Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Xylem is expected to post higher Q2 revenues and earnings, led by infrastructure and water solution demand.XYL may benefit from smart metering demand, backlog execution and contributions from the Vacom acquisition.Xylem faces margin pressure from higher material, labor, freight and strategic investment costs. Xylem Inc. (XYL - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XYL’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.33 billion, indicating growth of 1.2% from the prior-year quarter’s number. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $1.34 per share, which has been stable in the past 60 days. The figure indicates an increase of 6.4% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice in the trailing four quarters and matched the mark in one, the average surprise being 5.9%.

Let’s see how things have shaped up for Xylem this earnings season.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped XYL’s Quarterly PerformanceStrength in the transport application business, aided by increased infrastructure projects in the United States, is likely to have supported the Water Infrastructure segment’s performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Water Infrastructure segment’s revenues is pegged at $664 million, indicating 2.2% growth from the year-ago figure.

An increase in demand for advanced metering infrastructure solutions, like smart and energy metering, and strong backlog execution are likely to have augmented the performance of the Measurement & Control Solutions (M&CS) segment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the M&CS segment’s revenues is pinned at $538 million, almost in line with the year-ago quarter’s figure.

Strength in the Applied Water segment, supported by higher demand for commercial building solutions applications, including pumps, valves and dispensing equipment, is likely to augment the segment’s results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Applied Water segment’s revenues is pegged at $492 million, indicating 1.9% growth from the year-ago figure.

Recovery in Xylem’s dewatering applications business across utility and power end markets is likely to augment the Water Solutions and Services segment’s results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Water Solutions and Services segment’s revenues is pegged at $636 million, indicating 1.3% growth year over year.

The company’s acquisition of Vacom Systems (in April 2025), a wastewater treatment company, enhanced its capabilities in providing sustainable water solutions. This buyout is expected to bolster the company’s top-line results in the to-be-reported quarter.

However, XYL’s bottom line is likely to have reflected the impact of high raw material costs, labor, freight and overhead costs in the second quarter. Also, increased spending on strategic investments is expected to have hurt its margins.

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

Earnings ESP: Xylem has an Earnings ESP of -0.34%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

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

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some companies, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in this reporting cycle.

Crane Company (CR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.73% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28.

Crane’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 11.3%.

Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.61% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Ingersoll Rand’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters while matching the mark in two, the average surprise being 2.4%.

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28.

Illinois Tool’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 2.8%.

Capital One (COF) is rated Strong Buy with a $260 price target, 26% above current levels, driven by technology-led competitive advantages. COF's cloud-native infrastructure, AI leadership, and ownership of the Discover network position it for payments-grade returns on tangible equity. Despite low-20s% normalized ROTCE post-integration, COF trades at ~9.4x forward earnings and ~1.9x tangible book, a deep discount to peers like Amex.

Store

SubscribeSign In

My Subscriptions

Founder's ClubSwingTraderLeaderboardMarketSurgeeIBDIBD DigitalIBD LiveCustomer Center

My Stock Lists

Email Preferences

Help & Support

Sign Out

Search stocks or keywords

Sections

My IBD

MARKET TREND

STOCK LISTS

STOCK RESEARCH

NEWSECONOMY

VIDEOS & PODCASTS

HOW TO INVESTEDUCATIONAL RESOURCESStoreMy Products

Founder's ClubSwingTraderLeaderboardMarketSurgeeIBDIBD DigitalIBD Live

Recently Searched

United Rentals, These Other Top Stocks Hit Record Highs While Rest Of Market Snoozes

Nasdaq Dives As Red Sea Attacks Propel Oil Prices; Alphabet, Tesla Plunge Post-Earnings

Stocks Slammed As Oil, Yields Surge Again; Applied Materials, Viking, United Rentals In Focus Stocks from four different sectors have been clinging to new highs amid the tech sector sell-off during June and July. One of them is finance name KeyCorp (KEY), which broke out of a cup-with-handle base at a pivot of 22.55 in June before making it to a four-year high last week. KeyCorp provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services…

Copyright ©2026 Investor's Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Key Takeaways BWXT combines government nuclear contracts with expanding commercial nuclear operations and acquisitions.BWX Technologies trades at 4.06X forward sales versus XE at 11.34X forward sales.BWXT shares fell 20.9% in three months versus a 45.5% decline for XE shares. As investor interest in nuclear energy continues to grow, both X-Energy (XE - Free Report) and BWX Technologies (BWXT - Free Report) have emerged as attractive ways to gain exposure to the sector. While both companies operate within the U.S. nuclear industry, they represent two very different investment opportunities. While BWX Technologies is a mature, profitable supplier of nuclear components and services to the U.S. government with decades of industry experience, X-Energy is an emerging advanced reactor developer focused on commercializing next-generation nuclear technology.

The global nuclear industry is entering a new growth cycle as governments seek reliable, carbon-free sources of electricity to complement renewable energy and strengthen energy security. Rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, electrification, and industrial decarbonization is increasing the need for dependable baseload power, while geopolitical concerns have prompted many countries to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. As a result, governments are extending the operating lives of existing nuclear plants, restarting previously retired reactors, and investing in next-generation technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactors.

Let us compare the stocks' fundamentals to determine which one is a better investment option at present.

Factors Acting in Favor of XE StockX-Energy is focused on the future of commercial nuclear power. The company is developing the Xe-100, a Generation IV high-temperature gas-cooled SMR designed to provide carbon-free electricity, industrial heat, and hydrogen production. Unlike traditional large nuclear plants, the Xe-100 is modular, scalable, and intended to be easier and less expensive to deploy. XE is also developing TRISO-X, a business dedicated to manufacturing TRISO fuel, an advanced nuclear fuel known for its exceptional safety characteristics and high-temperature performance. The company expects fuel production to become a meaningful long-term revenue stream as advanced reactors are deployed globally.

As of March 31, 2026, the company had a project pipeline of 144 Xe-100 reactors, representing roughly 11.5 gigawatts electric (GWe) of potential capacity across the United States and the United Kingdom. This pipeline is anchored by major customers and partners including Dow, Amazon and Centrica, providing the company with a solid foundation for future reactor sales, fuel supply agreements and long-term service revenues.

Factors Acting in Favor of BWXT StockBWX Technologies has built its business around designing and manufacturing nuclear components, fuel, and reactor systems for the U.S. Navy, Department of Energy, NASA, and other government agencies. The company is the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines, giving it a highly defensible competitive position supported by long-term government contracts and recurring revenues. In recent years, BWXT has also expanded its commercial nuclear operations by supplying components, fuel handling systems, and engineering services for existing nuclear power plants, while increasing its presence in medical isotopes and advanced reactor technologies. This diversified business model provides stable cash flows and relatively predictable earnings growth.

In April 2026, BWXT announced the acquisition of Precision Components Group, LLC. This marks BWXT’s first step in establishing a U.S. commercial nuclear component manufacturing footprint to support future new reactor builds and aftermarket.

How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for XE & BWXT?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for X-Energy’s 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates growth of 15.09% year over year. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BWX Technologies’ 2027 EPS implies growth of 13.74% year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation for XE & BWXTXE shares trade at a forward 12-month price/sales (P/S F12M) of 11.34X compared with BWXT’s P/S F12M of 4.06X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

XE & BWXT’s Price PerformanceIn the past three months, shares of X-Energy and BWX Technologies’ have declined 45.5% and 20.9%, respectively.  

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

XE or BWXT: Which Is a Better Choice Now?X-Energy is developing advanced SMR technology for commercial nuclear power, with a focus on delivering carbon-free electricity, industrial heat, and hydrogen production through scalable reactor designs. XE is also building an advanced nuclear fuel business, supported by a growing pipeline of projects and partnerships that position it for long-term reactor, fuel, and service revenue opportunities.

BWX Technologies specializes in nuclear components, fuel, and reactor systems for U.S. government agencies, supported by long-term contracts that provide stable and recurring revenues. BWXT is also expanding its commercial nuclear business through advanced reactor technologies, nuclear services, and strategic acquisitions that strengthen its position in the growing commercial market.

Our choice at the moment is BWX Technologies, given its better price performance and more attractive valuation than X-Energy. BWXT carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and XE has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

The $25K Day Trading Barrier is Gone

The long-standing Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule that required many traders to maintain a $25,000 account balance is no longer standing in the way.

