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Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) on Friday reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results.

Adjusted EPS of $6.06 beat the $5.56 estimate. Total revenues and other income rose 56.3% to $70.06 billion, topping the $61.97 billion estimate.

“Faced with geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility, Chevron’s people remain focused on safely delivering the reliable energy the world needs,” Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said. “Our strong second quarter performance is a result of disciplined investment and strong execution that drove record U.S. upstream production, record crude throughput in our U.S. refineries, and exceptional reliability across key assets.”

Chevron shares fell 0.8% to trade at $195.38 on Monday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Chevron following earnings announcement.

Barclays analyst Betty Jiang maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $213 to $216. Bernstein analyst Bob Brackett maintained the stock with a Market Perform and raised the price target from $204 to $209. Considering buying CVX stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Key Takeaways KMB's innovation-led portfolio likely supported volume, mix and demand across key product categories.KMB's productivity initiatives and supply chain investments likely improved efficiency and funded innovation.KMB likely faced higher energy-related input costs tied to Middle East geopolitical developments. As Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) prepares to unveil its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 04, after market close, investors are eager to see if the company can beat market expectations.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.2 billion, implying 1.7% growth from the prior year. Meanwhile, the consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged at $2.00 per share in the past seven days, indicating 4.2% growth from the year-ago period. KMB has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.1%, on average.

Key Factors to Note for KMB's Q2 EarningsKimberly-Clark’s performance is likely to have been supported by continued execution of its innovation-led strategy, with differentiated, science-backed products across its good, better and best portfolio helping address a broad range of consumer needs and price points. In the last earnings call, the company highlighted that innovation was driving organic growth and improving volume and mix trends. Continuation of these trends is likely to have supported performance during the second quarter.

The company’s focus on expanding its presence across key growth categories is also likely to have remained a positive contributor. The continued innovation in Baby Care, Women’s Health and Active Aging might have helped the company strengthen its market share and broaden the company’s product portfolio. These initiatives were designed to reinforce Kimberly-Clark’s value propositions and sustain its underlying business momentum.

Productivity initiatives might have provided an additional tailwind during the quarter. Kimberly-Clark’s strong productivity pipeline, progress on its previously announced $2 billion investment in the North American supply chain and broader Powering Care efficiency initiatives might have supported operational efficiency and helped fund continued investments in innovation and brand building.

That said, the company likely continued to face cost headwinds from geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

What the Zacks Model Says About KMBOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for KMB this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

KMB has an Earnings ESP of +1.43% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Other Stocks With Favorable CombinationHere are three other companies you may also want to consider, as our model shows that these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season:

The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.08% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings per share is pegged at 53 cents, implying a 23.2% year-over-year decline. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $6.2 billion, which indicates a decrease of 3% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. KHC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.10% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $1.37, implying a 15.1% year-over-year decline.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $10.5 billion, which indicates growth of 3.8% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. USFD has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.

Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.56% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $1.51, implying a 2% year-over-year increase.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $21.9 billion, which indicates an increase of 3.7% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. SYY has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.1%, on average.

Key Takeaways SolarEdge expects Q2 earnings of 4 cents per share and revenues of $341.7 million, up 18%.Storage expansion in Europe and Asia may support shipment growth and quarterly revenues.U.S. manufacturing, cost controls and wider gross margins may aid second-quarter performance. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before market open. The company delivered a negative earnings surprise of 86.96% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors at Play Ahead of SEDG’s Q2 ResultsIn April 2026, SolarEdge Technologies expanded its commercial and industrial storage portfolio with the launch of the CSS-OD 197 kWh integrated solar and storage solution across Europe and Asia. The rollout, along with growing customer adoption in Germany and other European markets, is likely to have supported shipment growth and contributed to the company's second-quarter top-line performance.

SolarEdge Technologies’ continued expansion of its U.S. manufacturing operations to meet domestic demand is likely to have supported shipment volumes and aided its second-quarter performance.

SEDG's cost-control initiatives, strong revenue growth expectations and expanding gross margins are likely to have boosted its second-quarter earnings.

Q2 Expectations for SEDGThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 4 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 104.9%.

The company expects revenues to be $325-$355 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $341.7 million, which suggests a rise of 18% from the year-ago reported number.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Power optimizers shipped is pegged at 2,959.32 thousands, indicating a 7.9% increase from the year-ago reported level.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Inverters shipped is pegged at 82.13 thousands, indicating a 7.7% decline from the year-ago reported level.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for SEDGOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for SolarEdge Technologies this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as you will see below.

Stocks to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same sector, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

Devon Energy (DVN - Free Report) is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +3.94% and carries a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DVN’s earnings is pegged at $1.30 per share, indicating a year-over-year surge of 54.8%. The consensus estimate for its sales stands at $6.30 billion, calling for a year-over-year jump of 47%.

Ormat Technologies Inc. (ORA - Free Report) is slated to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +73.47% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ORA’s earnings is pegged at 29 cents, implying a year-over-year fall of 39.6%. The consensus estimate for its sales stands at $253.9 million, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 0.8%.

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA - Free Report) is slated to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 7, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +6.71% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAA’s earnings is pegged at 41 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year rise of 13.9%. The consensus estimate for its sales stands at $14.87 billion, suggesting a year-over-year jump of 39.7%.

GME stock is dropping. See the chart and price action here.  GameStop’s $1.4B Note-For-Stock SwapGameStop entered privately negotiated agreements to swap roughly $400 million of its Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 and $1 billion of its Convertible Senior Notes due 2032 for shares of Class A common stock. 

No cash changes hands — the company simply retires debt by handing over equity instead. The catch is in how many shares are handed over and who’s incentivized to move the stock while that number is being calculated. 

GameStop said the share count “will be based in part on the average volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock over a 35 consecutive trading day reference period beginning on August 3, 2026, subject to a per share price floor.”

In plain terms: for the next 35 trading sessions, into early September, GME’s average price directly determines how many new shares get printed.

A Built-In Incentive to Short GMEHere is where the hedging language comes in.

GameStop explicitly warned that “some or all of the Existing Noteholders that participate in the Exchange may purchase or sell shares of Common Stock in open market transactions or enter into or unwind various derivative transactions with respect to Common Stock to hedge or unwind their investments in the Exchange Notes.” 

The company added that “these activities could increase or decrease the market price of the Common Stock or the Exchange Notes, the effect of which may be material.”

GameStop gave the warning because noteholders now have a built-in incentive to short GME or trade options against it during the VWAP window, since a lower average price could work in their favor depending on how the exchange terms are structured relative to the price floor. 

The debt exchange is expected to close around Sep. 23, 2026, meaning this dynamic has weeks to play out. 

For a stock already down double digits Monday, that’s a technical overhang worth tracking independent of the eBay headlines — and one that could keep GME choppy heading into the fall regardless of what happens with Cohen’s takeover push.

GME Stock Price Activity: GameStop stock was down 13.84% at $18.71 at the time of publication Monday, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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Key Takeaways Thermo Fisher raised 2026 revenue and earnings guidance after Q2 topped consensus estimates.TMO reported broad-based growth, with acquisitions and operating leverage supporting higher margins.TMO still faces risks from currency swings, uneven demand and macroeconomic uncertainty. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO - Free Report) raised its 2026 outlook after second-quarter earnings and revenues exceeded expectations. The update reflects stronger customer activity, better acquisition performance and improved operating leverage.

The key question is whether the higher forecast marks a durable recovery across end markets or a near-term improvement that could still be disrupted by currency swings, uneven regional demand and cost pressure.

Over the past 12 months, TMO stock has gained 23.1%, outperforming the industry’s 8% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Thermo Fisher’s Q2 Beat Reset ExpectationsAdjusted earnings increased 13% year over year to $6.03 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.6%. Revenues rose 10% to $11.99 billion and beat the consensus mark by 2.7%, while organic revenue growth reached 5%.

Growth was broad across end markets. Pharma and biotech, industrial and applied, and diagnostics and healthcare each advanced at a mid-single-digit rate, while academic and government demand increased in the low single digits.

TMO’s Raised Guidance Points to Better DemandManagement lifted its 2026 revenue forecast to $47.4 billion-$48.1 billion and adjusted earnings guidance to $24.93-$25.33 per share. The earnings range implies growth of 9%-11% from 2025.

Thermo Fisher now expects organic revenue growth near the upper end of its 3%-4% range. The outlook includes all of the second-quarter outperformance and a modest improvement in the second half, supporting the view that customer activity is strengthening rather than merely shifting between quarters.

Here's what the consensus estimates suggest for the company's earnings and revenues.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Thermo Fisher’s Margins Show Operating LeverageAdjusted operating income increased 15% to $2.74 billion, and adjusted operating margin expanded 90 basis points to 22.8%. Productivity and volume leverage offset unfavorable mix while preserving investment in growth initiatives.

Profitability improved across all four reporting segments. Analytical Instruments delivered the largest margin gain, with adjusted operating margin rising 420 basis points to 23%, helped by productivity, volume leverage, foreign exchange and favorable mix.

TMO’s Acquisitions Increase the Guidance ImpactAcquisitions are expected to contribute $1.6 billion to 2026 revenues and 32 cents to adjusted earnings per share. Clario added digital endpoint data capabilities, while the filtration and separation business expanded Thermo Fisher’s bioproduction offering across upstream and downstream workflows.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (A - Free Report) also operates across life sciences, diagnostics and applied markets, making it a relevant comparison for laboratory demand and instrument spending. Danaher Corporation (DHR - Free Report) , with businesses spanning life sciences and diagnostics, provides another read on bioprocessing and healthcare-related customer activity.

TMO Faces Currency and Macro HeadwindsForeign exchange remains a restraint. Management reduced the expected 2026 revenue benefit from currency movements by $100 million to $200 million, and recent rate changes created a 5-cent adjusted earnings headwind for the second half.

Demand also remains uneven. North America and China each grew only in the low single digits during the quarter, while tariffs, inflation and geopolitical disruption could pressure costs, delay purchasing decisions and limit the volume leverage needed to achieve the planned margin expansion.

What TMO’s Ratings Say After the Guidance LiftThe raised outlook improves the operating picture, but the investment case remains balanced. Better demand, acquisition contributions and margin expansion support earnings growth, while currency volatility, macroeconomic uncertainty, leverage and competition remain meaningful offsets.

TMO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Its Momentum Score of A points to favorable recent price and earnings-estimate trends, but the Value Score of C, Growth Score of C and VGM Score of C suggest a more measured setup across valuation and growth factors.

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

Key Takeaways Republic Services' Q2 revenues are expected to rise 3% y/y to $4.4 billion, with EPS up 2.3% to $1.81.Collection revenues may grow 5.8%, supported by pricing and higher large-container and residential volumes.Landfill and transfer revenues are each projected to climb 6.7%, while environmental solutions may fall 4.4%. Republic Services, Inc. (RSG - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, after market close.

RSG has an impressive earnings surprise history. In the trailing four quarters, it surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with an average surprise of 5.2%.

