Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways ConocoPhillips is reviewing an unsolicited offer for its Norway business and Teesside terminal in the U.K.COP may unlock about $7 billion from a sale, with proceeds available for debt, returns or investments.ConocoPhillips will retain the assets if the offer fails to meet its valuation expectations. ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) is evaluating the potential sale of its Norway business and the Teesside terminal in the U.K. after receiving an unsolicited offer. According to Reuters, COP has not identified the bidder or disclosed financial terms, but said the review aligns with its portfolio optimization strategy and that it will retain the assets if the offer falls short of expectations.

Portfolio Optimization Takes Center StageConocoPhillips’ Norway operations include interests in multiple producing fields and licenses across the Norwegian continental shelf, while the Teesside terminal processes and exports crude oil and natural gas liquids delivered through the Norpipe system. A sale would reduce the company’s exposure to mature North Sea assets and provide additional flexibility to concentrate capital on higher-priority opportunities elsewhere in its portfolio.

Potential $7B Deal Adds Financial FlexibilityCapital One Securities estimates the combined value of the Norway business and Teesside terminal at about $7 billion, representing roughly 4% of ConocoPhillips’ $163-billion enterprise value. A transaction near that valuation would provide meaningful proceeds that COP can direct toward debt reduction, shareholder returns or investments in higher-return assets.

Valuation Discipline Remains ImportantThe unsolicited nature of the offer also places ConocoPhillips in a favorable negotiating position, as the company is not under pressure to sell. Management’s willingness to retain the assets if valuation expectations are not met highlights disciplined capital allocation.

What Investors Need to WatchFor investors, the key issue is whether any agreed sale price adequately reflects the assets’ cash-generating potential. A well-priced divestiture would strengthen COP’s business model and reinforce its focus on returns and capital efficiency.

COP’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCOP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the energy sector are BP p.l.c. (BP - Free Report) , Cenovus Energy (CVE - Free Report) ) and Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) , each currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

BP has a diversified presence across oil and gas exploration and production, refining, marketing, trading and low-carbon businesses. The global integrated giant is pursuing an aggressive portfolio simplification strategy similar to ConocoPhillips. BP has completed or initiated sales involving its Gelsenkirchen refinery, North Sea business, Archaea Energy and other holdings, while directing proceeds toward debt reduction and higher-return opportunities.

Calgary-based Cenovus Energy produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, with operations spanning North America and international markets. CVE recently agreed to acquire Athabasca Oil Corporation for about C$5.7 billion, a deal expected to add roughly 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and strengthen its oil sands portfolio.

Valero operates 14 petroleum refineries across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with combined throughput capacity of roughly 3 million barrels per day. The company’s resilient refining footprint and strong profitability support disciplined shareholder returns, with VLO returning $2.6 billion to stockholders in the second quarter of 2026.

Key Takeaways RKLB is broadening Space Systems with spacecraft, components and mission solutions across multiple orbits.RKLB's Space Systems growth is driven by spacecraft manufacturing and acquisitions.RKLB's IMM Apex solar cell expands its space-power offerings with higher efficiency and lower cell mass. Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) shares have risen 13.6% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry’s decline of 5%. The company is driving growth by expanding its Space Systems portfolio, scaling spacecraft manufacturing and strengthening its vertically integrated capabilities.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Meanwhile, stocks like Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW - Free Report) and TransDigm Group Inc. (TDG - Free Report) have underperformed the industry during the same period. Shares of CW and TDG have fallen 4.6% and 6%, respectively.

With RKLB shares gaining over the past month, investors may have positive views. Let’s examine the factors and assess the stock’s investment prospects to make an informed decision.

Factors Boosting RKLB Stock's GrowthRocket Lab is expanding its Space Systems business through a broad portfolio of spacecraft, spacecraft components and mission solutions. Its offerings include solar power solutions, composite structures, reaction wheels, star trackers, radios, separation systems, batteries and optical systems, with spacecraft platforms designed for low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit and interplanetary missions. The company’s vertical integration and ability to manufacture critical spacecraft components for both its platforms and the broader merchant market provide multiple avenues to address growing demand across the space economy.

RKLB delivered strong financial growth in the second quarter of 2026, with total revenues rising 62% year over year to $234.1 million. Space Systems revenues increased 94% to $189.5 million, primarily driven by spacecraft manufacturing growth and acquisitions, while segment gross profit more than doubled to $65.5 million. Rocket Lab ended June with $2.36 billion in backlog, providing meaningful visibility into future revenues.

In September 2026, Rocket Lab announced the production release of IMM Apex, its next-generation solar cell designed to improve spacecraft power performance while reducing reliance on germanium. The product delivers 31.5% beginning-of-life efficiency with 40% lower cell mass and serves as a mechanical and electrical drop-in replacement for heritage germanium-based cells, potentially reducing customer retooling needs. With more than a decade of IMM technology heritage and above 1,100 satellites powered by Rocket Lab solar products, IMM Apex could further strengthen its position in the space power market.

Earnings Estimates for RKLB StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for RKLB’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a rise of 50% over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Curtiss-Wright’s 2026 EPS calls for a jump of 0.33% in the past 60 days. The estimate for TransDigm Group’s fiscal 2026 EPS implies an increase of 3.36% over the same period.

Debt Position of RKLBCurrently, Rocket Lab’s total debt to capital is 0.83%, lower than the industry’s average of 61.13%. It indicates that the company can run its business efficiently with much lower debt levels than its industry peers.

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Liquidity Position of RKLBRKLB has a current ratio of 5.48 compared with its industry’s average of 2.06. The ratio, being more than one, indicates that RKLB possesses sufficient capital to pay off its short-term debt obligations.

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Its industry peers, Curtiss-Wright and TransDigm Group, also maintain current ratios above one. CW has a current ratio of 1.6, while TDG holds 3.02.

RKLB Stock Trades at a PremiumRocket Lab is currently trading at 35.25X, a premium compared to its industry’s 7.04X on a forward 12-month Price/Sales basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Should an Investor Do?Rocket Lab is broadening its growth opportunities through a diverse Space Systems portfolio and continued innovation in spacecraft technologies. The rollout of IMM Apex, alongside its established solar and spacecraft component capabilities, could help the company capture increasing demand for advanced space infrastructure.

Given RKLB’s strong share price performance, improving earnings estimates, lower debt levels and healthy liquidity position, investors may consider including this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock in their portfolios at current levels. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Northrop Grumman won a $66 million order for MQ-4C Triton retrofits, materials and spares.The award covers 33 engineering change proposals for the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.NOC could gain recurring demand from Triton sustainment, modernization and expanding unmanned-system interest. Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) continues to benefit from rising demand for unmanned aircraft systems as the U.S. Navy and its allies expand their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The company recently received a $66 million delivery order for engineering retrofits, materials and spares for fielded MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft systems.

The award covers 17 engineering change proposals for the U.S. Navy and 16 for the Royal Australian Air Force. The work is designed to improve fleet standardization and mission readiness and is expected to be completed by June 2030. The program also highlights growing international cooperation around advanced unmanned aircraft.

The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft designed to provide persistent maritime surveillance and intelligence. Its ability to operate for extended periods helps the Navy monitor large areas and support missions that require continuous situational awareness.

The contract also demonstrates the recurring opportunities available through the sustainment and modernization of deployed unmanned systems. Engineering changes, upgrades and spares can generate continued demand as the Triton fleet expands and evolves to meet changing mission requirements.

Northrop Grumman’s established position in the Triton program, combined with increasing interest in unmanned systems among the United States and its allies, could support long-term growth. Continued investment in autonomous aircraft and persistent surveillance capabilities should provide additional opportunities across the company’s unmanned systems portfolio.

Defense Stocks to Keep on the RadarGrowing demand for unmanned aircraft and persistent surveillance capabilities could also benefit other defense companies with established autonomous systems portfolios.

AeroVironment (AVAV - Free Report) : AeroVironment develops unmanned aircraft and autonomous systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Its portfolio includes long-endurance platforms and advanced unmanned systems designed for defense and security applications.

Kratos Defense (KTOS - Free Report) : Kratos develops unmanned aerial systems and autonomous technologies for defense applications. Its portfolio includes high-performance unmanned aircraft designed to support surveillance, testing and advanced combat missions.

The Zacks Rundown for NOCShares of NOC have lost 13.2% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 14.7% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company's shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 1.46X compared with its industry’s average of 2.12X.

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NOC’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has remained the same over the past 60 days.

