Senátorka Cynthia Lummisová uvedla, že o Clarity Act se bude hlasovat před srpnovou přestávkou, i když část demokratů stále klade další požadavky. Pokud projde, vytvoří regulační rámec pro americký kryptotrh.
Pro-bitcoin Senator Cynthia Lummis has said that bipartisan work is going into the crypto Clarity Act but warned that some lawmakers are still making unreasonable demands.
The Republican, speaking to Fox Business Wednesday, said that she had been working with Democratic lawmakers into the night to get the bill over the line.
But she said that some Democrats were still dragging their feet on the bill. Lawmakers are pushing to get a vote on the crypto market structure bill before the Senate goes to recess.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Senator Cynthia Lummis says "I believe we will get a vote on the Clarity Act before August recess." 👀
"I don't think we'll be leaving on Friday, I think we'll go into the weekend."
Pass it! 🚀
pic.twitter.com/1AZR7DzEln
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) August 5, 2026 “The president agreed to an ethics provision that no president has ever agreed to,” Lummis said. “He’s gone farther to protect ethics than any president in history — yet the Democrats do want more. Their proposal is in front of the president now, and we’ll see what he does.”
She added: “We’re going to vote on it. If it dies, it’s going to be because the Democrats kill it. I’ve bent over backwards for 11 months, to give them as much as we can possibly give them to regulate this industry.”
The Clarity Act has been in a deadlock for much of 2026, partially because the banking lobby raised concerns over crypto companies allowing clients to earn stablecoin yield.
An updated bill of the Clarity Act was introduced in July addressing concerns around ethics; it now bans government officials and their families from issuing or promoting crypto.
Democrats have criticized President Trump’s family crypto business ventures. The White House has always said there have been no conflicts of interest.
A group of Democrats in July said the bill needs work.
Major financial institutions like Fidelity and BlackRock, and law enforcement organizations have thrown their weight behind the new bill,
If passed, the Clarity Act would create a regulatory framework for the U.S. cryptocurrency market.
Mathew Di Salvo
Mathew is a reporter who's covered the space since 2019, reporting on everything from Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele's Bitcoin bet to crypto exchange FTX's bankruptcy.
Sixteen security researchers walked into 390 open-source Bitcoin codebases and, in slightly more than a day, found nearly 5,000 things wrong. The result of an audit sprint by the Bitcoin Red Team, a volunteer group that delivered one of the most thorough security sweeps the Bitcoin ecosystem has ever seen.
The numbers are bracing: 4,962 total security findings across 390 projects, logged in a 27.5-hour window spanning August 4 to 5, 2026. Of those, 85 were classified as critical and 635 as high-severity. That works out to roughly 2.31 findings per researcher per hour.
What triggered the audit The sprint was a direct response to vulnerabilities recently discovered in the COLDCARD hardware wallet, one of the most widely trusted cold storage devices in Bitcoin’s self-custody culture.
Funding came from OpenSats, a nonprofit that supports open-source Bitcoin development, which contributed nearly $40,000 to support the effort. The volunteer model and AI-powered tooling stretched every dollar considerably further.
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How AI changed the math The Bitcoin Red Team leaned heavily on AI-driven analysis tools to scan codebases at a speed no manual review could match. The team averaged 180 findings per hour collectively.
The Red Team is reportedly planning to open-source the tools they used, which could set a new baseline for how the broader crypto community approaches security auditing.
Responsible disclosure, not reckless exposure The Bitcoin Red Team followed a strict responsible disclosure process, reproducing critical issues locally before informing project maintainers privately.
Prior to this sprint, the group had already conducted scans of roughly 150 repositories that resulted in over a dozen private disclosures. The August audit was a dramatic escalation in both scope and urgency, driven by the COLDCARD fallout.
What this means for investors and the broader ecosystem The Bitcoin ecosystem has long prided itself on its open-source ethos. In practice, most projects don’t receive meaningful security review unless they’re high-profile enough to attract attention or well-funded enough to pay for it.
The existence of vulnerabilities doesn’t mean funds were stolen or that Bitcoin itself is compromised. Bitcoin’s core protocol wasn’t the target here. The projects audited were the surrounding ecosystem of tools and applications that people use to interact with Bitcoin.
The costs of remediation will fall on individual project maintainers, many of whom are themselves volunteers or small teams.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Tom Lee varuje, že kvantové počítače mohou do roku 2028 či 2029 ohrozit bezpečnost Bitcoinu. Riziko se týká hlavně starších adres s veřejným klíčem, zhruba 7 milionů BTC.
Fundstrat cofounder Tom Lee has warned that quantum computers might compromise the security of Bitcoin as soon as 2028 or 2029. Lee cited recent research from Google, claiming advancements in quantum technology could soon render Bitcoin’s existing protections obsolete, and cautioned that the crypto sector currently does not have a unified mitigation strategy.
Ethereum and Solana seen as less vulnerableLee also suggested that networks such as Ethereum and Solana may face lower risks from emerging quantum threats. He stated that their protocols offer stronger protection compared to Bitcoin’s, although he did not elaborate on specific security features in his brief remarks. Ethereum and Solana are both popular blockchain platforms supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications.
However, his statements drew immediate attention from Adam Back, the creator of Hashcash and a prominent figure in Bitcoin’s early development. Back challenged Lee’s assessment, emphasizing that Bitcoin does not use traditional encryption for transaction processing.
Adam Back pointed out that Bitcoin protects coin ownership with ECDSA-based digital signatures, and seed phrases are secured by an exceptionally high level of entropy, making them effectively immune to brute-force attacks even by quantum computers.
These digital signatures are cryptographic methods used to authenticate and secure transactions, rather than encrypt data. The security of Bitcoin wallets relies on the computational difficulty of deriving a private key from its corresponding public key.
Mini dictionary: ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) is a cryptographic technique widely used in blockchain networks to ensure transaction authenticity without revealing private keys. Its security is based on the difficulty of solving certain mathematical problems efficiently, which quantum computers may potentially address with future advancements.
Focus on legacy addresses and public key exposureThe genuine quantum threat to Bitcoin centers on a subset of coins held in older wallet addresses, where public keys have already been exposed on the blockchain. Analysts believe around 7 million BTC, or approximately 30%–35% of the total supply, reside in such addresses that have either been reused or have remained dormant for years.
If a sufficiently powerful quantum computer using Shor’s algorithm were built, attackers could theoretically derive the private keys associated with these exposed public keys and seize control of the funds. Shor’s algorithm is anticipated to solve certain cryptographic problems exponentially faster than classical computers.
However, there are currently no quantum computers capable of mounting this kind of attack. The threat remains theoretical, and Bitcoin developers have been researching post-quantum cryptographic solutions for several years with the goal of upgrading the protocol well before practical quantum threats emerge.
Potential network responses and the BIP-361 debateIn the event quantum threats become imminent, Bitcoin could implement a hard fork to integrate quantum-resistant signature schemes. Moving coins from exposed addresses to safer ones would be possible for active holders. However, assets in lost wallets or long-inactive addresses—including the approximately one million BTC attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto—are unlikely to be secured by their original owners.
The network faces a difficult choice: freeze nearly a third of all Bitcoin through the contested BIP-361 proposal, or risk leaving these dormant coins vulnerable to potential quantum attacks.
BIP-361 is a controversial proposal that would allow the network to freeze coins at risk of quantum theft. If enacted, it would mark an unprecedented intervention, pitting the preservation of network integrity against long-standing principles of immutability and decentralization.
MeasureQuantum ThreatNetwork ResponseLegacy addresses (public key exposed)High risk (approx. 7 million BTC vulnerable)BIP-361 freeze or move to new addressesModern addresses (public key not disclosed)Low risk (quantum attack theoretical)Monitor and implement post-quantum upgradesDisclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Bitcoin se znovu dostal do bezpečnostní debaty, zatímco Pentagon připravuje novou jadernou strategii zaměřenou na regionální konflikty s Čínou nebo Ruskem. Trh na zprávu nereagoval; Bitcoin se obchodoval poblíž 64 500 USD.
Bitcoin has entered the national-security debate again as the Pentagon drafts a nuclear strategy centered on potential regional conflicts with China or Russia.
Summary
The Pentagon is reportedly considering shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons for regional conflicts. US military officials previously confirmed operational Bitcoin testing and classified crypto-related work. Washington’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve holds forfeited BTC under a no-sale policy. Bitcoin traded near $64,500, with no clear price reaction to the Pentagon report. Pentagon drafts new nuclear strategy Defense Department policy chief Elbridge Colby is drafting a classified nuclear framework that could expand the role of shorter-range tactical weapons, NBC News reported on Aug. 5, citing five people familiar with the plans.
The emerging strategy would prepare Washington for a possible regional war involving China or Russia. It reportedly seeks to give the US president more limited nuclear options during a crisis instead of relying mainly on long-range strategic weapons.
The approach would mark a departure from decades of US doctrine built around the threat of a large retaliatory strike. Tactical weapons have shorter ranges and are designed for more limited military targets, although any nuclear use would still carry a severe risk of escalation.
The framework has not been adopted as official US policy. Its reported objectives include preventing a conventional conflict from becoming a full nuclear exchange and stopping one adversary from exploiting Washington while it confronts the other.
Why Bitcoin has entered the security debate The nuclear review does not formally include Bitcoin. However, the focus on China and Russia overlaps with separate US military discussions about decentralized networks, cybersecurity and digital financial infrastructure.
In April, US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo told lawmakers that the military was operating a Bitcoin node and testing the network in an operational setting, according to a statement from Rep. Lance Gooden’s office.
Paparo described Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer, zero-trust system with potential military applications. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told Congress that classified digital-asset initiatives could give the US leverage across multiple scenarios.
Those disclosures do not mean Bitcoin forms part of US nuclear planning. They show that defense officials are assessing the network independently as a possible cybersecurity, communications or value-transfer tool as competition with China expands.
Crypto commentators have connected the NBC report with those earlier disclosures. The resulting discussion has focused on whether Bitcoin’s decentralized structure could become more valuable during sanctions, cyberattacks or disruptions to traditional payment systems.
US Bitcoin reserve adds a sovereign dimension President Donald Trump established the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through a March 2025 executive order. The reserve is capitalized with BTC forfeited through criminal or civil proceedings rather than direct market purchases.
Bitcoin placed in the reserve “shall not be sold,” according to the executive order published in the Federal Register. Treasury and Commerce may also explore budget-neutral ways to acquire more BTC without imposing additional costs on taxpayers.
The White House estimated in 2025 that the federal government controlled roughly 200,000 BTC, but no complete public audit was available at the time. That makes exact current holdings difficult to confirm, particularly because seized assets may be returned to victims or transferred between agencies.
The reserve and the Pentagon’s network tests remain separate initiatives. Still, together they show that parts of the US government increasingly view Bitcoin through strategic and operational lenses, not solely as a speculative asset.
Bitcoin shows no clear reaction to the report Bitcoin traded near $64,500 on Aug. 5, within an intraday range of roughly $63,860 to $64,650. The price action showed no obvious response to the nuclear strategy report.
Any long-term market effect would likely depend on concrete policy changes, including additional congressional testimony, defense authorization language, or disclosures about how the military uses Bitcoin infrastructure.
For US investors, the report does not create a direct new demand catalyst. It instead adds to the broader case that Bitcoin is being examined as part of sovereign reserves and national-security planning. The connection remains indirect unless the Pentagon announces a formal procurement, reserve, or operational policy involving BTC.
Hack Coldcard Wallet vyvolal na síti Bitcoinu zvýšenou aktivitu: v mempoolu čeká 89 031 transakcí, nejvíc od února 2025. Počet aktivních adres dosáhl 712 000 a transakcí velryb 61 800.
The Coldcard hardware wallet hack, which began on July 30th and is still ongoing, has caused significant activity on the Bitcoin network. This event has raised concerns about the security of hardware wallets and has also led to an increase in the number of transactions in the Bitcoin transaction pool (mempool).
Bitcoin Trading Volume is Increasing According to Blockchain.com data, the number of transactions awaiting confirmation in Bitcoin’s transaction pool has reached 89,031, the highest level since February 2025. This increase has been particularly noticeable since the end of July. Other data provided by Santiment shows that the number of active addresses has reached 712,000, a three-month high, and transactions by “whales,” as they are known, have risen to 61,800, a five-month high.
Bitcoin Price and Macroeconomic Effects While increased network activity is generally thought to support Bitcoin’s value, so far the Bitcoin price has been trading in a narrow range between $62,000 and $65,000. Analysts note that the fate of the Clarity Act could be a catalyst in the short term, but the long-term effects may depend more on government bond yields. Bitfinex states that if the US 10-year Treasury yield rises above 2.5%, the positive macroeconomic scenario for Bitcoin will collapse.
These developments enhance Bitcoin’s appeal as digital gold and a store of value, while also testing the network’s transaction capacity. With the introduction of spot ETFs in early 2024, Bitcoin’s positioning as a store of value, rather than a payment network, has been further solidified.
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Strategy oznámí příspěvky na Trump Accounts pro děti zaměstnanců v USA: 250 USD ročně a jednorázově 1 000 USD po dokončení implementace ministerstvem financí USA a po zpřístupnění systému pro příspěvky zaměstnavatelů.
Strategy has announced a new employee benefit that will provide annual contributions to Trump Accounts for eligible children of its U.S. workforce. The Bitcoin treasury company said the program will begin after the U.S. Treasury issues final guidance and employer contribution systems become available.
Strategy Expands Employee Benefits With Trump Accounts Strategy said it will contribute $250 each year to Trump Accounts for every eligible child under 18 of its U.S. employees. The company also plans to make a one-time $1,000 contribution that matches the U.S. government’s seed contribution for eligible children.
The company joins Coinbase, Circle, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and other firms that have pledged support for the Trump Accounts initiative. The program is designed to encourage long-term investing for children through tax-advantaged accounts linked to U.S. equity index funds.
Strategy said employer contributions will begin only after the U.S. Treasury completes its implementation process. The company noted that participation depends on the release of final guidance and the required infrastructure.
Strategy Chief Executive Officer Phong Le said, “Trump Accounts and the Invest America initiative can help build a stronger financial future for America’s children.” He added, “These accounts can encourage financial education, long term thinking, and a culture of saving and investing from an early age.”
Company Continues Bitcoin Treasury Operations The announcement came as Strategy continued making adjustments to its Bitcoin treasury. An SEC filing showed the company sold 1,638 BTC during the past week at an average price of $63,957. Following the transaction, Strategy held 842,138 BTC acquired for $63.51 billion at an average purchase price of $75,419.
On-chain analytics platform Lookonchain also reported that a wallet linked to Strategy transferred 1,030 BTC, valued at more than $66 million. Arkham data showed several transfers ranging from $6 million to $21 million, following another transfer of about 300 BTC earlier in the week. Strategy has not confirmed that the latest wallet movements represented additional Bitcoin sales.
Executive Chairman Michael Saylor addressed recent discussion surrounding the company’s Bitcoin transactions. He said, “Strategy is a public company, not my wallet.” Saylor also stated that the company has disclosed since 2020 that it “may buy or sell $BTC to manage capital,” adding, “Our shared conviction in Bitcoin remains unchanged.”
Trump Accounts Target Long-Term Investing Trump Accounts are individual retirement accounts created for children to encourage long-term investing. Children born between 2025 and 2028 qualify for a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury under the program.
The accounts are expected to invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that track the S&P 500 or another index focused mainly on U.S. equities. Coingape previously reported that several financial firms have committed to supporting the initiative through employer contribution programs.
Strategy has also previously supported President Donald Trump’s political initiatives. The company, formerly known as MicroStrategy, donated $1 million to the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. political action committee in January 2025, while Coinbase and Circle each contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
For cryptocurrency trading platforms, this move reflects growing participation by major corporations in investment-focused financial programs.
Koluje falešná kopie webu Ripple, která láká dlouhodobé držitele XRP na „early access“ a po připojení peněženky spouští drainer. David Schwartz varoval: „IT'S A SCAM!“
A convincing clone of Ripple's official website is circulating online, designed to drain the wallets of long-term $XRP holders. The fraudulent page replicates Ripple's branding, color scheme, and typography in close detail, and uses a loyalty angle to lower victims' guard, promising a reward for HODLers who never sold their tokens.
How the Scam Works The fake site presents a "Get Early Access" button aimed at committed XRP holders. Clicking it triggers a crypto drainer, a malicious script that, once a wallet is connected, executes an outbound transaction before the user realizes what has happened. Users are directed to a fraudulent site where connecting a non-custodial wallet triggers a malicious script that executes a single authorized transaction to empty holdings. The authorization step is the trap: once signed, the transaction is irreversible on-chain.
XRP Ledger chief architect David Schwartz (@JoelKatz) called out the site publicly on X, posting a blunt warning: "IT'S A SCAM!" Ripple does not run free XRP giveaways, and posts claiming otherwise on behalf of the company or its executives should be treated as scams. Ripple will never ask you to send XRP.
Part of a Broader Scam Wave Targeting XRP Holders The fake Ripple site is not an isolated incident. Scammers have deployed sophisticated phishing campaigns that bypass email authentication checks, while over 50 fake Ripple executive accounts were reported on Instagram and Telegram in Q1 2026. Fresh security warnings have targeted XRP users amid an ongoing scam wave, with fake sites cloning Flare Network, XORA, and other XRP-adjacent brands.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimates that as much as $17 billion was stolen globally through crypto scams in 2025, the highest level ever recorded. Impersonation scams posted 1,400% year-over-year growth, driven in large part by AI tools that make fraudulent content faster to produce and harder to detect.
Schwartz's verified presence remains limited to his @JoelKatz handle on X. Fake Schwartz accounts have appeared on Telegram, Instagram, and other platforms. Holders are urged to verify all announcements through official channels, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and never connect a wallet to a site promoted through social media posts or direct messages.
Sources:
Ripple: How to Identify Crypto Scams
CryptoNews: Ripple CTO David Schwartz Warned of AI-Cloned Executives
CoinDesk: Chainalysis Report on AI and Impersonation Scams
Partial Payments v XRP Ledger nejsou chyba: mohou doručit méně, než je uvedeno v Amount. XRPL doporučuje pro připsání používat metadata delivered_amount, ne Amount.
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In a recent post, Hussein Zangana (Vet) highlighted a little-known but longstanding XRP Ledger functionality that might be exploited by bad actors if not implemented correctly.
Vet shared his observation along these lines, noting that now and then, people try to trick exchanges and projects into crediting them more funds than they are sending.
This relates to XRP Ledger Partial Payment, a payment that can succeed while delivering less than the stated amount.
