Market Signal Briefing

Tesla Today

$483.90 -4.83 (-0.99%)

As of 02:24 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$214.25▼

$498.83P/E Ratio322.29

Price Target$406.06

Shares of Tesla Inc. NASDAQ: TSLA kicked off the week by printing a fresh all-time high on Monday and closing just shy of the psychologically important $500 level. The timing, this side of January, is ideal for investors on the sidelines.

Following a sharp but brief pullback last month, the bears were unable to sustain the downside, and Tesla has since resumed its multi-month uptrend.

Get Tesla alerts:

As a result, the stock is heading into the final days of the year with momentum firmly on its side, both technically and fundamentally.

Tesla is up roughly 125% from April lows, making it one of the better mega-cap performers of the year. With the stock back at record levels and sentiment continuing to improve, the setup heading into January looks better than ever. 

The Failed Pullback Shifted Control Back To The Bulls
Last month’s downside test was an important moment for Tesla. After an extended breakout, the stock finally gave bears an opening to regain control. But that effort, though uncomfortable at the time, ultimately failed as they ran out of steam. There was a broad band of buyers willing to step in at support levels, and the selling pressure quickly dried up.

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) Price Chart for Tuesday, December, 23, 2025

That failure to begin a broader reversal arguably matters more than the rally itself. When a stock refuses to go down after a strong advance, it often signals that underlying demand is far deeper and more patient than supply. Since turning back up north, Tesla has resumed making higher highs and higher lows, confirming that the primary trend remains intact.

Momentum indicators reinforce that view. The stock’s moving average convergence divergence (MACD) continues to run in a strong bullish trend, reflecting sustained upside momentum, while its relative strength index (RSI) is also trending upward. The stock's RSI currently sits around 63—nicely elevated but far from extreme. Both of these readings together suggest the stock is strong without being stretched, a combination that often supports continuation rather than exhaustion.

Heading into January, this fresh high becomes the new key reference point. As long as the stock remains at or above the $500 mark, the path of least resistance remains higher.

Analyst Price Targets Are Rising With the Autonomy and Robotaxi Narrative
Recent analyst updates add another layer of support to the setup. Yesterday, the team at RBC reiterated its Buy rating on Tesla, clearly unafraid to refresh its bullish stance even with the stock at record levels. That view aligns with a run of similar calls made in recent weeks, including Deutsche Bank and Mizuho, the latter assigning a $530 price target, and Wedbush, which went even more aggressive with a $600 target.

What stands out is not the exact numbers of these price targets, but the underlying behavior. Multiple analysts are more than happy to keep reiterating their Buy ratings as Tesla starts hitting new highs. That typically reflects confidence that the rally is grounded in improving fundamentals and has plenty of room to run. It also suggests that, from the Street’s perspective, Tesla’s upside narrative has not been exhausted by the move to new highs.

For January, that backdrop matters. Analyst support does not drive price on its own, but it does tend to cushion pullbacks and reinforce bullish conviction during consolidation phases.

Why $500 Is The Only Number That Matters in January
From here, Tesla’s January outlook revolves around one number. The stock needs to push through $500 and, more importantly, start closing above it. That would signal to the market that this is not just another brief spike, but the beginning of a new phase in the rally.

If that happens, $500 quickly shifts from resistance to support, effectively turning it into a floor rather than a ceiling. Given the strength of the trend since April, that transition could happen faster than many expect.

Of course, January often brings volatility as portfolios reset and profits are taken. Short-term pullbacks would not be surprising. But unless the stock loses momentum decisively or drops below recent support, those moves would likely be viewed as digestion rather than reversal.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Tesla Right Now?Before you consider Tesla, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Tesla wasn't on the list.

While Tesla currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

MarketBeat's analysts have just released their top five short plays for January 2026. Learn which stocks have the most short interest and how to trade them. Enter your email address to see which companies made the list.

Get This Free Report

The investment would now be worth six figures.

If you invest long enough, you'll likely run into a "I wish I had invested in that sooner" scenario. Nowadays, many investors find themselves having that thought about Nvidia (NVDA +2.61%) -- me included. And when you look at its performance over the past decade, it's very easy to see why.

In the past 10 years, Nvidia's stock is up an eye-popping 22,420%, meaning a $1,000 investment made a decade ago would be worth over $225,000. Talk about a return on investment.

NVDA data by YCharts

Nvidia has been on the stock market since January 1999, but the bulk of its gains since then have come in the past few years, thanks to the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) boom. For a while, Nvidia's main business was supplying graphics cards for video games. However, the company realized that the same technology was useful for processing massive amounts of data, and it's now arguably the most important supplier of computing power.

Today's Change

(

2.61

%) $

4.79

Current Price

$

188.48

If you're interested in investing in Nvidia, it's not too late. However, I wouldn't expect its gains over the next decade to compare with those from this past decade. It still has long-term market-beating potential, but expecting the gains to replicate is asking a lot.

Stefon Walters has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Our proprietary system currently recommends Clearway Energy (CWENA) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this power generation company is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Clearway Energy is 9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 212% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 37.5%.

Cash Flow GrowthWhile cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Clearway Energy is 13.4%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 8%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 13.8% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 10.7%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Clearway Energy have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 118.7% over the past month.

Bottom LineClearway Energy has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

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

This combination indicates that Clearway Energy is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.

Calgary, Alberta and San Antonio, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Nexera Energy Inc. (TSXV: NGY) (OTC Pink: EMBYF) (the "Corporation", the "Company" or "Nexera") reported that the Corporation has now completed filing its audited annual financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2025, as well as the interim financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025 respectively. The Company has also filed the related management's discussion and analysis, the certificates of its CEO and CFO and the related oil and gas annual disclosures (collectively, the "Required Filings") with Canadian securities regulators.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryNebius Group N.V. has explosive revenue and ARR growth fueled by AI infrastructure investments.The NBIS ARR is projected to reach $7–$9B by the end of next year but comes at the expense of shareholder equity, a headwind you will face.Heavy losses and ongoing cash burn are expected for NBIS through 2026.Pullbacks provide discounted entry points for exposure to hypergrowth in the AI infrastructure space.When will earnings inflect? Olga Yastremska/iStock via Getty Images

This summer we called for a public Buy rating on Nebius Group N.V. (NBIS) in the mid-$40s. There was a major run in shares the next few months. More recently, there has been corrective behavior, and

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NBIS either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Key Takeaways Strategy expanded Bitcoin holdings to about 671,000 BTC in 2025, including a 10,645 BTC buy in mid-December.MSTR posted 26% BTC yield YTD and 116,555 BTC gains, with Bitcoin per share rising despite new equity.Regulatory clarity and a new S&P B- credit rating expand capital access, backing a 30% BTC yield for 2025.
Strategy Inc. (MSTR - Free Report) continues to deepen its identity as the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with 2025 marking a decisive acceleration in Bitcoin accretion. In 2025, the company has meaningfully stepped up its accumulation pace, expanding holdings to roughly 671,000 BTC, including a recent 10,645 BTC purchase in mid-December. With its Bitcoin ownership exceeding 3% of the global supply, Strategy’s accumulation has evolved into an ongoing process rather than opportunistic trades.

That momentum is clearly reflected in key operating metrics. BTC Yield reached 26% year to date, while BTC Gain climbed to 116,555 BTC, marking a sharp rise from earlier quarters. Importantly, Bitcoin per share continued to rise even as new equity was issued, indicating that capital raises remain adding value on a per-share basis. These metrics suggest that Bitcoin accumulation is being executed with discipline.

The durability of this momentum is further supported by recent structural tailwinds. Regulatory clarity following IRS guidance on fair-value taxation reduces uncertainty for long-term Bitcoin holders, while the company’s new S&P B- credit rating expands access to global high-yield capital markets. At the same time, growing institutional adoption of Bitcoin via ETFs and derivatives has improved liquidity and reduced volatility, creating a more supportive macro backdrop for treasury adoption.

Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its target of a 30% BTC yield and $20 billion in BTC dollar profits for 2025, indicating confidence in maintaining this trajectory. While Bitcoin remains volatile, the company’s expanded access to capital supports more sustainable compound growth.

