Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

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Everyone is still glued to Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) because a Q1 earnings beat, the robotaxi pitch, and the Optimus humanoid tease have convinced retail traders the autonomy story finally pays off this year.

The Tesla Trade Is Crowded and Priced for a Miracle Tesla carries a P/E of 406 and a free cash flow yield of 0.40%, valuations that only make sense if humanoid robots and driverless taxis ship at scale soon. The fundamentals say otherwise. FY2025 net income fell 46.79%, and Q4 2025 vehicle deliveries dropped 16% year over year. The Q1 2026 print looked clean on the surface (EPS of $0.41 against a $0.3592 estimate) but revenue grew just 15.78%, energy revenue declined 12% year over year, vehicle inventory expanded to 27 days from 22, and operating expenses ballooned 37% on AI spending and CEO stock comp. Tesla also booked $222 million in digital asset losses for good measure.

Prediction markets are even more blunt. Polymarket traders priced the odds of a public driverless robotaxi service launching by June 30, 2026 at essentially zero, with the “Yes” contract resolving against a last trade of 0.999 on “No.” The shares are down 8.83% year to date. The automotive business is the drag the automation narrative keeps trying to outrun.

The Robotics Bet Already Generating Revenue The smarter robotics exposure is Symbotic (NASDAQ:SYM), the warehouse automation builder behind some of the largest distribution centers in North America. Three reasons it deserves the spot Tesla currently occupies in retirement portfolios.

One: a real, contracted backlog. Symbotic carries a contracted backlog of $22.70 billion, signed business that translates into multi-year revenue visibility. Q2 FY2026 revenue rose 23.1% year over year to $676.48 million, with 70 systems deployed against 46 a year earlier.

Two: a real profitability inflection. Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled year over year to $77.75 million, gross margin expanded to 22.2% from 20.2%, and GAAP net income swung positive. Q1 FY2026 adjusted EBITDA nearly quadrupled year over year to $66.90 million. Management guided Q3 revenue to $700 million to $720 million with adjusted EBITDA of $80 million to $85 million.

Three: real customers writing real checks. The GreenBox joint venture with SoftBank offers warehouse-as-a-service against a $500 billion outsourced warehousing total addressable market, anchored by a roughly $11 billion contract. A commercial agreement with Nueva Wal Mart de México and the acquisition of Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics business broaden the deployment pipeline.

For perspective on what a mature robotics franchise looks like, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) compounded surgical robot installations into a TTM revenue base of $10.58 billion and a forward P/E of 43. Symbotic is following that template earlier, with deployments scaling and unit economics improving each quarter.

Shares of Symbotic are down 20.92% year to date, even with the operational progress, which is how contrarian setups usually begin.

The automation company already shipping the future is worth studying alongside Tesla’s 2027 promises, at 70 systems and counting.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has called humanoid robots and labor automation a $40 trillion total addressable market, and on the Animal Spirits podcast, Derek Yan argued physical AI is “potentially bigger” than EVs or smartphones, with Waymo serving as live proof the underlying autonomy stack already works in the wild. Capital is rotating into this trade now, before the broader market has priced it in.

Here are the five stocks I’m watching, starting with the name almost nobody on retail Twitter is yelling about.

1. Cognex (CGNX): The Eyes Behind Every Robot Robots without vision are paperweights. Cognex (NASDAQ:CGNX | CGNX Price Prediction) is the machine-vision standard for factory floors and warehouses, and in Q1 it shipped the In-Sight 6900 AI vision platform powered by NVIDIA alongside the In-Sight 3900 powered by Qualcomm. That’s the company plugging itself directly into Jensen’s Isaac and Cosmos stack at the edge, exactly where humanoid and industrial robots need to see, sort, and decide in real time.

The numbers tell you Wall Street is already on it quietly. Q1 FY26 revenue hit $268.44 million, up 24.3% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $0.34, beating the $0.25 estimate, and Q2 guidance points to adjusted EPS of $0.40 to $0.44, roughly 68% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. The stock is up 86% year to date as I write this, and the chart looks like a setup that the rest of the market hasn’t fully understood yet.

CEO Matt Moschner put it bluntly: “Our latest AI vision products reinforce our technology leadership and objective of becoming the #1 provider of AI-powered machine vision.” If Cognex supplies the eyes, somebody supplies the brain.

2. NVIDIA (NVDA): The Brain You knew this name was coming. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the operating system of physical AI: the DRIVE Hyperion partnerships across Hyundai, Kia, Uber, BYD, Geely, Isuzu, and Nissan, the Isaac GR00T humanoid foundation model, and Cosmos world models for synthetic training data. I’ve owned this stock for over 15 years, and the pivot from gaming GPUs to the central nervous system of the robotics economy is the most aggressive platform expansion I’ve seen from any company in my career.

On the most recent call, Huang told investors NVIDIA has “line of sight to projects requiring tens of gigawatts of NVIDIA Corporation AI infrastructure in the not-too-distant future” and said “billions of robots, hundreds of millions of autonomous vehicles, and hundreds of thousands of robotic factories and warehouses will be developed.” Data Center revenue ran $39 billion, up 73% year over year, and Q2 guidance came in at $45 billion at the midpoint.

The street is still constructive: 48 Buy and 10 Strong Buy ratings against just 1 Sell, with an analyst target of $295.69 versus the current $212.60. Polymarket traders are pricing a 0.65 probability NVIDIA hits $216 in June, with upside scenarios into the $240 range. The compute is in place. Now somebody has to put it on wheels.

3. Tesla (TSLA): The Robot Company Disguised as a Car Company Elon Musk is building Tesla into a robotics company in plain sight. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is the most vertically integrated physical-AI bet in public markets: Optimus humanoids, FSD, Robotaxi, Cybercab, Megapack, and the only real-world fleet generating training data at scale. Optimus production lines are being installed at Fremont (designed for 1 million robots per year) with a second-gen line at Gigafactory Texas designed for 10 million robots per year.

Q1 FY26 delivered revenue of $22.39 billion, up 15.8% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 versus a $0.36 estimate and auto gross margin expanding to 21.1% from 16.2%. The really interesting number: FSD active subscriptions hit 1.28 million, up 51% year over year. That’s a software annuity layered on top of a hardware business that’s already throwing off cash.

Prediction markets are skeptical on near-term Optimus and California robotaxi timelines, with Polymarket pricing only a 0.11 probability of a California robotaxi launch by June 30. That gap between Huang’s $40 trillion thesis and traders’ short-window pricing is exactly where asymmetric returns get made. Big trucks and big factories are where this thesis pays first.

4. Symbotic (SYM): Where Physical AI Is Already Cashing Checks Forget the demo videos. Symbotic (NASDAQ:SYM) already runs end-to-end robotic warehouse systems for Walmart and a growing roster of retailers, with the SoftBank-backed Exol joint venture targeting the warehouse-as-a-service market. This is the rare physical-AI play with revenue that scales as humans get pulled out of fulfillment centers.

Q2 FY26 revenue came in at $676.48 million, up 23.1% year over year and beating consensus. Three numbers matter from this report: 70 active systems in deployment (up from 46 a year ago), adjusted EBITDA of $77.75 million, more than doubling year over year, and a contracted backlog around $22.70 billion. That backlog is multiple years of revenue locked in regardless of macro chop.

CEO Rick Cohen said “customers across several verticals are now realizing tangible value from our end-to-end automation systems”, and retail still has no idea this exists. Reddit chatter shows just 1 qualified mention per tracking period, with a brief bullish sentiment score of 68 appearing only once. The biggest names are deploying systems in stockrooms. The last mile is a different animal entirely.

5. Serve Robotics (SERV): The Punchline And here’s the payoff. Serve Robotics (NASDAQ:SERV) is the pure-play physical-AI small cap that almost nobody is talking about, and its Gen3 sidewalk robot runs on NVIDIA Jetson Orin compute. After the Diligent Robotics acquisition, Serve now operates sidewalk delivery robots and Moxi hospital robots across 44 cities in 14 states, with roughly 2,000 outdoor robots and over 100 hospital robots in service. This is Waymo’s proof-of-concept applied to the last mile and the hospital corridor.

