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PubMatic, Inc. (PUBM - Free Report) appears an attractive pick given a noticeable improvement in the company's earnings outlook. The stock has been a strong performer lately, and the momentum might continue with analysts still raising their earnings estimates for the company.

Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this company 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. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core.

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.

For PubMatic, Inc., there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising earnings estimates, which has helped push consensus estimates considerably higher for the next quarter and full year.

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

12 Month EPS

Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsThe earnings estimate of $0.03 per share for the current quarter represents a change of -40.0% from the number reported a year ago.

Over the last 30 days, two estimates have moved higher for PubMatic compared to no negative revisions. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 31.34%.

Current-Year Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $0.37 per share for the full year, which represents a change of +12.1% from the prior-year number.

There has been an encouraging trend in estimate revisions for the current year as well. Over the past month, one estimate has moved up for PubMatic versus one negative revision. This has pushed the consensus estimate 34.21% higher.

Favorable Zacks RankOur 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 PubMatic have attracted decent investments and pushed the stock 17% 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.

PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance, today announced Decision Fabric, a containerization

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When a safe driver with decades of accident-free driving opens a renewal bill and sees their rate unchanged or higher, that’s not an anomaly. According to a new national survey from Root (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, it’s consistent with respondents’ views of a pricing system that relies more on group-based factors than individual driving behavior. Root’s “The Future of Car Insurance: A Consumer Demand Report,” released today, surveyed and collected responses from 1,000 licensed U.S. drivers and found that frustration with traditional insurance pricing runs deepest among those who have the most to show for their driving record.

Baby Boomers, the generation with the longest driving records, are 2.2 times more likely than Millennial and Gen Z drivers to view the current risk pooling system as unfair, according to respondents. This is an inversion of the conventional assumption that younger, higher-premium drivers are the most aggrieved. The culprit is a pricing model that relies on demographic factors like age, occupation, education, and credit scores, which means decades of safe driving may not move the needle on what anyone pays.

Other key findings from the report, based on the drivers polled, include the following:

95% of drivers want their insurance rates based on their actual driving habits, rather than demographic proxies.77% of drivers say car insurance pricing is outdated compared to today’s auto technology, as car ownership costs climb.Root’s proprietary data shows safe drivers who switch to behavior-based pricing save up to 28% on their premiums.
“A driver with 30 years of clean records is being priced against averages that have nothing to do with how they drive. We believe that is a structural failure,” said Alex Timm, Founder and CEO of Root. “Root was built on the premise that your rate should reflect your behavior behind the wheel. This data underscores that the American driver, regardless of age or location, is ready to adopt a more fair model that finally aligns pricing with behavior.”

The findings suggest widespread demand among respondents for a modernized insurance model, revealing that the majority of drivers feel their premiums are outdated, too expensive, and systematically unfair. By embracing a modern, personalized model powered by telematics, insurers may address this fairness gap while offering substantial financial relief. This approach could transform insurance from an opaque financial burden to an empowering tool that rewards individual performance.

Read the full report at joinroot.com/reports. To see where Root is available nationwide, visit joinroot.com/availability.

Methodology of The Future of Car Insurance: A Consumer Demand Report
The report combines a survey of approximately 1,000 licensed U.S. drivers with Root Insurance’s proprietary internal data to analyze potential relationships between driver behavior and insurance pricing. The survey was conducted in September 2025 in partnership with Pollfish. Respondents were composed of U.S. adults aged 18 and older. By integrating attitudinal insights from the survey on car insurance pricing with driving behavior data, we believe this methodology helps inform our understanding of trends shaping modern auto insurance.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in online surveys. The data has been weighted to approximate the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. As a result, the findings may not be fully representative of all U.S. drivers.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error, which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Any calculated margins of error are theoretical and apply only to idealized random samples with full response rates, which are not present here.

Data Privacy
Data privacy is extremely important to Root. All data used in this survey was collected with the permission of drivers who enabled app permissions for Root to measure their driving. Root handles all data in accordance with its Privacy Policy, available at www.joinroot.com/privacy.

About Root, Inc.
Root is revolutionizing insurance through data science and technology to provide consumers a personalized, easy, and fair experience. Since launching in 2015, the Root app has more than 17 million downloads and has collected almost 36 billion miles of driving data to inform its insurance offerings. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.

For more information, visit root.com.

Contacts
Media:
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Root, Inc. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations about consumer sentiments and our future business results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict, including our ability to profitably acquire and retain new customers through the partnerships. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our company. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we have included in Root's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and other SEC filings, cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Copies of Root's Form 10-K and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, Root's website at ir.joinroot.com/investor-relations or by contacting Root's Investor Relations office.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 24th, 2026

Root, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROOT – Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of “Hold” by the seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $92.40.

ROOT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of Root from $104.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Root from $90.00 to $52.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 9th. Zacks Research raised shares of Root from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Root from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Root from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on ROOT

Root Stock Performance Shares of ROOT stock opened at $53.96 on Friday. Root has a one year low of $40.91 and a one year high of $162.99. The company’s 50-day moving average is $49.65 and its 200 day moving average is $66.48. The company has a market capitalization of $839.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.26 and a beta of 2.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.21.

Root (NASDAQ:ROOT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $397.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $381.57 million. Root had a net margin of 2.58% and a return on equity of 15.34%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 21.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Root will post 2.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Root Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Root by 3.0% in the second quarter. Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC now owns 6,225 shares of the company’s stock worth $797,000 after buying an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Root by 4.7% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 5,141 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Root by 2.9% in the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 15,811 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,415,000 after buying an additional 443 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Root by 10.9% in the third quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 5,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $457,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Root by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 21,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,553,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.82% of the company’s stock.

About Root (Get Free Report)

Root, trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker ROOT, is a Columbus, Ohio–based insurance company that leverages mobile technology and data analytics to offer personalized auto insurance policies. Founded in 2015 by Alex Timm and Dan Manges, Root set out to transform traditional underwriting by focusing on individual driving behavior rather than broad demographic factors.

The company’s core product is usage-based auto insurance, delivered through a smartphone app that monitors driving patterns such as speed, braking and phone usage behind the wheel.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, today announced the launch of its 24-hour agent appointment program, enabling independent insurance agents to complete onboarding and begin selling policies in as little as one day.

Key Highlights

Independent agents can get appointed and start selling within 24 hoursRoot has appointed more than 7,500 agents since launching~2,400 agents added in 2026 alone
Why This Matters
Traditional insurance carrier onboarding often takes weeks, slowing down agency growth and limiting access to new markets. Root Insurance’s 24-hour agent appointment program compresses this process into a single-day, fully digital experience, giving independent agents faster access to revenue opportunities.

A Faster, Simpler Agent Experience
Since launching the program in 2025, Root Insurance has rapidly scaled its agent network by combining automation, digital contracting, and streamlined underwriting workflows. Qualified agents can fast-track their access to Root by requesting an appointment online and completing the accelerated vetting process within 24 hours.