That means more traders can actively pursue short-term opportunities without the barrier that kept so many on the sidelines.

Now it's all about having the right strategy.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals helps you hit the ground running with up 2 options trade alerts per week, built to capture fast-moving opportunities.  

👉 Sign up now to receive the next trade

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD) between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 31, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Insulet securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Insulet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/insulet-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 31, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Insulet's manufacturing controls and procedures were defective; (2) the foregoing created a foreseeable heightened risk that one or more Insulet products would be found to be in violation of applicable safety regulations and/or pose a risk of injury; and (3) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Insulet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/insulet-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306488

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

The company reported adjusted earnings of $7.59, up from $6.84 a year ago, surpassing the Wall Street estimates of $7.02.

Adjusted EBITDA reached $4.027 billion, compared to $3.849 billion a year ago.

Admissions Growth And Medicaid Payments Support ResultsThe company also experienced positive factors including increased benefit from Medicaid Supplemental Payment Programs, growth in admissions, equivalent admissions and ER visits, and improved expense results.

Same facility admissions increased 2.5% and same facility equivalent admissions increased 2.7%. Same facility emergency room visits increased 3.6%.

Same facility inpatient surgeries declined 2.3%, and outpatient surgeries declined 3.4% in the quarter. Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 6.4%.

Surgical Volume And Payer Mix Weigh On PerformanceAs announced earlier, during the second quarter, the company experienced a payer mix shift driven by an increase in uninsured volume, primarily due to patients who lost coverage on the health insurance exchanges.

The company estimates this payer mix shift had an unfavorable impact on income before income taxes of approximately $400 million during the second quarter.

The amount includes an increase of approximately $75 million related to the company’s previous estimate of the first quarter health insurance exchange impact.

In addition, to a lesser degree, HCA Healthcare experienced a service mix shift primarily related to a decline in surgical volume.

HCA Reaffirms Full-Year 2026 OutlookHCA Healthcare reaffirmed fiscal 2026 earnings guidance of $28.70-$30.50 per share compared to the consensus of $29.70.

The company expects 2026 sales of $77 billion-$79.50 billion versus the consensus of $78.457 billion.

HCA Stock Price Activity: HCA Healthcare shares were up 3.62% at $390.12 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo: Shutterstock

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

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

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Key Takeaways HCA posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $7.59, beating estimates as revenues climbed 8.7% year over year.HCA saw higher admissions, revenue per admission and ER visits, while inpatient and outpatient surgeries fell.HCA narrowed revenue guidance but reduced adjusted EBITDA, net income and diluted EPS forecasts for 2026. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.59, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.57. The bottom line advanced 11% year over year.

Revenues rose 8.7% year over year to $20.2 billion. The top line was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The quarterly results benefited from higher same-facility admissions, strong revenue per equivalent admission and solid emergency room visit growth. However, declining inpatient and outpatient surgeries, along with elevated operating expenses, partially offset these positives.

HCA Healthcare, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseHCA’s Q2 DetailsSame-facility equivalent admissions grew 2.7% year over year in the second quarter, beating our growth estimate of 2%. Meanwhile, same-facility admissions increased 2.5%, also surpassing our growth estimate of 1.8%.

Same-facility revenue per equivalent admission rose 6.4% year over year but came in higher than our growth estimate of 4.2%.

Same-facility inpatient surgeries fell 2.3% year over year, while same-facility outpatient surgeries dipped 3.4%. Same-facility emergency room visits inched up 3.6% year over year in the quarter.

Salaries and benefits, supplies and other operating expenses increased 9.8% year over year to $16.2 billion. The metric came in higher than our estimate of $15.4 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA of $4 billion advanced 4.6% year over year, which marginally beat our estimate of $3.9 billion.

HCA Healthcare operated 190 hospitals and roughly 2,600 ambulatory sites of care across 19 states and the United Kingdom as of June 30, 2026.

HCA’s Q2 Financial UpdateHCA Healthcare exited the second quarter with approximately $1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down 2.6% from the 2025-end level. It had approximately $3.1 billion of available capacity under its credit facilities at the end of the reported quarter.

Total assets of $63.3 billion increased 4.2% from 2025-end figure.

Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs and discounts, was $43.5 billion, up 4.4% from the figure as of Dec. 31, 2025. Short-term borrowings and long-term debt due within a year totaled $6.3 billion.

Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, amounted to $1.2 billion during the quarter.

HCA’s Cash FlowCash flows from operating activities declined 44.5% year over year to $2.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026.

HCA Healthcare’s Capital Deployment UpdateHCA bought back shares worth approximately $2.1 billion in the second quarter. It had about $7.2 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization as of June 30, 2026. The board also declared a quarterly cash dividend of 78 cents per share, payable on Sept. 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 16, 2026.

HCA Revises 2026 GuidanceRevenue guidance has been revised to $77.0-$79.5 billion from the previous $76.5-$80.0 billion, raising the lower end by $0.5 billion and lowering the upper end by $0.5 billion. The midpoint of the revised range implies 3.5% growth from the 2025 reported figure.

Adjusted EBITDA guidance has been narrowed to $15.4-$16.1 billion from $15.55-$16.45 billion. The midpoint suggests about 1.2% growth from the 2025 reported figure.

Net income guidance was lowered to $6.3-$6.7 billion from $6.495-$7.035 billion. The midpoint implies about a 4.2% decline from the 2025 reported figure.

Diluted EPS guidance was lowered to $28.70-$30.50 from $29.10-$31.50. The midpoint implies about 4.5% growth from the 2025 reported figure.

Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, remain projected in the range of $5.0-$5.5 billion.

HCA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksHCA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Medical space are Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL - Free Report) , CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) and Cencora, Inc. (COR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Charles River is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.72 per share, which has witnessed one upward revision and one downward revision over the past 30 days. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.3%. The consensus estimate for Charles River’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $970.77 million.

CVS Health is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.87 per share, indicating a 3.3% year-over-year increase. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.8%. The consensus estimate for CVS Health’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $100.18 billion, indicating a 1.3% year-over-year increase.

Cencora is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $4.37 per share, indicating a 9.3% year-over-year increase. The company beat on earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 1.6%. The consensus estimate for Cencora’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $84.89 billion, indicating a 5.2% year-over-year increase.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.

The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for CenterPoint is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

For CenterPoint, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for CenterPointFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this energy delivery company is expected to earn $1.91 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for CenterPoint. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.1%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of CenterPoint to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

Key Takeaways IQVIA's Q2 revenues are expected to rise 6.7% y/y to $4.3 billion, with EPS at $3.02.Commercial solutions growth is expected from drug launches, AI demand and Data-as-a-Service adoption.AI-led workflow gains and backlog conversion are expected to support research and development solutions. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open.

IQV has a decent earnings surprise history, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.6%.

IQVIA’s Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.3 billion, implying 6.7% year-over-year growth. Growth in the top line is likely to have been stimulated by an efficient use of AI across its business lines.

Revenue gains in the commercial solutions segment are expected to have emanated extensively from rising drug launch activity. Surging demand for the company’s exclusive AI capabilities, tailored AI agents and AI-ready data foundations is anticipated to have added to the growth trajectory.

We expect the rapid adoption of Data-as-a-Service, resulting in multi-year client agreements and enterprise-wide platform adoptions, enhancing commercial intelligence and analytics, to have acted as a major catalyst to this segment’s growth.

For the research and development solutions segment, we expect IQVIA to have leveraged AI to optimize workflow, accelerate study execution and cut down errors, thus improving its revenues. Scheduled conversion of contracted backlogs into revenues over the upcoming months is likely to have contributed to the segment’s growth.

The consensus estimate for earnings per share is $3.02, implying 7.5% year-over-year growth. Enhancement in operational prowess springing from high-margin revenue growth across segments is anticipated to have benefited the bottom line.

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

IQV has an Earnings ESP of -2.98% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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

Alcon (ALC - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.8 billion, indicating 7.3% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus mark is pinned at 77 cents per share, moving up 1.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The company beat the consensus estimate in three of the past four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 3.7%.

ALC carries an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 10.

Waters (WAT - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $1.6 billion, hinting at 3% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus mark is pinned at $3.01 per share, improving 2% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. WAT beat the consensus estimate for earnings in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 6%.