Q1 FY26 revenue was $2.98 million, up roughly 578% year over year, with management reaffirming ~$26 million in 2026 revenue, roughly 10x fiscal 2025’s $2.7 million. Daily active robots jumped to 812 from 73 a year ago. CEO Ali Kashani framed it directly: “We are leading the development of Physical AI in the real world, operating across multiple physical domains while building towards a unified autonomy platform.” The target is a sub-$1 per delivery cost versus $8 to $10 with human couriers in what management frames as a $450 billion robotic and drone delivery opportunity by 2030.

The stock is down 15% year to date, sitting at a $8.84 market price against an $18.45 analyst target with 8 Buy ratings and zero Holds or Sells. That’s the asymmetric setup. If Huang and Musk are even half-right about robots replacing labor at scale, a $750 million market cap on a company already deploying autonomous fleets in dozens of cities is the kind of mispricing that doesn’t last.

The Trade Vision (CGNX), compute (NVDA), vehicles and humanoids (TSLA), warehouses (SYM), last-mile autonomy (SERV). That’s the full stack of Huang’s $40 trillion thesis, in order of how the capital flows. Trillion-dollar CEOs are directing billions into this right now, before consensus catches up. The window between “quietly loading up” and “crowded trade” is closing.

Investors interested in stocks from the Technology Services sector have probably already heard of V2X (VVX - Free Report) and Symbotic Inc. (SYM - Free Report) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.

Currently, V2X has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Symbotic Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that VVX has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

VVX currently has a forward P/E ratio of 13.50, while SYM has a forward P/E of 93.32. We also note that VVX has a PEG ratio of 0.67. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. SYM currently has a PEG ratio of 3.11.

Another notable valuation metric for VVX is its P/B ratio of 2.36. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, SYM has a P/B of 27.22.

Based on these metrics and many more, VVX holds a Value grade of A, while SYM has a Value grade of D.

VVX is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that VVX is likely the superior value option right now.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Symbotic Inc. (SYM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 16% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

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

Symbotic Beats Q2 Earnings & Revenue EstimatesSymbotic’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share (excluding 43 cents from non-recurring items) of 44 cents easily outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents. In the year-ago quarter, the technology services company posted a loss of 4 cents per share.

Total revenues of $676.5 million beat the consensus mark by 2.4% and increased 23.1% year over year. System revenues, accounting for 93.8% of the total revenues, increased 23.6% year over year to $634.5 million, driven by the company’s proactive initiatives. It started 14 new system deployments in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, bringing the total number of systems in deployment to 70 at the end of the quarter.

Software maintenance and support revenues increased 93.3% year over year to $12.9 million. Operations services revenues totaled $29 million, down 1.8% year over year due to a tough comparable in training revenues.

Adjusted EBITDA came in at $78 million, increased more than 100% on a year-over-year basis. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved 521 basis points year over year to 11.5%.

The adjusted gross profit came in at $165.8 million in the March-end quarter of fiscal 2026 and increased 36.1% year over year. The adjusted gross profit margin improved 230 basis points year over year to 24.5%. SYM reported a backlog of $22.7 million, which improved by 1.8% year over year.

The company exited the quarter with a cash and cash equivalent of $2 billion compared with $1.25 billion at the end of fiscal 2025. SYM generated $261.3 million of cash from operating activities in the quarter and free cash flow of $217.9 million.

SYM’s GuidanceFor the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company expects revenue to be in the range of $700-$720 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $80 million and $85 million. The company expects capital expenditures to be in the range of $20-$25 million per quarter.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.

The consensus estimate has shifted -12% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, SYMBOTIC INC has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. 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. Interestingly, SYMBOTIC INC has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerSYMBOTIC INC belongs to the Zacks Technology Services industry. Another stock from the same industry, SLB (SLB - Free Report) , has gained 9.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended March 2026.

SLB reported revenues of $8.72 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2.7%. EPS of $0.52 for the same period compares with $0.72 a year ago.

SLB is expected to post earnings of $0.53 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -28.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.5%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for SLB. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of C.

The robotics industry is consolidating. Large platform companies now treat robots as a real distribution channel for compute, logistics software, and last-mile economics. That forces public market investors to ask which pure-play robotics names survive as standalones and which get acquired. Three U.S.-listed robotics stocks frame that debate. None has announced a deal, but the setups are sharpening.

We ranked this trio on takeover criteria: depressed market value relative to revenue and backlog, cash runway and burn rate, growth trajectory, founder control, insider activity, and strategic acquirer fit. For pre-profit, high-growth robotics names, we weighted strategic fit and ownership dynamics over leveraged buyout math.

3. UiPath UiPath (NYSE: PATH | PATH Price Prediction) is the most strategically valuable but the hardest to acquire. The agentic automation platform carries a market cap of about $5.8 billion, with shares at $11.17 after a 31.9% year-to-date decline. Fiscal Q1 revenue came in at $418.38 million, up 17.3% year over year, annualized renewal run-rate reached $1.90 billion, and the company swung to GAAP net income of $22.52 million. UiPath repurchased $243.8 million of Class A stock and finished with $1.4 billion in cash.

Partnerships with Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Databricks, Salesforce, and ServiceNow make UiPath a logical bolt-on for enterprise software platforms. The problem is that founder and CEO Daniel Dines retains dual-class voting control, and recent insider activity points to retention rather than exit, with C-suite equity refresh grants on April 1, 2026. A depressed price helps the math, but governance does not invite an unsolicited bid.

2. Symbotic Symbotic (NASDAQ: SYM) is rare, because its most logical acquirer is already its largest customer. The company bought Advanced Systems and Robotics from Walmart, which remains the anchor account. SoftBank runs the roughly $11 billion Greenbox Systems joint venture. Q2 FY26 revenue totaled $676.5 million, up 23.1% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA of $77.8 million, 70 systems deployed, and a contracted backlog of about $22.7 billion. The balance sheet carries $2.0 billion in cash.

Insider activity elevates Symbotic’s ranking. SoftBank and SVF Sponsor III disposed of 5,590,000 shares each at $50.415 on May 27, 2026. Shares are down 25.5% year to date to $44.33. Founder Rick Cohen controls the vote, but an embedded strategic customer, a JV partner with capital, and coordinated insider selling make M&A optionality more concrete than at UiPath.

1. Serve Robotics Serve Robotics (NASDAQ: SERV) is the cleanest takeover setup. Its market cap stands at about $648 million, the smallest of the trio, with the stock at $7.61 after a 41.2% one-year decline. Q1 revenue grew 577.5% year over year to $2.98 million, the fleet expanded to roughly 2,000 outdoor delivery robots across 44 cities, and management guided to around $26 million in FY26 revenue. Cash is the pressure point: Serve ended the quarter with $47.1 million in cash, down from $106.2 million at year-end 2025, against operating cash outflow of $41.4 million and a $49 million GAAP net loss.

That runway against guided $160 million to $170 million in FY26 non-GAAP opex argues for either a sizable capital raise or a strategic owner. Strategic fit is unusually clear. Serve integrates with Uber Eats and DoorDash, which together account for roughly 80% of U.S. food delivery, runs Nvidia’s Jetson Orin in its Gen3 robot, and has acquired Diligent Robotics, Vayu Robotics, and Vebu. Chief Financial Officer Brian Read and Chief Operating Officer Touraj Parang each sold some shares in May. Analyst sentiment leans constructive, with a consensus price target of $18.45.

For Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, or Nvidia, Serve is a digestible bolt-on that locks up autonomous last-mile assets before competitors do. Cash burn shortens the timeline, share price compresses the premium, and the partner roster names the buyers.

The Cleanest Setup UiPath has the partners but not the founder vote. Symbotic has the embedded customer and JV partner with meaningful insider selling, but a controlling shareholder. Serve Robotics is the smallest, most cash-constrained, most strategically obvious, and easiest to acquire. No deal has been announced, yet Serve is where the takeover case lines up cleanest into 2026.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 24th, 2026

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of Dillard’s, Inc. (NYSE:DDS – Free Report) by 33.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,548 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,281 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Dillard’s were worth $1,611,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in DDS. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Dillard’s during the third quarter worth $31,813,000. Man Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 464.3% during the third quarter. Man Group plc now owns 38,806 shares of the company’s stock worth $23,846,000 after buying an additional 31,929 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 75.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 66,142 shares of the company’s stock worth $23,687,000 after buying an additional 28,468 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 52.8% during the third quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 66,519 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,875,000 after buying an additional 22,991 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 362.4% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 24,625 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,132,000 after buying an additional 19,299 shares during the period. 67.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Dillard’s Trading Down 0.8% Shares of Dillard’s stock opened at $603.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $600.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $623.84. Dillard’s, Inc. has a 1 year low of $316.79 and a 1 year high of $741.97. The stock has a market cap of $9.43 billion, a PE ratio of 16.59 and a beta of 1.27.

