvím akvizic a téměř 9 000 organicky. Má také 19 čekajících akvizic s potenciálem asi 56 600 zákazníků.
Key Takeaways AWK added about 52,700 customers via acquisitions and nearly 9,000 organically in first-half 2026. AWK had 19 pending acquisitions representing around 56,600 potential customers as of June 30, 2026.AWK plans to invest $19-$20 billion through 2030, supporting 8-9% rate-base growth. American Water Works (AWK - Free Report) is expanding its operations through regulated acquisitions and organic growth, adding customers across its service territories. The expansion is strengthening its regulated footprint and increasing the number of customers served by its water and wastewater systems.
In the first six months of 2026, AWK added approximately 52,700 customers through regulated acquisitions, including about 47,000 customers from its Nexus Water Group acquisition, which was completed in June. It also added nearly 9,000 customers organically across existing systems.
AWK also had 19 pending acquisition agreements as of June 30, 2026, representing around 56,600 potential customers. Alongside its proposed merger with Essential Utilities, continued customer additions could broaden AWK’s regulated footprint and create opportunities for further infrastructure investment.
Customer expansion, supported by continued infrastructure investment, provides AWK with additional opportunities to recover costs through regulated rates. The company plans to invest approximately $3.7 billion in 2026 and $19-$20 billion through 2030, supporting 8-9% rate-base growth through infrastructure investments, regulated acquisitions and organic expansion. AWK also reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.02-$6.12.
As the regulated customer base expands, AWK can increase demand for water and wastewater infrastructure, supporting additional investment and regulated cost recovery. This expansion can strengthen the company’s revenue base and support sustained long-term earnings growth.
Utilities Expand Customer Base Organically & InorganicallyUtilities expand their customer base through organic growth from population and economic development, while acquisitions provide additional expansion opportunities. These strategies can support higher demand, infrastructure investment and long-term revenue growth.
ONE Gas (OGS - Free Report) benefited from customer growth in Oklahoma and Texas, which contributed $1.4 million to second-quarter 2026 residential sales revenues and supported ongoing system expansion.
Southwest Gas Holdings (SWX - Free Report) benefited from 1% net customer growth during the 12 months ended June 2026, which added $4.5 million to operating margin and supported continued infrastructure investment.
The Zacks Rundown on AWKAWK’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates an increase of 7.98% and 8.27%, respectively, year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AWK’s Stock Trading at a Premium AWK is trading at a premium to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 20.03X versus the industry average 16.02X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AWK’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past three months, the company’s shares have plunged 6.9% compared with the industry’s 5.6% decline.
AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:APP) shares are trading lower, falling further below their moving averages to a fresh 52-week low, after a Unity spokesperson’s comments appeared to weigh on the stock. Here’s what you should know.
AppLovin shares are approaching critical lows. What’s behind APP weakness? AppLovin Sues Unity Over Alleged Data MisuseAppLovin filed for a temporary restraining order against Unity Software Inc (NYSE:U) in California court this week. The filing accuses Unity’s Ad Quality software of improperly gathering data tied to AppLovin’s ads. That data reportedly includes details on creatives, users, devices, revenue and engagement, Digiday reported.
AppLovin further claims Unity fed that information into its own models to compete against AppLovin in mobile ad auctions. The company has not proven those claims in court.
AppLovin wants the court to block Unity from collecting what it calls its “Protected Data.” That includes pricing and auction information tied to AppLovin’s business. AppLovin is also asking Unity to halt the relevant data collection within five business days and rework its software within 30 days. Separately, AppLovin initiated a JAMS arbitration case. That filing alleges breach of contract, trade-secret misappropriation and violations of California’s unfair competition law.
Unity fired back through a spokesperson. The statement called AppLovin’s lawsuit “a classic case of a dominant incumbent resorting to litigation and intimidation” meant to address “increased competition and slowing growth.” Unity framed the dispute as targeting a small, free tool built to keep harmful ads out of games.
AppLovin’s Chart Shows a Stock in a Clear DowntrendBeyond the legal dispute, AppLovin’s chart tells its own story. The stock had spent much of September struggling to hold its 20-day moving average. That support finally gave way this week, and the stock has faced heavy selling pressure since. Shares now trade below every major moving average and sit at a fresh 52-week low.
The stock has fallen 11.4% below its 20-day average of $314.58 and sits 39.2% under its 200-day average of $458.24. The 20-day average trading below the 50-day points to near-term weakness. A death cross from March, when the 50-day average dropped beneath the 200-day, continues to weigh on the stock’s broader trend. The next meaningful support level may sit near $220, an area where the stock found buyers during a bounce in late March 2025.
APP Shares Are DroppingAPP Price Action: AppLovin shares were down 2.84% at $282.18 at the time of publication on Thursday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week low, according to Benzinga Pro.
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Barclays zvýšila cílovou cenu Bloom Energy na 308 USD z 276 USD. Akcie nejprve rostly, pak oslabily v širším poklesu kvůli vyšším výnosům státních dluhopisů.
