Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Nearly 80% of Google Cloud customers use its AI products, but pricing and incremental revenue remain undisclosed. Summary

Google is turning Gemini into an enterprise operating layer.

Alphabet GOOGL, the search, cloud and AI company, introduced a universal Gemini agent for tackling knowledge work, producing content, running code and directing other agents. Shares edge higher $347.77 at 10.05am EST on Oct. 8. The pitch is straightforward: move Gemini beyond answering questions and into getting work done.

According to Google's announcement, nearly 80% of Cloud customers use its AI products, almost 90% of Fortune 100 companies use Gemini Enterprise, and roughly 500 customers each processed more than one trillion tokens last year. The agent works across Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Slack while carrying context between tasks. That gives Google a route into customers' daily workflows without asking them to replace their existing software.

The valuation graphic puts shares 36.99% above the $253.86 GF Value estimate, leaving a sizable premium for the business to justify. Cross-platform reach could make Gemini stickier, but usage alone does not settle the investment case. The announcement provided no pricing or incremental contract value. Investors need to see those busy agents translate into stronger Cloud revenue and margins.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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The foundry's 50% quarterly growth confirms demand while AMD's accelerator share remains the harder test. Summary

Sector demand is booming; AMD still must capture it.

Advanced Micro Devices AMD, the CPU and AI-accelerator designer, slipped about 1.5% to $636.15 around 10:31 a.m. ET on Thursday, as chip shares retreated despite TSMC's record quarterly revenue. Strong demand for chip production helps the sector's growth story. It does not tell investors how much of that business AMD will capture.

AMD's own numbers give investors more to work with. The company reported second-quarter data-center revenue of $6.7 billion, up 107% from a year earlier and accounting for roughly 58% of total sales. Helios systems are starting to ramp, while the Anthropic agreement targets deployments of up to two gigawatts of MI450-series accelerators. The opportunity is big. Turning those plans into profitable shipments is the next test.

The valuation graphic shows shares trading 119.88% above the $289.32 GF Value estimate, leaving a demanding premium for future growth to justify. That estimate is a benchmark, not a price forecast. Investors need to watch accelerator revenue, customer adoption and cash generation—not simply rising chip demand. AMD must turn its deployment pipeline into earnings fast enough to support the expectations already baked into its shares.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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Key Takeaways Citigroup is expected to report Q3'26 revenues of $23.66 billion, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 7.1%.C's NII is expected to rise 11.1% to $16.6 billion, supported by continued loan growth.C targets $2-$2.5 billion in annualized savings by year-end through simplification and productivity gains. Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) is slated to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 13, before market open.

In the first six months of 2026, Citigroup witnessed increases in net interest income (NII) and non-interest revenues. Building on this momentum, the globally diversified financial services holding company is expected to report year-over-year growth in both earnings and revenues for the third quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter revenues is pegged at $23.66 billion, indicating a 7.1% year-over-year increase.

The consensus estimate for earnings for the to-be-reported quarter has been revised downward to $2.66 over the past seven days. The figure indicates 18.8% growth from the prior-year quarter.

Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company also has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 14.68%.

Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Major Factors to Impact Citigroup’s Q3 ResultsNII: In mid-September 2026, the Federal Reserve raised its interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%, citing persistently elevated inflation. This is less likely to have much impact on the company’s NII and margin.

Meanwhile, lending activity remained impressive in the first two months of the third quarter, building on the momentum witnessed in the first half of 2026. Per the Fed’s latest data, commercial and industrial loan growth was healthy during the period, while consumer and real estate lending remained steady. Thus, continued loan growth is expected to have supported Citigroup’s NII by expanding the interest-earning asset base while funding and deposit costs stabilized.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pinned at $16.6 billion, suggesting an 11.1% year-over-year rise.

Fee Income: Following a record-setting first half, global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity slowed during the third quarter as geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties weighed on deal-making. Rising borrowing costs, persistent inflation and valuation gaps also remained headwinds. Despite these challenges, strategic acquirers continued to pursue transactions focused on expanding scale, enhancing operational resilience and strengthening competitive positioning.

The third quarter saw healthy initial public offering (IPO) and equity issuance activity, despite some moderation from strong second-quarter levels. Debt issuance also remained solid, supported by corporate refinancing and continued investor demand. These trends are expected to have supported C’s underwriting revenues, which accounted for nearly 69% of Investment Banking (IB) revenues in the first six months of 2026. Management guided for third-quarter 2026 IB revenues to increase in the low single digits year over year, with some upside depending on deals that closed toward the end of the quarter.

The company also expects third-quarter 2026 trading activity to be healthy, with continued momentum across key trading businesses, particularly in equities, derivatives, financing and foreign exchange. Strength across these businesses is expected to have further supported Citigroup's markets revenues during the quarter. Management expects third-quarter 2026 markets revenues to grow in the mid-single digits from the prior-year period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for markets revenues is $6.1 billion, implying a 9.1% year-over-year rise.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for income from commissions and fees is pinned at $2.9 billion, which indicates a 2.1% year-over-year rise. The consensus estimate for income from principal transactions is pegged at $3.1 billion, suggesting a 10.1% increase year over year. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for administration and other fiduciary fees is $1.2 billion, implying a rise of 5% year over year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total non-interest income for the third quarter of 2026 is pegged at $7.2 billion, suggesting a marginal year-over-year increase.

Expenses: Though Citigroup is focused on lowering expenses through organizational simplification, cost reductions and productivity savings, continued investments in business transformation efforts, technology and controls, along with higher business-related expenses, are likely to have kept the expense base elevated in the third quarter of 2026. In addition, management expects U.S. Consumer Cards expense growth to outpace revenues, limiting near-term margin expansion.

Asset Quality: After setting aside a decent amount for potential loan losses in the first half of 2026, Citigroup is likely to have increased reserve building in the to-be-reported quarter, as the recent Fed rate hike and expectations of another hike later this year could weigh on borrowers’ repayment capacity.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-accrual loans is pegged at $3.72 billion, indicating a rise of 1.1% from the prior-year quarter.

What Our Model Unveils for COur proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for Citigroup this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is exactly the case here, as you can see below.

Citigroup has an Earnings ESP of +0.36%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Citigroup’s Price Performance & ValuationIn the third quarter of 2026, C shares plunged 7.5% compared with the industry’s 2.9% decline. Among its peers, shares of Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) and Wells Fargo (WFC - Free Report) lost 4.5% and 3.2%, respectively, during the same period.

Third-Quarter Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Wells Fargo is scheduled to report its quarterly results on Oct. 13, the same day as Citigroup, while Bank of America is set to announce its results on Oct. 14.

Now, let us look at the value that Citigroup offers investors at the current levels. C is trading at 10.14X forward 12-month earnings, below the industry’s forward price/earnings (P/E) multiple of 12.76X. The company’s valuation looks inexpensive compared with the industry average.

Price-to-Earnings F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Citigroup’s stock is also trading at a discount compared with Bank of America’s P/E of 10.46X and Wells Fargo's P/E of 10.26X.

Investment Thesis for CitigroupCitigroup is making steady progress in streamlining its operations, with its multi-year exit from non-core international consumer banking nearing completion. The sale of its Polish consumer business in June 2026 marked the final international consumer divestiture, apart from the wind-down of its Korean operations and the ongoing Banamex divestiture. The company currently holds a 51% stake in Banamex and expects to complete its deconsolidation in early 2027, potentially followed by an IPO, which could release approximately $5 billion in capital. These efforts are expected to reduce operational complexity, free up capital and enable Citigroup to allocate more resources to its core businesses. As the remaining exits and wind-downs conclude, lower stranded costs and more focused capital allocation are likely to strengthen its ability to generate sustainable returns.

