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Shares of TransUnion (NYSE:TRU) are sliding Friday afternoon as investors react to regulatory threats from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte regarding mortgage credit reporting costs and industry structure.

TransUnion shares are sliding. What’s behind TRU decline? FHFA Director Accuses Credit Bureaus of ‘Cartel-Like’ OverchargingWhile Director Pulte’s Thursday evening directive instructing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to approve VantageScore 4.0 for all lenders technically expands the market for a scoring model co-owned by TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, his accompanying comments triggered widespread selling across credit bureau stocks.

In public statements on social media, Pulte accused the three major credit reporting agencies of “overcharging Americans for far too long” and operating with “cartel-like” pricing power. Pulte pledged that the practice “will end soon,” noting that conversations with bureau leadership regarding fee reductions had yielded insufficient progress.

‘Bi-Merge’ Threat Endangers Core Mortgage Data VolumeThe primary catalyst driving TRU stock lower is Pulte’s warning that the FHFA is “seriously considering bi-merge and stronger solutions” for government-backed home loans.

Under the current “tri-merge” framework, mortgage lenders are required to pull credit files from all three national bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, for every loan delivered to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Shifting to a “bi-merge” model would allow lenders to evaluate borrowers using data from only two bureaus, effectively cutting overall industry report volume by a third.

For TransUnion, the potential loss of guaranteed mortgage file volume creates a major structural headwind that overshadows any near-term gains from expanded VantageScore adoption.

TRU Shares Tumble Friday AfternoonTRU Price Action: TransUnion shares were down 7.02% at $78.96 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for NiSource (NI - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is NiSource due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for NiSource, Inc before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

NiSource Q2 Earnings Top Estimates on NIPSCO Gains, Data Center Demand

NiSource Inc. reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 16 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 15 cents by 6.67%. However, the bottom line declined 27.3% from 22 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Total RevenuesOperating revenues of $1.36 billion topped the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion by 1.98% and increased 5.9% year over year. NIPSCO’s stronger operating performance and higher electric sales partly offset weaker Columbia results and elevated operating costs.

NI Segment DetailsColumbia operations generated revenues of $610.3 million, up 0.8% from $605.6 million a year ago. The segment’s adjusted operating income declined 6.1% to $115.6 million.

NIPSCO operations recorded revenues of $750.4 million, up 10.4% year over year. Adjusted operating income increased 13.6% to $150.9 million, making the segment the primary source of consolidated operating growth.

NI's Operational HighlightsAdjusted operating expenses totaled $1.09 billion, up 6.6% from the prior-year quarter. Operation and maintenance expenses increased 13% to $411.6 million, while depreciation and amortization rose 26.4% to $362 million. The cost of energy declined 26.1% to $193.6 million.

 NIPSCO Electric sales volumes, excluding weather, increased 5% to 4,195.3 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Industrial sales rose 10.4% to 2,246.2 GWh, while residential sales declined 5.8% to 757.7 GWh.

Columbia sales and transportation volumes, excluding weather, fell 1.7% to 112.4 million dekatherms. NIPSCO Gas volumes on the same basis decreased 3.5% to 77.5 million dekatherms. The company recorded a $16 million revenue adjustment for weather compared with normal conditions.

Adjusted operating income improved 3.2% to $270.9 million, but net interest expense climbed 43.2% to $199.2 million, pressuring adjusted net income available to common shareholders.

NI's Data Center Strategy AdvancesNiSource advanced its data center strategy with regulatory approvals for special contracts involving Amazon and Alphabet. The agreements are expected to provide $1.4 billion in savings for existing customers.

The company has around 4 GW of signed GenCo capacity, with 3 GW under strategic negotiations and up to 2 GW of developing opportunities. Its data center pipeline could reach up to 9 GW of capacity by 2035. NiSource is also developing a diversified portfolio of generation, battery storage and contracted resources to support the additional load.

NI's Debt and Liquidity ProfileTotal debt was about $17.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, including roughly $16.7 billion of long-term debt. The weighted average maturity was about 11.5 years, with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 4.87%.

Net available liquidity was about $2.1 billion at quarter-end. NiSource also had roughly $2.7 billion of committed facilities, including a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility and about $200 million of accounts receivable securitization facilities.

NiSource Reaffirms 2026 GuidanceNiSource reaffirmed its 2026 consolidated adjusted earnings guidance of $2.02-$2.07 per share. The company also maintained its 2026-2033 consolidated adjusted earnings compound annual growth rate target of 9-10%.

NiSource continues to execute a $28.6 billion capital investment plan for 2026-2030. This includes $21 billion of base plan investments and $7.6 billion of data center-related spending, supporting expected consolidated rate base growth of 9-11% through 2033.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM ScoresCurrently, NiSource has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, NiSource has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerNiSource is part of the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry. Over the past month, AES (AES - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 0.5%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

AES reported revenues of $3.42 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +19.9%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.51 a year ago.

AES is expected to post earnings of $0.60 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for AES. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

Key Takeaways NSP's margin recovery improved client mix and benefit pricing, supporting stronger profitability in 2026.HRScale entered the third quarter with nearly 8,000 worksite employees sold, including more than 5,000 live.Insperity is expanding proprietary AI tools to improve client service, productivity and access to insights. Insperity (NSP - Free Report) stock has soared 150.4% over the past six months, outpacing the industry and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 71.8% and 12.7% gains, respectively.

6-Month Share Price Performance                                                                  Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve deeper into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

Margin Recovery Plan Pays OffInsperity’s pricing results progressed in tandem with the margin recovery plan. The company recorded lower profitability from client termination than from retention, resulting in a favorable change in client mix. This strategy improved the price and cost matching in its benefits business during the second quarter of 2026.

Benefits cost per covered employee gained 5.2% year over year, consistent with the first quarter and management expectations, with favorable client mix, design changes and the UnitedHealthcare contract, which offset higher healthcare cost trends.

The lowered pooling threshold led to fixed higher premium costs earlier in 2026, with claims reimbursements significantly weighing in the later half of the year. The company’s historical earnings seasonality is expected to decline, with the favorable claim-cost impact turning vivid in the second half of the year.

Paul Sarvadi, the CEO, stated during the recent earnings call that the company is on track to achieve the goals set for margin recovery in 2026 and is laying the groundwork for regaining growth momentum. Achieving these objectives is expected to lay the foundation for balancing growth and profitability in 2027 and delivering shareholder value in the upcoming years.

HRScale: New Growth AvenueHRScale is a vital growth catalyst deployed by the company at a lower upfront investment, reduced time to value and lower ongoing costs compared with a combination of HCM and HR service vendors. The company onboarded beta clients in March and processed payrolls and invoices in April as per schedule. In the first quarter of 2026, the company signed commitments for approximately 6,000 worksite employees to be onboarded within the next six months. 

HRScale’s rollout gained momentum during the second quarter of 2026. The company entered the third quarter with sold HRScale accounts representing nearly 8,000 worksite employees, including more than 5,000 already live and nearly 3,000 undergoing implementations.

Management is bullish on this technology’s ability to expand the company’s addressable market and solidify sales and larger client retention. Following the beta clients going live during the second quarter, HRScale development investment declined to $8 million, suggesting that the offering is moving beyond its initial development stage as the company ramps client implementation and commercial activity.

AI Integration Enhances HR PlatformInsperity is incorporating proprietary AI capabilities into its HR services to improve clients' experiences, raise productivity and accelerate product development. Insperity’s in-house tool is transforming into a scalable enterprise AI platform, laying down a foundation that connects data and business knowledge across the company.

HR360 Agent already assists clients and worksite employees in accessing answers, resources and service support efficiently. The company is expanding its functionality to deliver conversational reporting and swift business insights. Management anticipates that these capabilities will solidify service delivery, enhance productivity and allow clients to access insights at a faster rate.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderNSP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector include ScanSource (SCSC - Free Report) and Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ScanSource has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 15%. SCSC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.8%, on average.

Figure Technology Solutions has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 51.7%. FIGR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.2%, on average.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Viavi Solutions (VIAV - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 17.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Viavi Solutions due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Viavi Solutions Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

VIAV Q4 Earnings Top Estimates on Data Center, A&D Strength

Viavi reported strong fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with earnings and revenues exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Non-GAAP earnings of 34 cents per share beat the consensus estimate of 30 cents by 13.33%, while revenues of $443.1 million topped the consensus mark of $433 million by 2.34% and increased 52.5% year over year.

The robust performance was driven by sustained demand from the data center ecosystem and aerospace, and defense markets, along with contributions from acquired Spirent product lines. The Network and Service Enablement (NSE) segment remained the primary growth engine, delivering nearly 70% year-over-year revenue growth.

VIAV Delivers Broad-Based Segment Growth

Network and Service Enablement generated revenues of $353.9 million, up 69.2% year over year and above management's guidance range. Growth reflected continued strength in lab, production and field products serving the data center ecosystem, contributions from Spirent product lines and healthy aerospace and defense demand.

Optical Security and Performance Products (OSP) revenues increased 9.6% year over year to $89.2 million, reaching the high end of guidance. Growth was fueled by stronger demand for 3D sensing products as well as anti-counterfeiting and other optical products, demonstrating continued momentum across the company's second operating segment.

Viavi Expands Margins on Favorable Mix

Profitability improved meaningfully during the quarter as higher revenues and a favorable product mix boosted margins. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 62.3% from 60.1% a year earlier, while non-GAAP operating margin climbed 960 basis points year over year to 24.0%, exceeding the high end of management's guidance.

Non-GAAP operating income more than doubled year over year to $106.4 million. Earnings benefited from approximately 2 cents per share from lower interest expense following debt reduction and tariff refunds received during the quarter.

VIAV Strengthens Balance Sheet & Cash Flow

Viavi ended the quarter with $656.7 million in total cash, short-term investments and restricted cash. Cash flow from operating activities reached $66.7 million during the quarter, while capital expenditures totaled $11.1 million.

The company strengthened its balance sheet through capital allocation initiatives. During the quarter, it completed a follow-on equity offering that generated approximately $575 million in gross proceeds. The proceeds were primarily used to retire the remaining $450 million balance of its Term Loan B, while the remaining funds enhanced liquidity. The company did not repurchase shares during the quarter as debt reduction remained the priority, although nearly $170 million remains available under its existing authorization.

