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It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Iron Mountain (IRM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 5.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Iron Mountain due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Iron Mountain Incorporated before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Iron Mountain’s Q2 AFFO Beats Estimates on Data Center and ALM Growth, '26 View UpIron Mountain reported second-quarter 2026 AFFO of $1.44 per share, up 16.1% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.9%.

Revenues of $2.03 billion increased 18.5% and beat the consensus mark of $1.97 billion. The upside reflected broad-based strength, with data center revenues advancing 38.8% and asset lifecycle management benefiting from robust enterprise and decommissioning activity.

Iron Mountain’s Revenue Mix Supports Broad GrowthStorage rental revenues rose 12.3% year over year to $1.13 billion. Service revenues increased 27.4% to $894.5 million, underscoring the growing contribution from faster-expanding offerings outside the traditional records storage business.

Organic revenues jumped 16.8% on a constant-currency basis, excluding acquisitions and divestitures. Organic storage rental growth was 11.3%, while organic service growth reached 24.8%, showing that internal execution rather than deal activity drove most of the quarter’s expansion.

Iron Mountain's RIM Business Stays ResilientGlobal Records and Information Management revenues increased 8.3% to $1.43 billion. Storage rental revenues in the segment rose 6.6%, while service revenues advanced 10.9%, supported by revenue management, digital solutions and continued customer activity.

The segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $620.8 million compared with $586.3 million a year earlier. Its adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 100 basis points to 43.3%, as faster service growth carried a different margin profile than the highly recurring storage business.

Global storage volume reached a record 747.9 million cubic feet, up from 735.8 million a year ago. Storage facility utilization improved to 81.6% from 80.6%, while the records management retention rate increased 40 basis points to 93.4%.

Iron Mountain's Data Center Momentum StrengthensGlobal Data Center revenues climbed to $262.9 million from $189.4 million. Storage rental revenues grew 37.5% and the segment’s adjusted EBITDA increased to $137.3 million, with margin expanding 140 basis points to 52.2%.

Iron Mountain signed 13 megawatts of new and expansion leases during the second quarter. Leasing reached 110 megawatts through July after an additional 75 megawatts were signed following quarter-end. The company also cited a backlog supporting $370 million of revenue growth beyond 2026 before including the July leasing.

The operating portfolio had 528.5 leasable megawatts and was 97.1% leased. Management expects roughly 325 megawatts of available-to-lease capacity to become energized over the next 24 months as it works toward total developable capacity of approximately 1.4 gigawatts.

Iron Mountain's ALM and Digital Engines ExpandCorporate and Other revenues surged 67.4% to $332.6 million. Service revenues rose 73.7%, reflecting strong asset lifecycle management performance across enterprise solutions and data center decommissioning.

ALM revenues increased 88% on a reported basis and 82% organically. Management also highlighted record digital revenues and growing traction for Insight DXP, its artificial intelligence-powered platform, including a multi-year managed-services agreement spanning 45 countries.

Iron Mountain's Costs and Balance Sheet Remain ManageableTotal operating expenses increased 14% to $1.66 billion, slower than revenue growth. Operating income advanced 43.7% to $373.5 million, though adjusted EBITDA margin declined 90 basis points to 35.8%, partly reflecting the mix shift toward rapidly growing service businesses.

Net lease-adjusted leverage remained at 4.8 times, within management’s target range of 4.5-5.5 times. Cash and cash equivalents were $204.8 million at quarter-end, while net debt totaled about $17.28 billion.

Iron Mountain Raises 2026 OutlookIron Mountain raised its full-year AFFO per share forecast to $5.87-$5.93 from the earlier guided range of $5.79-$5.86. The midpoint implies approximately 14% growth, supported by continued momentum across records management, data centers, digital solutions and ALM.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Analysts were quiet during the last two month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Iron Mountain has a nice Growth Score of B, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook Iron Mountain has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerIron Mountain is part of the Zacks Business - Information Services industry. Over the past month, TransUnion (TRU - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 7.2%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

TransUnion reported revenues of $1.31 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14.9%. EPS of $1.23 for the same period compares with $1.08 a year ago.

TransUnion is expected to post earnings of $1.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for TransUnion. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Charles River Laboratories (CRL - Free Report) . Shares have added about 10.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Charles River due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

CRL Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top, '26 View UpCharles River reported second-quarter 2026 company-defined non-GAAP earnings of $3.02 per share, down 3.2% year over year. The reported earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.0%.

GAAP net loss was 3 cents per share compared to GAAP earnings of $1.06 per share in the year-ago period.

Revenues of $1 billion declined 2.7% (up 0.1% organically) year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3%. 

Charles River's DSA Business Shows Demand GainsDSA revenues totaled $606.5 million, down 1.9% year over year on a reported basis. Organic revenues increased 0.2%, driven mainly by higher study volume for regulated safety assessment services.

The segment's GAAP operating margin rose 60 basis points to 20.5%, aided by lower intangible-asset amortization and reduced third-party legal costs tied to a non-human primate supply matter. The non-GAAP margin fell 180 basis points to 25.6% because of higher study-related direct costs.

CRL's RMS Sales Decline on North America WeaknessRMS revenues totaled $209.5 million, down 1.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level. Organic revenues declined 1.4% primarily due to lower sales of small research models in North America and weaker research model services, partly offset by growth in China.

The segment's GAAP operating margin improved 50 basis points to 17.3%, mainly because of lower amortization following the Cell Solutions divestiture. The non-GAAP margin contracted 80 basis points to 24.5% on lower volume and an unfavorable geographic revenue mix.

Charles River's Manufacturing Margins ExpandManufacturing revenues amounted to $188.1 million, down 6.3% year over year, mainly because of the CDMO divestiture. Organic revenues rose 1.3%, supported by higher revenues in the Microbial Solutions business.

GAAP operating margin surged to 34.9% from 6% a year earlier. The non-GAAP margin expanded 500 basis points to 37.8%, with the CDMO business and the benefit from its divestiture driving the improvement.

CRL's Margin PerformanceThe gross profit in the reported quarter was $363.4 million, up 1.8% from the prior-year quarter’s level. The gross margin of 36.2% expanded approximately 159 basis points (bps) year over year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 19.5% year over year to $228.9 million. Operating profit totaled $119.9 million, up 19.7% from the prior-year quarter’s level. The operating margin expanded approximately 224 bps to 11.9%.

 CRL's Cash Flow and Buyback ActivityCash and cash equivalents amounted to $192 million as of June 27, 2026, compared with $191.8 million at the end of the first quarter. Cumulative net cash provided by operating activities at the end of the quarter was $220.8 million compared with $376.3 million a year ago.

CRL repurchased 0.6 million shares for $100 million during the second quarter at an average price of $174 per share. Year-to-date repurchases totaled $300 million, leaving $700 million available under the company's authorization.

Charles River Raises Its 2026 OutlookCharles River now expects reported revenues to decline 3.5% to 2.5% in 2026, compared with its prior projection for a 5.5% to 4% decrease. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues implies a decline of 3% year over year. 

The company raised its non-GAAP earnings guidance to $11.15-$11.45 per share from $10.80-$11.30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric is pegged at $11.28 per share.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Charles River has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Charles River has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerCharles River is part of the Zacks Medical Services industry. Over the past month, HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 0.1%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

HCA reported revenues of $20.23 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.7%. EPS of $7.59 for the same period compares with $6.84 a year ago.

HCA is expected to post earnings of $6.80 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.8%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for HCA. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

Key Takeaways Integer shareholders would receive $127 per share in cash if the $5.7 billion KKR acquisition closes.ITGR's deal requires majority shareholder approval plus antitrust and foreign investment clearances.Integer would become privately held and its shares would be delisted from the NYSE after closing. Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR - Free Report) entered a definitive agreement on Aug. 2, 2026, to be acquired by affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. in a transaction carrying an enterprise value of $5.7 billion.

The deal has shifted investor focus to the proposed $127-per-share cash payment, closing conditions and the consequences of Integer becoming privately held. Operating trends still matter, but transaction execution is now the more immediate issue.

ITGR's Deal Establishes a Defined Cash ConsiderationUnder the merger agreement, each eligible Integer share outstanding immediately before closing would be converted into the right to receive $127 in cash, without interest. That creates a defined potential cash outcome for shareholders.

The consideration is not guaranteed until the transaction closes. Investors must therefore weigh the stated value against the possibility that closing conditions are delayed or not satisfied.

Integer's Buyout Still Faces Closing ConditionsCompletion requires approval and adoption of the merger agreement by holders of a majority of Integer’s outstanding shares. The transaction also requires applicable antitrust and foreign investment clearances, along with other customary conditions.

The acquisition is not subject to a financing condition. KKR’s affiliates have obtained equity and debt financing commitments, although regulatory, stockholder and other closing requirements remain.

ITGR's $307 Million Fee Adds Deal ProtectionThe agreement provides for a $307 million parent termination fee if Integer ends the deal in specified circumstances involving a buyer breach or failure to complete the transaction when required.

That provision gives Integer contractual protection if the buyer fails to perform under covered conditions. It does not remove completion risk because the merger still depends on required approvals and satisfaction of other terms.

Integer's Outlook Is Now Subordinate to the DealInteger withdrew its previously issued financial outlook after announcing the transaction and canceled its scheduled second-quarter earnings conference call and webcast. Merger progress has therefore become more immediate than management’s prior operating targets.

The business still faces pressure. Second-quarter sales fell 2.6% year over year to $464.1 million and gross margin contracted to 24.3% from 27.1%, reflecting weaker adoption of three new products and lower fixed-cost absorption.

Jabil Inc. (JBL - Free Report) provides advanced manufacturing solutions for medical devices, including cardiovascular and electrophysiology applications. Sanmina Corporation (SANM - Free Report) also designs and manufactures complex medical systems for original equipment manufacturers, underscoring the broader outsourced-manufacturing context.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ITGR Would Exit the Public Market After ClosingIf completed, Integer would survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of the buyer. Its securities would be delisted from the NYSE as soon as practicable after the transaction becomes effective.

That change would end public trading in ITGR and convert the company into a privately held business. Eligible shareholders would receive the agreed cash consideration rather than continue participating in Integer as a listed company.

ITGR's Style Scores Add Context Ahead of ClosingThe bottom line is that the pending KKR transaction now dominates the near-term investment case. The $127 cash consideration offers a defined potential outcome, but shareholders remain exposed to closing risk until required conditions are satisfied.

ITGR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). It has a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of D and a VGM Score of C. Those readings do not provide strong factor support, particularly on momentum.