WAT has an Earnings ESP of +0.45% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4.

Signature Youth Initiative Anchors the Second Annual Impacting the Carolinas Campaign; First Horizon Bank Named Presenting Partner of Bee-Ball For All

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Charlotte Hornets have announced First Horizon Bank (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") as the presenting partner of Bee-Ball for All, the organization's signature youth engagement platform and cornerstone of the second annual Impacting the Carolinas initiative. Through Bee-Ball for All presented by First Horizon Bank, the Hornets will distribute 10,000 basketballs to youth through participating Boys & Girls Club locations across North and South Carolina, expanding access to the game while creating opportunities for mentorship, literacy, wellness and community engagement throughout the region.

First Horizon Bank and Charlotte Hornets Bee-Ball for All Event - Northridge Middle School, Charlotte NC To officially tip off the initiative, Hornets, First Horizon Bank and Boys & Girls Club leaders – along with Hornets Legend Muggsy Bogues – gathered at Northridge Middle School on Thursday, July 23 for a formal announcement and youth basketball clinic celebrating the launch of the two-state distribution effort. The event served as the beginning of a broader effort that will place 10,000 basketballs into the hands of children across North and South Carolina.

"This isn't just about giving away basketballs; it's about opening doors for youth development in multiple ways," said Justin Rutledge, Senior Vice President and Charlotte Market President for First Horizon Bank. Laura Bunn, Executive Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional President for First Horizon Bank added, "Sports also build teamwork, discipline and skills youth will carry through their lives. While we're proud to celebrate in Charlotte today, the mission reaches far beyond this community. Bee-Ball for All helps us connect with youth across the Carolinas, so opportunities aren't limited to one city, but shared across more than 200 Boys & Girls Clubs spanning North and South Carolina."

"Partnerships like this allow us to make a greater impact than we ever could alone. We are incredibly grateful to First Horizon Bank for sharing our commitment to investing in youth and strengthening communities throughout the Carolinas," said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Senior Vice President of Community Impact Betsy Mack. "Together, we are creating opportunities for young people to grow, learn, build confidence and connect through the game of basketball."

Launched in 2025, Impacting the Carolinas is designed to strengthen Hornets Sports & Entertainment's community impact and regional presence across North and South Carolina while reinforcing the organization's commitment to being the Team of the Carolinas.

About First Horizon
First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $84.4 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states concentrated in the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

About Hornets Sports & Entertainment
Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) owns the Charlotte Hornets and the Greensboro Swarm (NBA G League), and operates Spectrum Center, the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas. Charlotte's first professional sports team, the Hornets joined the NBA in 1988 and are a member of the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. HSE is committed to positively impacting the Carolinas through community programming and the Charlotte Hornets Foundation. Spectrum Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary and reopened following a two-phased renovation as a fully transformed world-class arena in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Through the years, Spectrum Center has hosted nearly 2,500 events and has welcomed more than 25 million guests. Directly across from Spectrum Center, the state-of-the-art Novant Health Performance Center is being built to enhance player development and foster a culture of high performance. 

For more information, please visit hornets.com, gsoswarm.com or spectrumcentercharlotte.com

SOURCE First Horizon Bank

First Hawaiian NASDAQ: FHB executives said the bank delivered loan growth, wider net interest margin and continued solid credit quality in the second quarter of 2026, while preparing for its proposed combination with TriCo Bancshares.

Chairman, President and CEO Bob Harrison said the company was “very excited” about the TriCo transaction, which is expected to close near the end of the year. He said First Hawaiian is focused on the work required to complete the deal and does not have additional information beyond what was presented during its July 23 investor call.

Get First Hawaiian alerts:

Hawaii economy and loan growth Harrison pointed to relatively stable economic conditions in Hawaii. The statewide employment rate was 2.5% in May, compared with a national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Total visitor arrivals through May rose 2.9% from a year earlier, driven primarily by visitors from the U.S. mainland and Japan, while year-to-date visitor spending reached $9.7 billion, up 7.5% from 2025 levels.

Hawaii housing prices also remained firm. The median Oahu single-family home sales price was $1.2 million in June, up 10.4% year over year, while the median condo price was $528,000, up 3.5%.

Total loans increased $137 million during the quarter, representing annualized growth of about 3.6%. Growth was led by commercial and industrial, or C&I, lending and commercial real estate lending. C&I balances increased $98 million, primarily because of dealer-flooring growth and expansion in the company’s Hawaii corporate portfolio.

Completed construction projects resulted in the conversion of $95 million in construction loan balances into commercial real estate loans. Construction loan payoffs and lower residential balances partly offset the broader growth, as residential payoffs exceeded new production.

Harrison said management continues to see a “very robust pipeline” in C&I and commercial real estate, with construction activity representing a meaningful portion of commercial real estate opportunities. The bank also is working with some new customer relationships, he said. Residential lending, however, is expected to remain slow because of the interest-rate environment.

Deposits, margin and earnings outlook Total deposits declined $623 million in the second quarter, largely due to expected public-deposit outflows. Chief Financial Officer Jamie Moses said retail deposits were essentially flat, while commercial deposits fell about $156 million because of seasonal volatility. Public deposits declined $467 million, mainly in operating accounts, and public time deposits decreased by $115 million. The remaining public time-deposit balance was $9 million.

Moses said the declines did not reflect lost customer relationships. Municipal partners found other ways to invest certain balances off the bank’s balance sheet, he said, while First Hawaiian expects retail and commercial deposits to increase in the second half because of seasonal patterns. The company’s noninterest-bearing deposit ratio was 32%, and its total cost of deposits declined two basis points from the first quarter.

Net interest income increased $3.5 million sequentially to $171 million. Net interest margin rose six basis points to 3.25%, helped by deposit mix and repricing, higher loan and securities yields, and lower cash balances.

Management revised its full-year net interest margin outlook to a range of 3.24% to 3.25%, based on market expectations for one rate increase later this year. First Hawaiian expects third-quarter margin of about 3.27%. Moses said the company assumed a rate increase early in the fourth quarter in its outlook.

The balance sheet remains asset-sensitive, according to Harrison. Moses said roughly $6 billion of assets would reprice immediately following a rate increase based on SOFR, while approximately $3.5 billion to $4 billion of liabilities would also reprice to some degree.

Cash balances declined in the quarter primarily because of public-deposit outflows. Management expects to keep cash around the quarter-end level, approximately $1 billion, through the rest of the year, even as it anticipates further loan growth.

Fees, expenses and credit quality Noninterest income totaled $60.3 million, aided by higher bank-owned life insurance income, an excise tax refund and increased swap fees. Moses said the BOLI contribution reflected a component of the portfolio that is sensitive to market movements rather than a death benefit.

First Hawaiian maintained its full-year noninterest income outlook of about $220 million. Moses said the company generally views approximately $55 million per quarter as a baseline, though one-time or market-related items can cause quarterly variation.

Noninterest expense was $130.4 million, including $4.2 million in costs related to the TriCo transaction. The company expects more transaction costs in the second half as it moves toward closing and integration. Excluding TriCo-related costs, First Hawaiian expects reported expenses of $515 million to $520 million for the full year.

Moses said higher second-half expenses will reflect continued hiring to support loan growth, along with project-related salary, professional-services and information-technology costs.

Chief Risk Officer Lea Nakamura said credit performance and credit metrics remained healthy. The allowance for credit losses declined both in dollar terms and relative to coverage, primarily because of a material reduction in classified assets.

The company reported a return on average tangible assets of 1.28% and a return on average tangible equity of 16.34% for the quarter. Its effective tax rate was 22.9%.

TriCo transaction and capital plans Harrison said First Hawaiian did not repurchase shares during the second quarter and is unlikely to conduct buybacks for the remainder of the year while the TriCo deal proceeds through regulatory review, though he said that could change. The company’s common equity tier 1 ratio remained above 13%, according to an analyst’s question during the call.

Management reiterated a target of 25% cost savings from the TriCo transaction. Moses said the company remains comfortable with that objective and expects to achieve it through a variety of measures, but did not provide further detail.

Harrison said three TriCo executives—Richard Smith, Dan Bailey and Peter G. Wiese—are expected to join First Hawaiian’s senior management team. He said First Hawaiian intends to retain much of TriCo’s management team, describing the California bank as a well-run institution that First Hawaiian plans to support while learning from its operations.

