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Cwm LLC boosted its stake in A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) by 116.3% during the undefined quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,146 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 18,362 shares during the period. Cwm LLC's

First Quarter 2026 Highlights
(Comparisons are year-over-year ("YoY"), unless otherwise noted)

Sales of $946 million; net earnings of $118 million and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.85 North America segment sales of $753.4 million increased 1% with the addition of Leonard Valve and pricing benefits offsetting softer water heater industry volumes and weather-related production and shipping constraints Rest of World segment sales of $200.7 million decreased 11% due to continued challenges in the consumer appliance market in China Net earnings decreased primarily as a result of lower volumes and transaction-related expenses recognized in the quarter for the Leonard Valve acquisition Strong growth in operating cash flow and free cash flow to $129 million and $119 million, respectively Primarily due to continued challenging conditions in China, 2026 full year EPS guidance lowered to: Diluted EPS of between $3.60 and $3.90 Adjusted EPS of between $3.70 and $4.00 , /PRNewswire/ -- Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation ("the Company") (NYSE: AOS) today announced its first quarter 2026 results.

Key Financial Metrics 

First Quarter
(in millions, except per share amounts)

Q1 2026

Q1 2025

% Change YoY

Net sales

$ 945.6

$ 963.9

-2 %

Net earnings

$ 118.0

$ 136.6

-14 %

Diluted earnings per share

$   0.85

$   0.95

-11 %

Chief Executive Officer Steve Shafer commented, "Our team executed with focus and agility in the first quarter, continuing to support our customers well in the face of a continued soft macro environment. As we anticipated, softer demand in China impacted results. In North America, results were impacted by residential water heater industry demand that was modestly below our expectations, compounded by temporary weather-related disruptions at our Ashland City, Tennessee facility. Separately, in April, we took another step in our business simplification and margin enhancement efforts within our North America water treatment business by announcing a targeted restructuring plan that will be recognized in the second quarter. We believe these actions are an important step in advancing a stronger business model to achieve a higher level of profitable growth."

Segment-level Performance

North America

First quarter sales of $753.4 million increased 1% relative to a difficult 2025 comparison as the benefits of carryover pricing actions and the $16 million sales contribution from the newly acquired Leonard Valve business were largely offset by lower residential water heater volumes. The first quarter of 2026 was negatively impacted by weather-related production and shipping constraints, particularly as a direct result of storm damage at the Company's Ashland City, Tennessee plant. The first quarter of 2025 benefited from incremental volume from the pull forward of water heater and boiler sales ahead of tariff and other cost-related price increases.

Segment earnings were $175.4 million and segment margin was 23.3% in first quarter of 2026 compared to first quarter of 2025 segment earnings of $185.2 million and segment margin of 24.7%. The year-over-year decrease in segment earnings and segment margin was primarily due to lower residential water heater volumes which more than offset the earnings contribution from Leonard Valve. The first quarter of 2025 benefited from a stronger mix toward higher efficiency products as certain customers bought ahead of an announced price increase.

Rest of World

Rest of World sales of $200.7 million decreased 11% compared to the prior year period and included a favorable currency translation impact of $8 million primarily related to sales in China. China sales decreased 17% in local currency due to continued weak consumer demand.

Segment earnings were $12.4 million and segment margin was 6.2% in the first quarter of 2026, compared to segment earnings of $19.7 million and segment margin of 8.7% in the same period of 2025. The lower segment earnings and segment margin compared to the prior year were primarily due to lower sales volumes that were partially offset by continued cost management in China.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital Allocation

As of March 31, 2026, cash and marketable securities balances totaled $203.9 million and debt totaled $615.8 million, resulting in a leverage ratio of 24.7% as measured by total debt-to-total capitalization. The increased leverage ratio compared to 2025 was due to cash borrowed under a new term loan used to acquire Leonard Valve in January 2026.

Cash provided by operations was $129.4 million and free cash flow was $118.9 million in the first three months of 2026, both higher than the same period in 2025, primarily driven by diligent working capital management and the timing of customer payments that more than offset lower earnings.

As part of its commitment to return capital to shareholders, the Company repurchased 0.7 million shares at a cost of $51.3 million in the first three months of 2026. As of March 31, 2026, authority remained to repurchase approximately 5.1 million additional shares. The Company projects that it will spend $200 million to repurchase shares in 2026.

On April 13, 2026, the Company's board of directors approved a $0.36 per share dividend for shareholders of record on April 30, payable on May 15. For the full release, click here.

Outlook

2026 Outlook
(in millions, except per share amounts)

2025

2026 Outlook

Actual

Low End

High End

Net sales

$  3,830

$    3,900

$    4,000

Diluted earnings per share

$    3.85

$      3.60

$      3.90

Adjusted earnings per share

$    3.85

    $    3.701

   $    4.001

1 

Excludes announced North America water treatment pre-tax restructuring and impairment expenses of approximately $20 million to be recognized in the second quarter. See accompanying GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliations

The Company revised its full-year 2026 sales growth outlook to a range of 2% to 4%, lowering the high end compared to the previous range of 2% to 5%. The Company also lowered its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to be between $3.70 and $4.00, down from $3.85 to $4.15.

Shafer concluded, "Primarily based on our latest view of our China business and partially due to increased uncertainty around regulatory changes scheduled to take effect later this year in North America, we have updated our full-year expectations. In China, we expect market conditions to remain challenging through the year and have identified several actions to improve performance. These actions are pending the conclusion of our assessment of the business. In North America, we remain confident in our competitive positioning and the underlying strength of the business despite a slower-than-expected start to the year driven by softer macro conditions." 

