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Recognizing its Sixteenth Consecutive Annual Increase

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend from $0.62 to $0.63 per share of outstanding Common Stock. The increased dividend will be payable in cash on November 27, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 13, 2026. This change reflects an annualized dividend rate of $2.52 per share.

“Today’s dividend increase reflects our continued confidence and belief that disciplined execution of our Back to Starbucks strategy will drive sustainable long-term growth and value creation,” said Cathy Smith, chief financial officer.

Starbucks Coffee Company first initiated its dividend program in 2010 with a quarterly payout of $0.05 per share and has since grown its dividend at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 17%. This growth underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to returning value to shareholders.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world's premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our coffeehouses or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations regarding future events and the potential future results of Starbucks Corporation (together with its subsidiaries). They often include words such as “believes,” “continues,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “aims,” “intends,” or “projects,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors (many beyond our control) that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections. Our forward-looking statements, and the risks and uncertainties related thereto, include, but are not limited to, those described under the “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and in other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as, among others:

our ability to preserve, grow, and leverage our brands;the impact of our brand, marketing, promotional, advertising, and pricing strategies, platforms, reformulations, innovations, or customer experience initiatives or investments;the costs and risks associated with, and the successful and timely execution and effects of, our existing and any future business opportunities, expansions, initiatives, strategies, investments, transformation efforts, and plans, including our “Back to Starbucks” strategy and our restructuring plans;the costs and risks associated with, and the successful execution and effects of, strategic changes to our ownership and operating structure, including as a result of acquisitions, divestitures, other strategic transactions or entry into joint ventures, including our joint venture with respect to Starbucks retail operations in China;our ability to align our investment efforts with our strategic goals;evolving consumer preferences, demand, consumption, or spending behavior, reduction in discretionary spending and price increases, and our ability to anticipate or react to these changes;the ability of our business partners, suppliers, and third-party providers to fulfill their responsibilities and commitments and our reliance on certain key business partners and suppliers;the potential negative effects of food or beverage-safety incidents, or product recalls, including any perceived association of our products or brands with such incidents;our ability to open new coffeehouses and efficiently maintain the attractiveness of our existing coffeehouses and manage related costs;our heavy reliance on the financial performance of our North America operating segment and our dependence on the performance and growth of certain international markets;our ability to operate and successfully expand our footprint in international markets, which is influenced by factors distinct from our North America operating segment;inherent risks of operating a global business, including changing conditions in our markets; local factors affecting coffeehouse openings; protectionist trade or foreign investment policies, including trade restrictions, tariffs, quotas, import/export regulations, customs restrictions, sanctions, countersanctions, and retaliatory measures; compliance with local laws and other regulations; and local labor policies and conditions, including labor strikes and work stoppages;higher costs, lower quality, or unavailability of coffee, dairy, cocoa, energy, water, raw materials, packaging, or product ingredients and related volatility;the ability of our supply chain to meet current or future business needs and our ability to scale and improve our forecasting, planning, production, and logistics management;the potential impact on our supply chain and operations of adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or significant increases in logistics costs;a worsening in the terms and conditions upon which we engage with our manufacturers and source suppliers;the impact of unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and other factors, including economic slowdowns or recessions, rising real estate costs, supply chain disruptions, climate change and extreme weather events, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, government shutdowns, labor unrest, geopolitical instability, disruptions in credit markets and foreign currency exchange rate volatility;failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance or any announced guidance and the impact thereof;failure to attract or retain key executive or partner talent;changes in the availability and cost of labor, including any union organizing efforts and our responses to such efforts;the impact of, and our ability to respond to, substantial competition from new entrants, consolidations by competitors, and other competitive activities, such as pricing actions (including price reductions, promotions, discounting, couponing, or free goods); marketing; category expansion; product introductions; or entry or expansion in our geographic markets;evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to sustainability matters;the potential impact of activist shareholder actions or tactics;failure to comply with applicable laws and complex and changing legal and regulatory requirements, including those governing privacy, data protection, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies;the impact or likelihood of significant legal disputes and proceedings or government investigations;the unauthorized access, use, theft, or destruction of our data, or of our proprietary or confidential information, including as a result of increasingly sophisticated threats enabled or accelerated by artificial intelligence, and the impact thereof;potential negative effects of, and our ability to respond to, a material failure, inadequacy, or interruption of our information technology systems or digital platforms, or those of our third-party business partners or service providers, or failure to comply with data protection laws; andour ability to adequately protect our intellectual property or adequately ensure that we are not infringing the intellectual property of others.In addition, many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties are, or could be, exacerbated by any worsening of the global business and economic environment, and new risks periodically emerge. A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

More News From Starbucks Corporation

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Orca, a decentralized exchange built on Solana, wants to go shopping. Its DAO has put forward a proposal to acquire an undisclosed Solana DeFi protocol to expand its credit and yield products.

The market did not wait for the community debate to settle: $ORCA climbed 84% as the plan circulated, according to SolanaFloor.

What the proposal actually does The proposal is titled “Resourcing Orca for Its Next Phase.” It was posted on September 29, 2026, after the Governance Council endorsed it unanimously on September 24.

Voting closes on October 10, 2026. Until then, everything below is a plan, not a done deal.

The first major change is how protocol fees get split. Under the proposal, 10% would go to xORCA staking rewards and 10% to buybacks managed by the team. The remaining 80% would be directed to operations.

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The second change involves the treasury. The plan would move approximately 14.2 million ORCA tokens, roughly 19.8% of total supply, out of the community treasury. About 70,000 SOL would go with them. Both would land in a new Strategic Account controlled by the team and restricted to acquisitions only.

The third change is structural. The proposal calls for dissolving the current Governance Council, the same body that just signed off on it.

The acquisition pitch The centerpiece is the strategic purchase of an unnamed leading Solana DeFi protocol. The proposal frames the deal as a way to add credit and yield products to Orca’s lineup.

The acquisition is anticipated to contribute to roughly a 50% increase in Orca’s Total Value Locked, or TVL.

Investors are being asked to price in an acquisition they cannot yet evaluate, as the target has not been named.

Why the community is pushing back Criticism has centered on two points. The first is reduced staking rewards, since xORCA stakers would receive only 10% of fees under the new split. The second is concentrated power. Moving a large slice of the treasury into a team-controlled account, while also dissolving the Governance Council, shifts influence away from token holders and toward the team.

The proposal does include safeguards against excessive token issuance, addressing concerns about dilution through new minting, though it does not directly resolve concerns about who decides how existing assets get spent.

The market’s verdict, so far SolanaFloor reported an 84% jump in $ORCA following the proposal. Separate research tracking the move put the gain at more than 80% in the week leading up to October 7, 2026. Recent trading has ranged from roughly $2.90 to roughly $3.15.

What this means For ORCA holders, the trade-off is direct. They would receive a smaller share of fee revenue through staking today in exchange for a bet that the team can deploy capital to grow the protocol tomorrow. Team-managed buybacks run on the team’s discretion rather than a fixed community-controlled schedule.

The key date to watch is October 10, 2026, when voting closes. After that, attention shifts to the identity of the target protocol, whether the promised credit and yield products arrive, and whether TVL moves anywhere near the projected 50% increase.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Amazon and Sea Limited are two e-commerce platforms that have sought to expand into many global markets. However, in Latin American markets like Mexico and Brazil, neither has been able to dethrone the leading e-commerce and financial technology (fintech) platform in the region: MercadoLibre (MELI +0.80%).

The $94 billion market cap giant is growing incredibly quickly and gaining share of commerce transactions across Central and South America. Here's why this Latin American dominance can lead to strong returns for the stock in the coming years.

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Growing online shopping penetration When it comes to payment volume penetration, MercadoLibre has an estimated 25% market share of e-commerce sales across its major operating countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. With e-commerce as a percentage of overall retail sales smaller than in the United States, there should be a nice tailwind that lifts MercadoLibre's e-commerce sales in the years ahead.

Gross merchandise volume (GMV) grew 36% in constant currency to $21.9 billion last quarter, with strong growth across all its operating countries. It can grow so quickly because of its enviable product offering, with a wide selection and fast delivery times. Like Amazon, it has a subscription service called Meli+, and is beginning to monetize through advertisements.

Advertising is especially promising, with MercadoLibre estimating it now holds 10% market share in digital advertising in Latin America, up 62% year over year last quarter.

Image source: Getty Images.

Financial services arm MercadoLibre also differentiates itself from e-commerce competitors by layering on its own fintech services, which are a moneymaker and also reinforce the power of its shopping advantages.

This comes in the form of Mercado Pago, which is a spending wallet for shoppers. It offers loans for purchases, among other services, and has recently launched a push to introduce its own credit card to drive everyday spending and even more shopping on MercadoLibre. Credit card users are 2 to 3 times more likely to use both MercadoLibre's marketplace and fintech tools than other MercadoLibre users.

For merchants, Mercado Pago offers payment processing, both on MercadoLibre and off-platform with retail payment terminals. Acquiring payment volume off-platform was $64 billion last quarter, up 44% year over year.

Total financial services revenue was $4.4 billion last quarter, and grew 47% year over year in constant currency. Not only is MercadoLibre one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms, but it is also a dominant force in fintech in Latin America.

MELI Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

Betting on the leading commerce provider in Latin America MercadoLibre's stock is down due to fears of margin compression. The company's operating margin was 6.7% last quarter, translating to just $683 million in earnings.

Management is purposefully driving down margins in the short term for two main reasons. First, it is investing ahead to increase its e-commerce infrastructure, allowing it to now offer rapid free shipping on most items on its marketplace (depending on where shoppers live, of course). Second, it is pushing to get more and more Mercado Pago credit cards into shoppers' hands, which comes with an upfront expense tied to estimated losses from the average client.

But MercadoLibre's profit margin should start expanding again. Since it has a large percentage of its business coming from fintech, I think it is plausible that MercadoLibre's consolidated operating margin can sustainably reach 15%. This is higher than Amazon's e-commerce division, but Amazon doesn't have a massive fintech arm with high margins.