Bloom Energy (BE) and FuelCell Energy (FCEL) are having a wild week, driven by Wall Street rating changes, AI timeline concerns and legal scrutiny. On Thursday, Bloom Energy stock wavered even as Treasury yields reversed lower.
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Why Is BE Stock Up And Down Today?
Bloom Energy stock rose initially in Thursday's stock market action following a price-target hike, but then got caught in a broader downdraft due to rising Treasury yields.
On Thursday, Barclays raised its price target on Bloom Energy stock to $308 from $276. BE stock initially rose on the news, before edging lower.
AI stocks tend to be rate-sensitive. While Treasury yields retreated Thursday, the near-vertical uptrend continues. Higher interest rates makes financing projects costlier, while increasing the discount rate for future growth However, in a positive sign, BE stock continues to hold above short-term support.
Intraday, BE stock traded right around 276. The AI power player has undercut a 288 deep cup-with-handle buy point, which it initially cleared on Friday, the MarketSurge chart shows. But it is riding above the 21-day exponential moving average, and comfortably above longer-term support levels.
Catalysts For AI Power Play Bloom Energy
Barclays analyst Christine Cho cited several catalysts, based on recent news reports and the firm's own analysis:
Factory Expansion: The City of Fremont, Calif., said in a recent LinkedIn post that Bloom Energy acquired a 158,000-square-foot facility. This would be almost as large as Bloom's current plant and suggests that Bloom Energy plans a massive capacity increase.
Amid the boom in power-hungry artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, Bloom shows explosive growth.
Utility Pipeline Growth: On Monday, Missouri utility Ameren (AME) unveiled a 20-year plan including 500 megawatts (MW) of fuel cells by 2030. That served as a big endorsement of fuel cells for round-the-clock power, which AI data centers need. And it could open up a major new market. Ameren did not name any fuel-cell company. However, Bloom is perhaps the only firm capable of supplying gas-powered fuel cells at the massive 500 MW scale, which could power up to 10 large AI data centers.
Insulated Oracle Supply: Cho also addressed recent concerns around Bloom customer Oracle (ORCL). Last week, Oracle declared force majeure over a New Mexico data center site, which will let it halt payments if the project is delayed.
According to Cho, Oracle faces a straightforward choice on that project, called Jupiter: Take fuel-cell deliveries on time or risk its spot in the line. However, Cho expects that Oracle will keep the units and shift it to another data center site (like Project Lighthouse in Wisconsin), rather than walk away.
Rival FuelCell Energy's Woes
While hiking the BE stock price target on Thursday, Barclays kept an equal weight rating. The $308 target implies a further 12% upside, after shares have more than tripled in 2026.
Meanwhile, FuelCell Energy shares rose 2.4% to 16.82 on Thursday, but still some distance below the 50-day line. FCEL stock has more than doubled in 2026 despite more than halving since July.
FuelCell Energy slumped after a worse-than-feared loss for the second quarter. It has now been accused of misleading investors in several lawsuits.
But on Thursday, Oppenheimer initiated FCEL stock at outperform with a $24 price target. That suggests the firm's analysts see the Bloom rival's long-term AI data center potential outstripping its short-term financial and legal woes.
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Vertiv v 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 24 % díky silné poptávce po AI datových centrech; v Americe i APAC rostly o 29 %. Na 3. čtvrtletí čeká tržby 3,65–3,85 mld. USD.
Key Takeaways Vertiv shares are up 48.9% YTD, helped by AI data center demand and a broad power and cooling portfolio. Q2 sales rose 24% as Americas and APAC each grew 29%, while acquisitions contributed 5% to revenues. Vertiv expects Q3 sales of $3.65B-$3.85B and a 24%-25% adjusted operating margin. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) shares have gained 48.9% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s increase of 22.4%. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 18.8% in the same time frame.
The company’s shares have also outperformed its peers, which include Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) , Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) . All three companies are expanding their capabilities in the AI and data center infrastructure markets. Shares of Super Micro Computer, Broadcom, and Amphenol have gained 40.3%, 1.4%, and 24.7%, respectively.
The outperformance of VRT stock can be attributed to its rich partner base and extensive product portfolio spanning thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbars, and modular solutions. Vertiv remains leveraged to rising data center power and thermal needs as AI deployments drive higher infrastructure density and faster build cycles. These factors are helping VRT to fend off its competitors like Super Micro Computer, Broadcom, and Amphenol.
VRT Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv Capitalizes on Strong AI Data Center GrowthVertiv is benefiting from strong demand for AI infrastructure as hyperscalers, colocation providers, neocloud operators and enterprises continue to expand data-center capacity. The company’s global pipeline remains robust 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.
Acquisitions have further strengthened Vertiv’s data center portfolio. The recent acquisitions of ThermoKey and Strategic Thermal Labs have expanded Vertiv’s capabilities in heat rejection and high-density thermal management, respectively. These moves enhance Vertiv’s ability to offer comprehensive solutions across the thermal spectrum from heat rejection to direct-to-chip cooling. In the second quarter of 2026, acquisitions contributed 5% to revenues.