MSTR Faces Growing Pressure From Crypto RivalsMARA Holdings (MARA - Free Report) challenges MSTR with a fundamentally different crypto strategy. MARA Holdings blends Bitcoin production and accumulation, leveraging large-scale mining alongside strategic purchases. At the end of the third quarter of 2025, MARA Holdings held 52,850 BTC, supported by an energized hash rate of 60.4 EH/s, indicating scalable, long-term competitive pressure.

Riot Platforms (RIOT - Free Report) presents a growing threat to MSTR by monetizing Bitcoin through large-scale mining operations. RIOT strengths include cost efficiency and strategic expansion, and digital infrastructure supporting the Bitcoin network directly. At the end of the third quarter of 2025, RIOT held 19,287 BTC, produced 1,406 BTC and deployed a 36.5 EH/s hash rate. With $180.2 million in revenues and $104.5 million in net income, RIOT highlights growing competitive pressure on MSTR.

MSTR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesMSTR has significantly underperformed both its sector and key competitors. Shares of Strategy have plunged 54.1% over the past year against a 15.7% gain in the Zacks Finance sector. Riot Platforms rose 23.4% during the same period, while MARA Holdings declined 49.7%.

MSTR’s One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MSTR has a Value Score of F. It is currently trading at a Price/Book ratio of 0.9X compared to the sector’s 4.28X.

MSTR’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSTR’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $78.04 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days. The estimate also indicates a strong year-over-year recovery from a loss of $6.72 per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Jenny Harrington, CEO Gilman Hill Asset Management, joins CNBC's "Halftime Report" to share her top dividend plays for 2026.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEGG Media Corporation (NASDAQ: SEGG, LTRYW) (the “Company” or “SEGG Media”), the global sports, entertainment, and gaming group, today announces the outstanding success of its partnership with Super League Kerala, the professional franchise football league in the state of Kerala, India (“SLK”), following the completion of the final match of the championship tournament of its second season that was held on December 19. As the exclusive streaming partner through Sports.com, the Company live-streamed 33 Super League Kerala matches over a 77-day period, reaching more than 150 million viewers via its new app, website, and social channels. Viewership results surpassed expectations, validating the product vision and laying the groundwork for Sports.com’s expanded live-streaming plans for Season 3 in 2026.

The SLK Season 2 opener was the first major live-streamed football match on Sports.com, a strategic beta event designed to showcase and stress-test the platform’s next-generation streaming capabilities following its successful launch earlier this year. The platform’s core technology was included in the September 2024 acquisition of S&MI Ltd, now Sports.com Media Group, Ltd.

Building on the success of SLK, the Company is now preparing for a significant scale-up phase in 2026, where it will focus heavily on commercializing live sports streaming, sponsorship and advertising models, audience monetization, and multi-regional expansion. The Company expects to expand its presence in India and the Middle East North Africa (“MENA”) region with plans to cover three additional sports genres as it positions itself at the forefront of digital sports entertainment.

Marc Bircham, Chairman of SEGG and Director of Sports Acquisitions, hailed the SLK partnership as a pivotal milestone:

“The Super League Kerala has been a phenomenal success for SEGG Media and a defining moment for the Sports.com brand. Delivering more than 150 million views in our first streamed season demonstrates both the appetite for high-quality digital sports content and the strength of our platform. Partnering with SLK validated our streaming capabilities. We’re now focused on unlocking the commercial value of live streaming across India, the MENA region, and beyond”.

Mathew Joseph, CEO of Super League Kerala, praised the collaboration and its impact on the League’s visibility:

“Partnering with SEGG Media and the Sports.com brand elevated the Super League Kerala to an entirely new level. Sports.com's streaming platform brought viewership and engagement, connecting millions of fans to the action. We are thrilled with the results and proud that SLK played a role in launching Sports.com’s live streaming journey. The success of this season sets a powerful precedent for what the League and Sports.com can achieve in the years ahead.”

About Sports.com
Sports.com is a next-generation digital sports platform delivering live broadcasting, data-driven insights, and immersive fan experiences. Launched in 2024, the platform is built to scale globally, providing sports organizations with a modern streaming ecosystem and fans with a seamless, high-quality viewing experience.

About Super League Kerala
The Super League Kerala is a premier football competition showcasing top-tier talent from across the region. With a mission to elevate Kerala football globally, SLK blends high-performance sport with deep community engagement.

About Lottery.com Inc. (dba SEGG Media Corporation)
SEGG Media (Nasdaq: SEGG, LTRYW) is a global sports, entertainment and gaming group operating a portfolio of digital assets including Sports.com, Concerts.com and Lottery.com. Focused on immersive fan engagement, ethical gaming and AI-driven live experiences, SEGG Media is redefining how global audiences interact with the content they love.

For additional information, visit www.seggmediacorp.com.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the Company’s strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Form 8-K, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “initiatives,” “continue,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date they are made. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, the Company cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, any future findings from ongoing review of the Company’s internal accounting controls, additional examination of the preliminary conclusions of such review, the Company’s ability to secure additional capital resources, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company’s ability to respond in a timely and satisfactory matter to the inquiries by Nasdaq, the Company’s ability to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement, the Company’s ability to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Company’s ability to become current with its SEC reports, and those additional risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K/A filed by the Company with the SEC on April 22, 2025, and the other documents filed, or to be filed, by the Company with the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the reports that the Company has filed and will file from time to time with the SEC. These SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

As the dollar weakens and the migration to international equities continues, investors might still be on the fence when it comes to getting exposure. In other instances, they’ve done the research and have the confidence to dive right in. In both cases, the actively managed Fidelity Fundamental Developed International ETF (FFDI) is worthy of consideration.

The movement into international equities has been a persistent theme this year despite ongoing market uncertainties. Macroeconomic factors like tariffs, geopolitical tensions, changing interest rate policy decisions in the United States, and other factors related to uncertainty might dissuade investors from getting exposure, but that hasn’t been the case.

Furthermore, the flight into international equities could be in the early stages of its rally. Potential further rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2026 could push even more investors towards international equities while the U.S. dollar weakens.

Given these factors, FFDI could be poised to benefit as it targets its focus on equities located in developed markets. This helps to mitigate the risk associated with adding emerging markets (EM) exposure, which carry a higher degree of volatility since their economies are less stable compared to developed markets. This is where the neophyte and veteran investor will benefit from FFDI exposure.

Furthermore, the fund’s active management adds another layer of protection.

The Active Edge of FFDI
To any investor looking to add international equities exposure to diversify their existing portfolios, active management is a must. International markets are nuanced and carry their own systematic as well as idiosyncratic risks. Actively managed funds give portfolio managers the autonomy to adjust the holdings of the fund as necessary to suit current market conditions. That said, investors need a fund that has a portfolio management team with the investment expertise to navigate these complex markets — FFDI has just that.

The fund utilizes fundamental research and analysis to handpick holdings from various countries for geographic and sector diversification. As noted on the fund’s product website, FFDI also uses a quantitative approach to construct its portfolio. The portfolio composition of FFDI reveals that it mainly allocates to companies with large capitalization sizes for added stability. Furthermore, the fund tilts towards growth to capture future upside in these large-cap companies.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the ETF Investing Content Hub.

Fidelity Investments® is an independent company unaffiliated with VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). These articles do not form any kind of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between VettaFi and Fidelity Investments, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the articles herein. VettaFi LLC is the author and owner of these articles.

1.1242043.1.0

Earn free CE credits and discover new strategies

Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Visionstate Corp. (TSXV: VIS) ("Visionstate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of November 6, 2025, it has closed on the convertible debenture ("Debenture") for an aggregate principal amount of $300,000 (the "Offering"). The Debenture is unsecured with an interest rate of ten percent (10%) per annum. The Debenture and all accrued and unpaid interest shall mature twelve (12) months from the date of issuance of the Debenture (the "Maturity Date"). The principal amount of the Debenture may, at the option of the debenture holder, be converted, in whole or in part, at any time before the Maturity Date into common shares of Visionstate ("Common Shares") at a price of $0.05 per Common Share. The interest may be paid by the issuance of Common Shares at a deemed price per Common Share based on the Market Price (as defined in the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 1.1), at the time the accrued interest becomes payable, in accordance with TSXV Policy 4.1 and subject to prior TSXV approval.

