Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Okta (OKTA - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Okta currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for OKTA that show why this cloud identity management company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For OKTA, shares are up 33.64% over the past week while the Zacks Security industry is up 6.76% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 80.98% compares favorably with the industry's 31.74% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Okta have increased 75.37% over the past quarter, and have gained 33.48% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 10.8% and 30.05%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to OKTA's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. OKTA is currently averaging 4,231,550 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with OKTA.

Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost OKTA's consensus estimate, increasing from $3.79 to $3.80 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that OKTA is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Okta on your short list.

Okta, Inc. (OKTA) Presents at 2026 Evercore Global TMT Conference Transcript

Cybersecurity earnings delivered a sharp split this week, even as three major names all topped expectations and raised their outlooks. The difference came down to quality, guidance, and confidence in the AI opportunity.

One company delivered a clean quarter and showed clear signs of AI-driven momentum, sending shares higher. Two others sold off as investors focused on softer spots beneath the headline beats. Here are the key takeaways from the latest round of cybersecurity earnings.

The latest cybersecurity earnings reports show that investors are rewarding clean execution—and punishing anything less.

Get Okta alerts:

Okta Surges on a Clean Beat and AI Agent Identity MomentumOkta Today

$117.50 0.00 (0.00%)

As of 12:54 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$62.66▼

$142.35P/E Ratio85.27

Price Target$114.14

Identity and access management giant Okta NASDAQ: OKTA was the standout in this cybersecurity earnings cycle.

The day after Okta's fiscal Q1 2027 earnings report was released, the stock popped 30% and then climbed another 13% the next day, for a total two-day gain of nearly 48%.

The firm saw revenue grow by just over 11% year over year (YOY) to $765 million, handily beating estimates near $752 million.

Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose by 6% YOY to 91 cents. This was much better than analyst expectations of 85 cents, which implied a decline of 1% YOY.

Adding to the positives, Okta also raised the midpoints of both its full-year revenue and adjusted operating margin guidance. These figures each increased by 50 basis points to 9.5% YOY and 25.5%, respectively.

Notably, current remaining performance obligations (RPOs) rose 12% YOY, while total RPOs grew 16% YOY. Both figures ran ahead of revenue growth, pointing to building demand momentum.

Importantly, the company noted strong demand for its AI agent identity offerings, which was key to the stock’s rise. As companies deploy more AI agents, they need tools to verify, govern, and secure nonhuman users alongside employee identities. If Okta can become a preferred identity layer for AI agents, the company may gain a stronger role in enterprise cybersecurity budgets.

Okta, Inc. (OKTA) Price Chart for Friday, June, 12, 2026

Zscaler Sells Off as Guidance Raises Growth and Cash Flow QuestionsZscaler Today

$127.76 +1.65 (+1.31%)

As of 12:54 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$114.63▼

$336.99Price Target$214.33

On the flip side, zero-trust cloud security provider Zscaler NASDAQ: ZS was punished after earnings as investors looked past its beat-and-raise results and focused on concerns beneath the headline numbers.

Overall, the stock plummeted more than 31% after its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings report was released and did not see a substantial recovery in the following days.

This came despite Zscaler posting significant beats on both the top and bottom line. Revenue came in at over $850 million, rising by 25% YOY, and was well above estimates of $835 million. Adjusted EPS grew even more by 28% YOY to $1.08, solidly above analysts' expectations of $1.01.

The company’s guidance included both positives and negatives. The company raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to 24.6% to 24.7%, up from its prior view of 24%. However, management framed its growth outlook as cautious, given the recent departure of two top sales leaders

The bigger concerns came from profitability and future growth. Zscaler lowered its free cash flow margin outlook, with the midpoint falling from 26.75% to 23.1%. It also guided for 16% to 17% annual recurring revenue growth next fiscal year, a sharp slowdown from its current-year ARR growth expectation of 24%.

With the stock trading at more than 40x earnings heading into the report, investors had little patience for signs of margin pressure and slowing growth.

Despite Zscaler’s massive post-earnings drop, Wall Street analysts are pointing to a big-time recovery ahead. The MarketBeat consensus price target on Zscaler currently sits near $216, implying more than 65% upside in shares. However, targets did move down meaningfully after the report. The average of updated targets is approximately $193—still implying very strong upside of almost 50%. Introducing quality replacements for its lost sales leaders could help the company raise its growth forecasts in the future.

Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) Price Chart for Friday, June, 12, 2026

CrowdStrike Slips as a Strong Report Runs Into a High BarCrowdStrike Today

$685.75 -5.78 (-0.84%)

As of 12:54 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$342.72▼

$785.66Price Target$692.71

One of the biggest names in cybersecurity, CrowdStrike NASDAQ: CRWD, also tumbled after reporting its fiscal Q1 2027 report.

Overall, the stock took a 7% hit, despite CrowdStrike posting two beats and a raise.

However, when considering the extremely strong run CrowdStrike shares had going into the report, this drop was small. Just prior to the report, CrowdStrike shares were up more than 80% in Q2 2026.

Revenue grew by 26% YOY to $1.39 billion, moderately exceeding estimates of $1.36 billion. EPS rose by a whopping 51% YOY to $1.10, beating analyst estimates of $1.07.

CrowdStrike also increased its net new ARR growth guidance for its full fiscal year by a very significant 520 basis points to 27.7%. The company now expects net new ARR growth to accelerate compared to the prior year.

Furthermore, the company noted that Anthropic’s Mythos model has “created an inflection point around ARR for our business.” CrowdStrike is one of the few companies with access to Anthropic’s most advanced model. With early access, they are among the best-positioned companies to fight back against the highly advanced AI cyber threat potential that Mythos brought to the forefront. Notably, CrowdStrike says its AI detection and response pipeline rose by more than 250% in one quarter to more than $50 million.

CrowdStrike (CRWD) Price Chart for Friday, June, 12, 2026

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

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

Over the past month, shares of this cloud identity management company have returned +45%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Security industry, which Okta falls in, has gained 25.6%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

For the current quarter, Okta is expected to post earnings of $0.96 per share, indicating a change of +5.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +8.6% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.83 points to a change of +9.4% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +8.1%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.28 indicates a change of +11.8% from what Okta is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.4%.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Okta, the consensus sales estimate of $792.14 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +8.8%. The $3.2 billion and $3.5 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +9.5% and +9.6%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOkta reported revenues of $765 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.2%. EPS of $0.91 for the same period compares with $0.86 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $751.34 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.82%. The EPS surprise was +7.06%.

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evercore (NYSE: EVR) announced today that Clay McCoy has joined the firm as a senior managing director in its private capital advisory (PCA) group, based in New York.

“We are pleased to welcome Clay to Evercore,” said Nigel Dawn, global head of Evercore’s private capital advisory business. “He brings deep infrastructure secondaries expertise, strong market relationships and a proven ability to advise clients in complex markets. As the secondary market continues to expand across asset classes, Clay will further strengthen our ability to deliver tailored liquidity solutions to sponsors and investors.”

“Evercore has built a leading global platform in private capital advisory, and I am thrilled to be joining at an important stage in the market’s evolution,” said Mr. McCoy. “As secondaries continue to grow in importance as a portfolio management tool for sponsors and investors, I look forward to working with clients to address a wide range of liquidity and portfolio management objectives, particularly in infrastructure and energy.”

Mr. McCoy joins Evercore from Campbell Lutyens, where he was a managing director and led North American infrastructure secondaries advisory. Previously, he was a director at Solomon Partners, where he advised on a range of private capital and M&A transactions. Earlier in his career, Mr. McCoy held roles at RBC Capital Markets and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Mr. McCoy earned a Master of Science in accountancy from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and commerce and psychology from Hampden-Sydney College.

About Evercore

Evercore (NYSE: EVR) is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic and financial significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital, delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, and provides wealth and investment management services to high-net-worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.evercore.com.

On May 20, 2026, Evercore Inc (EVR) shares rose 4.4% to a current price of $337.55, showing a significant recovery in the wake of a challenging month that saw a

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BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peter Osvaldik, chief financial officer of T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS), will present and provide a business update on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) at the 2026 Evercore TMT Global Conference.

A live webcast of the event will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://investor.t-mobile.com. An on-demand replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the presentation.

To automatically receive T-Mobile financial news by e-mail, please visit the T-Mobile Investor Relations website, https://investor.t-mobile.com, and subscribe to E-mail Alerts.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.

As the supercharged Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is powered by an award-winning 5G network that connects more people, in more places, than ever before. With T-Mobile’s unique value proposition of best network, best value and best experiences, the Un-carrier is redefining connectivity and fueling competition while continuing to drive the next wave of innovation in wireless and beyond. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com.