Further expanding its portfolio, Vertiv recently agreed to acquire King Environmental Services (“KES”), a Europe-based provider of fluid management, commissioning and load-testing services for high-density, liquid-cooled data centers. The acquisition is expected to expand Vertiv’s thermal management services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and strengthen support for AI and high-density infrastructure.
KES brings specialized capabilities in system preparation, performance validation, monitoring, maintenance and lifecycle optimization. The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, builds on Vertiv’s North American fluid-management presence established through its PurgeRite acquisition.
VRT Benefits From Margin GainsVertiv is benefiting from significant margin gains. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported an adjusted operating margin of 22.6%, a substantial increase of 410 basis points year over year and well above its previous guidance. This margin expansion was driven by disciplined operational execution, productivity improvements and favorable price-cost dynamics, partially offset by tariff impacts.
Margin improvement was broad-based across Vertiv’s geographic segments. In the Americas, strong commercial execution and operational performance drove adjusted operating margin expansion of 360 basis points year over year. APAC margins improved 270 basis points as strong revenue growth generated operating leverage, while EMEA recorded a 380-basis-point improvement, aided by better operational execution. The broad-based gains indicate that Vertiv’s profitability improvement extends beyond any single region.
Vertiv expects margin momentum to continue in the second half of 2026. For the third quarter of 2026, adjusted operating profit is projected to be between $898 million and $938 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 24% to 25%, supported by organic growth, operating leverage and productivity. Regional manufacturing, supply chain actions and disciplined capacity investment remain key to sustaining the margin trajectory as projects scale. Management raised 2026 adjusted operating margin guidance to 23.3%-24.3% and expects pricing to exceed inflation, including current tariffs and countermeasures.
VRT Initiates Positive Q3 2026 GuidanceVertiv’s expanding AI data center footprint and strategic acquisitions signal further upside potential. For the third quarter of 2026, Vertiv expects net sales of $3.65 billion to $3.85 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.77 to $1.83 per share.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vertiv’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $3.77 billion, suggesting growth of 40.79% year over year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $1.83 per share, up by 0.75% over the past 30 days. The figure indicates a year-over-year increase of 47.58%.
Vertiv Stock Is Trading at a PremiumVertiv is currently overvalued, as suggested by a Value Score of D.
In terms of the trailing 12-month Price/Book, Vertiv is currently trading at 19.53X compared with the broader Computer and Technology sector’s 9.21X.
VRT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionVertiv is benefiting from its strong portfolio and rich partner base, which are driving order growth. These factors justify the company’s premium valuation.
Vertiv stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a Growth Score of A, a favorable combination that offers a strong investment opportunity, per the Zacks proprietary methodology. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for MongoDB (MDB - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 7.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is MongoDB due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
MDB Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Atlas & EA Strength, Outlook RaisedMongoDB delivered second-quarter fiscal 2027 non-GAAP earnings of $1.90 per share, which rose 90% year over year and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18.75%.
Total revenues increased 30.5% year over year to $771.8 million and surpassed the consensus estimate by 5.2%. Results benefited from strength among large enterprise customers, solid Atlas consumption and broad Enterprise Advanced demand.
Total company net ARR expansion improved to 122% from 119% a year ago and 121% in the prior quarter.
MDB's Q2 Revenue Mix Reflects Broad StrengthSubscription revenues rose 30.5% year over year to $747.1 million, while services revenues increased 29.3% to $24.6 million. The subscription business remained the primary contributor to the top line.
Atlas-related revenues totaled $565.9 million, up 28.9% from $439.0 million a year ago. MongoDB Enterprise Advanced and other revenues reached $181.2 million, rising 35.9% from $133.4 million, reflecting broad strength across financial services, the public sector and technology.
MongoDB's Customer Metrics Keep ExpandingMongoDB ended the quarter with more than 70,600 customers, up from 59,900 a year ago, after adding approximately 2,900 customers sequentially. Atlas customers increased to more than 69,300 from 58,500 in the prior-year period.
Customers generating at least $100,000 in annual recurring revenues rose 17% year over year to 2,999. Among Atlas customers in this cohort, 48% used two or more platform features, up from 42%, driven largely by Vector Search and text search adoption. Remaining performance obligations climbed 91% to $1.52 billion.
MongoDB's Q2 Operating DetailsIn the fiscal second quarter, MongoDB’s non-GAAP gross profit increased to $585.7 million, with the non-GAAP gross margin expanding to 76% from 74% a year ago.
Subscription gross margin was 78.3%, up about 70 basis points, primarily reflecting the higher Enterprise Advanced revenue mix.
Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses rose 6.9% year over year to $215.7 million. Research and development expenses increased 30.7% to $137.4 million, while general and administrative expenses advanced 9.6% to $46.7 million.