About First Hawaiian (NASDAQ:FHB)First Hawaiian, Inc is the oldest and largest bank in Hawaii, operating as the bank holding company for First Hawaiian Bank. Established in 1858, the company offers a full suite of financial services to individual, business and institutional clients. Its product portfolio includes consumer and commercial lending, deposit accounts, treasury and cash management, foreign exchange and trade finance, as well as wealth management and trust services.

First Hawaiian serves customers through an extensive network of branches, ATMs and digital channels across the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.

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

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

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

While First Hawaiian currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.

Get This Free Report

SouthState Bank Corporation (SSB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

William Matthews - Senior Executive VP & CFO
John Corbett - CEO & Chairman
Stephen Young - Senior Executive VP & Chief Strategy Officer

Conference Call Participants

Stephen Scouten - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
John McDonald - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Hannah Wynn - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division
Michael Rose - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Sun Young Lee - TD Cowen, Research Division
Gary Tenner - D.A. Davidson & Co., Research Division
Anthony Elian - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Benjamin Gerlinger - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
David Chiaverini - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
David Bishop - Hovde Group, LLC, Research Division
Samuel Varga - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the SouthState Bank Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

I will now hand the conference call over to Will Matthews, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Matthews, please go ahead.

William Matthews
Senior Executive VP & CFO

Good morning. This is Will Matthews, and welcome to SouthState's Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call.

I'm here with John Corbett, Steve Young and Jeremy Lucas. We'll follow our typical pattern of brief prepared remarks and then move into Q&A. And I'll refer you to the Investor Relations tab of our website for the earnings materials.

Before we begin our remarks, I want to remind you that comments we make may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and regulations. Any such forward-looking statements we may make are subject to the safe harbor rules. Please review the forward-looking disclaimer and safe harbor language in the press release and presentation for more information about our forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties, which may affect us.

Consumer-Driven Stocks Boost Buybacks, Including Visa's $20B PlanByline Bancorp NYSE: BY reported record second-quarter net income of $40.2 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, as revenue increased and expenses declined from the prior quarter. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.91, up 10% sequentially and 21% from a year earlier, President Alberto Paracchini said during the company’s earnings call.

The Chicago-based commercial bank posted a 1.63% return on average assets and a return on average common equity of just under 14.5%. Its pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets was 2.49%, marking the company’s 15th consecutive quarter above 2%, according to management.

Get Byline Bancorp alerts:

Could This Entertainment Stock be the Belle of the Gaming Ball?“We delivered net income of $40.2 million or $0.90 per diluted share,” Paracchini said. “Record net income and excellent profitability really stood out this quarter.”

Revenue Growth and Efficiency Improvement Revenue totaled $118 million, up 4.7% from the prior quarter, while non-interest expenses fell. The adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 46.5% from 49.8% in the first quarter, which Paracchini described as the company’s best result since becoming a public company in 2017.

Boyd Gaming stock: All signs point to a significant break higherNet interest income was $101 million, up modestly from the preceding quarter. Net interest margin declined 5 basis points to 4.28%, primarily reflecting higher funding costs associated with a maturing balance-sheet hedge and changes in earning-asset mix, CFO Tom Bell said.

Management emphasized that it prioritizes growth in net interest income dollars rather than managing to a particular margin target. Paracchini said the bank may accept lower spreads on high-quality, relationship-oriented business if it is accretive to earnings and supports long-term franchise value.

For the third quarter, Byline projected net interest income of $100 million to $102 million, non-interest income of $14 million to $15 million, and gain-on-sale revenue averaging about $5.5 million per quarter. The company maintained its full-year non-interest expense outlook of $59 million to $60 million per quarter.

Bell said second-half expenses are expected to rise due largely to employee-related costs, including health care benefits and commissions tied to production. Management also said potential opportunities to hire banking talent are included in its outlook.

Loans, Deposits and Rate Environment Total loans ended the quarter at $7.6 billion, increasing at a 4.2% annualized rate. New originations totaled $234 million, while payoffs were elevated at $339 million. Loan commitments rose slightly, and line utilization increased to 60% from 59% in the prior quarter.

Management expects full-year loan growth in the mid-single digits if payoff activity normalizes in the second half. Paracchini said the recent elevated payoff activity partly reflects the bank’s effort to recycle acquired loan portfolios into new customer relationships.

Total deposits reached $7.9 billion, rising at a 3.5% annualized rate. Growth in interest-bearing checking balances was partly offset by lower money-market balances. The loan-to-deposit ratio ended the quarter at 96%.

Byline said competition for both loans and deposits remains elevated. Paracchini said price competition has intensified in commercial real estate, particularly as larger institutions return to certain segments of that market. He cited multifamily and industrial properties as areas where more capital is competing for a reduced level of transaction activity.

Bell said the company remains focused on relationship deposits rather than more rate-sensitive funding. He added that commercial customers moving balances from money-market accounts to interest-bearing checking could indicate they anticipate uses for that capital.

Credit Trends Remain Favorable Credit costs were $7.2 million during the quarter, including $4.4 million of net charge-offs and a $2.8 million reserve build. Net charge-offs equaled 24 basis points of loans, down from 32 basis points in the first quarter.

Criticized loans declined to 3.9% of total loans from 4.5% both sequentially and from a year earlier. Nonperforming loans totaled $69.1 million, or 92 basis points of total loans, up marginally from the prior quarter and flat year over year. The allowance for credit losses rose to $112 million, or 1.48% of total loans.

Chief Credit Officer Mark Fucinato said the decline in criticized and classified loans reflected improved performance at several larger operating companies, as well as the resolution of a workout situation in which an operating company sold a mortgaged asset and repaid its exposure in full. The bank also recorded a recovery on a prior charge-off.

Paracchini said management’s near-term expectation for net charge-offs remains in the range of 30 to 40 basis points, although he expects that level may migrate lower over time as the SBA portfolio becomes a smaller part of Byline’s overall balance sheet.

Capital Returns and $10 Billion Threshold Byline ended the quarter with total assets of $9.9 billion. Tangible common equity rose to 11.4%, while the common equity tier 1 ratio reached 12.9%. Tangible book value per share increased 14% from a year earlier to $24.48.

During the quarter, the company repurchased about 275,000 shares for $9.1 million. Including dividends and buybacks, its total shareholder payout ratio was 36%.

The board also approved a 16.7% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.14 per share. Paracchini said the increase reflects the company’s capital position and earnings profile.

Management said it continues preparing to cross the $10 billion asset threshold. Paracchini said the company is not currently constraining normal balance-sheet activity to stay below that level, but it could manage the balance sheet near year-end if doing so would delay the effects of the Durbin amendment until mid-2028.

On acquisitions, Paracchini described the environment for smaller-bank transactions as constructive. He said Byline would generally seek deals with tangible book value earn-backs within three years, while continuing to weigh acquisitions against organic growth, investments in the business and share repurchases.

About Byline Bancorp (NYSE:BY)Byline Bancorp, Inc is the bank holding company for Byline Bank, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Established under its current name in 2016, the company operates as a community-focused financial institution offering a broad array of banking products and services to corporate, professional and consumer clients.

On the commercial banking side, Byline Bancorp serves small and midsize businesses, real estate developers, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

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

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

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

While Byline Bancorp currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

The AI wave will soon hit public markets with Anthropic and OpenAI set to go public later this year. However, you don't have to wait to invest. This report shows seven AI stocks that you can buy today while the big model providers get ready to go public.

Get This Free Report

Friday, 24 July 2026 12:45 PM

Topic: 

Earnings DERBY, VT / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2026 / Community Bancorp. (NASDAQ:CMTV), the parent company of Community National Bank (the "Bank"), reported consolidated earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, of $4.7 million or $0.84 per share, an increase of $628,008 or 15.47% compared to $4.1 million or $0.72 per share reported for the second quarter of 2025. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2026, were $9.1 million, or $1.62 per share, also a significant increase of $1.5 million or 19.40% compared to $7.6 million or $1.34 per share in the same period in 2025.