The net proceeds from the sale of Debentures will be applied towards accelerating the Company's global expansion and further advance its growing portfolio of smart facility management technologies.

The issuance of the Debenture to a control person holding more than 20% of the Common Shares of Visionstate constitutes a "related party transaction" pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, and Multilateral Instrument 61-101, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). This transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and (b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. In particular, Visionstate has determined that the exemptions set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) in section 5.5 of MI 61-101 are applicable since the aggregate consideration to be paid by the related parties will not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of Visionstate and Visionstate is not listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, but only on the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, regarding the minority shareholder approval exemptions, the independent directors have determined that the exemptions set out in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) in section 5.7 of MI 61-101 are applicable in that the aggregate consideration to be paid by the related parties will not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of Visionstate, the distribution of the securities to the related parties will have a fair market value of not more than $2,500,000 and Visionstate is not listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, but only on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, the Debenture and the Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Debenture are subject to a four-month hold period from the time of closing of the Offering.

No finder's fees were paid with respect to the Offering.

About Visionstate Corp.

Visionstate Corp. (TSXV: VIS) is a growth-oriented company that invests in the research and development of promising new technology in the realm of the Internet of Things, big data and analytics, and sustainability. Through Visionstate IoT Inc., it helps businesses improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and elevate customer satisfaction with its state-of-the-art devices that track and monitor guest activities and requests. The footprint of its WANDA™ smart device now extends to hospitals, airports, shopping centres and other public facilities across and beyond North America. Through building up a collection of synergistic technologies, Visionstate Corp. will continue to innovate, reduce environmental impact and transform consumer experiences.

Issued on behalf of the Board of Directors of Visionstate Corp.

"John A. Putters"

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278962

Source: Visionstate Corp.

Ready to Announce with Confidence?
Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

Key Takeaways V is driving growth from global payment volumes, cross-border strength and investments in AI and stablecoins.PayPal is boosting engagement via agentic commerce, Venmo monetization and expanding merchant services.PYPL trades at a lower valuation with faster projected EPS growth, pointing to stronger near-term upside.
The global payments landscape continues to evolve as digital payments become more mainstream, regulatory scrutiny intensifies and platforms compete for dominance in terms of scale, security and relevance in the ecosystem. Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report) are at the forefront of the global shift toward digital payments, supported by expanding e-commerce, increasing cross-border transactions, investments in newer rails like crypto, contactless and embedded finance, and broader acceptance of online financial services.

Even though V and PYPL have similar goals, they are taking distinct paths to achieve their growth. Visa primarily acts as a transaction network that supports banks, fintechs and merchants, while PayPal provides a platform that directly connects with consumers and businesses.

Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals to determine which stock offers greater upside right now.

The Case for VisaVisa, with a market cap of $640.8 billion, operates a global payment network that handles transactions without taking credit risk. Its revenue model is largely tied to payment volumes, cross-border transactions and value-added services. One of Visa's key strengths is its vast international presence, with acceptance in over 200 countries and territories. This enables the company to benefit from cross-border travel, the recovery of tourism and the growing digital adoption in emerging markets.

On a constant-dollar basis, Visa’s payments volume climbed 9% year over year in the fiscal fourth quarter, supported by strength across the United States, Europe, CEMEA and LAC markets. Processed transactions reached 67.7 billion, up 10% from a year ago. Cross-border volume remained a standout highlight, growing 12% year over year. It beat earnings in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 2.7%.

Visa Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseVisa is strategically expanding its infrastructure by focusing on real-time payments, tokenization, AI-enabled commerce and fraud prevention, which solidifies its position as a key player in digital commerce. It leverages strategic acquisitions and partnerships to strengthen its market leadership. Recently, it teamed up with Akamai to enhance the security of transactions driven by AI-powered shopping agents.

Visa is making meaningful strides in blockchain and stablecoin settlement. It is deepening its stablecoin push by partnering with fintechs like Bridge, Baanx and Rain to enable stablecoin-linked card issuance, disbursements and commerce. Visa can now settle across four stablecoins and four blockchains, thanks to a partnership with Paxos, which gives it a head start against banks constrained by legacy compliance systems.

However, escalating operating expenses, higher rebates and client incentives will likely impact its growth potential. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, operating expenses rose 40% year over year.

Nevertheless, V’s strong cash position enables substantial share buybacks and dividend payouts and supports inorganic growth and financial stability. With $17.2 billion in cash, the company maintains a solid capital position. Its long-term debt-to-capital of 34.1% is lower than the industry’s average of 37.8% and PYPL’s 35.8%. Visa returned $6.1 billion to its shareholders through share repurchases in the fiscal fourth quarter.

The Case for PayPalPayPal, with a market cap of $56 billion, positioned itself as a consumer and merchant-facing payments platform. It provides a range of services like digital wallets, checkout solutions and peer-to-peer transfers. Its strategy focuses on creating engagement within its ecosystem, which includes features like branded checkout, Venmo monetization and value-added services for merchants. Its active accounts rose 1% year over year to 438 million in the third quarter of 2025.

PayPal delivered a solid third quarter, with revenues rising 7% year over year to $8.4 billion, along with an 8% increase in total payment volume. Transaction margin dollars, excluding interest on customer balances, rose 7%, underscoring the health of its core payments engine. Importantly, PayPal raised its full-year EPS and transaction margin dollar guidance, signaling confidence in sustained momentum. For 2025, it now anticipates adjusted EPS between $5.35 and $5.39, up from the prior guided range of $5.15-$5.30. However, its operating expenses rose 6.8% year over year in the third quarter due to higher transaction expenses and transaction and credit losses.

It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 10.3%.

PayPal is investing in AI-driven e-commerce through “agentic commerce,” where AI agents assist consumers in discovering, comparing and purchasing products. Through partnerships with AI and e-commerce platforms such as Perplexity, OpenAI, Google Cloud and others, the company aims to enable more scalable, secure and intelligent shopping experiences for both merchants and consumers. PayPal operates its own stablecoin, PYUSD, a dollar-backed digital currency built to enable faster, blockchain-based payments and transfers. Additionally, U.S. PayPal customers can use the “Pay with Crypto” option, which allows them to select “Checkout with Crypto” at online checkout.

PayPal continues to forge strategic partnerships to expand its offerings and global presence. The company exited the third quarter of 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $9 billion. It returned $1.5 billion to its shareholders by repurchasing approximately 21 million shares of common stock in the third quarter of 2025.

How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for V & PYPL?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PYPL’s bottom line is comparably favorable at this stage. The consensus estimate for V’s fiscal 2026 earnings indicates an 11.7% increase from a year ago, while the same for revenues suggests 11% growth. It has witnessed four positive earnings estimate revisions over the past 60 days against eight downward revisions.

On the other hand, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PYPL’s 2025 EPS indicates 14.8% year-over-year growth, and the same for revenues signals a 4.7% rise. It has witnessed 12 upward earnings estimate revisions over the past 60 days and no downward movement.

Price Performance ComparisonOver the past three months, shares of Visa have outperformed PayPal, the industry and the S&P 500 Index.

3-Month Price Performance – V, PYPL, Industry & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation: V vs. PYPLValuation also favors PYPL. While V trades at a forward P/E of 26.67X, PYPL trades at a more modest 10.24X. V currently carries a Value Score of D, while PYPL carries a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Visa currently trades below its average analyst price target of $403.88, implying a 15.6% potential upside from current levels. PayPal also trades below its average analyst price target of $76.71, implying an attractive 28.3% potential upside from current levels.

ConclusionBoth Visa and PayPal are well-known names in the digital payments world. PYPL’s platform-driven approach, growing AI-powered commerce initiative and a renewed emphasis on boosting transaction margins position it well to reaccelerate earnings at a time when valuation remains compressed. While V brings scale and reliability to the table, much of that strength is already reflected in its higher valuation.

