Key Takeaways Crocs brand, DTC and international growth are expected to support second-quarter sales and earnings.HEYDUDE faces continued pressure from weak U.S. demand, tariffs and wholesale channel resets.CROX's earnings outlook is tempered by a Sell Rank despite attractive valuation and recent share gains. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating a drop of 0.2% from the prior-year figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share has risen a couple of cents in the past seven days to $4.32. The estimate indicates a rise of 2.1% from the year-ago period’s number.
The Broomfield, CO-based company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.6%, on average. In the last reported quarter, its bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.6%.
Key Factors to Note Ahead of CROX’s ResultsCrocs’ quarterly results are likely to reflect gains from brand strength, consumer demand and the strength of its core product categories, including clogs and sandals. The company has consistently performed well in these segments, supported by effective pricing strategies and strong brand appeal. Its personalization engine, particularly the Jibbitz business, has also shown steady growth.
Additionally, Crocs' solid performance in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel and international division is expected to have further offered a boost. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s DTC and international revenues is currently pegged at $646 million and $546 million, respectively, showing corresponding increases of 10.4% and 8.8% from the year-ago period.
However, the company has been witnessing persistent softness in its HEYDUDE brand, which, coupled with a tough macroeconomic environment, is likely to have negatively impacted sales. Crocs’ HEYDUDE brand continues to face headwinds, with softness due to cautious U.S. consumer, elevated tariffs and wholesale channel pressures. The brand is navigating a prolonged reset in North America, marked by incremental inventory returns, wholesale cleanups and a pullback in performance marketing to improve profitability.
On its last earnings call, management had expected revenues to fall slightly year over year at currency rates as of April 27, 2026, with the Crocs brand up 1-3% and HEYDUDE down 14-12% from the second-quarter 2025 actuals. It had anticipated adjusted operating margin of 24.7% and adjusted earnings of $4.15-$4.35 per share. The consensus mark for the company’s HEYDUDE brand’s revenues is currently pegged at $167 million, indicating a decline of 12.1% from the year-ago period.
What Our Zacks Model Unveils for CrocsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Crocs this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Crocs currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.12% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
CROX’s Valuation PictureFrom a valuation perspective, Crocs offers an attractive opportunity, trading at a discount relative to the historical and industry benchmarks. With a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 9.6X, which is below the five-year high of 21.6X and the Textile - Apparel industry’s average of 15.7X, the stock offers compelling value for investors seeking exposure to the sector.
The recent market movements show that Crocs’ shares have gained 29.7% in the past three months compared with the industry's 5.1% growth.
Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some companies, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
SharkNinja, Inc. (SN - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.29% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
SN is likely to register bottom and top-line growth when it reports second-quarter 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.6 billion, indicating a 13.5% increase from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for SN’s second-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.09 per share, implying 12.4% growth from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus mark has dipped a penny in the past 30 days.
MGM Resorts International (MGM - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.08% and a Zacks Rank of 3. MGM is likely to register a top-line increase when it reports second-quarter 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.5 billion, indicating a 1.5% rise from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for MGM Resorts’ second-quarter earnings is pegged at 60 cents a share, implying a 24.1% decrease from the year-earlier quarter. The consensus mark has been stable in the past 30 days.
Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.09% and a Zacks Rank of 3. CTAS is likely to register bottom and top-line growth when it reports first-quarter fiscal 2027 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $3 billion, indicating 9.2% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for CTAS first-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.35 a share, implying a 12.5% increase from the year-earlier quarter. The consensus mark has been stable in the past 30 days.
Key Takeaways CROX has outperformed peers recently but faces tariff, margin and HEYDUDE-related growth challenges.Crocs is investing in international expansion, marketing and inventory discipline to support long-term growth.CROX trades below the industry P/E but above its historical median valuation despite recent share gains. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) has seen its shares rally 28.1% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 5.6%. The stock has also outperformed the broader sector’s 4.7% decline and the S&P 500 Index’s 4% increase over the same period.
CROX Stock’s 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past three months, CROX has trailed the performance of Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) while outperforming G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) and Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) . In the same period, shares of VNCE, GIII and COLM have increased 31.5%, 8.8% and 1%, respectively.
CROX’s Share Price Performance VS Peers
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Closing at $132.47 in the last trading session, CROX stock stands 5.7% below its 52-week high of $140.42 reached on July 17, 2026. CROX is trading above its 50-day simple moving average of $120.99 and its 200-day simple moving average of $95.95, indicating a strong technical setup.
CROX Trades Above 50 & 200-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Crocs Drives Growth Through Global ExpansionCrocs remains optimistic about its international business, expecting strong growth across its international markets for the remainder of the year and seeing a multiyear runway for expansion in key markets. Management highlighted particularly robust performance in Japan and China, noting that both continue to deliver very strong growth and reinforce the company's long-term global opportunity.
To support future growth, the company is also investing in marketing across both brands to drive demand for new product launches. At the same time, Crocs is maintaining a disciplined approach to inventory and supply chain management, using lean inventory levels to improve productivity and enhance financial flexibility.
Crocs Reports Margin Pressure and Weak Brand PerformanceDespite these long-term growth opportunities, the company is facing the impact of the Middle East conflict and expects these impacts to create several challenges for the Crocs brand. Management identified three potential areas of impact: lower revenue from its Middle East distributor business, which has already been incorporated into its annual guidance; higher raw material and transportation costs associated with elevated oil prices; and the possibility of broader macroeconomic disruptions, the extent of which remains uncertain. These factors could create additional headwinds for the business going forward.
The company faced margin pressure in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with enterprise adjusted gross margin declining 90 basis points year over year to 56.9%. The decrease was primarily driven by a 100-basis-point impact from incremental tariffs, along with an unfavorable product mix. These headwinds were only partially offset by a favorable brand mix, resulting in an overall decline in gross margin in the first quarter.
Crocs reported weaker performance across both of its key brands in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 while continuing to execute initiatives to return both brands to growth. Sales at the Crocs brand declined 2%, while the HEYDUDE brand recorded a steeper 13% decrease. Both brands reported lower adjusted gross margins in the quarter. Adjusted gross margin for the Crocs brand declined 120 basis points to 59.5%, while the HEYDUDE brand experienced a steeper contraction of 210 basis points, bringing its adjusted gross margin to 44.5%.
Crocs issued a cautious outlook, expecting second-quarter revenues to decline slightly at prevailing currency rates, with continued weakness at the HEYDUDE brand and margin pressure from tariffs. For 2026, the company projects muted enterprise revenue growth between down 1% and up 1%, while HEYDUDE is still expected to post a 5% to 7% sales decline despite an improved outlook.
How Estimates Are Shaped Up for CROX?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s current quarter earnings per share has been revised up by 2 cents to $4.32 in the past seven days. The consensus mark for the current year earnings per share has been revised down by a penny to $13.66, reflecting a challenging outlook for the year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CROX is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 9.29X, lower than the industry average of 15.70X and well below the S&P 500 multiple of 20.80X. However, the stock is trading above its 12-month median P/E of 7.11X, suggesting potential overvaluation relative to its historical valuations.
Crocs’ Valuation Picture
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How to Play CROX Stock?Although Crocs continues to see attractive long-term opportunities in international markets, the business is facing mounting near-term challenges that could weigh on financial performance and investor sentiment. Weakening brand momentum and pressure on profitability reduce visibility into the pace of any meaningful recovery, while ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties create additional pressures. Given these risks, existing investors may consider reducing exposure, while prospective investors may prefer to remain on the sidelines until there is clearer evidence of sustained improvement in operating performance and a more favorable business environment. At present, CROX carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Gentex Corporation (GNTX) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Josh O'Berski - Vice President of Investor Relations
Steven Downing - President, CEO & Director
Kevin Nash - VP of Finance, CFO, Treasurer & Chief Accounting Officer
Neil Boehm - COO & CTO
Conference Call Participants
Joseph Spak - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Davis Baker - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
James Picariello - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Josh Nichols - B. Riley Securities, Inc., Research Division
Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
David Whiston - Morningstar Inc., Research Division
Rajat Gupta - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Gentex Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. [Operator Instructions]
I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Josh O'Berski, Vice President of Investor Relations.
Josh O'Berski
Vice President of Investor Relations
Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for our second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. I'm Josh O'Berski, Gentex's Vice President of Investor Relations. And with me today are Steve Downing, President and CEO; Neil Boehm, COO and CTO; and Kevin Nash, Vice President of Finance and CFO.
Please note that a replay of this conference call webcast, along with edited transcripts will be available following the call in the Investors section of our website at ir.gentex.com. Many of the statements made today during the call are forward-looking and reflect our current expectations. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, including those described in our press release issued this morning and in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as general economic conditions.
Key Takeaways WM's Q2 revenues are expected to rise 4.4% y/y to $6.7 billion, with EPS up 3.7% to $1.99.Collection and disposal revenues are projected at $5.5 billion, nearly 82% of WM's quarterly sales.WM's renewable energy revenues are expected to rally 47%, helped by RNG, automation and new markets. WM (WM - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, 2026, after market close.
WM surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, the average earnings surprise being 0.6%.
WM’s Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.7 billion, implying a 4.4% gain from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The top line is expected to have been driven by solid momentum across the total collection and disposal segment, contributing toward the majority of the top line. The remaining segments are anticipated to have contributed meaningfully to the top line as well.
The consensus estimate for total collection and disposal segment revenue is set at $5.5 billion, suggesting a 3.9% year-over-year rise. This segment is expected to account for nearly 82% of the top line in the second quarter of 2026. Revenue gains in this segment are likely to have stemmed from a focus on customer lifetime value, continuous operational improvement and network advantages.
For the recycling processing and sales segment, the consensus estimate for revenues is $397 million. This represents a 4.2% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the WM renewable energy segment’s revenues is $169 million, suggesting a 47% year-over-year jump. Key drivers of recycling and renewable segments’ expansion likely include investments in renewable natural gas facilities, recycling automation and new market projects.
The consensus estimate for the WM healthcare solutions revenues hints at marginal year-over-year growth to $647 million. For the corporate and other segment, the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pinned at $7 million, suggesting no change from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $1.99, hinting at a 3.7% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual. Bottom-line growth is anticipated to have been driven by operational efficiencies and expanding margins across segments, capturing the growth momentum. Automation and AI-fueled technological support are expected to have been the prominent growth drivers as well.
What Our Model Predicts About WMOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for WM this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
WM currently has an Earnings ESP of -1.31% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Business Services sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this season.
Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $1.6 billion, indicating 4.8% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pegged at $2.73 per share, implying a 15.7% jump from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in three of the four quarters and missed once, with an average negative surprise of 0.02%.
CLH has an Earnings ESP of +3.82% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.
Veralto Corporation (VLTO - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is $1.4 billion, suggesting a 4.9% year-over-year rise. For earnings, the consensus estimate is kept at a dollar per share, gaining 7.5% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.9%.
VLTO has an Earnings ESP of +0.77% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on July 28.
Key Takeaways Xylem is expected to post higher Q2 revenues and earnings, led by infrastructure and water solution demand.XYL may benefit from smart metering demand, backlog execution and contributions from the Vacom acquisition.Xylem faces margin pressure from higher material, labor, freight and strategic investment costs. Xylem Inc. (XYL - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XYL’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.33 billion, indicating growth of 1.2% from the prior-year quarter’s number. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $1.34 per share, which has been stable in the past 60 days. The figure indicates an increase of 6.4% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice in the trailing four quarters and matched the mark in one, the average surprise being 5.9%.
Let’s see how things have shaped up for Xylem this earnings season.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped XYL’s Quarterly PerformanceStrength in the transport application business, aided by increased infrastructure projects in the United States, is likely to have supported the Water Infrastructure segment’s performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Water Infrastructure segment’s revenues is pegged at $664 million, indicating 2.2% growth from the year-ago figure.
An increase in demand for advanced metering infrastructure solutions, like smart and energy metering, and strong backlog execution are likely to have augmented the performance of the Measurement & Control Solutions (M&CS) segment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the M&CS segment’s revenues is pinned at $538 million, almost in line with the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Strength in the Applied Water segment, supported by higher demand for commercial building solutions applications, including pumps, valves and dispensing equipment, is likely to augment the segment’s results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Applied Water segment’s revenues is pegged at $492 million, indicating 1.9% growth from the year-ago figure.
Recovery in Xylem’s dewatering applications business across utility and power end markets is likely to augment the Water Solutions and Services segment’s results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Water Solutions and Services segment’s revenues is pegged at $636 million, indicating 1.3% growth year over year.
The company’s acquisition of Vacom Systems (in April 2025), a wastewater treatment company, enhanced its capabilities in providing sustainable water solutions. This buyout is expected to bolster the company’s top-line results in the to-be-reported quarter.
However, XYL’s bottom line is likely to have reflected the impact of high raw material costs, labor, freight and overhead costs in the second quarter. Also, increased spending on strategic investments is expected to have hurt its margins.
Earnings WhisperOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Xylem this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as elaborated below.
Earnings ESP: Xylem has an Earnings ESP of -0.34%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: XYL presently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are some companies, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in this reporting cycle.
Crane Company (CR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.73% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28.
Crane’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 11.3%.
Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.61% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.
Ingersoll Rand’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters while matching the mark in two, the average surprise being 2.4%.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28.
Illinois Tool’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 2.8%.
Company backs the Barr-Craig framework and the administration's call to fix the federal hemp definition before the November deadline
, /PRNewswire/ -- cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD), a leader in hemp-derived wellness, today announced its support for the bipartisan Lawful Hemp Protection Act, introduced July 21 by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN). The legislation would establish a long-term federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived products while preserving consumer access to lawful products. The Company also expressed support for the Administration's call to address the federal hemp definition through pending budget legislation.
The legislation comes at a pivotal time for the U.S. hemp industry. Under Section 781 of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations law, the federal definition of hemp is scheduled to narrow on November 12, 2026. Without congressional action, many lawful full-spectrum CBD and hemp wellness products could be removed from the marketplace. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would repeal that provision and replace it with a durable, science-based framework.
The bipartisan sponsorship reflects a growing consensus that responsible regulation, rather than prohibition, is the appropriate path forward for the hemp industry. The bill would establish FDA oversight for hemp-derived products, with mandatory third-party testing, transparent labeling, a 21-and-over age requirement, and domestic sourcing, while targeting the synthetic intoxicants that have drawn scrutiny to the category.
Specifically, cbdMD supports a federal framework that:
Protects access to responsibly manufactured full-spectrum CBD Requires independent testing and accurate labeling Establishes clear manufacturing and marketing standards, including limits on youth-focused marketing Prevents youth access through a 21-and-over requirement Restricts synthetic and artificially modified cannabinoids Preserves lawful interstate commerce for compliant products cbdMD also welcomed the Office of Management and Budget's recent call for Congress to update the hemp definition through the funding process, which the company believes could provide relief before the November deadline if enacted.
As one of the nation's longest-standing hemp-derived CBD companies, cbdMD believes a consistent federal regulatory framework would significantly benefit consumers and responsible businesses alike by improving consumer confidence, strengthening safety standards, and providing greater certainty for manufacturers and retailers.
"Reps. Barr and Craig have demonstrated bipartisan leadership by advancing a practical regulatory framework for hemp-derived products," said Ronan Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of cbdMD. "Responsible companies have long supported clear federal standards that protect consumers, promote product quality, and distinguish compliant hemp products from illicit synthetic intoxicants. We encourage Congress to act before the November implementation deadline."
