Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

US stocks opened higher on Tuesday as falling oil prices and a rebound in chip stocks helped lift sentiment ahead of the midterm elections. However, losses in Apple and Palantir weighed on the market, while investors continued to assess the outlook for major technology companies amid concerns about artificial intelligence spending.

Two exchange-traded funds linked to Palantir Technologies (PLTR) carried reported exposure of roughly twice the stock's value as the shares retreated more than

Morgan Brennan discusses Palantir's Q3 results, what's moving the stock lower, and comments from her conversation with CEO Alex Karp.

Palantir beat on revenue and earnings, yet its stock tumbled anyway, and the fallout quietly clipped the returns of millions of investors who never bought a single share of PLTR.

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) dropped 4.89% in Tuesday’s regular trading, recently changing hands at $169.62 by 10:31 AM ET. The drop followed a third-quarter earnings report that beat estimates on revenue and profit but showed bookings growth slowing sharply. Analysts pointed to a slowdown in total contract value. Part of this selloff hit the accounts of investors holding a Nasdaq-100 or technology sector fund.

Revenue Beat, Bookings Slowed Revenue came in at $2.313 billion against a $2.181 billion estimate, up 95.87% year over year. Adjusted EPS of $0.44 exceeded the $0.4072 consensus. Management also raised full-year revenue guidance to $8.530 billion to $8.534 billion.

Bookings measure the value of new contracts a company signs during a quarter. Revenue shows the work already delivered. Bookings show what customers have agreed to pay for down the road, so investors use them to gauge future revenue. Palantir reports this figure as total contract value (TCV).

TCV came in at $2.918 billion, up just 6% year over year. U.S. commercial TCV grew 11% to $1.463 billion, compared with 153% growth in the second quarter. Total TCV growth has slowed from +138% in Q4 2025 to +61%, then +49%, and now +6%.

Management blamed shorter contract terms. Dave Glazer, the company’s finance chief, said, “We signed multiple eight-figure deals in the quarter that were shorter in duration than usual as customers rapidly adopted initial Sovereign AI capabilities in their enterprise.” Total remaining deal value reached $13.4 billion, up 55%, and net dollar retention was 165%.

Widely Held ETFs That Own Palantir Based on the funds’ most recent portfolio filings, dated June 30, 2026, here is how much Palantir two of the biggest growth ETFs hold:

ETF Palantir Weight Palantir Position Value Today’s Move Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) 1.16% $5.69 billion +0.63% Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLK) 1.49% $1.85 billion +1.15% QQQ had net assets of $490.1 billion. XLK had $123.9 billion. Palantir has a larger weight in XLK because that fund holds only technology stocks.

What the Drop Cost These Funds Today At the June 30 weights, a 4.89% decline takes roughly 0.06 percentage points off QQQ and about 0.07 percentage points off XLK. Gains in other holdings more than covered it. QQQ traded at $685.41 and XLK at $176.23.

The bigger background is a tech pullback already in progress. QQQ is down 8.56% over the past month, and XLK is down 11.8%. A miss on a growth signal from a high-multiple holding makes it harder for these funds to recover.

For S&P 500 investors, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) slipped from $755.16 when the results came out to $754.24, a dip of about 0.12%. Palantir isn’t among SPY’s 10 largest disclosed holdings. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO), with a 0.03% expense ratio, tracks the same index, so it has a similar small exposure.

Overlap Risk for Retirement Accounts Many 401(k) and IRA portfolios combine an S&P 500 core fund with QQQ or a tech sector fund, which adds to their Palantir exposure. A portfolio split evenly between QQQ and XLK holds about 1.33% in Palantir before considering any S&P 500 fund. iShares warns that concentrated funds face “an increased risk of loss, including losses due to adverse events that affect the Fund’s investments more than the market as a whole”.

Valuation makes this exposure more sensitive. Palantir trades at 252 times earnings, so small changes in growth expectations can move the stock sharply (riding a stretched multiple is fine as long as you plan the exit, and our free bubble survivor’s handbook covers both halves). Stock-based compensation rose to $318.9 million from $172.3 million, and accounts receivable climbed to $1.883 billion from $1.042 billion.

What to Watch Next Palantir guided fourth-quarter revenue to $2.649 billion to $2.653 billion. Investors in the funds will want to see whether TCV growth picks up again and whether contract terms get longer, as management expects. The fund weights above date from June 30, so check each fund’s current holdings page to see your actual Palantir exposure.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Lyft (LYFT - Free Report) reached a significant support level, and could be a good pick for investors from a technical perspective. Recently, LYFT broke through the 50-day moving average, which suggests a short-term bullish trend.

The 50-day simple moving average, which is one of three major moving averages, is widely used by traders and analysts to establish support and resistance levels for a range of securities. Because it's the first sign of an up or down trend, the 50-day is considered to be more important.

Shares of LYFT have been moving higher over the past four weeks, up 5.7%. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, suggesting that LYFT could be poised for a continued surge.

Looking at LYFT's earnings estimate revisions, investors will be even more convinced of the bullish uptrend. There have been 1 higher compared to none lower for the current fiscal year, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.

With a winning combination of earnings estimate revisions and hitting a key technical level, investors should keep their eye on LYFT for more gains in the near future.