For investors seeking current upside potential and a better value play, PayPal shines with its anticipated faster EPS growth, improving operational efficiency and various growth opportunities in digital wallets, agentic commerce and alternative payment methods. As such, PYPL appears to have a better hand at the moment, even though both companies currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Recent service disruptions involving Waymo autonomous vehicles in San Francisco have drawn attention to a core challenge in autonomous mobility: dependence on a single network or network access technology. During a widespread power and infrastructure outage, Waymo vehicles reportedly experienced difficulty maintaining reliable 5G connectivity, forcing service pauses and stalled operations.

Autonomous vehicles require continuous, real-time connectivity to operate safely and effectively. When cellular networks degrade or become unavailable, vehicles without true network diversity can lose communication entirely.

FatPipe Inc (NASDAQ:FATN) has already addressed this challenge through real-world autonomous vehicle deployments designed for network failure scenarios. Project Darwin, a Consortium of the European Space Agency, University of Oxford, Virgin Media O2, and Hispasat, among others selected FatPipe for its sub-second seamless switching technology and demonstrated a convergent connectivity architecture combining GEO satellite, LEO satellite, and 4G/5G cellular networks into a single, resilient solution for autonomous vehicle operations and demonstrated the technology on the streets of London on ambulances. See our Autonomous Vehicle presentation here: https://www.fatpipeinc.com/autonomous-vehicle-networking-technology

During live trials, each individual network experienced coverage gaps of 10 percent to 20 percent. However, when combined using FatPipe's software-defined multipath technology, with sub-second failover, overall connectivity availability increased significantly to 99+%.

"Although we were out of coverage between 10 percent and 20 percent of the time for each of the networks, the convergent solution increased the overall availability of connectivity to 99 percent of the time," said Rodrigo Barreto, Lead Architect at Darwin.

This architecture allows autonomous vehicles to dynamically switch between available networks without session loss or application interruption, maintaining connectivity even during carrier outages, power failures, or infrastructure disruptions.

FatPipe previously showcased this capability in collaboration with Project Darwin, demonstrating ubiquitous communications for autonomous vehicles. Additional details are available here:
https://www.fatpipeinc.com/about/releases/releases-2022/01282022

As autonomous vehicle deployments expand in dense urban environments, resilient multi-network connectivity is becoming a requirement rather than an enhancement. FatPipe's solution is designed to help autonomous mobility providers prevent service disruptions like those recently observed in San Francisco.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact FatPipe for evaluation of FatPipe products.

Company Contact
FatPipe Inc
Phone: +1 801.683.5656 x1140
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: FatPipe Networks

Key Takeaways RDDT's ARPU rose 41% year over year to $5.04 in the third quarter of 2025.
RDDT grew active advertisers by more than 75%, pushing ad revenue up 74% to $549 million.
RDDT's international ARPU increased 39% year over year as global users and engagement expanded.

Reddit (RDDT - Free Report) is benefiting from solid Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) growth. In the third quarter of 2025, ARPU increased 41% year over year to $5.04, indicating that portfolio expansions are driving higher monetization per user.

The company’s ability to attract a diverse advertiser base has been a major growth driver. In the third quarter of 2025, Reddit expanded its active advertiser count by more than 75% year over year, with growth across large, mid-market and SMB businesses. This diversification has strengthened its advertising revenue, which grew 74% year over year to $549 million.

Reddit’s investment in optimizing its advertising platform has been noteworthy. The company is well placed to benefit from the growing demand for interest and context-based digital ads. To support campaign performance and advertiser outcomes, the company has introduced tools like Reddit Pixel, Conversion API, and Dynamic Product Ads. This is driving advertiser adoption and delivering strong performance outcomes. This has been a major factor driving ARPU growth.

Another factor contributing to ARPU growth is Reddit’s focus on expanding its user base and increasing engagement. The platform reported 116 million daily active users and 444 million weekly active users, both increasing around 20% year-over-year.

Reddit’s international expansion also plays a critical role in ARPU growth. The company implemented machine translation in 30 languages and developed localized content frameworks to cater to specific interests in countries like India, Brazil, Germany, and France. In the third quarter of 2025, International ARPU rose 39% year over year to $1.84.

RDDT Faces Stiff CompetitionRDDT is facing stiff competition from competitors like Pinterest (PINS - Free Report) and Snap (SNAP - Free Report) , which are also expanding into advertising to compete in the rapidly growing digital ad market.

Snap is seeing steady user engagement. In the third quarter of 2025, Snap’s ARPU increased 2% year over year to $3.16. Snap also reports a rise in ARPU due to increased user activity on higher subscription revenues from Snapchat+, particularly with the new Lens+ tier and Platinum bundles, which attracted highly engaged users.

Pinterest is seeing strong user engagement in all regions. In the third quarter of 2025, Pinterest’s global average revenues per user stood at $1.78 compared with the year-ago quarter’s figure of $1.70. ARPU in Europe improved 31% year over year to $1.31, while the United States and Canada rose 5% year over year to $7.64. ARPU from the Rest of World increased 44% year over year to 21 cents, backed by solid demand in the retail sector.

RDDT’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesRDDT’s shares have gained 73.8% in the trailing six-month period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s return of 23.5%. The company has also outperformed the Internet - Software industry’s decline of 3.1%.

RDDT Stock's Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RDDT shares are overvalued, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 15X compared with the Computer & Technology sector’s 6.55X. RDDT has a Value Score of F.

RDDT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is pegged at $2.35 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days. This suggests 170.57% year-over-year growth.

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

NxGen Brands, Inc. launches an automated digital commerce platform blending AI-driven marketing and blockchain-enabled rewards to scale affiliate ecosystems and recurring revenue.

Takeaways:

NxGen is integrating AI, automation, and blockchain to modernize affiliate marketing.
The platform targets scalable, recurring revenue with minimal operational overhead.
A phased 45-day rollout positions NxGen as an early mover in automated digital commerce.

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 23, 2025 – PRISM MediaWire (Press Release Service – Press Release Distribution) – NxGen Brands, Inc. (OTC: NXGB) (“NxGen” or the “Company”), a consumer products and brand development company, today announced the launch of a new strategic initiative designed to position the Company at the intersection of digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and blockchain-enabled affiliate marketing.

The initiative marks a significant evolution in NxGen’s business model, leveraging emerging technologies to create scalable, automated revenue systems supporting both NxGen-owned brands and third-party consumer product partners.

A New Digital Growth Platform

As part of this initiative, NxGen has begun to develop and deploy a fully automated, affiliate marketing ecosystem that integrates e-commerce, AI-driven brand ambassadors, and blockchain-based incentive structures .

The platform is designed to support novelty consumer goods—beginning with confectionery and lifestyle products—and will enable NxGen to onboard rotating retail and brand partners while building a global affiliate community.

Key objectives of the strategy include:

Reducing reliance on traditional advertising spend
Expanding direct-to-consumer distribution
Creating recurring, performance-based revenue streams
Automating large portions of marketing, payouts, and community engagement

Blockchain-Enabled Rewards and Digital Assets

The ecosystem will incorporate a branded blockchain-based rewards system intended to incentivize affiliates and community participation. Planned components include:

A utility-based digital rewards token
Tiered digital collectibles designed to enhance affiliate commission levels
Automated smart-contract–driven reward distribution

These digital assets are intended to function as utility and engagement tools within the ecosystem and are not marketed as investment products.

AI-Driven Brand Engagement

A key feature of the initiative is the deployment of a fully autonomous AI-powered brand persona, designed to operate continuously across social and community platforms. This AI system will handle content creation, community engagement, onboarding communications, and promotional campaigns, allowing NxGen to scale outreach without proportional increases in staffing or overhead .

Phased Rollout and Timeline

The Company expects the platform to be developed and launched in phases over an anticipated 45-day rollout period, culminating in a live e-commerce and affiliate system supported by automation tools, digital rewards, and community infrastructure.

Following launch, NxGen plans to:

Expand the platform to additional consumer product categories
Introduce monthly rotating partner brands
Optimize automation to achieve a predominantly hands-off operating model

Positioning NxGen for Scalable Growth

“This initiative represents a meaningful step forward in NxGen’s evolution,” said a spokesperson for NxGen Brands, Inc. “By combining automation, AI, and next-generation digital commerce tools, we believe the Company can unlock scalable growth opportunities while building modern brand ecosystems aligned with how consumers and affiliates operate today.”