About cbdMD, Inc.
cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD) is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based hemp-derived wellness company committed to safe, high-quality, science-backed products. Its family of brands includes cbdMD, cbdMD Science, Bluebird Botanicals, Paw CBD, Oasis, and ATRx Labs. For more information, visit cbdMD.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding pending legislation, regulatory developments, and their potential impact on the company are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the outcome of the legislative and regulatory processes described above and risks disclosed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Actual results may differ materially. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
Contacts
cbdMD, Inc.
Ronan Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
(704) 445-3064
Capital One (COF) is rated Strong Buy with a $260 price target, 26% above current levels, driven by technology-led competitive advantages. COF's cloud-native infrastructure, AI leadership, and ownership of the Discover network position it for payments-grade returns on tangible equity. Despite low-20s% normalized ROTCE post-integration, COF trades at ~9.4x forward earnings and ~1.9x tangible book, a deep discount to peers like Amex.
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Key Takeaways Generac's Q2 sales and earnings estimates imply year-over-year growth of 11% and 18.2%.Data center demand and hyperscale opportunities are expected to power C&I growth in the quarter.Q2 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected near 18%, with faster improvement projected later in 2026. Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC - Free Report) will report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, before the market opens.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $1.18 billion, up 11% from the prior-year reported number. The consensus estimate for earnings is $1.95 per share, up 18.2% year over year. The estimate has remained unchanged in the past 60 days.
GNRC’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, delivering an average surprise of 7.4%.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past year, shares of the company have gained 34.1% compared with the Zacks Manufacturing-General Industrial industry’s growth of 3.5%.
Factors at Play Ahead of GNRC’s Q2 ResultsGenerac entered second-quarter 2026 against a backdrop of increasing momentum in its Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment, driven by robust data center demand, while Residential trends remain more back-half weighted.
Management guided to second-quarter consolidated net sales growth of approximately 9% to 10% year over year, with growth entirely driven by the C&I segment. On the last earnings call, the company highlighted that it was in the final stages of vendor approval with two hyperscale customers. It has also been witnessing backlog expansion for these products with both current and new customers.
Generac’s data center backlog reached more than $700 million at the first quarter-end, representing a roughly $300 million increase since mid-February and providing visibility into 2027 deliveries. Importantly, this number excludes a nonbinding notice to proceed for $600 million in hyperscale data center deliveries expected in 2027, indicating substantial upside potential as the pipeline converts into firm orders. The company has been focused on capacity expansion for large megawatt generators to support accelerating demand.
Within the Residential segment, meaningful growth is skewed toward the second half of 2026, driven by home standby generator, supported by easier comparisons.
Within residential energy technology, ecobee has been emerging as a strategic asset, with more than 5 million connected homes and increased energy services and subscription sales. With the integration of PWRcell 2, PowerMicro microinverter and next-gen standby generators with ecobee, Generac aims to create a differentiated residential energy ecosystem.
Generac expects second-quarter adjusted EBITDA margins to be 18%, representing modest year-over-year expansion. Margin improvement is expected to accelerate in the back half of the year, driven by operating leverage on higher volumes and contributions from the Enercon acquisition.
Nonetheless, volatile macroeconomic conditions, including tariff troubles, stiff competition and increasing operating costs remain additional concerns for Generac.
Heavy reliance on the residential business exposes Generac to weather-driven volatility. Further, data center market expansion brings its own set of concerns. With increasing reliance on this end market, Generac is exposed to cyclical capital spending cycles in AI and data centers. Any delays in manufacturing capacity expansion could also weigh on growth targets.
Also, Residential energy growth in 2025 was largely driven by Puerto Rico’s energy grant-related program. However, with the completion of the program, energy storage systems declined in the first quarter. GNRC is also recalibrating its investments and expects the solar and storage market to contract in 2026 due to reduced U.S. federal incentives.
Key HighlightsOn June 15, 2026, Generac announced an expansion of its packaging capacity for large-megawatt generators through the acquisition of a new facility in Belvidere, IL.
On June 2, 2026, Generac announced a supply agreement with a major hyperscale data center operator to provide backup power generators for its data center infrastructure following a comprehensive qualification and audit process.
What Does Our Model Unveil for GNRC?Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Generac this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This not the case here.
Generac has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season.
Celestica (CLS - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.86% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Celestica is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on July 27. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLS’ to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues stands at $2.29 per share and $4.35 billion, respectively. Shares of Celestica have gained 96.7% in the past year.
Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.75% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. STX is scheduled to report quarterly figures on July 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Seagate Technology’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pinned at $5.10 per share and $3.49 billion, respectively. Shares of Seagate Technology are up 505.3% in the past year.
Teradyne (TER - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.59% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is scheduled to report quarterly figures on July 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Teradyne’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pinned at $2.04 per share and $1.22 billion, respectively. Shares of Teradyne are up 314.6% in the past year.
Key Takeaways BWXT combines government nuclear contracts with expanding commercial nuclear operations and acquisitions.BWX Technologies trades at 4.06X forward sales versus XE at 11.34X forward sales.BWXT shares fell 20.9% in three months versus a 45.5% decline for XE shares. As investor interest in nuclear energy continues to grow, both X-Energy (XE - Free Report) and BWX Technologies (BWXT - Free Report) have emerged as attractive ways to gain exposure to the sector. While both companies operate within the U.S. nuclear industry, they represent two very different investment opportunities. While BWX Technologies is a mature, profitable supplier of nuclear components and services to the U.S. government with decades of industry experience, X-Energy is an emerging advanced reactor developer focused on commercializing next-generation nuclear technology.
The global nuclear industry is entering a new growth cycle as governments seek reliable, carbon-free sources of electricity to complement renewable energy and strengthen energy security. Rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, electrification, and industrial decarbonization is increasing the need for dependable baseload power, while geopolitical concerns have prompted many countries to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. As a result, governments are extending the operating lives of existing nuclear plants, restarting previously retired reactors, and investing in next-generation technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactors.
Let us compare the stocks' fundamentals to determine which one is a better investment option at present.
Factors Acting in Favor of XE StockX-Energy is focused on the future of commercial nuclear power. The company is developing the Xe-100, a Generation IV high-temperature gas-cooled SMR designed to provide carbon-free electricity, industrial heat, and hydrogen production. Unlike traditional large nuclear plants, the Xe-100 is modular, scalable, and intended to be easier and less expensive to deploy. XE is also developing TRISO-X, a business dedicated to manufacturing TRISO fuel, an advanced nuclear fuel known for its exceptional safety characteristics and high-temperature performance. The company expects fuel production to become a meaningful long-term revenue stream as advanced reactors are deployed globally.
As of March 31, 2026, the company had a project pipeline of 144 Xe-100 reactors, representing roughly 11.5 gigawatts electric (GWe) of potential capacity across the United States and the United Kingdom. This pipeline is anchored by major customers and partners including Dow, Amazon and Centrica, providing the company with a solid foundation for future reactor sales, fuel supply agreements and long-term service revenues.
Factors Acting in Favor of BWXT StockBWX Technologies has built its business around designing and manufacturing nuclear components, fuel, and reactor systems for the U.S. Navy, Department of Energy, NASA, and other government agencies. The company is the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines, giving it a highly defensible competitive position supported by long-term government contracts and recurring revenues. In recent years, BWXT has also expanded its commercial nuclear operations by supplying components, fuel handling systems, and engineering services for existing nuclear power plants, while increasing its presence in medical isotopes and advanced reactor technologies. This diversified business model provides stable cash flows and relatively predictable earnings growth.
In April 2026, BWXT announced the acquisition of Precision Components Group, LLC. This marks BWXT’s first step in establishing a U.S. commercial nuclear component manufacturing footprint to support future new reactor builds and aftermarket.
How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for XE & BWXT?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for X-Energy’s 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates growth of 15.09% year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BWX Technologies’ 2027 EPS implies growth of 13.74% year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation for XE & BWXTXE shares trade at a forward 12-month price/sales (P/S F12M) of 11.34X compared with BWXT’s P/S F12M of 4.06X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XE & BWXT’s Price PerformanceIn the past three months, shares of X-Energy and BWX Technologies’ have declined 45.5% and 20.9%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XE or BWXT: Which Is a Better Choice Now?X-Energy is developing advanced SMR technology for commercial nuclear power, with a focus on delivering carbon-free electricity, industrial heat, and hydrogen production through scalable reactor designs. XE is also building an advanced nuclear fuel business, supported by a growing pipeline of projects and partnerships that position it for long-term reactor, fuel, and service revenue opportunities.
BWX Technologies specializes in nuclear components, fuel, and reactor systems for U.S. government agencies, supported by long-term contracts that provide stable and recurring revenues. BWXT is also expanding its commercial nuclear business through advanced reactor technologies, nuclear services, and strategic acquisitions that strengthen its position in the growing commercial market.
Our choice at the moment is BWX Technologies, given its better price performance and more attractive valuation than X-Energy. BWXT carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and XE has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
WSFS Financial NASDAQ: WSFS reported second-quarter 2026 core earnings per share of $1.66, core return on assets of 1.55% and core return on tangible common equity of 20.2%, with management citing growth in fee businesses, deposits and selected lending categories.
Chief Financial Officer David Burg said core net income rose 19% from a year earlier, while core pre-provision net revenue increased 10%. Core EPS grew 31% year over year, and tangible book value per share increased 13%.
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Core results excluded a $1.8 million reduction in net income, or $0.03 per share, primarily associated with the write-down of an equity investment, as well as the previously disclosed gain on the sale of the company’s credit-card portfolio.
Margin Expands as Deposit Costs Decline Net interest margin expanded 4 basis points from the first quarter to 3.87%. Burg attributed the increase to a 4-basis-point decline in client deposit costs and higher investment-security yields. The company’s interest-bearing deposit beta remained at 46%.
Management updated its full-year 2026 outlook based on an assumption that the federal funds rate will not change during the remainder of the year. WSFS now expects net interest margin of approximately 3.85% for the year.
During the question-and-answer session, Burg said the company expects to manage its margin despite a more competitive deposit environment. WSFS has allowed some higher-cost deposits to run off during the first half because of its liquidity position, he said, but may need to raise rates in certain areas to remain competitive and support client growth.
“We want to make sure that we remain competitive,” Burg said, noting that deposit competition had increased during the prior six months. “There could be some upward pressure on deposit costs.”
Fee Revenue and Institutional Services Growth Core fee revenue, which represented nearly one-third of total revenue, increased 2% from the first quarter and 5% from a year earlier. Wealth and trust revenue grew 17% year over year.
Within Institutional Services, corporate trust revenue rose 28% year over year and global capital markets revenue increased 58%, according to Burg. The company said it continued to win mandates and gain market share in those businesses.
For the first half of 2026, WSFS ranked as the third-most-active asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities trustee by deal count, increasing its market share to 14% from 11.7% in 2025, Burg said. Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, the company’s personal trust operation, grew 20% year over year as new accounts increased.
Cash Connect fees declined from a year earlier because of interest-rate cuts and lower volumes. However, the business delivered a 15% profit margin for the second consecutive quarter.
Burg told analysts that the ABS and MBS market has continued to expand, with industry growth of roughly 20% to 30%, while WSFS has also increased its share. He said the company’s ability to move quickly and provide service has helped it compete with larger players, though he cautioned against extrapolating the current pace of market growth.
Deposits, Loans and Asset Quality Client deposits increased 3% sequentially and 11% year over year, led by Institutional Services and commercial banking. Non-interest-bearing deposits climbed 10% from the first quarter and accounted for 37% of total client deposits, compared with 31% a year earlier. Average deposits rose 3% sequentially and 8% year over year.
Burg said approximately 80% of the quarter’s non-interest-bearing deposit growth came from Institutional Services, split between corporate trust and global capital markets, with the remaining 20% coming from commercial banking. He said the company historically has operated with non-interest-bearing deposits in the low 30% range and would view a low-to-mid-30% level as a favorable sustainable range.
Gross loans increased 1% from the prior quarter, equivalent to a 5% annualized pace. Commercial and industrial loans rose 2% sequentially, or 8% annualized. Residential mortgages and WSFS home-equity loans increased 10% sequentially and 23% year over year.
Chairman, President and CEO Rodger Levenson said client sentiment appeared constructive despite cost pressures and uncertainty tied to geopolitical developments and energy volatility. He said businesses were continuing to invest in a relatively stable economic environment, supporting the company’s commercial loan pipeline.
Management said home-lending growth may moderate after a strong spring selling season. Burg said the residential pipeline had declined somewhat as the seasonal market slowed and rates rose.
Asset-quality measures improved during the quarter. Problem assets fell 6% sequentially and 31% year over year, aided by commercial payoffs. Delinquencies declined 5% from the first quarter and nearly 40% from a year earlier, while nonperforming assets fell 8% sequentially and nearly 25% year over year.
Net charge-offs were $7.1 million, or 21 basis points of average loans. Excluding the prior quarter’s loan recovery, net charge-offs declined $5.1 million sequentially because of lower commercial charge-offs. Management said office properties remain a challenging area, but it did not identify a broader portfolio trend or asset-class concern.
Capital Returns and Updated Outlook WSFS returned $77 million of capital during the second quarter, including $66 million of share repurchases. Year to date, the company repurchased more than 4% of its outstanding shares and returned approximately 100% of net income to shareholders.
Burg said the company’s first priority remains investing in the business at attractive returns. Management said it would consider acquisitions that are additive to its strategy, including potential opportunities in fee businesses and wealth management, but Levenson said the bar for bank acquisitions would be high given the company’s organic opportunities in its existing markets.
Full-year return on assets outlook was raised to 1.50%, with potential for modest upside. Deposit growth outlook was raised to the high-single-digit range. Fee revenue growth, excluding Cash Connect, is expected in the mid-to-high-single-digit range. Expected net charge-offs were lowered to 15 to 25 basis points of average loans for the year. The company maintained its efficiency outlook in the high-50% range. Burg said expenses could remain around current levels or be somewhat lower, though variable compensation, transaction-related costs, health-care expenses and fraud-related costs could create quarterly variability. He said the company is pursuing cost initiatives involving vendor spending, real estate optimization and exits from businesses that are not central to its strategy.
About WSFS Financial (NASDAQ:WSFS)WSFS Financial Corporation is the bank holding company for WSFS Bank, a regional financial institution headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. The company traces its roots to the Safe Deposit & Trust Company, founded in 1832, and formally organized as WSFS Financial in the mid-1980s. Over its long history, WSFS has grown through a combination of organic expansion and selective acquisitions to serve a broad base of individual, commercial and institutional clients.
WSFS Bank offers a full suite of banking and financial services, including retail and commercial deposit accounts, commercial and industrial lending, real estate financing, and treasury management solutions.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in WSFS Financial Right Now?Before you consider WSFS Financial, you'll want to hear this.
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While WSFS Financial currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Enter your email address and we’ll send you MarketBeat’s list of ten stocks set to soar in Summer 2026, despite the threat of tariffs and what's happening in Iran. These ten stocks are incredibly resilient and are likely to thrive in any economic environment.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at First BanCorp (FBP - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. First BanCorp currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if FBP is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico holds up.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For FBP, shares are up 2.85% over the past week while the Zacks Banks - Foreign industry is flat over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 8.7% compares favorably with the industry's 3.18% performance as well.
Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of First BanCorp have increased 18.82% over the past quarter, and have gained 37.58% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of FBP's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now FBP is averaging 1,513,627 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with FBP.
Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost FBP's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.25 to $2.36 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 4 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that FBP is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep First BanCorp on your short list.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD) between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 31, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Insulet securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Insulet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/insulet-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 31, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
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 handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose 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' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Insulet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/insulet-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306488
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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Cabot (CBT - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Cabot basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Cabot, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for CabotThis chemical company is expected to earn $6.35 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Cabot. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 1.3%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Cabot to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $7.59, up from $6.84 a year ago, surpassing the Wall Street estimates of $7.02.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $4.027 billion, compared to $3.849 billion a year ago.
Admissions Growth And Medicaid Payments Support ResultsThe company also experienced positive factors including increased benefit from Medicaid Supplemental Payment Programs, growth in admissions, equivalent admissions and ER visits, and improved expense results.
Same facility admissions increased 2.5% and same facility equivalent admissions increased 2.7%. Same facility emergency room visits increased 3.6%.
Same facility inpatient surgeries declined 2.3%, and outpatient surgeries declined 3.4% in the quarter. Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 6.4%.
Surgical Volume And Payer Mix Weigh On PerformanceAs announced earlier, during the second quarter, the company experienced a payer mix shift driven by an increase in uninsured volume, primarily due to patients who lost coverage on the health insurance exchanges.
The company estimates this payer mix shift had an unfavorable impact on income before income taxes of approximately $400 million during the second quarter.
The amount includes an increase of approximately $75 million related to the company’s previous estimate of the first quarter health insurance exchange impact.
In addition, to a lesser degree, HCA Healthcare experienced a service mix shift primarily related to a decline in surgical volume.
HCA Reaffirms Full-Year 2026 OutlookHCA Healthcare reaffirmed fiscal 2026 earnings guidance of $28.70-$30.50 per share compared to the consensus of $29.70.
The company expects 2026 sales of $77 billion-$79.50 billion versus the consensus of $78.457 billion.
HCA Stock Price Activity: HCA Healthcare shares were up 3.62% at $390.12 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Healthcare Added 35,200 Jobs—3 Stocks Positioned to BenefitHCA Healthcare NYSE: HCA said its second-quarter performance reflected solid demand in several service lines and 11% growth in diluted earnings per share, but the company faced increased financial pressure as patients losing health insurance exchange coverage shifted largely into the uninsured population.
Chief Executive Officer Sam Hazen said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025 led more patients to lose exchange coverage than the company had anticipated. While HCA expected some individuals to move to other coverage options, Hazen said patients instead migrated “almost one for one” to uninsured status while continuing to require hospital care.
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The Aging of America Could Make HCA Healthcare a Long-Term Winner“The effects, as expected, were that many people became uninsured and still needed emergency care from hospitals,” Hazen said. He added that the impact in the first half of 2026 was greater than the company’s original estimates.
Payer Mix Shift Drives Updated Outlook Same-facility equivalent admissions among patients covered through health insurance exchanges declined 15% in the second quarter and year to date, according to Chief Financial Officer Mike Marks. Equivalent admissions among insured patients excluding exchange plans increased 3.2% in the second quarter, while total uninsured equivalent admissions rose 15%.
This ETF Is Proof That the Healthcare Rebound Is RealMarks said the exchange-related payer mix shift created an approximately $400 million unfavorable impact on adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter. That figure included about $75 million tied to a higher estimate of the first-quarter exchange impact.
The company now expects the full-year adjusted EBITDA impact from health insurance exchange changes to range from negative $1 billion to negative $1.2 billion. Marks said the updated outlook reflects the company’s conclusion that nearly all patients losing exchange coverage are becoming uninsured, compared with its prior assumption that 80% to 85% would do so. HCA also said its original expectation that uninsured patients would use fewer healthcare services did not materialize.
Three divisions—Gulf Coast, North Florida and South Atlantic—accounted for about half of the companywide exchange-related impact. Hazen said exchange adjusted admissions in those divisions declined between 25% and 28% in the first half.
HCA revised its full-year 2026 guidance to:
Revenue of $77 billion to $79.5 billion. Adjusted EBITDA of $15.4 billion to $16.1 billion. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare of $6.3 billion to $6.7 billion. Diluted earnings per share of $28.70 to $30.50. Marks said the revised outlook is more consistent with HCA’s long-term adjusted EBITDA growth target of 4% to 6%, following moderation from the company’s 2025 growth rate and its initial 2026 assumptions.
Medicaid Programs Offset Pressure in the Quarter The company recognized approximately $400 million of incremental net benefit from Medicaid supplemental payment programs during the second quarter. That included a $540 million incremental net benefit related to a recently approved Florida program covering the period from Oct. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, or 21 months.
The Florida benefit was partly offset by retroactive payments received in the second quarter of 2025. HCA’s annual guidance assumes a net Medicaid supplemental-payment benefit of $300 million to $500 million, but Marks said the outlook implies a $100 million to $300 million headwind in the second half because prior program approvals and retroactive payments are expected to exceed the incremental benefit from the Florida program.
Hazen described Medicaid supplemental programs as important to supporting access to care for Medicaid patients, particularly as hospitals provide more uncompensated care to uninsured patients.
Demand Growth Continues, Though Surgeries Decline Same-facility admissions increased 2.5% in the second quarter, while equivalent admissions rose 2.7%. Emergency room visits increased 3.6%, with cardiac procedures and rehabilitation volumes also contributing to demand.
However, inpatient surgeries declined 2.3% and outpatient surgeries fell 3.4%. Hazen attributed much of the decline to reduced demand for elective procedures, including patients previously covered through exchange plans. He also cited physician feedback regarding affordability pressures affecting patients and the effect of Medicare inpatient rule changes that have shifted some cases from inpatient to outpatient settings.
Emergency inpatient surgeries, which account for about two-thirds of HCA’s inpatient surgical cases, increased 2% year over year through the first six months. By contrast, elective inpatient surgeries were down 6% this year, compared with a 2% decline in the prior year.
Despite the surgical weakness, Hazen said the company remains encouraged by demand and continues to expect long-term demand growth of 2% to 3%, supported by population growth and market trends in its communities.
Capital Investment and Cost Initiatives HCA has approved more than $7 billion of capital spending expected to come online over the next three years. The investments include 1,000 to 1,200 additional inpatient beds, new hospitals in certain markets, and additional outpatient facilities.
Hazen said the company had approximately 42,000 beds currently in operation, up from roughly 37,000 at the end of 2018. Occupancy increased to 75% from 71% over that period. HCA also had 5% more outpatient sites of care in the second quarter than a year earlier and expects another 250 to 300 outpatient facilities in its capital or acquisition pipeline to open later this year or early next year.
The company spent $1.2 billion on capital expenditures during the quarter, repurchased $2.1 billion of shares and paid $171 million in dividends. Cash flow from operations was $2.3 billion, down 45% year over year, primarily because of the timing of Florida Medicaid supplemental-payment cash flows and the prior-year deferral of federal income tax payments.
HCA maintained its planned 2026 capital expenditure range of $5 billion to $5.5 billion and said it currently expects to complete most of its existing share-repurchase authorization, subject to market conditions and other factors.
On costs, Marks said same-facility cost per equivalent admission, including the effect of Medicaid supplemental payment programs, was essentially flat from a year earlier and improved 1.4% sequentially. He said HCA’s financial resiliency program—which includes digital transformation, global capabilities and expanded shared services—is intended to produce multiyear efficiency benefits. Professional fees remained elevated, rising about 8.5% year over year in the quarter, primarily due to anesthesia and radiology costs.
About HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA)HCA Healthcare is a for‑profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.
The company's core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA's services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in HCA Healthcare Right Now?Before you consider HCA Healthcare, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and HCA Healthcare wasn't on the list.
While HCA Healthcare currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
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Key Takeaways HCA posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $7.59, beating estimates as revenues climbed 8.7% year over year.HCA saw higher admissions, revenue per admission and ER visits, while inpatient and outpatient surgeries fell.HCA narrowed revenue guidance but reduced adjusted EBITDA, net income and diluted EPS forecasts for 2026. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.59, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.57. The bottom line advanced 11% year over year.
Revenues rose 8.7% year over year to $20.2 billion. The top line was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The quarterly results benefited from higher same-facility admissions, strong revenue per equivalent admission and solid emergency room visit growth. However, declining inpatient and outpatient surgeries, along with elevated operating expenses, partially offset these positives.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseHCA’s Q2 DetailsSame-facility equivalent admissions grew 2.7% year over year in the second quarter, beating our growth estimate of 2%. Meanwhile, same-facility admissions increased 2.5%, also surpassing our growth estimate of 1.8%.
Same-facility revenue per equivalent admission rose 6.4% year over year but came in higher than our growth estimate of 4.2%.
Same-facility inpatient surgeries fell 2.3% year over year, while same-facility outpatient surgeries dipped 3.4%. Same-facility emergency room visits inched up 3.6% year over year in the quarter.
Salaries and benefits, supplies and other operating expenses increased 9.8% year over year to $16.2 billion. The metric came in higher than our estimate of $15.4 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA of $4 billion advanced 4.6% year over year, which marginally beat our estimate of $3.9 billion.
HCA Healthcare operated 190 hospitals and roughly 2,600 ambulatory sites of care across 19 states and the United Kingdom as of June 30, 2026.
HCA’s Q2 Financial UpdateHCA Healthcare exited the second quarter with approximately $1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down 2.6% from the 2025-end level. It had approximately $3.1 billion of available capacity under its credit facilities at the end of the reported quarter.
Total assets of $63.3 billion increased 4.2% from 2025-end figure.
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs and discounts, was $43.5 billion, up 4.4% from the figure as of Dec. 31, 2025. Short-term borrowings and long-term debt due within a year totaled $6.3 billion.
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, amounted to $1.2 billion during the quarter.
HCA’s Cash FlowCash flows from operating activities declined 44.5% year over year to $2.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
HCA Healthcare’s Capital Deployment UpdateHCA bought back shares worth approximately $2.1 billion in the second quarter. It had about $7.2 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization as of June 30, 2026. The board also declared a quarterly cash dividend of 78 cents per share, payable on Sept. 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 16, 2026.
HCA Revises 2026 GuidanceRevenue guidance has been revised to $77.0-$79.5 billion from the previous $76.5-$80.0 billion, raising the lower end by $0.5 billion and lowering the upper end by $0.5 billion. The midpoint of the revised range implies 3.5% growth from the 2025 reported figure.
Adjusted EBITDA guidance has been narrowed to $15.4-$16.1 billion from $15.55-$16.45 billion. The midpoint suggests about 1.2% growth from the 2025 reported figure.
Net income guidance was lowered to $6.3-$6.7 billion from $6.495-$7.035 billion. The midpoint implies about a 4.2% decline from the 2025 reported figure.
Diluted EPS guidance was lowered to $28.70-$30.50 from $29.10-$31.50. The midpoint implies about 4.5% growth from the 2025 reported figure.
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, remain projected in the range of $5.0-$5.5 billion.
HCA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksHCA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Medical space are Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL - Free Report) , CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) and Cencora, Inc. (COR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Charles River is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.72 per share, which has witnessed one upward revision and one downward revision over the past 30 days. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.3%. The consensus estimate for Charles River’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $970.77 million.
CVS Health is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.87 per share, indicating a 3.3% year-over-year increase. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.8%. The consensus estimate for CVS Health’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $100.18 billion, indicating a 1.3% year-over-year increase.
Cencora is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5, before the market closes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $4.37 per share, indicating a 9.3% year-over-year increase. The company beat on earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 1.6%. The consensus estimate for Cencora’s second-quarter revenues is pinned at $84.89 billion, indicating a 5.2% year-over-year increase.
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Based in Houston, CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) is in the Utilities sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 15.36%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.23 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 2.08%. In comparison, the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield is 3.1%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.33%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.92 is up 4.5% from last year. Over the last 5 years, CenterPoint Energy has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 8.33%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. CenterPoint's current payout ratio is 51%, meaning it paid out 51% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
CNP is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $1.91 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 8.52%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, CNP presents a compelling investment opportunity; it's not only an attractive dividend play, but the stock also boasts a strong Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for CenterPoint is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For CenterPoint, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for CenterPointFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this energy delivery company is expected to earn $1.91 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for CenterPoint. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.1%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of CenterPoint to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Key Takeaways Unum is expected to benefit from favorable persistency and stronger sales across its insurance businesses. UNM's key operating segments are likely to see growth from voluntary benefits, life and disability products. Unum is expected to face higher expenses, while continued share buybacks may support earnings. Unum Group (UNM - Free Report) is expected to register an improvement in its bottom line but a decline in the top line when it reports second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, after the closing bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNM’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.95 billion, indicating a 12.6% decline from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.14 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNM’s second-quarter earnings has moved south by 0.4% in the past 30 days. The estimate suggests a year-over-year increase of 3.3%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for UNMOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Unum Group this time around. This is because a stock needs to have the right combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold). This is not the case, as you can see below:
Earnings ESP: Unum Group has an Earnings ESP of -0.89%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of $2.13 is pegged lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.14. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Unum Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Factors Likely to Shape Q2 Results of UNMFavorable persistency and better sales in the operating segments are likely to have favored premiums in the second quarter. Our estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for premium income are both pegged at $2.6 billion.
Net investment income is likely to have increased due to higher invested assets and higher miscellaneous investment income. Our estimate for investment income is pegged at $297.3 million, suggesting a 47% decrease from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $269 million.
The performance of Unum U.S. and Colonial Life — two of the largest operating segments — is likely to have been driven by stable overall persistency in the voluntary benefits and dental and vision product lines, and higher prior period sales in the voluntary benefits product line, improved benefit experience across life, accident, sickness, and disability product lines, and in-force block growth.
Better performance in life and group disability is likely to aid Unum U.S. results.
Our estimate for Unum U.S. operating revenues is pegged at $2 billion, while the same for Colonial Life is pinned at $516.5 million.
Favorable results at group long-term disability, Group Life and Supplemental are likely to have favored Unum UK. This, combined with in-force block growth, sales and favorable overall persistency at Unum Poland, is likely to have benefited Unum International. Our estimate for Unum International’s operating revenues is pegged at $336.1 million.
Expenses are likely to have increased because of higher policy benefits, commissions, interest and debt expense, amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other expenses.
Continued share buybacks are likely to have contributed to the bottom line.
Stocks to ConsiderSome insurance stocks with the right combination of elements to deliver an earnings beat this time around are:
Aflac Incorporated (AFL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.34% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.77, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 0.5%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
AFL’s earnings beat estimates in two of the last four reported quarters and missed in the other two.
The Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.59% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.61, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 5.5%.
ALL’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.82% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.23, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 1.8%.
AXS’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.
Key Takeaways IQVIA's Q2 revenues are expected to rise 6.7% y/y to $4.3 billion, with EPS at $3.02.Commercial solutions growth is expected from drug launches, AI demand and Data-as-a-Service adoption.AI-led workflow gains and backlog conversion are expected to support research and development solutions. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open.