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The good news is that this functionality is nowadays very well understood by all large exchanges, Vet noted, but there is a need for new projects to understand it well, as Partial Payments can be used to exploit native integrations with the XRP Ledger to steal money from exchanges and gateways.
I always see every now and then, like today, people probing to trick exchanges/projects to credit them more funds than they were sending them.
An XRP Ledger Partial Payment is a payment that can succeed while delivering less than the stated Amount. For exchanges, if you check… pic.twitter.com/xcEYBcMEGj
— Vet (@Vet_X0) August 5, 2026 "New projects and platforms should always be pointed to the XRPL docs to check the correct fields for crediting funds," Vet advised, in order to prevent mistakes that might arise from incorrect implementation of the partial payments functionality.
XRP Ledger Partial Payments: What new users should knowThe Partial Payment flag on the XRP Ledger allows a payment to succeed by reducing the amount received instead of increasing the amount sent. Partial payments are useful for returning payments without incurring additional costs.
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The sender of any payment transaction can enable the "Partial Payment" flag and send a payment that delivers less than the "Amount" field indicates.
The XRP used for transaction costs is always deducted from the sender's account, irrespective of the transaction type. This transaction fee is not included in the amount; however, this functionality might be exploited.
If a financial institution's integration with the XRP Ledger assumes that the amount field of a payment is always the full amount delivered, bad actors may exploit this assumption to steal funds from the institution. This exploit can be used against gateways, exchanges, or merchants as long as those institutions' software does not process partial payments correctly.
According to XRPL docs, the correct way to process incoming payment transactions is to use the "delivered_amount" metadata field, not the "Amount" field. The "delivered_amount" is the amount a payment actually delivered. This way, an institution is never mistaken about how much it actually received.
Ripple získal od lucemburského regulátora CSSF licenci CASP podle MiCA, která mu umožní nabízet regulované kryptoplatby ve všech 30 zemích EHP. Společnost tak rozšiřuje své evropské působení v rámci jednotného compliance rámce.
Ripple has obtained a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the CSSF, under Europe’s MiCA legislation, enabling the company to offer regulated crypto payment services across all 30 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).
MiCA license enables single-market accessWith this new authorization, Ripple can operate throughout the EEA using a unified compliance framework. This simplifies the process for banks, payment providers, and enterprises wishing to engage with Ripple Payments, as they no longer need to deal with fragmented national regulatory systems. The company’s existing Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license complements this expansion, reinforcing its position within the regulated European crypto landscape.
Ripple has emphasized that regulatory clarity is essential for building institutional trust and advancing crypto adoption. The company stated that clear regulations provide a crucial foundation for collaboration with traditional financial institutions.
Growing adoption of digital assets in EuropeThe rapid shift toward blockchain integration in Europe has positioned the region as a frontrunner in digital asset adoption. Financial institutions are increasingly leveraging blockchain technology not just experimentally, but within core payment and treasury operations.
A recent Global Digital Asset Survey from Ripple highlighted that 72% of European fintech firms consider digital assets vital for maintaining competitiveness, and nearly half anticipate that stablecoin payments will become a fundamental part of their business models within the next two years.
According to the survey, 34% of European fintech organizations are increasing their use of digital assets for treasury management and payments—exceeding the global average—while 44% expect stablecoins to be the default for cross-border payments in five years and 65% believe stablecoins could enhance treasury operations by improving cash flow and working capital.
Regulatory clarity drives institutional partnershipDespite a surge in interest among financial firms, regulatory uncertainty was identified as a significant obstacle, with approximately 40% of European fintechs citing it as a reason for delayed adoption. The introduction of the MiCA framework provides unified rules and has the potential to accelerate institutional adoption by reducing legal ambiguity.
Ripple already has an established footprint within the European financial sector. In Spain, BBVA has formed a partnership with Ripple for digital asset custody services. Meanwhile, Germany’s DZ BANK, a major depository institution managing €350 billion in assets, adopted Ripple-powered technology for its institutional digital asset custody infrastructure.
These partnerships illustrate Ripple’s growing presence in payments, custody, and Europe’s evolving digital financial infrastructure. The company’s payments network currently spans over 60 markets, connects with 51 real-time payment rails, works alongside more than 20 banking partners, and has processed more than $100 billion in payment volume.
Global stablecoin transaction volumes surpassed $33 trillion in 2025, outpacing credit card transactions and reflecting the rising mainstream use of blockchain-based settlement models.
Expanding access through innovationTechnological advancements continue to play a critical role. Platforms such as 1stepSwap are closing the gap between conventional finance and crypto by allowing users to transfer real-world assets, including shares from leading US companies and commodities like gold and silver, directly onto the blockchain. Without complicated processes or intermediaries, investors can access a diversified portfolio and, thanks to cutting-edge algorithms, execute trades at the most competitive market rates.
With the MiCA regulation now implemented and early authorization secured, Ripple views regulatory compliance as a strategic benefit. The company aims to support banks, fintechs, and enterprises in expanding compliant digital asset payments across Europe as institutional adoption accelerates.
Ripple’s strategic moves signal its intention to become a key infrastructure provider for Europe’s next wave of digital finance, offering regulated solutions for payments, custody, and institutional asset management in line with evolving regulatory demands.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
SBI Holdings dokončila akvizici Bitbank za 46,7 miliardy jenů, tedy asi 289 milionů dolarů. Po spojení se SBI VC Trade bude spravovat přes 1,1 bilionu jenů v digitálních aktivech.
SBI Holdings, a major Japanese financial conglomerate and a key partner of Ripple in Asia, has finalized the acquisition of Bitbank, one of Japan’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, for 46.7 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $289 million.
Acquisition strengthens SBI’s crypto portfolioSBI Holdings is headquartered in Tokyo and operates across various financial services, including securities, banking, and insurance. This purchase ranks among the largest-ever crypto acquisitions in Japan and is set to position SBI as the country’s leading digital asset provider by total assets under management.
The transaction will take place in stages. Initially, an SBI subsidiary will acquire shares from Bitbank founder Noriyuki Hirosue and other individual stakeholders. Later, it will purchase the remaining equity held by major investors MIXI and Ceres within the year. Once completed, Bitbank will become a consolidated subsidiary of SBI Holdings, following negotiations that began in May.
With this acquisition, SBI’s digital asset operations will reach new heights. The group, combining Bitbank with its existing platform SBI VC Trade, will oversee around 2.92 million customer accounts and more than 1.1 trillion yen (over $7 billion) in digital assets—surpassing major competitors bitFlyer and Coincheck.
ExchangeDigital Assets Under CustodyCustomer AccountsSBI (after Bitbank deal)Over $7 billion2.92 millionbitFlyerBelow $7 billionLess than 2.92 millionCoincheckBelow $7 billionLess than 2.92 millionDeepening the Ripple partnershipSBI’s relationship with Ripple, a US-based blockchain firm best known for its XRP cryptocurrency and payment protocols, remains central to its strategy. Since the launch of SBI Ripple Asia in 2016, these companies have promoted Ripple’s blockchain technology and XRP-powered payment services across Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
For years, SBI has played a key role in building one of Asia’s most expansive cross-border payment networks and has consistently advocated institutional use of XRP. Its regulated exchange, SBI VC Trade, was one of the earliest Japanese platforms to list XRP and recently became the first in the country to list Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin.
Bitbank, established in 2014, is known as a top crypto exchange in Japan with a focus on regulatory compliance and user security.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, short for Ripple Liquidity USD, is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and designed to facilitate low-cost, rapid cross-border payments using Ripple’s payment infrastructure.
SBI Chairman and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, who previously served on Ripple’s board, has actively supported Ripple’s expansion and vision for blockchain-based remittance and settlement networks.
SBI’s longstanding commitment to XRP and Ripple’s technology has helped establish Japan as a key global market for blockchain payments and institutional adoption.
Strategic outlook and recent movesAlthough SBI Holdings has not shared immediate plans concerning Bitbank’s existing operations, acquiring the exchange lays the groundwork for a much larger regulated digital asset platform in Japan. This scale could accelerate the use of Ripple’s payment products, including XRP and RLUSD, among domestic and institutional clients.
In addition to the Bitbank purchase, SBI-backed ventures have rolled out significant initiatives in the sector. Notably, gumi—a digital entertainment and blockchain company in which SBI is a stakeholder—recently launched an $86 million initiative focused on XRP and introduced an $18.3 million crypto investment fund to widen institutional blockchain access.
Market observers note that these strides reinforce Japan’s status as one of the most XRP-friendly jurisdictions, as institutional acceptance increases and regulatory clarity continues to take shape.
Japan’s ongoing adoption of Ripple-powered infrastructure and digital assets reflects its ambitions to become a leading fintech hub, leveraging innovation while maintaining strong oversight.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Senátor John Kennedy vyzval Senát, aby před srpnovou přestávkou hlasoval o CLARITY Act. Zákon má vymezit, kdy je kryptoměna cenný papír a kdy komodita, což by mohlo pomoci XRP i širšímu trhu.
Senator John Kennedy has called for the U.S. Senate to take action on the CLARITY Act before Congress leaves for its August recess, raising hopes for long-awaited regulatory certainty around digital assets. Kennedy, speaking directly on the Senate floor, emphasized that lawmakers have spent years working on cryptocurrency legislation and that it is time for Congress to act.
Push for crypto legislation gains momentumKennedy urged colleagues to move forward, underscoring the importance of wrapping up legislative work on digital assets. His remarks reflect growing urgency in Washington to establish a comprehensive regulatory system that would offer guidance for companies operating in the cryptocurrency market.
The CLARITY Act has been crafted to define the regulatory boundaries for cryptocurrencies in the United States. The bill seeks to explicitly delineate when a digital asset should be regarded as a security and when it qualifies as a commodity, addressing longstanding ambiguity that has affected the industry.
For Ripple’s XRP, this distinction is critical. Regulatory uncertainty has persisted since the SEC initiated legal action against Ripple, prompting many U.S. financial institutions and service providers to take a cautious approach toward the token. While Ripple continued its international expansion, hesitation among U.S. banks and investors remained due to unclear legal guidance.
Ripple has positioned itself as a leader in enterprise blockchain solutions and cross-border payments for regulated financial institutions, making legal certainty an essential factor for broader adoption in the United States.
Market analysts suggest that a unified regulatory policy could boost institutional participation, enabling banks, asset managers, public companies, and pension funds to allocate capital to the crypto sector with greater confidence.
Potential boost for Ripple and wider industryThe CLARITY Act, if passed, could accelerate institutional investment, expand digital asset custody options, and encourage more exchanges to list XRP and similar assets. A predictable regulatory environment is often seen as a catalyst for wider industry adoption and innovation across the blockchain sector.
Ripple has proactively broadened its global payment network, launched the RLUSD stablecoin, and advanced initiatives on the XRP Ledger involving tokenization and real-world assets. These steps have been complemented by securing regulatory approvals in major international markets. As a result, Ripple is positioned to leverage its foundation once a comprehensive U.S. framework is enacted.
Beyond Ripple, many blockchain startups have shifted operations abroad, seeking jurisdictions where crypto policies are more clearly defined. Enacting the CLARITY Act could encourage developers, exchanges, and institutional providers to invest domestically, strengthening the U.S. presence in the digital asset economy.
Kennedy’s push for an immediate vote highlights growing bipartisan support for cryptocurrency legislation, as more lawmakers argue against relying predominantly on enforcement actions and seek to implement practical, industry-wide rules.
Outlook for institutional adoption and real-world innovationMarket confidence often improves with reduced legal uncertainty. For XRP, whose price action has frequently tracked developments in U.S. regulatory policy, advancement of the CLARITY Act could lift one of the major hurdles facing investor sentiment and institutional allocation.
The XRP community, along with much of the U.S. cryptocurrency sector, is closely watching the legislative process. Supporters argue that the CLARITY Act does not offer special benefits to XRP but provides regulatory foundations needed for the entire industry’s development.
Many believe that Congressional approval of the bill before the August recess would signal a decisive step forward in America’s approach to digital assets, possibly paving the way for increased institutional involvement and renewed U.S. leadership in the global crypto market.
As industry participants monitor technical developments related to regulatory clarity and evolving market structure, interest is also growing in accessible investment options. In this context, 1stepSwap has emerged as a practical platform enabling users to bring real-world assets directly onto the blockchain. The platform provides access to shares of major U.S. companies and commodities such as gold and silver, allowing direct wallet transactions without intermediaries. By consistently offering the best available prices and rapid execution, 1stepSwap aims to simplify diversification and strengthen ties between traditional and digital finance.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Ethereum Foundation financuje WEBCAT od Freedom of the Press Foundation, nástroj pro ověřování frontendu proti útokům na kompromitované weby. Technologie má být přímo integrována do peněženek a dApps.
The Ethereum Foundation has awarded funding through its Trillion Dollar Security (1TS) initiative to the Freedom of the Press Foundation to expand development of WEBCAT, an open-source front-end verification tool designed to protect users from compromised websites.
According to a Wednesday statement, the grant will support bringing the technology directly into Ethereum wallets and decentralized applications, allowing wallets to verify that an application’s code matches a developer-signed version.
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The foundation said the project addresses a major security weakness affecting browser-based applications. Although HTTPS secures website connections, it cannot detect whether malicious code has been injected into a site’s front end.
Such attacks can alter transaction details, replace recipient addresses, or manipulate what users are asked to sign. According to the foundation, WEBCAT prevents this by validating website code against signed release manifests and blocking pages that fail verification.
The grant also covers research into compatibility with Chromium-based browsers, assistance for developers implementing the technology, an independent security review, and development of a new Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC) standard for wallet integrations.
The foundation said WEBCAT complements its ongoing Clear Signing work by combining transaction transparency with front-end code verification.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Lido DAO [LDO] za 24 hodin kleslo o 16,31 % poté, co návrh Ethereum EIP-8361 oživil obavy o budoucnost liquid stakingu. Objem obchodů vyskočil o více než 230 %.
Lido DAO [LDO] declined 16.31% over the past 24 hours at press time, after Ethereum’s [ETH] proposed EIP-8361 revived concerns over the future of liquid staking. The proposal aimed to reduce staking yields from around 2.6% to 1.2% as network staking participation increased.
That shift threatened the appeal of liquid staking products such as stETH, prompting investors to reassess Lido’s long-term growth outlook. Trading activity reflected the reaction, with 24-hour volume surging by more than 230% as participants rapidly adjusted their positions.
Although the proposal had not reached implementation, the market priced in its potential impact on Lido’s total value locked and protocol revenue. As a result, the token faced aggressive selling pressure while uncertainty surrounding Ethereum’s staking economics continued to dominate sentiment.
Exchange inflows returns despite LDO selloff On-chain data revealed a positive spot netflow of approximately $214.13K, indicating that more LDO moved onto exchanges than left them. Exchange inflows often accompany periods when holders prepare tokens for potential selling, making the latest reading consistent with the broader decline.
Unlike previous sessions that reflected stronger withdrawal activity, the latest shift pointed toward increasing exchange availability during heightened volatility. Trading volume also climbed sharply, reinforcing the idea that market participants actively repositioned rather than remaining on the sidelines.
However, the inflow remained relatively modest compared with the spike in trading activity, suggesting that exchange deposits alone did not account for the full extent of the decline. Even so, the change reflected a cautious market that responded directly to Ethereum’s proposed staking overhaul.
Source: CoinGlass Leverage builds as traders increase exposure Derivatives activity strengthened despite LDO’s sharp correction, with Open Interest (OI) rising 14.26% to approximately $67.18 million as of writing. The increase showed that traders continued opening fresh leveraged positions instead of reducing market exposure after the selloff.
Rising OI during a falling market often reflects growing participation rather than conviction in one direction because both bullish and bearish positions can expand simultaneously.
In LDO’s case, the higher derivatives exposure suggests that traders expected volatility to remain elevated following the proposal’s release. The divergence between weakening spot performance and expanding futures participation highlighted growing speculative interest around the token.
If additional leverage continues entering the market without a corresponding recovery in spot demand, price swings would likely remain elevated over the coming sessions.
Source: CoinGlass Can LDO bulls reclaim control? LDO rebounded after testing the $0.2757 support level, with buyers responding inside a clearly defined fair value gap extending toward the $0.3000 resistance zone. The recovery interrupted the sharp decline, although the price remained beneath the broken $0.3596 resistance, leaving the broader structure under pressure.
Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index fell to 36.90 at the time of writing, placing it close to oversold territory after dropping well below its moving average near 53.51. The indicator suggested that selling pressure had intensified before buyers stepped in around support.
Even though the rebound improved short-term conditions, RSI had not yet confirmed a bullish reversal. If buyers reclaim the Fair Value Gap (FVG) and close above $0.3000, recovery could extend toward $0.3596. Failure to defend $0.2757 would likely expose $0.2385 as the next major support.
Source: TradingView Final Summary LDO found support, but exchange inflows and weak RSI kept recovery prospects uncertain. Rising Open Interest showed traders increased exposure even as bearish pressure persisted.
Cardano dosáhlo nového decentralizačního rekordu, když jeho Nakamoto koeficient vystoupal na 16. To znamená silnější odolnost vůči cenzuře a menší koncentraci řízení sítě.
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Cardano has reached a new milestone in its decentralization journey, with its Nakamoto coefficient climbing to an all-time high.
In an X post, Cardano SPO Rick McCraken highlighted this milestone, which was shared by Web3 blockchain fundamentals tracker Chainspect.
According to Chainspect, Cardano has set a new decentralization record, hitting a Nakamoto Coefficient of 16, an all-time high. For users, that means stronger censorship resistance and a network controlled by many, not a few.
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The Nakamoto Coefficient refers to a measure of how decentralized a blockchain is, expressed as the smallest number of entities that could collude to compromise it. It is a simple yardstick for measuring how decentralized a blockchain is and is defined as the smallest number of independent entities that would need to collude to disrupt the network. The higher the Nakamoto coefficient, the more parties an attacker would have to coordinate.
For proof-of-stake systems such as Cardano, the coefficient is typically computed across stake pools, validators, or block producers; for proof-of-work, it is computed across mining pools. A single low number signals concentration risk in both cases.
ADA quietly ralliesCardano rose to a high of $0.199 on August 4 for the first time in a month. ADA last traded above $0.19 on July 4.
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Santiment noted that ADA's rise in the past seven days makes it one of the cleanest standouts in an otherwise disappointing and choppy altcoin market. At the time of writing, ADA was up 16.92% weekly to trade at $0.191.
The rise, however, exposes a surprising holder trend: Cardano has 7,070 fewer non-empty wallets than two months ago, showing that the price recovered as sidelined holders have yet to return.
