, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Lucid Group, Inc. ("Lucid" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LCID).
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN LUCID GROUP, INC. (LCID), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE JULY 28, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (3) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid's manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com
VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has reported that Phoenix Children's Foundation, the fundraising arm of one of the most acclaimed pediatric hospitals in the world, halved its average prospecting time and won net-new donations from brand-new partners within two quarters of adopting ZoomInfo, according to the foundation. Phoenix Children's opened in 1983 with 124 beds and now provides care across more than 75 pediatric subspecialties at m.
, /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2026 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.
The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.
About TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment, electronic components used in the generation, amplification, transmission and reception of microwave signals, and complex testing and instrumentation solutions.
, /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2026 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.
The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.
About TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment, electronic components used in the generation, amplification, transmission and reception of microwave signals, and complex testing and instrumentation solutions.
Sirius XM (SIRI -0.23%) has interested and frustrated investors in recent years. It holds a monopoly on satellite radio in the U.S., and the stock's dividend yield is far above S&P 500 averages.
Unfortunately, despite Berkshire Hathaway holding over 37% of its shares, the stock's value has slid over the last five years, and competition from internet-based streaming services has limited subscriber growth.
Still, one might wonder whether it is time to buy Sirius XM stock amid the possibility of further recovery when it reports second-quarter earnings on July 30.
Image source: Getty Images.
This is a difficult question, as reactions to earnings reports are difficult to predict before the fact. Investors will probably like the fact that it rallied nearly 50% in the first half of 2026.
However, Sirius XM has long been a slow-growth business, making it less likely the report will spark more buying in the stock. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue grew by 1% year over year after pulling back by 2% during 2025.
Nonetheless, net income surged 20% in Q1, after it turned profitable in 2025. Looking forward, analysts forecast flat annual revenue growth for Q2 along with a 23% profit increase over the same period. Amid that improvement, investors can buy the stock for 12 times trailing earnings.
Today's Change
(
-0.23
%) $
-0.07
Current Price
$
29.80
Also, investors earn $1.08 per share annually in cash payouts while they wait for a stock recovery. That amounts to a dividend yield of 3.6%, far above the S&P 500's 1.1% average yield.
Such conditions indicate that investors should buy Sirius XM stock before July 30, but only if they are buying it for income.
Indeed, Sirius XM has a low earnings multiple and a generous dividend yield. Unfortunately, the flat revenue growth and low P/E ratio make it unlikely the quarterly report will point to any further growth catalysts.
Still, Sirius XM is a Berkshire Hathaway-owned stock selling at a low P/E ratio and paying a huge dividend. That makes it likely the communication stock is eventually due to move higher.
Will Healy has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Litigation Partners Brandon Walker and Melissa Fortunato Encourage Investors Who Suffered Losses In Zoetis (ZTS) To Contact Them Directly To Discuss Their Options
, /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP announces that investors with losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Zoetis Inc. ("Zoetis" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZTS).
IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR ZOETIS INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE BEFORE JULY 27, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis' Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; (2) Zoetis' Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and (3) Zoetis' dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us.
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150 (Toll-Free: 888-773-9224)
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Charles Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com.
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Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is waiting longer to land Warner Bros. Discovery. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images; Mario Tama/Getty Images Paramount Skydance has agreed to pause its mega-merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until five days after the antitrust cases are ruled on, or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes sooner, the company said on Friday.
Paramount is facing an antitrust lawsuit from 12 US states and a legal challenge from the Writers Guild of America.
This decision means Paramount will almost certainly head to court to defend its deal to acquire WBD, unless settlements are reached. That will likely mean a delay of months.
David Ellison's media company had been hoping to close its WBD deal by mid-July. Paramount has agreed to pay WBD shareholders a so-called "ticking fee" of about $7 million each day the deal doesn't close, starting after September 30. Paramount lawyer Jeffrey Kessler told the judge in a hearing that the company "would suffer very severe harm" if it had to pay the ticking fee, which is $650 million per quarter.
Some of the 12 Paramount employees Business Insider talked to earlier this week said they were worried about what a delay in the WBD deal would mean for the company's financial health.
"I'm definitely worried about impending layoffs post-merger," one Paramount worker said. "But I'm worried about the company as a whole if it doesn't go through."
A Paramount spokesperson said in a statement that this agreement "is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached."
Paramount's WBD deal has received approval from the US Department of Justice, the European Union, and other global regulators.
Forrester research director Mike Proulx said Paramount's WBD deal "just got longer, messier, and likely more expensive."
"I'm not sure how Paramount can frame this as a win when the deal just became more uncertain than it was 24 hours ago," Proulx said. "The timeline is now out of Paramount's control."
Shares of Paramount and WBD each fell on the news. Paramount's stock finished the day down 3.3% while WBD shares slid about 0.7%.
'Tired of mergers and chaos'The states suing to stop Paramount's WBD acquisition said the deal raised antitrust concerns in three markets: wide-release film distribution, big-budget movie distribution, and cable network licensing.
With WBD, Paramount would control two top film studios in Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios; TV networks like HBO, CBS, and CNN; and streaming services Paramount+, Pluto TV, and HBO Max.
Paramount's spokesperson said these concerns about concentration "bear no relationship to the realities of today's marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny," adding that the company would "look forward to proving our case at trial."
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on social media that the agreement to pause the merger was "great news for audiences, movie theaters, and the many people who write, build, and create the art, news, and entertainment so many of us enjoy."
Staffers at Ellison's company have been on edge about the WBD deal and antitrust challenges.
Some told Business Insider they believed the deal would improve their job security as Paramount grew stronger, while others thought the merger would lead to overlap that could put their roles at risk.
A pro-deal Paramount streaming employee said they "see Paramount in the same light as Spirit Airlines. Regulators didn't let JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merge. Now Spirit is bankrupt, and JetBlue is struggling."
A Paramount streaming staffer who didn't like the deal said they were "tired of mergers and chaos."
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The Warner Bros. Water Tower is pictured at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank on the day it was announced that California and 11 states are suing to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
CompaniesJuly 24 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), opens new tab on Friday agreed to pause its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab until after a ruling on a challenge by states to the deal, plunging the $110 billion deal into further uncertainty.
The agreement pausing the deal until next June, at the latest, trims a few weeks off the case schedule. But it also comes with a price.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Paramount could owe as much as $1.7 billion in ticking fees to Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal is delayed until then. The fee costs $7 million a day if the merger does not close by September 30.
"We look forward to proving our case at trial," Paramount's spokesperson said.
California and 11 states sued on July 13, arguing the deal would create a media behemoth with the power to raise prices in film and television.
"Halting this merger while our case proceeds is a critical victory in our efforts to uphold the law and protect the film and television industries," said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is suing to block the deal.
Similar merger challenges have taken an average of eight months for a judge to rule, a Reuters review of recent cases found.
The lawsuit, filed in Oakland federal court, threatens to derail Paramount CEO David Ellison's bid to transform his company into a major rival of Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab and Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab.
Shares in Paramount fell 3.3% Friday and are down 37% this year.
Reporting by Jody Godoy; Editing by Nia Williams and Deepa Babington
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Jody Godoy reports on tech policy and antitrust enforcement, including how regulators are responding to the rise of AI. Reach her at [email protected]
Paramount Skydance has agreed to delay its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to as late as June 2027 — a multi-month delay that will ultimately raise the deal price — as the tie-up faces a legal challenge.
Last week, a group of state attorneys general led by California's Rob Bonta sued to block the deal over antitrust concerns. On Monday, a judge reviewing the case issued a temporary restraining order, delivering a near-term delay.
Paramount had repeatedly said it intended to complete the transaction by the end of September. The agreement announced Friday says Paramount won't complete its acquisition until the court rules on the states' claims or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
In a statement Friday, Paramount called the agreement a "significant win."
"The result is exactly what we have sought from the outset: a direct path to a trial based on the evidence. This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached," the company said. "Plaintiffs' market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today's marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny. We look forward to proving our case at trial."
Shares of Paramount Skydance fell 3% in afternoon trading Friday.
Under the terms of its agreement, Paramount will owe Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a "ticking fee" the longer the deal is delayed, starting Sept. 30.
The fee, an additional 25 cents per share, per quarter until closing, could amount to roughly $650 million in cash value every quarter. A delay as long as June 2027 could add roughly $1.7 billion to the deal price.
Should the deal fall apart entirely, Paramount would owe WBD a $7 billion breakup fee.
Paramount and WBD agreed to combine in February after the David Ellison-led company outbid Netflix. The $110 billion deal would bring together two major Hollywood studios, two popular streaming services and a host of TV networks.
In June, the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice cleared the proposed merger. Earlier this week, European antitrust regulators likewise granted their approval for the deal.
But U.S. state officials have raised concerns that the tie-up would reduce competition and result in job losses in the film industry.
"Our argument against this illegal merger is straightforward: When too few corporations have too much power in markets central to American life, it makes things more expensive, and it makes things worse," Bonta said in a statement Friday. "Today's agreement is great news for audiences, movie theaters, and the many people who write, build, and create the art, news, and entertainment so many of us enjoy. We are eager to continue to make our case in court and celebrate another tremendous win in our effort to ensure this unlawful merger never sees the light of day."
, /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ: PSKY) ("Paramount") today announced the extension of the Expiration Dates in connection with the previously announced (i) offers to purchase (the "Tender Offers" and each, a "Tender Offer") for cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the related offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase"), any and all of the identified notes in each series of the Existing Tender Offer Notes (defined by reference to the table set forth below) issued by Discovery Global Holdings, Inc. (formerly WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.) (the "DGH Issuer") and Discovery Communications, LLC (the "DCL Issuer" and together with the DGH Issuer, each a "WBD Issuer" and collectively the "WBD Issuers"), as applicable, and (ii) offers to exchange (the "Exchange Offers" and each, an "Exchange Offer" and, together with the Tender Offers, the "Offers" and each, an "Offer"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the related exchange offer memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum"), any and all of the identified notes in each series of the Existing Exchange Offer Notes (defined by reference to the table set forth below) (together with the Existing Tender Offer Notes, the "Offer Notes") issued by the applicable WBD Issuer for notes to be newly issued by Paramount.