Alongside its business simplification efforts, C remains focused on expense discipline and operational efficiency. It is reducing management layers, expanding spans of control and optimizing its workforce, with headcount declining to 219,000 as of June 30, 2026, from 230,000 a year earlier. These measures resulted in more than $800 million in severance costs during the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, investments in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), combined with process simplification, platform consolidation and increased automation, are expected to enhance long-term productivity.

Collectively, these initiatives are anticipated to generate $2-$2.5 billion in annualized savings by the end of 2026, supporting management's full-year efficiency ratio target. Improving operational efficiency, along with stronger business performance, is expected to support profitability, with management projecting full-year 2026 return on tangible common equity to exceed 11%, above its previous 10-11% target.

Beyond its efficiency initiatives, the company continues to strengthen its core businesses and deepen customer relationships. In August 2026, it agreed to acquire Kard Financial to enhance personalized rewards and merchant-funded offers. The September launch of Citi Commerce Media reinforces this strategy, helping C increase cardholder engagement and expand its commerce ecosystem.

Citigroup's liquidity position also provides room for continued shareholder distributions. Following its successful completion of the 2026 Fed stress test, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 12% to 67 cents per share and continues its $30-billion multiyear share repurchase program.

Parting Thoughts on Citigroup Ahead of Q3 EarningsCitigroup’s progress on business simplification and cost control, along with business expansion efforts, capital returns and an inexpensive valuation, is a positive catalyst. However, elevated restructuring and technology expenses could continue to pressure near-term results.

Therefore, investors may prefer to wait for C’s upcoming third-quarter results before initiating new positions, as the earnings release could provide clearer visibility into cost savings, business growth and profitability. Management’s commentary on credit trends, capital deployment and progress on the remaining divestitures will be particularly important. Still, existing shareholders may consider holding their positions, as continued progress on the transformation could support Citigroup’s long-term earnings and return potential.

Token Fabric uses Spectrum-X while letting data centers mix accelerators, expanding Nvidia's reach but loosening chip exclusivity. Summary

Nvidia can sell networking even when customers diversify processors.

Nvidia NVDA, the AI accelerator and networking giant, faced a fresh test of its ecosystem advantage as Reuters reported that Nvidia-backed Upscale AI launched Token Fabric for data centers running chips from multiple suppliers. Shares fell 0.72% to $234.10 at 9:43 a.m. ET on October 8. The investment question is straightforward: how much can Nvidia earn when customers mix rival processors into their AI infrastructure?

According to Reuters, Token Fabric brings together Upscale networking chips, Nvidia Spectrum-X equipment and software designed to identify bottlenecks across mixed accelerator fleets. The first component is scheduled for this quarter, followed by phased deployment through 2027. Upscale sees potential platform revenue in the low hundreds of millions of dollars next year. That is Upscale's projection, not Nvidia's sales guidance.

Nvidia could collect networking revenue even when another supplier wins the accelerator order. But making competing chips easier to connect could also reduce customers' dependence on an all-Nvidia setup. The GF Score of 95/100 shows strong profitability, growth and financial strength, while the weaker GF Value reading suggests valuation deserves closer scrutiny. The opportunity is real. So is the challenge: turn a more open ecosystem into additional revenue while protecting the GPU business that powers its profits.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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PepsiCo said Thursday it’s raising prices on some chips and drinks after a disappointing third quarter — pivoting from a recent effort to save consumers money — due to soft soda sales and struggles pulling off its turnaround plan. 

Doritos, Ruffles, SunChips and some soda brands will see prices jump in the single-digit percentage range, the company said. Prices on these items will still be lower than they were at the start of the year.

Pepsi said it needs to raise some prices to offset rising costs for fuel, aluminum and agricultural supplies, which have skyrocketed due to the Iran war and tariffs. 

Doritos, Ruffles, SunChips and some soda brands will see prices jump. REUTERS But it’s a notable strategy shift from February, when the company slashed prices on Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos by up to 15% just ahead of the Super Bowl in an attempt to win back inflation-battered consumers.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the lower prices helped bring back some customers, but third-quarter earnings in the North America division were weaker than expected – and its turnaround is taking longer than they had hoped.

Frito-Lay snack food volumes were flat compared to the same period last year, while beverage volumes slipped 2%.

“We don’t feel good about the beverage business,” Laguarta said during a conference call Thursday, admitting the company’s sodas – including its flagship Pepsi brand – had fizzled compared to competitors.

He added that PepsiCo will put “all of the urgency of the business and the focus on improving our performance in soft drinks.”

Pepsi noted challenges including increased competition and rising input costs. Experts have also pointed out that weight-loss drugs and more widely available soda alternatives are factors.

The company plans to cut costs and use the savings to ramp up investments in Poppi, the healthy probiotic soda brand it acquired last year, as well as Mountain Dew and Pepsi.

PepsiCo embarked on a turnaround process last fall after activist investor Elliott Investment Management took a $4 billion stake in the company and demanded it lower its prices. 

It had hiked prices by double-digit percentages for eight quarters in a row through 2022 and 2023, arguing it had to cover rising costs as inflation ran rampant in the wake of the pandemic.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta warned that the company’s drinks business is not doing well. Bloomberg via Getty Images Despite lowering prices this year, the company has been facing sluggish demand for sodas and snacks, as shoppers cut back on non-necessities and rising GLP-1 usage weighs on sales of junk food.

In the third quarter, the company’s best-performing products in North America included snacks with simpler ingredients, including Doritos without artificial colors or flavors, as well as hydration drinks like Gatorade and energy drinks like Celsius. It plans to expand its high-protein offerings to win over weight-loss drug users, since they need to be on high-protein, high-fiber diets.

PepsiCo reported better-than-expected revenue in the third quarter thanks to strength in its international business, which accounts for 41% of company revenue. Its global snack food volumes jumped 4%, helped by World Cup-related demand for Lay’s snacks.

It recorded adjusted earnings per share of $2.34, above Wall Street estimates of $2.29.

The company lowered its annual forecast, now expecting adjusted earnings per share to grow 2.5% to 3.5% – down from a previous estimate of 5% to 7% growth. However, it expects full-year revenue to grow 6%, at the high end of a previous 4% to 6% forecast range.

Shares in PepsiCo jumped 2.6% Thursday.

Identifying the next big AI winners has become increasingly challenging. The theme is maturing, and much of the extraordinary growth across the industry is already reflected in stock prices. However, I think I've identified one company that could be on the verge of a major move higher.

Synopsys ((SNPS - Free Report) ), a leading provider of semiconductor design software and intellectual property, has spent much of the last three years consolidating following an enormous multiyear rally. Concerns over slowing growth, the integration of its massive Ansys acquisition and the potential for AI to disrupt traditional software businesses have weighed on shares.

But the outlook appears to be improving rapidly. A series of major AI partnerships with Amazon and OpenAI, stronger-than-expected long-term financial targets and increasingly bullish analyst revisions have given investors several fresh reasons to reconsider the stock.

And with shares now approaching a major breakout on the quarterly chart, the timing looks particularly interesting.

Let's take a closer look at the recent developments, Synopsys' improving earnings outlook and the technical setup that suggests another substantial rally could be approaching.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AI Partnerships and Stronger Growth TargetsSynopsys has long occupied an important position in the semiconductor industry. Its electronic design automation software helps companies develop increasingly complex chips, while its semiconductor intellectual property allows customers to incorporate proven designs into their own processors.

That makes Synopsys a critical supplier to the AI infrastructure buildout, particularly as hyperscalers invest billions developing their own custom accelerators. And the company's recent Investor Day delivered several important catalysts.

First, Synopsys announced a major agreement with Amazon ((AMZN - Free Report) ), which will use its intellectual property across custom silicon programs including Trainium, Graviton and Nitro. Importantly, the agreement introduces a royalty-based component tied to chip production, potentially allowing Synopsys to participate more directly in its customers' growth.