Rising prices with falling holder counts can mean stronger buyers are absorbing supply, and retail confidence has not fully followed the move yet.
ADA started rising from a low of $0.153, gaining nearly 30% to reach a high of $0.199 yesterday. According to Santiment, Cardano's rebound has real context, supported by ecosystem activity, including getting active with Leios testnet work, Hydra scaling progress, Mithril upgrades, Pyth integration, and fresh Catalyst funding.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals má nyní 5 klinických programů, včetně REC-4881 v FAP, a uvádí jedny z nejslibnějších klinických dat v historii firmy. Z partnerství získala více než 500 milionů USD.
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that today's discussion will include forward-looking statements. Next slide. Please refer to today's press release and our SEC filings for additional details. At Recursion, our mission is to decode biology to radically improve patient lives. And we do this by building transformational medicines with an AI-native product engine.
Over the past year, we have reached an important inflection point. We are no longer just discussing the potential of our platform. We are demonstrating the ability of our AI-native product engine to generate differentiated programs and medicines. Just as a reminder, the engine you see on the left-hand side is built as a continuous learning system. Proprietary multimodal data created in our data factory powers Frontier AI models.
And these models can generate new hypotheses where every single prediction is tested experimentally. Each cycle strengthens both the engine and the products it creates. Ultimately, though, the measure of any engine is its output. So let's talk about that. First, our internal pipeline continues to mature. We now have 5 clinical stage programs, including REC-4881 in FAP, where we have generated some of the most promising clinical data in the company's history.
Remember, in a disease with no approved therapy and a TAM of almost $10 billion. Second, we continue to make significant progress in our partnerships while learning from the best in the industry and also while validating our engine externally. Together with leading biopharma partners, we have generated more than $500 million in realized inflows while advancing
Entegris ve 2. čtvrtletí překonal odhady díky silnější poptávce po AI v advanced logic, HBM a advanced packaging. Tržby činily 883,2 mil. USD a firma čeká ve 3. čtvrtletí tržby 905–935 mil. USD.
Key Takeaways Entegris beat Q2 estimates as AI demand strengthened advanced logic, HBM and packaging sales.Unit-driven revenues rose 10%, and CapEx-related sales climbed 15%, led by filtration, CMP and FOUPs.ENTG guided Q3 revenues to $905M-$935M and expects 2026 net leverage to fall below 3 times. Entegris, Inc. (ENTG - Free Report) entered the second half of 2026 with management emphasizing that accelerating AI-driven semiconductor investment is broadening growth opportunities across both wafer production and capital equipment markets. The company's leadership highlighted improving visibility into customer spending, expanding margins and stronger cash generation as key themes from the quarter.
The company reported non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $0.93, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.83. Revenues of $883.2 million surpassed the consensus mark of $839.9 million.
Entegris Sees AI Investment AcceleratingChief executive officer David Reeder said that the quarter reflected both improving semiconductor demand and accelerating AI-related investments across advanced logic, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced packaging.
Reeder noted that unit-driven revenues increased 10% year over year while CapEx-related revenues climbed 15%, supported by strength in liquid filtration, CMP products, FOUPs and gas filtration solutions. Liquid filtration posted its fourth consecutive record quarter, while bookings strengthened throughout the quarter, increasing backlog visibility.
Management also raised its outlook for 2026 semiconductor market growth, now expecting 7% to 8% MSI growth compared with the mid-single-digit assumption held at the beginning of the year.
ENTG Expands Capacity and Streamlines OperationsReeder said that Entegris is proactively expanding manufacturing capacity ahead of demand while simplifying its operating footprint.
During the quarter, the company exited its U.S. Life Sciences Fluid Management business and announced plans to close its Logan, UT, facility, marking the third facility rationalization since late 2025. Management said that these actions allow greater focus on semiconductor markets while improving long-term profitability.
The company also reported adjusted gross margin of 47.6%, its highest level since early 2022, supported by operational improvements and productivity initiatives. Free cash flow reached $120 million, allowing repayment of $200 million in debt and reducing net leverage to 3.4 times.
Strong Demand Supports Higher OutlookChief financial officer Sukhi Nagesh guided third-quarter revenues to $905 million-$935 million and projected non-GAAP EPS of $0.96-$1.04.
Management also expects gross margin of 47.5% to 48.5% and adjusted EBITDA margin of 28%-29%. Looking beyond the third quarter, executives said that fourth-quarter revenues should increase roughly 4% sequentially from the midpoint of third-quarter guidance, implying mid-teens year-over-year growth.
Nagesh added that the company now expects to finish 2026 with net leverage below three times while continuing to invest in manufacturing capacity and operational improvements.
Analysts Press on Growth and MarginsA Deutsche Bank analyst asked about the outlook for CapEx-driven revenues. Reeder explained that wafer fab equipment should drive most of the second-half growth, while benefits from fab construction are expected to become more meaningful during 2027 as projects advance through installation phases.
A Citi analyst questioned the sustainability of margin expansion. Reeder and Nagesh pointed to ongoing network optimization, procurement improvements, yield enhancements and productivity gains while noting that the company continues investing ahead of customer demand by increasing factory labor capacity.
Management also reiterated confidence that manufacturing capacity can support anticipated demand with relatively modest incremental capital spending.
Entegris Targets Advanced Packaging GrowthQuestions from Goldman Sachs and Oppenheimer centered on long-term strategy and advanced packaging opportunities.
Reeder described a companywide enterprise sales initiative focused on expanding product penetration across major semiconductor customers while identifying additional opportunities in advanced packaging. He estimated the company's current advanced packaging business at roughly a $100 million annual run rate and said that additional details will be presented during the November Investor Day.
Management also discussed continued strength in molybdenum precursor demand, HBM-related applications and advanced-node filtration, all of which are benefiting from increasing semiconductor complexity driven by AI workloads.
Management Focus Remains on ExecutionThroughout the earnings call, executives consistently emphasized execution rather than aggressive expansion.
Management highlighted improving cash conversion, continued debt reduction, disciplined capital allocation and operational efficiency as priorities while maintaining confidence in above-market long-term growth supported by advanced-node semiconductor demand. The company also indicated that balance sheet improvement is occurring faster than previously anticipated, creating additional financial flexibility over time.
Zacks Rank and Style Scores SignalENTG currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting favorable earnings estimate revisions relative to the broader market. However, the Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the latest quarterly results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Among the Style Scores, ENTG has a Growth Score of B, indicating relatively attractive growth characteristics, while its Value Score of D suggests weaker value attributes. The Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C indicate more balanced characteristics across value, growth and momentum rather than a clear strength in all three categories.
United Therapeutics uspořádala konferenční hovor k výsledkům za 2. čtvrtletí 2026. V úvodu zaznělo jen upozornění na rizika a forward-looking statements.
United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) Q2 2026 Earnings Call August 5, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Harrison Silvers - Manager of Investor Relations
Martine Rothblatt - Founder, Chairman & CEO
Michael Benkowitz - President & COO
Patrick Poisson
Leigh Peterson - Executive Vice President of Product Development & Xenotransplantation
Conference Call Participants
Joseph Thome - TD Cowen, Research Division
Jiale Song - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Jessica Fye - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Ryan Mcelroy - Leerink Partners LLC, Research Division
Benjamin Burnett - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Ashwani Verma - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Olivia Brayer - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division
Lisa Walter - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good morning, and welcome to the United Therapeutics Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Corporate Update. My name is JL, and I'll be your conference operator today. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this call is being recorded. I'll now turn the webcast over to Harry Silvers, Investor Relations at United Therapeutics.
Harrison Silvers
Manager of Investor Relations
Thank you, JL. Good morning, everyone. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the United Therapeutics Corporation's Second Quarter 2026 Corporate Update Webcast. Remarks today will include forward-looking statements representing our expectations or beliefs regarding future events. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Our latest SEC filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, contain additional information on these risks and uncertainties. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements. Today's remarks may discuss the progress and results of clinical trials or other developments with respect to our products. These remarks are intended solely to educate investors and are not intended to serve as the basis for medical decision-making or to suggest that any products are safe and effective for any unapproved or investigational uses. Full prescribing information for the products is available on our website.
Key Takeaways AptarGroup beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates, with quarterly sales surpassing $1B for the first time.ATR saw growth across Pharma, Beauty and Closures, led by consumer healthcare and beverage dispensing.AptarGroup expects Q3 adjusted EPS of $1.45-$1.53, supported by growth across all three segments. AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.42 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34 by 5.97%. The bottom line fell 15.5% from $1.68 a year ago (including comparable exchange rates), reflecting weaker margins and a higher tax rate.
On a reported basis, earnings per share were $1.36 compared with the year-ago quarter’s $1.67.
Revenues rose 6.3% year over year to $1.03 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $1 billion by 2.32%. The quarter marked the first time reporting revenues of more than $1 billion. Core sales increased 1%, aided by growth across all three segments and strength in consumer healthcare and beverage dispensing. We predicted core sales growth of 0.5% in the quarter.
ATR’s Margins Decline Y/Y in Q2Cost of sales increased 10.3% year over year to $661 million. Gross profit decreased 0.4% year over year to $366 million. The gross margin was 35.6% in the reported quarter compared with the prior-year quarter’s 38%.
Selling, research, development and administrative expenses rose 4.4% year over year to $158 million. Adjusted operating income declined 10.5% year over year to $133 million. The adjusted operating margin was 13% in the reported quarter, down from the year-ago quarter’s 15.4%. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2.7% year over year to $213 million in the second quarter.
AptarGroup’s Segmental Performances in Q2Total revenues in the Pharma segment increased 3.5% year over year to $458 million. The reported figure beat our estimate of $446 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 1.9% year over year to $153.9 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 33.6% from 35.4% in the year-ago quarter. We predicted a quarterly adjusted operating income of $159 million. Demand remained healthy across the central nervous system, asthma and COPD therapies, eye care, biologics, GLP-1 therapies, and vaccines.
Total revenues in the Beauty segment rose 9.7% year over year to $367.5 million. The upside was supported by prestige fragrance dispensing, color cosmetics and hair care applications. We estimated revenues of $357 million for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA fell 5% year over year to $44.7 million. The reported figure beat our operating income prediction of $41.5 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.2% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 14.1%.
Total revenues in the Closures segment increased 6.5% year over year to $201 million. We estimated revenues of $192 million for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6.4% year over year to $29.8 million. The reported figure beat our operating income prediction of $29.2 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 14.9% from 16.9% a year ago.
ATR’s Cash Position at Q2 EndAptarGroup reported cash and cash equivalents of $190 million as of June 30, 2026, down from $402 million as of Dec. 31, 2025. The company generated $222 million in cash flow from operations in the first six months of 2026 compared with $209 million in the year-ago period.
The company returned $212 million to shareholders during the first half through dividends and buybacks, including $81 million in the second quarter. During the quarter, ATR repurchased 403,000 shares for $50 million. Its board also approved a quarterly dividend of 48 cents per share.
AptarGroup Issues Upbeat Q3 Earnings ViewATR expects third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.45-$1.53 per share.
The company expects solid growth across all three segments. Pharma should benefit from injectables and consumer healthcare, with emergency medicine destocking expected to abate by the fourth quarter. Beauty growth is anticipated in fragrance and facial skincare, while Closures demand and operational performance are expected to improve.
ATR Stock’s Price PerformanceThe company’s shares have lost 1.5% in the past year against the industry’s 8.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AptarGroup’s Zacks RankThe company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performances of Other Packaging StocksPackaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, down 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.
Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter.
Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%.
Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America.
Sonoco Products Company (SON - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter.
Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025.
Southwest Gas (SWX - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.45 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.47 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.53 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -4.26%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this natural gas company would post earnings of $1.88 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.91, delivering a surprise of +1.6%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.
Southwest Gas, which belongs to the Zacks Utility - Gas Distribution industry, posted revenues of $358.15 million for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.91%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.12 billion. The company has not been able to beat consensus revenue estimates over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Southwest Gas shares have added about 11.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13%.
What's Next for Southwest Gas?While Southwest Gas has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Southwest Gas was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.17 on $319.09 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.27 on $1.83 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Utility - Gas Distribution is currently in the bottom 29% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the broader Zacks Utilities sector, Telephone & Data Systems (TDS - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 7.
This parent of U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.09 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +280%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Telephone & Data Systems' revenues are expected to be $315.05 million, down 73.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Velo Protocol si vybral Zebec jako exkluzivního infrastrukturního partnera pro svou značkovou kartu. Integrace umožní převod on-chain aktiv na platby u obchodníků po celém světě.
Velo taps Zebec for branded card rollout@Veloprotocol has named @Zebec_HQ as the exclusive infrastructure partner for its new branded card experience. The deal connects Velo's PayFi settlement layer directly to the Zebec Card network, giving users a path to convert on-chain holdings into purchasing power at merchant terminals around the world.
The integration supports native funding through $USDT and $USDC across @BNBCHAIN, @Ethereum, and @TRONDAO, keeping the entry point flexible for users already active on those chains. Two card tiers are on offer: Silver and Carbon. Both support multi-currency balances in $USD, $EUR, and $GBP, and the cards work with Apple Pay and Google Pay out of the box.
Zebec's card infrastructure and Velo's settlement ambitions Zebec Cards allow users to spend cryptocurrencies in fiat environments via physical or virtual debit cards linked to user wallets. When a purchase is made, the selected cryptocurrency is converted to fiat in real time through liquidity providers, with the transaction then processed over the Mastercard network. The cards operate in 97 countries and already include Apple Pay and Google Pay support across their card tiers.
Velo, for its part, is building an alternative payments system that merges regulated fiat infrastructure with blockchain-based liquidity to create a unified PayFi network enabling instant settlement and single-system transaction flow. The protocol's roadmap includes the launch of virtual crypto debit cards and direct fiat off-ramps in Q2 2026, followed by cross-chain functionality and merchant payment tools in Q3 2026.
The partnership positions both projects squarely in the growing PayFi sector, where the core proposition is giving on-chain asset holders a direct, low-friction route into everyday spending without manually off-ramping funds in advance.
Sources:
Velo Protocol: 2026 PayFi Strategic Product Roadmap
Gate Learn: What Is Zebec Protocol (ZBCN)?
Zebec Network Official Site
USDY is now priced on Stellar. RedStone is providing the price feed and SEP-40 support that allows Ondo’s flagship yieldcoin to become eligible for use as collateral across Stellar’s lending ecosystem.
TL;DR: USDY is one of the larger yield-bearing dollar tokens in DeFi by circulating value, backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries and U.S. bank demand deposits with a market capitalization of over $2.1 billion across all chains RedStone is providing the USDY/USD price feed and SEP-40 contract support on Stellar Stellar’s tokenized RWA value has reached approximately $2.96 billion , with USDY now among the highest-profile assets in the SEP-40 pipeline alongside sovereign debt instruments, tokenized fund products, and stablecoins SEP-40 is Stellar’s unified oracle standard, giving any protocol on the network a single interface to consume price data and list assets as collateral on lending protocols like Blend and Templar USDY/USD Price Feed and SEP-40 Contract Support on Stellar RedStone now provides a USDY/USD price feed and SEP-40 contract support for USDY, Ondo Finance’s tokenized Treasury-backed asset, on the Stellar network.
USDY is Ondo’s yield-bearing dollar token, backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries and U.S. bank demand deposits, and available to investors outside the U.S. With a circulating supply of approximately 1.9 billion tokens and a market cap of over $2.1 billion, it is one of the larger tokenized yield-bearing assets in the RWA category by circulating value. It is designed to support onchain savings, treasury management, cross-border payments, and DeFi collateral use cases.
The price feed handles continuously updated, verifiable pricing for the asset. The SEP-40 component is what makes it usable. SEP-40 is Stellar’s unified oracle standard, a shared interface that allows any protocol on the network to consume price data without building custom integration work from scratch.
For USDY to be listed on Stellar’s lending protocols, it needs to be priced through a SEP-40-compliant contract. Without it, the asset can exist on the network but cannot function as collateral.
From Tokenized Asset to DeFi Collateral Stellar’s RWA ecosystem has reached approximately $2.96 billion in tokenized asset value, growing roughly three times from early 2025. The network has a long track record in asset issuance: Franklin Templeton launched one of the first regulated tokenized funds on a public blockchain on Stellar in 2021, and the list of issuers has grown steadily since.
Issuance is not the same as utility. An asset that sits on a network but cannot be lent against or liquidated can’t function as DeFi collateral. The SEP-40 integration closes that gap.
With USDY priced and SEP-40-enabled, it becomes eligible for listing on Blend and Templar, Stellar’s primary lending protocols. Where supported, users can post USDY as collateral and borrow against it, which carries risk, including liquidation if the collateral value declines. For Stellar’s institutional user base, that reflects a different use case from holding a non-yield-bearing stablecoin.
The SEP-40 Pipeline RedStone has been building out SEP-40 infrastructure on Stellar throughout 2026. Earlier this year, RedStone launched SEP-40 feeds for multiple assets across Stellar’s ecosystem: USDC, EURC, XLM, PYUSD, tokenized sovereign debt instruments from Etherfuse, and Bitcoin products from Solv.
Last week, four more assets joined the standard, all issued by Centrifuge on Stellar. JTRSY and JAAA are tokenized representations of institutional fund products, and deJTRSY and deJAAA are their onchain wrappers, built to make that underlying exposure usable across DeFi applications including trading, liquidity provision, and collateral.
SEP-40 gives every protocol on Stellar a single interface to pull pricing without custom integration work, turning a static token into something that can be lent against and used as collateral. RedStone is the infrastructure behind it.
USDY and the Case for RWA Composability on Stellar Stellar’s RWA ecosystem has been growing steadily and its asset roster includes some of the most recognized names in institutional DeFi. USDY joining the SEP-40 pipeline is part of that progression.
USDY is one of the larger yield-bearing assets in DeFi by circulating value, and it is now priced and SEP-40-enabled on a network with a growing base of institutional tokenized assets.
For protocols like Blend and Templar, that means more collateral options to build lending markets around. For the RWA category more broadly, it’s another data point in the case that tokenized assets can do more than sit on a balance sheet.
FAQ
What is SEP-40 and why does it exist?
SEP-40 is Stellar’s native oracle standard, a unified interface that lets any application on the network consume price data in the same way, without building custom adapters for each asset. Before SEP-40, protocols had to integrate price feeds individually for each token they wanted to support. The standard exists because Stellar’s RWA asset base was growing faster than the infrastructure to make those assets usable in DeFi.
Why does USDY need a price feed if it’s backed by U.S. Treasuries?