More News From T-Mobile US, Inc.

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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Evercore (EVR - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Evercore Inc. is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. Founded in 1995, the company operates from its offices and affiliates in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

EVR is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.77; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.75 to $19.27 per share. EVR boasts an average earnings surprise of +30.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, EVR should be on investors' short list.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Evercore (EVR - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, Evercore Inc. is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. Founded in 1995, the company operates from its offices and affiliates in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

EVR is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. EVR has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 32.4% for the current fiscal year.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.75 to $19.27 per share. EVR also boasts an average earnings surprise of +30.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, EVR should be on investors' short list.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evercore Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John S. Weinberg to Participate in the Morgan Stanley U.S. Financials Conference on June 9.

Versant Media Group, Inc. (VSNT) Presents at 2026 Evercore Global TMT Conference Transcript

Key Takeaways Evercore posted record Q1'26 adjusted net revenues of $1.40B, driven by advisory business strength.EVR had about $0.7B remaining under its $1.6B share repurchase authorization as of March 31, 2026.Evercore raised its quarterly dividend to 89 cents and extended its streak to 18 straight years of increases. Evercore Inc.'s (EVR - Free Report) capital return strategy, centered on dividends and share repurchases, is supported by ample liquidity and disciplined capital management. The company's earnings strength continues to provide flexibility for rewarding shareholders while investing in future growth initiatives.

In the first quarter of 2026, EVR reported record adjusted net revenues of $1.40 billion, significantly higher than $699.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The performance was driven by strong momentum in its advisory business. Further, the acquisition of Robey Warshaw, a leading U.K.-based advisory firm, in February 2026 is expected to support revenue growth while enhancing its advisory platform in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. This provides EVR with ample financial flexibility to return capital to shareholders without weakening its financial position.

The company has a solid share repurchase plan in place. In April 2025, Evercore's board of directors authorized a $1.6 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2026, approximately $0.7 billion remained available under the authorization.

Alongside buybacks, Evercore continues to deliver consistent dividend growth. In April 2026, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.9% to 89 cents per share, marking its 18th consecutive year of dividend increases. Prior to this, it raised its quarterly dividend 5% to 84 cents per share in April 2025. The company currently has a payout ratio of 18% and a dividend yield of 1.03%.

Dividend Yield
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As of March 31, 2026, Evercore held $986 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1 billion of investment securities. Further, its current assets exceeded current liabilities by $1.8 billion. The company's notes payable due totaled $539.7 million, significantly lower than its liquidity resources.

Given its strong earnings performance, sound liquidity position and disciplined capital management strategy, Evercore is well-positioned to sustain capital distributions in the future, thereby continuing to enhance shareholder value.

Capital Deployment Plan of EVR's PeersSimilar to EVR, its two close peers, Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) and Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) , have impressive capital distribution plans.

After clearing the 2025 stress test, Bank of America raised its quarterly dividend 7.7% to 28 cents per share. Prior to this, the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.3% to 26 cents per share in July 2024.

Bank of America also authorized a $40 billion share repurchase program, effective Aug. 1, 2025. As of March 31, 2026, $22.9 billion remained available under the authorization.

Post-clearing the 2025 Fed stress test, Citigroup also hiked its quarterly dividend 7.1% to 60 cents per share. Prior to this, the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to 56 cents per share in April 2025.

In January 2025, Citigroup's board of directors approved a $20 billion common stock repurchase program with no expiration date. As of March 31, 2026, $0.5 billion remained available under the authorization.

EVR’s Price Performance & Zacks RankOver the past six months, shares of Evercore have gained 5.7% compared with the industry’s 0.8% growth.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M) today announced that the company will participate in the 6th Annual Evercore Consumer and Retail Conference on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

About Macy’s, Inc.

Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M) is a trusted source for quality brands through our iconic nameplates – Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. Headquartered in New York City, our comprehensive digital and nationwide footprint empowers us to deliver a seamless shopping experience for our customers. For more information, visit macysinc.com.

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The states have previously argued the deal would result in too much concentration in some local TV markets.