“We built this program to give independent agents a true competitive advantage,” said Jill Kellett, Senior Vice President of Product at Root Insurance. “By prioritizing speed and simplicity, we’re helping agents access new revenue opportunities almost instantly.”

Built for All Independent Agencies
Root Insurance designed the program to lower traditional barriers to entry, making it easier for:

Small and mid-sized agencies to compete by closing the gap between scale and product accessAgencies to expand carrier access quicklyAgents to move at the pace of modern business while still meeting rigorous market standards
National Agent Network
Root Insurance continues to expand its independent agent channel as part of its broader strategy to modernize insurance distribution.

Currently, 15,000+ independent agents are appointed with Root4,000+ agencies are approved to sell Root policiesActive in most states where Root writes business
The program gives agents access to a specialized portal that delivers fast, accurate, and bindable quotes, helping agents serve customers more efficiently. The 24-hour appointment process is now available to qualified agents across the majority of Root’s operating footprint. Independent agents can learn more or request an appointment by visiting joinroot.com/agents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Root Insurance’s 24-hour agent appointment program?
It is a fully digital onboarding process that allows independent insurance agents to become appointed and start selling Root policies within 24 hours.

How fast can agents start selling insurance with Root?
Qualified agents can complete onboarding and begin quoting bindable policies in as little as 24 hours. Note that an appointment within 24-hours depends on several factors, including the agent submitting the required documents and meeting qualification standards.

How is this different from traditional insurance carriers?
Most carriers require weeks for agent appointments. Root Insurance reduces this timeline to 24 hours using automation and digital workflows.

Who is eligible for the program?
Qualified independent agents operating in states where Root writes business can apply through the online appointment process. Independent agents can learn more at joinroot.com/agents.

About Root, Inc.
Root Insurance is a technology company revolutionizing car insurance through data science and automation. The Root app has reached more than 17 million downloads and has analyzed nearly 36 billion miles of driving data to deliver personalized and fair pricing. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.

Learn more at root.com.

Media Contact
[email protected]

Partnership Inquiries
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Root, Inc. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations about our future business results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our company. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we have included in Root's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and other SEC filings, cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Copies of Root's Form 10-K and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, Root's website at ir.joinroot.com/investor-relations or by contacting Root's Investor Relations office.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, today announced it has successfully refinanced its existing debt into a new term loan facility led by The Huntington National Bank. In addition, Root’s board of directors has authorized the company to repurchase up to $75 million of its Class A common stock. Together, these actions further optimize the company’s capital structure and reflect its strong financial position, disciplined capital management, and commitment to enhancing long-term stockholder value.

"These actions reflect the strength of our operating performance and the progress we’ve made improving our cost of capital,” said Alex Timm, Founder and CEO of Root. “With a more efficient capital structure, we have greater flexibility to allocate capital dynamically. Our focus remains unchanged: deploying capital where we see the highest risk-adjusted returns, across both investing in the business and returning capital to stockholders.”

Debt Refinancing

On May 4, 2026, Root completed a $200 million senior secured term loan financing led by The Huntington National Bank. The term loan matures on May 4, 2029. Root used the proceeds from the term loan to repay its existing $200 million term loan facility with BlackRock and secure lower-cost bank financing. The term loan initially bears interest at SOFR + 3.25%, with pricing based on the company’s debt-to-capital ratio. This term loan represents a 225 basis point reduction from the prior facility and is expected to generate approximately $4.5 million in annual interest expense savings. In the second quarter of 2026, Root will expense approximately $4.8 million of unamortized debt discount, issuance costs, and a prepayment premium related to the prior term loan. The new credit facility enhances Root’s capital flexibility, including increased capacity to opportunistically execute share repurchases while continuing to invest in strategic priorities.

Share Repurchase Program

Root’s board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $75 million. Root may utilize various methods to effect any repurchases, which could include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block purchases, accelerated share repurchase agreements or a combination of methods, including pursuant to trading plans adopted under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The share repurchase program is intended to provide flexibility and enable opportunistic repurchases. It has no fixed expiration date, does not obligate Root to repurchase any specific number of shares or dollar amount, and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time at the discretion of Root’s board of directors.

About Root, Inc.
Root Insurance is a technology company revolutionizing car insurance through data science and automation. The Root app has reached more than 17 million downloads and has analyzed nearly 36 billion miles of driving data to deliver personalized and fair pricing. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.

Learn more at root.com.

Contacts
Media:
[email protected]

Investor Relations:
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, our share repurchase program, capital strategy, and the future performance of Root and its consolidated subsidiaries that are based on Root’s current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “path,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: our share repurchase expectations; the anticipated benefits of our new term loan; our expected financial results for 2026; our ability to retain existing customers, acquire new customers and expand our customer reach; our expectations regarding our future financial performance, including total revenue, gross profit, net income (loss), direct contribution, adjusted EBITDA, net loss and loss adjustment expense (LAE) ratio, net expense ratio, net combined ratio, gross loss ratio, marketing costs and costs of customer acquisition, gross LAE ratio, gross expense ratio, gross combined ratio, operating expenses, quota share levels, changes in unencumbered cash balances and expansion of our new and renewal premium base; our ability to realize profits, acquire customers, retain customers, contract with additional partners to utilize the products, or achieve other benefits from our embedded insurance offering; our ability to expand our distribution channels through additional partnership relationships, digital media, independent agents and referrals; our ability to maintain, and drive a significant long-term competitive advantage through, our partnership with Carvana Group, LLC (Carvana), and other partnerships, such as our partnerships with Hyundai Capital America, Toyota and Experian; our ability to develop products for embedded insurance and other partners; the impact of geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, increasing inflation, a potential increase in tariffs or the implementation of new tariffs, a recession and/or disruptions to properly functioning financial and capital markets and interest rates on our business and financial condition; our ability to remain profitable and extend our capital runway; our goal to be licensed in all states in the United States and the timing of obtaining additional licenses and launching in new states; the accuracy and efficiency of our telematics and behavioral data, and our ability to gather and leverage existing and additional data; our ability to materially improve retention rates and our ability to realize benefits from retaining customers; our ability to underwrite risks accurately and charge profitable rates; our ability to maintain our business model and improve our capital and marketing efficiency; our ability to drive improved conversion and decrease the cost of customer acquisition; our ability to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; our ability to effectively manage the growth of our business; our ability to raise additional capital efficiently or at all; our ability to improve our product offerings, introduce new products and expand into additional insurance lines; our ability to cross sell our products and attain greater value from each customer; our ability to compete effectively with existing competitors and new market entrants in our industry; future performance of the markets in which we operate; our ability to operate a “capital-efficient” business and obtain and maintain desirable levels of reinsurance; the effect of further reductions in the utilization of reinsurance, which would result in retention of more premium and losses and could cause our capital requirements to increase; our ability to realize economies of scale; our ability to attract, motivate and retain key personnel, or hire personnel, and to offer competitive compensation and benefits; our ability to deliver a vertically integrated customer experience; our ability to develop products that utilize telematics to drive better customer satisfaction and retention; our ability to protect our intellectual property and any costs associated therewith; our ability to develop an autonomous claims experience; our ability to take rate action early and react to changing environments; our ability to meet risk-based capital requirements; our ability to realize benefits from our Texas county mutual fronting arrangement; our ability to expand domestically; our ability to comply with laws and regulations that currently apply or become applicable to our business; the impact of litigation or other losses; changes in laws or regulations, or changes in the interpretation of laws or regulations by a regulatory authority, specific to the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, telematics data and the consent to use telematics data, connected car data, and other sources of data, or relating to taxation, including changes in tax regulations, or guidance promulgated pursuant to the new legislation implemented in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or the OBBBA; the impact of moratoriums, mandates and similar regulations or requests related to federal government shutdowns or other economic disruptions that negatively impact our ability to charge or increase premiums or result in increased premium write-offs; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and prevent, or recover from, a security incident or other significant disruption of our technology systems or those of our partners and third-party service providers; the effect of interest rates on our available cash and our ability to maintain compliance with our term loan; our ability to maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting; and the growth rates of the markets in which we compete. Root’s actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied by such forward-looking statements, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences also include, but are not limited to, those factors that could affect Root’s business, operating results, and stock price included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Root’s 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K at http://ir.joinroot.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to Root on the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update such statements.