The Expiration Dates for the Tender Offers and Exchange Offers (as defined in each of the Offer to Purchase and Offering Memorandum, respectively) have been extended to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 7, 2026, unless further extended. The Settlement Dates for the Tender Offers and Exchange Offers (as defined in each of the Offer to Purchase and Offering Memorandum, respectively) will occur promptly after the Expiration Date and are currently anticipated to occur in the third quarter of 2026. Paramount anticipates extending the Expiration Date for such Tender Offers and Exchange Offers until such time that would result in the Settlement Dates occurring on or promptly following the closing date of the proposed acquisition (the "Acquisition") by Paramount of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ("WBD"). Tenders of the Offer Notes in the Offers may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. The aforementioned extensions further extend the Expiration Dates previously extended by Paramount on June 12, 2026, June 26, 2026, July 13, 2026, and July 17, 2026.
As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 23, 2026, approximately 66.17% and 76.38% of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Tender Offer Notes and Existing Exchange Offer Notes, respectively, have been validly tendered in the applicable Offers. As Paramount previously announced that it anticipates extending the Offers to align with the closing date of the Acquisition, Paramount does not view these figures to be representative of the final results of the applicable Offers.
Information about each series of Offer Notes eligible to participate in the Offers is summarized below.
Type of Offer
Offer Notes to be Tendered
or Exchanged, as
Applicable
Issuer of Offer Notes
CUSIP No. / Common Code
/ ISIN Eligible to
Participate in the Offers (1)
Aggregate Principal
Amount of Offer Notes
Eligible to Participate in the
Offers (2)
Tender Offer
3.950% Senior Notes due 2028
DCL Issuer
25470D CP2
US25470DCP24
$1,234,458,000
Exchange Offer
4.125% Senior Notes due 2029
DCL Issuer
25470D CQ0
US25470DCQ07
$655,825,000
Exchange Offer
3.625% Senior Notes due 2030
DCL Issuer
25470D CR8
US25470DCR89
$914,183,000
Exchange Offer
5.000% Senior Notes due 2037
DCL Issuer
25470D CS6
US25470DCS62
$453,281,000
Exchange Offer
6.350% Senior Notes due 2040
DCL Issuer
25470D CT4
US25470DCT46
$438,102,000
Exchange Offer
4.950% Senior Notes due 2042
DCL Issuer
25470D CU1
US25470DCU19
$130,366,000
Exchange Offer
4.875% Senior Notes due 2043
DCL Issuer
25470D V91 CV9US25470DC
$141,584,000
Exchange Offer
5.200% Senior Notes due 2047
DCL Issuer
25470D W74 CW7US25470DC
$3,161,000
Exchange Offer
5.300% Senior Notes due 2049
DCL Issuer
25470D X57 CX5US25470DC
$247,860,000
Tender Offer
3.755% Senior Notes due 2027
DGH Issuer
254948 AH5
US254948AH58
254948 AN2
US254948AN27
U25483 AA3
USU25483AA38
$1,189,336,000
Exchange Offer
4.054% Senior Notes due 2029
DGH Issuer
254948 AJ1
US254948AJ15
254948 AP7
US254948AP74
U25483 AB1
USU25483AB11
$1,353,828,000
Exchange Offer
4.279% Senior Notes due 2032
DGH Issuer
254948 AK8
US254948AK87
254948 AQ5
US254948AQ57
$2,691,764,000
Exchange Offer
5.050% Senior Notes due 2042
DGH Issuer
254948 AL6
US254948AL60
254948 AR3
US254948AR31
U25483 AD7
USU25483AD76
$4,104,687,000
Exchange Offer
5.141% Senior Notes due 2052
DGH Issuer
254948 AM4
US254948AM44
254948 AS1
US254948AS14
$949,883,000
Exchange Offer
4.302% Senior Notes due 2030
DGH Issuer
XS3393993285
339399328
€234,382,000
Exchange Offer
4.693% Senior Notes due 2033
DGH Issuer
XS3393994507
339399450
€316,641,000
1
No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the identifiers listed in this press release or printed on the Offer Notes. Such identifiers are provided solely for the convenience of the holders.
2
Represents the aggregate principal amount of Offer Notes outstanding that are eligible to participate in the Offers.
The Exchange Offers are being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") promulgated thereunder, and are also not being registered under any state or foreign securities laws. Any securities offered pursuant to the Exchange Offers may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons (as defined below) except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Exchange Offers will only be made, and the securities offered pursuant to the Exchange Offers are only being offered and issued, to holders of applicable Existing Exchange Offer Notes who are (a) reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (b) not "U.S. persons," as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the Securities Act (such holders, "Eligible Holders"), and only Eligible Holders who have completed and returned the eligibility certification are authorized to receive or review the Offering Memorandum or to participate in the Exchange Offers. The eligibility certification is available electronically at: https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/paramount.
General
Each Offer is a separate offer, and each may be individually consummated, amended, extended, terminated, or withdrawn, subject to certain conditions and applicable law, at any time in Paramount's sole discretion, and without also consummating, amending, extending, terminating, or withdrawing any other Offer with respect to any other series of Offer Notes. Paramount may terminate an Offer if any of the conditions of such Offer described in the Offer to Purchase or Offering Memorandum, as applicable, are not satisfied or waived by the applicable Expiration Date, subject to applicable law. In addition, Paramount may waive the conditions to an Offer without extending such Offer in accordance with applicable law.
The Offers are being made solely by Paramount and are not being made by WBD or the WBD Issuers. None of Paramount, WBD, the WBD Issuers, the Dealer Managers, the Exchange Agent (as defined below), the Information Agent (as defined below), the trustees under each of the indentures governing the Offer Notes, the trustee or collateral agent under the indenture that will govern the notes to be issued in the Exchange Offers, or any affiliate of any of them makes any recommendation as to whether any holder of Offer Notes should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of the principal amount of such holder's Offer Notes for cash or notes to be issued in the Exchange Offers. No one has been authorized by any of them to make such a recommendation. Holders must make their own decision whether to tender Offer Notes in any Offer and, if so, the amount of Offer Notes to tender.
Only Eligible Holders may receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum and participate in the Exchange Offers. Paramount has engaged Global Bondholder Services Corporation to act as the exchange agent (in such capacity, the "Exchange Agent") and information agent (in such capacity, the "Information Agent") for the Offers. Questions concerning the Offers, or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase or Offering Memorandum or other related documents, may be directed to Corporate Actions by telephone at (855) 654-2014 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers) or by email at [email protected]. Holders should also consult their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other institution for assistance concerning the Offers. The Exchange Offer documents and the Tender Offer documents can be accessed at the following link: https://gbsc-usa.com/paramount.
Paramount has engaged BofA Securities and Citigroup as dealer managers (in such capacity, the "Dealer Managers") for the Offers. Holders with questions regarding the Offers should contact BofA Securities, Inc. at +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or +1 (980) 388-3646 (collect) or [email protected] or Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 723-6106 or [email protected]. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Paramount and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Dealer Managers.
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.
About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. PSKY's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Skydance Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Paramount Sports Entertainment.
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" regarding the Acquisition and the other transactions referred to herein. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Paramount. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that the closing conditions for the Acquisition will not be satisfied, including the risk that clearances under applicable antitrust or regulatory laws will not be obtained or will be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the possibility that the transactions described herein will not be completed in the expected timeframe or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Acquisition; potential adverse effects to the businesses of Paramount or WBD during the pendency of the Acquisition, such as employee departures or distraction of management from business operations; negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the Acquisition on the market price of WBD or Paramount stock; the risk of stockholder litigation relating to the Acquisition, including resulting expense or delay; the potential that the expected benefits and opportunities of the Acquisition, if completed, may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; risks related to the streaming business of the post-Acquisition combined business (the "Combined Company"); the adverse impact on the Combined Company's advertising revenues as a result of changes in consumer behavior, advertising market conditions, and deficiencies in audience measurement; risks related to operating in highly competitive and dynamic industries; the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies and distribution models; risks related to the Combined Company's decision to invest in new businesses, products, services, and technologies, and the evolution of the Combined Company's business strategy; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in, or the impact of negotiations for, the distribution of the Combined Company's content; damage to the Combined Company's reputation or brands; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, content and long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; increasing scrutiny of, and evolving expectations for, sustainability initiatives; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; challenges in protecting and maintaining the Combined Company's intellectual property rights; domestic and global political, economic and regulatory factors affecting the Combined Company's business generally or the Acquisition; the inability to hire or retain key employees or secure creative talent; disruptions to the Combined Company's operations as a result of labor disputes; risks and costs associated with the integration of, and Paramount's ability to integrate, the businesses of Paramount Global, Skydance Media, LLC, and WBD successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, including in the amounts or on the timelines anticipated to realize such synergies; litigation related to the Acquisition and other matters or transactions; risks associated with the Combined Company's holding company structure, including its dependence on distributions from its subsidiaries to meet tax obligations and other cash requirements; risks related to our indebtedness, including our substantial outstanding debt obligations, our ability to incur substantially more debt and our ability to meet the financial and other covenants contained in the agreements governing the indebtedness of Paramount, WBD, or the Combined Company. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors and the general risks associated with the respective businesses of Paramount and WBD can be found in Paramount's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," Paramount's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2026, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and Paramount's subsequent filings with the SEC, and in WBD's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026, including in the section captioned "Item 1A. Risk Factors," WBD's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2026, and WBD's subsequent filings with the SEC. Neither Paramount nor WBD undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.
Paramount Skydance said Friday that it agreed to pause its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until next June at the latest while a judge considers a lawsuit from state attorneys general who sued to block the $110 billion deal.
The delay is the latest twist in the mega deal, which could reshape Hollywood by merging Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios.
In a legal filing, Paramount and a group of state attorneys general – who had sued the media giant over antitrust concerns – said they had reached an agreement to freeze the merger while the case winds its way through the courts, extending a shorter pause imposed this week by a federal judge in California.
The delay is the latest twist in the mega deal, which could reshape Hollywood by merging Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios. Getty Images The merger deal expires on June 4, 2027 if the deal hasn’t closed by that date.