Separately, Synopsys announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop GPT-Synopsys, a specialized AI model for semiconductor design.

This is an especially interesting development considering the market's concern that AI could disrupt traditional software providers. Rather than being displaced by the technology, Synopsys may be positioned to become one of its beneficiaries.

Management also delivered a stronger-than-expected financial outlook.

Fiscal 2027 revenue is projected at $11.10–$11.20 billion, above the roughly $10.81 billion analysts had expected. Non-GAAP earnings guidance of $19.04–$19.12 per share was also comfortably ahead of the prior consensus near $17.81.

Looking further ahead, management now targets roughly 15% annual revenue growth through fiscal 2030, with operating margins approaching 50% and annual adjusted EPS growth in the mid-20% range.

The company also intends to repurchase approximately $1 billion in shares over the coming months, with a longer-term goal of returning up to 50% of free cash flow to shareholders.

That's a pretty compelling combination of new growth opportunities, improving profitability and shareholder returns.

Synopsys Earnings Estimates Are Moving HigherThe improving fundamental outlook is already showing up in analyst estimates. SNPS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), following a recent upgrade from #2 (Buy), with revisions accelerating after the company's Investor Day.

The most notable changes have come in fiscal 2027, with fresh upgrades hitting in the last week. Over the last 60 days, the consensus earnings estimate has increased 6.1% to $18.26 per share, with five upward revisions and one downward revisions during that period.

And there could be additional upside to those estimates. Management's new fiscal 2027 guidance calls for adjusted EPS of $19.04–$19.12, still comfortably above the current consensus.

The near-term earnings trend has also been encouraging. In its latest quarter, Synopsys reported revenue of $2.48 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.91, beating earnings expectations by approximately 6.5%.

Valuation remains a consideration, with shares trading near 33x current-year earnings and 27.5x next year's estimates. That's certainly not cheap, but with management targeting mid-20% annual earnings growth through fiscal 2030, the premium could be justified if execution remains strong.

And with estimates moving higher, sentiment improving and analysts increasingly bullish on the company's AI opportunities, the fundamental backdrop looks considerably more attractive than it did just a few months ago.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SNPS Stock Approaches a Major Technical BreakoutPerhaps the most compelling part of the setup is the quarterly chart.

Following a massive multiyear advance, Synopsys has spent the last several years consolidating, with shares trading in a broad descending channel since their 2024 peak.

Importantly, the long-term uptrend remains intact, and the recent rally has brought SNPS right back to the upper boundary of that consolidation, following a sharp gap up at the start of this quarter.

The stock is now testing resistance around $510–$520, a breakout above which could signal the beginning of another major leg higher.

These types of multiyear consolidations are particularly interesting when accompanied by improving fundamentals. The stock has spent years digesting its prior advance, while the latest developments suggest the underlying earnings story may be accelerating again.

Of course, the breakout hasn't been confirmed yet, and a rejection at resistance could keep shares trading within the existing range.

But with the Zacks Rank improving, estimates moving higher and several major catalysts now in place, I think the setup looks increasingly constructive.

Image Source: TradingView

Should Investors Buy Synopsys Stock?Synopsys is emerging as an increasingly interesting way to participate in the AI infrastructure boom, particularly as custom semiconductor design becomes more important to the industry's growth.

The Amazon and OpenAI agreements, stronger long-term guidance and accelerating earnings revisions suggest the company may be entering a new phase of growth.

Meanwhile, the quarterly chart offers one of the more compelling technical setups I've come across recently.

Valuation isn't especially cheap, and the Ansys integration remains an execution risk. But with improving fundamentals and shares approaching a major multiyear breakout, SNPS looks like a stock worth watching closely.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP ("SBS"), a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Baidu, Inc. ("Baidu" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: BIDU) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shareholders who purchased shares of BIDU during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointments. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.

CLASS PERIOD: November 18, 2025 to August 17, 2026

DEADLINE: November 13, 2026

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

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Baidu overstated the ability of its AI business to cover the rapid decline in its legacy marketing business. The Company was likely to suffer a decline in revenue. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Baidu, investors suffered damages.

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

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

Join the case to recover your losses

WHY SBS? Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. Bringing together the extensive experience and diverse skillsets of founding partners Brian Schall, Andrew Brown, and David Schwartz, SBS is dedicated to aggressively advocating for every investor.

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

CONTACT:

Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP
Brian Schall, Esq.,
Andrew Brown, Esq.,
David Schwartz, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
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SOURCE Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP

Key Takeaways Wells Fargo shares fell 1.5% in yesterday's trading session after HUD launched a fair-lending review.Wells Fargo faces a HUD review over allegations that it offered different lending products based on race.WFC has terminated 14 consent orders since 2019, while the Fed lifted its asset cap in June 2025. Shares of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC - Free Report) lost 1.5% in yesterday’s trading session after it was revealed that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is planning to probe the bank’s compliance with fair-lending laws. Per a Yahoo Finance report citing The Wall Street Journal, HUD sent a letter to CEO Charlie Scharf stating that it would investigate the allegations that the company favored Black and other minority homeowners.

The scrutiny stems from a nearly decade-long effort by WFC to address the homeownership gap among Black Americans. In 2017, the bank committed $60 billion in loans to help add at least 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027. It expanded the initiative in 2022 by offering to refinance minority-owned homes using its own funds. According to the report, by late 2023, the bank had fulfilled about 40% of its original lending commitment and helped refinance roughly 5,100 customers.

The review centers on Wells Fargo’s lending practices, with HUD alleging that the bank adopted a strategy of “sorting” homeowners and offering different products or terms based on race. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said that the agency plans to conduct a full review of WFC’s statements and practices. The review also covers similar initiatives at other banks, reflecting the Trump administration’s broader focus on corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and lending practices.

The latest investigation comes after WFC made considerable progress in resolving its longstanding regulatory issues. Since 2019, the bank has terminated 14 consent orders, while the Federal Reserve lifted its nearly seven-year asset cap in June 2025 and closed its 2018 enforcement action related to governance and risk management in March 2026. Reflecting these improvements, last month, S&P Global Ratings upgraded the company’s long-term issuer credit rating to “A-” from “BBB+” with a stable outlook, citing stronger risk management, culture and oversight, improved profitability and deeper client relationships.

The HUD review adds regulatory scrutiny for Wells Fargo at a time when the bank is focusing on business growth and improving profitability. A finding of unlawful differences in lending products could lead to additional compliance requirements and reputational pressure. For investors, WFC’s response and continued progress in profitability, regulatory remediation and client relationships will remain key areas to watch.

Wells Fargo’s Price Performance & Zacks RankWFC shares have lost 6.6% in the past six months against the industry’s growth of 4.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Wells Fargo currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Recent Regulatory Matters at Other FirmsUnlike WFC, which is facing a fresh HUD review over its lending initiatives, other firms, such as Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC - Free Report) and Franklin Templeton (BEN - Free Report) , have resolved regulatory and legal matters involving their lending and investment-management practices.

In September 2026, Credit Acceptance reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General and 40 other state attorneys general over its subprime auto-lending practices. Under the agreement, Credit Acceptance will provide more than $630 million in debt relief to over 55,000 consumers, contribute $60 million to a relief fund and pay $15.5 million to the states, without admitting wrongdoing.

In June 2026, Franklin agreed to pay a $100 million civil penalty to settle SEC charges against its subsidiary, Western Asset Management Company, related to alleged trade-allocation misconduct by its former co-chief investment officer. The settlement also concluded Franklin’s related investigations by the SEC and the Department of Justice.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST, XETRA:CTO) reported September net sales of about $30 billion, up 13% year on year, marking a strong start to financial year 2027, according to Jefferies.

Total comparable sales rose 11.4%, while core comparable sales excluding foreign exchange and gasoline increased 7.6%, supported by strong traffic and transaction growth.