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday. The stock traded as high as $21.90 and last traded at $21.8950, with a volume of 33969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.03. Key Stories Impacting TEGNA Here are the key news stories impacting TEGNA this

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nexstar Media Inc. (the “Offeror”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) (“Nexstar Media Group”), announced today that there will be an Early Settlement Date on March 25, 2026 (the “Early Settlement Date”) for the TEGNA Inc.’s 5.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) that were tendered by the Early Tender Deadline (as defined below) as part of the previously announced offer to purchase for cash (the “Tender Offer”) any and all of the Notes, and related solicitation of consents (the “Consent Solicitation”). Capitalized terms used herein, but not otherwise defined, have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement (as defined herein).

As of 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on March 18, 2026 (the “Early Tender Deadline”), according to information provided by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent (the “Tender Agent and Information Agent”) for the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation, $1,036,551,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes, or 94.23% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding, were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as part of the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation. On March 19, 2026, Nexstar Media Group completed the acquisition of TEGNA Inc., thereby satisfying one of the conditions to the consummation of the Tender Offer. The Offeror expects to accept for purchase the Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Early Tender Deadline on the Early Settlement Date.

In addition, the requisite Consents with respect to the Notes to adopt the Proposed Amendments have been received in the Consent Solicitation. The supplemental indenture reflecting the Proposed Amendments has been executed and the Proposed Amendments relating to the Notes will become operative upon the Offeror’s purchase of the Notes on the Early Settlement Date in accordance with the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement.

The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation remain scheduled to expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on April 2, 2026, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Offeror in its sole discretion (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the “Expiration Time”). We expect to accept for purchase any Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and on or prior to the Expiration Time promptly following the Expiration Time (the “Final Settlement Date”). The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are described in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement relating to the Notes dated as of March 5, 2026 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement”).

General Information

The Offeror’s obligation to complete the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation is subject to and conditioned upon the following having occurred or having been waived by the Offeror with respect to such Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation, as applicable: (1) the satisfaction of the Merger Condition, which has already occurred, and (2) the satisfaction of the General Conditions. There can be no assurance that the Tender Offer or the Consent Solicitation will be consummated. The Offeror may amend, extend or terminate the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation, in its sole discretion. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum amount of Notes being tendered.

The Offeror intends to fund the Total Consideration and the Tender Offer Consideration (including, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest), plus all related fees and expenses, using proceeds from the financing transactions entered into to fund the Merger and cash on hand. Notes that are tendered and accepted in the Tender Offer will cease to be outstanding and will be cancelled.

Any Notes not tendered and purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer will remain outstanding. When the Proposed Amendments become operative with respect to the Indenture for the Notes, then the Notes that are not purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer will be subject to the Proposed Amendments.

The Company may (or the Offeror may cause the Company to) choose to leave outstanding any Notes that remain outstanding following the consummation of the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation or any transaction described in this paragraph, subject to any right of repurchase that remains. Alternatively, the Company may (or the Offeror may cause the Company to) defease, purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire the Notes by any available means, including, without limitation, negotiated transactions, open market purchases, tender offers, redemption or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as the Offeror or the Company may determine. Any such transaction may be on the same terms or on terms that are more or less favorable to Holders of Notes than the terms of the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation and will depend on various factors existing at that time. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these alternatives or combinations thereof the Offeror or the Company may choose to pursue in the future.

BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC have been retained as the dealer managers in connection with the Tender Offer and as the solicitation agents in connection with the Consent Solicitation (the “Dealer Managers”). In such capacities, they may contact Holders regarding the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation and may request brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees to forward the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement and related materials to beneficial owners of Notes. Requests for documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Tender Agent and Information Agent, at (800) 769-7666 (toll free) or (212) 257-2092 or by email at [email protected]. Questions about the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation may be directed to BofA Securities, Inc. at (888) 292-0070 or (980) 388-3646, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at (866) 834-4666 or (212) 834-3046 or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at (800) 828-3182 or (917) 343-9668.

This press release is for informational purposes only. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made solely by the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement. This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation is not being made to Holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Tender Offer or the Consent Solicitation to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Offeror by the Dealer Managers, or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

None of the Offeror, Nexstar Media Group, the Company, the Trustee, the Tender Agent and Information Agent, the Dealer Managers or any of their respective affiliates makes any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Notes, and no person or entity has been authorized by any of them to make such a recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender Notes and, if so, the principal amount of the Notes to tender.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including but not limited to: the ultimate benefits and synergies of the merger with TEGNA and related integration and litigation risks; the risks and uncertainties of current economic factors that are beyond our control, such as tariffs and other trade barriers, capital markets volatility, sustained inflation, high interest rates and supply chain disruptions; any projections or expectations of earnings, revenue, financial performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any assumptions or projections about the television broadcasting industry; any statements of our plans, strategies and objectives for our future operations, performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar words.