Root, Inc. (ROOT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in ROOT over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Root Inc. has transitioned from heavy losses to two consecutive years of profitability, driven by improved underwriting and disciplined operations. ROOT's combined ratio improved from 133.2% to below 100%, with net profits of $40.3M and $30.9M in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Distribution partnerships and better customer selection, as well as telematics, appear to have been key to ROOT's turnaround.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, and Hugo, the first pay-at-your-pace liability insurance, announced today a new partnership that expands access to affordable full coverage options and creates a simpler path for drivers to find coverage that fits both their needs and budget.

Root will serve as an expanded full coverage option for Hugo customers, giving drivers access to coverage that complements Hugo's industry leading liability insurance payment options. The new integration connects customers seeking full coverage with Root’s instant, personalized insurance offering through Hugo’s modern digital experience. By expanding access to coverage options, the partnership gives drivers more choice and flexibility as they evaluate insurance solutions that align with their unique circumstances at the moment they’re making decisions, without sacrificing value or convenience.

"Hugo is helping make insurance more accessible by meeting customers where they are and offering greater flexibility in how they purchase and manage coverage," said Jason Shapiro, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Root. "By partnering with Hugo, we're able to bring Root's personalized approach to pricing and our commitment to affordability to more drivers."

For many drivers, traditional insurance products and payment structures don’t align with how they manage their finances. Hugo has built a differentiated insurance model around addressing that challenge with flexible payment options that fit real budgets, while Root has reimagined insurance pricing through technology that better matches rates to individual risk.

"Hugo exists for drivers who've been underserved by traditional insurance," said Seth Rediger, Head of Distribution at Hugo. "With Hugo, drivers can get covered in a way that actually fits their life. They pay at their own pace and manage their account right from their phone. Root approaches insurance the same way we do, by putting the customer first and building around what they actually need to thrive. This partnership puts additional full coverage options in front of the customers who need them most."

This collaboration reflects Root’s continued investment in partnerships that embed its digital insurance experience into relevant customer journeys through platforms they already know and trust. Root is available to eligible Hugo customers in the 16 states where Hugo does business.

About Root, Inc.
Root Insurance is a technology company revolutionizing car insurance through data science and automation. The Root app has reached more than 17 million downloads and has analyzed more than 36 billion miles of driving data to deliver personalized and fair pricing. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.

For more information, visit root.com.

About Hugo
Hugo is on a mission to make financial stability achievable for every American. Hugo offers a technology-first car insurance solution designed to make car insurance more affordable and accessible through flexible payments. Hugo’s flagship product is the first pay-at-your-pace liability insurance, designed to eliminate large upfront costs and give drivers more control over how they pay for coverage. Hugo offers 6-month liability insurance policies while giving drivers the flexibility to break payments into smaller amounts that fit their budgets. By rethinking how insurance is paid for, Hugo is making reliable coverage more accessible for everyday drivers.

For more information, visit withhugo.com.

Root Contacts
Partnerships:
[email protected]

Media:
[email protected]

Hugo Contacts
Partnerships:
[email protected]

Media:
[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Root, Inc. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations about our future business results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our company. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we have included in Root's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and other SEC filings, cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Copies of Root's Form 10-K and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, Root's website at ir.joinroot.com/investor-relations or by contacting Root's Investor Relations office.

Roots TSE: ROOT reported higher first-quarter sales for fiscal 2026 as growth in its direct-to-consumer business and partner channels helped offset pressure from temporary gross margin headwinds and higher project-related expenses.

President and Chief Executive Officer Meghan Roach said the company entered the year with “strong momentum,” pointing to total first-quarter sales of CAD 42.6 million, up 6.5% from CAD 40.0 million a year earlier. Direct-to-consumer sales rose 3.3% to CAD 35.8 million, while comparable sales increased 3.2%, or 16.6% on a two-year stacked basis.

Partners and other revenue grew 26.6% to CAD 6.8 million, supported by strength in wholesale, business-to-business, custom products and licensing channels.

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Margins Pressured by Temporary Inventory Actions Gross profit increased 3.8% to CAD 25.5 million, though total gross margin declined to 59.9% from 61.5% in the prior-year quarter. Direct-to-consumer gross margin was 61.3%, compared with 62.9% last year.

Roach said the gross margin change reflected two temporary factors: an effort to reduce aged inventory by moving more product to final sale ahead of the company’s transition to a new third-party logistics partner, and the sale of inventory purchased at a higher U.S. dollar exchange rate last year.

Chief Financial Officer Leon Wu said the final sale initiative was intended to minimize inventory that would need to be transferred to the new distribution center and reduce the potential processing of returns during the transition. He said the initiative does not reflect a change in the long-term inventory strategy tied to the company’s move to a third-party logistics model.

“Going forward, we continue to take a very disciplined approach on managing our inventory and making sure that that balance remains healthy,” Wu said during the question-and-answer portion of the call.

Losses Widen on Distribution Center and Strategic Review Costs Roots reported a net loss of CAD 10.1 million, or CAD 0.26 per share, compared with a net loss of CAD 7.9 million, or CAD 0.20 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted net loss was CAD 7.6 million, or CAD 0.19 per share, compared with CAD 7.4 million, or CAD 0.18 per share, a year earlier.

Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of CAD 7.4 million, compared with a loss of CAD 7.1 million in the prior-year quarter.

Wu said the company incurred CAD 2.4 million of incremental costs related to its distribution center transition with Metro Supply Chain and its ongoing strategic review process. The costs had a more pronounced impact because the first quarter is seasonally smaller and has historically represented about 14% of full-year sales.

Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 12% to CAD 37.3 million from CAD 33.3 million. The total included CAD 1.8 million of incremental costs tied to the distribution center transition, including CAD 1.7 million of accelerated non-cash depreciation on existing assets, and CAD 0.6 million of incremental consulting and legal costs related to the strategic review.

Excluding those non-recurring costs, Wu said SG&A would have increased 4.9%, driven by higher variable selling costs, store occupancy costs, personnel-related expenses, stock option expenses, severance costs and a CAD 0.2 million expense from revaluing cash-settled deferred share units linked to the company’s share price.

Product Categories and Partnerships Support Sales Roach said Roots’ merchandising performance reflected continued strength in core franchises and newer growth categories. The company’s Cloud collection delivered another strong quarter, with demand outpacing planned supply in parts of the collection. Activewear continued to grow and now accounts for more than 10% of direct-to-consumer sales.

Midweight outerwear and the company’s spring lifestyle collection also performed ahead of expectations, which Roach said supported the company’s strategy to expand the Roots brand into year-round complementary categories.

The company also highlighted collaborations and partnerships, including the Roots Toronto Blue Jays 50th Anniversary Collection, the second drop of its official WNBA collection in March and an April limited-edition spring/summer collaboration with Loopy, a popular Korean character, alongside Roots mascot Buddy the Beaver.

Roach said marketing efforts in the quarter continued to move toward a more disciplined, data-driven model focused on return on advertising spend and incremental contribution. Paid search and paid social channels both delivered growth, and conversion-focused campaigns generated incremental revenue.

The company also completed an external assessment of its customer base, which Roach said confirmed that Roots’ customers are “sticky,” retention is consistent across cohorts and omni-channel customers generate higher lifetime value than customers shopping through one channel only.

Retail, E-Commerce and Operations Remain Key Focus Areas Comparable store sales improved year-over-year, which management attributed to investments in selling training, visual merchandising and store operations. Roots completed renovations at several key locations during the quarter, including Sherway Gardens in Toronto.

The company also opened its first mono-brand Roots store in Vancouver International Airport in partnership with Volta. Roach said Roots sees growth opportunities in travel retail locations across Canada, citing the brand’s association with Canada, travel and comfort.

In e-commerce, online traffic and revenue both grew year-over-year. Roach said paid media generated meaningful incremental revenue and that the company expects to continue building on that progress through the rest of the year.

The company’s distribution center transition to Metro Supply Chain remains on track for completion this summer. Roach also said Roots continues to integrate artificial intelligence into its workflow, with benefits across inventory management, analytics, omni-channel experience and customer service.

Balance Sheet Improves as Strategic Review Continues Inventory ended the quarter at CAD 45.0 million, up 11.1% from CAD 40.5 million last year. Wu said CAD 0.5 million of the increase was due to unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, while the remaining increase reflected higher in-transit inventory for upcoming selling seasons and more inventory in the partners and other segment to support custom product wholesale demand.

Free cash outflow improved to CAD 19.1 million from CAD 21.8 million a year earlier, driven by sales growth and working capital management. Net debt was CAD 23.4 million at quarter-end, down 20.7% from CAD 29.6 million a year earlier. The company’s net leverage ratio was 1.0 times, measured as net debt over trailing 12-month Adjusted EBITDA.

Roots had CAD 32.6 million outstanding under its credit facilities and total liquidity of CAD 53.7 million, including net cash and available borrowings.

During the Q&A session, Wu said the company had not seen a material impact from fuel surcharges, freight or raw materials in the first quarter. Roach said the consumer environment remains dynamic and that the company is monitoring inflation and broader conditions as it approaches its peak third and fourth quarters.

Asked about the strategic review process, Roach said the company does not intend to disclose developments unless the board approves a specific transaction or determines disclosure is required or appropriate by law. “At this point, there is no further update,” she said.

About Roots TSE: ROOTRoots Corp provides a portfolio of apparel, leather goods, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children under the Roots brand. Its merchandise includes genuine leather, such as jackets, bags, and luggage; kids & baby clothing; and leather, linens, towels, and accessories. The company operates through two segments: Direct-To-Consumer, which accounts for majority revenue, and Partners & Other. The DTC segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and e-commerce. The Partners & Other segment engage in the wholesale of Roots branded products to the company's international operating partner, and it earns royalties on the retail sales of Roots-branded products.

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

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An updated edition of the March 25, 2026, article.

Financial technology or fintech, is reshaping the global financial landscape by making financial services faster, more accessible and more customer-focused. By combining finance with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, Big Data and cloud computing, fintech has disrupted traditional models across banking, payments, lending and investing.

One of fintech’s most significant contributions is its role in expanding financial inclusion. Digital wallets, mobile banking platforms and peer-to-peer lending services have improved access for millions of unbanked and underbanked individuals. Fintech innovation is also transforming cross-border payments, making transactions that were once slow, expensive and complex faster, cheaper and more efficient.

Fintech has also redefined payments and lending by improving convenience, speed and accessibility. Contactless payments, buy now, pay later solutions and app-based lending platforms have simplified everyday financial transactions for consumers while helping businesses better meet customer needs. In capital markets, robo-advisors and algorithm-driven trading platforms are lowering costs and reducing barriers to investing.

At the same time, fintech is enhancing transparency, cybersecurity and risk management across the financial system. Blockchain supports secure and tamper-resistant transactions, while AI-powered tools strengthen fraud detection, credit assessment and regulatory compliance. As fintech continues to evolve, it is pushing traditional financial institutions to innovate, collaborate and adapt, creating a more agile, inclusive and technology-driven global financial ecosystem. So, stocks like Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) , Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) and Block, Inc. (XYZ - Free Report) are grabbing investor attention.

Our Fintech Screen will help you identify the right stocks now to ride the wave of this trillion-dollar revolution. Leveraging advanced tools, our thematic screens identify companies shaping the future, making it easier to capitalize on emerging trends.

Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 37 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity. 

Affirm Holdings is focused on providing flexible and transparent installment loans at the point of sale (POS). It partners with a wide range of merchants to offer both interest-free and interest-bearing payment options, giving consumers more control over how they pay for their purchases. The company’s primary goal is to offer a straightforward and customer-friendly alternative to traditional credit options, promoting responsible borrowing with no late fees or hidden charges.

For merchants, Affirm Holdings provides tools to drive sales and improve customer engagement. Through its API, merchants can integrate various financing options at checkout. The company also offers features like Affirm at Checkout, a merchant dashboard and analytics tools, helping businesses track performance and optimize the customer experience. The Affirm Marketplace further supports customer acquisition and brand visibility.

Consumers benefit from AFRM's range of payment options, including Pay-in-4 and longer-term interest-bearing loans. The Affirm App and Affirm Card enable users to make online and in-store purchases, with the ability to convert eligible debit transactions into installment plans. Apart from a strong presence in the United States, the company is accelerating global expansion through new markets, merchant partnerships and stronger funding channels.