Dillard’s (NYSE:DDS – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $13.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $9.98 by $3.07. Dillard’s had a net margin of 8.81% and a return on equity of 27.55%. The company had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.03 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $13.48 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Dillard’s, Inc. will post 32.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Dillard’s Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 4th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. Dillard’s’s payout ratio is presently 3.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently commented on DDS shares. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price objective on shares of Dillard’s from $700.00 to $650.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Dillard’s from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Dillard’s from $524.00 to $449.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Dillard’s in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Dillard’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dillard’s currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $519.67.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on DDS

Dillard’s Profile (Free Report)

Dillard’s, Inc (NYSE:DDS), headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a U.S.-based department store chain founded by William T. Dillard in 1938. Over more than eight decades of operation, the company has grown from a single store in Nashville, Arkansas, to a prominent retailer with a national footprint. Dillard’s equity is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DDS.

The company operates approximately 280 departmental stores across 29 states, offering a broad assortment of merchandise that includes men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and home furnishings.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Dillard’s

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 26th, 2026

Abacus FCF Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Dillard’s, Inc. (NYSE:DDS – Free Report) by 37.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,741 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,191 shares during the period. Abacus FCF Advisors LLC owned 0.08% of Dillard’s worth $7,119,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Quarry LP bought a new stake in Dillard’s in the third quarter worth $33,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 790.0% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 89 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Dillard’s by 110.6% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 139 shares of the company’s stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dillard’s during the 3rd quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S bought a new position in shares of Dillard’s in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.15% of the company’s stock.

Dillard’s Stock Performance Shares of NYSE DDS opened at $596.90 on Friday. Dillard’s, Inc. has a 12 month low of $324.06 and a 12 month high of $741.97. The company has a market cap of $9.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.39 and a beta of 1.27. The business’s 50 day moving average is $599.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $623.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.

Dillard’s (NYSE:DDS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $13.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $9.98 by $3.07. Dillard’s had a return on equity of 27.55% and a net margin of 8.81%.The company had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.03 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $13.48 earnings per share. Dillard’s’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Dillard’s, Inc. will post 32.52 EPS for the current year.

Dillard’s Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 4th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. Dillard’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on DDS shares. Zacks Research downgraded Dillard’s from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Dillard’s from $524.00 to $449.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price objective on shares of Dillard’s from $700.00 to $650.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Dillard’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Dillard’s in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $519.67.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Dillard’s

Dillard’s Company Profile (Free Report)

Dillard’s, Inc (NYSE:DDS), headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a U.S.-based department store chain founded by William T. Dillard in 1938. Over more than eight decades of operation, the company has grown from a single store in Nashville, Arkansas, to a prominent retailer with a national footprint. Dillard’s equity is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DDS.

The company operates approximately 280 departmental stores across 29 states, offering a broad assortment of merchandise that includes men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and home furnishings.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Dillard’s Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DDS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dillard’s, Inc. (NYSE:DDS – Free Report).

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May 14, 2026 06:50 ET  | Source: Dillard's, Inc.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dillard’s, Inc. (NYSE: DDS) (the “Company” or “Dillard’s”) announced operating results for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026. This release contains certain forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Company’s cautionary statements included below under “Forward-Looking Information.”

Dillard’s Chief Executive Officer William T. Dillard, II commented, “We are pleased to report a good start to 2026 with a profitable 3% sales growth supported by an increased 45.8% retail gross margin. We continue to focus on motivating our customer with newness in our merchandise assortment.”

Highlights of the First Quarter (compared to the prior year first quarter):

Total retail sales increased 3% Comparable store sales increased 3% Net income of $250.6 million compared to $163.8 million Earnings per share of $16.04 compared to $10.39Retail gross margin of 45.8% of sales compared to 45.5% of salesOperating expenses were $444.0 million (28.3% of sales) compared to $421.7 million (27.6% of sales)Ending inventory increased 3%
First Quarter Results

Dillard’s reported net income for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 of $250.6 million, or $16.04 per share, compared to $163.8 million, or $10.39 per share, for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025. Included in net income for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 is a pre-tax gain on litigation settlement, net of legal fees, of $104.1 million ($79.6 million after tax or $5.10 per share) related to the Company’s favorable settlement of a long-standing lawsuit involving payment card interchange fees.

Sales

Net sales for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025 were $1.568 billion and $1.529 billion, respectively. Net sales includes the operations of the Company’s construction business, CDI Contractors, LLC (“CDI”).

Total retail sales (which excludes CDI) for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025 were $1.518 billion and $1.468 billion, respectively. Total retail sales increased 3% for the 13-week period ended May 2, 2026 compared to the 13-week period ended May 3, 2025. Sales in comparable stores for the same period increased 3%.

All merchandise categories reported sales increases compared to the prior year first quarter. Sales increased significantly in home and furniture, ladies’ accessories and lingerie and shoes. Sales in men’s apparel and accessories, juniors’ and children’s apparel and ladies’ apparel increased moderately while sales in cosmetics increased slightly during the quarter.

Gross Margin

Consolidated gross margin for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 was 44.5% of sales compared to 43.9% of sales for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025.

Retail gross margin for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 was 45.8% of sales compared to 45.5% of sales for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025. Compared to the prior year first quarter, retail gross margin increased moderately in shoes and increased slightly in ladies’ accessories and lingerie. Retail gross margin was unchanged (as a percentage) in juniors’ and children’s apparel, cosmetics and men’s apparel and accessories. Retail gross margin decreased slightly in ladies’ apparel and decreased moderately in home and furniture.

Selling, General & Administrative Expenses

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses (“operating expenses”) for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026 were $444.0 million (28.3% of sales) and $421.7 million (27.6% of sales) for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025. The increase is largely due to higher payroll and payroll-related expenses.

Store Information

During the quarter, the Company opened a 160,000 square foot location at The Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Company operates 272 Dillard’s stores, including 28 clearance centers, spanning 30 states (totaling 46.1 million square feet) and an Internet store at dillards.com.

Dillard’s, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)             13 Weeks Ended  May 2, 2026 May 3, 2025     % of    % of     Net    Net  Amount Sales Amount SalesNet sales $1,568.4  100.0% $1,528.9  100.0%Service charges and other income  20.2  1.3   18.1  1.2    1,588.6  101.3   1,547.0  101.2            Cost of sales  870.4  55.5   857.7  56.1 Selling, general and administrative expenses  444.0  28.3   421.7  27.6 Depreciation and amortization  43.3  2.8   44.5  2.9 Rentals  3.9  0.2   4.6  0.3 Interest and debt (income) expense, net  (0.7) (0.0)  (0.8) (0.1)Other expense  5.0  0.3   5.7  0.4 Gain on litigation settlement  104.1  6.6   —  — Gain on disposal of assets  0.2  0.0   0.1  0.0 Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures  327.0  20.9   213.7  14.0 Income taxes  76.7     49.9   Equity in earnings of joint ventures  0.3     —   Net income $250.6  16.0% $163.8  10.7%           Basic and diluted earnings per share $16.04    $10.39   Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding  15.6     15.8    Dillard’s, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In Millions)         May 2, May 3,  2026 2025Assets      Current assets:      Cash and cash equivalents $1,157.7 $900.5Accounts receivable  47.1  56.9Short-term investments  259.7  258.5Merchandise inventories  1,506.5  1,469.3Other current assets  76.1  82.9Total current assets  3,047.1  2,768.1       Property and equipment, net  884.7  976.0Operating lease assets  33.9  32.5Deferred income taxes  78.7  71.3Other assets  93.4  59.1       Total assets $4,137.8 $3,907.0       Liabilities and stockholders’ equity      Current liabilities:      Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses $1,081.4 $1,056.7Current portion of long-term debt  96.0  —Current portion of operating lease liabilities  9.4  10.8Federal and state income taxes  100.5  79.3Total current liabilities  1,287.3  1,146.8       Long-term debt  225.7  321.6Operating lease liabilities  24.3  21.5Other liabilities  374.9  359.2Subordinated debentures  200.0  200.0Stockholders’ equity  2,025.6  1,857.9       Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $4,137.8 $3,907.0 Dillard’s, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In Millions)         13 Weeks Ended  May 2, May 3,  2026
 2025
Operating activities:      Net income $250.6  $163.8 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      Depreciation and amortization of property and other deferred costs  43.7   44.9 Gain on disposal of assets  (0.2)  (0.1)Accrued interest on short-term investments  (2.2)  (3.2)Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      Increase in accounts receivable  (7.3)  (1.2)Increase in merchandise inventories  (305.4)  (297.3)(Increase) decrease in other current assets  (4.1)  10.6 (Increase) decrease in other assets  (0.6)  1.1 Increase in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities  313.6   263.6 Increase in income taxes  75.9   50.4 Net cash provided by operating activities  364.0   232.6        Investing activities:      Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software  (17.2)  (16.8)Proceeds from disposal of assets  0.2   0.2 Proceeds from insurance  —   1.5 Purchase of short-term investments  (258.5)  (212.4)Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments  212.4   282.8 Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (63.1)  55.3        Financing activities:      Cash dividends paid  (4.7)  (4.0)Purchase of treasury stock  —   (98.0)Issuance cost of line of credit  —   (3.3)Net cash used in financing activities  (4.7)  (105.3)       Increase in cash and cash equivalents  296.2   182.6 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  861.5   717.9 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $1,157.7  $900.5        Non-cash transactions:      Accrued capital expenditures $6.2  $7.6 Accrued purchase of treasury stock and excise taxes  —   1.0 Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities  0.3   1.8           Estimates for 2026

