Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

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.

Get Lamb Weston alerts:

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.

View The Five Stocks Here

Click the link to see MarketBeat's list of seven stocks and why their long-term outlooks are very promising.

Get This Free Report

Key Takeaways Lamb Weston's fiscal Q4 sales rose 6% as volume grew 7% for a sixth consecutive quarter.North America sales climbed 9% on contract wins, share gains, retention and an extra week.Fiscal 2027 sales are seen flat to up 1%, with adjusted EPS projected at $2.95-$3.25. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW - Free Report) reported solid fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. While net sales increased, earnings decreased from the year-ago period’s actuals.

LW’s adjusted earnings were 87 cents per share, down 5% year over year. However, the bottom line beats the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents.

Net sales amounted to $1,770.1 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,701 million. The top line increased 6% year over year, driven by a 7% increase in sales volume, a 2% favorable currency impact and the benefit of an extra week, partially offset by a 3% decline in price/mix. Sales volume increased for the sixth consecutive quarter. Our model suggested a volume increase of 1.9% in the quarter.

LW’s Quarterly Results: Key Metrics & InsightsAdjusted gross profit decreased 0.2% year over year to $342.9 million. The adjusted gross margin decreased 110 basis points (bps) to 19.4%. Our model projected adjusted gross margin contraction of about 220 basis points to 18.4%.

Adjusted SG&A expenses were up 11.1% to $163.5 million from $147.1 million reported in the year-ago quarter. As a percentage of sales, the same increased 40 bps to 9.2%.

Adjusted EBITDA declined 2% to $287.6 million, while adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 130 bps to 16.2%.

LW Provides Q4 Insights by SegmentNet sales for the North America segment increased 9% to $1,206.2 million compared with the prior-year quarter, driven by 11% sales volume growth, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of volume growth. This increase was fueled by customer contract wins, market share gains, strong customer retention and the benefit of an additional week. The segment’s price/mix declined 2%, reflecting modest pricing and trade support for customers, as well as an ongoing mix shift toward faster-growing chain customers and private-label products.

The North America segment adjusted EBITDA increased 17% to $304.7 million, driven by higher sales volumes and lower manufacturing costs per pound, reflecting operating leverage from cost savings initiatives and improved manufacturing efficiencies. These benefits more than offset inflationary pressures, unfavorable price/mix and higher operating expenses.

Net sales for the International segment declined 2% to $563.9 million, reflecting a 2% decrease in sales volume and a 4% decline in price/mix, partially offset by a favorable foreign currency impact. Growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America, along with the benefit of an additional week, was more than offset by challenging market conditions in EMEA, including the impact of the Middle East conflict that began early in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

International segment adjusted EBITDA fell 81% to $11.8 million, primarily due to lower net sales, higher manufacturing costs per pound and increased operating expenses.

Lamb Weston’s Financial Health SnapshotThe company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $68.2 million, long-term debt and financing obligations (excluding the current portion) of $3,595.2 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,824.9 million.

Lamb Weston generated $942.9 million as net cash from operating activities for fiscal 2026, wherein capital expenditures amounted to $410.1 million.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Lamb Weston returned $116 million to its shareholders through cash dividends and stock repurchases.

On July 23, management declared a quarterly dividend of 38 cents per share, payable on Sept. 4, to its shareholders of record as of Aug. 7, 2026.

What to Expect From LW in FY27?For fiscal 2027, Lamb Weston expects net sales to be flat to 1% growth over the adjusted fiscal 2026 52-week base of $6.5 billion. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion, while adjusted EPS is projected at $2.95 to $3.25, compared with $3.01 in fiscal 2026. Capital expenditures are expected to be $380 million to $410 million.

LW’s Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 13.5% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 5.8% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderUnited Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 254.9% from the year-ago figures. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.

Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). 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.

Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL - Free Report) develops, processes and distributes various meat, nuts and other food products to foodservice, convenience store and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. HRL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.2%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hormel Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 1.4% and 9.5%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.

KLAC heads into fiscal Q4 earnings with AI-driven demand and advanced packaging growth, while higher DRAM costs pressure margins.

Key Takeaways Cadence reports Q2 results on July 27, with EPS and revenues expected to rise more than 20%.Recurring revenues, an $8 billion backlog and rising EDA spending support Cadence's outlook.Macroeconomic uncertainty, U.S.-China tensions and stiff competition remain concerns. Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS - Free Report) will release results for the second quarter of 2026 on July 27.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings is $2.05 per share, unchanged in the past 60 days. The consensus mark implies a 24.2% increase from the year-ago actual. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $1.58 billion, indicating a nearly 23.6% uptick from the year-ago actual.

Management expects revenues to be $1.555-$1.595 billion for the second quarter. The company reported sales of $1.275 billion in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP EPS is anticipated to be between $2.02 and $2.08. The company reported an EPS of $1.65 in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP operating margin is estimated to be between 44.5% and 45.5% in the second quarter.

Cadence has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.48%.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CDNS stock has gained 2.7% in the past six months against the Computer-Software industry’s decline of 22.7%. The S&P 500 composite and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector have risen 5.6% and 8.7%, respectively, in the same time frame.

Factors Shaping CDNS’ Q2 ResultsBroad-based momentum across electronic design automation (“EDA”), IP and System Design & Analysis (“SDA”), supported by robust bookings, improving pricing dynamics and sustained demand tied to AI-driven semiconductor complexity, remains a key catalyst.

AI has been driving a major transformation in semiconductor and system design and Cadence is deeply integrated into this shift. Design activity across several verticals, especially data centers, drones, robotics and automotive, has been robust, due to AI, hyperscale computing and 5G. The focus on Generative AI, Agentic AI and Physical AI has been leading to an exponential increase in computing demand and semiconductor innovation.

Rising customer R&D investments in AI-driven automation have been creating a favorable demand environment for Cadence. On the last earnings call, Management noted that EDA spending has now increased from approximately 7% to 11% of customer R&D budgets, and this is expected to rise further with AI-driven automation.

The launch of ChipStack AI Super Agent (February 2026), the industry’s first agentic AI workflow purpose-built for front-end silicon design and verification, bodes well. Cadence acquired Chipstack, which provides agentic AI solutions for chip verification, in November 2025. On the last earnings call, the company emphasized its agentic AI strategy, including the launch of AgentStack framework and new AI Super Agents (ViraStack and InnoStack) that are designed to automate more of the chip design workflow. Cadence expects agentic tools to drive higher EDA consumption and usage across its platform as customers run more simulations, verification and implementation cycles.

Cadence’s ratable software model and high mix of recurring revenues are other positives. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, Cadence had a backlog of $8 billion.

The company has been collaborating with several tech giants, including Qualcomm and NVIDIA, on their next-generation AI designs across both training and inference. Expanding partnerships with its foundry partners, like Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Intel and Arm Holdings, bodes well.

Ongoing uncertainty prevailing over global macroeconomic conditions, especially U.S.-China tech tensions, along with stiff competition in the EDA space and inflation, remains a concern ahead of the first-quarter earnings. China contributed to about 13% of first-quarter 2026 revenues and management expects 2026 contribution to be about the same percentage.