Non-GAAP income from operations rose to $185.9 million from $86.8 million. The corresponding operating margin expanded to 24% from 15%, underscoring stronger operating leverage alongside the quarter's revenue growth.
MongoDB's Balance Sheet & Cash FlowAs of July 31, 2026, MongoDB had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.4 billion compared with $2.4 billion as of April 30, 2026.
During the quarter, the company allocated $100 million toward share repurchases and $59 million to settle taxes on employee restricted stock units.
Operating cash flow was $141.9 million in the fiscal second quarter compared with $201.6 million reported in the prior quarter.
Free cash flow during the quarter was $137.6 million compared with $197.5 million in the prior quarter.
MongoDB Raises Fiscal 2027 GuidanceFor the third quarter of fiscal 2027, MongoDB expects revenues of $756 million to $761 million. Non-GAAP income from operations is projected between $152 million and $156 million, while non-GAAP earnings are expected between $1.57 and $1.61 per share.
For fiscal 2027, revenues are now anticipated between $2.99 billion and $3.03 billion, up from the prior $2.92-$2.96 billion range. Non-GAAP earnings are projected between $6.39 and $6.58 per share compared with the previous $5.95-$6.14 range. Management now expects Atlas growth of approximately 27% and Enterprise Advanced and other revenue growth of about 11% for the year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates revision have trended upward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted 296.43% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, MongoDB has a great Growth Score of A, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock has a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the lowest quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise MongoDB has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerMongoDB is part of the Zacks Internet - Software industry. Over the past month, Rubrik, Inc. (RBRK - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 31.3%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended July 2026 more than a month ago.
Rubrik, Inc. reported revenues of $427.26 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +37.9%. EPS of $0.20 for the same period compares with -$0.03 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Rubrik, Inc. is expected to post earnings of $0.09 per share, indicating a change of -10% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.4% over the last 30 days.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Rubrik, Inc.. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
Key Takeaways Selective Insurance's Commercial Lines combined ratio improved 350 basis points to 99.3%. Selective Insurance's after-tax investment income rose 18% to $119.2 million in the second quarter. Selective Insurance delivered an eighth straight quarter of double-digit operating ROE at 13.7%. Shares of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (SIGI - Free Report) have gained 1.8% over the past year, outperforming the industry’s 0.8% growth.
Selective Insurance has outperformed its peers, including NMI Holdings Inc. (NMIH - Free Report) , W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) . NMIH shares have gained 0.2%, while WRB and RLI shares have lost 11.3% and 12.8%, respectively, over the past year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The insurer has a market capitalization of $4.98 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 0.5 million.
SIGI’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Selective Insurance’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a 9.8% year-over-year increase. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $5.45 billion, implying a 2.3% year-over-year improvement. The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 7.7% and 0.06%, respectively, from the 2026 estimates. SIGI has an impressive Growth Score of B. This style score helps analyze the company’s growth prospects.
SIGI’s Favorable Return on EquityReturn on equity in the trailing 12 months was 14.5%, better than the industry average of 7.5%. This highlights the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.
Factors Favoring SIGI StockSelective Insurance continues to prioritize underwriting profitability and risk-adjusted growth as insurance market conditions evolve. Its Excess & Surplus (E&S) business remains well positioned to benefit from demand for customized coverage as admitted markets tighten underwriting standards, particularly in casualty-oriented classes. Although competition is rising and property pricing is moderating, Selective's 50-state E&S footprint, expanding distribution network and disciplined underwriting provide a foundation for sustainable growth.
SIGI is also taking a measured approach to its Standard Commercial Lines business. Net premiums written declined 6% in the second quarter as Selective reduced exposure to underperforming accounts and focused on retaining more profitable business. This strategy helped improve the segment's combined ratio by 350 basis points to 99.3%. The company's geographic expansion also supports longer-term growth.
Personal Lines remains another area of repositioning. Net premiums written declined 8%, reflecting the company's emphasis on its target mass-affluent market rather than premium volume. Renewal pure price increased 8.9%, while target-market customers accounted for about 70% of homeowners premiums.
Meanwhile, higher investment yields are providing an important earnings tailwind. Second-quarter after-tax net investment income rose 18% year over year to $119.2 million, prompting management to raise its 2026 guidance to $480 million. Selective's conservative investment portfolio provides balance-sheet support.
ConclusionOverall, Selective's strategy emphasizes underwriting quality, portfolio optimization and disciplined capital deployment. The company delivered an eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit operating ROE, reaching 13.7% in the second quarter, above its 12% target.
Continued E&S strength, improving commercial underwriting, investment income growth and geographic expansion could support earnings and book-value growth as the company navigates a more competitive insurance market.
SIGI should benefit from favorable growth estimates, higher return on capital and prudent capital deployment. Therefore, it is wise to retain this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Selective Insurance also has a VGM Score of B. Stocks with a favorable VGM Score are those with the most attractive value, best growth and most promising momentum compared with peers.