"We believe our strong balance sheet and free cash flow give us the flexibility to support organic growth, dividends and share repurchases while continuing to pursue strategic acquisitions to support our focus on portfolio management."

The Company's guidance excludes the potential impacts from future acquisitions, any potential outcomes of the assessment of its China business and changes to tariffs after the date of this release.

A. O. Smith will host a webcasted conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) today. The call can be heard live on the Company's website click here. An audio replay of the call will be available on the Company's website after the live event. To access the archived audio replay, go to the "Investors" page and select the First Quarter 2026 Earnings Call link.

To provide improved transparency into the operating results of its business, the Company is providing non-GAAP measures. Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operations less capital expenditures. Adjusted EPS excludes the impact of restructuring and impairment charges. Reconciliations from GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures are provided in the financial information included in this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains statements that the Company believes are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "continue," "guidance," "outlook", "confident" or words of similar meaning. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the following: further weakening in North American residential or commercial construction or instability in the Company's replacement markets; failure to realize the expected benefits of acquisitions or expected synergies; difficulties in predicting results of operations of an acquired business; negative impact to the Company's businesses from international tariffs, including any new or increased tariffs that could also trigger retaliatory responses from other countries, as well as trade disputes and geopolitical differences, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; further softening in U.S. residential and commercial water heater demand; negative impacts to the Company, particularly the demand for its products, resulting from global inflationary pressures or a potential recession in one or more of the markets in which the Company participates; the Company's ability to continue to obtain commodities, components, parts and accessories on a timely basis through its supply chain and at expected costs, including the recent volatility in fuel and other material prices; inability of the Company to implement or maintain pricing actions; inconsistent recovery of the Chinese economy or a further decline in the growth rate of consumer spending or housing sales in China; the availability, timing or effects of China stimulus programs; uncertain outcomes and costs and other potential impacts of the Company's assessment relating to the Company's China business; the failure to realize the expected benefits of restructuring actions; further weakening in the high-efficiency gas boiler segment in the U.S.; substantial defaults in payment by, material reduction in purchases by or the loss, bankruptcy or insolvency of a major customer; foreign currency fluctuations; failure to realize the expected benefits, timing and extent of regulatory changes; competitive pressures on the Company's businesses, including new technologies and new competitors; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches; negative impact of changes in government regulations or regulatory requirements; the inability to respond to secular trends toward decarbonization and energy efficiency; and adverse developments in general economic, political and business conditions in key regions of the world. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are made only as of the date of this release, and the Company is under no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributed to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are qualified entirely by these cautionary statements.

About A. O. Smith
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings

(dollars in millions, except share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

2026

2025

Net sales

$

945.6

$

963.9

Cost of products sold

579.9

588.5

Gross profit

365.7

375.4

Selling, general and administrative expenses

203.9

192.6

Interest expense

7.1

2.9

Other income, net

—

(1.2)

Earnings before provision for income taxes

154.7

181.1

Provision for income taxes

36.7

44.5

Net earnings

$

118.0

$

136.6

Diluted earnings per share of common stock

$

0.85

$

0.95

Average common shares outstanding (000's omitted)

139,167

144,408

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

(dollars in millions)

(Unaudited)
March 31,
2026

December 31,
2025

ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

185.2

$

174.5

Marketable securities

18.7

18.7

Receivables

634.1

582.3

Inventories

488.5

479.3

Other current assets

41.9

36.7

Total Current Assets

1,368.4

1,291.5

Net property, plant and equipment

632.2

635.1

Goodwill and other intangibles

1,518.6

1,072.9

Operating lease assets

51.8

46.3

Other assets

79.3

97.0

Total Assets

$

3,650.3

$

3,142.8

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Trade payables

$

543.0

$

504.1

Accrued payroll and benefits

60.7

93.6

Accrued liabilities

159.4

147.5

Product warranties

73.4

75.0

Debt due within one year

41.6

42.3

Total Current Liabilities

878.1

862.5

Long-term debt

574.2

112.7

Pension liabilities

7.4

7.4

Operating lease liabilities

40.7

37.1

Other liabilities

272.0

265.1

Stockholders' equity

1,877.9

1,858.0

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

3,650.3

$

3,142.8

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(dollars in millions)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

2026

2025

Operating Activities

Net earnings

$

118.0

$

136.6

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation & amortization

23.9

20.7

Share based compensation expense

6.6

6.1

Deferred income taxes

18.3

(5.0)

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Current assets and liabilities

(43.2)

(125.3)

Noncurrent assets and liabilities

5.8

5.6

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

129.4

38.7

Investing Activities

Capital expenditures

(10.5)

(21.3)

Acquisitions

(470.0)

—

Investment in marketable securities

—

(22.6)

Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities

—

33.1

Cash Used in Investing Activities

(480.5)

(10.8)

Financing Activities

Proceeds from debt

564.4

240.5

Repayments of debt

(101.1)

(164.0)

Common stock repurchases

(51.3)

(120.6)

Net payments from stock option activity

(0.5)

(1.8)

Dividends paid

(50.2)

(49.2)

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

361.3

(95.1)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

0.5

0.6

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

10.7

(66.6)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

174.5

239.6

Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period

$

185.2

$

173.0

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Business Segments

(dollars in millions)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

Net sales

North America

$

753.4

$

748.7

Rest of World

200.7

226.7

Inter-segment sales

(8.5)

(11.5)

$

945.6

$

963.9

Earnings

North America

$

175.4

$

185.2

Rest of World

12.4

19.7

Inter-segment earnings elimination

—

—

187.8

204.9

Corporate expense

(26.0)

(20.9)

Interest expense

(7.1)

(2.9)