Zacks Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank. With a #3 ranking and mostly middle-range Style Scores, a measured stance fits the current setup while investors monitor transaction progress.

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

Space-based cellular broadband network provider AST SpaceMobile NASDAQ: ASTS just had its best single-day stock performance since June.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2. ASTS’s nearly 12% gain was welcome news to investors who had endured a brutal slide since shares of the Midland, Texas-based company hit their all-time high (ATH) on May 28.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) Price Chart for Friday, September, 4, 2026

As the SpaceX NASDAQ: SPCX competitor continues to work its way back toward its ATH, shareholders who have grown accustomed to the ups and downs of the rapidly scaling and highly volatile stock just got a shot in the arm.

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A New Tailwind Ahead of AST SpaceMobile’s Next BlueBird Satellite DeploymentThroughout 2026, AST SpaceMobile’s successful (and less successful) low Earth orbit (LEO) BlueBird satellite launches have served as catalysts.

The next cohort slated to join its LEO constellation is nearing completion. BlueBird 14 is ready for launch, while BlueBirds 15 and 16 are undergoing final preparations.

While no launch date has been announced, based on prior schedules—including the Aug. 5 deployment of Bluebirds 11, 12, and 13—that could happen at some point in October. But the Sept. 2 ASTS rally was not rooted in the company’s launch schedule.

AST SpaceMobile Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$86.58
37.15% Upside

Hold
Based on 13 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$63.13High Forecast$108.00Average Forecast$86.58Low Forecast$50.80AST SpaceMobile Stock Forecast Details

Rather, AST SpaceMobile took off on Wednesday thanks to Berenberg’s Michael Filatov initiating coverage, which was extremely bullish.

Filatov not only assigned ASTS a Buy rating, but he also gave the stock a 12-month price target of $92—a roughly 47% potential gain from Wednesday's share price—citing AST SpaceMobile’s hard-to-replicate positions in the space-based telecom industry.

ASTS carries a consensus Hold rating with just six of 13 analysts currently covering the stock assigning it a Buy rating, alongside an average 12-month price target of nearly 39%.

The announcement of initiated coverage and an aggressive price target was enough to make AST SpaceMobile the big winner among space stocks on the day.

Filatov also initiated coverage of Rocket Lab NASDAQ: RKLB and Planet Labs PBC NYSE: PL, assigning both Buy ratings, but neither was able to blast off quite like ASTS did.

As AST SpaceMobile Nears Commercial Service, Numerous Challenges RemainAST SpaceMobile Today

$62.48 +0.36 (+0.57%)

As of 01:00 PM Eastern

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

$36.08▼

$133.86$86.58

Filatov noted that AST SpaceMobile is "the only company to have demonstrated true cellular broadband from space to unmodified smartphones," adding that its more than 60 mobile network operator partnerships cover roughly three billion subscribers.

Those strategic agreements include pacts with communication services sector mainstays AT&T NYSE: T, Verizon NYSE: VZ, Tokyo-based Rakuten OTCMKTS: RKUNF, as well as a strategic relationship with real estate investment trust American Tower NYSE: AMT and the U.S. federal government.

However, while the firm expects to deploy direct-to-device (D2D) commercial services beginning in the first half of 2027, that goal comes with significant caveats.

AST SpaceMobile still faces regulatory hurdles before it can begin commercial D2D service. In August, the FCC granted the company a 30-day authorization, running through Sept. 12, to test D2D connectivity on up to 100 off-the-shelf devices using 800 MHz spectrum.

Meanwhile, a series of weak earnings continues to be an obstacle. AST SpaceMobile missed Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as spending rose sharply to support its satellite buildout, following a galactic Q1 miss.

Despite reaffirming its 2026 revenue outlook and reporting a backlog of about $1.3 billion, expanding at the scale and speed at which AST SpaceMobile is requires the company to spend its cash reserves at an alarming rate.

Analysts forecast a full-year cash burn rate in the range of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion, driven primarily by R&D, AST SpaceMobile’s vertically integrated BlueBird satellite production, and costly rocket launch service fees, of which SpaceX charges around $55 million to $65 million per launch.

To address that expense, the company is exploring a partnership or potential acquisition of a launch services provider. In a Form 8-K filing on July 15, AST SpaceMobile noted that its $1 billion private offering of convertible senior notes due in 2034 was intended to “further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers.”

However, the offering carries concerns about shareholder dilution. AST SpaceMobile ultimately raised $1.15 billion through the convertible notes, which carry an initial conversion price of $79.57 per share. However, the company also entered into capped call transactions designed to reduce potential dilution, resulting in what AST says is an effective conversion price of $149.20 and effective dilution of less than 2%.

Wall Street Sentiment Remains MixedWhile the stock remains highly volatile with a current beta of 2.74 and short interest at 18.67% of the float, or $4.08 billion worth of ASTS shares, institutional investors are buying the stock in rapid succession.

Over the past 12 months, inflows from 384 institutional buyers have totalled more than $5 billion, while outflows from 111 institutional sellers have been limited to just over $400 million. At 60.95%, institutional ownership is still below average, but AST SpaceMobile has seen buying accelerate since Q2 2025.

AST SpaceMobile continues to work its way toward its target of 45 BlueBird satellites in LEO by early 2027. A company press release confirmed that it is well on its way to achieving that goal, with “production advancing through BlueBird satellite 42” as it continues to scale its constellation.

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Key Takeaways SPCX briefly regained a $2 trillion valuation amid optimism over Starlink, launches and AI expansion.Starlink's expansion boosts recurring revenues, while vertical integration lowers satellite launch costs.SpaceX faces high capital needs, execution risks, rising competition and regulatory uncertainty. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX - Free Report) has briefly regained the coveted $2 trillion market capitalization mark, reflecting renewed investor optimism surrounding its expanding Starlink business, unmatched launch capabilities, progress on Starship and growing exposure to government and defense spending.

The rebound underscores Wall Street’s confidence in SpaceX’s ability to capitalize on rapidly expanding opportunities across satellite broadband, commercial space launches and next-generation space transportation. Its vertically integrated business model, technological leadership and growing recurring revenue base have also strengthened the investment case.

Starlink: Key Growth EngineStarlink's continued expansion is one of the biggest pillars supporting SpaceX’s valuation. The satellite broadband platform has steadily broadened its reach across residential, enterprise, aviation, maritime and government markets.

Growing adoption increases the proportion of recurring subscription revenues within SpaceX’s overall business mix, reducing its dependence on the comparatively project-driven launch business. The improved revenue visibility can potentially support stronger margins and more predictable cash flows over the long run.

Starlink also benefits from SpaceX’s ability to launch its own satellites at relatively low incremental cost. This vertical integration allows the company to expand its network faster while avoiding the launch expenses that competing satellite operators typically incur. Continued investment in higher-capacity satellites and improved network infrastructure should further strengthen Starlink’s ability to address rising global demand for high-speed connectivity.

Launch Dominance Boosts SpaceX’s Competitive PositionSpaceX’s formidable position in the orbital launch market is another major factor supporting investor confidence. The company’s reusable Falcon 9 platform has transformed launch economics by significantly lowering the cost of accessing orbit. Reusability, high launch frequency and an established operating track record have created formidable competitive advantages that rivals find difficult to replicate.

Higher launch cadence also generates operating efficiencies. SpaceX can spread fixed infrastructure and development costs across a larger number of missions, potentially strengthening profitability as volumes increase. Demand continues to originate from a diverse customer base that includes commercial satellite operators, government agencies, national-security customers and SpaceX’s own Starlink constellation. This diversified launch pipeline provides another layer of revenue visibility.

The ability to serve external customers while simultaneously supporting Starlink deployment gives SpaceX an ecosystem advantage that remains difficult for competing launch providers to match.

AI, Data and Global Connectivity Lend SupportAnother factor supporting the bullish narrative is the increasing importance of global connectivity. Demand for data transmission continues to grow as cloud computing, AI, autonomous systems and connected devices proliferate worldwide. Satellite communications could become an increasingly important component of this infrastructure, particularly in areas where terrestrial broadband remains inadequate. Starlink's global network gives SpaceX exposure to this secular trend.

The company plans to deploy AI compute satellites as early as 2028, effectively creating space-based data centers capable of delivering large-scale computing capacity. This initiative leverages SpaceX's leadership in satellite deployment while addressing the growing demand for AI computing resources. Alongside its satellite ambitions, SpaceX continues to expand its Colossus data center platform, strengthening its position in AI infrastructure. The buyout of Anysphere – a startup firm behind the rapidly growing AI coding assistant Cursor – gives SpaceX exposure to a high-growth software business while strengthening its AI capabilities. It adds a widely adopted developer platform that could complement the company's growing technology portfolio.

Estimate Revision TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for SpaceX’s 2026 loss has narrowed from 53 cents per share to 5 cents over the past 30 days. The same for 2027 earnings has improved from 68 cents to $1.63. The positive estimate revision depicts bullish sentiments about the stock’s growth potential.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Likely PitfallsDespite the strong growth prospects, SPCX is not devoid of challenges. A $2 trillion valuation leaves relatively little room for execution disappointments and implies significant expectations for future revenue and earnings growth. Any slowdown in Starlink subscriber additions, delays in Starship development or deterioration in launch reliability could pressure investor sentiment.

SpaceX also faces substantial capital requirements. Building satellites, developing launch vehicles and expanding communications infrastructure require persistent investment. Meanwhile, competition across the satellite Internet and launch markets is intensifying as governments and private companies invest aggressively in alternative platforms. Regulatory uncertainty surrounding spectrum allocation, orbital congestion and international market access represents another potential headwind.

Price PerformanceSpaceX has declined 6.9% since its IPO against the industry’s growth of 117.4% over the past month. It has lagged peers like Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) and AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) over this period. While Verizon has jumped 5.2%, AT&T is up 11.1%. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

End NoteSpaceX is steadily transforming from a pure-play aerospace company into a diversified AI infrastructure leader. Its aggressive investments in AI computing, expanding enterprise partnerships and plans for space-based data centers underscore management's conviction that AI will be a key driver of future growth.

Although the AI segment is likely to remain under pressure in the near term due to elevated investment levels, the company's long-term growth prospects appear increasingly tied to the rapid expansion of the global AI infrastructure market. While high operating costs and execution risks warrant attention, SpaceX appears well-positioned to benefit from the secular growth of the space economy. Those who already own the stock can hold onto it while new investors may wait for a better entry point.

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

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, XETRA:APC) was the focus of a supply-chain preview from Citi on Friday, highlighting the upcoming iPhone 18 family as a key catalyst for component suppliers.