“Today’s agreement is a significant win because the result is exactly what we have sought from the outset: a direct path to a trial based on the evidence,” said a Paramount spokesperson.
“This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached. Plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny. We look forward to proving our case at trial.”
The deal would not only unite movie studios Paramount and Warner Bros, but also bring together streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max, as well as networks CBS and CNN.
The standstill could be expensive for Paramount. The David Ellison-led company agreed to pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a fee of $650 million every quarter the deal doesn’t close beginning in October.
The merger deal expires on June 4, 2027 if the deal hasn’t closed by that date. REUTERS The group of 12 states led by California, include New York, Connecticut, Oregon and Arizona. In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the halt a “crucial victory.”
“From the workers and artists who bring stories to life to the families who buy tickets at the box office, Paramount’s illegal takeover of Warner Bros. is a bad deal for all those who count on a competitive entertainment industry,” James said.
Shares of Paramount Skydance fell just over 3% on Friday. Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery slid just under 1%.
ToplineParamount Skydance said in a Friday court filing it agreed to push back its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, which has been challenged by 12 states, to 2027, voluntarily making the concession after a judge temporarily blocked the merger this week.
The merger is valued at roughly $110 billion.
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Key FactsParamount voluntarily agreed to delay the merger until June 2027 or until five days after the judge makes a decision on the case, whichever comes first.
Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin issued a temporary restraining order against the merger on Monday, giving her two weeks to determine if she would issue a more stark order that pauses the deal indefinitely while the lawsuit against the merger plays out in court.
Paramount said its decision to delay the merger allows it to face litigation quickly in court, and said it looked forward to “proving our case at trial.”
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the delayed merger is “an enormous win,” reiterating the lawsuit’s concerns it would “exploit” consumers, increase cable bills and drive up the cost of movie tickets.
Forbes has reached out to Paramount for comment.
Crucial Quote“Today’s agreement is a significant win because the result is exactly what we have sought from the outset: a direct path to a trial based on the evidence,” a Paramount spokesperson told multiple outlets. “This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached.”
Big Number$110 billion. That is roughly what the merger is valued at, with Paramount agreeing to pay $31.00 in cash for all outstanding WBD shares.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Ovintiv Inc. (OVV) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Jason Verhaest
Brendan McCracken - President, CEO & Director
Corey Code - Executive VP & CFO
Gregory Givens - Executive VP & COO
Conference Call Participants
Neil Mehta - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Greg Pardy - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Neal Dingmann - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Arun Jayaram - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Douglas George Blyth Leggate - Wolfe Research, LLC
Gabe Daoud - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Scott Gruber - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Christopher Baker - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
John Annis - Texas Capital Securities, Research Division
Kevin MacCurdy - Pickering Energy Partners Insights
Phillip Jungwirth - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Presentation
Operator
Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to Ovintiv's 2026 Second Quarter Results Conference Call. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that this conference call may not be recorded or rebroadcast without the expressed consent of Ovintiv.
I would now like to turn the conference call over to Jason Verhaest from Investor Relations. Please go ahead, Mr. Verhaest.
Jason Verhaest
Thanks, Joanna, and welcome, everyone, to our second quarter '26 conference call. This call is being webcast, and the slides are available on our website at ovintiv.com. Please take note of the advisory regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of our slides and in our disclosure documents filed on EDGAR and SEDAR+. Following prepared remarks, we will be available to take your questions.
I will now turn the call over to our President and CEO, Brendan McCracken.
Brendan McCracken
President, CEO & Director
Thanks, Jason. Good morning, everybody, and thank you for joining us. Our second quarter results demonstrate the strength of our durable return strategy and the business
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Volkswagen engineers with securities fraud for an alleged insider-trading scheme connected to the German automaker’s joint venture with Rivian.
The indictment, unsealed Friday by the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank made more than $300,000 by using confidential insider information. Stamp and Plank allegedly bought Rivian stock and options after learning that the EV maker and Volkswagen planned to form a joint venture — internally codenamed “Project Climb” — but before the companies made any public announcements.
Rivian and Volkswagen announced plans for the joint venture on June 25, 2024, which would focus on developing electric vehicle architecture and software. Volkswagen initially committed to invest $5 billion in Rivian, with the capital to be released as the companies achieve certain milestones. The joint venture has since grown to $5.8 billion, and Volkswagen is now Rivian’s largest shareholder.
Rivian’s stock price rose 23% following the initial announcement in June. Stamp and Plank then allegedly sold their Rivian positions, with Stamp realized about $250,000 in profits, Plank realizing about $50,000, and Plank’s close family member realizing about $12,000, as detailed in the indictment.
“Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank’s alleged exploitation of their employer’s confidential information allowed them to make more than $300,000 in illegal profits,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement Friday. “When people misuse confidential information for their own financial gain, they undermine the principles that allow our markets to function fairly and efficiently. Insider trading is a crime that New Yorkers want pursued with vigor. Its effects ripple through the financial system, harming ordinary investors and eroding public confidence. Today’s charges underscore the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to protecting the integrity of our markets and holding accountable those who choose to violate the law.”
Investigators allege the two engineers understood their actions were illegal. Eight days prior to the joint venture was announced, Stamp searched “statute of limitations insider trading,” and Plank’s close family member searched, in German, “how is insider trading prosecuted?,” according to the indictment.
The pair, who both live in San Jose, were arrested Friday and will appear in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Stamp and Plank face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of federal securities fraud.
TechCrunch has reached out to Rivian and Volkswagen for comment and will update the article if either company responds.
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Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.
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After falling more than 35% over the past month, Rocket Lab's (RKLB -8.70%) latest price action may seem troublesome. However, this sharp pullback looks like an opportunity to bottom-fish in this popular space stock.
Yes, the shift in sentiment does have substance. After an initial wave of enthusiasm, investors are now having second thoughts about the company's recent acquisition plans. While this pending deal has negatives, its long-term impact on Rocket Lab's future growth and valuation could offset the initial uncertainty.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why investors turned bearish on Rocket Lab On June 29, Rocket Lab, a satellite launch and manufacturing company, announced plans to acquire Iridium Communications (IRDM -3.90%) in an $8 billion cash-and-stock deal. As this transaction adds Iridium's satellite network and space telecom business to Rocket Lab's existing capabilities, post-acquisition, Rocket Lab could become a smaller version of Space Exploration Technologies, aka SpaceX.
In fact, it was these SpaceX stock comparisons that initially drove investors to respond positively to the deal announcement, rocketing the rocket stock from the mid $80s to just over $100 per share. Since then, however, shares have fallen back to Earth, and then some. Right now, the stock is hovering just around $70 per share. Initially intrigued by Rocket Lab becoming a possible "SpaceX in the making," the concern now is how this merger affects future growth.
Today's Change
(
-8.70
%) $
-6.09
Current Price
$
63.90
A slowdown today, a resurgence tomorrow? For now, weakness could persist with Rocket Lab shares. The market is still trying to figure out how to value a company that's diluting its growth rate by acquiring a more mature, already profitable business.
Yet while the initial growth dilution could weigh on shares, this deal could prove worthwhile in the long run. By acquiring a profitable business, Rocket Lab will have greater capacity to self-fund its organic growth efforts, including major projects such as its upcoming Neutron line of reusable rockets.
Also consider the deal's many likely cost and growth synergies. After a one-time slowdown could come a growth resurgence, driving a recovery in its shares. Given this, I'd consider going against the grain and doubling down on a position.
Key Takeaways KNSL beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates on underwriting gains and higher earned premiums.Net investment income rose, while favorable reserve development improved the combined and loss ratios.Lower gross written premiums and higher expenses partly offset strength, alongside continued share buybacks. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL - Free Report) delivered second-quarter 2026 net operating earnings of $5.54 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.6%. The bottom line increased 15.9% year over year.
Operating revenues increased 16.8% year over year to $548.5 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.3%.
The quarterly results benefited from growth in net earned premiums, increased net investment income, favorable prior-year reserve development and disciplined underwriting. However, these gains were partially offset by lower gross written premiums and higher operating expenses.
KNSL’s Operational UpdateGross written premiums of $527.6 million decreased 5% year over year, primarily due to a 32.7% decline in the Commercial Property Division. Net written premiums declined 1.4% year over year to $452.5 million.
Net investment income increased 19.9% year over year to $55.7 million. The increase was primarily driven by growth in the company’s investment portfolio. However, net investment income missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.7%.
Total expenses increased 9% year over year to $328.7 million due to higher underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses, interest expense and other operating expenses. Our model estimate was $342.4 million.
Kinsale Capital’s underwriting income was $105.4 million, up 10.5% year over year. The increase was driven by growth in net earned premiums, higher favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years, partially offset by lower ceding commissions. Underwriting income surpassed our model estimate of $70.8 million.
The combined ratio improved 30 basis points (bps) year over year to 75.5 compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78.6. The loss ratio improved 130 bps to 53.8, reflecting favorable reserve development. The expense ratio deteriorated 100 bps year over year to 21.7.
KNSL’s Financial UpdateKinsale Capital exited the second quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $210.5 million, up 28.9% from the 2025-end level.
As of June 30, 2026, stockholders' equity increased 3.9% from the 2025-end level to approximately $2.04 billion.
Book value per share was $89.34 as of June 30, 2026, up 5.5% from the 2025-end level.
Annualized operating return on equity deteriorated 30 bps year over year to 24.4% in the reported quarter.
KNSL’s Capital DeploymentKNSL repurchased 0.3 million shares for $100 million in the second quarter of 2026. In July 2026, the board approved an additional $250 million share repurchase authorization, increasing the remaining capacity under the program to $337.5 million.
KNSL paid a cash dividend of 25 cents per share in the second quarter of 2026.
KNSL’s Zacks RankKNSL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other InsurersThe Progressive Corporation’s (PGR - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $4.85 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.2%. The bottom line, however, decreased 6.1% year over year. Net premiums written were $21.1 billion in the second quarter, up 5% from $20.1 billion a year ago.
