Shanghai, China, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reatan announced the global launch of the Reatan X8 Mini PC, a new high-performance computing platform powered by AMD's latest Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor. Designed for AI development, content creation, gaming, and demanding productivity workloads, the system combines advanced AI processing, dependability, and compact engineering to address the needs of creators, developers, and technology enthusiasts worldwide. The launch places Reatan among the first global brands to commercialize systems based on AMD's Ryzen AI 400 series platform.
Reatan develops high-performance mini PCs designed for AI computing, content creation, gaming, and professional productivity workloads.
86 TOPS of Local AI & Groundbreaking Memory Architecture Powered by the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 mini PC this mini PC features 12 cores, 24 threads, and 86 total TOPS of AI processing capability, enabling users to run local AI applications, creative software, and local large language models with unprecedented efficiency.
One of the defining features of the 48GB DDR5 mini PC is its memory architecture.It overcomes the VRAM limitations of traditional 32GB systems: 24GB fuels the Radeon™ 890M iGPU for smooth 4K editing and AAA gaming, while a dedicated 24GB supports robust system multitasking. This ideal balance allows local 7B/13B LLMs to run smoothly—delivering 64GB-class performance without the premium cost. Users can further expand memory up to 96GB DDR5 RAM while adding up to 8TB of NVMe SSD storage.
The Reatan X8 also features native OCuLink connectivity, making it an attractive option for users seeking an OCuLink mini PC capable of supporting external graphics solutions. Through a direct PCIe 4.0 x4 connection, users can pair the system with compatible external GPUs to accelerate rendering, gaming, AI processing, and other graphics-intensive tasks.
Connectivity remains another major focus of the design. Equipped with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the system supports fast wireless networking and low-latency peripheral connections. The platform also includes dual USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, and additional high-speed interfaces designed to support multi-monitor productivity environments and future hardware ecosystems.
To sustain high performance under continuous workloads, the Reatan X8 utilizes a premium all-metal chassis and an advanced dual-copper heat pipe cooling system. Combined with high-performance cooling fans, the thermal design helps maintain stable operating temperatures while supporting quiet operation during extended AI, gaming, and content creation sessions.
"The Reatan X8 harnesses the next-generation power of AMD's flagship HX470 while offering our global partners a highly reliable, low-risk supply pipeline," said Dajun Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Reatan. "The launch of the Reatan X8 represents an important milestone for Reatan's hardware development road map.It reflects Reatan's commitment to delivering advanced computing platforms that combine AI readiness, performance scalability, and long-term value in a compact desktop format".
The Reatan X8 Mini PC is now available through Reatan's official online store and the company's Amazon store. Early-bird discounts and promotions are available for a limited time on the Amazon product page.
Reatan engineers compact desktop systems with advanced cooling, expandable memory, high-speed connectivity, and support for demanding computing applications.
About Reatan
Leveraging over a decade of hardware expertise, Reatan is an engineering-driven developer of high-performance computing systems. Through in-house research and development capabilities and proprietary thermal testing facilities, the company specializes in high-TDP optimization and compact desktop engineering. Reatan develops reliable and future-ready computing solutions for creators, professionals, developers, and technology enthusiasts worldwide.
Press Inquiries
Dajun Wang
support [at] reatan.com
+86-21-67885898
https://reatan.com
Room A01, 1st Floor, Building 1, No. 268 Ronghua Road, Songjiang District
Shanghai, 201611, China
A video accompanying this announcement is available here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PFmTDf0OOLg
Introducing the Reatan X8 – Next-Gen AI Mini PC with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 Powered by the new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor with 86 TOPS of AI performance, this compact powe...
I’m opening with the headline number. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD | AMD Price Prediction) is $586.55 over the next 12 months, against a current quote of $551.63. That implies 6.33% of upside and a buy recommendation, with our model registering 90% confidence.
The setup is unusual: a stock that has already run hard, yet still sits below where our proprietary blend and an 80% bullish analyst wall converge.
Metric Value Current Price $551.63 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $586.55 Upside 6.33% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% From $128 to $551 in 12 Months AMD has been one of the defining trades of 2026. Shares are up 17.99% over the past month, 157.58% year to date, and 330.15% over the past year from a starting price of $128.24. AMD trades 13% below the 52-week high of $562.99.
The catalyst is fundamental. Q1 2026 revenue hit $10.253 billion, up 37.9% YoY, beating expectations by 3.41%, while non-GAAP EPS of $1.37 beat by 5.88%. Data Center revenue grew 57% YoY to $5.77 billion. Recent news of a 30 MW Rackspace deployment and the MEXT memory-optimization acquisition extended the AI infrastructure narrative.
The Case for $614 and Higher Bulls anchor on the customer book. Lisa Su told investors “Customer engagement around MI450 Series and Helios is strengthening, with leading customer forecasts exceeding our initial expectations.” The OpenAI agreement covers 6 GW of GPU deployment, Meta committed to up to 6 GW of Instinct GPUs and named AMD lead supplier for 6th Gen EPYC Venice/Verano, and Oracle is standing up a 50,000-GPU Helios supercluster in Q3 2026.
Q2 2026 guidance of $11.2 billion implies 46% YoY growth with non-GAAP gross margin expanding to 56%. Of 51 analysts, 5 rate Strong Buy, 36 Buy, 10 Hold, and zero Sell. Our bull-case path takes AMD to $614.13, an 11.33% total return.
What Could Go Wrong AMD trades at a trailing P/E of 179 and forward P/E of 77. That is priced for flawless execution. U.S. export controls on MI308 GPUs already triggered $800 million in Q2 2025 inventory charges, and any escalation in China policy could repeat the hit.
Insider activity is also a yellow flag: insider transactions over the last 90 days exceeded $161 million in selling, including the CEO. Reddit sentiment has cooled, with the composite score sliding 26.57 points over 30 days.
The counterfactual matters. Heavy insider sales after a 330.15% run are partly diversification, not a thesis change, and the elevated P/E reflects depressed trailing earnings that the forward number normalizes. Still, our bear-case milestone is $446.48, a 19.06% drawdown if AI capex pauses.
AMD Price Prediction 2026-2030 Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $586.55 is a buy at 90% confidence. The tipping factor is the hyperscaler order book: when Meta, OpenAI, and Oracle all anchor multi-gigawatt deployments on the same roadmap, the forward EPS estimate has real support.
I’d be a buyer here if MI450 ramp commentary stays positive through Q3 2026. I’d stay on the sidelines if China export policy tightens further or hyperscaler capex guidance softens.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $586.55 2027 $631 2028 $668 2029 $697 2030 $724.81 These projections assume AMD continues executing on its MI450 and EPYC roadmap with hyperscaler capex sustained through the decade. Significant upside or downside could result from custom-silicon competition, China export policy, or a step-change in inference economics.
YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF offers high weekly distributions, recently boasting an estimated annualized yield above 94%. AMDY's structure leads to inevitable NAV erosion, especially during periods of market volatility or declining Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. momentum. The AMDY fund is best used tactically, not as a buy-and-hold income vehicle, due to capped upside and risk of destructive payouts.
The broader market remains intensely fixated on public hyperscalers hoarding silicon to build massive, general-purpose artificial intelligence models. Look one layer deeper into the physical economy, and a distinct structural shift is unfolding. Tier-2 data centers are quietly carving out highly lucrative, specialized niches to capture enterprise workloads that major public clouds cannot accommodate.
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Plugging Advanced Silicon Into the Rackspace GridRackspace Technology Today
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Rackspace Technology
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52-Week Range$0.39▼
$8.60Price Target$2.70
Rackspace Technology NASDAQ: RXT recently secured a binding agreement to deploy 30 megawatts of artificial intelligence compute power engineered exclusively by Advanced Micro Devices NASDAQ: AMD. This specific infrastructure rollout fundamentally alters the trajectory for both AMD and Rackspace.
By securing AMD's Instinct processors to build a fully governed, compliant AI stack, Rackspace actively resolves data-sovereignty bottlenecks that block the healthcare and financial sectors from scaling internal machine learning models. The strategic silicon-level partnership instantly validates AMD's mid-tier cloud penetration, offering Rackspace a high-margin, verifiable revenue pipeline that market participants are already aggressively repricing.
Moving off the Drawing Board and Onto the GridRackspace Technology's share price has exhibited parabolic price action this year, surging over 600% year-to-date. It jumped 21% intraday immediately following the announcement of the compute agreement. Wall Street is currently digesting the transition of a non-binding memorandum of understanding into a definitive, monetizable contract.
Rackspace Technology, Inc. (RXT) Price Chart for Wednesday, June, 24, 2026
The agreement outlines a phased global data center deployment spanning late 2026 through 2028. This staggered timeline is a vital component of the overarching thesis. Rackspace avoids the immediate, crushing capital expenditure burden of outfitting 30 megawatts of server racks all at once.
To put 30 megawatts into perspective, that level of energy consumption is equivalent to a small city's power draw, requiring highly advanced liquid-cooling infrastructure and specialized power routing.
By staggering the rollout, Rackspace secures a structured path to deploy a highly sought-after hardware-as-a-service architecture, enabling it to match infrastructure spend with incoming enterprise client demand.
While elevated short interest has undoubtedly amplified the rapid expansion in Rackspace's valuation, acting as a mechanism for forced buying, the underlying catalyst represents a tangible narrative shift. Participants are no longer pricing Rackspace as a legacy managed-hosting provider facing terminal margin compression. Instead, they are repricing Rackspace as a high-density, infrastructure-agnostic AI play.
Fortifying the AI Grid for Data SovereigntyInvestors have to look at the end user to understand why 30 megawatts of dedicated compute is a massive competitive advantage. Highly regulated industries face staggering compliance hurdles. Hospitals managing sensitive clinical data and financial institutions running proprietary risk algorithms face strict regulatory constraints on where data resides and how it is processed.
Pushing governed workloads into a generic, public hyperscaler environment often triggers severe data sovereignty and compliance risks. Isolating algorithmic trading data from public internet scraping is nearly impossible on shared public clouds. Rackspace Technology solves this structural deficit by offering a private, governed AI stack.
By utilizing a hardware-as-a-service model, enterprise clients can sidestep the massive upfront capital expenditures required to purchase data center hardware. Clients simply rent the exact compute power needed within a secure, dedicated Rackspace environment.
This allows clinical healthcare providers to anonymize patient records and regional banks to run heavy inference workloads entirely in-house. Rackspace provides the fortified digital real estate, while Advanced Micro Devices supplies the horsepower required to analyze millions of data points per second.
Supplying the Horsepower Behind the AI RevolutionThe hardware architecture driving this deployment goes far beyond generic compute power. The agreement specifically leverages Advanced Micro Devices' Instinct accelerators, namely the MI355X and MI350P processors, which are paired directly with AMD EPYC server processors.
This establishes AMD as the foundational silicon partner for Rackspace Technology's newly launched Enterprise AI Cloud. For AMD, securing a footprint of this magnitude proves its hardware can successfully penetrate and dominate mid-tier enterprise cloud environments. AMD is proving it does not have to rely solely on Tier-1 hyperscalers to drive sustained enterprise volume. Because AMD architecture is highly competitive on a price-to-performance basis, Tier-2 data centers can adopt the technology while maintaining highly attractive margins.
The underlying fundamentals support this aggressive expansion. AMD recently posted 37.8% year-over-year revenue growth, beating earnings consensus by 8 cents per share. Operating cash flow sits at a husky $4.89 per share, providing the liquidity needed for AMD to continue out-innovating competitors in the accelerator space. Landing 30-megawatt contracts with specialized data centers signals to the market that enterprise architects actively trust and demand the AMD ecosystem.