Republic Services’ Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s revenues is set at $4.4 billion, implying a 3% uptick from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. Republic Services is expected to have driven this top-line improvement, riding on its collection segment that delivers the majority of its revenues.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the collection segment’s revenues is pegged at nearly $3 billion, suggesting 5.8% growth from the year-ago quarter’s actual. We expect an uptick in small container core price, accompanied by a volume hike in large container and residential, to have supported this growth. Small container is expected to contribute 44.5% to total revenues, with large container and residential accounting for 28.2% and 26.1%, respectively.

For Landfill revenues, the consensus estimate is set at $911.2 million, hinting at 6.7% year-over-year growth. Rising municipal solid waste is anticipated to have been the key driver of this segment. A persistent increase in special waste revenues is expected to have bolstered this growth trajectory.

The consensus mark for transfer revenues is pinned at $511.1 million, implying a 6.7% year-over-year rally. While prudent yield execution and core pricing are predicted to have delivered this growth, the company’s active capital allocation strategy, completing buyouts to solidify market density and widen regional transfer and recycling network, is expected to have added to this growth.

For the environmental solutions segment, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $456.8 million. The metric is expected to decline 4.4% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. Despite this setback, we anticipate this segment to find its pace during the second half of the year on the back of its sales pipeline facilitating rising activity across multiple end markets.

The consensus estimate for revenues from the other segment is pinned at $210.8 million, suggesting a marginal year-over-year dip. We expect this marginal decline to have stemmed from weak recycling processing business, as evidenced by its consensus estimate of $107.4 million, indicating a decline from the year-ago quarter’s actual of $114 million.

The consensus estimate for earnings per share is pinned at $1.81, which implies a 2.3% uptick from the year-ago quarter’s actual. Our expectations behind this growth are vested in top-line growth, bolstered by margin expansion, which is facilitated by expense management and share buybacks resulting in a share count fall.

What Our Model Says About RSGOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Republic Services this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Republic Services has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Business Services sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around.

Enpro (NPO - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is $322.9 million, indicating 12.1% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pinned at $2.3 cents per share, gaining 13.3% from the year-ago quarter. Over the four trailing quarters, the company has an average earnings surprise of 2%.

NPO has an Earnings ESP of +0.87% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4.

Thomson Reuters (TRI - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is $1.9 billion, hinting at a 7.3% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pegged at 96 cents per share, suggesting a 9.1% rally from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. Over the four trailing quarters, the company has an average earnings surprise of 3.1%.

TRI has an Earnings ESP of +2.35% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5.

Key Takeaways ADP topped fourth-quarter earnings and revenue estimates as sales rose 7% year over year.Client funds interest climbed 15% to $355.4 million as balances and portfolio yields increased.ADP sees fiscal 2027 EPS up 9%-11%, while PEO margin pressure remains a key challenge. ADP (ADP - Free Report) closed fiscal 2026 with fourth-quarter earnings and revenues above expectations, supported by higher client funds income, broad-based segment growth and productivity gains.

The fiscal 2027 outlook points to another year of revenue growth, margin expansion and faster adjusted earnings growth. The key issue is whether client funds income and operating leverage can outweigh continued pressure in the Professional Employer Organization business.

ADP’s Quarter Beat ExpectationsAdjusted earnings of $2.64 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.9%. Revenues of $5.47 billion exceeded the consensus mark by 0.9% and increased 7% year over year.

Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes rose 13% to $1.37 billion, while the adjusted margin expanded 140 basis points to 25.1%. Higher client funds income and operational productivity helped earnings grow faster than revenues. Employer Services also posted 7% revenue growth and a 90-basis-point margin increase.

Client Funds Income Lifts ADP’s ResultsInterest on funds held for clients increased 15% to $355.4 million. Average client funds balances rose 8% to $41 billion, while the average portfolio yield improved to 3.5% from 3.2% a year earlier.

The net contribution from the client funds extended investment strategy increased 24%. Higher balances, improved yields and a favorable financing spread made this activity a larger earnings contributor, adding support beyond ADP’s core payroll and human capital management operations.

ADP’s FY27 Guidance Signals More GrowthManagement expects consolidated revenues to increase 5% to 6% in fiscal 2027. Adjusted earnings per share are projected to rise 9% to 11%, with adjusted earnings before interest and taxes margin expanding another 70 to 90 basis points.

Client funds remain a measurable part of that outlook. ADP forecasts $1.54 billion to $1.56 billion in client funds interest revenue, based on 3% to 4% balance growth and an average yield of about 3.7%. The company also expects Employer Services revenues to grow 5% to 6%.

PEO Margin Pressure Tempers ADP’s StrengthProfessional Employer Organization Services revenues grew 7%, but the segment margin declined 100 basis points to 12.2%. Revenues excluding zero-margin benefits pass-throughs increased 5%, showing that the headline growth rate included activity that did not add margin.

Workers’ compensation costs and selling expenses also weighed on profitability. That pressure matters because Paychex, Inc. (PAYX - Free Report) also combines payroll, human resources and professional employer organization services, while Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC - Free Report) competes through cloud-based payroll and human capital management software. ADP’s ability to convert segment growth into profit remains an important differentiator.

What ADP’s Ratings Say After EarningsThe quarter and outlook support a constructive operating view, but ADP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The rating indicates that the near-term earnings estimate picture does not provide a clear enough signal for a more positive stance.

The Momentum Score of B is encouraging and suggests favorable recent trading characteristics. However, the Value Score of C, Growth Score of C and VGM Score of D point to a less compelling combined profile. The mix supports a measured interpretation despite the earnings beat and fiscal 2027 growth outlook.

Key Takeaways Trade Desk will report Q2 results on Aug. 6, with revenues expected to rise 8.3% to $751.6 million.CTV, retail media, JBP growth and international momentum are expected to support Trade Desk's results.Macro pressure, higher AI costs and intensifying competition could weigh on Trade Desk's margins. The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD - Free Report) will report its second-quarter 2026 results after market close on Aug. 6.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $751.6 million, up 8.3% from the prior-year reported number. The consensus estimate for earnings sits at 41 cents per share, flat year over year. The estimate has remained unchanged in the past 30 days.

For the June quarter, management expects revenues of at least $750 million and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $260 million.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Over the trailing four quarters, TTD’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate once, matched it once, and missed twice, resulting in an average negative surprise of 3.15%.

In the past year, shares of the company have lost 79.9% against the Zacks Internet Services industry’s growth of 72.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Does Our Model Unveil for TTD?Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Trade Desk this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is not the case here.

Trade Desk has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Factors at Play Ahead of TTD’s Q2 ResultsContinued momentum in key business areas, such as Connected TV (“CTV”), is expected to have cushioned TTD’s top-line performance in the to-be-reported quarter. CTV is the fastest-growing segment of the digital ad market, given the ongoing shift from linear TV.

Increasing digital spending in CTV, particularly for premium content and live sports, is a key growth driver. The transition toward biddable CTV has been gaining momentum. The benefits of decision-based buying (like greater flexibility, control and performance) compared with traditional programmatic guaranteed or insertion-order models have been rendering it the logical choice for advertisers.

Beyond CTV, retail media has emerged as one of the fastest-growing areas in the digital advertising space. On the last earnings call, TTD highlighted that the retailers in its data marketplace now represent more than 80% of sales from top U.S. retailers, compared with Amazon’s (AMZN - Free Report) roughly 15% share. The company is also extending its Audience Unlimited offering and adding new retail media partnerships. This is likely to have supported second quarter revenue performance.

Further, explosive growth in Joint Business Plans (“JBP”) bodes well. In the first quarter, the company reported a 55% increase in JBP count, with new deal spend (excluding renewals) rising 40% year over year. It signed some 45 deals in March alone.

Management remains highly optimistic regarding its international business. The company noted strong momentum across EMEA and APAC, reflecting multi-year investments in those regions. International business currently represents roughly 18% of total revenues, a clear opportunity for long-term growth.

The Trade Desk Price and Consensus

The Trade Desk price-consensus-chart | The Trade Desk Quote

Management continues to view AI as the next major evolution of programmatic advertising.  TTD expanded its AI portfolio through the launch of Koa Agents, an AI-powered agentic capability with Stagwell as the partner, and OpenTTD, a unified login and analytics platform. On the call, TTD added that it believes large language models and AI-powered search platforms could eventually create a new premium advertising channel, expanding its addressable market.

However, macro headwinds remain the primary risk. TTD highlighted ongoing pressure in key verticals such as Food & Drink and Home & Garden as CPG brands face geopolitical tensions, inflation and consumer softness. While automotive remains strong, it is also impacted by tariffs. These factors contributed to a more cautious second-quarter revenue outlook despite confidence in the company's long-term positioning.

TTD is focused on embedding AI across the portfolio, which will further raise capex and operational costs.  Rising expenses coupled with investments could compress margins if revenue growth slows. In the last reported quarter, total operating costs (excluding stock-based compensation) surged 18% year over year to $513 million. Expenses soared due to continued investments in enhancing platform capabilities, particularly in more AI-powered tools.

The company expects adjusted EBITDA margins in 2026 to remain in line with 2025, as it continues investing in AI capabilities, product innovation and go-to-market infrastructure.

Further, the competitive environment is intensifying. Walled gardens like Meta Platforms, Apple, Alphabet and Amazon offer fierce competition in this space as they control their inventory and first-party user data, allowing for highly targeted ad campaigns.  AMZN’s expanding DSP business is giving tough competition to TTD, especially in this space.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season.

Arista Networks (ANET - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.08% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. 

ANET is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Aug. 4, 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANET’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at 89 cents per share and $2.83 billion, respectively. Shares of ANET have gained 49.8% in the past year.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.56% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. AMD is scheduled to report quarterly figures on Aug. 4, 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMD’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at $1.61 per share and $11.32 billion, respectively. Shares of AMD have skyrocketed 169.3% in the past year.

Easterly Government Properties NYSE: DEA reported higher second-quarter revenue and per-share earnings, raised its full-year Core FFO guidance and said it is nearing a point where improving equity-market valuation could support more accretive external growth.

President and CEO Darrell Crate said Core FFO per share rose 5.4% from a year earlier, exceeding the company’s stated long-term growth target of 2% to 3%. He attributed the performance to steady earnings growth, capital allocation and efforts to improve portfolio quality.

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Crate emphasized that the company’s portfolio differs from traditional office real estate because it is centered on mission-specific facilities leased to federal agencies, state and municipal tenants, and defense-related companies. He said many properties provide secure, purpose-built environments that are difficult to replicate and are integral to tenant operations.

Second-Quarter Results Total revenue increased 10% year over year to $92.4 million from $84.2 million, according to Allison, who said the gain reflected acquisitions and development completed over the past year, lease renewals, and tenant-improvement and building-specific allowance income.

EBITDA increased about 8% to $58.4 million, compared with $54.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Net income was $0.07 per fully diluted share. Both FFO per share and Core FFO per share were $0.78, up from $0.74 a year earlier.