Taking a Look at SegmentsCore electronic design automation (“EDA”) business (which constitutes Custom IC, Digital IC and Functional Verification businesses) is likely to have gained from demand for the new hardware systems, especially among AI, automotive and high-performance computing clients. Uptake of solutions such as Cerebrus AI Studio, Virtuoso Studio, Xcelium, Verisium SimAI and ChipStack is likely to have cushioned the segment’s performance.

The SDA division is likely to have gained from the increasing demand for BETA CAE solutions, along with 3D-IC, Sigrity and Clarity.  

The IP business has been gaining from an expanding silicon solutions portfolio and increasing demand for solutions in AI, HPC and automotive use cases. The company has been witnessing higher demand for its Star IP portfolio across interface, memory and foundation IP amid higher complexity of advanced node designs and chiplet-based architectures.

Earnings Whispers for CDNSOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Cadence this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is not the case here.

CDNS currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are 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. 

24.7.2026 19:48, DJI, SPX, QQQ

Americké akciové trhy rostou díky naději na obnovení rozhovorů mezi USA a Íránem a zmírnění napětí na Blízkém východě.

Širší index S&P 500 posiluje o 0,41 % na 7438,47 bodu a index Dow Jones si připisuje 0,56 % na 52002,68 bodu. Technologie však mírně zaostávají, technologický Nasdaq Composite odepisuje 0,07 % na 25120,91 bodu. Pozitivní náladu na trhu podporuje také úspěšný start výsledkové sezóny, v níž většina firem překonává očekávání ziskovosti.

V rámci jednotlivých odvětví indexu S&P 500 vykazují nejsilnější růst reality o 2,6 %, následované základními materiály s nárůstem o 1,2 % a nezbytnou spotřebou, která si připisuje 0,8 %. Na druhé straně zaznamenávají jen mírné zisky zbytná spotřeba, informační technologie i utility, které shodně přidávají 0,1 %.

Mezi nejsilnější individuální akcie se řadí Digital Realty Trust (DLR) s prudkým růstem o 14 %. Výrazně posiluje také SLB (SLB) o 10 %, Smurfit Westrock (SW) o 7,9 %, Equinix (EQIX) o 6,3 % a International Paper (IP), která si připisuje 6,2 %. Na opačné straně trhu po výprodejích v technologickém a dodavatelském sektoru klesá Coherent Corp (COHR) o 7,8 %. Nedaří se ani firmám Sandisk Corp (SNDK) a CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), které shodně odepisují 7,5 %, Lumentum Holdings (LITE) s poklesem o 6,9 % a Robinhood Markets (HOOD), jež oslabuje o 6,1 %.

Zprávy o možném uklidnění situace na Blízkém východě tlačí dolů ceny energií. Severoamerická lehká ropa WTI klesá o 4,2 % na 88,31 dolaru za barel. Spotové zlato naopak mírně posiluje o 0,4 % na 4064,95 dolaru za unci. Americký dolar vykazuje stabilní vývoj, když k euru zůstává téměř bez změny na 1,1379 dolaru, britská libra mírně roste o 0,1 % na 1,3333 dolaru a japonský jen drží úroveň 163,76 jenu za dolar. Pokles cen ropy zmírňuje obavy z inflace, což vede ke poklesu výnosů desetiletých amerických vládních dluhopisů o tři bazické body na 4,66 %. Bitcoin reaguje na celkový vývoj poklesem o 1,9 % na 63850,84 dolaru.

Index Dow Jones +0,56 % na 52002,68 b.
S&P 500 +0,41 % na 7438,47 b.
Nasdaq Composite -0,07 % na 25120,91 b.

Index S&P 500 +0,41 % na 7438,47 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Reality +2,6 % Zbytná spotřeba +0,1 % Základní materiály +1,2 % Informační technologie +0,1 % Nezbytná spotřeba +0,8 % Utility +0,1 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Digital Realty Trust (DLR) +14 % Coherent Corp (COHR) -7,8 % SLB (SLB) +10 % Sandisk Corp (SNDK) -7,5 % Smurfit Westrock (SW) +7,9 % CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) -7,5 % Equinix (EQIX) +6,3 % Lumentum Holdings (LITE) -6,9 % International Paper (IP) +6,2 % Robinhood Markets (HOOD) -6,1 %
Daniel Marván, Fio banka, a.s.

Key Takeaways GEHC is expected to post healthy Q2 revenue growth, backed by imaging, diagnostics, and services demand.GEHC faces margin pressure from inflation, freight, tariffs, and higher input costs despite pricing actions.GEHC expects stronger second-half performance as efficiencies, pricing, and new products gain traction. GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (GEHC - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, before market open.

In the last reported quarter, the company’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 99 cents missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.48%. The company beat on earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, delivering an average surprise of 2.90%.

Let’s check out the factors that might have shaped GEHC’s performance prior to the announcement.

Factors Likely to Have Driven GEHC’s Q2 PerformanceGE HealthCare is expected to have delivered another quarter of healthy revenue growth, supported by resilient global demand for imaging equipment, continued strength in Pharmaceutical Diagnostics (PDx), and robust services performance. On its first-quarter earnings call, management had maintained its full-year organic revenue growth outlook of 3-4%, citing healthy order trends, a record $21.8 billion backlog, strong book-to-bill, and improving commercial execution despite a cautious view on China.

However, profitability is likely to have remained under pressure from elevated inflation in memory chips, freight, oil and commodity costs, with management already guiding for low-single-digit adjusted EPS decline in the second quarter before improvement in the second half.

Following the organizational restructuring, the newly created Advanced Imaging Solutions business is likely to have benefited from sustained demand for CT, X-ray, ultrasound and visualization products. Imaging demand should have been supported by Revolution Vibe cardiac CT systems, while Advanced Visualization Solutions likely continued to benefit from adoption of products, such as Vivid Pioneer and other AI-enabled platforms. Although Photonova Spectra photon-counting CT generated encouraging customer interest after regulatory approvals, revenue contribution is unlikely before 2027 due to typical installation timelines.

Pharmaceutical Diagnostics is likely to have remained the company's strongest-performing business. Continued growth in contrast media, radiopharmaceuticals and molecular imaging, along with accelerating Flyrcado adoption and increasing Vizamyl demand driven by Alzheimer's imaging, likely supported another solid quarter. However, planned investments in the radiopharmaceutical pipeline and integration of recent acquisitions may have weighed on margin expansion.

Patient Care Solutions likely remained the weakest segment, although management expects gradual improvement later in the year as large monitoring installations convert from backlog and the premium anesthesia platform approaches regulatory clearance. Lower first-half volume and ongoing tariff-related costs probably continued to weigh on segment profitability.

On the margin front, the second quarter is expected to represent the peak impact from inflationary input costs, including memory chips and freight, while pricing actions and cost mitigation initiatives are likely to have provided only limited near-term relief because much of the second-quarter revenues probably originated from existing backlog. Adjusted EBIT margin and EPS are expected to have remained pressured, with a stronger recovery anticipated during the second half as pricing actions, operating efficiencies and new product momentum begin to offset inflationary pressures.