Mattel oznámil projekt Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark, který má otevřít v Bellevue v Nebrasce na konci roku 2027. Areál o zhruba 100 000 čtverečních stopách propojí značky Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, UNO a další značky Mattel.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the world's most iconic brand portfolios in the world, announces a milestone in the expansion of its worldwide experiences business, confirming Bellevue, Nebraska, is now the first Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark planned to open at the end of 2027.
Designed as a year-round, multi-brand destination, the approximately 100,000-square-foot waterpark will bring Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, UNO and more Mattel brands together through attractions, play, food and shared experiences. American Resort Management, a proven leader in high-volume resort and entertainment operations including Epic Waters and Wild Rivers, will oversee sustainable day-to-day performance and guest-flow optimization.
Natalia Premovic, Chief Consumer Products and Experiences Officer, Mattel, said: “Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks are about bringing great experiences to where our fans actually live. We see a real opportunity to take the kind of immersive entertainment traditionally concentrated in major markets and bring it to more communities in a scalable, year-round format. Bellevue becoming our first Waterpark to open is an important step in that strategy and a significant chance to show what happens when you bring so many of our brands together in one place.”
The new renderings (found here) from the Bellevue location offer an early look at how Mattel’s iconic brands will be translated into immersive attractions and themed environments. The Waterparks will share a common vision while offering unique experiences at each location. Including Bellevue, Mattel has confirmed four of the five planned Waterpark locations across North America. Other confirmed locations are Orlando, Florida; Bradley, Illinois; and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
The Waterpark will feature a vibrant environment where Mattel’s brands are woven into the story. Featured experiences at Bellevue will include a Barbie activity pool and FlowRider® surf simulator; a Hot Wheels "Challenge Accepted" multi-slide tower; a lazy river inspired by Mattel Games favorites including UNO, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball, a Fisher-Price water play structure; and themed food and beverage offerings. Designed for a wide range of ages and thrill levels, the destination offers something for every guest, blending immersive storytelling with signature attractions that invite visitors to step inside the worlds of Mattel. Featuring a signature retractable roof, the climate-controlled venue will offer year-round operation while bringing natural light and fresh air.
Rusty Hike, Mayor of Bellevue, Nebraska, said: "Bellevue is proud to be home to the first Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark, bringing a one-of-a-kind location to our community and welcoming visitors from across the region. This project represents an important investment in Bellevue's future, and we're excited to work with Mattel and American Resort Management to create a place where people can experience all our community has to offer.”
Construction continues on the indoor destination, which is being developed within Bellevue's growing Good Life District, a mixed-use destination designed to increase tourism, through a collaboration between Mattel, the City of Bellevue and American Resort Management.
“Seeing the building take shape is exciting, but the interior is where the vision will really come to life,” said Rick Coleman, CEO of American Resort Management. “Our goal is to create an experience that feels unmistakably Mattel while delivering the quality, service and guest experience families expect from a world-class waterpark.”
ABOUT MATTEL, INC.
Mattel is a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, and Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN RESORT MANAGEMENT
American Resort Management, LLC (ARM) is a leading destination resort management and development company with extensive experience in lodging and resort operations, specializing in indoor/outdoor waterpark resorts, family entertainment centers, and destination resorts. For over 20 years, ARM has been committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences and is dedicated to innovation and excellence in the industry. Visit americanresortmanagement.com for more information.
RBC Bearings v 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 zvýšila výnosy v Aerospace & Defense o 36,9 % na 225,4 mil. USD. Firma čeká ve 2. čtvrtletí výnosy 505–515 mil. USD, tedy meziroční růst o 10,9–13,1 %.
Key Takeaways RBC's Aerospace & Defense revenues jumped 36.9% in fiscal Q1 2027 to $225.4 million.Commercial aerospace revenues rose 21.8%, while defense revenues surged 64.6% in the quarter.RBC sees fiscal Q2 sales of $505-$515 million, implying year-over-year growth of 10.9%-13.1%. RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC - Free Report) is witnessing persistent strength in aerospace and defense markets. Strong momentum in the commercial aerospace market, driven by higher aircraft build rates and growth in OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and aftermarket orders, is driving the company’s Aerospace & Defense segment. Following year-over-year growth of 32.9% in fiscal 2026 (ended March 28, 2026), revenues from the segment surged 36.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 (ended June 27, 2026) to $225.4 million.
Solid demand for the company’s bearings and engineered component products in the defense market, supported by growth in missile and space applications orders, augmented the segment’s performance in the quarter. Within the segment, revenues from the commercial aerospace market increased 21.8%, while those from the defense market were up 64.6% in the fiscal first quarter. The company’s VACCO Industries buyout (July 2025) also contributed to the revenue increase.
The robust backlog level of $2.3 billion at the end of the fiscal first quarter, along with the company’s strong execution on incremental orders in the commercial aerospace market, is expected to act as a tailwind for the segment.
RBC Bearings’ aerospace & defense segment is poised to maintain solid demand momentum in the quarters ahead, supported by robust budgetary provisions for the U.S. defense sector and strength in air travel. Driven by strength across both its Aerospace & Defense and Industrial segments, RBC anticipates net sales of $505-$515 million for second-quarter fiscal 2027, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 10.9-13.1%.