Worldwide traffic increased 4.7% and US traffic rose 4.3%, while transactions increased 2.8% excluding foreign exchange and gasoline, highlighting continued strength in customer demand.

Digitally enabled sales excluding foreign exchange and gasoline increased 19.1%, adding to the retailer's growth across its physical and digital operations.

Jefferies said September's performance benefited from the timing of Labor Day, which management estimated provided slightly more than 50 basis points of benefit to total and comparable sales.

The impact was partly offset by new-store cannibalization, which management estimated reduced comparable sales by about 60 basis points.

Category performance was broad-based, with ancillary sales increasing in the mid-30% range, led by gasoline, pharmacy and food court sales.

Gasoline sales increased in the mid-40% range, while non-food sales grew in the high-single-digit range, driven by gift cards, housewares and sporting goods.

Fresh food sales increased in the mid- to high-single-digit range, led by bakery and meat, while food and sundries sales grew in the mid-single-digit range.

Jefferies said the strongest US regions were the Midwest, Southeast and San Diego, while Spain, Taiwan and China led international performance.

Average worldwide gasoline prices increased 32.8% year on year, contributing to the difference between Costco's total and core comparable sales growth.

Despite the strong start to financial year 2027, Jefferies left its model unchanged because it is still early in the financial year.

The broker said the September results showed healthy traffic and broad-based category strength, supporting its view that Costco has started the new financial year on a strong footing.

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Key Takeaways INTU shares gained 8.7% in three months, driven by mid-market and financial services growth.Intuit expects 9%-10% revenue growth in fiscal 2027 despite sluggish customer gains.INTU's premium valuation and competitive tax pricing call for caution amid acquisition challenges. After a difficult stretch earlier this year, Intuit Inc. (INTU - Free Report) is showing signs of stabilization. Its latest results highlight demand for QuickBooks, TurboTax Live and financial services, while management shifts attention toward attracting new users. Coming quarters will test whether these businesses can support a recovery in customer acquisition.

Over the past three months, INTU shares have advanced approximately 8.7%. Over the same period, tax-services rival H&R Block (HRB - Free Report) rose 11.6%, while financial-technology player Block (XYZ - Free Report) declined 1.7%. These differing price paths reflect contrasting investor expectations for growth.

Intuit spans tax preparation, small-business accounting, consumer finance and payments. H&R Block focuses on tax services, whereas Block serves merchants and consumers through Square and Cash App. Intuit's broader product mix brings several revenue opportunities but leaves it exposed to pricing competition, changing customer preferences and artificial intelligence.

3-Month Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

INTU’s Growth Engines Extend Beyond Traditional Tax SoftwareIntuit ended fiscal 2026 with revenues of $21.4 billion, up 14%, and GAAP diluted earnings per share growth of 20%. Its assisted-tax, money and mid-market businesses collectively expanded more than 30%, representing about 30% of total revenues. Mid-market revenues jumped 39% to $1.6 billion, supported by demand for QuickBooks Online Advanced and Intuit Enterprise Suite. Business money revenues increased 31% to $1.8 billion, showing how payments and related services are becoming more important.

The opportunity lies in expanding these relationships rather than relying only on subscription increases. Intuit Enterprise Suite's annualized revenue exceeded $145 million in the fourth quarter, four times the year-earlier level. Meanwhile, Intuit said 2.5 million customers use Intuit Intelligence automations and insights monthly. These tools could improve retention and service adoption, although higher usage will need to translate into sustained revenue growth.

Fiscal 2027 Could Test INTU’s Customer Acquisition PlanOn the Investor Day, Management reaffirmed fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $23.28-$23.51 billion, implying growth of 9-10%, slower than fiscal 2026. Global Business Solutions revenues are projected to grow 13-14%, while TurboTax revenues are expected to rise only 2-3%. The company is deliberately adjusting tax pricing to compete with lower-cost alternatives, which may reduce revenue earned per new tax customer initially. Management aims to return to durable double-digit company revenue growth over the longer term.

Customer growth remains the key weakness. Total online paying customers increased just 3% in fiscal 2026, including Mailchimp, and TurboTax lost one percentage point of IRS e-filing share. QuickBooks Free and Lite aim to widen the entry point for smaller firms, while more competitive TurboTax offers seek to rebuild the do-it-yourself customer base. These changes may support longer-term gains, but results will depend on conversion, retention and cross-selling.

INTU’s Balance Sheet and Capital Returns Provide SupportThe balance sheet and capital returns provide some support. Intuit repurchased $5.5 billion in shares during fiscal 2026 and raised its quarterly dividend by 15%. Its renewed NFL partnership through 2030 and expanded small-business accelerator program may also increase customer awareness. Spending to attract new customers and improve AI capabilities remains an important factor to monitor.

INTU’s Estimate Revisions Depict a Mixed Trend of LateINTU’s estimates for fiscal 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 30 days. However, the same for fiscal 2028 has been revised marginally upward over the same period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

INTU's Premium Valuation Warrants a Closer LookIntuit trades at about 3.33 times forward 12-month sales, compared with 1.27 times for H&R Block and 1.62 times for Block. The premium reflects Intuit's broader software and services reach, faster recent revenue growth and opportunities to serve customers throughout the year.

Valuation

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Should Investors Do With INTU Stock Now?Intuit's recent share-price recovery has support from mid-market growth, expanding financial services and improving AI adoption. Fiscal 2027 guidance also points to continued earnings growth despite a slower revenue outlook. Still, the customer acquisition reset, competitive tax pricing and a valuation above H&R Block and Block leave limited room for disappointing execution.

Existing shareholders have reasons to remain invested while following quarterly evidence of better customer gains and sustained service adoption. For investors considering fresh exposure, waiting for clearer signs that QuickBooks entry-level offerings and TurboTax pricing changes are strengthening growth appears more measured than acting solely on the recent rally.

At present, INTU carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) is seeing stronger-than-expected third-quarter engagement, led by the hit game Steal an Egg, prompting Wedbush to raise its estimates. 

The firm now expects third-quarter Bookings of $1.7 billion and EBITDA of $215 million, up from prior estimates of $1.64 billion and $193 million. 

Per third-party estimates cited in the note, total platform hours fell 7% year over year in the quarter, a smaller decline than the 16% drop Wedbush had modelled.  

The decline was weighed down by the fading Cohort of Five titles. Excluding those games, hours grew 37% year over year, accelerating from 20% in the second quarter. 

Steal an Egg, this year’s most successful launch, reached peak daily hours comparable to last year’s GAG and Steal a Brainrot. Engagement appears to have rolled over, however, falling 9% and 18% week over week in the last two weeks.  

Wedbush models average Bookings per Hour up 1% year over year in the third quarter and down 2% in the fourth, reflecting normal seasonality, with upside to under-13 monetization if Steal an Egg sustains its momentum. 

Wedbush expects the fourth-quarter guide to be at least in line with the Street, assuming management does not factor in significant headwinds from the November launch of GTA 6. The firm is more cautious than consensus, modelling fourth-quarter Bookings of $1.91 billion against the Street’s $1.98 billion, because it assumes GTA 6 will pull engagement from the broader gaming ecosystem, including Roblox.  

Wedbush said management has an opportunity to elaborate on its refined search and discovery philosophy, first outlined at the Roblox Developers Conference 2026. The approach is seen as less penalizing to short-lived, meme-like hits.  

A recalibrated algorithm serving hyper-personalized recommendations to younger users could restart the platform’s hit factory and revive under-13 engagement and monetization, the firm said. Onboarding established intellectual property and successful Incubator launches could also support the age-up thesis. 

Still, Wedbush said a consistent wave of new viral hits is likely needed to rebuild investor confidence. Almost all of the investors it recently spoke with, fewer than a handful, were cautious on Roblox’s guidance, and fewer than half expect a return to growth of 20% or more over the longer term. 