Earnings before income taxes

154.7

181.1

Provision for incomes taxes

36.7

44.5

Net earnings

$

118.0

$

136.6

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Free Cash Flow

(dollars in millions)

(unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation of reported cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow (non-GAAP):

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

Cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)

$

129.4

$

38.7

Less: Capital expenditures

(10.5)

(21.3)

Free cash flow (non-GAAP)

$

118.9

$

17.4

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

2026 Adjusted EPS Guidance and 2025 EPS

(unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation of diluted EPS to adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) (all items are net of tax):

2026

Guidance

2025

Diluted EPS (GAAP)

$

3.60-3.90

$

3.85

Restructuring and impairment expenses

0.10

(1)

—

Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)

$

3.70-4.00

$

3.85

(1)

Includes announced North America water treatment pre-tax restructuring and impairment expenses of approximately $20 million to be recognized in the second quarter

SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

A.O. Smith (AOS) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.85 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.94 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.95 per share a year ago.

A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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MILWAUKEE, May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announced today that Carrie L.

This page has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved or endorsed by the companies represented herein. Each of the company logos represented herein are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Dow Jones & Company; Nasdaq, Inc.; Forbes Media, LLC; Investor's Business Daily, Inc.; and Morningstar, Inc.

Copyright 2026 Zacks Investment Research 101 N Wacker Drive, Floor 15, Chicago, IL 60606

At the center of everything we do is a strong commitment to independent research and sharing its profitable discoveries with investors. This dedication to giving investors a trading advantage led to the creation of our proven Zacks Rank stock-rating system. Since 1988 it has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.00% per year. These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 4, 2026. Zacks Rank stock-rating system returns are computed monthly based on the beginning of the month and end of the month Zacks Rank stock prices plus any dividends received during that particular month. A simple, equally-weighted average return of all Zacks Rank stocks is calculated to determine the monthly return. The monthly returns are then compounded to arrive at the annual return. Only Zacks Rank stocks included in Zacks hypothetical portfolios at the beginning of each month are included in the return calculations. Zacks Ranks stocks can, and often do, change throughout the month. Certain Zacks Rank stocks for which no month-end price was available, pricing information was not collected, or for certain other reasons have been excluded from these return calculations. Zacks may license the Zacks Mutual Fund rating provided herein to third parties, including but not limited to the issuer.

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On June 09, 2026, A.O. Smith Corp AOS shares rose 3.3% today, currently trading at $59.23. This move comes amidst a 52-week range of $54.16 to $81.87, showcasing both volatility and potential for recovery in the stock price.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price is $59.23, which is 22.7% below the GF Value™ estimate of $76.66.GF Score™: AOS has a GF Score™ of 84/100, indicating a strong investment quality.Most notable signal: A.O. Smith Corp has seen no insider transactions in the last 3 months. Is AOS Overvalued or Undervalued? With a current price of $59.23 and a GF Value™ of $76.66, A.O. Smith Corp appears to be undervalued by 22.7%. This discrepancy indicates a potential margin of safety for investors, as the market price is significantly lower than the intrinsic value suggested by GF Value™. The GF Valuation label of "Modestly Undervalued" further supports this view, suggesting that there may be an opportunity for price appreciation if the market corrects itself.

GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. Investors should consider this valuation alongside other financial metrics to make a well-informed decision.

How Does AOS's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 15.8x 20.9x Forward P/E 15.7x N/A The current P/E (TTM) of 15.8x is notably below the 5-year median P/E of 20.9x, indicating that A.O. Smith Corp is trading at a discount relative to its historical valuation levels. This analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict, reinforcing the perception that AOS is undervalued at this time.

What Does AOS's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 84 Financial Strength 8/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 6/10 Valuation 8/10 Momentum 4/10 A.O. Smith Corp's GF Score™ of 84/100 reflects a strong overall financial standing, particularly in profitability (9/10) and financial strength (8/10). The growth rank of 6/10 indicates moderate growth potential, while the valuation rank of 8/10 suggests that the stock is relatively undervalued. However, the momentum rank of 4/10 points to some weakness in recent price performance, suggesting that investors should remain cautious.

What Are Insiders Doing with AOS Stock? Currently, there have been no insider transactions in the last 3 months for A.O. Smith Corp. This absence of insider activity may suggest a neutral stance from company executives regarding the stock's near-term prospects, which can be interpreted as a lack of urgency to either buy or sell shares.

What This Means for Investors Based on the GF Value™ assessment, A.O. Smith Corp is currently undervalued, presenting a potential opportunity for investors looking for stocks trading below their intrinsic value. However, it is essential to consider the various financial metrics and market conditions before making any investment decisions.

For the complete analysis, visit the A.O. Smith Corp AOS stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is AOS's GF Score™?

A.O. Smith Corp has a GF Score™ of 84/100, indicating a strong investment quality based on key financial metrics.

Is AOS overvalued or undervalued?

A.O. Smith Corp is considered undervalued, with a current price that is 22.7% below its GF Value™ of $76.66.

What is AOS's P/E ratio?

The P/E (TTM) ratio for A.O. Smith Corp is 15.8x, which is significantly lower than its 5-year median of 20.9x, suggesting it is trading at a discount to its historical valuation.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

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Stock to Watch: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) Incorporated in Delaware in 1923, Archer Daniels Midland Company is successor to the Daniels Linseed Co. Founded in 1902, this Illinois-based company is one of the leading producers of food and beverage ingredients as well as goods made from various agricultural products. The company processes oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa and other feedstuffs. Moreover, it engages in the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of products like natural flavor ingredients, flavor systems, natural colors, proteins, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, natural health and nutrition products as well as other specialty food and feed ingredients.