USDY isn’t pegged to $1. It’s a yield-bearing token whose price accrues over time as the underlying Treasury yield is earned, and currently trades above $1.00. Lending protocols need to know the current value of any asset posted as collateral to calculate borrowing limits and trigger liquidations when necessary. A static assumption of $1 would be inaccurate and create risk for the protocol.
What’s the difference between the price feed and the SEP-40 contract?
The price feed is the data layer: it provides a continuously updated USDY/USD price that reflects the current accrued value of the token. The SEP-40 contract is the interface layer: it makes that price data consumable by any Stellar protocol in a standardized format. Both are required. The feed without the SEP-40 wrapper wouldn’t be readable by Blend or Templar without custom integration work on their end.
Is USDY already live on Blend and Templar?
The price feed and SEP-40 contract support are what make listing possible. Whether and when individual protocols choose to list USDY as a collateral asset is their decision. RedStone’s role is to provide the pricing infrastructure that enables it.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, tax, or other professional advice, nor does it constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, digital asset, or other financial product. USDY is a product of Ondo Finance, offered only to eligible non-U.S. persons under Ondo’s terms; it is not a stablecoin, is not FDIC insured, has no bank guarantee, and may lose value. SDF is not the issuer, sponsor, adviser, distributor, custodian, or broker-dealer for USDY, does not operate or control the Stellar network, and does not control or endorse any third-party project referenced herein. Using digital assets as collateral and borrowing against them involves substantial risk, including liquidation and loss in excess of amounts posted; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use of or participation in any third-party product or service referenced herein is at your own risk.
Griffon Corporation uvedla za 3. fiskální čtvrtletí 2026 solidní provozní i finanční výsledky. CEO Ronald Kramer řekl, že firma v tomto čtvrtletí podala „zvlášť dobrý“ výkon.
Griffon Corporation (GFF) Q3 2026 Earnings Call August 5, 2026 8:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Brian Harris - Executive VP & CFO
Ronald Kramer - Chairman of the Board & CEO
Conference Call Participants
Timothy Wojs - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Lee Jagoda - CJS Securities, Inc.
Collin Verron - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Trey Grooms - Stephens Inc., Research Division
Sam Darkatsh - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Julio Romero - Sidoti & Company, LLC
Jeffrey Stevenson - Loop Capital Markets LLC, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and welcome to the Griffon Corporation Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call.
[Operator Instructions]
Please note this event is being recorded.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Brian Harris, CFO. Please go ahead.
Brian Harris
Executive VP & CFO
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to Griffon Corporation's Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. Joining me for this morning's call is Ron Kramer, Griffon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Our press release was issued earlier this morning and is available on our website at www.griffon.com. Today's call is being recorded, and the replay instructions are included in our earnings release. Our comments will include forward-looking statements about Griffon's performance. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that can change as the world changes. Please see the cautionary statements in today's press release and in our SEC filings. Finally, some of today's remarks will adjust for items that affect comparability between periods. These items are explained in our non-GAAP reconciliations included in our press release.
With that, I'll turn the call over to Ron.
Ronald Kramer
Chairman of the Board & CEO
Thanks, Brian. Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us. Griffon has executed particularly well this quarter, which is reflected in today's solid operational and financial results. In the
Bloom Energy uvedla, že její backlog na začátku roku 2026 dosáhl 20 miliard USD, přičemž produktový backlog meziročně vzrostl o 140 % na 6 miliard USD. Zbytek tvořily služby za zhruba 14 miliard USD.
Bloom Energy (BE +2.81%) only provides a dollar figure for its backlog once per year. At the start of 2026, the backlog was $20 billion. That's a huge figure that's likely even higher today. In the company's second-quarter update, Bloom noted that it has new customers that aren't yet in the backlog figure. And that its backlog is growing faster than its revenues!
But there's an important nuance to consider about the backlog when evaluating Bloom Energy as an investment.
Image source: Getty Images.
As a business, Bloom Energy is incredibly well-positioned right now. It makes hydrogen fuel cells that can provide off-grid power. The demand for electricity from the artificial intelligence build-out is straining the grid's capacity to deliver power, with companies increasingly turning to alternatives like Bloom Energy's fuel cells.
AI-driven demand is a key reason why the backlog rose to $20 billion at the start of 2026. But there's a nuance in that number. The company's product backlog rose 140% year over year, highlighting the strong demand for its products. Only that backlog was just $6 billion of the total backlog. Selling new fuel cells is clearly a very important factor to monitor, but it isn't the long-term growth engine investors may believe it is.
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The rest of the backlog, or roughly $14 billion at the start of 2026, was related to services. Every new fuel cell sold comes along with a service contract. That revenue is annuity-like, and the service backlog grows with each new fuel cell sold. This is the true flywheel of the business, with the company's services business profitable since 2024, even though the company itself wasn't profitable in 2024 or 2025 due to losses in other parts of the operation.
Bloom Energy: Everything appears to be working together now That said, AI demand appears to have changed the dynamic in 2026. The company was profitable in the first and second quarters of the year, with increasing demand suggesting that future quarters will be strong as well. And each new fuel cell sold augments the services backlog, which improves Bloom Energy's long-term outlook.
The only problem is that investors appear to be pricing in a lot of good news already. The stock is up nearly 500% over the past year as of this writing, including the recent 35% drawdown. Bloom Energy has an attractive story, but only the most aggressive growth investors should consider it. And, even then, you'll need to believe strongly in the AI growth story to justify buying after such a rapid and large price move.
Boston Scientific oznámila tržby ve výši 5,44 miliardy USD, meziročně o 7,5 % více, a EPS 0,86 USD. Po snížení výhledu ale analytici stáhli odhady a akcie BSX klesly.
) manufactures medical devices and products used in various interventional medical specialties worldwide, including cardiovascular and surgical categories.On July 29, BSX reported revenue of $5.44 billion for their June quarter, up 7.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.86, compared to $0.75 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.38 billion, representing a surprise of +1.07%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.61%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.83.
In response to the conference call and management's lowered guidance, analysts notched down their EPS estimates for this year and next, causing BSX shares to fall into the cellar of the Zacks Rank.
Since its 2025 highs near $110, BSX has been in a steady bear market, making new 52-week lows above $42 last month -- despite nearly doubling revenues in the last 5 years to cross $21 billion.
The stock may soon sort out a bottom after this report given other strong metrics under the hood of the business which continues to grow the top and bottom lines at mid-single digits.
Key Metrics Versus Estimates
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Boston Scientific performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Geographic Revenue- Rest of the World: $2.02 billion compared to the $1.98 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.8% year over year.
Geographic Revenue- U.S.: $3.43 billion versus $3.39 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +6.3% change.
Net Sales- MedSurg- Worldwide: $1.82 billion compared to the $1.8 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.9% year over year.
Net Sales- Cardiovascular- Worldwide: $3.62 billion versus $3.6 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +8.3% change.
Net Sales- MedSurg- Neuromodulation- Worldwide: $341 million versus $335.33 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12.5% change.
Net Sales- MedSurg- Endoscopy- Worldwide: $793 million versus $774.1 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.6% change.
Net Sales- MedSurg- Urology- Worldwide: $684 million compared to the $694.74 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.2% year over year.
Net Sales- Cardiovascular- Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM)- Worldwide: $585 million compared to the $601.79 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.9% year over year.
Net Sales- Cardiovascular- Interventional Cardiology & Vascular Therapies- Worldwide: $1.33 billion compared to the $1.26 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +82.4% year over year.
Net Sales- Cardiovascular- Watchman- Worldwide: $507 million compared to the $535.88 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.3% year over year.
Net Sales- Cardiovascular- Electrophysiology- Worldwide: $916 million versus $923.15 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.1% change.
Boston Scientific snížila výhled organického růstu pro rok 2026 na 5 % až 6 % a upravený EPS na 3,28 až 3,32 USD. Slabší poptávka po WATCHMAN a ztráta podílu v americké elektrofysiologii dál tlačí na výsledky.
Key Takeaways Boston Scientific cut 2026 organic growth guidance to 5%-6% and lowered adjusted EPS guidance.WATCHMAN demand weakened, while U.S. electrophysiology share losses added near-term pressure.Debt rose to about $12.62 billion, and key recovery products are not expected before late 2027. Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX - Free Report) retains durable medical-device franchises, but its investment case has become harder to defend. Management lowered its 2026 outlook as WATCHMAN demand weakened, U.S. electrophysiology lost share and operating leverage fell short.
The stock’s valuation has compressed, creating potential upside if execution improves. Yet limited earnings visibility through 2027, higher debt and delayed product catalysts suggest investors may be better served by waiting for clearer signs of stabilization.
Why Boston Scientific’s Growth Outlook Has WeakenedBoston Scientific cut its 2026 organic sales growth guidance to 5%-6% from 6.5%-8%. Adjusted earnings guidance fell to $3.28-$3.32 per share from $3.34-$3.41, while third-quarter organic growth is expected at 3%-5%.
Here's where the consensus estimates for the company's 2026 earnings currently stand.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company now anticipates only 0-25 basis points of adjusted operating-margin expansion in 2026. Lower WATCHMAN and electrophysiology sales are hurting product mix, and elevated supply-chain and quality-system spending remains a drag. Management expects revenue growth below its weighted-average market rate and limited adjusted earnings growth in 2027.
BSX Faces Pressure in WATCHMAN and ElectrophysiologyU.S. WATCHMAN demand slowed as new clinical evidence disrupted patient identification and referral patterns. Standalone procedures declined at a low-teens rate in the second quarter, while management expects global WATCHMAN sales to fall at a mid- to high-single-digit rate in the second half of 2026.
Electrophysiology presents another near-term challenge. U.S. share losses exceeded expectations, and the existing FARAPULSE portfolio may not offset the pressure now that pulsed-field ablation represents about 80% of the U.S. atrial fibrillation market. Medtronic plc (MDT - Free Report) is expanding its Affera and PulseSelect pulsed-field ablation offerings, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) is advancing its VARIPULSE platform, underscoring the competitive intensity confronting Boston Scientific’s FARAPULSE franchise.
Boston Scientific Still Has Durable Growth EnginesThe broader portfolio remains resilient. Second-quarter organic sales rose 12.2% in Neuromodulation and 7% in Endoscopy. International operations also provided support, with operational growth of 11.2% in Asia-Pacific and 16.2% in Latin America and Canada.
Interventional Cardiology, the FARAPULSE ecosystem, OPAL mapping, WATCHMAN FLX Pro and the wider pipeline could support longer-term growth. The Penumbra transaction and MiRus investment add vascular and structural-heart opportunities. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW), whose transcatheter aortic valve replacement sales grew 11.3% in the second quarter of 2026, shows the scale of the structural-heart market Boston Scientific hopes to re-enter.
BSX Valuation Reflects Both Damage and UncertaintyBSX trades at 14.6X forward 12-month earnings, below its five-year median of 25.2X, the Medical-Products sub-industry’s 17.3X and the broader sector’s 20.6X. That discount could reward investors if growth and margins recover.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The lower multiple also reflects material uncertainty. Earnings estimates have moved down, key recovery products are not expected until the second half of 2027 or later and execution remains critical. Cash fell to $539 million at the end of the second quarter, while total debt increased to about $12.62 billion.
Why BSX's Bearish Signals Still MatterThe balance of evidence favors patience rather than an aggressive purchase. Boston Scientific has valuable franchises and a credible pipeline, but weaker guidance, competitive gaps and delayed catalysts leave little room for execution errors.
BSX currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating an unfavorable earnings-estimate revision trend over the next one to three months. Its Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C provide no strong style-based counterweight. The valuation is cheaper, but the near-term risk-reward profile still supports waiting for better visibility.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Chainlink, FORMS HK, Apex Group a CSpro spustily v Hongkongu Tokenized Securities Framework pro standardizovanou infrastrukturu digitálních cenných papírů. Framework využívá ERC-3643 pro vestavěnou compliance a omezení převodů.
A New Infrastructure Layer for Digital Securities in Hong Kong@Chainlink, FORMS HK, @ApexGroup, and CSpro have officially launched the Tokenized Securities Framework (TSF) inside Hong Kong's Blockchain Valley Cyberport ecosystem. The initiative establishes a standardized digital infrastructure covering the full lifecycle of Tokenized Securities Offerings (TSOs), from regulated issuance and distribution through to final settlement.
The move adds to a growing cluster of institutional-grade tokenization projects taking shape within Hong Kong's Cyberport program. The Cyberport Blockchain and Digital Asset Pilot Subsidy Scheme is a government-backed effort to encourage Web3 experimentation, providing funding and a regulatory sandbox for projects intended to serve as templates for broader adoption.
ERC-3643 Puts Compliance at the Token LevelCentral to the TSF is its adoption of the ERC-3643 token standard. ERC-3643 is designed to bring regulatory compliance and control to blockchain-based securities, ensuring that only eligible investors can hold and transfer tokens. Rather than applying compliance rules as an external layer, the standard embeds identity verification, transfer restrictions, and compliance logic directly into the token itself, making it well suited to regulated assets like securities and private funds.
The standard was formally accepted as an Ethereum Improvement Proposal in 2023, making it the only officially ratified Ethereum standard specifically designed for security tokens. Its institutional reach has since expanded significantly. Governance of the standard now sits with the ERC-3643 Association, a non-profit body whose members include institutions such as DTCC, Apex Group, and Invesco. The standard's momentum has also drawn regulatory attention in the United States: in July 2025, representatives from Chainlink Labs and the ERC-3643 Association met in person with the SEC Crypto Task Force in Washington, D.C. to discuss its role in enabling compliant tokenization of securities.
For Hong Kong, the TSF represents a practical application of these compliance mechanisms within the city's existing legal framework. By embedding permissioned participation directly at the asset layer, the framework aims to give issuers, distributors, and investors a regulated path to participate in digital securities markets without stepping outside current regional requirements.
The collaboration between @Chainlink, FORMS HK, @ApexGroup, and CSpro reflects a broader pattern of established financial services firms teaming with blockchain infrastructure providers to move tokenization from pilot stage into production-ready systems.
Sources:
CryptoSlate: Chainlink and partners automate tokenized funds in Hong Kong
Chainalysis: Introduction to ERC-3643 Tokens
ERC-3643 Association: Standard presented to SEC Crypto Task Force
Circle vykázala ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 výnosy z rezerv ve výši 701 mil. USD, meziročně o 7 % více, a upravená EBITDA vzrostla o 8 % na 143 mil. USD. USDC v oběhu přesáhl 73 mld. USD.
Circle reported $701 million in second-quarter 2026 total revenue and reserve income, up 7% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $143 million and net income reached $48 million, the company said Wednesday.
The stablecoin issuer said USDC in circulation exceeded $73 billion at quarter-end, up 19% year-over-year, while USDC onchain transaction volume surged 151% to $14.8 trillion.
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The company said the Circle Payments Network reached $14.7 billion in annualized transaction volume across 175 financial institutions, while its Agent Stack exceeded 900 paid services, with nearly all x402 agent-payment volume settled in USDC.
Circle also outlined major product and institutional milestones. Arc, its new layer 1 blockchain, now has more than 100 builders ahead of its September 16 mainnet launch and will debut with privacy features, AI-powered agent infrastructure, and support for tokenized real-world assets.
The firm announced founding validators including BlackRock, DTCC, Visa, Mastercard, Galaxy, Standard Chartered, ICE, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Sumitomo Corporation, and Global Payments, while confirming that BlackRock’s BUIDL fund and DTCC’s tokenization infrastructure are expected to integrate with the network.
Circle also expanded its USDC adoption through partnerships with BNY, Standard Chartered, Nium, JCB, Grupo Bind, Kakao Group, and Marex during the quarter. Other highlights include regulatory approval to establish Circle National Trust from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Circle New York Trust from the New York Department of Financial Services.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Circle oznámila, že BlackRock, DTCC, Mastercard a Visa budou mezi zakládajícími validátory jejího blockchainu Arc. Veřejný mainnet má být spuštěn 16. září 2026.
BlackRock, DTCC, and Mastercard are joining Circle's Arc as validators, while BUIDL is expected to deploy on the network after launch.
USDC stablecoin issuer Circle has announced the founding validator cohort for Arc, its open blockchain network. It is currently in private mainnet with more than 100 ecosystem and institutional builders.
Circle said the network is on track for a public mainnet launch on September 16, 2026.
Behind Circle’s New Blockchain According to the official post, the founding validator group includes BlackRock, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation and Visa. Circle said the group represents a model in which institutions building on the network also help secure it.
The aim is to create a foundation of trusted and globally distributed operators that can support secure and scalable on-chain financial applications. BlackRock is also expected to deploy BUIDL, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, on Arc through the network’s native USDC integration.
The setup is intended to let institutional investors subscribe to, redeem, and deploy fund assets within one on-chain environment.
Circle is also working with DTCC to enable the tokenization of assets custodied by The Depository Trust Company on Arc beginning in the second half of 2027. The main objective is to let market participants use third-party applications on the blockchain for stablecoin-native settlement outside DTC against DTC-tokenized assets. DTCC said the integration supports its multi-chain strategy.
DTC-tokenized assets will continue to carry the same protections, rights, and safeguards available to investors holding assets traditionally.
You may also like: Italy’s Biggest Bank Cuts IBIT Exposure by 94% While Buying More Staked Ethereum BlackRock Backs CLARITY Act as Tom Lee Predicts Programmable Money Revolution Circle’s IBM Patent Deal Brings Nearly 1,000 Blockchain Patents Commenting on the latest development, Mastercard Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said,
“As stablecoins and other digital assets move into real-world payments, settlement, and treasury flows, Mastercard is focused on helping customers operate across an increasingly diverse payments ecosystem. Our participation as a founding validator on Arc reflects that commitment — supporting trusted, interoperable infrastructure that can help connect emerging blockchain networks with the broader financial systems businesses rely on every day.”
Arc Product Suite Arc is also expected to have a range of applications and services available from day one. DeFi protocols and capital allocators including Aave, Aerodrome, FalconX, Galaxy, GSR, Keyrock, Morpho, Nonco, Uniswap and XFX will support borrowing, trading and on-chain capital deployment.
Meanwhile, payment providers Rain, Thunes and Wirex have been tasked with routing stablecoin payment and settlement flows. Binance Wallet, Chainlink, Fireblocks, Kraken, Ledger, MetaMask, Uniswap Labs and Upbit, on the other hand, will enable access to USDC on Arc, custody and cross-chain asset movement.
At launch, Circle plans to introduce a product suite around Arc, which includes tools for common on-chain workflows, AI-powered applications and smart contract development, tokenized real-world asset management and interfaces for developers, users and agents.