Affirm uses a data-rich, cloud-native platform and machine learning to assess fraud and credit risk, improving scalability and underwriting accuracy. It also applies AI to boost productivity and automate customer support. Tools like Boost AI and Adapt AI help merchants optimize 0% offers, improve conversions and unlock incremental marketing spend.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFRM’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 29.8% and 680%, respectively. The company, currently, carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Visa’s dominant market position is supported by steady payments volume growth, strategic acquisitions and continued innovation in digital payments. Rising cross-border activity, higher digital transaction adoption and investments in AI and stablecoins further strengthen the company’s long-term outlook.

Visa has adapted quickly to the shift toward digital commerce. The company continues to enhance its products and platforms through offerings such as Visa Token Service, Visa Checkout and In-App Provisioning, reinforcing its leadership in secure digital payments. It is also advancing emerging payment methods, including contactless, tap-to-pay and secure remote commerce, while expanding partnerships across fintech and cryptocurrency-linked use cases.

The company is also moving into agentic commerce. Visa introduced Intelligent Commerce Connect, an “on-ramp” that enables businesses to connect AI agents to payments and acceptance through a single integration. It is also expanding its Agentic Ready testing program from Europe into Asia Pacific and Latin America to validate enrollment, tokenization, authentication and authorization flows ahead of broader deployment.

Visa’s AI-driven security capabilities remain a key differentiator as fraud risks increase. The company has embedded AI across more than 100 products, primarily to strengthen fraud prevention, and has invested $3.5 billion to modernize its data platform. Visa is also leaning into stablecoins to support faster, more programmable cross-border settlement while maintaining its network as the common layer for global money movement.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for V’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 13.4% and 14.1%, respectively. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Block is building a powerful fintech ecosystem through its two core growth engines: Square and Cash App. Together, these platforms provide a broad suite of solutions across payments, commerce, banking, investing and lending. The company is also expanding its partner network, which should help broaden distribution and strengthen customer reach.

Square, Block’s merchant-focused business, continues to deliver solid performance. Growth in gross payment volume (GPV) and gross profit reflects healthy business momentum. The company is also adding new capabilities, such as Square AI, which uses data-driven insights to help sellers manage operations, improve decision-making and grow in an increasingly competitive POS and software market.

Cash App remains a key growth driver for Block. The platform has evolved from a peer-to-peer payments tool into a broader financial ecosystem, particularly popular with younger users. It now offers payments, banking, commerce and Bitcoin-related services.

Block has further strengthened Cash App with features such as group payments, buy-now-pay-later offerings through Afterpay, enhanced borrowing tools, Tap to Pay on iPhone, Proto Bitcoin mining initiatives, Bitkey self-custody, Bitcoin wallet services and TIDAL music streaming. These additions are helping increase user engagement, deepen customer relationships and support broader business adoption.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XYZ’s 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 8.9% and 58.7%, respectively. The company, currently, carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Affirm Holdings (AFRM - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this operator of digital commerce platform have returned +6.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.5% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Affirm Holdings falls in, has lost 4%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Affirm Holdings is expected to post earnings of $0.36 per share, indicating a change of +80% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +18.4% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.21 points to a change of +706.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +11%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.66 indicates a change of +37.7% from what Affirm Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -3.5%.

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 Affirm Holdings.

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

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Affirm Holdings, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.1 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +26%. For the current and next fiscal years, $4.19 billion and $5.27 billion estimates indicate +29.8% and +25.9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAffirm Holdings reported revenues of $1.04 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +32.6%. EPS of $0.3 for the same period compares with $0.01 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $997.92 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.09%. The EPS surprise was +76.47%.

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.

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

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.

Affirm Holdings is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

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

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.

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? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest 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 ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

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.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure 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: Affirm Holdings (AFRM - Free Report) Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Affirm Holdings, Inc. is a financial technology company specializing in payment solutions that provide consumers with flexible, transparent installment loans — both interest-free and interest-bearing — at the point of sale. By partnering with a diverse range of merchants, Affirm enables customers to pay for purchases over time.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. AFRM has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 8.7% over the past four weeks.

10 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.15 to $1.25 per share. AFRM boasts an average earnings surprise of +74.9%.

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

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) Presents at 2026 Evercore Global TMT Conference Transcript

Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP Investments”), through subsidiaries of CPPIB Credit Investments Inc., today announced a renewed and expanded forward-flow agreement. Under the 24-month agreement, CPP Investments will commit US$1.7 billion to purchasing Affirm installment loans, with the ability to increase the commitment to US$2.2 billion.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260604725818/en/

The agreement is expected to support up to approximately US$8 billion in consumer loan volume over its two-year term and builds on a longstanding relationship. Since 2019, CPP Investments has purchased nearly US$14 billion in Affirm assets through forward-flow agreements and asset-backed securitizations.

This investment will help power Affirm’s growing network of consumers and merchants. Affirm offers consumers honest, transparent payment options at checkout and funds its loans through a diverse network of capital partners. Nearly 27 million active consumers use Affirm to pay over time on terms they can see and understand, with no late or hidden fees. Over the last 12 months ending March 31, 2026, Affirm delivered US$46 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV).

“CPP Investments has been one of our most valued capital partners since the earliest days of our program, and this renewal reflects the trust and track record we've built together,” said Michael Linford, Chief Operating Officer of Affirm. “We are grateful to have deep partnerships with some of the world’s most sophisticated, stable investors, including CPP Investments, and this expanded relationship will continue to fuel our growth as we generate quality assets at scale.”

“Affirm has established a leading position in a large and growing segment of consumer finance by offering transparent payment solutions that resonate with both consumers and merchants,” said Paras Vira, Managing Director, Head of Americas Structured Credit at CPP Investments. “The company has consistently produced the kind of credit performance we look for in a long-term partner and we are pleased to renew and expand our commitment as we aim to generate attractive returns for the CPP Fund in the interests of CPP contributors and beneficiaries.”

Affirm maintains a durable and resilient funding model across multiple channels, including warehouse facilities, forward-flow agreements, and asset-backed securitizations. As of March 31, 2026, Affirm’s total funding capacity had grown to US$28.2 billion, supported by a diverse group of long-term capital partners across institution types.

About Affirm

Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network—one based on trust, transparency, and putting people first—we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X.

About CPP Investments

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments™) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Canada Pension Plan Fund in the best interests of the more than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, we make investments around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York City, São Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from governments. At March 31, 2026, the Fund totalled C$793.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or on X @CPPInvestments.

Forward Looking Statement from Affirm

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding Affirm’s future results of operations and financial condition, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and expectations of the renewed and expanded partnership with CPP Investments, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potentially,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including risks described under “Risk Factors” in Affirm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 and in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Affirm undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

AFRM-PA

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260604725818/en/

Key Takeaways Affirm renewed and expanded its CPP Investments funding deal with a 24-month forward-flow agreement.Affirm expects the commitment to support about $8B in consumer loan volume over two years.Affirm had $28.2B in funding capacity as of March 31, 2026, backed by capital partners. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) has renewed and expanded its funding partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). Under the new 24-month forward-flow agreement, CPP Investments will commit $1.7 billion to purchase Affirm installment loans, with the option to increase that amount to $2.2 billion. The agreement is expected to support approximately $8 billion in consumer loan volume over the next two years.