Second Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

(Unaudited)

Six months Ended

Quarter Ended

Six months Ended

Quarter Ended

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Return on average assets

1.47

%

1.53

%

1.29

%

1.38

%

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets

1.96

%

2.11

%

1.67

%

1.81

%

Return on average shareholders' equity

15.63

%

15.83

%

15.05

%

15.62

%

Net Interest Margin

3.88

%

3.95

%

3.56

%

3.64

%

Efficiency Ratio

54.2

%

52.8

%

57.3

%

55.8

%

Noninterest expense to average assets

2.31

%

2.37

%

2.24

%

2.29

%

Dividend payout

30.86

%

29.76

%

35.82

%

33.33

%

Fully diluted tangible book value per common share (1)

$

19.51

$

19.51

$

16.63

$

16.63

Total capital to risk-weighted assets (2)

16.05

%

16.05

%

14.85

%

14.85

%

Total common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (2)

14.79

%

14.79

%

13.60

%

13.60

%

Tier I Capital to Average Assets (2)

10.63

%

10.63

%

10.06

%

10.06

%

Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)

9.41

%

9.41

%

8.21

%

8.21

%

Earnings per common share

$

1.62

$

0.84

$

1.34

$

0.72

Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share

5,590,465

5,594,749

5,608,997

5,612,675

(1)

Refer to the "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" section of this document for additional detail.

(2)

Represents Bank-only ratios. Current period capital ratios are preliminary subject to finalization of the Bank's June 30, 2026 FDIC Call Report.

Total assets for the Company at June 30, 2026, were $1.17 billion, a decrease of $114.8 million from year end 2025, but $6.2 million or 0.53% higher compared to $1.17 billion as of June 30, 2025. The year-to-date change primarily reflects annual maturities of municipal non arbitrage relationships and lower cash balances used to pay off two maturing advances totaling $25.0 million, as well as a cyclical decrease in deposit balances. Contributing to the Company's year-over-year growth in assets was growth in the Company's gross loan portfolio of $28.8 million, or 3.06%, compared to the 2025 period. Deposit balances increased $48.7 million, or 5.22%, compared to the same period in 2025 but decreased $89.0 million or 8.31% since year end 2025 reflecting cyclical changes. The year-over-year loan growth was primarily funded by a combination of cash, maturities of securities, as well as an increase in core deposits.

The Company's securities portfolio totaled $128 million as of June 30, 2026, an 11.45% decrease compared to $144.6 million as of December 31, 2025. The portfolio is classified as available-for-sale and is required to be reported at fair market value with the unrealized loss, net of a deferred tax adjustment, as an adjustment to total equity. Such unrealized losses reflect the interest rate environment, as current rates remain below the coupon rates on the securities, resulting in a fair market value lower than current book values. As of June 30, 2026, the adjustment to equity was $9.4 million, representing an improvement of $3.1 million from the adjustment to equity of $12.5 million on June 30, 2026 and $9.6 million as of December 31, 2025.

Total net interest income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, increased $1.4 million, or 13.68%, to $11.2 million, compared to $9.9 million for the same quarter in 2025. The quarter-over-quarter improvement reflects an increase of $1.1 million, or 7.72%, in interest and fees on loans due to strong loan growth and higher yields, partially offset by higher interest on deposits expense of $37,533, or 0.94%. Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, increased $2.9 million or 14.81%, to $22.2 million, compared to $19.3 million for the same period in 2025, reflecting the same trends.

The provision for credit losses for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, was $720,967 compared to $407,046 for the same period in 2025. The year-to-date provision for credit losses was $1.1 million, compared to $732,100 for the same period in 2025. The $380,373 year-over-year increase was driven primarily by strong loan growth. The provision for credit losses for June 30, 2026, was determined under Accounting Standard No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL.

Total non-interest income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, of $2.3 million increased $254,036, or 12.34%, compared to $2.1million for the same period in 2025. Total non-interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, grew to $4.1 million, compared to $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $420,767, or 11.57% year-over-year. Total non-interest expenses increased $497,838, or 7.47%, for the second quarter comparison period, and $1.1 million, or 7.98%, for the six months period year-over-year.

Equity capital increased to $120.9 million, with a book value per share of $21.58, as of June 30, 2026, compared to equity capital of $113.7 million and a book value per share of $20.36 as of December 31, 2025, and $106.3 million and book value per share of $18.69 as of June 30, 2025. This change includes a decrease of $237,432 in unrealized losses in the investment portfolio year-to-date and a decrease of $3.1 million year-over-year, due to changing bond rates, which increased the fair market value of the investment portfolio, as well as an increase of $6.3 million year-to-date and an increase of $12.8 million year-over-year in retained earnings. The unrealized loss position is considered temporary and does not impact the Company's regulatory capital ratios. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company completed the optional redemption of all fifteen of the Company's outstanding shares of its Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The preferred stock value of $1,500,000 was included in the Company's equity capital as of June 30, 2025.

President and CEO Christopher Caldwell commented on the Company's results: "Through the first half of 2026, the company continued its strong performance. Community banking thrives through relationship-based banking and this long-term approach to clients and our communities continues to serve us well. Our inclusion in both the ABA Nasdaq Community Bank Index and the Russell 2000 Index has increased the Company's visibility among investors and may support broader market awareness of our stock over time. Tangible book value per share increased by 17% for the year-to-date period compared to the same period of 2025. Year-to-date earnings per share increased 20% compared to the same period last year, and 16% for the second quarter compared to the same quarter of 2025. These results demonstrate the Company's commitment to serving our customers as Vermont's Community Bank. We are grateful for the trust that our communities, clients, and shareholders have placed in us."

As previously announced, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable August 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of July 15, 2026.

About Community Bancorp.

Community Bancorp. is the parent holding company for Community National Bank, headquartered in Derby, Vermont. Community National Bank is an independent bank that has been serving its communities since 1851, with retail banking offices located in Derby, Derby Line, Island Pond, Barton, Newport, Troy, St. Johnsbury, Montpelier, Barre, Lyndonville, Morrisville and Enosburg Falls as well as loan offices located in Burlington, Vermont and Lebanon, New Hampshire

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's financial condition, capital status, dividend payment practices, business outlook and affairs. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Although these statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, actual conditions, results, and events may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, as they could be influenced by numerous factors which are unpredictable and outside the Company's control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such statements include, among others, the following: (1) general national or regional economic conditions, national fiscal or monetary policies, or national or international tariff or trade conditions result in a deterioration of the credit quality of our loan portfolio or diminished demand for the Company's products and services; (2) changes in laws or government rules, or the way in which courts interpret those laws or rules, adversely affect the financial industry generally or the Company's business in particular, or may impose additional costs and regulatory requirements; (3) interest rates change in such a way as to reduce the Company's interest margins and its funding sources; and (4) competitive pressures increase among financial services providers in the Company's northern New England market area or in the financial services industry generally, including pressures from nonbank financial service providers, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers and from changes in technology and delivery systems, and other factors that are listed from time to time in our financial filings with the SEC, including our Forms 10Q and 10K. The Company cautions you not to rely unduly on forward-looking statements because the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and projections about future events may, and often do, differ materially from actual results or events. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as to the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made, except as otherwise required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), management supplements this evaluation with certain non-GAAP financial measures such as pre-tax, pre-provision income; fully diluted tangible book value per common share and tangible common equity to tangible assets. Management believe these non-GAAP financial measures help investors better understand the Company's operating performance and trends and allow for better performance comparisons to other financial institutions. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures remove the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP operating results, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other financial institutions. Reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures can be found at the end of this document.