MercadoLibre's trailing revenue is $35 billion, but it grew by 43% in constant currency as of last quarter, meaning revenue won't stay in this area for long. If revenue doubles to $70 billion within the next few years and profit margins revert to 15%, MercadoLibre should generate $10.5 billion in operating earnings, or less than 10 times its current market cap of $94 billion. This makes the stock a nice buy at today's prices.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (Medtronic; NYSE: MDT) today announced the final exchange ratio for its previously announced offer to exchange outstanding Medtronic ordinary shares for shares of common stock of MiniMed Group, Inc. (MiniMed; Nasdaq: MMED). Medtronic is offering to exchange up to 225,361,295 shares of MiniMed common stock for outstanding Medtronic ordinary shares in the exchange offer and, if the exchange offer is oversubscribed, Medtronic currently intends to exchange all of Medtronic's remaining interest in MiniMed (an additional 27,452,053 shares of MiniMed common stock), without extending the exchange offer period.

For each Medtronic ordinary share that is validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by shareholders and that is accepted by Medtronic pursuant to the exchange offer, Medtronic will deliver 4.5939 shares of MiniMed common stock to or at the direction of any such tendering shareholder.

The final calculated per-share value of Medtronic ordinary shares and the final calculated per-share value of MiniMed common stock, in each case determined in the manner described in the Prospectus filed by MiniMed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), would have resulted in an exchange ratio of more than the upper limit of 4.5939. Accordingly, the final exchange ratio has been set at 4.5939 shares of MiniMed common stock for each Medtronic ordinary share accepted in the exchange offer.

Based on the final exchange ratio, assuming the exchange offer is oversubscribed, Medtronic would accept for exchange approximately 55,032,401 Medtronic ordinary shares if Medtronic decides to exchange all of its remaining interest in MiniMed, or approximately 49,056,639 Medtronic ordinary shares if Medtronic does not increase the number of shares to be accepted, as described in the Prospectus. Because the exchange offer will be subject to proration if the exchange offer is oversubscribed, the number of Medtronic ordinary shares that Medtronic accepts in the exchange offer may be less than the number of shares validly tendered by Medtronic shareholders.

The exchange offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of the day on October 9, 2026, unless the exchange offer is extended or terminated.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. are the dealer managers for the exchange offer.

About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary.

Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the expected effects on Medtronic and MiniMed of the exchange offer, the anticipated timing and benefits of the exchange offer, Medtronic's ability to satisfy the necessary conditions to consummate its separation of MiniMed, Medtronic's ability to successfully consummate the separation of MiniMed and realize the anticipated benefits from the separation (including consummating the transaction on a basis that is generally tax-free to shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes), MiniMed's ability to succeed as an independent publicly traded company, competitive factors, difficulties and delays inherent in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of medical products, government regulation, geopolitical conflicts, changing global trade policies, general economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties described in Medtronic's and MiniMed's periodic reports on file with the SEC including their most recent respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words or expressions, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "looking ahead," "may," "plan," "possible," "potential," "project," "should," "going to," "will," and similar words or expressions, the negative or plural of such words or expressions and other comparable terminology. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Medtronic does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements or any of the information contained in this press release, including to reflect future events or circumstances.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or exchange, a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange any securities or a recommendation as to whether investors should participate in the exchange offer. There shall be no solicitation, offer, sale or exchange of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation, offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. MiniMed has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") that includes a Prospectus. The exchange offer is made solely by the Prospectus. The Prospectus contains important information about the exchange offer, Medtronic, MiniMed and related matters, and Medtronic has delivered the Prospectus to holders of Medtronic ordinary shares. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROSPECTUS, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. None of Medtronic, MiniMed or any of their respective directors or officers or the dealer managers appointed with respect to the exchange offer makes any recommendation as to whether you should participate in the exchange offer.

Medtronic has filed with the SEC a Schedule TO, which contains important information about the exchange offer.

Holders of Medtronic ordinary shares may obtain copies of the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Schedule TO and other related documents, and any other information that Medtronic and MiniMed file electronically with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Holders of Medtronic ordinary shares may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus by clicking on the appropriate link at http://www.dfking.com/MDTSeparation.

Medtronic has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. as the information agent for the exchange offer. To obtain copies of the exchange offer Prospectus and related documents, or for questions about the terms of the exchange offer or how to participate, you may contact the information agent at +1 (877) 361-7972 (toll-free for shareholders) or +1 (646) 845-0146 (banks, brokers, and all others outside the United States).

Contacts:
Justin Paquette
Public Relations
+1-612-271-7935

Ingrid Goldberg
Investor Relations 
+1-763-505-2696

SOURCE Medtronic plc

A Look at Strategy Inc (MSTR) After 6.8% Decline -- GF Value $113.21 vs Price $153.37

On October 07, 2026, Strategy Inc MSTR shares fell 6.8% to $153.37, a significant drop in the context of its 52-week range of $81.81 to $359.44. This decline reflects ongoing volatility as the company grapples with its financial performance amidst a challenging market environment.

GF Value™ verdict indicates that MSTR is currently priced at $153.37, which is 35.5% above the estimated fair value of $113.21.The GF Score™ stands at 57/100, indicating an average rating across various metrics.Insider activity shows a significant net selling of $45.7 million over the past 12 months, suggesting a lack of confidence among insiders.Is MSTR Overvalued or Undervalued?Currently, Strategy Inc MSTR appears overvalued based on its GF Value™, which estimates fair value at $113.21. This assessment implies that the stock is trading at a significant premium, with a 35.5% margin of overvaluation. The GF Valuation label categorizes MSTR as significantly overvalued, which raises concerns for potential investors. Given that MSTR is unprofitable and cash-flow-negative, relying on earnings-based valuation metrics like Price-to-Earnings (P/E) would not be appropriate. Instead, a Price-to-Sales (P/S) analysis could provide a more relevant perspective, particularly when examining historical performance and market trends.

The GF Value™ is a proprietary intrinsic-value estimate generated by GuruFocus, based on historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance forecasts. In the case of MSTR, the stark difference between its current market price and GF Value™ serves as a directional warning, indicating that the stock may not be a prudent investment at this time.

How Does MSTR's Valuation Compare to Its History?MetricCurrentHistoricalP/E (TTM)N/A36.2xForward P/E21.8xN/AAs MSTR currently does not have a trailing twelve-month (TTM) P/E due to its losses, we can only reference the forward P/E of 21.8x. This forward valuation suggests that the stock is trading below its five-year median P/E of 36.2x. However, this analysis does not fully align with the GF Value™ verdict, which indicates that the stock is overall significantly overvalued based on its current pricing and historical valuation metrics.

What Does MSTR's GF Score™ Tell Us?The GF Score™ provides a comprehensive overview of a company's financial health, combining multiple factors such as financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. MSTR's score of 57/100 indicates an average standing, with varying strengths across different metrics.

MetricRatingGF Score™57Financial Strength5/10Profitability4/10Growth2/10Valuation3/10Momentum5/10MSTR's strongest area is Financial Strength, with a score of 5/10, indicating a moderate ability to meet its financial obligations. However, the weakest area is Growth, scoring only 2/10, which reflects the company’s challenges in expanding its operations and revenues. The low profitability rank of 4/10 further reinforces the concerns regarding the sustainability of its business model.

What Are Gurus and Insiders Doing with MSTR?Currently, five gurus hold positions in MSTR, with three increasing their stakes and two reducing their holdings in recent quarters. This mixed activity suggests a cautious sentiment among institutional investors. The insider trading pattern is more telling, with insiders having sold $46.4 million worth of stock compared to only $0.8 million in purchases, resulting in a net selling of $45.7 million over the past 12 months. This trend raises red flags regarding insiders' confidence in the company's future performance and may indicate potential concerns that investors should consider.

What This Means for InvestorsOverall, Strategy Inc MSTR is currently deemed overvalued based on GF Value™, with a significant premium over the estimated fair value. The stock's lack of profitability, negative cash flows, and the concerning insider selling activity suggest a cautious approach for potential investors. For a deeper analysis of MSTR's financial performance, visit the Strategy Inc (MSTR) stock page, and explore other insights through the GF Value™ page or the GuruFocus Stock Screener.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is MSTR's GF Score™?

The GF Score™ for MSTR is 57/100, indicating an average rating across various financial metrics.

Is MSTR overvalued or undervalued?

MSTR is currently overvalued, as indicated by its GF Value™ which estimates a fair value at $113.21, making the stock price of $153.37 a significant premium.

What is MSTR's P/E ratio?

MSTR currently does not have a TTM P/E ratio due to its unprofitability; however, its forward P/E is 21.8x, which is below its historical median P/E of 36.2x.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.

 | Source: Magnite, Inc.

Reduces Term Loan B Interest Rate by an Additional 50 Basis Points 

Generates Approximately $1.8 Million in Annualized Interest Savings

NEW YORK, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world's largest independent sell-side advertising company, today announced the third successful repricing of its $358 million senior secured term loan facility (Term Loan) due February 2031 and the repricing of its $175 million senior secured revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) that matures in February 2029.

The Term Loan repricing reduces the interest rate by 50 basis points to Term SOFR + 2.50% (from Term SOFR + 3.00%). The rate reduction will yield approximately $1.8 million in annualized cash interest savings. The interest rate improvement represents a cumulative reduction of 250 basis points compared to the rate prior to the refinancing of the Term Loan in February of 2024. There are no changes to the maturity of the Term Loan following this repricing, and all other terms are substantially unchanged.

In addition, the interest rate margin under the $175 million Revolving Credit Facility was reduced by 100 basis points. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility will now bear interest at Term SOFR plus a margin ranging from 2.5% - 3.0%, a reduction from the previous margin range of 3.5% - 4.0%. All other material terms remain substantially unchanged.