With shares trading at $328.21, the iPhone 18 lineup is expected to launch on 9 September, featuring Pro models priced roughly $200 higher than their predecessors.

At the centre of the preview is the tech giant's first foldable device, likely to be called the iPhone Ultra, which the bank expects to have a starting price above $2,000.

That foldable flagship is projected to feature dual front and dual rear cameras alongside an inner foldable display fitted with an ultra-thin glass and OLED cover.

Major hardware upgrades across the range could include A20 chips, an Apple-designed modem, and a variable-aperture main camera for the Pro and Pro Max models.

Following supply-chain underperformance during the June to August restocking period, the note states that the sector is likely to see a rally before launch and potential profit-taking afterwards.

Suppliers tied to the foldable device may face tight initial component supply and extended lead times, particularly for batteries, vapour chamber heatsinks, and structural parts.

Within the production network, Citi highlighted a preference for major share and content gainers such as Lens Tech, Lingyi, Amphenol, Largan, Sunny, AAC, Alps Alpine, Kioxia, Luxshare, and TSMC.

Crucial upcoming catalysts for the sector include initial sales and shipping schedules, as well as subsequent supply chain order adjustments.

Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. raised its position in shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 11.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,184 shares of the software giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,821 shares during the quarter. Microsoft accounts for 1.7% of Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $6,410,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. WFA Asset Management Corp raised its position in Microsoft by 27.0% during the 1st quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp now owns 1,016 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $427,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 12,658 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $5,658,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 410.4% in the third quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 2,659 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,144,000 after acquiring an additional 2,138 shares during the period. Wealth Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. now owns 2,374 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,000,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 23,097 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $9,735,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Microsoft Stock Up 2.7% MSFT stock opened at $510.12 on Friday. Microsoft Corporation has a one year low of $349.20 and a one year high of $553.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.23. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $441.99 and its 200 day moving average is $415.21. The firm has a market cap of $3.79 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.11.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. The business had revenue of $90.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.65 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.59 EPS for the current year. Microsoft Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th will be issued a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 20th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio is presently 20.27%.

Key Stories Impacting Microsoft Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

Positive Sentiment: Microsoft will begin reporting quarterly Azure revenue in fiscal 2027 and reorganize its financial reporting from three segments into two AI-focused categories. Azure generated approximately $29.4 billion in quarterly revenue and $101.9 billion for fiscal 2026, providing investors with more visibility into cloud growth and AI demand. Microsoft to reveal Azure cloud sales in financial reporting shift Positive Sentiment: Citi reaffirmed a Buy rating and $600 price target, while other analysts cited Microsoft’s large AI backlog, Azure’s more than $100 billion annual revenue and the potential for improved AI economics. The company’s latest earnings also showed strong momentum, with revenue up 17.7% year over year and a substantial earnings beat. Analyst reaffirms Buy on Microsoft Positive Sentiment: Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched GPT-6 Astra, potentially strengthening Microsoft’s AI ecosystem and demand for Azure infrastructure. Microsoft is also securing long-term power capacity for data centers and expanding Microsoft 365 Copilot integrations. OpenAI launches GPT-6 Astra Neutral Sentiment: CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares worth about $43.4 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The scheduled nature of the sale limits its significance, although it reduced his holdings by 15.09% and adds to recent insider selling. Negative Sentiment: Microsoft will impose monthly limits on Xbox cloud-gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers beginning in November as service costs rise. The change may improve economics but could hurt consumer sentiment and gaming engagement. Microsoft to impose time limits on Xbox cloud gaming Negative Sentiment: Investors continue to weigh Microsoft’s roughly $116 billion AI infrastructure spending plan, rising data-center costs and pressure on cloud margins. The key risk is whether the large backlog converts into profitable cash flow rather than simply future revenue. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $586.00 target price on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Phillip Securities downgraded Microsoft from a “strong-buy” rating to a “moderate buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, CLSA reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Forty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $562.49.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Microsoft

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total value of $4,878,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 100,447 shares in the company, valued at $49,007,086.83. The trade was a 9.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.46, for a total value of $43,388,826.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 486,763 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $244,092,173.98. The trade was a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 108,335 shares of company stock valued at $53,499,700. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Microsoft Company Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a broad range of software products, services and devices for consumers, enterprises and governments worldwide. Its operations span personal computing, productivity software, cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, developer tools and gaming.

Microsoft’s product portfolio includes the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools (Office apps, Outlook, Teams).

See Also Five stocks we like better than Microsoft The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSFT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report).

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Thinking Machines Lab is discussing a funding round at a valuation of at least $40 billion Summary

Nvidia is reportedly considering an investment of about $2.5 billion

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA, Financials), the dominant supplier of artificial intelligence chips, could put roughly $2.5 billion into Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab as it expands its reach beyond selling hardware.

Thinking Machines is in talks to raise between $5 billion and $6 billion at a valuation of at least $40 billion before the new investment, according to The Information.

Nvidia is expected to provide roughly half of that capital. The potential deal would deepen an already close relationship.

In March, Nvidia and Thinking Machines announced a multiyear partnership to deploy at least 1 gigawatt of next-generation Vera Rubin systems. The first deployment is targeted for early next year. That makes the investment strategically different from a typical venture bet.

Nvidia would be helping finance an AI company that has already committed to deploying its infrastructure at enormous scale. The arrangement could strengthen future demand for Nvidia systems while giving Thinking Machines access to the computing capacity needed to build and serve advanced AI models.

The talks also come just after Nvidia agreed to acquire open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, another move that extends the company deeper into the software and developer side of the AI market.

The next catalyst is whether Nvidia and Thinking Machines finalize the funding round and disclose how the investment fits into their existing gigawatt-scale partnership.

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

Click for the complete disclosure

Key Takeaways PayPal expects financial-services revenues to grow at least twice as fast as the company in 2026.BNPL TPV grew 26%, while monthly active accounts increased more than 20% in Q2 2026.Rising charge-offs and liquidity needs add risks as PayPal expands credit and financial services. PayPal Holdings (PYPL - Free Report) is increasingly relying on financial services to diversify its growth beyond payments and branded checkout. Management expects financial-services revenues, including credit and BNPL, to grow at least twice as fast as the overall company in 2026. In the second quarter of 2026, financial services already accounted for close to 20% of PayPal’s transaction margin.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is emerging as a key growth driver. BNPL total payment volume (TPV) grew 26%, while monthly active accounts (MAAs) increased more than 20% in the second quarter of 2026. PayPal plans to expand the product through broader merchant distribution, additional markets and a wider product portfolio, creating more opportunities to deepen customer engagement.

Credit and debit products are also strengthening PayPal’s financial-services ecosystem. In the second quarter of 2026, Venmo Debit Card MAAs grew more than 50%, while customers using both Venmo Debit and Pay with Venmo generated more than nine times the average revenue per account (ARPA) of peer-to-peer-only users. This highlights the opportunity to generate more revenues from PayPal’s existing customer base.

However, expanding financial services comes with risks. In the second quarter of 2026, consumer and merchant net charge-off rates have increased to 4.8% and 7.6%, respectively. Credit expansion also increases liquidity requirements and makes PayPal partly dependent on external funding sources to support lending growth.

Overall, financial services could become one of PayPal’s most important long-term growth engines. The key will be balancing BNPL, credit and debit adoption with strong credit quality, capital efficiency and attractive returns.

How Are PYPL’s Competitors FaringAffirm Holdings (AFRM - Free Report) is a major PayPal BNPL rival. In fiscal 2026, Affirm generated $50.2 billion in GMV, up 37% year over year, and served about 28 million active consumers and 571,000 active merchants. Its rapid growth highlights strong competition in installment lending and online checkout financing across digital commerce.

Klarna (KLAR - Free Report) also competes directly with PayPal in BNPL and consumer credit. In the second quarter of 2026, Klarna reported $36.6 billion in GMV, up 18%, while revenues rose 27% to $1.04 billion. It had 120 million active consumers and more than 1.2 million merchants, giving it substantial global distribution scale and checkout reach.

PYPL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of PayPal have gained 37.6% in the past three months compared with the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, PayPal’s shares are trading cheaply, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, PYPL stock is trading at 10.03X, which is at a significant discount to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry’s 19.20X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PayPal’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward to $5.38 over the past week. The consensus estimate for the metric indicates a year-over-year increase of 1.32%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Keebeck Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 2,455 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,614,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter valued at $40,457,153,000. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Caterpillar by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,388,550 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $20,273,039,000 after purchasing an additional 385,204 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,610,182 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $6,072,572,000 after purchasing an additional 94,524 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 9,493,266 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $5,438,408,000 after buying an additional 54,069 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 16.0% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,738,802 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,860,457,000 after buying an additional 928,974 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Caterpillar Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

Positive Sentiment: AI and robotics expansion: Caterpillar is collaborating with FieldAI, using physical AI, autonomy, robotics, digital twins and NVIDIA technology to improve safety, productivity and decision-making at construction sites and factories. The initiative could support higher-margin technology and services revenue over time. Caterpillar and FieldAI Advance AI-Powered Industrial Innovation Positive Sentiment: Data-center power demand remains a growth driver: Caterpillar’s Power & Energy business is benefiting from rising electricity needs tied to data centers and artificial-intelligence infrastructure. Retail sales to power-generation users reportedly surged 72% year over year in the second quarter, strengthening the long-term growth narrative. Can CAT Stock Compound Its Way Higher? Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings forecast: Erste Group Bank raised its fiscal 2026 EPS estimate to $27.50 from $24.78, modestly above consensus. Caterpillar’s latest quarter also showed strong momentum, with EPS of $8.17 and revenue of $20.54 billion exceeding estimates. Caterpillar FY2026 EPS Forecast Raised by Erste Group Bank Neutral Sentiment: Pullback creates a valuation debate: Analysts describe the recent decline as potentially attractive, but Caterpillar still trades at a relatively elevated earnings multiple. Investors are assessing whether expected AI, power-generation and industrial growth is already reflected in the share price. That Dip in Caterpillar Stock Looks Tempting, But Don’t Ignore the Catch Negative Sentiment: CEO insider sale adds pressure: Chief Executive Joseph Creed sold 32,401 shares for approximately $26.2 million, reducing his holdings by 48.39%. The transaction may weigh on sentiment, although it does not necessarily indicate deteriorating business prospects. SEC Insider Transaction Filing Negative Sentiment: Post-earnings weakness and technical concerns: CAT’s decline since earnings suggests investors may be taking profits after the strong report, while the stock remains below its recent moving averages. A trader has also argued that the shares may be ready to be “faded,” reinforcing near-term caution. Time to Start Fading Caterpillar Stock Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have weighed in on CAT. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $1,103.00 price target on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $1,125.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $700.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $900.00 to $925.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Caterpillar currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $995.52. Read Our Latest Report on Caterpillar