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NOC stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Key Takeaways Generac's C&I sales surged 29%, prompting management to project low-30% growth for 2026.GNRC won two multiyear hyperscale supply deals, including $700M in product commitments for 2027.GNRC expects $450M in 2026 data center revenues, but tariff volatility and C&I mix could pressure margins. Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC - Free Report) is becoming a major supplier of power-generation equipment for Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers, particularly the rapidly expanding data center market. In the second quarter, C&I sales jumped 29% year over year to $556.5 million, driven by ramping revenues from products sold into the global data center market. C&I adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 14.6% from 12.4% in the prior-year quarter, led by tariff refunds and operating discipline, partly offset by unfavorable mix and growth investments. Following its second-quarter performance, management projected low-30% C&I sales growth for 2026 compared with its earlier mid-to-high-20% expectation.

The driving force behind Generac's C&I acceleration is the data center industry. AI infrastructure is driving extraordinary demand for electricity and backup power. Data centers cannot tolerate prolonged power interruptions, making large-scale standby generation an increasingly critical component of infrastructure planning. Generac is benefiting directly from this trend. During the quarter, it generated more than $100 million in data center revenues and secured two multiyear supply agreements with hyperscale customers. The first agreement includes nearly $700 million in product commitments for 2027, while the second is in the final stages of negotiations for 2027 and 2028 deliveries. These deals validate GNRC’s position as a top-tier C&I backup power supplier.

GNRC now expects nearly $450 million in 2026 data center revenues, up from its previous forecast, with the growing backlog providing greater visibility into accelerating C&I sales growth in 2027. However, C&I mix and tariff volatility could squeeze margins. Despite a sharp increase in gross margin to 44.5% from 39.3%, tariff refunds drove most of the improvement, adding roughly six percentage points. Excluding these benefits, 2026 gross margin is expected near the low end of the prior 38.5-39.5% range. A rising C&I mix could further weigh on profitability, as these products generally carry lower margins than residential offerings, while higher input costs and tariff volatility could add further pressure.

Intense Rivalry Poses a Risk to GNRC’s C&I GrowthCaterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) outlook is supported by broad demand across construction, mining and power markets, with rising sales to users and a record backlog improving revenue visibility. It continues to invest in digital capabilities, connected assets, services and more productive equipment to deepen customer relationships beyond new-machine sales. CAT targets services revenues of $30 billion by 2030, up from $24 billion in 2025. Caterpillar is also extending its digital and AI capabilities through its Cat AI Assistant, its expanded collaboration with NVIDIA, RPMGlobal and Skycatch. These initiatives add software, spatial analytics and AI tools that can improve equipment interaction, mine planning and operating decisions.

Cummins Inc. (CMI - Free Report) is benefiting from sustained data center power demand, supported by multiyear backup power commitments and prime power expansion. Firmer North American truck demand and Engine and Components outlooks add support, while energy-transition investments and disciplined capital returns strengthen the long-term case. It is also widening its data center role through natural gas generation and microgrid solutions. Cummins is advancing its long-term growth and decarbonization strategy through targeted investment in lower-emission technologies. Its HELM approach now includes a phased launch of the model-year 2027 X15 and X10 engines, while legacy platforms remain available during the transition.

GNRC Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of GNRC have surged 14.8% in the past month, while the sub-industry is up 0.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GNRC is trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings ratio of 18.82X, lower than the industry’s multiple of 20.51X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GNRC earnings for 2026 has been revised up marginally over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Neogen Announces Strategic Collaboration with Hinalea Imaging to Advance Digital Food Safety Solutions Neogen® Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG), a global leader in food safety solutions, is advancing its innovation strategy by combining deep food safety expertise with emerging technologies to introduce novel solutions to the Food Safety industry that address evolving customer challenges. As part of that strategy, Neogen today announced a strategic collaboration with and an equity investment in Hinalea Imaging Corp. to develop digital imaging solutions for food safety and quality inspection.

Neogen and Hinalea have worked together since 2025 to evaluate applications for hyperspectral imaging in food safety. Building on that work, the companies plan to jointly develop solutions that could improve inspection and testing workflows and help customers interpret results faster and more consistently. Neogen’s equity investment and shared development costs are intended to accelerate the development of Hinalea’s technology for food safety applications.

“Food producers need solutions that deliver reliable information sooner and reduce the manual work involved in testing and inspection,” said Jeremy Yarwood, Chief Scientific Officer of Neogen. “We believe Hinalea’s imaging technology offers a promising way to address those needs practically and economically. This investment provides an opportunity to deepen our collaboration and develop digital capabilities that bring Neogen’s food safety expertise into new inspection workflows.”

Hyperspectral imaging captures information across a range of wavelengths to help assess product characteristics that conventional images may not reveal. Combined with analytical tools and machine learning, hyperspectral imaging has the potential to support more automated measurement, counting and classification in food safety and quality applications. The two companies will continue to evaluate where the technology can deliver meaningful benefits within customer workflows.

“Food safety and quality inspection are shifting toward digital, connected and increasingly automated workflows,” said Barry McDonogh, CEO of Hinalea Imaging. “Neogen’s investment validates both our technology and our shared vision for the future of food inspection. Together, we believe intelligent imaging can transform how food companies measure and control food quality and safety.”

About Neogen

Neogen Corporation is committed to fueling a brighter future for global food security through the advancement of human and animal well-being. Harnessing the power of science and technology, Neogen has developed comprehensive solutions spanning the Food Safety, Livestock, and Pet Health & Wellness markets. A world leader in these fields, Neogen has a presence in over 140 countries with a dedicated network of scientists and technical experts focused on delivering optimized products and technology for its customers.

About Hinalea Imaging

Hinalea Imaging develops intelligent hyperspectral imaging solutions combining advanced spectral imaging, analytics and machine learning to enable enhanced and automated inspection. Its technology converts spectral information into actionable intelligence across food safety and quality, industrial inspection, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. For more information, visit www.hinalea.ai.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). Neogen intends that such forward-looking statements be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the PSLRA. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements containing a projection of revenues, operating expenses, planned capital expenditures, or other financial items; any statement of the plans and objectives of management for future operations; the ability of Neogen and Hinalea to jointly develop solutions that could automate parts of inspection and testing and help customers interpret results faster and more consistently; the potential benefits of the collaboration with and investment in Hinalea; the ability of Hinalea’s hyperspectral imaging technology to address the needs of food producers and to transform how food companies measure and control food quality and safety; and any statement of the assumptions underlying or relating to any such statement. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “on track,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are used to identify these forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the continued integration of the 3M food safety business and the realization of the expected benefits from that acquisition; the relationship with and performance of our transition manufacturing partner; competition; recruitment and retention of key employees; impact of weather on agriculture and food production; global business disruption caused by geopolitical conflicts and related sanctions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East; identification and integration of acquisitions; research and development risks; intellectual property protection; increasing and developing government regulation; and company litigation. These and other important risk factors are described more fully in the Risk Factors sections and other sections of Neogen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2026; Neogen’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Neogen’s other filings with the SEC, including any Current Reports on Form 8-K. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and Neogen’s actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will prove to be accurate.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Neogen as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, Neogen does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. If Neogen does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that Neogen will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in any oral statements made by or on behalf of Neogen.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006691235/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

A worker on a high-voltage electrical grid needs a label that can survive extreme heat, chemical exposure, and decades of weathering without fading into illegibility. Brady (BRC -0.22%) is the silent, essential engine behind that safety. Based in Milwaukee since 1914, the company manufactures the specialized identification, safety signage, and workflow software that keep complex industrial, healthcare, and electronic environments running. As of Oct. 6, 2026, the stock trades at $85.90, up 13% over the past year.

Our proprietary Hidden Gems scoring system assigns Brady an overall Superscore of 80 out of 100, placing it in the Strong category. The Superscore is an AI-powered metric that evaluates a company's overall strength by combining financial performance, product-market position, technological capabilities, leadership quality, and relative valuation. It represents the unification of all our scores into a single score for public companies, with five rating bands: Exceptional (90-100), Strong (75-89), Above Average (60-74), Average (40-59), and Cautious (0-39).

This score places the company in the top ~10% of every company we score. This analysis pairs the strengths driving that score with the risks that cap it, providing a starting point for your own due diligence.