GEHC’s Estimate PictureFor second-quarter 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $5.25 billion, implying an improvement of 5% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.

The consensus estimate for EPS is pegged at $1.04, indicating a decrease of 1.9% from the prior-year period’s reported number.

What Our Model Suggests for GE HealthCarePer our proven model, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: GE HealthCare has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

GEHC’s Share Price PerformanceSo far this year, GE HealthCare’s shares have lost 24.4% compared with the industry’s 22.5% decline. The S&P 500 has gained 9.2% during the said period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks Worth a LookHere are some stocks from broader medical sector worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is set to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 11. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rankstocks here.

CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 10.27%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAH’s fourth-quarter EPS indicates an improvement of 16.4% from the year-ago reported figure.

Henry Schein (HSIC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.41% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4.

HSIC’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.74%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HSIC’s second-quarter EPS implies an improvement of 10.9% from the year-ago reported figure.

Agilent Technologies (A - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.02% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

A’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 1.61%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for A’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 EPS reflects an improvement of 8% from the year-ago reported figure.

Key Takeaways PHM beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates, though both declined from the prior year.PHM's $131 target offers modest upside as shares trade above key homebuilding valuation benchmarks.Buybacks and low leverage support PHM, but 2026 earnings and revenues are projected to fall. PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM - Free Report) gave investors a mixed second-quarter readout. Earnings and revenues topped expectations, but both fell from the prior year as closings, pricing and margins weakened.

The investment case now rests on balance. PHM offers capital returns, a solid balance sheet and modest price-target upside, but growth estimates and margins remain under pressure.

PHM Beats Estimates Despite Lower EarningsAdjusted earnings were $2.48 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.38 by 4.2%. Total revenues of $3.983 billion edged past the consensus mark of $3.980 billion by 0.1%.

The beat did not erase the year-over-year decline. Earnings fell 18.2% from $3.03 per share, while total revenues decreased 9.6% as lower closings and softer average selling prices weighed on results.

PulteGroup’s Valuation Offers Limited UpsidePHM’s $131 price target compares with a reported share price of $124.67, leaving only modest potential appreciation. That limits the valuation argument, even though the company continues to generate orders and return capital.

The stock traded at 11.85 times forward earnings, above the sub-industry’s 10.88 multiple and PHM’s five-year median of 8.33. It still traded well below the broader construction sector and the S&P 500, keeping the valuation picture mixed rather than clearly cheap.

D.R. Horton (DHI - Free Report) and Lennar Corporation (LEN - Free Report) remain relevant comparisons because both operate as national homebuilders facing similar affordability and margin pressures. D.R. Horton describes itself as the largest U.S. homebuilder by volume, while Lennar is commonly tracked alongside DHI and PHM in homebuilding comparisons.

PHM’s Forecasts Point to a Difficult 2026Current projections call for 2026 revenues of $16.404 billion, down from $17.312 billion in 2025. Expected earnings are $10.01 per share, compared with $11.44 in 2025.

Estimates point to improvement in 2027, with revenues projected at $17.045 billion and earnings at $11.09 per share. The timing and durability of that recovery are central to whether PHM’s valuation can become more appealing.

PulteGroup Returns Capital While Funding GrowthPHM repurchased 3.1 million shares for $373 million in the second quarter. First-half repurchases totaled 5.5 million shares, or roughly 3% of outstanding shares, for $681 million.

The company maintained a quarterly dividend of 26 cents per share and had $1.8 billion remaining under its repurchase authorization. It is also funding land investment, though first-half operating cash flow fell to $176.8 million from $421.7 million as inventories increased.

PHM’s Balance Sheet Limits Financial RiskPulteGroup ended June with $1.38 billion in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. Its debt-to-capital ratio was 12.3%, while net debt-to-capital was 3.3%, giving the company financial flexibility in a softer housing cycle.

The land pipeline also supports flexibility. PHM controlled about 228,000 lots, with 55% held through option agreements, limiting upfront ownership exposure when demand is uncertain.

PHM’s Scores Support a Selective ApproachThe bottom line is that PHM looks more balanced than broadly attractive. The earnings beat, buybacks and balance sheet help, but declining estimates and margin compression keep the risk-reward selective.

PHM currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with a Value Score of B, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B. Those grades provide positive near-term signals, while the Growth Score of D reflects weaker projected earnings and sales trends. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The stock may suit investors focused on disciplined capital returns and balance-sheet strength. Investors prioritizing immediate growth may need clearer evidence that earnings, revenues and margins are stabilizing.

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

When looking at the last two reports, this shipbuilder has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.52%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the most recent quarter, Huntington Ingalls was expected to post earnings of $3.7 per share, but it reported $3.79 per share instead, representing a surprise of 2.43%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.72 per share, while it actually produced $4.04 per share, a surprise of 8.60%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Huntington Ingalls. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Huntington Ingalls currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.53%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 30, 2026.

With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Key Takeaways Humana is expected to post strong Q2 revenue growth driven by higher premiums and Medicare expansion.HUM's rising Insurance and CenterWell operating income support earnings beat hopes.Higher opex, weaker investment income and a rising benefits expense ratio may partially offset positives. Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $6.22 per share on revenues of $40.65 billion.

The second-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed three upward revisions and no movement in the opposite direction over the past 60 days. However, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decrease of 0.8%. Yet, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies year-over-year growth of 25.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humana’s revenues is pegged at $162.60 billion, implying a rise of 25.3% year over year. However, the consensus mark for current-year EPS is pegged at $9.25, implying a plunge of around 46% on a year-over-year basis.

HUM’s earnings beat the consensus estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.8%.

Q2 Earnings Whispers for HUMOur proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for the company this time around as well. 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. That is precisely the case here.

Humana has an Earnings ESP of +1.71% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

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

What’s Shaping HUM’s Q2 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HUM’s second-quarter premiums indicates a 25.6% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure, whereas our model predicts 24% growth. We expect total Medicare to witness 26.6% growth in the quarter under review. Similarly, the consensus mark for service revenues signals a 22.3% increase from a year ago, whereas our model predicts a nearly 16% jump.

Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for insurance membership predicts a 18.2% year-over-year growth, whereas specialty membership is expected to rise 3.7%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for operating income from the Insurance unit indicates 10.2% growth from a year ago. The same for the CenterWell unit predicts a 12.8% growth from the year-ago level. The above-mentioned factors are expected to have positioned the company for an earnings beat in the second quarter.

However, the consensus estimate indicates that Humana’s investment income will see a 13.5% drop from the year-ago level. We expect total operating costs to increase 24.4% in the second quarter, bringing the figure above $38.9 billion. This is likely to have led to a year-over-year decline in the bottom line.

The consensus mark for insurance benefits expense ratio is pegged at 91.3% for the to-be-reported quarter, deteriorating from 89.9% a year ago. These are likely to have partially offset the positives.