ADM is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Staples stock. ADM has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 11.7% over the past four weeks.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.28 to $4.54 per share. ADM also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.4%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, ADM should be on investors' short list.

After reaching an important support level, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) could be a good stock pick from a technical perspective. ADM surpassed resistance at the 20-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.

The 20-day simple moving average is a popular trading tool. It provides a look back at a stock's price over a 20-day period, and is beneficial to short-term traders since it smooths out price fluctuations and provides more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.

The 20-day moving average can show signals that are similar to other SMAs as well. If a stock's price is moving above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive. When the price falls below the moving average, it can signal a downward trend.

ADM could be on the verge of another rally after moving 7.1% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.

The bullish case only gets stronger once investors take into account ADM's positive earnings estimate revisions. There have been 1 revisions higher for the current fiscal year compared to none lower, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.

Investors may want to watch ADM for more gains in the near future given the company's key technical level and positive earnings estimate revisions.

Investors interested in Consumer Staples stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Archer Daniels Midland is one of 171 companies in the Consumer Staples group. The Consumer Staples group currently sits at #13 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Archer Daniels Midland is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM's full-year earnings has moved 12% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Our latest available data shows that ADM has returned about 39.2% since the start of the calendar year. In comparison, Consumer Staples companies have returned an average of 7.4%. This shows that Archer Daniels Midland is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Another stock in the Consumer Staples sector, ARKO Corp. (ARKO - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 72.5%.

Over the past three months, ARKO Corp.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 31.8%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Breaking things down more, Archer Daniels Midland is a member of the Agriculture - Operations industry, which includes 11 individual companies and currently sits at #156 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 21.3% so far this year, meaning that ADM is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, ARKO Corp. falls under the Consumer Products - Staples industry. Currently, this industry has 34 stocks and is ranked #167. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved -0.5%.

Investors interested in the Consumer Staples sector may want to keep a close eye on Archer Daniels Midland and ARKO Corp. as they attempt to continue their solid performance.

On June 01, 2026, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co ADM shares rose 3.6% to a current price of $82.62. This movement comes amidst a robust price performance, with the stock ranging from a low of $46.81 to a high of $83.10 over the past year.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $82.62 is 38.7% above the GF Value™ estimate of $59.58, indicating the stock is overvalued.GF Score™: ADM has a score of 76/100, categorizing it as Above Average in terms of its overall quality.Insider activity: In the last three months, insiders sold $8.4 million worth of ADM shares, indicating a lack of confidence in the current price level. Is ADM Overvalued or Undervalued? With a current price of $82.62, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co ADM appears significantly overvalued compared to its GF Value™ estimate of $59.58. This 38.7% premium suggests that the stock is trading well above what might be considered its intrinsic value. The GF Valuation label classifies ADM as "Significantly Overvalued," which underscores the risk that current investors might face should market sentiments shift or if the company fails to deliver on growth expectations.

The margin of safety appears to be quite narrow, as the stock is trading at a substantial premium to its GF Value™. This raises concerns about the sustainability of the current price levels, especially in the context of broader market volatility. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates.

How Does ADM's Valuation Compare to Its History? MetricCurrentHistorical P/E (TTM)37.0x13.9x Forward P/E17.6xN/A Currently, ADM's P/E (TTM) of 37.0x is significantly above its 5-year median P/E of 13.9x, indicating that the stock is trading at a valuation considerably higher than its historical levels. The forward P/E of 17.6x also suggests elevated expectations for future earnings growth. This P/E analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict that the stock is overvalued, further supporting the notion that current price levels may not be sustainable in the long run.

What Does ADM's GF Score™ Tell Us? MetricRating GF Score™76 Financial Strength6/10 Profitability7/10 Growth5/10 Valuation5/10 Momentum6/10 ADM's GF Score™ of 76/100 indicates that the stock is above average in terms of quality. The strongest aspect is profitability, rated 7/10, reflecting solid operational performance. However, the growth ranking of 5/10 suggests moderate expectations for future expansion. The valuation and momentum ranks, both at 5/10 and 6/10 respectively, signal a mixed picture with potential risks associated with current price levels.

What Are Insiders Doing with ADM Stock? Recent insider activity shows that insiders sold $8.4 million in ADM shares over the last three months, with no buying reported. This trend may suggest a lack of confidence among insiders regarding the stock’s current valuation, which could be a negative signal for potential investors.

The absence of insider buying further reinforces the notion that current price conditions may not be favorable, as insiders typically have the best insights into their company's future prospects.

What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co ADM is currently considered overvalued according to the GF Value™ metric. With a significant premium over its estimated intrinsic value and concerning insider activity, potential investors may want to exercise caution moving forward.

For the complete analysis, visit the Archer-Daniels-Midland Co ADM stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is ADM's GF Score™?

ADM's GF Score™ is 76/100, indicating that it is categorized as Above Average in terms of overall quality and potential for better long-term returns.

Is ADM overvalued or undervalued?

ADM is considered overvalued, as its current price of $82.62 is significantly above the GF Value™ estimate of $59.58.

What is ADM's P/E ratio?

ADM's P/E (TTM) is 37.0x, which is 167% above its 5-year median P/E of 13.9x, indicating that the stock is trading at a much higher valuation than historical norms.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

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

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) is a stock many investors are watching right now. ADM is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 13.41. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 15.45. Over the past 52 weeks, ADM's Forward P/E has been as high as 14.13 and as low as 9.50, with a median of 11.12.

Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. ADM has a P/S ratio of 0.49. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.65.