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Moneyball Superscore

78/100

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Why BRC Has an 80 SuperscoreStrong revenue growth: The company achieved 10% year-over-year revenue growth in fiscal 2026, reaching nearly $1.7 billion, demonstrating its ability to scale in a competitive industrial landscape.Robust profit margins: Gross margin expanded to 52% in fiscal 2026, evidence that its specialized materials science and integrated identification systems command real pricing power.Consistent innovation investment: Management funneled $94 million into R&D during fiscal 2026 to develop proprietary printing and software systems that sustain the company's long-term competitive moat.Strategic platform expansion: The $1.4 billion acquisition of Honeywell's Productivity Solutions and Services business in August 2026 immediately secured a number two market position in the data capture sector.Operational cash efficiency: Operating cash flow surged 35% in fiscal 2026, indicating the company successfully converts its manufacturing output into liquid capital.Why Is BRC's Superscore Not Higher?Elevated integration risk: The massive $1.4 billion debt-financed acquisition of the PSS business creates meaningful execution pressure while the company works to realize $25 million in annual cost synergies.Absence of an AI advantage: The business lacks a defensible proprietary data moat, leaving it disconnected from the software-driven intelligence rapidly transforming modern industrial productivity.Full valuation levels: The trailing P/E of 20 leaves is not inexpensive and requires the company to keep growing earnings. If company guidance fails to materialize or if the macro environment for industrial spend cools, the stock could fall.Opaque governance structure: The concentration of voting control among founding descendants limits shareholder alignment, which complicates the leadership structure for public investors.Brady earns a high return on net tangible assets, which means it generates significant profit from a relatively small base of physical machinery and equipment. This capital efficiency allows it to compound returns on invested capital, often justifying a valuation premium when the company successfully translates its growth into outsize cash generation.

Table 1: Hidden Gems Database Scores for Brady (BRC)ScoreScore (out of 100)RankSupporting Data PointProduct (1Y)85Top ~11%Revenue growth reached 10% in fiscal 2026, supported by strong demand in electronics and datacenter markets.Product (5Y)78Top ~14%The company maintained a 6% revenue CAGR from 2022 to 2026 through disciplined R&D and targeted M&A.Financial (1Y)84Top ~8%Operating cash flow rose 35% in fiscal 2026, reflecting peak efficiency in cash generation.Financial (5Y)69Top ~25%Debt-to-equity ratios remained conservative, consistently staying below 0.15 throughout the period.Leaders78Top ~23%Management successfully transitioned to a new CEO in 2026 while providing detailed guidance on acquisition accretion.AI14Bottom ~11%The business operates as a legacy manufacturer without a scalable data product or proprietary AI-native moat.Valuation Risk67Top ~30%The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 20, representing a fair valuation for an established industrial operator.Is BRC Right For Your Portfolio?This stock warrants a closer look if...

You prioritize long-term stability and income from companies with a track record of supporting industrial stocks through consistent dividend growth.You value industrial operators that maintain high gross margins through proprietary materials science and integrated safety workflows.You may want to keep researching before buying if...

You are uncomfortable with the execution risks involved in integrating a massive $1.4 billion acquisition.You seek exposure to high-growth tech or AI-native firms rather than traditional, hardware-centric identification businesses.The Superscore is a data-driven signal worth investigating, but it remains one component of your total analysis; always weigh these findings against your personal financial goals and risk tolerance before taking action.

My 5-year prediction for BRC stockThis company has a consistent operating history, with revenue growth accelerating over the last few years. Margins have also steadily improved for several years, indicating a solid competitive position and solid cost management. The stock could deliver marginal outperformance relative to the market over the next five years.

Brady is benefiting from a razor-and-blade business model, in which it sells industrial printers that generate recurring, profitable revenue from consumable products. It also sells across multiple industries, with no single sector accounting for more than 5% of total revenue.

The recent acquisition expands Brady's addressable market by $14 billion. This will benefit Brady by adding another recurring revenue stream from software and services.

Overall, analysts expect the company's earnings to grow at an annualized rate of 11% in the coming years. At a P/E of 20, the stock seems fairly valued and could deliver satisfactory returns over the next five years.

The Hidden Gems Superscore reflects The Motley Fool's proprietary AI-driven evaluation of a company across product, financial, leadership, and valuation pillars as of the article date and may change over time. Performance figures are point-in-time. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

Over the past month, shares of this teen clothing retailer have returned +4.1%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, which American Eagle falls in, has gained 0.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

For the current quarter, American Eagle is expected to post earnings of $0.49 per share, indicating a change of -7.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -12.5% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.24 points to a change of +49.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +26.9%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.89 indicates a change of -15.2% from what American Eagle is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.5%.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For American Eagle, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.46 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +6.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $5.86 billion and $6.07 billion estimates indicate +6.6% and +3.5% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAmerican Eagle reported revenues of $1.38 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.5%. EPS of $0.79 for the same period compares with $0.45 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.37 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.99%. The EPS surprise was +276.19%.

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

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

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

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

American Eagle is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

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

Key Takeaways Marathon Petroleum targets about 3 million bpd of Q3 throughput after 94% utilization in Q2.MPC's 112% R&M margin capture in Q2 reflects strong margins and optimized feedstocks and yields.MPC's Robinson and El Paso projects aim to boost higher-value jet fuel and specialty gasoline output. Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) has targeted refinery throughput of approximately 3 million barrels per day (bpd) for the third quarter, reflecting the strong operating momentum and ability to run its system at high utilization. The target included 2.82 million bpd of crude oil and 185,000 bpd of other charge and blendstocks.

The guidance follows a strong second quarter, when MPC processed nearly 3 million bpd with 94% refinery utilization. Its Gulf Coast operations ran at 100% utilization, while the West Coast and Mid-Continent operated at 93% and 87%, respectively. The company also generated Refining & Marketing (R&M) adjusted EBITDA of $24.84 per barrel, supported by strong margins and operating execution.

MPC’s ability to maintain high throughput is supported by its integrated refining system and access to economically advantaged crude. Management highlighted the company’s ability to optimize feedstocks and product yields, helping it capture value across different market conditions. R&M margin capture reached 112% in the second quarter and 108% in the first half of 2026.

The company is also strengthening its refinery portfolio through targeted investments. The Robinson project is expected to enable approximately 10,000 bpd of incremental jet fuel production, while the El Paso project improves specialty gasoline production. These projects are designed to enhance MPC’s ability to produce higher-value products as demand remains strong across gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

MPC Compares Favorably With PSX and PBFPhillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) also delivered strong refinery operations in the second quarter. PSX reported 96% crude capacity utilization and an 86% clean product yield, highlighting solid operating performance across its refining system.

For MPC, the comparison with Phillips 66 is particularly relevant because both companies are benefiting from strong refining economics and high refinery utilization. Phillips 66 expects worldwide crude utilization to remain in the mid-90% range in the third quarter, reflecting expectations for strong refinery operations. The company also projects $100-$120 million in turnaround expenses and $325-$350 million in Corporate and Other costs.

PBF Energy (PBF - Free Report) has also provided a specific third-quarter throughput outlook. PBF expects total throughput of 900,000-960,000 bpd, with guidance across its East Coast, Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast and West Coast operations.

The comparison shows the scale of MPC’s refining platform. PBF Energy’s throughput target remains substantial, while MPC is targeting more than three times that volume. PBF also expects renewable diesel production to rise to 18,000-20,000 bpd in the third quarter, adding another growth component to its operating outlook.

MPC’s Stock Performance, Valuation and Earnings ProspectsRefining stocks have delivered strong returns over the past six months, with Marathon Petroleum advancing 80.1%. PBF Energy performed slightly better with an 82.3% gain, while Phillips 66 rose 52.1%, compared with a 53.1% increase for the Oil Refining & Marketing sub-industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Marathon Petroleum’s P/E multiple of 7.49 is below the sub-industry average of 8.46, suggesting that the stock offers a relatively attractive valuation.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Investor sentiment around MPC’s earnings outlook has strengthened, reflected in 36.95% and 69.74% increases in consensus estimates for 2026 and 2027, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Energy Transfer (ET -1.38%) agreed to acquire Vaquero Midstream for $2.6 billion. The leading master limited partnership (MLP) will pay nearly $2 billion in cash and issue 33.3 million new units to fund the deal. The company expects the purchase to close in the fourth quarter.

Here's a look at the deal and what it means for investors in the MLP.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

What Energy Transfer is buyingVaquero Midstream is a midstream services business operating in the Delaware Basin of Texas. The company owns a 300-mile pipeline network that serves leading oil and gas producers in one of the most active parts of the Delaware Basin. Additionally, it operates the Caymus Processing Complex, which has three gas-processing trains with a combined capacity of about 675 MMcf/d. That site can support two additional trains, increasing its total processing capacity to 1.2 Bcf/d.