Occupancy was 98% at quarter-end. Weighted average lease term was 9.2 years. Cash available for distribution was approximately $25.8 million. Net debt to annualized quarterly EBITDA was 7.3 times, down from the first quarter. Allison said the company’s three active development projects continued to advance: an FDLE laboratory in Fort Myers, Florida; a U.S. courthouse in Flagstaff, Arizona; and a U.S. courthouse in Medford, Oregon. The Fort Myers project, which broke ground in August 2025, remains on track for delivery later in 2026.

Financing and Updated Outlook During the quarter, Easterly closed a new $200 million unsecured term loan with a five-year maturity, a $50 million accordion feature and an initial spread of 130 basis points over SOFR. The company used the proceeds to repay borrowings on its revolving credit facility, increasing available liquidity for future investments.

Allison said the financing was priced more favorably than the company had expected for a comparable long-term capital solution. She also said development-project reimbursements and future revenue from delivered projects are expected to support deleveraging.

The company raised its full-year 2026 Core FFO per-share guidance range to $3.07 to $3.13, an increase of $0.01 at the midpoint from the prior $3.09 to $3.10 midpoint range. At the midpoint, guidance assumes $50 million to $100 million of gross development-related investment and $50 million of wholly owned acquisitions during the year.

Management said it continues to pursue an additional investment-grade credit rating in 2027. In discussing the planned refinancing of the $127.5 million Loma Linda mortgage, which matures next summer and carries a 3.6% rate, Allison said an investment-grade unsecured issuance would be the company’s preferred option. She added that Easterly has enough revolver capacity to temporarily carry the debt while pursuing a long-term solution.

Pipeline and Capital Allocation Crate said Easterly maintains a $1.5 billion acquisition and development pipeline that has been cultivated over several years. He said the company is beginning to see opportunities to fund external growth on an accretive basis as its share price improves.

In response to analyst questions, Crate said the company could find “nice transactions” if its stock trades in the $24.50 to $25.50 range, while a share price of $26 to $27 could support a couple hundred million dollars of growth. At higher valuation levels, he said the company could potentially pursue acquisition volume materially above its historical activity.

The pipeline has remained relatively stable, though management said approximately $100 million to $200 million of opportunities may rotate in and out during a quarter. Crate said the company passed on one potential acquisition because it was not a must-have asset and offered an estimated 60 to 75 basis points above its cost of capital.

Management said it is pursuing both General Services Administration-leased properties and assets in state, local and government-adjacent categories. Crate said the company would ideally add assets in an approximately even mix between GSA and alternative categories, with the latter offering 2% to 3% annual escalators that could improve same-store growth.

Easterly also continues to evaluate mezzanine financing opportunities, with management maintaining a target program size of $30 million to $50 million. The company said it has received substantial interest but intends to lend only alongside trusted developers and on assets it would want to own in its portfolio over time.

Leasing, Dispositions and Joint Ventures Management said it is actively working through lease procurements for expirations extending through much of 2027 and does not expect results outside its current assumptions. Those assumptions include mid- to high-teens net effective rent growth and average tenant-improvement and building-specific allowance spending of about $35 per square foot.

The company said an FAA tenant expected to move out in October will remain through at least the end of its lease term because its notice provisions have expired. Allison said management is hopeful the tenant may remain longer but advised analysts not to include additional revenue in estimates at this point.

Crate said dispositions could be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, including for properties that are geographically isolated from the company’s other assets, but he does not anticipate significant portfolio turnover as a means of raising capital for growth.

The company is also maintaining and expanding relationships with joint-venture partners. Crate said Easterly has worked with a sovereign wealth fund and other potential partners, and that joint ventures could provide an additional avenue for funding growth if equity-market conditions are less favorable.

About Easterly Government Properties (NYSE:DEA)Easterly Government Properties, Inc is a real estate investment trust that specializes in the acquisition, development and management of commercial properties leased to U.S. government agencies. Structured as a triple-net lease REIT, the company focuses on single-tenant assets with long-term, credit-backed leases that transfer most property-level responsibilities—including taxes, insurance and maintenance—to its government tenants.

The firm’s portfolio encompasses a variety of facility types, including office buildings, training centers, laboratories and mission-critical installations used by federal agencies.

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 Easterly Government Properties Right Now?Before you consider Easterly Government Properties, you'll want to hear this.

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

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Kosmos Energy NYSE: KOS reported higher second-quarter production, lower operating costs and continued balance-sheet progress as new wells in Ghana and the ramp-up of its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project supported first-half performance.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andy Inglis said the company had made progress on its four priorities for 2026: increasing production, reducing costs, lowering debt and advancing its growth portfolio while limiting capital spending.

Production in the first half was up 18% from the same period of 2025, while absolute operating costs declined 24%, Inglis said. Chief Financial Officer Neal Shah said second-quarter production was approximately 12% higher year over year, driven by new Jubilee wells and GTA's ramp-up. Absolute operating costs during the quarter were about 25% lower than a year earlier.

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Jubilee wells support Ghana outlook Kosmos said its Jubilee field offshore Ghana continued to benefit from an active drilling campaign. Two producer wells, J76 and J77, began production following the company’s first-quarter report, while J50, the completion of a previously drilled well, was expected to start in the coming days.

With J50 online, Kosmos expects Jubilee gross production to exceed 90,000 barrels of oil per day. The company maintained its full-year Jubilee guidance of 70,000 to 80,000 barrels per day, with Inglis saying the latest well performance supported the upper end of that range.

Inglis described J76 as the best Jubilee well drilled in more than a decade. He said the well identified up-dip, unswept opportunities in the core part of the field and encountered deeper horizons that could provide additional resources.

The company is working with the field operators to secure a rig for a 2027-28 drilling campaign of up to 10 wells, targeted to begin around the middle of 2027. The program is expected to incorporate fully processed 4D seismic data and fast-track ocean-bottom-node seismic results.

Management also identified water injection as an operational focus. Inglis said water replacement volumes were about 130% in the first quarter but fell to roughly 65% in the second quarter, partly because of planned maintenance and water-pump availability. He said the issue was operational rather than reservoir-related and would be a focus through the remainder of 2026.

GTA meets LNG cargo expectations as domestic gas work advances At the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project offshore Mauritania and Senegal, gross LNG production in the second quarter was approximately 2.65 million tonnes per annum equivalent. The project lifted nine gross LNG cargoes during the quarter, bringing first-half cargoes to 18.5.

Kosmos maintained its full-year guidance for 32 to 36 gross LNG cargoes. The company said daily LNG production is expected to be somewhat lower during the summer because warmer air and sea temperatures affect operations, with volumes expected to improve later in the year.

The project also lifted one condensate cargo during the second quarter, representing about 300,000 barrels net to Kosmos. A further condensate cargo, estimated at about 400,000 barrels net to Kosmos, is expected late in the third quarter.

Kosmos said it remains on track to reduce GTA operating expense per MMBtu by 50% this year and sees potential for further reductions in 2027. Inglis said increased domestic gas sales could further reduce unit costs because additional gas volumes can be processed without material added costs.

In Senegal, land has been cleared for the onshore section of a pipeline intended to connect GTA gas to the 250-megawatt Gandon power station near Saint Louis. In Mauritania, the country signed a 25-year agreement with Saudi Power Company for a 230-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Nouadhibou that is expected to use GTA gas.

Gulf of Mexico portfolio advances Gulf of Mexico production was in line with Kosmos’ expectations, supported by its operated Odd Job and Kodiak fields. However, the operator of the Winterfell development temporarily abandoned the No. 5 well after encountering casing issues during drilling.

Shah said Winterfell contains significant reserves and has shown good pay, but Kosmos was dissatisfied with the drilling performance and resulting additional costs. The partners have paused activity to understand and resolve the issues before committing further capital, he said.

Kosmos also completed a farm-down of its Tiberius project, bringing Navitas in as a 33.33% partner. Kosmos will remain operator with a 33.34% interest, while OXY will hold the remaining 33.33% interest and operates the nearby Lucius facility.

Shah said the transaction included upfront cash, a development capital carry and future milestone payments. The carry is expected to cover Kosmos’ Tiberius capital expenditures in 2026 and fund its share of development through the first half of 2027. First oil remains expected in the second half of 2028.

The first Tiberius well is targeting roughly 40 million barrels of recovery, according to Shah, with production estimated at about 10,000 barrels per day gross per well. Kosmos also said Shell plans to drill the Trailblazer prospect in the first quarter of 2027 under their exploration alliance. Trailblazer is targeting about 200 million barrels of oil equivalent gross, with Kosmos holding an interest representing just under 60 million barrels, Shah said.

Debt reduction and refinancing plans Kosmos paid down approximately $420 million of debt in the first half through free cash flow, an equity raise and proceeds from the sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. It ended the quarter with more than $500 million of available liquidity.

The company said S&P and Fitch upgraded its rating to B-minus. Kosmos is targeting about a 20% reduction in net debt for 2026 and expects leverage to move toward two times by year-end, depending in part on commodity prices.

Shah said Kosmos has started discussions with lenders to amend and extend its reserve-based lending facility, targeting completion in the fourth quarter and a facility size of about $1.2 billion. After addressing that facility, the company expects to consider options for its 2028 notes, including opportunistic repurchases or refinancing.

About Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS)Kosmos Energy Ltd. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Since its founding in 2003, the company has focused on identifying and developing hydrocarbon reserves in frontier and emerging basins around the world. Kosmos combines geological and geophysical expertise with a disciplined approach to acreage acquisition and partner selection to pursue high‐impact offshore exploration opportunities.

The company's portfolio is anchored by assets in West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.

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 Kosmos Energy Right Now?Before you consider Kosmos Energy, you'll want to hear this.

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

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Key Takeaways Zoetis is expected to report Q2 revenues of $2.49B and earnings of $1.84 per share on Aug. 6, 2026. ZTS may see weaker U.S. sales amid competition and Librela pressure, offset by international growth.Zoetis could benefit from demand for Apoquel, Cytopoint, Simparica Trio and livestock products. Zoetis, Inc. (ZTS - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter results on Aug. 6, 2026, before the opening bell.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s revenues is pegged at $2.49 billion. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $1.84 per share.

Let's see how things might have shaped up for Zoetis in the soon-to-be-reported quarter.

Factors to Consider Regarding ZTS’ Q2 EarningsZoetis derives the majority of its revenues from a diversified product portfolio of medicines and vaccines used to treat and protect livestock and companion animals. The company reports business results under two geographical operating segments — the United States and International.

First-quarter revenues in the U.S. segment are likely to have decreased from the year-ago quarter, primarily due to lower sales of Zoetis’ companion animal products and an increasingly competitive landscape. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues generated from this segment is pegged at $1.33 billion.

Revenues from the International segment are expected to have increased in the to-be-reported quarter due to higher sales of companion animal and livestock products. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues generated from this segment is pegged at $1.14 billion.

Year to date, Zoetis shares have plunged 38.6% compared with the industry’s 4.5% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Companion animal products sales, particularly ZTS’ parasiticides portfolio, including Simparica and ProHeart franchises, and its key dermatology products, including Apoquel and Cytopoint, are expected to have driven revenues in both the U.S. and International segments in the to-be-reported quarter.