Funding the Pivot and Keeping the Lights OnWhile the growth narrative is compelling, evaluating the fundamental realities of the balance sheet remains necessary. Rackspace Technology is navigating a precarious transition phase. Rackspace currently reports negative net margins of 5.41% alongside a recent earnings miss. Liquidity remains exceptionally tight, highlighted by a quick ratio of just 0.68, indicating that Rackspace holds only 68 cents in liquid assets for every dollar of short-term liabilities.
Transitioning from legacy cloud hosting to high-density AI infrastructure is highly capital-intensive. To support this pivot and alleviate immediate balance-sheet distress, Rackspace implemented strategic workforce reductions to slash operating expenses. This aggressive cost-cutting strategy acts as a bridge. Rackspace must drastically reduce cash burn today so it can survive to realize the high-margin, recurring revenue generated by the upcoming Advanced Micro Devices deployment.
The extreme divergence between the current trading price and the consensus analyst target of $2.70 suggests institutional skepticism remains. Insider activity reflects this cautious transition, with Rackspace's executive officers executing strategic equity sales in the lead-up to the announcement. The rapid stock surge requires flawless execution from Rackspace management over the coming quarters to justify newly assigned valuation premiums.
Evaluating the High-Voltage Return on Enterprise AIThe 30-megawatt pact between Rackspace and AMD is a textbook example of how the internet's physical infrastructure is adapting to regulated enterprise demand. Advanced Micro Devices continues to validate hardware prowess outside of the hyperscaler bubble, while Rackspace Technology attempts a massive, high-reward turnaround driven by specialized, governed cloud environments.
Investors tracking the semiconductor sector may view AMD as a staple allocation for sustained enterprise integration, especially given the $6 billion share repurchase program, which provides structural support. For those monitoring the data center land grab, Rackspace offers a high-beta vehicle tied directly to the hardware-as-a-service rollout.
Cautious investors may prefer to wait for current short-covering volatility to subside before establishing a position, watching closely to see if Rackspace can translate operational cuts into sustainable margin expansion ahead of the 2026 deployments.
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Financing co-led by TCGX and ARCH Venture Partners with participation from a syndicate of premier healthcare-focused institutional investors
Proceeds will support global Phase 3 trials of OLN324, a potential best-in-class VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody addressing leading causes of vision loss in the $15 billion retina market
OLN324 demonstrated faster and greater retinal drying and numerically greater vision gains versus Vabysmo® in a randomized head-to-head proof of concept trial, as reported earlier this year
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ollin Biosciences, Inc. (Ollin), a clinical-stage biotech advancing best-in-disease therapies for vision-threatening diseases, today announced an oversubscribed $330 million Series B financing. The financing round was co-led by new investor TCGX and founding investor ARCH Venture Partners, with participation from a syndicate of leading healthcare-focused crossover investors, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors new to Ollin, including a16z Bio+Health, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, Commodore Capital, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), RA Capital Management, accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., and a leading sovereign wealth fund, alongside continued investment from other co-founding investors Mubadala Capital and Monograph Capital.
Proceeds from the Series B financing will support the global Phase 3 development of OLN324, a next-generation VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody, in diabetic macular edema (DME) and wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), as well as the advancement of OLN102, a novel TSHR/IGF-1R bispecific antibody for thyroid eye disease (TED) and Graves’ disease, into clinical development this year.
In the recently completed 164-patient, head-to-head, randomized, proof-of-concept JADE clinical study comparing OLN324 to faricimab (Vabysmo®), OLN324 demonstrated meaningfully faster and greater improvements in retinal anatomy versus faricimab, in both DME and wAMD, as well as numerically greater vision gains.
Ollin has completed an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the Phase 3 program, and plans to initiate global Phase 3 trials of OLN324 in DME and wAMD in the second half of 2026.
“We founded Ollin to challenge the status quo in ophthalmology. We are delighted to welcome a premier syndicate of new and existing investors who share our vision of advancing OLN324 as a potential new standard of care in retinal vascular disease. Their support reflects confidence in the strength of our scientific rationale and clinical data, the significant commercial opportunity in the $15 billion retina market, and the differentiated clinical profile we believe OLN324 can offer physicians and patients,” said Jason Ehrlich, M.D., Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ollin Biosciences. “Following positive randomized clinical data and constructive feedback from both FDA and EMA, we believe OLN324 is well positioned to enter global Phase 3 development. This financing provides the resources to execute a registrational program designed to maximize the clinical and commercial potential of OLN324 while positioning Ollin for its next phase of growth as a company.”
In connection with the Series B financing, Cariad Chester has joined Ollin’s Board of Directors, representing TCGX.
“Ollin is advancing product candidates that have the potential to significantly change the treatment paradigm in vision-threatening diseases,” said Cariad Chester, Managing Partner of TCGX. “OLN324 has been thoughtfully designed through the optimization of its molecular size, potency, and molar dose. In a randomized, head-to-head study, OLN324 generated compelling clinical data that we believe positions OLN324 as a best-in-class therapy for one of the largest and most important unmet medical needs in ophthalmology. We are pleased to support Ollin and this experienced leadership team as the company enters this pivotal phase of registrational studies for OLN324.”
About OLN324
Building on the clinical success of intravitreal VEGF/Ang2 inhibition, OLN324 is a next-generation VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody engineered with substantially higher Ang2 potency relative to faricimab, increased molar dosing relative to both faricimab and aflibercept (including Eylea HD®), and a smaller protein format. VEGF and Ang2 are central drivers of retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), with Ang2 playing a key role in vascular instability, leakage, inflammation, and fibrosis. In the recently completed head-to-head Phase 1b JADE clinical study comparing OLN324 to faricimab (Vabysmo®), OLN324 demonstrated meaningfully faster and greater anatomic outcomes in both DME and wAMD versus faricimab as well as numerically greater vision gains. Ollin plans to initiate global Phase 3 trials of OLN324 in DME and wAMD in the second half of 2026. OLN324 was discovered by and is being developed in collaboration with Innovent Biologics (HKEX: 01801; Innovent R&D code: IBI324).
About OLN102
OLN102, is a first-in-class, TSHR/IGF-1R bispecific antibody with potential best-in-disease safety and efficacy for thyroid eye disease (TED), as well as the underlying autoimmune condition of Graves’ disease. Both IGF-1R and TSHR are clinically-validated targets for TED, and the crosstalk between these two receptors is mechanistically important in the pathogenesis and clinical sequelae of TED. By inhibiting both receptors, OLN102 may offer TED patients improved safety and efficacy compared to existing medicines through more precise tissue targeting and a wider therapeutic index. Additionally, OLN102 has the potential to uniquely address the underlying autoimmune thyroid dysfunction (Graves’ disease) in TED patients. OLN102, discovered by and being developed in collaboration with VelaVigo, is expected to enter clinical development in 2026.
About Ollin Biosciences
Established in 2023, Ollin Biosciences™ is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring and developing best-in-disease therapies for vision-threatening diseases. With a differentiated pipeline, world-class team, and strong investor syndicate, Ollin is redefining what’s possible in ophthalmology. For more information, please visit us at www.ollin.bio and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
Vabysmo® is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc.; Eylea® and Eylea HD® are registered trademarks of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Despite remaining effectively flat since June started, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) stock has been enjoying a large number of bullish Wall Street analyst revisions in recent weeks.
The most recent institutional expert to weigh in with an optimistic assessment was UBS’ Timothy Arcuri, who, on June 24, assigned a ‘Buy’ rating to AMD shares while lifting the 12-month price target from $455 to $670.
According to the accompanying note, the analyst is particularly positive toward the semiconductor giant’s ability to capture the standalone central processing unit (CPU) market – a growing business given its rising importance in agentic artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
Arcuri also noted that AMD stands to benefit from recent developments at Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), with a particular focus on the firm’s roadmap and supply challenges.
Wall Street sets AMD stock price target for next 12 months Zooming out, Wall Street’s optimism for Advanced Micro Devices’ future has been overwhelming since June started.
Indeed, eight out of the nine notable revisions issued during the month feature a ‘Buy’ recommendation, with only Srini Pajjuri from RBC Capital assessing the blue-chip chipmaker as a ‘Hold.’
Wall Street sets AMD stock price target for next 12 months. Source: TipRanks Similarly, while the majority of the stock price forecasts have been bullish, Wells Fargo’s (NYSE: WFC) Aaron Rakers estimated AMD shares would retrace slightly to $505 despite estimating the equity is a ‘Buy.’
2026 AMD stock price Meanwhile, Advanced Micro Devices has been suffering from heightened volatility in recent weeks and is, having risen to $511.70 at press time, up just 0.3% since June 1.
AMD stock price one-month chart. Source: Google The slowdown came amidst wider turmoil in the financial markets as geopolitical uncertainty, a debate over the return on investment (ROI) from AI, and the drive to raise capital ahead of SpaceX’s (NASDAQ: SPCX) June 12 initial public offering (IPO) pressured investors.
Nonetheless, AMD remains a major winner of 2026 trading, and its shares are up 128.98% year-to-date (YTD).
Featured image via Shutterstock
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Nokia stock is trading at elevated levels. What’s next for NOK stock? What Is Driving Nokia’s Stock Price Today?The latest push in sentiment has been tied to a higher price forecast and AI-related product catalysts, including Nokia's plan to add an "agentic AI" framework to its Network Services Platform with commercial availability targeted by the end of 2026.
The company has also highlighted a multi-year Indonesia partnership expansion with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison aimed at pushing mid-band 5G coverage to about 80% of the network over the next 3.5 years, alongside AI Grid and AI-RAN work with NVIDIA with field trials slated for the end of 2026.
Nokia has also been leaning into security as part of the AI pitch, including Deepfield Genome Shield for proactive, network-wide DDoS detection and mitigation, which has helped keep the stock among top performers on days when the AI framework headlines hit.
Nokia Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchFrom a trend perspective, Nokia is still in a longer-term uptrend: it's trading about 10.5% above its 50-day SMA ($12.99), about 39% above its 100-day SMA ($10.32), and about 77% above its 200-day SMA ($8.11). The golden cross that printed in October 2025 (50-day SMA over the 200-day SMA) remains a key "trend stays up" backdrop, especially after the prior death cross in August 2025.
Near-term, the stock is trading about 4.2% below its 20-day SMA ($14.98), which fits the idea of a pause after the June swing high and the 52-week high in June ($17.45). Momentum is neutral with RSI at 48.45; RSI helps gauge whether the move is getting stretched, and this reading suggests neither buyers nor sellers have clear control right now.
Key Resistance: $15.00 — a round-number area that lines up closely with the 20-day moving-average zone where rebounds can stall Key Support: $13.00 — a nearby pivot area that also sits close to the 50-day SMA/EMA region ($12.99/$13.10), where dip-buyers often re-engage What Does Nokia Corporation Do?Nokia is a networking equipment vendor focused primarily on supporting wireless networks and, to a growing extent, Internet Protocol and optical systems. It operates across mobile infrastructure (wireless network equipment/software), network infrastructure (IP routing, optical, and fixed-network gear), and a portfolio segment of businesses it views as less central longer term.
Nokia Benzinga Edge Rankings ExplainedBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Nokia, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
The Verdict: Nokia’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a momentum-led profile with supportive quality, which helps explain why dips have tended to attract buyers. The trade-off is valuation: with Value in the neutral/weak zone, the stock may need fresh execution (or another catalyst) to cleanly reclaim resistance and extend the trend.
Nokia Stock Price Activity in PremarketNOK Stock Price Activity: Nokia shares were trading up 2.65% at $14.35 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Press Release
Nokia Defense and KNDS close critical connectivity gap for soldiers and unmanned systems
Joint effort with KNDS, pan-European leader in land defense, enables high bandwidth 5G connectivity for forces and autonomous systems beyond vehiclesPowered by 5G deployable networks from Nokia Defense’s Banshee portfolio 18 June 2026 - Espoo, Finland and Villepinte, France – At the 2026 Eurosatory show, Nokia Defense and KNDS, a leading pan-European land defense company, have announced a collaboration to deliver advanced connectivity for soldiers and unmanned vehicles, addressing critical communication gaps on the modern battlefield. By integrating the Nokia Banshee Deployable Solution into the KNDS VBCI (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle), the companies enable seamless, real-time connectivity as forces transition from armored vehicles into complex mission environments, supporting more responsive and coordinated operations.