Long-term, fee-based contracts with an average remaining life of approximately 10 years support its assets, providing stable, predictable cash flow. Its assets already interconnect with Energy Transfer's assets in the area. As a result, it will further strengthen the pipeline company's position in this fast-growing region. Vaquero's assets will supply additional volumes of natural gas and natural gas liquids that will flow downstream, where Energy Transfer can provide these customers with pipeline transportation, fractionation, terminalling, and export services.

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The bolt-on acquisition is a strong strategic fit for Energy Transfer. It is very complementary to its existing assets in the Delaware Basin, strengthening its integrated network. That should make it easy to integrate these assets into its existing footprint.

Energy Transfer expects this transaction to be immediately accretive to its distributable cash flow per unit. As a result, it will enhance its ability to sustain and grow its 6.5%-yielding distribution. The MLP currently expects to grow that payout by 3% to 5% each year.

Meanwhile, the deal adds long-term growth potential. Energy Transfer can expand the Caymus Processing Complex to support growing customer volumes in the region. Additionally, it could provide further downstream growth opportunities as more volume flows through its existing assets.

The acquisition enhances Energy Transfer's already strong growth profile. The MLP currently expects to invest between $5.6 billion and $5.9 billion on expansion projects this year. Notable projects include the $2.7 billion Hugh Brinson pipeline (phase two in-service date in the first quarter 2027) and the up to $5.6 billion Desert Southwest pipeline expansion (fourth-quarter 2029 in-service date). These and other projects are helping support the growing demand for natural gas from AI data centers and LNG export terminals.

This deal checks all the boxesEnergy Transfer has a long history of consolidating the energy midstream sector. The Vaquero deal follows its historical playbook, as it's highly strategic and will be immediately accretive to its distributable cash flow. That reduces risks like integration, though the deal still needs to pass regulatory approval. With a strong financial position, Energy Transfer can easily fund the cash portion of the deal while continuing to invest in growing its operations and distribution. As a result, it should enhance the MLP's growth profile, further strengthening the investment thesis.

Have you been paying attention to shares of Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 13.1% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $421.98 in the previous session. Valero Energy has gained 157.6% since the start of the year compared to the 31.4% move for the Zacks Oils-Energy sector and the 139.1% return for the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 30, 2026, Valero Energy reported EPS of $12.54 versus consensus estimate of $9.87.

For the current fiscal year, Valero Energy is expected to post earnings of $49.71 per share on $152.18 in revenues. This represents a 368.52% change in EPS on a 24.04% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $45.53 per share on $144.69 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of -8.41% and -4.92%, respectively.

Valuation MetricsWhile Valero Energy has moved to its 52-week high over the past few weeks, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Valero Energy has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and A, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 8.4X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 8.8X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 19.4X versus its peer group's average of 11.6X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.28. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Valero Energy currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Valero Energy passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Valero Energy shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.

How Does VLO Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of VLO have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) . MPC has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of A.

Earnings were strong last quarter. Marathon Petroleum Corporation beat our consensus estimate by 22.11%, and for the current fiscal year, MPC is expected to post earnings of $61.31 per share on revenue of $154.8 billion.

Shares of Marathon Petroleum Corporation have gained 11.5% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 7.07X and a P/CF of 19.84X.

The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry is in the top 8% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for VLO and MPC, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.

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

Over the past month, shares of this cloud networking company have returned +6.8%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Arista Networks falls in, has gained 8.8%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

Arista Networks is expected to post earnings of $1.08 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +44%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.08 points to a change of +36.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.06 indicates a change of +24% from what Arista Networks is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Arista Networks, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $3.31 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +43.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $12.63 billion and $16 billion estimates indicate +40.3% and +26.7% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryArista Networks reported revenues of $3.04 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +37.7%. EPS of $1.02 for the same period compares with $0.73 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +7.14%. The EPS surprise was +14.61%.

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

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

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

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

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

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

Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA – Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday. The stock traded as high as $429.97 and last traded at $430.7150, with a volume of 2233 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $425.64.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Natera from $290.00 to $435.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of Natera in a report on Friday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $355.00 price target on shares of Natera in a research report on Monday, August 10th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Natera from $325.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Natera from $220.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $341.55.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on NTRA

Natera Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of $59.79 billion, a PE ratio of -308.76 and a beta of 1.50. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $335.75 and its 200 day moving average price is $263.06. Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The medical research company reported ($0.47) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.49) by $0.02. Natera had a negative net margin of 7.11% and a negative return on equity of 11.38%. The business had revenue of $752.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $661.24 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.74) earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 37.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Natera In related news, insider Solomon Moshkevich sold 15,160 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.89, for a total value of $4,955,652.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 110,859 shares in the company, valued at $36,238,698.51. This trade represents a 12.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CEO Steven Chapman sold 3,580 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.07, for a total value of $909,570.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 102,973 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $26,162,350.11. The trade was a 3.36% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 52,985 shares of company stock worth $16,119,137. 5.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Natera Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NTRA. Polaris Financial Partners acquired a new stake in shares of Natera in the third quarter worth $114,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in shares of Natera by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 815 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $337,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Burkett Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Natera during the third quarter valued at approximately $57,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Natera by 32.7% during the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 19,488 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $5,290,000 after buying an additional 4,797 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Natera by 9.6% during the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 4,921 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,336,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares during the period. 99.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Natera (Get Free Report)

Natera, Inc is a diagnostics company that develops and commercializes molecular testing services designed to assess genetic and disease-related risks. The company uses technologies including cell-free DNA analysis and next-generation sequencing to support clinical decision-making in reproductive health, oncology and organ transplantation.

Its reproductive health offerings include Panorama, a noninvasive prenatal test that screens for certain chromosomal conditions, and Horizon, a carrier screening test that evaluates whether prospective parents carry genetic variants associated with inherited disorders.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Natera Qualcomm’s Huawei Deal Adds Strategic Depth to Its AI Expansion 3 Sectors Where Volatility Is Creating Entry Points, Not Exit Signals D-Wave’s Gate-Model Tech Notches a Major Milestone Vistra Stock Gains as Federal Funds Fuel Nuclear Power Expansion Receive News & Ratings for Natera Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Natera and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

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Key Takeaways FLO's Q2 gross margin fell 40 basis points to 48.4% as lower volumes reduced operating leverage. FLO's total volume fell 5.8%, while Branded Retail volume dropped 7.6%, pressuring fixed-cost absorption. FLO expects about $9 million in 2026 savings and roughly $20 million in annualized run-rate savings. Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO - Free Report) is contending with gross margin pressure as softer volumes reduce operating leverage across its bakery network. With manufacturing carrying a meaningful fixed-cost base, lower production levels make it harder to absorb expenses efficiently. This has increased the importance of productivity, restructuring and network-efficiency initiatives in helping the company manage cost pressure.

Gross margin, excluding depreciation and amortization, was 48.4% of sales in the second quarter of 2026, down 40 basis points year over year. The decline was due to lower operating leverage from reduced volumes and increased outside purchases, partly offset by lower ingredient costs related to Simple Mills. Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs represented 51.6% of sales, also reflecting a 40-basis-point deterioration.

Volume trends remain a key part of the margin challenge. Total company volume declined 5.8% during the quarter, while Branded Retail volume fell 7.6%. Lower throughput weighed on fixed-cost absorption, although pricing, restructuring actions and productivity improvements within the bakery network provided some offset.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Flowers Foods continues to pursue efficiency opportunities across its bakeries and broader network. Actions taken following first-quarter sales softness are expected to provide a benefit as the company exits 2026 and moves into 2027. Separately, cost-structure initiatives are expected to generate about $9 million of savings during the remainder of 2026 and roughly $20 million of annualized run-rate savings once fully implemented, including certain reinvestments.

The key question is whether these efficiency gains can offset the pressure from lower production volumes. Productivity has helped reduce some of the impact, but further savings become harder to achieve as volumes remain weak. For Flowers Foods, easing gross margin pressure will depend on how effectively it can improve efficiency across its bakeries and network.

The Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock has tumbled 48.5% year to date compared with the industry’s decline of 6.3%.

Stocks to ConsiderMondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ - Free Report) , a global snacking company, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). MDLZ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.8%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mondelez’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies growth of 3.7% and 4.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) , a prepared-foods company focused on fresh, ready-to-eat and deli products, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MAMA delivered a trailing four-quarter surprise of 121.7%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and EPS indicates respective increases of 30.3% and 66.7% from the year-ago period.