Circle obnovila dohodu s Coinbase za stávajících podmínek, takže USDC zůstane klíčovou součástí produktů Coinbase. Coinbase dál dostává veškerý úrok z USDC na své platformě a polovinu zbytku mimo ni.
Jeremy Allaire, founder and CEO of Circle, the issuer of USDC, stated during tonight’s earnings call: “We have renewed our agreement with Coinbase under existing terms, ensuring USDC remains central to all of Coinbase’s product offerings. We also look forward to expanding our USDC network via distribution deals with strategically aligned partners.” The collaboration agreement between Circle and Coinbase, signed on August 18, 2023, stipulates that Circle—USDC’s sole issuer—shares interest revenue generated from USDC reserve assets with Coinbase: Coinbase will receive 100% of reserve interest from USDC held on its platform, plus 50% of the remaining reserve interest from USDC held off its platform. The agreement has an initial three-year term and an automatic renewal mechanism.
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MicroStrategy officially announced its ambition: aiming to become the world's most valuable company, with Michael Saylor urging "Think ₿igger"
Strategy has released a video titled "Strategy's Ambition is to be the World's Largest Company In terms of market cap", stating its goal to become the world's largest company by market cap by holding the most capital (BTC), issuing the strongest credit (STRC), and creating the best equity (MSTR). Founder Michael Saylor remarked, "Think ?igger." Strategy plans to issue STRC to support its digital credit business, which will help generate higher-quality MSTR equity. This equity, in turn, will enhance the company’s ability to accumulate more BTC, forming a triple flywheel that continuously increases the number of BTC per share. Its core targets include achieving a 30% BTC annualized rate of return (ARR), selling digital credit equivalent to 10-20% of its BTC reserves annually, and doubling its Bitcoin Per Share (BPS) metric within 7 years through its digital credit operations.
19 minutes ago
Strategy has expressed its ambition to become the world's largest company by market capitalization.
Strategy has released a video titled "Strategy's Ambition is to be the World's Largest Company In Terms of Market Cap", outlining its goal to become the world’s largest firm by market capitalization through three core pillars: holding the most capital (Bitcoin, BTC), issuing the strongest credit instrument (STRC), and creating the best equity (MSTR). Founder Michael Saylor emphasized: "Think ?igger." The company plans to issue STRC to back its digital credit business, which will help generate stronger MSTR equity—enhancing Strategy’s ability to accumulate more BTC and ultimately drive a continuous increase in the number of bitcoins per share.
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Coinbase Releases Q2 Solana Validator Performance Report: Its APY outperformed the overall network by 14 basis points, and its block skip rate was only one-quarter of the network average.
Coinbase released its Q2 2026 Solana Validator Performance Report, disclosing key metrics for its Solana staking operations. As of the end of Q2, Coinbase staked a total of 41.63 million SOL across 23 validators in 7 countries, accounting for 9.72% of the network’s total staked SOL. In terms of yield performance, Coinbase’s validators posted an annualized yield of 6.52%, outperforming the network average of 6.38% by roughly 14 basis points. Its reliability metrics were even more impressive: the block skip rate stood at just 0.035%, approximately a quarter of the network average of 0.136%, meaning it missed around 75% fewer blocks than the average validator. Coinbase attributed this strong performance to its use of only Solana Foundation-audited client software and its avoidance of aggressive MEV timing strategies that harm end users. On the infrastructure and security front, Coinbase disclosed several technical details: its client strategy covers four options—Harmonic, Jito, JitoBAM, and Firedancer—all 100% audited by the Solana Foundation; for security, it has deployed a dual-signature protection mechanism and near-zero downtime deployment protocols. Looking ahead, the entire validator cluster has been integrated into the DoubleZero network, with a session uptime of approximately 99.9%, and is prepared for the Alpenglow mainnet upgrade in the second half of the year.
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Coinbase will suspend trading of six trading pairs, including LSETH-ETH and MINA-EUR.
Coinbase has announced it will suspend trading for six non-U.S. dollar trading pairs on August 6. The affected pairs are LSETH-ETH, MINA-EUR, GRT-GBP, MASK-GBP, CHZ-USDT, and CRO-USDT. The platform stated that the suspension only impacts these non-USD denominated trading pairs, adding that eligible Coinbase Advanced Trade users in supported regions can still trade these assets via USD order books.
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Google AI core figure Jeff Dean announces his departure, with Google shares plunging 3% in short-term trading.
Jeff Dean, one of Google’s earliest employees and a core figure who has overseen the company’s AI strategy design for the past 15 years, is leaving to launch an AI startup focused on scientific discovery. Dean joined Google in 1999 as its 30th employee. He will serve as CEO of the new non-profit entity Discovery Loop, which aims to accelerate technological progress by automating complex, multi-step scientific and engineering tasks. Joining Dean in the venture are fellow senior Google staff members Oriol Vinyals, Quoc Le, and Sanjay Ghemawat. The four have together driven major advances in mathematics and protein structure research, and rank among the most highly cited researchers globally. The departure of these talents, including Dean, further fuels Google’s recent trend of AI talent exodus. According to market data from BIT (bit.com), Google’s stock plunged 3% in the short term.
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Is Strategy Expected to Resume BTC Accumulation? STRC Surpasses $94, Surging Approximately 30% From June Lows
According to BIT (bit.com) market data, Strategy’s perpetual preferred stock STRC surged past $94 during U.S. trading hours, jumping roughly 30% from its June low. The recent rally is driven by multiple factors: Strategy’s sale of Bitcoin to pay dividends, its repurchase of $106 million in preferred shares, and its increase in U.S. dollar reserves to $4 billion. Additionally, Strategy has not added to its Bitcoin holdings for six consecutive weeks. Strategy founder Michael Saylor emphasized last week that the company will not issue new STRC shares when the stock trades below $100. To date, the firm has repurchased 288,930 STRC preferred shares for a total of roughly $25 million, at an average price of $86.52 per share. Strategy plans to remain a "regular and disciplined buyer," continuing repurchases when STRC trades below $100. It will increase its buying activity when the stock is far from $100, and reduce repurchase volumes as it approaches that level. Currently, Strategy has approximately $975 million available for preferred share repurchases. Funds for STRC repurchases will not come from its U.S. dollar reserves; instead, they will be raised via sales of MSTR stock and Bitcoin, depending on market conditions, with the goal of stabilizing STRC’s price around $100.
Leidos zvýšil výhled tržeb pro rok 2026 na 18,20–18,40 mld. USD a zisku na akcii na 12,20–12,50 USD. Divize Defense měla book-to-bill 2,2 a divize Health očekává tržby blízko úrovně z 2. čtvrtletí.
Key Takeaways Leidos raised 2026 revenue guidance to $18.20B-$18.40B and EPS guidance to $12.20-$12.50.Defense posted a 2.2 book-to-bill ratio, with a $12B Defense Tech pipeline over the next year.LDOS expects Health revenues near Q2 levels after VBA incentive payments were suspended for the rest of 2026. Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS - Free Report) used its fiscal second-quarter call to emphasize that faster Defense, Homeland and Intelligence & Digital growth is offsetting pressure in Health. Management raised revenue, earnings and cash flow guidance despite changes in the Veterans Benefits Administration medical-exam business.
The call gave investors more detail on defense-tech scaling, the VBA recompete and how agency in-sourcing could reshape Leidos’ role in health-system integration.
LDOS Raises the Floor on 2026 GuidanceExecutive vice president and CFO Chris Cage said fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is now $18.20-$18.40 billion, while non-GAAP earnings guidance rose to $12.20-$12.50 per share.
Cage raised operating cash flow guidance to approximately $1.85 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin outlook remains in the mid-13% range, and the guidance excludes the pending Security Enterprise Solutions joint venture with Analogic.
Second-quarter non-GAAP earnings of $3.26 per share topped the $2.90 consensus mark. Revenues of $4.56 billion exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.36 billion.
Leidos Defense Tech Builds ScaleCEO Tom Bell said Defense posted a 2.2 book-to-bill ratio in the quarter and 1.9 over the trailing 12 months. He also cited a $12 billion pipeline of Defense Tech opportunities over the next year.
Bell highlighted low-cost containerized munitions, the small cruise missile, IFPC, space-sensor payloads, autonomous vessels and counter-UAS capabilities. Leidos plans to deliver 3,000 containerized munitions by 2030 under its framework agreement.
Cage said profitability should improve as programs mature and production volumes rise. Bell added that management can see double-digit profitability and double-digit revenue CAGR over time in Defense Tech.
LDOS’ Health Reset Focuses on VBABell said the VA suspended incentive payments for all vendors in the medical disability examination program for the rest of 2026. He said the change is incorporated into the higher companywide guidance.
Cage expects Health revenues to remain near second-quarter levels for the balance of the year, with non-GAAP operating margins around 20%. Management views the fourth-quarter run rate as the starting point for 2027.
A BNP Paribas analyst pressed for recompete clarity. Bell said Leidos expects a draft request for proposals shortly, formal bids near year-end and customer decisions in early 2027, with extensions providing continuity into next year.
Leidos Adapts to Agency In-SourcingA Melius Research analyst asked whether the next phase of MHS GENESIS signaled a broader reduction in systems-integrator roles. Bell said agencies are exploring more in-sourcing and direct commercial-software purchases.
Bell maintained that Leidos can shift toward higher-level mission integration while continuing to maintain and enhance MHS GENESIS. Cage said negotiations are continuing because the customer lacks capacity to absorb all current activities.
A JPMorgan analyst asked about fixed-price work. CEO Bell and CFO Cage said customers are increasingly requesting outcome-based contracts, a model they believe fits Leidos’ software, cyber and mission-technology offerings.
LDOS’ Cash Flow Supports Capital ChoicesCage emphasized second-quarter operating cash flow of $793 million and free cash flow of $761 million. Lower expected capital spending, now closer to $250 million, lifted implied full-year free cash flow guidance by about $150 million.
Bell reiterated that Leidos remains a low-capital-intensity business, with capital expenditures generally targeted at 1% to 1.5% of revenues, even as it funds selected Defense Tech programs.
Leidos paid down $300 million of commercial paper, completed a $66 million open-market repurchase and put a new board authorization in place. Bell said expensive acquisition targets favor a balanced approach to investment, repurchases and dividends.
Leidos Leans on Portfolio BalanceManagement’s tone was confident but centered on execution. Defense and Homeland are carrying more of the growth load while Health moves through contract and incentive changes.
The priorities are converting bookings into revenues, protecting cash generation and securing the VBA franchise without slowing investment in defense tech, cyber and energy infrastructure.
Zacks Signals for LDOSLDOS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), alongside Value and Growth Scores of A, a Momentum Score of B and a VGM Score of A. The Style Scores indicate favorable value, growth and momentum characteristics, while the Rank carries a Hold stance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The combination is constructive but lacks the stronger signal associated with Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (Buy) stocks paired with A or B Style Scores. The Zacks Rank can change as estimates are revised after the just-reported results.
Key Takeaways Medpace posted record Q2 net new business awards of $795.7 million, lifting book-to-bill to 1.13.MEDP's backlog reached $3.01 billion, with about $1.96 billion expected to convert within 12 months.MEDP's record bookings were helped by lower cancellations, which remain difficult to forecast. Medpace Holdings, Inc. (MEDP - Free Report) regained commercial momentum in the second quarter of 2026 as record awards and a higher book-to-bill ratio reversed the weaker first-quarter trend.
The central issue is timing. Better demand can strengthen backlog and support future growth, but study starts, pre-backlog work and unpredictable cancellations may delay the larger revenue benefit until 2027.
MEDP Delivers Record Quarterly AwardsNet new business awards increased 28.2% year over year to $795.7 million, the highest quarterly level reported by Medpace. The result lifted net book-to-bill to 1.13, meaning awards exceeded second-quarter revenues.
That was a clear improvement from the first quarter's 0.88 ratio. The rebound indicates that commercial activity recovered enough to replace revenue consumed during the quarter and begin rebuilding forward coverage.
Medpace’s Demand Indicators BroadenRequest-for-proposal activity increased both sequentially and year over year, while win rates recovered after management's improvement initiatives. Client funding activity also remained constructive, supporting a broader opportunity set.
Management expects gross bookings to ramp during the second half. That outlook is relevant across the contract research market, where ICON plc (ICLR - Free Report) provides integrated clinical development services and IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV - Free Report) combines clinical research services with healthcare data and analytics. For MEDP, stronger gross awards will matter most if cancellations stay within a reasonable range.
MEDP’s Oncology Mix Reshapes the PipelineOncology represented more than half of second-quarter bookings and initial award notifications. At the same time, new cardiometabolic award activity moderated as several large metabolic programs moved closer to maturity.
The shift reduces reliance on the therapeutic area that recently drove growth and moves the pipeline toward Medpace's historical mix. Yet oncology programs can carry different award, study-start and conversion patterns, leaving the timing of revenue recognition less predictable.
Medpace’s Backlog Supports Revenue ContinuityEnding backlog increased 4.9% year over year to $3.01 billion. Medpace expects approximately $1.96 billion of that backlog to convert into revenues over the next 12 months, providing a meaningful base of contracted work.
The near-term conversion estimate does not capture the full potential of the second-quarter awards. Some programs remain in pre-backlog, while others need additional time before study activity begins. Those lags could push much of the incremental contribution into 2027.
Here's where the consensus estimates for the company's 2026 and 2027 sales currently stand.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MEDP’s Cancellation Risk Clouds the RecoveryLower cancellations accounted for more than half of the sequential improvement in net bookings. That makes the quarterly record less straightforward than the headline figure suggests because part of the rebound came from fewer lost awards rather than gross-booking growth alone.
Management said cancellations cannot be forecast reliably and may arise without warning. A renewed spike could weaken net bookings, slow backlog expansion and delay the expected benefit from the stronger commercial pipeline.
MEDP’s Growth Signals Support Cautious OptimismThe second-quarter recovery improves MEDP's path toward stronger 2027 growth, but execution still depends on converting awards into backlog and starting studies on schedule. The year-to-date book-to-bill ratio of 1.00 also shows that the first-half recovery was balanced rather than decisive.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MEDP currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with a Growth Score of A and a VGM Score of B. Those readings support the stock's growth profile and complement its favorable earnings-revision signal. Still, a Value Score of D and a Momentum Score of C argue for close attention to valuation, backlog conversion and the durability of bookings before drawing a firmer conclusion.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Carlyle ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila výnosy na 1,11 miliardy USD a EPS na 1,07 USD, obojí nad odhady Wall Street. Celkové segmentové poplatkové výnosy dosáhly 759,3 milionu USD.
For the quarter ended June 2026, Carlyle Group (CG - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.11 billion, up 13% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.07, compared to $0.91 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $908.66 million, representing a surprise of +22.4%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +21.59%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.88.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Carlyle performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Total AUM Roll Forward - Global Private Equity - EOP: $162.7 billion versus $161.32 billion estimated by three analysts on average.Total AUM Roll Forward - Global Credit - EOP: $211.12 billion compared to the $213.79 billion average estimate based on three analysts.Total AUM Roll Forward - EOP: $485.5 billion compared to the $485.23 billion average estimate based on three analysts.Fee-earning AUM Roll Forward - Global Private Equity - EOP: $96.56 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $99.95 billion.Segment Revenues- Fund management fees: $560.1 million compared to the $551.81 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -5% year over year.Fee related performance revenues: $88.7 million compared to the $48.54 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +129.2% year over year.Segment Revenues- Realized principal investment income (loss): $22.6 million versus $35.25 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -32.5% change.Segment Revenues- Total segment fee revenues: $759.3 million compared to the $674.77 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.3% year over year.Revenues- Global Private Equity- Fund management fees: $283.4 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $286.63 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.3%.Revenues- Global Private Equity- Total fee revenues: $304.3 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $309.36 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -1.6%.Revenues- Global Private Equity- Realized performance revenues: $251.5 million compared to the $189.29 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.8% year over year.Revenues- Global Private Equity- Realized principal investment income: $5.6 million compared to the $12.27 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -54.8% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Carlyle here>>>
Shares of Carlyle have returned +15.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
Marvell Technology zvýšila tržby v komunikacích o 29 % meziročně na 585 milionů USD díky normalizaci zásob zákazníků. Firma čeká, že tento segment ve 2. čtvrtletí klesne v nižších jednotkách procent mezikvartálně, ale poroste ve vyšších jednotkách procent meziročně.
Key Takeaways Marvell Technology grew communications revenues 29% year over year as customer inventories normalized.MRVL expects interconnect revenues to grow more than 70% in fiscal 2027 on AI networking demand.MRVL sees communications declining sequentially in Q2 but growing year over year as recovery continues. Marvell Technology’s (MRVL - Free Report) communications and other business segment has been recovering as customer inventories normalize. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, communications and other revenues increased 29% year over year to $585 million. MRVL’s AI data center networking business has been at the center of its growth.
Networking remains a key beneficiary of rising AI cluster size and complexity. Marvell now expects its interconnect business to grow more than 70% year over year in fiscal 2027, supported by scale-out PAM ramp-ups and growing contributions from scale-up and scale-across networking.
Within optics, the company expects TIAs and drivers to exceed a $1 billion annualized run rate in the next few quarters and sees a path to about $1 billion annualized DCI module revenues during fiscal 2028. Management also expects scale-up optics to ramp up in fiscal 2028, with revenues now forecasted to more than double versus its prior outlook of about $150 million.
The company has also launched the Golden Cable initiative to accelerate and expand the Active Electrical Cable (AEC) ecosystem for faster deployment of AI infrastructure by cloud and hyperscaler customers. However, Marvell Technology’s move toward lower-margin custom silicon and other AI infrastructure products is resulting in a gradual decline in the gross margin.
However, MRVL expects its communications end market to decline in the mid-single-digit range sequentially in the second quarter while growing in the high-single-digit range year over year, which implies the recovery is continuing but not linear. A steadier baseline outside the data center can moderate volatility through periods when hyperscaler build cycles vary while still keeping the company exposed to long-term infrastructure upgrades.
How Competitors Fare Against MRVL StockMRVL faces stiff competition in the AI networking and custom silicon space from Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) .
Broadcom is a leader in the domain of custom silicon solutions for data centers. Broadcom’s advanced 3.5D XDSiP packaging platform is critical to ensure the performance and efficiency of custom AI XPUs.
Advanced Micro Devices is another established player in the custom silicon solutions and AI accelerator market. Advanced Micro Devices offers semi-custom SoCs and Instinct Accelerators to power data centers.
MRVL's Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Marvell Technology have rallied 157.3% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s growth of 35.3%.