Viavi Sees Healthy Demand Across End Markets

Management highlighted that demand from the data center ecosystem remains exceptionally strong, supported by investments in AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, optical networking and hyperscale data center deployments. The recently acquired Spirent high-speed Ethernet product lines continued to perform well and contributed meaningfully to quarterly growth.

The aerospace and defense business delivered another quarter of solid growth, particularly for positioning, navigation and timing products, which management expects to remain a multiyear growth driver. Meanwhile, service provider demand improved seasonally, supported by fiber monitoring deployments and cable network upgrades, although wireless demand remained stable at relatively subdued levels.

VIAV Guides for Another Sequentially Strong Quarter

For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, management projects revenues to be between $450 million and $460 million with non-GAAP earnings of 40-42 cents per share. The outlook implies sequential growth, driven by continued strength in both operating segments.

The company expects NSE revenues to be between $360 million and $368 million, supported by continued momentum across data center and aerospace and defense markets, while OSP revenues are projected to be in the range of $90-$92 million on seasonally stronger demand for 3D sensing products. Management forecasts a non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 27.1%, benefiting from tariff refunds despite additional operating costs associated with the extra week in the fiscal quarter.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.

The consensus estimate has shifted 47.67% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Viavi Solutions has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. However, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Viavi Solutions has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Revolution Medicines, Inc. (RVMD - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Revolution Medicines due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

Q2 Loss Wider Than Expected, Sales NilRevolution Medicines reported an adjusted loss of $2.34 per share in the second quarter of 2026, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.93.

The adjusted figure excluded a non-cash charge of $151 million tied to a change in the fair value of warrants assumed through the EQRx acquisition, which closed in 2023. Including this item, the reported loss was $3.06 per share. The company had incurred a loss of $1.31 per share in the year-ago quarter.

Currently, the company does not have any approved product in its portfolio. It generated no revenues in the quarter.

Operating Expenses See a Significant IncreaseResearch and development expenses surged 76% year over year to around $395 million. The increase reflected higher costs associated with clinical studies and manufacturing for the company’s pipeline candidates, along with increased employee-related expenses.

General and administrative expenses increased nearly 172% to more than $110 million. The increase was caused by higher personnel and stock-based compensation costs, increased commercial preparation activities and elevated administrative expenses.

2026 Expense Outlook Moves Higher AgainThe company revised its operating expenses guidance for the second time this year. It expects the figure to be between $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion, up from the previous projection of $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion.

The updated forecast includes expected non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $270 million to $290 million compared with the prior estimate of $260 million to $280 million.

Management intends to increase spending on commercial and clinical manufacturing, expand the company’s development programs and strengthen launch readiness in the United States and international markets.

Improved Cash PositionThe company ended June with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $3.9 billion, up from $1.9 billion as of March 31, 2026.

The increase was primarily driven by $2.225 billion in gross proceeds from concurrent offerings of common stock and convertible senior notes completed in April 2026. The quarter-end balance also included a $250 million payment received from Royalty Pharma in May.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

The consensus estimate has shifted -19.12% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Revolution Medicines has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of F on the value side, putting it in the bottom 20% quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Revolution Medicines has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerRevolution Medicines is part of the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. Over the past month, Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 3.7%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

Agios Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $44.74 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +259.4%. EPS of -$1.69 for the same period compares with -$1.93 a year ago.

Agios Pharmaceuticals is expected to post a loss of $1.32 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +25.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +10.4%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Agios Pharmaceuticals. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Amdocs (DOX - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Amdocs due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Amdocs Limited before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Amdocs Q3 Earnings Match Expectations, Revenues Rise Y/YAmdocs reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1.84 per share, which increased 7% on a year-over-year basis. The figure matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Amdocs’ fiscal third-quarter revenues of $1.175 billion missed the consensus mark by 0.04%. The top line increased 2.7% on a reported basis and 2.2% on a constant-currency basis.

DOX's Managed Services Business Sets a RecordManaged services delivered record revenues and accounted for 67% of total revenues. Managed services revenues rose 2.5% year over year to a record $791 million. The business continued to provide revenue visibility through multiyear agreements and consistently high renewal rates.

Amdocs expanded its managed services relationships during the quarter. The company signed an agreement with a U.S. digital television entertainment provider for a billing migration program and extended its collaboration with Telefonica Vivo to support customer growth and OSS modernization.

The company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2026 with a 12-month backlog of $4.26 billion, up 2.7% year over year. Our model estimates for managed services revenues and backlog were pegged at $769.5 million and $4.29 billion, respectively.

Amdocs’ Q3 in DetailDOX reported growth in revenues across North America, Europe and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America reported revenues of $748.1 million (63.7% of the total revenues), which increased 0.4% year over year. Europe revenues (16.5% of the total revenues) of $193.5 million increased 2.2% year over year.

RoW revenues (19.9% of the total revenues) increased 11.3% year over year to $233.3 million. Our model estimates for North America, Europe and RoW were pinned at $765.9 million, $197.2 million and $212.8 million, respectively.

Non-GAAP operating income increased to $253.4 million from $244.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 20 basis points year over year and 10 basis points sequentially to 21.6%.

DOX’s Balance Sheet & Cash FlowAmdocs had cash and cash equivalents of $206.5 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $214.5 million as of March 31, 2026. Long-term debt was $647.4 million as of June 30, 2026, increasing marginally from the March 31, 2026, level of $647.2 million.

In the fiscal third quarter, the company generated an operating cash flow of $197.2 million and a free cash flow of $171.9 million. During the quarter, it repurchased shares worth $143 million and paid out $60 million in dividends.

DOX Reiterates Key Fiscal 2026 TargetsFor the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Amdocs expects revenues between $1.175 billion and $1.215 billion. Amdocs’ Non-GAAP diluted earnings are projected in the range of $1.94-$2 per share.

For fiscal 2026, reported revenue growth is now expected between 3.2% and 4% compared with the previous range of 2.6-4.6%. Constant-currency growth is projected between 2.6% and 3.4%, retaining the prior 3% midpoint.

Non-GAAP earnings growth is expected between 5.5% and 6.5%, with the 6% midpoint unchanged. The company maintained its non-GAAP operating margin forecast of 21.3-21.9% and free cash flow outlook of $710-$730 million.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review flatlined during the past month.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Amdocs has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock has a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook Amdocs has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerAmdocs is part of the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry. Over the past month, Cognizant (CTSH - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 13.6%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

Cognizant reported revenues of $5.48 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +4.5%. EPS of $1.37 for the same period compares with $1.31 a year ago.

Cognizant is expected to post earnings of $1.44 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

Cognizant has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of A.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Helmerich & Payne (HP - Free Report) . Shares have added about 21.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Helmerich & Payne due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Helmerich & Payne Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues BeatHelmerich & Payne reported a third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted net loss of 11 cents per share, in sharp contrast with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of adjusted net income of 11 cents. Moreover, the bottom line decreased considerably from the year-ago quarter’s reported profit of 22 cents. This was primarily due to an adjustment made for a gain of $115 million related to the sale of Utica Square and lower-than-expected performance of the company's North America Solutions segment.

Operating revenues of $1 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $988 million. Sales from Drilling Services beat the consensus mark by 4.4%. However, the figure decreased by $6 million from the year-ago quarter’s level. This was primarily caused by lower year-over-year revenues from the North America Solutions and International Solutions segments.

The company distributed approximately $25 million to its shareholders as part of its ongoing dividend program.

Q3 Segmental PerformanceNorth America Solutions: Operating revenues of $562.9 million were down 5% year over year, with 142 average active rigs. The top line beat our model projection of $546.1 million.

Operating profit totaled $140.3 million compared with $157.6 million in the prior-year period. The reported figure also beat our model estimate of $113.1 million.

International Solutions: Operating revenues of $250.1 million decreased 5.9% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $265.8 million. However, the top line beat our projection of $234.9 million.

Operating loss reached $54.4 million, compared with the prior-year period loss of $166.5 million. The figure was below our projected loss of $93 million.

Offshore Solutions: Revenues of $174.4 million increased 7.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $161.8 million. The top line beat our projection of $157.5 million.

Operating profit totaled $16.8 million compared with $8.8 million in the year-ago quarter.  The figure beat our estimate of $11 million.

Financial PositionAs of June 30, 2026, the company spent $200.2 million on capital programs. HP had $204.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, while the long-term debt totaled $1.9 billion (debt-to-capitalization of 41%).

Guidance for Q4 & FY26Helmerich & Payne’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 outlook points to continued strength in North America, more variable international performance and stable offshore operations. For North America Solutions, the company expects direct margin of $245 million to $255 million, with an average of 145 to 151 active rigs, compared with a fiscal-year average rig range of 140 to 144. International Solutions is expected to generate direct margin of $25 million to $45 million on 60 to 70 average rigs, compared with a fiscal-year average rig range of 60 to 66. Offshore Solutions is projected to deliver direct margin of $26 million to $30 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, while full-year direct margin is expected at $113 million to $117 million, supported by 30 to 35 average rigs/management contracts. The “Other” segment is expected to contribute up to $5 million of direct margin.

For the full fiscal 2026, HP expects gross capital expenditures of $270 million to $310 million, depreciation of approximately $700 million, research and development expense of about $28 million, Selling, general & administrative expenses of $265 million to $285 million, cash taxes of $150 million to $180 million, and interest expense of roughly $100 million. Overall, the outlook implies a relatively constructive finish to fiscal 2026, led by higher North American activity and margins.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates revision have trended upward during the past month.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Helmerich & Payne has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Helmerich & Payne has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerHelmerich & Payne belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Drilling industry. Another stock from the same industry, Nabors Industries (NBR - Free Report) , has gained 11.9% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

Nabors reported revenues of $814.79 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2.2%. EPS of -$2.04 for the same period compares with -$2.71 a year ago.

For the current quarter, Nabors is expected to post a loss of $0.40 per share, indicating a change of +89.1% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -364.7% over the last 30 days.

Nabors has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of A.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL - Free Report) . Shares have added about 29.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Duolingo due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Duolingo, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Duolingo’s Q2 Earnings Beat EstimatesDuolingo, Inc. reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results.

Reported earnings of 66 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 61 cents by 8.2%. Earnings declined from 91 cents in the year-ago quarter as the company continued investing in product development and user growth.