The Company believes this strategy positions NxGen as an early mover among publicly traded consumer brands exploring automated affiliate economies and AI-powered digital marketing infrastructure.

About NxGen Brands, Inc.

NxGen Brands, Inc. (OTC: NXGB) is a brand development and marketing company focused on consumer products, intellectual property, and innovative distribution strategies. The Company seeks to leverage technology and strategic partnerships to enhance brand reach, efficiency, and long-term shareholder value.

For more information, visit:

https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NXGB/profile

Contact: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. NxGen Brands, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Source: NxGen Brands, Inc.

Alan Rechtschaffen, UBS Global Wealth senior portfolio manager, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss market risks heading into 2026, the U.S. Q3 GDP numbers, and more.

Partner Reed Kathrein Urges KMX Investors to Contact Firm Before January 2, 2026 Lead Plaintiff Deadline

December 23, 2025 13:06 ET

 | Source:

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National investor rights law firm Hagens Berman reminds investors that the Lead Plaintiff Deadline in the securities class action lawsuit against CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) -- January 2, 2026 – is rapidly approaching.

The lawsuit alleges that CarMax and certain of its executives misled investors about the true stability and growth prospects of its core business, leading to two separate and massive stock crashes. Hagens Berman urges investors who suffered substantial losses—particularly those affected by the total 44% stock decline following the September earnings miss and the November CEO termination—to contact the firm now to discuss their rights.

Class Period: Investors who purchased CarMax (KMX) securities between June 20, 2025, and November 5, 2025.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: January 2, 2026.

The Dual Focus of the CarMax (KMX) Securities Fraud Suit

The complaint highlights two central, undisclosed issues that allegedly led to the stock’s inflation and ultimate collapse:

Alleged ConcealmentAlleged MisrepresentationsAlleged Adverse Impact on BusinessUnsustainable DemandCarMax touted robust Q1 2026 growth, failing to disclose that it was a temporary "pull-forward of customer demand" (customers buying early to avoid announced tariffs).Distortion of core retail demand and that could not be sustained in later quarters.CarMax Auto Finance (CAF) RiskManagement assured investors they “feel good about our reserve.”Massive and unexpected increase in Loan Loss Provision ($142 million) due to high default risk, crippling future earnings.Underlying Business WeaknessExecutives allegedly assured investors of “earnings growth for years to come.”CEO termination and drastic cut to forward guidance, signaling fundamental, systemic weakness in business operations. The complaint alleges that the truth was disclosed in two stages: First, on September 25, 2025, CarMax announced dismal Q2 results, including a 24% net EPS fall and a surprising $142 million loan loss provision—a 40% sequential jump. The stock fell 20%. Second, on November 6, 2025, the unexpected termination of the CEO amid weak Q3 guidance prompted another severe stock decline.

“The January 2nd deadline is critical for CarMax investors seeking a leadership role in this case,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation of the alleged claims. “This lawsuit alleges not one, but two, massive stock drops caused by the alleged concealment of operational truths: that sales were artificially driven by a tariff event, and that the risk in the lending portfolio was escalating out of control. We are actively investigating whether management falsely assured investors of growth while the foundation of the business was allegedly showing these deep cracks.”

What You Can Do: If you purchased CarMax (KMX) securities during the Class Period and suffered significant losses, you are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman immediately.

TO SUBMIT YOUR CARMAX (KMX) STOCK LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

KMX Loss SubmissionContact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 or email: [email protected]: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7pZGIVuGGo&feature=youtu.be If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the CarMax case and our investigation, visit Hagans Berman’s KMX case-specific page: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/kmx

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding CarMax should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

# # #

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

Hagens Berman KMX Alert

Key Takeaways TSCO posted 3.9% comp sales growth in Q3, driven by higher transactions and a modest lift in ticket size.TSCO pet pharmacy adoption rose, aided by Allivet, Neighbor's Club, and expanded services.TSCO targets about 100 new stores in 2026 as comps improve and margin pressure eases.
Premium pet products and services are emerging as a meaningful long-term growth lever for Tractor Supply Company, Inc. (TSCO - Free Report) as it looks toward 2026. The company’s companion animal category remained stable in the third quarter of 2025, but below company averages. While animal health benefited from typical seasonal strength, pet supplies and equipment showed sequential improvement, suggesting early signs of recovery within the category.

A key driver is Tractor Supply’s expanding pet ecosystem, which goes beyond traditional consumables. The company continues to scale pet pharmacy through its Allivet acquisition, with management noting steady growth in prescription and over-the-counter orders and rising Neighbor’s Club subscriptions. This recurring-revenue model supports higher customer lifetime value and reinforces loyalty among rural pet owners.

In addition, Tractor Supply’s differentiated Petsense format, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, strengthens its position in premium and specialty pet offerings in underserved rural markets. The integration of pet services, including veterinary clinics and pet washes, enhances traffic and cross-category spending, positioning the pet segment as more resilient than discretionary retail categories.

Looking ahead to 2026, management expects strategic initiatives like Allivet and pet services to contribute incrementally to comparable sales growth, even if they are not yet the primary growth drivers. As inflation moderates and discretionary pressure eases, premium pet food, health, and services could reaccelerate, supporting margin expansion given their favorable mix. Combined with Tractor Supply’s loyal customer base and data-driven personalization, premium pet products appear well-positioned to play a growing role in revenue growth heading into 2026.

The Zacks Rundown for TSCOTSCO’s shares have lost 3.3% in the past six-month period against the industry’s rise of 14.5%. TSCO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, TSCO trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.28X, higher than the industry’s average of 18.47X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TSCO’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 3.4% and 10.5%, respectively. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:

Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) operates as a specialty value retailer in the United States. At present, Five Below sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIVE’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 19.6% and 15.9%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. ULTA delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 62.1%, on average.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) operates as a specialty beauty retailer in the United States, Mexico, and Kuwait. At present, Ulta Beauty carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ULTA’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 8.7% and 0.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. ULTA delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.7%, on average.

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) operates specialty retail stores in the United States and internationally. At present, Boot Barn holds a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boot Barn’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 16.2% and 20.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. BOOT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.4%, on average.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of INTC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Key Takeaways Huntington and Cadence secured OCC approval, allowing their merger to proceed.The $7.4B stock deal will issue 2.475 HBAN shares per CADE share.Merger expands Huntington's reach to 21 states and 12 top U.S. metro markets.
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN - Free Report) has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to complete its previously announced merger of Cadence Bank (CADE - Free Report) .

With this clearance, all required regulatory approvals for the transaction have now been obtained. The companies expect the merger to close on Feb. 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of remaining customary closing conditions outlined in the merger agreement.

Terms & Financial Details of the HBAN DealHuntington announced its agreement to acquire Cadence Bank in October 2025 through a 100% stock transaction valued at approximately $7.4 billion. Per agreement, HBAN will issue 2.475 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of CADE common stock.

The deal is expected to be 10% accretive to Huntington’s earnings per share. It is projected to be modestly dilutive to regulatory capital at closing and 7% dilutive to tangible book value per share, with the dilution expected to be earned back within three years, inclusive of merger-related expenses.

Following the closing, Cadence’s teams, branches, and operations are expected to transition to the Huntington brand, with system conversions anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.

Rationale Behind HBAN-Cadence DealThe merger adds more than 390 Cadence branches across the South and positions the combined bank as the fifth-largest by deposit market share in both Dallas and Houston, while ranking eighth statewide in Texas. Huntington is also expected to enter the top 10 banks by deposits in Alabama and Arkansas, further strengthening HBAN’s competitive positioning in these fast-growing regions.

The acquisition significantly expands Huntington’s geographic reach beyond its Midwest stronghold, providing immediate scale in Texas and other southern states. Following completion, the combined institution will operate across 21 states and maintain a presence in 12 of the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas.

Huntington’s Broader Inorganic Expansion StrategyHuntington has strategically broadened its footprint and capabilities through a series of acquisitions over the past several years. In November 2025, the company agreed to acquire select advisory, public finance, and fixed-income trading units from Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a financial services firm majority-owned by KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR - Free Report) . The planned acquisition will enhance HBAN’s advisory and capital markets capabilities, while expanding its reach with institutional and public-sector clients.