Community Bancorp. And Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

June 30,

December 31,

2026

2025

Assets

Cash and due from banks

$

19,772,554

$

11,802,391

Federal funds sold and overnight deposits

5,840,996

116,259,370

Total cash and cash equivalents

25,613,550

128,061,761

Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost $139,848,277
and $156,694,754 at 06/30/26 and 12/31/25, respectively

127,982,828

144,528,758

Restricted equity securities, at cost

1,918,950

2,933,050

Loans held-for-sale

813,332

138,000

Loans

970,535,252

965,285,662

Allowance for credit losses

(11,881,321

)

(10,864,983

)

Deferred net loan costs

940,423

786,604

Net loans

959,594,354

955,207,283

Bank premises and equipment, net

12,220,494

12,090,886

Accrued interest receivable

4,505,039

4,607,975

Bank owned life insurance

5,435,603

5,398,085

Goodwill

11,574,269

11,574,269

Other real estate owned

-

319,019

Other assets

23,090,295

22,699,860

Total assets

$

1,172,748,714

$

1,287,558,946

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Liabilities

Deposits:

Demand, non-interest bearing

$

204,738,374

$

218,842,543

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

278,551,211

299,636,739

Money market funds

125,665,889

187,132,921

Savings

146,071,626

142,543,291

Time deposits, $250,000 and over

48,195,437

46,913,997

Other time deposits

178431659

175,598,510

Total deposits

981,654,196

1,070,668,001

Repurchase agreements

35,019,257

41,498,171

Borrowed funds

10,975,022

35,975,022

Junior subordinated debentures

12,887,000

12,887,000

Accrued interest and other liabilities

11,319,225

12,843,774

Total liabilities

1,051,854,700

1,173,871,968

Shareholders' Equity

Common stock - $2.50 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized,

5,902,267 shares issued at 06/30/26, 5,882,266 shares issued at 12/31/25

14,755,668

14,705,665

Additional paid-in capital

40,757,013

40,076,561

Retained earnings

79,287,690

73,021,908

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(9,373,705

)

(9,611,137

)

Less: treasury stock, at cost; 300,409 shares at 06/30/26 and 299,399
shares at 12/31/25

(4,532,652

)

(4,506,019

)

Total shareholders' equity

120,894,014

113,686,978

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

1,172,748,714

$

1,287,558,946

Book value per common share outstanding

$

21.58

$

20.36

Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Quarter Ended

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2025

Interest income

Interest and fees on loans

$

14,748,598

$

13,691,705

Interest on taxable debt securities

741,821

948,048

Interest on tax-exempt debt securities

80,411

80,411

Dividends

47,363

58,595

Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits

424,413

71,857

Total interest income

16,042,606

14,850,616

Interest expense

Interest on deposits

4,009,541

3,972,008

Interest on borrowed funds

301,838

444,596

Interest on repurchase agreements

262,376

298,057

Interest on junior subordinated debentures

221,045

241,413

Total interest expense

4,794,800

4,956,074

Net interest income

11,247,806

9,894,542

Credit loss expense

720,967

407,046

Net interest income after credit loss expense

10,526,839

9,487,496

Non-interest income

Service fees

988,219

969,775

Income from sold loans

89,692

96,705

Other income from loans

537,043

331,759

Income from investment in CFS Partners

579,795

548,307

Other income

117,998

112,165

Total non-interest income

2,312,747

2,058,711

Non-interest expense

Salaries and wages

2,632,767

2,392,661

Employee benefits

1,102,841

1,056,273

Occupancy expenses, net

779,462

794,451

Other expenses

2,650,168

2,424,015

Total non-interest expense

7,165,238

6,667,400

Income before income taxes

5,674,348

4,878,807

Income tax expense

986,564

819,031

Net income

$

4,687,784

$

4,059,776

Earnings per common share

$

0.84

$

0.72

Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share

5,594,749

5,612,675

Dividends declared per common share

$

0.25

$

0.24

Six Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2025

Interest income

Interest and fees on loans

$

29,181,219

$

26,906,737

Interest on taxable debt securities

1,546,571

1,807,276

Interest on tax-exempt debt securities

160,823

160,823

Dividends

99,321

106,485

Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits

1,081,511

393,806

Total interest income

32,069,445

29,375,127

Interest expense

Interest on deposits

8,186,172

8,157,915

Interest on borrowed funds

687,788

815,574

Interest on repurchase agreements

556,106

584,016

Interest on junior subordinated debentures

443,692

484,758

Total interest expense

9,873,758

10,042,263

Net interest income

22,195,687

19,332,864

Credit loss expense

1,112,473

732,100

Net interest income after credit loss expense

21,083,214

18,600,764

Non-interest income

Service fees

1,924,696

1,856,557

Income from sold loans

159,237

166,082

Other income from loans

887,238

601,927

Income from investment in CFS Partners

822,234

797,658

Other income

264,682

215,096

Total non-interest income

4,058,087

3,637,320

Non-interest expense

Salaries and wages

5,211,603

4,712,727

Employee benefits

2,214,118

2,074,245

Occupancy expenses, net

1,554,443

1,576,307

Other expenses

5,242,433

4,807,731

Total non-interest expense

14,222,597

13,171,010

Income before income taxes

10,918,704

9,067,074

Income tax expense

1,861,817

1,481,843

Net income

$

9,056,887

$

7,585,231

Earnings per common share

$

1.62

$

1.34

Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share

5,590,465

5,608,997

Dividends declared per common share

$

0.50

$

0.48

Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Earnings Per Share ("EPS") (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

For the Quarter Ended June 30,

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

(In thousands, except per share data)

Net income

$

4,688

$

4,060

$

9,057

$

7,585

Less: dividends to preferred shareholders

-

$

28

-

$

56

Net income available to common shareholders

$

4,688

$

4,032

$

9,057

$

7,529

Weighted average number of common shares used in computing earnings per share

5,594,749

5,612,675

5,590,465

5,608,997

Earnings per common share

$

0.84

$

0.72

$

1.62

$

1.34

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(unaudited)

Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

Quarter Ended

June 30, 2026

Computation of Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue

Net interest income

$

11,247,806

Non-interest income

$

2,312,747

Less: Non-interest expense

$

7,165,238

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue

$

6,395,315

Computation of Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue

$

6,395,315

Average Assets

$

1,228,309,434

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets

2.11

%

As of

June 30, 2026

December 31, 2025

June 30, 2025

Computation of Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value per Common Share

Total shareholders' equity

$

120,894

$

113,687

$

106,343

Less:

Preferred Stock

-

-

$

1,500

Common shareholders' equity

$

120,894

$

113,687

$

104,843

Less:

Goodwill

$

11,574

$

11,574

$

11,574

Other Intangibles

-

-

-

Tangible common shareholders' equity

$

109,320

$

102,113

$

93,269

Common shares issued and outstanding

5,601,858

5,582,927

5,608,914

Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value per Common Share

$

19.51

$

18.29

$

16.63

As of

June 30, 2026

December 31, 2025

June 30, 2025

Computation of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

Common Equity

$

120,894

$

113,687

$

106,343

Less:

Goodwill

$

11,574

$

11,574

$

11,574

Other Intangibles

-

-

-

Tangible Common Equity

$

109,320

$

102,113

$

94,769

Total Assets

$

1,172,749

$

1,287,559

$

1,166,586

Less:

Goodwill

$

11,574

$

11,574

$

11,574

Other Intangibles

-

-

-

Tangible Assets

$

1,161,175

$

1,275,985

$

1,155,012

Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

9.41

%

8.00

%

8.21

%

For more information, contact:
Investor Relations
[email protected]

SOURCE: Community Bancorp. Inc Vermont

Key Takeaways Boston Beer's Q2 EPS fell 33% y/y to $3.65, while revenues declined 3.3% to $568 million.SAM's depletions dropped 6% as weakness across key brands offset growth in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard.SAM cut its 2026 capital spending forecast to $60-$80 million from $70-$90 million. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (SAM - Free Report) reported lower-than-expected revenues and earnings in second-quarter 2026. The top and bottom lines also fell year over year. It posted second-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.65, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.77. The reported number decreased 33% from the year-ago figure.

Net revenues declined 3.3% to $568 million and missed the consensus estimate of $572 million by 0.7%. Higher advertising, promotional and selling expenses, along with lower volumes, weighed on results.

SAM Faces Weaker Volumes and Brand PressureDepletions dipped 6% in the quarter, while shipment volume declined 4.5% to about 2 million barrels. Lower shipments of Twisted Tea, Truly, Samuel Adams, Hard Mountain Dew and Dogfish Head more than offset growth in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard.

Year-to-date depletions through the 26-week period ended June 27, 2026, decreased roughly 5% from the comparable period in 2025.

Boston Beer said distributor inventories were appropriate at the quarter-end and averaged roughly four and a half weeks on hand, unchanged from the comparable 2025 period. Favorable product mix and pricing partly cushioned the impact of lower volumes.