Caterpillar Price Performance NYSE:CAT opened at $798.29 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $876.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $838.63. Caterpillar Inc. has a 12-month low of $414.29 and a 12-month high of $1,073.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $366.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.60.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.22 by $1.95. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.51% and a return on equity of 55.53%. The firm had revenue of $20.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.34 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.72 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 23.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 20th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. This is a positive change from Caterpillar’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. Caterpillar’s payout ratio is currently 28.06%.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar In related news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total transaction of $26,211,760.98. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 34,555 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,954,303.90. This trade represents a 48.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Company Profile (Free Report)

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off‑highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Caterpillar The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern

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Causey Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 707 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $753,000. Caterpillar comprises about 0.3% of Causey Wealth LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. increased its position in Caterpillar by 440.0% during the second quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 27 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Matrix Trust Co increased its stake in Caterpillar by 93.8% in the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 31 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Lam Group Inc. purchased a new position in Caterpillar in the first quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Tacita Capital Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Price Performance CAT opened at $798.29 on Friday. Caterpillar Inc. has a twelve month low of $414.29 and a twelve month high of $1,073.46. The firm has a market cap of $366.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.35, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $876.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $838.63.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.22 by $1.95. The firm had revenue of $20.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.34 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.51% and a return on equity of 55.53%. The firm’s revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.72 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. Caterpillar Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 19th. Investors of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a $1.63 dividend. This is an increase from Caterpillar’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 20th. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.06%.

Caterpillar News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

Positive Sentiment: AI and robotics expansion: Caterpillar is collaborating with FieldAI, using physical AI, autonomy, robotics, digital twins and NVIDIA technology to improve safety, productivity and decision-making at construction sites and factories. The initiative could support higher-margin technology and services revenue over time. Caterpillar and FieldAI Advance AI-Powered Industrial Innovation Positive Sentiment: Data-center power demand remains a growth driver: Caterpillar’s Power & Energy business is benefiting from rising electricity needs tied to data centers and artificial-intelligence infrastructure. Retail sales to power-generation users reportedly surged 72% year over year in the second quarter, strengthening the long-term growth narrative. Can CAT Stock Compound Its Way Higher? Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings forecast: Erste Group Bank raised its fiscal 2026 EPS estimate to $27.50 from $24.78, modestly above consensus. Caterpillar’s latest quarter also showed strong momentum, with EPS of $8.17 and revenue of $20.54 billion exceeding estimates. Caterpillar FY2026 EPS Forecast Raised by Erste Group Bank Neutral Sentiment: Pullback creates a valuation debate: Analysts describe the recent decline as potentially attractive, but Caterpillar still trades at a relatively elevated earnings multiple. Investors are assessing whether expected AI, power-generation and industrial growth is already reflected in the share price. That Dip in Caterpillar Stock Looks Tempting, But Don’t Ignore the Catch Negative Sentiment: CEO insider sale adds pressure: Chief Executive Joseph Creed sold 32,401 shares for approximately $26.2 million, reducing his holdings by 48.39%. The transaction may weigh on sentiment, although it does not necessarily indicate deteriorating business prospects. SEC Insider Transaction Filing Negative Sentiment: Post-earnings weakness and technical concerns: CAT’s decline since earnings suggests investors may be taking profits after the strong report, while the stock remains below its recent moving averages. A trader has also argued that the shares may be ready to be “faded,” reinforcing near-term caution. Time to Start Fading Caterpillar Stock Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CAT has been the subject of several research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $1,002.00 price target on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. DA Davidson increased their price target on Caterpillar from $845.00 to $882.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $1,103.00 target price on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $800.00 to $900.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Caterpillar has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $995.52.

View Our Latest Analysis on Caterpillar

Insiders Place Their Bets In other Caterpillar news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total transaction of $26,211,760.98. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 34,555 shares in the company, valued at $27,954,303.90. The trade was a 48.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Caterpillar Company Profile (Free Report)

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off‑highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Caterpillar The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern

Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways Digital Realty signed $307 million of bookings in Q2, while backlog reached a record $1.9 billion.AI and cloud demand are fueling leasing, with about 1.4 GW under construction at an 11.5% yield.Land purchases, data-center acquisitions and private-capital investments are expanding DLR's growth capacity. Digital Realty (DLR - Free Report) is well-poised to gain from a global, connectivity-rich data center platform as AI, cloud and enterprise demand support leasing and a record backlog.

A solid tenant base assures stable revenues. Accretive buyouts and investments in land and infrastructure globally, and a robust development pipeline, bode well for long-term growth.

Analysts seem bullish about this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2026 AFFO per share being raised 1.2% over the past month to $8.40.

Over the past six months, DLR shares have risen 4.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 2.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Factors That Make Digital Realty Stock a Solid PickBooming Data Center Market: Data center demand remains supported by AI adoption, cloud migration and enterprise outsourcing of IT infrastructure. In the second quarter of 2026, Digital Realty signed $307 million of total bookings at 100% share, or $208 million at its share, including a record $108 million from the 0-1 megawatt plus interconnection category.

The weighted-average lag between lease signing and contractual commencement was nine months, supporting near-term revenue conversion. Backlog reached a record $1.9 billion at 100% share, or $1.4 billion at Digital Realty’s share, at quarter-end. Reflecting these trends, management raised its 2026 Core FFO per share outlook, excluding net promote, to $8.15-$8.20.

Diverse Tenant Base: Digital Realty serves a diversified mix of cloud, content, IT, network and enterprise customers across its global platform.  Many customers deploy their infrastructure across multiple locations, strengthening recurring revenue visibility and supporting long-term customer relationships. The broad customer base and geographic diversification also help reduce dependence on any single tenant and enhance the stability of the company’s operating platform.

Expansionary Efforts: Digital Realty is expanding its future growth capacity through land purchases, data-center acquisitions and private-capital investments. Key moves include the $475 million Kansas City site with up to 2 GW of power, additional capacity in Atlanta, Marseille, Malaysia and Northern Virginia, plus planned investments in Teraco and Columbia Capital. These initiatives expand leasing inventory, strengthen PlatformDIGITAL, increase network density and improve access to third-party capital, supporting long-term growth across colocation, hyperscale and private-capital channels.

Strong Development Pipeline: Digital Realty is ramping development to meet rising hyperscale and AI demand while maintaining disciplined returns. As of June 30, 2026, it had about 1.4 GW under construction at an 11.5% expected stabilized yield, with pre-leasing rising from 54% to 63% after July hyperscale deals. For 2026, net development capex is expected at $4.25-$4.75 billion, with stabilized yields targeted above 10%.

Balance Sheet Strength: Digital Realty maintains balance-sheet flexibility through retained cash flow, public capital and private-capital vehicles. As of June 30, 2026, debt totaled about $18.6 billion, with net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA at 4.7x and fixed charge coverage at 5.2x. The company had roughly $1.9 billion of cash and $3.6 billion of revolving-credit capacity, while its debt was largely fixed-rate or hedged at an average rate near 3%.

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Four Corners Property Trust (FCPT - Free Report) and OUTFRONT Media (OUT - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FCPT’s 2026 FFO per share is pegged at $1.86, which indicates year-over-year growth of 4.5%.

The consensus estimate for OUT’s 2026 FFO per share has moved 3.4% upward over the past month to $2.32.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

AbbVie's flagship drug is bleeding revenue quarter after quarter, yet the company just handed shareholders another raise. Find out whether the cash machine holding this payout together can survive the patent reckoning already underway.

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AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV | ABBV Price Prediction) investors just banked another $1.73 per share, the third payment at that level after the board pushed the quarterly rate up 5.5% from the prior $1.64. The check landed on August 14, 2026, and it arrived against a backdrop most dividend investors have been dreading for years: the Humira patent cliff has arrived and is showing up in the income statement every quarter.

Yet the payout keeps climbing. That tension, an eroding legacy franchise funding a rising distribution, is what a scorecard needs to grade.

The Payout Math: A B+ Coverage Story AbbVie generated $19.03 billion in operating cash flow in fiscal 2025 against $1.21 billion in capex, leaving roughly $17.8 billion in free cash flow. The dividend cost the company $11.66 billion over the same period, up from $11.03 billion in 2024 and $10.54 billion in 2023. That works out to a free-cash-flow payout ratio in the mid 60s, which is why the stock still carries a 3.88% free cash flow yield even after the recent run.

Trailing net income of $4.23 billion in 2025 sits well below the cash dividend, which is why the reported P/E of 108 and earnings yield of 0.92% flash red on a screener. Amortization of acquired intangibles from the Allergan deal, plus IPR&D charges, is doing most of that damage. On an adjusted basis, management guided full-year 2026 EPS to $13.87 to $14.07, which comfortably covers the roughly $6.92 in annualized dividends.

The Growth Streak: An A Grade Nobody Disputes AbbVie inherited Abbott’s aristocrat streak at the 2013 spinoff, and the combined record now runs past 50 consecutive years, the kind of pedigree we screened for in a free Dividend Kings report. The quarterly payout has moved from $0.40 in 2013 to $1.73 today, a run that includes double-digit raises through the Humira peak years and mid-single-digit increases through the biosimilar transition. The latest 5.5% bump tells you management is signaling confidence, but also pacing itself.

The Patent Cliff: Where the C Grade Lives Humira is ultimately the reason for this scorecard’s asterisk. Global sales fell to $756 million in the second quarter of 2026, an operational decline of 36.1%. That comes on top of a roughly 49.5% drop in fiscal 2025. Imbruvica added insult, falling 29.4% under IRA pricing and share pressure.

Separately, Skyrizi delivered $5.5 billion in Q2 sales at 24% growth, Rinvoq crossed $2.5 billion at 23.7%, and neuroscience revenue topped $3.2 billion. Total revenue reached nearly $17 billion at 10.2% reported growth, and management raised full-year revenue guidance to approximately $67.6 billion.

Here’s the catch: Skyrizi’s own composition-of-matter patent expires in 2033. CEO Rob Michael pointed to later-expiring IP in the mid-2030s and later and said the company does “not expect to see biosimilar application filings until the end of this decade.” Investors are being asked to trust that history does not repeat.

Leverage and the Apogee Question AbbVie carries negative shareholders’ equity, a legacy of the Allergan acquisition, and 2025 interest expense hit $2.89 billion. The pending $10.9 billion Apogee Therapeutics acquisition will add roughly $200 million in annual net interest expense and a 14-cent dilutive hit to 2026 adjusted EPS. Management committed to a net leverage target of two times within two to three years after close.