Earlier, in October 2025, Huntington completed the acquisition of Veritex Holdings, Inc., expanding its presence across the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston markets and accelerating its organic growth in Texas.

In 2022, it acquired Capstone Partners, enhancing its investment banking capabilities. Earlier, the transformational 2021 merger with TCF Financial significantly expanded Huntington’s regional footprint, improved operating efficiency and created new cross-selling opportunities across its growing customer base.

Huntington’s series of disciplined, strategically aligned acquisitions demonstrates a long-term growth strategy centered on scale, market expansion and enhanced capabilities. With each deal, the company has broadened its geographic footprint, strengthened competitive positioning and created opportunities for cost efficiencies and revenue acceleration. 

HBAN’s Price Performance & Zacks RankOver the six months, shares of Huntington have risen 10.2% compared with the industry’s growth of 7.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

A Finance Firm Taking Similar StepsLast week,The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC - Free Report) secured the regulatory approvals needed to complete its previously announced $4.1 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of FirstBank Holding Company, including its banking subsidiary, FirstBank. This marks a key milestone toward closing the transaction. Approvals were granted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the OCC, and the Colorado Division of Banking.

The FirstBank acquisition aligns with PNC’s long-term strategy of investing in high-growth regions and leveraging its national platform to drive organic growth. Over the past decade, it has focused on expanding through a combination of technology investment, disciplined capital deployment, and selective acquisitions to strengthen its presence in attractive markets.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is issuing a reminder to investors in Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: TLX) that the deadline to move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff in the pending securities class action lawsuit is January 9, 2026.

The lawsuit follows a series of regulatory setbacks—including an SEC subpoena and a devastating Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA—that led to a sharp stock decline, with the final news triggering a 21% drop.

The complaint alleges that Telix and its executives materially overstated the developmental progress of its therapeutic candidates and misrepresented the reliability and regulatory compliance of its third-party supply chain and manufacturing partners.

“The Telix complaint alleges a dual regulatory failure: first the SEC apparently questioning the development disclosures, and then the FDA alleged to have rejected a BLA based on fundamental CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) and Form 483 deficiencies at the third-party manufacturers,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation. “The complaint alleges these documented failures were material and allegedly concealed, making the company's claims of 'great progress' and 'truly global manufacturing capability' materially false.”

The firm urges Telix investors who suffered substantial losses to contact the firm now to discuss their rights.

Alleged Misstatements, Concealment of CMC Deficiencies, and Investor Losses

The complaint alleges two distinct regulatory events that purportedly corrected the market’s misperception of Telix’s business and prospects:

SEC Investigation into Drug Progress: Telix received an SEC Subpoena related to its disclosures on the development of its prostate cancer therapeutic candidates (TLX591/TLX592), suggesting misleading statements about the drugs' advancement.FDA Complete Response Letter (CRL): The FDA rejected the Zircaix application, citing severe deficiencies in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) and issuing Form 483 notices to two third-party supply chain partners. This allegedly revealed foundational weaknesses the company the complaint claims were concealed.Investor Damages: The cumulative effect of these disclosures allegedly caused Telix ADSs to fall sharply, including a 21% drop following the final regulatory news, leading to damages for investors who purchased TLX ADSs during the Class Period (Feb. 21, 2025 – Aug. 28, 2025) Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman is one of the nation’s top plaintiff litigation firms, securing substantial recoveries for investors.

Mr. Kathrein and the firm’s investor fraud attorneys are actively advising investors who purchased TLX ADSs during the Class Period and suffered substantial losses due to the undisclosed supply chain and therapeutic progress flaws.

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 9, 2026.

TO SUBMIT YOUR TELIX (TLX) LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your Telix (TLX) Class Period Investment Losses NowContact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected] If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Telix case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Telix should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

# # #

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

Key Takeaways Rocket Lab benefits from steady Electron launches and new U.S. government satellite contracts.AVAV sees momentum from U.S. Army deliveries and a five-year contract supporting allied sales.RKLB shares surged over the past year as revenue growth accelerated despite a higher valuation.
As space becomes increasingly crowded, the United States continues to invest heavily in satellite operations, communications, missile warning systems and space-based ISR to strengthen resilience and maintain its strategic edge. This trend has brought companies such as Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB - Free Report) and AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV - Free Report) into sharper focus among investors due to their strong exposure to the space sector.

Rocket Lab primarily specializes in small satellite launches, spacecraft components and space systems that support both government and commercial missions. AeroVironment, while widely known for its unmanned aerial vehicles, also provides a broad range of space-qualified hardware used across geosynchronous, medium and low Earth orbits, as well as cislunar missions.

With demand for space based services rising and being increasingly driven by commercial customers, both RKLB and AVAV are well positioned to benefit from long term industry growth. In this context, a closer comparison can help determine which stock offers better potential in the evolving space economy.

Tailwinds for RKLBRKLB continues to benefit from steady launch activity and rising contract wins, supporting its long term growth outlook. In December 2025, Rocket Lab successfully completed its 21st Electron launch of the year, deploying a satellite for Japan based Earth imaging company iQPS. This mission further strengthened Rocket Lab’s role as the primary launch provider for iQPS, with a total of seven satellites deployed so far and five more Electron launches planned from 2026.

The company also secured a major boost from the U.S. government. In December 2025, Rocket Lab was awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Development Agency to design and manufacture 18 satellites for the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program. This contract highlights Rocket Lab’s growing credibility in national security space and expands its footprint as a satellite manufacturer.

Additionally, Rocket Lab successfully completed the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force, delivering the launch five months ahead of schedule. The mission supports the advancement of space based technologies critical to U.S. defense capabilities. Together, these achievements underscore Rocket Lab’s strong execution, diversified customer base and expanding role across commercial and government space programs.

Tailwinds for AVAVAVAV continues to benefit from strong demand for defense technologies and steady contract wins, supporting its long term growth outlook. In December 2025, AeroVironment delivered two JLTV mounted mobile counter UAS laser weapon systems to the U.S. Army under the AMP HEL program. This delivery highlights the company’s progress in advanced air defense solutions.

Earlier in the month, AeroVironment won a five year contract valued at up to $874.3 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command. The contract supports future foreign military sales and allows allied forces to purchase a range of unmanned aerial and counter UAS systems, along with training and logistics support.

These developments reflect AeroVironment’s solid execution and expanding role as a key supplier of unmanned and counter drone systems to the U.S. military and its allies.

How do EPS Estimates Compare for RKLB & AVAV?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RKLB’s 2025 loss is pegged at 20 cents per share, indicating year-over-year improvement. The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $600.5 million, implying growth of 37.7%. The company’s 2025 and 2026 EPS estimates have improved over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For AVAV, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS is pegged at $3.48, indicating a growth of 6.1% from the prior-year quarter. Its consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $2 billion, implying growth of 143.7%. The company’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates have moved south over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stock Price Performance: RKLB vs. AVAVRKLB has outperformed AVAV over the past year. Shares of RKLB have gained 191.5% compared with AVAV’s growth of 59.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AVAV’s Valuation More Attractive Than RKLBRKLB trades at a forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S F12M) multiple of 48.84X compared with AVAV’s 5.78X, making the latter relatively more attractive from a valuation perspective.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Surprise HistoryRKLB delivered an average earnings surprise of 11.51% in the last four quarters, while AVAV delivered an average negative earnings surprise of 22.65% in the last four quarters.

ConclusionBoth Rocket Lab and AeroVironment are benefiting from increased investments in space and defense. While AeroVironment offers a diversified defense portfolio and attractive valuation, its recent estimate revisions and slower stock performance limit its appeal.

Rocket Lab stands out due to its strong execution, rapid revenue growth and expanding presence across commercial and government space programs. Its consistent launch activity and improving outlook support its long term growth story.

Overall, for investors focused on growth and strategic positioning in the space economy, RKLB appears to be the stronger pick. Both RKLB and AVAV currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Key Takeaways Palantir delivered more than 60% revenue growth as enterprise AI demand moved into scaled production.PLTR's AIP drives broad deployments, faster deal cycles, and deeper customer integration.C3.ai bookings improved across commercial and federal markets, but losses and margin pressure remain.
Enterprise AI is moving from hype to execution, and C3.ai, Inc. (AI - Free Report) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR - Free Report) sit at the center of that transition. Both companies promise to help organizations turn massive datasets into real-world decisions, but their paths to monetizing AI look very different. As investors become more selective, the debate is no longer about who talks AI better, but who delivers results that translate into durable growth and profits.