The Company is providing the following estimates for certain financial statement items for the 52-week period ending January 30, 2027 based upon current conditions. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates as conditions and factors change - See “Forward-Looking Information.”

  In Millions  2026
 2025
  Estimated ActualDepreciation and amortization $175  $179 Rentals  18   19 Interest and debt (income) expense, net  (5)  (6)Capital expenditures  130   93           Forward-Looking Information

This report contains certain forward-looking statements. The following are or may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: (a) statements including words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative or other variations thereof; (b) statements regarding matters that are not historical facts; and (c) statements about the Company’s future occurrences, plans and objectives, including those statements under the heading “Estimates for 2026” regarding certain financial statement items for the 52-week period ended January 30, 2027. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and information available to management at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise. Forward-looking statements of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of those factors include (without limitation) general retail industry conditions and macro-economic conditions including inflation, economic recession and changes in traffic at malls and shopping centers; economic and weather conditions for regions in which the Company’s stores are located and the effect of these factors on the buying patterns of the Company’s customers, including the effect of changes in prices and availability of oil and natural gas; the availability of and interest rates on consumer credit; the impact of competitive pressures in the department store industry and other retail channels including specialty, off-price, discount and Internet retailers; changes in the Company’s ability to meet labor needs amid nationwide labor shortages and an intense competition for talent; changes in consumer spending patterns, debt levels and their ability to meet credit obligations; high levels of unemployment; changes in tax legislation; trade disputes and changes in trade policies including the imposition (or threat) of new or increased duties, taxes, tariffs and other charges impacting our products or supply chain; changes in legislation and governmental regulations; adequate and stable availability and pricing of materials, production facilities and labor from which the Company sources its merchandise; changes in operating expenses, including employee wages, commission structures and related benefits; system failures or data security breaches; inability to effectively utilize advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence; possible future acquisitions of store properties from other department store operators; the continued availability of financing in amounts and at the terms necessary to support the Company’s future business; fluctuations in SOFR and other base borrowing rates; potential disruption from terrorist activity and the effect on ongoing consumer confidence; epidemic, pandemic or public health issues and their effects on public health, our supply chain, the health and well-being of our employees and customers and the retail industry in general; potential disruption of international trade and supply chain efficiencies; global conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine) and the possible impact on consumer spending patterns and other economic and demographic changes of similar or dissimilar nature, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those set forth under the caption “Item 1A, Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026.

CONTACT:
Dillard’s, Inc.
Julie J. Guymon
501-376-5965
[email protected]

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Top Headline

Dillard’s Inc (NYSE:DDS) shares gained around 3% on Thursday as the company reported upbeat earnings for the first quarter.

The company posted quarterly earnings of $16.04 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $10.37 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.568 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.555 billion.

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Key Takeaways DDS Q1 earnings jumped 54.4% as sales rose 2.6% and comparable-store sales increased 3%.Dillard's gross margin improved to 44.5% as all merchandise categories posted year-over-year gains.DDS operating cash flow climbed to $364M as the company raised fiscal 2026 capital spending plans. Dillard's Inc. (DDS - Free Report) posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Also, the company’s sales and earnings increased year over year. Results reflected higher store productivity, with comparable store sales (comps) increasing 3% and management pointing to newness in the merchandise assortment as a key catalyst for demand. Our model had anticipated comps to rise 1.2% for the first quarter.

The company reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $16.04 per share, which grew 54.4% from $10.39 in the year-ago quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.13. Net sales rose 2.6% year over year to $1.57 billion and surpassed the consensus mark of $1.54 billion. Dillard’s recorded a pre-tax gain of $104.1 million, net of legal fees, associated with the settlement of a long-standing lawsuit related to payment card interchange fees.

Retail sales improved 3% year over year, with the company noting that all merchandise categories posted gains compared with the prior-year period. The strongest momentum was seen in home and furniture, ladies’ accessories and lingerie, and shoes, while sales in men’s apparel and accessories, juniors’ and children’s apparel and ladies’ apparel rose moderately. Sales in cosmetics grew slightly in the quarter.

During the quarter, Dillard’s introduced a 160,000-square-foot location at The Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, OH, expanding its presence in that market. Overall, the company operated 272 Dillard’s stores, including 28 clearance centers, across 30 states.

DDS’ Margins and ExpensesProfitability improved on the merchandise side, with consolidated gross margin rising 60 basis points (bps) to 44.5% from 43.9% in the year-ago period. The retail gross margin rate increased 30 bps to 45.8% from 45.5%, signaling modest improvement in merchandise margin and pricing dynamics. We anticipated a 60-bps contraction in consolidated gross margin.

By category, Dillard’s indicated that retail gross margin rose moderately in shoes and slightly in ladies’ accessories and lingerie. Margin rates were unchanged in juniors’ and children’s apparel, cosmetics, and men’s apparel and accessories, while ladies’ apparel and home and furniture posted slight to moderate declines.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses (operating expenses) were $444 million, rising 5.3% from $421.7 million in the prior-year quarter, with the increase largely attributed to higher payroll and payroll-related expenses. As a percentage of sales, operating expenses rose 70 bps to 28.3% compared with 27.6% a year ago. We had expected a 150-bps increase in operating expenses, as a percentage of sales.

Dillard’s Financial DetailsDillard’s ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.16 billion, up from $900.5 million a year ago, while short-term investments were essentially flat at $259.7 million. Merchandise inventories increased to $1.51 billion from $1.47 billion, consistent with management’s comment that ending inventory was up 3%.

On the liability side, the company carried $96 million in current maturities of long-term debt and $225.7 million in long-term debt. Stockholders’ equity increased to $2.03 billion from $1.86 billion a year ago.

Cash generation strengthened during the quarter. Net cash provided by operating activities rose to $364 million from $232.6 million in the prior-year period.

Dillard’s Outlook for FY26Looking ahead, Dillard’s reiterated its fiscal 2026 outlook. The company still expects depreciation and amortization of $175 million, rentals of $18 million, and net interest and debt income of $5 million for the 52-week period ending Jan. 30, 2027. Capital expenditures are projected at $130 million, up from $93 million in the prior year.

Shares of the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 17.6% in the past three months compared with the industry's 5.1% decline.

Key Picks in the Retail Space Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI - Free Report) , which is a designer and marketer of jeans, casual wear and related accessories, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

LEVI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.8%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Levi Strauss’ current financial-year sales indicates growth of 10.3% from the year-ago number.

Kohl's Corporation (KSS - Free Report) , which is a department store chain, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

KSS delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 72.3%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KSS’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 1% from the year-ago number.