IQV has a decent earnings surprise history, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.6%.
IQVIA’s Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.3 billion, implying 6.7% year-over-year growth. Growth in the top line is likely to have been stimulated by an efficient use of AI across its business lines.
Revenue gains in the commercial solutions segment are expected to have emanated extensively from rising drug launch activity. Surging demand for the company’s exclusive AI capabilities, tailored AI agents and AI-ready data foundations is anticipated to have added to the growth trajectory.
We expect the rapid adoption of Data-as-a-Service, resulting in multi-year client agreements and enterprise-wide platform adoptions, enhancing commercial intelligence and analytics, to have acted as a major catalyst to this segment’s growth.
For the research and development solutions segment, we expect IQVIA to have leveraged AI to optimize workflow, accelerate study execution and cut down errors, thus improving its revenues. Scheduled conversion of contracted backlogs into revenues over the upcoming months is likely to have contributed to the segment’s growth.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share is $3.02, implying 7.5% year-over-year growth. Enhancement in operational prowess springing from high-margin revenue growth across segments is anticipated to have benefited the bottom line.
What Our Model Says About IQVOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for IQVIA this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
IQV has an Earnings ESP of -2.98% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Medical sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around.
Alcon (ALC - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.8 billion, indicating 7.3% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus mark is pinned at 77 cents per share, moving up 1.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The company beat the consensus estimate in three of the past four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 3.7%.
ALC carries an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 10.
Waters (WAT - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $1.6 billion, hinting at 3% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus mark is pinned at $3.01 per share, improving 2% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. WAT beat the consensus estimate for earnings in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 6%.
WAT has an Earnings ESP of +0.45% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to declare second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4.
Key Takeaways Liquidia's Yutrepia launch has driven strong sales, adoption and three straight profitable quarters. LQDA projects far faster 2026 revenue and EPS growth, backed by rising earnings estimates.United Therapeutics counters with a broad PAH portfolio and late-stage ralinepag pipeline. Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).
United Therapeutics (UTHR - Free Report) boasts six FDA-approved therapies that treat PAH, PH-ILD, and neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer, in its portfolio.
Liquidia and United Therapeutics are locked in a fierce battle in the PAH market, with Liquidia's Yutrepia emerging as a challenger to United Therapeutics' blockbuster Tyvaso franchise. Their competition extends beyond commercial sales to patent disputes and a race to capture a larger share of the inhaled treprostinil market.
Given this backdrop, selecting one stock over the other can be difficult. We therefore evaluate their fundamentals, growth prospects, challenges and valuation metrics to help make an informed decision.
The Case for LQDALiquidia currently markets Yutrepia (treprostinil) inhalation powder, approved by the FDA in May 2025 and launched the following month commercially.
The company also generates revenues through a profit-sharing agreement with Sandoz for the promotion of its generic treprostinil injection in the United States.
Yutrepia is an inhaled dry-powder formulation of treprostinil developed using Liquidia's proprietary PRINT particle engineering technology. The platform is designed to enhance deep lung drug delivery, simplify administration through a low-effort dry-powder inhaler and enable higher dose levels than currently marketed inhaled treprostinil therapies.
The company supports commercialization through a specialized sales force focused on physicians treating PAH and PH-ILD, as well as stakeholders involved in reimbursement and drug distribution.
Since its launch in June 2025, Yutrepia has emerged as a strong growth driver, generating approximately $130 million in first-quarter 2026 sales. The therapy has demonstrated robust adoption, with more than 4,500 unique prescriptions, around 3,750 patients initiating treatment, and nearly 1,000 physicians prescribing the drug.
Its rapid uptake helped Liquidia post its third consecutive profitable quarter, highlighting Yutrepia's growing commercial success.
Beyond its commercial portfolio, Liquidia is advancing a pipeline of therapies for pulmonary vascular diseases. Its lead pipeline candidate, L606, is an investigational liposomal formulation of treprostinil administered twice daily via a next-generation nebulizer. L606 is being evaluated in an open-label study for PAH and PH-ILD, while a global pivotal placebo-controlled trial is underway in PH-ILD.
Liquidia also plans to expand Yutrepia into additional indications, including pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) and Raynaud's phenomenon associated with systemic sclerosis.
The Case for UTHRUnited Therapeutics markets a broad PAH portfolio led by Tyvaso DPI, a dry-powder inhaled formulation of the prostacyclin analogue treprostinil, which was approved by FDA in May 2022 to improve exercise ability in patients with PAH and PH-ILD.
Its portfolio includes nebulized Tyvaso, a nebulized liquid inhaled formulation of treprostinil, approved by the FDA to improve exercise ability in patients with PAH and PH-ILD.
The company also markets Remodulin, a continuously infused treprostinil therapy for PAH administered subcutaneously or intravenously, supported by the user-friendly RemunityPRO infusion pump. Its PAH portfolio further includes Orenitram, an oral extended-release treprostinil tablet, and Adcirca (tadalafil), an oral PDE-5 inhibitor licensed from Eli Lilly through the end of 2026.
Sales of Tyvaso products continue to grow, driven by higher volumes and continued growth in commercialization utilization. Moreover, Orenitram offers a convenient oral treatment option that avoids the challenges associated with continuous infusion therapies, such as Remodulin, and inhaled therapies requiring multiple daily administrations.
The company remains focused on developing additional therapies for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
Ralinepag, an investigational, highly selective and potent prostacyclin (IP) receptor, is one of United Therapeutics' most promising late-stage pipeline assets. The candidate is being developed in two formulations — an oral version and a DPI version (RAL-DPI).
Based on positive data from the pivotal phase III ADVANCE OUTCOMES study, United Therapeutics intends to submit a new drug application for ralinepag (to treat PAH) to the FDA by the second half of 2026.
If approved, oral ralinepag could strengthen United Therapeutics’ leadership in PAH and potentially offset future competitive pressure on older products.
Beyond the oral formulation, United Therapeutics is also developing inhaled dry-powder versions of ralinepag, RAL-DPI, in collaboration with MannKind Corporation. While initially targeting PAH, management sees opportunities for RAL-DPI in PH-ILD, IPF and PPF. Together, the oral and inhaled formulations position ralinepag as a potential cornerstone of United Therapeutics' future growth strategy.
Outside its PAH franchise, the company markets Unituxin for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma.
UTHR strengthened its long-term regenerative medicine strategy by acquiring preclinical stage biotech Thymmune Therapeutics for $140 million upfront, with up to $160 million in milestone payments. The deal adds THY-100, a stem cell-derived thymic cell therapy being developed for congenital athymia, and a platform with potential applications in organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies. The acquisition broadens United Therapeutics' pipeline beyond PAH.
A Look at Estimates: LQDA versus UTHRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for LQDA’s 2026 sales implies a year-over-year increase of 315.77%, while that for earnings per share (EPS) suggests a year-over-year improvement of 477.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS has moved north to $3.02 from $2.97 and that for 2027 EPS has increased to $4.92 from $4.81 in the past 60 days.
LQDA’s Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UTHR’s 2026 sales implies a year-over-year increase of 1.46%, while that for EPS suggests a year-over-year decline of 4.41%. EPS estimates for 2026 have moved south to $26.63 in the past 60 days but those for 2026 have moved north to $31.66 from $31.09 during the said time frame.
UTHR’s Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance and Valuation of LQDA and UTHRFrom a price-performance perspective, LQDA has fetched better returns than UTHR so far in the year. Shares of LQDA have surged 158.2%, while those of UTHR have gained 8.7%. The industry has gained 1.4% in the said period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, LQDA is more expensive than UTHR. LQDA’s shares currently trade at 8.74X forward sales, higher than 6.50X for UTHR.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Which Stock Is a Better Pick for Now?LQDA currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while UTHR carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Although United Therapeutics remains the established leader in PAH with a diversified portfolio, a robust late-stage pipeline and expansion into regenerative medicine, much of its growth appears incremental.
In contrast, Liquidia is in the early stages of a rapid commercial expansion, driven by the impressive launch of Yutrepia, expanding label opportunities and a promising pipeline. The company's superior revenue and earnings growth outlook, upward estimate revisions, stronger year-to-date share price performance and better Zacks Rank outweigh its premium valuation.
While UTHR remains a solid long-term holding, Liquidia offers the more compelling growth story and greater upside potential at current levels, making LQDA the better pick for investors seeking higher returns.
Signature Youth Initiative Anchors the Second Annual Impacting the Carolinas Campaign; First Horizon Bank Named Presenting Partner of Bee-Ball For All
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Charlotte Hornets have announced First Horizon Bank (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") as the presenting partner of Bee-Ball for All, the organization's signature youth engagement platform and cornerstone of the second annual Impacting the Carolinas initiative. Through Bee-Ball for All presented by First Horizon Bank, the Hornets will distribute 10,000 basketballs to youth through participating Boys & Girls Club locations across North and South Carolina, expanding access to the game while creating opportunities for mentorship, literacy, wellness and community engagement throughout the region.
First Horizon Bank and Charlotte Hornets Bee-Ball for All Event - Northridge Middle School, Charlotte NC To officially tip off the initiative, Hornets, First Horizon Bank and Boys & Girls Club leaders – along with Hornets Legend Muggsy Bogues – gathered at Northridge Middle School on Thursday, July 23 for a formal announcement and youth basketball clinic celebrating the launch of the two-state distribution effort. The event served as the beginning of a broader effort that will place 10,000 basketballs into the hands of children across North and South Carolina.
"This isn't just about giving away basketballs; it's about opening doors for youth development in multiple ways," said Justin Rutledge, Senior Vice President and Charlotte Market President for First Horizon Bank. Laura Bunn, Executive Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional President for First Horizon Bank added, "Sports also build teamwork, discipline and skills youth will carry through their lives. While we're proud to celebrate in Charlotte today, the mission reaches far beyond this community. Bee-Ball for All helps us connect with youth across the Carolinas, so opportunities aren't limited to one city, but shared across more than 200 Boys & Girls Clubs spanning North and South Carolina."
"Partnerships like this allow us to make a greater impact than we ever could alone. We are incredibly grateful to First Horizon Bank for sharing our commitment to investing in youth and strengthening communities throughout the Carolinas," said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Senior Vice President of Community Impact Betsy Mack. "Together, we are creating opportunities for young people to grow, learn, build confidence and connect through the game of basketball."
Launched in 2025, Impacting the Carolinas is designed to strengthen Hornets Sports & Entertainment's community impact and regional presence across North and South Carolina while reinforcing the organization's commitment to being the Team of the Carolinas.
About First Horizon
First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $84.4 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states concentrated in the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.
About Hornets Sports & Entertainment
Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) owns the Charlotte Hornets and the Greensboro Swarm (NBA G League), and operates Spectrum Center, the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas. Charlotte's first professional sports team, the Hornets joined the NBA in 1988 and are a member of the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. HSE is committed to positively impacting the Carolinas through community programming and the Charlotte Hornets Foundation. Spectrum Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary and reopened following a two-phased renovation as a fully transformed world-class arena in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Through the years, Spectrum Center has hosted nearly 2,500 events and has welcomed more than 25 million guests. Directly across from Spectrum Center, the state-of-the-art Novant Health Performance Center is being built to enhance player development and foster a culture of high performance.
For more information, please visit hornets.com, gsoswarm.com or spectrumcentercharlotte.com
Two hot tech stocks and a quieter healthcare mover take the attention of @Stockstotrade's Tim Bohen to close out the trading week. He sees Alphabet (GOOGL) tapping notable support as a tentative buy opportunity, expects Super Micro (SMCI) to make a similar bull run it saw earlier this week, and points to CVS Health (CVS) as a reliable, low beta stock.
First Hawaiian NASDAQ: FHB executives said the bank delivered loan growth, wider net interest margin and continued solid credit quality in the second quarter of 2026, while preparing for its proposed combination with TriCo Bancshares.
Chairman, President and CEO Bob Harrison said the company was “very excited” about the TriCo transaction, which is expected to close near the end of the year. He said First Hawaiian is focused on the work required to complete the deal and does not have additional information beyond what was presented during its July 23 investor call.
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Hawaii economy and loan growth Harrison pointed to relatively stable economic conditions in Hawaii. The statewide employment rate was 2.5% in May, compared with a national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Total visitor arrivals through May rose 2.9% from a year earlier, driven primarily by visitors from the U.S. mainland and Japan, while year-to-date visitor spending reached $9.7 billion, up 7.5% from 2025 levels.
Hawaii housing prices also remained firm. The median Oahu single-family home sales price was $1.2 million in June, up 10.4% year over year, while the median condo price was $528,000, up 3.5%.
Total loans increased $137 million during the quarter, representing annualized growth of about 3.6%. Growth was led by commercial and industrial, or C&I, lending and commercial real estate lending. C&I balances increased $98 million, primarily because of dealer-flooring growth and expansion in the company’s Hawaii corporate portfolio.
Completed construction projects resulted in the conversion of $95 million in construction loan balances into commercial real estate loans. Construction loan payoffs and lower residential balances partly offset the broader growth, as residential payoffs exceeded new production.
Harrison said management continues to see a “very robust pipeline” in C&I and commercial real estate, with construction activity representing a meaningful portion of commercial real estate opportunities. The bank also is working with some new customer relationships, he said. Residential lending, however, is expected to remain slow because of the interest-rate environment.
Deposits, margin and earnings outlook Total deposits declined $623 million in the second quarter, largely due to expected public-deposit outflows. Chief Financial Officer Jamie Moses said retail deposits were essentially flat, while commercial deposits fell about $156 million because of seasonal volatility. Public deposits declined $467 million, mainly in operating accounts, and public time deposits decreased by $115 million. The remaining public time-deposit balance was $9 million.
Moses said the declines did not reflect lost customer relationships. Municipal partners found other ways to invest certain balances off the bank’s balance sheet, he said, while First Hawaiian expects retail and commercial deposits to increase in the second half because of seasonal patterns. The company’s noninterest-bearing deposit ratio was 32%, and its total cost of deposits declined two basis points from the first quarter.
Net interest income increased $3.5 million sequentially to $171 million. Net interest margin rose six basis points to 3.25%, helped by deposit mix and repricing, higher loan and securities yields, and lower cash balances.
Management revised its full-year net interest margin outlook to a range of 3.24% to 3.25%, based on market expectations for one rate increase later this year. First Hawaiian expects third-quarter margin of about 3.27%. Moses said the company assumed a rate increase early in the fourth quarter in its outlook.
The balance sheet remains asset-sensitive, according to Harrison. Moses said roughly $6 billion of assets would reprice immediately following a rate increase based on SOFR, while approximately $3.5 billion to $4 billion of liabilities would also reprice to some degree.
Cash balances declined in the quarter primarily because of public-deposit outflows. Management expects to keep cash around the quarter-end level, approximately $1 billion, through the rest of the year, even as it anticipates further loan growth.
Fees, expenses and credit quality Noninterest income totaled $60.3 million, aided by higher bank-owned life insurance income, an excise tax refund and increased swap fees. Moses said the BOLI contribution reflected a component of the portfolio that is sensitive to market movements rather than a death benefit.
First Hawaiian maintained its full-year noninterest income outlook of about $220 million. Moses said the company generally views approximately $55 million per quarter as a baseline, though one-time or market-related items can cause quarterly variation.