Segment Snapshot of RBC’s PeersHowmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM - Free Report) has also been witnessing positive momentum in the defense sector, cushioned by steady government support. Howmet has been witnessing robust orders for engine spares for legacy fighters. In the second quarter, revenues from the defense aerospace market surged 11% year over year, constituting 15% of the company’s revenues.
GE Aerospace (GE - Free Report) is benefiting from persistent strength in its Defense & Propulsion Technologies segment. Revenues from the segment increased 16% year over year to $3.4 billion in second-quarter 2026. The top-line growth was supported by healthy demand for GE Aerospace’s propulsion & additive technologies, critical aircraft systems and aftermarket services in the defense market.
RBC's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of RBC Bearings have gained 11.3% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, RBC is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 31.75X, above the industry’s average of 20.93X. RBC Bearings carries a Value Score of F.
Akcie GitLabu za poslední měsíc po zveřejnění výsledků klesly o 4,7 %, přesto společnost ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby meziročně o 21,3 % na 286,25 milionu USD.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for GitLab Inc. (GTLB - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 4.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Gitlab due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for GitLab Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
GitLab Q2 Earnings Beat on Revenue Growth and Sales ProductivityGitLab reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 non-GAAP earnings of 24 cents per share, which remained unchanged year over year and 33.33% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Revenues of $286.25 million rose 21.3% year over year and beat the consensus mark by 4.74%.
Broad-based strength across new and existing customers supported the quarter. Net annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth accelerated to 42% year over year, while the dollar-based net retention rate was 117%.
GTLB’s Revenue Mix Shows Broad-Based GrowthSubscription, self-managed and SaaS revenues increased 21.5% year over year to $258.31 million. License, self-managed and other revenues rose 20.1% year over year to $27.94 million.
SaaS revenues represented 34% of total revenues and increased 36% year over year. Calculated billings grew 24%, while total remaining performance obligations rose 16% to $1.2 billion and current RPO increased 20% to $744.7 million.
GitLab’s Customer Expansion AcceleratesCustomers generating more than $5,000 of ARR reached 11,114, up 8% year over year. Customers with more than $100,000 of ARR increased 17% year over year to 1,571. Ultimate ARR grew roughly 35% and accounted for 59% of total ARR. Eight of GitLab’s 10 largest second-quarter deals purchased Ultimate, while gross retention remained above 90%.
GitLab recorded approximately 1,700 first orders, more than double the year-ago level, while first-order net ARR increased 39%. Deals worth at least $500,000 grew more than 150% year over year. Account executive capacity increased about 30%, while productivity per rep improved about 10%.
GitLab's Flex and AI Products Gain TractionGitLab Flex attracted more than 130 customers with over $20 million in commitments during its first six weeks in market. Paid consumption run rate exceeded $40 million at quarter-end, up from $15 million exiting the first quarter. Management is targeting more than $100 million by fiscal year-end.
Duo Agent Platform paid consumption run rate increased roughly 50% sequentially. GitLab Orbit, which entered public beta in June, had more than 2,200 organizations enabled indexing and generated more than 170,000 customer queries. Roughly 80% of query volume came from customers connecting Orbit to external agents.
GTLB's Operating DetailsIn the second quarter of fiscal 2027, non-GAAP gross margin was 86%, down from 90% in the prior year.
On a non-GAAP basis, sales and marketing expenses rose 15.8% year over year to $103.82 million, research and development costs increased 24.6% year over year to $65.17 million, and general and administrative expenses advanced 19.1% year over year to $36.00 million.
Non-GAAP operating income increased 7.6% year over year to $42.57 million. However, the corresponding operating margin was 15%, down from 17% in the year-ago quarter.
GTLB’s Cash Flow Weakens on Collection TimingAs of July 31, 2026, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $1.26 billion compared with $1.36 billion as of April 30, 2026.
Operating cash outflow was $3.09 million compared with operating cash flow of $49.37 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted free cash flow declined to $9.75 million from $46.45 million.
The company repurchased approximately 3.5 million shares during the quarter and had about $245 million remaining under its current authorization.
GitLab Raises Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor the third quarter of fiscal 2027, GitLab expects revenues of $281-$283 million, implying 15%-16% year-over-year growth. Non-GAAP operating income is projected to be $35-$37 million, while non-GAAP earnings are expected to be between 19 cents and 20 cents per share.
For fiscal 2027, revenues are now projected to be $1.129-$1.133 billion, representing 18-19% growth. Non-GAAP operating income is expected to be $148-$152 million, and earnings are likely to be between 85 cents and 87 cents per share. The outlook assumes a normalized bookings pace, modest Duo Agent Platform revenue contribution and excludes the potential revenue-timing impact of Flex. Management estimates a maximum $13 million fiscal 2027 revenue-timing impact from Flex adoption.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted -11.11% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Gitlab has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Gitlab has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerGitlab belongs to the Zacks Internet - Software industry. Another stock from the same industry, Elastic (ESTC - Free Report) , has gained 2.4% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended July 2026.