How Did Peers Perform?Several healthcare companies, including UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH - Free Report) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) , have already reported their financial results for the June quarter of 2026. Here’s how they performed:

UnitedHealth reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.38, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.94. The bottom line rose 56.4% year over year. Its strong quarterly results were aided by growth in commercial fee-based membership and the strength witnessed in Optum Insight. Medical cost management, pricing discipline and benefit design changes also contributed to the upside. However, weakness in UNH’s Optum Health, Optum Rx and declining risk-based membership partially offset the positives.

Molina reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.51, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.2%. But the bottom line declined 72.4% from the year-ago period's level. MOH’s earnings benefited from lower operating expenses. However, lower premium revenues, declining membership, and weaker investment income weighed on its performance.

Elevance reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $7.45, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.6%. However, the bottom line declined 15.7% year over year.The quarterly results were primarily driven by higher premium yields in the Health Benefits segment and increased CarelonRx product revenues. The upside was partly offset by a decline in ELV’s overall medical membership and an elevated expense level.

Key Takeaways VLY reported Q2 adjusted EPS of 30 cents, missing the 31-cent estimate.Valley National posts 13.3% y/y revenue growth as NII and non-interest income climb.VLY sees loan and deposit growth, but rising expenses and higher non-performing assets remain concerning. Valley National Bancorp's (VLY - Free Report)

second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of 30 cents missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. However, the bottom line compared favorably with earnings of 23 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Results were hampered by higher non-interest expenses. Higher net interest income (NII), increased non-interest income, lower provisions for credit losses, and growth in loan and deposit balances acted as tailwinds.

Results excluded certain non-core charges. Including those, net income available to common shareholders was $163.6 million, which jumped 29.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Valley National’s Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseTotal revenues (on an FTE basis) were $562.1 million, up 13.3% year over year. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $552.02 million.

NII (FTE basis) was $488.4 million, up 12.6% year over year. The net interest margin (FTE basis) was 3.2%, which expanded 19 basis points (bps).

Non-interest income jumped 17.7% to $73.7 million. The rise was driven by an increase in almost all fee income components, except fees from loan servicing, net gains on sale of loans, and bank-owned life insurance.

Non-interest expenses of $311.1 million increased 9.5% year over year. The rise was due to an increase in almost all cost components, except for FDIC insurance assessment costs and amortization of other intangible assets. Additionally, no loss on extinguishment of debt was reported this quarter.

The efficiency ratio was 52.11%, down from 55.20% in the prior-year quarter. A decline in the efficiency ratio indicates an improvement in profitability.

VLY’s Loans & Deposits RiseAs of June 30, 2026, total loans were $52.5 billion, up 6.2% year over year. This increase was driven by growth across all loan categories. Total deposits were $54.1 billion, up 6.7% year over year.

Valley National’s Credit Quality: A Mixed BagAs of June 30, 2026, total non-performing assets were $467.8 million, up 6.4% year over year, primarily due to higher non-accrual loans, partially offset by other real estate owned (OREO), and other repossessed assets.

However, allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.16%, down 4 bps year over year. In the second quarter of 2026, VLY reported total provision for credit losses of $29.2 million, a 22.8% year-over-year decline.

VLY’s Profitability Improves, Capital Ratios MixedAt the end of the second quarter, adjusted annualized return on average assets was 1.05%, up from 0.87% in the year-earlier quarter. Adjusted annualized return on average shareholders’ equity was 8.75%, up from 7.15%.

As of June 30, 2026, the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 8.71%, up from 8.63% in the corresponding period of 2025. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.37%, down from 11.57%. Also, the common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 10.71% was down from 10.85% as of June 30, 2025.

Valley National’s Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, VLY repurchased 1.5 million shares at an average price of $13.4 under its ongoing stock buyback program.

Our Take on VLYRobust loan growth, stabilizing funding costs, and efforts to enhance fee income are expected to keep supporting Valley National’s top-line growth. However, elevated expenses and significant exposure to commercial real estate loans remain near-term headwinds. 
 

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

Performance of VLY’s PeersHancock Whitney Corp.’s (HWC - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $1.55 matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line rose 17.4% from the year-ago quarter.

HWC’s results were primarily aided by higher NII and non-interest income along with a decline in provisions. Also, a sequential increase in loans and deposit balances was positive. However, higher expenses were the undermining factor.

BankUnited, Inc.’s(BKU - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 earnings of 97 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. However, the bottom line rose 6.6% from the prior-year quarter.

Results were primarily hurt by a rise in non-interest expenses. Also, sequential declines in loans and deposits were negatives. However, higher NII and fee income, along with lower provisions, provided some support to BKU’s performance.

New class action for AeroVironment (AVAV) urges investors to seek recovery for alleged securities fraud violations – lead plaintiff deadline of 7/27/2026

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming July 27, 2026 deadline to participate as a lead plaintiff in the securities fraud class action lawsuit filed on behalf of investors who acquired AeroVironment, Inc. (“AeroVironment” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) securities between June 25, 2025 and June 18, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO LOST MONEY ON AEROVIRONMENT, INC. (AVAV), CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE S.

Sensient Technologies NYSE: SXT reported second-quarter 2026 results marked by double-digit local-currency growth in revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share, as demand for natural color conversions continued to build ahead of U.S. regulatory deadlines.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Manning said the company delivered 10% local-currency revenue growth, 21% local-currency adjusted EBITDA growth and 26% local-currency adjusted EPS growth during the quarter. He said the performance exceeded the company’s earlier expectations for the year and supported an increase in its full-year outlook.

Get Sensient Technologies alerts:

Revenue rose to $462.1 million from $414.2 million in the prior-year quarter, while operating income increased to $76.7 million from $57.7 million, according to Vice President and CFO Tobin Tornehl. The prior-year operating income figure included $3.3 million of costs tied to the company’s Portfolio Optimization Plan.

Color Group Leads Growth The Color Group was the company’s strongest-performing segment, posting 17.6% local-currency revenue growth and 36.8% local-currency operating-profit growth. Its adjusted EBITDA margin reached 28.3%, up 320 basis points from a year earlier.

That margin included about $4.3 million of one-time tariff refunds, which added 200 basis points to the segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin. Excluding the refunds, the Color Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin would have been 26.3%, Manning said.

The company invoiced approximately $25 million in natural color conversion revenue during the second quarter, in addition to the $20 million cumulatively invoiced through the end of the first quarter. Manning said those invoiced amounts represent orders already billed rather than projections of future sales.

During the question-and-answer session, Manning said $25 million in invoiced quarterly sales would typically correspond to at least $100 million in projected annual revenue under normal ordering patterns. He said natural-color conversions can make the relationship less direct because customers may transition existing shelf inventory from synthetically colored products to natural alternatives over time.

Manning said customers generally aim to maintain the appearance of products when moving from synthetic to natural colors. He said color remains important to consumer expectations around a product’s flavor and overall appeal, while advances in natural-color technologies have helped customers achieve close matches in a broad range of applications.

He added that Sensient’s Flavors & Extracts business supports the conversion work through taste-masking platforms designed to address potential off-notes from natural colors.