Noninterest expense was $130.4 million, including $4.2 million in costs related to the TriCo transaction. The company expects more transaction costs in the second half as it moves toward closing and integration. Excluding TriCo-related costs, First Hawaiian expects reported expenses of $515 million to $520 million for the full year.
Moses said higher second-half expenses will reflect continued hiring to support loan growth, along with project-related salary, professional-services and information-technology costs.
Chief Risk Officer Lea Nakamura said credit performance and credit metrics remained healthy. The allowance for credit losses declined both in dollar terms and relative to coverage, primarily because of a material reduction in classified assets.
The company reported a return on average tangible assets of 1.28% and a return on average tangible equity of 16.34% for the quarter. Its effective tax rate was 22.9%.
TriCo transaction and capital plans Harrison said First Hawaiian did not repurchase shares during the second quarter and is unlikely to conduct buybacks for the remainder of the year while the TriCo deal proceeds through regulatory review, though he said that could change. The company’s common equity tier 1 ratio remained above 13%, according to an analyst’s question during the call.
Management reiterated a target of 25% cost savings from the TriCo transaction. Moses said the company remains comfortable with that objective and expects to achieve it through a variety of measures, but did not provide further detail.
Harrison said three TriCo executives—Richard Smith, Dan Bailey and Peter G. Wiese—are expected to join First Hawaiian’s senior management team. He said First Hawaiian intends to retain much of TriCo’s management team, describing the California bank as a well-run institution that First Hawaiian plans to support while learning from its operations.
About First Hawaiian (NASDAQ:FHB)First Hawaiian, Inc is the oldest and largest bank in Hawaii, operating as the bank holding company for First Hawaiian Bank. Established in 1858, the company offers a full suite of financial services to individual, business and institutional clients. Its product portfolio includes consumer and commercial lending, deposit accounts, treasury and cash management, foreign exchange and trade finance, as well as wealth management and trust services.
First Hawaiian serves customers through an extensive network of branches, ATMs and digital channels across the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.
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SouthState Bank NYSE: SSB reported second-quarter 2026 results marked by continued loan growth, stable net interest margin, low credit losses and ongoing investment in banker recruiting and artificial intelligence initiatives.
Chief Executive Officer John Corbett said the company generated a 1.36% return on assets and a 17.6% return on tangible common equity during the quarter. He said results reflected “solid balance sheet growth, stable margins, improving efficiency, and continued strength in credit quality.”
Over the past year, loans increased 8% and deposits rose 5%, both within the company’s previously issued guidance ranges. During the second quarter, loan growth totaled $1.35 billion, representing an 11% annualized rate. Average loan growth also ran at an 11% annualized pace.
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Corbett said growth was broad-based across SouthState’s footprint, with Florida leading the company in loan-growth dollars. Florida, Texas and South Carolina were the largest contributors by dollar amount, while Atlanta, Virginia and Alabama posted strong percentage growth, including commercial and industrial lending gains in Atlanta.
Recruiting Supports Growth Strategy SouthState has expanded its commercial banking sales force by more than 10% over the past three quarters as it seeks to capitalize on disruption in its markets. Corbett said the company had offered division presidents the opportunity to increase their commercial relationship manager teams by 15% to 20% over several years.
The newer hires have generated $600 million of loan production so far and have a $1.5 billion pipeline, according to Corbett. Texas has been the strongest market for sales-force expansion, with its commercial relationship manager count up 25%.
The company expects loan growth to remain in the mid- to upper-single-digit range. Corbett said SouthState sees a potential mix shift in the second half, with commercial and industrial lending expected to increase while planned commercial real estate payoffs, including multifamily projects, rise.
Construction lending increased during the quarter, driven partly by owner-occupied projects for commercial clients and multifamily construction. However, Corbett noted that the overall construction category remained about 10% below its level a year earlier.
Margin Outlook Remains Stable SouthState reported a net interest margin of 3.78%, down 1 basis point from the first quarter and within its 3.75% to 3.80% guidance range. Deposit costs were unchanged from the prior quarter at 1.76%, while loan yields declined 5 basis points to 5.91% due to lower purchase-accounting accretion income.
Excluding accretion, loan yields increased 1 basis point and net interest margin rose 4 basis points, the company said. Net interest income totaled $576 million, up $14 million from the first quarter.
Chief Strategy Officer Steve Young said management’s outlook assumes no interest-rate increases or reductions through 2027 and calls for net interest margin to remain within the 3.75% to 3.80% range. He said deposit costs could rise modestly as the company funds loan growth, but anticipated asset repricing should help support the margin.
SouthState said approximately 76% of quarterly loan production carried floating rates. The share of the overall loan portfolio in floating-rate loans has increased to 38%, from 32% a year earlier.
Management also pointed to future repricing opportunities, including roughly $6 billion of loans expected to reprice over the next year and about $1 billion of securities expected to cash flow and be reinvested. Young said legacy loans with coupons in the 3% to 4% range are being replaced at rates in the 6% range.
Credit Quality and Expenses Credit quality improved during the quarter. Nonperforming assets declined 14%, classified loans also decreased, and net charge-offs were 6 basis points. It was the eighth time in the past nine quarters that SouthState’s net charge-offs were below 10 basis points.
Provision expense was $16 million, primarily reflecting loan growth. Management said it expects modest downward pressure on reserve levels absent meaningful changes in Moody’s economic forecasts and other loss drivers. The company continues to use a more conservative weighting toward Moody’s pessimistic scenario than its traditional model weighting.
Noninterest income was $97 million, or 57 basis points of average assets, within the company’s 55- to 60-basis-point guidance range. The figure was $3 million below the first quarter, as higher deposit fees were offset by lower mortgage revenue. SouthState said it continues to expect correspondent banking revenue of roughly $25 million per quarter.
Noninterest expense totaled $358 million, slightly better than guidance. Management maintained its forecast for 4% noninterest expense growth in 2026. It expects compensation costs to rise in the second half as recently hired employees remain in the run rate and company merit increases take effect July 1.
Capital Returns and Technology Investment SouthState repurchased 1 million shares during the quarter at a weighted average price of $97.62, producing a 68% total payout ratio including dividends. Year-to-date repurchases totaled 2.5 million shares and the total payout ratio was 80%.
Corbett said the company repurchased nearly 5% of its outstanding shares over the past year while increasing its dividend and maintaining a common equity tier 1 capital ratio above 11%. CET1 ended the quarter at 11.1%, tangible common equity was 8.7%, and tangible book value per share was $58.72, up 13% from a year earlier.
Management reiterated its longer-term total capital return framework of 40% to 60%, saying recent higher repurchase activity is not expected to be sustained if the company continues to target mid- to high-single-digit loan growth while maintaining CET1 in an 11% to 12% range.
Corbett also highlighted artificial intelligence as a strategic priority. The company is using the technology in credit operations, fraud management and call-center support, as well as through an internally developed small language model. SouthState is also testing commodity-hedging and foreign-exchange offerings, though Young said those initiatives are expected to launch in 2027 rather than materially affect 2026 results.
About SouthState Bank (NYSE:SSB)SouthState Bank NYSE: SSB is a bank holding company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, that provides a range of commercial and retail banking services. Through its subsidiary, SouthState Bank, the company serves businesses, institutions and individuals with deposit, lending and treasury management solutions. Its core business lines include commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate lending, consumer mortgages and home equity loans.
In addition to traditional lending and deposit products, SouthState Bank offers specialized services such as treasury and cash management, merchant services, payment solutions and online banking.
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SouthState Bank Corporation (SSB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
William Matthews - Senior Executive VP & CFO
John Corbett - CEO & Chairman
Stephen Young - Senior Executive VP & Chief Strategy Officer
Conference Call Participants
Stephen Scouten - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
John McDonald - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Hannah Wynn - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division
Michael Rose - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Sun Young Lee - TD Cowen, Research Division
Gary Tenner - D.A. Davidson & Co., Research Division
Anthony Elian - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Benjamin Gerlinger - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
David Chiaverini - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
David Bishop - Hovde Group, LLC, Research Division
Samuel Varga - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the SouthState Bank Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]
I will now hand the conference call over to Will Matthews, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Matthews, please go ahead.
William Matthews
Senior Executive VP & CFO
Good morning. This is Will Matthews, and welcome to SouthState's Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call.
I'm here with John Corbett, Steve Young and Jeremy Lucas. We'll follow our typical pattern of brief prepared remarks and then move into Q&A. And I'll refer you to the Investor Relations tab of our website for the earnings materials.
Before we begin our remarks, I want to remind you that comments we make may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and regulations. Any such forward-looking statements we may make are subject to the safe harbor rules. Please review the forward-looking disclaimer and safe harbor language in the press release and presentation for more information about our forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties, which may affect us.
PECO Pullback Presents a Retail REIT Worth Shopping ForPhillips Edison & Company, Inc. NASDAQ: PECO reported higher second-quarter funds from operations and same-center net operating income, citing sustained demand for space at its grocery-anchored shopping centers, record in-line occupancy and strong leasing spreads. The company also raised its 2026 outlook for earnings, same-center NOI growth and acquisitions.
Chairman and CEO Jeff Edison said the company generated 8.1% year-over-year growth in NAREIT FFO per share, 7.8% growth in Core FFO per share and 3.8% same-center NOI growth during the second quarter. He attributed the performance to occupancy gains, leasing activity, rent spreads and operating execution across the portfolio.
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“Our centers generated 2% year-over-year traffic growth in June and 2% traffic growth year-to-date,” Edison said, adding that consumers continued to make frequent trips to necessity-based retail destinations despite seeking value.
Occupancy and Leasing Reach New Highs President Bob Myers said second-quarter leasing activity reached a record number of leases, while retailer demand showed “no current signs of slowing.” Necessity-based categories such as quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, health and wellness, beauty, fitness, services and medical retail continued to drive activity. The company said 74% of its rent comes from necessity-based goods and services.
Portfolio leased occupancy was 97.3%. Leased anchor occupancy was 98.4%. Leased in-line occupancy reached a record 95.5%. Economic in-line occupancy reached a record 94.8%. Comparable renewal rent spreads were 21.2%. Comparable new rent spreads were 33.7%. Annual rent bumps on in-line renewal leases averaged a record 3.1%. Myers said the company retained roughly 90% of its tenants and spent less than $1 per square foot to retain them. He said Phillips Edison expects it can increase in-line occupancy by another 100 basis points over time and lift anchor occupancy by 50 to 60 basis points by year-end.
The company reported lower-than-expected bad debt of about 70 basis points of revenue in the quarter and reduced its full-year bad-debt outlook. Management now expects bad debt for 2026 to be in line with or slightly better than 2025.
FFO, NOI and Balance Sheet CFO John Caulfield said second-quarter NAREIT FFO rose to $93.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, while Core FFO increased to $95.5 million, or $0.69 per diluted share. Same-center NOI rose 3.8%, primarily because of higher average rents and economic occupancy.
Phillips Edison raised its full-year 2026 guidance for NAREIT FFO per share, Core FFO per share and same-center NOI growth. At the midpoint, the updated outlook implies 6.3% growth in NAREIT FFO per share from 2025, 6.2% growth in Core FFO per share and 3.7% same-center NOI growth.
Caulfield said the increased FFO outlook reflects strong first-half operations and healthy tenant credit trends. However, he noted that asset sales occurring ahead of reinvestment in acquisitions create a short-term cash-flow gap, while positioning the company for growth in 2027.
The company ended the quarter with $857 million of liquidity. Net debt to trailing 12-month annualized adjusted EBITDAre was 5.1 times at quarter-end and 5.0 times on a last-quarter annualized basis. Its debt had a 4.4% weighted average interest rate and a 5.6-year weighted average maturity, including extension options. Fixed-rate debt represented 95.9% of total debt, including Phillips Edison’s share of joint-venture debt.
Moody’s revised the company’s outlook to positive, which Caulfield said reflected operating performance, balance-sheet management and liquidity.
Acquisition Target Increased Management raised 2026 gross acquisition guidance to $500 million to $600 million, an increase of $100 million. Caulfield confirmed in response to an analyst question that the net acquisition outlook also increased by $100 million.
The company completed $278 million of acquisitions at its share year to date through the week of the call, including eight grocery-anchored shopping centers, three everyday retail centers, an outparcel and land for future development. It had more than $225 million of awarded or contracted assets expected to close in the second half.
Management said acquisitions have been funded through dispositions, equity issuance and the company’s revolving credit facility. Phillips Edison raised $92 million of equity during June and July, though Caulfield said the full-year guidance does not assume additional equity issuance.
The company continues to target unlevered internal rates of return of 9% for grocery-anchored centers and 10% for everyday retail centers. Myers said the acquisition pipeline consists of about 60% grocery-anchored properties and 40% everyday retail assets. He said the company has identified more than 50,000 potential everyday retail opportunities near leading grocers and has acquired 12 such assets to date, where it has increased occupancy by 450 basis points.
Phillips Edison also maintained 2026 disposition guidance of $100 million to $200 million. Edison said the company had sold nearly $100 million of properties at a 6.3% capitalization rate and with an IRR below 7.5%, intending to redeploy that capital into higher-return opportunities.
Development Pipeline and Grocery Outlook The company has 21 active development and redevelopment projects with estimated investment of about $82 million and estimated average yields of 9% to 12%. Eleven projects stabilized year to date, delivering more than 212,000 square feet and approximately $3.4 million of annual incremental NOI, according to Myers.
Management also discussed grocer industry developments, including Kroger’s announced acquisition of Giant Eagle. Edison called the transaction positive for Phillips Edison, which has 10 Giant Eagle-anchored centers. He said Kroger’s investment in brick-and-mortar stores signaled confidence in physical grocery locations as a channel for sales and fulfillment.
While Edison acknowledged that grocers are responding to consumer caution by investing in price and observing shifts toward private-label products, he said Phillips Edison has not seen a deterioration in portfolio traffic. The company plans to continue monitoring consumer behavior and retailer health while pursuing growth through leasing, development, acquisitions, joint ventures and portfolio recycling.
About Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:PECO)Phillips Edison & Company, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and operation of grocery-anchored, necessity-based shopping centers. The company's investment strategy is centered on properties that benefit from everyday consumer demand, seeking to deliver stable cash flows through long-term, triple-net leases with national and regional tenants in the grocery, drugstore and essential retail sectors.
In addition to its core retail portfolio, Phillips Edison & Company provides integrated services covering property management, asset management, leasing, development and acquisition sourcing.
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Consumer-Driven Stocks Boost Buybacks, Including Visa's $20B PlanByline Bancorp NYSE: BY reported record second-quarter net income of $40.2 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, as revenue increased and expenses declined from the prior quarter. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.91, up 10% sequentially and 21% from a year earlier, President Alberto Paracchini said during the company’s earnings call.
The Chicago-based commercial bank posted a 1.63% return on average assets and a return on average common equity of just under 14.5%. Its pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets was 2.49%, marking the company’s 15th consecutive quarter above 2%, according to management.
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Could This Entertainment Stock be the Belle of the Gaming Ball?“We delivered net income of $40.2 million or $0.90 per diluted share,” Paracchini said. “Record net income and excellent profitability really stood out this quarter.”
Revenue Growth and Efficiency Improvement Revenue totaled $118 million, up 4.7% from the prior quarter, while non-interest expenses fell. The adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 46.5% from 49.8% in the first quarter, which Paracchini described as the company’s best result since becoming a public company in 2017.