Net premiums earned grew 6% to $21.6 billion. The reported figure met the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Net realized gains on securities were $604 million, up 56% year over year. The combined ratio, the percentage of premiums paid out as claims and expenses, deteriorated 110 basis points from the prior-year quarter’s level to 87.1.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 core income of $10.04 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.21 by 92.7%. The bottom line climbed 54% year over year. Revenues of $12.09 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.27 billion by 1.5%.
Net investment income rose 14% year over year to $1.07 billion pre-tax ($883 million after tax). The combined ratio improved 670 basis points year over year to 83.6%, reflecting lower catastrophe losses, stronger reserve development and a better underlying combined ratio.
W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $1.27 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.5%. The bottom line increased 21% year over year. Operating revenues totaled $3.8 billion, up 3.6% year over year. The top line surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.87%.
W.R. Berkley’s net premiums written were about $3.4 billion, up 2.4% year over year. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.4 billion. The consolidated combined ratio (a measure of underwriting profitability) improved 160 basis points year over year to 90, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92.
CHANDLER, Ariz., July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ: MCHP) - Microchip Technology Incorporated, a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hailo, a provider of accelerated edge AI processors, advanced vision processing solutions, robotics processors and comprehensive AI software flows. The transaction is expected to close towards the end of the current quarter ending September 30, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed and the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on Microchip's financial results.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL) announced today it will hold a conference call on Thursday, July 30, 2026 beginning at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss quarterly results and business developments.
Investors, analysts and the general public may listen to the call via live webcast at ir.mklgroup.com. The call may be accessed telephonically by dialing (833) 461-5787 in the U.S., or +44 808 196 8935 internationally, and providing Meeting ID: 322 635 047. A replay of the call will be available on our website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call.
The webcast, the conference call and the content and permitted replays or rebroadcasts thereof are the exclusive copyrighted property of Markel Group Inc. and may not be copied, taped, rebroadcast, or published in whole or in part without the express written consent of Markel Group Inc.
About Markel Group
Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL) is a diverse family of companies that includes everything from insurance to bakery equipment, building supplies, houseplants, and more. The leadership teams of these businesses operate with a high degree of independence, while at the same time living the values that we call the Markel Style. Our specialty insurance business sits at the core of our company. Through decades of sound underwriting, the Markel Insurance team has provided the capital base from which we built a system of businesses and investments that collectively increase Markel Group's durability and adaptability. It's a system that provides diverse income streams, access to a wide range of investment opportunities, and the ability to efficiently move capital to the best ideas across the company. Most importantly though, this system enables each of our businesses to advance our shared goal of helping our customers, associates, and shareholders win over the long term. Visit mklgroup.com to learn more.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm to discuss their rights and options at no cost or obligation. We would handle any matter on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses.
Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of TransMedics Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMDX) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders.
If you currently own TransMedics stock and are a long-term shareholder, you may be able to seek corporate governance reforms, the return of funds back to the company, a court-approved financial incentive award, or other relief and benefits. Please click here to learn more about your legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or [email protected] or [email protected].
Why Your Participation Matters:
Shareholder involvement can help improve a company's policies, practices, and oversight mechanisms to create a more transparent, accountable, and effectively managed organization, which can enhance shareholder value.
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Key Takeaways Investors must buy the picks-and-shovels and infrastructure stocks winning the AI spending spree. VRT's sales and EPS are soaring as the digital infrastructure firm keeps AI data centers running.Electrical construction and energy infrastructure stock EME is an under-the-radar AI winner. Investors aiming to buy into the artificial intelligence boom driving the economy and Wall Street for the foreseeable future might want to consider best-in-class, AI-boosted infrastructure stocks.
The two Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stocks we explore today, Vertiv and EMCOR Group, have proven themselves to be big winners in the AI spending spree spanning everything from essential back-end data center technologies to critical energy and electricity infrastructure.
The two picks-and-shovels AI stocks are also rather AI agnostic. This means these proven AI infrastructure stocks will be winners no matter how the technologies evolve or which of the leading frontier models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc. come to dominate—and if open models continue to gain steam.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VRT and EME shares have crushed the S&P 500 and the Zacks Technology sector over the past five years. Both stocks are projected to post double-digit earnings growth in 2026 and 2027.
Vertiv and EMCOR have pulled back from their peaks and are finding support heading into their second quarter earnings releases. VRT is set to report on Wednesday, July 29, with EME prepared to release its Q2 financials on Thursday, July 30.
Best Long-Term Buy and Hold Stocks: The AI Infrastructure Bull CaseDespite growing talks of an AI bubble, the hyperscalers alone are projected to spend roughly $700 billion or more in AI-related capex in 2026 and ramp up again in 2027, after spending $400 billion in 2025. Some of this money is going directly into the pockets of VRT and EME as they help build out the AI age.
Globally, companies will pour $7 trillion into data-center capex by 2030 (McKinsey), with $1.3 trillion aimed at energy. This backdrop makes sense considering that generative AI like ChatGPT uses 10X more energy than traditional Google searches, and large AI data centers can guzzle as much power as mid-sized cities.
Plus, the U.S. electricity grid was already desperate for investment before the AI boom pushed it to the brink—especially in AI data-center hubs.
AI growth, the reshoring of critical manufacturing such as semiconductors, electrification, and more are set to boost U.S. electricity demand 25% by 2030 and ~100% by 2050.
The explosive growth in AI demand is forcing hyperscalers and enterprises to pour hundreds of billions into power-hungry infrastructure, creating a powerful multi-year tailwind for companies that supply energy, chips, cooling systems, construction services, and more.
VRT: A Great Buy and Hold AI and Tech StockVertiv (VRT - Free Report) is one of the most surefire pick-and-shovels technology-heavy AI infrastructure stocks to buy. The company doubled its revenue between 2021 and 2025 and grew its GAAP EPS from $0.33 per share to $3.41 per share.
The dividend-paying tech stock has soared ~1,050% in the past three years to blow away Nvidia’s 360%. The company’s rapid growth helped it earn a spot in the S&P 500 in March.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Columbus, Ohio-based company provides critical digital infrastructure technologies that help AI data centers and beyond run as efficiently as possible around the clock.
Cutting-edge AI systems pack so many high-power GPUs into dense racks that traditional air cooling can no longer keep up, making VRT’s advanced liquid cooling portfolio essential to prevent overheating and maintain performance. It’s even working with AI chip powerhouse Nvidia (NVDA - Free Report) to help solve AI cooling challenges.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv is actively expanding its manufacturing footprint to support “growing customer demand for AI, high-density computing, and other critical digital infrastructure applications.” It is projected to grow its adjusted EPS by 52% in 2026 and 34% in FY27, based on the most recent Zacks estimates, doubling its 2025 total in the process.
The chart above highlights its longer-term earnings upside. VRT is expected to grow its revenue by 34% in 2026 and 28% in 2027 to reach $17.64 billion, doubling 2024’s total.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The proven AI infrastructure company’s upward earnings revisions land it a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), and it has beaten our Zacks EPS estimates for over three years running. Vertiv outclimbed Nvidia over the past three years, and it's nearly neck and neck with it over the last five, up ~990%.
VRT could be ready for a larger pullback after its ~80% YTD climb, if it fails to hold the technical level highlighted above. But long-term investors should consider buying some shares now and then adding to their positions the next time Vertiv goes on sale because market timing is no easy task.
VRT reports before the market opens on Wednesday, July 29.
Buy this Under-the-Radar Picks-and-Shovels AI Stock NowElectrical construction and energy infrastructure stock EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME - Free Report) is profiting directly from the AI data center spending boom and the massive energy and infrastructure growth that's required to support the AI age and thriving growth economies.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
EMCOR is a standout provider of mechanical and electrical construction services, industrial and energy infrastructure, and building services. The company boasts that it handles everything from “constructing a hyperscale data center to providing 24/7 support for a cutting-edge hospital to implementing the latest energy efficiency technologies.”
EME’s growth (especially its earnings) skyrocketed over the last five years after rather steady expansion the prior 20 years as it benefits from converging megatrends. The AI data center infrastructure company has a great balance sheet with near-zero debt, and its shareholders’ equity is soaring.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The leading mechanical contractor averaged 13.5% YoY revenue expansion over the last five years, with its GAAP EPS skyrocketing from $7.06 per share in 2021 to $28.19 per share in 2025. EMCOR’s adjusted earnings are projected to climb 14% in 2026 and 12% in 2027, on 12% and 8%, respective sales growth. EME’s upward EPS revisions land it a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
EMCOR stock has ripped 520% higher in the past five years as part of a stellar market and sector-crushing run over the last 25 years (up ~6,900%). EME has dropped ~20% from its early May peaks, and its average Zacks price target implies 26% upside from its current level.
EME stock is attempting to find support at its long-term 50-week moving average after holding ground at its 200-day and a key technical range over the last year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The downturn, mixed with its strong earnings outlook, has EMCOR trading at 24.5X forward 12-month earnings, down significantly from its recent highs of 32X. On the valuation front, EME is trading neck and neck with its highly ranked Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, even though it has doubled that increasingly critical group of companies over the last decade.
EME reports before the market opens on Thursday, July 30.
Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF provides a lower expense ratio and significantly lower volatility compared to U.S. Global Jets ETF U.S. Global Jets ETF focuses on airline operators whereas Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF targets the broader military and defense ecosystem Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has delivered superior 5-year total returns and a more conservative risk profile than its airline-heavy peer
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hub Group, Inc. ("Hub Group" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: HUBG) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Hub Group securities between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026 (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION
If you are an investor in Hub Group and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.
DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than August 28, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.
On February 5, 2026, Hub Group announced preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2025 results and disclosed the identification of a $77 million accounting error due to "the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable in the first nine months of 2025." Additionally, the Company said it "plans to restate its financial statements for the first, second and third quarters of 2025," and "is continuing to assess the potential impact to its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023."
On this news, the price of Hub Group stock fell $9.37 per share, or 18.25%, to close at $41.96 per share on February 6, 2026.
Then, on May 12, 2026, Hub Group announced that it had "identified certain transactions that were prematurely or incorrectly recognized or not adequately supported," causing its 2023 and 2024 annual reports filed with the SEC to be "materially misstated," such that they "should no longer be relied upon." The Company did not quantify the expected misstatement, although it stated that it "expects to conclude that it did not maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023."