The company expects the Color Group to generate local-currency revenue growth in the high teens for full-year 2026. Manning said third-quarter EBITDA margins in the segment are expected to be similar to the prior year’s third-quarter margin of 24.7%, while Tornehl said the company expects Color Group margins to be in the mid-20% range for the full year.

Other Segments Post Gains The Flavors & Extracts Group recorded 3.8% local-currency revenue growth and 6.1% local-currency operating-profit growth. Its adjusted EBITDA margin rose 30 basis points to 18.1%. Manning cited volume growth in agricultural ingredients, as well as continued cost optimization and new flavor wins. Sensient expects mid-single-digit local-currency revenue growth for the group in 2026.

The Asia Pacific Group reported 12.3% local-currency revenue growth and 23.7% local-currency operating-profit growth. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 210 basis points to 24.4%. The company said the segment’s first-half performance was faster than anticipated and expects high-single-digit revenue growth for the full year.

Tornehl said the company received roughly $5 million of tariff refunds during the quarter, most of which benefited the Color Group. The refunds contributed approximately $0.09 to earnings per share, and Sensient does not expect additional refunds of significance in future periods. Foreign-currency translation increased EPS by about $0.02 during the quarter.

Guidance Raised and Investment Continues Based on its first-half performance, Sensient raised its 2026 outlook. The company now expects local-currency revenue growth of high single digits to low double digits and local-currency adjusted EBITDA and EPS growth in the mid- to high-teens range. Its prior outlook had called for high-single-digit to double-digit growth in adjusted EBITDA and EPS.

The company plans to continue investing to support natural color conversion demand. Sensient expects 2026 capital expenditures of $150 million to $170 million, trending toward the upper end of that range, and continues to anticipate spending about $250 million on natural-color capital projects over the next several years.

Cash flow from operations was $48 million in the second quarter, while capital expenditures totaled $39 million. Net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA stood at 2.3 times as of June 30. Tornehl said the ratio is expected to reach the mid- to upper-2-times range later in the year as the company increases inventory investments to support conversion revenue.

Manning said Sensient will evaluate acquisition opportunities but does not anticipate share repurchases in the near term. He said the company’s supply-chain investments, production capacity additions and product-development work are intended to support its goal of reaching $1 billion in natural color sales.

The U.S. ban on Red 3 takes effect in January 2027 for food, beverage and pet products, with pharmaceutical products facing a January 2028 date. Mexico has also announced a ban on Red 3, with brands required to replace it by mid-2028. Manning said conversion demand is building as customers work toward product-launch and compliance timelines.

About Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT)Sensient Technologies Corporation is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of colors, flavors and fragrances for a broad range of end-markets. The company develops and produces ingredients that enhance the appearance, taste and scent of products in the food, beverage, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, personal care and household sectors. Its portfolio includes natural and synthetic colorants, botanical and artificial flavor systems, fragrance compounds and specialty chemical offerings tailored to customer specifications.

Within its flavor and fragrance division, Sensient provides custom formulations for sweet, savory and umami taste profiles along with fragrance blends for personal care and cosmetic applications.

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 Sensient Technologies Right Now?Before you consider Sensient Technologies, 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 Sensient Technologies wasn't on the list.

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

View The Five Stocks Here

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.

Get This Free Report

Hayward Holdings delivered impressive Q1 FY26 results, with revenue up 11.5% and profitability sharply higher. Most revenue growth in North America stemmed from price increases (10.3%), with segment profits rising 16.1% on pricing and operational efficiencies. Despite strong fundamentals and resilient aftermarket exposure, HAYW shares now appear fairly valued or even pricey versus peers.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against BitGo Holdings, Inc. ("BitGo" or the "Company") (NYSE: BTGO) on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or acquired: (a) BitGo Class A common stock in and/or traceable to BitGo's January 22, 2026 initial public offering ("IPO"); and/or (b) BitGo securities between January 22, 2026 and May 13, 2026 (the "Class Period").

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE

If you are an investor in BitGo and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.

DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than August 7, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.

On or around January 22, 2026, BitGo conducted its IPO, selling 11,821,595 shares of Class A common stock at the offering price of $18 per share.

On March 26, 2026, BitGo issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. The Company reported a net loss of $14.8 million for 2025, compared to $156.6 million in net income for 2024, a quarterly margin of 0.21% in its Digital Asset Sales segment, compared to a quarterly margin of 0.47% in the prior year. BitGo stated that the change in its annual net loss was "materially driven by declines in digital asset prices impacting the Company's Bitcoin treasury."

Following this news, the price of BitGo stock fell $1.43 per share, over 15.71%, to close at $7.67 per share on March 27, 2026.

Then, on May 13, 2026, BitGo issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2026 financial results. The Company reported a net loss of $60.7 million, compared to a net loss of $25.7 million in the same quarter one year earlier, stating that its quarterly net loss "was primarily driven by non-cash mark-to-market impacts related to the Company's Bitcoin treasury, as well as elevated IPO-related stock-based compensation expense.".

Following this news, the price of BitGo stock fell $2.05 per share, over 17.2%, to close at $9.86 per share on May 14, 2026.

The complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that (i) Defendants understated the scope and severity of the risk that declining digital asset prices posed to Company's business and financial performance; (ii) consequently, Defendants' statements regarding, inter alia, BitGo's financial performance and business prospects lacked a reasonable basis; and (iii) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and/or failed to state information required to be stated therein.

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.

Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.

For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:

Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.

https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/bitgo-holdings-inc-class-action-alert-learn-more-now/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306386

Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

Verra Mobility Schedules Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call PR Newswire MESA, Ariz., July 24, 2026

NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM).

Key Takeaways SIGI beat Q2 earnings as stronger underwriting and investment income offset lower premiums written. SIGI improved its combined ratio to 98% and raised its 2026 after-tax net investment income outlook. SIGI repurchased shares and posted its eighth straight quarter of double-digit operating returns. Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (SIGI - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $1.95 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.4%. The bottom line increased 48.9% year over year.

Revenues of $1.37 billion rose 4.5% from the year-ago quarter and topped the consensus estimate by 0.7%. Results benefited from stronger investment income and improved underwriting, while lower premiums written reflected continued portfolio actions.

SIGI's Underwriting Results ImproveNet premiums written declined 5% year over year to $1.22 billion due to a 6% decrease in Standard Commercial Lines, an 8% fall in Standard Personal Lines, and a 2% decline in Excess and Surplus Lines. Our estimate was $1.33 billion.

Net premiums earned increased 2.3%. Direct new business fell to $206.1 million from $248.1 million. Renewal pure price increases averaged 6.5%, down from 9.9% in the prior-year quarter.

The combined ratio improved 220 basis points to 98%. Lower catastrophe and non-catastrophe property losses, along with no prior-year casualty reserve development, supported the improvement. Higher current-year casualty loss costs partly offset these benefits.

SIGI's Investment Income Adds SupportAfter-tax net investment income increased 18% year over year to $119.2 million. Net investment income per common share rose 20% to $1.98.
The after-tax yield was 4.4% for fixed-income securities and 4.2% for the overall portfolio. Investment income contributed 13.9 percentage points to annualized return on equity, up from 13 points a year ago.