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO - Free Report) , which is a retailer of casual apparel, accessories and footwear, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEO’s current financial-year sales is expected to rise 5.1% from the corresponding year-ago reported figure. AEO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 37.6%, on average.

Dillard's Today

$614.22 +31.67 (+5.44%)

As of 06/11/2026 03:59 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$394.70▼

$741.97Dividend Yield0.20%

P/E Ratio14.60

Price Target$521.33

Dillard’s Inc. NYSE: DDS stock surged after the company posted a massive first-quarter earnings beat, but the rally quickly faded as investors realized much of the upside was tied to a litigation settlement. Shares ultimately ended the session only slightly higher, as investors appeared more cautious after digging into the report.

Some enthusiasm may also have been tempered by the company’s incredible multi-year run. Shares, which had climbed more than 270% over the past five years, began to pull back from their all-time highs as investors reassessed the stock following the massive rally.

Get Dillard's alerts:

Q1 Earnings Get a Big Boost From Legal SettlementIt’s easy to see why Dillard’s stock rallied immediately following the report. The department store chain reported Q1 earnings on May 14 of $16.04 per share, significantly higher than year-ago earnings of $10.39 and $5.91 above Wall Street’s expectations of $10.13 per share.

Earnings received a major boost from a litigation settlement, which added $5.10 per share after taxes. The company said the settlement followed a long-standing lawsuit regarding payment card interchange fees.

Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.59 billion, up 2.7% from the prior year and topping estimates by nearly $34 million. Meanwhile, same-store sales rose 3%, while margins improved.

Operating expenses increased during the quarter, however, largely due to higher payroll and payroll-related expenses. Inventory rose 3%.

Merchandise Sales Increased Across CategoriesDillard’s said year-over-year sales increases were reported across all merchandise categories, with significant gains in home and furniture, ladies’ accessories, lingerie, and shoes. The company saw more moderate increases in men’s apparel and accessories, juniors’ and children’s apparel, and ladies’ apparel. Cosmetics sales increased slightly.

Dillard’s Chief Executive William T. Dillard II commented on the results in the company’s press release, saying, “We are pleased to report a good start to 2026 with a profitable 3% sales growth supported by an increased 45.8% retail gross margin. We continue to focus on motivating our customer with newness in our merchandise assortment.”

Dillard’s offered limited forward guidance for 2026, including projected capital expenditures of roughly $130 million, up from $93 million last year, and depreciation and amortization expense of about $175 million, down slightly from $179 million the previous year.

Stock’s Rally Quickly Lost SteamAt first glance, investors seemed thrilled by the earnings report, with shares surging in premarket trading and climbing further at the open. The stock, which had closed the previous session below $532, jumped to nearly $593 before quickly giving up those gains. At one point, shares briefly dipped into negative territory, though they ultimately ended the session up around 0.4%.

The stock has been on a tear for more than five years, climbing roughly 270% during that time. The second half of 2025 was especially strong, helped by multiple quarters of earnings and revenue beats that continued pushing shares higher. Shares climbed from below $400 in early June to an all-time intraday high above $742 in December.

Dillard's, Inc. (DDS) Price Chart for Friday, June, 12, 2026

Since hitting the peak, momentum has cooled. Shares are down more than 20% over the last three months, with sentiment taking another hit after the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report on Feb. 24. During that quarter, both earnings and revenue declined year over year, while revenue missed Wall Street expectations.

Wall Street Remains Cautious on the StockAlthough Q1 results were solid, analysts remain cautious on the stock. Based on five Wall Street analysts covering the company, Dillard’s currently carries two Sell ratings and three Hold ratings. The average 12-month price target is around $521, slightly below the current stock price of around $527. The lowest target stands at $449, while the highest is $650.

Dillard's Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$521.33
-15.12% Downside

Hold
Based on 5 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$614.22High Forecast$650.00Average Forecast$521.33Low Forecast$449.00Dillard's Stock Forecast Details

After such a strong run in the stock price, some investors may also be questioning the stock’s valuation. Dillard’s trades at around 12X earnings, which is above the broader retail industry average of roughly 10.8X. It also trades at a premium to traditional department store peers. Macy’s Inc. NYSE: M currently trades at a P/E of roughly 8X, while value-oriented chain Kohl’s Corp. NYSE: KSS trades at just under 5X earnings.

However, it’s worth noting that despite generating less revenue than Macy’s and Kohl’s, Dillard’s remains more profitable. The company has a net margin of around 10.1%, far above Macy’s roughly 2.4% and Kohl’s less than 1.8%. Its return on equity of nearly 32% also tops Macy’s roughly 14% and Kohl’s less than 5%.

While Dillard’s continues to post strong profitability metrics, investors appear increasingly cautious after the stock’s massive multi-year rally. For now, Wall Street seems to be waiting for stronger underlying growth and a clearer outlook before turning more bullish on the shares.

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Businesswoman use laptop and calculator analyzing company growth, future business growth arrow graph, development to achieve goals, business outlook, financial data for long term investment.

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Using vanilla websites for your dividend research? Be careful.

Many of these mainstream sites miss the most important payment of the year for “special” dividend companies!

This oversight could have us overlooking thousands of dollars in potential yearly income. And yields up to 14.6%!

Would you believe what this 14.6% payer is listed at on these lame sites? 0.2%. Zero-point-two percent.

Yup. Which is why we contrarians do our research with a focus on special dividends.

Specials uncommon enough that many investors don’t know much (if anything) about them. In short, they’re one-time cash payouts, usually the result of a massive capital boost—say, selling off a piece of the company or delivering blowout annual profits.

At least, usually that’s the case.

Some stocks pay out so-called “supplemental” dividends that they pair with regular distributions. Let’s say a company pays out 50 cents per share quarterly, but at the end of the year it pays out half of its free cash flow as a supplemental dividend. That might be an extra $1 in one year, $3 in another.

In some cases, it’s a tidy little “top-up” that makes a nice dividend a little nicer. But sometimes, these special dividends take a decent to even modest yield and turn it into an eye-popping payout in the high-single or even double digits.

MORE FOR YOU

Just check out this seven-pack of “special” payers. While financial dividend sites would tell us they’re paying a collective 6% on average, in reality, this mini-portfolio’s true average yield is a mouth-watering 10%.

Special Dividends From RetailersLet’s start with an unlikely pair—two mall names most income investors wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.

I wouldn’t want to share a foxhole with Dillard’s (DDS, 0.2% headline yield) and The Buckle (BKE, 2.9% headline yield). They’re both mall plays—the former is one of the few remaining department-store chains, while the latter is a fashion retailer, which is as fickle as a business gets. Economic shivers give both the fits, and a pressured consumer has both well in the red so far this year.

But to their credit, they’ve been two of the better mall names in recent years, and their practice of topping up modest regular dividends with large specials as profits allow is a great model for their cyclical businesses.

They’re also both sterling examples of just how much yield is “hidden” from us. Just look at what a top data provider lists for each, and what their actual yields are.

DDS Yield

Ycharts

That microscopic payday only factors in Dillard’s 30-cent quarterly dividend. But DDS has been paying enormous special dividends for years—$15 per share in 2021 and 2022, $20 in 2023, $25 in 2024, and $30 in 2025. Including that last special, Dillard’s true yield is 5.9%.

BKE Yield

Ycharts

The Buckle’s regular payout is at least respectable at just shy of 3%. But that’s a far cry from the real number, because like Dillard’s, BKE has been handing out large specials to start each of the past few years. Add 2026’s $3-per-share special on top of its 35-cent quarterlies, and Buckle’s true yield is 9.1%.

Fair warning: Management isn’t promising us those fat specials. But they’ve clearly signaled they’re willing to share the wealth when times are good. And that’s a nice potential bonus for anyone who was already planning on taking a flyer in the retail space.

Special Dividends From InsurersInsurers are basically in the business of pricing chaos, so it’s almost strange that so many of their dividends are the same year in and year out. Regular-and-special systems make a lot more sense given their cyclical earnings.

Amerisafe (AMSF, 5.2% headline yield)—a workers’ compensation insurer with a focus on small to midsized employers in “high-hazard” industries such as construction, trucking and agriculture—is something of an outlier in this area in that its bottom line is much more stable than the average insurer.