Modern defense requires continuous communication across many manned and unmanned systems. However, maintaining reliable connectivity beyond the vehicle remains an operational challenge. This collaboration extends secure, high-speed 5G connectivity from combat vehicles directly to troops and robotic systems in the field, enabling continuous data exchange in contested scenarios.
Built for demanding conditions, Nokia Defense’s deployable 5G-based technology delivers high capacity, low latency, secure and resilient connectivity to improve situational awareness and mission coordination. Its flexible design enables rapid deployment in areas where communications are limited or unavailable.
“Defense operations depend on reliable, real-time data wherever militaries operate. This collaboration with KNDS shows how high-performance connectivity can move with the mission. By extending Nokia 5G networks beyond the vehicle, we are giving soldiers and autonomous systems the ability to operate more effectively in complex environments,” said Ari Kynäslahti, Head of Nokia Defense.
“At Eurosatory, we are showcasing how connectivity is becoming a core enabler of future land operations. Together with Nokia Defense, a partner selected for its technological leadership in tactical communications, we are demonstrating how next-generation tactical communications can be fully integrated into our combat-proven VBCI and deployed where needed, improving operational outcomes on today’s and future battlefield,” said Nicolas Groult, CEO of KNDS France.
Multimedia, technical information and related news
Web Page: Defense communications | Nokia.com
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
About KNDS
KNDS is a leading pan-European land defense company, uniting nearly 11,000 employees and generating €4.4 billion in revenue in 2025. With a strong order backlog of €33.1 billion as of December 31, 2025, the group delivers innovative complete mission solutions built on state-of-the art technologies. Leveraging deep industrial expertise and strong partnerships, KNDS develops open, interoperable solutions combining manned and unmanned systems, designed to meet tomorrow’s operational challenges. As a prime contractor, it provides full system-of-systems capabilities, from platforms to ammunition and services, managing the entire value chain and encompassing complete product life cycles.
Born from the alliance of Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, KNDS embodies the path toward a collective and efficient future for the sovereignty of Europe’s defense by supporting the standardization and interoperability between European and NATO forces.
Trusted by 40+ armies worldwide, including 24 European armed forces, KNDS benefits from decades of combat-proven experience. KNDS embodies a united, efficient model to enhance stability and long-term security in Europe and beyond.
Nokia advances autonomous networks portfolio with upgraded agentic AI capabilities #DTW26
As AI becomes the dominant workload of the network economy, Nokia’s new software and agentic frameworks help telecom providers improve network performance, reliability, and operational efficiency at scale.Holistic approach covers Autonomous Networks Agent Library, Autonomous Networks Suite, MantaRay SMO, and new AI-driven frameworks for IP, fixed, and optical networks. 23 June 2026
Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced multiple upgrades to its autonomous networks portfolio, introducing a comprehensive set of agentic AI capabilities designed to help telecommunication providers simplify operations, improve network performance, and respond more effectively to increasingly complex and dynamic traffic demands.
At DTW in Copenhagen, Nokia rolled out a new Autonomous Networks Agent Library, released the latest version of its Autonomous Networks Suite, enhanced RAN automation, and showcased new AI-driven frameworks for IP, fixed, and optical networks. Together, these capabilities enable operators to phase in various elements of AI and agentic automation across the stack, while maintaining operational control and trust in live network environments.
“As networks evolve from static infrastructure into programmable, AI-native platforms, there’s growing pressure to manage unpredictable traffic patterns driven by AI-intensive workloads. Our latest advancements are designed to help operators move toward higher levels of network autonomy, resulting in faster decision-making, automated operations, and more efficient use of network resources,” said Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer, Nokia.
Portfolio details
Nokia’s Agent Library delivers pre-built AI agents that combine sophisticated reasoning, autonomous action, and deep telco expertise to solve high-value operational problems across security, assurance, and service operations. With built-in observability, governance, and “glass box autonomy,” these agents help operators make faster, context-aware decisions in dynamic live network conditions. This includes identifying zero-day attacks, reasoning through complex anomalies, event triage for root cause analysis, troubleshooting service order failures, and multi-agent coordination. Productivity gains typically range from 60 to 80% when compared to traditional operations.
“Autonomous networks are critical to the future of telecoms, and agentic AI is a key enabler for autonomous networks. This is a complex space where telcos need partners with the deep domain expertise to ideate, integrate, and manage agents across their varied network and IT domains. Nokia’s approach to apply agentic AI across its portfolio meets its customers where they are, and is already achieving quantifiable business value,” said Chris Silberberg, Research Manager, Global Telecom Operations and Monetization at IDC.
Autonomous Networks Suite introduces on-premise deployment options and new use cases designed to improve business outcomes, including improved VoLTE service quality, enhanced observability, and optimized subscriber experience in radio access networks. By turning real-time network intelligence into automated operational actions, these capabilities help operators boost service performance, respond faster to operational issues, and deliver more reliable customer experiences.
Nokia’s MantaRay SMO solution, which fully aligns with Open RAN standards and delivers field-proven multi-vendor capabilities for traditional RAN, now features Non-Real-Time RIC functionality, with AI-enabled rApps that manage complex radio networks, detect anomalies, and support dynamic network slicing. It is ready for deployment at scale and capable of handling the most extreme network environments. Nokia is working with leading operators, including NTT DOCOMO, to advance SMO-driven autonomy through MantaRay SON, AutoPilot trials, and future Non-RT RIC and rApp development. Learn more.
In parallel, upgrades to Nokia’s agentic AI framework for IP, fixed, and optical networks include:
IP: Nokia’s Network Services Platform (NSP) lets operators deploy AI agents that can reason using real network context, supporting collaborative operations across agents and allowing guided actions within defined policies and security boundaries. Its first application, an AI-driven troubleshooting agent, helps operators accelerate root-cause identification, reduce alert noise, and improve the accuracy of remediation actions in complex IP networks. Fixed: New agentic AI capabilities in Nokia’s Altiplano, Corteca, and Broadband Easy platforms are helping drive productivity and operational intelligence across home and broadband networks. Benefits include lifting first-contact helpdesk resolution rates above 50%, network incident qualification within five minutes, and a 50% reduction in return visits to construction sites and connected homes. Learn more. Optical: Nokia’s new WaveSuite agentic framework for optical network operations and intelligent analytics provides proactive detection of KPI anomalies and photonic equipment failures before they affect service performance. Combining WaveSuite’s operational reasoning and real-time network insights with NSP agentic framework allows network operators to accelerate root-cause analysis, reduce troubleshooting complexity, and improve remediation accuracy holistically across the IP and optical domains.
Addressing a key industry challenge
These advancements address a key industry challenge: applying AI in network operations in a way that is practical, controlled, and aligned with operational requirements. By embedding AI capabilities directly into existing network management platforms, Nokia enables operators to adopt automation at their own pace, scaling use cases over time.
For operators, the benefits include faster resolution of network incidents, improved operational efficiency, and greater service reliability. End users experience more stable connectivity and reduced service disruptions, with consistent digital experiences across consumer and enterprise applications.
Nokia’s latest innovations are designed for deployment across global markets, supporting leading and emerging operators as they transition toward fully autonomous networks capable of operating at machine speed and adapting continuously to evolving demands.
Nokia at DTW
At DTW, visitors to Nokia’s booth (Hall C3; Stand 306) will experience how to build autonomous networks for the AI era, with multiple demonstrations spanning agentic AI and network autonomy, cross-domain assurance and orchestration, digital twins, AI Ops, and agentic capabilities across IP, optical and fixed networks, as well as autonomous RAN operations.
Multimedia, technical information and related news
Web Page: Autonomous Networks | Nokia
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
As graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters grow larger and more power-hungry, electrical connections are reaching their limits when it comes to speed, heat, and energy use. In separate announcements, both Goldman Sachs and Nokia (NOK +0.22%) recently flagged photonics as the next critical layer in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Optical networking, which uses light to move data, offers an alternative path forward.
Let's analyze this enormous commercial opportunity and explore what it could mean for Nokia as the Finnish company quietly transitions from yesterday's leader of mobile devices to an AI networking powerhouse.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
What is photonics, and why does it matter for AI? Photonics is the process of generating, controlling, and detecting light (photons) to transmit information. In AI data centers, silicon photonics takes this process a step further by integrating lasers, modulators, and detectors directly onto chips using existing semiconductor manufacturing lines. This integration can deliver measurable advantages over traditional electrical wiring, including higher bandwidth, lower latency, and reduced power consumption.
As AI training demands ever-larger clusters of GPUs, electrical signals are struggling to keep up without excessive heat and energy waste. Photonics solves this by enabling dense, energy-efficient optical links between chips and racks. This is essential, as compute power is no longer the main constraint of AI development -- connectivity is. Without scalable optical solutions, the next generation of AI applications will be limited by underlying infrastructure rather than silicon's capacity capabilities.
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How large is the optical networking market? Goldman Sachs calls optical networking the next mega-trend in AI infrastructure. Goldman's analysts project the total addressable market (TAM) for optical networking tied to AI to grow ninefold, rising from roughly $15 billion in 2026 to $154 billion by 2028.
The investment bank segments optical networking across two key subcategories. Scale-up networking, which is high-bandwidth connections within racks, accounts for $106 billion of the total TAM. Within scale-up networking are co-packaged optics (CPO), which integrate optical engines directly with processors for maximum efficiency. Goldman estimates CPO to be a $91 billion opportunity at scale.
How is Nokia making a push into photonics? Nokia is scaling its role in the photonics-driven data center shift. The company recently announced that it is expanding advanced test and packaging operations in Allentown, Pennsylvania, specifically focused on photonic chips for optical modules used in AI and telecom networks.
To better demonstrate that this isn't merely a marketing stunt, Nokia's first-quarter 2026 financial results showed clear momentum across the AI infrastructure supply chain. The company's AI & Cloud segment grew 49% year over year and already accounts for 8% of total sales. Moreover, Nokia's Optical Networks segment grew 20%, driven by AI & Cloud design wins for both pluggables and line systems. Meanwhile, the company booked 1 billion euros (~$1.1 billion) in new AI infrastructure orders during the first quarter alone.
When you measure this progress in combination with Nvidia's $1 billion strategic investment in late 2025 for AI-native networking collaborations, Nokia appears to be swiftly transitioning from a traditional telecom player to a meaningful contributor of AI infrastructure solutions via optical technologies.
Despite a strong rally -- Nokia stock has risen roughly 108% so far this year -- I think the company remains an attractive buy. Recent insider buying reinforces my view: In May, several executives and Board members, including Nokia CEO Justin Hotard, collectively purchased millions of dollars of Nokia stock, even as shares roared on heavy momentum.
Nokia is delivering tangible progress in AI infrastructure and making impressive moves across optical networking and photonics solutions. Recent insider buying, combined with secular AI-driven demand and hyperscale capacity expansions, suggests Nokia stock has further upside as the optical networking supercycle begins.
Key Takeaways BABA launched Qwen-Robot Suite, advancing its push into AI-driven embodied robotics.BABA cloud unit saw 40% revenue growth, with AI products posting 11th straight quarter of triple-digit gains.BABA faces profit pressure as heavy AI spending drives EBITA down and free cash flow turns negative. Alibaba Group (BABA - Free Report) shares have come under renewed pressure, slipping toward the $110 mark in mid-June trading and pulling back roughly 24.3% on a year-to-date basis even as the company doubles down on artificial intelligence and embodied robotics as its next growth frontier. BABA shares have underperformed the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector year to date.