Revenues increased 18.3% year over year to $298.5 million and topped the consensus estimate of $297.3 million by 0.4%. Daily active users grew 23% to 58.7 million, accelerating from the first quarter, while paid subscribers increased 17% to 12.7 million.

DUOL Gains From Expanding User EngagementMonthly active users rose 10% year over year to 140.6 million. Management attributed the stronger daily active user growth to product improvements, marketing efforts and a one-time Streak Revival campaign conducted in June.

Current User Retention Rate, which measures the proportion of recurring users returning the following day, reached an all-time high of 84%. The metric improved roughly one percentage point from the prior year, reflecting the combined impact of hundreds of product experiments conducted through Duolingo’s Green Machine testing process.

The Streak Revival campaign allowed eligible learners to restore their longest previous streak by completing three lessons. About 15.4 million learners participated, including nearly 8 million who did not have an active streak when the campaign began.

Duolingo’s Subscription Revenues Drive GrowthSubscription revenues increased 22% year over year to $258 million and accounted for the bulk of the company’s top-line expansion. Subscription bookings advanced 10% to $250.3 million.

Total bookings rose 8% to $289.1 million, or 6% on a constant-currency basis. Growth moderated from the first quarter due to a difficult year-ago comparison related to the initial Energy rollout, a price increase and stronger advertising performance.

Advertising revenues grew 2% to $21.1 million, while Duolingo English Test revenues remained nearly flat at $10.1 million. In-app purchase revenues declined 23% to $8 million. Other revenues increased to $1.3 million from $0.5 million.

DUOL Balances Monetization With User GrowthThe company continued testing monetization initiatives designed to avoid adding friction for free users. Longer free trials have increased trial participation and payer conversions while improving the user experience by removing advertisements and Energy restrictions during the trial period.

Duolingo is also testing Super Lite, a lower-priced, advertising-supported subscription tier that provides more Energy than the free product but fewer benefits than Super. The offering remains in an early testing phase and represents only a small portion of subscribers.

Most new Super Duolingo subscribers now have access to Video Call, the company’s AI-powered conversational practice feature. Management plans to extend access to existing Super subscribers later in 2026 after reducing the cost per call to less than 1 cent through greater use of open-source models.

Duolingo’s Costs Rise on Strategic InvestmentsGross profit increased 19% year over year to $216.7 million. Gross margin expanded 20 basis points to 72.6%, exceeding management’s expectation of approximately 71%, supported by AI cost efficiencies and the measured rollout of AI-powered features.

Operating expenses increased to $182.8 million from $149.2 million. Research and development expenses rose to $92.2 million, sales and marketing expenses increased to $40 million, and general and administrative expenses advanced to $50.6 million.

Net income declined 26% to $33.2 million, while net margin contracted to 11.1% from 17.8%. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2% to $77.3 million, and the corresponding margin narrowed 530 basis points to 25.9% as Duolingo prioritized investments in user acquisition and product improvements.

DUOL Maintains Strong Liquidity and BuybacksNet cash provided by operating activities declined 3% year over year to $88.3 million. Free cash flow decreased 9% to $78.6 million, while free cash flow margin contracted 790 basis points to 26.3%.

Duolingo ended the quarter with approximately $1.3 billion in cash and short-term investments. The company repurchased $44.4 million of shares during the quarter, bringing total repurchases under its $400 million authorization to $71.9 million through Aug. 1, 2026.

Duolingo Raises Profitability OutlookFor the third quarter of 2026, management expects revenues of approximately $302 million, indicating 11.1% year-over-year growth. Bookings are projected at $307 million, while adjusted EBITDA is forecast at $76 million, implying a 25.2% margin.

Duolingo maintained its full-year revenue and bookings targets. Revenues are expected to reach approximately $1.21 billion, up 16.3%. Bookings are projected at $1.29 billion, indicating growth of 10.9%.

The company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA margin outlook to approximately 26.5% from its earlier expectation of about 25%. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $320 million, reflecting stronger-than-expected gross margin performance and lower AI costs.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended downward during the past month.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Duolingo has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Duolingo has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Cirrus Logic (CRUS - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 8.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Cirrus Logic due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Cirrus Logic, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Cirrus Logic Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates

Cirrus Logic reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $1.84 per share, up 21.9% year over year and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45. Strong demand for custom smartphone components supported the record first-quarter results.

Revenue increased 12.9% to $460 million, aligning with the consensus estimate. The strong results were primarily driven by robust shipments of custom components used in premium smartphones, showing that demand from major mobile customers remains healthy despite a competitive consumer electronics market. Quarterly revenues grew 2% sequentially as higher sales of components shipped into smartphones boosted results. Year over year, the gains from increased smartphone component demand were partly offset by previously expected pricing reductions.

Demand continued to be strong for custom boosted amplifiers and smart codecs. Cirrus anticipates these products will ship across multiple future smartphone generations. Development of the next-generation camera controller and a smart power IC for 3D sensing also remained on schedule.

The company’s largest customer accounted for 90% of total revenues in the fiscal first quarter.

Cirrus Logic's HPMS Sales Gain MomentumHigh-Performance Mixed-Signal revenues climbed to $210.7 million from $167.2 million a year earlier and represented 46% of net sales.

Audio revenues increased 3.7% to $249 million and represented 54% of quarterly sales.

Management described the opportunity pipeline across camera, battery and power applications as one of the strongest in the company's history. A power product is already shipping in tablets, while another product for an accessory has yet to reach the market. Additional phone and non-phone programs remain in active development.

Margins Absorb Pricing PressureNon-GAAP gross profit was $242.1 million, with gross margin edging up to 52.7% from 52.6% a year ago. Favorable product mix supported the year-over-year comparison, while higher freight and supply-chain costs limited the improvement. Sequentially, pricing reductions outweighed cost savings.

Non-GAAP operating expenses rose 13.3% year over year to $135.4 million. Higher employee-related costs were the main driver, with variable compensation, product development and professional expenses also contributing.

Non-GAAP operating income reached $106.7 million, while operating margin slipped to 23.2% from 23.3%.

Cirrus Logic's PC Outlook Faces DelaysCirrus lowered its fiscal 2027 PC revenue expectations. Constrained supply of a key industry platform, memory and component shortages and delayed model introductions pushed out expected growth. Management characterized these pressures as timing issues rather than a change in the underlying opportunity.

Customer interest remained strong for the company's low-power smart codec for AI-enabled PCs, with multiple designs targeted for next calendar year. Several customers also announced PCs based on NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform that are expected to ship later this year with Cirrus amplifiers and codecs.

Cirrus Extends Its Mixed-Signal ReachThe company taped out a new high-performance analog front-end family for smart meters and expects to begin sampling during the September quarter. The products combine higher-accuracy voltage and current measurement with on-chip processing for power-quality analysis and fault detection.

Cirrus is targeting a calendar 2028 market launch and sees potential applications in data center DC metrology, energy storage, EV charging and grid monitoring. A new GlobalFoundries agreement secures dedicated wafer capacity and pricing for 2027 and 2028 while supporting progress toward U.S. production.

Cirrus Logic's Cash Position Funds PrioritiesCash and investments totaled $1.2 billion at quarter-end, with no debt outstanding.

Operating cash flow was $64.1 million, and free cash flow totaled $48.6 million, translating into an 11% margin.

It spent $34.5 million to repurchase about 211,000 shares, leaving $239.6 million under its authorization. After quarter-end, it bought roughly 359,000 additional shares for $50.5 million. Management continues to prioritize organic investment, followed by acquisitions and buybacks, and is not considering a near-term dividend.

Guides for a Sequential Revenue IncreaseFor the second quarter of fiscal 2027, Cirrus expects revenues of $510-$570 million. The $540 million midpoint implies growth of 17% sequentially and a decline of 4% year over year.

GAAP gross margin is projected at 52-54%, including a temporary benefit from favorably priced wafers that should largely sell through during the quarter.

Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected at $140-$146 million.

Full-year expenses are expected to increase as Cirrus expands R&D investment, while the non-GAAP tax rate is forecast at 16-18%.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended downward during the past month.

The consensus estimate has shifted -8.87% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Cirrus Logic has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a score of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Cirrus Logic has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerCirrus Logic belongs to the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry. Another stock from the same industry, Qualcomm (QCOM - Free Report) , has gained 5.1% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

Qualcomm reported revenues of $9.95 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -4%. EPS of $2.21 for the same period compares with $2.77 a year ago.

Qualcomm is expected to post earnings of $2.18 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -27.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.4%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Qualcomm. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Owens Corning (OC - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 10.6% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Owens Corning due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Owens Corning Inc before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

OC Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Commercial ExecutionOwens Corning posted adjusted earnings of $3.93 per share for the second quarter of 2026, down 6.7% year over year but ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.06 by 28.4%. Net sales rose 0.3% to $2.76 billion and beat the $2.67 billion consensus mark by 3.2%.

Results reflected strong commercial execution across Roofing and Insulation, partly offset by inflation and weaker Doors volumes. Roofing sales increased 0.8% year over year, while the business delivered a 34% EBITDA margin.

OC's Profitability Reflects Resilient ExecutionAdjusted EBITDA was $660 million, down 6.1% from $703 million a year ago. The adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 24% from 26% as inflation weighed on profitability.

Second-quarter EBITDA included $25 million of tariff refunds, about half of which benefited Doors. These refunds partly offset $30 million of net cost inflation tied to the Iran conflict. The company recorded only $3 million of adjusting items during the quarter.

Segmental DiscussionRoofing revenues were $1.31 billion, up 0.8% from $1.30 billion a year earlier. Growth was supported by favorable product mix and solid demand for higher-value products. Shingle and components volumes were slightly ahead of the broader market, while elevated industry restocking supported market shipments.

Roofing EBITDA fell 3.5% to $441 million. Higher inflation, including transportation costs, created negative price-cost pressure amid relatively flat pricing. Management noted solid realization from price increases announced during the quarter.

Insulation revenues increased 4.0% year over year to $971 million, driven mainly by higher volumes and a modest currency benefit. North American residential revenues edged higher, while nonresidential revenues benefited from higher volumes and pockets of strong end-market growth. European operations also posted growth as core markets improved and commercial execution remained strong.

Segment EBITDA declined 5.3% to $213 million because of slightly lower pricing and continued inflation, while the EBITDA margin was 22%.

Doors revenues declined 7.4% to $513 million, mainly because of strategic business exits. The divested distribution business and Oregon components facility reduced second-quarter revenues by a combined $30 million.