Elastic reported revenues of $478.11 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +15.1%. EPS of $0.70 for the same period compares with $0.60 a year ago.
Elastic is expected to post earnings of $0.81 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +26.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +1%.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Elastic. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of D.
Portland General Electric začala obchodovat na novém denním trhu EDAM (Extended Day-Ahead Market) od CAISO. Po plném rozběhu má zákazníkům ušetřit asi 14 milionů USD ročně.
Portland, Oregon--(Newsfile Corp. - October 1, 2026) - Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) today began buying and selling energy through the California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) new Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), putting years of technology investment and regional collaboration to work for customers.
PGE is among the first utilities to participate in EDAM, which allows participating utilities to buy and sell energy in the day-ahead timeframe. Participation could save PGE customers approximately $14 million annually once the market is fully built out by optimizing supply, demand and transmission across a broader geographic footprint. In addition to lower costs, EDAM participation improves reliability and supports greater use of renewable energy.
"PGE has been long preparing for a reginal energy system that is dynamic and interconnected," said Maria Pope, president and CEO of Portland General Electric. "Our early investments in advanced systems and operational capabilities as well as regional collaboration have positioned us to lead while staying focused on reliable service and affordability."
EDAM builds on years of preparation at PGE. At its Integrated Operations Center in Tualatin, Ore., the company has invested in the technology, systems and operational expertise needed to manage an increasingly dynamic energy system. Since joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) in 2017, PGE has generated approximately $377 million in cumulative benefits for customers. The imbalance market, which is a real-time market operating in 15-minute and 5-minute intervals, has grown to include 24 participating entities serving nearly 80 percent of electricity demand in the West. That scale gives utilities a foundation to unlock even greater savings by expanding into the day-ahead market.
"PGE's participation in EDAM reflects the growing momentum behind regional market collaboration in the West," said Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of the California ISO. "The addition of PGE expands resource diversity and strengthens the market's ability to deliver economic and reliability benefits to participants and their customers."
PGE's decision to join EDAM followed years of evaluating regional market options and active participation in EDAM's design. Studies commissioned by PGE concluded that EDAM offered greater economic benefits than alternative market options. EDAM also enables more efficient use of the diverse energy resources available across the West, including hydropower and wind from the Pacific Northwest and solar generation from California and the desert Southwest.
About Portland General Electric Company
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 960,000 customers serving an area of approximately 2 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering economies, delivering safe, affordable and reliable electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE continues to make progress toward emissions reduction targets, and customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is ranked a top ten utility in the 2025 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index. In 2025, PGE employees and retirees volunteered over 18,300 hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. Through the PGE Foundation, along with corporate contributions and the employee matching gift program, more than $5 million was directed to charitable organizations supporting economic growth and community resilience across our service area. For information: portlandgeneral.com/news. Contact Info: PGE Communications, [email protected]; 503-464-2067
About the California ISO
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) is a nonprofit public-benefit corporation responsible for the reliable operation of California's bulk electric grid. The ISO provides transmission planning, open and nondiscriminatory access to one of the world's largest high-voltage transmission networks and operates competitive wholesale electricity markets for the benefit of consumers.
About the Western Energy Markets
The Western Energy Markets include the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), which provide regional market coordination across the West. The WEIM, launched in 2014, helps participants balance electricity supply and demand in real time and has delivered billions in benefits to market participants and their customers. EDAM began operation in 2026 and extends those benefits into the day-ahead timeframe through broader regional coordination. The Western Energy Markets Governing Body has primary decision-making authority over market rules specific to the WEIM and EDAM.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected customer savings, reliability benefits, renewable energy integration and the anticipated benefits of PGE's participation in the EDAM. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in market conditions, energy prices, transmission availability, regional market participation, market design and implementation, regulatory developments, operational performance, weather, customer demand and other risks described in PGE's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and PGE undertakes no obligation to update them, except as required by law.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316754
Source: Portland General Electric
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ANF ve fiskálním roce 2026 očekává asi 130 čistých nových prodejních zkušeností, včetně 50 nových prodejen a 80 remodelací a rightsizingu. Obchod SoHo překonává očekávání a firma plánuje jeho prvky rozšířit i do dalších prodejen.
Key Takeaways ANF expects about 130 net new store experiences in FY26, including 50 openings and 80 remodels.ANF says FY26 will mark its fifth straight year as a net store opener, with growth weighted to the Americas.ANF's SoHo store is performing above expectations, and elements of the concept may roll out to more stores. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) continues to strengthen its physical retail footprint as part of its broader growth strategy. For fiscal 2026, the company expects to deliver approximately 130 net new store experiences, including 50 new stores and 80 remodels and rightsizes, against roughly 20 closures. New stores are expected to be relatively balanced across the Abercrombie and Hollister brands and weighted toward the Americas. The initiative reflects ANF’s focus on combining selective new-store openings with modernization of its existing fleet to create more productive and engaging shopping environments.