Key Takeaways Etsy reported 8.8% Q3 GMS growth and projected 5-7% growth in Q4, signaling improving marketplace momentum.AI-driven personalization contributed roughly two percentage points to annualized year-over-year GMS growth.Active buyers up 1% to 88 million, marketing efficiency improved, and purchase frequency remained pressured. Etsy, Inc. (ETSY - Free Report) emphasized strengthening marketplace fundamentals, improving buyer engagement and expanding AI-driven personalization during its third-quarter 2026 earnings call. Management highlighted accelerating gross merchandise sales (GMS) growth and improving customer trends as evidence that its strategic changes are gaining traction.

CEO Kruti Patel Goyal expressed growing confidence in the company's turnaround while acknowledging that purchase frequency remains under pressure. Management also outlined its holiday-quarter expectations, marketing priorities and plans to reinforce Etsy's differentiation.

Etsy reported quarterly earnings of $1.55 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34. Revenues of $692.47 million topped the consensus mark of $669 million.

ETSY Outlines Holiday-Quarter Growth ExpectationsChief financial officer Lanny Baker projected fourth-quarter GMS of $3.46 billion to $3.52 billion, calling for year-over-year growth of 5-7%. Management expects a take rate of approximately 25.6% and an adjusted EBITDA margin near 30%.

For 2026, Etsy anticipates GMS growth of approximately 7%, a take rate of 25.8% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of roughly 30%.

During the analyst discussion, Baker identified holiday demand variability and the timing of product improvements as factors influencing the outlook. Management also expects tougher comparisons and modest foreign exchange headwinds.

Etsy's Personalization Investments Gain TractionGoyal highlighted personalization as an increasingly important contributor to marketplace growth. Management estimated that improvements in personalization contributed approximately two percentage points to annualized year-over-year GMS growth.

ETSY reported third-quarter GMS growth of 8.8%, with app and non-app GMS increasing 10.4% and 7.5%, respectively.

Responding to Bernstein's questions, Goyal explained that Etsy initially prioritized personalization within its app before expanding capabilities across platforms. She identified no significant technical barriers to extending those improvements to web shoppers.

ETSY Faces Continued Pressure on Purchase FrequencyActive buyers increased 1% year over year to approximately 88 million, marking the first annual increase in two years. GMS per active buyer rose 3.9% on a trailing-12-month basis.

During the Q&A, Citizens questioned why purchasing frequency had not improved despite better personalization. Baker explained that new and reactivated buyers generally purchase less frequently, while higher-value merchandise influences purchasing patterns.

Goyal emphasized that stronger engagement, repeat visits and cross-category shopping represent important precursors to higher frequency. Management maintained that improving purchase frequency remains a longer-term objective.

Etsy Expands Marketing Reach and Advertising EfficiencyBaker highlighted improvements in paid-search efficiency and expanding investment across TikTok and YouTube. Marketing spending increased during the quarter, but management reported faster growth in marketing-driven GMS.

Responding to Goldman Sachs, Baker said improved product listing ad segmentation and social advertising effectiveness had strengthened marketing returns.

Etsy Ads also benefited from better matching, ranking and budget-pacing capabilities. Services revenue increased 15%, while the marketplace take rate expanded 50 basis points to 26.2%.

ETSY Positions Human Creativity Within AI CommerceGoyal emphasized that Etsy's differentiated inventory and trusted marketplace remain central to its AI strategy. The company is developing conversational shopping assistants while expanding AI-powered discovery and seller tools.

During the Q&A, B. Riley questioned how agentic commerce could influence Etsy's competitive positioning. Goyal emphasized opportunities for on-site personalization and partnerships with external AI discovery platforms.

Canaccord Genuity also questioned stricter AI-generated merchandise policies. Goyal outlined clearer listing requirements and stronger enforcement, while Baker indicated that management does not anticipate a material near-term GMS impact.

Etsy Prioritizes Capital Returns and Operational DisciplineBaker reported adjusted EBITDA of $210.4 million, representing a 30.4% margin. The company benefited from revenue growth and its August restructuring.

ETSY repurchased approximately $394.6 million of shares during the quarter and retained $2.2 billion in authorized repurchase capacity.

Management expects continued accelerated repurchases while gradually rebuilding product and engineering capabilities to support growth.

ETSY Maintains Focus on Marketplace ImprovementGoyal characterized Etsy's progress as evidence that its operating priorities are translating into healthier marketplace fundamentals. She emphasized improving discovery, customer relationships and seller experiences.

Management's focus entering 2027 remains on extending personalization, strengthening differentiation and converting buyer engagement into sustained marketplace growth.

Etsy's Zacks Rank and Style ScoresETSY currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating a neutral near-term earnings-revision outlook. Its Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of D reflect comparatively stronger momentum characteristics than growth and combined style attributes. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Zacks Style Scores complement the earnings-revision-based Zacks Rank, with A and B grades representing more favorable characteristics. Etsy's combination presents a mixed near-term profile. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise earnings estimates following the latest quarterly results.