Final Grade: B At $261.72 and a 2.54% yield, ABBV has already delivered a 27.32% total-return year and 181.91% over five years, so the market is grading the transition kindly. The dividend earns a solid B: cash coverage is intact, the growth streak is genuine, and Skyrizi plus Rinvoq are pulling their weight. Points come off for the leverage profile, the mid-single-digit raise pace, and the fact that this same story will need to be told again in a decade when Skyrizi’s own exclusivity fades. Investors buying today are paying a fair price for a payout that works, provided the pipeline keeps delivering.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

AMC Entertainment AMC shares rose about 7% in trading on Friday after CEO Adam Aron sharply criticized Robinhood Markets’ efforts to offer tokenized real-world assets, including tokens linked to AMC stock.

Aron warned Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev that the cinema chain could pursue legal action if the fintech company does not stop trading what AMC considers to be a synthetic representation of its shares.

“Robinhood apparently is behind an effort related to ‘tokenized real-world assets including Stock Tokens’ for AMC Entertainment (and supposedly 190+ other companies),” Aron wrote.

He said AMC had no connection to the initiative and did not authorize or endorse the tokenized securities.

“We immediately are going to have our outside securities counsel look into this,” Aron added.

The confrontation comes as AMC shares have gained roughly 60% this year, significantly outperforming the broader S&P 500, as investors have increasingly focused on the company’s improving operating performance.

The company's stock received a big boost in May, after the theater chain reported its strongest May attendance in seven years, adding to signs that the movie exhibition industry is benefiting from a stronger film slate in 2026.

Robinhood says on its website that its Stock Tokens are tokenized debt securities issued by Robinhood Assets (Jersey) Limited.

The products are designed to provide investors with economic exposure to underlying securities but do not provide legal or beneficial ownership rights in those securities.

Robinhood also states that its Stock Tokens are not registered under US securities laws and cannot be offered, sold, or delivered in the United States or to US persons.

The company says the tokens are also subject to restrictions in other jurisdictions, including Canada, the UK and Switzerland.

Those disclosures have done little to ease Aron’s concerns.

After Tenev publicly asked what specifically concerned the AMC chief, Aron responded that the implications were “almost existential.”

He argued that US securities laws exist to protect investors and questioned how a US company could establish an offshore operation in Jersey and offer an instrument that resembles AMC stock without complying with US securities regulations.

Aron also argued that the tokenized structure could undermine the relationship between genuine share ownership and a company’s ability to raise capital.

“Share ownership gives shareholders various rights, including the right to vote their shares,” he said, arguing that the tokens could create the impression of stock ownership without providing those rights.

Aron called on Robinhood to “CEASE AND DECIST” trading AMC stock tokens, adding that AMC’s securities counsel would examine whether the company could force Robinhood to stop if it did not voluntarily comply.

The dispute with Robinhood comes as AMC is also pursuing a new strategy aimed at expanding the supply of theatrical content.

The company recently helped create Leawood Films, a distribution venture intended to bring more small and medium-sized movies to theaters.

Rather than taking on the financial risks associated with producing films, the initiative is expected to leverage AMC’s global theater network, marketing capabilities, and industry relationships to support distribution.

The move follows a strong second quarter for AMC, with blockbuster releases such as The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day helping drive historic attendance and strong demand for premium theater formats.

Zacks said the Leawood Films initiative represents a strategically sensible extension of AMC’s existing exhibition and marketing capabilities.

Its relatively limited production risk, combined with AMC’s global screen network, could help broaden the company's theatrical offering and create additional revenue streams over time.

However, Leawood Films is unlikely to become a significant earnings driver for AMC in the near term, according to Zacks.

The cinema operator remains exposed to fluctuations in the film release calendar, while its elevated leverage, potential shareholder dilution and uneven cash-flow generation continue to pose risks.

The sharp rise in AMC shares this year also means investors have already priced in at least some of the company’s operational recovery.

Against that backdrop, Zacks said existing shareholders may consider retaining their AMC positions, while prospective investors could wait for a more attractive entry point.

For now, AMC’s latest rally reflects a broader recovery story — but Aron’s clash with Robinhood shows that the company is also becoming increasingly vocal about how its shares are represented in emerging financial markets.

The U.S. Department of Defense is intensifying its focus on maritime readiness, anchoring a multi-billion-dollar capital allocation to fortify propulsion systems and tactical naval infrastructure. Escalating geopolitical tensions across the South China Sea and the Strait of Hormuz are compelling the Pentagon to prioritize a rapid fleet modernization cycle.

This acceleration toward a sustained defense posture could secure a high-margin revenue stream for prime contractors over the coming decade. Recent pullbacks among these defense sector leaders may offer a tactical entry window for investors seeking a structurally hedged equity exposure.

Market participants monitoring the aerospace landscape may identify meaningful catalysts as entrenched government mandates evolve into reliable, long-term cash flows. Deconstructing the mechanics of these procurement agreements will help investors understand why specific industrial powerhouses possess the specialized engineering moats necessary to capitalize on this military pivot.

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The Naval Defense Supercycle Takes ShapeThe macroeconomic environment surrounding global defense has shifted significantly. Rather than relying solely on the lengthy procurement of next-generation platforms, the Department of Defense is heavily prioritizing the sustainment, modernization, and tactical readiness of its existing fleet.

Original equipment manufacturers are wrestling with lingering supply chain bottlenecks, which naturally forces allied militaries and commercial airlines to operate older aircraft and maritime vessels for extended lifecycles to maintain force projection.

This dynamic triggers an aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul supercycle. Maintenance and repair services historically command significantly higher margins than original equipment manufacturing because they involve recurring, highly specialized engineering work within a captive market.

When global instability rises, the demand for immediate fleet readiness directly translates into potentially lucrative, multi-year logistics agreements. Contractors that own the intellectual property and manufacturing capabilities for these critical components can secure a durable revenue stream for fleet sustainment over the next decade.

GE Aerospace: Powering the Navy’s PushGE Aerospace Today

GE

GE Aerospace

$333.76 +0.27 (+0.08%)

As of 12:00 PM Eastern

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

$268.91▼

$388.840.56%

39.35

$390.59

Following its structural reorganization into a pure-play aerospace and defense entity, GE Aerospace NYSE: GE has demonstrated exceptional operational efficiency. General Electric recently secured a performance-based logistics contract from the U.S. Navy worth up to approximately $2.87 billion. Running through August 2031, this five-year agreement covers 17 critical components for the F414 engines, which serve as the primary propulsion systems for the Navy’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

GE Aerospace is also expanding its global footprint by securing an engine order for the Republic of Korea Navy’s next-generation KDDX destroyers, proving that demand for its propulsion technology extends well beyond domestic borders. GE Aerospace will supply 12 LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine engines for six ships in the KDDX program.

These long-term contracts flow directly into a highly optimized balance sheet. GE Aerospace currently operates with a net margin closing in on 18%, alongside an efficient return on equity of roughly 40%. The recent second-quarter earnings report validated this fundamental strength, revealing an approximate 43% year-over-year rise in free cash flow to about $3 billion.

GE Aerospace posted an earnings per share of $2.02 against a consensus estimate of $1.86. This cash generation gives management the flexibility to comfortably raise full-year guidance across revenue, operating profit, and earnings per share, reinforcing its leadership position in the aerospace sector.

RTX Corp: A Moat Filled With Backlogs and TomahawksRTX Today

$200.52 -1.61 (-0.80%)

As of 12:00 PM Eastern

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$150.61▼

$226.881.46%

35.33

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While GE Aerospace dominates the physical propulsion space, RTX Corp NYSE: RTX is securing the tactical and navigational infrastructure required for modern naval warfare. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division recently awarded RTX Corporation, managed through RTX's Collins Aerospace subsidiary, an approximately $42.5 million sole-source contract. This provides technical, engineering, and restoration services for Navy air traffic navigation and coordination systems through August 2031.

While a $42.5 million contract might seem like a standard incremental win, it acts as a strategic complement to an approximately $22.9 billion Navy Tomahawk missile contract the defense contractor secured just weeks prior. The true fundamental moat for RTX Corporation lies in its substantial revenue visibility. RTX Corporation recently reported an approximate $289 billion total backlog, with $119 billion specifically concentrated in the defense sector.

This forward-looking backlog helps to de-risk the long-term investment thesis. RTX Corporation operates with lower net margins than GE Aerospace, hovering around 8%, but its conservative balance sheet, highlighted by a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47 and a remarkably low beta of 0.29, solidifies its status as a defensive safe-haven asset. The sheer volume of its defense backlog helps reduce near-term macroeconomic uncertainty, ensuring a steady conversion of contracts into realized revenue while supporting a reliable dividend yield of roughly 1.45%.

Strategic Entries in a Turbulent MarketDespite these powerful fundamental catalysts, both equities have experienced short-term market pressure. Over the past 30 days, GE Aerospace shares have retreated by roughly 9%, while RTX Corporation has pulled back around 7%. This price action is largely a function of broader market rotation and the necessary digestion of valuation.

Both stocks command premium multiples, with GE Aerospace trading at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio near 39 and RTX Corporation trading around 35 times earnings. At these valuations, the market demands strong execution, leaving minimal room for operational missteps.

Recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings reveal notable insider selling at both companies, including a senior vice president at GE Aerospace reducing his position by roughly 28% in late July, and an executive vice president at RTX Corporation offloading shares in August.

However, insider selling is rarely a single-variable indicator of underlying business health, especially when contrasted with steady institutional support. Firms like Susquehanna Fundamental Investments have recently increased their holdings in GE Aerospace, while the California State Teachers' Retirement System maintains an approximately 28.9% block of the institutional shares in RTX Corporation. The recent pullbacks have effectively eased some of the premium-pricing pressure, offering a more reasonable entry multiple for long-term allocators looking to capitalize on defense spending.

Tactical Positioning for Long-Term GrowthThe transition toward a sustained, multi-theater defense posture ensures that prime contractors will remain heavily capitalized by the Department of Defense. The combination of multi-billion-dollar procurements and a structurally entrenched aftermarket repair supercycle provides a rare blend of reliable growth and downside protection. Companies possessing the specialized engineering capabilities to maintain and upgrade existing fleets are uniquely positioned to capture high-margin, recurring revenue for years to come.

Investors weighing exposure to the aerospace and defense sectors might want to monitor how these backlogs convert into free cash flow over the coming quarters. Cautious investors may prefer to track the price-to-earnings compression of these equities before initiating a position, keeping a close eye on upcoming earnings calls for updates on supply chain efficiencies and continued margin expansion.