However, Zoetis’ monoclonal antibody products for osteoarthritis pain, Librela for dogs and Solensia for cats, are expected to have posted a decline in sales in the U.S. segment due to fears of side effects in some dogs.

Apoquel is also approved as the first and only chewable treatment in the United States for controlling pruritus related to allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age. The drug’s expanded label is likely to have boosted sales in the first quarter.

In 2025, the FDA approved a new indication for Zoetis’ Simparica Trio to prevent flea tapeworm infections by targeting and killing vector fleas in treated dogs. With this approval, the triple combo drug is now the only canine combination parasiticide indicated to prevent flea tapeworm infections at the source by eliminating carrier fleas before they can transmit the parasite. The label expansion is expected to have driven sales in the to-be-reported quarter.

Zoetis' livestock product sales are expected to have increased in the second quarter, supported by continued broad-based strength across its core species portfolio. In the United States, growth is likely to have been driven by cattle, poultry and swine products, while the International segment is expected to have benefited from broad-based demand across cattle, swine, poultry and fish.

ZTS Earnings Surprise HistoryZoetis has a mixed earnings surprise history so far. The bottom line surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 3.58%. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a negative surprise of 4.97%.

Earnings Whispers for ZTSOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Zoetis this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as you will see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: ZTS has an Earnings ESP of -0.75%.

Zacks Rank: Zoetis currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some stocks worth considering from the healthcare space, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

Harmony Biosciences (HRMY - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +14.14% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of HRMY have lost 5.9% year to date. The company’s earnings missed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average negative surprise of 25.16%. Harmony is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4, before the opening bell.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +25.00% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

Shares of ACAD have lost 3.1% year to date. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 20.83%. Acadia is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4.

CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.94% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Shares of CRSP have lost 8.4% year to date. CRISPR’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining two occasions, delivering an average negative surprise of 1.95%.

By PYMNTS  |  August 3, 2026

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Robinhood received regulatory permission to begin offering cryptocurrency services in the United Kingdom.

The traditional platform has been part of the Financial Conduct Authority’s list of registered cryptoasset companies since July 31.

The company’s inclusion by the FCA was flagged in a Monday (Aug. 3) CoinDesk report, which said Robinhood’s new permission has special significance ahead of the adoption of a more comprehensive framework for digital asset regulation in the U.K.

Legislation earlier this year placed crypto under the FCA’s regulatory umbrella. New rules that go into effect in October 2027 will keep the authority’s oversight of crypto limited to financial promotions and anti-money laundering controls.

“This is a significant moment for crypto regulation in the U.K.,” David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of payments and digital finance, said earlier this year. “We’ve created a framework that doesn’t force firms to choose between regulatory certainty and room to innovate. This regime means they can have both in a stable, competitive home to build and grow. For consumers, it means firms will be held to similar standards to other financial providers, though we can’t regulate away risk.”

The relatively short window for businesses to register and win full regulatory approval means those companies already registered under the FCA’s regime might have done a substantial amount of advanced work, the CoinDesk report said.

Robinhood last week reported earnings showing record quarterly revenue of $1.3 billion, a 32% increase from a year earlier, along with new highs in the company’s equities, options and prediction market business.

However, management said Robinhood’s next phase is not mainly about processing more trades.

“Across prediction markets, tokenized assets, banking and credit cards, the financial platform is attempting to control more of the customer relationship and more of the transaction stack beneath it,” PYMNTS reported Wednesday (July 29).

The company is also preparing for the day when financial activity is initiated by software agents, not by customers navigating applications on their own.

Robinhood’s first agentic trading product still has some bugs, but its long-term implication is greater than user experience.

“The next stage will not be decided by whether Robinhood can launch another popular feature,” the PYMNTS report said. “It will be decided by whether it can make a complex portfolio of products behave like one financial system.”

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Historically, retail investors have been locked out of private companies in their earliest stages, which can be among the biggest wealth creation opportunities available. Today, Robinhood sets out to change that.

Robinhood Ventures Fund II (RVII), the second fund from Robinhood Ventures, is expected to IPO on August 13 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol RVII at an expected price of $25 per share. Robinhood Financial customers can request IPO shares of RVII through Robinhood, and investment advisers on the TradePMR Fusion platform may also seek an allocation for their clients. The window to request IPO shares is expected to close on August 12.

Introducing RVII
RVII is a business development company (“BDC”), a type of closed-end fund, that provides retail investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of private companies in their earliest stages. A closed-end fund is a professionally managed pool of assets—in this case, investments in private companies—that issues a fixed number of shares and trades on an exchange like a stock.

Today, RVII includes 80 private companies, with others expected to be added over time. RVII’s goal is to make seed investments in promising companies across sectors that demonstrate significant growth potential, with a focus on companies that are current or previous participants in the Y Combinator startup accelerator program or companies with a founder or co-founder that has participated in the Y Combinator startup accelerator program. Since 2005, Y Combinator has funded over 5,000 companies with a combined value of over $1.3 trillion, including 100 "unicorns" with valuations over $1 billion.*

"The next generation of promising startups is being built today," said Sarah Pinto, Head of Robinhood Ventures. "With Robinhood Ventures Fund II, retail investors no longer have to wait until a company's IPO to be part of an early growth journey."

“Y Combinator has one of the strongest track records in venture, and having participated in the program myself as both a founder and a visiting partner, I firmly believe its level of access to promising startups is extraordinary," said Rich Aberman, Robinhood Ventures Fund II Portfolio Manager. "As Robinhood Ventures scales, our mission is for it to become the norm that retail is represented in your seed or Series A cap table. This is a great first step in making that dream a reality."

RVII is meant to be accessible to all investors, with no accreditation requirements, no investment minimums, a competitive management fee, and daily liquidity as a publicly traded fund on the NYSE.

RVII pays Robinhood Ventures, the investment adviser, a management fee consisting of two components. A base management fee that is calculated and payable quarterly at an annual rate of 2.00% of net assets, as well as an incentive fee that is determined and payable annually, and is equal to 20% of the realized capital gains from inception through the end of the fiscal year, less realized capital losses, unrealized capital depreciation, and the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fees paid for prior periods.

Why Now?
The U.S. venture capital market has become a massive and fast-growing asset class, with $320 billion deployed in 2025 and $1.38 trillion in total assets under management.** However, companies are staying private much longer than they used to, with the median time to IPO growing from 5 years in 1999 to 14 years in 2024,*** meaning much of the foundational growth is happening out of reach of the investing public. At the end of 2025, there were approximately 859 VC-backed private companies valued at $1 billion or more, representing approximately $4.34 trillion in value. Whether that value is realized through acquisitions, public offerings, or secondary transactions, most of the returns will flow to those who were able to invest early, when the companies were private.****

Many startups don’t make it, but the ones that do can change the world. The risks may be higher, but so are the potential rewards, and RVII aims to expand access to this crucial and often closed-off part of the market.

That same mission now extends to the Robinhood team. With the recent launch of the Robinhood Employee Fund, eligible employees can now invest their own money into a fund providing exposure to Robinhood Ventures funds, including RVII.

How to Participate
Starting today, self-directed retail investors can learn more about RVII and request IPO shares directly through Robinhood. Following the launch of Advisor IPO Access, eligible RIAs on TradePMR can submit an Indication of Interest (IOI) and request shares on behalf of clients and then confirm client interest during the Conditional Offer to Buy (COB) window ahead of the final pricing and allocation.

Following the IPO, everyone will be able to see fund performance metrics, charts, and updates, including the new companies joining the fund each quarter. Every quarter, RVII expects to meet with dozens of new companies from the Y Combinator program and beyond, picking the most promising ones to invest in.

Interested investors can review the preliminary prospectus or learn more at https://robinhood.com/us/en/ventures/rvii. Companies interested in joining RVII or learning more about Robinhood Ventures can contact [email protected].

Disclosures:

*Source: Y Combinator; data as of July 2026.

**Source: NVCA 2026 Yearbook (National Venture Capital Association / PitchBook Data, Inc., 2026); data as of December 31, 2025. Y Combinator statistics are for past performance and are not indicative or predictive of future returns, including for RVII.

***Source: Jay R. Ritter, “Initial Public Offerings: Median Age of IPOs Through 2025,” University of Florida IPO Initiative, updated December 31, 2025. Based on 9,343 IPOs from 1980–2025.

****Source: NVCA 2026 Yearbook (National Venture Capital Association / PitchBook Data, Inc., 2026); data as of December 31, 2025.

This communication has been made available to you with the consent of Robinhood Ventures Fund II (“RVII” or the “Fund” ). RVII has filed a registration statement (including a preliminary prospectus) on Form N-2 (File No. 333-297168) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this free writing prospectus relates. The registration statement has not yet become effective. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus in that registration statement and other documents RVII has filed with the SEC for more complete information about RVII and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus may be obtained by contacting Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or email: [email protected] and [email protected]; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (Tel: 800-831-9146); Wells Fargo Securities LLC, 608 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55402, at 800-645-3751 (option #5) or email a request to [email protected]; or UBS Securities LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, by telephone at (888) 827-7275, or by email at [email protected]. Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of RVII before investing. This presentation shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

An investment in the Fund is speculative and involves a high degree of risk with substantial risk of loss.

RVII is a newly organized, closed‑end, diversified management fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company, investing in a concentrated portfolio of private “Promising Companies.” This investment strategy entails limited information, illiquidity, valuation uncertainty, and risk of loss; shares and the value of RVII’s Net Assets may be volatile and the shares may trade at a discount or premium, and exposures may be via illiquid private vehicles with capital calls and extra fees. An active, liquid and orderly market for the shares may not develop or be sustained. Investors may be unable to sell their shares at or above the price initially paid for those shares. RVII may use leverage, has limited operating history, and does not anticipate that it will pay dividends on a quarterly basis or become a predictable distributor of dividends, all of which can reduce or delay returns.

A “Promising Company” means early-stage and growth-stage private companies that, in the view of Robinhood Ventures, demonstrate significant growth potential.

Closed-end funds differ from open-end funds in that closed-end funds do not redeem their shares at the request of an investor. No shareholder has the right to require the Fund to redeem his, her or its shares. While RVII’s shares are expected to be listed on an exchange, an active public market for the shares may not develop. As a result, shareholders may not be able to liquidate their investment. Accordingly, shareholders should consider that they may not have access to the funds they invest in RVII for an indefinite period of time. There is no assurance that the private companies in which RVII invests will ever have a liquidity event.

“Y Combinator” is a registered trademark of Y Combinator Management, LLC or its affiliates and is used by the Fund with permission. Y Combinator does not sponsor, endorse, or promote the Fund and has no responsibility for the management or performance of the Fund.

Robinhood Ventures (RHV) is the investment adviser for RVII. Robinhood Ventures is the dba name for Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC. Robinhood Ventures is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

RVII plans to conduct an initial public offering that will not be limited to accredited investors, and following its IPO will be a publicly traded fund. A trading market may not develop. While the Fund’s shares are expected to be listed on an exchange, an active public market for the shares may not develop. As a result, shareholders may not be able to liquidate their investment. Accordingly, Shareholders should consider that they may not have access to the funds they invest in the Fund for an indefinite period of time.

Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (RHF), member FINRA/SIPC, or TradePMR Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

RHV, RHF and TradePMR are separate but affiliated companies and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc (“Robinhood”).

Robinhood and its affiliates generally earn more money from affiliated funds than from unaffiliated funds. In addition, Robinhood holds interests in funds managed by RHV and therefore has exposure to their market prices.

Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood Financial are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement. All investments involve risks.

References to the Robinhood Employee Fund are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, interests in the Robinhood Employee Fund. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only pursuant to definitive offering documents (including a private placement memorandum and subscription agreement), which will contain important information about the investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses of the Robinhood Employee Fund and should be read carefully in their entirety before making any investment decisions. As described in more detail in the private placement memorandum, an investment in the Robinhood Employee Fund involves significant risk, including the loss of the entire investment.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes "forward looking statements," including with respect to RVII's proposed initial public offering (the "IPO") of common shares of beneficial interest, the filing and effectiveness of the registration statement on Form N-2, the expected timing of the IPO, the anticipated public offering price of $25 per share, the expected closing of the window to request IPO shares on August 12, 2026, the ability of customers to request and trade shares following the IPO through Robinhood or through a Registered Investment Advisor on TradePMR, the expected listing of RVII's shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RVII," the potential addition of portfolio companies to RVII over time, RVII’s goal to make seed investments in promising companies across sectors that demonstrate significant growth potential, the belief that Y Combinator’s level of access to promising startups is extraordinary, Robinhood Ventures’ mission for retail to have a seat at the table in Series A financings as Robinhood Ventures scales, RVII’s aim to expand access to a crucial and often closed-off part of the market, RVII's expectation to meet with dozens of new companies each quarter, and the availability of fund performance metrics and portfolio updates following the IPO. These statements also include statements regarding RVII's objectives to expand access to private markets and other statements that are not historical facts. You can sometimes identify forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as "will," "expects," "expected," "anticipates," "anticipated," "aims," "goal," "mission," "intends," "intended," "believes," "plans," "estimates," "potential," "future," "may," "could," or "should," the negative of these terms, or similar words and expressions of the future. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks outlined under "Risks" in the preliminary prospectus and elsewhere in RVII's filings with the SEC, which may cause actual results to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. RVII and Robinhood have no obligation, and do not undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statement made in this communication to reflect changes since the date of this communication, except as required by law.

5805124

Contacts
Investor Relations: [email protected]
Press: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3996552d-6798-448d-8a01-f28794b80be2

Senate continuing resolution text released August 2 would delay the pending November federal hemp restrictions.

, /PRNewswire/ -- cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD), a leading and trusted manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products through its cbdMD, Bluebird Botanicals, Herbal Oasis, and Paw CBD brands, today welcomed newly released Senate spending legislation that would preserve access to full-spectrum CBD and other naturally derived hemp products.

On August 2, leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee released the text of a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies through December 11. Notably, the bill includes provisions that would delay the pending federal restrictions on most hemp products, currently scheduled to take effect November 12, until December 11. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable characterized the development as potentially "a landmark victory for the hemp industry," calling it the biggest win since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp.

The measure would temporarily preserve the current federal framework for naturally derived hemp products during the extension. It includes a carve-out under which certain synthetic cannabinoids "not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant" would still be affected on the original November 12 timeline. cbdMD's current assessment is that its core portfolio built on naturally derived, full-spectrum CBD and other hemp-derived formulations falls within the category the Senate text is intended to protect.

The Company notes that the Senate text is not yet law. The House of Representatives previously passed a version of the continuing resolution without these hemp provisions, so the language would need to be retained through final House and Senate action and signed by the President before taking effect. The Company will continue to monitor the process closely.

"This is a bridge, not the finish line.  It is an encouraging step for our industry and the consumers we serve," said T. Ronan Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of cbdMD. "For the first time, protection for naturally derived hemp products is written into the base text of a must-pass spending bill, rather than left to an amendment fighting for a vote. If enacted, it would preserve access to the full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on and give our industry a seat at the table as Congress works toward permanent, sensible rules. cbdMD has spent nearly a decade building brands around the standards responsible regulation should require, including third-party testing, transparent labeling, and age verification, and we intend to be a constructive voice as this process moves forward."

The Company views the proposed extension not as a new deadline, but as an opening. If enacted, the short-term extension would keep the hemp issue open through December 11, giving Congress an opportunity to include a more durable regulatory framework in a Farm Bill, omnibus appropriations package, or year-end extenders package. This progress follows months of engagement by businesses, farmers, consumers, and advocates, as well as public support from the White House for continued access to full-spectrum CBD.

cbdMD's products are supported by third-party laboratory testing and quality-assurance protocols, and the Company supports federal and state efforts to establish uniform standards for the manufacture, testing, labeling, and responsible sale of hemp-derived wellness products.

About cbdMD, Inc.

cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD) is a Charlotte, North Carolina company that manufactures and distributes hemp-derived cannabidiol products, including its flagship cbdMD, Bluebird Botanicals, Herbal Oasis, and Paw CBD brands and its functional-wellness brand ATRx Labs. cbdMD's mission is to enhance its customers' overall sense of well-being through premium, thoughtfully formulated products backed by third-party testing. For more information, visit www.cbdmd.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "expect," "would," "if enacted," "positioned," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the uncertain outcome and timing of the Senate continuing resolution and related federal and state legislation and regulation affecting hemp-derived cannabinoids; the possibility that the hemp provisions are removed or altered before enactment; the potential impact of the hemp definition currently scheduled to take effect on November 12, 2026, and any delay of that date; the scope of any synthetic-cannabinoid carve-out; the Company's ability to comply with and adapt to evolving legal requirements; market, competitive, and economic conditions; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. Nothing in this release constitutes legal, regulatory, or investment advice, and no assurance can be given that any proposed legislation will be enacted or that any particular regulatory outcome will occur.

Contacts
cbdMD, Inc.
Ronan Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
(704) 445-3064

SOURCE cbdMD, Inc.

Key Takeaways LNC posted adjusted EPS of $2.24, beating estimates as operating revenues rose 4.2% year over year.Lincoln National reported 90.6% higher net income and ended the quarter with an RBC ratio above 420%.LNC ended the quarter with an RBC ratio above 420% and higher book value excluding AOCI. Lincoln National Corporation (LNC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $2.24, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12%. The bottom line declined 5.1% year over year.

Adjusted operating revenues grew 4.2% year over year to $4.93 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%

The quarterly earnings were supported by higher net investment income and lower expenses. Improved profitability in the Life Insurance and Retirement Plan Services segments also contributed to the upside. Nevertheless, these gains were partly offset by lower sales in the Annuities and Group Protection segments.

Lincoln National Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseKey Takeaways From LNC’s Q2 ResultsLNC's estimated RBC ratio remained above 420% at the end of the reported quarter.

Insurance premiums inched up 2% year over year to $1.7 billion, marginally missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.01%.

Fee income was $1.4 billion, which improved 4.3% year over year but missed the consensus mark by 0.4%. Net investment income advanced 10.5% year over year to $1.6 billion and beat the consensus mark by 10.8%.

Meanwhile, other revenues of $202 million rose 9.8% year over year in the quarter under review.

Total expenses declined 9.3% year over year to $2.9 billion. Interest credited rose 11.8% year over year to $1 billion.

Lincoln National reported net income of $1.3 billion, up 90.6% year over year from $699 million.

Lincoln National’s Segmental PerformancesThe Annuities and Life Insurance segments form part of LNC’s Retail Solutions business, while Group Protection and Retirement Plan Services units make up the Workplace Solutions business.

The Annuities segment's operating income totaled $287 million, flat year over year, and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.6%. Favorable equity markets and higher spread income were partly offset by variable annuity outflows and the $12 million impact of the previously disclosed net investment income reallocation to non-operating income. The segment's operating revenues increased 10.5% year over year to $1.3 billion. Total annuity deposits were $3.5 billion, which fell 12.5% year over year.

The Life Insurance segment recorded operating income of $57 million, which improved from $32 million in the prior-year quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $26.7 million. The increase was driven by favorable mortality, partly offset by lower alternative investment income. Operating revenues declined 1.9% year over year to $1.6 billion. Total Life Insurance sales of $216 million advanced 78.5% year over year. Total deposits grew 30.6% year over year to $1.7 billion.

The Group Protection segment's operating income decreased 15% year over year to $147 million but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $142 million. Operating revenues increased 2.5% year over year to $1.6 billion, driven by a 2.5% rise in insurance premiums. Sales of $155 million declined 17.1% year over year.

The Retirement Plan Services segment recorded operating income of $49 million, which grew 32.4% year over year and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $44.1 million. The increase was driven by spread expansion and favorable equity markets. Operating revenues increased 6.6% year over year to $353 million. Total deposits rose 4% year over year to $3.7 billion.

Other Operations reported an operating loss of $90 million, narrower than the prior-year quarter's loss of $91 million and better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $93.7 million.

Lincoln National’s Q2 Financial UpdateLincoln National exited the second quarter with cash and invested cash of $10.2 billion, up from $9.5 billion as of 2025-end. Total assets increased to $429.8 billion from $417.2 billion as of 2025-end.

Long-term debt rose to $6.5 billion from $5.9 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.

Total stockholders' equity increased to $11.3 billion from $10.9 billion as of 2025-end.

Book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), was $77.39, up from $73.10 as of 2025-end. Adjusted income from operations ROE declined 130 basis points year over year to 11.6%.

LNC’s Dividend UpdateLincoln National paid quarterly common dividends of $86 million, up 11.7% from the prior-year quarter’s level.

LNC’s 2026 OutlookManagement had earlier projected that the Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection and Retirement Plan Services units would account for 58-60%, 8-9%, 24-25% and 8-9%, respectively, of the company's total operating income in 2026.

Management had earlier projected an RBC ratio of more than 420% in 2026 and over the long term.

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

How Did LNC’s Peers Perform?Several companies in the insurance space, including Aon plc (AON - Free Report) , RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR - Free Report) and AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF - Free Report) , have already reported their financial results for the June quarter of 2026. Here’s how they have performed:

Aon reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.81 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1%. The bottom line advanced 9% year over year. Aon’s total revenues of $4.2 billion grew 2% year over year.  The top line missed the consensus mark by 0.4%. Organic revenue growth was 5%. The quarterly results were supported by strong organic revenue growth, healthy client retention, operating margin expansion and disciplined execution. Solid performance across the Commercial Risk, Reinsurance and Health Solutions businesses was partly offset by weakness in Wealth Solutions.

RenaissanceRe reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $12.92 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.9%.  The bottom line also improved 5.1% year over year.  RNR’s total operating revenues declined 6.7% year over year to $2.64 billion. The top line missed the consensus mark by 1%. The quarterly earnings benefited from lower expenses, higher net investment income and an improved total combined ratio. However, the upside was partly offset by lower net premiums earned, weaker underwriting results in the Casualty & Specialty segment and lower fee income.