Finally, our model also underscores that ADM has a P/CF ratio of 13.25. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This company's current P/CF looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 14.70. Over the past year, ADM's P/CF has been as high as 13.80 and as low as 7.44, with a median of 9.16.

Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Archer Daniels Midland is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, ADM sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.8% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is ADM due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Archer Daniels Midland Company before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Archer Daniels Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Ethanol StrengthArcher Daniels posted first-quarter 2026 results, wherein the bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but the top line missed the same. Meanwhile, earnings and revenues increased year over year.

Insight Into ADM’s Q1 PerformanceAdjusted earnings of 71 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents. Also, the figure rose from adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. On a reported basis, Archer Daniels’ first-quarter earnings were 62 cents per share, up from 61 cents reported in the year-ago quarter.

Revenues increased 1.6% year over year to $20.5 billion but lagged the consensus estimate of $21.1 billion.

The gross profit increased 3.6% year over year to $1.22 billion, while the gross margin stood at 5.9%. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $961 million from $932 million in the prior-year quarter.

ADM reported total segment operating profit of $764 million, up 2.3% from $747 million in the year-ago quarter. The year reflected a sharp divergence across the company’s three operating segments, with strength in Carbohydrate Solutions and Nutrition offset by a decline in Ag Services & Oilseeds.

ADM has a trailing four-quarter return on invested capital of 6.4% on an adjusted basis.

ADM’s Segmental Operating ProfitThe Ag Services & Oilseeds segment’s operating profit fell 34% year over year to $273 million. The year-over-year decline was caused primarily by net negative mark-to-market and timing impacts tied to a strengthening commodity environment following U.S. biofuels policy clarity. The Ag Services subsegment’s operating profit rose 26% year over year to $200 million, supported by higher export activity from North America, including increased soybean and sorghum shipments to China and strong corn exports.

The Crushing subsegment’s operating profit swung to a loss of $79 million from a profit of $47 million in the prior-year quarter. ADM attributed the decrease to net negative mark-to-market and timing impacts driven by the strengthening margin environment. Operationally, plant-processed volumes improved, with oilseed tonnage produced up 2% year over year, and soybean meal sales remained strong throughout the quarter.

Refined Products and Other operating profit were down 36% from the prior year due to net negative mark-to-market and timing impacts in the current quarter, with the movement similarly tied to the strengthening margin environment.

The Carbohydrate Solutions segment posted an operating profit of $356 million, up 48% year over year, primarily reflecting strengthening ethanol margins, aided by effective risk management and policy incentives. Starches and Sweeteners’ operating profit rose 11% to $229 million, driven mainly by increased ethanol margins related to ADM’s corn wet-milling ethanol operations, somewhat offset by lower global liquid sweeteners and starches volumes and margins.

Vantage Corn Processors’ operating profit increased to $127 million from $33 million (up $94 million), as the company’s corn dry-milling ethanol operations benefited from stronger ethanol margins, risk management and policy incentives.

The Nutrition segment reported operating profit of $135 million, up 42% year over year, reflecting improved performance in both the Human Nutrition and Animal Nutrition subsegments, including foreign exchange gains. Human Nutrition’s operating profit increased 39% to $104 million, driven largely by higher Flavors sales, foreign exchange gains and the continued recovery of the Decatur East plant. Animal Nutrition’s operating profit rose 55% to $31 million, primarily supported by portfolio actions taken over the last year, a focus on higher-margin product lines, ongoing cost optimization and foreign exchange gains.

Archer Daniels’ Other FinancialsThe company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $591 million, long-term debt, including current maturities, of $7.6 billion, and shareholders’ equity of $35.6 billion. As of March 31, 2026, ADM generated $150 million in cash from operating activities. It paid dividends of $254 million in the reported quarter.

ADM’s 2026 OutlookADM raised its 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to approximately $4.15-$4.70 per share from its prior range of $3.60-$4.25. The company said the updated outlook assumes continued progress on priorities and reflects expected improvement primarily in crushing and ethanol, tied to the March 2026 finalization of the 2026 and 2027 renewable volume obligations under the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard.

The company reiterated that external factors remain key swing items, including consumer trends, energy costs, supply chain dislocations, ethanol developments and evolving global trade and tariff conditions. ADM also maintained its capital expenditure expectation of $1.3 to $1.5 billion for 2026.

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

The consensus estimate has shifted 24.44% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, ADM has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock has a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.

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

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise ADM has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

In the latest close session, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) was up +1.45% at $81.28. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.62%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 1.87%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.98%.

Heading into today, shares of the agribusiness giant had lost 0.76% over the past month, lagging the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 0.43% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.03%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Archer Daniels Midland in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.29, signifying a 38.71% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $22.51 billion, indicating a 6.35% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $4.54 per share and a revenue of $85.44 billion, representing changes of +32.36% and +6.45%, respectively, from the prior year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Archer Daniels Midland should also be noted by investors. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. At present, Archer Daniels Midland boasts a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Looking at its valuation, Archer Daniels Midland is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 17.66. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 13.69.

The Agriculture - Operations industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 115, finds itself in the top 48% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.

King Charles and President Trump during the recent royal visit to the US (Photo: White House)

Shares in alcoholic drinks giant Diageo PLC (LSE:DGE) rose after Donald Trump said he will remove tariffs on whisky after a chat with King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

Whisky is the FTSE 100 group's largest category of drinks, producing tipples under more than 100 individual Scotch brands, including Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Lagavulin and The Singleton.

Trump said in a social media post that he "will be removing the tariffs and restrictions on whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky".

"People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great inter-country trade, especially having to do with the wooden barrels used.

"The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A."

Shares in Diageo climbed over 2% to 1,508p in early trading. 