SIGI's Commercial Lines Performance StrengthensStandard Commercial Lines net premiums written fell 6% year over year to $961.9 million as lower new business weighed on production. Our estimate was $1 billion.

Net premiums earned rose 3% to $962 million, while retention was 81%.

The segment's combined ratio improved 350 basis points to 99.3%. The improvement reflected no prior-year casualty reserve development and lower non-catastrophe property losses, partly offset by higher current-year casualty loss costs.

SIGI's Personal Lines Margin NarrowsStandard Personal Lines net premiums written declined 8% to $101.5 million, while net premiums earned decreased 5% to $97.6 million. Our estimate for net premiums written was $111.4 million. New business fell 36%, renewal pure price increased 8.9% and retention remained at 79%.

The segment's combined ratio deteriorated 390 basis points to 95.5%. Higher non-catastrophe property losses and a higher expense ratio pressured the result, though lower catastrophe losses provided some relief.

SIGI's Excess and Surplus Results Stay ProfitableExcess and Surplus Lines net premiums written decreased 2% year over year to $157.3 million. Our estimate was $174.7 million. Net premiums earned increased 5% to $155.8 million, while average renewal pure price rose 3.4%.

The segment's combined ratio increased 200 basis points to 91.8%. Higher current-year casualty loss costs and non-catastrophe property losses more than offset lower catastrophe losses.

SIGI's Profitability and Capital ImproveAfter-tax underwriting income was $19.3 million against a loss of $1.9 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating income climbed 46% to $117.6 million, while net income available to common stockholders increased 52% to $127.1 million.

Operating return on common equity improved 340 basis points year over year to 13.7%. The company marked its eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit operating returns.

Total expenses increased slightly to $1.22 billion from $1.21 billion, reflecting higher other insurance expenses. Our estimate was $1.24 billion.

SIGI's Balance Sheet Gains GroundSelective Insurance ended the quarter with total assets of $15.62 billion, up 3% from year-end 2025. Total investments increased 2% to $11.58 billion, while common stockholders' equity rose 2% to $3.46 billion.

Book value per common share was $58.13, up 3% sequentially, while adjusted book value per share increased 3% to $60.56. During the quarter, the company repurchased $32 million of shares at an average price of $84.72.

Selective Insurance Raises Investment Income OutlookFor 2026, Selective Insurance continues to expect a GAAP combined ratio of 96.5-97.5, including 6 points of catastrophe losses. The outlook assumes no prior-year casualty reserve development.

The company raised its after-tax net investment income guidance to $480 million from $465 million. It continues to project an effective tax rate of 21.5% and now expects weighted average diluted shares of 60.2 million.

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

Performance of Other Property and Casualty InsurersChubb Limited (CB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 core operating earnings of $7.26 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.63 by 9.5%. The bottom line increased 18.2% year over year. Revenues rose 2.7% year over year to $15.77 billion but missed the consensus mark of $15.90 billion by 0.8%.

Stronger P&C underwriting, record investment income, and higher life insurance income supported results. Net premiums earned increased 5.8% to $13.89 billion. P&C underwriting income increased 18.8% year over year to $1.94 billion. The combined ratio improved 180 basis points to 83.8%, reflecting a lower share of premiums consumed by claims and expenses. Our estimate was $1.15 billion.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 core income of $10.04 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.21 by 92.7%. The bottom line climbed 54% year over year. Revenues of $12.09 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.27 billion by 1.5%.

Net investment income rose 14% year over year to $1.07 billion pre-tax ($883 million after tax). The combined ratio improved 670 basis points year over year to 83.6%, reflecting lower catastrophe losses, stronger reserve development and a better underlying combined ratio.

W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $1.27 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.5%. The bottom line increased 21% year over year. W.R. Berkley’s net premiums written were about $3.4 billion, up 2.4% year over year. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.4 billion.

Operating revenues totaled $ 3.8 billion, up 3.6% year over year. The top line surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.87%. Net investment income grew 10.4% to $418.7 million, supported by higher invested assets and higher portfolio yields. The figure topped our estimate of $407 million. The consensus estimate was $395.6 million.

Key Takeaways Baxter is set to report Q2 results with revenues and EPS expected to decline year over year.BAX faces pressure from manufacturing inefficiencies, inflation, and Novum pump shipment hold.BAX sees mixed segment trends, with Advanced Surgery strength offset by infusion and pharma weakness. Baxter International Inc. (BAX - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.13%. BAX’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, delivering an average surprise of 3.12%.

BAX’s Q2 EstimatesThe consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $2.84 billion, indicating a decline of 0.6% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at 36 cents per share, implying a 39% year-over-year decline.

Our model estimates total revenues from continuing operations to decline 2.5% at constant currency (cc) to $2.79 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to decline 39% to 36 cents.

Important Factors to Note Ahead of BAX’s Q2 ResultsBaxter is expected to have delivered a modestly improved second quarter, though results are likely to be constrained by ongoing manufacturing inefficiencies, inflationary cost pressures and the continued shipment hold on its Novum large-volume infusion pump (LVP). Management reiterated its full-year outlook following first-quarter results, indicating that second-quarter earnings may remain on par with the first quarter, with only a slight volume improvement before a more meaningful recovery in the second half.

While end-market demand remains healthy across several businesses, execution-related challenges and difficult year-over-year comparisons are expected to have weighed on profitability.

Within the Medical Products & Therapies (“MPT”) segment, performance is likely to have remained mixed. Advanced Surgery should have continued to outperform, supported by strong global demand for hemostats and sealants along with healthy procedural volumes. However, Infusion Therapies & Technologies is likely to have remained under pressure due to the ongoing Novum LVP shipment and installation hold, lower infusion pump sales and normalization in IV solutions demand following last year's Hurricane Helene-related distributor build.

Management expects pump revenues to improve during the second half as Spectrum adoption increases, but elevated manufacturing absorption costs should have constrained its second-quarter performance. Our model estimates this segment’s revenues to decline 3% at cc to $1.3 billion.

Healthcare Systems & Technologies is expected to post another subdued quarter, with stronger Patient Support Systems demand and a healthy U.S. capital equipment order book partially offset by timing delays in Front Line Care installations. Management continues to expect improvement later in the year as recently launched products, including Connex 360 and the Dynamo smart stretcher, begin contributing more meaningfully. Our model estimates this segment’s revenues to improve 2.9% at cc to $795.1 million.

The Pharmaceuticals segment likely remained challenged by supply constraints within Injectables, softer global demand for inhaled anesthesia products and unfavorable product mix. Nevertheless, improving manufacturing throughput, continued progress clearing back orders and strong growth in drug compounding should have partially mitigated these headwinds. Our model estimates this segment’s revenues to decline 3.6% at cc to $609 million.