On this news, the price of Hub Group stock fell $5.24 per share, about 12.5%, to close at $36.62 per share on May 12, 2026.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, the Company's financial statements contained material misstatements caused by the premature and incorrect recognition of certain transactions and other material misstatements caused by the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable.
WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?
Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.
Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.
For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:
Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.
https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/hub-group-inc/
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306456
Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Hub Group, Inc. ("Hub Group" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: HUBG).
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN HUB GROUP, INC. (HUBG), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE AUGUST 28, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024 contained material misstatements caused by the premature and incorrect recognition of certain transactions; (2) the Company's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2025 to Q3 2025 contained material misstatements caused by the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with losses related to Insulet Corporation ("Insulet" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PODD) have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit.
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN INSULET CORPORATION (PODD), CLICK HERE BEFORE AUGUST 31, 2026 (THE LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Insulet's manufacturing controls and procedures were defective; (2) the foregoing created a foreseeable heightened risk that one or more Insulet products would be found to be in violation of applicable safety regulations and/or pose a risk of injury; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us.
The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz,
Email us at: [email protected]
Call us at: 310-914-5007
Visit our website at: www.frankcruzlaw.com
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
Frank R. Cruz,
Telephone: 310-914-5007
Email: [email protected]
Visit our website at: www.frankcruzlaw.com
SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENSG) resulting from allegations that Ensign may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Ensign securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/the-ensign-group-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On June 8, 2026, Investing.com published an article entitled "Ensign Group stock tumbles after short seller report." The article stated that Ensign shares fell after "short seller Hunterbrook released a report alleging the nursing home operator's business model relies on inadequate patient care and gaming quality metrics." Further, the article stated that Hunterbrook "published findings from a five-month investigation claiming the company's profits depend on understaffing facilities while routing taxpayer dollars to executives and affiliates. The report alleges patients have suffered and died as a result."
On this news, Ensign's shares fell 8.15% on June 8, 2026.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306482
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Key Takeaways NRG plans $1 billion in 2026 buybacks and nearly $407 million in dividends. NRG will invest about $310 million in growth, including 1.5 GW of Texas Energy Fund projects. Rising AI data-center, manufacturing and electrification demand support NRG's long-term growth. NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG - Free Report) , through systematic capital allocation, utilizes its cash to grow and create shareholder value through reinvestment, debt repayment, acquisitions, dividends and share buybacks. The company is making strategic capital investments across its business segments, generating attractive returns and enhancing shareholder value.
In 2026, NRG Energy plans to return $1.4 billion to shareholders through $1 billion of share repurchases and nearly $407 million in dividends. Rising electricity demand from AI data centers, manufacturing and electrification is strengthening NRG Energy’s long-term growth prospects. Growing investments in AI infrastructure are driving demand for reliable power, creating additional opportunities for the company’s generation business.
The company plans to invest approximately $310 million in growth initiatives during 2026. NRG is advancing 1.5 gigawatts of Texas Energy Fund projects, integrating the LS Power acquisition, expanding opportunities in data centers and providing flexible demand solutions. These investments are expected to drive long-term earnings growth while supporting disciplined capital allocation.
Capital Allocation Strengthens Shareholder ReturnsCapital allocation strengthens shareholder returns by balancing growth investments with disciplined cash deployment. Utilities invest in grid modernization while returning excess cash through dividends and share repurchases. This balanced capital allocation supports earnings growth, boosts per-share value and enhances long-term shareholder returns.
Vistra (VST - Free Report) returned about $600 million through dividends and share repurchases by May 1, 2026. It has repurchased $6.3 billion of shares since 2021, reducing share count by 30%, with $1.5 billion in buyback authorization remaining through 2027.
Constellation Energy (CEG - Free Report) repurchased 1.2 million shares for approximately $335 million in the first quarter of 2026 stock pullback, demonstrating confidence in its long-term value and
commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.
The Zacks Rundown on NRGNRG’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 10.16% and 26.55%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NRG’s Returns on Equity (ROE)NRG Energy's trailing-12-month ROE is 70.67%, ahead of the industry average of 11.21%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NRG’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, NRG Energy’s shares have risen 0.2% compared with the industry’s 1% growth.
Key Takeaways AppLovin's AI-powered software platform supports revenue growth with relatively modest cost increases.APP leverages its technology across new markets, supporting margin expansion and scalable growth.APP's software model generates cash for AI innovation while strengthening its competitive position. One of AppLovin’s (APP - Free Report) greatest competitive strengths is the operating leverage embedded in its software-driven business model. Unlike businesses that require significant incremental investment to support growth, software platforms can serve a larger customer base with relatively modest increases in operating costs. As a result, a greater share of every additional dollar of revenue has the potential to translate into higher earnings.
AppLovin has increasingly shifted its business toward high-margin software solutions, particularly its AI-powered advertising platform. By relying on machine learning to improve ad targeting, campaign optimization and monetization, the company delivers greater value to advertisers without proportionately increasing its cost base. This allows profitability to improve as revenue expands, demonstrating the scalability of its platform.
The benefits of operating leverage become even more significant as AppLovin enters new markets. Whether supporting mobile gaming, e-commerce or other digital advertising categories, the company can extend its existing technology infrastructure across additional customers rather than building entirely new platforms for each opportunity. This creates an efficient growth model capable of generating expanding margins over time.
Another advantage of a software-centric business is its ability to reinvest from a position of strength. Strong cash generation provides flexibility to accelerate product innovation, enhance AI capabilities and pursue strategic initiatives while maintaining financial discipline. These investments can further improve the platform’s effectiveness, attract additional customers and reinforce the company's competitive position.
As digital advertising becomes increasingly dependent on AI-driven optimization, AppLovin’s scalable software platform positions it to benefit from both revenue growth and improved operating efficiency. This combination of expanding demand and inherent operating leverage could support durable earnings growth and strengthen the company’s long-term investment appeal.
How AppLovin Stacks Up Against Key U.S. PeersThe Trade Desk (TTD - Free Report) operates a leading demand-side platform built around programmatic advertising and data-driven targeting. While the company benefits from strong relationships with premium brands and advertisers, its margin profile tends to be more sensitive to fluctuations in advertising spending. In many ways, The Trade Desk focuses on scale and reach, while AppLovin concentrates more heavily on performance and efficiency.
Unity Software (U - Free Report) also participates in the advertising ecosystem through its real-time 3D platform and monetization tools for developers. However, Unity’s advertising business remains closely tied to the developer community and has been more volatile. Unlike AppLovin, Unity is still working to balance growth with consistent profitability, which makes AppLovin’s margin stability a notable differentiator among these peers.
APP’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesThe stock has declined 41% year to date compared with the industry’s 6% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, APP trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21.31, which is below the industry average of 21.39. It carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APP’s 2026 earnings has declined over the past 30 days.
APP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Super Micro Computer (SMCI -3.53%) recently issued a preliminary financial update for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (period ended June 30). The results painted a mixed picture, with revenue expected to come in near the low end of guidance.
Nevertheless, two other metrics -- a sharply higher gross margin and a record backlog in excess of $60 billion -- stand out as encouraging signals for the broader artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure market and, specifically, for Dell Technologies (DELL -0.42%). Read on to learn why.
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Why is Super Micro Computer important for AI infrastructure? Super Micro designs high-performance servers, storage systems, and rack-scale solutions optimized for AI data centers. The company is a major player in AI infrastructure as its platforms incorporate the latest GPU architectures, advanced liquid cooling, and high-density configurations. These systems help hyperscalers and cloud providers scale the massive compute clusters required for AI model training and inference. Super Micro competes with other server and systems vendors, most notably Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Lenovo.
Why do Super Micro's gross margin and backlog matter? Super Micro's preliminary results show an estimated gross margin between 15% and 17%, well above the company's prior guidance of 8.2% to 8.4%. Management attributed the rising profitability to a more favorable customer and product mix. The margin expansion signals that AI server demand is beginning to support stronger pricing and profitability, reflecting a shift toward higher-value configurations as opposed to lower-margin build-outs.
At the same time, Super Micro reported a record backlog with $60 billion in new orders during the fourth quarter alone. The enormous order intake points to sustained capital expenditures (capex) by hyperscalers accelerating their data center footprints. Far from a one-off surge, the data suggests the AI infrastructure boom remains robust, with big tech continuing to commit meaningful balance sheet resources well into the future.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why Dell is an overlooked winner from Super Micro's growth Super Micro's growth highlights Dell as a key beneficiary of the same industry trends. Dell offers a far broader portfolio compared to Super Micro -- encompassing servers, storage, networking, PCs, software, and support services. While Super Micro excels in specialized AI server deployments, some customers prefer Dell's integrated solutions and ability to deliver a complete IT stack.
The strong underlying demand confirmed by Super Micro's results validates that AI infrastructure spending is accelerating. Smart investors understand that this creates a spillover opportunity for Dell in segments where it holds competitive advantages. This includes broader enterprise deployments, networking and storage, and situations where customers rely on multiple suppliers.
As Super Micro captures certain pockets of the AI server market, Dell's diversified portfolio is positioned to win incremental business that falls outside SMCI's narrower expertise. Ultimately, Super Micro's improving profitability and massive backlog help confirm the durability of the AI infrastructure supercycle. Dell is positioned to convert Super Micro's momentum into its own market-share gains as it rides the same secular tailwinds but with greater breadth.
Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) shares are tumbling 13% to $188 in Friday afternoon trading, dragging Bloom’s peers lower across the hydrogen and fuel-cell complex. FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) stock is off 9% to $21, while Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) shares are slipping 4% to $2.10.
There isn’t a clean, company-specific catalyst behind the Bloom Energy stock move today. It looks like high-beta profit-taking on a broad risk-off session, with a crowded AI-power trade unwinding after powerful rallies in Bloom Energy and FuelCell Energy shares.
The Global X Hydrogen ETF (NYSEARCA:HYDR), which holds all three names, is down 5% to $42. That confirms the pressure is sector-wide rather than idiosyncratic to any one issuer.