Wedbush said Roblox looks inexpensive if it can sustain growth of 20% or more in 2027 and beyond.  

Annaly Capital's 16.9% yield has drawn income investors for years, but three specific metrics will determine whether that $3 annual payout holds or follows the same path as every previous cut in its history.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Annaly Capital (NYSE:NLY) pays $0.75 per quarter, or $3 a year. At $17.80, that yields a whopping 16.9%. The stock fell 18.87% over the past month. Annaly is a mortgage REIT that borrows short term through repurchase agreements (repo), buys mortgage securities, and keeps the difference between what the bonds pay and what borrowing costs. Three numbers decide whether the dividend holds up.

Spread Pays the Dividend, and Its Cost Resets Every Month In Q2, Annaly’s agency portfolio had a weighted average coupon of 5.11%, repo rate of 3.84%, and net interest margin of 1.76%. Earnings available for distribution (EAD) were $0.79 per share, covering the dividend for the ninth consecutive quarter.

Repo loans averaged only 33 days to maturity, so rising short-term rates increase funding costs quickly. Annaly’s hedges cover 97% of that exposure. Management said:

“We expect to be able to cover the dividend over a period of time. There will be quarters where we’ll out earn it and maybe we might be on top or even a touch below.”

AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) runs a wider 2.00% net interest spread but its repo matures in just 13 days.

Book Value Tells You Whether the Dividend Is Earned Book value per share is the scoreboard. Annaly’s book value rose to $20.15 in Q2 from $19.82, after falling from $20.21 in Q1. The 10-year Treasury yield has climbed from 4.56% to 5.27%. Management said book value was off “a little over a percent”. Shares trade about 11.7% below the last reported book value, suggesting the market expects more erosion.

Leverage Multiplies Every Mistake Annaly holds $143.74 billion in assets on $16.93 billion of equity. Economic leverage is 5.6x, and GAAP leverage is 7.4x. AGNC runs 7.4x on tangible book, and its tangible book fell 5.6% in Q1. Annaly’s CEO says the lighter balance sheet is an edge:

“It has contributed to our ability to generate double-digit economic returns while operating with less leverage than our peers.”

Rithm Capital (NYSE:RITM) spreads risk through origination, servicing, and asset management. It held its dividend at $0.25 on EAD of $0.60, though mortgage servicing marks cost it $194.5 million in Q2.

Annaly Has Cut Its Dividend Before Annaly has cut its dividend before. The quarterly payout fell from $0.55 in 2012 to $0.30 by late 2013, from $0.30 in 2018 to $0.22 in 2020, and from $0.88 to $0.65 in 2023. Each cut followed narrowed spreads or book value losses (we listed the seven warning signs that tend to come before a cut like these in a free guide here). The current run of increases began in 2025.

Dividend Variability and the One Number to Track Annaly’s dividend has historically moved with spreads and book value. That variability matters for anyone relying on a fixed check, as does the 18.87% monthly drop. Watch book value per share in the Q3 report against $20.15. If it falls while EAD just covers $0.75, the dividend is paid from capital.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, will release its third quarter 2026 earnings on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, and host a conference call and webcast at 7:30 a.m. ET.

We encourage you to join through our webcast link. A corresponding presentation and news release will be available on ir.carrier.com prior to the call and a recording will be available on the website later in the day. If you are unable to join via the webcast, please contact Carrier Investor Relations at [email protected] for alternative dial-in information.

About Carrier
Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating innovations that bring comfort, safety and sustainability to life. Through cutting-edge advancements in climate solutions such as temperature control, air quality and transportation, we improve lives, empower critical industries and ensure the safe transport of food, life-saving medicines and more. Since inventing modern air conditioning in 1902, we lead with purpose: enhancing the lives we live and the world we share. We continue to lead because of our world-class, inclusive workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit carrier.com or follow Carrier on social media at @Carrier.

Carrier. For the World We Share.

CARR-IR

Contact:

Media Inquiries

Kristina Pantelides

561-236-4241

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Michael Rednor

561-365-2020

[email protected]

SOURCE Carrier Global Corporation

Key Takeaways Upstart partners with Credit Union of Denver to expand access to affordable personal loans.Credit Union of Denver began lending through Upstart in April 2026 to reach more qualified borrowers.Upstart offers tailored loan options before applicants complete membership and closing online. Upstart Holdings (UPST - Free Report) is expanding its credit union network through a partnership with Credit Union of Denver. Colorado’s oldest state-chartered credit union, founded in 1931, aims to make affordable personal loans more accessible through Upstart’s AI-powered digital lending marketplace.

Credit Union of Denver began lending through Upstart in April 2026. Qualified applicants on Upstart.com who meet the credit union’s lending policies receive tailored offers before being directed to a Credit Union of Denver-branded experience, where they can complete membership applications and loan closing online.

The partnership is expected to help Credit Union of Denver reach more qualified borrowers while maintaining its focus on personalized lending. It also aims to expand credit access for individuals who may be overlooked by traditional lending models.

UPST has also been strengthening its existing credit union relationships. In September 2026, Commonwealth Credit Union, which serves more than 140,000 members, expanded its partnership with Upstart into home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and indirect auto lending. The relationship began in 2022 with personal lending.

Upstart’s broader business showed stronger momentum in the second quarter of 2026. Total originations were $4.2 billion, up 50% year over year, while revenues increased 42% to $365 million. The company reported $16.5 million in net income and $76.9 million in adjusted EBITDA.

ConclusionThe Denver deal further strengthens Upstart’s network of more than 100 banking and credit union partners. With more than 90% of loans fully automated without human intervention, the company is well-positioned to support efficient digital lending. Such partnerships could help attract more qualified borrowers, increase loan originations and support fee-based revenue growth, strengthening its long-term growth prospects.

Over the past six months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have declined 14% compared with the industry's 1.9% fall.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Financial-Miscellaneous Services sector are Chime Financial (CHYM - Free Report) and Virtu Financial (VIRT - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHYM’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has moved a cent northward to 44 cents over the past month.

The consensus estimate for VIRT’s 2026 EPS has moved up 2 cents to $7.23 over the past week.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the agentic platform for HR, finance, and IT, today announced it was named as a Market Shaper in the inaugural Gartner Emerging Market Quadrant (eMQ) for AI Agents in Human Resources.

With Workday agents, organizations can speed up frontline hiring, cut case volumes, and resolve payroll issues in minutes instead of weeks, freeing HR teams to focus on strategic work, giving managers more time back to lead their teams, and lifting productivity across the workforce.

Workday agents are designed to anticipate what needs attention, advise on the best next step, and act to get work done, all within the policies, permissions, and business processes organizations already rely on. In HR, that means support across the full employee lifecycle, helping move candidates through hiring, answering employee questions, and finding missing payroll information before it creates a problem. These agents work together behind the scenes so employees and HR teams always have one simple place to ask for help. The results are fewer routine questions landing in HR's support queue, more time for managers to spend managing their people instead of paperwork, and a measurable productivity lift across the entire workforce.

"In HR, the margin for error is effectively zero," said Max Wessel, senior vice president of product at Workday. "That's why Workday agents are built to anticipate what needs attention, recommend the right action, and act — across hiring, payroll, and talent — within the customer's policies and approvals HR teams already rely on."

Automation Inside the Guardrails Organizations Already Trust

Workday's agents are lawful by design. They inherit the same policies, permissions, and approval chains already governing recruiting, payroll, and talent processes, so they can anticipate what needs attention, recommend the right action, and act within those guardrails, with a human always in the loop. This is Workday's broader vision for agentic HR: connecting every stage of the employee lifecycle, from hiring to development to retirement, into a single AI-powered system built for trust, transparency, and scale. By automating routine and repetitive work, Workday agents give HR teams back the time to focus on strategic priorities, like talent strategy and workforce planning, rather than case management.