"The successful repricing of both our Term Loan B and Revolving Credit Facility reflects the continued strength of our balance sheet, robust cash flow generation, and the ongoing confidence of our lending partners in Magnite's long-term growth trajectory," said Brian Gephart, CFO of Magnite. "By driving down our borrowing costs across both facilities, we have reduced our annualized interest expense by an additional $1.8 million. Lowering our cost of capital provides us with enhanced financial flexibility while better optimizing value for our shareholders."

About Magnite

We’re Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising company. Publishers use our technology to monetize their content across all screens and formats including CTV, online video, display, and audio. The world's leading agencies and brands trust our platform to access brand-safe, high-quality ad inventory and execute billions of advertising transactions each month. Anchored in bustling New York City, sunny Los Angeles, mile high Denver, historic London, colorful Singapore, and down under in Sydney, Magnite has offices across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.

Investor Relations Contact
Nick Kormeluk
(949) 500-0003
[email protected]

Skydance Today

$8.87 -0.66 (-6.93%)

As of 03:58 PM Eastern

$7.62▼

$18.872.25%

30.59

$5.78

After months of legal maneuvering, takeover attempts, and corporate eye-gouging, the Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger is finally complete. The $110 billion deal has finally closed, and the new company trades as Skydance Corp. NYSE: SKYD. But while the deal's consummation hogs the headlines, the real story is buried in the balance sheet. Acquiring Warner Bros. required Paramount to take on a tremendous amount of debt, and reducing that leverage through cost savings is now CEO David Ellison’s most important job. The agreement may be done, but the bill is still coming due. Here’s what Skydance owns, what it owes, and how the bull and bear cases may unfold over the next year.

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How the Deal Closed and What SKYD Shareholders Now OwnHere’s a brief recap of how the deal went down. Both the company formerly known as Paramount Skydance and Netflix Inc. NASDAQ: NFLX attempted to buy Warner Bros. Discovery assets in all-stock deals. Netflix originally agreed to buy the company for $27.75 per share, backed by equity, but Paramount stepped in with a hostile bid of $30 per share, backed by a bridge loan. Paramount continued sweetening the pot by upping the offer to $31 per share (plus a daily ticking fee equal to 25 cents per share per quarter), plus offering to pay regulatory fees and a $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix. At this point, Netflix withdrew its offer, and the WBD board agreed to the Paramount merger.

But wait, there’s more! In July, 12 state attorneys general sued Paramount, seeking to block the merger by claiming it would undermine competition in the film industry. Paramount settled the lawsuit in September by agreeing to invest at least $300 million annually in domestic film production and to release at least 30 theatrical films in each of the next two years (or pay a $30 million penalty for each film it falls short). The exciting saga finally concluded on Oct. 6, when SKYD shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and WBD was pulled from the NASDAQ. You could pitch this whole ordeal to a studio as prestige corporate drama, and given the box-office performance of Digger, Skydance might want to take the meeting.

The new conglomerate now comprises Paramount and Warner Bros. film and TV production studios, CBS, HBO, CNN, TNT Sports, Paramount+, and a range of cable networks, including Nickelodeon, Showtime, BET, and Comedy Central. Additionally, Skydance holds rights to major franchises like DC, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Trek, and pretty much everything under Taylor Sheridan’s cowboy hat. But shareholders also get a piece of the $51.9 billion in new financing obligations on the balance sheet, bringing pro forma long-term debt to roughly $80 billion, versus a cash position of $7.9 billion. Interest expenses on the loans totaled $3.1 billion in the first half of 2026, and the key to reducing this debt load is through what Ellison calls ‘synergies.’

Bull Case: Streaming Margins Scale and Cost Savings Arrive EarlyWhen Ellison channels the cringe with “synergies,” he means the cost savings of combining two similar businesses. The new entity can increase margins through larger-scale contracts, cut spending on content bidding, consolidate offices and technology, and yes, reduce overhead by cutting jobs. Ellison claimed in a CNBC interview that these measures will save the company $6 billion in run-rate costs and factored that number into his 4.3x leverage estimate. He also stated the company realized $3 billion in synergies by the time the deal closed, and is targeting more than $10 billion in free cash flow by 2030 and 3.0 net leverage by the end of 2029.

The company will need more than corporate cost-cutting to manage its debt. Ellison plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streamer, which should help improve margins while minimizing user attrition. But linear TV continues to struggle, with media advertising revenue down 14% year over year (YOY) in Paramount Skydance's Q2 2026 earnings release. Cable revenues are shrinking, but they still represent the bulk of the company’s earnings, and streaming profit growth will need to offset this decline to cover interest payments.

Skydance Corporation (SKYD) Price Chart for Wednesday, October, 7, 2026

Bear Case: Interest Eats Away Savings and Streaming Growth StallsManaging this debt load will be a challenge. The $6 billion run-rate savings over three years could still fail to produce enough cash to cover the sizable interest on Ellison’s loans. For example, the company collectively owed $3.1 billion in interest through June 30 on the new debt obligations. But according to the pro forma financial statements, the company posted a net loss of $2.1 billion during the same period. Additionally, the settlement with state AGs for 30 annual films and $300 million in U.S. production limits some cost-saving avenues.

Unfortunately, we likely won’t know how much savings have been realized until the fiscal Q4 2026 report drops early next year, since the Q3 report won’t include Warner Bros. revenues. However, the Q3 report (expected in early November) will include media advertising revenues and affiliate renewals, subscriber counts, and streaming earnings guidance. Investors will want to compare streaming growth with linear TV revenue declines to see whether one is outpacing the other, and interest expenses with free cash flow to see whether debt management is under control.

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

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FORT COLLINS, Colo., Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD), a world leader in aerospace and industrial controls, has been selected to provide an actuation system in support of Airbus’ Folding Wing research activity. The ground-based demonstrator is aimed at exploring how longer wings can reduce drag and advance aerodynamic efficiency for future aircraft.

Woodward is supplying a complete system for wing actuation, including a power delivery unit, a high-power hinge actuator, and several additional components. This will be tested in Airbus’ test facilities in Bremen, Germany, and in Bristol, U.K. This also includes support for trade studies with Airbus on several design elements, including hydraulic or electric power for the system.

"We have broad capabilities in both hydraulic and electromechanical technologies to contribute to the future of flight," said Jon Geisheimer, Vice President and General Manager of Electromechanical Systems and Electronics at Woodward. "This provides options for customers as we work closely with them to develop the solution that best fits the application. We’re excited to bring our expertise and innovation speed to the Folding Wing demonstrator."

About the Folding Wing demonstrator

Airbus’ ground-based folding wing demonstrator is exploring the technology that would allow wings to fold and lock during taxi to fit within existing airport gate infrastructure. Meeting the target performance requires a larger folding portion of the wing than that on current aircraft, which is a defining feature of next-generation aircraft design.

Folding wings are emerging as a key element of the next generation of commercial aircraft, enabling more aerodynamically efficient designs. Being selected to provide the actuation system for the ground-based Folding Wing demonstrator positions Woodward as a trusted partner in shaping that future and supporting the industry’s work in advancing next-generation aircraft technologies.

About Woodward

Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Our purpose is to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion, and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit our website at www.woodward.com.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Regina
VP Communications
+1 970-559-8840
[email protected]

Investor Relations:
Dan Provaznik
Director, Investor Relations
970-498-3849
[email protected]

Key Takeaways Coherent shares gained 8% in a month as AI infrastructure demand strengthens its optical-networking outlook.Coherent is ramping 1.6T transceivers, while 800G demand and subsystem opportunities broaden growth avenues.COHR has fiscal 2027 demand strongly committed, with customer purchase orders extending into calendar 2028. Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) has emerged as a major beneficiary of the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom. The stock has surged 190% over the past year and gained another 8% in the past month, significantly outperforming its industry and the broader market.

Despite the sharp rally, the investment case remains supported by accelerating optical-connectivity demand, expanding manufacturing capacity and Coherent’s growing role in higher-value optical systems.

                                                             Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AI Infrastructure Offers a Long Growth RunwayThe AI opportunity extends well beyond the construction of new data centers. Existing facilities must continually upgrade as newer GPUs, switches and networking platforms require greater bandwidth. As AI clusters expand, more connections are needed among processors, racks, switches and facilities, increasing the importance of high-speed optical networking.

This trend plays directly into Coherent’s strengths. Its portfolio includes indium phosphide lasers, VCSELs, silicon photonics, specialty fiber, detectors and micro-optics. That broad technological base gives the company multiple ways to benefit as data-center operators shift toward faster, denser and more power-efficient network architectures.

Continued improvements in AI models, falling inference costs and broader commercial adoption could further stimulate computing requirements. As AI becomes embedded in more applications, network capacity should become increasingly critical alongside computing power.

PhotonLink Expands Coherent’s Value PropositionPhotonLink could strengthen Coherent’s position by moving the company further beyond individual components and into integrated optical subsystems. Combining internally developed technologies with integration, assembly and testing capabilities enables the company to capture a greater portion of the value created within an AI system.

This approach could also deepen customer relationships. Replacing a single component supplier is generally simpler than switching a provider whose subsystem has been designed and qualified within a broader architecture.

Coherent is also positioned across multiple technology pathways, including conventional pluggable optics, co-packaged optics, near-packaged optics and chip-to-chip connectivity. This diversified exposure reduces dependence on any single optical architecture becoming the dominant industry standard.

High-Speed Product Ramps Strengthen Near-Term ProspectsCoherent’s immediate earnings momentum should primarily come from products already entering large-scale production. The 1.6T transceiver ramp is particularly important, while demand for 800G products continues to expand. Co-packaged optics, optical circuit switching and Multi Rail technologies provide additional avenues for growth as AI networks become more complex.

Demand visibility is another encouraging factor. Fiscal 2027 requirements are already strongly committed, while customer purchase orders extend into calendar 2028. Longer-term agreements stretch further into the decade, with some incorporating minimum purchasing commitments and predetermined pricing.

The bigger challenge appears to be satisfying demand. Coherent increased InP laser production by nearly 80% year over year during the June quarter and continues to expand six-inch InP capacity. Higher yields from six-inch wafers could also improve manufacturing economics as volumes rise.