Bloom Energy Leads the Drop After a Vertical Run Bloom Energy stock is still up 119% year to date (YTD) even after Friday’s drop, and that gain is really the point. Vertical rallies invite sharp air pockets when momentum flips, and today has the look of one of those days.
The bull case, which powered the rally, centers on the company’s on-site power deals for AI data centers, including a warrant partnership with Oracle (NYSE:ORCL | ORCL Price Prediction). Bloom Energy’s Q1 2026 report reinforced that story, with revenue of $751.1 million, up 130.4% year over year (YoY), and management raised the company’s full-year guidance to $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion.
The overhang is an early-July short-seller report that questioned Bloom Energy’s supply-chain and production-capacity claims and prompted a securities class-action investigation. Nothing new hit the wire today, but the bears have a ready-made narrative when the market turns defensive.
FuelCell Energy Cools After a Face-Ripping Rally FuelCell Energy stock is trading at $21.37, off 8% on the session, yet the shares are still up 192% YTD. That 2026-to-date figure is the biggest in the group and explains why the pullback still looks orderly relative to the underlying gain.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
FuelCell Energy’s Q2 2026 earnings report was mixed. The company’s revenue came in at $35.6 million, down 5% YoY, and the company took a $42.6 million non-cash impairment tied to its Groton project. The offset is a commercial pipeline management put at 4 gigawatts, with 90% tied to data center proposals.
Plug Power’s Smaller Drop Reflects a Smaller Rally Plug Power stock is down 4%, the mildest hit of the three. That’s less a sign of relative strength than of a stock that never joined the parabolic move, with Plug Power shares up only 7% YTD.
Plug Power’s Q1 2026 report showed revenue of $163.5 million, up 22.3% YoY, and management is targeting positive EBITDAS in Q4 2026. The company also flagged roughly $275 million in expected proceeds from hydrogen project asset monetization, a key liquidity marker for a story that still runs on cash.
What Investors Can Watch Next The Global X Hydrogen ETF is a narrow, single-theme fund, and its 30% YTD gain shows exactly how concentration risk can cut both ways. Investors sizing their exposure via HYDR or these single-stock names should consider keeping their position sizes modest given the volatility on display today.
The bull case still rests on AI data center power demand, and Bloom Energy’s Oracle-linked deals remain the clearest evidence that thesis is real. The bear case, sharpened by the July short-seller report, is that valuations already price in a lot of that growth, and any slowdown in adoption could unwind more of the rally.
Investors can watch for whether Friday’s selling persists into next week and whether Bloom Energy stock holds $185. Forward earnings updates from all three companies in the weeks ahead could reset the narrative in either direction.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Key Takeaways Rigetti is projected to post 40% earnings growth and 173% revenue growth for second-quarter 2026.QUBT is expected to deliver 16.7% earnings growth and 7,733% revenue growth in second-quarter 2026.Rigetti and QUBT's average price targets imply 103.6% and 131.7% upside, respectively. After an explosive second quarter, July has been a reality check for quantum computing stocks. Pure-play names such as Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) and Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi, D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) and IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) have pulled back sharply as investors locked in profits and rotated away from high-beta technology stocks. Yet Zacks' short-term price targets continue to imply triple-digit upside for these companies, highlighting Wall Street's optimism despite the recent pullback. Let's get into the details.
Profit-Taking and Macro Concerns Trigger July PullbackThe sell-off appears to have been driven more by macroeconomic and market-wide factors than by any deterioration in company fundamentals. Throughout July, investors grew increasingly cautious about lofty valuations across AI- and quantum-related stocks amid concerns over the sustainability of surging AI infrastructure spending and renewed profit-taking following the sector's strong second-quarter rally.
The weakness was evident across the broader quantum computing theme. The Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM), which provides diversified exposure to quantum computing and related enabling technologies, declined nearly 12% between June 1 and July 23, reflecting broad-based selling across the sector.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Economic Fundamentals Continue to Support Risk AppetiteThe broader economic backdrop remained resilient despite moderating momentum. According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the Manufacturing PMI eased to 53.3 in June from 54.0 in May, remaining above the 50 threshold for the sixth consecutive month and signaling continued expansion in U.S. factory activity. New orders and production continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace, while input cost pressures moderated. The data suggest that manufacturing activity remains healthy even as growth normalizes from earlier strength.
Importantly, the quantum computing industry's long-term investment thesis remains intact. Governments and enterprises continue to increase spending on quantum technologies, while commercial adoption is gradually expanding beyond research into optimization, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and drug discovery. Recent quarterly results from leading pure-play companies also reflected strong customer demand through expanding bookings, growing commercial partnerships, rising remaining performance obligations and healthy liquidity positions.
Long-Term Fundamentals Remain Intact Despite Near-Term VolatilityFor investors, however, valuation remains the key consideration. Most quantum pure-plays continue to trade at levels that imply years of future execution, making them highly sensitive to shifts in interest-rate expectations and overall market sentiment. Consequently, periods of macro-driven risk aversion tend to produce outsized corrections even when company-specific fundamentals remain unchanged.
2 Quantum Stocks With Significant Upside Potential
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Rigetti: Shares of Rigetti have declined 42.1% since June. Despite the recent pullback, Rigetti remains one of the more compelling pure-play quantum computing investments. In the last reported first-quarter 2026, the company reported revenue growth of nearly 199% year over year, driven by increased government and commercial activity. The company successfully maintained a strong liquidity position with approximately $569 million in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments. Rigetti continues to advance its superconducting quantum roadmap, with management reiterating plans to launch its 108-qubit Cepheus-1 system in 2026 and emphasizing improvements in qubit fidelity and scalability. The company's expanding collaborations with government agencies and enterprise customers position it to capitalize as commercial quantum adoption accelerates.
For the to-be-reported second quarter of 2026 ending June, Rigetti is projected to report earnings growth of 40% on revenue growth of 173%. The average price target of $31.00 represents an increase of 108.8% from the last closing price of $14.85. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QCi: Shares of QUBT have lost 36.6% since June. The company also appears well-positioned despite the recent share-price weakness. QCi reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of $3.7 million, up sharply from $39,000 a year earlier, primarily reflecting contributions from the Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt acquisitions, which expanded its photonics and quantum technology capabilities.
The company ended the quarter with $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments, providing significant financial flexibility to support product development and commercialization. With an enhanced technology portfolio and a strong balance sheet, QCi is well-positioned to pursue new enterprise opportunities.
For the second quarter of 2026, QUBT is projected to report earnings growth of 16.7% on revenue growth of a significant 7733%. The average price target of $18.33 represents an increase of 133.2% from the last closing price of $7.86. The stock also carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world's leading quantum platform company, today announced that the company will release its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, after the financial markets close. IonQ will host a conference call at 4:30 PM Eastern that same day to discuss its results and business outlook. The call will be accessible by telephone at 1-888-349-0106 (domestic) or +1-412-902-0131 (international). The call wi.
Jeff Korzenik, Fifth Third Commercial Bank chief economist, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss the economic impact from tariffs thus far, the Federal Reserve and much more.
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Kate Jorens - SVP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations
Christopher Swift - Chairman & CEO
Beth Bombara - Executive VP & CFO
Michael Fish - Executive VP & Head of Employee Benefits
Adin Tooker - President
Melinda Thompson - Head of Personal Lines
Conference Call Participants
Andrew Kligerman - TD Cowen, Research Division
Brian Meredith - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Michael Zaremski - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Charles Peters - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Taylor Scott - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Katie Sakys - Autonomous Research US LP
David Motemaden - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Elyse Greenspan - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Robert Cox - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the Hartford Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Webcast. [Operator Instructions]
I will now hand the conference over to Kate Jorens, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations. Kate, please go ahead.
Kate Jorens
SVP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations
Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for the Hartford Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call and Webcast. Yesterday, we reported results and posted all earnings-related materials on our website.
Before we begin, please note that our presentation includes forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may differ materially from actual results. We do not assume any obligation to update these statements. Investors should consider the risks and uncertainties detailed in our recent SEC filings, news release and financial supplement, which are available on the Investor Relations section of thehartford.com. Our commentary includes non-GAAP financial measures with explanations and GAAP reconciliations available in our recent SEC filings, news release and financial supplement.
Key Takeaways HIG reported Q2 EPS of $3.42, beating estimates and up 5.6% year over year. HIG benefited from higher investment income and Business Insurance premium growth. HIG returned $615 million to shareholders and approved a new $4.2 billion repurchase program. The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) delivered second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share of $3.42, up 6% year over year and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.12 by 9.6%.
Revenues came in at $5.23 billion, topping the consensus mark of $5.19 billion by 0.8%. The top line improved 6.8% year over year.
The quarterly results benefited from higher investment income, premium growth in Business Insurance and improving Personal Insurance profitability. Strong new business expansion in Small Business and favorable pricing trends supported results. However, the upside was partly offset by an increased expense level, higher catastrophe losses and weaker Employee Benefits profitability.
HIG Benefits From Investment Income GrowthThe Hartford’s second-quarter core earnings inched up 1% year over year to $945 million. Net income available to common stockholders rose 31% year over year to $1.3 billion, helped by stronger operating performance and income from discontinued operations.
Earned premiums grew 5.3% year over year to $6.3 billion, marginally higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Net investment income, before tax, advanced 22% year over year to $800 million, higher than the consensus mark of $746 million. The increase reflected higher income from limited partnerships and other alternative investments, along with growth in invested assets.
Total benefits, losses and expenses escalated 8.8% year over year to $6 billion due to higher amortization of DAC and insurance operating expenses.
P&C current accident year catastrophe losses were $222 million, up 4.7% year over year.
HIG Business Insurance Delivers Steady GrowthThe Business Insurance unit remained the largest contributor to operating performance, with written premiums rising 5% year over year to $4 billion. Net income rose 1% to $704 million, while core earnings declined marginally year over year to $695 million, as higher premium growth and investment income were offset by underwriting pressures.
The segment’s combined ratio deteriorated to 91.4 from 87 in the prior-year quarter, pressured by less favorable prior-year development and higher catastrophe losses. The metric compared favorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92.