But that doesn’t mean its profit situation is necessarily good.

I mentioned in 2025 that anyone interested in AMSF’s big special dividends should keep a close eye on Amerisafe’s bottom line. While Amerisafe has been able to grow its top line consistently, the company’s profits have declined in each of the past two years. Wall Street analysts covering the stock believe that’ll happen again in 2026, and that 2027 earnings will merely remain level. One of the biggest culprits has been slowing job growth, which has become downright anemic in the past year or so.

This has really cramped Amerisafe’s special distribution. AMSF has been writing regular dividend checks since 2013 and specials since 2014—and 2025’s extra payout, while still enough to boost the true yield to 8.4%, was the smallest in a decade.

Old Republic International (ORI, 3.1% headline yield) is a specialty and title insurance company that operates in the U.S. and Canada. The title segment of the business provides protection against losses over real estate disputes, and provides escrow closing and construction disbursement services. The specialty insurance segment is much wider, including commercial auto, commercial property, travel accident, aviation, environmental, cyber, and numerous other coverages, offered up to a variety of industries, including transportation, healthcare, education, retail, energy and more. It also plays in Amerisafe’s workers’ comp sandbox.

ORI’s top line has generally trended higher for decades, but its bottom line is the erratic mess we’d expect out of an insurer—even one as well-diversified as Old Republic.

So we have to tip our hats to management, which has made ORI one of the most prolific dividend growers on the market despite this uncertain profit footing. Old Republic boasts a full 45 years of consecutive annual distribution hikes. Management is quick to throw extra dividends at shareholders when profits allow, too—and those special dividends can be massive. A $2.50-per-share special on top of its 31-cent regulars comes out to a true yield of 9.4%.

But because ORI’s business is more unpredictable than the likes of an Amerisafe, the specials are spottier.

Special Dividends From Business Development Companies (BDCs)In general, “normal” stocks that pay regular dividends tend to offer up decent-but-not-great regular dividends, then blow us away with fat specials when they can.

Business development companies (BDCs), which provide financing to smaller firms, take a different tack. That is, they pay regular dividends that in and of themselves put almost every other sector to shame—and when net investment income is sufficient enough, they’ll sweeten them even further with top-up specials.

Take Capital Southwest Corp. (CSWC, 10.0% headline yield) for instance.

CSWC provides capital to lower middle market firms with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of between $3 million and $25 million. The vast majority (90%) of its deals are first-lien loans, most of the rest (9%) is equity, though it has sprinklings of second-lien loans and subordinated debt. It has a diversified portfolio of 131 companies representing a couple dozen industries; healthcare services, consumer services, media/marketing and consumer products are the best-represented right now.

The BDC industry is a difficult one where losers greatly outnumber winners. But I’ve said before that CSWC is a standout—it has moderate leverage and a well-covered dividend. Meanwhile, special dividends add a full percentage point, for a true yield of 11%.

Better still? Capital Southwest recently converted its payout system from quarterly to monthly distributions.

It admittedly makes for a bizarre chart.

CSWC Dividend

Ycharts

The only glaring weakness here is a premium valuation to match CSWC’s premium performance. Right now, Capital Southwest’s shares trade at a whopping 40% above the BDC’s net asset value (NAV).

Fidus Investment Corp. (FDUS, 9.2% headline yield) invests in a wide range of lower middle market companies, preferring firms with proven business models and strong free cash flows. Target companies typically have annual EBITDA of $5 million to $30 million. Its deal mix is more diversified than CSWC, with about 80% in first-lien debt, 7% in each of subordinated debt and equity, and the remaining 6% in second-lien loans.

Fidus has 97 portfolio companies at the moment. And while they’re spread across a couple dozen industries, FDUS leans heavily into information technology service firms, which make up more than a third of the portfolio at cost. However, while tech exposure has been an anvil tied to the ankles of numerous other BDCs, AI seemingly hasn’t been weighing on its holdings—Fidus has outperformed the sector by about 15 percentage points over the past year.

FDUS does have a dividend strike against it in that it cut its regular payout during the pandemic. But it quickly worked to restore the distribution to—and eventually past—pre-COVID heights. The pandemic also marked a shift from annual top-ups to quarterly top-ups.

FDUS Dividend

Ycharts

The specials over the past 12 months take Fidus from a headline yield of 9.2% to a true yield of 11.8%.

Unlike with CSWC, we’re not being forced to overpay for FDUS’ relative business strength. Shares currently trade at a modest 5% discount to NAV.

Bain Capital Specialty Finance (BCSF, 12.8% headline yield) is one of the more geographically diversified BDCs, providing a variety of financing solutions to over 200 companies not just in North America, but also Europe and even Australia. It primarily deals in first-lien debt, which makes up a little more than 80% of its deal mix. Equity and preferred equity each make up about 7% apiece, but it also works with subordinated debt (3%) and second-lien loans (1%).

Bain Capital has delivered mixed results since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2018. It had caught its stride in recent years, but took a step back in 2025 before getting back up to speed this year. Non-accruals (loans not accruing interest because they’re past due, usually by 90 days or more) of just 1.4% are well below the BDC average of nearly 4%. Software makes up 13% of the portfolio, but CEO Michael Ewald said in the Q1 conference call that a recent review showed “the majority of our software investments carry a relatively low risk of AI-driven disruption.”

BCSF is also easily the cheapest of the three BDCs here, trading at a steep discount to NAV of 22%.

BCSF Dividend

Ycharts

Bain Capital pre-announced 3-cent specials across all of 2025, then ended the year by announcing an additional 15-cent special to be paid in early 2026. After that, however, it has announced two quarterly dividends with no specials.

Once we factor in specials paid over the past 12 months, BCSF’s true yield is 14.6%. But it’s possible that number is overshooting its future yield—and not only because we can’t count on specials. The pros are projecting that Bain Capital’s earnings will be barely enough to cover the dividend this year, and will fall well short of the payout in 2027.

Brett Owens is Chief Investment Strategist for Contrarian Outlook. For more great income ideas, get your free copy his latest special report: How to Live off Huge Monthly Dividends (up to 8.2%) — Practically Forever.

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

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

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

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

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

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

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

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

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

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

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

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

That's where the Style Scores come in.

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

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

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

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

Stock to Watch: Dillard's (DDS - Free Report) Dillard's Inc. is a large departmental store chain featuring fashion apparel and home furnishings. As of May 2, 2026, DDS operated 272 Dillard’s stores, including 28 clearance stores across 30 states. The company also sells its merchandise through the Internet at www.dillards.com. Stores are mainly located in the Southwest, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the United States.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. DDS has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 6.8% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2027, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $2.74 to $35.26 per share. DDS boasts an average earnings surprise of +27.9%.

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

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, June 4:

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS - Free Report) : This electronic design and test solutions company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.8% over the last 60 days.

Keysight’s shares gained 23.2% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 10.6%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A.

Dillard's, Inc. (DDS - Free Report) : This large fashion retailing company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.4% over the last 60 days.

Dillard’s shares gained 9.3% over the past month compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 4.2%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A.

Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC - Free Report) : This financial technology company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 11.8% over the last 60 days.

Atlanticus’ shares gained 30.3% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 10.6%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A.

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

Learn more about the Momentum score and how it is calculated here.

Image: Bigstock

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Key Takeaways HEICO expects 15.2% fiscal 2026 sales growth from FAA-approved jet engine replacement parts.Dillard's operated 272 stores as of May 2, 2026; fiscal 2027 sales growth is expected at 2.1%.CBRE Group sees sales rising 14.8% in 2026 through leasing, property sales and valuation services. U.S. equities have remained resilient year to date, although performance has been highly uneven. After rebounding from early-period volatility, markets have pushed higher as solid corporate earnings, AI-led optimism and a still-supportive economic backdrop have helped offset broader macro concerns. Investor sentiment has remained sensitive to shifting Fed-rate expectations, Treasury-yield swings, oil-price volatility, geopolitical risks, particularly tensions in the Middle East, and evolving trade policies.

The traditional way of choosing stocks is a good idea. Sales growth provides a more reliable view for evaluating stocks compared with earnings-focused metrics. In this regard, stocks like HEICO Corporation (HEI - Free Report) , Dillard's Inc. (DDS - Free Report) and CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE - Free Report) are worth considering.