Earnings Momentum Supports the Investment CaseThe Zacks Consensus Estimate projects fiscal 2027 revenues of $10.68 billion, indicating 50% year-over-year growth. Revenues are expected to advance another 35% in fiscal 2028.

Profit expectations are similarly robust. Fiscal 2027 EPS is projected at $9.38, indicating 67.2% growth, followed by another 46% increase in fiscal 2028. These estimates suggest that rising AI exposure, greater manufacturing utilization and operating leverage could translate strong demand into accelerating profitability.

                                                                Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COHR trades at roughly 32.06 times forward earnings compared with the industry’s 20.77 times. The premium is considerable, but Coherent increasingly looks different from the more cyclical hardware supplier of the past. Greater revenue visibility, stronger margins, long-term customer commitments and improving cash generation provide greater support for the valuation.

                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Two U.S.-Listed Peers to WatchLumentum Holdings (LITE - Free Report) is a relevant optical-networking peer with significant exposure to cloud and data-center connectivity. Lumentum Holdings competes in high-speed optical components and related technologies, making it sensitive to many of the AI-driven bandwidth trends supporting COHR. Lumentum Holdings therefore provides investors with another way to gauge demand across the rapidly evolving optical-networking market.

Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI - Free Report) is another U.S.-listed peer tied closely to data-center optics. Applied Optoelectronics benefits from demand for higher-speed optical products used by hyperscale customers, linking its growth prospects to expanding data-center investment. Applied Optoelectronics is therefore a useful comparison when assessing how effectively optical suppliers are converting AI infrastructure spending into revenue growth and stronger profitability.

Is COHR Stock a Buy?Coherent appears well positioned to remain a compelling buy as AI infrastructure spending expands and optical networking becomes more critical to next-generation data centers. Demand visibility, rising high-speed transceiver volumes, broader subsystem exposure and improving manufacturing efficiency strengthen the earnings outlook. The company also benefits from a deeper role in customer architectures, which can support stickier relationships and better margins. Valuation is elevated, but the premium looks increasingly supported by faster growth, stronger profitability and long-term customer commitments. For investors willing to tolerate volatility after the rally, Coherent still offers an attractive way to participate in the AI infrastructure buildout.

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

When a telecommunications carrier needs to overhaul its billing systems or integrate new 5G services, it often turns to Amdocs (DOX +0.43%). The company provides the essential software and operational support that keeps global telecom providers running. Despite its deep integration into the industry, the stock has struggled recently, falling 29% over the past year and trading around $61.42 as of Sept. 11, 2026. This market skepticism stands in contrast to the company's ongoing efforts to modernize its service offerings through generative AI.

Our proprietary Hidden Gems scoring system assigns Amdocs an overall Superscore of 77 out of 100, placing it in the Strong category. The Superscore is an AI-powered score that evaluates a company's overall strength by combining financial performance, product market position, technological capabilities, leadership quality, and relative valuation. It represents the unification of all our scores into a single score for public companies, with five rating bands: Exceptional (90-100), Strong (75-89), Above Average (60-74), Average (40-59), and Cautious (0-39). A 77 places the company in the Top ~17% of every company we score. This score serves as a data-driven starting point, and the following analysis balances the company's recent operational successes against its lingering strategic risks so you can decide if it belongs in your portfolio.

Why DOX Has a 77 SuperscoreDisciplined portfolio pruning: The company recently phased out $600 million in low-margin, non-core business activities to concentrate capital on higher-growth areas like network automation and cloud migration.Expanding operating margins: Management's focus on efficiency drove non-GAAP operating margins to 21.6% in Q3 fiscal 2026, a 20 basis-point improvement year over year.Recurring revenue moat: Managed services now account for 67% of total revenue, creating a sticky, predictable income stream underpinned by a $4.26 billion 12-month backlog.Strong cash conversion: The business consistently converts a high percentage of its earnings into free cash flow, which has allowed management to return capital to shareholders through $143 million in share repurchases during Q3 fiscal 2026 alone.Strategic AI integration: The launch of the Agentic Telco Operating System, or aOS, provides a new platform to anchor long-term customer engagements, such as the recently signed 10-year flagship deal with Liberty Latin America.Why Is DOX's Superscore Not Higher?Stagnant organic growth: Despite the pivot to new technologies, headline revenue growth remains in the low single digits, reflecting a mature telecommunications sector that is slow to replace legacy infrastructure.Customer concentration risk: The business relies heavily on a handful of Tier-1 carriers, meaning the loss or consolidation of a single major client would materially impact the company's financial performance.Agentic AI uncertainty: While management is leaning into generative AI, the technology remains in an early stage of adoption, and it is currently difficult to distinguish these new offerings from legacy services in terms of pricing power and market adoption.Integration complexity: Relying on acquisitions to bolster its cloud and automation capabilities forces management to constantly balance integration costs with the need for operational efficiency, which has periodically weighed on net income.Hidden Gems Database Scores at a GlanceScoreScore (out of 100)RankSupporting Data PointProduct (1Y)76Top ~28%Strategic pivot to high-margin managed services and AI-led offerings is gaining traction.Product (5Y)61Bottom ~50%Revenue growth was largely stagnant for several years, hovering around $5 billion annually.Financial (1Y)63Top ~40%Operating margins expanded following a deliberate reduction in non-core business activities.Financial (5Y)64Top ~34%Consistent profitability and cash generation supported steady shareholder returns over the long term.Leaders81Top ~15%Management demonstrates transparency and specific guidance in financial reporting and roadmap execution.AI55Top ~16%The agentic transition is underway but currently sold as an extension of existing legacy services.Valuation Risk74Top ~12%The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 14.15, which suggests a lower valuation risk profile.Is DOX Right For Your Portfolio?This stock warrants a closer look if...

You are looking for reliable, recurring cash flow and dividends from an incumbent player in the small-cap tech stocks space.You believe that the shift toward agentic AI will eventually accelerate the digital transformation of major global telecom carriers.You may want to keep researching before buying if...

You are seeking high-growth companies that are capable of delivering rapid top-line expansion in the near term.You are concerned about the risks associated with extreme customer concentration within the global telecommunications industry.The Superscore provides a unified signal, but it is not a substitute for your own due diligence regarding your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

72/100

Today's Change

(

0.43

%) $

0.25

Current Price

$

58.74

My 5-year prediction for DOX stockAmdocs shares were hit hard earlier this year during the "SaaSpocalypse" that gutted the software-as-a-service industry as the market feared the rise of agentic AI would replace traditional licensing models. The stock has recovered modestly from its lows, though it's still more than 40% off its highs seen in 2020 and 2022.

Management -- one of Amdocs' greatest strengths, according to the Hidden Gems scoring system -- is responding to the perceived AI threat by embracing AI automation to transform its core software and services. Its 10-year strategic engagement with Liberty Latin America could be a springboard for future deals that integrate AI capabilities into Amdoc's legacy telecommunications management. It also provides the telecom company and its investors a source of long-term, recurring cash flow.

This legacy provider is making important moves to remain relevant in an evolving technological arena, but it's not likely to deliver explosive growth over the short or medium terms. That said, Amdocs has a current dividend yield of 3.92% and a 15-year dividend payout history, which will likely appeal income investors. And its trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 14 is below its 10-year historical median of roughly 18, which may appeal to value investors as well.

The Hidden Gems Superscore reflects The Motley Fool's proprietary AI-driven evaluation of a company across product, financial, leadership, and valuation pillars as of the article date and may change over time. Performance figures are point-in-time. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

xStocks are now available on Arbitrum through the Enso API and Enso RWA App, expanding access to tokenized equities across one of Ethereum’s largest Layer 2 ecosystems.

Users can trade xStocks directly through the Enso RWA App, while wallets, fintechs, trading platforms, and other applications can integrate the Enso API for access.

Tokenized stocks on ArbitrumxStocks bring tokenized representations of traditional equities onchain, giving eligible users access to assets such as major US stocks and ETFs through blockchain infrastructure.

With support now live on Arbitrum, users can access these assets alongside the broader DeFi ecosystem on the network.

For applications already integrated with Enso, adding xStocks on Arbitrum does not require building a new routing or aggregation stack. Enso provides a single API for swaps, cross-chain routing, DeFi actions, and RWA execution across supported networks.

An RWA aggregator for tokenized equitiesAs more real-world assets move onchain, distribution becomes increasingly important.

Tokenized assets need more than issuance. They need liquidity, routing, reliable execution, and integrations with the wallets and applications where users already transact.

Enso acts as an RWA aggregator and execution infrastructure for tokenized assets, allowing applications to access xStocks and other RWAs through one integration.

Instead of integrating individual liquidity venues, chains, and asset providers separately, product teams can use Enso to find and execute routes across available onchain liquidity.

Access xStocks through the Enso API or RWA AppDevelopers can integrate xStocks on Arbitrum through the Enso API, while users can access supported tokenized equities directly through the Enso RWA App.

As new assets and networks are added, existing Enso partners can extend their RWA offering without rebuilding their integration.

Explore xStocks on Arbitrum through Enso.

LinksExplore EnsoStart buildingFollow us on XJoin the community

Paxos’s Global Dollar stablecoin, USDG, just had a busy day on Arbitrum One. Its market cap on the network rose by $10.2 million over the past 24 hours to reach $31.2 million.

That works out to roughly 49% growth in a single day.

Paxos launched USDG natively on Arbitrum One on October 6, 2026. Rather than showing up to an empty room, the token arrived with integrations across several decentralized finance protocols from the start.

The lineup covers the main DeFi use cases. Fluid handles trading, Morpho supports lending, GMX accepts deposits, and Maple offers yield products built around the token.

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Native issuance also matters here. A natively issued stablecoin is minted directly on the chain by the issuer, rather than wrapped and shipped over from another network through a bridge.

The Arbitrum rollout is part of the Global Dollar Network, or GDN, the partner framework Paxos uses to expand USDG’s presence and utility across platforms.

Small slice of a much bigger token For context, the $31.2 million on Arbitrum is a sliver of USDG’s overall footprint. Total circulating supply for the stablecoin now exceeds $3.2 billion, which places it as the seventh-largest stablecoin by market capitalization.