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Ally Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 34,000 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $12,844,000. Broadcom makes up approximately 1.7% of Ally Financial Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cornerstone Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Broadcom in the second quarter worth $92,522,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in Broadcom by 1.5% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 58,737,097 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $18,179,719,000 after buying an additional 894,564 shares during the period. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Broadcom during the 2nd quarter valued at $3,302,000. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Broadcom by 129.3% in the 1st quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 110,048 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $34,061,000 after buying an additional 62,050 shares during the period. Finally, First Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Broadcom by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 10,503 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $3,968,000 after buying an additional 1,545 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.43% of the company’s stock.

Broadcom Stock Performance AVGO stock opened at $357.16 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 45.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.44. Broadcom Inc. has a 12-month low of $289.96 and a 12-month high of $495.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $383.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $377.36.

Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 2nd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $3.32 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.10. Broadcom had a return on equity of 50.76% and a net margin of 42.94%.The company had revenue of $29.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $29.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.69 earnings per share. Broadcom’s revenue was up 85.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Broadcom Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Broadcom’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.33%.

Insider Activity at Broadcom In related news, Director Harry L. You purchased 1,000 shares of Broadcom stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $373.57 per share, for a total transaction of $373,570.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 38,466 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,369,743.62. The trade was a 2.67% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Justine Page sold 1,602 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $373.86, for a total transaction of $598,923.72. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 17,426 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,514,884.36. The trade was a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 61,644 shares of company stock worth $24,016,214. 1.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on AVGO. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Broadcom from $450.00 to $530.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Fox Advisors raised shares of Broadcom to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Broadcom from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $535.00 price target (up from $450.00) on shares of Broadcom in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Finally, Dbs Bank raised Broadcom to a “moderate buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Thirty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $501.77.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Broadcom

Key Broadcom News Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Broadcom reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $29.6 billion, up 86% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $3.32, exceeding estimates of $29.43 billion and $3.22. AI semiconductor revenue surged 221% to $16.7 billion, while free cash flow reached $13.7 billion. Broadcom fiscal third-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Management raised its fiscal 2027 AI revenue outlook to $115 billion and projected $230 billion in fiscal 2028, alongside confidence in fiscal 2027 EPS of at least $30. Analysts including Macquarie, Cantor Fitzgerald, BMO and Rosenblatt responded with upgrades or higher price targets, supporting the long-term AI investment case. Broadcom AI growth outlook Neutral Sentiment: Broadcom declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable September 30 to shareholders of record September 21. The dividend provides modest income but is unlikely to drive the stock’s near-term performance. Broadcom dividend announcement Negative Sentiment: Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue guidance of approximately $34.8 billion was below Wall Street’s roughly $35.0 billion expectation. Investors viewed the outlook as insufficient given AVGO’s premium valuation and elevated AI expectations, overshadowing the earnings beat. Broadcom forecasts quarterly revenue below estimates Negative Sentiment: Investors are also weighing supply constraints involving power, land, chips and substrates, along with customer concentration among major hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Anthropic and OpenAI. Competition from custom-chip rivals, including Marvell, adds uncertainty to the ambitious long-term forecast. Broadcom AI supply constraints Negative Sentiment: Recent disclosures that Third Point exited its Broadcom position and that company insiders have overwhelmingly sold shares may reinforce profit-taking concerns, although these transactions are not necessarily indicative of deteriorating fundamentals. Dan Loeb exits Broadcom position Broadcom Company Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Broadcom The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVGO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report).

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Jericho Financial LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 24,766 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $9,355,000. Broadcom comprises about 4.8% of Jericho Financial LLP’s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest holding.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cornerstone Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Broadcom in the 2nd quarter worth about $92,522,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in Broadcom by 1.5% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 58,737,097 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $18,179,719,000 after purchasing an additional 894,564 shares in the last quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Broadcom during the second quarter valued at about $3,302,000. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Broadcom by 129.3% during the first quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 110,048 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $34,061,000 after purchasing an additional 62,050 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Broadcom by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 10,503 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $3,968,000 after purchasing an additional 1,545 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.43% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Broadcom In other Broadcom news, Director Justine Page sold 1,602 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $373.86, for a total transaction of $598,923.72. Following the sale, the director directly owned 17,426 shares in the company, valued at $6,514,884.36. This represents a 8.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Harry You bought 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $373.57 per share, with a total value of $373,570.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 38,466 shares in the company, valued at $14,369,743.62. This represents a 2.67% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 61,644 shares of company stock worth $24,016,214. 1.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Broadcom Stock Performance NASDAQ AVGO opened at $357.16 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.24. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $383.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $377.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a P/E ratio of 45.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.44. Broadcom Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.96 and a fifty-two week high of $495.00. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 2nd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $3.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $29.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $29.24 billion. Broadcom had a return on equity of 50.76% and a net margin of 42.94%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 85.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.69 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Broadcom Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Broadcom’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In AVGO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on Broadcom from $525.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Broadcom in a research note on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Susquehanna reissued a “positive” rating and issued a $490.00 price objective (up from $450.00) on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday, May 28th. UBS Group lowered Broadcom from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Lake Street Capital upgraded Broadcom to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Thirty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $501.77.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Broadcom

Broadcom News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Broadcom reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $29.6 billion, up 86% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $3.32, exceeding estimates of $29.43 billion and $3.22. AI semiconductor revenue surged 221% to $16.7 billion, while free cash flow reached $13.7 billion. Broadcom fiscal third-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Management raised its fiscal 2027 AI revenue outlook to $115 billion and projected $230 billion in fiscal 2028, alongside confidence in fiscal 2027 EPS of at least $30. Analysts including Macquarie, Cantor Fitzgerald, BMO and Rosenblatt responded with upgrades or higher price targets, supporting the long-term AI investment case. Broadcom AI growth outlook Neutral Sentiment: Broadcom declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable September 30 to shareholders of record September 21. The dividend provides modest income but is unlikely to drive the stock’s near-term performance. Broadcom dividend announcement Negative Sentiment: Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue guidance of approximately $34.8 billion was below Wall Street’s roughly $35.0 billion expectation. Investors viewed the outlook as insufficient given AVGO’s premium valuation and elevated AI expectations, overshadowing the earnings beat. Broadcom forecasts quarterly revenue below estimates Negative Sentiment: Investors are also weighing supply constraints involving power, land, chips and substrates, along with customer concentration among major hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Anthropic and OpenAI. Competition from custom-chip rivals, including Marvell, adds uncertainty to the ambitious long-term forecast. Broadcom AI supply constraints Negative Sentiment: Recent disclosures that Third Point exited its Broadcom position and that company insiders have overwhelmingly sold shares may reinforce profit-taking concerns, although these transactions are not necessarily indicative of deteriorating fundamentals. Dan Loeb exits Broadcom position Broadcom Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Broadcom The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern

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Haverford Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 19,208 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $7,256,000. Broadcom comprises about 2.1% of Haverford Financial Services Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Broadcom by 1,320.0% in the fourth quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 71 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Networth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Broadcom by 546.2% in the 1st quarter. Networth Advisors LLC now owns 84 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its stake in Broadcom by 261.9% in the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 76 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Harborfront Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Broadcom in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Cherry Tree Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Broadcom by 44.9% in the 4th quarter. Cherry Tree Wealth Management LLC now owns 129 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 76.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Gayla J. Delly sold 1,890 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $385.38, for a total value of $728,368.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 31,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,072,413.88. This represents a 5.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Justine Page sold 1,602 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $373.86, for a total transaction of $598,923.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 17,426 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,514,884.36. The trade was a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 61,644 shares of company stock valued at $24,016,214. 1.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Broadcom Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:AVGO opened at $357.16 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $383.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $377.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.24 and a quick ratio of 2.01. Broadcom Inc. has a 1 year low of $289.96 and a 1 year high of $495.00. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, September 2nd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $3.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $29.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $29.24 billion. Broadcom had a return on equity of 50.76% and a net margin of 42.94%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 85.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.69 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Broadcom Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Broadcom’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on AVGO. Bank of America lifted their target price on Broadcom from $450.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Broadcom from $500.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Rosenblatt Securities assumed coverage on shares of Broadcom in a research note on Thursday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $600.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $505.00 price objective (up from $502.00) on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore set a $578.00 target price on shares of Broadcom in a research report on Thursday. Thirty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $501.77.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Broadcom

Key Headlines Impacting Broadcom Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Broadcom reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $29.6 billion, up 86% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $3.32, exceeding estimates of $29.43 billion and $3.22. AI semiconductor revenue surged 221% to $16.7 billion, while free cash flow reached $13.7 billion. Broadcom fiscal third-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Management raised its fiscal 2027 AI revenue outlook to $115 billion and projected $230 billion in fiscal 2028, alongside confidence in fiscal 2027 EPS of at least $30. Analysts including Macquarie, Cantor Fitzgerald, BMO and Rosenblatt responded with upgrades or higher price targets, supporting the long-term AI investment case. Broadcom AI growth outlook Neutral Sentiment: Broadcom declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable September 30 to shareholders of record September 21. The dividend provides modest income but is unlikely to drive the stock’s near-term performance. Broadcom dividend announcement Negative Sentiment: Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue guidance of approximately $34.8 billion was below Wall Street’s roughly $35.0 billion expectation. Investors viewed the outlook as insufficient given AVGO’s premium valuation and elevated AI expectations, overshadowing the earnings beat. Broadcom forecasts quarterly revenue below estimates Negative Sentiment: Investors are also weighing supply constraints involving power, land, chips and substrates, along with customer concentration among major hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Anthropic and OpenAI. Competition from custom-chip rivals, including Marvell, adds uncertainty to the ambitious long-term forecast. Broadcom AI supply constraints Negative Sentiment: Recent disclosures that Third Point exited its Broadcom position and that company insiders have overwhelmingly sold shares may reinforce profit-taking concerns, although these transactions are not necessarily indicative of deteriorating fundamentals. Dan Loeb exits Broadcom position Broadcom Company Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Broadcom The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVGO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report).

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Key Takeaways PAAS is advancing La Colorada Skarn with a phased approach focused on high-grade, lower-capital stages.The project outlines a 37-year mine life and projected annual free cash flow of $653M during ramp-up.Expanded La Colorada production is expected to average 19.1M ounces of silver annually from 2034 to 2038. Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS - Free Report) invested $20 million of project capital in the first half of 2026 to advance its  La Colorada Skarn project in Mexico. The company plans to build a 15,000-ton-per-day selective flotation facility to process ore from both the existing La Colorada vein mine and the high-grade zones of the skarn deposit.