A buy-and-hold strategy can generate life-changing returns for investors, and the stocks listed below are prime examples of that. While there can be risks with investing in companies in their early stages, there can also be considerable gains to be made, which is why it can be enticing to do so, particularly if you have many investing years left and can take on some uncertainty.

Nvidia (NVDA +0.15%), Netflix (NFLX 1.20%), and Booking Holdings (BKNG +0.80%) have been tremendous investments over the past 20 years. If you invested $5,000 into each one of these stocks in May 2006, your portfolio would be worth roughly $4 million right now. Here's a look at how much these investments have grown over the past 20 years, and why they can still be good growth stocks to buy and hold.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia: up 44,000% A $5,000 investment 20 years ago in leading chipmaker Nvidia would today be worth roughly $2.2 million. While Nvidia has been a big name in tech for years, things really took off within the past few years, with the emergence of ChatGPT and the soaring demand that artificial intelligence (AI) investments created for its cutting-edge chips.

It's been an incredible transformation for Nvidia, which went from generating $27 billion in revenue for its 2023 fiscal year (which ends in January) to just under $216 billion three years later. It wasn't a predictable path, especially the speed at which it took place.

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0.15

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205.18

Today, Nvidia is the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap of around $5.5 trillion. Given its strong position in AI and the ongoing need for its chips, the stock may still possess some more gains in the future, but it may be a good idea to temper your expectations because with such a rich valuation and it trading at 46 times earnings, its upside, particularly in the near term, may be limited.

Netflix: up 20,000% Streaming giant Netflix has been another tremendously successful growth stock over the past 20 years. It transformed how people watch TV and movies and has proven that streaming can be a profitable business to be in. While other companies struggle, Netflix has been thriving, even as it has developed its own content.

A $5,000 investment in the stock 20 years ago would now be worth just over $1 million. The business has evolved from mailing out DVDs to now allowing people to stream movies, TV shows, and even live content, including sports. And what's particularly impressive is that Netflix has been able to accomplish all this while generating terrific margins. Last year, it generated $45 billion in sales, and its earnings totaled $11 billion, which equates to a profit margin of 24%.

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Today, the stock trades at 28 times earnings and continues to be a solid growth stock to own. Netflix is a company that remains in pursuit of more growth opportunities, which is why it may be a compelling investment to buy and hold. Like Nvidia, its gains from here on out may be much more limited, but it can still be a solid blue chip stock to hold for the long haul.

Booking Holdings: up 16,000% Although it's in the third spot on this list, Booking Holdings stock is no slouch when it comes to growth. Its 16,000% returns over the past 20 years mean that a $5,000 investment over that stretch would have turned into around $790,000 today. Combined, that means the total value of the investments in all the stocks on this list today would be worth almost exactly $4 million (assuming someone invested $5,000 into each one of them).

Booking Holdings is a top name in travel as it operates all over the world, helping people book trips through one of its many sites, including booking.com, priceline.com, and kayak.com. As the travel industry has taken off, Booking Holdings has been one of the biggest winners, with its sites providing travelers with easy and flexible ways to make travel plans. Last year, the company generated $5.4 billion in profit on revenue totaling $26.9 billion.

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164.89

This year, the travel stock is down 28% as high oil prices have the market concerned about future travel demand. And while that may be a worry in the short term, it's likely to be a temporary issue. Buying Booking Holdings stock may be a good move today, with its valuation coming down and the stock trading at a very reasonable 20 times its trailing earnings.

LONDON, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Although the headlines paint a bleak picture of summer travel, data from KAYAK, a leading travel search engine, shows the reality is more nuanced. For Brits willing to choose carefully, there are still ways to save on a summer getaway.

Drawing on insights from KAYAK's Travel Check-In: Summer 2026 report, KAYAK has crunched the numbers to reveal where travellers can still find great value trips this summer.

10 wallet friendly destinations

KAYAK’s guide to wallet friendly destinations proves that a week abroad doesn’t have to cost the earth. From Prague’s fairy-tale architecture and Krakow’s medieval charm to the sun drenched, buzzing waterfront of Marseilles. Enjoy a full week abroad for around £500 or less, including return flights and accommodation.

Among the best-value destinations for a week away are Prague (£427 per person), Brussels (£433), Tirana (£440), Krakow (£447) and Berlin (£447), based on average return economy flights and a double room for one person over seven days. Other wallet-friendly options include Munich (£480), Marseille (£483), Milan (£500), Madrid (£509) and Faro (£511).

Blackpool is calling: Staycations are making a confident comeback

The data also points to a comeback for UK breaks. Hotel searches for domestic stays are up 13% year-on-year – pointing to a growing appetite for homegrown getaways, with many likely opting for shorter breaks to make their money go further. KAYAK’s top-value UK destinations include Blackpool (£62 average nightly rate), Birmingham (£85), Manchester (£105), Liverpool (£105) and Scarborough (£112).

Timing is also key to save

If flexibility is an option, it pays to travel out of season. International return tickets are around one-third of peak summer prices, averaging just £209 in the week commencing 7 September and £238 the week prior, compared with £690 in the week commencing 13 July and £694 in the week commencing 20 July. That makes late August and early September the clear sweet spot for value-conscious travellers this summer.

Please visit https://www.kayak.co.uk/c/travel-check-in-summer/ to check out the full report.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world's leading travel search engine. With billions of searches on our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, accommodation, car rental, and holiday package. We also support business travellers with our corporate travel solution.

Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) Presents at J.P. Morgan 54th Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference Transcript

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

Shares of this online booking service have returned -12.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Booking Holdings belongs, has gained 2.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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

Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $2.48 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -9.3%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.44 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%. This estimate has changed -2.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.35 indicates a change of +18.3% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1%.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $7.19 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +5.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $29.45 billion and $32.12 billion estimates indicate +9.4% and +9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBooking Holdings reported revenues of $5.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $1.14 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.61%. The EPS surprise was +3.64%.

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

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

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

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

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

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

TORONTO, May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology, announced today that it has signed a multi-year lease agreement for its new Toronto office at Allied’s 134 Peter Street in the city’s Downtown West neighbourhood. With over 24,000 square feet of premium office space secured, this marks a commitment to the Canadian market and a significant milestone in OpenTable’s ongoing international expansion.

Expanding upon OpenTable’s established presence in Montreal, this new Toronto location broadens the company’s office footprint in Canada, serving as a hub for its Canadian operations and global engineering team. A portion of the local team will focus on product development and backend infrastructure to support the company’s worldwide offerings. Beyond its technical core, the office will house Canadian sales, finance, marketing and customer service teams.

“Opening our new Toronto office is an important milestone in our international growth,” said John Longstreet, Chief Financial Officer, at OpenTable. “This new space allows us to tap into the city’s world-class tech talent pool, empowering our team to drive global product innovation for our restaurant partners and diners, while also deepening our overall commitment to Canada's hospitality industry.”

“Restaurants are at the heart of Canadian communities and local economies, and as the country's fourth largest private sector employer,* they need partners who are equally invested in their success," said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO at Restaurants Canada. "OpenTable has championed Canadian restaurants for more than 20 years. Growing its footprint in Toronto is a strong show of confidence in our industry, and a win for the operators, diners and communities they serve.”

With an expected capacity for over 200 employees, OpenTable is actively hiring in Toronto for roles across engineering, product, marketing and more.

CBRE Toronto and Atlanta facilitated the transaction, ensuring OpenTable secured an ideal workspace within Allied. 134 Peter Street is widely regarded as the jewel of Allied’s Toronto properties, a distinguished office building in Toronto’s Downtown West. Renovated brick-and-beam architecture, 134 Peter Street offers modern amenities and vibrant, collaborative workspaces for technology and knowledge-based organizations.

For additional information, please contact OpenTable’s media relations: [email protected]

*The source of the data is from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey from January to December 2025. Restaurants Canada commissioned a custom tabulation to capture total foodservice employment, including both commercial and non-commercial foodservice workers. This figure was then benchmarked against total industry employment data published through the Labour Force Survey for 2025, resulting in foodservice being identified as the fourth largest private sector employer in Canada.

About OpenTable

OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year. OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

About CBRE Group, INC.

CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, is recognized for delivering comprehensive solutions to property occupiers, owners, and investors.

About Allied Properties REIT

Allied is a leading owner-operator of distinctive urban workspace in Canada’s major cities. Allied’s mission is to provide knowledge-based organizations with workspace that is sustainable and conducive to human wellness, creativity, connectivity and diversity. Allied’s vision is to make a continuous contribution to cities and culture that elevates and inspires the humanity in all people.

New feature, powered by payments infrastructure from PayPal, gives travelers flexibility while helping independent travel companies compete with larger booking platforms

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Tour Guy, one of Europe's largest and most trusted tour operators and destination marketplaces, today announced the launch of its new "Reserve Now, Pay Later" feature – enabled by PayPal (NYSE: PYPL) – giving travelers the ability to secure high-demand tours in advance without being charged until closer to their travel date.

The launch reflects a growing shift in how consumers plan and pay for travel — prioritizing flexibility, convenience, and trust — while also signaling how mid-sized travel companies are leveraging modern payments infrastructure to offer capabilities traditionally associated with larger booking platforms.

For travelers, the benefit is simple: secure access to in-demand experiences — such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, or day trips from major European cities — without committing cash months in advance.

"The reality of European travel is that the best experiences require planning ahead," said Sean Finelli, Co-Founder and CEO of The Tour Guy. "But paying for everything six months before your trip doesn't match how people want to manage their money today. This gives travelers the confidence and flexibility to book early without the immediate financial pressure."

Unlike traditional "buy now, pay later" options, The Tour Guy's approach is not a loan-based product. There are no credit checks, interest rates, or third-party financing structures. Instead, the feature allows customers to reserve their spot while securely storing payment details, with charges processed closer to the travel date.

The system is powered by PayPal's payment infrastructure, utilizing its security protocols to protect transactions, while also ensuring a high level of reliability for both travelers and the business.

Beyond consumer convenience, the launch highlights a broader industry shift: the increasing ability for small and mid-sized travel companies to deliver sophisticated booking experiences once limited to large online travel agencies.

"For a long time, features like this were only available through the biggest platforms," Finelli added. "What's changing is that companies like ours can now deliver the same level of flexibility and trust — without losing the quality and depth of the experience."

This evolution is particularly important in travel, where booking decisions require balancing availability with financial flexibility. By removing the need for upfront payment, The Tour Guy aims to reduce friction in the planning process while encouraging travelers to book earlier and more confidently.

The feature is now available across select tours and experiences, with plans to expand more broadly across The Tour Guy's portfolio.

About The Tour Guy

The Tour Guy is a leading provider of curated tours and immersive travel experiences across Europe. Known for expert guides and seamless logistics, the company specializes in simplifying complex itineraries and delivering meaningful, story-driven experiences. From skip-the-line access to iconic landmarks to guided day trips from major cities like Paris and Rome, The Tour Guy helps travelers experience more while stressing less.