Delivering Measurable Customer Outcomes

These results show that agentic HR isn't only about speed — it's about giving HR teams the accuracy and trust to act with confidence. With Workday agents for HR, customers have been able to:

Automate 95% of frontline hiring, cutting time-to-hire by 70%, giving store managers significant time back each year to use towards operations. Surface relevant internal hiring leads to recruiters, resulting in a 15% increase in internal hires. Resolve complex payroll questions in under a minute — work that used to take far longer. For More Information

Read a complimentary copy of the Gartner report on the Workday website. Read more about Workday's vision for agentic HR. Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner Report, Emerging Market Quadrant for AI Agents in Human Resources — Established Vendors, By y Ranadip Chandra, Eser Rizaoglu, September 2026.

Gartner is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Workday
Workday operates at the heart of the enterprise – HR, finance, and IT – where the margin for error is effectively zero. By tightly coupling AI with the context, guardrails, and trusted processes that run the business, Workday goes beyond AI that assists work to agents that are capable of driving measurable outcomes. More than 11,500 organizations worldwide, including more than 65% of the Fortune 500, trust Workday to deliver. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

© 2026 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday's plans, beliefs, and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialize, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday's discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available.

SOURCE Workday Inc.

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) appears poised to capitalize as Webull Corporation‘s (NASDAQ:BULL) stock struggles after a congressional report called it a security risk because of its business ties to China.

"Robinhood is proudly American, founded here to give everyday investors more access to the financial system. If you’re still on Webull, bring your portfolio home and get 3% on your transfer today," Robinhood tweeted.

The transfers covered are those made from Webull before Oct. 16, 2026. Robinhood regularly offers promotions for customers who transfer their accounts, but the 3% may be among the highest matches offered.

Robinhood’s direct targeting of Webull and its "proudly American" wording may be among its most aggressive in recent years.

"American assets should be at America’s favorite broker. We’re offering 3% on transfers from Webull today," Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev tweeted.

Robinhood and Tenev are taking to social media to take on Webull after the House Select Committee on China found that the rival’s ownership and infrastructure were tied to the People’s Republic of China. The investigation raises concerns that U.S. customer data and deposits could be at risk.

Read Next

Can Robinhood Win?Robinhood is one of the leading U.S. brokerages, and it regularly competes with Webull among retail investors, day traders, and swing traders based on the platform’s ease of use and available tools.

Fears of China connections at Webull could push customers to look for a new platform.

Robinhood has been gaining customers away from legacy stock brokers and taking share from Webull could be another major win for the company.

Robinhood ended August with 28.6 million funded accounts, up about 120,000 from July. The company also reported $384 billion in platform assets in August, up 8% from July and up 26% year-over-year.

August saw strong equity trading for Robinhood, while options contracts were down from July but up 50% year-over-year.

Robinhood reported those figures on Sept. 10.

Any substantial gains from Webull could be communicated by Robinhood when it reports its September figures or its third-quarter financials, which are set for Oct. 27. While gains from Webull will not be factored into those numbers, Robinhood could choose to share them to excite investors.

Otherwise, investors will have to wait until Robinhood’s fourth-quarter financial results to see if the Webull report led to gains for the rival.

Read Next

Photo courtesy: Thrive Studios ID / Shutterstock.com

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The DJS Law Group reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against UWM Holdings Corporation ("UWM" or "the Company") (NYSE: UWMC) violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shareholders who purchased shares of UWMC during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointments. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.

CLASS PERIOD: March 9, 2026 to August 5, 2026

DEADLINE: October 13, 2026

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. UWM created an excess hedging risk by deviating from its strategy of not hedging its mortgage servicing rights. Based on these facts, UWM's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, contact us to participate.

WHY DJS LAW GROUP? DJS Law Group's primary focus is to enhance investor return through balanced counseling and aggressive advocacy. We specialize in securities class actions, corporate governance litigation, and domestic/international M&A appraisals. Our clients are some of the largest and most sophisticated hedge funds and alternative asset managers in the world. The litigation claims of our clients are extraordinarily valuable assets that demand respect, focus, and results.

Join the case to recover your losses.

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

CONTACT:
David J. Schwartz
DJS Law Group
274 White Plains Road, Suite 1
Eastchester, NY 10709
Phone: 914-206-9742
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE DJS Law Group LLP

AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is navigating renewed legal and competitive pressure as investors weigh regulatory scrutiny, weaker risk appetite and mixed views on the company’s growth outlook.

The stock fell nearly 2% Thursday as growth-oriented stocks weakened. The Nasdaq declined 0.65%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.34%.

The stock has lost almost 60% in 2026 after missing revenue estimates and analyst skepticism.

• AppLovin shares are experiencing downward pressure. Why are APP shares declining?

San Diego Lawsuit Adds Fresh ScrutinyAppLovin is facing new legal pressure after San Diego County sued the company over allegations that it bypassed parental controls and collected sensitive data from children’s devices to serve targeted ads, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

AppLovin says its policies prohibit collecting children’s data or targeting children with advertising.

The lawsuit adds another layer of scrutiny around the company’s advertising practices.

SEC Probe Ended Without Enforcement ActionThe Securities and Exchange Commission also investigated AppLovin’s advertising practices last year.

CFO Matt Stumpf said in August that the agency closed the investigation without recommending enforcement action.

Needham Sees Long-Term Advertiser PotentialNeedham maintained a Buy rating and $475 price forecast on Tuesday, highlighting the addition of three higher-quality advertisers: Steve Madden, Quince and Thorne.

The firm said those advertisers are unlikely to materially affect near-term results but could increase spending on AppLovin’s platform over time.

Cramer Flags Competitive PressureCNBC’s Jim Cramer took a more cautious stance in September, saying competition from larger players is weighing on the stock.

"I prefer you to sell half now and sell half on a bounce," Cramer said.

ETF Exposure Adds Trading SensitivityAppLovin carries a 3.31% weight in the Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth ETF (NASDAQ:BGGG) and a 3.82% weight in the VictoryShares NASDAQ Next 50 ETF (NASDAQ:QQQN).

Significant inflows or outflows from funds with sizable AppLovin positions can translate into corresponding buying or selling pressure on the stock.

APP Price ActionAppLovin shares were down 1.42% at $277,28 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo: Shutterstock

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© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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AppLovin Corp (NASDAQ:APP)'s share of e-commerce advertising budgets is expected to rise to 8.1% in the fourth quarter, up from 6.7% a year earlier, according to a Jefferies survey of 30 advertisers.

The advertising technology company maintained its third-place position among platforms in the survey, behind Meta Platforms and Alphabet's Google, as brands continued to diversify their advertising spending.

AppLovin's share of respondents' budgets is expected to increase from 7.3% in the second quarter to 7.7% in the third quarter and 8.1% in the fourth quarter.

Advertisers also expect to allocate 8.3% of their budgets to AppLovin in 2027, up from 7.8% in 2026, representing the largest expected share gain among platforms in the survey.

Jefferies said AppLovin's performance is expected to benefit from the seasonally strong holiday quarter, when consumer purchase intent is typically higher.

Prospecting campaigns also showed improvement, with 83% of respondents reporting increased new-customer revenue from the campaigns, up from 73% in the previous quarter.

Discovery campaigns were unchanged, with 60% of respondents reporting an increase in new-customer revenue, in line with the previous quarter.

Generative AI use for advertising end cards increased to 57% of respondents from 50%, while use of AI for video creative fell to 37% from 50%, suggesting the technology remains at an early stage for video creation.

Jefferies said respondents expect total advertising budgets to grow 8% in 2027, compared with 5.8% in 2026, pointing to a potentially favorable environment for advertising spending.