Laird Superfood, Inc. (LSF - Free Report) , a consumer product company that develops, manufactures and markets plant-based, natural and functional food and beverage products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. LSF delivered an earnings surprise of 100% in the last reported quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Laird Superfood’s current fiscal-year sales and EPS calls for growth of 188.2% and 104%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

Published in consumer-staples

onsemi’s NASDAQ: ON all-stock bid to acquire Synaptics NASDAQ: SYNA initially depressed the share price, but now things are different. The massive share price decline undercut the value of the all-stock Synaptics bid, enabling a competing suitor to enter the mix.

Faced with a superior offer, onsemi made the nimble pivot to an all-cash deal, securing its bid and accelerating a major transformation—from component provider to end-to-end physical AI systems original equipment manufacturer (OEM)—and at better terms.

Get onsemi alerts:

onsemi Today

$86.31 +0.38 (+0.45%)

As of 11:51 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

$44.56▼

$134.9255.39

$95.56

Why is the move so brilliant? Four key reasons: dilution, price tag, accretion, and ownership. The original deal was all stock, meaning onsemi would dilute its shares, the ultimate cause of its share price plunge. The new deal is all cash, which means no dilution or overhang and improves the equation on price, accretion, and ownership.

The price tag is now $5.7 billion, down 18.57% from the initial offer, with the share count unchanged. More importantly, the revised structure is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings upon closing, compared with accretion within 18 months under the original agreement. Finally, ownership: onsemi shareholders retain 100% ownership, sharing no part of the business with Synaptics’ investors, who will receive $123 per share, a nearly 35% premium to the 150-week exponential moving average price.

onsemi’s Metamorphosis Is Nearly Completeonsemi’s transition is significant, and the metamorphosis is nearly complete. While hurdles remain, they are low, given the Federal Trade Commission’s Early Termination Notice. It effectively indicates that the deal does not raise significant competition concerns and can close more quickly than usual. As it stands, the deal is set to close by mid-next year, setting the stage for onsemi’s next phase.

What Synaptics brings to onsemi complements its already robust portfolio of power control and sensing devices, adding wireless connectivity, neural processing units (NPUs), and the Astra AI platform. Product highlights include ultra-low power consumption, edge AI without cloud backup, and an easy-to-use open-source framework.

Wireless connectivity spans the range, enabling autonomous machines to access local networks and Wi-Fi. More importantly, Synaptics’ industry-leading NPUs solve a critical hurdle—obsolescence—through a dual-brain approach developed in deep partnership with Alphabet NASDAQ: GOOGL.

Synaptics’ contribution handles on-site tasks such as sensing, while Alphabet’s contribution is programmable, allowing it to adapt to inevitable code changes and upgrades. Together, onsemi and Synaptics cover the four pillars of physical AI—power, sensing, connected compute, and control—in a single package, making it a base layer developers can build on.

onsemi: Critical to NVIDIA’s Long-Term Plansonsemi is already central to NVIDIA’s NASDAQ: NVDA near-term AI plans, providing essential power delivery technology that can handle the loads data centers require, especially next-generation 800VDC architectures. It is also pivoting alongside NVIDIA’s shift to focus on physical AI and robotics, positioning itself as the muscles and nervous system for NVIDIA’s AI brains. Execs estimate the opportunity at $6 billion by 2030, with onsemi capturing $900 in value per humanoid robot.

Analysts' trends reflect confidence in the shift, but they moderated their price targets following the initial acquisition announcement. It brought dilution and execution risks, and only one has been mitigated. Key details also include the consensus analyst rating and price target range, which show a 50% Buy-side bias within the Moderate Buy rating and room for a robust price recovery. The consensus price target offers minimal upside but is sufficient to trigger a technical reversal, while the high-end target suggests the potential to reach fresh all-time highs.

Institutions will be the deciding factor. The group owns nearly 98% of the stock, reflecting strong confidence, and underpins all major sustainable price movements. That includes the early 2026 price plunge, which helped set up today’s opportunity. While selling may continue, this market no longer has an overhang; instead, it has a catalyst that only needs to be executed to deliver immediate value gains. In this scenario, institutions might not revert to immediate accumulation, but they are likely to stop selling, freeing up price action.

The only bad news is that buybacks will pause. However, the new structure and onsemi's balance sheet mean it can finance the deal mostly with cash on hand. Morgan Stanley NYSE: MS has agreed to finance the remainder, up to $2.5 billion, an easy figure for onsemi to pay off. Execs target a 25% to 30% free cash flow margin, sufficient to pay off the new debt within 18 to 24 months. What will remain is a larger, better-positioned company with greater revenue, cash-generating, and capital-returning capacity.

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

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

While onsemi currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

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Robotics and automation are rapidly becoming essential infrastructure across healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and many other industries. "Physical AI" is coming. Learn which seven companies are most positioned to benefit as intelligent robots enter the workforce.

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Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX – Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday after Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on the stock from $110.00 to $122.00. Needham & Company LLC currently has a buy rating on the stock. 1,142,393 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 21% from the previous session’s volume of 1,454,975 shares. The stock last traded at $65.3120 and had previously closed at $73.82.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on PCVX. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Vaxcyte from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Vaxcyte from $133.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Vaxcyte in a report on Friday. Zacks Research raised Vaxcyte from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their target price on Vaxcyte from $116.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $108.60.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Vaxcyte

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Harpreet Dhaliwal sold 17,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total value of $935,000.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 76,756 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,221,580. This represents a 18.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Andrew Guggenhime sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.89, for a total value of $538,900.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 105,176 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,667,934.64. This trade represents a 8.68% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 55,890 shares of company stock valued at $3,111,189 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 3.30% of the company’s stock. Key Headlines Impacting Vaxcyte Here are the key news stories impacting Vaxcyte this week:

Positive Sentiment: VAX-31 met all prespecified primary endpoints in the pivotal OPUS-1 adult Phase 3 trial across the age groups studied, with immune responses comparable to Prevnar 20 and/or Capvaxive. The broader 31-valent coverage strengthens Vaxcyte’s potential positioning in the adult pneumococcal vaccine market. Vaxcyte Reports Positive Topline Data from OPUS-1 Positive Sentiment: Analysts viewed the late-stage success as a potential “blue-sky” outcome. Jefferies estimated the addressable adult market could reach roughly $3 billion to $6 billion or more, while Needham raised its price target from $110 to $122 and BTIG reaffirmed a Buy rating with an $89 target. Vaxcyte Given New Price Target at Needham Neutral Sentiment: Trading activity reflected heightened optimism and speculation, including above-average call-option purchases and renewed attention to Vaxcyte’s competitive prospects in the pneumococcal vaccine market. Negative Sentiment: Vaxcyte launched separate offerings for approximately $500 million of common stock and pre-funded warrants and $500 million of convertible senior notes due 2032, with potential over-allotments. The capital could fund development and commercialization, but the equity issuance may dilute existing holders and the convertible debt adds future financing complexity. Vaxcyte Announces Proposed Public Offerings Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vaxcyte Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vaxcyte during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,044,355,000. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in Vaxcyte in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $701,520,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its position in shares of Vaxcyte by 23.8% during the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 16,575,875 shares of the company’s stock worth $960,231,000 after acquiring an additional 3,188,687 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Vaxcyte by 35.9% in the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,296,333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $521,213,000 after buying an additional 2,981,038 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Vaxcyte by 24.7% in the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,001,565 shares of the company’s stock valued at $407,001,000 after buying an additional 1,386,968 shares during the period. 96.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vaxcyte Stock Performance The company has a fifty day moving average price of $59.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.31. The company has a market cap of $9.87 billion, a P/E ratio of -8.61 and a beta of 1.23.

Vaxcyte (NASDAQ:PCVX – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported ($1.97) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.06) by $0.09. During the same period last year, the business posted ($1.22) EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Vaxcyte, Inc. will post -7.6 EPS for the current year.

Vaxcyte Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Vaxcyte, Inc (NASDAQ: PCVX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing vaccines to help prevent serious bacterial infections. The company uses its cell-free protein synthesis and advanced conjugation technologies to design vaccines intended to provide broad and durable protection while addressing limitations of existing vaccine products.