Analysis of Boston Beer’s Q2 Margins & ExpensesSAM reported a gross margin of 50.4%, up 60 basis points (bps) from the second quarter of 2025, benefiting from price increases, a favorable product mix, procurement savings and enhanced brewery efficiencies. The gain was partly offset by inflationary, commodity and tariff costs. Gross margin also included $1.6 million of shortfall fees and non-cash expenses of third-party production pre-payments in total, which hurt the metric by nearly 28 bps on an absolute basis.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased 16.4%, or $26.2 million, from the prior-year quarter. The increase included $17.5 million of higher brand, local marketing and point-of-sale investments.

Freight costs rose $8.6 million because of higher rates, partly offset by lower volumes. General and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million, mainly because of higher legal fees and salary and benefit costs.

SAM Maintains Liquidity and Returns Cash to HoldersBoston Beer ended the quarter with $265.5 million in cash and no debt. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $117.6 million for the first 26 weeks of 2026, while capital expenditures were $22.9 million.

The company repurchased $54.1 million of Class A shares from Dec. 29, 2025, through July 17, 2026. About $174 million remained under its board-authorized $1.6 billion repurchase limit as of July 17.

SAM Updates 2026 GuidanceBoston Beer updated its full-year 2026 guidance while cautioning that results remain sensitive to volume trends, supply-chain execution, inflation, commodity costs and tariff policies. The company continues to expect depletions and shipments to decline in the low-single-digit to mid-single-digit range, with price increases of 1-2%. It raised the lower end of its gross margin outlook to 48.5% from 48%, while retaining the upper end at 50%. Tariff costs are still projected at $20-$30 million.

Management lowered its anticipated year-over-year increase in advertising, promotional and selling expenses to $0-$20 million from $20-$40 million expected earlier. It also revised the GAAP loss outlook to $6.23-$4.23 per share from a loss of $7.02-$5.02, reflecting a reduced litigation-related impact of $14.73 per share versus $15.52 previously. The adjusted tax rate forecast remains 29-30%, while adjusted earnings guidance was maintained at $8.50-$10.50 per share. Capital spending is now expected to be $60-$80 million, down from the prior projection of $70-$90 million.

The company continues to monitor commodity inflation, particularly energy costs, which affect freight and aluminum expenses. Supply-chain improvements implemented in 2025 have helped stabilize distributor inventory levels, though shipment timing is expected to influence second-half comparisons. Boston Beer anticipates shipments to decline in the low- to mid-single-digit range in the third quarter, followed by modest growth in the fourth quarter.

Gross margin improvement is expected to be most pronounced in the fourth quarter, aided by lower shortfall fees compared with the prior year. However, shortfall fees and non-cash expenses related to third-party production prepayments are still projected to reduce full-year gross margin by 40-60 basis points. Advertising investment is expected to decline year over year in the fourth quarter due to lower planned spending and a tough comparison with elevated production costs in the prior-year period.

This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have declined 25.5% in the past three months, underperforming the industry’s 3.8% growth.

SAM Stock's Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FMX - Free Report) operates as a franchise bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages worldwide. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FMX's current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 17.3% and 131%, respectively. FMX delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of nearly 17%, on average.

Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, the company flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.

The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) develops, manufactures, markets and distributes coconut water products under the Vita Coco brand name. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COCO's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 22.3% and 48.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.7%, on average.

Investors interested in Insurance - Multi line stocks are likely familiar with Radian (RDN) and Axa Sa (AXAHY). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?

SEI Investments (SEIC - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company.

Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this investment management firm is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. This insight is at the core of our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank.

The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.

Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for SEI Investments, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates.

The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $1.59 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of +22.3%.

Over the last 30 days, four estimates have moved higher for SEI compared to no negative revisions. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 6.01%.

Current-Year Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $6.20 per share for the full year, which represents a change of +10.1% from the prior-year number.

There has been an encouraging trend in estimate revisions for the current year as well. Over the past month, four estimates have moved up for SEI versus no negative revisions. This has pushed the consensus estimate 5.4% higher.

Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, SEI currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.

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

Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.

Bottom LineWhile strong estimate revisions for SEI have attracted decent investments and pushed the stock 10% higher over the past four weeks, further upside may still be left in the stock. So, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.

Key Takeaways Liquidia is seeing rapid YUTREPIA adoption, rising referrals, more prescribers and market-share gains.Energy Transfer's 140,000-mile pipeline network supports stable fee-based revenue across key U.S. basins.PBF Energy may benefit as strong refinery utilization offsets high-oil-price input costs. Oil prices are climbing again as the Iran war intensifies. This is creating uncertainty, and the market will likely be volatile. With fears dominating the market, it is an ideal time for investors to increase their allocation to low-beta companies. Stocks that seem to be good bets now are Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) , Energy Transfer LP (ET - Free Report) and PBF Energy Inc. (PBF - Free Report) .

What Does Beta of a Stock Measure?

Beta measures the volatility or risk of a particular asset compared to the market. In other words, beta measures the extent of a security’s price movement relative to the market. In this article, we are considering the S&P 500 as the market.

If a stock has a beta of 1, then the price of the stock will move with the market. So, the stock is more volatile than the market if its beta is more than 1. In the same way, the stock is not as volatile as the market if its beta is less than 1.

For example, if the market offers a return of 20%, a stock with a beta of 3 will return 60%, which is overwhelming. Similarly, when the market slips 20%, the stock will sink 60%, which is devastating.

Screening Criteria Using Research Wizard:

We have taken a beta between 0 and 0.6 as our prime criterion for screening stocks that are less volatile than the market. However, this should not be the only factor to be considered while selecting a winning strategy. We need to take into account other parameters that can add value to the portfolio.

Percentage Change in Price in the Last 4 Weeks Greater Than Zero: This ensures that the stocks saw positive price movement over the last month.

Average 20-Day Volume Greater Than 50,000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stocks are easily tradable.

Price Greater Than or Equal to $5: They must all be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.

Zacks Rank Equal to 1 (Strong Buy):Zacks Rank #1 stocks indicate that they will significantly outperform the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Here are three of the 24 stocks that qualified for the screening:

Liquidia

Liquidia is experiencing rapid growth in YUTREPIA adoption, with increasing patient referrals, expanding prescriber base and rising market share. The company has achieved profitability and is generating positive cash flow, supported by a strong cash position. It is also pursuing expansion into additional indications and larger market opportunities through ongoing and planned clinical developments.

Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer has a stable business model with its huge pipeline network of natural gas, oil and refined petroleum products across 140,000 miles. The partnership has midstream assets in all the key basins in the United States, generating stable fee-based revenues.

The partnership has offered a higher dividend yield than the composite stocks belonging to the industry over the past three consecutive years. For this year, the partnership is likely to see earnings growth of 18.2%.

PBF Energy

PBF Energy is among the leading refiners in the United States. Strong refinery utilization in the United States to meet resilient demand is expected to continue to offset the negative impacts of elevated input costs, driven by high oil prices. This is possibly aiding PBF’s bottom line.

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

Associated Banc-Corp (ASB - Free Report) is headquartered in Green Bay, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of 17.47% since the start of the year. Currently paying a dividend of $0.24 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.17%. In comparison, the Banks - Midwest industry's yield is 2.51%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.33%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.96 is up 3.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Associated Banc-Corp has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.59%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Associated Banc-Corp's current payout ratio is 33%, meaning it paid out 33% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Earnings growth looks solid for ASB for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.91 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 5.05%.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, ASB is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) between October 14, 2024 to May 4, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 24, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Peabody Energy common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Peabody Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/peabody-energy-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Peabody Energy's Centurion mine and the multitude of issues causing delays to the ramp-up and the return to full longwall production dates. On March 30, 2026, Peabody Energy issued a press release lowering guidance pertaining to Centurion mine's expected first quarter 2026 output ahead of Peabody Energy's full earnings release. In pertinent part, defendants announced that sales volume from the Centurion mine was expected to deliver approximately 250,000 tons in the first quarter due to mining commissioning challenges (compared to previous estimates of around 700,000 tons). When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Peabody Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/peabody-energy-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306469

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) Q4 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Debbie Hancock - Vice President of Investor Relations
Jan Eli B. Craps - Executive Chair
Mike Smith - President, CEO & Director
James Gray - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Andrew Lazar - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Peter Galbo - BofA Securities, Research Division
Thomas Palmer - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Max Andrew Gumport - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Scott Marks - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good day, and welcome to the Lamb Weston Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. Today's call is being recorded. At this time, I'd like to turn the call over to Debbie Hancock. Please go ahead.