Management remains confident in the runway for store expansion. ANF noted that 2026 marks its fifth consecutive year as a net store opener, underscoring the consistency of its real estate strategy. Rather than viewing store growth as having a fixed endpoint, management continues to identify opportunities across markets and formats. The recently opened Abercrombie SoHo location has been particularly encouraging, with customer response described as strong and the business performing above expectations. The company plans to incorporate elements of the SoHo concept into additional stores over time.
The store strategy also complements Abercrombie & Fitch’s broader push to expand its reach through digital channels, partnerships and new product categories. Management has emphasized continued investment in owned-and-operated stores and digital businesses while layering in growth from third-party channels. If new locations, remodels and rightsizing initiatives continue to improve the customer experience and support brand momentum, the physical fleet could remain an important contributor to ANF’s longer-term growth. However, execution will be key as the company balances expansion spending with its focus on maintaining healthy profitability and disciplined capital allocation.
ANF’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have jumped 46% in the past six months, outperforming the industry and the broader Retail-Wholesale sector, which fell 6.1% and 0.7%, respectively.
ANF Stock's Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ANF currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 11.15X, which is lower than the industry average of 12.24X and notably below the sector average of 20.89X. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.
ANF P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to ConsiderWe have highlighted three other top-ranked stocks in the retail space, namely, FIGS Inc. (FIGS - Free Report) , Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) and Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) .
FIGS is a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand, and it currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIGS’ current financial-year sales indicates growth of 19.7% from the year-ago reported number. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 201.8%, on average.
Deckers is a leading designer, producer and brand manager of innovative, niche footwear and accessories. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. DECK delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 15.2%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deckers’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 6.8% and 7.9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals.
Boot Barn operates specialty retail stores in the United States and internationally. At present, it carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The consensus estimate for Boot Barn’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 15.8% and 23.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. BOOT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%, on average.
Reynolds Consumer Products ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila hrubou marži o 200 bazických bodů meziročně a upravená EBITDA vzrostla asi o 5 % na 171 milionů USD. Firma ale čeká tlak z komoditních nákladů kolem 400 milionů USD ročně.
Key Takeaways REYN's Q2 gross margin expanded 200 bps year over year as productivity gains lowered costs.Adjusted EBITDA rose about 5% to $171 million, marking a third straight quarter of growth.REYN faces roughly $400 million in annualized commodity headwinds and a July pricing impact. Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (REYN - Free Report) delivered a notable improvement in profitability during the second quarter of 2026, supported by productivity gains across its supply chain and particularly strong execution within manufacturing operations. The company continues to benefit from lean initiatives and automation, which are helping lower costs and improve operating efficiency. These savings are also enabling REYN to reinvest in R&D, innovation and other growth priorities, creating a self-reinforcing cycle that management believes can support profitable growth despite a challenging consumer and commodity environment.
The impact of these initiatives was evident in the quarter, with gross margin improving 200 bps year over year, following a 50-bps expansion in the first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased $8 million, or about 5%, to $171 million, marking the third consecutive quarter of EBITDA growth. For the first half of 2026, gross profit increased $38 million, while gross margin expanded 120 basis points, even as pricing taken to recover higher commodity costs remained dilutive to the margin rate. These results highlight the growing contribution from Reynolds’ productivity programs.
However, sustaining the same pace of margin expansion in the second half could be challenging. Management expects incremental pricing implemented in July to create a numerical headwind to the margin rate, while annualized commodity headwinds have risen to roughly $400 million from $200 million previously. REYN plans to counter these pressures through continued supply-chain productivity and automation benefits, which are expected to help offset both commodity inflation and potential pricing elasticity. The company’s ability to execute further cost savings while navigating higher input costs will therefore be critical to its margin trajectory in the remainder of 2026.
REYN’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 2.1% in the past six months, outperforming the industry’s rise of 1.3% and the broader Consumer Discretionary sector’s fall of 6.6%.
REYN Stock's Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
REYN currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 13.22X, which is lower than the industry average of 13.86X and the sector average of 15.24X.
REYN P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderVince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) provides luxury apparel and accessories in the United States and internationally. It operates through Vince Wholesale and Vince Direct-to-Consumer segments. At present, the company flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VNCE’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 12.7% and 172.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. VNCE has delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 561.4%, on average.
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB - Free Report) , a lifestyle apparel company, designs, manufactures, procures, sells and licenses apparel, footwear and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler, Lee and Helly Hansen brands. At present, KTB carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KTB’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies a decline of 14.3% and 6.1%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. KTB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.4%, on average.
Savers Value Village, Inc. (SVV - Free Report) , a thrift operator, sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores in the United States, Canada and Australia. SVV currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SVV’s current financial-year sales and earnings is expected to rise 6.1% and 6.7%, respectively, from the corresponding year-ago reported figures. SVV delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 1.6%, on average.