Despite the positive survey signals, Jefferies lowered its 2027 AppLovin revenue forecast by 5% to $10.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA estimate by 7% to $8.4 billion.

The broker also cut its price target to $375 from its previous target, based on 15 times its 2027 EBITDA estimate, while reducing its 2027 e-commerce revenue forecast to $1.7 billion from $2.8 billion.

Jefferies said the lower e-commerce forecast reflected more muted expectations for new-customer growth despite rising advertiser adoption of AppLovin's platform.

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Betting against ChargePoint (CHPT -0.30%) had become the easy trade. Electric vehicle (EV) sales were slowing and the charging infrastructure provider was rapidly burning cash. ChargePoint became a favorite target for short-sellers.

Then, September arrived.

ChargePoint stock staged a dramatic comeback and surged 83.3% in the month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Here's all you need to know.

Image source: Getty Images.

What's happening with ChargePoint stock?The big trigger came right at the beginning of September when ChargePoint released its second-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings report. Revenue rose 18% to $116.1 million, GAAP gross margin jumped to 36% from 31% a year ago, and net loss nearly halved to $35.6 million.

It was the strongest quarter in the history of a company that was founded in 2007. ChargePoint shares ripped 75% higher in a single session.

Today's Change

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One good quarter doesn't explain a move that size, though, but a heavy short position does. Traders who bet on a falling price had to buy shares to close out their positions, which pushed the price up and forced more of them to buy.

It was a classic short-squeeze, and a reminder that when a heavily shorted stock suddenly shows operational discipline, a rally can stun even the biggest skeptics.

To ChargePoint's credit, it expanded its Mercedes-Benz (MBGAF -1.66%) fleet partnership in Europe, began shipments of its new Express Solo fast charger, and electrified rental fleets at Portland Airport.

CEO Rick Wilmer also mentioned the hot word -- artificial intelligence (AI) – during ChargePoint's earnings call, stating that "AI is fundamentally changing" the way the company operates. Some of its AI initiatives include "compressing software development cycles, automating business processes," and accomplishing more with less.

Should you buy ChargePoint stock before it's too late?Wilmer seized the moment and told CNBC the stock's rally is "the beginning of the momentum." He expects new products and technology to drive ChargePoint's growth from here.

Here's a reality check: one quarter is too early to decide if a company has turned around.

ChargePoint expects only 4% revenue growth at the midpoint for the third quarter. Also, part of the Q2 margin boost came from one-time tariff refunds, not core operations.

The EV industry now has to run without legacy government subsidies amid intense price competition. That makes sustainable profit on low single-digit revenue growth a steep climb.

ChargePoint has shown us that it can operate more efficiently and preserve cash. Now, it must prove it can execute for the long haul as the challenge shifts from survival to sustainable execution.

At its 2026 Investor Day, Marvell Technology (MRVL -4.34%) said it expects fiscal 2031 revenue to land between $70 billion and $90 billion. At the midpoint, this represents nearly 10 times the $8.2 billion in sales the company generated in fiscal 2026. Perhaps even more striking is that Wall Street had been expecting less than $50 billion in revenue.

Marvell already trades at a premium following a spectacular rally earlier this year, fueled by Jensen Huang calling the semiconductor company the next trillion-dollar stock. Nevertheless, if management comes anywhere close to its new forecast, today's price might not look so expensive.

So, what could $10,000 invested in Marvell today actually become? Spoiler alert: Marvell could be a multibagger in the making.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

88/100

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Marvell sees a $400 billion opportunity Management's optimism revolves around the amount of money being poured into AI infrastructure. Marvell estimates its total addressable market (TAM) between data centers and communications will grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45% through calendar 2030, ultimately reaching $400 billion.

The company's revenue forecast for fiscal 2031 is broken down into the following categories:

CategoryTAM CAGRRevenue CAGRImplied Revenue (midpoint)Interconnect65%60% to 70%$37.5 billionSwitching and storage40%40% to 50%$10 billionCustom55%75% to 85%$30 billionCommunications and other3%>3%$2.5 billionTotal45%55% to 60% $80 billion

Data source: Marvell Investor Relations. Table by author.

I think this forecast is achievable thanks to some powerful partners. Marvell's relationship with Alphabet includes custom chips surrounding Google's Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) ecosystem, including inference accelerators, networking, storage, memory interfaces, and near-memory compute. Moreover, Google's purchasing commitments could reach as much as $120 billion through fiscal 2033.

Then there's Nvidia, which invested $2 billion in Marvell earlier this year as part of an expanded partnership around NVLink Fusion. Marvell will provide custom XPUs and scale-up networking that plug into Nvidia's broader AI ecosystem, while the companies also collaborate on silicon photonics. This is particularly interesting because Nvidia itself estimates NVLink Fusion's opportunity surrounding AI factories could reach roughly $250 billion annually by the end of the decade.

Wall Street underappreciates Marvell Marvell increased its fiscal 2028 revenue target from $18 billion to approximately $20 billion. For reference, Wall Street had been modeling $18.2 billion. As referenced, the company expects revenue between $70 billion and $90 billion by fiscal 2031. At the midpoint, this implies 70% upside to Wall Street's consensus estimate of $47 billion.

Management is confident in its forecast because the figures are built around visibility into existing customer orders, current design wins, and programs already under development. If the company reaches $80 billion in revenue, management is guiding to earnings of $30-plus per share.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Marvell could triple your money by 2031 At roughly $281 per share, Marvell trades at a rich valuation based on forward price-to-earnings (P/E). Moreover, a company approaching $80 billion in revenue isn't going to grow by high-double-digit percentages every year forever.

MRVL PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

For this reason, I will assume some valuation compression. If Marvell earns $30 per share and trades at a 22 P/E ratio -- which is much closer to the broader semiconductor industry average -- the stock would be worth roughly $660. At a more aggressive multiple, say 30 times earnings, Marvell stock could be worth around $900.

This analysis implies an upside of roughly 135% to 220% from today's prices, turning a $10,000 investment into approximately $23,500 to $32,000 by the end of fiscal 2031. This arguably leaves some upside out of the equation because management's actual target is greater than $30 of earnings per share.

All told, management's new forecast just changed the conversation for Marvell stock. For investors looking for less obvious names in the AI chip value chain, Marvell is emerging as a compelling stock to buy and hold throughout the AI infrastructure era.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of lululemon athletica inc. ("lululemon" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: LULU). Investors who purchased lululemon securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/cases/lululemon-athletica-inc-lulu-class_action_lawsuit.

lululemon Investigation Details

On September 3, 2026, lululemon reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026. Among other items, lululemon reported lower-than-expected revenue and sharply lowered its full-year revenue and earnings guidance. The Company's management attributed its disappointing quarterly results to negative media and social-media commentary, softer-than-planned new-product launches, and weaker store traffic. On this news, lululemon's stock price fell $21.16 per share, or 17.38%, to close at $100.61 per share on September 4, 2026.

What's Next for lululemon Investors?

If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased lululemon securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/cases/lululemon-athletica-inc-lulu-class_action_lawsuit, You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 917-590-0911

No Cost to lululemon Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for lululemon Securities Investigation?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317676

Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

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Key Takeaways Jabil expects fiscal 2027 revenues to rise 24% to $44.5 billion and core EPS to grow 34% to $17.55.AI-related revenues are projected to surge 54% to $22.1 billion, driving Jabil's infrastructure growth.JBL trades at 17.2X forward earnings, below industry and sector averages. Jabil Inc. (JBL - Free Report) enters fiscal 2027 with faster AI infrastructure growth, improving profitability and a strong earnings outlook. Management expects revenues of $44.5 billion and core earnings of $17.55 per share, representing year-over-year growth of 24% and 34%, respectively.