Media Contact:
Kelly Finelli
[email protected]

SOURCE The Tour Guy

The next generation of Priceline's AI travel assistant brings Anthropic's Claude into the company's proprietary AI stack, allowing travelers to move from trip idea to booking in one conversation

, /PRNewswire/ -- Priceline today introduced the next generation of Penny, its AI-powered travel assistant and one of the most advanced AI booking experiences in travel. Agentic by design, Penny has the ability to understand complex trip requests, evaluate real-time pricing and availability, and surface tradeoffs. Where traditional online travel search requires navigating filters, tabs and separate browser windows, Penny can take a request like, "compare flights from New York to Paris, Berlin, or Madrid for the first week of July," share options across destinations, and let travelers book their trip without leaving the conversation.

The next generation of Priceline's AI travel assistant brings Anthropic's Claude into the company's proprietary AI stack, allowing travelers to move from trip idea to booking in one conversation. The experience is built around a live, interactive map where options surface and sharpen as the conversation evolves. A preference layer combines traveler behavior with stated preferences travelers choose to share, helping Penny distinguish between what someone has done before and what matters for this trip, from budget and location to loyalty and trip purpose. Penny is designed with privacy in mind, giving travelers visibility and control over the data it can access, a foundation for the trust required as AI moves from assistant to agent.

Penny also brings a point of view to the options it surfaces, helping travelers move beyond what is available to what is most relevant. Penny's Pick highlights Penny's top recommendation across hotels, flights and rental cars, weighing the traveler's stated preferences, the context of the conversation and overall value. Penny's Take goes deeper on a single property, offering a candid read on why a hotel best fits the trip and the details worth knowing before booking. Penny's Take is in beta for hotels and will expand across the platform over time.

Penny runs on Priceline's proprietary AI stack, bringing together preference learning, memory, deals technology, and leading AI models. The result is a multi-modal planning experience where conversation, maps, recommendations and real-time travel inventory work together as travelers build their plans. The latest Claude models support core conversational reasoning and planning, marking Priceline's first Anthropic integration into a consumer-facing product. Google Cloud and OpenAI also support capabilities across search and voice. These systems connect Penny to real-time travel inventory from thousands of partners in more than 100 countries and decades of Priceline booking data. Through AI-powered translation, Penny now also converses in multiple languages, meeting travelers in the language they think and plan in.

"Our conviction from the start was that the real advantage in AI travel would not come from the model alone, but from connecting it to the context, inventory and deals that make travel bookable," said Sejal Amin, Chief Technology Officer, Priceline. "By starting Penny at more complex problems in travel booking and building outward into search, maps, preference learning and this new experience, we've designed a system that understands why a traveler makes a choice and can carry that understanding from one trip to the next."

Priceline was one of the first major travel brands to put an AI agent directly in front of customers, starting with some of the points of greatest friction in travel: checkout and customer care. That decision gave Penny a foundation in the moments closest to booking, where travelers indicate what information they need, what questions slow them down and what helps them move forward. Today, Penny operates as a coordinated system of more than 10 specialized agents that support everything from hotel search and recommendations to flights, rental cars, and customer service.

That foundation is already translating into results. In early testing, the subset of travelers who engage with Penny have shown stronger engagement and higher conversion than those who do not, while increased Penny usage has helped reduce customer support contacts. Priceline has estimated that travelers who used Penny saved an average of nearly ten minutes per trip compared with those who called customer support. A 2026 Evercore ISI analysis also found that Priceline Penny delivered the strongest end-to-end booking experience among the AI travel tools it tested.¹ The next generation of Penny builds on that momentum, advancing Priceline's role in Booking Holdings' broader vision of the Connected Trip, where every element of travel, from inspiration to the return home, works together seamlessly on behalf of the traveler.

"The value of AI in travel comes from connecting models to the real context of inventory, deals, and trip purpose," said Guillaume Princen, Head of International - Technology Companies, Anthropic. "Penny pairs that foundation with Claude's frontier capabilities in reasoning and agentic problem-solving to handle complex decisions that turn an idea into a booked trip."

"Travel planning has always been the hardest part of a trip. It doesn't have to be," said Cobus Kok, Vice President, AI Experiences, Priceline. "The next generation of Penny is built around a simple idea: describe the trip you want, and Penny handles the rest, helping travelers understand their choices, book with confidence and get to the trip they want faster."

To see Penny in action, watch the demo at youtube.com/priceline. Travelers can experience the next generation of Penny at priceline.com/penny.

About Priceline
Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), has been helping travelers get better deals for more than 25 years. Using proprietary technology to analyze billions of data points, Priceline unlocks savings across hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, and more. With inventory from trusted travel brands in more than 110 countries, 24/7 customer service, Priceline VIP, and Penny, its AI-powered travel assistant, Priceline helps travelers save smarter and book with confidence. No one deals more deals than Priceline.

¹ Evercore ISI, "The Agentic OTA Opportunity?," March 24, 2026.

SOURCE Priceline

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) .

Booking Holdings currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.56, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 39 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.56 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 39 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 27 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 69.2% and 5.1% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BKNG

Check price target & stock forecast for Booking Holdings here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Booking Holdings, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in BKNG?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Booking Holdings, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.44.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Booking Holdings. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Booking Holdings.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) Headquartered in Woonsocket, RI, CVS Health Corporation (formerly known as CVS Caremark Corporation) is a health solutions company with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. On Sep 3, 2014, CVS Caremark Corporation announced a change of its corporate name to CVS Health to reflect its broader healthcare commitment. In 2018, CVS Health acquired insurance giant Aetna for $70-billion.

CVS is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 12.25; value investors should take notice.

11 analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.25 to $7.40 per share. CVS also boasts an average earnings surprise of +16.8%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, CVS should be on investors' short list.