Boyd Gaming stock: All signs point to a significant break higherNet interest income was $101 million, up modestly from the preceding quarter. Net interest margin declined 5 basis points to 4.28%, primarily reflecting higher funding costs associated with a maturing balance-sheet hedge and changes in earning-asset mix, CFO Tom Bell said.
Management emphasized that it prioritizes growth in net interest income dollars rather than managing to a particular margin target. Paracchini said the bank may accept lower spreads on high-quality, relationship-oriented business if it is accretive to earnings and supports long-term franchise value.
For the third quarter, Byline projected net interest income of $100 million to $102 million, non-interest income of $14 million to $15 million, and gain-on-sale revenue averaging about $5.5 million per quarter. The company maintained its full-year non-interest expense outlook of $59 million to $60 million per quarter.
Bell said second-half expenses are expected to rise due largely to employee-related costs, including health care benefits and commissions tied to production. Management also said potential opportunities to hire banking talent are included in its outlook.
Loans, Deposits and Rate Environment Total loans ended the quarter at $7.6 billion, increasing at a 4.2% annualized rate. New originations totaled $234 million, while payoffs were elevated at $339 million. Loan commitments rose slightly, and line utilization increased to 60% from 59% in the prior quarter.
Management expects full-year loan growth in the mid-single digits if payoff activity normalizes in the second half. Paracchini said the recent elevated payoff activity partly reflects the bank’s effort to recycle acquired loan portfolios into new customer relationships.
Total deposits reached $7.9 billion, rising at a 3.5% annualized rate. Growth in interest-bearing checking balances was partly offset by lower money-market balances. The loan-to-deposit ratio ended the quarter at 96%.
Byline said competition for both loans and deposits remains elevated. Paracchini said price competition has intensified in commercial real estate, particularly as larger institutions return to certain segments of that market. He cited multifamily and industrial properties as areas where more capital is competing for a reduced level of transaction activity.
Bell said the company remains focused on relationship deposits rather than more rate-sensitive funding. He added that commercial customers moving balances from money-market accounts to interest-bearing checking could indicate they anticipate uses for that capital.
Credit Trends Remain Favorable Credit costs were $7.2 million during the quarter, including $4.4 million of net charge-offs and a $2.8 million reserve build. Net charge-offs equaled 24 basis points of loans, down from 32 basis points in the first quarter.
Criticized loans declined to 3.9% of total loans from 4.5% both sequentially and from a year earlier. Nonperforming loans totaled $69.1 million, or 92 basis points of total loans, up marginally from the prior quarter and flat year over year. The allowance for credit losses rose to $112 million, or 1.48% of total loans.
Chief Credit Officer Mark Fucinato said the decline in criticized and classified loans reflected improved performance at several larger operating companies, as well as the resolution of a workout situation in which an operating company sold a mortgaged asset and repaid its exposure in full. The bank also recorded a recovery on a prior charge-off.
Paracchini said management’s near-term expectation for net charge-offs remains in the range of 30 to 40 basis points, although he expects that level may migrate lower over time as the SBA portfolio becomes a smaller part of Byline’s overall balance sheet.
Capital Returns and $10 Billion Threshold Byline ended the quarter with total assets of $9.9 billion. Tangible common equity rose to 11.4%, while the common equity tier 1 ratio reached 12.9%. Tangible book value per share increased 14% from a year earlier to $24.48.
During the quarter, the company repurchased about 275,000 shares for $9.1 million. Including dividends and buybacks, its total shareholder payout ratio was 36%.
The board also approved a 16.7% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.14 per share. Paracchini said the increase reflects the company’s capital position and earnings profile.
Management said it continues preparing to cross the $10 billion asset threshold. Paracchini said the company is not currently constraining normal balance-sheet activity to stay below that level, but it could manage the balance sheet near year-end if doing so would delay the effects of the Durbin amendment until mid-2028.
On acquisitions, Paracchini described the environment for smaller-bank transactions as constructive. He said Byline would generally seek deals with tangible book value earn-backs within three years, while continuing to weigh acquisitions against organic growth, investments in the business and share repurchases.
About Byline Bancorp (NYSE:BY)Byline Bancorp, Inc is the bank holding company for Byline Bank, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Established under its current name in 2016, the company operates as a community-focused financial institution offering a broad array of banking products and services to corporate, professional and consumer clients.
On the commercial banking side, Byline Bancorp serves small and midsize businesses, real estate developers, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.
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NEW YORK CITY & NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) are investigating the proposed sale of Finward Bancorp (NasdaqCM: FNWD) to First Financial Bancorp. (NasdaqGS: FFBC). Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of Finward will receive 1.35 shares of First Financial for each share of Finward that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the.
Earnings DERBY, VT / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2026 / Community Bancorp. (NASDAQ:CMTV), the parent company of Community National Bank (the "Bank"), reported consolidated earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, of $4.7 million or $0.84 per share, an increase of $628,008 or 15.47% compared to $4.1 million or $0.72 per share reported for the second quarter of 2025. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2026, were $9.1 million, or $1.62 per share, also a significant increase of $1.5 million or 19.40% compared to $7.6 million or $1.34 per share in the same period in 2025.
Second Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
(Unaudited)
Six months Ended
Quarter Ended
Six months Ended
Quarter Ended
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2025
June 30, 2025
Return on average assets
1.47
%
1.53
%
1.29
%
1.38
%
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets
1.96
%
2.11
%
1.67
%
1.81
%
Return on average shareholders' equity
15.63
%
15.83
%
15.05
%
15.62
%
Net Interest Margin
3.88
%
3.95
%
3.56
%
3.64
%
Efficiency Ratio
54.2
%
52.8
%
57.3
%
55.8
%
Noninterest expense to average assets
2.31
%
2.37
%
2.24
%
2.29
%
Dividend payout
30.86
%
29.76
%
35.82
%
33.33
%
Fully diluted tangible book value per common share (1)
$
19.51
$
19.51
$
16.63
$
16.63
Total capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
16.05
%
16.05
%
14.85
%
14.85
%
Total common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
14.79
%
14.79
%
13.60
%
13.60
%
Tier I Capital to Average Assets (2)
10.63
%
10.63
%
10.06
%
10.06
%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)
9.41
%
9.41
%
8.21
%
8.21
%
Earnings per common share
$
1.62
$
0.84
$
1.34
$
0.72
Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share
5,590,465
5,594,749
5,608,997
5,612,675
(1)
Refer to the "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" section of this document for additional detail.
(2)
Represents Bank-only ratios. Current period capital ratios are preliminary subject to finalization of the Bank's June 30, 2026 FDIC Call Report.
Total assets for the Company at June 30, 2026, were $1.17 billion, a decrease of $114.8 million from year end 2025, but $6.2 million or 0.53% higher compared to $1.17 billion as of June 30, 2025. The year-to-date change primarily reflects annual maturities of municipal non arbitrage relationships and lower cash balances used to pay off two maturing advances totaling $25.0 million, as well as a cyclical decrease in deposit balances. Contributing to the Company's year-over-year growth in assets was growth in the Company's gross loan portfolio of $28.8 million, or 3.06%, compared to the 2025 period. Deposit balances increased $48.7 million, or 5.22%, compared to the same period in 2025 but decreased $89.0 million or 8.31% since year end 2025 reflecting cyclical changes. The year-over-year loan growth was primarily funded by a combination of cash, maturities of securities, as well as an increase in core deposits.
The Company's securities portfolio totaled $128 million as of June 30, 2026, an 11.45% decrease compared to $144.6 million as of December 31, 2025. The portfolio is classified as available-for-sale and is required to be reported at fair market value with the unrealized loss, net of a deferred tax adjustment, as an adjustment to total equity. Such unrealized losses reflect the interest rate environment, as current rates remain below the coupon rates on the securities, resulting in a fair market value lower than current book values. As of June 30, 2026, the adjustment to equity was $9.4 million, representing an improvement of $3.1 million from the adjustment to equity of $12.5 million on June 30, 2026 and $9.6 million as of December 31, 2025.
Total net interest income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, increased $1.4 million, or 13.68%, to $11.2 million, compared to $9.9 million for the same quarter in 2025. The quarter-over-quarter improvement reflects an increase of $1.1 million, or 7.72%, in interest and fees on loans due to strong loan growth and higher yields, partially offset by higher interest on deposits expense of $37,533, or 0.94%. Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, increased $2.9 million or 14.81%, to $22.2 million, compared to $19.3 million for the same period in 2025, reflecting the same trends.
The provision for credit losses for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, was $720,967 compared to $407,046 for the same period in 2025. The year-to-date provision for credit losses was $1.1 million, compared to $732,100 for the same period in 2025. The $380,373 year-over-year increase was driven primarily by strong loan growth. The provision for credit losses for June 30, 2026, was determined under Accounting Standard No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL.
Total non-interest income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, of $2.3 million increased $254,036, or 12.34%, compared to $2.1million for the same period in 2025. Total non-interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, grew to $4.1 million, compared to $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $420,767, or 11.57% year-over-year. Total non-interest expenses increased $497,838, or 7.47%, for the second quarter comparison period, and $1.1 million, or 7.98%, for the six months period year-over-year.
Equity capital increased to $120.9 million, with a book value per share of $21.58, as of June 30, 2026, compared to equity capital of $113.7 million and a book value per share of $20.36 as of December 31, 2025, and $106.3 million and book value per share of $18.69 as of June 30, 2025. This change includes a decrease of $237,432 in unrealized losses in the investment portfolio year-to-date and a decrease of $3.1 million year-over-year, due to changing bond rates, which increased the fair market value of the investment portfolio, as well as an increase of $6.3 million year-to-date and an increase of $12.8 million year-over-year in retained earnings. The unrealized loss position is considered temporary and does not impact the Company's regulatory capital ratios. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company completed the optional redemption of all fifteen of the Company's outstanding shares of its Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The preferred stock value of $1,500,000 was included in the Company's equity capital as of June 30, 2025.
President and CEO Christopher Caldwell commented on the Company's results: "Through the first half of 2026, the company continued its strong performance. Community banking thrives through relationship-based banking and this long-term approach to clients and our communities continues to serve us well. Our inclusion in both the ABA Nasdaq Community Bank Index and the Russell 2000 Index has increased the Company's visibility among investors and may support broader market awareness of our stock over time. Tangible book value per share increased by 17% for the year-to-date period compared to the same period of 2025. Year-to-date earnings per share increased 20% compared to the same period last year, and 16% for the second quarter compared to the same quarter of 2025. These results demonstrate the Company's commitment to serving our customers as Vermont's Community Bank. We are grateful for the trust that our communities, clients, and shareholders have placed in us."
As previously announced, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable August 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of July 15, 2026.
About Community Bancorp.
Community Bancorp. is the parent holding company for Community National Bank, headquartered in Derby, Vermont. Community National Bank is an independent bank that has been serving its communities since 1851, with retail banking offices located in Derby, Derby Line, Island Pond, Barton, Newport, Troy, St. Johnsbury, Montpelier, Barre, Lyndonville, Morrisville and Enosburg Falls as well as loan offices located in Burlington, Vermont and Lebanon, New Hampshire
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's financial condition, capital status, dividend payment practices, business outlook and affairs. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Although these statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, actual conditions, results, and events may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, as they could be influenced by numerous factors which are unpredictable and outside the Company's control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such statements include, among others, the following: (1) general national or regional economic conditions, national fiscal or monetary policies, or national or international tariff or trade conditions result in a deterioration of the credit quality of our loan portfolio or diminished demand for the Company's products and services; (2) changes in laws or government rules, or the way in which courts interpret those laws or rules, adversely affect the financial industry generally or the Company's business in particular, or may impose additional costs and regulatory requirements; (3) interest rates change in such a way as to reduce the Company's interest margins and its funding sources; and (4) competitive pressures increase among financial services providers in the Company's northern New England market area or in the financial services industry generally, including pressures from nonbank financial service providers, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers and from changes in technology and delivery systems, and other factors that are listed from time to time in our financial filings with the SEC, including our Forms 10Q and 10K. The Company cautions you not to rely unduly on forward-looking statements because the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and projections about future events may, and often do, differ materially from actual results or events. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as to the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made, except as otherwise required by law.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to evaluating the Company's results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), management supplements this evaluation with certain non-GAAP financial measures such as pre-tax, pre-provision income; fully diluted tangible book value per common share and tangible common equity to tangible assets. Management believe these non-GAAP financial measures help investors better understand the Company's operating performance and trends and allow for better performance comparisons to other financial institutions. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures remove the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP operating results, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other financial institutions. Reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures can be found at the end of this document.