Doors EBITDA fell 24.0% to $57 million due to lower volumes and higher transportation costs. The segment's 11% EBITDA margin nevertheless exceeded management's prior guidance, helped by tariff refunds. Owens Corning has achieved $135 million of enterprise run-rate synergies in Doors, above its original $125 million target.

OC Generates Higher Quarterly Free Cash FlowFree cash flow increased 54.3% year over year to $199 million, aided by disciplined working capital management. Capital additions from continuing operations were $194 million, up $18 million from the prior-year quarter, while return on capital for the 12 months ended June 30 was 10%.

Owens Corning ended the quarter with $1.8 billion of liquidity, including $271 million in cash and $1.5 billion available under bank debt facilities. The company returned $264 million to shareholders through $200 million of share repurchases and $64 million of dividends.

Owens Corning Sees Softer Q3 Roofing DemandFor the third quarter of 2026, Owens Corning expects revenues of $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20% to 22%. The outlook includes about $40 million of incremental inflation costs tied to the Iran conflict.

Roofing revenues are expected to decline by mid- to high-single digits year over year, with an EBITDA margin near 30%, as heavier second-quarter stocking weighs on distributor purchases. Insulation revenues are projected to grow by mid-single digits with a 22% EBITDA margin, while Doors revenues are expected to fall by mid-single digits with a margin of about 10%.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Owens Corning has a average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a B. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. Notably, Owens Corning has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerOwens Corning belongs to the Zacks Building Products - Miscellaneous industry. Another stock from the same industry, Jacobs Solutions (J - Free Report) , has gained 2.4% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

Jacobs Solutions reported revenues of $4.08 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +34.5%. EPS of $1.84 for the same period compares with $1.62 a year ago.

Jacobs Solutions is expected to post earnings of $2.17 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.9%.

Jacobs Solutions has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for MKS (MKSI - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 14.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is MKS due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

MKSI Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Increase Year Over YearMKS Inc. reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $3.30 per share, up 86.4% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.24%.

Revenues rose 28.3% year over year to $1.25 billion and surpassed the consensus mark by 3.06%. Growth was broad-based across all three end markets, led by Electronics & Packaging, while adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 28.6%.

MKSI's Q2 Revenue Mix StrengthensProduct revenues, which accounted for 88.5% of total revenues, increased 30.2% year over year to $1.10 billion. The performance reflected stronger demand across the company’s semiconductor, electronics and packaging and specialty industrial businesses.

Services revenues totaled $144 million, representing 11.5% of revenues. The figure increased 15.2% from the year-ago quarter, supporting the company’s overall double-digit top-line expansion.

MKS' End Markets Post Broad GrowthSemiconductor revenues increased 28.2% year over year to $554 million and represented 44.4% of total revenues. Management highlighted accelerating AI-driven investment across semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, along with rapidly growing order volumes.

Electronics & Packaging revenues increased 44% to $381 million, contributing 30.5% of revenues. Specialty Industrial revenues rose 13.8% to $313 million and accounted for 25.1% of the quarterly total. The gains across each end market underscored the breadth of demand in the quarter.

MKSI's Operating DetailsGross margin expanded 100 basis points year over year to 47.6%. Non-GAAP operating income totaled $320 million, while the non-GAAP operating margin improved 480 basis points to 25.6%.

Non-GAAP operating expenses were $275 million compared with $251 million a year earlier.

Adjusted EBITDA climbed 49.2% year over year to $358 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 390 basis points to 28.6%, reflecting stronger revenue and improved profitability.

GAAP income from operations increased to $251 million from $135 million in the prior-year quarter. The operating margin expanded 620 basis points to 20.1%, benefiting from the higher revenue base and improved gross margin.

MKSI's Cash Flow and Balance SheetAs of June 30, 2026, MKS had cash and cash equivalents of $611 million compared with $569 million as of March 31, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, long-term debt totaled $2.54 billion.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $243 million in the second quarter, up 47.3% year over year. Capital expenditures totaled $55 million, resulting in free cash flow of $188 million compared with $136 million in the prior-year quarter.

MKS' Q3 Outlook Signals MomentumFor the third quarter of 2026, MKS expects revenues of $1.35 billion, plus or minus $40 million. Gross margin is projected to be 47%, plus or minus 1 percentage point, while non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be $280 million, plus or minus $5 million.

The company forecasts non-GAAP earnings of $3.58 per share, plus or minus 31 cents.

Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $395 million, plus or minus $28 million. Management noted that the outlook reflects the current business environment, including U.S. import tariffs and retaliatory actions by other countries.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.

The consensus estimate has shifted 8.69% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, MKS has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. However, the stock has a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise MKS has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has defended public Bitcoin advocacy in the United States as protected free speech. He has also called Bitcoin a commodity rather than a security, while stressing that fraud remains illegal.

Michael Saylor Backs Public Bitcoin Advocacy Saylor has argued that Americans do not need a license to discuss Bitcoin or publicly recommend owning the asset. His comments are drawing attention as Washington continues working on broader rules for the cryptocurrency market.

“In America, you don’t need a license to discuss Bitcoin, advocate for it, or publicly recommend owning it,” Saylor wrote.

He added, “Bitcoin is a commodity, not a security,” while separating Bitcoin advocacy from illegal market conduct. Saylor also stated that fraud and manipulation remain prohibited under existing laws.

The Strategy chairman has repeatedly supported wider Bitcoin adoption through public comments and his company’s treasury strategy. His latest remarks are focusing specifically on public discussion and recommendations involving BTC.

CLARITY Act Debate Continues in Washington Saylor’s comments are arriving as lawmakers continue preparing for a September 15 procedural vote on the CLARITY Act.

The National Sheriffs’ Association has now shifted its position on the legislation from opposition to neutral. The group had previously raised concerns about illicit finance enforcement under the proposed regulatory framework.

Senator Cynthia Lummis has welcomed the change while calling for lawmakers to advance the legislation. She has argued that the bill would provide law enforcement with additional tools against illicit crypto finance.

The CLARITY Act is seeking clearer divisions between federal agencies overseeing digital asset markets. However, lawmakers are still negotiating several provisions before the legislation can complete the Senate process.

However, the September 15 vote is procedural and would allow the Senate to advance consideration of the legislation, but it would not represent final passage of the bill.

MSTR Still Falling Despite Resumed Bitcoin Purchases Saylor’s latest remarks are also following Strategy’s return to Bitcoin purchases after a roughly 10-week buying pause.

As we reported, Strategy has acquired 4,603 BTC for approximately $369.7 million at an average price of $80,318 per Bitcoin, increasing the holdings to 845,050 BTC.

Despite the buys, Strategy shares are trading lower, even as Saylor maintains his public support for Bitcoin and the company resumes BTC purchases.

At press time, the MSTR stock had fallen by about 4.2% to $138.74 as Bitcoin faced renewed volatility following the latest U.S. employment data. Despite recent multi-week momentum fueled by stabilizing macroeconomic updates, the MSTR stock remains down 56% over the last 12 months.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Iron Mountain (IRM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 5.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Iron Mountain due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Iron Mountain Incorporated before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Iron Mountain’s Q2 AFFO Beats Estimates on Data Center and ALM Growth, '26 View UpIron Mountain reported second-quarter 2026 AFFO of $1.44 per share, up 16.1% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.9%.

Revenues of $2.03 billion increased 18.5% and beat the consensus mark of $1.97 billion. The upside reflected broad-based strength, with data center revenues advancing 38.8% and asset lifecycle management benefiting from robust enterprise and decommissioning activity.

Iron Mountain’s Revenue Mix Supports Broad GrowthStorage rental revenues rose 12.3% year over year to $1.13 billion. Service revenues increased 27.4% to $894.5 million, underscoring the growing contribution from faster-expanding offerings outside the traditional records storage business.

Organic revenues jumped 16.8% on a constant-currency basis, excluding acquisitions and divestitures. Organic storage rental growth was 11.3%, while organic service growth reached 24.8%, showing that internal execution rather than deal activity drove most of the quarter’s expansion.

Iron Mountain's RIM Business Stays ResilientGlobal Records and Information Management revenues increased 8.3% to $1.43 billion. Storage rental revenues in the segment rose 6.6%, while service revenues advanced 10.9%, supported by revenue management, digital solutions and continued customer activity.

The segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $620.8 million compared with $586.3 million a year earlier. Its adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 100 basis points to 43.3%, as faster service growth carried a different margin profile than the highly recurring storage business.

Global storage volume reached a record 747.9 million cubic feet, up from 735.8 million a year ago. Storage facility utilization improved to 81.6% from 80.6%, while the records management retention rate increased 40 basis points to 93.4%.

Iron Mountain's Data Center Momentum StrengthensGlobal Data Center revenues climbed to $262.9 million from $189.4 million. Storage rental revenues grew 37.5% and the segment’s adjusted EBITDA increased to $137.3 million, with margin expanding 140 basis points to 52.2%.

Iron Mountain signed 13 megawatts of new and expansion leases during the second quarter. Leasing reached 110 megawatts through July after an additional 75 megawatts were signed following quarter-end. The company also cited a backlog supporting $370 million of revenue growth beyond 2026 before including the July leasing.

The operating portfolio had 528.5 leasable megawatts and was 97.1% leased. Management expects roughly 325 megawatts of available-to-lease capacity to become energized over the next 24 months as it works toward total developable capacity of approximately 1.4 gigawatts.

Iron Mountain's ALM and Digital Engines ExpandCorporate and Other revenues surged 67.4% to $332.6 million. Service revenues rose 73.7%, reflecting strong asset lifecycle management performance across enterprise solutions and data center decommissioning.

ALM revenues increased 88% on a reported basis and 82% organically. Management also highlighted record digital revenues and growing traction for Insight DXP, its artificial intelligence-powered platform, including a multi-year managed-services agreement spanning 45 countries.

Iron Mountain's Costs and Balance Sheet Remain ManageableTotal operating expenses increased 14% to $1.66 billion, slower than revenue growth. Operating income advanced 43.7% to $373.5 million, though adjusted EBITDA margin declined 90 basis points to 35.8%, partly reflecting the mix shift toward rapidly growing service businesses.

Net lease-adjusted leverage remained at 4.8 times, within management’s target range of 4.5-5.5 times. Cash and cash equivalents were $204.8 million at quarter-end, while net debt totaled about $17.28 billion.