Until now, USDG’s supply has been concentrated on other networks, including X Layer, Robinhood Chain, and Solana. Arbitrum adds an Ethereum Layer 2 to that mix.

Arbitrum already has an estimated $4 billion in stablecoins on its network. Against that pool, USDG’s $31.2 million is still under 1% of the existing stablecoin base.

The regulated dollar pitch, plus a revenue twist USDG operates under strict regulatory oversight. Each token is backed 1:1 by US dollar reserves, and monthly attestations are published to confirm that backing.

Through the GDN, revenue generated from reserve yields is shared with distribution partners instead of being kept entirely by Paxos. The platforms that bring USDG to users can share in that income, which gives them a direct reason to push adoption.

For Arbitrum, that arrangement positions the ecosystem to take a cut of GDN revenue tied to activity from its user base.

ArbitrumDAO weighs a 100 million ARB incentive There’s also a governance angle. An ArbitrumDAO proposal seeks to allocate 100 million ARB tokens to incentivize USDG liquidity and adoption on the network.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Kaye Quema. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) will report its financial results for the third quarter 2026 on Wednesday, November 4.

A live video webcast will be held at 8 a.m. ET to discuss financial results and business highlights. The webcast will be available through Circle’s official YouTube and X channels.

Access to all related materials and links, including a replay and transcript following the event, will be available at circle.com/investors.

During the webcast, management will address a selection of shareholder questions submitted in advance via Say Technologies Q&A platform. The platform will open October 28, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET and close November 3, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET.

Disclosure Information

In addition to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Circle uses its Investor Relations website (https://investor.circle.com), its blog (https://www.circle.com/blog), press releases (https://www.circle.com/pressroom), public conference calls and webcasts, including through its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@BuildOnCircle), its X feed (https://x.com/circle), and its LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/circle-internet-financial) as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information, announcing upcoming investor conferences and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor these sites in addition to following Circle’s SEC filings.

About Circle Internet Group, Inc.

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through programmable blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and payment applications. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation.

More News From Circle Internet Group, Inc.

If there’s any doubt about how seriously Meta is taking AI, here’s a new signal: The company on Wednesday announced that its Muse assistant is now available in a dedicated iPad app. That’s a milestone it took Instagram some 15 years to reach, despite constant user demand.

Muse, meanwhile, hit the iPad just a month after launching on iPhone.

(To be fair, it may not be as difficult to bring something like Muse to iPad, given its text-heavy interface, where image and video resolution and formatting matter less.)

Since launching on iOS and Android on September 8, Muse has topped 6.6 million installs, according to estimates from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. The app, which is now one of dozens of consumer-facing AI agents, lets users connect their accounts to stay on top of email, meetings, bills, and more, and to complete tasks like booking reservations, ordering groceries, setting goals, and making purchases.

To make that work, Meta has been adding partners in the effort, which appear in Muse as “connectors.” Users can add and sign in to them selectively, depending on which parts of their online life they’re comfortable letting an AI agent handle.

With the iPad release, Meta has updated this list with several of its newer additions, including connectors aimed at small businesses, like Asana, Canva, Dropbox, Figma, QuickBooks, GitHub, Klaviyo, and Zoom, as well as connectors for Meta ad accounts. It also added Notion and Granola.

In addition, Meta recently announced more retail partners, like Best Buy, Gap, Sephora, Walmart, and Wayfair. These allow the agent to shop those retailers’ sites and complete transactions on users’ behalf. Because this technology is still new, these experiences can still run into issues as websites mistake agents for bots and block their access.

On Tuesday, Meta announced that it’s working with industry partners on a technological solution to this problem in the form of an open standard that would allow personal AI agents to identify themselves to businesses. That would help businesses sort the good bots from the bad.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software.

You can contact or verify outreach from Sarah by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at sarahperez.01 on Signal.

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) reported 486,532 deliveries in the third quarter, a figure that came in ahead of analyst estimates. While the figure may show strength in several regions, fewer than 1,000 of those deliveries in the quarter were in India. But the country is now starting to see momentum.

• Tesla stock is trending lower. Why is TSLA stock trading lower?

Tesla India Gets Slow StartTesla launched deliveries of the Model Y in India in September 2025, with lofty goals of selling 2,500 vehicles in the first year. The total in the first 12 months was only 699, with less than 1,000 vehicles (993) sold in the first 13 months.

In the first month, only 69 vehicles were registered, according to data from Electree, as reported by Electrek.

The weak sales came with the Model Y launching with a price of around $70,000 in the country, higher than many other electric vehicle models.

That total of 69 took months to beat.

In 2025, Tesla had 226 registrations in India for vehicles, a total for the first four months of availability in the country.

The first five months of 2026 didn’t fare much better with 202 registrations, including a new monthly low of 29 in February.

Things changed in April and that could be the key for investors to be excited, even with India being a small portion of Tesla’s overall sales.

Read Next

Tesla’s Winning StrategiesTesla launched the six-seat Model Y L in India in April with a price of around $65,000, cheaper than the five-seat Y Long-Range model ($71,000). That move paid off with demand for the six-seater higher than in past months.

The EV giant also cut the price of the entry-level Model Y in the country in May to a price of around $53,000.

Those two moves led to an increase in demand and a record 294 registrations for September 2026.

Here are the registration numbers over the last four months:

June: 38 July: 116 August: 117 September: 294 Over the last four months, registrations of 565 have topped the 428 figure from the combined prior nine months.

Tesla has added showrooms in India. Together, these moves have increased demand and more registrations. October data will remain key to see if the trend of higher registrations continues.

Room to GrowLess than 1,000 vehicles sold in India in the first 13 months offers plenty of opportunity for Tesla in a growing EV market.

In India, there were 35,995 EVs registered in September, a figure that was up 98% year-over-year. Tesla’s market share of 0.8% pales in comparison to Tata, which sold 14,769 vehicles during the month.

Another winner in India is VinFast (NASDAQ:VFS), with 2,963 registrations in September. VinFast started in India in the same month as Tesla, but differed by operating a plant in the country, allowing for lower prices on vehicles to get around import duties. Tesla chose not to build a factory in the country.

In the premium segment, Tesla ranks second with around 30% market share, trailing only BMW.

Tesla is a small player in India, which remains a small portion of the company’s total vehicle deliveries. Based on the growth in recent months after several notable company changes, there could be room for more growth for the EV giant.

Read Next

Image via Shutterstock/ Fly Of Swallow Studio

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

The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday it will vote on a proposal to auction 25 megahertz of "prime spectrum" to support "direct-to-device" services from satellites to smart phones.

The FCC, in a press release, also said it would vote Oct. 29 on taking public comment on a proposal to make an additional 482MHz of spectrum available for supplemental coverage from space and to modernize FCC rules for D2D services in the licensed spectrum.

The two proposals could benefit companies such as SpaceX and Amazon, which have moved to expand D2D services with satellite networks.

A third proposal to be voted on "would eliminate an outdated restriction that prevents drone operations in the 800 MHz Cellular band," the FCC said.

Amazon in July asked the FCC to approve the company launching up to 5,105 internet satellites as part of a constellation to provide direct-to-device connectivity. Amazon, in a filing that month, said it was targeting users who are "unserved or underserved" by existing wireless providers.

In August, Amazon said it would acquire Globalstar in a deal worth more than $11.5 billion to boost Amazon's Leo satellite internet business.

On Tuesday, the FCC's Space Bureau granted an application for SpaceX's new direct-to-cell system of 15,000 satellites.

"This constellation will use the spectrum SpaceX purchased from EchoStar earlier this year, which the FCC approved in a major win for the American space economy," the FCC said in the Wednesday press release.

"The 'direct-to-device' proposals work to continue leveraging this cutting-edge tech to end cell phone dead zones and provide service directly from next-gen satellite constellations to your smartphone," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, said in a statement Wednesday. "And our final rules on drones further President Trump's call for drone dominance, providing the emerging American drone economy with usable spectrum to support the next generation of commercial and defense innovations."

Paramount closed its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and the merged company, now named Skydance (SKYD -6.98%), says it has almost $70 billion in revenue. Besides two movie studios, CBS, and CNN, it owns the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services, and it counts over 200 million streaming subscribers across its platforms.

That makes it bigger than Netflix (NFLX +1.45%), at least in sales. The streaming leader expects 2026 revenue of $51.0 billion to $51.4 billion, so even against Netflix's outlook for this year, Skydance takes in around a third more.

It's also a deal Netflix wanted a piece of. Netflix agreed last December to buy Warner Bros.' studios and HBO Max for an enterprise value of around $82.7 billion. It later declined to match Paramount's larger offer in February and got a $2.8 billion termination fee.

With Netflix stock near $69 as I write this, within about 6% of its 52-week low, should shareholders worry about a rival this much bigger? I think the sales number overstates the threat.

Image source: Netflix.

Bigger doesn't mean more profitableSkydance's pro forma statements (the two companies combined as if they'd always been one) show how differently the rivals turn sales into profit.

Skydance's pro forma revenue was $66.1 billion in 2025, well above Netflix's $45.2 billion. But Skydance had a pro forma operating loss of around $2.6 billion that year, while Netflix's operating income grew 28% to $13.3 billion. In the first half of 2026, Skydance's pro forma operating income was just $172 million, versus $8.1 billion for Netflix with around $7 billion less revenue. And Netflix's second-quarter operating margin was 33.4%, just under 34.1% a year before.

These numbers include some deal-related accounting charges, of course, though not nearly enough to explain a gap so big.

A large debt loadThe deal had an enterprise value of around $110 billion. Skydance's pro forma balance sheet lists about $82 billion of debt on June 30, against about $8 billion of cash, and its pro forma net interest expense was about $6.4 billion in 2025.

Netflix finished June with $14.3 billion of debt and $9.1 billion of cash. Its interest expense in 2025 was $777 million, so Skydance's interest bill is more than eight times as big.