SummaryMicron Technology, Inc. has led the recent memory sector selloff despite record fiscal Q4 earnings and improving long-term demand visibility.Tightening credit conditions and mounting hyperscaler financing pressures are intensifying scrutiny over the sustainability of AI infrastructure spending and memory pricing momentum.The concern has been amplified by Japanese peer Kioxia's tepid earnings outlook, which suggests an emerging moderation in memory and storage demand and pricing.However, MU's increasing take-or-pay volumes and expanding pricing protections under SCAs reinforce earnings resilience against historical cyclical pressures, supporting prospects for valuation recovery.In the following analysis, I discuss risks facing MU's outlook and whether its strategic shift to long-term supply agreements can sustain margin and ROI durability amid mounting infrastructure spending headwinds. JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Memory stocks have led the broader AI-driven market selloff over the past month. The weakness reflects renewed investor concerns over the durability of elevated AI infrastructure spending commitments and their growing reliance on debt financing

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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

Memory stocks, including Micron Technology, SK Hynix and SanDisk, rose on Tuesday as investors rotated back into semiconductor shares following the recent sell-off, even as falling crude also lifted risk appetite. Micron MU and SK Hynix gained more than 3%, while SanDisk advanced over 5%.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this oil and gas exploration and production company have returned +4.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, to which Occidental belongs, has gained 9.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Occidental is expected to post earnings of $1.43 per share, indicating a change of +123.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +22.1% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.81 points to a change of +208.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +9.8%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.14 indicates a change of -24.4% from what Occidental is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +22.1%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Occidental is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Occidental, the consensus sales estimate of $6.73 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +0.3%. The $27.47 billion and $25.85 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +8% and -5.9%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOccidental reported revenues of $8.33 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +29%. EPS of $2.4 for the same period compares with $0.39 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.18 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +16.03%. The EPS surprise was +25%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Occidental is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Occidental. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

The upcoming report from APA (APA - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.44 per share, indicating an increase of 54.8% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $2.37 billion, representing an increase of 17.6% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone an upward revision of 37% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

Bearing this in mind, let's now explore the average estimates of specific APA metrics that are commonly monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Oil revenues' will reach $1.75 billion. The estimate points to a change of +18.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues' of $2.16 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +19.5% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Natural gas liquids revenues' stands at $193.28 million. The estimate suggests a change of +36.1% year over year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Natural gas revenues' at $214.84 million. The estimate indicates a change of +11.9% from the prior-year quarter.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenues- United States' will likely reach $1.46 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +20.1% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts predict that the 'Revenues- North Sea' will reach $193.76 million. The estimate points to a change of -5% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues- Egypt' to reach $806.55 million. The estimate indicates a change of +16.1% from the prior-year quarter.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Production volume per day - NGL - Total' should come in at 75.88 thousands of barrels of oil. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 74.21 thousands of barrels of oil.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Production volume per day - Total' reaching 440 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 464 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day in the same quarter of the previous year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Production volume per day - Oil - Total' should arrive at 214.83 thousands of barrels of oil. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 234.24 thousands of barrels of oil.

Analysts expect 'Production volume per day - Natural gas - Total' to come in at . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of .

It is projected by analysts that the 'Average price per barrel - NGL - Total' will reach $26.37 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $20.65 in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for APA here>>>

Shares of APA have experienced a change of +11.3% in the past month compared to the -2.3% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), APA is expected to outperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this drugmaker have returned +23.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, to which Lilly belongs, has gained 13.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Lilly is expected to post earnings of $10.77 per share, indicating a change of +42.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +2.5% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $34.36 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +41.9%. This estimate has changed -2.9% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $49.59 indicates a change of +44.3% from what Lilly is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +6.5%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Lilly.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Lilly, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $24.21 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +25.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $92.11 billion and $104.16 billion estimates indicate +41.3% and +13.1% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryLilly reported revenues of $24.4 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +38.6%. EPS of $7.48 for the same period compares with $7.02 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.11 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +10.37%. The EPS surprise was +39.03%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Lilly is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Lilly. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways South Korea allocates 21.3 trillion won to semiconductors and data centers, nearly doubling 2026 funding.Booming HBM demand strengthens Samsung and SK Hynix's leadership in the global AI ecosystem.ETFs like EWY offer diversified exposure to semiconductor leaders poised to benefit from AI investments.
South Korea’s president Lee Jae Myung unveiled the country’s largest-ever budget on Monday, raising total spending by 12.8% to 820.9 trillion won (nearly $610.14 billion), with 21.3 trillion won earmarked for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers — nearly double the 2026 level. A separate 4.7 trillion won will fund a sovereign AI model targeting “world’s highest performance,” alongside training for 2,000 semiconductor design specialists and expanded AI education. 

South Korea's increased investment commitment comes amid a surge in semiconductor exports, with October shipments jumping 93.7% year over year to a record $115.3 billion and cumulative exports surpassing $900 billion for the first time. 

Considering the fact that South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dominate the global memory chip supply chain, which is critical for AI accelerators, Seoul’s latest spending push stands to ripple across the entire global AI ecosystem, not just domestically. 

For investors, South Korea’s pivotal role in the global AI infrastructure expansion and its record spending commitment could entice them to look for companies positioned to benefit from rising demand for memory, packaging and data center infrastructure. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offering exposure to these companies could provide a way to capitalize on these growth trends.

Before exploring these ETFs, it is important to examine South Korea’s growing AI momentum and assess how the latest investment commitment could boost the AI industry, with the chip market at the center of attention.

The Chip Rally That Made Seoul a Global AI HubSouth Korea’s semiconductor industry has been the engine behind the KOSPI’s meteoric rise, with the benchmark index surging past 8,000 points in May 2026 as AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) reshaped the country’s equity market. 

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, two of the world’s three largest memory chipmakers, have been the primary accelerators and beneficiaries. 
Samsung’s shares have climbed roughly 190% over a six-month period in May, while SK Hynix gained about 220% as orders for advanced memory used in AI data centers soared. 

It is imperative to mention in this context that SK Hynix alone holds approximately 50% of the global HBM market, making it a critical supplier to AI accelerator ecosystems. The rally has been so pronounced that SK Hynix became the second South Korean company to top 1,500 trillion won in market value. 