MRVL YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Marvell Technology trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.52X, higher than the industry’s average of 5.58X.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MRVL’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 42.3% and 52.9%, respectively. The estimate for fiscal 2027 and 2028 have been revised upward in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marvell Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Brink's Company (BCO) Q2 2026 Earnings Call August 5, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Jesse Jenkins - Head & Vice President of Investor Relations
Richard Eubanks - CEO, President & Director
Kurt McMaken - Executive VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Timothy Mulrooney - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Tobey Sommer - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and welcome to the Brink's Company Second Quarter 2026 Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.
This call and the Q&A session will contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from projected or estimated results. Information regarding factors that could cause such differences are available in today's press release and presentation and in the company's SEC filings. The information presented and discussed on this call is representative of today only. Brink's assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. The call is copyrighted and may not be used without written permission from Brink's.
I will now turn it over to your host, Jesse Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. Mr. Jenkins, you may begin.
Jesse Jenkins
Head & Vice President of Investor Relations
Thanks, and good morning. Joining me are CEO, Mark Eubanks; and CFO, Kurt McMacken. Today, Brink's reported second quarter results on a GAAP, non-GAAP and constant currency basis. Most of our commentary today will be focused on our non-GAAP results. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide investors with a supplemental comparison of our operating results and trends for the periods presented. We believe these measures allow investors to better compare performance over time and to evaluate our performance using the same metrics as management. Reconciliations of non-GAAP results to their most comparable GAAP results are provided in SEC filings, which can be found on our website.
Vertiv ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 24 % na 3,27 mld. USD díky silné poptávce po datových centrech pro AI. Modine sice tržby v datovém segmentu zvedl o 90 %, ale marže klesla na 14,8 %.
Key Takeaways Vertiv is the scaled, profitable pure-play leader in AI data center power and cooling.VRT's second-quarter sales rose 24% to $3.27B as customers ramped infrastructure spending for AI.Modine's data center sales jumped 90%, but margins fell to 14.8% amid shortages and labor inefficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving expansion of data centers, bringing cooling and power infrastructure into sharper focus. This shift is creating opportunities for companies that supply the infrastructure behind modern data centers. Vertiv Holdings (VRT - Free Report) and Modine Manufacturing (MOD - Free Report) are two players positioned to benefit from this growing demand.
Both beat earnings in their latest quarterly releases. Modine reported adjusted earnings of $1.53 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, up 44% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.47%. Vertiv delivered second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.52 per share, up 60% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.29%.
While both companies are set to benefit from the AI-driven data center infrastructure boom, their positioning differs. Vertiv brings scale and integrated infrastructure capabilities, while Modine is sharpening its focus on thermal management solutions for data centers. Though smaller in scale, Modine is building a fast-growing cooling business that could reshape its growth trajectory in the coming years.
On a year-to-date basis, both stocks have performed well. Vertiv has gained 66% and Modine shares are up 51%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Still, one stock offers considerably stronger exposure to the AI data center space. Let's dive deeper into both stocks.
The Case for ModineModine's data center segment sales grew 90% year over year in the last reported quarter. This was the third straight quarter of record order intake, and backlog has nearly doubled over the past year, reflecting real, multi-year demand.That visibility is backed by contracts. Modine has locked in over $4 billion in Airedale chiller commitments running from calendar 2027 through 2029, with initial orders already flowing. Management reaffirmed guidance for 60-80% data center sales growth for fiscal 2027, segment earnings growth above 85%, and 50-70% organic growth in fiscal 2028.
The product pipeline supports that outlook. Modine's new 3-megawatt chiller packs 50% more cooling capacity into just a 9% larger footprint, and it's gaining traction across hyperscale, Neocloud and colocation customers. Deeper co-development with these customers also raises switching costs, which helps lock in future business.
That said, this growth is still concentrated in a handful of relationships. Management pointed to just three customers— two hyperscalers and one large Neocloud provider— as the primary drivers behind the recent surge in orders and backlog. That's a lot of near-term revenues riding on a small number of accounts, a sharper concentration risk than Vertiv's more diversified customer base.
Another key problem is margins. Component shortages hurt production and labor efficiency in the first quarter of 2027. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the segment fell to 14.8% from 22.1% a year earlier. Management attributes 450-550 basis points of that drop to excess labor and under-absorbed overhead from the supply disruption.
Modine is guiding a fast rebound— segment margin back to 19-20% by the second quarter. That’s a steep climb in a short window, and it leans heavily on supply normalizing on schedule. Pricing actions, surcharges and other commercial levers should help over time, but they do not fix cost pressure immediately, and any further commodity inflation or slow customer reimbursement could push the recovery timeline out further.Management itself has called the coming production ramp and capacity rollout a "heavy lift," as the company juggles component shortages and new manufacturing line activation.
Reflecting the execution risks, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOD's EPS has been revised downward recently.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Case for VertivVertiv's business is built entirely around what AI data centers need most— power and thermal management— unlike Modine, where data centers are just one (though fastest-growing) piece of a broader industrial portfolio.
Second-quarter 2026 net sales rose 24% year over year to $3.27 billion, driven by broad-based demand as hyperscalers, enterprise customers and colocation providers all ramped up infrastructure spending to keep pace with AI deployments. Rising rack density and faster build cycles are pushing customers toward the kind of advanced power and cooling systems Vertiv specializes in, and a strong sales pipeline with accelerating deal cycles has kept converting that demand into revenues.
Profitability moved in the right direction too. Adjusted operating margin came in at 22.6% in the second quarter, up 410 basis points year over year. Management guided 24-25% margin in the third quarter on the back of organic growth, operating leverage and further productivity improvements.
Vertiv has been expanding manufacturing capacity aggressively and globally. The company added new capacity in Malaysia, expanded five large plants across the Americas, and increased chiller production in EMEA. That footprint lets Vertiv deliver complex, large-scale infrastructure solutions.
Last month, Vertiv announced an expansion at its Tognana campus near Padua, Italy, for scaling up manufacturing and testing for AI-ready cooling systems. The project is set to double regional chiller production capacity by the end of 2026, with a large-scale testing lab coming in early 2027 to validate chillers working alongside liquid cooling systems under high-density AI workloads. The company is also working with NVIDIA and Foxconn's VisionBay AI on Taiwan AI data center deployments, including power, thermal and services for NVIDIA GB300 systems.
Together, the sales growth and capacity buildout point to more room to run. Vertiv guided third-quarter net sales of $3.65 billion to $3.85 billion, suggesting the momentum from the AI data center buildout isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Analysts seem to be growing more bullish on the stock, as reflected in rising consensus EPS estimates.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv Has the EdgeModine's growth story is real, but it's still finding its footing at scale. Data center margins fell this quarter, and the promised rebound hinges on supply chains cooperating on a tight timeline. That's a lot of execution risk riding on one segment of a diversified business. MOD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Vertiv doesn't have that problem. It's already the scaled, pure-play leader in AI data center infrastructure. It has been expanding margins while growing revenues and backing it with real manufacturing capacity. Rising analyst estimates confirm the momentum.
For investors wanting AI data center exposure, VRT—which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)— is the stronger pick.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Takeaways Lincoln Electric shares rose 8% as Q2 adjusted EPS beat estimates and revenues hit a record $1.22B.Organic sales grew 10.1%, driven by 7.7% pricing and 2.4% volume growth.LECO raised 2026 sales growth guidance to the low-double-digit range after record cash flow. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO - Free Report) shares have gained 8% since it reported second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. Adjusted earnings came in at $2.93 per share, up 12.7% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.81 by 4.27%.
Including one-time items, the bottom line was $2.88 per share compared with $2.56 in the year-ago quarter.
LECO's Sales Mix Benefits From Price and VolumeRevenues increased 12% to a record $1.22 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $1.17 billion by 4.45%. Results benefited from 10.1% organic sales growth, with volumes contributing 2.4% and pricing at 7.7%. Acquisitions contributed 1.5%, primarily reflecting the Alloy Steel acquisition, and favorable foreign currency translation added 0.4%.
Consumables sales increased in the low-teens percentage range, equipment sales rose by a high-single-digit percentage and automation sales advanced by a mid-single-digit percentage. Four of the company’s five major end markets grew, led by a mid-30% increase in general fabrication. However, transportation declined by a mid-single-digit percentage.
Lincoln Electric's Margin Performance ImprovesThe cost of goods sold increased 12.8% year over year to $770.7 million. Gross profit rose 10.7% to $449 million, while the gross margin contracted 50 basis points to 36.8%.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 6.6% to $224.9 million. However, SG&A expenses, as a percentage of sales, declined 100 basis points to 18.4%.
Adjusted operating income climbed 14.9% to $224.1 million, with the adjusted operating margin expanding 50 basis points to a record 18.4%.
LECO's Americas Welding Business Gains MomentumAmericas Welding revenues increased 11.2% year over year to $774.4 million. Volume growth of 7.1% reflected gains across all product areas, led by accelerated capital spending. Pricing contributed 3.7%, while currency movements provided a 0.4% benefit. We expected the segment’s net sales to be $754 million in the quarter.
Adjusted EBIT rose 14.6% to $158.1 million. The segment’s adjusted EBIT margin improved 110 basis points to 19.7%, aided by operating leverage from higher volumes and a narrower price-cost headwind. Tariff refunds also supported profitability. Our prediction for the segment’s adjusted operating income was $148 million.
Lincoln Electric's International Results Face Volume PressureInternational Welding sales rose 4.5% to $243.3 million, as a 7% acquisition contribution and modest pricing and currency benefits offset a 4.7% volume decline. Organic sales were hurt by slowing demand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including a $2 million impact from the Middle East conflict. We expected the segment’s net sales to be $236 million in the quarter.
Adjusted EBIT declined 12.9% to $26.6 million, while the adjusted EBIT margin contracted 210 basis points to 10.6%. Lower EMEA volumes weighed on the segment’s profitability despite growth in Asia Pacific and contributions from Alloy Steel. We predicted an adjusted operating profit of $28.8 million.
LECO's Harris Products Group Delivers Sales & Profit GrowthThe Harris Products Group’s sales increased 26.9% to $201.9 million. A 34.2% pricing benefit, reflecting higher year-over-year metal costs, primarily silver, more than offset an 8.2% volume decline. Volumes were down 8.2% as it faced difficult year-over-year comparisons in HVAC and the retail channel. Our projection for the segment’s net sales was $171 million.
Adjusted EBIT advanced 32.5% to $42.3 million. The adjusted EBIT margin expanded 100 basis points to 20.4%, supported by SG&A leverage and a tariff refund. Our prediction for the segment’s adjusted operating income was $34.3 million.
Lincoln Electric Generates Record Cash FlowCash flow from operations reached a record $253.8 million, up from $143.8 million a year earlier. Free cash flow totaled $222.3 million, resulting in cash conversion of 138%.
LECO returned $120 million to shareholders, including $43.4 million in dividends and $76.1 million in share repurchases. Cash and cash equivalents were $242.4 million at quarter-end, while total debt declined to $1.15 billion from $1.29 billion at the end of 2025.
LECO Raises Its 2026 Sales AssumptionLincoln Electric raised its 2026 net sales growth assumption to the low-double-digit percentage range from the high-single-digit range. Management expects one-third of organic growth to come from volume and two-thirds from pricing.
The company anticipates neutral price-cost conditions and a mid-20% incremental adjusted operating margin in the second half. It also projects capital expenditures of $110-$130 million, a low-to-mid-20% tax rate and full-year cash conversion of 100% for the full year.
LECO Stock’s Price PerformanceLincoln Electric’s shares have gained 14.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s 12.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Lincoln Electric’s Zacks RankLECO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Quarterly Performances of Other Manufacturing StocksStanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of $1.57 per share for the second quarter of 2026, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 by 30.8%. The bottom line increased from adjusted earnings of $1.08 per share reported in the year-ago quarter.
Stanley Black & Decker’s net sales of $3.96 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion by 0.7% and increased 0.4% year over year. Higher organic sales, improved gross margins and strong cash generation supported the quarter. Stanley Black & Decker’s also raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $5.20-$5.80 per share, up from the earlier outlook of $4.90-$5.70.
Enerpac (EPAC - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of 60 cents per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended May 31, 2026), beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents per share. This compares with earnings of 51 cents per share a year ago.
Enerpac posted revenues of $167.6 million for the quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $165 million. This marks a 6% increase from year-ago revenues of $158.7 million. Enerpac updated its earnings per share projection for fiscal 2026 to $1.84-$1.89 from the prior stated $1.85-$1.92.
Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.74 per share, up 12% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.72. The improvement reflected broad-based revenue growth, stronger segmental margins and operational execution that more than offset input-cost inflation.
Dover’s revenues rose 7% year over year to $2.19 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $2.21 billion. Organic revenues increased 4.8% in the quarter.
Steve Madden oznámil 9% růst globálních srovnatelných tržeb, tažený obuví a silnější poptávkou po kabelkách. Tržby z přímého prodeje (DTC) vzrostly o 30,6 % na 255,4 mil. USD.
Key Takeaways Steve Madden posted 9% global comparable-sales growth, led by footwear and stronger handbag demand.SHOO grew DTC revenue 30.6%, improving pricing control and supporting faster inventory replenishment.SHOO raised the Dolce Vita 2026 outlook, while tariff, freight and higher operating costs remain risks. Steven Madden, Ltd. (SHOO - Free Report) shares have climbed 22.5% in the past month as improving brand momentum, earnings growth and estimate revisions draw investor attention. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-fiscal-year earnings has moved 2.4% higher over the past four weeks.
The rally now faces a tougher test. Better operating trends support the advance, but valuation and cost pressures leave less room for execution missteps.
SHOO’s Core Brand Regains MomentumThe Steve Madden brand extended its late-2025 inflection in the second quarter of 2026. Trend-right women’s and men’s footwear, along with renewed handbag demand, helped global comparable sales rise 9%, including 17% growth in the United States.
Consumer engagement also accelerated, with global online searches up 71%. Branded wholesale revenues increased 20%, supported by sell-through, reorders and faster pursuit of best sellers, while handbags grew about 30% across channels.
Steve Madden’s DTC Growth Supports Better EconomicsDirect-to-consumer revenues increased 30.6% to $255.4 million. Excluding Kurt Geiger, DTC revenues rose 11.1%, with double-digit growth in stores and e-commerce.
A larger full-price mix can improve pricing control and reduce promotional pressure. It also gives SHOO better customer data and enables quicker replenishment, helping merchandising teams respond to demand with less inventory risk.
SHOO Stock Past One-Month Performance
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SHOO’s Brand Portfolio Broadens the Growth StoryKurt Geiger is becoming a larger premium growth platform. Management maintained its mid-teens pro forma revenue-growth outlook, while existing U.S. stores delivered 12% comparable-sales growth and healthy four-wall profitability.
Dolce Vita adds another growth pillar. SHOO raised the brand’s 2026 revenue forecast to high-single-digit to low-double-digit growth as footwear, handbags and international expansion gained traction.
Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) also raised its 2026 outlook after reporting record second-quarter results, underscoring continued demand for differentiated footwear brands. Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN - Free Report) reported record fiscal first-quarter sales and income, offering another sign that trend-right retail concepts can still win consumer spending.
SHOO Faces a Higher Bar After the RallyTariff and freight uncertainty remain central risks. Management added 6 cents of second-half earnings pressure from higher air freight and continues to absorb increased shipping costs to direct customers.
Private-label revenues are expected to decline at a mid- to high-teen rate in 2026. Adjusted operating expenses also rose 25.3% to $265.1 million, and higher marketing, incentive compensation and DTC costs could restrain operating leverage.
SHOO’s Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorSHOO trades at 20.0X forward 12-month earnings, near the footwear sub-industry’s 20.1X and the S&P 500’s 20.6X, but above the consumer discretionary sector’s 16.5X.
The multiple also exceeds SHOO’s five-year median of 14.7X. Sustained earnings growth may justify that premium, but a slowdown in brand momentum or weaker margin expansion could pressure the stock after its rapid advance.
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SHOO’s Momentum Scores Support a Measured ViewThe operating picture is improving, but the rally already reflects meaningful optimism. SHOO’s brand mix, DTC growth and raised outlook support further earnings progress, while valuation and external cost risks argue against an aggressive stance.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Its Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of A point to favorable growth and price-trend characteristics, while the Value Score of C reflects a less compelling valuation profile. Together, the signals support a measured view rather than a clear-cut call for continued outperformance.
Steven Madden zvýšil výhled tržeb na rok 2026 na růst 11 % až 13 % a upraveného zisku na akcii na 2,05 až 2,15 USD po silném 2. čtvrtletí. Současně varuje před pomalejším růstem marží kvůli přepravě, clům a vyšším nákladům.
Key Takeaways SHOO raised its 2026 revenue and adjusted earnings outlook after stronger second-quarter results.Steve Madden lifted its 2026 brand outlook as footwear, handbags and wholesale demand accelerated.SHOO expects slower margin expansion as freight, tariffs and higher operating costs increase. Steven Madden, Ltd. (SHOO - Free Report) raised its 2026 revenue and adjusted earnings outlook after stronger second-quarter results and improving demand across its key brands. Investors now need to assess whether brand momentum can continue to outweigh freight, tariff and expense pressures in the second half.
The revised guidance shows greater confidence in the operating trend, but the new targets also raise the execution bar as external costs increase.
SHOO’s Raised Guidance Signals Greater ConfidenceSHOO now expects 2026 revenues to increase 11%-13%, up from its previous forecast of 10%-12%. Adjusted earnings are projected in the range of $2.05-$2.15 per share, compared with the prior outlook of $2.00-$2.10.
Management said the revenue increase mainly reflects stronger expectations for the periods ahead. Better-than-expected second-quarter gross margin also supported the earnings revision. Adjusted gross margin expanded 460 basis points year over year to 46.5%, helped by higher average selling prices, lower private-label penetration and a smaller tariff drag.
Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) also reported record second-quarter 2026 results and raised its full-year outlook, showing that differentiated footwear brands can still produce growth. Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN - Free Report) posted record fiscal first-quarter sales and income, reinforcing the importance of brand relevance and merchandise execution across consumer businesses.
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Steve Madden Drives the Guidance IncreaseThe Steve Madden brand was the primary growth engine in the second quarter. Trend-right assortments lifted demand across women’s footwear, men’s footwear and handbags, while global comparable sales increased 9%, including a 17% gain in the United States.
Branded wholesale revenues rose 20% as sell-through, reorders and the ability to chase best sellers improved. Handbag revenues increased about 30% across channels. Management raised its 2026 outlook for the flagship brand to high-single-digit revenue growth from the previous mid- to high-single-digit range.