Baxter likely continued to face elevated manufacturing costs, tariff-related expenses and inflationary pressures during the second quarter. Management expects these pressures to ease during the second half as higher-cost inventory is worked through, cost-reduction initiatives begin generating savings and operating leverage improves with seasonal volume recovery. Consequently, second-quarter adjusted EPS is likely to have remained near first-quarter levels.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for BAX StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Baxter this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is not the case here, as you will see below.

BAX’s Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -0.99% for Baxter. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank of BAX: Baxter currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

BAX’s Share Price PerformanceSo far this year, Baxter’s shares have gained 13.4% against the industry’s 22.5% decline. The S&P 500 has gained 9.3% during the period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks Worth a LookHere are some stocks from broader medical sector worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is set to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 11. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 10.27%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAH’s fourth-quarter EPS indicates an improvement of 16.4% from the year-ago reported figure.

Henry Schein (HSIC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.41% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 04.

HSIC’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.74%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HSIC’s second-quarter EPS implies an improvement of 10.9% from the year-ago reported figure.

Agilent Technologies (A - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.02% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

A’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 1.61%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for A’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 EPS suggests an improvement of 8% from the year-ago reported figure.

Top Analyst-Rated Healthcare Stocks to Watch NowTenet Healthcare NYSE: THC raised its full-year 2026 financial outlook after reporting second-quarter results that exceeded its expectations, supported by hospital volume growth, higher-acuity services, expense-management efforts and continued strength in its ambulatory surgery business.

Second-quarter net operating revenues totaled $5.6 billion, while consolidated adjusted EBITDA rose 16.3% from a year earlier to $1.304 billion. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 23.2%, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 52% year over year to $6.12.

Get Tenet Healthcare alerts:

3 Under-the-Radar Healthcare CompaniesChairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Saum Sutaria said the company’s first-half fundamental outperformance totaled approximately $97 million across its operating segments. “Hospital volumes and same-store revenue growth in both segments are strong,” Sutaria said, adding that margin performance benefited from technology-enabled expense initiatives implemented at the beginning of the year.

Guidance Raised for Revenue, EBITDA and Cash Flow For 2026, Tenet increased its consolidated net operating revenue outlook to a range of $21.9 billion to $22.5 billion, representing a $300 million increase at the midpoint from its previous forecast. The company raised adjusted EBITDA guidance to $4.83 billion to $5.03 billion, a $295 million increase at the midpoint.

HCA Healthcare: Temporary Setbacks, Long-Term StrengthManagement said the revised EBITDA outlook reflects roughly $100 million in fundamental outperformance during the first half and another $60 million from the expected continuation of those drivers in the second half. The company also cited contributions from ambulatory surgery acquisitions and supplemental Medicaid programs.

Adjusted free cash flow after noncontrolling interests is now projected at $1.825 billion to $2.055 billion, up $225 million at the midpoint. That outlook includes roughly $150 million of tax payments related to the Conifer transaction. Excluding those payments, the midpoint would be approximately $2.1 billion, Chief Financial Officer Sun Park said.

Hospital Segment Outperforms Despite Exchange Pressure Tenet’s hospital segment generated $762 million in adjusted EBITDA, up 22% from the second quarter of 2025, with an 18% adjusted EBITDA margin. Same-hospital inpatient adjusted admissions increased 2.6%, while revenue per adjusted admission rose 3.3% year over year.

Park said the revenue-per-admission increase reflected the company’s acuity strategy and higher supplemental Medicaid revenue, partly offset by lower exchange volumes. The company recognized $92 million of favorable out-of-period supplemental Medicaid revenue tied to prior years, compared with $70 million in the prior-year quarter. Park said Tenet would have recorded a “clean beat” even without the incremental Medicaid revenue.

Exchange revenue declined 17% from the second quarter of 2025 and accounted for about 5.5% of consolidated revenue during the quarter. Exchange admissions fell about 13.5%, according to Park, resulting in an approximately $65 million revenue headwind.

Management said the exchange decline was most pronounced in Florida, Arizona, Michigan, South Carolina and Texas. Park said the company saw exchange patients shift to uninsured status at a rate that was “pretty much one-to-one,” with uninsured volume increasing proportionately in the second quarter.

Tenet expects the exchange-market trends seen in the second quarter to continue through the rest of 2026 and did not change its assumptions for the back half of the year. Sutaria said the company has been adjusting its cost base while maintaining investments in growth initiatives.

USPI Emphasizes Higher-Acuity Procedures United Surgical Partners International, Tenet’s ambulatory surgery business, reported adjusted EBITDA of $542 million, an 8.8% increase from the prior-year quarter. Its adjusted EBITDA margin was 39%.

USPI same-facility systemwide revenue rose 5%, including a 6.3% increase in net revenue per case. Same-facility case volume declined 1.2%, which management attributed to its focus on higher-acuity care and the migration of lower-acuity procedures to office settings.

Sutaria highlighted 10% year-over-year same-store growth in total joint replacements at the company’s ambulatory surgery centers. He said USPI continues to expand into higher-acuity orthopedic procedures as well as urology, robotics, bariatrics and cardiovascular services. The company is also pursuing more complex procedures in established gastrointestinal and ophthalmology service lines.

Tenet now expects to spend more than $300 million on ambulatory surgery center mergers and acquisitions during 2026, reflecting transactions completed so far and its current pipeline of opportunities.

Cost Management and Capital Deployment In response to analyst questions, Sutaria outlined several components of Tenet’s cost-management strategy. These include traditional productivity measures, renegotiating purchased-service contracts and supply standardization, as well as clinical operating improvements involving length of stay, emergency department service levels, hospital throughput and operating-room and catheterization-lab scheduling.

The company is also using automation, artificial intelligence and its global business center to improve productivity and automate certain functions across payment operations and support structures, Sutaria said.

Tenet generated $444 million in adjusted free cash flow during the second quarter and $1.422 billion year to date. As of June 30, it had $2.17 billion of cash on hand, no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and no significant debt maturities until late 2027.

The company repurchased 5.7 million shares for $1.04 billion during the second quarter. First-half share repurchases totaled nearly 7 million shares, costing $1.36 billion. Tenet’s board authorized a further $2 billion increase to its share repurchase program, and management said it expects to remain active in buybacks through the remainder of the year.

Tenet reported a leverage ratio of 2.33 times EBITDA as of June 30, or 2.9 times EBITDA excluding noncontrolling interests. Management said capital priorities include ambulatory surgery acquisitions, hospital investments focused on higher-acuity services, share repurchases and potential debt retirement or refinancing.

About Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC)Tenet Healthcare Corporation NYSE: THC is a diversified American healthcare services company that owns and operates acute care hospitals and a broad range of outpatient facilities. Its portfolio includes general acute-care hospitals, specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and diagnostic imaging centers, and other ancillary service locations. Tenet's operations are oriented around delivering inpatient and outpatient clinical care across multiple medical specialties, with an emphasis on surgical services, emergency care, and advanced diagnostics.

In addition to facility-based care, Tenet provides integrated services designed to support clinical operations and improve patient access and care coordination.

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 Tenet Healthcare Right Now?Before you consider Tenet 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 Tenet Healthcare wasn't on the list.