The relationship between the two companies dates back to 2019, during which CPP Investments purchased nearly $14 billion of Affirm assets via forward-flow agreements and asset-backed securitizations. The expanded commitment supports Affirm’s continued expansion in the buy now, pay later market.

Over the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2026, the company generated $46 billion in GMV and served almost 27 million active consumers. GMV increased 35% year over year to $11.6 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, highlighting continued strength in platform activity.

The partnership provides additional funding capacity to support future loan originations while preserving balance-sheet flexibility. It also signals continued confidence from a major institutional investor in Affirm’s underwriting discipline and loan performance.

The agreement highlights the strength of Affirm’s funding model, which employs a capital-light structure that supports loan growth without requiring the company to retain all originated assets on its balance sheet. As of March 31, 2026, Affirm had total funding capacity of $28.2 billion, supported by a diversified network of long-term capital partners. Overall, the transaction enhances the company’s ability to meet growing consumer demand while mitigating funding-related risks as the business scales.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of AFRM’s competitors in the payments space are Klarna Group plc (KLAR - Free Report) and Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) .

In March 2026, Klarna expanded its forward-flow and whole-loan sale program with funds managed by Elliott Investment Management, doubling the facility size to $2 billion and extending its term to three years. The arrangement allows Klarna to sell newly originated U.S. receivables while retaining underwriting and loan-servicing responsibilities.

In May 2026, Sezzle expanded its funding capacity by securing a new $300 million receivables warehouse facility from Mesirow Alternative Credit, with an additional $75 million accordion feature. The deal increased Sezzle's advance rate and enhanced funding flexibility to support future loan growth.

AFRM’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of AFRM have risen 16.6% over the past year against the industry’s decline of 12.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, AFRM trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.41X, up from the industry average of 3.96X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFRM’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.25 per share, implying a 733.3% jump from the year-ago period’s level.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

A bounce in oil makes sense on Friday, as we are heading into a weekend that could have headlines moving things. Short covering could be an issue as well.

The light sweet crude oil market has dipped early during the trading session here on Friday, but it does seem like there is quite a bit of support underneath the $85 level, so I think we have a situation where traders are going to continue to see the overall range play out that has been pretty much intact since March.

A little bit of a bounce here probably makes some sense heading into the weekend, as we don’t know what headlines will come out of the Middle East, but that will probably be influencing this market. A bounce to the 50-day EMA makes a certain amount of sense. That being said, if we get a quiet weekend, probably be a quiet opening on Monday.

Brent Crude Oil Technical Analysis The Brent market is a little bit the same; it’s also showing the same type of candlestick as the $85 level is offering support, with the 200-day EMA backing it up. We could get a bounce towards the $95 level, but if we break down below the 200-day EMA, that could unwind this market pretty drastically.

We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out, but it is worth noting that anything can happen over the weekend, so I think what you have more likely than not, at least on Friday, is maybe some short covering.

I don’t know that it’s bullish, but with the right headline over the weekend, we could see this thing open up $4 or $5 a barrel higher, and if you are short of this market, that’s something you have to be aware of.

NEW YORK, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Qiagen N.V. (“Qiagen” or the “Company”) (NYSE: QGEN). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Qiagen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 27, 2026, Qiagen announced preliminary results for the first quarter of 2026.  Among other items, the Company disclosed that net sales declined approximately 1% on a constant exchange rate (“CER”) basis, and that sales of its QuantiFERON product declined approximately 5% CER.  

On this news, Qiagen’s stock price fell $4.07 per share, or 10.69%, to close at $34.02 per share on April 28, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

Qiagen shares dropped more than 10% after the company slashed FY 2026 sales-growth guidance from "at least 5% CER" to just 1-2% CER -- erasing hundreds of millions in market capitalization in a single session.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholders of Qiagen N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN) saw over 10% wiped from the stock's value after the company cut its full-year 2026 outlook, driven by a 5% CER decline in QuantiFERON TB test volumes during Q1 2026. Investors who lost money on QGEN are encouraged to submit their information to discuss their legal rights. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at  [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.

The market reaction was swift and severe. Qiagen's revised outlook -- sales growth of approximately 1-2% CER and adjusted diluted EPS of at least $2.43 -- represented a sharp reduction from the February 5, 2026 guidance of "at least 5% CER" sales growth and adjusted diluted EPS of "at least $2.50 at CER." CFO Roland Sackers had projected on that same February call that QuantiFERON would deliver "about 6% CER growth" for the full year. Weeks later, Q1 2026 volumes showed a 5% CER decline year-over-year.

The speed and scale of the reversal caught the market off guard. Between the February 5 guidance and the subsequent cut, no public disclosure from Qiagen signaled that QuantiFERON demand was deteriorating at this pace. The approximately 10% single-session decline reflected the market repricing the company's growth trajectory in real time.

Shareholders who purchased QGEN and suffered losses may  click here to get more information about this investigation. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.

ABOUT THE FIRM -- For over two decades, Levi & Korsinsky has represented shareholders in securities class actions. Ranked in ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.

Frequently Asked Questions About the QGEN Investigation

Q: Who is eligible to participate in the QGEN investigation?  A: Investors who recently acquired QGEN stock or securities and were impacted by the sharp decline in stock price on April 28, 2026.

Q: How much did QGEN stock drop?  A: Shares fell more than 10% after Qiagen disclosed a material reduction in its FY 2026 sales-growth and EPS guidance, driven by weaker demand for its QuantiFERON TB test and immigration-related testing. Investors who purchased shares at artificially inflated prices may be entitled to compensation.

Q: What do QGEN investors need to do right now?  A: Gather brokerage records including purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Contact Levi & Korsinsky for a free, no-obligation evaluation at [email protected]  or (212) 363-7500. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as a class member.

Q: What if I already sold my QGEN shares -- can I still recover losses?  A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold them. Investors who bought during the class period and sold at a loss may still participate.

Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony?  A: No. This is currently just an investigation. Even if a suit is filed, however, the overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. You submit a claim form to receive your portion of recovery.

Q: What does it cost me to participate?  A: Nothing. Securities investigations and the potential resultant class actions are handled on a pure contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, no out-of-pocket costs.

Q: Has Levi & Korsinsky handled similar cases before?  A: Yes, including securities class actions involving revenue inflation, earnings guidance fraud, dividend misrepresentation, and executive misconduct across numerous industries.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

VENLO, Netherlands & GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced the global launch of QIA Agent, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to simplify how researchers plan experiments, identify suitable products, access technical information and manage ordering support through a single conversational interface.

“Researchers today are navigating growing scientific complexity, increasing volumes of data and expanding workflow choices,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Portfolio & Innovation at QIAGEN. “QIA Agent is designed to simplify how researchers interact with scientific information, workflow guidance and operational support through a single AI-powered experience. By embedding conversational AI into our digital ecosystem, we aim to help customers move faster from questions to decisions across Sample to Insight workflows.”