The stock's recent slide has coincided with a stretch of mixed headlines, from added regulatory scrutiny in China to geopolitical friction abroad, even as Alibaba's underlying AI and cloud narrative has continued to strengthen.
BABA Underperforms Industry, Sector YTD
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Qwen-Robot Launch Builds on AI-Led Cloud MomentumThe latest catalyst is the launch of the Qwen-Robot Suite, a set of three foundation models, Qwen-RobotNav, Qwen-RobotManip and Qwen-RobotWorld, developed by Alibaba's Tongyi Lab to give machines navigation, manipulation and predictive world-modeling capabilities. According to the company's own product communications, the suite is already in pilot testing with select Alibaba Cloud enterprise clients, marking a tangible step from research into commercial deployment.
This robotics push builds directly on the AI commercialization trend disclosed in Alibaba's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, where Cloud Intelligence Group external revenue growth accelerated to 40% year over year, and AI-related product revenues posted triple-digit growth for an 11th consecutive quarter, reaching roughly RMB8,971 million in the quarter. Management noted that its Qwen3.6-Plus model delivered notable gains in coding and agentic programming, while the company's Model Studio platform saw its customer base expand eightfold year over year, underscoring how the same full-stack AI infrastructure now extends into physical-world applications like robotics.
Importantly, the fiscal fourth-quarter results came with a profitability trade-off. Adjusted EBITA fell 84% year over year to RMB5,102 million as Alibaba funneled spending into cloud infrastructure, quick commerce and Qwen app user acquisition, while free cash flow swung to an outflow of RMB17,300 million.
For fiscal 2027, management guided that AI-related product revenues are expected to cross 50% of Cloud Intelligence Group's external revenues within roughly a year, model and application services annualized recurring revenues should surpass RMB10 billion in the June quarter and RMB30 billion by year-end, and that quick commerce unit economics are expected to turn positive by the end of fiscal 2027. Alibaba Cloud's gross margin is also expected to improve meaningfully over the next two to three years as AI-related workloads scale.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $7.38 per share, down 4.3% over 60 days despite implied 89.72% growth.
More recent company disclosures have reinforced this AI-first trajectory. In its product communications, Alibaba indicated that the Qwen-Robot models are designed to close the gap between language-based reasoning and physical control, while T-Head, its chip-design unit, has now deployed over 100,000 proprietary Zhenwu processing units on Alibaba Cloud's public platform, with more than 30 automakers and autonomous-driving companies using them for intelligent-driving development. The board also approved a fiscal 2026 annual dividend of $1.05 per ADS, signaling continued shareholder returns even amid heavy AI capital outlay.
Valuation and Competitive LandscapeBABA trades at a 2-year trailing 12-month P/E of 35.12X versus the Zacks Internet–Commerce industry's 29.96X, and carries a Value Score of C, reflecting a premium multiple relative to peers.
BABA’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Alibaba Cloud continues battling Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) , Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) and Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) -owned Google in AI infrastructure. Amazon's AWS remains the largest cloud provider, expanding its Connect family of AI-driven business applications. Microsoft Azure has pushed deeper AI integration through Copilot Studio and expanded agent ecosystems, growing its global traffic share meaningfully. Google Cloud has gained share through Gemini Enterprise, its TPU-based stack and an Agentic Data Cloud, with Pichai citing 40% sequential growth in paid Gemini Enterprise users. Against Amazon, Microsoft and Google's scale, Alibaba's robotics and Qwen ambitions remain comparatively nascent.
Hold Steady, Watch for a Better EntryAlibaba's robotics ambitions and accelerating AI-cloud momentum present genuine long-term catalysts, but near-term profitability pressure, regulatory headwinds and a premium valuation warrant caution. Investors may prefer holding existing positions while watching for a more attractive entry point rather than chasing shares amid current volatility. Alibaba currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988 (HKD Counter) and 89988 (RMB Counter), “Alibaba” or “Alibaba Group”) today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. The annual report can be accessed under the SEC Filing section on the Company’s investor relations website at https://www.alibabagroup.com/en/ir/secfilings.
The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Department, Alibaba Group, 26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, S.A.R., the People’s Republic of China or via email at [email protected].
About Alibaba Group
Alibaba Group is a global technology company focused on AI + Cloud and consumption. We provide the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands, retailers and other businesses to engage with their users and customers and operate efficiently. We empower consumers and enterprises with our full-stack AI capabilities and services. Our AI technology based on Qwen (Chinese: Qianwen), a family of large language and multimodal models, powers the intelligence behind our services across enterprise solutions, e-commerce and other Internet platforms.
Portfolio balance, sector exposure, and volatility differ sharply between these two funds. See which approach aligns with your global investment strategy.
Alibaba remains a buy despite a 40% drawdown, driven by high capex, negative free cash flow, and AI uncertainty. BABA's cloud segment accelerated to 38% YoY growth, with management targeting 40%+ intermediate-term expansion and AI driving future external revenue. I revise my intrinsic value target to $144 per share, reflecting lower EPS estimates and a reduced P/E multiple amid ongoing profit downgrades.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is deeply undervalued after a 45% decline from recent highs and offers a compelling long-term entry point. BABA's cloud and AI segments are accelerating, with AI-related revenue now 30% of cloud and triple-digit growth for 11 consecutive quarters. Despite negative free cash flow and rising expenses, Alibaba's balance sheet remains robust, with ample liquidity relative to debt.
Alibaba continues to advance rapidly in AI, unveiling the Zhenwu M890 chip and launching new robotics AI models. Strategic focus on AI is underscored by the formation of the Token Hub business group, directly overseen by CEO Eddie Wu. Persistent U.S.-China tensions and renewed regulatory scrutiny from both governments are weighing heavily on Alibaba's valuation and investor sentiment.
Alibaba (BABA) is deeply undervalued, with the market mispricing its transformation from e-commerce to China's leading AI and cloud provider. BABA's cloud segment delivered 38% revenue growth, with AI-related products now 30% of external cloud revenue and management guiding further acceleration. Despite headline risks like the Pentagon listing, BABA's fortress balance sheet and aggressive AI reinvestment position it for outsized future growth.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMZN, GOOG either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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Alibaba (BABA - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Over the past month, shares of this online retailer have returned -17.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which Alibaba falls in, has lost 6.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Alibaba is expected to post earnings of $2.59 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +25.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +21.4%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $7.38 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +89.7%. This estimate has changed -1.6% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.11 indicates a change of +37.1% from what Alibaba is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -3.5%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Alibaba is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Alibaba, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $38.72 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +12%. For the current and next fiscal years, $166.56 billion and $183.11 billion estimates indicate +14.6% and +9.9% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAlibaba reported revenues of $35.28 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.3%. EPS of $0.09 for the same period compares with $1.73 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $35.23 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.15%. The EPS surprise was -92.62%.
Over the last four quarters, Alibaba surpassed consensus EPS estimates times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Alibaba is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Alibaba. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Chairman Joe Tsai is doubling down on an "all in" AI strategy, SCMP reported last Friday.
• Alibaba stock is showing weakness. Why is BABA stock trading lower?
At VivaTech in Paris, Tsai laid out Alibaba’s "full-stack" AI plan spanning chips, cloud infrastructure, foundation models and consumer applications, arguing AI could ultimately represent a $50 trillion total addressable market.
He also framed the bet as intentionally broad — investing across the value chain now and "figure out the winners later," rather than picking a single AI segment.
With the Nasdaq down 0.58% while the Russell 2000 is up 0.84%, Monday’s tape is mixed, and Alibaba is underperforming even as six sectors are advancing. That divergence suggests the market is still treating China mega-cap tech as a higher-risk pocket despite upbeat AI messaging.
Earnings & Analyst OutlookLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the Aug. 28 (estimated) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: $2.51 (Up from $2.06 year-over-year) Revenue Estimate: $38.72 billion (Up from $34.57 billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 16.4x (Suggests fair valuation relative to peers) Top ETF ExposureSignificance: Because Alibaba carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.
BABA Price ActionBABA Stock Price Activity: Alibaba shares were down 1.52% at $105.45 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Alibaba Cloud on Sunday released HappyHorse 1.1, a major upgrade to its AI video generation model that the company says delivers production-ready video synthesis across core content creation scenarios. The model is now live on Alibaba Cloud Model Studio with full API access for enterprise customers and developers, accompanied by a 40% sitewide launch discount for the first two weeks.
Alibaba is poised for a structural re-rating with the launch of its Qwen-Robot embodied AI model, marking a pivotal shift to full-stack AI infrastructure. The Qwen-Robot model unlocks high-margin, recurring MaaS revenue streams by bridging large-scale multimodal AI with real-world robotics across industrial and commercial sectors. Consensus underestimates BABA's cloud revenue by 11%, as Qwen-Robot could add $2.5bn incremental revenue, supporting a 20–40% stock upside at 13–15x forward P/E.
Chinese tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba sued the U.S. Department of Defense for designating it a "Chinese military company," according to a court filing on Tuesday.
Alibaba Group sued the U.S. Department of Defense Tuesday (June 23), seeking to be removed from a list of companies the Department says are supporters of the Chinese military.
The Department published the list earlier this month, and Alibaba argues in its lawsuit that the designation violates the company’s rights to constitutional due process and free speech, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
Alibaba said it is neither a Chinese military company nor a military-civil fusion, and the company said that the Defense Department did not reply to evidence the company presented showing that it is not a supporter of the Chinese military, according to the report.
A company’s inclusion on the Defense Department’s list can restrict its ability to contract with the U.S. military, can limit its ability to receive research funding, and can signal more punitive trade restrictions in the future, the report said.
Alibaba got its start as an eCommerce company but has since become one of the leading artificial intelligence companies in China, per the report.
Reuters also reported on the lawsuit Tuesday and said that on June 8, the Department of Defense expanded its list of businesses linked to China’s military to include 188 entities.
Alibaba said, per the report: “The determinations have no basis in fact or law. Alibaba is governed by an independent board, none of whom has any military affiliation. Its products and services are built for retail, logistics, and enterprise information technology — not weapons, defense, or intelligence.”
The Defense Department said in a June 8 press release that it identified the 188 companies included on the list after conducting its due diligence.
“The Department will update the list with additional entities as appropriate,” it said. “The United States Government reserves the right to take additional actions on these entities under authorities other than Section 1260H.”
Section 1260H is the statutory requirement of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 under which the Department updated the list.
In the list, the Department of Defense said Alibaba Group is indirectly affiliated with China’s State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and is affiliated with the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), making the company a military-civil fusion contributor to China’s defense industrial base.
A Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft lands during an evaluation flight at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CHANTILLY, Virginia, June 17 (Reuters) - Europe and the U.S. are making progress toward approving two new variants of the Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737 MAX for use, a top European aviation regulator and a senior U.S. aviation official said on Wednesday.
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau said the FAA was in the final stages of certifying the smaller MAX 7 and larger MAX 10. European Union Aviation Safety Agency Executive Director Florian Guillermet said at a safety conference validating the MAX 10 for service is a top priority for the agency.
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"We are making very good progress on the final closure of the last actions," Guillermet said at the forum. "I think it's good that we are able to close that in the upcoming period, because we will be able to turn the page and to move on."
He told reporters, "We don't have many hurdles or major milestones. It's just a last part of the process. It's very, very intense" to process all the relevant documents and has just a few weeks to complete it according to the current schedule.
The FAA's Rocheleau told reporters at the event that remaining MAX certification work is largely "dotting i's and crossing t's." He said the FAA is "making sure that there's a comfort level between our two authorities, our two certification offices -- that this is ready to fly."
Rocheleau said he thinks EASA will validate the FAA's certification of the two MAX planes either at the same time or very soon afterward. "We're in a good place," Rocheleau said.