Pan American Silver aims to combine the mine plans and infrastructure of the La Colorada vein mine with the Skarn project through a phased development approach. With this approach, the company can focus on high-grade, low-tonnage and less capital-intensive initial stages while targeting lower-grade material in a future expansion. During the second quarter of 2026, Pan American Silver completed the first cut of the 588 Decline, a project that serves as a crucial step toward the development of the La Colorada Skarn project.

According to the Revised Preliminary Economic Assessment, the La Colorada Skarn Project outlines a large-scale, long-life operation at negative all-in sustaining costs with a projected mine life of 37 years. During the first five years of ramp-up, the project is expected to generate a free cash flow of $653 million per year.

Pan American Silver plans to continue mining at the existing La Colorada vein mine using the current infrastructure while development progresses to access new high-grade veins in the eastern Candelaria area and high-grade skarn deposit mineralization. La Colorada has the potential to become one of the top-producing silver mines in the world. The Expanded La Colorada mine production is expected to average 19.1 million ounces of silver annually over the initial five-year period (2034-2038) following commissioning and ramp-up.

This projected output for the initial five-year average is expected to significantly surpass the annual production of other major global silver mines. For comparison, La Colorada’s expected production will surpass Pan American's 44% owned Juanicipio mine, which produced 17.2 million ounces in 2025. It also has the potential to exceed the 13.8 million ounces produced by Fresnillo plc's (FNLPF - Free Report) Saucito mine, as well as the 11.1 million ounces from Buenaventura Mining's (BVN - Free Report) Uchucchacua mine.

Fresnillo produced 22 million ounces of silver in the first half of 2026, marking a year-over-year decline of 11.4%. Fresnillo’s Saucito mine faced the brunt of lower ore grade and decreased volume of ore processed during the time frame. The mine produced 6.2 million ounces of silver during the first half.

Buenaventura Mining produced 7,520,650 ounces of silver during the first half of 2026, up 2% year over year. Buenaventura Mining’s Uchucchacua mine produced 1,122,003 ounces of silver during the time frame. The mine gained due to higher-than-anticipated ore grades.

PAAS’ Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesIn a year, PAAS shares have gained 58.7% compared with the industry's 82.2% whopping growth. In comparison, the Basic Materials sector has risen 34.1%, whereas the S&P 500 has returned 22%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PAAS is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple of 10.97X compared with the industry average of 15.80X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus mark for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.81 per share, indicating a year-over-year jump of 50%. The estimate for 2027 of $5.00 suggests an increase of 31.3%. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pan American Silver’s earnings for 2026 and 2027 have moved down over the past 60 days. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways FIS launched an embedded banking platform that integrates banking services into business software.FIS initially rolls out the platform with pilot banks, with accounts and payments planned for Q4 2026.FIS aims to deepen bank relationships by expanding access to accounts, payments and other services. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS - Free Report) is expanding its banking technology portfolio with the launch of the Embedded Banking Platform, designed to help U.S. banks deliver accounts, payments, card issuing and other financial capabilities within business software. The move positions the company to capitalize on demand for banking experiences that fit directly into corporate workflows rather than banking portals.

The platform allows banks to embed their services through APIs, software development kits, widgets or white-labeled applications while software providers control the customer interface. Importantly, accounts remain on the bank’s balance sheet, allowing financial institutions to retain customer ownership and regulatory control. This structure could make embedded banking more attractive to banks seeking digital reach without giving up the relationship.

FIS is initially rolling out the offering with pilot banks, including Cogent Bank, Commercial Bank of California and M&T Bank, with accounts and payments planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The broader product also supports accounts receivable and payable, expense management and card issuing, creating opportunities for FIS to deepen its role across business banking workflows.

The launch complements FIS’ broader efforts to modernize banking infrastructure and expand embedded financial services. By enabling banks to reach business customers through software they already use, the platform could help FIS deepen relationships with financial institutions and create additional opportunities across accounts, payments and other banking services as adoption builds.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of FIS’ competitors in the digital banking technology solutions space are Fiserv, Inc. (FISV - Free Report) and Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (JKHY - Free Report) .

Fiserv is expanding its embedded finance capabilities across banking, payments and card issuing, while its Stuut partnership brings agentic AI to enterprise receivables. The collaboration combines FISV’s Commerce Hub and SnapPay with Stuut’s automation, supporting a platform that has processed over $2 billion in B2B invoices.

Jack Henry is strengthening its embedded finance capabilities through API-first payment infrastructure that enables fintechs and businesses to integrate ACH, wires, RTP, FedNow, deposits and virtual accounts. JKHY’s expanding embedded fintech ecosystem also helps financial institutions reach new markets and revenue opportunities.

Fidelity National’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of FIS have risen 3.2% over the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 17.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Fidelity National trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 6.45, significantly below the industry average of 19.20. FIS carries a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fidelity National’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.19 per share, implying 7.7% growth from the year-ago period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FIS stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Key Takeaways BEN's preliminary AUM rose 1.86% in August to a record $1.83 trillion, aided by $8 billion in net inflows.BEN's diversified asset mix supported August growth, with all five major AUM categories rising.BEN is expanding alternatives, private markets, and digital assets through buyouts and strategic partnerships. Franklin Templeton, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) reported assets under management (AUM) of $1.83 trillion as of Aug. 31, 2026, up 1.9% from the prior month. The increase in preliminary AUM primarily reflected favorable market movements and $8 billion in long-term net inflows.

Franklin Templeton has demonstrated steady AUM growth over the years despite periodic market volatility. Although AUM declined in fiscal 2022 and 2025, the metric increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% over the five fiscal years ended 2025.

Growth momentum strengthened in 2026, with long-term net inflows of $18.4 billion in the quarter ended June 30 compared to net outflows of $9.3 billion in the prior-year quarter. This improvement helped drive AUM to a record $1.79 trillion at the end of June. The positive momentum continued into the following months, with $6 billion of long-term net inflows in July and $8 billion in August, helping lift preliminary AUM to a new record as of Aug. 31, 2026.

AUM Growth Trend

Image Source: Franklin Templeton, Inc.

The company’s diversified asset mix also supported AUM growth in August. Equity AUM increased 2.3% month over month to $775.1 billion, while alternative and multi-asset AUM rose 1.8% and 1.7%, respectively, to $301.6 billion and $225.1 billion. Fixed-income AUM increased 0.6% sequentially to $440.6 billion, while cash management assets grew 5.3% to $85 billion.

Beyond traditional asset classes, Franklin is expanding its presence in higher-growth alternatives and private markets through acquisitions and partnerships. Its 2025 acquisition of Apera Asset Management strengthened alternative credit capabilities, while partnerships with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, DigitalBridge and Actis expanded its private infrastructure offerings, supporting growth in its alternatives franchise.

Digital assets provide another growth avenue. In June 2026, Franklin acquired 250 Digital and launched Franklin Crypto, expanding institutional trading, separately managed account and tokenization capabilities. Its partnerships with MoonPay, Payward and Binance have further broadened its institutional digital-asset offerings, diversifying its platform and supporting long-term AUM growth.

However, private-credit risks related to liquidity, valuations and credit quality might moderately pressure near-term investor flows. Nevertheless, strong inflow momentum, a diversified AUM base, expanding alternatives, private markets and digital-asset capabilities, along with strategic partnerships, acquisitions, favorable international flows and a regionally focused distribution model, should support continued AUM growth.

AUM Performance of Franklin’s PeersApollo Global Management, Inc. (APO - Free Report) witnessed strong AUM growth, with a 19.6% CAGR during 2022-2025. The growth trend continued in the first half of 2026, with AUM increasing 25% year over year to $1.05 trillion as of June 30, 2026, supported by robust capital formation and continued growth in Asset Management and Retirement Services.

Strategic expansion in wealth and retirement solutions and real estate, including the Schroders partnership and Bridge Investment Group acquisition, has strengthened APO’s investment capabilities and client reach and should support continued AUM growth.

Similarly, Lazard, Inc. (LAZ - Free Report) witnessed steady AUM growth, with a 2.8% CAGR during 2016-2025. The growth trend continued in the first half of 2026, with net inflows of $7.4 billion, marking Lazard’s strongest first-half inflow performance in nearly 20 years and reflecting improving client demand.

Strategic expansion in wealth management and private markets, including the Truvvo Partners acquisition and increased ownership of Elaia Partners, has strengthened LAZ’s investment capabilities and diversified its asset base, and should support continued AUM growth.

BEN Price Performance & Zacks RankThe company’s shares have gained 30.3% in the past year against the industry’s 10.1% decline.

Price Performance 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Cocoa has taken one of the wildest round trips in the commodity market over the past two years. The bean that flavors most of the candy in a trick-or-treat bag climbed to a record above $10,000 a metric ton in late 2024, collapsed to a cycle low near $2,850 by April 2026, then rallied back toward $5,700 by the middle of August. Through all of it, the price of a bag of fun-size chocolate on the shelf has done one thing. It went up, and it stayed up.

That disconnect is the story heading into Halloween. Shoppers were told for two years that record cocoa was the reason chocolate kept getting more expensive. The record is long gone, yet the prices are not.

Cocoa’s Round TripCocoa’s spike was real and severe. Poor weather, aging trees, and disease in West Africa, which grows about 70% of the world’s supply, gutted production and sent futures to historic highs. Prices more than quadrupled from their long-run range in under two years.

The correction was just as dramatic. Better harvests flipped the market from years of shortage into surplus, and futures fell by more than half from the peak, bottoming near $2,850 a ton in the spring. The relief did not last. A summer rally driven by El Niño worries and crop-quality concerns pushed cocoa back to roughly $5,700 a ton by mid-August, its fourth straight monthly gain.

Trending

Even after the crash, cocoa sits more than double the roughly $2,400 a ton it averaged as recently as 2022. The bean is cheaper than its record, not cheap.

Why Shelf Prices Don’t Fall Like Commodity PricesRetail prices and commodity prices move on different clocks. When cocoa spiked, manufacturers raised list prices and shrank package sizes to protect margins, and those changes tend to be sticky. Prices climb quickly when costs rise and drift down slowly, if at all, when costs ease.

The numbers show the ratchet at work. The average US chocolate bar ran about $2.43 in the summer of 2021 and about $3.45 by 2025, a 41% jump. Hershey variety packs were up around 22% and Mars raised prices roughly 12% heading into last Halloween. Chocolate candy averaged about $8.02 a pound against $5.77 for non-chocolate options.

Manufacturers are also not sitting on cheap beans. Both major chocolate makers hedged most of their 2026 cocoa months ago, at prices above where the market briefly fell, so the spring dip barely reached their income statements. Shoppers were never going to see an overnight discount, because the companies buying the cocoa did not get one either.