This concentration of memory leadership in a single country is precisely why Seoul’s budget decisions carry outsized weight for global AI infrastructure.

Benefits of the Budget Pledge and the Case for ETFs The 21.3 trillion won allocation for 2027 spans semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers, while 2.1 trillion won goes toward electricity and water infrastructure for chip plants that require uninterrupted power. 

The expected outcome from this spending target is not merely higher output but a deepening of South Korea’s moat across the entire value chain: memory, packaging, substrates, testing and equipment. 

For investors, picking individual winners in this ecosystem is difficult because the beneficiary list extends well beyond Samsung and SK hynix into materials, components and infrastructure firms. 

ETFs solve this by offering diversified, single-ticker access to the Korean AI semiconductor value chain, capturing both the memory leaders and the smaller suppliers that stand to benefit from the government’s spending push.

Beyond Korea-specific funds, ETFs holding semiconductor companies worldwide also stand to gain. Notably, global chip ETFs capture the accelerator demand that South Korea’s increased capex in data center and chip production would generate. For example, NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) through GPU procurement for sovereign AI and hyperscaler buildouts, AMD via its government-level heterogeneous computing partnership, and Broadcom through custom AI chip and HBM collaboration with Samsung and SK Hynix.

ETFs Positioned for the UpsideConsidering the aforementioned discussion, the following ETFs should benefit from South Korea’s latest capex pledge:

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $22.40 billion, offers exposure to 76 companies in South Korea. SK Hynix (holding 23.76% of this fund’s assets), Samsung Electronics (23.02%) and SK Square (2.96%) hold the first three positions in this fund. 

EWY charges 59 basis points (bps) in fees. It traded at a good volume of 14.82 million shares in the last trading session. 

VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $64.52 billion, offers exposure to 26 companies involved in semiconductor production and equipment. NVDA (20.19%), Taiwan Semiconductor (9.58%) and Texas Instruments (5.70%) hold the first three positions in this fund. SK Hynix holds the 10th position in this fund, carrying a 4.14% weight.

SMH charges 35 bps in fees. It traded at a good volume of 8.61 million shares in the last trading session. 

xETFs Korea AI Semiconductor ETF (KSMH - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $1.39 million, includes 10 to 25 Korean companies powering the AI semiconductor value chain, including memory, logic, manufacturing and infrastructure. SK Hynix (22.35%), Samsung Electronics (20.49%) and Hanmi Semiconductor (7.73%) hold the first three positions in this fund. 

KSMH charges 65 bps in fees. It traded at a volume of 0.001 million shares in the last trading session. 

iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $42.97 billion, includes 30 companies across the semiconductor value chain, including those driving innovation in AI and benefiting from capital investments in digital infrastructure. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) (9.24%), NVDA (7.98%), Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) (7.95%) and Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) (7.58%) hold the first four positions in this fund. 

SOXX charges 33 bps in fees. It traded at a good volume of 10.78 million shares in the last trading session.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $schw #fintech--NDEX Systems is expanding its relationship with Schwab Advisor Services (“Schwab”) to offer registered investment advisors (RIAs) its wealth management platform and data aggregation capabilities. The offering lets firms consolidate information from multiple custodians and asset types into one application, with the option to use the full platform or select individual functions that fit their existing technology. NDEX's existing integrations with Schwab support automate.

General Dynamics delivered strong Q3 results with double-digit revenue and earnings growth, yet the stock underperformed the broader market. GD raised its 2026 outlook, now guiding for $56.5–56.8B revenue and $17.20–17.30 EPS, reflecting improved execution and robust backlog. Backlog surged to $220.3B, driven by major submarine contracts, but backlog conversion pace and cost inflation remain key risks.

CMI Q3 earnings outlook signals strong growth from data center demand and truck markets, but elevated capex and other risks warrant caution before buying.

Ingredion's Q3 earnings are likely to have faced pressure from its Pakistan divestiture, currency headwinds and higher costs, while specialty ingredient demand may have offered some support.

For the quarter ended September 2026, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) reported revenue of $22.34 billion, up 9.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.77, compared to $0.92 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.49% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.67 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.63, the EPS surprise was +8.59%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how ADM performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Processed volumes - Oilseeds: 8,945.00 Kmt compared to the 9,120.21 Kmt average estimate based on two analysts.Revenues- Carbohydrate Solutions: $2.94 billion versus $2.93 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.5% change.Revenues- Ag Services and Oilseeds: $17.45 billion compared to the $17.76 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.7% year over year.Revenues- Nutrition: $1.84 billion compared to the $1.87 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -4.1% year over year.Revenues- Other Business: $115 million compared to the $108.14 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.5% year over year.Segment Operating Profit- Carbohydrate Solutions- Total: $470 million compared to the $382.71 million average estimate based on two analysts.Segment Operating Profit- Nutrition- Total: $134 million versus $150.26 million estimated by two analysts on average.Segment Operating Profit- Nutrition- Animal Nutrition: $41 million compared to the $32.56 million average estimate based on two analysts.Segment Operating Profit- Ag Services and Oilseeds- Total: $778 million compared to the $868.86 million average estimate based on two analysts.Segment Operating Profit- Ag Services and Oilseeds- Ag Services: $172 million compared to the $267.01 million average estimate based on two analysts.Segment Operating Profit- Corporate: $-470 million versus $-465.39 million estimated by two analysts on average.Segment Operating Profit- Ag Services and Oilseeds- Refined Products and Other: $218 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $216.79 million.View all Key Company Metrics for ADM here>>>

Shares of ADM have returned -8.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Bitmine detiene il 4,9% dell'offerta complessiva di ETH, pari a 122,2 milioni di token

Bitmine individua 6 motivi per cui il recente furto ai danni di Binance rappresenta un segnale della solidità del settore delle criptovalute.