Last month, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he expected the MAX 7 to be certified this summer and the MAX 10 to be approved before the end of the year.
The MAX 7 is a shortened version of the two types already in service, the MAX 8 and 9, which have accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours. Boeing has faced delays in the certification of the 7 and 10 due to an engine de-icing issue.
Relations between EASA and the FAA soured after fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 were linked to flawed software and poor oversight, prompting EASA to take a closer look at Boeing designs but both Rocheleau and Guillermet touted much better relations between the two agencies.
Rocheleau said the FAA and EASA are working on a data-sharing agreement to work better on certification and risk management.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio
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Key Takeaways Boeing's BDS unit generated $7.6B in Q1 revenues, up 21% year over year.Boeing booked $9B in defense orders and ended the period with an $86B backlog.Boeing expanded PAC-3 Seeker production and partnered with Rheinmetall on MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The Boeing Company’s (BA - Free Report) is best known for its commercial aircraft business, but its Defense, Space & Security ("BDS") segment could become an increasingly important contributor to future growth. As global defense budgets rise and military modernization efforts accelerate, Boeing appears well positioned to benefit from demand for advanced aircraft, autonomous systems, satellites, and defense technologies.
During the first quarter, the BDS unit generated $7.6 billion in revenues, up 21% year over year. While the segment has faced execution challenges in recent years, management continues to focus on improving operational performance and reducing costs across major defense programs.
The BDS unit booked $9 billion in orders, including contracts to continue E-7 Wedgetail development and additional international demand for KC-46 aircraft, which resulted in a solid backlog addition of $86 billion for the period ending March 2026.
During the aforementioned quarter, Boeing's defense business signed a seven-year framework agreement to expand PAC-3 Seeker production and announced a strategic partnership with Rheinmetall to offer the MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Germany. In April, Artemis II successfully completed its mission to the moon, propelled by the Boeing-built Space Launch System core stage rocket.
While commercial aviation remains Boeing's largest business, improving execution, expanding international opportunities, and progress across key defense programs suggest that the BDS segment could become a more meaningful growth driver in the years ahead. If management continues to improve program performance while securing new contracts, the defense business may play an increasingly important role in Boeing's long-term recovery and growth strategy.
Defense Contractors Benefiting From Military ModernizationRising geopolitical tensions, evolving security threats, and the need to replace aging military equipment are prompting governments across the world to increase defense spending and accelerate military modernization programs. These trends are creating significant growth opportunities for leading aerospace and defense companies. Several companies that are well positioned to benefit from these favorable industry dynamics are discussed below.
Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) benefits from strong demand for advanced defense platforms, including the F-35 fighter jet, missile defense systems and space technologies.
RTX Corporation (RTX - Free Report) continues to secure defense contracts across missile systems, air defense solutions, and military aerospace programs, supported by rising global security spending.
BA Stock’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year improvement of 98.6% and 2,813.2%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA Stock Trades at a DiscountIn terms of valuation, BA’s forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) is 1.74X, a discount to the industry’s average of 2.61X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA Stock’s Price PerformanceIn the past three months, the company’s shares have risen 10.2% against the industry’s 4.4% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA’s Zacks RankThe company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Boeing is positioned for financial improvement as 737 MAX production rises from 42 to 47 units monthly, with further upside possible. May orders were muted at 27 gross (11 net), reflecting airshow timing, but year-to-date net orders remain robust at 295 units valued at $32.2 billion. Deliveries rebounded to 60 in May, up 33% year-on-year, driven by 737 MAX catch-up, though wide-body deliveries lag and value mix is less favorable.
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Boeing (BA - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Boeing currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.52, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 29 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.52 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 29 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 72.4% and 10.3% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BA
Check price target & stock forecast for Boeing here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Boeing, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Should You Invest in BA?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Boeing, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$0.15.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Boeing. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Boeing.
Key Takeaways Boeing saw Q1 2026 commercial deliveries rise 10% and booked 140 net airplane orders.BA's defense unit secured $9B in orders, helping lift backlog additions to $86B by March 2026.Airbus logged 398 net aircraft orders and expanded its backlog to 9,037 aircraft in Q1. The Boeing Company (BA - Free Report) and Airbus SE (EADSY - Free Report) are the two dominant players in the global aerospace industry. Together, they form a near-duopoly in the commercial aircraft market, supplying the vast majority of the world's large passenger jets. Airlines around the globe rely heavily on aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus, making both companies critical to the long-term growth of global air travel.
The rivalry between Boeing and Airbus extends far beyond commercial aviation. Both companies maintain significant businesses in defense, space, and aviation services. Boeing is a major contractor for the U.S. military, producing fighter jets, military helicopters, satellites, and autonomous systems. Airbus also has a substantial defense and space division, supplying military transport aircraft, helicopters, satellites, and security solutions to governments worldwide. These diversified operations help both companies generate revenues from multiple end markets and reduce dependence on commercial aircraft deliveries alone.
Both Boeing and Airbus are positioned to benefit from long-term trends, such as rising global air travel, airline fleet modernization, growing defense spending, and expanding demand for aviation services.
Let's compare Boeing and Airbus’ fundamentals to determine which stock appears better positioned at present.
Factors Impacting BA StockBoeing, a prominent jet manufacturer, has been witnessing solid delivery and order activities lately. The Boeing Commercial Airplanes (‘BCA”) segment’s deliveries grew 10% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, driving a 13% increase in revenues. The company booked 140 net commercial airplane orders. Per the latest Boeing Commercial Market Outlook, the world will need 43,600 new commercial planes through 2044, backed by passenger traffic growth of 4.2% annually over the next 20 years.
During the first quarter of 2026, the Boeing Defense, Space & Security (“BDS”) unit booked $9 billion in orders, including contracts to continue E-7 Wedgetail development and additional international demand for KC-46 aircraft, which resulted in a solid backlog addition of $86 billion for the period ending March 2026. Such solid contract wins and subsequent backlog should continue to bolster the BDS unit’s revenues, which grew a solid 21% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
Factors Impacting EADSY StockAirbus' commercial aircraft deliveries declined to 114 in the first quarter from 136 in the prior-year period. Despite these near-term challenges, customer demand remained exceptionally strong. Airbus secured 408 gross commercial aircraft orders during the quarter and recorded 398 net orders after cancellations, nearly doubling the 204 net orders booked a year ago. As a result, the company's commercial aircraft backlog expanded to 9,037 aircraft, providing years of production visibility and supporting management's confidence in its long-term growth plans.
Airbus Defence and Space delivered one of the strongest performances within the company during the first quarter. Demand was particularly robust, with order intake up 91% year over year. Management noted that most of the new bookings came from the Air Power segment, highlighting growing global demand for military aircraft, defense systems, and related services amid rising defense spending across many countries.
How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for BA & EADSY?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boeing’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates an increase of 98.59% year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Airbus' 2026 EPS indicates an increase of 10.16% year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation for BA & EADSYBoeing shares trade at a forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S F12M) of 1.7X compared with Airbus' 1.74X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Liquidity of BA & EADSYBoeing and Airbus' current ratio is 1.18 and 1.16, respectively. A current ratio greater than one indicates that the company has enough short-term assets to liquidate to cover all short-term liabilities, if necessary.
BA & EADSY’s Price PerformanceIn the past six months, shares of Boeing have risen 2.7%, while those of Airbus have lost 4.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA or EADSY: Which Is a Better Choice Now?Boeing’s commercial aviation business continues to benefit from strong airline demand, supported by growing aircraft deliveries, healthy order activity, and favorable long-term air travel growth trends. Its defense segment is also seeing strong momentum, with major contract awards and a growing backlog that should support future revenue growth. Airbus' commercial aircraft business continues to enjoy strong customer demand. Its Defence and Space segment is benefiting from rising global defense spending, with strong order momentum driven by demand for military aircraft, defense systems, and related services.
Our choice at the moment is Boeing, given its better price performance, stronger earnings growth and better liquidity than Airbus. Considering Airbus' higher valuation than Boeing, it is advisable to avoid EADSY stock at the moment. BA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and EADSY has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
First New GE-powered 787-9 to be inducted into the airline's fleet
, /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE: AER) today announced that it has delivered the first new GE-powered Boeing 787-9 aircraft to Thai Airways International Public Company Limited ("THAI"), during a special ceremony attended by representatives from THAI, Boeing, GE and AerCap at the Boeing Delivery Center in Everett, Seattle.
"We are pleased to deliver THAI their first new GE-powered, factory-fitted Boeing 787-9. Our relationship with THAI is decades long and this milestone delivery is a testament to our long-standing partnership," said Peter Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap. "This aircraft will support THAI's ongoing fleet renewal program, enhancing efficiency and sustainability across its operations. We thank THAI for their ongoing trust in AerCap."
Chai Eamsiri, THAI Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are delighted to welcome our first new GE-powered 787-9 to the fleet, another milestone that reflects our long partnership with AerCap. The aircraft's efficiency and range allow us to grow our network while offering our passengers a more comfortable, modern way to fly."
About AerCap
AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is headquartered in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Memphis, Miami, Singapore, London, Dubai, Shanghai, Amsterdam and other locations around the world.
About Thai Airways
Established in 1960, THAI operates from Suvarnabhumi Airport with a network spanning 62 destinations in 29 countries worldwide, connecting Thailand with key regions across Asia, Europe, Australia, and domestic routes. At THAI, every journey is guided by more than just destinations—it is guided by responsibility. Rooted in THAI's values of care and respect, THAI is committed to protecting the world it connects.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "will," "aim," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the availability of capital to us and to our customers and changes in interest rates; the ability of our lessees and potential lessees to make lease payments to us; our ability to successfully negotiate flight equipment (which includes aircraft, engines and helicopters) purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to repossess flight equipment under defaulted leases, and to control costs and expenses; changes in the overall demand for commercial aviation leasing and aviation asset management services; the continued impacts of the Ukraine Conflict, including the resulting sanctions by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries, on our business and results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; the effects of terrorist attacks on the aviation industry and on our operations; the economic condition of the global airline and cargo industry and economic and political conditions; the impact of hostilities in the Middle East, or any escalation thereof, on the aviation industry or our business; trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs and retaliatory measures by the European Union, China and other countries, and the resulting geopolitical uncertainty; development of increased government regulation, including travel restrictions, sanctions, regulation of trade and the imposition of import and export controls, tariffs and other trade barriers; a downgrade in any of our credit ratings; competitive pressures within the industry; regulatory changes affecting commercial flight equipment operators, flight equipment maintenance, engine standards, accounting standards and taxes; and disruptions and security breaches affecting our information systems or the information systems of our third-party providers.
As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. These and other important factors and risks are discussed in AerCap's annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com.
Archer Aviation is advancing toward commercialization with significant backing from major partners like United Airlines and Stellantis. Boeing remains a foundational player in global aviation with a massive revenue base and a return to profitability in 2025.
Boeing (BA - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $216.71, moving -1.87% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 1.44% loss on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.09%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 2.22%.
The airplane builder's shares have seen an increase of 0.83% over the last month, not keeping up with the Aerospace sector's gain of 2.86% and outstripping the S&P 500's gain of 0.08%.
The upcoming earnings release of Boeing will be of great interest to investors. The company is predicted to post an EPS of -$0.25, indicating a 79.84% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $23.55 billion, indicating a 3.51% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of -$0.15 per share and revenue of $96.7 billion. These totals would mark changes of +98.59% and +8.09%, respectively, from last year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Boeing. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Right now, Boeing possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
The Aerospace - Defense industry is part of the Aerospace sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, finds itself in the top 43% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Key Takeaways BA secures nearly $2B MUOS Phase II contract for two new military communications satellites.BA program includes design, build, launch support and on-orbit testing through 2035.BA strengthens role in U.S. defense space systems and expands long-term backlog visibility. The Boeing Company (BA - Free Report) could strengthen its position in the defense space market through its latest Mobile User Objective System (“MUOS”) award. It supports the development of advanced military satellite communications capabilities, an area that remains a strategic priority for the U.S. government. The program is expected to provide Boeing with long-term work in satellite design, integration and mission support while reinforcing its role in national security space programs.