Small Business delivered improvement, with written premiums increasing 7% year over year and the combined ratio improving to 85.9. Growth was supported by double-digit new business expansion.
HIG Personal Insurance Improves ProfitabilityPersonal Insurance continued its turnaround, with core earnings rising 36% year over year to $128 million. Written premiums declined 7% to $915 million as competitive market conditions weighed on growth.
Profitability improved significantly, with the combined ratio improving to 90.1 from 94.1 in the prior-year quarter. The metric compared favorably with the consensus mark of 97.
The segment’s underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio improved 280 basis points to 60. Pricing increases outpaced loss cost trends, helping offset pressure from lower earned premiums and higher expenses.
HIG P&C Other Ops Remain StableP&C Other Operations reported core earnings of $17 million, up 21% year over year. Revenues increased 35.3% year over year to $23 million.
HIG’s Employee Benefits Faces Cost PressureEmployee Benefits reported core earnings of $139 million, down 15% year over year. The decline reflected higher losses, particularly in group disability, although premium growth remained positive.
Fully insured ongoing premiums increased 5% to $1.7 billion. The segment’s core earnings margin was 7.4%, supported by strong life results and solid disability performance.
The loss ratio deteriorated to 72.5% from 69.1% in the prior-year quarter, while the expense ratio improved to 25.2% from 25.7% due to earned premium growth and lower commissions, partially offset by higher technology costs.
The Hartford Funds Sale Boosts Corporate ResultsHartford Funds was reclassified as discontinued operations following the agreement to sell Hartford Funds Management, Inc. The transaction resulted in income from discontinued operations of $318 million before tax in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared with $57 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to a $251 million income tax benefit related to the sale.
Corporate reported net income of $300 million in the quarter compared with $45 million a year ago, while core earnings resulted in a loss of $34 million, narrower than a loss of $36 million in the prior-year period. The improvement in reported results was primarily driven by the Hartford Funds transaction impact.
HIG’s Financial Update (as of June 30, 2026)The Hartford exited the second quarter with total assets of $88 billion, up 2.3% from 2025-end, while total investments inched up 0.8% from 2025-end level to $64 billion. Cash rose 2.5% to $125 million during the same period.
Debt remained largely stable at $4.4 billion. Total stockholders’ equity came in at $19.6 billion, up 3.4% from year-end 2025. Book value per share excluding AOCI improved 7.2% year over year to $78.91.
Operating cash flow was $2.2 billion in the first half of 2026, down marginally from the prior-year comparable period.
HIG Strengthens Capital ReturnsThe Hartford continued its capital deployment efforts during the quarter, returning $615 million to shareholders. The company repurchased $450 million of shares and paid $165 million in common stock dividends.
The board also authorized a new $4.2 billion share repurchase program effective Aug. 1, 2026, through the end of 2028. This authorization represents a 27% increase from the previous program.
HIG Maintains Strong Operating MetricsThe company generated a trailing 12-month core earnings return on equity of 18.7%, which improved 270 basis points year over year.
HIG’s Zacks RankThe Hartford currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other InsurersOf the insurance industry players that have reported second-quarter 2026 results so far, the bottom-line results of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR - Free Report) , Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) and First American Financial Corporation (FAF - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
RenaissanceRe reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $12.92 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.9%. The bottom line also improved 5.1% year over year. Total operating revenues declined 6.7% year over year to $2.64 billion. The top line missed the consensus mark by 1%. Net premiums earned declined 8.8% year over year to $2.2 billion. Net investment income of $432.5 million advanced 4.7% year over year in the quarter.
RenaissanceRe's underwriting income declined 0.4% year over year to $599.1 million. The combined ratio improved to 72.8% from 75.1% in the year-ago quarter. The Property segment’s net premiums earned of $881.6 million increased 1.6% year over year. It generated an underwriting income of $642.7 million, which increased 2% year over year. The Casualty & Specialty Segment unit recorded net premiums earned of $1.3 billion, which tumbled 14.7% year over year to $1.32 billion.
Chubb’s second-quarter 2026 core operating earnings of $7.26 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.63 by 9.5%. The bottom line increased 18.2% year over year. Revenues rose 2.7% year over year to $15.77 billion but missed the consensus mark of $15.90 billion by 0.8%. P&C underwriting income increased 18.8% year over year to $1.94 billion. The combined ratio improved 180 basis points to 83.8%. Consolidated net premiums written increased 3.6% year over year to $14.71 billion. Pre-tax net investment income increased 12.3% to a record $1.76 billion.
Global P&C net premiums written, excluding agriculture, advanced 2.8% to $11.99 billion. Life insurance net premiums written grew 7.5% to $1.94 billion. North America Commercial P&C net premiums written declined 2.3% to $5.59 billion. Major accounts and specialty fell 9.0% as underwriting actions weighed on property business, while middle-market and small commercial premiums increased 8.9% to $2.34 billion. Overseas General Insurance net premiums written jumped 10.2% to $3.99 billion, or 4.8% in constant dollars.
First American Financial reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $2.08 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.6% and rose 35.9% year over year. Operating revenues climbed 15% to $2.1 billion. The top line surpassed the consensus estimate by 4.4%. Direct premiums and escrow fees reached $794.1 million, marking a 14.8% increase from the prior-year level. Investment income totaled $183.7 million in the second quarter, up 14.7% year over year.
In the Title Insurance and Services unit, total revenues rose 16.9% year over year to $2 billion. Investment income increased 11% to $164 million. Adjusted pretax margin expanded 310 bps to 15.7%. Title open orders increased 0.7% to 188,200, while closed orders declined 0.7% to 137,300. Average revenue per direct title order increased to $4,572, reflecting a 31% increase in commercial average revenue per order. In the Home Warranty segment, total revenues rose 3.3% to $113.8 million, exceeding our model estimate of $111 million. Pretax income climbed 8.5% year over year to $24.2 million.
BENSALEM, Pa. , July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) (“Hercules,” “Hercules Capital,” or the “Company”), today announced that it has closed an underwritten public offering of $325.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.300% notes due July 2031 (the “Notes”). The Notes are unsecured and bear interest at a rate of 6.300% per year, payable semiannually, will mature on July 24, 2031, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company's o.
Key Takeaways RLI beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates on premium growth and higher investment income.Favorable reserve development supported Property and Surety results despite higher catastrophe losses.Weaker Casualty underwriting and higher expenses partly offset strength, while share buybacks continued. RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of 83 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.9%. The bottom line increased 1.2% from the prior-year quarter.
The quarterly results reflect continued premium growth, higher investment income and favorable prior-year reserve development. However, weaker underwriting performance in the casualty segment partly offset these positives.
Operational PerformanceOperating revenues for the reported quarter were $463 million, up 4.9% year over year, driven by higher net premiums earned and net investment income. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.6%.
Gross premiums written (GPW) increased 3.1% year over year to $579.7 million, driven by strong growth in the casualty segment. Our estimate was $592.9 million.
Net investment income increased 16.8% year over year to $46 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $42.7 million, while our estimate for the metric was pegged at $40.7 million. The investment portfolio’s total return was 3.4% in the second quarter.
Total expenses increased 6.4% year over year to $367.9 million, primarily due to higher policy acquisition costs, insurance operating expenses and interest expense on debt. Our estimate was $376.8 million.
Underwriting income fell 3.7% year over year to $59.9 million. Our estimate was $53.1 million. The combined ratio deteriorated 110 basis points year over year to 85.6, reflecting higher catastrophe losses. Our estimate was 87.2.
Segmental ResultsCasualty lines’ GPW rose 10.6% year over year to $339 million. The figure was above our estimate of $338.1 million.
The underwriting income decreased significantly to $1.7 million from $8.3 million, down 79% year over year. The combined ratio deteriorated 280 bps year over year to 99.3%. The figure was above our estimate of 98.4%.
Property lines’ GPW fell 5.9% year over year to $199.3 million. The figure was below our estimate of $207.7 million.
The underwriting income increased to $53.5 million, up 8.1%, supported by favorable reserve development. The combined ratio improved 530 bps year over year to 56.8%. Our estimate was 65.2%.
Surety lines’ GPW declined 5.7% year over year to $41.4 million. The figure was below our estimate of $47.1 million.
The underwriting income improved 5.4% year over year to $4.7 million. The combined ratio improved 70 bps year over year to 87.2%. Our estimate was 84.8%.
RLI's Financial UpdateRLI exited the second quarter with total investments and cash of $4.9 billion, up 4.5% from 2025-end level.
Book value was $19.09 per share as of June 30, 2026, up 11% from Dec. 31, 2025.
Net cash flow from operations was $145.2 million, down 16.9% year over year.
The statutory surplus increased 5.2% from 2025-end to $1.94 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Return on equity was 24.5%, expanding 480 bps from the year-ago period.
RLI’s Capital Deployment UpdateOn June 12, 2026, the insurer paid a regular quarterly dividend of 18 cents per share for the second quarter. RLI’s cumulative dividends totaled more than $1.3 billion over the last five years.
On May 14, 2026, the board of directors approved a $250 million share repurchase program. The company repurchased 0.2 million shares for $12 million during the second quarter. As of June 30, 2026, $238 million remained available under the authorization.
RLI’s Zacks RankRLI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Another InsurerFirst American Financial Corporation (FAF - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $2.08 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.6% and rose 35.9% year over year. Operating revenues climbed 15% to $2.1 billion, driven by growth in direct premiums, escrow fees, and Information and other revenues. The top line surpassed the consensus estimate by 4.4%.
Direct premiums and escrow fees reached $794.1 million, marking a 14.8% increase from the prior-year level. Investment income totaled $183.7 million in the second quarter, up 14.7% year over year. The figure exceeded both our estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $182.3 million.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 core income of $10.04 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.21 by 92.7%. The bottom line climbed 54% year over year. Revenues of $12.09 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.27 billion by 1.5%.
Net investment income rose 14% year over year to $1.07 billion pre-tax ($883 million after tax). The combined ratio improved 670 basis points year over year to 83.6%, reflecting lower catastrophe losses, stronger reserve development and a better underlying combined ratio.