Demand also remained favorable entering the third quarter. Management cited similar direct-to-consumer trends and higher sell-through at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, suggesting that momentum was broad across categories and channels rather than dependent on one product cycle.
Kurt Geiger and Dolce Vita Add Growth DepthKurt Geiger is expanding SHOO’s premium direct-to-consumer and international exposure. The company opened two U.S. full-price stores in the second quarter, bringing the total to seven. Existing locations generated 12% comparable-store growth and healthy four-wall profitability.
SHOO also acquired the Kurt Geiger distribution business in Spain and Portugal and continues to pursue distribution and joint-venture opportunities in other markets. Management maintained its outlook for mid-teens pro forma revenue growth for the brand.
Dolce Vita delivered gains across wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels, supported by footwear, handbags and international expansion. Management raised its 2026 revenue outlook to high-single-digit to low-double-digit growth from high-single-digit growth.
SHOO’s Margin Gains May ModerateManagement still expects year-over-year gross margin improvement in each remaining quarter of 2026, but the rate of expansion is likely to slow. SHOO will lap the Kurt Geiger acquisition, which reduces the benefit from a richer mix comparison, while prior pricing actions also become part of the year-ago base.
Freight and supplier costs are moving in the opposite direction. The company is using more air freight to chase best sellers and work around disrupted ocean routes, while supplier cost pressure is becoming harder to defer. These factors could limit the margin benefit from branded and direct-to-consumer growth.
SHOO’s Cost Headwinds Test the New OutlookThe prolonged Middle East conflict added 6 cents per share of second-half freight pressure to management’s forecast. SHOO is also absorbing higher shipping costs to direct customers.
The company incorporated announced third-quarter tariffs into its outlook and continues to assume a 15% tariff rate for the fourth quarter because additional trade investigations remain unresolved. Further disruption could require additional pricing, reduce gross margin gains or test demand elasticity.
Adjusted operating expenses also remain elevated as SHOO invests in marketing, incentive compensation and direct-to-consumer expansion. Management expects selling, general and administrative expenses to equal about 38.3% of revenues in 2026.
SHOO’s Scores Back Growth With CautionThe raised outlook and improving brand trends support a constructive operating view. SHOO’s stronger mix, direct-to-consumer growth and broader brand contribution could sustain earnings progress if execution remains on track.
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The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Its Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of A align with improving fundamentals and price momentum. Its Value Score of C, together with tariff, freight and expense risks, suggests investors should monitor whether earnings execution keeps pace with the higher expectations.
Key Takeaways CRS beat Q4 earnings and revenue estimates on higher shipments, pricing, product mix and efficiency.Specialty Alloys Operations sales and profit rose on productivity gains, pricing and improved mix.Carpenter Technology expects FY27 operating income of $850-$880M and a free cash flow of $400-$430M. Shares of Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) gained 7% since reporting adjusted earnings of $3.23 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 on July 30, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.03 by 6.6%. Earnings rose 46.2% from $2.21 in the year-ago quarter.
Net revenues increased 12.6% year over year to $851 million and topped the consensus estimate of $848 million by 0.4%. The upside reflected 22% higher shipment volume, stronger product mix, pricing realization and improved operating efficiency.
Aerospace and Defense remained the largest end market. CRS witnessed a year-over-year revenue increase of 17% in the Aerospace and Defense end-use market. Revenues in the Industrial and Consumer market rose 22%, while Transportation revenues increased 3%. The Medical end-use market’s revenues declined 30% and Energy revenues fell 12%.
CRS’s Q4 Operational ResultsThe cost of goods sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 7.5% year over year to $582 million. Gross profit rose 25.7% to $269 million. The gross margin came in at 31.6% compared with 28.3% in the prior-year quarter.
Adjusted operating income in the reported quarter was a record $207 million compared with $151.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The adjusted operating margin was 30.4% compared with 24.3% a year earlier.
Carpenter Technology’s Q4 Segmental PerformanceThe Specialty Alloys Operations segment reported sales of $770.5 million compared with $674.1 million in the prior-year quarter. We predicted the segment’s sales to be $751 million. The upside was driven by productivity gains, pricing across long-term and transactional business, and improved mix. The segment sold 57,454 thousand pounds compared with 46,872 thousand pounds a year ago. The reported figure surpassed our estimate of 50,123 pounds. The segment posted an operating profit of $229.7 million, up 37.5% from $167 million in the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for the segment’s operating profit was $167 million.
The Performance Engineered Products segment’s net sales increased 3.7% year over year to $108.5 million. The reported figure beat our estimate of $106 million. The segment sold 3,256 thousand pounds compared with 2,674 thousand pounds in the prior-year quarter. It was lower than our projection of 2,697 thousand pounds. It reported an operating profit of $7.1 million, down 39.3% from $11.7 million a year earlier, showing that higher volume did not translate into stronger segment profitability. Our estimate for the segment’s operating profit was $11.7 million.
CRS’s Cash Flow & Balance Sheet UpdatesCarpenter Technology ended fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $393 million compared with $315.5 million at the end of fiscal 2025. Long-term debt was $691 million at the end of fiscal 2026 compared with $695 million a year earlier.
Cash flow from operating activities was $240 million in the quarter under review compared with $258 million in the prior-year quarter.
Carpenter Technology’s FY26 PerformanceThe company reported adjusted earnings of $10.52 per share in fiscal 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.58. The company posted adjusted earnings of $7.42 in fiscal 2025.
CRS revenues were $3.12 billion in fiscal 2026, down from $2.88 billion in the year-ago quarter. The top line came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
CRS FY27 OutlookFor fiscal 2027, CRS expects operating income of $850-$880 million, indicating growth of 21-25% from that reported in fiscal 2026. The adjusted free cash flow is projected at $400-$430 million.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the company anticipates operating income of $195-$200 million. CRS also set a fiscal 2029 operating income target of $1.2-$1.3 billion, supported by demand, productivity, mix, pricing and expected contributions from its brownfield expansion.
Carpenter Technology’s Zacks RankCRS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CRS’s Share Price PerformanceShares of the company have surged 121.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 96.8%.
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Carpenter Technology Peer PerformanceCommercial Metals Company (CMC - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.73 in third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended May 31, 2026), beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.60 by 8.1%. The bottom line surged 147.1% from 70 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Commercial Metals’ revenues in the reported quarter were $2.48 billion compared with $2.02 billion in the year-ago quarter. The reported figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.37 billion.
Metallus Inc. (MTUS - Free Report) delivered second-quarter 2026earnings of 26 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Metallus posted earnings of 2 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Metallus posted revenues of $341 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $331 million. The company posted $305 million in the second quarter of 2025.
NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. (NWPX - Free Report) came out with second quarter 2026 earnings of $1.62 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33. The company posted earnings of 91 cents a year ago.
NWPX Infrastructure posted revenues of $159.5 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $155 million. The top line increased from the year-ago quarter’s $133 million.
Delek US Holdings (DK - Free Report) reported $4.09 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 47.8%. EPS of $5.48 for the same period compares to -$0.56 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.03 billion, representing a surprise of +34.83%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +147.96%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.21.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Delek US Holdings performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Total throughput (average bpd) - Total Refining: 315,555.00 BBL/D compared to the 305,149.50 BBL/D average estimate based on four analysts.Total Throughput Capacity Per Day - Tyler, TX Refinery: 77,887.00 BBL/D compared to the 75,199.22 BBL/D average estimate based on four analysts.Tyler, TX Refinery - Per barrel of throughput - Tyler refining production margin: $23.3 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $19.13 million.Total refining production margin per bbl total throughput: $19.84 versus $15.86 estimated by four analysts on average.Total Throughput Capacity Per Day - Big Spring, TX Refinery: 70,137.00 BBL/D versus 67,771.98 BBL/D estimated by four analysts on average.Total Throughput Capacity Per Day - Krotz Springs, LA Refinery: 83,025.00 BBL/D compared to the 81,088.97 BBL/D average estimate based on four analysts.El Dorado, AR Refinery - Per barrel of throughput - El Dorado refining production margin: $16.4 million versus $14.07 million estimated by four analysts on average.Big Spring, TX Refinery - Per barrel of throughput - Big Spring refining production margin: $20.47 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $15.68 million.Total Throughput Capacity Per Day - El Dorado, AR Refinery: 84,506.00 BBL/D versus the four-analyst average estimate of 81,089.31 BBL/D.Total Revenues- Logistics: $384.7 million versus $296.9 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +56.1% change.Total Revenues- Corporate, Other and Eliminations: $-353.7 million compared to the $-240.47 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +78.1% year over year.Total Revenues- Refining: $4.06 billion versus $2.96 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +49.3% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Delek US Holdings here>>>
Shares of Delek US Holdings have returned +26.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
Published in earnings earnings-estimates-revisions earnings-surprise
Key Takeaways EPD's Q2 earnings rose 27.3% as record volumes drove higher revenues, EBITDA and cash flow.EPD's marine terminal volumes surged 33% to a record 2.8 million barrels per day on export demand.EPD has $6.5 billion of projects under construction, with over 80% of 2027 growth spending committed. Enterprise Products Partners L.P.(EPD - Free Report) delivered record second-quarter 2026 volumes, earnings and cash flow as global demand pulled more U.S. energy through its system.
The central question is whether contracted assets and sanctioned projects can offset the normalization of unusually favorable market differentials. The Zacks Consensus Estimate points to continued growth, with earnings projected at $2.94 per unit in 2026 and $3.20 in 2027.
EPD’s Record Volumes Drove a Broad Earnings BeatSecond-quarter earnings rose 27.3% to 84 cents per unit, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12%. Revenues increased 60.8% to $18.3 billion and beat the consensus mark by 34.6%.
Equivalent pipeline volumes rose 8% to a record 14.7 million barrels per day (MMBbl/d). Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $2.83 billion, while operational distributable cash flow increased 21% to $2.31 billion and covered the quarterly distribution 1.9 times.
Enterprise Products Benefited From Export DemandMarine terminal volumes rose 33% to a record 2.8 MMBbl/d. Management attributed about $200 million of second-quarter results to incremental volumes and margins created by acute global demand for U.S. energy during April and May.
That contribution was spread across natural gas liquids, crude oil, petrochemicals and other operations. The breadth matters because Enterprise’s integrated network can capture value through pipelines, storage, fractionation and export terminals rather than relying on one asset.
EPD’s Exceptional Market Tailwinds Have FadedManagement said the strong cash differentials seen in April and May had largely normalized. Marine terminal activity also returned to more typical levels in June and July after the initial surge in demand.
Future growth therefore depends more heavily on recurring fee income, sustained throughput and new projects. Fee-based activities represented 80% of gross operating margin in the first half of 2026, but the remaining exposure to spreads, differentials and marketing margins can still create earnings volatility.
Enterprise Products Expanded Margins Across SegmentsNatural gas liquids gross operating margin increased to $1.55 billion from $1.30 billion. Permian processing inlet volumes rose 14% to 4.3 billion cubic feet per day, while natural gas liquids pipeline volumes reached a record 4.9 MMBbl/d
Crude oil gross operating margin advanced to $485 million, natural gas delivered a record $556 million and petrochemical and refined products margin rose to $418 million. Higher volumes, processing margins, transportation fees and marketing activity supported the gains.
EPD’s New Assets Could Extend the MomentumEnterprise has $6.5 billion of major projects under construction. The Houston Ship Channel liquefied petroleum gas expansion is expected to begin service by year-end 2026, followed by additional processing, fractionation and pipeline projects through early 2029.
More than 80% of expected 2027 growth spending of about $3 billion is already committed. Energy Transfer LP (ET - Free Report) , with diversified natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude and refined-products infrastructure, is a relevant export-focused peer. ONEOK, Inc. (OKE - Free Report) also operates integrated natural gas liquids, gas, refined-products and crude assets, making project execution and contracted volume growth important comparison points.
EPD’s Earnings Outlook and Estimate TrendsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for current-quarter earnings of 72 cents per unit, up 18% from the year-ago period. Current-year earnings are projected to rise 10.5% to $2.94 per unit, followed by an 8.8% increase to $3.20 in 2027. Still, the most recent consensus estimates of 70 cents for the current quarter, $2.88 for 2026 and $3.13 for 2027 sit below the broader consensus marks. The trend supports continued earnings growth through 2027, though the lower recent estimates warrant some caution.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
EPD’s Ratings Temper the Record-Quarter ExcitementThe operating setup supports measured optimism. The Zacks Consensus Estimate implies 8.8% earnings growth in 2027, but normalized differentials, higher capital intensity and execution risk could limit the pace of improvement.
EPD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Its Value Score of B is more favorable than its Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of C. The combination suggests relatively better value characteristics, while the broader score mix and Hold rank support a balanced stance rather than an aggressive near-term view.
Arista Networks zvýšila výhled tržeb na rok 2026 na zhruba 12,6 miliardy USD, tedy o 40 %, už potřetí letos. Pomáhají jí lepší dodávky součástek a vyšší objem zásilek.
Key Takeaways Arista now expects 2026 revenues of about $12.6B, up 40%, after its third outlook raise.Added suppliers and capacity lifted shipments, while purchase commitments rose to $9.7B.Etherlink customers topped 100 as 1.6-terabit platforms enter trials before a 2027 production ramp. Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET - Free Report) used its second-quarter call to emphasize that improved component access is converting strong demand into higher shipments across artificial intelligence (AI), data center, campus and routing.
Management raised its 2026 revenue outlook for the third time this year, while focusing on execution, customer mix and demand beyond AI fabrics.
ANET Raises Its 2026 Revenue OutlookChairperson and chief executive officer Jayshree Ullal said Arista now expects 2026 revenues of approximately $12.6 billion, representing 40% growth. The outlook is $1.1 billion above the May projection and $2.1 billion above the prior Analyst Day goal.
Chief financial officer Chantelle Breithaupt guided third-quarter revenues to approximately $3.3 billion, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 48% to 49% and non-GAAP earnings of $1.06 to $1.08 per share.
Second-quarter revenues reached $3.04 billion, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83 billion and up 37.7% year over year. Non-GAAP earnings rose 39.7% to $1.02 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $0.89.
Arista Expands Supply CommitmentsPresident and chief operating officer Todd Nightingale said the company added suppliers, improved delivery terms and expanded manufacturing and distribution capacity. Arista now works with three contract manufacturers and three distribution facilities across the United States, Asia and Mexico.
Management secured memory supply for 2026 and extended visibility into 2027 across DDR4, DDR5 and NAND. It also established a liquid-cooling supply chain for next-generation AI systems.
Purchase commitments rose to $9.7 billion from $8.9 billion in the first quarter and about $3.6 billion a year earlier. Ullal cautioned that industry constraints could persist until 2028, despite Arista's progress.
ANET Builds Out Its AI Fabric AdvantageUllal said cumulative Etherlink customers now exceed 100, up from four to five customers discussed in 2024. The company is extending its portfolio with the 7060XE7, which supports 1.6-terabit throughput, 100 terabits of system capacity and liquid-cooling options.
Co-founder, President and chief technology officer Kenneth Duda highlighted Smart System Upgrade, Multipath Reliable Connection and SRv6-based routing. Management framed those capabilities as tools to reduce downtime, avoid congestion and improve accelerator utilization.
Arista expects 1.6-terabit platforms to remain in trials during the second half of 2026, with production ramping in 2027. Ullal said initial evaluations involve a small number of large customers.
Arista Sees Broader Growth Beyond AIA UBS analyst questioned why the higher annual outlook did not include a larger stated AI or campus target. Ullal responded that all product sectors should grow, while management retains flexibility to prioritize shipments based on supply.
A Raymond James analyst pressed on the incremental $1.1 billion. Ullal pointed to core data center front-end systems, enterprise demand, routing, campus and AI as contributors.
Breithaupt also cited new customer wins, international expansion and land-and-expand activity between campus and data center deployments. The guidance increase was broader than a single product cycle.
ANET Defends Its System-Level ApproachAn Evercore ISI analyst asked whether rising AI-network complexity strengthens integrated systems relative to white-box alternatives. Ullal said simple deployments can still use lower-cost white-box equipment, but larger scale-out and scale-across networks require more software, reliability and traffic engineering.
A Morgan Stanley analyst asked why newer cloud operators choose Arista's blue-box systems. Ullal emphasized operating efficiency, EOS feature depth and reliability, while acknowledging that large customers with extensive engineering staffs may continue using white-box products.
A Wells Fargo analyst asked about customer concentration. Ullal said Microsoft and Meta remain key partners and expects one, and potentially two, customers to represent at least 10% of revenue as shipments scale.
Arista Keeps Execution at the CenterManagement's tone remained confident on demand but measured on supply. Breithaupt said customer visibility remains about two quarters and the annual outlook reflects supply the company is confident it can secure.
The call left Arista focused on converting commitments into shipments, scaling new AI platforms and broadening growth across established networking categories without relaxing operating discipline.
Zacks Signals Show Mixed Style SupportANET carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), a favorable indicator tied to earnings-estimate revisions over the next one to three months. Its Growth Score of A is the strongest style signal, while the Value Score of F and Momentum Score of D indicate weaker positioning on those dimensions.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The VGM Score of C shows a middle-range combined profile rather than the A or B scores that pair most strongly with a top Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the newly reported results.
CRH koupila Pisgah Stone Products v severním Utahu, čímž rozšířila své zásoby dlouhověkých vápencových kameniv pro asfalt, beton a stavebnictví. Akvizice posiluje její pozici v regionu s rostoucí infrastrukturou a poptávkou po stavbách.
Key Takeaways CRH acquired Pisgah Stone Products to expand its Americas Materials business in Northern Utah.CRH adds long-life limestone reserves that support asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and construction supply.CRH strengthens its regional footprint to serve growing infrastructure and construction demand. CRH plc (CRH - Free Report) has expanded its Americas Materials business by acquiring Pisgah Stone Products LLC, a Northern Utah producer of high-quality limestone aggregates. The acquisition adds aggregate reserves and strengthens the company's presence in a region supported by population growth, economic expansion and infrastructure investment.
CRH's Acquisition Strengthens Its Americas Materials BusinessPisgah supplies hard-rock limestone used in asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and other construction applications. The business complements CRH's existing Utah operations and integrated materials network while improving access to a key raw material. The addition of long-life aggregate reserves also supports the company's strategy of securing supply in high-growth markets.
Northern Utah's favorable construction backdrop makes the acquisition strategically important. Rising infrastructure activity and a growing economy are expected to support long-term demand for aggregates, giving CRH an opportunity to expand its customer reach across commercial and public-sector projects.