Vaxcyte’s lead programs are pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidates, including VAX-24 and VAX-31, which are designed to target a broad range of pneumococcal serotypes.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Vaxcyte Qualcomm’s Huawei Deal Adds Strategic Depth to Its AI Expansion 3 Sectors Where Volatility Is Creating Entry Points, Not Exit Signals D-Wave’s Gate-Model Tech Notches a Major Milestone Vistra Stock Gains as Federal Funds Fuel Nuclear Power Expansion Receive News & Ratings for Vaxcyte Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vaxcyte and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

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PAA long

Buy Plains All American Pipeline (PAA). The news points to a cleaner, more focused crude midstream story after selling Canadian NGL assets for $3.3B, using proceeds to cut debt and move leverage toward 3.25–3.75x. Add the growth catalysts: Powder River Basin assets (600 miles, 350k bpd capacity) and Cactus Pipeline (390k bpd). With a ~7% forward yield and strong operating cash flow, the stock’s 40% YTD momentum plus technical strength (above 50/100-day EMAs, above Supertrend) supports upside toward ~$26.45.

Key Risk: A debt/leverage problem reappears—cash flow drops or costs rise so leverage can’t improve, forcing dividend/yield pressure and killing the rerating.

ET short vs PAA

Sell Energy Transfer (ET) relative to PAA. The article explicitly says PAA is outperforming ET (PAA +40% vs ET +20%) and highlights PAA’s debt reduction and crude-only focus, while ET is framed as lagging. Use ET as the underperformer: if investors keep rewarding balance-sheet repair and crude-gathering growth, ET’s multiple and yield appeal won’t hold up versus PAA.

Key Risk: ET’s cash flows stay strong and leverage improves anyway, so the market stops favoring PAA and ET catches up.

Energy midstream companies are doing well this year as demand for oil and gas continues to rise. While investors often focus on Energy Transfer (ET) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), Plains All American Pipeline PAA is doing much better this year. 

PAA is a top American company in the energy industry. Unlike majors like ExxonMobil and Chevron, it gathers and transports crude oil for its clients. It does that using its 20,405 miles of crude oil pipelines and gathering systems, 76 million barrels of oil storage facilities, and 42 million barrels of active, above-ground tank capacity.

Plains All American Pipeline’s business has done better than Energy Transfer and Enterprise Product Partners this year. It has a forward dividend yield of 7% compared with ET’s 6.64% and 6.19%. Its four-year average yield of 6.90% is also higher than the two companies. 

The stock is also doing better after rising by 40% this year compared to EPD’s and ET’s 20% and 31%.

This performance is mostly because of its ongoing transition. For example, the company completed the divestiture of its Canadian NGL business to Keyera Corp in a $3.3 billion deal. By doing so, the company used the funds to reduce its outstanding debt, which will help its leverage ratio move toward the middle of 3.25 to 3.75 times. 

Additionally, the divestiture helped the company focused on crude oil midstream operations. Its remaining assets now span from Canada to the US Gulf Coast. 

The company also decided to acquire Powder River Basin assets from Silver Creek Midstream. This buyout has given it about 600 miles of crude oil gathering and transmission and more than 350,000 barrels per day of operating capacity. It also gives it about 1.2 million barrels of operational storage. The deal is expected to close this quarter.

Plains All American Pipeline also acquired Cactus Pipeline, which gave it the capacity to transport 390,000 barrels of oil per day. The two companies have continued to see synergies after the buyout. 

Its recent results showed that its net income jumped to $1.83 billion in the second quarter, up from $210 million a year earlier. Its net cash provided by operating activities rose by $956 million from $694 million.

PAA stock chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that the PAA stock price has been in a strong upward trend in the past few years. Most recently, it has formed an ascending channel and is now along its lower side.

The stock has continued rising above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). Also, the stock has remained above the Supertrend indicator. 

Therefore, there are two potential scenarios. It may rebound as bulls target the upper side of the channel at around $26.45. On the other hand, a drop below the lower side of the channel will point to more downside, potentially to the ultimate support level of the Murrey Math Lines tool at $21.88.

Satellite communications stock AST SpaceMobile (ASTS +6.82%) jumped 8.7% through 10:25 a.m. ET Tuesday after announcing its "first satellite-to-smartphone integration test" with Canadian telecommunications company Telus Corporation (TU -0.57%).

Image source: Getty Images.

Canada newsAST explains that the test marks "a significant milestone" in progress toward connecting Telus's cellphone network to AST's BlueBird satellite constellation. Once complete, the integration will allow cellphone users in Canada to make cell-to-cell calls and texts via satellite and access broadband internet on their devices, even in "remote areas of Canada where traditional cell service isn't available."

AST says if all goes as planned, Telus customers will be able to use "eligible smartphones" (which term is not explained) "within the next year," and use them "beyond the reach of traditional cell towers."

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What's next for AST SpaceMobileAST SpaceMobile needs between 45 and 60 satellites in orbit to provide continuous coverage across "select" markets, according to The Houston Chronicle -- but at last report had only 13. Providing global coverage will require an even bigger constellation -- about 90 satellites.

So, how close is AST to delivering on its promises to Telus?

Well, AST just shipped three more satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch, so that'll make 16. Right now, the limiting factor appears to be access to rockets, with key provider Blue Origin currently unable to launch, and only SpaceX (SPCX +1.74%) -- an AST competitor -- available. Two more SpaceX launches are on the schedule for AST this year.

According to analysts at William Blair, though, AST's unlikely to reach even 20 satellites in orbit by the end of this year. That's fewer than half what it needs to be operational in "select" markets. For now, Telus customers must remain on hold.

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile. The Motley Fool recommends TELUS. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) shares are trading higher Tuesday on possible continued momentum after the company announced Monday that it completed its previously disclosed $600 million at-the-market equity offering program.

Applied Optoelectronics shares are climbing with conviction. What’s behind AAOI gains? AOI Raises Nearly $588 Million at an Average $105.36 a ShareAOI disclosed on August 21 that it had filed a prospectus supplement to offer and sell up to $600 million of its common stock. The company sold a total of 5,694,845 shares at an average price of $105.36 per share, for proceeds of about $588 million net of commissions and fees.

“We are pleased to have successfully completed our third at-the-market equity offering program this year, which strengthens our balance sheet and supports our ability to address growing demand for high-speed optical connectivity in AI data centers,” said Dr. Thompson Lin, AOI’s Founder, President and CEO.

Proceeds Earmarked for Manufacturing ExpansionAOI said it intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include debt repayment, working capital and capital expenditures. The company said the spending will primarily support its manufacturing expansion for data center optical devices.

Read Next

Applied Optoelectronics Shares Trade HigherAAOI Price Action: At the time of publication, Applied Optoelectronics shares are trading 4.57% higher at $127.13, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

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

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A stronger Canadian Dollar features in Crédit Agricole's forecasts, with USD/CAD falling to 1.34 by June 2027 and 1.32 that December. Crédit Agricole forecasts a sustained Canadian Dollar recovery through 2027, even as its broader outlook allows for US borrowing costs to rise further first.

The bank puts USD/CAD at 1.38 in December 2026, 1.34 in June 2027 and 1.32 in December 2027.

A falling rate means a stronger Canadian Dollar, with fewer Canadian Dollars required to buy one US Dollar.

US yields remain an obstacle before 2027 relief Crédit Agricole's wider US outlook cautions against assuming an immediate collapse in Dollar support:

"We expect Treasury yields to continue rising into early 2027. The rates market has priced in a more restrictive policy path, reflecting persistent inflation pressures and growing expectations that policymakers may need to tighten in the months ahead. Inflation has proven more resilient than expected, while recent increases in energy prices risk creating additional upside pressure on headline inflation in the coming months."

The bank also warns:

"Front-end yields are likely to remain particularly sensitive to incoming inflation data and Fed communication over the coming quarters."

Crédit Agricole's currency path therefore allows for Canadian Dollar gains even while US yields remain a headwind.

Later in 2027, its broader currency analysis identifies a potential change:

"The US fiscal outlook could worsen further, and servicing US debt could start dominating the fiscal (and monetary) policies once US inflation subsides in 2027. We expect the Fed to cut rates in Q427, in a blow to the USD rate appeal."

At the time of writing, USD/CAD traded near 1.4249, down 0.11% on Tuesday after rising 2.77% in September.

Reaching 1.32 would require the pair to fall approximately 7.4% from that level, making this a substantial recovery forecast.

Canadian growth and employment face an early test Crédit Agricole expects Canadian economic growth to strengthen from 1.5% in 2026 to 1.8% in 2027, with annual inflation averaging 2.1% and 2.0%, respectively.

Tuesday's trade figures provided some encouragement: Canada's merchandise surplus widened to C$4.2 billion in August from a revised C$787 million in July.

Statistics Canada noted that tariff announcements can prompt importers to bring shipments forward before the duties take effect.

The next major domestic test is the September employment report on 9 October, following a setback in hiring.