In soli 15 mesi, Bitmine ha raggiunto il 99% dell'obiettivo "Alchemy of 5%"

Il 7 ottobre Bitmine ha divulgato il Messaggio del Presidente intitolato «Il ciclo rialzista delle criptovalute è in corso e potrebbe trattarsi del più significativo mai osservato»

Bitmine è stata inclusa nel Russell 1000 Large-cap Index il 26 giugno 2026

Le azioni privilegiate di Serie A di Bitmine sono negoziate al NYSE con il simbolo BMNP

Bitmine detiene 5.227.037 ETH in staking, per un valore di 11,8 miliardi di dollari al prezzo di 2.261 dollari per ETH MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) rappresenta una piattaforma di riferimento per lo staking di Ethereum destinata a BMNR e agli investitori istituzionali

Bitmine possiede una partecipazione da 82 milioni di dollari in Eightco (NASDAQ: ORBS), oggi una delle poche società quotate al mondo a offrire agli investitori un'esposizione indiretta a OpenAI

Il valore complessivo delle criptovalute, delle disponibilità liquide, dei titoli negoziabili e degli investimenti «moonshot» di Bitmine ammonta a 14,5 miliardi di dollari e comprende 6,06 milioni di token ETH, 498 milioni di dollari in liquidità e titoli negoziabili e altre partecipazioni in criptovalute

Bitmine continua a essere sostenuta da un gruppo di investitori istituzionali di primo piano, tra cui Cathie Wood di ARK, MOZAYYX, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera, Kraken, DCG, Galaxy Digital e l'investitore privato Thomas "Tom" Lee, a sostegno dell'obiettivo della Società di acquisire il 5% dell'offerta di ETH

, /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: BMNR) Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. («Bitmine» o la «Società»), società attiva nelle reti Bitcoin ed Ethereum e focalizzata sull'accumulo di criptovalute come investimento a lungo termine, ha annunciato oggi che il valore complessivo delle proprie criptovalute, disponibilità liquide, titoli negoziabili e investimenti «moonshot» ammonta a 14,5 miliardi di dollari.

BINANCE: 6 reasons this exploit saw limited crypto damage

Chairman’s Message: Crypto Bull Underway

STAKING: BMNR now staking over 5.2 million ETH as of Nov 1, 2026

Al 1° novembre 2026, alle 16:00 ET, le partecipazioni in criptovalute della Società comprendevano 6.060.506 ETH al prezzo di 2.261 dollari per ETH (secondo Coinbase, NASDAQ: COIN), 216 Bitcoin (BTC), una partecipazione da 180 milioni di dollari in Beast Industries, una partecipazione da 82 milioni di dollari in Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) («moonshot») e 498 milioni di dollari complessivi in disponibilità liquide e titoli negoziabili. Le partecipazioni in ETH di Bitmine rappresentano il 4,9% dell'offerta complessiva di ETH, pari a 122,2 milioni di token.

«Alla fine della scorsa settimana Binance è stata violata e sono stati sottratti 6,3 miliardi di dollari di fondi dei clienti. Secondo quanto riportato da Binance e da altre fonti di informazione, l'attacco sarebbe derivato dall'infiltrazione di un soggetto appartenente a un fornitore esterno nell'infrastruttura aziendale di Binance. L'FBI ha indicato la Corea del Nord (DPRK) come responsabile. Pur trattandosi di un evento estremamente grave, a mio avviso la reazione relativamente contenuta del mercato delle criptovalute è molto incoraggiante, soprattutto se confrontata con la risposta del mercato a precedenti furti di criptovalute di grande entità», ha dichiarato Thomas «Tom» Lee, Presidente di Bitmine.

«Nel febbraio 2025 anche ByBit è stata violata dalla DPRK, sebbene con modalità molto diverse, e sono state sottratte criptovalute dei clienti per un valore di 1,5 miliardi di dollari. Il giorno in cui venne annunciato il furto ai danni di ByBit, ETH perse l'8% e, nell'arco di una settimana, il calo raggiunse il 20%. Al contrario, dalla comunicazione del furto ai danni di Binance, ETH è sceso del 4%. Riteniamo che si tratti di una reazione del mercato decisamente più contenuta, nonostante l'entità del furto sia circa quattro volte superiore», ha proseguito Lee.

«Riteniamo che vi siano 6 motivi che spiegano perché il furto ai danni di Binance abbia provocato una reazione contenuta del mercato. Sono i seguenti:

Binance dispone delle risorse finanziarie necessarie per coprire tutte le perdite subite dai clienti.Non si è verificato alcun effetto a cascata di fallimenti di protocolli DeFi, come invece avvenuto dopo il furto ai danni di ByBit.Il rapido intervento del settore ha ridotto del 50% le perdite potenziali.L'FBI ha identificato la Corea del Nord (DPRK) come responsabile entro 2 giorni dal furto. Storicamente, in precedenti attacchi le autorità hanno impiegato fino a 180 giorni per indicare la DPRK come responsabile.L'attacco è consistito in un'"infiltrazione aziendale" nell'infrastruttura di Binance e non in una vulnerabilità della blockchain.Il calo limitato dei prezzi indica che è in corso un "mercato rialzista" delle criptovalute, nonostante le recenti flessioni.Nel complesso, riteniamo che ciò dimostri come il settore delle criptovalute stia diventando sempre più resiliente e maggiormente in grado di assorbire attacchi alle infrastrutture finanziarie condotti da attori statali», ha dichiarato Lee.