The company recently secured a $2 billion contract for the MUOS service life extension Phase II effort. Awarded by the Space Systems Command at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA, the contract covers the design, development, construction, launch support and on-orbit testing of two new MUOS satellites that will help extend the military communications network's operational life. The award could also support backlog growth, improve revenue visibility and enhance Boeing's standing as a provider of space-based defense solutions.
The satellites are intended to support long-term military communication requirements and reinforce Boeing's role in space-based defense systems. The work will be performed in El Segundo, CA, with completion expected by Sept. 30, 2035, supporting Boeing's presence in military satellite communications and national security space programs.
Boeing and its subsidiary, Millennium Space Systems, are scaling production capacity and expanding their satellite offerings to address increasing demand across defense and commercial markets. As part of these efforts, the companies recently introduced Resolute, a new mid-sized satellite platform designed to deliver enhanced capabilities while offering faster deployment and greater flexibility than traditional large satellite programs.
Companies Expanding Space Communications CapabilitiesAs governments continue to invest in secure satellite communications and military space infrastructure, defense contractors are expanding their capabilities to support these evolving requirements. Companies like L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX - Free Report) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) are also strengthening their positions in national security space programs.
L3Harris Technologies provides advanced satellite communications systems, mission networks and space technologies that help support defense and national security objectives.
Northrop Grumman develops satellite platforms, secure communications solutions and ground-based infrastructure that enhance military and space operations.
Earnings Estimates for BA StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 98.59% and 2813.17%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA Stock Trading at a DiscountBoeing is trading at a discount relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 1.65X compared with the industry average of 2.57X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, Boeing shares have risen 9.1% compared with the industry’s 3.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BA’s Zacks RankBoeing currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways C's credit card delinquency rate fell to 1.29% in May 2026 from 1.40% in April.C's net charge-off rate rose to 2.28% in May 2026 from 2.11% in April.C's credit card receivables declined to $19.4 billion, signaling softer lending activity. Citigroup Inc.’s (C - Free Report) subsidiary, Citibank N.A., has reported mixed performance in its credit card metrics for May 2026 in a recent SEC filing. While delinquency rates improved compared with the prior month, net charge-offs witnessed an uptick.
For May 2026, the Citibank Credit Card Master Trust delinquency rate declined to 1.29% from 1.40% in April 2026 and 1.39% in May 2025. The latest figure also compares favorably with the 1.57% level recorded in April 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In contrast, the Credit Card Issuance Trust’s net charge-off rate rose to 2.28% in May 2026 from 2.11% in April 2026. However, the figure remained lower than both 2.33% in the prior year and 2.74% recorded in May 2019.
Citibank’s Credit Card Lending Shows Sequential DeclineCitibank’s credit card lending activity saw a modest decline during the month. Principal receivables declined slightly to $19.4 billion as of May 2026 from $19.5 billion at the start of the previous month. The figure also marked a decline from $21.1 billion reported in May 2025, indicating some slowdown in year-over-year consumer borrowing activity.
Citigroup’s Price Performance & Zacks RankShares of Citigroup have gained 26.7% over the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 7.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, C carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Banks in Card DelinquencyBank of America’s (BAC - Free Report) credit card metrics improved year over year in May 2026, driven by lower delinquency rates and net charge-offs. The BA Master Credit Card Trust II’s delinquency rate stood at 1.30% in May, down from 1.37% a year earlier.
The net charge-off rate of BAC was 2.19% in May 2026 compared with 2.44% in May 2025.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s (JPM - Free Report) credit card trust performance in May 2026 reflected lower delinquencies and net charge-off rates. The Chase Issuance Trust’s delinquency rate decreased to 0.82% in May from 0.85% in May 2025.
Meanwhile, the net charge-off rate of JPM decreased to 1.73% in May 2026 from 1.84% in the prior year.
A new Citi and CREATE-Research report reveals a strategic pivot in asset management innovation, with firms now prioritizing operational excellence and process transformationThis shift to ‘operational alpha’ aspires to improve client responsiveness and productivity, with partnerships emerging as a core capability to accelerate innovationWhile full digital transformation will evolve gradually, key trends like mutual fund to ETF conversions are gaining traction. Citi’s Services business is investing over US$2 billion annually to modernize its solutions and empower clients LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citi Investor Services and CREATE-Research today released its latest report “Upping the Innovation Game in the Asset Management Industry”, highlighting how firms are prioritizing operational excellence, process transformation and partnerships as the next frontier of innovation in asset management. The report findings were drawn from a survey of 221 asset managers across 26 countries managing a total of US$34.8 trillion in Assets under Management. Respondents were polled from February to May 2026.
In addition to 40 interviews with senior executives from a cross-section of survey respondents, the report highlights a shift from product innovation to process and organizational driven innovation, as firms seek to deliver operational alpha by turning their infrastructure into a competitive edge to improve investor outcomes.
Primary findings:
The scope of innovation is changing: While innovation remains crucial with 59% viewing it as an overall priority, the scope is moving beyond new products to operational process and organizational transformation as firms respond to fee pressure and rising complexity post the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. 62% cited process innovation as a priority, followed by 41% for organizational innovation and 28% for product innovation. The scope of innovation has expanded to operational excellence for improved costs, quality and credibility.Innovations are targeting multiple goals: Innovation efforts now serve multiple purposes, with 83% citing being more responsive to client needs as a key goal. This includes meeting clients’ return expectations and risk appetites within cost-effective fee structures. 74% reported improving productivity across the value chain as a main goal, while 64% believe in enhancing operating leverage to improve scale.Mutual funds to ETF conversions are gaining client traction: 57% cite the conversion of mutual funds into ETFs as delivering the most client value, underscoring the role of ETFs as an efficient ownership structure for on-exchange assets and a leading investment vehicle in innovation.The digital future will evolve gradually: Despite progress in AI and automation, digital transformation remains a long-term journey, with 57% expecting it to take more than five years as asset managers progress towards a digital future. Challenges include data reliability and explainability issues arising from self-learning systems. Asset managers are taking a measured, “learning by doing” approach in driving the current rate of adoption.Partnership at scale is becoming a strategic core capability: Outsourcing is now evolving into partnerships at scale, with 44% viewing collaboration with third parties as a means to build scale, enhance capabilities, and share risk by combining unique capabilities. Asset managers also view partnerships as an enabler to accelerate innovation and achieve operational alpha.Chris Cox, Global Head of Investor Services at Citi, commented: “The report highlights that asset managers are increasingly looking to form partnerships not just for efficiency, but as a strategy to accelerate innovation and enhance client outcomes. At Citi, driving innovation to deliver client solutions is integral to our growth agenda. Clients deserve true transparency and instant market information to deliver the services their clients will expect. Services continues to invest over US$2 billion annually in platform modernization delivering uniquely integrated securities and cash solutions in real-time. Digital assets will be integrated into the same rails. We are committed to empowering our asset manager clients to build scale, enhance their capabilities and accelerate their innovation agendas.”
Amin Rajan, CEO of CREATE-Research and the lead author, commented: “Innovation has been a key instrument for asset managers of all sizes and hues to help them remain relevant in a landscape where competition has turned from benign to malign.”
About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi
The Citibank logo is displayed at a branch in New York City, U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesLONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - Citi has hired William Mansfield as Head of M&A for the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) from Deutsche Bank, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Thursday and confirmed by a Citi spokesperson.
The hire continues the U.S. bank's recruitment drive since appointing Viswas Raghavan from JPMorgan in 2024.
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Mansfield was previously Head of M&A for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Deutsche Bank and previously held various senior leadership roles at Credit Suisse.
He will replace Robin Rousseau and Barry Weir who previously led the business for Citi in the region.
Robin Rousseau, who joined in 2020, has been promoted to Global Chair of M&A. He will focus on European clients and cross-border situations, according to the memo.
Barry Weir has been promoted to Vice Chair of M&A and will predominantly focus on natural resources and UK clients and transactions, according to the memo.
Mansfield will be based in London and report to Guillermo Baygual and Drago Rajkovic, Citi Global Co-Heads of M&A and is expected to join in September.
Deutsche Bank said in a memo that it confirmed Mansfield's departure and said Tobias Wagnert, currently Head of Investment Banking Coverage, EMEA excluding Germany, Switzerland and Austria, will become the Head of EMEA M&A, effective immediately.
Reporting by Anousha Sakoui; editing by Dhara Ranasinghe
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Citigroup changed its expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, Reuters reported Thursday (June 18).
The banking giant is a “longstanding Fed dove” among big brokerages, the report said.
Now, however, the hawkish position of policymakers in the United States has Citi projecting 25-basis-point cuts each in October and December, plus another in January 2027. The bank’s previous forecast had the cuts arriving in September, October and December, according to the report.
Other brokerages, like Nomura and Bank of America, do not expect cuts at all and now say there is a growing threat of rate hikes this year, the report said.
New Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh began his tenure with a wide-ranging policy review that covered dropping the forward guidance, according to the report.
“I can’t give you any forward guidance about what we’re going to do next,” he said in his first news conference, adding that it is not “well suited” to the current economic climate, per the report.
Meanwhile, a note from Deutsche Bank analysts said that a “Fed that does not rely as heavily on forward guidance might desire to move quicker on tightening policy, creating risks of rate hikes over the coming meeting,” according to the report.
Some brokerages said a removal would lead investors to lean more heavily on new economic data and commentary from Fed officials to determine the policy path. JPMorgan said speeches by policymakers would “take on added importance,” per the report.
In related news, findings from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York support reports of a “K-shaped economy,” marked by a growing economic divide between low-income and high-income consumers’ spending growth, earnings growth and wealth accumulation.
Rich consumers have benefited from a robust stock market, lower mortgage payments and near-peak home equity levels. Many middle- and low-income consumers have been impacted by the high cost of living, persistent inflation and high interest rates.
“While not necessarily causal, the observed positive association between food insecurity and overall consumer pessimism, together with the increase in the incidence of food insecurity, especially among households at the bottom of the K-shape, point to a potential explanation for the unusually low recent levels of consumer sentiment at a time when the hard economic data paint a more positive picture,” the researchers wrote.
Key Takeaways C may gain as higher rates boost loan yields, securities returns and the Services segment's profitability. C expects 2026 NII, excluding Markets, to increase 5-6% year over year before any potential rate hike.Citigroup's view depends on whether NII growth can offset funding costs, credit losses and softer lending. The Federal Reserve’s latest decision related to interest rates creates a mixed backdrop for Citigroup, Inc. (C - Free Report) . More than the single rate decision, the key issue for C is the likelihood of a higher-for-longer rate environment.
The Federal Reserve kept the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50-3.75% following the March 17-18, 2026, FOMC meeting. However, the latest dot plot signaled a more hawkish policy outlook, with nine policymakers expecting at least one rate hike by the end of 2026, while only one projected a rate cut. The shift reflects the Fed's continued concerns about persistently elevated inflation, resilient economic growth and a labor market that remains too strong to justify easing monetary policy.
For Citigroup, higher rates can support net interest income as loan yields, securities reinvestment yields and floating-rate assets reset higher. This is especially important for its Services segment, including treasury and trade solutions, wherein corporate deposits, payment flows and liquidity-management balances can become more profitable. Citigroup already expects NII, excluding Markets, to rise 5-6% year over year in 2026, and a rate hike could provide additional upside if deposit costs remain controlled.
However, higher rates also bring risks. Borrowing costs could pressure demand for mortgages, commercial loans and consumer credit, while rising delinquencies may force Citigroup to build reserves and increase provisions for credit losses and pressure on earnings growth. Capital market activity could also weaken if higher rates delay mergers, debt issuance and corporate expansion plans, hurting investment banking fees for Citigroup.