Sales growth is one of the clearest measures of a company’s underlying business expansion. While earnings can be influenced by several factors, revenues provide a more direct view of customer demand and whether a company is selling more of its products or services. Sustained sales growth may reflect healthy end-market demand, market-share gains, pricing power, successful product launches, or expansion into new geographies and customer segments.

Sales growth can also serve as a foundation for improved profitability. As sales rise, companies may be able to spread fixed costs across a larger revenue base, enhancing operating leverage and supporting margin expansion over time. However, sales growth should not be evaluated in isolation. It is most meaningful when considered alongside industry trends, peer performance, pricing dynamics, customer mix and the broader economic backdrop.

The quality and durability of sales growth are equally important. Recurring revenues, repeat purchases, volume-driven gains and sustainable end-market demand are generally more valuable than growth, driven by temporary factors, acquisitions or short-term price increases. Companies that consistently deliver high-quality sales growth across market cycles are often better positioned to generate reliable cash flows, reinvest in the business, strengthen their competitive position and create long-term shareholder value.

Selecting the Potential Winning StocksTo shortlist stocks with impressive sales growth and a high cash balance, we have selected 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than X-Industry and Cash Flow of more than $500 million as our main screening parameters.

But sales growth and cash strength are not the absolute criteria for selecting stocks. Hence, we have added other factors to arrive at a winning strategy.

P/S Ratio less than X-Industry: This metric determines the value placed on each dollar of a company’s revenues. The lower the ratio, the better it is for picking a stock since the investor is paying less for each unit of sales.

% Change F1 Sales Estimate Revisions (four weeks) greater than X-Industry: Estimate revisions, better than the industry, are often seen to trigger an increase in stock price.

Operating Margin (average last five years) greater than 5%: The operating margin measures how much every dollar of a company's sales translates into profits. A high ratio indicates that the company has good cost control and sales are increasing faster than costs — an optimal situation.

Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5%: This metric will ensure that sales growth is translated into profits and the company is not hoarding cash. A high ROE means that the company is spending wisely and is, in all likelihood, profitable.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform, irrespective of the market environment. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

3 Stocks With Solid Sales Growth to BuyHollywood, FL-based HEICO is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of Federal Aviation Administration-approved jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts. HEI also manufactures various types of electronic equipment for the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries.

HEICO’s expected sales growth rate for fiscal 2026 is 15.2%. HEI carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

Headquartered in Little Rock, AR, Dillard's is a large departmental store chain featuring fashion apparel and home furnishings. As of May 2, 2026, DDS operated 272 Dillard’s stores, including 28 clearance stores across 30 states located in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States.

Dillard's expected sales growth rate for fiscal 2027 is 2.1%. DDS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

Dallas, TX-based CBRE Group is a commercial real estate services and investment firm. CBRE provides leasing, property sales, commercial mortgage origination, loan servicing, valuations and other advisory services to tenants, owners, lenders and investors across major global markets.

CBRE’s sales are expected to rise 14.8% in 2026. CBRE Group carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

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Published in aerospace finance retail

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 7th, 2026

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALM – Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 79,570 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,244,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.16% of Cal-Maine Foods at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Cal-Maine Foods by 4.5% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 24,401 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,218,000 after acquiring an additional 1,057 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Cal-Maine Foods by 100.8% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,985 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $726,000 after acquiring an additional 4,009 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association bought a new position in shares of Cal-Maine Foods in the first quarter valued at approximately $245,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its stake in shares of Cal-Maine Foods by 10.0% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 85,422 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $7,765,000 after acquiring an additional 7,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Cal-Maine Foods in the second quarter valued at approximately $8,829,000. 84.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on CALM shares. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Cal-Maine Foods from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 18th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Cal-Maine Foods in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Cal-Maine Foods in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Cal-Maine Foods from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Cal-Maine Foods presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $93.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Cal-Maine Foods

Cal-Maine Foods Price Performance CALM stock opened at $78.97 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $83.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $85.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a PE ratio of 5.50 and a beta of 0.32. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $71.92 and a fifty-two week high of $126.40.

Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 1st. The basic materials company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $666.95 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $655.82 million. Cal-Maine Foods had a net margin of 20.07% and a return on equity of 26.05%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 53.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $10.39 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. will post 15.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cal-Maine Foods Cuts Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 29th will be given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 29th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Cal-Maine Foods’s payout ratio is presently 20.14%.

Cal-Maine Foods Profile (Free Report)

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs. The company offers specialty shell eggs, such as nutritionally enhanced, cage free, organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and brown eggs under the Egg-Land's Best, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, Sunups, Sunny Meadow, and 4Grain brand names. It sells its products to various customers, including national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, independent supermarkets, foodservice distributors, and egg product consumers primarily in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Cal-Maine Foods

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 13th, 2026

Burney Co. lessened its position in Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALM – Free Report) by 35.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 70,613 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 39,423 shares during the quarter. Burney Co. owned approximately 0.15% of Cal-Maine Foods worth $5,619,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CALM. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in Cal-Maine Foods by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 24,401 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,218,000 after buying an additional 1,057 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in Cal-Maine Foods by 100.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,985 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $726,000 after buying an additional 4,009 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in Cal-Maine Foods in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $245,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in Cal-Maine Foods by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 85,422 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $7,765,000 after buying an additional 7,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Cal-Maine Foods by 323.0% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,087 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $108,000 after buying an additional 830 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.67% of the company’s stock.

Cal-Maine Foods Price Performance CALM stock opened at $75.83 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $83.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $84.86. The company has a market cap of $3.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.28 and a beta of 0.32. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. has a twelve month low of $71.92 and a twelve month high of $126.40.

Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 1st. The basic materials company reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $666.95 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $655.82 million. Cal-Maine Foods had a return on equity of 26.05% and a net margin of 20.07%.The business’s revenue was down 53.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $10.39 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. will post 15.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cal-Maine Foods Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 29th will be paid a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 29th. Cal-Maine Foods’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Cal-Maine Foods in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Stephens lifted their target price on Cal-Maine Foods from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Cal-Maine Foods in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Cal-Maine Foods from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $93.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Cal-Maine Foods

Cal-Maine Foods Company Profile (Free Report)

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs. The company offers specialty shell eggs, such as nutritionally enhanced, cage free, organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and brown eggs under the Egg-Land's Best, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, Sunups, Sunny Meadow, and 4Grain brand names. It sells its products to various customers, including national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, independent supermarkets, foodservice distributors, and egg product consumers primarily in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Cal-Maine Foods

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HomeIndustriesFood/Beverages/TobaccoEgg prices crossed the $6 barrier in March of last year, but they have since fallen as farmers have replenished their flocksPublished: April 17, 2026 at 6:56 p.m. ET

Shares of Cal-Maine Foods fell in extended trading Friday after a report that the Justice Department could be close to filing a civil antitrust lawsuit against the major egg producer and some of its rivals.

The report from the Wall Street Journal late Friday comes after higher egg prices last year and in 2024 became emblematic of the cost-of-living increases that have squeezed consumers over the past half-decade. Egg prices surged during those years as a large bird-flu outbreak led producers to cull millions of egg-laying chickens, curbing supplies.

About the Author

Bill Peters is a Los Angeles-based MarketWatch reporter who covers earnings.

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $CALM #NASDAQ--Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP has launched an urgent investigation into whether certain officers and directors of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) failed to manage Cal-Maine Foods in an acceptable manner, breaching their fiduciary duties to Cal-Maine Foods, and whether Cal-Maine Foods and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result. Attorney Joseph A. Pettigrew is heading the investigation—what shareholders need to know: On April 17, 2026, the Wall Stree.

On April 30, 2026, River Road Asset Management, LLC disclosed a new position in Cal-Maine Foods (CALM +1.01%).

What happenedAccording to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated April 30, 2026, River Road Asset Management, LLC established a new stake in Cal-Maine Foods by adding 1,369,522 shares. The estimated transaction value is $112.50 million, calculated using the average closing price during the first quarter. As of March 31, the quarter-end position was valued at $108.40 million, reflecting both share purchases and market price changes.