C3.ai positions itself as a pure-play enterprise AI platform, offering prebuilt applications designed to speed adoption across industries. Palantir, meanwhile, leans on deeply embedded software, long-term contracts, and growing traction beyond government into commercial markets. With AI spending accelerating but valuations under scrutiny, this faceoff asks a timely question: which enterprise AI stock looks like the stronger bet right now?

The Case for AIC3.ai delivered a clear improvement in commercial momentum during second-quarter fiscal 2026, highlighted by a sharp sequential acceleration in bookings. Management pointed to strong high-value deal activity, including a growing number of seven-figure and multi-million-dollar contracts, suggesting that customers are moving beyond pilots toward broader production deployments. Despite macro and government-related disruptions, the company demonstrated that demand for enterprise AI solutions remains intact, with bookings emerging as a leading indicator of a potential growth re-acceleration.

The federal segment stood out as a major source of strength, with bookings across defense, aerospace, and civilian agencies rising meaningfully year over year. Management emphasized a structural shift within government toward commercial off-the-shelf AI solutions, which directly benefits C3.ai’s platform strategy. Expanding relationships with agencies such as HHS and the intelligence community underscore the company’s ability to deliver secure, scalable AI in mission-critical environments, an area where switching costs are high and contract lifespans are long.

C3.ai continues to differentiate itself through a broad enterprise AI platform supported by a rapidly expanding partner ecosystem. Strategic alliances with Microsoft, AWS, and leading system integrators are translating into tangible results, with most bookings now sourced through partners. The launch of agentic process automation further broadens the addressable market by enabling customers to automate entire business workflows using AI agents, positioning the company to capture use cases beyond traditional analytics.

While execution improved, C3.ai is still operating with sizable losses and negative free cash flow. Management acknowledged that gross margins remain compressed due to the shift in mix toward initial production deployments and ongoing investments in sales and support capacity. Although leadership outlined a detailed plan to restore growth and move toward non-GAAP profitability, investors are still being asked to underwrite continued losses in the near term, making execution discipline critical from now on.

The Case for PLTRPalantir is demonstrating what true enterprise AI adoption looks like at scale, and the numbers make that clear. The company delivered explosive growth in third-quarter 2025, with revenue up more than 60% year over year and U.S. commercial sales more than doubling. Unlike many AI vendors still stuck in pilot phases, Palantir is converting demand into large, fast-closing enterprise contracts. Customers are not just testing AI tools; they are rapidly expanding deployments across entire organizations, signaling confidence that Palantir’s platforms deliver tangible operational and financial impact.

A major differentiator is Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which management positions as production-grade AI rather than experimental software. The company emphasized that enterprises are moving beyond isolated use cases toward company-wide AI transformations led directly by the C-suite. This shift is shortening sales cycles and driving unusually large contract expansions, as customers reorganize workflows, decision-making, and data infrastructure around Palantir’s ontology-driven architecture. That depth of integration raises switching costs and strengthens long-term customer relationships.

Just as important, Palantir is pairing hypergrowth with exceptional profitability. The company posted operating margins of more than 50% and generated record free cash flow, pushing its Rule of 40 score well above 100, a level rarely seen in enterprise software. Management also raised full-year guidance across revenue, margins, and cash flow, underscoring confidence that demand momentum is sustainable. In a market crowded with AI narratives, Palantir stands out by demonstrating it can scale rapidly while delivering real earnings power, not just future promises.

Price PerformanceAI stock has plunged 39.5% in the past six months against the S&P 500’s growth of 15%. Conversely, PLTR shares have surged 35.5% in the same time frame.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ValuationC3.ai is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 6.4X, below its three-year median of 8.37X.

PLTR’s forward sales multiple sits at 74.69X, above its three-year median of 19.69X. The C3.ai stock is trading at a deep discount when compared with the sector average and PLTR.

P/S (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Comparing EPS Projections: AI & PLTRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for AI’s fiscal 2026 loss per share has narrowed to $1.21 in the past 60 days. Moreover, the consensus mark for fiscal 2027 loss per share has narrowed to $1.00 from $1.01 in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLTR’s 2025 earnings per share has increased to 73 cents in the past 60 days. Moreover, the consensus mark for 2026 earnings per share has increased to $1.04 from 86 cents in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionThe faceoff highlights Palantir as the clearer near-term winner, as it is already translating enterprise AI demand into scaled deployments, sticky customer relationships, and strong profitability. Its AI platform is becoming embedded in core business operations, giving investors visibility into durable growth rather than just future potential.

C3.ai, Inc., meanwhile, is showing early signs of a recovery with improving bookings and broader platform adoption, but ongoing losses mean the payoff depends on sustained execution. As a result, Palantir looks compelling to consider now, while C3.ai is better viewed as a hold until its improving momentum consistently translates into profits.

PLTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), whereas AI has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

watch now

U.S. shoppers are willing to spend this holiday season — despite falling consumer confidence and anxiety over prices — but only if the deals are there, Tanger CEO Stephen Yalof told CNBC on Tuesday.

"Retailers are discounting to meet the consumer, and the consumer is responding by shopping," Yalof said on CNBC's "Money Movers."

Yalof said Tanger tries to offer shoppers access to premium brands at prices that feel consistently compelling. Retailers across the company's outlet portfolio leaned heavily into promotions during the holidays, helping sustain traffic and sales.

Customers are "looking to come into a space where they can buy products at full price, maybe above the price point they want to spend, but they can embrace that price point because they know it's value priced every day," Yalof said.

He described holiday traffic at Tanger's outlet centers as strong, citing full parking lots and steady activity through November and December.

"I feel like the customer is very resilient," he said. "They're looking to spend."

Yalof's comments come on the heels of fresh data showing that consumers are spending more than their confidence levels might suggest.

U.S. retail spending rose 4.2% year over year during the holiday season, before adjusting for inflation, according to preliminary data from Visa released Tuesday.

The report, which tracks payments activity beginning Nov. 1, found that in-store shopping accounted for 73% of spending, while online sales drove growth, rising 7.8% from a year earlier.

At the same time, sentiment remains subdued.

Consumer confidence weakened in December as Americans grew more anxious about persistently high prices and the impact of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 3.8 points to 89.1, down from an upwardly revised 92.9 in November and nearing the 85.7 level seen in April, when the administration rolled out broad import duties on U.S. trading partners.

Likewise, the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey, released last week, found that 41% of Americans planned to spend less this holiday season, up 6 points from a year ago, as higher prices continued to shape where and how shoppers spend.

Looking ahead, Yalof said retailers appear confident about demand in 2026.

"Retailers want stores. They love bricks and mortar," Yalof said, adding that brands are increasingly looking to control their own physical retail presence as department stores continue to consolidate.

Key Takeaways CSL faces volume pressure as CWT and CCM slow amid residential and commercial construction delays.Carlisle's costs climb as raw material and labor pressures lift selling and administrative expenses.CSL's debt remains elevated after $1B senior notes, while a strong dollar poses currency risks.
Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL - Free Report) failed to impress investors with its recent operational performance due to persistent weakness across residential and commercial construction markets, high debt levels and increasing operating costs.

CSL currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). In the past year, the stock has lost 12% compared with the industry’s 3.4% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to continue taking a toll on this company.

Segmental Weakness: Lower volumes from a slowdown in the residential and commercial construction markets and project delays are adversely affecting the Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies (CWT) segment. The slowdown in the new housing, repair and remodel activities, due to high interest rates and affordability challenges, has been affecting the segment’s performance. Also, Carlisle is also experiencing a slowdown in the Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) segment due to a decline in new construction activities and disruption in the distribution channel.

Rising Expenses: Carlisle has been dealing with the high raw material and labor costs. Not only is this pushing up its direct expenses, but it is also raising selling, administrative and R&D expenses. While current revenue growth rates are supporting the rising cost, they are largely driven by channel inventory filling. In the first nine months of 2025, Carlisle’s cost of sales increased 3.4% year over year, while its selling and administrative expenses increased 3.8%.