Statistics Canada described August's weakness plainly:

"Employment declined by 42,000 (-0.2%) in August and the employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.8%. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.4%."

The labour-market risk also features in our Pound-to-Canadian Dollar outlook.

Another employment decline would make the recovery harder to establish, particularly if it weakened expectations for Canadian interest rates relative to US rates.

Friday's jobs figures will test whether Canada's economy can begin supplying its own support before that forecast reduction in US rates arrives.

Key Takeaways NuScale and ENTRA1 are advancing commercialization through flexible project ownership and financing models.ENTRA1 is pursuing up to 6 GW of NuScale reactor capacity under its agreement with TVA.NuScale is targeting hydrogen, desalination, process heat, data centers and other energy-intensive users. NuScale Power Corporation (SMR - Free Report) is using its partnership with ENTRA1 Energy to advance commercialization of its small modular reactor technology. ENTRA1 serves as NuScale’s exclusive global strategic partner, while NuScale supplies its approved reactor technology and related services. ENTRA1 develops and finances projects and, depending on the structure, may own and operate the plants. The model gives customers flexibility through long-term power purchase agreements, build-own-transfer structures or utility-owned arrangements.

The partnership also broadens NuScale’s addressable market beyond traditional power generation. ENTRA1 and NuScale are targeting applications such as hydrogen production, water desalination and industrial process heat, while NuScale also sees opportunities tied to data centers and other energy-intensive customers. The company’s 77-MWe module has NRC approval, uses conventional low-enriched uranium and is supported by a developing supplier network, positioning NuScale to move more quickly once commercial agreements are secured.

The key near-term opportunity is ENTRA1’s agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority for potential deployment of up to 6 gigawatts of NuScale small modular reactor capacity. Discussions are continuing toward a definitive power purchase agreement, which NuScale describes as potentially supporting the largest nuclear deployment program in U.S. history. Management said talks are progressing and that once PPAs are finalized, NuScale is ready to begin licensing, front-end engineering and equipment-contract activities, making TVA an important test of the partnership’s commercialization model.

How Other Advanced Nuclear Companies Are Approaching the MarketOklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) is developing liquid-metal-cooled fast reactors that use metal fuel, a technology with decades of operating history. OKLO says its reactors rely on inherent safety features that allow them to respond naturally to changing conditions. OKLO is also building capabilities in fuel recycling, allowing used nuclear fuel to become a future energy source. Beyond electricity generation, OKLO is expanding into advanced fuel services and radioisotope production, creating a broader long-term business model.

NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) is developing compact microreactors designed for applications where large nuclear plants are impractical. NANO Nuclear's portfolio includes the KRONOS Micro Modular Reactor, the ZEUS battery reactor and the portable LOKI microreactor. NANO Nuclear is targeting data centers, industrial facilities, military sites, remote communities and microgrids. By focusing on smaller, modular reactor designs, NANO Nuclear aims to provide reliable, carbon-free power that can be deployed more quickly and flexibly than traditional nuclear plants.

The Zacks Rundown on NuScale PowerShares of SMR have lost 16.1% over the past six months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NuScale Power currently has an average brokerage recommendation of 2.68 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 19 brokerage firms. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for SMR’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK), a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era, today announced the AgentSkope Marketplace, which gives security and network teams a single console to browse, deploy, and manage AgentSkope AI agents. The Marketplace replaces per-agent procurement with one catalog, one pool of capacity credits, and one view of consumption, so teams can rapidly scale agentic operations without restrictive administrative overheads for every new agent they seek to deploy, and with capacity based on actual usage insights instead of guesswork.

Already-stretched security and network teams face growing alert and ticket volumes, and many deploy AI agents one product at a time, restarting procurement and justification for every new request to avoid security risks. In a recent survey of security and network operations leaders, 42% said alerts, cases, or tickets went uninvestigated, with 51% naming scattered context and signals as a leading obstacle to faster resolution. Asked what an agent platform must provide, a majority put shared context first, and nearly half want one governance model that covers vendor-built, internally built, and managed-service agents alike1.

Launched in early 2026, Netskope One AgentSkope was designed for the agentic SOC and the agentic NOC, allowing the teams using the Netskope One platform to deploy managed AI agents that execute end-to-end security and networking workflows within the policies, controls, guardrails, and compliance frameworks they already have in place. Netskope One AgentSkope brings efficiency to daily security and networking workflows, productivity to teams, and the addition of the Marketplace provides agility to quickly adapt as business priorities change. Every agent operates within the policies, controls, and compliance frameworks Netskope customers already have in place, governed through the same Netskope Zero Trust Engine and Netskope One platform they use today.

AgentSkope Marketplace provides the following:

AgentSkope Marketplace catalog: a single console where teams browse, size, and deploy AgentSkope Agents.Credit allocation: controls that distribute one pool of committed capacity credits across agents.Credit calculator: estimates how many capacity credits a given level of agent use will require, before any commitment.Usage monitoring: a dashboard that shows utilization and capacity credit usage, with alerts and insights to help plan future requirements. “Until now, teams have typically bought agents one product at a time, with every new request restarting a procurement cycle before it delivers any value,” said John Martin, Chief Product Officer at Netskope. “AgentSkope provides one set of policies, controls, and compliance frameworks, to which Marketplace now adds one catalog, one pool of capacity credits, and one view of consumption, so security and networking teams can deploy the agents they need today and size next year’s investment on real usage data instead of a guess.”

The AgentSkope Marketplace is available today to all Netskope customers with more agents coming to the marketplace soon. Find out more on the blog.

About Netskope
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK), a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era, addresses the needs of both security and networking teams by providing optimized access and real-time, context-based security for the AI ecosystem inclusive of agents, applications, tools, LLMs, people, devices, and data. Thousands of customers, including more than 30% of the Fortune 100, trust the Netskope One platform, its Zero Trust Engine, and its powerful NewEdge network to reduce risk and gain full visibility and control over cloud, AI, SaaS, web, and private applications — providing security and accelerating performance without trade-offs.

Learn more at netskope.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Media Relations Contacts:
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contacts:
[email protected]

____________________________________
1 Source: The State of AI Agents in Security and Network Operations, Cybersecurity Insiders and Netskope, 2026.

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

Over the past month, shares of this energy equipment company have returned +9.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Manufacturing - Electronics industry, which Powell Industries falls in, has gained 5%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

Powell Industries is expected to post earnings of $1.52 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.36 points to a change of +8.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.87 indicates a change of +28.2% from what Powell Industries is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Powell Industries is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Powell Industries, the consensus sales estimate of $328.35 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +10.2%. The $1.19 billion and $1.45 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +7.6% and +21.8%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPowell Industries reported revenues of $311.74 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.9%. EPS of $1.42 for the same period compares with $1.32 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $318.25 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -2.05%. The EPS surprise was -4.7%.

Over the last four quarters, Powell Industries surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

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

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

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

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

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

Image Credits:Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket / Getty Images

Meta has started testing a new Facebook UX in India that sends some users directly into full-screen video when they open the app, putting Reels front and center.

First outlined in July by Facebook head Tom Alison, the test is designed to offer a more immersive, video-forward user experience. Alison said at the time that Meta planned to begin testing it later in the year in “video-heavy countries” outside the U.S., though he didn’t specify where. The company will explore bringing the user experience to the U.S. next year, he said.

Users included in the test can opt out and return to a Feed-first experience, Meta said. The classic feed will remain available as a second tab on the Facebook app.

The test comes as Meta moves to make video more central to Facebook. Last year, the company said all new videos posted to Facebook would be shared as Reels, regardless of their length or format, and it even renamed the app’s Video tab to “Reels.” Meta has previously said young adults spend about 60% of their time on Facebook watching videos.

India has long been a testing ground for Meta’s video efforts, particularly its push into short-form video. In 2020, Instagram began testing a dedicated Reels tab in the country, months after India banned TikTok. The company also tested a Reels-first experience for some Instagram users in India and South Korea last year that similarly sent them directly into the video UX when they opened the app.

The new test comes as video consumption rises across Meta’s apps in India. At least 97% of users surveyed in Meta-commissioned studies said they watch video on its platforms daily, and 89% of Gen Z respondents said they use Reels every day, per the figures the company released in June. Meta has described Reels as increasingly becoming India’s “personal and primary screen.”

India is Facebook’s largest market by users, with Meta’s advertising tools indicating an audience of more than 400 million people in the country.

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Jagmeet covers startups, tech policy-related updates, and all other major tech-centric developments from India for TechCrunch. He previously worked as a principal correspondent at NDTV.