«Nell'ultima settimana abbiamo acquisito 8.573 ETH. Nessuna società quotata al mondo può vantare una continuità negli acquisti di criptovalute paragonabile a quella di Bitmine. Bitmine acquista ETH ogni settimana dall'avvio della propria ETH Treasury Strategy, il 30 giugno 2025», ha dichiarato Lee.

Il 7 ottobre Bitmine ha pubblicato il più recente messaggio del Presidente, intitolato Crypto Bull Underway — This Cycle Likely the Largest (Il mercato rialzista delle criptovalute è iniziato — Questo ciclo potrebbe essere il più importante). La presentazione è disponibile sul sito web di Bitmine (link alla presentazione).

All'inizio del 2026, Bitmine ha lanciato MAVAN, acronimo di Made in America VAlidator Network, la propria piattaforma di staking di livello istituzionale. Inizialmente sviluppata per supportare la tesoreria in Ethereum di Bitmine, MAVAN è stata successivamente ampliata per servire investitori istituzionali, società di custodia e partner dell'ecosistema alla ricerca di un'infrastruttura di staking di livello professionale. Una parte degli ETH detenuti da Bitmine è già in staking sulla piattaforma MAVAN.

Al 1° novembre 2026, il totale degli ETH in staking di Bitmine ammontava a 5.227.037 ETH, per un valore di 11,8 miliardi di dollari al prezzo di 2.261 dollari per ETH. "Bitmine ha messo in staking più ETH di qualsiasi altra entità al mondo. A regime, quando tutti gli ETH di Bitmine saranno messi in staking tramite MAVAN e i suoi partner, i premi da staking di ETH previsti ammonterebbero a 415 milioni di dollari su base annua, utilizzando un rendimento BMNR a 7 giorni del 3,03%. Questo dato si confronta con ricavi da staking annualizzati pari a 358 milioni di dollari, calcolati sulla base di 5,2 milioni di ETH attualmente in staking, equivalenti all'86% dei 6,06 milioni di ETH detenuti da Bitmine», ha proseguito Lee.

Le partecipazioni in criptovalute di Bitmine ne fanno la prima tesoreria Ethereum al mondo e la seconda tesoreria globale, dietro a Strategy Inc., che secondo quanto riportato detiene 848.517 BTC, per un valore di circa 71 miliardi di dollari. Bitmine rimane la maggiore società di tesoreria Ethereum al mondo.

Il management di Bitmine ritiene che il GENIUS Act e il Project Crypto della Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) possano avere sui servizi finanziari nel 2026 un impatto trasformativo paragonabile a quello dell'intervento statunitense del 15 agosto 1971, che pose fine al sistema di Bretton Woods e sganciò il dollaro statunitense dalla convertibilità in oro 55 anni fa. L'evento del 1971 rappresentò il catalizzatore della modernizzazione di Wall Street, contribuendo alla nascita dei grandi protagonisti della finanza e delle infrastrutture finanziarie e di pagamento che conosciamo oggi.

Il messaggio del Presidente è disponibile qui:
https://www.Bitminetech.io/chairmans-message

La presentazione dei risultati dell'intero esercizio fiscale 2025 e la presentazione societaria sono disponibili qui:
https://Bitminetech.io/investor-relations/ 

Per ricevere aggiornamenti, è possibile registrarsi qui: https://Bitminetech.io/contact-us/ 

Informazioni su Bitmine

Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), insieme alle proprie controllate ("Bitmine" o la "Società"), è un'azienda attiva nelle infrastrutture tecnologiche blockchain e opera nei servizi istituzionali di staking e validazione di asset digitali, nel mining di Bitcoin e nella gestione strategica di asset digitali. In qualità di principale società al mondo con una tesoreria in Ethereum, adotta una strategia innovativa di gestione degli asset digitali destinata agli investitori istituzionali e agli investitori nei mercati regolamentati. La Società fornisce infrastrutture di staking e validazione di livello istituzionale, attraverso le quali genera ricompense da staking e ricavi derivanti dalla validazione, oltre a svolgere attività di mining di Bitcoin. Bitmine detiene strategicamente asset digitali e genera rendimenti su tali disponibilità a sostegno della liquidità e della raccolta di capitale. Dal 2025, la Società ha ampliato le proprie capacità infrastrutturali nel settore blockchain, includendo lo sviluppo e l'implementazione di MAVAN, la propria piattaforma istituzionale di staking e validazione. Le attività della Società comprendono inoltre investimenti in opportunità blockchain in fase iniziale, ad alto potenziale, nonché servizi accessori di mining, gestione di infrastrutture e consulenza.