Iron Mountain Raises 2026 OutlookIron Mountain raised its full-year AFFO per share forecast to $5.87-$5.93 from the earlier guided range of $5.79-$5.86. The midpoint implies approximately 14% growth, supported by continued momentum across records management, data centers, digital solutions and ALM.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Analysts were quiet during the last two month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Iron Mountain has a nice Growth Score of B, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook Iron Mountain has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerIron Mountain is part of the Zacks Business - Information Services industry. Over the past month, TransUnion (TRU - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 7.2%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

TransUnion reported revenues of $1.31 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14.9%. EPS of $1.23 for the same period compares with $1.08 a year ago.

TransUnion is expected to post earnings of $1.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for TransUnion. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

AIxCrypto Holdings (AIXC), a US-based technology microcap, has decided to fully liquidate its digital asset portfolio and end its cryptocurrency treasury strategy.

Asset liquidation and SEC filingThe company submitted an amended Form S-1 to the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2026, revealing plans to sell its remaining cryptocurrency holdings. This decision follows sustained financial losses, including approximately a 50% unrealized decline in the value of its digital asset portfolio.

As of August 31, AIXC reported that it had liquidated 33.49 Bitcoin (BTC), 497.56 Ethereum (ETH), and 6,325.92 Solana (SOL). The firm also sold smaller allocations of Chainlink (LINK), Binance Coin (BNB), and Cardano (ADA).

In a notable detail from its regulatory disclosures, the company classified its XRP position as “immaterial.” By emphasizing this, AIXC’s management appeared to direct shareholders’ attention toward losses centered on major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, rather than on XRP.

After disposing of its depreciated assets, the company intends to relaunch and pivot fully to the robotics sector by developing its RoboShare platform, ending its previous focus as a pharmaceutical business.

AIxCrypto Holdings, once primarily focused on pharmaceuticals, is now shifting its strategy to concentrate on robotics, facilitated by the RoboShare platform, after closing out its digital asset exposure.

Mini dictionary: RoboShare, a platform being developed by AIxCrypto Holdings to enter the robotics industry, represents the company’s new direction after exiting its pharmaceutical and crypto treasury activities.

Changing approaches across companiesThis move by AIXC follows similar trends among small-cap companies reevaluating digital asset strategies. Tokyo-based Remixpoint previously cleared its altcoin holdings — including Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, and 1.19 million XRP — to fund investment in energy storage systems, yet retained Bitcoin as a treasury asset.

These developments suggest a shift in the approach of small corporates, prioritizing operational stability over speculative crypto investments. Rather than widespread panic, the selloffs point toward a transfer from accidental or opportunistic investors to more pragmatic market participants.

XRP ecosystem sees institutional investment despite small-cap retreatsWhile some companies downplay their exposure to XRP by labeling holdings as immaterial, institutional interest in the XRP ecosystem is evolving. Kinetics funds, a well-known asset management group, disclosed recent direct investments in Ripple Labs’ Class A preferred shares, according to SEC records. This strategy demonstrates that some institutional capital is gaining exposure to XRP through equity positions in Ripple, rather than solely holding tokens traded on exchanges.

Evernorth (XRPN), a leading XRP-focused treasury holding company, currently maintains about 473 million XRP in its reserves and is preparing for a public offering via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) structure on Nasdaq.

Mini dictionary: Evernorth (XRPN) is a treasury holding company specializing in XRP, notable for its large balance of XRP and its ongoing preparations for a Nasdaq listing through a SPAC arrangement.

Despite a number of smaller firms exiting the crypto market and labelling certain positions as negligible, other entities are taking calculated steps to strengthen their presence in the sector.

The current pattern reflects not a loss of confidence among corporate players in digital assets, but rather a more selective and strategic approach to managing risk and focusing on core operations.

CompanyCrypto assets soldAssets retainedNew focusRemarksAIxCrypto Holdings (AIXC)BTC, ETH, SOL, LINK, BNB, ADANoneRobotics (RoboShare)50% loss on portfolioRemixpointETH, SOL, DOGE, XRPBTCEnergy storage systemsCleared all but BitcoinEvernorth (XRPN)None~473 million XRPPreparing for Nasdaq via SPACMaintains large XRP holding

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Kennametal (KMT - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 13.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Kennametal due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

Kennametal Q4 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, Rise Y/YKennametal reported adjusted earnings of $2.96 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, up 770.6% year over year. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31 by 28.1%.

Sales rose 42.6% year over year to $736.6 million and surpassed the consensus estimate of $720 million by 2.3%.

Sales Growth Spans End MarketsReported sales growth reflected a 42% organic increase, a 1% favorable foreign-currency impact and a 1% benefit from business days, partly offset by a 1% divestiture drag. The Americas led constant-currency regional growth at 60%, followed by Asia Pacific at 28% and EMEA at 24%.

Energy sales jumped 101% in constant currency, while Earthworks advanced 76%. Aerospace & Defense rose 43%, General Engineering increased 28% and Transportation grew 7%. Management cited higher pricing, strategic wins and better market activity across several end markets.

Kennametal's Margins Expand SharplyIn the fiscal fourth quarter, Kennametal’s cost of goods sold decreased 18.3% year over year to $303.1 million. Operating expenses were $125.6 million, up 18.7% year over year.

Adjusted operating income was $305.7 million, translating into a 41.5% margin, compared with $38.2 million and 7.4% a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA reached $345 million, with the margin expanding to 46.8% from 14.8%.

The improvement was driven mainly by about $252 million of favorable timing between raw material-related pricing and costs. Non-raw-material pricing, tariff surcharges, higher sales and production volumes and $5 million of restructuring savings also helped. Compensation costs, tariffs and inflation were offsets.

Metal Cutting Segment AdvancesMetal Cutting revenues increased 24% year over year to $397.8 million. Organic sales rose 22%, supported by a 1% currency benefit and a 1% business-days contribution. Constant-currency sales climbed 29% in the Americas, 20% in Asia Pacific and 16% in EMEA.

Adjusted operating income totaled $108.4 million and adjusted operating margin expanded to 27.3% from 7.9%. Results benefited from roughly $54 million of favorable raw-material pricing timing, non-raw-material pricing, tariff surcharges, higher volume and $4 million of restructuring savings.

Kennametal's Infrastructure Results SurgeInfrastructure revenues rose 73% to $338.8 million, while organic sales increased 74%. A 1% currency benefit and a 1% business-days benefit were partly offset by a 3% divestiture impact. Constant-currency growth reached 103% in the Americas, 46% in EMEA and 40% in Asia Pacific.

Adjusted operating income was $197.9 million, with adjusted margin surging to 58.4% from 6.8%. About $198 million of favorable raw-material pricing timing drove the gain, partly offset by lower volume of sales and production, an increase in compensation costs and general inflation.

Cash Flow Feels Working Capital StrainFiscal 2026 cash used in operating activities was $4.0 million against $208.3 million generated in the prior year. Free operating cash flow was negative $79.1 million against positive $121.2 million, reflecting higher working capital needs tied to tungsten-driven inventory values and supplier advances.

Kennametal ended fiscal 2026 with $95.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $140.5 million a year earlier. Inventories increased to $1.11 billion from $538.2 million, while long-term debt rose to $685.3 million from $596.8 million. The company paid $60.8 million in dividends during the year.

Kennametal's Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor the first quarter of fiscal 2027, it expects sales of $745-$775 million and adjusted earnings of $2.50-$2.80 per share. The outlook assumes 1-4% volume growth, 50-53% price and tariff-surcharge realization and a neutral foreign-exchange impact.

For fiscal 2027, sales are projected at $3.33-$3.45 billion, with adjusted earnings of $4.15-$5.15 per share. Management expects free operating cash flow of about 20% of adjusted net income and capital spending near $85 million. Share repurchases will remain on hold until cash flow becomes positive.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.

The consensus estimate has shifted 107.54% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Kennametal has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Kennametal has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Charles River Laboratories (CRL - Free Report) . Shares have added about 10.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Charles River due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

CRL Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top, '26 View UpCharles River reported second-quarter 2026 company-defined non-GAAP earnings of $3.02 per share, down 3.2% year over year. The reported earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.0%.

GAAP net loss was 3 cents per share compared to GAAP earnings of $1.06 per share in the year-ago period.

Revenues of $1 billion declined 2.7% (up 0.1% organically) year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3%. 

Charles River's DSA Business Shows Demand GainsDSA revenues totaled $606.5 million, down 1.9% year over year on a reported basis. Organic revenues increased 0.2%, driven mainly by higher study volume for regulated safety assessment services.

The segment's GAAP operating margin rose 60 basis points to 20.5%, aided by lower intangible-asset amortization and reduced third-party legal costs tied to a non-human primate supply matter. The non-GAAP margin fell 180 basis points to 25.6% because of higher study-related direct costs.

CRL's RMS Sales Decline on North America WeaknessRMS revenues totaled $209.5 million, down 1.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level. Organic revenues declined 1.4% primarily due to lower sales of small research models in North America and weaker research model services, partly offset by growth in China.

The segment's GAAP operating margin improved 50 basis points to 17.3%, mainly because of lower amortization following the Cell Solutions divestiture. The non-GAAP margin contracted 80 basis points to 24.5% on lower volume and an unfavorable geographic revenue mix.

Charles River's Manufacturing Margins ExpandManufacturing revenues amounted to $188.1 million, down 6.3% year over year, mainly because of the CDMO divestiture. Organic revenues rose 1.3%, supported by higher revenues in the Microbial Solutions business.

GAAP operating margin surged to 34.9% from 6% a year earlier. The non-GAAP margin expanded 500 basis points to 37.8%, with the CDMO business and the benefit from its divestiture driving the improvement.

CRL's Margin PerformanceThe gross profit in the reported quarter was $363.4 million, up 1.8% from the prior-year quarter’s level. The gross margin of 36.2% expanded approximately 159 basis points (bps) year over year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 19.5% year over year to $228.9 million. Operating profit totaled $119.9 million, up 19.7% from the prior-year quarter’s level. The operating margin expanded approximately 224 bps to 11.9%.

 CRL's Cash Flow and Buyback ActivityCash and cash equivalents amounted to $192 million as of June 27, 2026, compared with $191.8 million at the end of the first quarter. Cumulative net cash provided by operating activities at the end of the quarter was $220.8 million compared with $376.3 million a year ago.