As laboratories generate increasing amounts of data and workflows become more complex, researchers are seeking more intuitive ways to access scientific expertise, technical guidance and operational support. Conversational AI is emerging as a new interface layer for scientific workflows, helping reduce friction across research, purchasing and laboratory operations.

QIA Agent addresses these challenges by connecting QIAGEN’s product information, protocols, technical documentation, ordering tools and support resources through a natural-language interface.

It is accessible with or without login, allowing users to engage immediately while offering a more personalized experience when signed in. Logged-in users can access individual pricing, order history and account-specific information, making interactions more relevant and efficient. With more than 260,000 users already registered on “My QIAGEN” at www.qiagen.com, the platform builds on an established digital customer base.

Key features and benefits include:

Natural-language scientific guidance: Researchers can interact with QIA Agent through a conversational interface and receive guidance linked to relevant QIAGEN products, protocols, technical information and recommended next steps. Connected product and workflow intelligence: QIA Agent combines product information, protocols, technical documentation and support resources to support decision-making for experiment planning and product selection. Integration with QIAGEN digital services: The platform connects researchers with existing QIAGEN tools, including the Experiment Configurator, Order Status Checker, Product Availability Checker and Help Center to create a seamless interface from experiment planning through post-purchase support. Ordering and support access in one place: Researchers can check product availability, track orders and access relevant support information without moving across multiple systems. Improved laboratory efficiency: By simplifying access to scientific information, digital tools and operational support, QIA Agent is designed to help laboratories save time, improve productivity through faster and more informed decisions. QIA Agent is now publicly accessible via www.qiagen.com to all QIAGEN customers worldwide. It is currently intended for research use and is not designed for diagnostic applications.

The launch of QIA Agent forms part of QIAGEN’s broader efforts to apply AI and digital technologies across its customer-facing ecosystem. By embedding AI-enabled assistance into laboratory workflows, QIAGEN aims to make scientific information, product selection and operational support easier to access for researchers worldwide.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is a global leader in Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to extract and analyze molecular information from biological samples containing the building blocks of life. Our Sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies prepare these biomolecules for analysis, while bioinformatics support the interpretation of complex data to deliver actionable insights. Automation solutions integrate these steps into streamlined, cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN serves more than 500,000 customers worldwide in the Life Sciences (academia, pharmaceutical R&D and industrial applications such as forensics) and molecular diagnostics (clinical healthcare). As of March 31, 2026, QIAGEN employed approximately 5,500 people across more than 35 locations. For more information, visit www.qiagen.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe”, “hope”, “plan”, “intend”, “seek”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “continue”, “target” or other similar words. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN’s products, timing for launch and development, marketing and/or regulatory approvals, financial and operational outlook, growth and expansion, acquisitions, collaborations, markets, strategy or operating results, including without limitation its expected net sales, net sales of particular products, net sales in particular geographies, adjusted net sales, expansion of adjusted operating income margin, returns to shareholders, progressive dividend payments, product portfolio management, product launches (including anticipated launches of our sequencing solutions, testing platforms, panels and systems), leveraging AI technology, improvements in operating and financial leverage, currency movements against the U.S. dollar, plans for investment in our portfolio and share repurchase commitments, our expectations relating to our adjusted tax rate, debt maturity and repayment, our ability to grow adjusted earnings per share at a greater rate than sales, our ability to improve operating efficiencies and maintain disciplined capital allocation, are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with our dependence on the development and success of new products; management of growth and expansion of operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations, tariffs, tax laws, regulatory processes and logistics and supply chain dependencies); variability of operating results; integration of acquired businesses; changes in relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN’s products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers’ funding, budgets and other factors, including delays or limits in the amount of reimbursement approvals or public health funding); our ability to obtain and maintain product regulatory approvals; difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN’s products to integrated solutions and producing such products; the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate and protect our products from competitors’ products; market acceptance of new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses; actions of governments, global or regional economic developments, including inflation and changing interest rates, weather or transportation delays, natural disasters, cyber security breaches, political or public health crises and the resulting impact on the demand for our products and other aspects of our business, or other force majeure events; litigation risk, including patent litigation and product liability; debt service obligations; volatility in the public trading price of our common shares; as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected; and the other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: QIAGEN N.V.

Category: Corporate

More News From QIAGEN N.V.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Qiagen N.V. ("Qiagen" or the "Company") (NYSE: QGEN). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Qiagen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 27, 2026, Qiagen announced preliminary results for the first quarter of 2026. Among other items, the Company disclosed that net sales declined approximately 1% on a constant exchange rate ("CER") basis, and that sales of its QuantiFERON product declined approximately 5% CER.

On this news, Qiagen's stock price fell $4.07 per share, or 10.69%, to close at $34.02 per share on April 28, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

NEW YORK, May 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Qiagen N.V. (“Qiagen” or the “Company”) (NYSE: QGEN). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Qiagen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 27, 2026, Qiagen announced preliminary results for the first quarter of 2026.  Among other items, the Company disclosed that net sales declined approximately 1% on a constant exchange rate (“CER”) basis, and that sales of its QuantiFERON product declined approximately 5% CER.  

On this news, Qiagen’s stock price fell $4.07 per share, or 10.69%, to close at $34.02 per share on April 28, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

Key Takeaways QIAGEN spans sample prep to molecular diagnostics with 500 consumables and automated workflows. QIAGEN says new launches could add ~2 pts of sales growth in 2H 2026, led by Connect systems.QIAGEN trimmed 2026 outlook to ~1-2% CER growth on tariffs, FX, and softer immigration testing. QIAGEN (QGEN - Free Report) has built a broad assay and biomarker portfolio that spans pre-analytical sample preparation and molecular diagnostics. That mix gives the company multiple shots on goal across clinical testing and life science workflows, even as spending patterns remain choppy.

The near-term setup is not uniform across end markets, but QIAGEN has shown it can protect profitability while continuing to fund targeted growth initiatives. Its Zacks Rank is #3 (Hold). 

In the past year, QIAGEN’s shares have plunged roughly 23.7% against the industry’s growth of 18.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QGEN’s Portfolio Maps to Multiple Testing Growth AreasQIAGEN positions itself as a provider of technologies for the separation, purification, and handling of DNA and RNA, with offerings that start at sample collection and preparation and extend into molecular diagnostics. The company has developed a portfolio of more than 500 proprietary consumable products, alongside automated solutions designed to support standardized workflows. 

The strategic thread running through the portfolio is breadth of content, then expansion of that content over time. Management continues to emphasize expanding test menus and improving automation-driven workflows to keep platforms relevant as labs seek faster and more repeatable processes. 

The company has also highlighted collaborations and commercial partnerships as a way to broaden distribution and accelerate assay development, particularly in companion diagnostics, where adopted content can translate into recurring consumables once testing becomes standardized. 