Management is also targeting more than $6 billion in annual cost savings over the next three years. I'd say a company carrying that much debt and taking $6 billion of costs out of its business isn't set up to start a price war.

Skydance does plan to roll Paramount+ and HBO Max into one service over time, which might make it a stronger rival. But Netflix said in July that the results of its recent price changes were in line with earlier ones.

Will Netflix need to pay more for content?Skydance says its pro forma content spending passed $30 billion in the last 12 months. Netflix said in February that it would invest around $20 billion in movies and series this year.

And Netflix's own content costs are accelerating. Its content amortization (the expense it books as it writes down the cost of its shows and movies) climbed 7% in 2025, to $16.4 billion, while revenue grew 16%. For 2026, management expects amortization to rise around 10%, with revenue up 13% to 14%.

That gap between revenue growth and content-cost growth is narrowing, from about 9 percentage points last year to about 3 or 4 this year. And it's a big part of why Netflix's operating margin climbed to 29.5% in 2025 from 26.7% in 2024, with 31.5% expected for 2026.

If Skydance bids up the price of shows and sports rights, that gap may narrow further. Netflix, though, has shown it won't chase a deal at any price.

"[T]his transaction was always a 'nice to have' at the right price, not a 'must have' at any price," co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said in a February statement.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

81/100

Today's Change

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1.45

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69.69

Meanwhile, the stock's valuation arguably isn't steep.

After all, Netflix expects operating income to grow more than 20% this year, and its shares trade at around 18 times analysts' average estimate for next year's earnings.

Does a $70 billion rival make Netflix stock a worse buy? Not by much, in my view. Skydance is bigger, but Netflix earns far more and owes far less.

My hesitation is more about Netflix itself. Revenue growth is slowing, and content costs are growing closer to revenue's pace. A bigger competitor bidding on the same shows just adds to that.

Key Takeaways Bristol Myers is relying on its growth portfolio to drive top-line growth as legacy drug sales decline.Reblozyl sales neared $1.3 billion in the first half of 2026, rising 23% from the year-ago period.Bristol Myers could gain further Reblozyl growth from a myelofibrosis anemia indication and ongoing trials. Bristol Myers (BMY - Free Report) is banking on key drugs like Opdivo Qvantig, Reblozyl, Camzyos, Breyanzi and Opdualag to drive top-line growth amid a significant decline in legacy drug sales.

These key drugs are part of the company’s growth portfolio, which is becoming increasingly important to the company’s top-line performance.

Among these, Reblozyl (luspatercept), the thalassemia drug that BMY co-developed with Merck, continues to be a major growth driver, with sales now nearing $1.3 billion in the first half of 2026, up 23% from the year-ago period’s level.

Reblozyl is approved in the United States for the treatment of anemia in adults with beta thalassemia who require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions; in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)-naïve adults with very low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who may require regular RBC transfusions; in adults with very low- to intermediate-risk MDS with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS) or MDS/MPN with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN-RS-T) whose anemia has failed to respond to an ESA and who require at least two RBC units over eight weeks.

Reblozyl’s strong sales reflect solid uptake in first-line MDS-associated anemia, continued strength in the second-line setting and further penetration in the first-line RS-negative population.

The FDA accepted the supplemental biologics license application for Reblozyl with concomitant janus kinase inhibitor therapy in adult patients with myelofibrosis-associated anemia receiving red blood cell transfusions. The application was supported by results from the late-stage INDEPENDENCE study. The FDA granted a target action date of March 11, 2027.

Approval in additional indications should further boost sales.

A phase III study, ELEMENT-MDS, which is evaluating Reblozyl in first-line non-transfusion dependent low or intermediate risk MDS associated anemia, is ongoing. Data from the study is expected in 2028.

Competition for BMY’s ReblozylGeron Corporation’s (GERN - Free Report) Rytelo (imetelstat) is an oligonucleotide telomerase inhibitor approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with lower-risk MDS (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia requiring four or more red blood cell units over eight weeks who have not responded to or have lost response to or are ineligible for ESAs. It is indicated to be administered as an intravenous infusion over two hours every four weeks.

Geron is witnessing strong uptake of Rytelo since its approval in June 2024. The drug generated $57.5 million of revenues in the second quarter of 2026.

Geron estimates that approximately 8,000 second-line LR-MDS patients in the United States represent an opportunity for further Rytelo penetration. GERN expects 2026 Rytelo sales to be in the range of $220-$240 million.

Beyond LR-MDS, Geron is advancing Rytelo in relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis through the phase III IMpactMF study.

Keros Therapeutics (KROS - Free Report) , a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is evaluating elritercept, in partnership with Takeda, for the treatment of low blood cell counts, or cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with MDS and myelofibrosis.

KROS recently announced that it expects to receive a $20 million development milestone payment under the terms of the license agreement of elritercept with partner Takeda, following the dosing of the first patient in the late-stage ELRiSE MF study. This study is comparing the efficacy and safety of elritercept to placebo in patients with myelofibrosis and anemia on concurrent ruxolitinib therapy.

Under its global licensing agreement with Takeda, Keros Therapeutics is eligible to receive more than $1.1 billion in potential development, commercial and sales milestones for elritercept, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Keros received a $200 million upfront payment in February 2025 and is also eligible for tiered royalties on net sales.

BMY’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Bristol Myers have gained 10.5% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 2.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, BMY is trading at a discount to the large-cap pharma industry. Going by the price/earnings ratio, its shares currently trade at 8.57X forward earnings, lower than its mean of 8.78X and the large-cap pharma industry’s 20.44X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS has moved north to $6.91 from $6.81 in the past 60 days, while that for 2027 EPS has improved to $6.46 from $6.42 in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Takeaways ISRG's SP procedures jumped 61% as its installed base reached 445 systems in the second quarter.ISRG saw U.S. SP utilization rise 25%, while stapler use in eligible cases neared 60% during the quarter.SP placements and expanded indications are supporting broader adoption across the U.S. and global markets. Intuitive Surgical’s (ISRG - Free Report) single-port (SP) platform is increasingly emerging as a meaningful growth franchise, supported by accelerating procedure volumes, a growing installed base and expanding product capabilities. In the second quarter, SP procedures increased 61% year over year, powered by strong momentum in the United States and Korea, while early-stage adoption gained traction in Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

Intuitive Surgical placed 38 SP systems during the quarter, taking its global installed base to 445 systems. Although ISRG does not provide standalone figures for SP systems, rising placements and robust procedure growth should help the platform become the company’s billion-dollar franchise soon, complementing its multi-port platform that generated the majority of its $10 billion revenues in 2025.

The platform is also benefiting from improving utilization and a broader ecosystem. Average system utilization for SP systems in the United States increased 25% year over year in the second quarter. This indicates that growth is increasingly being supported by higher use of systems already deployed, rather than placements alone.

Meanwhile, adoption of the SP stapler is accelerating. The stapler was used in nearly 60% of eligible U.S. cases, up from just under 40% in the previous quarter, with colorectal and thoracic procedures driving adoption. Internationally, the stapler has entered broad launch across Europe and Korea, while the Japan launch likely began in the third quarter.

Expanded indications and product enhancements provide another avenue for franchise expansion. Intuitive Surgical cited extended-range instruments, custom remote-center software and reach-assist software as key factors supporting broader SP adoption. The company is also focused on expanding SP through product innovation, training and geographic expansion.

The international opportunity remains particularly important. SP placements increased to 38 in the second quarter from 23 a year earlier. The growth in placement was primarily driven by demand in the United States and Japan, while procedure momentum is emerging across Europe and Asia. With rapid procedure growth, rising utilization, expanding indications and a broader geographic footprint, SP has the ingredients to become a substantially larger franchise for ISRG.

Peer UpdatesEdwards Lifesciences’ (EW - Free Report) Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”) product group appears well positioned to become its third billion-dollar business. The company’s Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement product group generated 74% of EW’s $6 billion revenues in 2025 while Surgical Structural Heart generated 17%. The potential of TMTT products group is supported by a diversified product portfolio and multiple adoption curves.

TMTT sales reached $373.7 million in the first half of 2026, up 49.6% year over year, with PASCAL, EVOQUE and SAPIEN M3 all exceeding expectations. PASCAL is gaining adoption, EVOQUE is scaling through new centers and higher utilization, while SAPIEN M3 is expanding its addressable population through new indications. The planned U.S. launch of PASCAL for tricuspid patients would add another growth layer. Management explicitly mentioned that these platforms should drive TMTT revenues to reach $2 billion by 2030.

Glaukos (GKOS - Free Report) is building a diversified ophthalmology platform that could eventually support billion-dollar annual revenues. The company raised 2026 sales guidance to $680-$700 million, while iDose TR generated approximately $74 million in the second quarter and Epioxa contributed about $11 million. The company’s sales registered 32% growth rate for full-year 2025, followed by 45.7% in the first half of 2026.

At these growth rates, the company should be able to achieve billion-dollar sales in the next two to three years. Beyond these commercial products, Glaukos has five novel therapeutic platforms and 13 publicly disclosed programs, including iDose TREX, iDose TRIO, iLink, iStent infinite, PRESERFLO MicroShunt, iLution and GLK-401. Management views these programs as potentially transformative therapies. Thus, continued iDose and Epioxa expansion, combined with successful pipeline commercialization, could materially broaden Glaukos’ revenue base.

ISRG’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of ISRG have lost 28.6% so far this year compared with a 4.9% decline of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Intuitive Surgical trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 34.63X, above the industry average. But it is significantly lower than its five-year median of 67.47X. ISRG carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Intuitive Surgical’s 2026 earnings implies a 20.3% rise from the year-ago period’s level.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways COIN held a record $20B in average USDC in Q2 2026, up 44% year over year, with over 30% of circulation.USDC can support recurring revenues tied to reserve economics as circulation and platform balances increase.Rising USDC use in payments, custody, lending and Base could reduce reliance on volatile transaction revenues. Coinbase Global (COIN - Free Report) is increasingly being valued as more than a crypto trading platform, with USDC emerging as a potentially important long-term growth engine. Unlike transaction revenues, which are highly sensitive to crypto trading volumes, USDC can generate a more recurring revenue stream tied to broader adoption of blockchain-based payments and digital-dollar usage.