AMERISAFE reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 44 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17%. The bottom line declined 17% year over year.  Operating revenues increased 10.3% year over year to $83.95 million and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1%. AMERISAFE’s quarterly results were affected by higher expenses and weaker underwriting margins, with additional pressure from lower investment income. Strong premium growth partly offset these headwinds.

Key Takeaways Generac's data center backlog hit $1.6 billion, including $1 billion of new orders received within 90 days.Two hyperscaler deals include nearly $700 million of committed 2027 volume with Generac's first customer.GNRC expects about $450 million in 2026 data center revenue, making capacity and margin execution critical. Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC - Free Report) has built a data center backlog of roughly $1.6 billion, including about $1 billion of new orders received within 90 days. The scale of those commitments is reshaping the company’s commercial and industrial (“C&I”) growth outlook.

The opportunity also raises the operational stakes. Generac must add capacity, deliver large-megawatt systems on schedule and manage a sales mix that produces lower margins than its residential business.

Generac’s Backlog Reaches $1.6 BillionThe backlog shows that data centers are becoming a substantial source of future demand rather than a limited near-term contributor. It supports a broader shift toward commercial and industrial customers with multiyear power requirements.

The $1.6 billion figure does not include committed volumes that remain under negotiation with Generac’s second hyperscale customer. That leaves room for additional orders, but the timing and final product terms still need to be completed.

GNRC’s Hyperscaler Deals Extend Revenue VisibilityGenerac has secured two multiyear global supply agreements with hyperscale data center operators. The agreements strengthen visibility beyond the current year and give the company a clearer basis for production planning.

Finalized product-specific terms with the first customer represent nearly $700 million of committed volume for 2027. Negotiations with the second customer cover potential volumes for 2027 and 2028, extending the opportunity further into the planning cycle.

Generac’s 2026 Data Center Outlook Moves HigherManagement raised its 2026 data center revenue expectation to roughly $450 million. The higher forecast indicates that backlog conversion should become a more meaningful contributor to Generac’s near-term C&I revenues.

Multiyear agreements may also reduce reliance on shorter-cycle orders. Manufacturing readiness and final product terms remain important to the pace of revenue conversion.

GNRC’s Capacity Expansion Becomes the Key TestProduction at the expanded Sussex, WI, facility is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, one quarter ahead of plan. The Belvidere, IL, packaging facility is scheduled to become operational in the first quarter of 2027.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) supplies electric power systems for data centers, making it a relevant comparison as Generac expands large-megawatt capacity. Cummins Inc. (CMI - Free Report) also provides standby generator solutions for hyperscale, colocation and enterprise facilities.

Their presence highlights the need for reliable execution and service support. Delays, inefficient ramp-ups or missed delivery schedules could prevent GNRC from converting its backlog into revenues when expected.

Generac’s C&I Mix Could Limit Margin UpsideTariff refunds added roughly 6% to second-quarter gross margin, which reached 44.5%. Excluding those refunds, management expects 2026 gross margin near the low end of its prior 38.5% to 39.5% range because of the higher C&I sales mix.

GNRC’s Strong Signal Meets a Mixed Style ProfileThe backlog materially improves Generac’s revenue visibility, but the investment case now depends more heavily on capacity execution and margin control. Successful conversion could support a more durable growth mix, while delays would expose the cost of expanding ahead of demand.

GNRC currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating favorable near-term earnings-estimate trends. Its Growth Score of B is consistent with the company’s expanding growth opportunity.

The Value Score of D, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C remain mixed. Those scores suggest that the data center theme is promising, but investors still need evidence that backlog can translate into profitable, timely revenue growth.

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

Avista NYSE: AVA used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to focus primarily on wildfires near Spokane, Washington, which have damaged parts of its electric transmission and distribution system, displaced residents and employees, and left thousands of customers without electric or natural gas service.

President and CEO Heather Rosentrater said multiple fires, fueled by dry and windy conditions, spread rapidly over the weekend and remain uncontained. She said the company’s facilities were not involved in starting any of the Spokane-area fires.

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“Thousands of people, including many of our employees, have been displaced and many are still facing great uncertainty,” Rosentrater said. “Our hearts are with everyone who has had to evacuate their homes, everyone who has suffered loss, and all who continue working on the front lines.”

Outages and Infrastructure Damage At the time of the call, about 7,300 of Avista’s 429,000 electric customers were without power, while approximately 5,300 of its 386,000 natural gas customers were without service. The remaining outages were related to active wildfire conditions, damaged infrastructure, evacuation restrictions and safety concerns, rather than the company’s public safety power shutoff event, Rosentrater said.

The company identified significant impacts to transmission and distribution facilities serving parts of West Spokane. Several transmission lines sustained wildfire damage, reducing system capacity. Avista repaired and energized one key transmission line on the morning of the call, which Rosentrater said significantly reduced the risk of additional customer outages caused by capacity constraints.

Avista has also repaired some other damaged lines, but several remain out of service. Crews have gained access to affected areas and begun repairs to the transmission system. Rosentrater said the transmission restoration work should take less time than repairs to the distribution system, where the full extent of the damage remains under assessment.

“With the distribution, there’s a significant structure loss,” Rosentrater said in response to a question about the expected timing for normalizing infrastructure. “Working through how we support the areas that remain, that’s what we’re trying to understand better right now and how long that will take. It’s still to be determined.”

Recovery, Insurance and Wildfire Mitigation Senior Vice President, CFO, Treasurer and Regulatory Affairs Officer Kevin Christie said the company was still assessing the damage and had not determined whether it would seek a regulatory filing related to recovery of wildfire-related costs. He noted that many of the affected assets are long-lived, which should limit the effect of regulatory lag.

Christie said Washington legislation enacted two legislative sessions earlier permits the securitization of wildfire-related costs. However, he said the current event did not appear to approach the level of monetary impact that would warrant securitization.

“Securitization would be for, I would say, much more impactful events than what we’re experiencing now,” Christie said, while emphasizing that the fires remain significant for affected communities and employees.

Rosentrater said the company’s wildfire mitigation measures, including public safety power shutoffs, vegetation management, real-time situational awareness and operational changes, demonstrated value during the event. During inspections before restoring service to proactively de-energized feeders, crews found several trees that had fallen into one line, she said.

Rosentrater described public safety power shutoffs as a tool to help prevent wildfire ignitions, though she acknowledged the difficulty those outages can create for communities.

Data Center Discussions Remain Paused Avista also addressed its ongoing review of potential large data center loads. Rosentrater said the company would not move forward with a new large data center customer unless it is confident the customer would make significant contributions supporting affordability for existing customers and would maintain or enhance reliability.

The company expects any large-load arrangement to provide a net benefit to current customers and include protections ensuring existing customers do not bear associated costs, she said. Avista has been considering potential tariff updates, hybrid tariffs, special contracts and possible state-level policy measures.

The company has paused activity under a memorandum of understanding related to a proposed 500-megawatt data center project, which Avista removed as upside from its capital plan. Rosentrater said the pause has allowed more time to review internal processes and engage with regulators, local partners and other stakeholders.

Christie said an upcoming Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission workshop should help inform the process. He said Avista has historically used special contracts for large-load customers and wants to provide clearer assurances that existing customers are protected and receive benefits.

Washington Rate Case Outlook On Avista’s Washington rate case, Christie said a settlement appears likely to be difficult because parties hold fundamentally different views on the company’s proposed four-year rate plan. He said the company continues to support the four-year structure.

Christie said staff testimony was relatively close to Avista’s position in some areas, despite differences in methodology. He identified return levels proposed by public counsel and the lack of a proposed power-supply adjustment as major points of disagreement.

Avista planned to file rebuttal testimony on Aug. 7, followed by hearings expected Sept. 17-18. Christie said the company expects a commission order around the middle of December.

He added that, if an extreme event occurred during a four-year plan, Avista could refile and replace the third and fourth years of the plan, though he said the company does not believe the current wildfire event would require that action.

About Avista (NYSE:AVA)Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.

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 Avista Right Now?Before you consider Avista, you'll want to hear this.

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Key Takeaways NYT's quarterly results will spotlight digital subscription growth and advertising revenue trends.Bundled products, pricing actions and subscriber retention are expected to support subscription revenues.Print weakness and higher spending on product development, marketing and administration may pressure margins. The New York Times Company (NYT - Free Report) is set to announce its second-quarter 2026 earnings results on Aug. 5, before the market opens. Key focus areas include subscription growth and trends in advertising revenues.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pegged at $748 million, indicating a 9.1% rise from the prior-year period.

This diversified media conglomerate is also expected to show improvement in the bottom line. The consensus estimate for earnings per share has remained steady at 67 cents over the past 30 days, suggesting a 15.5% increase from the year-ago period.

The New York Times Company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.7%, on average. In the last reported quarter, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS by 24.5%.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped NYT’s Q2 OutcomeThe New York Times Company’s second-quarter performance is likely to have benefited from the continued strength of its digital subscription business, supported by sustained demand for its premium news and lifestyle offerings. Management has consistently emphasized that its strategy of building direct relationships with readers through a diversified portfolio of products, including News, Games, Cooking, The Athletic, Audio and Wirecutter, continues to deepen user engagement. The company has also highlighted healthy subscriber retention, successful pricing actions and growing engagement across its bundled offerings, all of which are expected to have supported subscription revenues during the quarter.

On its last earnings call, management projected a 10-12% year-over-year increase in total subscription revenues for the second quarter, with digital-only subscription revenues anticipated to rise 14-17%. The New York Times Company's expanding subscriber base is central to its growth strategy. The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates the digital-only subscriber count to be 12.84 million by the end of the second quarter.

The New York Times has benefited from robust marketer demand, supported by strong audience engagement across multiple content categories, including news, sports, games and lifestyle products. Management has noted that expanding advertising inventory across its digital properties while maintaining a consumer-first experience has strengthened advertiser interest. Its growing first-party data capabilities and broad portfolio of premium content are also likely to have helped attract advertising spending and supported healthy monetization during the second quarter. Management had guided a high-teens increase in digital advertising revenues for the quarter under review.

The company’s ongoing investments in product innovation and content quality are also likely to have remained supportive of second-quarter performance. Management continues to expand video journalism, launch new digital features and enhance user experiences across its platforms to strengthen engagement and attract new audiences. The strategy of leveraging high-quality journalism alongside premium lifestyle content has helped reinforce the company’s competitive position while creating multiple avenues for monetization through subscriptions, advertising and licensing. These long-term initiatives are likely to have supported overall business momentum in the quarter.

On the flip side, The New York Times Company’s second-quarter performance may have continued to face headwinds from its print business, where subscription and advertising trends have remained under pressure. The consensus estimate for print subscription revenues stands at $128 million, down 2.3%, while print advertising revenues are expected to fall 12.7% to $34.5 million. Higher spending on product development, marketing and administrative functions may have weighed on margins. Management had guided an 8-9% increase in adjusted operating costs for the quarter under review.

What the Zacks Model Predicts for NYTAs investors prepare for The New York Times Company’s second-quarter results, the question looms regarding an earnings beat or miss. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for The New York Times Company this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.