W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $1.27 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.5%. The bottom line increased 21% year over year. Operating revenues totaled $3.8 billion, up 3.6% year over year. The top line surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.87%.
W.R. Berkley’s net premiums written were about $3.4 billion, up 2.4% year over year. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.4 billion. The consolidated combined ratio (a measure of underwriting profitability) improved 160 basis points year over year to 90, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92.
Key Takeaways COHR's AI infrastructure focus drives 41% YoY growth in its data center segment.Multi-year cloud commitments transition COHR away from traditional hardware cycles.COHR outperforms peers like LITE and FN with strong demand and growth visibility. Coherent’s (COHR - Free Report) transformation is increasingly being driven by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, positioning the company as a key supplier to one of the fastest-growing segments of the technology industry. As hyperscale cloud providers and enterprises continue investing heavily in AI computing, demand for high-speed optical connectivity has accelerated, strengthening Coherent’s role within next-generation data center networks.
The company's Datacenter & Communications segment has emerged as its primary growth engine, contributing 75% of third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues while delivering impressive 41% year-over-year growth. This reflects the growing importance of optical transceivers, networking components, and photonic technologies that enable AI clusters to transfer massive volumes of data with low latency and high efficiency.
More importantly, this shift is changing the nature of Coherent’s business. Hardware manufacturers have traditionally faced cyclical demand, fluctuating orders and short product lifecycles that often resulted in uneven financial performance. Coherent is increasingly benefiting from a different dynamic. Its products are becoming integral to long-term AI infrastructure projects, where investments are supported by multi-year cloud expansion plans rather than short-term replacement cycles.
This transition provides greater visibility into future demand and improves the quality of the company’s revenue base. As AI deployments continue scaling, customers are making longer-term commitments to critical networking infrastructure, reducing the uncertainty typically associated with hardware businesses.
With AI infrastructure spending expected to remain a strategic priority for cloud providers and enterprise customers, Coherent appears well positioned to benefit from sustained demand. Its growing exposure to this structural trend could support more durable revenue growth while strengthening its long-term investment appeal.
Coherent Continues to Outperform Key Peers
Compared with optical networking peers Lumentum (LITE - Free Report) and Fabrinet (FN - Free Report) , Coherent continues to benefit from stronger exposure to AI infrastructure investments and increasing demand for high-speed optical connectivity. While LITE and FN are well-positioned to capitalize on data center upgrades, Coherent has strengthened its competitive standing through manufacturing expansion, long-term customer commitments, and improved backlog visibility.
The company is also demonstrating an ability to translate robust demand into profitable growth while maintaining confidence in future expansion. As AI infrastructure spending continues to accelerate, Lumentum, Fabrinet and Coherent are all expected to benefit. However, Coherent currently combines superior growth visibility, expanding production capacity and a more attractive post-correction valuation, making it stand out among its optical networking peers.
COHR’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
The stock has surged a massive 70% year to date against the industry’s 7% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, COHR trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 35.93X, well above the industry’s 21.2X. It carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal 2026 earnings has declined over the past 60 days.
COHR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The semiconductor market, which has significantly outperformed the broader market in 2026 is seeing a pullback in July. The factors driving this rise include aggressive profit-taking, valuation concerns, and unwinding leveraged trades following a historic AI-fueled rally.
Key Takeaways The recent semiconductor market pullback is fueled by institutional profit-taking amid record valuations, the unwinding of leveraged positions, and concerns regarding the sustainability of hyperscaler capital expenditures, which could threaten revenue if order volumes slow. Despite significant drawdowns from June peaks, major sector ETFs like SMH and SOXX have continued to attract billions in new capital, potentially signaling persistent investor confidence despite the volatility. With valuations stretched, Q2 earnings results and forward guidance have become a primary driver of semiconductor performance. Sustained growth from chip manufacturers is now essential to justify current pricing levels and avoid further repricing. Drivers of the Market Correction Following quarters of record gains, the market is seeing a recalibration of expectations, rather than a collapse in demand. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) currently sits at a Price to Earnings ratio of 49.64, significantly higher than U.S. broad market funds such as the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), with a P/E ratio of 22.70. With semiconductor firms trading at record valuations, investors began taking massive profits and trimmed overweight positions to reduce concentration risk.
Additionally, Mega-cap hyperscalers such as Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Oracle (ORCL) account for a large portion of semiconductor capital expenditures. As AI capital expenditures continue to increasingly compress free cash flows, investors are demanding to see strong revenues from these investments. If just one of these hyperscalers begins slowing semiconductor orders, it could lead to significant revenue declines for semiconductor manufacturers.
Furthermore, when the semiconductor market was surging, many investors turned to products like daily leveraged ETFs to amplify returns. When the sector began to stall, funds such as the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF (SOXL) were forced to sell heavily at the market close to maintain the fund’s target exposure, driving semiconductor companies stock prices lower.
ETF Performance Amid Market Volatility The impact of this market pullback on semiconductor ETFs has been heavily dependent on the level of portfolio concentration. Concentrated pure-play semiconductor funds such as SMH and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) have seen month to date declines of -8.54% and -10.63% respectively. Despite the declines, semiconductor funds have maintained strong inflows with SMH gaining $1.60 billion and SOXX pulling in $6.13 billion.
While the broader semiconductor market declined, the highly concentrated memory semiconductor sectors saw amplified declines. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM), comprising approximately 16 holdings across the memory sector, fell 13.83% from the start of the month. The fund has maintained strong inflows despite the turbulence in the sector, pulling in $4.63 billion in new assets as of July 17.
The Role of Q2 Earnings in Market Repricing As investor scrutiny over semiconductor valuations and capital expenditures persist, second-quarter earnings and forward guidance has become increasingly important. Just a few names in the semiconductor sector have reported second quarter earnings in July, with some mega-cap names such as Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Designs (AMD) set to report in August.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) reported revenue of $40.20 billion, marking an increase of 33.7% year-over-year, respectively. Q2 results were driven by increasing demand for AI chips and data center infrastructure, which accounts for approximately 66% of the firm’s revenue. TSM raised its guidance for Q3 2026 revenue between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion.
Texas Instruments (TXN) delivered a robust second quarter, headlined by $5.46 billion in revenue, representing a 23% year-over-year increase. The firm reported broad growth across industrial, automotive, and data center segments. TI announced its Q3 revenue outlook in the range of $5.65 billion to $6.15 billion.
Intel Corporation (INTC) recently announced revenue of $16.1 billion, a 25% increase from second-quarter last year. The report was highlighted by the strong growth in data center and AI revenue which reached $6.3 billion, reflecting 59% year over year growth. INTC raised its third quarter revenue guidance to $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion.
This market drawdown has set the stage for a high-stakes earnings season in which revenues and forward guidance have increasingly dictated broader semiconductor market performance. If chip manufacturers can maintain resilient growth and order volumes despite stock declines, the pullback may prove to be a healthy consolidation. If guidance for the remainder of the year falls short of Wall Street expectations, the semiconductor ETF market could be in for a longer period of repricing.
For more news, information, and analysis, visit VettaFi | ETF Trends.
Key Takeaways IDA's 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates imply growth of 8.31% and 8.57%, respectively. IDACORP plans to invest nearly $7.1 billion from 2026 to 2030 to expand its regulated rate base. IDA offers a 2.36% dividend yield and has raised its quarterly dividend consistently since 2011. IDACORP, Inc. (IDA - Free Report) benefits from steady customer and large-load growth, supportive rate mechanisms and timely cost recovery, strengthening earnings visibility. Its disciplined investments strengthen grid reliability, renewable integration and transmission expansion, supporting long-term regulated growth.
Let’s focus on the factors that make this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a strong investment pick at the moment.
Projections for IDA & Surprise History The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IDA’s 2026 and 2027 EPS is pinned at $6.39 and $6.94, indicating year-over-year growth of 8.31% and 8.57%, respectively.
IDA’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 7.85%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IDA’s 2026 and 2027 sales is pegged at $1.88 billion and $2.14 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 3.52% and 14.05%, respectively.
IDACORP surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and met once, delivering an average positive earnings surprise of 3.70%.
IDA’s Stable Investments The company’s systematic capital investment plans support infrastructure development and grid modernization. These investments enhance service reliability, strengthen the electric system and support long-term customer growth and regulated earnings.
IDACORP plans to invest $1.3-$1.5 billion during 2026 and nearly $7.1 billion from 2026-2030, averaging about $1.416 billion per year. These regulated investments should expand the company's rate base, supporting future revenues and earnings growth through regulatory cost recovery. The emphasis on transmission, distribution and new generation also positions the company to maintain reliable service while meeting increasing electricity demand.
IDA’s Capital Return Program IDA has consistently increased shareholders' value through dividend payments, reflecting stable earnings and strong cash flow. The company has consistently increased its quarterly dividend since 2011, highlighting its commitment to delivering growing shareholder returns.
IDACORP has a dividend yield of 2.36% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s average of 1.33%. Currently, the company’s quarterly dividend is 88 cents per share. This represents an annualized dividend of $3.52 per share.
IDA’s Debt Position The debt-to-capital ratio measures a company's reliance on debt financing and provides insight into its leverage and long-term financial stability. IDA’s total debt-to-capital ratio is 50.98%, which is lower than the industry’s 60.71%, reflecting stronger financial stability and lower leverage risk.
IDA’s time earned ratio (TIE) at the end of the first quarter of 2026 was 2.5. The TIE ratio evaluates how effectively a company meets interest obligations using operating earnings, providing insight into its financial stability and solvency. IDA’s current TIE indicates that the company will be able to meet its interest obligations easily.
Price Performance of IDAIn the past six months, IDACORP shares have rallied 13.4% compared with the industry’s 6.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to Consider Some other top-ranked stocks from the same Industry are Ameren (AEE - Free Report) , Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) and Exelon (EXC - Free Report) . All the stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
AEE, EVRG and EXC have dividend yields of 2.65%, 3.21% and 3.55%, respectively, which are better than the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s yield of 1.33%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ameren, Evergy and Exelon’s 2026 EPS are pegged at $5.38, $4.25 and $2.86 suggesting year-over-year growth of 6.96%, 10.97% and 3.25%, respectively.