Community Bancorp. And Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
June 30,
December 31,
2026
2025
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$
19,772,554
$
11,802,391
Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
5,840,996
116,259,370
Total cash and cash equivalents
25,613,550
128,061,761
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost $139,848,277
and $156,694,754 at 06/30/26 and 12/31/25, respectively
127,982,828
144,528,758
Restricted equity securities, at cost
1,918,950
2,933,050
Loans held-for-sale
813,332
138,000
Loans
970,535,252
965,285,662
Allowance for credit losses
(11,881,321
)
(10,864,983
)
Deferred net loan costs
940,423
786,604
Net loans
959,594,354
955,207,283
Bank premises and equipment, net
12,220,494
12,090,886
Accrued interest receivable
4,505,039
4,607,975
Bank owned life insurance
5,435,603
5,398,085
Goodwill
11,574,269
11,574,269
Other real estate owned
-
319,019
Other assets
23,090,295
22,699,860
Total assets
$
1,172,748,714
$
1,287,558,946
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities
Deposits:
Demand, non-interest bearing
$
204,738,374
$
218,842,543
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
278,551,211
299,636,739
Money market funds
125,665,889
187,132,921
Savings
146,071,626
142,543,291
Time deposits, $250,000 and over
48,195,437
46,913,997
Other time deposits
178431659
175,598,510
Total deposits
981,654,196
1,070,668,001
Repurchase agreements
35,019,257
41,498,171
Borrowed funds
10,975,022
35,975,022
Junior subordinated debentures
12,887,000
12,887,000
Accrued interest and other liabilities
11,319,225
12,843,774
Total liabilities
1,051,854,700
1,173,871,968
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock - $2.50 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized,
5,902,267 shares issued at 06/30/26, 5,882,266 shares issued at 12/31/25
14,755,668
14,705,665
Additional paid-in capital
40,757,013
40,076,561
Retained earnings
79,287,690
73,021,908
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(9,373,705
)
(9,611,137
)
Less: treasury stock, at cost; 300,409 shares at 06/30/26 and 299,399
shares at 12/31/25
(4,532,652
)
(4,506,019
)
Total shareholders' equity
120,894,014
113,686,978
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
1,172,748,714
$
1,287,558,946
Book value per common share outstanding
$
21.58
$
20.36
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
Quarter Ended
Quarter Ended
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2025
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans
$
14,748,598
$
13,691,705
Interest on taxable debt securities
741,821
948,048
Interest on tax-exempt debt securities
80,411
80,411
Dividends
47,363
58,595
Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits
424,413
71,857
Total interest income
16,042,606
14,850,616
Interest expense
Interest on deposits
4,009,541
3,972,008
Interest on borrowed funds
301,838
444,596
Interest on repurchase agreements
262,376
298,057
Interest on junior subordinated debentures
221,045
241,413
Total interest expense
4,794,800
4,956,074
Net interest income
11,247,806
9,894,542
Credit loss expense
720,967
407,046
Net interest income after credit loss expense
10,526,839
9,487,496
Non-interest income
Service fees
988,219
969,775
Income from sold loans
89,692
96,705
Other income from loans
537,043
331,759
Income from investment in CFS Partners
579,795
548,307
Other income
117,998
112,165
Total non-interest income
2,312,747
2,058,711
Non-interest expense
Salaries and wages
2,632,767
2,392,661
Employee benefits
1,102,841
1,056,273
Occupancy expenses, net
779,462
794,451
Other expenses
2,650,168
2,424,015
Total non-interest expense
7,165,238
6,667,400
Income before income taxes
5,674,348
4,878,807
Income tax expense
986,564
819,031
Net income
$
4,687,784
$
4,059,776
Earnings per common share
$
0.84
$
0.72
Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share
5,594,749
5,612,675
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.25
$
0.24
Six Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2025
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans
$
29,181,219
$
26,906,737
Interest on taxable debt securities
1,546,571
1,807,276
Interest on tax-exempt debt securities
160,823
160,823
Dividends
99,321
106,485
Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits
1,081,511
393,806
Total interest income
32,069,445
29,375,127
Interest expense
Interest on deposits
8,186,172
8,157,915
Interest on borrowed funds
687,788
815,574
Interest on repurchase agreements
556,106
584,016
Interest on junior subordinated debentures
443,692
484,758
Total interest expense
9,873,758
10,042,263
Net interest income
22,195,687
19,332,864
Credit loss expense
1,112,473
732,100
Net interest income after credit loss expense
21,083,214
18,600,764
Non-interest income
Service fees
1,924,696
1,856,557
Income from sold loans
159,237
166,082
Other income from loans
887,238
601,927
Income from investment in CFS Partners
822,234
797,658
Other income
264,682
215,096
Total non-interest income
4,058,087
3,637,320
Non-interest expense
Salaries and wages
5,211,603
4,712,727
Employee benefits
2,214,118
2,074,245
Occupancy expenses, net
1,554,443
1,576,307
Other expenses
5,242,433
4,807,731
Total non-interest expense
14,222,597
13,171,010
Income before income taxes
10,918,704
9,067,074
Income tax expense
1,861,817
1,481,843
Net income
$
9,056,887
$
7,585,231
Earnings per common share
$
1.62
$
1.34
Weighted average number of common shares
used in computing earnings per share
5,590,465
5,608,997
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.50
$
0.48
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Earnings Per Share ("EPS") (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
For the Quarter Ended June 30,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2026
2025
2026
2025
(In thousands, except per share data)
Net income
$
4,688
$
4,060
$
9,057
$
7,585
Less: dividends to preferred shareholders
-
$
28
-
$
56
Net income available to common shareholders
$
4,688
$
4,032
$
9,057
$
7,529
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing earnings per share
5,594,749
5,612,675
5,590,465
5,608,997
Earnings per common share
$
0.84
$
0.72
$
1.62
$
1.34
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(unaudited)
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
Quarter Ended
June 30, 2026
Computation of Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income
$
11,247,806
Non-interest income
$
2,312,747
Less: Non-interest expense
$
7,165,238
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue
$
6,395,315
Computation of Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue
$
6,395,315
Average Assets
$
1,228,309,434
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue return on average assets
2.11
%
As of
June 30, 2026
December 31, 2025
June 30, 2025
Computation of Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value per Common Share
Total shareholders' equity
$
120,894
$
113,687
$
106,343
Less:
Preferred Stock
-
-
$
1,500
Common shareholders' equity
$
120,894
$
113,687
$
104,843
Less:
Goodwill
$
11,574
$
11,574
$
11,574
Other Intangibles
-
-
-
Tangible common shareholders' equity
$
109,320
$
102,113
$
93,269
Common shares issued and outstanding
5,601,858
5,582,927
5,608,914
Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value per Common Share
$
19.51
$
18.29
$
16.63
As of
June 30, 2026
December 31, 2025
June 30, 2025
Computation of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets
Common Equity
$
120,894
$
113,687
$
106,343
Less:
Goodwill
$
11,574
$
11,574
$
11,574
Other Intangibles
-
-
-
Tangible Common Equity
$
109,320
$
102,113
$
94,769
Total Assets
$
1,172,749
$
1,287,559
$
1,166,586
Less:
Goodwill
$
11,574
$
11,574
$
11,574
Other Intangibles
-
-
-
Tangible Assets
$
1,161,175
$
1,275,985
$
1,155,012
Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets
9.41
%
8.00
%
8.21
%
For more information, contact:
Investor Relations
[email protected]
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthEast Community Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: NECB) (the “Company”), the parent holding company of NorthEast Community Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income of $9.8 million, or $0.75 per basic share and $0.72 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2026 compared to net income of $11.2 million, or $0.85 per basic share and $0.82 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2025.
Key Takeaways Boston Beer's Q2 EPS fell 33% y/y to $3.65, while revenues declined 3.3% to $568 million.SAM's depletions dropped 6% as weakness across key brands offset growth in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard.SAM cut its 2026 capital spending forecast to $60-$80 million from $70-$90 million. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (SAM - Free Report) reported lower-than-expected revenues and earnings in second-quarter 2026. The top and bottom lines also fell year over year. It posted second-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.65, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.77. The reported number decreased 33% from the year-ago figure.
Net revenues declined 3.3% to $568 million and missed the consensus estimate of $572 million by 0.7%. Higher advertising, promotional and selling expenses, along with lower volumes, weighed on results.
SAM Faces Weaker Volumes and Brand PressureDepletions dipped 6% in the quarter, while shipment volume declined 4.5% to about 2 million barrels. Lower shipments of Twisted Tea, Truly, Samuel Adams, Hard Mountain Dew and Dogfish Head more than offset growth in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard.
Year-to-date depletions through the 26-week period ended June 27, 2026, decreased roughly 5% from the comparable period in 2025.
Boston Beer said distributor inventories were appropriate at the quarter-end and averaged roughly four and a half weeks on hand, unchanged from the comparable 2025 period. Favorable product mix and pricing partly cushioned the impact of lower volumes.
Analysis of Boston Beer’s Q2 Margins & ExpensesSAM reported a gross margin of 50.4%, up 60 basis points (bps) from the second quarter of 2025, benefiting from price increases, a favorable product mix, procurement savings and enhanced brewery efficiencies. The gain was partly offset by inflationary, commodity and tariff costs. Gross margin also included $1.6 million of shortfall fees and non-cash expenses of third-party production pre-payments in total, which hurt the metric by nearly 28 bps on an absolute basis.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased 16.4%, or $26.2 million, from the prior-year quarter. The increase included $17.5 million of higher brand, local marketing and point-of-sale investments.
Freight costs rose $8.6 million because of higher rates, partly offset by lower volumes. General and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million, mainly because of higher legal fees and salary and benefit costs.
SAM Maintains Liquidity and Returns Cash to HoldersBoston Beer ended the quarter with $265.5 million in cash and no debt. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $117.6 million for the first 26 weeks of 2026, while capital expenditures were $22.9 million.
The company repurchased $54.1 million of Class A shares from Dec. 29, 2025, through July 17, 2026. About $174 million remained under its board-authorized $1.6 billion repurchase limit as of July 17.
SAM Updates 2026 GuidanceBoston Beer updated its full-year 2026 guidance while cautioning that results remain sensitive to volume trends, supply-chain execution, inflation, commodity costs and tariff policies. The company continues to expect depletions and shipments to decline in the low-single-digit to mid-single-digit range, with price increases of 1-2%. It raised the lower end of its gross margin outlook to 48.5% from 48%, while retaining the upper end at 50%. Tariff costs are still projected at $20-$30 million.
Management lowered its anticipated year-over-year increase in advertising, promotional and selling expenses to $0-$20 million from $20-$40 million expected earlier. It also revised the GAAP loss outlook to $6.23-$4.23 per share from a loss of $7.02-$5.02, reflecting a reduced litigation-related impact of $14.73 per share versus $15.52 previously. The adjusted tax rate forecast remains 29-30%, while adjusted earnings guidance was maintained at $8.50-$10.50 per share. Capital spending is now expected to be $60-$80 million, down from the prior projection of $70-$90 million.
The company continues to monitor commodity inflation, particularly energy costs, which affect freight and aluminum expenses. Supply-chain improvements implemented in 2025 have helped stabilize distributor inventory levels, though shipment timing is expected to influence second-half comparisons. Boston Beer anticipates shipments to decline in the low- to mid-single-digit range in the third quarter, followed by modest growth in the fourth quarter.
Gross margin improvement is expected to be most pronounced in the fourth quarter, aided by lower shortfall fees compared with the prior year. However, shortfall fees and non-cash expenses related to third-party production prepayments are still projected to reduce full-year gross margin by 40-60 basis points. Advertising investment is expected to decline year over year in the fourth quarter due to lower planned spending and a tough comparison with elevated production costs in the prior-year period.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have declined 25.5% in the past three months, underperforming the industry’s 3.8% growth.
SAM Stock's Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FMX - Free Report) operates as a franchise bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages worldwide. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FMX's current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 17.3% and 131%, respectively. FMX delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of nearly 17%, on average.
Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, the company flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) develops, manufactures, markets and distributes coconut water products under the Vita Coco brand name. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COCO's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 22.3% and 48.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.7%, on average.
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SEI Investments (SEIC - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company.
Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this investment management firm is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. This insight is at the core of our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for SEI Investments, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates.
The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $1.59 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of +22.3%.
Over the last 30 days, four estimates have moved higher for SEI compared to no negative revisions. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 6.01%.
Current-Year Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $6.20 per share for the full year, which represents a change of +10.1% from the prior-year number.
There has been an encouraging trend in estimate revisions for the current year as well. Over the past month, four estimates have moved up for SEI versus no negative revisions. This has pushed the consensus estimate 5.4% higher.
Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, SEI currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom LineWhile strong estimate revisions for SEI have attracted decent investments and pushed the stock 10% higher over the past four weeks, further upside may still be left in the stock. So, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.
Key Takeaways FICO's Q3 revenues are expected to rise 26.64%, with earnings projected to grow 40.26% year over year.Higher mortgage pricing, healthy originations and Score 10T adoption may support FICO's Scores growth.FICO Platform ARR rose 49% to $349 million on customer wins, broader use cases and migrations. Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO - Free Report) is set to report its third-quarter 2026 results on July 29.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $679.31 million, suggesting an increase of 26.64% from the reported figure in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus mark for third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.02 per share, down by 0.25% over the past 30 days, while indicating 40.26% year-over-year growth.
The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 8.78%.
Let us see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement.
Factors Likely to Impact FICO’s Q3 PerformanceFICO's third-quarter 2026 performance is likely to have been driven by continued strength in its Scores business, supported by higher mortgage pricing and healthy origination activity. Mortgage origination revenues surged 127% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting the benefit of higher pricing and stronger volumes.
The rollout of FICO Score 10T is expected to have provided another growth tailwind in the to-be-reported quarter. During the second quarter of 2026, the company added 11 lenders to its Early Adopter Program, bringing the total to 55 lenders that represent more than $495 billion in annual serviceable mortgage originations. Three of the five largest mortgage resellers have signed up for the Direct Licensing Program, with the remaining two expected to join pending final regulatory approval. These developments are likely to have supported broader adoption of FICO Score 10T in the to-be-reported quarter.
Fair Isaac’s software business is also likely to have benefited from continued momentum in the FICO Platform. Total software ARR increased 10% year over year to $789 million in the second quarter of 2026, while Platform ARR jumped 49% to $349 million. Platform revenues grew 54%, supported by new customer wins, expanded use cases among existing customers and migrations to the platform. Management noted that software bookings are expected to be stronger in the second half of fiscal 2026 than in the first half, reflecting a healthy sales pipeline. This momentum is expected to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter as well.
FICO’s investments in explainable artificial intelligence (AI) and decisioning software are expected to remain a positive catalyst. The company highlighted that the FICO Platform is "agentic-by-design," with more than 150 customers using it across multiple use cases. Management noted that FICO has been issued 137 AI-related patents and continues to invest in explainable AI capabilities for highly regulated industries, strengthening its competitive positioning as enterprise AI adoption accelerates.
However, delays in regulatory approvals for the FICO Score 10T Direct Licensing Program and uncertainty regarding the timing of its commercial rollout could affect the pace of adoption in the to-be-reported quarter. Management continues to assume conservative mortgage volume trends, while macroeconomic conditions and housing market activity remain variables that could influence quarterly performance.
What Our Model Says About FICOPer the Zacks model, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the exact case here.
Fair Isaac currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.04% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
Amphenol (APH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Amphenol shares have gained 16.5% year to date. Amphenol is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.
ASE Technology (ASX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +21.21% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
ASE Technology shares have surged 145.1% year to date. ASE Technology is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.
Fortive (FTV - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.82% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Fortive shares have gained 9.8% in the year-to-date period. Fortive is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.
Key Takeaways Liquidia is seeing rapid YUTREPIA adoption, rising referrals, more prescribers and market-share gains.Energy Transfer's 140,000-mile pipeline network supports stable fee-based revenue across key U.S. basins.PBF Energy may benefit as strong refinery utilization offsets high-oil-price input costs. Oil prices are climbing again as the Iran war intensifies. This is creating uncertainty, and the market will likely be volatile. With fears dominating the market, it is an ideal time for investors to increase their allocation to low-beta companies. Stocks that seem to be good bets now are Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) , Energy Transfer LP (ET - Free Report) and PBF Energy Inc. (PBF - Free Report) .
What Does Beta of a Stock Measure?
Beta measures the volatility or risk of a particular asset compared to the market. In other words, beta measures the extent of a security’s price movement relative to the market. In this article, we are considering the S&P 500 as the market.
If a stock has a beta of 1, then the price of the stock will move with the market. So, the stock is more volatile than the market if its beta is more than 1. In the same way, the stock is not as volatile as the market if its beta is less than 1.
For example, if the market offers a return of 20%, a stock with a beta of 3 will return 60%, which is overwhelming. Similarly, when the market slips 20%, the stock will sink 60%, which is devastating.
Screening Criteria Using Research Wizard:
We have taken a beta between 0 and 0.6 as our prime criterion for screening stocks that are less volatile than the market. However, this should not be the only factor to be considered while selecting a winning strategy. We need to take into account other parameters that can add value to the portfolio.
Percentage Change in Price in the Last 4 Weeks Greater Than Zero: This ensures that the stocks saw positive price movement over the last month.
Average 20-Day Volume Greater Than 50,000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stocks are easily tradable.
Price Greater Than or Equal to $5: They must all be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.
Zacks Rank Equal to 1 (Strong Buy):Zacks Rank #1 stocks indicate that they will significantly outperform the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Here are three of the 24 stocks that qualified for the screening:
Liquidia
Liquidia is experiencing rapid growth in YUTREPIA adoption, with increasing patient referrals, expanding prescriber base and rising market share. The company has achieved profitability and is generating positive cash flow, supported by a strong cash position. It is also pursuing expansion into additional indications and larger market opportunities through ongoing and planned clinical developments.
Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer has a stable business model with its huge pipeline network of natural gas, oil and refined petroleum products across 140,000 miles. The partnership has midstream assets in all the key basins in the United States, generating stable fee-based revenues.
The partnership has offered a higher dividend yield than the composite stocks belonging to the industry over the past three consecutive years. For this year, the partnership is likely to see earnings growth of 18.2%.
PBF Energy
PBF Energy is among the leading refiners in the United States. Strong refinery utilization in the United States to meet resilient demand is expected to continue to offset the negative impacts of elevated input costs, driven by high oil prices. This is possibly aiding PBF’s bottom line.
These 3 Cash-Flow Stocks Give Investors More Than Just Growth PotentialComfort Systems USA NYSE: FIX reported second-quarter 2026 revenue above $3 billion for the first time, as demand from technology and industrial customers helped drive higher bookings, record backlog and sharply improved profitability.
Chief Executive Officer Brian Lane said the company generated $3.3 billion in quarterly revenue and earned $12.53 per share, a 92% increase from the prior-year period. The company’s backlog reached a record $14.1 billion at quarter-end, supported by continued technology-sector demand and favorable project margins.
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Industrials Are Leading in 2026, But These ETFs Take Different Routes“We had a fantastic quarter with amazing execution by our teams,” Lane said. “Demand remains strong, especially in technology, as we continue to book work with good margins and favorable working conditions for our valuable people.”
Revenue, Profit and Cash Flow Rise Chief Financial Officer Bill George said second-quarter revenue increased by $1.1 billion from a year earlier, with same-store revenue up 44%. Electrical-segment revenue rose 81%, while mechanical-segment revenue increased 40%.
3 Infrastructure Stocks Fueling the Data Center Building BoomFor the first six months of 2026, same-store revenue grew 47%. The company expects full-year same-store revenue growth to finish in the mid- to high-30% range, George said.
Gross profit increased to $844 million from $510 million in the second quarter of 2025, while gross margin expanded to 25.9% from 23.5%. Mechanical gross margin rose to 25.6% from 22.9%, and electrical gross margin increased to 26.4% from 25.3%.
SG&A expense increased to $287 million from $210 million as the company invested in personnel and innovation, though SG&A as a percentage of revenue declined to 8.8% from 9.7%. Operating income rose 86% to $558 million, and operating margin increased to 17.1% from 13.8%.
Net income was $442 million, or $12.53 per share, compared with $231 million, or $6.53 per share, a year earlier. EBITDA increased 80% to $600 million, bringing trailing 12-month EBITDA to approximately $2 billion.
Free cash flow totaled $999 million in the quarter. George attributed the result partly to advanced customer cash, strong payment terms and broad-based project performance, rather than a single factor. He said the company expects cash flow over time to align with net income plus noncash expenses.
The company ended the quarter with a net cash position of more than $1.8 billion, despite acquisition spending and capital investments. It expects capital expenditures for the full year to equal approximately 5% of revenue, primarily supporting production facilities and modular capacity.
Backlog Expands as Technology Work Drives Demand President Trent McKenna said backlog increased by $1.6 billion sequentially, including a $1.4 billion same-store increase. Compared with a year earlier, total backlog increased $5.9 billion, or 73%, with $5.6 billion of the gain coming from same-store operations.
Same-store backlog entering the third quarter was 69% higher than a year earlier. McKenna said project pipelines remained at historically high levels, led by technology-sector construction and modular work.
Industrial customers accounted for 75% of first-half revenue. Technology, which is included within industrial, represented 58% of revenue, up from 40% in the prior year. Institutional markets, including education, healthcare and government, represented 17% of revenue. Commercial markets accounted for 8% of revenue. Construction represented 90% of revenue, while service represented 10%. New-building construction accounted for 75% of total revenue, including modular activity, while existing-building construction represented 15%. Modular revenue represented 17% of year-to-date revenue.
During the quarter, modular operations booked $510 million, enough to cover the business’s production activity and add roughly $500 million to backlog, according to George. The company said demand from customers remains consistent with its plans to expand modular manufacturing capacity.
Modular Capacity Plans Tied to Customer Commitments Comfort Systems USA has more than 3.5 million square feet of capacity dedicated to modular operations and expects to exceed 4 million square feet in production by year-end. It plans to reach approximately 5 million square feet of capacity by late summer 2027.
Management said the planned capacity expansion is principally intended to serve existing customers and existing orders. The company is pursuing pilot contracts with frontier labs and colocation providers, but said meaningful programmatic business from those newer customers would require additional manufacturing space.
George said the company will not add buildings solely on speculation and will expand only when customers provide meaningful multiyear commitments. He said recent capital investments have generated rapid returns, with projects producing what he described as full paybacks within one or two years.
Management said it does not see a slowdown in data-center demand despite public opposition and moratorium discussions in some markets. Lane said the company’s direct relationships with hyperscalers and key intermediaries provide visibility into customer plans, and that management sees “no letdown whatsoever” in their need to continue building capacity.
McKenna said much of the company’s current backlog consists of projects that were already planned and permitted. He added that modular capacity is more programmatic and can be directed toward customer locations as needed.
Acquisition and Capital Allocation The company also discussed its acquisition of Hunt Electric, a Utah-based electrical contractor that closed May 1. Lane said Hunt is expected to contribute approximately $250 million in annualized revenue.
McKenna said Hunt has begun pursuing opportunities jointly with Comfort Systems USA’s mechanical contractors in Utah and called it the premier electrical provider in that market.
Comfort Systems USA increased its quarterly dividend by $0.10 to $0.90 per share. George said capital allocation will continue to include investments in facilities, selective share repurchases and a patient approach to acquisitions.
Management also highlighted the longer-term service opportunity created by its growing data-center installed base. McKenna said service revenue increased 7% during the year and remains profitable, though the data-center service opportunity is expected to develop over time as newly constructed facilities move beyond warranty periods.
About Comfort Systems USA (NYSE:FIX)Comfort Systems USA, Inc is a U.S.-based mechanical contracting company that provides a range of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) services to commercial, industrial and institutional customers. The company focuses on the design, installation, maintenance and repair of HVAC systems, and it supports projects from initial engineering and system selection through long-term service agreements and upgrades.
Its service offerings include new construction and retrofit installations, preventive and corrective maintenance, emergency repair, energy management and building automation systems.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Comfort Systems USA Right Now?Before you consider Comfort Systems USA, you'll want to hear this.
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Discover the 10 Best High-Yield Dividend Stocks for 2026 and secure reliable income in uncertain markets. Download the report now to identify top dividend payers and avoid common yield traps.
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Associated Banc-Corp (ASB - Free Report) is headquartered in Green Bay, and is in the Finance sector. The stock has seen a price change of 17.47% since the start of the year. Currently paying a dividend of $0.24 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.17%. In comparison, the Banks - Midwest industry's yield is 2.51%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.33%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.96 is up 3.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Associated Banc-Corp has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.59%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Associated Banc-Corp's current payout ratio is 33%, meaning it paid out 33% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for ASB for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.91 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 5.05%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, ASB is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) between October 14, 2024 to May 4, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 24, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Peabody Energy common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Peabody Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/peabody-energy-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
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 handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Peabody Energy's Centurion mine and the multitude of issues causing delays to the ramp-up and the return to full longwall production dates. On March 30, 2026, Peabody Energy issued a press release lowering guidance pertaining to Centurion mine's expected first quarter 2026 output ahead of Peabody Energy's full earnings release. In pertinent part, defendants announced that sales volume from the Centurion mine was expected to deliver approximately 250,000 tons in the first quarter due to mining commissioning challenges (compared to previous estimates of around 700,000 tons). When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Peabody Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/peabody-energy-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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/306469
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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AI, Satellites and Staples: Insiders Are Buying and Selling 3 Big NamesLamb Weston NYSE: LW reported higher fourth-quarter sales and continued volume growth in fiscal 2026, led by North America, while international operations faced pressure from weaker European demand, higher costs and disruption tied to the Middle East conflict.
Fourth-quarter net sales increased 6% from a year earlier, including a 7% increase in sales volume and a 2% favorable currency effect, partly offset by a 3% decline in price and mix. On a constant-currency basis, net sales rose 4%. The quarter marked Lamb Weston's sixth consecutive quarter of sales-volume growth.
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Frozen Out: Lamb Weston Beats Earnings, but the Stock Still Slides“We made meaningful progress as an organization in fiscal 2026,” President and CEO Mike Smith said, pointing to the stabilization of the company’s North American business, progress on cost savings and reduced capital spending.
North America drives quarterly performance North America net sales rose 9% in the fourth quarter, as volume increased 11%, supported by customer wins, share gains, retention and an extra week in the fiscal calendar. Price and mix declined 2%, with price investments and a shift toward lower-priced channels, including chains and private label, each contributing to the decline.
5 Under-the-Radar Consumer Staples Stocks With Pricing PowerNorth American segment EBITDA increased 17%, or $45 million, in the quarter. Smith said volume growth, modest price-and-mix investment and cost savings more than offset inflation. The segment ended the fiscal year with a 26% EBITDA margin, according to Smith.
U.S. restaurant traffic was flat during the quarter, based on Circana Crest data cited by Chief Financial Officer Jim Gray. Quick-service restaurant traffic was also flat, as 3% growth in quick-service chicken traffic was largely offset by a 4% decline in quick-service burger traffic.
Smith said the company extended several large customer contracts during the year, supported customer rollouts and introduced higher-margin limited-time offers. He also said Lamb Weston’s U.S. net promoter score rose from the prior year and was the highest among major competitors, according to the company’s proprietary research.
For the full fiscal year, North America net sales increased 3%, with a 9% volume increase partly offset by a 6% price-and-mix decline. The company said the 53rd week in fiscal 2026 added $86 million to annual North American sales.
International business faces EMEA headwinds International net sales declined 2% in the fourth quarter. Sales volume fell 2% and price and mix declined 4%, while currency provided a partial offset. Growth in Asia-Pacific and Latin America was more than offset by conditions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including shipment disruption and higher freight costs resulting from the Middle East conflict.
Gray said quick-service traffic declined 2% in the U.K. and France and 1% in Italy during the quarter, while traffic rose slightly in Germany and Spain. The company also faced higher raw potato costs, lower fixed-cost absorption amid slower European demand and higher freight expenses.
For the full year, international sales increased 1%, aided by a 5% currency benefit and 2% volume growth, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Price and mix declined 6%. On a constant-currency basis, international sales declined 4%.
International EBITDA declined for the year due to lower organic sales in a competitive environment and higher manufacturing costs. The higher costs included write-offs of excess potatoes, lower utilization at international plants and startup expenses at the company’s Argentina facility.
Lamb Weston temporarily curtailed a line in the Netherlands during the fourth quarter and announced plans in June to close an older plant in Broekhuizenvorst, Netherlands. Smith said the facility represents about 10% of EMEA production capacity. He said the closure is expected to improve utilization by roughly 10 percentage points, moving utilization into the high-80% to low-90% range.
Executive Chair Jan Craps said the company is conducting a broader strategic review of its international footprint, evaluating country clusters, profit pools, resource allocation and potential roles for mergers and acquisitions, partnerships or divestitures. “Technically, everything is on the table,” Craps said in response to an analyst question, adding that more details are expected at an investor day planned for early calendar 2027.
Cash flow, cost savings and shareholder returns Full-year adjusted EBITDA declined 9%, as international challenges only partly offset gains in North America. The extra week added $29 million in adjusted EBITDA for the year.
The company generated $943 million of operating cash flow, up $75 million from the prior year, helped by $55 million of favorable working-capital changes. Capital expenditures fell by more than $240 million year over year to $410 million, resulting in free cash flow of $537 million.
Lamb Weston returned $321 million to shareholders during fiscal 2026, including $208 million in cash dividends and $113 million in share repurchases. The company repurchased $63 million of stock during the fourth quarter. It also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share, payable Sept. 4.
At year-end, the company had approximately $1.3 billion available under its revolving credit facility. Net debt was $3.8 billion, and its net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio was 3.4 times on a trailing 12-month basis.
Smith said the company exceeded its first-year cost-savings milestone under a program targeting at least $250 million in annualized run-rate savings by the end of fiscal 2028. The first-year target had been $100 million. Savings have come from supply-chain improvements, lower manufacturing cost per pound and reduced selling, general and administrative expenses, he said.
Fiscal 2027 outlook For fiscal 2027, Lamb Weston expects net sales ranging from flat to up 1% compared with a 52-week adjusted fiscal 2026 sales base of $6.5 billion. The company forecast adjusted operating income of $720 million to $800 million, adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $2.95 to $3.25, compared with adjusted EPS of $2.90 for the comparable 52-week fiscal 2026 period.
The outlook assumes flat global restaurant traffic. Gray said lower raw potato costs, further supply-chain savings, higher utilization and the absence of prior-year potato write-offs and Argentina startup costs are expected to be largely offset by inflation in other inputs.
North America sales are expected to range from flat to up low single digits on a comparable-week basis, with low-single-digit volume growth and a low-single-digit price-and-mix decline. International sales are expected to decline by low single digits, reflecting competitive conditions in EMEA, while international EBITDA is projected to improve 40% to 50% as prior-year charges are lapped. First-quarter fiscal 2027 sales are expected to be flat and EBITDA is expected to decline by the low teens before earnings growth accelerates through the remainder of the year. The company expects operating cash flow of $750 million to $800 million and capital expenditures of approximately $380 million to $410 million in fiscal 2027. On an accrual basis, it expects investments of up to $350 million as it applies tighter capital-allocation discipline.
About Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW)Lamb Weston, traded on the NYSE under the symbol LW, is a leading global processor and supplier of frozen potato products. The company's portfolio includes a variety of potato-based items such as French fries, potato wedges, hash browns and specialty cuts tailored to the foodservice and retail grocery channels. Lamb Weston serves quick-service restaurants, full-service operators, grocery chains and food distributors, offering customized product formats, packaging solutions and seasoning options to meet evolving customer demands.
Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Eagle, Idaho, Lamb Weston has grown from a regional processor into one of the world's largest producers of frozen potato products.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Lamb Weston Right Now?Before you consider Lamb Weston, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Lamb Weston wasn't on the list.
While Lamb Weston currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) Q4 2026 Earnings Call July 24, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Debbie Hancock - Vice President of Investor Relations
Jan Eli B. Craps - Executive Chair
Mike Smith - President, CEO & Director
James Gray - Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
Andrew Lazar - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Peter Galbo - BofA Securities, Research Division
Thomas Palmer - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Max Andrew Gumport - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Scott Marks - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and welcome to the Lamb Weston Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. Today's call is being recorded. At this time, I'd like to turn the call over to Debbie Hancock. Please go ahead.
Debbie Hancock
Vice President of Investor Relations
Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for Lamb Weston's Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. I'm Debbie Hancock, Lamb Weston's Vice President of Investor Relations. Earlier today, we issued our press release and posted slides that we will use for our discussion today. You will find both on our website at lambweston.com.
Please note that during our remarks, we will make forward-looking statements about the company's expected performance that are based on our current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in our SEC filings for more details on our forward-looking statements.
Some of today's remarks include non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a replacement for and should be read together with our GAAP results. You can find the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations in our earnings release in the appendix to our presentation. Joining me today are Jan Craps, Executive Chair; Mike Smith, President and CEO; and Jim Gray, Chief Financial Officer.