CRL repurchased 0.6 million shares for $100 million during the second quarter at an average price of $174 per share. Year-to-date repurchases totaled $300 million, leaving $700 million available under the company's authorization.

Charles River Raises Its 2026 OutlookCharles River now expects reported revenues to decline 3.5% to 2.5% in 2026, compared with its prior projection for a 5.5% to 4% decrease. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues implies a decline of 3% year over year. 

The company raised its non-GAAP earnings guidance to $11.15-$11.45 per share from $10.80-$11.30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric is pegged at $11.28 per share.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Charles River has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Charles River has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerCharles River is part of the Zacks Medical Services industry. Over the past month, HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 0.1%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

HCA reported revenues of $20.23 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.7%. EPS of $7.59 for the same period compares with $6.84 a year ago.

HCA is expected to post earnings of $6.80 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.8%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for HCA. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

Key Takeaways Integer shareholders would receive $127 per share in cash if the $5.7 billion KKR acquisition closes.ITGR's deal requires majority shareholder approval plus antitrust and foreign investment clearances.Integer would become privately held and its shares would be delisted from the NYSE after closing. Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR - Free Report) entered a definitive agreement on Aug. 2, 2026, to be acquired by affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. in a transaction carrying an enterprise value of $5.7 billion.

The deal has shifted investor focus to the proposed $127-per-share cash payment, closing conditions and the consequences of Integer becoming privately held. Operating trends still matter, but transaction execution is now the more immediate issue.

ITGR's Deal Establishes a Defined Cash ConsiderationUnder the merger agreement, each eligible Integer share outstanding immediately before closing would be converted into the right to receive $127 in cash, without interest. That creates a defined potential cash outcome for shareholders.

The consideration is not guaranteed until the transaction closes. Investors must therefore weigh the stated value against the possibility that closing conditions are delayed or not satisfied.

Integer's Buyout Still Faces Closing ConditionsCompletion requires approval and adoption of the merger agreement by holders of a majority of Integer’s outstanding shares. The transaction also requires applicable antitrust and foreign investment clearances, along with other customary conditions.

The acquisition is not subject to a financing condition. KKR’s affiliates have obtained equity and debt financing commitments, although regulatory, stockholder and other closing requirements remain.

ITGR's $307 Million Fee Adds Deal ProtectionThe agreement provides for a $307 million parent termination fee if Integer ends the deal in specified circumstances involving a buyer breach or failure to complete the transaction when required.

That provision gives Integer contractual protection if the buyer fails to perform under covered conditions. It does not remove completion risk because the merger still depends on required approvals and satisfaction of other terms.

Integer's Outlook Is Now Subordinate to the DealInteger withdrew its previously issued financial outlook after announcing the transaction and canceled its scheduled second-quarter earnings conference call and webcast. Merger progress has therefore become more immediate than management’s prior operating targets.

The business still faces pressure. Second-quarter sales fell 2.6% year over year to $464.1 million and gross margin contracted to 24.3% from 27.1%, reflecting weaker adoption of three new products and lower fixed-cost absorption.

Jabil Inc. (JBL - Free Report) provides advanced manufacturing solutions for medical devices, including cardiovascular and electrophysiology applications. Sanmina Corporation (SANM - Free Report) also designs and manufactures complex medical systems for original equipment manufacturers, underscoring the broader outsourced-manufacturing context.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ITGR Would Exit the Public Market After ClosingIf completed, Integer would survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of the buyer. Its securities would be delisted from the NYSE as soon as practicable after the transaction becomes effective.

That change would end public trading in ITGR and convert the company into a privately held business. Eligible shareholders would receive the agreed cash consideration rather than continue participating in Integer as a listed company.

ITGR's Style Scores Add Context Ahead of ClosingThe bottom line is that the pending KKR transaction now dominates the near-term investment case. The $127 cash consideration offers a defined potential outcome, but shareholders remain exposed to closing risk until required conditions are satisfied.

ITGR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). It has a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of D and a VGM Score of C. Those readings do not provide strong factor support, particularly on momentum.

Zacks Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank. With a #3 ranking and mostly middle-range Style Scores, a measured stance fits the current setup while investors monitor transaction progress.

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

Space-based cellular broadband network provider AST SpaceMobile NASDAQ: ASTS just had its best single-day stock performance since June.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2. ASTS’s nearly 12% gain was welcome news to investors who had endured a brutal slide since shares of the Midland, Texas-based company hit their all-time high (ATH) on May 28.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) Price Chart for Friday, September, 4, 2026

As the SpaceX NASDAQ: SPCX competitor continues to work its way back toward its ATH, shareholders who have grown accustomed to the ups and downs of the rapidly scaling and highly volatile stock just got a shot in the arm.

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A New Tailwind Ahead of AST SpaceMobile’s Next BlueBird Satellite DeploymentThroughout 2026, AST SpaceMobile’s successful (and less successful) low Earth orbit (LEO) BlueBird satellite launches have served as catalysts.

The next cohort slated to join its LEO constellation is nearing completion. BlueBird 14 is ready for launch, while BlueBirds 15 and 16 are undergoing final preparations.

While no launch date has been announced, based on prior schedules—including the Aug. 5 deployment of Bluebirds 11, 12, and 13—that could happen at some point in October. But the Sept. 2 ASTS rally was not rooted in the company’s launch schedule.

AST SpaceMobile Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$86.58
37.15% Upside

Hold
Based on 13 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$63.13High Forecast$108.00Average Forecast$86.58Low Forecast$50.80AST SpaceMobile Stock Forecast Details

Rather, AST SpaceMobile took off on Wednesday thanks to Berenberg’s Michael Filatov initiating coverage, which was extremely bullish.

Filatov not only assigned ASTS a Buy rating, but he also gave the stock a 12-month price target of $92—a roughly 47% potential gain from Wednesday's share price—citing AST SpaceMobile’s hard-to-replicate positions in the space-based telecom industry.

ASTS carries a consensus Hold rating with just six of 13 analysts currently covering the stock assigning it a Buy rating, alongside an average 12-month price target of nearly 39%.

The announcement of initiated coverage and an aggressive price target was enough to make AST SpaceMobile the big winner among space stocks on the day.

Filatov also initiated coverage of Rocket Lab NASDAQ: RKLB and Planet Labs PBC NYSE: PL, assigning both Buy ratings, but neither was able to blast off quite like ASTS did.

As AST SpaceMobile Nears Commercial Service, Numerous Challenges RemainAST SpaceMobile Today

$62.48 +0.36 (+0.57%)

As of 01:00 PM Eastern

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

$36.08▼

$133.86$86.58

Filatov noted that AST SpaceMobile is "the only company to have demonstrated true cellular broadband from space to unmodified smartphones," adding that its more than 60 mobile network operator partnerships cover roughly three billion subscribers.

Those strategic agreements include pacts with communication services sector mainstays AT&T NYSE: T, Verizon NYSE: VZ, Tokyo-based Rakuten OTCMKTS: RKUNF, as well as a strategic relationship with real estate investment trust American Tower NYSE: AMT and the U.S. federal government.

However, while the firm expects to deploy direct-to-device (D2D) commercial services beginning in the first half of 2027, that goal comes with significant caveats.

AST SpaceMobile still faces regulatory hurdles before it can begin commercial D2D service. In August, the FCC granted the company a 30-day authorization, running through Sept. 12, to test D2D connectivity on up to 100 off-the-shelf devices using 800 MHz spectrum.

Meanwhile, a series of weak earnings continues to be an obstacle. AST SpaceMobile missed Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as spending rose sharply to support its satellite buildout, following a galactic Q1 miss.

Despite reaffirming its 2026 revenue outlook and reporting a backlog of about $1.3 billion, expanding at the scale and speed at which AST SpaceMobile is requires the company to spend its cash reserves at an alarming rate.

Analysts forecast a full-year cash burn rate in the range of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion, driven primarily by R&D, AST SpaceMobile’s vertically integrated BlueBird satellite production, and costly rocket launch service fees, of which SpaceX charges around $55 million to $65 million per launch.

To address that expense, the company is exploring a partnership or potential acquisition of a launch services provider. In a Form 8-K filing on July 15, AST SpaceMobile noted that its $1 billion private offering of convertible senior notes due in 2034 was intended to “further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers.”

However, the offering carries concerns about shareholder dilution. AST SpaceMobile ultimately raised $1.15 billion through the convertible notes, which carry an initial conversion price of $79.57 per share. However, the company also entered into capped call transactions designed to reduce potential dilution, resulting in what AST says is an effective conversion price of $149.20 and effective dilution of less than 2%.

Wall Street Sentiment Remains MixedWhile the stock remains highly volatile with a current beta of 2.74 and short interest at 18.67% of the float, or $4.08 billion worth of ASTS shares, institutional investors are buying the stock in rapid succession.

Over the past 12 months, inflows from 384 institutional buyers have totalled more than $5 billion, while outflows from 111 institutional sellers have been limited to just over $400 million. At 60.95%, institutional ownership is still below average, but AST SpaceMobile has seen buying accelerate since Q2 2025.

AST SpaceMobile continues to work its way toward its target of 45 BlueBird satellites in LEO by early 2027. A company press release confirmed that it is well on its way to achieving that goal, with “production advancing through BlueBird satellite 42” as it continues to scale its constellation.

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Nuvanté Technologies Ltd, a digital money clearing infrastructure company, has announced that in August 2026 it developed a prototype for stablecoin clearing tested in the Bank of England Synchronisation Lab, built on the Stellar network.

The prototype validates how fiat-backed stablecoins and other forms of digital money could be issued, redeemed and exchanged through a neutral clearing layer, with settlement flows tested against the Bank of England’s RTGS RT2 Synchronisation Lab environment.

Nuvanté’s participation in the Lab focused on multi-money issuance and redemption, including stablecoin-to-stablecoin and stablecoin-to-fiat flows. The project used the Stellar network to support the movement and orchestration of digital money.

“Stablecoins are becoming core payment infrastructure, but the market still lacks neutral clearing rails that allow issuers, banks and payment firms to exchange digital money safely and efficiently,” said Michael Chapman, Founder and CEO of Nuvanté. “Through our work in the Bank of England Synchronisation Lab, we demonstrated how regulated stablecoin clearing, interoperability and synchronised settlement could operate in a central-bank settlement environment.”