Overall, the Fed’s decision is mildly constructive for Citigroup’s revenue outlook but not clearly bullish. For investors, the key issue is whether C’s NII gains can outpace rising funding costs, slower loan demand and credit normalization. Investors should look beyond the headline benefit of higher rates and focus on deposit stability, loan quality, securities exposure and capital strength.
How Other Banks Are Likely to Be Affected by High RatesSimilar to Citigroup, other large banks such as JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) and Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) may be better-positioned in a higher-for-longer rate environment because they have broader revenue streams, stronger liquidity buffers and more diversified loan books.
Both JPM and BAC have projected higher net interest income for 2026 despite assuming a rate cut later in the year. If rates rise instead, their NII outlooks could get additional lifts. JPMorgan expects 2026 NII of $103 billion, indicating more than 7% year-over-year growth, while Bank of America expects NII on a fully taxable-equivalent basis to grow toward the upper end of 6-8%. Still, the benefit may be partly offset by rising funding costs, weaker loan demand, higher credit risk and balance-sheet pressures.
Citigroup’s Price Performance & Zacks RankC shares have gained 82.4% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 31.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Citigroup Inc. offers two preferred stock options: C.PR.R (6.25% fixed-rate) and C.PR.N (7.875% fixed/floating TruPS). Both C preferreds have robust coverage ratios, with income and balance sheet metrics exceeding 10x, supporting dividend safety. C.PR.N's trust structure ranks it above traditional preferreds, but payments are interest (not dividends) and can be deferred for up to 20 quarters.
Oil prices ticked lower Tuesday as investors monitored tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, fell 82 cents to close at $77.08 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures declined 65 cents to settle at $73.21.
President Donald Trump said 19 million barrels of oil flowed through Hormuz on Monday, describing the volume as a record. CNBC could not immediately verify that figure. Around 20 million barrels of crude and refined products were exported through the strait before the Iran war.
Iran had declared Hormuz closed over the weekend while U.S. Central Command said the strait remained open to ships, sowing confusion about the status of the sea lane.
Brent crude
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury issued a 60-day license that authorizes the production, delivery and sale of oil from Iran. It allows the importation of Iranian crude to the U.S., and payment for the oil to be made in dollars. The license expires Aug. 21.
However, there were concerns that Iran may use the profits from oil sales to rebuild its military. Trump was asked on Monday if he could ensure that such a scenario would not play out.
"Well, they're not supposed to be doing that, so we'll see," Trump said at the White House during an executive order signing event. "They're supposed to use money to buy food for their people, because right now their people are very hungry, and they're buying it exclusively from us: corn, soybeans," he added.
Vice President JD Vance said there has been "great progress" made during the talks in Switzerland, even as Iran declared over the weekend that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said Hormuz had not been closed.
The recent developments appear to have boosted investor optimism that there may be a lasting resolution.
"If you just follow the oil price trading pattern here over the past couple of weeks, you're seeing the markets telling you that it's increasingly confident that we're closer to the end of the conflict," said managing director of US Equity Strategy at Citi Research Scott Chronert on CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia".
"This energy price overhang with its inflation connotation should be lessening in the weeks and months to come," he added.
To be sure, Oman and Iran stressed Tuesday in a joint statement their "sovereign rights in their territorial waters" in the Strait of Hormuz.
Nike (NKE 1.91%) is dealing with extremely weak market sentiment. The company's share price has fallen precipitously in the past five years, and it's down 66% as of June 15.
Despite dominating the industry, it's in the middle of a significant turnaround. And investors are finding it difficult to have confidence when revenue isn't growing and profits are declining.
This might pique the interest of contrarian investors. Could buying this plummeting consumer discretionary stock today set you up for life?
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Nike's turnaround efforts have focused on its distribution strategy. It's working to strike the right balance between wholesale partners and its direct channels. What's more, management is prioritizing product innovation, which is vital given how competitive the footwear market has become.
But progress will take time. Analysts expect revenue to rise at a compound annual pace of 1.6% between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2028. They also estimate earnings per share to grow at a 3.6% yearly clip during that time. With this forecast, it's no wonder the market is pessimistic.
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This stock isn't going to set you up for life. Nike is a mature business that's not in a position to register monster profit growth over the long term, which is a key tailwind necessary for huge returns.
And while the shares are beaten down right now, there's really no telling when exactly the fundamentals will improve in a meaningful way.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
EDITORS NOTE: This composite image shows a fan of each of the 48 national teams taking part in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. (Photo by Getty Images)
Getty Images
The 2026 World Cup is set to be the most competitive since its founding nearly a century ago—more teams, more games and a global audience waiting to see which two teams reach the final on July 19. Yet even before the tournament began, two fierce competitors were already battling it out for dominance in the world’s most popular sport: Adidas and Nike.
Going in, Adidas had an edge, sponsoring 14 teams compared to Nike’s 12. Plus, Adidas is a longtime official FIFA global partner—one of only seven brands at this level and the only sponsoring sportswear brand. And it has supplied the official World Cup match ball since 1970. This gives Adidas unrivaled visibility across the soccer ecosystem.
And Adidas has taken the lead in brand trust and loyalty among consumers worldwide. The latest RepTrak Top 100 Global Brand report found Adidas’ reputation soared to No. 2 in 2026, second only to Lego. Nike currently ranks No. 50—still a very strong showing but nowhere near Adidas’ global brand status.
“The Nike versus Adidas rivalry for world dominance in football (soccer) is set to reach new heights and play out on the ultimate stage of the FIFA World Cup,” said Stephen Hahn, RepTrak chief reputation and strategy officer. “In the battle for mind share, cultural resonance and passionate engagement, Adidas went into the World Cup with accelerated momentum and a strong reputation, with Nike lagging by comparison.”
Yet in the broader $400 billion global sportswear market, Adidas is playing catch-up. Nike generated $46 billion last year to Adidas’ $29 billion (€24.8 billion), but it has the momentum. Adidas sales grew 13% on a currency-neutral basis and 16% during the first quarter 2026. Nike’s sales plummeted 9% in fiscal 2025 and remain down 1% through the third quarter. Nike reports fiscal year-end on June 30.
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As the tournament unfolds, the ultimate contest of the two sportswear giants won’t be played on the pitch, but in retail and across social media.
It will be a close contest with the two brands running different ground games. Adidas is leaning into the sport’s passion, while Nike is kicking it across a wider cultural landscape.
“Adidas, buoyed by strong momentum and deep confidence in its sporting credentials, positions itself inside football’s world,” said Lippincott partner Eric Tsytsylin to Marketing Dive. “Nike, facing significant pressure in much of its business, is pulling football into its world.”
Adidas And Nike In RetailIn retail, Adidas and Nike are running in different directions. Adidas is leaning heavily into the sports connection. Dick’s Sporting Goods—with roughly 700 stores— is its prime World Cup retail partner. Together they launched a “Where it All Kicks Off” media campaign starring Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Trinity Rodman, Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, Juanpa Zurita and Cobi Jones. Dick’s will also be hosting in-store activations and events, most especially in the key World Cup cities.
In addition, Adidas is teaming up with Nordstrom, rolling out shop-in-shops and weekly activations in 35 stores. And independently, Adidas is building “Home of Soccer” hubs in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Atlanta, Houston, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey where fans can get closer to the action. Free-to-the-public, the hubs are destinations to watch the games, participate in pick-up matches and have other brand experiences during the tournament.
As John Miller, the president of Adidas North America, said, “With 14 federations, the Official Match Ball, extensive in-stadium presence and next-generation product technology, we are the defining soccer brand that’ll be visible on every pitch this summer.”
Nike’s major retail partner is Champs—the 364 retail chain that Dick’s acquired with Foot Locker last September. Beyond Champs, Nike has major activations in its own stores and website, including dedicated immersive experiences at its Los Angeles The Grove and London’s Oxford Circus locations.
It is also working with independent retailers for local events, such as Portland, OR’s Tursi Soccer, Niky’s Sports in Los Angeles, and Soccer.com in Dallas on the Roof at Vanta. In New York City, Pro:Direct opened a House of Merc pop-up in Soho dedicated to the Mercurial boot.
Germany-based Adidas has a lot to play for in North America, where it generated 20% of sales last year, dropping to 18% in the first quarter. By contrast, Nike has a stronghold in the U.S. It credits 44% of corporate revenues to North America through the first three quarters of 2026, and sales here are up 5% to date.
The Marketing MatchupTo extend their reach beyond retail, both Adidas and Nike are bringing their A-game in dueling long-form videos—Adidas’ entrant “Backyard Legends” and Nike’s “Rip the Script”— and positioning them as a launchpad for future growth and brand building.
Speaking of the company’s rollup to the World Cup in the recent earnings call, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said, “It’s not a one-time wonder. The soccer inspiration is going much, much wider than that,” adding that the company’s product touches not just “soccer culture” with performance product and team kits, but extends into lifestyle fashion.
Nike CEO Elliott Hill described global football as the “next sport to fully transform into the Sport Offense,” and said it will use this year’s World Cup as a catalyst for growth in the football marketplace for “quarters to come.”
The company sees its World Cup effort as a foundation for a broader platform—called the “Universe of Nike Football”—that extends beyond product, athletes, team partners, and retail into fashion, style, and the global community.
The result is a marketing matchup that mirrors the brands’ broader strategies: Adidas doubling down on football’s core passion and Nike pulling the sport into its wider cultural universe.
‘Backyard Legends’ Is Relatable For Adidas, “Backyard Legends” combines sports, street-culture and shared memories into a five-minute narrative that reinforces its identify as football’s heritage brand. It stars actor Timothée Chalamet, reprising his fast-talking Marty Supreme character, as he recruits Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Trinity Rodman to take on a team of three street ballers who’ve become undefeated urban legends.
The film traces the streetwise kids’ soccer journey from the 1990s—tapping the nostalgia trend popular among Gen Z— as they face a rotating cast of characters, including professional ringers David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero in 2002. Pop star Bad Bunny and Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi appear in the stands to watch the latest match, which goes unseen. But if history repeats itself, the pros will go down in defeat.
“The campaign strengthens fan connection with legacy, familiarity and cultural memory delivering on their broader brand message of ‘You Got This’ in a way that feels authentic and grounded,” said Allison Arling-Giorgi, head of brand at Method1 advertising.
‘Rip The Script’ Is Celebrity LoadedNike’s “Rip the Script” goes bigger, faster and louder, bringing a larger cast of characters, including its roster of footballers, plus Serena Williams, Channing Tatum, Travis Scott, LeBron James, Kaitlin Clark and Kim Kardashian, as a not-so-typical soccer mom with son Saint West.
The six-minute film unfolds in a series of rapid-fire vignettes that invite repeat viewings—if you blink, you’ll miss the Easter eggs liberally sprinkled throughout. It opens on a studio soundstage where a frustrated director tries—and fails—to get the footballers to follow his script. Wearing their national team kits and pink Mercurial boots, they kick the ball off the set and into the corridors of the film studio, onto other film stages, even into corporate boardrooms, leaving chaos behind.
Ostensibly, the film introduces the new high-tech Mercurial Superfly and Vapor soccer cleats. But it’s really a foundational pillar of what the company calls the “Universe of Nike Football.” Helena Thornton, vice president of Nike brand management, explained the strategy in a behind-the-scenes podcast:
“It’s not just a linear journey around one particular story. It was about managing the idea that Nike has a clear identity—creative, attacking, instinctual, and joyful. The power of the universe allows us to talk about different things but never go far away from who we are at our core—the values, the discipline and the principles that have built Nike football.”