The New York Times Company has a Zacks Rank #3 but an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are three more companies you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season:

SanDisk Corporation (SNDK - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 5. Currently, it has an Earnings ESP of +4.13% and sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SanDisk’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $34.24 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase from 29 cents reported in the year-ago period. Earnings estimates for the quarter have been revised upward by 2.8% over the past 30 days.

 Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 5. Currently, it has an Earnings ESP of +3.22% and sports a Zacks Rank #1.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Western Digital’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $3.35 per share, calling for a year-over-year surge of 101.8%. Earnings estimates for the quarter have been revised upward by a penny in the past 30 days.

 MKS Inc. (MKSI - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5. Currently, it has an Earnings ESP of +1.59% and carries a Zacks Rank #2.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MKS’ second-quarter earnings is pegged at $2.94 per share, calling for a year-over-year jump of 66.1%. Earnings estimates for the quarter have been revised upward by a penny in the past seven days.

NEW YORK, Aug. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Bloom Energy securities between February 27, 2026 and July 8, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BE.

Bloom Energy Case Details

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

that Bloom Energy obtained scandium through intermediaries who sourced the metal from China;that, as a result, the Company understated the extent to which it relied on scandium from China; andthat, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
What's Next for Bloom Energy Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BE. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Bloom Energy you have until September 28, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Bloom Energy Investors

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

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Bloom Energy Securities Class Action?

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

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

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Key Takeaways CDW is set to report Q2 results Aug. 5, with management expecting high single-digit non-GAAP EPS growth.CDW expects AI-driven infrastructure demand, backlog and customer activity to support quarterly performance.CDW sees stronger second-half momentum from services, while hardware shipment delays keep backlog high. CDW Corporation (CDW - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results before market open on Aug. 5.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is set at $6.3 billion, representing a 4.7% increase from the prior-year quarter. 

The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.80 per share, up 1.3% in the past 60 days, indicating a 7.7% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. Management expects second-quarter non-GAAP net income per share to be in the high single digits year over year.

CDW’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.3%.

Key Factors Investors Should Watch for CDW’s Q2 EarningsCDW’s second-quarter performance is expected to have been driven by customer demand across corporate, government, education and healthcare markets, as well as the company's ability to capitalize on AI-driven infrastructure investment, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. AI continues to reshape enterprise technology investments. Companies are increasingly deploying AI-ready servers, high-performance storage, networking equipment and data center infrastructure. CDW, with its broad portfolio of hardware, software and IT services, is well-positioned to benefit from this trend.

The company expects strong performance in the to-be-reported quarter and beyond, driven by backlog and customer activity. Supply chain and demand uncertainties remain, but the outlook is cautiously optimistic with a focus on quarterly results. CDW expects second-quarter non-GAAP SG&A expenses to be modestly higher sequentially. However, operating expenses as a percentage of gross profit are projected to decline sequentially due to seasonal factors and remain broadly in line with the year-ago second quarter.

Government, education, commercial, international and healthcare customers account for a lion’s share of CDW's revenue. First-quarter results demonstrated this diversification, with commercial growth of nearly 10%, government growth of almost 5%, education growth of 3% and international growth of 17.9%. Corporate, healthcare and financial services customers all contributed to commercial expansion, while double-digit growth in state and local government offset weakness in federal spending. K-12 demand remained healthy despite difficult comparisons, and both the U.K. and Canada delivered double-digit growth.

For the second quarter, we expect revenues from Total Commercial, Government and Education to be $3.9 billion, $685 million and $916.7 million, respectively. Revenues from the International part are estimated to be $627 million, down 6.7%.

The company anticipates a more balanced demand environment in the second half, with no significant demand destruction expected. CDW expects netted-down revenues, along with professional and managed services, to gain momentum in the second half of 2026 and continue to outpace overall business growth in the long term. Hardware shipment delays keep backlog elevated. Meanwhile, higher-value AI deals and expanding professional and managed services are expected to support recurring revenue and drive margin expansion over time.

Management remains committed to maintaining leverage within its targeted 2X-3X range while evaluating acquisition opportunities aligned with its growth strategy. In addition, Geared for Growth initiatives are expected to begin contributing productivity benefits in the second half of 2026. In May, the board authorized an additional $1 billion for share repurchases, increasing its total remaining buyback capacity to approximately $1.48 billion from the amount remaining as of March 31, 2026. Future authorizations remain subject to board approval.

Potential variability remains tied to recession risks, geopolitical developments, pricing volatility and additional supply disruptions that could alter customer purchasing patterns, weighing on CDW’s overall performance.

What Our Model Displays for CDWOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for CDW this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is exactly the case here.

CDW currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are three other stocks you may want to consider, as our model shows that these too have the right elements to post an earnings beat in this reporting cycle.

Arista Networks (ANET - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.08% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. 

ANET is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANET’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at 89 cents per share and $2.83 billion, respectively. Shares of ANET have gained 39% in the past year.

Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) presently has an Earnings ESP of +4.96% and a Zacks Rank #3. CAT is scheduled to report quarterly numbers on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Caterpillar’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at $6.25 per share and $19.31 billion, respectively. Shares of CAT have risen 93.7% in the past year.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.56% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. AMD is scheduled to report quarterly figures on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMD’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at $1.61 per share and $11.32 billion, respectively. Shares of AMD have skyrocketed 153.3% in the past year.

Key Takeaways Evergy expects Q2 earnings of 82 cents per share and revenues of $1.47 billion, up 2.6%.Data center demand, economic development and customer growth may support quarterly performance.Infrastructure spending, efficiency efforts and cost optimization may help offset higher O&M expenses. Evergy, Inc. (EVRG - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 9.52% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors That Might Have Impacted EVRG's Q2 EarningsEvergy is expected to have benefited from continued economic development across its service territories, resulting in stronger electricity demand. The company's earnings are likely to have been supported by increasing demand from data centers.

EVRG's quarterly performance may have benefited from ongoing investments in infrastructure and efforts to enhance service reliability. EVRG’s second-quarter earnings are also expected to have been boosted by energy efficiency initiatives and ongoing cost optimization measures.

Evergy is also likely to have gained from its focus on maintaining affordable rates while delivering high-quality services, which is expected to have supported customer additions and load growth.

The anticipated rise in demand from residential, commercial and industrial customers is likely to have supported second-quarter earnings. However, higher operations and maintenance expenses may have weighed on the company’s bottom line.

EVRG’s Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 82 cents per share, in line with the earnings reported in the year-ago quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $1.47 billion, indicating an increase of 2.6% from the year-ago reported figure.

What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for EVRGOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Evergy this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here as you will see below.

Stocks to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW - Free Report) is slated to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

PNW’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 5.81%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pinned at $1.49 per share, which suggests a year-over-year decline of 5.7%.

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.16% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

DUK’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.76%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pinned at $1.29 per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 3.2%.

Versigent PLC (VGNT - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +8.82% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VGNT’s revenues stands at $2.29 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.58 per share.

Key Takeaways Leidos expects Q2 revenues of $4.36 billion, up 2.6%, and earnings of $2.90 per share, down 9.7%.ENTRUST, recent contract awards and Kudu Dynamics may support Homeland and Intelligence & Digital growth.Defense demand, program wins and cost controls may aid results, while higher interest expenses weigh. Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 8.68% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors Likely to Influence LDOS’ Q2 ResultsLeidos Holdings' Homeland segment is likely to have benefited from the $2.4 billion acquisition of ENTRUST. This strategic addition expanded the company's energy infrastructure capabilities, strengthened its presence in the utility engineering market and enhanced its service offerings, supporting the segment's top-line performance in the quarter to be reported.

Leidos Holdings' Intelligence & Digital segment is likely to have witnessed strength in the quarter to be reported, driven by recent contract awards, higher demand for Intelligence Community mission support and continued contributions from Kudu Dynamics.

Net write-ups on certain programs within the managed health services are likely to have supported the Health segment’s top-line performance.

Robust program wins and increased sales volumes, supported by growing geopolitical tensions globally and strong growth in integrated air defense systems, may have boosted the Defense segment’s top line.

Strong revenue growth, supported by disciplined program execution and cost-control initiatives, is likely to have favorably impacted the company's bottom-line performance. However, higher interest expenses are expected to have tempered some of the benefits in the quarter to be reported.

Q2 Expectations for LDOSThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.36 billion, indicating an increase of 2.6% from the year-ago level.

The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.90 per share, calling for a decline of 9.7% from the figure recorded a year ago.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for LDOSOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for LDOS this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.

Other Stocks to ConsiderBelow, we have mentioned players from the same sector that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the upcoming releases.

CDW Corporation (CDW - Free Report) is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $6.26 billion, which indicates a 4.7% rise from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The consensus estimate for earnings stands at $2.80 per share, which calls for a 7.7% improvement from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) is slated to report its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 13, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.52% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $9 billion, which calls for a 23.3% improvement from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The consensus estimate for earnings stands at $3.36 per share, which suggests a massive 35.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI - Free Report) is expected to report its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 19, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.37% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $3.92 billion, which implies a 36.3% increase from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $3.33 per share, indicating a year-over-year surge of 62.4%.

Hess Midstream Partners NYSE: HESM reported higher second-quarter net income and adjusted EBITDA, supported by lower operating expenses and general and administrative savings, while reaffirming its full-year financial outlook and plans for shareholder returns and debt reduction.

Net income for the second quarter of 2026 was $174 million, compared with about $158 million in the first quarter, while adjusted EBITDA rose to $314 million from $300 million. Chief Financial Officer Mike Chadwick said the increase primarily reflected operating activity that shifted into the second half of the year, as well as lower G&A allocations.

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Revenue excluding pass-through revenue increased by about $10 million sequentially. Gathering revenue rose approximately $7 million, and processing revenue increased approximately $3 million, Chadwick said.

Operations and Volume Outlook Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Stein said the company completed planned maintenance at TGP on time and under budget during the quarter. Hess Midstream plans maintenance at LM4 in the third quarter and expects to complete work that had shifted from the first half into the latter half of the year.

Second-quarter throughput averaged 433 million cubic feet per day for gas processing, 117,000 barrels of oil per day for crude terminaling, and 121,000 barrels of water per day for water gathering. Compared with the first quarter, oil-related volumes were flat to lower, while gas volumes increased as additional third-party volumes helped offset the impact of TGP maintenance, Stein said.

The company continues to expect higher volumes in the second half of 2026 than in the first half. Stein said the anticipated increase reflects the normal timing of wells coming online as Chevron optimizes its drilling program, along with longer laterals and greater productivity discussed by Chevron.

“The volume growth that we had was really planned and just part of normal phasing,” Stein said. He added that the company expects continued quarter-over-quarter volume growth, including at least 5% growth into the second half of the year.

Stein said Chevron’s efficiency gains in the basin have helped maintain production at lower rig counts. From Hess Midstream’s perspective, longer laterals can allow similar throughput volumes to be handled with fewer wells, supporting capital efficiency. He said the company is not assuming production growth beyond the production expectations previously discussed by Chevron, with future growth drivers expected to include inflation-based tariff escalation and operating-cost savings.