You can contact or verify outreach from Jagmeet by emailing [email protected].

S&CO Inc. increased its position in shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 198,340 shares of the software giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,143 shares during the period. Microsoft comprises 4.3% of S&CO Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. S&CO Inc.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $73,984,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 229,490 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $85,604,000 after purchasing an additional 8,773 shares in the last quarter. Markel Group Inc. increased its position in Microsoft by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 537,630 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $199,014,000 after purchasing an additional 1,950 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in Microsoft by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 6,921,677 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $2,562,197,000 after purchasing an additional 537,634 shares in the last quarter. Taylor Securities Services Inc. bought a new position in Microsoft in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,616,000. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. boosted its position in Microsoft by 138.8% in the first quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 1,356,359 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $502,077,000 after buying an additional 788,297 shares in the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Microsoft Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

Positive Sentiment: Melius Research upgraded Microsoft to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $665. The firm said rising corporate concerns about AI risks could increase demand for Microsoft’s security, governance and compliance products, while positioning Azure as a relatively dependable way to participate in the AI trend. Microsoft stock rises as Melius upgrades to Buy Positive Sentiment: Broad market strength also supported MSFT. The Nasdaq reached a record as megacap technology stocks rallied on optimism about earnings growth, with Microsoft among the sector leaders. Expectations for strong technology-sector profits continue to support investor appetite for the shares. Nasdaq hits record as megacap gains offset elevated Treasury yields Positive Sentiment: Microsoft continues expanding Copilot’s enterprise usefulness. Wood Mackenzie connected its proprietary energy data and analytics to Microsoft Copilot through a new Model Context Protocol connector, providing another example of specialized business content being integrated into Microsoft’s AI ecosystem. Wood Mackenzie connects energy intelligence with Microsoft Copilot Positive Sentiment: Upcoming Xbox and Xbox Game Pass releases provided a smaller consumer-business catalyst. New game launches may support engagement and subscription activity, although the impact is likely less significant than Azure and AI developments. Microsoft stock rises ahead of new Xbox game releases Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft and Meta reportedly encouraged employees to reduce their use of Anthropic’s Claude in favor of internal AI tools. The move could lower Microsoft’s external AI expenses and strengthen Copilot adoption, but it also indicates ongoing competition and uncertainty over which AI models will deliver the best economics. Microsoft and Meta steer staff from Anthropic Claude to in-house AI Negative Sentiment: Amazon hired longtime Microsoft AI executive Pedram Rezaei, formerly associated with Copilot. The departure could raise concerns about retaining senior AI talent as cloud and software rivals intensify their competition. Amazon hires a Microsoft AI leader Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on execution risks. Microsoft’s large backlog offers revenue visibility, but the timing of recognition, infrastructure spending and cash conversion could limit near-term benefits. Questions also remain about whether Copilot can become a breakout AI application. How much revenue visibility does Microsoft’s backlog provide? Insiders Place Their Bets In other Microsoft news, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total value of $4,878,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 100,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $49,007,086.83. The trade was a 9.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.27, for a total value of $20,764,903.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 533,624 shares in the company, valued at approximately $265,888,830.48. This trade represents a 7.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 143,009 shares of company stock worth $71,420,699. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently issued reports on MSFT shares. Tigress Financial upped their price target on shares of Microsoft from $680.00 to $690.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Microsoft from $700.00 to $725.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings raised Microsoft from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Barclays dropped their target price on Microsoft from $545.00 to $512.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Microsoft from an “overweight” rating to a “negative” rating in a research report on Monday. Forty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $578.73.

View Our Latest Analysis on MSFT

Microsoft Trading Up 1.5% MSFT opened at $525.18 on Tuesday. Microsoft Corporation has a twelve month low of $349.20 and a twelve month high of $553.72. The company has a fifty day moving average of $492.81 and a 200-day moving average of $431.07. The stock has a market cap of $3.90 trillion, a PE ratio of 29.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. The business had revenue of $90.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $87.62 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.65 earnings per share. Microsoft’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.62 EPS for the current year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 19th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. This is a positive change from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio is currently 20.27%.

Microsoft Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices, gaming products and business solutions. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company is best known for the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office productivity software. Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, and serves consumers, businesses, governments and educational institutions worldwide.

Microsoft’s productivity and business offerings include Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, along with collaboration tools including Teams.

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Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC cut its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 22.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 168,153 shares of the software giant’s stock after selling 47,385 shares during the period. Microsoft accounts for 5.0% of Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $62,724,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dodds Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 5.6% in the second quarter. Dodds Wealth LLC now owns 1,899 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $708,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. SCS Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Microsoft by 173.7% during the 2nd quarter. SCS Capital Management LLC now owns 288,945 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $107,782,000 after acquiring an additional 183,360 shares during the last quarter. CORDA Investment Management LLC. boosted its position in shares of Microsoft by 10.2% during the 2nd quarter. CORDA Investment Management LLC. now owns 34,011 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $12,687,000 after acquiring an additional 3,135 shares during the last quarter. Sandro Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 4.0% in the second quarter. Sandro Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,438 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $6,132,000 after purchasing an additional 625 shares during the period. Finally, PTM Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 57.7% in the second quarter. PTM Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,588 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $988,000 after purchasing an additional 947 shares during the period. 71.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Microsoft Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

Positive Sentiment: Melius Research upgraded Microsoft to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $665. The firm said rising corporate concerns about AI risks could increase demand for Microsoft’s security, governance and compliance products, while positioning Azure as a relatively dependable way to participate in the AI trend. Microsoft stock rises as Melius upgrades to Buy Positive Sentiment: Broad market strength also supported MSFT. The Nasdaq reached a record as megacap technology stocks rallied on optimism about earnings growth, with Microsoft among the sector leaders. Expectations for strong technology-sector profits continue to support investor appetite for the shares. Nasdaq hits record as megacap gains offset elevated Treasury yields Positive Sentiment: Microsoft continues expanding Copilot’s enterprise usefulness. Wood Mackenzie connected its proprietary energy data and analytics to Microsoft Copilot through a new Model Context Protocol connector, providing another example of specialized business content being integrated into Microsoft’s AI ecosystem. Wood Mackenzie connects energy intelligence with Microsoft Copilot Positive Sentiment: Upcoming Xbox and Xbox Game Pass releases provided a smaller consumer-business catalyst. New game launches may support engagement and subscription activity, although the impact is likely less significant than Azure and AI developments. Microsoft stock rises ahead of new Xbox game releases Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft and Meta reportedly encouraged employees to reduce their use of Anthropic’s Claude in favor of internal AI tools. The move could lower Microsoft’s external AI expenses and strengthen Copilot adoption, but it also indicates ongoing competition and uncertainty over which AI models will deliver the best economics. Microsoft and Meta steer staff from Anthropic Claude to in-house AI Negative Sentiment: Amazon hired longtime Microsoft AI executive Pedram Rezaei, formerly associated with Copilot. The departure could raise concerns about retaining senior AI talent as cloud and software rivals intensify their competition. Amazon hires a Microsoft AI leader Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on execution risks. Microsoft’s large backlog offers revenue visibility, but the timing of recognition, infrastructure spending and cash conversion could limit near-term benefits. Questions also remain about whether Copilot can become a breakout AI application. How much revenue visibility does Microsoft’s backlog provide? Microsoft Stock Up 1.5% Shares of MSFT opened at $525.18 on Tuesday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $492.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $431.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.23. Microsoft Corporation has a 1 year low of $349.20 and a 1 year high of $553.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.90 trillion, a PE ratio of 29.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.10. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. The firm had revenue of $90.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $87.62 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.65 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 19th will be paid a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. Microsoft’s payout ratio is presently 20.27%.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have commented on MSFT shares. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of Microsoft from $515.00 to $570.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Stifel Nicolaus raised Microsoft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $530.00 to $575.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $575.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Forty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $578.73.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MSFT

Insider Buying and Selling at Microsoft In related news, EVP Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $498.27, for a total value of $20,764,903.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 533,624 shares in the company, valued at approximately $265,888,830.48. This trade represents a 7.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total value of $4,878,900.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 100,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $49,007,086.83. The trade was a 9.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 143,009 shares of company stock worth $71,420,699. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Microsoft Company Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices, gaming products and business solutions. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company is best known for the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office productivity software. Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, and serves consumers, businesses, governments and educational institutions worldwide.

Microsoft’s productivity and business offerings include Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, along with collaboration tools including Teams.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Microsoft NVIDIA’s Record High Raises a Bigger Question About How Far the Rally Can Run A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSFT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report).

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