What else to knowThis was a new position, representing 1.23% of River Road’s 13F reportable assets under management as of March 31, 2026.Top holdings after the filing:NYSE: BJ: $344.81 million (3.9% of AUM)NYSE: WTM: $264.78 million (3.0% of AUM)NASDAQ: MGRC: $238.30 million (2.7% of AUM)NYSE: BRK-B: $218.25 million (2.5% of AUM)NYSE: MUSA: $195.51 million (2.2% of AUM)As of April 29, 2026, shares of Cal-Maine Foods were priced at $75.07, down 15.4% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 43.68 percentage points.Company OverviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$3.46 billionNet Income (TTM)$695.03 millionDividend Yield6.28%Price (as of market close 2026-04-29)$75.07Company SnapshotProduces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs, including specialty varieties such as cage free, organic, and nutritionally enhanced eggs under brands like Egg-Land's Best and Land O' Lakes.Operates an integrated supply chain model, generating revenue primarily through the sale of shell eggs to retail and foodservice channels.Serves national and regional grocery chains, club stores, independent supermarkets, and foodservice distributors across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western, and mid-Atlantic United States.Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs, including specialty varieties under brands like Egg-Land's Best and Land O' Lakes. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. offers specialty shell eggs, such as nutritionally enhanced, cage free, organic, and brown eggs under the Egg-Land's Best, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, and 4-Grain brand names, as well as under private labels. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. sells its products to various customers, including national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, independent supermarkets, and foodservice distributors primarily in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

What this transaction means for investorsAlthough investors are often reduced to speculation when one sells, purchases are different. Thus, River Road’s $112.5 million investment in Cal-Maine Foods is a clear signal of optimism in this consumer staples stock.

During the quarter, the stock’s price has fallen to its lowest level since 2024. This comes as the company faces a DOJ investigation regarding egg prices. Also, net income fell significantly as high margins came down as supply and demand came into better balance.

Today, egg prices have come down from the peaks in early 2025. Nonetheless, the world could face higher food prices as the conflict in Iran has led to lower fertilizer supplies. While not good for the consumer, that could increase the profitability of the company if food prices rise.

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Additionally, its P/E ratio stands at just 5. While Cal-Maine is unlikely to command high multiples, this ultra-low P/E ratio increases the chances that River Road can win by owning more of this stock.TMF Writers add your take here...

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The Invesco S&P SmallCap High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NASDAQ:XSHD) promises small-cap yield with smoother price action. Monthly distributions have shrunk meaningfully over the past two years, and the fund’s core holdings reveal the payout strain behind that decline.

How XSHD Generates Its Income XSHD tracks the S&P SmallCap High Dividend Low Volatility Index, which screens the 90 highest-yielding US small-cap stocks and keeps the 60 least volatile, then weights them by dividend yield. Hunting high yield in the small-cap universe is itself an anomaly: most small caps reinvest rather than distribute, so the screen pulls heavily into REITs, mortgage lenders, and cyclical payers. The volatility filter aims to soften the ride but does not protect the dividend itself.

Distributions are paid monthly. The fund paid out $1.03 in 2024, $0.82 in 2025, and roughly $0.25 year to date in 2026. Per-distribution averages have fallen from about 9 cents in 2024 to around 6 cents in early 2026. The headline yield near 5% to 7% depending on when you check is held up by a falling share price rather than by payout growth.

The Holdings Telling the Story Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR) is the clearest warning. The cannabis REIT pays a $1.90 quarterly dividend, held steady for eight straight quarters, but Q1 2026 AFFO came in at $1.88 per share, putting the AFFO payout ratio at 101%. Every dollar earned is going out the door, with another penny borrowed. Tenant defaults stripped $6.9 million from quarterly revenue, and $291 million in unsecured notes mature this month. CEO Alan Gold said the company has “additional secured and unsecured debt financings underway totaling nearly $130 million” to address it. Until refinancing closes and tenant turnover stabilizes, the dividend is being funded by borrowing rather than by operating cash flow.

Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR) has already moved. The multifamily bridge lender cut its quarterly payout from $0.43 to $0.30 in mid-2025, a 30% reduction. Q4 2025 distributable EPS dropped to $0.19 from $0.40 a year earlier, barely covering the reduced dividend after a $68.9 million charge-off on a legacy loan and $20.5 million REO impairment. With 26 non-performing loans totaling $569 million, another cut is plausible if credit losses continue.

Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM) operates a variable dividend tied to roughly one-third of quarterly profit. That payout has fallen from $2.35 in Q4 fiscal 2025 to $0.36 in Q3 fiscal 2026 as egg prices normalized, with shell egg selling prices down about 57% year over year. The balance sheet is fortress-grade at $1.15 billion in cash, but income investors should understand: when the company earns less, it pays less.

Global Net Lease (NYSE:GNL) is the most encouraging holding, though the cushion is thin. The diversified REIT earned agency upgrades to investment-grade BBB- from both Fitch and S&P, cut net debt by $2.2 billion in 2025, and delivered full-year AFFO of $0.99 against a $0.76 dividend. The catch: 2026 AFFO guidance of $0.80 to $0.84 leaves only a few cents of cushion above the payout. The company itself cut its dividend from $0.275 to $0.19 in early 2025, so the current rate already reflects one round of right-sizing.

Total Return Reality A high yield only matters if the principal holds. XSHD trades near $13.84, down about 20% over five years while the Russell 2000 has gained ground. Year to date the fund is up roughly 9%, helpful but not a thesis reset. Investors have been collecting income while watching their cost basis erode.

The Verdict on XSHD’s Distribution The distribution is mechanically passed through from holdings whose own payouts are under measurable strain: one paying above AFFO, one already cut, one variable by design, and one operating with single-digit cents of headroom. Other small-cap dividend funds that screen for dividend growth and balance sheet quality have delivered better total returns over comparable periods. XSHD makes sense only for investors who understand they are buying a yield that the underlying companies are actively struggling to maintain.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $CALM #NASDAQ--Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP has launched an urgent investigation into whether certain officers and directors of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) failed to manage Cal-Maine Foods in an acceptable manner, breaching their fiduciary duties to Cal-Maine Foods, and whether Cal-Maine Foods and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result. Attorney Joseph A. Pettigrew is heading the investigation—what shareholders need to know: On April 17, 2026, the Wall Stree.

Cal-Maine Foods offers pure-play exposure to egg prices via a dominant, financially disciplined, and debt-free operator with a resilient variable dividend structure. CALM's revenues and scale have trended upward despite commodity volatility, aided by strategic acquisitions and recent expansion into value-added products. The stock trades slightly above book value with over $1B in cash, reflecting market confidence even as egg prices hit decade lows and earnings compress.

June 08, 2026 17:00 ET  | Source: Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

RIDGELAND, Miss., June 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM), the largest egg company in the United States and a leading player in the egg-based food industry, today announced that members of its management team will participate in the 2026 D.A. Davidson Technology & Consumer Conference, which will be held June 10–12, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sherman Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer; Max Bowman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Keira Lombardo, Chief Strategy Officer, will participate in one-on-one meetings with institutional investors during the conference.

About Cal-Maine Foods

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) is the largest egg company in the United States and a leading player in the egg-based food industry. With a strong national footprint, Cal-Maine Foods provides nutritious, affordable, and sustainable protein to millions of households every day.

The company’s portfolio spans the full egg value ladder—from conventional to specialty, including cage-free, organic, brown, free-range, pasture-raised, and nutritionally enhanced—serving both retail and foodservice customers nationwide. Cal-Maine Foods also participates in the growing prepared foods sector, with offerings such as pre-cooked egg patties, omelets, folded and scrambled egg formats, hard-cooked eggs, pancakes, waffles, and specialty wraps. Its branded portfolio includes Eggland’s Best®, Land O’Lakes®, Farmhouse Eggs®, 4Grain®, Sunups®, Sunny Meadow®, MeadowCreek Foods®, Van’s Foods® and Crepini®.

Headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Cal-Maine’s strategy combines scale, operational excellence, and financial discipline with a commitment to innovation and sustainability, to enable the company to deliver trusted nutrition, enduring partnerships, and long-term value for its stakeholders.

Contacts

Investors: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]
Telephone: (601) 948-6813

LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McGrath RentCorp (“McGrath” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: MGRC), a leading business-to-business rental company in North America, today announced plans to release financial results for its first quarter ending March 31, 2026, after the close of regular market trading on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. McGrath RentCorp will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) on April 29, 2026, to discuss the results. The conference call may be acc.