How to Shop the Halloween Basket for LessThe pricing pressure is real, but a Halloween run does not have to sting.

Non-chocolate candy is the clearest saving. Gummies, sour candy, and hard candy cost less per pound than chocolate and have been gaining ground for years, with chocolate’s share of Halloween candy volume slipping from 52% to 44%. Kids reaching for the fruity stuff are doing your budget a favor.

A few other moves add up.

Buy early and spread the cost. Nearly half of Halloween shoppers start in September or earlier, which avoids the late-October scramble and the thin discount racks that come with it. Watch the unit price, not the bag price. Shrinkflation hides increases inside smaller bags, so compare the price per ounce rather than the sticker on the front. Lean on store brands and warehouse clubs for the bulk handout candy, and save the name brands for the bowl by the door. What It Means for Hershey and MondelezThe same volatility that shapes the candy aisle runs straight through the two stocks that dominate it.

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) spent 2025 with its margins squeezed by record cocoa, and adjusted earnings fell hard as a result. The rebound is now underway. After raising guidance alongside its second-quarter report, Hershey expects full-year 2026 adjusted earnings of roughly $8.36 to $8.52 a share, well above the depressed level of a year earlier, with net sales growth of about 4.5% to 5%.

Cocoa makes up close to 20% of the company’s cost of goods, so pricing discipline and productivity, rather than any cocoa windfall, are doing most of the work. Management is leaning into the season with its largest-ever Halloween lineup, betting that loyal shoppers keep reaching for chocolate.

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) tells a more cautious story. The maker of Cadbury and Toblerone carries a wider, less chocolate-heavy portfolio, with cocoa closer to 10% of its cost of goods, yet its price hikes have cost it volume.

For 2026 the company guided to adjusted earnings growth of flat to 5% and organic revenue growth of flat to 2%, which it later nudged up modestly, softer than Hershey and softer than analysts had hoped, as shoppers pushed back on higher shelf prices. Its hedges, like Hershey’s, were locked in above current spot, which capped the benefit from cheaper beans.

The Volatility Isn’t OverNeither the shopper nor the investor should count on clean relief from here. Cocoa remains fickle, in the words of one analyst who covers Hershey, and a market caught between a fresh supply surplus and ongoing weather risk can swing hard in either direction.

The US consumer is stretched and value-focused too, which means every fresh price increase risks pushing more buyers toward cheaper candy or smaller bags. That elasticity is exactly what dented Mondelez’s volumes.

For the shopper, the pricey candy reflects sticky retail pricing and a cocoa market that is off its highs but far from cheap. Shopping the basket smart matters more than waiting for a discount that may never come.

For the investor, the setup is a story about pricing power and hedging rather than a simple bet on falling beans, and it carries the real risk that tired consumers finally stop absorbing the increases.

image credit: Author

Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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

UiPath Inc (NYSE:PATH) reported mixed results for the second quarter and raised its FY27 sales guidance on Thursday.

UiPath reported quarterly earnings of 15 cents per share, in line with the consensus estimate, per Benzinga Pro data. Quarterly revenue came in at $410.26 million, which beat the Street estimate of $397.95 million.

"I am pleased with our second quarter results, demonstrating disciplined execution and the growing momentum across our platform," said Daniel Dines, UiPath founder and CEO.

UiPath raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to between $1.789 billion and $1.794 billion, versus the $1.778 billion analyst estimate.

UiPath shares fell 12.4% to trade at $15.98 on Friday.

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

Canaccord Genuity analyst Kingsley Crane downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and raised the price target from $15 to $17. DA Davidson analyst Lucky Schreiner maintained the stock with a Neutral and raised the price target from $12 to $16. Trending

Considering buying PATH stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Key Takeaways Williams expands its Haynesville position with over 4,000 miles of pipeline and 6 Bcf/d of gathering capacity.Momentum adds take-or-pay pipelines and contracted assets that could support revenue visibility.The acquisition creates a growth platform alongside two announced expansion projects in the region. Williams Companies (WMB - Free Report) has completed its acquisition of Momentum Midstream in a transaction valued at approximately $5.5 billion. The deal marks a significant expansion of Williams’ natural gas infrastructure footprint in the Haynesville basin, positioning it to benefit from rising demand from liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), power generation and industrial customers along the Gulf Coast.

The transaction consists of approximately $3.5 billion in cash and debt consideration and roughly $2 billion of Williams’ equity. With the acquisition now closed, Williams gains a larger integrated platform in one of the most strategically important natural gas-producing regions in the United States.

Expanding Williams’ Haynesville FootprintMomentum’s assets significantly expand Williams’ gathering and transportation capabilities in the Haynesville. The acquired platform includes more than 4,000 miles of pipeline, over 1 million dedicated acres and approximately 6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of gathering capacity.

The assets also include multiple processing and treating facilities, along with three take-or-pay pipelines that have approximately 4.05 Bcf/d of transportation capacity.

This infrastructure gives Williams, a Tulsa, OK-based oil and gas storage and transportation company, additional opportunities to connect natural gas supplies with high-demand markets along the Gulf Coast. The strategic importance of these connections is increasing as LNG export capacity expands and electricity demand rises.

For Williams, the acquisition is therefore more than an expansion of its physical footprint. It provides additional infrastructure positioned between growing natural gas production and increasingly attractive demand centers.

LNG and Power Demand Offer Growth OpportunitiesThe U.S. natural gas market is entering a period of potentially strong demand growth. LNG exports are a key driver, while increasing electricity consumption is creating another source of demand for natural gas-fired generation.

The Gulf Coast is particularly important because it hosts a large concentration of LNG export infrastructure, industrial facilities and power generation assets. Williams’ expanded Haynesville platform can help move natural gas from producers toward these markets.

The company’s increased exposure to the Haynesville also creates opportunities to expand its infrastructure as demand develops. Williams noted that the transaction creates a growth platform in addition to two expansion projects that have already been announced.

This combination of existing infrastructure and potential future projects could provide Williams with additional avenues to increase earnings and cash flow over time.

Contracted Assets Add StabilityAnother important aspect of the transaction is Momentum’s customer base and contract structure. Williams highlighted the acquired platform’s high-quality customer base and durable take-or-pay contracts.

Take-or-pay arrangements can provide greater revenue visibility because customers generally commit to paying for a specified level of transportation or capacity, subject to contractual terms, even if they do not fully utilize the capacity.

That characteristic is particularly valuable for a midstream company. Unlike exploration and production companies, midstream operators generally benefit from fee-based contracts that can reduce direct exposure to commodity-price volatility.

The acquired contracts and infrastructure could therefore complement Williams’ existing portfolio while providing a foundation for future expansion.

Strategic Fit With Williams’ Natural Gas StrategyThe Momentum acquisition aligns closely with Williams’ broader strategy of expanding its natural gas infrastructure network. Williams operates a large network of gathering, processing, storage and transmission assets, giving it exposure to multiple stages of the natural gas value chain.

Adding Momentum’s Haynesville assets strengthens this integrated model. The expanded network can improve connectivity between producers and demand centers while potentially creating additional opportunities to develop new infrastructure.

WMB’s president and CEO Chad Zamarin said the acquisition establishes a premier Haynesville position and strengthens its ability to serve growing LNG, power and industrial demand along the Gulf Coast.

The company also expects the complementary infrastructure to provide a platform for advancing its natural gas-focused strategy and creating long-term shareholder value.

What Investors Should WatchFor investors, the key consideration will be Williams’ ability to translate the larger asset base into sustainable earnings and cash flow growth while maintaining a disciplined balance sheet.

The $5.5 billion transaction represents a substantial investment, making the performance of the acquired assets important to the company’s future returns. Investors should watch integration progress, utilization of gathering and transportation capacity, additional expansion opportunities and demand growth from LNG and power customers.

Overall, the Momentum acquisition strengthens Williams’ competitive position in the Haynesville and increases its exposure to structural growth in U.S. natural gas demand. The combination of extensive infrastructure, contracted capacity and access to Gulf Coast demand centers provides Williams with a broader platform for long-term growth.

WMB's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, WMB has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector might consider some better-ranked stocks, such as Par Pacific (PARR - Free Report) , Delek US Holdings (DK - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Oceaneering International (OII - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Par Pacific is valued at $4.02 billion. It is a diversified energy company that owns and operates petroleum refineries, logistics assets and retail fuel businesses across the United States. Par Pacific focuses on refining, transporting and marketing fuel products while serving regional markets with reliable energy solutions.

Delek US Holdings is valued at $4.38 billion. It is a diversified downstream energy company engaged in petroleum refining, renewable fuels, asphalt production and logistics operations. Delek US Holdings operates multiple refineries in the United States and is committed to delivering safe, reliable energy while investing in cleaner energy initiatives.

Oceaneering International is valued at $5.14 billion. It is a global technology and engineering company. Oceaneering International provides subsea robotics, offshore services, engineered products and advanced solutions to the energy, defense, aerospace and other industries.  

Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ:FELE – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 17,155 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,840,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FELE. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Franklin Electric in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Franklin Electric during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Franklin Electric by 31.2% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 425 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Franklin Electric by 213.1% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 454 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 309 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Electric during the 2nd quarter worth $44,000. 79.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on FELE shares. Weiss Ratings raised Franklin Electric from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. DA Davidson increased their price target on Franklin Electric from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Franklin Electric from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Franklin Electric has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $114.50.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Franklin Electric Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Jonathan Grandon sold 8,547 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $883,759.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 7,509 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $776,430.60. This represents a 53.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.89% of the company’s stock.

Franklin Electric Trading Up 1.7% Franklin Electric stock opened at $99.27 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $104.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.50. Franklin Electric Co., Inc. has a 52 week low of $89.54 and a 52 week high of $115.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 2.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.02.

Franklin Electric (NASDAQ:FELE – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The industrial products company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $622.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $605.92 million. Franklin Electric had a net margin of 7.06% and a return on equity of 15.18%. The company’s revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.31 EPS. Franklin Electric has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.500-4.700 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Franklin Electric Co., Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Franklin Electric Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 20th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 6th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 6th. Franklin Electric’s payout ratio is presently 32.28%.

(Free Report)

Franklin Electric Co, Inc is a world‐leading manufacturer and distributor of systems and components for moving and managing water and fuel. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the company specializes in designing engineered pumping systems and related controls for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Founded in 1944, Franklin Electric has built its reputation on submersible and surface pumping solutions for water wells, municipal water and wastewater treatment, irrigation and industrial fluid handling.

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