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

View The Five Stocks Here

The AI boom extends far beyond the biggest tech names. Discover 10 companies supplying the memory, storage, networking, semiconductor manufacturing, and power infrastructure that make AI possible. Learn where the next wave of AI investment opportunities may emerge—and the key risks investors should watch as the global AI buildout accelerates.

Get This Free Report

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, 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.

Based in Los Angeles, Cathay General (CATY - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 29.22%. The holding company for Cathay Bank is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.38 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.43%. This compares to the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.42% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.33%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.52 is up 11.8% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Cathay General has increased its dividend 1 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 2.11%. 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. Cathay's current payout ratio is 31%, meaning it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

CATY is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $5.42 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 19.38%.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that CATY is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming September 21, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased Primoris Services Corporation (“Primoris” or the “Company”) (NYSE: PRIM) common stock between August 5, 2025 and June 22, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN PRIMORIS SERVICES CORPORATION (PRIM), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO.

Conagra Brands, Inc. remains a Buy, supported by a compelling portfolio, a strategic CEO transition, and an attractive valuation despite recent underperformance. The new CEO, John Brase, brings operational excellence and a clear mandate to simplify operations, raise prices, and focus on growth categories like frozen meals and meat snacks. The 50% dividend cut, while anticipated, strengthens CAG's balance sheet and supports long-term capital allocation priorities amid elevated leverage and margin pressures.

Shares of the language learning company Duolingo (DUOL +1.92%) fell by 9.8% this week, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as investors grow increasingly concerned about AI disruption.

Duolingo will report its second-quarter 2026 results early next month, and shareholders could be paring back their holdings now, in anticipation of a rough quarter.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

AI has Duolingo investors worried Duolingo's share price has nosedived over the past year, falling 66% as investors have become increasingly concerned that AI will disrupt Duolingo's business model.

Shareholders may have reacted this week to news that a yet-to-be-released OpenAI ChatGPT model went rogue and hacked a website. OpenAI was testing the model for its cybersecurity capabilities, and it broke free of its contained sandbox environment in search of the test answers.

Duolingo isn't a cybersecurity company, but its shareholders are already concerned that AI companies could disrupt the company's language learning and education app. A highly capable ChatGPT doesn't instill confidence that Duolingo can fend off AI competition.

Today's Change

(

1.92

%) $

2.32

Current Price

$

122.99

Shareholders may be bracing for Duolingo's quarterly results Duolingo is investing more in AI features to stay relevant, but it's coming at a cost. Management said gross margins will fall to 69% by the end of this year as AI-driven costs rise.

Duolingo has set a goal of 100 million daily active users in 2028 and is willing to sacrifice some higher margins to get there.

Investors will find out more about how well the company is achieving its goals when Duolingo reports its second-quarter results on Aug. 5. Still, it's clear from the share price declines this week that Duolingo has a lot to prove before regaining investor confidence.

Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Duolingo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Revvity is developing T-SPOT A201 for high-volume latent TB testing, targeting a late-2027 launch.The platform can process up to 384 samples in eight hours with 45 seconds of hands-on time per sample.RVTY shares rose 2.4% after the announcement and gained 16.9% year to date, beating key benchmarks. Revvity, Inc. (RVTY - Free Report) recently announced the development of the T-SPOT A201, a next-generation high-throughput automated platform designed to support large-volume clinical laboratories performing latent tuberculosis (TB) testing. Targeted for launch in the second half of 2027, the platform is engineered to deliver the performance advantages of the T-SPOT.TB assay while enabling greater workflow efficiency and scalability for high-throughput testing environments.

Per management, the T-SPOT A201 automation platform marks a significant advancement in expanding access to the benefits of T-SPOT.TB testing for high-volume laboratories. The company believes the solution will provide the performance, workflow efficiency and competitive economics needed by high-volume clinical labs, reinforcing its commitment to delivering scalable automation technologies for infectious disease diagnostics.

Likely Trend of RVTY Stock Following the NewsFollowing the announcement, RVTY shares gained 2.4% at yesterday’s close. Year to date, the stock rose 16.9%, outperforming the industry’s 1.8% decline and the S&P 500’s 7.4% gain.

The development of the T-SPOT A201 platform is expected to strengthen Revvity’s infectious disease diagnostics and laboratory automation portfolio. By addressing the growing need for high-throughput latent TB testing, the company can enhance its position among large clinical laboratories while expanding opportunities within public health and diagnostic markets. Upon successful commercialization, the platform could drive broader adoption of Revvity’s automation solutions, support long-term customer relationships and contribute to sustained revenue growth.

RVTY currently has a market capitalization of $12.33 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on the NewsThe T-SPOT A201 expands Revvity’s portfolio of automation solutions that simplify the T-SPOT.TB workflow without compromising clinical performance. The company already offers the FDA-approved and CE-IVD-marked Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handler for laboratories with lower testing volumes. Designed to process up to 24 samples per run, the Auto-Pure 2400 completes first-day T-SPOT.TB workflows in less than 3.5 hours with minimal user interaction while delivering low indeterminate results, high sensitivity and specificity, extended sample stability and efficient sample handling. These capabilities enable laboratories of different sizes to improve workflow efficiency while maintaining confidence in latent TB test results.

Built on the success of the Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handling platform, the T-SPOT A201 is designed to process up to 384 samples per instrument during an eight-hour shift while requiring only 45 seconds of hands-on time per sample. The platform is expected to help laboratories manage rising testing volumes driven by immigration screening, pre-treatment evaluations for immunosuppressive therapies and broader public health initiatives, while supporting timely and accurate latent TB detection.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Precedence Research, the U.S. tuberculosis diagnostics market is predicted to be valued at $607.5 million in 2026 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.3% through 2035.

Factors like the increasing adoption of rapid molecular and nucleic acid amplification tests, growing focus on detection of latent and drug-resistant tuberculosis, rising emphasis on automation, digital reporting and laboratory workflow efficiency and continued reliance on government funding and public health laboratory networks for TB testing programs are boosting the market’s growth.

Other NewsRevvity recently announced the launch of Signals for Startups, a new program to help early-stage biotechnology companies establish scalable digital informatics capabilities from the earliest stages of research. It is scheduled to launch across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and the Africa region in late July 2026.

Revvity announced that its Signals Software business has been added to Anthropic’s directory for Model Context Protocol connectors, extending the capabilities of Signals AI beyond the Signals One platform. Through the integration, scientists can access Signals AI and connected R&D knowledge using Claude, including Claude Science, Anthropic’s AI workbench for scientific research.

RVTY’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksRevvity currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) , McKesson (MCK - Free Report) and Cardinal Health (CAH - 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.

West Pharmaceutical reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.37, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.9%. Revenues of $872.3 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%.

West Pharmaceutical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 14.4%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 17.4%.

McKesson reported a fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $11.69, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1%. Revenues of $96.3 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.5%.

McKesson has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.7%. MCK’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.1%.

Cardinal Health reported a third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $3.17, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.2%. Revenues of $60.94 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.3%.

Cardinal Health has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 17%. CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 10.3%.