The deal also brings an established local business with a long operating history and a diversified customer base of business and government entities. By strengthening its reserve position and regional footprint, CRH is better placed to support future construction demand while reinforcing the long-term growth prospects of its Americas Materials business.
CRH Builds on Its Acquisition StrategyCRH has been expanding its business through disciplined acquisitions that strengthen the connected growth platforms. In the first half of 2026, the company invested $1.4 billion in 17 value-accretive acquisitions across its aggregates, cementitious, roads and water businesses, while also divesting noncore assets. Management highlighted that this strategy is focused on building a higher-growth, aggregates-led portfolio and reinforcing CRH's leadership in attractive infrastructure markets.
The strategy has been supported by strong operating performance. During the second quarter of 2026, Americas Materials Solutions reported a 10% increase in revenues and a 12% rise in adjusted EBITDA, driven by positive pricing, healthy demand and contributions from acquisitions. The company also noted positive bidding activity and backlog trends, supported by infrastructure spending and reindustrialization projects across its key markets.
CRH's Price PerformanceCRH’s shares have lost 20.8% year to date (“YTD”), underperforming its industry, broader Construction sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite, as shown below.
CRH Price Performance (YTD)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CRH trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 15.45, below the industry’s average, as shown below.
CRH Valuation (P/E F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRH’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year increase of 5.9% and 13.2%, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Key PicksCRH currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the Construction sector are Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) , Argan, Inc. (AGX - Free Report) and Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) .
Sterling presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.1%, on average. The stock has surged 76.8% YTD. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sterling’s 2026 earnings indicates an increase of 74.7% year over year.
Argan currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 40.5%, on average.
AGX stock has gained 97.1% YTD. The consensus estimate for AGX’s fiscal 2027 sales and EPS implies an increase of 42.5% and 29.4%, respectively, from a year ago.
Comfort Systems currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 34.6%, on average.
FIX stock has surged 90.3% YTD. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIX’s 2026 sales and EPS implies an increase of 36.6% and 57.5%, respectively, from a year ago.
Sempra čeká ve 2. čtvrtletí růst zisku o 13,5 % na 1,01 USD na akcii a tržeb o 7,2 % na 3,22 miliardy USD. Tahounem mají být růst regulované báze aktiv, Oncor a projekt ECA LNG.
Key Takeaways Sempra's earnings are expected to rise 13.5%, while revenues are projected to improve 7.2%.Rate-base growth, Oncor benefits and infrastructure investments are likely to support earnings.ECA LNG production and expected cargo revenue recognition may provide an incremental boost. Sempra (SRE - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, 2026, before market open. The company's earnings were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last reported quarter.
Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Factors at Play Ahead of SRE’s Q2 ResultsSempra’s second-quarter earnings are likely to have benefited from continued rate base growth across its regulated utility operations. The recognition of financial benefits from Oncor’s recently approved base rate review, which was expected to be reflected primarily in the second quarter, is also likely to have supported regulated earnings.
The company’s continued investments in grid modernization, transmission expansion and system reliability projects are also expected to have supported quarterly performance. Sustained customer growth across its service territories, particularly in Texas, is likely to have boosted electricity and natural gas demand, contributing to higher revenues.
Additionally, progress at the ECA LNG Phase 1 project is likely to have provided an incremental boost to Sempra’s second-quarter performance. During the quarter, the project achieved first LNG production as part of the commissioning process, marking a key milestone toward commercial operations. As LNG production commenced and the company began recognizing revenues from LNG cargoes, the project is expected to contribute positively to quarterly results while strengthening Sempra’s long-term LNG growth prospects.
Estimates for SREThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.01 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 13.5%.
The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $3.22 billion, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 7.2%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for SREOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for SRE this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: SRE has an Earnings ESP of +0.79%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: SRE currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Stocks to ConsiderBelow, we have mentioned a few other players from the same sector that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the upcoming releases:
Cheniere Energy (LNG - Free Report) is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6, 2026, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +3.69% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LNG’s earnings is pegged at $2.80 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $5.03 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 8.4%.
Calumet, Inc. (CLMT - Free Report) is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 7, 2026, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +169.57% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLMT’s loss is pegged at 23 cents per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $1.07 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 4.1%.
National Energy Services Reunited (NESR - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 10, 2026, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +7.80% and a Zacks Rank of 1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NESR’s earnings is pegged at 35 cents per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $458.4 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 40%.
Resideo Technologies čeká za čtvrtletí zisk 0,68 USD na akcii, meziročně o 3 % více, při tržbách 1,93 miliardy USD, což je o 0,4 % méně. Odhad EPS byl za posledních 30 dní zvýšen o 1,87 % a analytici vidí díky tomu vyšší šanci na překonání očekávání.
The market expects Resideo Technologies (REZI - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 12, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis residential comfort and security systems maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.68 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +3%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.93 billion, down 0.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.87% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Resideo Technologies?For Resideo Technologies, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +6.83%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Resideo Technologies will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Resideo Technologies would post earnings of $0.61 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.65, delivering a surprise of +6.56%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Resideo Technologies appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Murphy Oil Corporation schválila čtvrtletní dividendu ve výši 0,35 USD na akcii, tedy 1,40 USD anualizovaně. Vyplacena bude 1. září 2026 akcionářům k datu 17. srpna 2026.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) today declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Common Stock of Murphy Oil Corporation of $0.35 per share, or $1.40 per share on an annualized basis. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2026, to stockholders of record as of August 17, 2026.
ABOUT MURPHY OIL CORPORATION
Murphy Oil Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas company with a multi-basin onshore and offshore portfolio and significant exploration opportunities. The company has more than a century-long history of demonstrating strong execution and innovative, full-cycle development capabilities with a focus on value creation that drives shareholder returns. Murphy’s foresight and financial discipline, along with its culture of adaptability and accountability, will allow the company to continue its outstanding legacy and exceptional reputation. The company’s current operations include extensive inventory located onshore in the Eagle Ford Shale, Tupper Montney and Kaybob Duvernay, as well as offshore in the Gulf of America and Canada. Murphy also strives to create long-term shareholder value through offshore exploration and development in the Gulf of America, Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire. Additional information can be found on the company’s website at www.murphyoilcorp.com.
Avnet (AVT - Free Report) reported $8.3 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 47.7%. EPS of $2.28 for the same period compares to $0.81 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.45 billion, representing a surprise of +11.28%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +29.55%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.76.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Avnet performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Sales- Farnell: $500.1 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $490.35 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +29.4%.Sales- Electronic Components: $7.8 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $6.96 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +49%.Operating Income (loss)- Electronic Components: $317.2 million compared to the $277.33 million average estimate based on two analysts.Operating Income (loss)- Corporate expenses: $-44.1 million versus $-49.36 million estimated by two analysts on average.Operating Income (loss)- Farnell: $44.8 million versus $28.18 million estimated by two analysts on average.View all Key Company Metrics for Avnet here>>>
Shares of Avnet have returned +13.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Akcionáři Axalta i AkzoNobel schválili plánovanou akciovou fúzi rovných partnerů. Dokončení se očekává po získání regulačních souhlasů a splnění dalších podmínek, a to koncem roku 2026 až začátkem roku 2027.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (NYSE: AXTA) today announced that its shareholders overwhelmingly voted to approve its previously announced all-stock merger of equals (the “Merger”) with Akzo Nobel N.V. (“AkzoNobel”) at the Company’s Special General Meeting of Shareholders held earlier today.
AkzoNobel also held its Extraordinary General Meeting today, where AkzoNobel shareholders voted to approve the Merger.
“We appreciate the strong support we have received for our merger of equals with AkzoNobel and we are excited about the opportunity to deliver significant value to shareholders, customers and employees,” said Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer of Axalta. “Building on our record second quarter, we are excited to embark on our next phase with real momentum in the business. Our teams are working diligently to advance integration planning and remain focused on bringing together two highly complementary businesses to capture the full value of this combination from day one.”
“Today’s approval marks an important milestone toward creating a premier global coatings company,” said Rakesh Sachdev, Chair of the Axalta Board of Directors. “The resounding support reaffirms our conviction that combining Axalta and AkzoNobel will create a differentiated industry leader with broad capabilities, world-class innovation and an even stronger platform for growth and value creation. I look forward to working with our combined team to deliver on the promise of this combination.”
Completion of the Merger remains subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, the companies continue to expect the Merger to be completed in late 2026 to early 2027.
The final voting results, as certified by an independent inspector of election, will be filed as a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Axalta
Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the global team at Axalta continues to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in over 140 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
General restrictions
This communication is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, any jurisdiction in which such release, publication, or distribution would be unlawful.
This communication is not a prospectus and the information in this communication is not intended to be complete. This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any securities, or an invitation or recommendation to subscribe for, acquire or buy securities of AkzoNobel or Axalta or any other financial products or securities, in any place or jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Any decision to purchase, subscribe for, otherwise acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities must be made only on the basis of the information contained in and incorporated by reference into the prospectus with respect to the shares to be allotted by AkzoNobel in the proposed transaction, which was published on June 24, 2026.
The distribution of this communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AkzoNobel and Axalta disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Neither AkzoNobel, nor Axalta, nor any of their advisors assume any responsibility for any violation by any person of any of these restrictions. Shareholders of AkzoNobel and Axalta, respectively, with any doubt as to their position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay.
This communication is addressed to and directed only at, persons who are outside the United Kingdom or, in the United Kingdom, at persons who are: (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”), (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated pursuant to the Order (all such persons together being referred to as, “Relevant Persons”). This communication is directed only at Relevant Persons. Other persons should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with such persons. Solicitations resulting from this communication will only be responded to if the person concerned is a Relevant Person.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction between AkzoNobel and Axalta, AkzoNobel filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-4 on May 27, 2026, as amended on June 18, 2026, which included a proxy statement of Axalta that also constitutes a prospectus with respect to the shares to be offered by AkzoNobel in the proposed transaction. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 23, 2026. In connection with the proposed transaction, on June 24, 2026, Axalta filed with the SEC a definitive proxy statement and, on or about June 24, 2026, Axalta commenced mailing the definitive proxy statement to its holders of record as of June 11, 2026. Each of AkzoNobel and Axalta will also file other relevant documents in connection with the proposed transaction. This communication is not a substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents AkzoNobel and/or Axalta may file with the SEC or any other competent regulator in connection with the proposed transaction. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISIONS, INVESTORS, STOCKHOLDERS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF AKZONOBEL AND AXALTA ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AS APPLICABLE, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AKZONOBEL, AXALTA, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed by AkzoNobel and Axalta with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC from Axalta’s investor relations webpage at https://ir.axalta.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings or from AkzoNobel’s investor relations webpage at https://www.akzonobel.com/en/investors/all-sec-filings.
The contents of this communication should not be construed as financial, legal, business, investment, tax or other professional advice. Each recipient should consult with its own professional advisors for any such matter and advice.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, statements about management’s expectations of AkzoNobel’s and Axalta’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, and business strategy. Such forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “seeks,” “aims,” “projects,” “predicts,” “is optimistic,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates,” “continues” or other comparable terms or negatives of these terms, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved and therefore, actual results may differ materially from any plans, estimates or expectations in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include: a condition to the closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied; the occurrence of any event that can give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is delayed, is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; AkzoNobel and Axalta are unable to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction; AkzoNobel and Axalta are unable to promptly and effectively integrate their businesses; management’s time and attention is diverted on transaction related issues; the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals may be made; disruption from the proposed transaction makes it more difficult to maintain business, contractual and operational relationships; the credit ratings of AkzoNobel or Axalta decline following the proposed transaction; legal proceedings are instituted against AkzoNobel or Axalta, including resulting expense or delay; AkzoNobel or Axalta is unable to retain or hire key personnel; the communication or the consummation of the proposed acquisition has a negative effect on the market price of the capital stock of AkzoNobel or Axalta or on AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s operating results; evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; changes in economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions, in the Netherlands, the United States and elsewhere, and other factors that contribute to uncertainty and volatility, natural and man-made disasters, civil unrest, pandemics (e.g., the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic), geopolitical uncertainty, and conditions that may result from legislative, regulatory, trade and policy changes associated with the current or subsequent United States or Netherlands administration; the ability of AkzoNobel or Axalta to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problem due to a hurricane, flood, earthquake, terrorist attack, war, pandemic, security breach, cyber-attack, power loss, telecommunications failure or other natural or man-made event, including the ability to function remotely during long-term disruptions; the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics and any related company or governmental policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or governmental policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets, including any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down or similar actions and policies; actions by third parties, including government agencies; the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s business, including current plans and operations and/or divert management’s attention from AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s ongoing business operations; certain restrictions during the pendency of the acquisition that may impact AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the risks and uncertainties discussed in AkzoNobel’s latest annual report as filed with the AFM, the Dutch trade register and on its website at https://www.akzonobel.com/en/investors/results-center; and the risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in Axalta’s reports filed with the SEC. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements as they are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and that actual performance and outcomes, including, without limitation, our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of new markets or market segments in which we operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Except as required by law, neither AkzoNobel nor Axalta assumes any obligation to update or revise the information contained herein, which speaks only as of the date hereof.
Service Corporation International schválila čtvrtletní hotovostní dividendu 36 centů na akcii. Vyplacena bude 30. září 2026 akcionářům k 15. září 2026.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of thirty-six cents per share of common stock. The quarterly cash dividend announced today is payable on September 30, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2026. While the Company intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all subsequent dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, are subject to final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the Company's financial performance.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements have been made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "anticipate," or "predict," that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of us. There can be no assurance that future dividends will be declared. The actual declaration of future dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, is subject to final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter after its review of our financial performance. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, restrictions on the payment of dividends under existing or future credit agreements or other financing arrangements; changes in tax laws relating to corporate dividends; a determination by the Board of Directors that the declaration of a dividend is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; an increase in our cash needs or a decrease in available cash; or a deterioration in our financial condition or results. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at http://www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, as well as final-arrangement planning in advance, serving approximately 700,000 combined preneed and atneed families each year. Our diversified portfolio of brands provides families and individuals a full range of choices to meet their needs, from simple cremations to full life celebrations and personalized remembrances. Our Dignity Memorial® brand is the name families turn to for professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail that is second to none. At June 30, 2026, we owned and operated 1,495 funeral service locations and 505 cemeteries (of which 316 are combination locations) in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial®, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
For additional information contact:
Investors:
Trey Bocage – Assistant Vice President, Treasury and Investor Relations
(713) 525-3454
Andrea Low – Director, Federal Tax and Investor Relations
(713) 525-2811
Media:
Jay Andrew – Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications
Howmet Aerospace čeká za 2. čtvrtletí EPS 1,23 USD při tržbách 2,41 mld. USD. Výsledky mají podpořit silná poptávka v komerčním letectví a obranné zakázky.
Key Takeaways HWM is expected to report Q2 EPS of $1.23 on $2.41B in revenues, with earnings and sales up year over year.Howmet's commercial aerospace demand and defense orders are expected to support second-quarter results.HWM faces commercial transportation weakness, supply-chain issues and a higher valuation than peers. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $1.23 per share on revenues of $2.41 billion.
The company’s second-quarter earnings estimates have decreased a penny over the past 30 days. However, the bottom-line projection indicates an increase of 35.2% from the year-ago number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues indicates year-over-year growth of 17.5%.
Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice and missed once in the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being -1.3%. In the last reported quarter, it reported earnings of 86 cents per share, which missed the consensus estimate by 22.5%.
Earnings Whispers for HWMOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for HWM this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as elaborated below.
Earnings ESP: HWM has an Earnings ESP of -0.83% as the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.23 per share, which is higher than the Most Accurate Estimate of $1.22. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: HWM currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors to Note Ahead of Howmet Aerospace’s Q2 ResultsHowmet Aerospace’s second-quarter results are expected to gain from persistent strength in its commercial aerospace market. Solid demand in the air transport market has been driving demand for wide-body aircraft, thereby supporting continued OEM spending. Pickup in air travel has been positive for the company as the increased usage of aircraft spurs spending on parts and products that it provides.
Increasing popularity for new, more fuel-efficient aircraft with reduced carbon emissions and increased spare demand for engines are expected to have proven promising for HWM in the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from the commercial aerospace market is pegged at $1.29 billion, indicating a 21.7% rise from the year-ago quarter number.
Also, the company's defense aerospace market remains a key growth driver, backed by stable government funding. HWM is continuing to experience robust orders for engine spares for legacy fighters like the F-15 and the F-16. This is expected to have augmented its revenues in the to-be-reported quarter. The consensus estimate for revenues from the defense aerospace market is pegged at $388 million, indicating 10.2% growth from the year-ago quarter’s number.
However, Howmet Aerospace has been facing weakness in the commercial transportation market served by the Forged Wheels segment, due to lower OEM builds and tariff-related impacts in North America. This is likely to have affected its second-quarter performance.
Howmet Aerospace is dependent on a global supply chain, and in recent years, it has experienced supply-chain disruptions in the aerospace sector that resulted in delays and increased costs. Despite moderation, the persistence of supply-chain issues in the aerospace sector is likely to have affected its operations and performance.
HWM’s Price PerformanceHWM shares have gained 29.1% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry and the S&P 500’s decline of 2.3% and growth of 11.8%, respectively. In comparison, the company’s peers, Textron Inc. (TXT - Free Report) and RTX Corporation (RTX - Free Report) have decreased 6.6% and gained 9.7%, respectively, in the same period.
Six-Month Price Performance
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Howmet Aerospace’s Valuation Remains an OverhangHWM is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 51.67X, much higher than the industry average of 34.53X. This elevated valuation could make the stock vulnerable to further pullbacks if market sentiment sours. In comparison with HWM’s valuation, its peers, Textron and RTX Corp., are trading cheaper. Notably, Textron and RTX Corp. are currently trading at 12.76X and 28.9X, respectively.
Price-to-Earnings (Forward 12 Months)
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Investment ThesisHowmet Aerospace is well-positioned for long-term growth, supported by its diversified portfolio and strong demand across the commercial aerospace and defense markets. The House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act in July 2025, providing a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion. The expanded defense budget is expected to create additional contract opportunities for Howmet Aerospace, supporting growth in its defense aerospace business and boosting its top line.
However, persistent weakness in the commercial transportation market is likely to remain a near-term headwind. Additionally, Howmet Aerospace's premium valuation may limit further upside and warrants a cautious stance from investors.
Final ThoughtsStrength across the commercial and defense aerospace markets, supported by solid aircraft build rates, strong engine spares demand and elevated defense spending, is expected to drive Howmet Aerospace's growth. Despite its premium valuation, strong growth prospects make the stock worth considering.