High Debt Level: The company's high debt levels remain a concern. Its long-term debt balance at the end of the third quarter of 2025 remained high at $2.88 billion, reflecting a surge of 52.4% on a sequential basis. In August 2025, Carlisle completed the offering of $1 billion for its senior unsecured notes in aggregate. The offering comprises $500 million of 5.55% senior notes due to expire on Sept. 15, 2040, and $500 million of 5.25% senior notes due to expire on Sept. 15, 2035. We believe that the offering of senior notes will increase its debts and, in turn, might inflate its financial obligations and hurt profitability.

Forex Woes: Carlisle’s international presence keeps it exposed to the risk of adverse currency fluctuations. This is because a strengthening U.S. dollar is likely to require the company to either raise prices or contract profit margins in locations outside the United States. Thus, adverse currency movements are a worry.

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked companies are discussed below:

Flowserve Corporation (FLS - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

FLS delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.5%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flowserve’s 2025 earnings has increased 3%.

Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO - Free Report) presently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. HLIO delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 16.8%.

In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for Helios’ 2025 earnings has increased 1.7%.

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (WTS - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. WTS delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.9%.

In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for Watts Water’s 2025 earnings has increased 4.2%.

Key Takeaways Dycom benefits from AI-linked fiber and data center builds, with backlog rising 4.7% year over year to $8.22B.MasTec holds a record $16.78B backlog, driven by clean energy and pipeline projects, despite project delays.DY outperformed MTZ over six months, supported by stronger growth trends and a discounted valuation.
The United States energy, power and telecommunications market is booming on the back of incremental public spending initiatives undertaken by the government. Moreover, opportunities linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) are further driving the growth prospects for the companies operating in these infrastructure markets, like Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY - Free Report) and MasTec, Inc. (MTZ - Free Report) .

Amid the ongoing favorable market trends, the lowering of the interest rate by the Federal Reserve is a welcome addition for the firms operating in the infrastructure and engineering/construction space. On Dec. 10, 2025, the Federal Reserve slashed its interest rates by another 0.25 percentage points, setting the benchmark between 3.5% and 3.75%. After these cuts, the Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, is now expecting only one rate cut in 2026, with another one anticipated in 2027. The reduction in borrowing rate catalyzes the ongoing favorable market trends, boosting more project initiations and leading to a promising future.

Dycom is a specialty contracting firm operating in the telecom industry, gaining from opportunities across fiber and digital infrastructure, backed by increased data center projects. Conversely, MasTec is an infrastructure construction company, engaging in the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of energy, communication, utility and other infrastructure.

Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two infrastructure stocks to determine which one is the better investment now.

The Case for Dycom StockDycom has been witnessing exceptional growth in digital infrastructure linked to AI. Hyperscalers continue to increase capital spending to support data-heavy applications and AI workloads. This requires upgrades to existing routes and the construction of new connections across data centers. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company reiterated that outside-plant data center network construction is set to ramp meaningfully, with major activity expected to build through calendar 2026 and show substantial growth in 2027. These prospects favor the company’s long-term growth, given its expertise in handling highly complex and large-scale builds.

Moreover, rising demand across the telecommunications market is also driving prospects for Dycom, with primary growth drivers being fiber-to-the-home programs, wireless activity and fiber infrastructure work for hyperscalers. As of October 2025, DY’s total backlog grew 4.7% year over year to $8.22 billion, with the next 12-month backlog rising 11.4%.

Apart from the ongoing demand tailwinds, the long-term prospects of Dycom seem promising thanks to the optimism surrounding the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The program represents a significant multi-year catalyst, with $29.5 billion in expected state and territory spending and approximately $26 billion directed specifically toward fiber or HFC infrastructure, an area directly aligned with DY’s core capabilities. The company’s early positioning appears strong, as it has already secured more than $500 million in verbal BEAD-related awards, none of which are yet included in backlog, suggesting substantial upside as states convert awards to contracts. This trend is paving the way for new contracts, project starts and meaningful revenue contribution beginning in Dycom’s second quarter of fiscal 2027.

Amid a challenging macroeconomic environment and risks related to tariffs, DY remains optimistic about its mid and long-term prospects. Owing to this optimism, in fiscal 2026, Dycom now expects total contract revenues in the range of $5.350-$5.425 billion (prior expectation was $5.290-$5.425 billion), representing a 13.8-15.4% year-over-year increase.

The Case for MasTec StockMasTec is benefiting from strong activity across communications, clean energy and power delivery markets. Besides, a record backlog highlighted persistent demand tied to energy transition and infrastructure investment. As of Sept. 30, 2025, the company’s 18-month backlog stood at a record level of $16.78 billion, up 21.1% year over year and 2% sequentially. MasTec offers services for renewables projects through its Clean Energy and Infrastructure segment, whose 18-month backlog grew 21.4% year over year on strong renewables demand, mainly solar.

After going through a rough patch since the start of 2025, MasTec’s Pipeline Infrastructure segment’s revenues grew 20% year over year to $597.8 million, with EBITDA margin showing sequential growth of 390 basis points to 15.4%. Increasing multi-year spending across grid reliability, LNG expansion and energy transition infrastructure is driving the momentum. Also, MTZ’s improved bidding discipline, a more favorable mix of midstream projects, better project execution and healthier backlog conversion are boding well amid favorable government funding initiatives.

Despite thriving in the energy and power markets, MasTec is facing several challenges that are impacting its revenue visibility and margin growth. It has been experiencing performance setbacks due to fluctuations in capital spending, alongside being continuously subject to project delays.

During the third quarter of 2025, MTZ toned down the 2025 revenue guidance for its Power Delivery segment to about $4.075 billion from the prior expected range of $4.225-$4.25 billion. This move was undertaken because of a lower level of activity related to its Greenlink project, as the customer is facing isolated delays due to permitting.

Stock Performance & ValuationAs witnessed from the chart below, in the past six months, Dycom’s share price performance has outperformed MasTec’s growth and the broader Construction sector.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Considering valuation, over the last five years, MasTec has been trading above Dycom on a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Overall, from these technical indicators, it can be deduced that DY stock offers an incremental growth trend with a discounted valuation, while MTZ stock offers a diminishing growth trend with a premium valuation.

Comparing EPS Estimate Trends: DY vs. MTZThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for DY’s fiscal 2026 EPS indicates 26.9% year-over-year growth, with the fiscal 2027 estimate indicating a rise of 35%. The fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 EPS estimates have moved upward over the past 30 days.

DY EPS Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MTZ’s 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 61.5%, while the same for 2026 indicates an uptick of 27.3%. Its 2025 and 2026 EPS estimates have trended upward over the past 60 days.

MTZ EPS Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Return on Equity (ROE) of DY & MTZ StocksDycom’s trailing 12-month ROE of 22.2% significantly exceeds MasTec’s average, underscoring its efficiency in generating shareholder returns.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Which Stock Should You Choose: DY or MTZ?The U.S. infrastructure spending cycle remains supportive for engineering and specialty contractors, aided by AI-driven digital infrastructure demand and easing monetary conditions. Dycom stands out as a pure-play beneficiary of fiber, wireless and data-center network expansion tied to hyperscalers and AI workloads. A growing backlog, improving 12-month visibility and early traction from the BEAD program provide strong multi-year revenue tailwinds.

MasTec, on the other hand, benefits from broad exposure to energy transition, renewables, pipelines and power delivery, supported by a record backlog. While profitability in its Pipeline Infrastructure segment is improving, project delays and capital-spending variability continue to cloud near-term visibility, as reflected in reduced Power Delivery guidance. Its premium valuation and more uneven execution temper upside.

Notably, Dycom, which currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), trades at a relatively discounted valuation despite accelerating growth prospects, enhancing its investment appeal. Moreover, its upward earnings estimate revision for fiscal 2026 and 2027 and a higher ROE underscore execution strength and capital efficiency.

Overall, DY stock offers clearer growth visibility, stronger execution and superior risk-adjusted upside compared with MTZ stock, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating a comparatively better investment option now. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.