Stablecoins remain central to Coinbase’s revenue mix and payments strategy. Average USDC held in Coinbase products reached a record $20 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 44% year over year, while more than 30% of circulating USDC was held in Coinbase products at quarter-end. As Coinbase participates in the economics of USDC reserves, rising circulation and higher balances across its platform can support continued revenue growth.

USDC is also evolving beyond a trading asset into broader financial infrastructure. Growing adoption by businesses, institutions and consumers for payments, settlement and value transfers could expand Coinbase’s monetization opportunities across custody, payments, trading, lending and onchain applications. Rising stablecoin activity on Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 network, further strengthens this opportunity.

Increased stablecoin adoption can deepen Coinbase’s ecosystem and generate activity across multiple products, helping reduce its historical reliance on volatile transaction revenues. If stablecoins become a mainstream settlement layer, Coinbase’s distribution, custody and Base infrastructure could position USDC as a core pillar of long-term growth and subscription and services revenues.

What About COIN’s Peers?Stablecoins, especially USDC, are also fundamental to Circle Internet Group’s (CRCL - Free Report) business strategy. As USDC’s issuer, Circle earns revenues through interest on reserves and transaction flows. Stablecoins also support Circle’s expansion into payments, DeFi and global finance, reinforcing its role as a core infrastructure provider in the digital asset ecosystem.

Stablecoins play a growing role in BlackRock Inc.’s (BLK - Free Report) digital strategy. Through its partnership with Circle, it manages USDC reserves, gaining direct exposure to stablecoin infrastructure. This supports BlackRock’s broader push to modernize finance by leveraging blockchain technology for tokenized assets, real-time settlements and more efficient capital markets.

COIN’s Price PerformanceShares of COIN have lost 21.2% in the year-to-date period, underperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COIN’s Expensive ValuationCOIN trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 81.08, significantly above the industry average of 15.45.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for COINThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for COIN’s third-quarter and fourth-quarter 2026 earnings per share (EPS) witnessed northbound movement in the last 30 days. The same holds true for 2026 and 2027.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BTIG analyst Gray Powell raised the price forecast for Cloudflare (NYSE:NET) from $382 to $413, while maintaining a Buy rating. The analyst cited stronger growth and product momentum at the company.

The analyst wrote that they spoke with several Cloudflare contacts and industry analysts, including three partners and four industry analysts. Feedback was broadly positive.

• Cloudflare stock is under selling pressure. Why are NET shares declining?

Strong YTD Growth ProjectionThe largest partner reported 40%-50% year-to-date growth, accelerating to the high 70% range in September, versus 40% previously. Another contact reported about 26% growth over the past three to four quarters and expects 28% growth by the fourth quarter.

A European distributor expanded its Cloudflare agreement and said the company is gaining market share and strengthening its enterprise presence.

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The only cautious view came from a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) analyst, who cited challenges in moving upmarket due to Cloudflare’s historical focus on smaller customers and cloud-only model.

Street Expects Double-Digit GrowthThe Street expects fiscal third-quarter revenue of $737 million, up 31.1% year over year, while the analyst sees upside to $760 million, or 35.2% growth.

Under that scenario, the fourth quarter revenue could reach about $800 million, up 30.2%, versus the $796 million Street estimate, adds the analyst.

NET Earnings Preview and Analyst Price TargetsLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the Oct. 29 (estimated) earnings report.

EPS Estimate: 34 cents (Up from 27 cents year-over-year) Revenue Estimate: $737.95 million (Up from $562.03 million YoY) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $335.20. Recent analyst moves include:

Bernstein: Market Perform (Raises target to $181 on Sept. 17) Citizens: Market Outperform (Maintains target to $394 on Aug. 31) NET Stock Today: Cloudflare Price Action on WednesdayCloudflare shares were down 1.77% at $348.72 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Key Takeaways ZIM raises 2026 adjusted EBITDA to $2.7-$3.0 billion from the prior guidance of $2.0-$2.4 billion.ZIM trades at a discount P/B ratio than its industry average, signaling a cheap valuation.ZIM shares have gained so far this year, but underperforms its industry and peers like SBLK and SHIP. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.(ZIM - Free Report) has unveiled an encouraging updated guidance for 2026.

A raised guidance always acts as a positive indicator on the company’s prospects. Given this backdrop, the question that naturally arises is: Should investors buy, hold, or sell ZIM stock now? A more in-depth analysis is needed to make that determination. Before diving into ZIM’s investment prospects, let’s take a glance at its financial numbers.

ZIM’s Raised Outlook for 2026ZIM’s management provided upbeat full-year 2026 guidance, reflecting continued strong market demand and favorable momentum in freight rates.

For 2026, ZIM now anticipates to generate adjusted EBITDA between $2.7 billion and $3.0 billion and adjusted EBIT between $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion. The updated guidance reflects an upside from the prior given guidance of adjusted EBITDA between $2.0 billion and $2.4 billion and adjusted EBIT between $700 million and $1.1 billion, as of Aug. 19, 2026 (concurrent with ZIM’s second-quarter 2026 earnings release).

The midpoint of the updated full-year 2026 guidance indicates an increase of 30% in adjusted EBITDA and 72% in adjusted EBIT compared with the prior guidance.

What Do Earnings Estimates Say for ZIM Stock?The positive sentiment surrounding ZIM stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and fourth-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward in the past 90 days. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 earnings has also been projected upward in the past 90 days.

The favorable estimate revisions indicate brokers’ lack of confidence in the stock.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Attractive Valuation Picture for ZIM StockZIM looks cheap from a valuation standpoint. Considering the trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B)ratio, ZIM is trading at a discount compared to the industry.

The stock has a trailing 12-month P/B-TTM of 0.91X compared with 2.39X for the industry over the past five years. These factors indicate that the stock’s valuation is attractive. ZIM has a Value Score of A.

ZIM P/B Ratio (Trailing 12 months) Vs. Industry Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ZIM Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of ZIM stock have gained 37.6% so far this year, underperforming the Zacks Transportation - Shipping industry’s 71.3% surge, as well as that of other industry players, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (SBLK - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp (SHIP - Free Report)  within the same time frame.

ZIM Stock’s YTD Price Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Not An Opportune Time to Buy ZIM StockA bullish full-year guidance and attractive valuation raise optimism about ZIM stock. The company’s pending acquisition by Hapag-Lloyd provides a valuation anchor, while firmer Transpacific conditions, flexible spot exposure and a modern fleet support earnings recovery potential. Management expects a materially stronger second-half 2026, aided by higher freight rates and slightly higher full-year volume. ZIM’s flexible deployment and premium-cargo focus help capture favorable rate shifts.

Despite these positives, we advise investors not to buy ZIM stock now. The shipping cycle remains volatile, with first-half profitability still well below the prior year and industry capacity growth creating normalization risk. Higher bunker and operating costs also limit margin upside, while the merger remains subject to regulatory approvals. Management expects 2026 bunker costs to be meaningfully higher than in 2025. ZIM retains substantial liquidity and fleet flexibility, but leverage and execution risks remain relevant.

Given the balance between recovery drivers and cyclical, cost and transaction uncertainty, we advise investors to wait for a better entry point. For those who already own the stock, it will be prudent to stay invested. The company’s current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) justifies our analysis. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Gold Is Testing Its 200-Day SMA—These 3 Mining Stocks Are the PlayRoyal Gold NASDAQ: RGLD Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Jason Hynes said the company’s royalty and streaming portfolio is benefiting from strong precious-metals prices, recent acquisitions and a broad pipeline of development-stage assets.

Hynes emphasized that Royal Gold is not a mine operator. Instead, it holds royalty and stream interests that provide exposure primarily to gold production from mines operated by other companies. Gold accounts for nearly 80% of revenue, with most of the remainder coming from silver and copper, he said.

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The Best Way to Invest in Gold Is...The company’s portfolio includes more than 360 assets, including more than 80 producing properties, roughly 30 development-stage projects and more than 250 earlier-stage assets. Nearly 70% of its revenue comes from North America, according to Hynes.

Acquisitions Added Scale and Mine-Life Duration Hynes characterized 2025 as a transformative year, citing Royal Gold’s acquisitions of Sandstorm and Horizon as well as two significant asset investments. The company acquired a $1 billion gold stream on First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia and committed $200 million to the Warintza copper-gold project in Ecuador.

BHP Stock: The Under-the-Radar Growth Story in CommoditiesAccording to Hynes, the acquisitions contributed to record revenue, cash flow and earnings in the two quarters reported since they closed. They also increased the company’s weighted average reserve life to approximately 18 years from about 14 years previously.

“No asset was more than 13% of revenue,” Hynes said, pointing to the company’s focus on diversification. He added that Royal Gold has repaid most of the debt associated with the transactions, initiated share repurchases and raised its dividend for the 25th consecutive year.

Royal Gold issued 18.6 million shares to Sandstorm shareholders as part of that transaction, Hynes said. He noted this was the company’s first equity issuance since 2012.

Development Assets Advance Hynes said several acquired development assets have advanced more quickly than expected, aided by higher copper and gold prices.

Among them is the MARA project in Argentina, which combines the Agua Rica copper-gold deposit with processing infrastructure at the former Alumbrera mine. Glencore has consolidated ownership of the project and recently received approval under Argentina’s RIGI investment-incentive framework, Hynes said. Royal Gold holds an option on a 20% gold stream covering expected byproduct gold production from Agua Rica.

Glencore has begun mining remaining material at Alumbrera to restart the mill and assess infrastructure ahead of development of Agua Rica, according to Hynes. He said an updated feasibility study is expected in the middle of the year, followed by a potential investment decision by year-end.

Other cited projects include Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef project in South Africa, where Royal Gold received its first gold delivery in August; the Corani silver project in Peru, now under construction; and the Omai gold project in Guyana. Hynes also highlighted Royal Gold’s 1.6% gross smelter return royalty covering the Fourmile gold discovery in Nevada’s Cortez district.