More News From Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Satellite dishes are seen in France, April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesWASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge late on Friday ordered Nexstar (NXST.O), opens new tab to temporarily keep Tegna's assets separate pending a review ​of whether the broadcast station owner's $3.54 billion acquisition of its rival Tegna violates ‌federal antitrust laws.

The companies quickly closed the deal after the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission approved the deal on March 19.

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U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento, California issued the order in response to ​a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by DirecTV, which argued it would irreparably drive up ​consumer costs, reduce local competition, shutter local newsrooms and increase both the ⁠frequency and duration of blackouts of key local sports teams.

Nexstar and DirecTV did not immediately ​respond to requests for comment. Eight states led by California and New York have also sought ​a temporary restraining order to stop the merger.

The states argue that the deal, which creates the largest broadcast station group in the U.S. reaching 80% of American households, would "put more broadcast programming in the hands ​of fewer people, cut local jobs, increase cable bills, and significantly impact the delivery of ​news and other media content to Americans nationwide."

Nunley said DirecTV established "the proposed merger is presumed likely to ‌violate ⁠antitrust laws based on the combined firm market share alone."

DirecTV argues the merger creates a massive concentration of market power and enables Nexstar to raise prices and reduce the amount of local news.

The broadcast stations sell pay-TV providers like DirecTV rights to retransmit their content. Increases ​in retransmission fees result ​in higher prices ⁠for TV subscribers and DirecTV argues the deal will let it increase license fees further.

Nunley said Nexstar and Tegna "do not contest this merger ​will increase Nexstar’s bargaining leverage to extract higher fees." The judge ​ordered Nexstar ⁠and Tegna to appear at an April 7 hearing to determine if a preliminary injunction should be issued.

Nunley's order says Tegna must operate as a separate and distinct, independently managed business unit ⁠and ​must be maintained as an economically viable and active ​competitor.

Tegna must have separate management and Nexstar must prevent sharing of competitively sensitive information, including any information related to ​retransmission fee negotiations, among other restrictions.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by William Mallard and Lincoln Feast.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Posted by Defense World Staff on Mar 30th, 2026

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA – Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the six brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $19.75.

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of TEGNA from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of TEGNA in a report on Monday, December 29th.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TEGNA

TEGNA Trading Up 9.3% Shares of NYSE:TGNA opened at $21.90 on Friday. TEGNA has a 52-week low of $14.87 and a 52-week high of $21.90. The stock has a market cap of $3.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.22 and a beta of 0.12. The company has a quick ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $20.35 and a 200-day moving average price of $20.01.

TEGNA (NYSE:TGNA – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.05. TEGNA had a return on equity of 8.60% and a net margin of 8.11%.The firm had revenue of $706.11 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $701.29 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.21 earnings per share. TEGNA’s revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that TEGNA will post 3.02 EPS for the current year.

TEGNA Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. TEGNA’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.04%.

Institutional Trading of TEGNA A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new stake in TEGNA during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in TEGNA by 85.4% in the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,852 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in TEGNA by 160.4% in the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 1,464 shares during the period. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new stake in TEGNA in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in TEGNA in the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.19% of the company’s stock.

TEGNA Company Profile (Get Free Report)

TEGNA Inc is a leading U.S. broadcast and digital media company that was formed as a spin-off from Gannett Co, Inc in June 2015. The company’s primary operations include the ownership and operation of local television stations, digital publishing platforms and marketing solutions designed to serve both national advertisers and local businesses. Through its portfolio of media assets, TEGNA delivers news, information and entertainment across multiple platforms, including over-the-air broadcasts, cable and satellite distribution, streaming services and proprietary websites and mobile apps.

TEGNA owns and operates approximately 60 television stations in 51 markets, reaching nearly 40 percent of U.S.

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Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) USA 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, in Grapevine, Texas, U.S. March 27, 2026. ... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more

March 30 (Reuters) - The ranking members of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee questioned ​the Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and criticized ‌his approval of Nexstar's (NXST.O), opens new tab merger with Tegna (GTTG.F), opens new tab without a vote from the full commission, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

Here ​are some details:

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The letter to Carr ​was jointly sent by the committee's Republican ⁠Senator Ted Cruz and Democrat Maria Cantwell, the ​Bloomberg report said.