QIAGEN’s Revenue Mix Shows Where Demand Is ConcentratedQIAGEN organizes its business into two main product buckets. Consumables and related revenues include consumable kits, bioinformatics solutions, royalties, co-development milestone payments, and services. Instruments and related services include instruments, services, and contracts. 

Within that structure, the 2024 portfolio-area mix shows where demand is concentrated. Diagnostic Solutions represented 37.9% of sales, Sample Technologies 32.5%, PCR and Nucleic Acid Amplification 15.2%, Genomics and Next-Generation Sequencing 11.8%, and Other 2.7%. 

Each portfolio area bundles distinct platforms and use cases. Diagnostic Solutions includes molecular testing platforms and consumables such as QuantiFERON, QIAstat-Dx, and NeuMoDx, alongside Precision Diagnostics. Sample Technologies covers consumables and instruments used in sample collection, stabilization, storage, purification, and quality control. PCR and Nucleic Acid Amplification includes research and applied polymerase chain reaction solutions and components, including QIAcuity. Genomics and Next-Generation Sequencing includes universal next-generation sequencing solutions and the full QIAGEN Digital Insights portfolio. 

Estimates for QGEN Heading SouthThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for QIAGEN’s 2026 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year improvement of 4.1% and 2.5%, respectively. The bottom-line estimates have moved southward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QIAGEN’s 2026–2027 Growth View and What It ImpliesThe Zacks model points to steady growth, even if the path is not linear. QIAGEN’s revenues are modeled to deliver a compound annual growth rate of 5.9% through 2027. Diagnostic Solutions is expected to grow 1.9% year over year in 2026, while Genomics and Next-Generation Sequencing is expected to grow 3.3% in 2026.

Operationally, the levers behind that outlook tie back to content and workflow. QIAGEN continues to invest in research and development to expand menus and improve throughput across core platforms, including new gastrointestinal panel clearances on the QIAstat-Dx Rise system and continued advancement of additional panels. Management has also pointed to sample preparation automation, including rollout activity for new Connect systems, and expects new launches to contribute about two percentage points of sales growth in the second half of 2026. 

QGEN’s Key Watch Items Investors Should TrackA primary checkpoint is whether second-half 2026 delivers the expected acceleration to roughly 4% sales growth at constant exchange rates, supported by new product launches, sequential improvement in QuantiFERON, and contributions from Parse as it tracks toward a 2026 sales target of $40 million.

Investors should also monitor traction from new launches, including the new Connect systems, and whether added platform content keeps translating into higher utilization and consumables pull-through as labs consolidate testing onto scalable workflows. 

Finally, the external environment matters. Management has cited tariffs and currency movements as headwinds that pressured profitability in the first quarter, and it reduced the full-year 2026 outlook to roughly 1% to 2% growth at constant exchange rates amid softer immigration testing volumes and continued caution from U.S. Life Sciences customers. Competitive intensity remains high across the company’s markets, with peers in the same industry group including Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO - Free Report) and Illumina (ILMN - Free Report) , which can raise the bar for winning budgeted placements when customers stay cautious. 

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

Key Takeaways QIAGEN posted Q1 2026 EPS and revenue misses, with uneven demand across end markets. QGEN still showed 27.4% adj operating margin, $54M free cash flow, and $646.3M cash, no debt. QIAGEN shares are down 23.7% YTD; FX, tariffs, and slower testing and spending add risk. QIAGEN N.V. (QGEN - Free Report) is sending investors a mixed near-term message after first-quarter earnings miss and a reset to its 2026 growth outlook. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), and the Style Scores tilt defensive rather than directional.

With a VGM Score of D, QGEN screens as “balanced at best” today, especially with Value stronger than Growth and Momentum. The question is whether the company’s profitability and liquidity can steady the story while demand visibility stays choppy.

QIAGEN’s Q1 Print and What Drove the MissFirst-quarter 2026 results pointed to uneven demand and modest execution pressure. Adjusted earnings were $0.54 per share, down 2% year over year, and the result missed the consensus estimate by 1.2%. On a GAAP basis, earnings were $0.33 per share versus $0.41 a year ago. 

Revenue was $492 million, up 2% year over year on a reported basis but down 1% at constant exchange rates. The top line also fell short of expectations, missing by 0.8%. Together, the numbers suggest demand did not cooperate evenly across end markets, and the company did not fully offset that with upside elsewhere during the quarter.

Based on short-term price targets from 10 analysts, the average price target for QIAGEN’s is $41.80, representing a potential 15.69% upside from the last closing price.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QIAGEN’s Offsets: Profitability, Cash Flow, and Balance SheetEven with softer demand signals, QIAGEN delivered financial stabilizers that can matter in a reset year. The adjusted operating income margin was 27.4% in the first quarter, reflecting sustained profitability despite targeted investments and headwinds from tariffs and currency movements. 

Cash generation also remained constructive. Free cash flow was $54 million in the quarter, supporting ongoing investment needs, including systems and infrastructure initiatives. 

The balance sheet adds another layer of flexibility. QIAGEN ended the quarter with $646.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and no current debt. That liquidity can help the company keep funding targeted launches and workflow improvements, even as tariffs and foreign-exchange movements continue to pressure profitability.

QGEN’s Valuation Framing vs. BenchmarksThe stock’s decline provides important context for the current debate. QIAGEN shares are down 23.7% year to date and also down 23.7% over the past 12 months. 

On valuation, QGEN trades at about 3.4 times forward 12-month sales. That is above the Zacks sub-industry and sector comparisons, but below the S&P 500 multiple shown in the same benchmark set. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The $38 price target is framed through a multiple-based approach. It reflects 3.5 times forward 12-month sales, essentially signaling modest upside from recent levels while keeping expectations constrained by the slower growth outlook. 

QIAGEN’s Decision Checklist From the Report’s RisksFor investors weighing a buy-versus-hold stance, the downside checklist is clear. QIAGEN remains sensitive to macro conditions and demand fluctuations, including reduced QuantiFERON immigration testing volumes, cautious spending from U.S. Life Sciences customers, and uneven original equipment manufacturer ordering patterns. 

Foreign-exchange exposure is another swing factor, given that more than half of revenue is generated outside the United States. Tariffs also pressured profitability in the first quarter, and those costs can complicate margin forecasting while the company continues investing behind launches. 

Execution timing in partnerships matters, too. Companion diagnostics programs can deliver multi-year opportunity, but revenue recognition depends on partner timelines and commercial success. QIAGEN reported $115 million in remaining performance obligations tied to companion diagnostic co-development contracts, with roughly half expected over the next 12 to 18 months. 

Finally, competitive intensity can lengthen sales cycles when lab budgets tighten. That dynamic is not unique to QIAGEN. Illumina, Inc. (ILMN - Free Report) is a major player in sequencing and array solutions used across genomics workflows, and spending cycles in that ecosystem can influence broader purchasing behavior. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO - Free Report) also spans a wide range of life sciences research tools and consumables, underscoring how well-funded competitors can pressure pricing and decision timelines in cautious environments. 

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