Debbie Hancock
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for Lamb Weston's Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. I'm Debbie Hancock, Lamb Weston's Vice President of Investor Relations. Earlier today, we issued our press release and posted slides that we will use for our discussion today. You will find both on our website at lambweston.com.

Please note that during our remarks, we will make forward-looking statements about the company's expected performance that are based on our current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in our SEC filings for more details on our forward-looking statements.

Some of today's remarks include non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a replacement for and should be read together with our GAAP results. You can find the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations in our earnings release in the appendix to our presentation. Joining me today are Jan Craps, Executive Chair; Mike Smith, President and CEO; and Jim Gray, Chief Financial Officer.

Key Takeaways AppFolio beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as Value Added Services and premium tiers grew.APPF raised 2026 revenue and non-GAAP operating margin guidance after a strong second quarter.AppFolio expanded premium-tier adoption, boosted cash flow and grew units under management to 9.6 million. AppFolio, Inc. (APPF - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1.71 per share, which increased 23.9% year over year. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67 by 2.4%.

Revenues rose 19.3% to $281 million and beat the consensus mark of $277 million by 1.5%. Growth reflected strength in Value Added Services, premium-tier adoption and new customer wins. Units under management increased 8% to 9.6 million.

APPF's Q2 Revenue Mix StrengthensSubscription Services revenues increased 14% year over year to $59.8 million. Management attributed the gain to new customer additions, growth in units under management and continued upgrades to the Plus and Max premium tiers.

Value Added Services revenues advanced 21.8% to $219.5 million, led by FolioGuard risk mitigation services, FolioScreen offerings and online payments. Resident Onboarding Lift, Move-In Services through LiveEasy and Realm-X Performers also contributed a growing share. Other revenues declined 37.2% to $1.9 million.

AppFolio Expands Platform AdoptionAppFolio ended the quarter with 22,751 customers, up 6% from 21,403 a year earlier. Nearly one in three units was on a premium tier compared with approximately one in four previously, indicating deeper adoption of the company’s Plus and Max offerings.

The company expanded Realm-X Flows, its workflow orchestration layer, to five times the number of triggers and more than 1,000 conditional routing options. Among customers using Flows, runs grew at a triple-digit rate across lead nurturing, rental applications, move-ins, delinquency and renewals.

Leasing Performer was involved in roughly half of completed showings for customers that deployed it. Bluestone’s use of the product handled more than 10,000 leads, 55% of which arrived after hours, while delivering an average response time of less than nine seconds.

APPF Widens Operating MarginsNon-GAAP operating income grew 23.8% year over year to $76.2 million. The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 90 basis points to 27.1%, reflecting operating leverage as revenues grew faster than several expense categories.

GAAP operating income increased 30.8% to $53 million, while the corresponding margin improved 160 basis points to 18.8%. GAAP net income rose 15.5% to $41.5 million.

Non-GAAP cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, was 36% of revenues, up from 35%. Operating efficiencies were offset by the payments product mix and incremental data-center capacity supporting increased customer use of AI capabilities.
Research and development declined to 15% of revenues from 16%, aided by productivity gains from AI tools. Sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses remained at 14% and 7% of revenues, respectively. The workforce grew 3% to 1,732 employees.

AppFolio's Cash Flow and Balance SheetOperating cash flow totaled $87.6 million, up 66.4% from $52.6 million in the year-ago quarter. The measure represented 31.2% of revenues compared with 22.3% a year earlier, highlighting stronger cash conversion alongside profit growth.

APPF ended June with $217.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $4.3 million in current investment securities. The company had no borrowings under its $150 million revolving credit facility and remained in compliance with its covenants.

The company did not repurchase shares during the second quarter after spending $125 million on buybacks in the first quarter. Management said its capital-allocation priorities remain focused on business investment, with repurchases conducted opportunistically.

APPF Raises 2026 OutlookAppFolio raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $1.117-$1.127 billion. The midpoint implies 18% growth, supported by premium-tier adoption, new business units and increased use of offerings, including agentic AI Performers and resident services. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for AppFolio’s revenues are pegged at $1.12 billion, implying a year-over-year increase of 17.5%.

The outlook assumes a more moderate pace of unit expansion among existing customers, while new customer acquisition and retention remain healthy. Management expects Subscription Services and Value Added Services seasonality to be broadly consistent with 2025.

The company also lifted its non-GAAP operating margin outlook to 26.5-28%. Management expects cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, to remain relatively flat as a percentage of revenues compared with 2025. Diluted weighted-average shares are projected at approximately 36 million.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AppFolio’s earnings in 2026 is pegged at $6.75, implying a year-over-year increase of 28%.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderCurrently, TXN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better top-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector are Analog Devices (ADI - Free Report) , Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) and Cisco Systems (CSCO - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Shares of Analog Devices have rallied 69.6% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADI’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.42 per share, down by a penny over the past seven days, indicating an increase of 59.4% year over year.

Shares of Applied Materials have skyrocketed 196.2% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMAT’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.14 per share, up by a penny over the past seven days, indicating a rise of 28.9% year over year.

Cisco Systems shares have surged 63.6% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSCO’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.28 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating an increase of 12.3% year over year.

Key Takeaways CMCSA wireless added a record 448K lines as Connectivity & Platforms EBITDA beat estimates.Peacock's first EBITDA profit helped Media EBITDA beat estimates on sports and ad strength.Studios EBITDA beat estimates, while Theme Parks EBITDA missed on weaker attendance. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.04, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents and declined 16.7% year over year.

Revenues of $29.94 billion beat the consensus mark by 2.33% and declined 1.2% year over year, though pro forma revenues, which adjust for the Versant separation and the sale of Sky's German operations, increased 4.7%. (Read More: Comcast's Q2 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Decrease Y/Y)

The company ended the quarter with 10.2 million domestic wireless lines, up from 8.5 million in the prior year period. However, total domestic broadband customers declined to 28.5 million from 29 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 13.4% to $8.9 billion, or 5.3% on a pro forma basis.

Wireless and Peacock Strength Drive Segment BeatsDomestic wireless line net additions of 448,000 marked the company's best quarterly result on record and beat the consensus estimate by 11.64%. Domestic broadband customer net losses of 167,000 came in worse than expected, missing the consensus mark by 3.43%, while domestic video customer net losses of 280,000 also missed estimates by 2.28%.

At Media, Peacock achieved quarterly profitability for the first time, generating EBITDA of $189 million compared with a loss of $101 million in the prior year period, on the back of the NBA playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA. Media Adjusted EBITDA of $708 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.63%.

Studios also outperformed, with Adjusted EBITDA of $202 million beating the consensus mark by 18.07%, supported by strong theatrical performance across the slate.

Connectivity & Platforms Beats While Theme Parks MissTotal Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $7.96 billion declined year over year but beat the consensus estimate by 0.69%. Within the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $6.45 billion beat estimates by 0.25%, while Business Services Connectivity Adjusted EBITDA of $1.52 billion beat by 2.34%, aided by growth in enterprise solutions offerings.

Theme Parks Adjusted EBITDA of $609 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.72%, pressured by softening attendance in Orlando amid higher travel costs and weaker consumer sentiment, as well as continued China-related travel restrictions affecting the Osaka park.

Total Content & Experiences Adjusted EBITDA of $1.33 billion beat the consensus mark by 13.48%, as strength in Media and Studios more than offset the Theme Parks shortfall.

Broadband and Advertising Revenue Top EstimatesDomestic broadband revenues declined 5.5% to $6.28 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.45%, as lower average rates and a smaller customer base weighed on the top line despite the beat.

Media domestic advertising revenue rose 55% to $2.16 billion, beating the consensus mark by 12.24%, driven in part by incremental FIFA World Cup advertising along with stronger NBA and Peacock advertising demand.

Within Content & Experiences, Studios content licensing revenues declined slightly to $1.80 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.04%, as lower film studio licensing activity offset gains at the television studios.

Studios’ theatrical revenues, however, surged to $972 million from $284 million a year earlier, beating the consensus mark by 199.46%, powered by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael.

Comcast generated free cash flow of $4.6 billion in the quarter and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderComcast currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Cimpress have returned 46.2% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.

Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.4% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Shares of News Corporation have returned 0.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 05.