The senators told Carr that he ​improperly allowed agency staff to approve the merger even though it involved waiving major anti-consolidation rules, Bloomberg said, ​citing a copy of the letter.

The senators ​said that significant questions of policy must be addressed ‌by ⁠the full FCC in a vote.

The FCC approved the $3.54 billion sale of local television station owner Tegna to Nexstar earlier this month, despite objections ​from Democratic-led ​states, after which the ⁠companies quickly closed the deal.

However, last week, a U.S. judge ordered Nexstar ​to temporarily keep Tegna's assets separate ​pending ⁠a review of whether the deal violates federal antitrust laws.

The FCC, the Senate Commerce Committee, Cruz and ⁠Cantwell ​did not immediately respond to requests ​for comment outside regular business hours.

Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in ​Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul and Thomas Derpinghaus

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

A federal judge eased some of the restrictions on his order that at least temporarily blocked Nexstar‘s merger with Tegna, but he also extended the freeze on the transaction for another week.

U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley will allow Nexstar to conduct debt service and repayment obligations, comply with Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, and make appointments to keep Tegna operating, among other things. In the case of the latter, Nexstar is still prohibited from installing its own company employees or officers. Nexstar also will be allowed to set thresholds for contract approval, expenditure authorization and other financial limits, similar to how Tegna operated before the deal closed on March 19.

Shortly after securing regulatory approval on that date, Nexstar announced that it had closed its deal to acquire Tegna, creating a broadcast giant of around 260 stations across the country. But in the previous day, DirecTV and a group of state attorneys general filed lawsuit challenging the transaction on antitrust grounds.

Nunley granted a 14-day temporary restraining order on March 27, concluding that DirecTV has established a “likelihood of success on the merits” of its claim that the merger violated antitrust laws. The cases were later consolidated with the claims of the state attorneys general, which include California and New York.

Nexstar is challenging the judge’s decision, but had argued that because the transaction had closed, it created “immediate operational harm to Tegna and Nexstar, regulatory conflicts, and a governance vacuum.”

Earlier this week, Nunley heard arguments on whether to grant the plaintiffs a permanent injunction, which would block the merger indefinitely. He has yet to issue a ruling, but in his order on Friday, extended the TRO another week. The judge wrote that he found “good cause” to extend the restraining order “to maintain the status quo and prevent irreparable harm while the court prepares its ruling on whether a preliminary injunction should issue.”

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against the broadcast merger, saying it was likely to violate the Clayton Act.

The $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna, a game-changing deal poised to reshape the media business, has been on the lips of many NAB Show attendees this week. But a panel Monday afternoon with three FCC officials asked to explain the commission’s review of the transaction yielded few answers.

Even though the FCC and Department of Justice antitrust division both approved the transaction and Nexstar declared it to be closed, paying off Tegna and its shareholders, a lawsuit by DirecTV on antitrust ground has gained sudden traction. A federal judge last Friday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the deal. Nexstar has vowed to appeal the case to the Ninth Circuit federal appellate court.

At the NAB panel, moderator Larry Walke, associate general counsel for the broadcast lobbying group, asked a string of questions about the events of the past several weeks. He asked whether the FCC’s action established a template for future mergers. He also wondered if the FCC actually has the authority to make changes to the ownership cap and then OK a deal under rules it has changed. The cap is part of a Congressional act, and FCC commissioner Anna Gomez and many other stakeholders have argued that the FCC should not be permitted to do it.

“That’s an active proceeding, and I’m not going to really comment on the substance of it,” replied David Brown, Division Chief of the FCC’s Video Division. “I’m OK with the question, but I think that from a bureau perspective, you can look at the Nexstar-Tegna merger order, we discuss legal authority there. I think that’s an accurate statement of where the bureau is. I’m not going to speak for the chairman or what ultimately will come out.”

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a dogged Donald Trump loyalist who has repeatedly called for eliminating the cap, is not at this year’s NAB Show. For decades, the confab has been a setting where the heads of the FCC and the DOJ’s antitrust division share the stage with the head of the NAB to hold bipartisan discussions of industry matters. This year, amid amped-up rhetoric by Carr about a range of issues, including the federal equal-time provision, broadcast license renewals and other topics, those conversations have gone by the wayside.