Per ulteriori informazioni, seguire Bitmine su X:
https://x.com/bitmnr
https://x.com/fundstrat

Nota cautelativa sulle dichiarazioni previsionali

Il presente comunicato stampa contiene dichiarazioni che costituiscono «dichiarazioni previsionali» ai sensi del Private Securities Litigation Reform Act del 1995, e successive modifiche. Le dichiarazioni previsionali comprendono tutte le dichiarazioni che non hanno natura esclusivamente storica e possono generalmente essere identificate dall'uso di termini quali «si attende», «proietta», «intende», «pianifica», «crede», «si aspetta», «stima», «può», «potrà», «potrebbe», «dovrebbe», «ritiene» o espressioni analoghe. In particolare, il presente comunicato stampa contiene dichiarazioni previsionali riguardanti: (i) l'obiettivo della Società di acquisire il 5% dell'offerta totale di ETH (iniziativa «Alchemy of 5%»); (ii) la strategia della Società relativa all'accumulo e alla gestione di tesoreria degli asset digitali, comprese le dichiarazioni riguardanti il proseguimento degli acquisti settimanali di ETH e la posizione della Società quale maggiore tesoreria ETH al mondo; (iii) le attività di staking della Società, compresi premi da staking ETH annualizzati previsti pari a circa 415 milioni di dollari a regime e ricavi da staking annualizzati attualmente previsti pari a circa 358 milioni di dollari, sulla base degli ETH attualmente in staking; (iv) l'espansione di MAVAN al servizio di investitori istituzionali, depositari e partner dell'ecosistema; (v) le valutazioni del management sulle condizioni del mercato delle criptovalute, compresa l'opinione secondo cui è in corso un mercato rialzista delle criptovalute, nonché le considerazioni sul significato della reazione del mercato al furto ai danni di Binance e sulla resilienza del settore delle criptovalute; (vi) l'opinione del management in merito al potenziale impatto del GENIUS Act e del Project Crypto della SEC sui servizi finanziari; e (vii) le dichiarazioni relative al valore delle criptovalute, delle disponibilità liquide, dei titoli negoziabili e degli investimenti «moonshot» detenuti dalla Società.

Tali dichiarazioni previsionali comportano rischi e incertezze significativi che potrebbero determinare risultati effettivi sostanzialmente diversi da quelli espressi o implicitamente indicati. I fattori che potrebbero determinare o contribuire a tali differenze comprendono, a titolo esemplificativo e non esaustivo: l'estrema volatilità e imprevedibilità dei prezzi degli asset digitali, inclusi ETH e Bitcoin; la dipendenza della Società da fonti terze per la determinazione dei prezzi e dai valori di mercato comunicati, che possono subire variazioni significative; i cambiamenti nelle condizioni di mercato che potrebbero incidere sul prezzo e sui volumi di negoziazione dei titoli della Società; la capacità della Società di attuare con successo la propria strategia di acquisizione di asset digitali e di raggiungere gli obiettivi di accumulo di ETH, incluso l'obiettivo «Alchemy of 5%»; la capacità della Società di finanziare le proprie attività operative e l'espansione di MAVAN; i rischi operativi, di sicurezza e tecnologici connessi alle attività di staking e validazione della Società, inclusi malfunzionamenti della rete, eventi di slashing, violazioni della sicurezza informatica, compresi furti e attacchi informatici ai danni di exchange, depositari e altri operatori del settore, come il recente furto ai danni di Binance, nonché modifiche ai protocolli; il rischio che i rendimenti, i premi e i ricavi da staking effettivi differiscano in misura significativa dagli importi previsti; la concorrenza nei settori della gestione di tesoreria degli asset digitali, dello staking e del mining; la dipendenza della Società da personale chiave; gli sviluppi normativi riguardanti gli asset digitali, la tecnologia blockchain e le attività di staking, inclusi l'eventuale approvazione definitiva, l'attuazione e l'interpretazione del GENIUS Act e di altre proposte legislative pendenti; i provvedimenti adottati dalla SEC, dalla CFTC e da altri organismi di regolamentazione; i rischi connessi agli investimenti «moonshot» della Società, inclusi quelli in Eightco Holdings e Beast Industries; i fattori macroeconomici, tra cui inflazione, tassi di interesse e condizioni economiche generali; le modifiche al protocollo Ethereum; le prestazioni dei fornitori di servizi terzi, degli exchange, dei depositari e dei partner di staking; nonché gli altri fattori di rischio descritti nei documenti depositati dalla Società presso la SEC.

Le dichiarazioni previsionali contenute nel presente comunicato stampa si basano sulle informazioni a disposizione del management alla data del presente comunicato e riflettono le attuali aspettative, stime e convinzioni del management in merito a eventi futuri. I risultati effettivi potrebbero differire in misura significativa da quelli espressi o impliciti per effetto dei fattori sopra descritti e di quelli riportati nella sezione "Risk Factors" dell'Annual Report della Società su Form 10-K relativo all'esercizio chiuso al 30 settembre 2025, depositato presso la SEC il 21 novembre 2025, nei Quarterly Reports della Società su Form 10-Q e negli altri documenti depositati dalla Società presso la SEC, come eventualmente modificati o aggiornati nel tempo. Copie di tali documenti sono disponibili sul sito www.sec.gov e all'indirizzo https://Bitminetech.io/investor-relations/. La Società invita i lettori a non fare eccessivo affidamento sulle dichiarazioni previsionali, che riflettono esclusivamente le circostanze esistenti alla data in cui vengono formulate. Bitmine declina espressamente qualsiasi obbligo di aggiornare o rivedere dichiarazioni previsionali, salvo quanto previsto dalla legge applicabile.

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.

In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.

One stock to keep an eye on is V.F. Corporation (VFC - Free Report) . VFC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as an A grade for Value.

Another notable valuation metric for VFC is its P/B ratio of 4.36. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 7.87. Over the past 12 months, VFC's P/B has been as high as 6.25 and as low as 2.55, with a median of 4.52.