The valuation is less straightforward. JBL trades below key market comparisons, but its forward earnings multiple remains above its own five-year median. Investors must weigh that premium against a materially stronger growth and margin profile.

Jabil’s AI Growth Strengthens the Bull CaseAI-related revenues reached about $14.4 billion in fiscal 2026, increasing more than 50% year over year. Management expects AI-related revenues to rise 54% to roughly $22.1 billion in fiscal 2027 as demand expands across compute, networking, power and cooling infrastructure.

Intelligent Infrastructure revenues are projected to climb 43% to $25.6 billion. Cloud and data center infrastructure is expected to lead the increase, with revenues projected to advance 52% to $17.5 billion. Capital equipment revenues are forecast to rise 40%, while networking revenues are expected to grow 15%.

JBL Trades Below Peers but Above Its Own MedianJBL trades at 17.2X forward 12-month earnings, below 20.6X for the Zacks sub-industry, 21.3X for the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and 20.0X for the S&P 500. That relative discount supports the valuation case, but Jabil’s multiple remains above its five-year median of 13.8X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Celestica Inc. (CLS - Free Report) , a provider of design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, is a relevant peer for Jabil’s broader manufacturing and infrastructure exposure. Plexus Corp. (PLXS - Free Report) , which designs, manufactures and services complex products across industrial, healthcare and aerospace markets, provides another comparison within the electronic manufacturing services landscape.

Jabil’s Margin and Cash Flow Outlook Adds SupportCore operating margin increased 40 basis points to 5.8% in fiscal 2026. Management expects another 30-basis-point improvement to 6.1% in fiscal 2027 as a richer business mix and operating leverage support profitability.

Adjusted free cash flow reached $1.53 billion in fiscal 2026, up from $1.32 billion in fiscal 2025. Jabil expects approximately $1.6 billion in fiscal 2027, giving the company flexibility to invest in capacity while continuing shareholder returns.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

JBL Still Faces Customer and Demand RisksJabil’s AI growth is becoming more concentrated in large programs. Management expects six Intelligent Infrastructure customers to generate more than $1 billion in revenues each during fiscal 2027, increasing the importance of customer retention, capacity utilization and program execution.

Demand is also uneven outside infrastructure. Connected Living revenues are expected to decline 15% in fiscal 2027, while Intelligent Devices and Robotics revenues are projected to fall 2% to $5.3 billion. Geopolitical uncertainty, component availability, competitive pricing and changing customer sourcing decisions remain additional risks.

Jabil’s Strong Signals Reinforce the SetupJBL’s growth outlook and improving profitability support the case for accepting a valuation above its historical median, although the premium leaves less room for execution setbacks. The current setup favors investors who are comfortable paying more than Jabil’s typical multiple for a faster earnings-growth profile.

The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a VGM Score of A. Its Momentum Score of A is complemented by a Value Score of B and a Growth Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings has risen 6.1% over the past four weeks to $17.61 per share.

The Zacks Rank and favorable Style Scores point to a constructive near-term profile, with estimate revisions, momentum, growth and value characteristics working in Jabil’s favor. Still, the premium to its five-year median valuation keeps the investment decision balanced rather than automatic. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways Ryder expands its used truck network with a relocated Newark facility and a new North Bergen sales center.The Newark facility improves port access and operational efficiency, supporting Ryder's port-to-door strategy.R's North Bergen center improves customer access, while both locations offer eligible used vehicle warranties. In a bid to widen its popularity in terms of services and strengthen its position across one of North America’s popular freight markets, Ryder System, Inc. (R - Free Report) announced the launch of two new used truck centers in Newark and North Bergen, NJ. These two investments in northern New Jersey reflect Ryder’s expansion into the used commercial vehicle market.

Ryder has relocated its Kearny used vehicle center to a bigger facility in Newark, NJ, and has opened a new used truck sales center in North Bergen, NJ.

Situated at 474 Wilson Avenue in Newark, the relocated facility strengthens Ryder’s presence in a key freight hub, offering direct access to the Port of Newark, Interstate 95 and Newark Liberty International Airport. By consolidating multiple fleet management solutions under one roof, the facility is expected to enhance operational efficiency and advance Ryder’s integrated port-to-door transportation strategy.

Ryder has expanded its used commercial vehicle sales network with the opening of a new facility at 6214 Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, marking its first location south of the George Washington Bridge. Situated along the busy U.S. Route 1-9 corridor near New York City, the facility enhances Ryder’s presence in a major logistics hub, improves accessibility for customers and creates additional opportunities for used vehicle sales.

Eric Upchurch, vice president of vehicle sales at Ryder, stated, “Northern New Jersey is one of the most important transportation markets in North America, making it a natural fit to expand our used vehicle sales network. These locations bring us closer to the customers, carriers, and logistics operations that drive the regional economy and make it easier for customers to access Ryder’s high-quality used vehicle inventory and fleet solutions.”

To ConcludeThe New York-New Jersey region is a critical hub for the U.S. supply chain, facilitating international trade, warehousing, distribution and transportation activities. Given this backdrop, Ryder’s expansion into Newark and North Bergen is expected to strengthen its competitive position in the freight industry.

The new facilities enhance Ryder’s ability to serve customers across the Northeast by improving access to major ports, distribution centers and key transportation networks. Additionally, both locations support the Ryder Vehicle Assurance Program, which offers a complimentary 60-day limited warranty on eligible DOT Verified used vehicles through year-end. These investments should reinforce Ryder’s regional presence, expand customer reach and support its long-term growth prospects.

Ryder’s Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to ConsiderRyder presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may also consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Herc Holdings (HRI - Free Report) .

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

EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.

Herc Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

HRI has a negative expected earnings growth rate of 8.4% for the current year. However, the company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 60.64%.

SoFi's (SOFI -1.47%) stock closed at a record high of $32.21 on Nov. 12, 2025. That marked a 133% gain over its previous 12 months. But today, the high-growth fintech stock trades at about $15. Let's see why it was cut in half, and why it might be worth nibbling on this month.

How fast is SoFi growing? SoFi, founded as Social Finance in 2011, originally provided student loans. But over the years, it expanded into a "one-stop shop" for personal loans, auto loans, mortgages, credit cards, insurance plans, estate planning services, and stock and crypto trading services.

Image source: Getty Images.

SoFi acquired the digital payment processing company Galileo in 2020 and launched its own digital bank after receiving a U.S. bank charter in 2022. As a digitally native platform, SoFi attracted millions of younger Millennial and Gen Z customers.

At the end of 2021, SoFi had 2.5 million members and 1.9 million products in use. But by the end of the second quarter of 2026, it hosted 15.8 million members, marking 35% growth from a year earlier. Its products in use soared 42% year over year to 24.4 million. Galileo, which operates separately from SoFi's core business, hosts 135 million accounts.

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For the full year, SoFi expects its adjusted revenue to grow 32%-35% as its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin expands about four to five percentage points to 33%-34%. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 27% and 37%, respectively.

Why could SoFi's stock be worth buying today? With an enterprise value of $17.2 billion, SoFi trades at just 11 times this year's adjusted EBITDA. Two issues are compressing its valuations.

First, the Fed's interest rate hike in September -- its first in three years -- could throttle its lending activity and increase the risk of credit defaults. Second, SoFi is still often valued like a slower-growth conventional bank instead of a higher-growth fintech stock. But at the same time, rising rates are driving investors away from higher-growth stocks.

So when SoFi's enterprise value peaked at $37.9 billion (36 times its 2025 adjusted EBITDA) last November, it became an easy target for the bears. But as long as rising rates don't trigger a recession or credit crunch, they should support SoFi's near-term net interest income.

SoFi looks like an attractive investment at these levels because many investors are overlooking its core strengths. As long as SoFi continues to gain new members and expand its ecosystem, it could command a higher valuation once the macro environment stabilizes.