Deputy Bureau Chiefs Evan Morris and Alexander Sanjenis followed Brown’s lead and mentioned multiple times their inability to speak on Carr’s behalf. They did weigh in on recent FCC inquiries into sports shifting from broadcast to streaming, ATSC 3.0 and other topics, and the tenor of the conversation was convivial, reflecting Washington’s cozy regulatory circles. Still, recent criticism voiced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and others of the FCC for having its Media Bureau write an order approving the Nexstar-Tegna transaction as opposed to putting the deal to a commission vote, did seem germane after the hour-and-20-minute NAB session.

Before the FCC officials took the stage, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Charlie Beller delivered prepared remarks about the media regulation landscape. He didn’t mention the Nexstar-Tegna transaction or any specific deal, opting instead to stay in the conceptual zone.

The DOJ’s antitrust division was criticized by U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in the lawsuit by DirecTV for not being more vocal in raising what the judge deemed to be clear antitrust issues in the deal. The combination would create a station giant roughly double the size of any previous one, with the decades-old rule limiting a single owner’s control of stations to 39% of U.S. households essentially going out the window. In a prior local TV mega-deal, Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019, during Trump’s first term, DOJ weighed in forcefully, requiring the company to divest of a number of stations.

Without alluding specifically to Nexstar-Tegna, Beller articulated the DOJ’s view of the broadcast sector, which has been cited in favorable opinions about the merger. “Broadcast companies are competing in a world with more distribution options than ever before,” he said. At the same time, he continued, “broadcast is neither insulated from competition nor relevant to it”

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

Over the past month, shares of this oil and natural gas pipeline and storage company have returned +1.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.1% change. During this period, the Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry, which Kinder Morgan falls in, has gained 4.9%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

For the current quarter, Kinder Morgan is expected to post earnings of $0.31 per share, indicating a change of +10.7% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +2.9% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $1.49 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.6%. This estimate has changed +3% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.51 indicates a change of +1.5% from what Kinder Morgan is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.3%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Kinder Morgan is rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Kinder Morgan, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $4.29 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +6.2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $18.17 billion and $19.07 billion estimates indicate +7.3% and +4.9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryKinder Morgan reported revenues of $4.83 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +13.8%. EPS of $0.48 for the same period compares with $0.34 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.65 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.76%. The EPS surprise was +26.32%.

Over the last four quarters, Kinder Morgan surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

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

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

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

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

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Kinder Morgan. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

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Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI | KMI Price Prediction) and Enbridge (NYSE:ENB) just delivered quarters that pull North American midstream income in opposite directions.

Kinder Morgan closed out fiscal 2025 with record fourth-quarter results and a fresh BBB+ upgrade from S&P. Enbridge followed with a steady Q1 2026 anchored by its diversified Canadian and US utility footprint. Both pay generous dividends. Only one wears the Aristocrat crown.

Record Gas Volumes Lift KMI. Utilities and Storage Carry Enbridge. Kinder Morgan’s quarter was a natural gas story. CEO Kim Dang said the business “delivered its highest ever fourth quarter and full-year net income attributable to KMI and Adjusted EBITDA,” with gas transport volumes up 9% and gathering up 19%.

Q4 adjusted EPS came in at $0.39, beating the $0.37 estimate, on revenue of $4.51B. The $10B project backlog is roughly 90% natural gas, with about 60% tied to power generation including data centers. That is a sharp, focused bet.

Enbridge’s story is breadth across segments and geographies. Greg Ebel framed Q1 as proof of “the strength of our diversified, low-risk business model,” noting mainline volumes averaged 3.2 million barrels per day and the system has been apportioned all year.”

Adjusted EBITDA held roughly flat at C$5.81B, with Gas Distribution and Storage the brightest segment at C$1.71B. The recent US gas utility acquisitions in Ohio, Utah and North Carolina are expected to deliver an 8%+ rate base CAGR. Quieter, but durable.

One Yield Pays Now. One Yield Compounds Longer. Dividend Lens KMI ENB Annualized payout $1.19 (2026 guide) C$3.88 Yield 3.51% 6.58% Latest raise 2% 3%, 31st straight year Coverage credibility FCF coverage 1.18x to 1.64x post-2016 OCF coverage ~1.42x in 2025 Enbridge offers a yield nearly twice Kinder Morgan’s, plus a 31-year streak of annual dividend increases. Kinder Morgan still carries the scar of the 2015 cut from $0.51 to $0.125 quarterly, and the current $0.2975 payout sits well below that pre-cut peak.