Eyes On The PrizeThe two brands also diverged in how they pushed their marketing messages out across social media. Adidas went with Instagram for its initial “Backyards Legend” drop in May, with Chalamet posting a short teaser there as well. According to Grok, the film has pulled in more than 56 million views on the platform.
Nike chose YouTube for its initial release and so far, “Rip the Script” has surpassed over 76 million views—more than ten times what “Backyard Legends” has scored there. Across channels, Nike appears to have won the social media battle.
“If YouTube were a measure of success, initial hits to the Nike ‘Rip the Script’ indicate that it will significantly outperform the comparable Adidas content,” Reptrak’s Hahn shared. “But if success were defined by the number of official kit (uniform) sponsorships across the competing 48 nations and resultant global sales of soccer merchandise, then Adidas would likely be the commercial winner.”
Hahn added that Adidas’ strong reputation—just one slot down from the number one—will only be reinforced by its World Cup performance. He also expects Nike to get a reputational bounce and greater emotional buy-in around the World Cup, but added, “not yet to the degree that will challenge Adidas’ global reputation dominance.”
Speaking of the economic potential for all brands sponsoring this year’s World Cup—heavy-hitters like Coca-Cola, Michelob’s AB-InBev, McDonald’s, Unilever, Frito-Lay and others—EY global senior consumer analyst Jon Copestake said, “This World Cup is more expansive than the last, will make more revenue than the last and potentially will drive greater profit or loss than the last.”
The stakes are high for every brand in this year’s World Cup, but arguably none higher than for Adidas and Nike. Nike is at the peak of its marketing powers—fast-paced and playfully aggressive. But Adidas’ storytelling is more emotionally resonant—and, to borrow an oft-repeated marketing phrase, it feels more authentic.
Nike may still own the running and basketball multiverse, but in the world’s most popular sport—football—its universe is still expanding toward the one that Adidas already dominates.
See Also:
ForbesAdidas And Nike Face Off As 2026 Could See World Cup Of Retro JerseyBy Mark FaithfullForbesBehind The $10.5 Billion Brand Spending Spree At The 2026 FIFA World CupBy Pamela N. Danziger
Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the close on Tuesday, June 30. According to Zacks Research, analysts expect earnings of $0.11 per share, a 21.4% decline from the same quarter a year ago, on revenue of $10.87 billion.
Nike stock has been mired in a long-term downtrend since its 2021 record highs up around $168. More recently, the shares have struggled to bounce back since touching an 11-year low of $41.35 on May 18. Year to date, the equity is down 28.5%.
The options market is pricing in a next-day move of 11%, slightly above the stock's average post-earnings move of 10% over the last eight quarters. NKE has closed lower after five of its last eight earnings reports, including declines of 15.5% and 10.5% following its two most recent quarterly releases.
Despite the stock's prolonged slide, sentiment remains optimistic. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Nike's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 3.51 ranks higher than 86% of annual readings, while its Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.44 sits lower than 99% of readings from the past year.
Nike (NKE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this athletic apparel maker have returned 0%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, which Nike falls in, has gained 8.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Nike is expected to post earnings of $0.11 per share, indicating a change of -21.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $1.49 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -31%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.85 indicates a change of +24.3% from what Nike is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) for Nike.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Nike, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.87 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $46.33 billion and $46.69 billion estimates indicate +0% and +0.8% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNike reported revenues of $11.28 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.1%. EPS of $0.35 for the same period compares with $0.54 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.23 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.43%. The EPS surprise was +20.69%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Nike is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Nike. However, its Zacks Rank #5 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
Wall Street is treating Nike (NYSE:NKE | NKE Price Prediction) like a broken brand, but the dividend tells a different story. After a 29.55% YTD slide to $44.19, the yield has climbed to 3.58%, the richest level in years. With the Fed signaling higher-for-longer rates, I want to know whether this payout is built to last.
Dividend Snapshot Metric Value Annual Dividend $1.64 run-rate Dividend Yield 3.58% Consecutive Years of Increases 24 years Most Recent Increase 2.5% (November 2025) Aristocrat Status Not yet (one year away) Free Cash Flow Still Covers the Check The earnings ratio looks ugly. Trailing EPS of $1.51 against a $1.62 TTM dividend gives an earnings payout above 100%. Cash flow is the better lens. In FY2025, Nike generated $3.27 billion in free cash flow against $2.30 billion in dividends paid.
Metric TTM Value Assessment Earnings Payout Ratio Above 100% Elevated FCF Payout Ratio 70% Elevated but covered Operating Cash Flow Coverage 1.61x Adequate A Balance Sheet That Laughs at Rate Hikes This is where the “cash-rich” label earns its keep. Nike sits on $6.66 billion in cash against $14.09 billion of equity. Even with $22.97 billion in total liabilities, EBITDA of $3.86 billion easily services debt. A hawkish Fed barely registers here.
24 Years of Increases, and Counting Fiscal Year Annual Dividend 2025 $1.61 2024 $1.51 2023 $1.39 2022 $1.255 2021 $1.13 Growth is decelerating. The last raise was just 2.5%, well below the 8%-plus bumps in 2023 and 2024. The streak is intact, but management is clearly conserving cash during the turnaround.
Management Puts Money Behind the Words CEO Elliott Hill told investors, “NIKE is in the middle innings of our comeback”, and he backed it with personal capital. In April, Hill purchased 47,320 shares near $42.27, joined within days by directors Tim Cook and Robert Swan. CFO Matthew Friend cautioned the recovery “will not be linear”, but neither executive hedged on the payout.
The Verdict: Safe, but Growth Is Resting Dividend Safety Rating: Safe. The FCF payout at 70% is elevated yet covered, the cash pile is fortress-grade, and 24 years of increases plus open-market CEO buying tell me this board will defend the streak. Nike screens as an income holding if the “Win Now” plan stabilizes margins in FY2027. The risk case is tariffs and Greater China weakness forcing another year of -34% net income declines. Net-net, the dividend itself looks insulated from Fed noise. The next raise will be small, but it is coming.
BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today announced that John Rogers, Jr., a director of the Company since 2018, has decided to retire and will not stand for re-election to the NIKE, Inc. Board of Directors at the September 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Rogers’ retirement will be effective following this Annual Meeting after which he will serve as a strategic advisor to Nike focused on a variety of topics including the future of sport and social community impact.
“On behalf of Nike, I’d like to thank John for his eight years of service to our Board. We are grateful for the support and guidance he provided during his tenure, and we are delighted he will remain as an advisor to the company,” said Mark Parker, Executive Chairman of NIKE, Inc. “John is known to most as a leader in the world of business and finance, but his equally tireless dedication to many vital civic, economic, and community causes are a unique combination. We look forward to benefitting from his continued expertise as we harness the power of sport to drive positive, lasting change in communities globally.”
“It has been an honor to serve on Nike’s Board and play a part in the company's work to change lives through sport. I am proud of all that we have accomplished over the last eight years,” said John Rogers, Jr. “I look forward to continuing to support Nike in a new capacity helping the company’s impact on and investment in sport, athletes, and communities around the world. I remain confident in Nike’s future and am grateful for the opportunity to continue advancing its mission.”
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Converse, a wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiary brand, designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, NIKE, Inc.’s earnings releases and other financial information are available on the Internet at https://investors.nike.com/. Individuals can also visit https://about.nike.com/ and follow NIKE on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
In the latest trading session, Nike (NKE - Free Report) closed at $45.20, marking a +2.29% move from the previous day. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 1.09% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.14%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.91%.
Shares of the athletic apparel maker have by 0% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 0.45%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.29%.
The upcoming earnings release of Nike will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on June 30, 2026. On that day, Nike is projected to report earnings of $0.11 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 21.43%. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $10.87 billion, down 2.03% from the year-ago period.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.49 per share and a revenue of $46.33 billion, representing changes of -31.02% and +0.04%, respectively, from the prior year.
Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Nike. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Nike is holding a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell) right now.
Investors should also note Nike's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 23.87. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 13.39.
It is also worth noting that NKE currently has a PEG ratio of 1.91. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.91 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 110, finds itself in the top 46% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.
At about $45 as of this writing, Nike (NKE 1.91%) stock trades 16% below where it did a decade ago. And shares are 44% below their 52-week high of about $80, reached last August.
In short, it's been a tough run for Nike investors. But is that about to change?
Nike reports fiscal fourth-quarter results (the period ended May 31) on June 30. It will be another test of the turnaround CEO Elliott Hill has led since returning in late 2024, a plan management calls its "Win Now" actions. The question hanging over that report is whether the beaten-down price reflects a business that is finally turning or one that is simply stuck.
Image source: Getty Images.
North America is where the comeback shows Nike's largest market is the clearest sign the plan is working. North America revenue rose 3% to about $5 billion in the fiscal third quarter (the period ended Feb. 28, 2026), led by an 11% jump in wholesale as Nike won back shelf space with retail partners. Management said sell-through grew across every channel in February for the first time in two years, with discounting easing and the digital business strengthening as the quarter went on.
"North America is leading our comeback and is well positioned to sustain the momentum as we move forward," chief financial officer Matthew Friend said on the company's fiscal third-quarter earnings call.
If that February turn holds into the fiscal fourth quarter, even as the region laps last year's heavy clearance sales, it would be real evidence Nike can grow its biggest market again.
But what about weakness in Greater China? Greater China is the other side of the story. Revenue there fell 7% to about $1.6 billion in the fiscal third quarter, and management guided for a roughly 20% drop in the fiscal fourth quarter.
That decline, however, is largely self-inflicted. Nike is deliberately shipping less product to clear out aged inventory and curb the discounting that cheapened the brand there.
As China sales shrank, the region's operating profit rose 11%, and inventory fell by more than 20% in units -- the result of reducing near-term sell-in and pulling key styles off discount instead of flooding stores with inventory.
But there are signs of progress. Nike expanded a revamped store concept to 100 locations, including a flagship in Shanghai, and said full-price selling improved.
The number to watch on June 30 isn't the 20% revenue drop itself. It is whether sell-through and full-price demand keep firming under that reduced supply.
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Checking in on gross margin Nike's gross margin slipped to 40.2% in the fiscal third quarter, down from about 41.5% a year earlier, dragged down mostly by higher U.S. tariffs that cost roughly 3 percentage points of margin on their own. Clearing unsold classic-sneaker inventory out of the market pulled about 5 points off reported revenue on top of that.
With that said, management notably guided to a much smaller margin decline in fiscal Q4 and said margins should start expanding again in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, aided by easing tariff pressure and inventory clean-up costs rolling off.
But the stock's price decline hasn't necessarily created the bargain you might imagine. Nike trades around $45, close to where it sat a decade ago, yet its price-to-earnings ratio is still about 30. This is because earnings have fallen about as fast as the stock. Indeed, net income dropped 35% in fiscal Q3.
The stock's valuation, therefore, only works if profits recover, and profits recover only if the turnaround does.
Management expects to complete its Win Now actions by the end of the calendar year and plans to lay out longer-term targets at an investor day this fall.
It has also been candid about the pace.
"This is complex work, and parts of it are taking longer than I'd like," Hill explained during its fiscal third-quarter earnings call.
I think Nike is a more investable company than it was a year ago, thanks to the stock's sharp decline this year. And a 24-year run of annual dividend increases, along with a 3.6% dividend yield as of this writing, pays shareholders to wait.
Still, I'd want the fiscal fourth-quarter numbers to confirm China is finding a floor and margins are bending back before treating this price as a real opportunity rather than a value trap. The stock is cheap for clear reasons. Whether those reasons are starting to fade will hopefully be revealed on June 30.
NIKE is rated Buy, with valuation at pre-2015 levels due to ongoing turnaround delays and investor impatience. Q4 2026 is pivotal; success hinges on at least flat revenue and earnings, plus a resolution of tariff refund litigation. NKE faces margin pressure from higher taxes and the tariff refund overhang, with a payout ratio exceeding 100%.