Denelle Dixon, CEO & Executive Director at the Stellar Development Foundation, added: “As stablecoins continue to scale the market needs safe, trusted and interoperable settlement infrastructure. The Stellar network was built for regulated finance and Nuvanté’s work in the Bank of England Synchronisation Lab is the kind of real-world financial use case the network was designed to support."

The announcement comes as the Bank of England continues to progress its RTGS roadmap, including the development of synchronisation capabilities designed to extend atomic settlement in central bank money to a wider set of asset markets and transaction types.

Nuvanté is also a member of the DTCC Tokenization Industry Working Group, reflecting its focus on interoperable market infrastructure for stablecoins, tokenised assets and digital payments. This follows DTCC and the Stellar Development Foundation’s recent announcement of plans to enable the tokenisation of DTC-custodied assets on the Stellar network as part of DTCC’s multi-chain strategy.

Zcash (ZEC) has soared into cryptocurrency’s top 10 following a powerful rally that briefly pushed its price above $1,000, intensifying trading activity and market risk around the fast-moving asset.

Rally pushes Zcash above $1,000Zcash jumped approximately 20% in the span of 24 hours, climbing to a peak of $1,023 on Friday. This surge boosted ZEC’s market capitalization close to $17 billion, before steadying around $983 with a market cap near $16.6 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

The strong rally secured Zcash’s place as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market value, marking its highest position in years as fresh demand sent volumes soaring.

Leveraged trading intensifies volatilityOpen interest in ZEC futures rose dramatically to about 2.3 million ZEC, equivalent to nearly $2.3 billion at prevailing prices. This amount represents around 14% of Zcash’s total market capitalization, an outsized footprint that analysts say highlights aggressive positioning across derivatives markets.

The spike in leveraged activity led to heavy losses for bearish traders. Within 24 hours, roughly $36.6 million in leveraged ZEC positions were forcibly closed, with $34.5 million of liquidations targeting traders who bet against the asset’s price. Short positions accounted for approximately 94% of the reported liquidations.

A surge in short liquidations can fuel an ongoing rally further, as traders covering their positions must buy back ZEC, creating additional demand pressure.

While leveraged trading has driven sharp gains for bullish participants, analysts warn that the same leverage can amplify downside moves in the event of a reversal, given the scale of current futures positions.

MetricValue24-hour ZEC price high$1,023Current ZEC price$983Market capitalization$16.6 billionOpen interest (futures)2.3 million ZEC / $2.3 billion24-hour liquidations$36.6 millionShort liquidations$34.5 millionETF conversion fuels institutional demandThe latest rally follows a pivotal change for U.S. investors: Grayscale, a leading digital asset manager, completed the conversion of its long-standing Zcash trust into The Zcash ETF. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the ETF structure and new name in late August. Shares now trade under the ZCSH ticker, offering investors regulated brokerage-market access to ZEC.

Momentum had been building for weeks, with ZEC already moving higher after Grayscale filed an amended ETF application that included plans to list on NYSE Arca and a 2.5% management fee. These developments have returned Zcash to price levels last seen during the 2018 bull cycle, highlighting institutional progress as a major catalyst for the current surge.

Grayscale is recognized as one of the world’s largest managers of digital currency investment products, often providing traditional financial channels with access to cryptocurrencies.

Mini dictionary: ETF, or Exchange-Traded Fund, is a regulated investment product that tracks the price of an asset and can be traded like a stock, enabling broader investor access and liquidity for underlying cryptocurrencies like ZEC.

Analysts highlight risks from leverageZcash’s dramatic entry into the upper tier of the crypto market goes beyond short-term speculation. With open interest in ZEC futures now representing nearly one-seventh of the coin’s entire market value, analysts emphasize that the leverage currently propelling sharp gains could just as quickly intensify downside pressure if sentiment shifts.

The interplay of institutional products like ETFs and elevated futures activity places ZEC at the center of a key test for both new and experienced investors, as the asset’s liquidity and price trajectory remain tightly linked to broader trends in cryptocurrency markets.

Key Takeaways SPCX briefly regained a $2 trillion valuation amid optimism over Starlink, launches and AI expansion.Starlink's expansion boosts recurring revenues, while vertical integration lowers satellite launch costs.SpaceX faces high capital needs, execution risks, rising competition and regulatory uncertainty. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX - Free Report) has briefly regained the coveted $2 trillion market capitalization mark, reflecting renewed investor optimism surrounding its expanding Starlink business, unmatched launch capabilities, progress on Starship and growing exposure to government and defense spending.

The rebound underscores Wall Street’s confidence in SpaceX’s ability to capitalize on rapidly expanding opportunities across satellite broadband, commercial space launches and next-generation space transportation. Its vertically integrated business model, technological leadership and growing recurring revenue base have also strengthened the investment case.

Starlink: Key Growth EngineStarlink's continued expansion is one of the biggest pillars supporting SpaceX’s valuation. The satellite broadband platform has steadily broadened its reach across residential, enterprise, aviation, maritime and government markets.

Growing adoption increases the proportion of recurring subscription revenues within SpaceX’s overall business mix, reducing its dependence on the comparatively project-driven launch business. The improved revenue visibility can potentially support stronger margins and more predictable cash flows over the long run.

Starlink also benefits from SpaceX’s ability to launch its own satellites at relatively low incremental cost. This vertical integration allows the company to expand its network faster while avoiding the launch expenses that competing satellite operators typically incur. Continued investment in higher-capacity satellites and improved network infrastructure should further strengthen Starlink’s ability to address rising global demand for high-speed connectivity.

Launch Dominance Boosts SpaceX’s Competitive PositionSpaceX’s formidable position in the orbital launch market is another major factor supporting investor confidence. The company’s reusable Falcon 9 platform has transformed launch economics by significantly lowering the cost of accessing orbit. Reusability, high launch frequency and an established operating track record have created formidable competitive advantages that rivals find difficult to replicate.

Higher launch cadence also generates operating efficiencies. SpaceX can spread fixed infrastructure and development costs across a larger number of missions, potentially strengthening profitability as volumes increase. Demand continues to originate from a diverse customer base that includes commercial satellite operators, government agencies, national-security customers and SpaceX’s own Starlink constellation. This diversified launch pipeline provides another layer of revenue visibility.

The ability to serve external customers while simultaneously supporting Starlink deployment gives SpaceX an ecosystem advantage that remains difficult for competing launch providers to match.

AI, Data and Global Connectivity Lend SupportAnother factor supporting the bullish narrative is the increasing importance of global connectivity. Demand for data transmission continues to grow as cloud computing, AI, autonomous systems and connected devices proliferate worldwide. Satellite communications could become an increasingly important component of this infrastructure, particularly in areas where terrestrial broadband remains inadequate. Starlink's global network gives SpaceX exposure to this secular trend.

The company plans to deploy AI compute satellites as early as 2028, effectively creating space-based data centers capable of delivering large-scale computing capacity. This initiative leverages SpaceX's leadership in satellite deployment while addressing the growing demand for AI computing resources. Alongside its satellite ambitions, SpaceX continues to expand its Colossus data center platform, strengthening its position in AI infrastructure. The buyout of Anysphere – a startup firm behind the rapidly growing AI coding assistant Cursor – gives SpaceX exposure to a high-growth software business while strengthening its AI capabilities. It adds a widely adopted developer platform that could complement the company's growing technology portfolio.

Estimate Revision TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for SpaceX’s 2026 loss has narrowed from 53 cents per share to 5 cents over the past 30 days. The same for 2027 earnings has improved from 68 cents to $1.63. The positive estimate revision depicts bullish sentiments about the stock’s growth potential.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Likely PitfallsDespite the strong growth prospects, SPCX is not devoid of challenges. A $2 trillion valuation leaves relatively little room for execution disappointments and implies significant expectations for future revenue and earnings growth. Any slowdown in Starlink subscriber additions, delays in Starship development or deterioration in launch reliability could pressure investor sentiment.

SpaceX also faces substantial capital requirements. Building satellites, developing launch vehicles and expanding communications infrastructure require persistent investment. Meanwhile, competition across the satellite Internet and launch markets is intensifying as governments and private companies invest aggressively in alternative platforms. Regulatory uncertainty surrounding spectrum allocation, orbital congestion and international market access represents another potential headwind.

Price PerformanceSpaceX has declined 6.9% since its IPO against the industry’s growth of 117.4% over the past month. It has lagged peers like Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) and AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) over this period. While Verizon has jumped 5.2%, AT&T is up 11.1%. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

End NoteSpaceX is steadily transforming from a pure-play aerospace company into a diversified AI infrastructure leader. Its aggressive investments in AI computing, expanding enterprise partnerships and plans for space-based data centers underscore management's conviction that AI will be a key driver of future growth.

Although the AI segment is likely to remain under pressure in the near term due to elevated investment levels, the company's long-term growth prospects appear increasingly tied to the rapid expansion of the global AI infrastructure market. While high operating costs and execution risks warrant attention, SpaceX appears well-positioned to benefit from the secular growth of the space economy. Those who already own the stock can hold onto it while new investors may wait for a better entry point.

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

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, XETRA:APC) was the focus of a supply-chain preview from Citi on Friday, highlighting the upcoming iPhone 18 family as a key catalyst for component suppliers.

With shares trading at $328.21, the iPhone 18 lineup is expected to launch on 9 September, featuring Pro models priced roughly $200 higher than their predecessors.

At the centre of the preview is the tech giant's first foldable device, likely to be called the iPhone Ultra, which the bank expects to have a starting price above $2,000.

That foldable flagship is projected to feature dual front and dual rear cameras alongside an inner foldable display fitted with an ultra-thin glass and OLED cover.

Major hardware upgrades across the range could include A20 chips, an Apple-designed modem, and a variable-aperture main camera for the Pro and Pro Max models.

Following supply-chain underperformance during the June to August restocking period, the note states that the sector is likely to see a rally before launch and potential profit-taking afterwards.

Suppliers tied to the foldable device may face tight initial component supply and extended lead times, particularly for batteries, vapour chamber heatsinks, and structural parts.

Within the production network, Citi highlighted a preference for major share and content gainers such as Lens Tech, Lingyi, Amphenol, Largan, Sunny, AAC, Alps Alpine, Kioxia, Luxshare, and TSMC.

Crucial upcoming catalysts for the sector include initial sales and shipping schedules, as well as subsequent supply chain order adjustments.

Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. raised its position in shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 11.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,184 shares of the software giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,821 shares during the quarter. Microsoft accounts for 1.7% of Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $6,410,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. WFA Asset Management Corp raised its position in Microsoft by 27.0% during the 1st quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp now owns 1,016 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $427,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 12,658 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $5,658,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 410.4% in the third quarter. Discipline Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 2,659 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,144,000 after acquiring an additional 2,138 shares during the period. Wealth Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. now owns 2,374 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $1,000,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 23,097 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $9,735,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Microsoft Stock Up 2.7% MSFT stock opened at $510.12 on Friday. Microsoft Corporation has a one year low of $349.20 and a one year high of $553.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.23. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $441.99 and its 200 day moving average is $415.21. The firm has a market cap of $3.79 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.11.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.50. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. The business had revenue of $90.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.65 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.59 EPS for the current year. Microsoft Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th will be issued a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 20th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio is presently 20.27%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Microsoft will begin reporting quarterly Azure revenue in fiscal 2027 and reorganize its financial reporting from three segments into two AI-focused categories. Azure generated approximately $29.4 billion in quarterly revenue and $101.9 billion for fiscal 2026, providing investors with more visibility into cloud growth and AI demand. Microsoft to reveal Azure cloud sales in financial reporting shift Positive Sentiment: Citi reaffirmed a Buy rating and $600 price target, while other analysts cited Microsoft’s large AI backlog, Azure’s more than $100 billion annual revenue and the potential for improved AI economics. The company’s latest earnings also showed strong momentum, with revenue up 17.7% year over year and a substantial earnings beat. Analyst reaffirms Buy on Microsoft Positive Sentiment: Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched GPT-6 Astra, potentially strengthening Microsoft’s AI ecosystem and demand for Azure infrastructure. Microsoft is also securing long-term power capacity for data centers and expanding Microsoft 365 Copilot integrations. OpenAI launches GPT-6 Astra Neutral Sentiment: CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares worth about $43.4 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The scheduled nature of the sale limits its significance, although it reduced his holdings by 15.09% and adds to recent insider selling. Negative Sentiment: Microsoft will impose monthly limits on Xbox cloud-gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers beginning in November as service costs rise. The change may improve economics but could hurt consumer sentiment and gaming engagement. Microsoft to impose time limits on Xbox cloud gaming Negative Sentiment: Investors continue to weigh Microsoft’s roughly $116 billion AI infrastructure spending plan, rising data-center costs and pressure on cloud margins. The key risk is whether the large backlog converts into profitable cash flow rather than simply future revenue. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $586.00 target price on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Phillip Securities downgraded Microsoft from a “strong-buy” rating to a “moderate buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, CLSA reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Forty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $562.49.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Microsoft

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total value of $4,878,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 100,447 shares in the company, valued at $49,007,086.83. The trade was a 9.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.46, for a total value of $43,388,826.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 486,763 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $244,092,173.98. The trade was a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 108,335 shares of company stock valued at $53,499,700. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Microsoft Company Profile (Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a broad range of software products, services and devices for consumers, enterprises and governments worldwide. Its operations span personal computing, productivity software, cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, developer tools and gaming.

Microsoft’s product portfolio includes the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools (Office apps, Outlook, Teams).

See Also Five stocks we like better than Microsoft The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSFT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report).

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The growth of Hedera Council’s network of Strategic and Community Partners continues, with the addition of two new partnerships. This partnership program leverages the skills, networks and resources of industry leaders to drive real-world adoption of Hedera. 

Hedera Council’s latest collaborations expand Hedera’s capabilities for secure, decentralized infrastructure for real-world use cases, while enhancing Hedera’s technical offerings. Hedera’s latest Strategic Partner is WISeKey, a global expert in cybersecurity, digital identity and IoT solutions. As Hedera’s fourth Strategic Partner, WISeKey joins the Global Blockchain Business Council, Halborn and the Institutes RiskStream Collaborative.

Accelerating Authentication and Digital ID on Hedera

Based in Switzerland, WISeKey is strongly embedded in Web3 infrastructure, offering secure authentication and identification solutions for IoT, blockchain and AI. SEALCOIN AG, one of WISeKey’s established subsidiaries, focuses on the development of the SEALCOIN platform, which enables the autonomous exchange of verified, high value data secured by post-quantum cryptography. 

“Becoming a Strategic Partner of the Hedera Council reinforces WISeKey’s commitment to building trusted infrastructure for an increasingly connected and autonomous world,” said Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey Group. 

“By combining WISeKey’s expertise in digital identity, cybersecurity, PQC-secure semiconductors and space-based IoT with Hedera’s enterprise-grade distributed ledger technology, we can accelerate the deployment of trusted digital ecosystems where devices, machines and organizations can identify, authenticate and transact securely at global scale. This partnership is an important step in turning decentralized technologies into real-world infrastructure for the digital economy.”

This strategic partnership builds on an existing use case in the Hedera ecosystem. Earlier this year, the Hashgraph Group launched the QAIT Q-Day Security Assessment Platform on the SEALCOIN Quantum Marketplace. The platform was designed to help enterprises, governments and critical infrastructure operators evaluate, monitor and mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with the emergence of quantum computing. 

Jonathan Llamas, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at SEALCOIN AG, added: “SEALCOIN was created around a simple premise: billions of connected devices and autonomous machines will increasingly need to transact with each other without sacrificing identity, security or trust. Hedera has been an active contributor to this vision, with a dedicated team of experts from its ecosystem working alongside us in the development of the SEALCOIN platform. By combining trusted device identity with Hedera’s scalable distributed infrastructure, we are building the foundations for machines to authenticate, exchange value and transact autonomously at global scale. This Strategic Partnership is a natural continuation of that collaboration and an important step toward making trusted machine-to-machine commerce a reality.”

Expanding Reach in Latin America

Hedera Council also proudly welcomes its eighth community partner, SpaceDev. The Council’s Community Partners bring strong ecosystem alignment and active participation, while driving adoption and awareness. SpaceDev is a Latin American software company, which has previously leveraged Hedera for its Blockchain for Energy (B4E) platform. This turned carbon-capture initiatives into auditable on-chain assets, replacing manual, error-prone workflows with a standardized, automated pipeline. 

As the Council’s newest Community Partner, SpaceDev brings its expertise in delivering digital products that offer secure, real-world solutions. Previously, SpaceDev has created software for platforms including Tether, WalletConnect, Rarible and UFCStrike, among many others. 

Currently ranked No. 2 among Clutch’s top blockchain companies, SpaceDev combines global reach with strong regional roots. Beyond its client work, the company supports the growth of Uruguay and Latin America’s blockchain landscape through educational programs, community events, and social initiatives that broaden access to technology.

Juan Manuel Sobral, CTO and co-founder of SpaceDev and President of the Blockchain Chamber of Uruguay, said: “Joining the Hedera Council Community Partner Program feels like a natural milestone in a story SpaceDev has been writing for years. We grew from Uruguay with the conviction that world-class technology can be created in Latin America, and that technical excellence becomes even more meaningful when it’s shared through education, community, and new opportunities. This recognition belongs to the talented people behind SpaceDev, as well as the clients and partners who have trusted us to bring ambitious ideas to life.”

To learn more about the Hedera Council partnership program, visit hederacouncil.org.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Nvidia has built a nearly $100 billion equity portfolio from virtually scratch in just two years by investing in other tech companies.

The AI chipmaker, led by CEO Jensen Huang, held $99 billion in equity investments as of July 26, according to its latest earnings report.

That included roughly $48 billion in publicly traded stocks and other marketable securities, $48 billion in shares of private companies and other non-marketable securities, and $3 billion in equity-method investments.

Its equity portfolio surged 14-fold in a year from about $7 billion last summer, and 45-fold from $2.2 billion two summers ago. The company also reported a further $25 billion in equity investment commitments as of July 26.

Nvidia's quarterly portfolio disclosure offered a glimpse at its public US stock portfolio as of June 30. It held a $30 billion stake in Intel, a $21 billion position in SpaceX, and investments in CoreWeave, Coherent, Synopsys, and Nokia, each worth between $2 billion and $5 billion.

Nvidia stock falls despite beating revenue estimates

The huge increase in Nvidia's equity holdings has vaulted it into the ranks of the biggest tech investors. It still trails the likes of Alphabet, which had a $232 billion equity portfolio at the end of June, including $94 billion of SpaceX shares following its IPO in June.

Nvidia stock has rocketed from below $15 at the start of 2023 to $228 at Thursday's close. That 15-fold increase in under three years has catapulted its market capitalization to $5.5 trillion, making it the world's most valuable company.

The chipmaker has become the premier enabler of the AI boom by providing the types of semiconductors needed to power the nascent technology, financing the AI infrastructure buildout, and investing in its AI peers.

A Nvidia spokesperson pointed Business Insider to finance chief Colette Kress, saying on the company's latest earnings call that frontier AI labs' ability to improve their products, attract more users, and generate more revenue was being "limited by compute," so Nvidia was "needed to help power this flywheel" and had thus invested almost $50 billion in them.

In its latest earnings report, Nvidia said that it makes equity investments to "enhance our growth opportunities, cultivate our ecosystem, and strengthen our competitive position."

However, Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame has said Nvidia is "overreaching" in its efforts to juice its growth by financing and investing in customers of its chips.

Similarly, former "Shark Tank" investor Mark Cuban has said it's "truly scary" how reliant the AI boom is on Nvidia "funding everyone and anyone."

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Theron Mohamed You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Theron Mohamed is a London-based correspondent on the International team at Business Insider. His coverage spans finance, investing, wealth, markets, and the economy.Theron joined BI in 2019 as a reporter at Markets Insider and rose to the rank of correspondent before moving to the Trending team then the broader International team. He previously covered tech, media, and telecom stocks for Investors Chronicle magazine and had a brief stint on the Financial Times' Data team. He interned at the Wall Street Journal in New York where he primarily wrote for Heard on the Street.Theron has freelanced for The Independent, The Telegraph, WIRED, and several smaller publications. He holds an undergraduate degree in geography from the London School of Economics, and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.Theron often covers Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, and other elite investors. He also writes about the world's wealthiest people and shares financial advice from all manner of rich and successful people.Email Theron at [email protected] and follow him on X @theron_mohamed.

Tech Investing SpaceX More Intel AI Mark Cuban