KMI’s leverage is cleaner at 3.8x net debt/EBITDA versus Enbridge at 5.0x, the top of its target range. That trade is real. You take a heavier balance sheet at ENB to get the richer check.

The Next Test Is Power Demand and Leverage I will be watching Kinder Morgan’s Trident Pipeline (in service Q1 2027) and SSE4 ramp to confirm that 17% US gas demand growth through 2030 actually flows into EBITDA.

For Enbridge, the catalysts are the Meta data center power partnership and whether management can pull leverage off the 5.0x ceiling while still funding the C$40B secured backlog. Analyst targets tell a split story: KMI sits near consensus at $35.33, while ENB trades above its $52.65 target after a 35.73% one-year run.

Why I Lean Toward Enbridge for Dividend Investors For me, the better dividend stock here is Enbridge. The combination of a 6.58% yield, three decades of increases, and four diversified segments (Liquids, Gas Transmission, Distribution and Storage, Renewables) is exactly what an income investor wants to own through cycles.

Kinder Morgan has rebuilt credibility honestly, and at +138% over five years the stock has rewarded patience. But a 2% raise on a 3.5% yield leans more total-return than pure dividend.

If you want growth optionality on gas-fired power, KMI fits. If you want the check, the history, and the breadth, Enbridge is the cleaner answer. I would only change my mind if ENB’s leverage drifts further above 5.0x without a clear path back down.

Key Takeaways KMI trades at 13.88x EV/EBITDA vs industry 14.94x, below peers ENB and WMB.Kinder Morgan's take-or-pay contracts across 78,000 miles of pipelines help secure steady revenues.KMI says U.S. gas demand could jump 27% by 2031; its $10.1B backlog is 92% natural gas. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI - Free Report) is currently undervalued, with a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 13.88x. This is below the broader industry average of 14.94x and lags key midstream players like Enbridge Inc. (ENB - Free Report) and The Williams Companies Inc. (WMB - Free Report) , which are trading at 17.01x and 17.56x EV/EBITDA, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Now, the key question for investors is how to assess KMI, given its undervaluation. To make a well-informed decision, it is crucial to first analyze the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of this leading energy infrastructure company.

Role of Take-or-Pay Agreements in KMI’s Stability

Kinder Morgan operates an extensive network of pipelines spanning 78,000 miles, transporting natural gas, gasoline, crude oil and carbon dioxide. In addition, the company owns 136 terminals that store a variety of products, including renewable fuels, petroleum products, chemicals and vegetable oils.

As a leading midstream service provider, Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and storage assets are secured under long-term take-or-pay contracts. These contracts ensure that shippers pay for the capacity reserved, whether they utilize it or not, which provides a steady stream of revenues. This structure allows Kinder Morgan to generate stable earnings, primarily insulated from fluctuations in the volume of natural gas transported, offering significant stability to its bottom line.

Image Source: Kinder Morgan, Inc.

Natural Gas Demand Surge Brightens KMI’s Growth Outlook

Being a leading midstream energy company, Kinder Morgan is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for natural gas both in the United States and worldwide. LNG export is rising in the United States, and with KMI being responsible for transporting roughly 40% of all the gas to the liquefaction terminals, the company’s outlook seems bright.

KMI, on its first-quarter 2026 earnings call, expressed expectations that U.S. natural gas demand would surge, driven by rising electricity demand from data centers. Kinder Morgan expects the demand to jump 27% to 150 billion cubic feet per day by 2031 from this year's level.

Time to Bet on KMI Stock?

Investors should also note that the pipeline player’s backlog for growth projects is valued at a massive $10.1 billion as of March 31, 2026. On the call, the company mentioned that the first quarter of 2028 is going to be the average in service date. Thus, KMI stands to benefit from incremental cash flows, as natural gas accounts for roughly 92% of its backlog.

All these positive developments are getting reflected in KMI’s price chart. Over the past six months, the stock gained 15.7%, outperforming the industry’s 14% improvement. Over the same time frame, WMB and ENB surged 18.6% and 13.8%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Considering Kinder Morgan remains undervalued and its business model is supported by stable fee-based revenues, similar to WMB and ENB, now could be an ideal time for investors to buy the stock. KMI carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.