Finally, our model also underscores that VFC has a P/CF ratio of 11.31. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. VFC's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 30.04. Over the past year, VFC's P/CF has been as high as 39.35 and as low as 7.42, with a median of 12.89.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in V.F. Corporation's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that VFC is an impressive value stock right now.

For the quarter ended September 2026, Sysco (SYY - Free Report) reported revenue of $21.74 billion, up 2.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.19, compared to $1.15 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.19 billion, representing a surprise of -2.02%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.71%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.17.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Sysco performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Sales- International Foodservice Operations: $4.17 billion compared to the $4.16 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.1% year over year.Sales- U.S. Foodservice Operations: $15.14 billion compared to the $15.45 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.5% year over year.Sales- Other: $282 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $279.48 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.3%.Sales- SYGMA: $2.15 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.18 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.1%.Operating income (GAAP)- Other: $9 million versus $3.95 million estimated by two analysts on average.Operating income (GAAP)- SYGMA: $21 million compared to the $26.21 million average estimate based on two analysts.Gross Profit- Other: $75 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $69.76 million.Gross Profit- SYGMA: $167 million compared to the $173.32 million average estimate based on two analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Sysco here>>>

Shares of Sysco have returned +7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $LTC #LTC--LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE: LTC) (“LTC” or the “Company”), a real estate investment trust specializing in seniors housing and health care properties, today announced the $62 million acquisition of a community in its seniors housing operating portfolio (“SHOP”), surpassing its $900 million 2026 mid-point acquisition guidance and adding a new SHOP operator. Acquisition Highlights: $62 million acquisition; 117-unit assisted living and memory care communit.

The next cybersecurity threat may not come from a hacker breaking into a company's systems. It could come from an AI agent that already has permission to access them.

NIO Inc. (NIO - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -6.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Automotive - Foreign industry, which NIO falls in, has gained 7.5%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

NIO is expected to post a loss of $0.03 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +85.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$0.13 points to a change of +86.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.05 indicates a change of +135.9% from what NIO is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, NIO is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For NIO, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $4.97 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +62.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $19.06 billion and $22.51 billion estimates indicate +54.6% and +18.1% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNIO reported revenues of $4.74 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +78.5%. EPS of -$0.04 for the same period compares with -$0.32 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.78 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.92%. The EPS surprise was +42.86%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

NIO is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about NIO. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Ares Capital (ARCC - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this private equity firm have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The Zacks Financial - SBIC & Commercial Industry industry, to which Ares Capital belongs, has gained 1.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Ares Capital is expected to post earnings of $0.47 per share, indicating a change of -6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.6% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.88 points to a change of -6.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.5%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.92 indicates a change of +2.1% from what Ares Capital is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Ares Capital.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Ares Capital, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $783.21 million indicates a year-over-year change of -1.2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $3.08 billion and $3.22 billion estimates indicate +0.9% and +4.7% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAres Capital reported revenues of $763 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2.4%. EPS of $0.46 for the same period compares with $0.5 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $780.18 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -2.2%. The EPS surprise was -4.17%.

Over the last four quarters, Ares Capital surpassed consensus EPS estimates times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Ares Capital is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Ares Capital. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

According to JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) analyst Samik Chatterjee, Cloudflare (NYSE: NET) stock’s 26% 30-day drop has turned it into an enticing buy, especially with the company now having an opportunity to significantly accelerate its revenue growth.

Specifically, the Wall Street expert replaced his previous ‘Neutral’ rating of NET shares with a new ‘Overweight’ – ‘Buy’ – recommendation, explicitly citing the more attractive valuation following the October correction.

Additionally, Chatterjee highlighted that Cloudflare remains in an excellent spot to take advantage of the scaling of Act I and Act II – the firm’s strategic business and market expansion program – and could ‘accelerate revenue growth in the medium term to 35%-plus.’

Still, despite the circumstances and the rating upgrade, the analyst from JPMorgan refrained from changing his previous NET stock $350 12-month price target. 

Simultaneously, Barclays’ Saket Kalia expressed a similarly bullish stance toward Cloudflare shares on Tuesday, November 3, albeit with a higher $400 forecast.

Wall Street sets Cloudflare stock price target for the next 12 months Zooming out, the two most recent NET equity revisions are largely in line with the overall Wall Street attitude toward NET equity, as expressed by the notes issued in the last three months.

Cloudflare stock is regarded as a ‘Strong Buy’ and boasts twenty-two positive, four ‘Hold’, and one ‘Sell’ recommendation, per the data Finbold retrieved from TipRanks on Tuesday, 

November 3.

Wall Street sets Cloudflare stock price target for the next 12 months. Source: TipRanks The average NET share price target for the next 12 months is slightly higher than JPMorgan’s estimate and forecasts a 35.67% rally from the latest close at $265.17 to $358.77.

Cloudflare stock price performance Elsewhere, investors appear to already be turning more bullish on Cloudflare as the equity is, after a 26.24% decline in the last 30 days, trading 3.33% above the Monday evening price of $265.17 and at $274 in the pre-market.

Cloudflare stock price one-month chart. Source: Google Still, while valuation concerns have become somewhat smaller following the October correction, NET stock’s – and the stock restructuring program’s – future remains somewhat uncertain. 

The recent instability of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom is likely to keep bearing heavily on the broader market for the foreseeable future, while the Midterm elections inject additional volatility.

Lastly, November 5 could prove the nearest decisive date that could either confirm the latest bullish turn or extend the previous downtrend, as Cloudflare is due to report its quarterly earnings after the evening bell.

Featured image via Shutterstock

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