Margins, Capital Spending and Third-Quarter View Hess Midstream’s gross adjusted EBITDA margin was approximately 85% in the second quarter, above its long-term 75% target. Chadwick said the margin benefited in part from relatively minor credits recorded during the quarter, but that the larger factor was the phasing of operating expenses into the third and fourth quarters.

While the company has maintained margins above 80% for an extended period, Chadwick said management remains comfortable retaining the 75% long-term margin target rather than changing its guidance.

Capital expenditures totaled approximately $31 million in the second quarter, including the completion of greenfield high-pressure gathering pipeline infrastructure. The company expects spending to increase in the third quarter as planned activity rises.

For the third quarter, Hess Midstream expects net income of approximately $165 million to $175 million and adjusted EBITDA of $310 million to $320 million. The midpoint of the EBITDA outlook is roughly flat with the second quarter, as higher projected revenue and volumes are expected to be offset by higher operating expenses, including deferred maintenance work.

Adjusted free cash flow is expected to decline sequentially in the third quarter because of higher capital expenditures, Chadwick said.

Full-Year Guidance and Capital Allocation The company reiterated its 2026 outlook for net income of $650 million to $700 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1.225 billion to $1.275 billion, with the EBITDA midpoint approximately flat compared with 2025. It also maintained adjusted free cash flow guidance of $910 million to $960 million, representing a 20% year-over-year increase at the midpoint, according to Stein.

Chadwick said the range of potential outcomes for full-year EBITDA will depend largely on weather and maintenance execution. Favorable weather and continued successful maintenance execution could support results toward the higher end of the range, while operational interruptions or higher maintenance costs could pressure results.

Second-quarter adjusted free cash flow was approximately $232 million, down about 2% from the first quarter. Net interest expense, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs, was approximately $51 million. The revolving credit facility balance was $256 million at quarter-end, down approximately $87 million from the first quarter. After funding its targeted 5% annual distribution growth, Hess Midstream expects approximately $280 million of excess adjusted free cash flow in 2026. The company plans to use that cash for incremental shareholder returns and debt repayment.

Chadwick said the board will continue to evaluate the mix of share repurchases and debt reduction during the year. The company repurchased $60 million of shares from public holders and its sponsor in March, while second-quarter capital allocation included the $87 million reduction in revolver borrowings.

Hess Midstream was at roughly 3 times leverage during the quarter and expects that ratio to decline as debt is reduced and EBITDA increases. Chadwick said the company’s outlook indicates leverage could reach about 2.5 times by 2028, though management does not expect it to move materially below that level.

About Hess Midstream Partners (NYSE:HESM)Hess Midstream Partners LP, formerly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HESM, is a midstream energy partnership that owns, operates and develops crude oil, natural gas and produced water infrastructure in the Williston Basin. The company’s assets include crude oil gathering and transportation systems, saltwater disposal wells, natural gas processing and fractionation plants, and associated pipeline and storage facilities. Its integrated network is designed to support upstream production by providing gathering, processing, storage and marketing services for hydrocarbons and produced water.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Hess Midstream Partners primarily serves producers operating in North Dakota and Montana’s Bakken Shale region.

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].

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Key Takeaways AXON is expected to report Q2 revenues of $868.4 million, up 29.9% year over year, on Aug. 5.Axon Enterprise may benefit from demand for TASER 10, software services and the Carbyne acquisition.AXON faces margin pressure from higher integration costs, wages and stock-based compensation. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pegged at $868.4 million, which indicates an increase of 29.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $1.89 per share, which has been stable in the past 60 days. The estimate indicates a decline of 10.9% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

AXON’s Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate twice and missed in the other two in the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 8.8%. In the last reported quarter, it reported earnings of $1.61 per share, which missed the consensus estimate by 3%.

Earnings Whispers for AXONOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Axon Enterprise this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as elaborated below.

Earnings ESP: AXON has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the Most Accurate Estimate are pegged at $1.89 per share. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: AXON currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Factors Driving AXON’s PerformanceAxon Enterprise’s Connected Devices segment’s second-quarter performance is expected to have benefited from solid demand for TASER 10 products and higher cartridge revenues. Also, strong customer response for its next-generation body-worn camera, Axon Body 4, and solid demand for virtual reality training services are expected to have driven the segment’s performance.

Axon Enterprise’s strong presence in the counter-drone space is likely to have contributed to the segment’s growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Connected Devices segment’s revenues is pegged at $479 million, indicating a 27.4% increase year over year.

The addition of new users and associated devices to the AXON network is expected to have supported the Software & Services segment. Continued momentum in digital evidence management and increased demand for premium add-on features are also likely to have augmented the segmental top line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Software & Services segment’s net sales is pegged at $390 million, indicating a 33.6% increase year over year.

AXON remains focused on acquisitions and strategic collaborations to expand its product offerings and customer base. For instance, in February 2026, the company acquired Carbyne, a well-known provider of cloud contact center technology solutions to public safety agencies. The acquisition integrated Carbyne’s advanced cloud-native 911 technology into the Axon ecosystem to create Axon 911, a state-of-the-art, fully integrated solution that will connect callers and responders instantly. The buyouts are expected to have boosted its top line in the quarter.

Despite the positives, escalating costs and operating expenses have been a concern for the company. High costs related to business integration activities, increased wages and stock-based compensation are expected to have weighed on AXON’s bottom line in the to-be-reported quarter.

Price PerformanceAXON’s shares have surged 22.5% in the past six months against the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry’s 1.1% decline. The company’s shares have also fared better than the S&P 500’s increase of 8.5%. Shares of its key rivals like Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS - Free Report) and Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS - Free Report) have declined 49% and increased 20.2%, respectively.

Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AXON’s Valuation Remains a HeadwindThe stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 169.05X compared with the industry average of 40.35X. This elevated valuation could make the stock vulnerable to further pullbacks if market sentiment sours.

Both peers, Kratos Defense and Leonardo DRS, are trading cheaper compared with AXON. Notably, Kratos Defense and Leonardo DRS are trading at 68.49X and 32.43X, respectively.

Price-to-Earnings (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Investment ThesisAxon Enterprise is benefiting from strong demand for its TASER devices, body-worn cameras and software solutions, supported by continued customer adoption and innovation. The company's expanding ecosystem, strategic acquisitions such as Carbyne and growing recurring software revenues are expected to drive long-term growth. However, higher operating costs, integration expenses and stock-based compensation may continue to weigh on margins in the near term.

Should You Buy AXON Now?Strong demand for TASER devices, along with continued customer additions, strategic acquisitions and growth in the counter-drone market, positions AXON favorably for solid second-quarter results. However, rising operating costs, integration expenses and stock-based compensation are likely to weigh on its near-term profitability.

AXON's premium valuation warrants a cautious approach for existing investors. Potential investors should consider waiting for the company's earnings report and a more attractive entry point before investing in the stock.

Key Takeaways Eaton raised its 2026 organic growth outlook to 11-13% and adjusted EPS guidance to $13.40-$13.60.Electrical Americas posted 18% organic growth and a 27.5% margin as capacity translated into shipments.Data-center orders rose 85%, while Boyd revenues hit $432 million and its 2026 forecast rose to $1.8 billion. Eaton Corporation plc (ETN - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to stress that execution, rather than demand, remains the key variable for near-term performance. Management pointed to improving Electrical Americas output, broad order strength and expanding data-center activity as the basis for a higher full-year outlook.

Adjusted EPS of $3.15 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.08 by 2.30%. Revenues of $8.53 billion topped the $8.00 billion estimate by 6.60%.

ETN Raises the 2026 Growth BarCEO Paulo Sternadt raised Eaton’s 2026 organic growth outlook to 11% to 13%, increasing the midpoint by 200 basis points from the prior range.

Sternadt also lifted adjusted earnings guidance to $13.40 to $13.60 per share, with the midpoint rising 22 cents to $13.50.

For the third quarter, management expects adjusted earnings of $3.46 to $3.56, organic growth of 13.5% to 15.5% and segment margins of 24.6% to 25.0%.

Eaton Converts Capacity Into ShipmentsSternadt said Eaton is investing more than $1 billion across roughly two dozen Electrical Americas capacity projects. Revenue per workday has increased about 25% since the start of 2025.

The business delivered 18% organic growth in the quarter, while its operating margin rose 190 basis points sequentially to 27.5%.

CFO David Foster said the first-to-second-quarter margin improvement reflected about 100 basis points from price-cost and 90 basis points from higher output and scale.

ETN Sees Demand Beyond Data CentersAn RBC Capital Markets analyst asked whether strength extended beyond data centers. Sternadt said commercial and institutional, machine OEM and distributed IT revenues each grew at double-digit rates.

He added that rolling 12-month electrical orders increased in the mid-to-high teens across commercial and institutional, utility, industrial and residential markets. Machine OEM orders rose in the mid-30% range.

Data-center demand remained the largest standout. Electrical-sector data-center orders increased about 85% year over year, while revenues advanced about 65%.

Eaton Puts Boyd at the Center of Its StrategyA Bank of America analyst pressed management on Boyd’s competitive position. Sternadt said the liquid-cooling business generated $432 million of second-quarter revenues, 20% above its commitment.

Management raised Boyd’s full-year revenue forecast to $1.8 billion, with about $1.5 billion expected to be recorded by Eaton during 2026.

Sternadt emphasized Boyd’s relationships with chip providers, scale in cold plates and coolant distribution units, and engineering depth. He also described the acquisition as central to Eaton’s grid-to-chip portfolio.

ETN Details the Margin Recovery PathA Wolfe Research analyst asked for more detail on the Electrical Americas margin ramp. Foster projected a 450-to-500-basis-point improvement from the first half to the second half.

He attributed about 300 basis points to price-cost and 150 to 200 basis points to output and productivity. Pricing actions were implemented during the second quarter and early August.

Foster said lower overtime, more experienced operators and productivity investments should support additional gains. Management expects price-cost to return to roughly neutral in the second half.

Eaton Broadens Its Data-Center PositionA Citigroup analyst asked about data-center content and the transition to 800-volt direct current. Sternadt reaffirmed Eaton’s content estimate of $3.4 million per megawatt.

He said the architecture requires capabilities in solid-state transformers, DC breakers, power electronics, power quality and liquid cooling, supported by a responsive service network.

A Bernstein analyst also asked about modular construction. Sternadt said labor constraints are increasing demand for prefabricated solutions, reinforcing the strategic rationale for the Fibrebond acquisition.

ETN Keeps Execution at the CenterSternadt’s closing message remained focused on Eaton’s lead, invest and execute strategy. He framed stronger capacity conversion, portfolio reshaping and acquisition integration as the company’s central priorities.

Management expressed confidence in the second half and its 2030 commitments, while stressing that the capacity ramp and productivity work remain active execution tasks rather than completed milestones.

Eaton’s Zacks Signals Remain MixedETN currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating a favorable near-term earnings-estimate revision profile. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

 Its Momentum and Growth Scores of C, however, are neutral rather than top-tier signals.

The Value Score of F and VGM Score of D weaken the overall style profile because the Zacks methodology favors A or B Style Scores alongside top ranks. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the reported results.