The Fourmile preliminary economic assessment outlined potential annual production of 600,000 to 750,000 ounces of gold over 25 years, Hynes said. Nevada Gold Mines is targeting a pre-feasibility study by the end of 2028 and a feasibility study in 2029.

Growth Outlook and Capital Returns Royal Gold issued five-year guidance in March for the first time. Hynes said the midpoint of its 2026 outlook represented 30% growth over 2025 actual results, followed by an additional 17% growth over the ensuing five years. The outlook does not include several potentially material projects, including MARA, Fourmile, Hudbay Minerals’ Cactus project in Arizona and certain interests related to Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia.

For the first half of the year, Royal Gold generated more than $750 million of EBITDA, while its market capitalization stood near $20 billion, Hynes said. On a trailing 12-month basis, he said EBITDA margin was 83% and cash general and administrative expenses represented 3% of revenue.

The company employs 39 people and generates more than $1 billion annually in operating cash flow, according to Hynes. He said the royalty model limits direct exposure to mining labor, energy, capital spending and reclamation costs, while allowing margins to expand with higher metals prices.

Royal Gold has paid a growing dividend since 2000 and increased it annually since 2001. Earlier this year, the board authorized a share repurchase program of up to $500 million, which Hynes said the company has begun using. Royal Gold also added a $600 million accordion feature to its revolving credit facility.

Focus on Diversification and Valuation Hynes said Royal Gold’s strategy is to pursue high-quality assets in established mining jurisdictions operated by well-capitalized companies, while maintaining a diversified portfolio by asset, operator and geography.

He said the company targets double-digit returns on new investments and intends to use operating cash flow and debt capacity for acquisitions while remaining disciplined on equity issuance. Royal Gold may invest less in years when opportunities do not meet its standards, he added.

Hynes said management believes the company’s valuation does not yet fully reflect the increased scale, growth pipeline and longer reserve life resulting from its recent transactions. He said Royal Gold expects additional quarterly results and project updates to provide the market with more visibility into the combined portfolio.

About Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD)Royal Gold, Inc is a precious metals streaming and royalty company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Rather than operating mines directly, the company finances mining projects and acquires interests that provide rights to purchase a portion of the metals produced from those operations or to receive royalty payments based on mine revenue.

Royal Gold's portfolio is primarily focused on gold, with additional exposure to silver, copper and other metals. Its interests include streaming agreements and royalties associated with projects such as Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic and Mount Milligan in British Columbia, Canada.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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

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Key Takeaways Berkshire Hathaway's float reached about $177.5B by June 30, 2026, expanding its investment capacity.Profitable underwriting keeps float costs low, supporting investments and acquisitions that can add returns.Float reduces Berkshire Hathaway's reliance on shareholder capital or external borrowing to fund expansion. Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.B - Free Report) success is often linked to former CEO Warren Buffett’s ability to identify high-quality businesses at attractive prices. Equally important, however, has been the company’s use of insurance “float” as a powerful source of investment capital.

Insurance float represents premiums collected before related claims are paid. Berkshire receives cash upfront from policyholders, while claims may not be settled for months or even years. During that period, the company can invest the assets backing those future obligations across stocks, bonds and operating businesses. Importantly, float is not permanent capital, as Berkshire remains responsible for meeting policyholder claims when they arise.

This model becomes valuable when combined with disciplined underwriting. Profitable insurance operations generate float at a low cost, allowing Berkshire to deploy substantial capital into investments and acquisitions that can produce additional returns.

Berkshire’s float increased to about $177.5 billion as of June 30, 2026, from roughly $114 billion at the end of 2017, significantly expanding its investment capacity. This source of funding reduces the company’s dependence on shareholder capital or external borrowing while supporting continued expansion across its diversified businesses.

Insurance float is therefore far more than just an accounting concept. It is a structural funding advantage that has helped Berkshire compound capital over decades and become one of the world’s most formidable capital-allocation businesses.

What About BRK.B’s Peers?Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies (TRV - Free Report) are two other notable companies in the insurance space.

Chubb Limited’s disciplined approach to capital deployment emphasizes strong underwriting, prudent reserve practices and selective acquisitions to broaden its global presence and enhance specialty capabilities. Chubb also prioritizes long-term value creation through consistent shareholder returns via dividends and buybacks, while investing in technology and risk management to drive sustainable growth.

The Travelers Companies deploys capital prudently by focusing on disciplined underwriting, accurate risk assessment and data-informed pricing, ensuring stable profitability and financial resilience. Travelers drives long-term value through continued investments in technology and analytics, while consistently returning excess capital to shareholders via dividends and share buybacks.

BRK.B’s Price PerformanceShares of BRK.B have gained 0.4% year to date, outperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BRK.B’s Expensive ValuationBRK.B trades at a price-to-book value ratio of 1.44, above the industry average of 1.38. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimates for BRK.BThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRK.B’s third-quarter and fourth-quarter 2026 EPS has witnessed no movement over the past 30 days. The same holds true for 2026 and 2027.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Neogen (NASDAQ:NEOG) reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter revenue of $222.8 million, with core growth of 8.1%, as the company cited improved commercial execution, product-line strength in food safety and animal safety, and progress on its Petrifilm manufacturing transition.

Chief Executive Officer Mike Nassif said the quarter marked an acceleration from the prior quarter, though he noted that the timing of certain customer orders contributed to growth. The company is focusing its fiscal 2027 strategy on commercial execution, innovation and operational efficiency while continuing investments intended to support long-term growth and profitability.

Revenue Growth Across Both Segments Food Safety revenue totaled $163.2 million, representing 8.1% core growth. Chief Financial Officer Bryan Riggsbee said first-quarter Food Safety growth received an approximately 400-basis-point benefit from order timing and a comparison to the prior-year period, when two large distributors made inventory adjustments. Within Food Safety, indicator testing and culture media products, including Petrifilm, increased 11%. Bacterial and general sanitation products grew 7%, including double-digit growth in pathogen detection, Riggsbee said.

Animal Safety revenue was $59.6 million and rose 8% on a core basis, including roughly a 100-basis-point benefit from the timing of customer orders. The segment’s growth was driven by veterinary instruments, including needles and syringes supported by improved supply, as well as biosecurity products, particularly insect-control offerings.

Neogen generated growth in each geographic region, led by double-digit growth in Asia-Pacific. U.S. sales represented 49% of quarterly revenue, while international markets accounted for 51%.

During the question-and-answer session, Chief Commercial Officer Joe Freels said the company is working to increase its share of wallet with existing customers rather than relying primarily on new markets. He highlighted a new approach for global strategic accounts, under which a dedicated accountable leader is assigned to individual customers operating across multiple regions. Freels said those accounts grew 6.2% in the first quarter.

Margins, Cash Flow and Debt Neogen reported gross margin of 47.4% and adjusted gross margin of 49.8%, up 30 basis points from a year earlier on an adjusted basis. The adjusted margin improvement reflected higher revenue, partially offset by deliberate investments in operational excellence and inventory optimization.

Adjusted operating expenses were approximately flat year over year. Increased investment in research and development and general and administrative functions was offset by lower sales and marketing costs, including lower logistics and distribution expenses, centralized regional marketing resources and the divestiture of the cleaners and disinfectants business.

Adjusted EBITDA was $41.6 million, or 18.7% of revenue, representing 170 basis points of margin expansion. Adjusted net income was $17.5 million, and adjusted earnings per share were $0.08.

Free cash flow was $4.7 million, improving approximately $18 million from the prior-year quarter. Riggsbee attributed the improvement to higher operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditures as the company approaches completion of the Petrifilm manufacturing transition.

Neogen ended the quarter with about $774 million in debt and $172 million in cash. The company repaid $20 million of its term loan in June and another $10 million at the end of September. It remains compliant with its debt covenants, Riggsbee said.

Petrifilm Transfer and Innovation Initiatives The company said its planned multi-quarter transfer of Petrifilm manufacturing is expected to begin next month. Neogen has completed full validation of its first Petrifilm stock-keeping unit, confirming that the product met production, quality and stability requirements and performed equivalently to product made by its transition partner.

Nassif called the validation a “major de-risking milestone” for the program. He said Neogen is managing the transition around four priorities: customer continuity, safety-stock management, supplier management and disciplined sequencing across 17 SKUs.

Riggsbee said duplicative costs related to the transition are expected to peak and then decline as the transfer is completed. He said the company expects to begin implementing identified operational improvements during fiscal 2028 and anticipates 200 to 300 basis points of margin improvement in fiscal 2029.

Neogen also announced a strategic collaboration with Hinalea, a hyperspectral imaging company. Nassif said the technology could have applications across Food Safety and may help simplify customer workflows through faster detection and decision-making at processing sites.

Guidance Raised; Genomics Sale Still Under Review Neogen raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to $885 million to $890 million and increased adjusted EBITDA guidance to $181 million to $183 million. The guidance continues to include the genomics business, which Neogen has agreed to divest.

The genomics transaction remains under review by regulatory authorities in Australia and New Zealand, with a final decision expected by the end of December. Neogen expects approximately $140 million in net proceeds, primarily for debt reduction. Riggsbee said the sale could reduce net leverage to below three times at closing and closer to 2.5 times by the end of the fiscal year.

The company expects first-half core growth of approximately 3.5%, noting that first-quarter results benefited from timing items and that the second quarter is expected to have the lowest core growth rate of the year. Neogen expects first-half adjusted EBITDA margin to be in line with the first quarter while it continues to invest in R&D, commercial infrastructure, technology and automation.

About Neogen (NASDAQ:NEOG) Neogen Corporation is a global provider of food safety and animal safety products and services. The company develops diagnostic tests, laboratory products, and related solutions that help customers detect foodborne pathogens, allergens, toxins, residues, and other contaminants throughout the food production process.

Its food safety portfolio includes test kits, culture media, molecular testing systems, sanitation monitoring products, and laboratory supplies used by food manufacturers, processors, retailers, and regulatory organizations.